"Della?"

Mason's devoted wife and "Girl Friday" turned toward the deep voice slowly. Her hand cradled her middle and she looked like death warmed over. Realizing it wasn't her husband that had entered Mason's office, she schooled her expression as best she could into something warm, welcoming, and resembling life even though she'd rather pass out on the couch.

She looked up into the concerned face of Mason's courtroom adversary, Hamilton Burger. He had come to discuss a few aspects of the current murder case they were both trying to get to the bottom of, but seeing that Mason was out and Della looked so deathly pale, Burger's original mission fell by the wayside as concern for her took over. He had his suspicions as to why Della felt under the weather as his own wife had just recently been released from the draining grips of morning sickness.

"Oh, Hamilton. Perry's out of the office for the moment. I'm so sorry," she said weakly, mentally chastising herself for appearing so unprofessional. She reached out to steady herself against Mason's desk. "I've felt just awful the last several days. At first I thought it was the flu, but…"

Burger's heart went out to the longtime secretary. He'd seen Alexandra look like this through five pregnancies, seen her cry from the sheer exhaustion of feeling sick day in and day out for months and losing sleep, and he remembered how helpless he felt knowing he couldn't go through it for her. But Della wasn't even certain yet so speculation that she was expecting was exactly that… speculation.

It felt slightly uncomfortable given that Della was another man's wife, but Burger was afraid she'd collapse in front of him so he gently picked her up and carried her over to the couch, depositing her on it. The lovely brunette was so exhausted that she didn't protest. Spying a light blanket that Mason kept for late nights, Burger unfolded it and draped it over Della and she smiled up at him weakly.

"Try to rest," he insisted. "I promise Mason's practice will survive without you for a few days."

She nodded weakly and let her heavy eyelids fall gratefully. It was nice to have permission to take a nap, even if that permission did come form the district attorney.

It was then that Mason pushed the door open and entered his office to find Burger kneeling by the couch and reassuring Della. Mason frowned with concern. He knew that Della had been feeling under the weather, but if Burger had interrupted his mission to care for her, Mason knew she had to be feeling worse than when he'd left the office this morning.

Hearing the door open, Burger stood and turned toward Mason. "Perry. I'm glad you're here. I was just about to ask Gertie to let you know that Della wasn't feeling well the next time you checked in. She looked about ready to collapse when I came in."

"Thank you, Hamilton. The flu perhaps? I hope it isn't contagious… I can't afford to get behind with the current case."

That made Burger grin like the cat that ate the canary. "I don't think it's the flu, Perry. And it may not be contagious, but it sure might last a while."

Clapping Mason on the arm, Burger made his way to the door. "I hope she feels better soon. I'll pester you about our current case tomorrow. Take care of Della."

W^^^W^^^W

Hearing the door click behind Burger, Mason perched himself on the edge of the couch and reached over to gently brush Della's hair back from her face. She'd appeared to have fallen asleep almost as soon as her head hit the small couch pillow and Mason felt it best to let her nap before taking her home. He could carry her, but not all the way out of the building.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to her forehead and stroked her face with a strong hand for a moment before venturing back to his desk to resume work until his wife awoke. It was difficult to concentrate with his concern for Della's health. And Burger's words kept replaying themselves in his mind in a feedback loop that Mason wasn't sure he'd ever get out of.

Burger, with that amused expression, had implied that the newlyweds might already have a baby on the way. And Burger had a great deal of experience in recognizing the signs of pregnancy in a woman.

He would have to have his longtime doctor make a house call that evening to have a look at Della.

Somehow though, he already knew that Burger was right. The thought of becoming a father actually intimidated Mason slightly. It dawned on him that he might need Burger's advice on how to balance work and family and how to support Della through this. And that didn't even cover the stress and worry Mason himself would experience as Della neared the delivery of their baby. Childbirth was much safer now than in centuries, even just decades past, but there were still risks and they scared him.

Still, the thought of his own child and Burger's coming little one growing up together filled Mason with amusement and even a little hope. Perhaps they would be close friends in ways that Mason and Burger couldn't necessarily be because they were on opposite sides in their professions.

But first, Mason's doctor would have to confirm his suspicions.