Thanks for all your reviews, hope you like the story so far.
Of course, the antenatal consultant wasn't in until the next morning, but Stella was top of her list and Mac was given permission by the ward sister to go down with Stella to the maternity clinic.
"Hello Ms Bonasera. First of all can I have some basic details?"
"Course"
"When was the date of your last period?"
"Erm, the 20th I think"
"And do you know the date of conception?"
"Yes, it was the 7th."
"Okay, well that gives you a due date of the 17th February. Now could you come with me please to be weighed and be examined?"
"Sure"
The two women seemed to be away for a long time, according to Mac, and his mind started to run through all the horrible things that could have happened to her in that time so that by the time she did reappear, along with the doctor, he was trembling, though not noticeably.
"I'm in perfect health" Stella stated as she wheeled Mac back to his room "though she did say that the morning sickness might worsen in the next few weeks and I may become easily tired, especially as the adrenaline will stop."
"Do you want to be put on permanent day shift for the next few months?"
"And work with those anoraks? No way, no, I'm sure I'll cope."
"Okay, but you said it, not me."
The next day Mac was released from hospital and, instead of staying at home like he was told to, came into work as normal.
"Whoa there Mac, you sure you want to be here?" Danny said on seeing him arrive.
"Hello to you too, Messer and yes I do want to be here."
"Your words, not mine, Mac" to which Mac just smiled.
CSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSI
A month later, it was Independence Day and the team arranged to meet in Central Park for a picnic and games to celebrate, which was a lab tradition that Mac had started when he took over leadership of the lab. Danny, Lindsay and Flack (who had been invited, along with Angell, as honorary members of the team) were the first to arrive and had already set up the rugs by the time that Mac and Stella arrived, closely followed by Hawkes, Adam and Angell.
Everybody had- as usual- brought far too much food for 10 people, but given Danny and Flack were there, none of it went to waste. It was during the picnic that Stella got out of her bag a small white box and handed it to Mac.
"What's this?" he asked, bemused at the sudden generosity of his friend.
"Open it and see." She replied.
Inside the box was what looked like a digital clock with a frame and had a baby boy and girl on it.
"What's this?" Mac asked again, still puzzled by the present.
"Read the manual." Stella replied, half smiling, half frustrated at his typical manliness. Mac didn't get beyond the title before he started grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"What is it, Mac?" Lindsay asked
"It's a countdown clock."
"Countdown to what?"
"Until the day my child's due." Mac replied.
"Whoa there, did I hear that right? Is Mac Taylor going to be a dad?"
"Sure did kiddo."
Flack interrupted, "one thing, who's the mummy?"
Mac's brief look over to Stella gave the game away.
"No way, that's just… that's just not possible." Danny exclaimed
"Okay, but how long you been together, seriously, we haven't noticed anything, have we guys?" Hawkes asked as the rest of the team shook their heads.
"Erm, well, we're not actually a couple." Mac said looking distinctly embarrassed.
"What? So how…?" Danny asked before Lindsay interrupted "Let Stella explain."
"Erm, well," Stella was clearly finding this no easier than Mac, "it wasn't planned. We sorta had drunk a lot of alcohol and before we knew it…" Stella trailed off, unwilling to go into anymore detail
"Damn it! I thought I had won the bet as well."
"What bet?" Mac and Stella said together.
Now it was Danny's turn to be embarrassed "Theoneonhowlongitwouldtakeforyoutwotogettogether." He mumbled. On seeing Mac and Stella's confused expressions, Lindsay said "I don't think they could hear you Cowboy, better speak up before Mac puts you on a disciplinary" which only served to make Danny go even redder.
"The bet- which I didn't start- was on how long it would take for you to become an item." Danny eventually replied.
"I take it you were all involved, given the guilty faces I see" Mac stated to which everyone- bar Stella of course- nodded. "Right then, here's what going to happen. All money, and I mean every last cent, will go to the charity of our choice and the same will also happen to any other bets that are going on in the lab. Afterwards, there are not to be any more bets done in the lab- understand?" Everyone nodded again.
After that incident, the mood became more serious for all of a minute before Lindsay asked "So, you never told us when the baby's due, Stella."
"Oh, it's the 17th February." With this, Danny and Lindsay looked at each other before she nodded and Danny said, "Shame cos ours is due on 31st January" with a completely straight face.
It took a moment for what Danny had said to register with the team but then they all started talking at the same time.
"One at a time!" Mac said, after a minute of them all chatting away "Hawkes"
"You do know that there's an 11 day overlap where both of the babies could be born on the same day."
"What? Oh Mac please let us have a bet on that, please." Danny said
Mac sighed before saying, "Well, you'll have to ask Stella and Lindsay first cos it's about them."
"Go on then," Stella said whilst Lindsay answered, "Put 10 on them both arriving on the 8th" to which everyone laughed.
Did you like it? Please review and tell me. Also review/ message me if you have any ideas for baby names.