The staff at Miami General Hospital was quick to act when Lauren arrived. A room was quickly prepared and her doctor was notified. "Tim, what if the baby is gone?" Lauren asked sadly. Virginia stood near the end of the bed tapping her foot; it was a nervous habit.
"Lauren, don't think like that, please. The baby isn't gone," Speed said giving her hand a little squeeze. A number of things could of caused it.
Just then, there came a knock on the door and Lauren's OB/GYN, Dr. Lisa Chang walked in. "Hi, Lauren. I heard you were having some cramping. Any bleeding and how is the cramping now?"
"The cramping is gone, and no there wasn't any bleeding. Is my baby okay?"
"I don't know, honey we need to do an ultrasound first. We're almost ready, and it's perfectly normal to have some cramping at this stage in your pregnancy and occasional spotting. But it's a good thing you came in," Dr. Chang said. She looked at Virginia and then Speed. "I'm going to have to give her an exam. I'd prefer it if it was just Lauren and Tim." Virginia understood and headed out into the hallway.
Back at Lauren and Speed's house, Tom and Sheri were sitting in the same spot, as they were when everyone left. "Sheri, don't you think you were a little harsh on Lauren?" Tom said with a hit of anger in his voice. "She could have lost the baby because you are so damn focused on her being perfect. People make mistakes. We weren't exactly saints when we were young. As a matter of fact, if I recall, we have a son named, Jack as a result." Tom got up from his seat to go get their bags from their rental car, leaving Sheri alone to think about what she had said.
As Tom was bringing in the last of their bags out of the car Lauren, Speed, and Virginia arrived. "Hi sweetheart. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. The baby and I are fine," Lauren said with a smile. "But I've been ordered to take it easy for a while, and I've been told to keep my stress levels down."
"Congratulations sweetheart, on both the baby and your engagement. About your mom, honey she's not thinking right. The plane ride was long and tiring." Tom had seen Lauren's engagement ring as soon as they arrived.
"Thanks daddy, I really appreciate it. We're getting excited."
"You're welcome, now son take my daughter in to get some rest. Don't worry about food or anything I've got that taken care of."
"Yes sir," Speed said taking Lauren by the hand and leading her into their house.
Virginia looked at Lauren's father for a minute and said, "Mr. Lidstrom, I know I have only met you a few times, but I care about Lauren and treat her as my own daughter. What your wife did earlier was uncalled for. I know things could have been worse and sometimes they are with parents in this situation, but I'm glad you didn't react like your wife. That would have made the situation worse. One more thing, if your wife gets out of hand again, I will ask you to leave. She doesn't need this right now. Lauren and Tim have been through enough already."
"I understand, Miss."
"Good, come on lets head inside, and I'll show you were your room is."
Later that night, Lauren and Speed were lying on their bed taking a sort nap before dinner, which Virginia was going to make; Lauren's parents were in the guest room unpacking. Virginia was making her famous New York style pizza."Hi sweetheart," Horatio said making Virginia jump.
"Red! You're as quiet as a mouse."
"Sorry sweetheart, how's Lauren doing?"
"She's doing better. She's taking a nap with Tim."
"Virginia, what happened earlier? I saw you guys at the hospital. I didn't have a chance to stop by."
"Lauren was having some crapping so we took her to the hospital. Her mother didn't take her being pregnant very well. In fact, I don't think she will ever accept that. She started going off on Lauren and that's when she felt the cramping. I thought Speedle was going to rip her mother's head off."
"I see, what about her father?"
"He took it well. A little shocked, but he took it well. I swear, Horatio if Speedle and her father weren't there we may have had a crime scene. I mean she was so rude, and she was being a bitch. I mean that's her daughter. It felt like for those five or so minutes Sheri wished Lauren wasn't her daughter."
"Excuse me, Lt. Taylor," Sheri asked walking into the kitchen.
"You can call me, Virginia, and what did you need?"
"Okay, Virginia can I talk to you for a minute?" Sheri asked looking at Horatio.
"Sheri this is Lt. Horatio Caine, Lauren and Tim's boss."
"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. Virginia can we sit down and talk please?"
"What's on your mind?" Virginia asked sitting down at the kitchen table; Horatio did the same.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Lauren had woken up. Lifting her head up off Speed's chest she saw he was awake. "Hey beautiful, how are you feeling?" Speed asked moving a few strands of hair that had fallen in front of her face.
"I'm good, relaxed. What about you? How's your shoulder?"
"It's pretty good, a little sore. Think I might take some pain meds after dinner."
Lauren smiled back at him. "While we were taking a nap I thought of some more baby names."
"Oh yeah?" Speed asked as a smile spread a crossed his handsome face.
She nodded and said, "For a girl I like Hannah, and for a boy I like Ryan. Yes I know we have Ryan Wolfe, but I can't help that I like the name."
"I like the name Hannah, it's cute, and we don't need a boy name because we are going to have a girl."
Lauren laughed and said, "I can smell some pizza cooking, let's go see if Virginia needs any help, and I think I heard Horatio."
Out in the kitchen, things were heating up between Virginia and Sheri. "Tom just had to have another child. I never even wanted another baby. When I found out that I wasn't able have any more kids I had never been so happy in my life. I know that sounds harsh, but taking care of one child was enough let alone two," Sheri said.
"What?" Virginia asked confused before realizing what Sheri was referring to; she sat back in amazement as a million things were running through her head.
"After we had Jack I found out I couldn't have kids anymore. I had some cysts on my ovaries, and it lead to infertility."
"But you had Lauren, you had another child," Horatio chimed in.
"Tom wanted another child. He had to have another child. Since I couldn't have any more children we decided to adopt," Sheri said emotionless. Horatio looked up and saw Lauren and Speed standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
"I'm adopted?" Lauren asked shocked. "You never told me I was adopted, does Jack know about this?"
"Yes he does."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lauren asked with a raised voice. Sheri didn't answer. "Mom, tell me why the hell you never you never told me!"
"Because I made the decision not to tell you. I wanted you to have a life without worry why your biological mother gave you up."
"Oh my god, I can't believe you. Did dad have any say in this?"
"Lauren, you need to calm down. The doctor said you need to relax," Speed said wrapping his good arm around her waist.
Virginia sat back in her chair, and thought to herself, 'Lauren was adopted?' Horatio looked at Virginia and thought the same thing. He could tell she had something else on her mind, and would ask her when they were back at home. Lauren and Speed's house wasn't the place to speak about this.
"Tim, I'm fine. I want to hear what my mother has to say, and see if she's hiding anything else from me that I need to know."
"You want to hear everything, Lauren?" her mother asked raising.
"Yeah, I do."
"Fine, Jack knows you were adopted, and I told him never to tell you. Your father didn't think that was a good idea, but I assured him it was. He and your brother went along with it, but later your father wanted to tell you. I told him no absolutely not. We had Jack when we were young-"
Lauren interrupted her; "You had him when you were young? How young?"
"Let's just say we weren't married at the time."
"What? You weren't married, and you fucking come into my house and start yelling at me for same thing you did!"
"Yes, but we were young and stupid and a lot younger than you!"
"Don't you start making excuses, mother. Is there more?"
"Yes, after we had Jack and we got married I didn't want any more kids, but your father want another one, specifically a girl. I told him no, then I found out that I couldn't have any more kids; I was happy. I didn't want any more kids one was enough for me."
By this time, tears were falling from Lauren's eyes; Tim still behind her holding her close; Horatio and Virginia still in shock.
Sheri continued, "Your father had to have another child so we adopted."
"So, I'm just the child dad wanted? You know… now that I think about it, you never did anything with me. Dad was the one who took me places, came to all my softball games, and you never fucking once did anything for me. You never wanted me, and you are a cold heartless bitch you know that, a cold heartless bitch. I thought you loved me!" Lauren put her head her hands, leaned against Speed and began to cry. Sheri was shocked at how her daughter was acting toward her. She got up to walk over to her, but Horatio stopped her from doing so.
"You, Mrs. Lidstrom, need to back off right now. You are upsetting Lauren and she is pregnant. She has been through a lot these past couple of days. So I suggest you get your head out of your ass, and take a walk too cool off or get a hotel room," Horatio said staring her down.
Lauren looked at her mother and said, "Sheri, you can stay here or get a hotel. I don't care but if you stay don't even think about speaking to me unless it's to apologize." She looked at Speed and added, "Tim, I'm going to go for a walk."
"I'm going to come with you."
"No, Tim I need to go by myself, please," Lauren said as she walked to the front door.
Speed sighed. "Please be careful. Make sure you have your cell phone, and I love you."
"I got it in my pocket, and I love you too." She gave him a kiss and headed out for a walk.
Lauren finally felt she could breathe. The cool air from the Pacific Ocean seemed to wipe away every bad thing that happened today. "Why does it feel like everything is falling apart?" Lauren asked herself. She was surprised when she got an answer back.
"Everything isn't falling apart for you, Shorty. Things have just been a little tough that's all," Jack said walking up to her.
"Jack? You're okay, thank God," Lauren said giving her brother a hug.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know. You were gone for like three days, and I didn't hear from you at all."
"I'm sorry, Lauren, but I had to." Jack wrapped his arms around Lauren and pulled her close to him "You forgive me?" he asked pouting. He looked like a sad dog.
Lauren laughed. "Yes, I forgive you."
A comfortable silence filled the conversation before Jack spoke. "Does Tim know you're out here?"
"Yeah, he knows. I told him I needed some space, and I needed to clear my mind. Plus guess who showed up earlier."
"Mom and dad?"
"Yep, and guess what they found out." Her voice was bitter.
Jack sighed. They found out about Lauren's little secret. "They found out you're pregnant." Lauren nodded as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Yeah, and I got an earful from mom. It felt like I wasn't her child. It felt like I was adopted, Jack. Do you know anything about that?" Jack let his sister go and she turned around giving him the same look Horatio gave Sheri.
"Listen, Shorty, I really wanted to tell you I did, but mom, she forced us not to tell. I promise you I was going tell you."
"When Jack, when were you going to tell me? After mom and dad did?" Lauren asked frustrated.
"Lauren, calm down, okay. I was going to tell you a while back, but mom caught me, and I was going to tell you when I came to visit. But when you told me that you were pregnant I didn't want to make you upset."
Lauren walked over to her brother and hugged him. "I know, I understand, and I'm sorry I snapped at you. This whole hormone thing is getting to me."
"It's okay, I still love you. How did mom and dad take the news?"
"Dad, he was fine. Mom on the other hand let me have it. She almost made me lose the baby, Jack. Tim almost ripped her a new head, and Virginia I could see she felt the same way. I don't know what to do Jack. Every time I walk by her I get a nasty look, and the fact that she had you when she and dad weren't married makes this even worse."
"Everything will work out, Shorty. I promise. Just give her time."
"I don't know how much longer I can wait. When she was telling me all of this her face had no emotion, her face was flat. It was like she didn't even care and I don't know... I'm just so tired and confused. This year has been hell so far. Tim getting shot and almost dying then shot again. I find out I'm pregnant, then this thing with Craig and getting kidnapped, and finally mom and her mood swings. You know sometimes I wish that Horatio and Virginia were my parents. Don't get me wrong I love dad I just wish that… I don't know, Jack I'm so confused I don't know what I'm talking about half the time."
"I know, and if I was in your position I would be too. What you need is a good night sleep and time off of work. Spend some time with your fiancé," Jack said noticing the ring on Lauren's left hand.
Lauren smiled, and looked down at her engagement ring. "That would be so nice."
"Then do it, go back home, get some dinner if you haven't had any, spend some time with Tim, alone away from mom and try to relax. You leave her to me."
"Thanks big brother. Are you coming back to the house then?"
"No, I need to keep out of sight for a little while longer then I'll come by, and talk to her. Or we can meet here tomorrow night, and I'll give you a note telling her to meet me here at some time."
"Okay, I think can handle mom for a few days. I put her in her place" Lauren smiled.
"Are you sure because if not I'll be here tomorrow same time."
"I'm sure, but maybe I'll come anyway. We can talk again."
"All right sounds good. You feel any better now?"
"Yeah, I feel much better thanks."
"No problem, now get back home before your guy starts to get really worried. He's a pretty awesome dude. I couldn't think of anyone better for my baby sister." Lauren laughed, and gave her brother one last hug before heading back to the house.
Speed, Horatio, Virginia, and Tom were sitting at the table eating dinner, but they were actually waiting for Lauren to get back; Sheri was in the guest room. The conversation at the dinner table was surprisingly happy. Virginia was telling more stories of when Lauren worked in L.A.
The front door opened. "Hey guys," Lauren said walking into the kitchen.
"You feel better, love?" Speed asked.
"Yeah, I feel a whole lot better," Lauren said sitting on his lap, and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Where'd you go?" Speed asked giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"She went to the beach," Tom said smiling. "She would always go to there when she needed time to think."
Lauren smiled back and said, "Jack showed up. He calmed me down, and made everything better." Lauren looked over at Virginia. She seemed to be in deep thought. "Virginia, you okay?"
"What? Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Sorry, I was thinking about something. I'm glad your back. I made you your favorite pizza. New York style cheese pizza, and you get it all to yourself," Virginia said setting a whole pizza on the table.
"Mmm, I love cheese pizza. Let me show you guys how to eat it." Lauren took a piece of pizza, and folded it up several time before taking a bite. The cheese and pizza sauce oozed out of the sides. "So good and yummy and amazing."
The five of them chatted for a while until Lauren was finished eating. Lauren told Horatio and Virginia they could go home, her father was there. After they left Lauren and Speed went to bed to get a good night's rest.
