Chapter 8
Disclaimer: See first chapter. . .
AN: THANK YOU so much for your reviews everyone! I'm glad you like the story. I've been getting a lot of comments telling her to tell Scotty. Because I'm cruel, don't count on her telling him anytime soon. I do apologize, but hey- what would the fun be in that;) Don't worry, they will work things out eventually, just not quite yet. miss-valvedes to ease your mind, she didn't actually abort the baby. Sorry if I confused you. Tarrah, I was worried what would happen if I didn't update soon enough, so here it is;)!
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! -x-
Lilly sat staring absentmindedly into space two days later. After 'The Incident,' she had uncharacteristically taken a day of. She had simply said she 'was still sick' and would be back as good as knew before Stillman knew it.
She had taken the time to go buy some pregnancy books which she memorized back to front and was horrified to discover that she should never clean a cat's litter box or be that close to them in general during pregnancy. She could contract 'Toxoplasmosis' as they called it.
It had been a heart-wrenching goodbye for Lilly as she dropped them off at Kat's house later that evening. They were like family to her and had been with her through the hardest times in her life.
'I'm so sorry' Lilly sniveled as she hugged each Olivia and Tripod in turn. It broke her heart to leave them, but as she had promised- the baby first.
'I'm sorry to spring this on you,' Lilly managed to choke out, 'But I couldn't think of anyone else, and well, you're the only one I trust enough.'
Kat was touched by this inadvertent admission.
'Don't give it another thought, you've got enough on your mind. Veronica couldn't be more thrilled, she is finally getting the pets I won't allow her to have. Now that she'll have to deal with the reality of actually caring for not one but two, I'm sure she'll get turned off the idea pretty quickly. That's the hope anyways.'
Lilly laughed through her tears.
'See you at work tomorrow.' Lilly felt comforted as she hugged Kat goodbye.
Though no great difference in age, Kat was taking on the role of the counselor any girl's own mother should have during this time and Lilly didn't know how she could ever begin to repay the favor.
- - - - - -
Lilly reached down and stroked her slightly swollen abdomen. Her jeans had recently refused to close and Lilly realized it was time to go shopping for some new clothes, not just for herself but also the baby. A thought that never really sent her to the moon before, she couldn't help but feel giddy at the thought of looking at all the tiny baby clothes.
'What you smiling at Rush?' Vera was passing by her desk when he noticed Lilly who seemed to be in her own little world.
'Nothing.' Lilly's smile betrayed her excitement and Vera was infected by her good mood as well.
As usual, Stillman's summon of everybody into the office snapped everyone back to reality. The team seated around the office, Stillman began handing out assignments.
'Lilly, Scotty, you will be re-opening this case. An old woman just came in with new evidence relating to the murder of her daughter in 1960.'
All eyes suddenly focused on Lilly as the detective let out a small involutary sob.
'Everything Ok?' A clearly uncomfortable and unnerved Stillman asked her.
'Yeah I'm ok, it's just that, that- it's so sad.' Lilly cursed her mood swings which sent her on an emotional hundred-miles-an-hour-rollercoaster-ride beyond her control.
'Need a minute?' Stillman asked. None of the team had ever seen Lilly cry, more so over anything as trivial as this.
'No, it's ok, just go on.' Lilly was mortified she had let them see her cry, something usually reserved for her bedroom walls to see, but she really couldn't help it.
Another emotion suddenly replaced the one from moments before as she quickly filled with dread at the prospect of having to work with Scotty- again. She still hadn't forgiven him for what he had said and had yet to speak to him.
'Ok, that's all guys. Back to work.' Stillman dismissed them.
- - - - - -
Lilly walked out of the office and put on her coat. She was not going to talk to Scotty if she could help it. She was beginning to think that she could go through this alone. She could always lie about the father of the baby when the rest of the team asked. She knew she eventually had to tell Stillman as she would have to request maternity leave and she knew once the shock had worn off, that would be the first question anyone would ask.
But then when the baby was born, what if it looked like him? She knew she would eventually have to tell the truth, but how was another matter, especially when there was an ice front between the two.
Lilly tried to speed up the walk to her car before she let the doubts get the best of her and as she saw Scotty approach out of the corner of her eye, she walked even faster. She was spared listening to what he was about to say when Kat and Vera caught up with them.
'Hey guys, wait up!'
Lilly felt relieved.
'How are you feeling?' Kat whispered to Lilly in an undertone as Vera and Scotty were deep in a conversation already.
'I'm fine. Damn mood swing though.' Lilly whispered back followed by soft laugh.
'I know what you mean. When I was pregnant with Veronica I'd cry whenever I saw anything remotely baby related. Once I even cried at a diaper commercial.'
The two women couldn't constrain their laughter.
'What's so funny?' Vera looked at them suspiciously.
'Nothing in particular.' Kat answered in a playful tone.
The look Vera and Kat shared was not lost on Lilly and she mentally stored it to ask about later.
Unfortunately when they reached the parking lot, Vera and Kat were both headed off together, which left Lilly alone with Scotty.
'So what now?' Scotty asked uncertainly. He felt terrible at how he had lashed out at Lilly. He had just been receiving a lot of heat for his latest romance and Lilly had been the one to take it out on. His last comment had been a low blow and he was fully aware of it, but to his defence- Lilly had been more moody than ever lately. He didn't feel like knew her anymore, like she was in this bubble he couldn't penetrate.
'What?' Lilly snapped.
'Listen Lilly, I'm so sorry about the other day.'
'Sorry?' Lilly felt the anger bubble inside her when she thought about what she had almost done.
'I said, I'm sorry Lilly.'
'Ever think Scotty that sometimes 'sorry' just doesn't cut it.'
Scotty was surprised at how furious she still seemed and despite his better judgment snapped angrily back at her.
'Lilly, you're not exactly innocent yourself. You haven't really been the most pleasant person lately.'
'Don't dare accuse me of not being pleasant Valens, not when you don't know the first thing about me.' Lilly was seething. How dare he try turn this back on her!
'Then tell me- what is it that I should know huh, cause Lilly I think I know you pretty damn well!'
The look that momentarily flitted across Lilly's face was that of a deer caught in the headlights. Lilly knew this was her opportunity to finally come clean, but before she even had a chance to phrase a response she felt a sharp pain shoot through her body when she collided with a car that had seemingly come from out of nowhere and was thrown hard to the ground.
- - - - - -
Lilly opened her eyes moments later. She was lying in a twisted position on the ground, Scotty kneeling beside her.
'Someone call an ambulance. Quick!' He shouted desperately through his panick.
'Lilly, Lilly can you hear me!?' He desperately tried to connect with her.
Lilly could only groan in response. She looked down her body where she could see a deep gash in her side.
Lilly couldn't even register the pain she was in, she was focusing all her energy on praying the baby was not hurt. Lilly tried to speak, but the words seemed to get lodged in her throat.
'Ssshh, don't strain yourself.' Scotty reached down and brushed her cheek softly. He was scared to move her, though all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her until the ambulance came. At least he would be doing something to fix what he had caused.
Lilly could hear sirens in the distance moments later, the sound seemed to come from far off as she was finding it harder and harder to stay conscious.
She closed her eyes and tried to open them when she seconds later heard running footsteps and Kat's voice. Lilly wanted to cry out to her, but couldn't.
Her side felt warm where she felt the slow trickle of blood.
'Oh my god! Lilly.' She screamed. 'Get off me!'
Lilly could hear a struggle going on.
'No, Kat. Don't!' She heard Vera's voice. He was obviously trying to constrain Kat and prevent her from rushing to Lilly's side.
The sirens became louder as an ambulance pulled up next to the scene. Lilly heard the bustle of people getting out of the vehicle.
'We were just standing here and she, she got hit.' Scotty felt his voice break.
Lilly felt safer now the ambulance was here.
The paramedics crouched down next to Lilly and attempted to put her on a stretcher. Suddenly finding her voice she screamed in pain.
'Give her penicillin now!' One of the medics yelled.
'NO!' This time it was Kat's voice piercing the air.
'Why not?' The paramedic sounded annoyed.
'Because- because she's pregnant.'
AN: Rave, rant or REVIEW! Hope you all liked it! Till next chapter… :)
