Chapter 8.

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Watching her around the department he knew something was wrong, she was well over her shift now yet continued to find excuses to stay. Of course he was well over his shift as well but he had a mountain of paperwork to get through yet. There was no one around waiting for him to get home but the same couldn't be said for her, she had a husband and kids waiting to spend New Years day with her. So why was she here? There was something in the tone of her voice earlier that unnerved him and the way she quickly changed to subject to Max. After what she'd admitted about Andrews feelings regarding her pregnancy he was worried, he needed to speak to her in private. Catching sight of her outside his door, talking to a colleague he takes his chance.

"Duffy? Can I have a word?" Twisting round to face her boss she tries to read him for clues as to what he wanted to talk about but came up empty.

"Okay." Seconds later she follows him into her office, takin the assumption it was for a private conversation and shutting the door behind her.

"Is everything okay?" Taking a seat beside him she looked concerned.

"That's what I wanted to ask you." Her concern switched to confusion now, what was he talking about?

"What do you mean?" Smiling softly he didn't wish to upset her nor push her too far but he had to check on her.

"Duffy you finished hours ago…" She hadn't even realised the time, Andrew would start to worry but for some reason that didn't concern her. Well she did know the reason.

"Oh. I didn't notice…" Sighing he really was starting to worry about her and he was beginning to get really concerned that Andrew wasn't looking after her but letting her know that wasn't an option, she'd only get upset or angry.

"Are you sure you're coping okay?" She was ready to argue, yell and put him in his place but seeing the worry in his eyes forced her to a halt. She couldn't do it.

"It's not pregnancy symptoms I'm struggling with…" She began to play with her hands, distracting herself from the conversation as he lent in.

"Is it do with Andrew? His reaction?" She simply nodded in reply, not trusting herself to say much more. "It will be just the shock Duffy, you were both so adamant after Jake that you didn't want to go down this road. He'll be struggling to adapt to the news." Getting instantly upset she raises her voice, breaking.

"Do you not think I'm not the same?! I was the one that said no more, not him! He's not the one that…" Stopping herself from saying too much she changes the direction slightly. He didn't need to know what happened with Jake, he'd only worry. "It's not just shock Charlie! He asked me to have an abortion." He was about to push her to continue what she started to say until he realised what she'd just revealed. Surely she was mistaken?

"He what?!" but as her tears began to escape he realised he must have made his feelings very clear. "Oh Duffy." Taking her into his arms he once more wondered what she seen in Andrew to stay with him through all the pain he put her through.

Sitting on the couch, a medical journal on his lap he once more checked his watch. Where on earth was she? Of course he understood her job and finishing times were more of a guide and wishful thinking than anything else but this was really beginning to take the piss. It was New Years day they have places to be and family to visit, which she knew all to well. He was only going to give her another half an hour before he phoned the department, if something had happened he'd know. They'd have called. He suspected she just didn't want to come home but if she only listened to him they wouldn't be having such problems. Why couldn't she think of this from a rational point of view? They had two amazing sons who were well past the baby stage by now and somewhat independent not to mention how ill the last pregnancy made her. She was 40 for crying out loud, the risks were higher and anything could go wrong. Groaning to himself he tried to push her out of his mind, this wasn't going to get him anywhere was it? Picking up the journal he attempts to concentrate on the study in front of him only to be interrupted by his eldest

"Dad?" Glancing up he gives a genuine smile as Peter hovers in the doorway. Something was bothering him, it was written all over his face.

"What's wrong?" Still in the doorway he shifts from side to side, trying to find the words as his dad ushers for him to sit next to him.

"Is mum really sick?" Placing himself beside his dad he glances up at him with his large eyes just like his mothers.

"Sick? No of course not. Why?"

"Are you sure? She seems sick."

"I promise Peter, your mum isn't sick."

"But she's so tired all the time and she's been throwing up for weeks! I know she says she isn't but she is, I hear her!"

Having calmed down she takes a deep breath before explaining herself slightly.

"I'm supposed to be going to his parents for dinner today, with the kids. I don't think I can do it Charlie." Having removed herself from his hold she returns to playing with her hands.

"Do they know?" Shaking her head she sighs. She felt guilty leaning on Charlie about all this, he had enough going on.

"No, he won't let me tell any of the family. Mum knows but she guessed and he hasn't a clue she knows. I can't keep it hidden for much longer, they are going to guess."

"I wouldn't expect you to be able to hide anything from Kate, no one can. How far gone are you?"Smiling a small bit at his statement about her mum, he was right. She was almost a human lie detector.

"Tell me about it! She's impossible. 12 weeks. How can I explain this to them when he eventually gets it into his head that I'm not having an abortion? They'll be offended we've hidden it." She didn't have the best relationship with his mother as it was, this wasn't going to help matters.

"Tell them you didn't want to announce it until after your first scan but you are right, they will start to guess before long. What is Kate saying about all this?"

"I didn't hide it for this long with Peter or Jake, they'll question it. I've tried to keep her in the dark as much as possible, you know what she's like Charlie. She can't hold her tongue, the last thing I need is them at each others throats."

"No she certainly leaves people with no question about how she's feeling or what she thinks about anything or anyone but Andrew knows that. Do the boys know yet?"

"No and I wouldn't tell them until after the scan anyway but Peter knows something is going on." Knowing he couldn't answer the way he wanted to, with a few choice phrases about her husband he simply sighs.

"Small steps. Get through today and being around his parents but don't tell them, that won't help his mood. After today you both really need to talk, you can't hide this forever and he know's that. Don't let him push you into anything you're not comfortable with Duffy."