Imperfect - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Princess

So I was getting kind of bored with where I was in the story so I skipped a little bit. Sorry for any confusion about that. This is about a month after the last one so Jules is around 17 or 18 weeks now. Hope that makes it a little easier to understand. And Spike and Winnie got married at some point and they have a daughter named Arianna. She's half a year younger than Sadie. I realized that I hinted at that in one of the future chapters and had to put it in. But anyway, this is more of a Sadie-ish chapter. She's popping up everywhere (if you can't tell she's one of my favorites). Just a heads up, I won't be able to update from June 7-20 as I'm not at home and don't have access to a computer. Sorry about that delay but I'm going to try to update every day until then just to make up for it. But I WILL be continuing with the story when I get back so keep watching. Anyway, Enjoy Chapter 10!

"So that's the baby."

Dr. McCarthy pointed to a baby-shaped blob on the screen. Well, not quite baby-shaped, but almost. She moved the ultrasound wand across her stomach and pointed out the different body parts. "See, there's the head. There's the feet," she pointed to the edge of the moving blob, "and there's one hand. It looks like he's a thumb sucker." she chuckled. Jules looked back and pulled Sadie towards her. "Look Sades, that's your little brother."

She squinted her eyes at the screen. "I don't see a baby." she grumbled. Jules smiled. "That's because it isn't a real picture of the baby. It's called a sonogram, it plays music in my tummy and then the music makes a picture. It's kind of strange." she explained

Sadie scrunched up her nose. "I want a sister." she whined. Jules smiled. "Maybe next time, Sadie. This baby's a boy. But I promise, you'll love him." The doctor passed her a Kleenex to wipe away the gel. "So how far am I?" she asked.

"I'd say that the first estimation was correct. Based on the development of your baby he looks to be about 18 weeks. You should be due sometime near the beginning of July."

"Wonderful."

"So I know I've asked you these a million times but I have to again. So sorry. Umm, morning sickness?" Jules lifted Sadie up onto the table next to her. "None."

"Not at all?"

"Nope."

"Alright. Any breast tenderness?"

"A bit."

"Good, that shouldn't be coming in for a few weeks now. Your baby's heart rate is 137 beats per minute -"

"Is that bad?"

"No, no, that's perfect. Within 10 of 140 so it's completely healthy."

Sadie was starting to get fidgety next to her and she was hoping it wouldn't take much longer. "So is that everything?" she asked politely.

"Almost. Because of your age we would usually do a test for any fetal abnormalities later in the pregnancy. Would you like to have that done?"

They hadn't really talked about it. Neither of them really wanted to consider the possibility that there was something wrong with their baby. "Umm, no thanks."

"Then yep, that's all. You know the drill: minimal stress, no overheating, pick up the pictures at the front desk. I'll see you in one month?"

"Absolutely."

"Bye Jules, bye Sadie."

"Bye."

She could see it now. Whenever she looked in the mirror, she could see the protrusion on her stomach without squinting. Sam was ecstatic. He had his hands all over it whenever he got the chance. Sadie was noticing it. She had poked her finger right in the centre earlier that morning. And Jules, she didn't know what to think. She was happy because it meant that she really did have a baby in there. But there was something sad about looking down and remembering that you can't work anymore and you can't lay on your stomach anymore and you can't even pick up your own daughter anymore.

She unbuckled Sadie from the car and took her hand as they walked together through the SRU parking lot. "We're going to see Daddy?" Sadie asked. "Can we go up the elevator? Daddy took me and he said I could press the buttons last time." Jules smiled.

"Did he? Of course we can, Sadie. Do the stairs tire you out?"

She nodded.

"Me too. It's been a while since I've had to walk them."

They waited as the elevator ascended one, two, three floors and the ding that signified their arrival. "Daddy!" Sadie shouted, releasing Jules' hand and running forward.

"Hey Sadie. How are you doing?" he asked. He tossed her up into the air before catching her again. "What did you do with Mommy?" Sadie pointed her finger at the dispatch desk. "She's talking to Pinny." she told him.

"Pinny?"

"Mommy said that Uncle Spike and Aunt Winnie are Pinny." Sam smiled. Jules often referred to them as Spinnie. "I think she meant Spinnie, with an S."

"Like in Sadie?"

"Just like Sadie."

The rest of Team Three was hanging around in the briefing room waiting for a call, so he walked over to Jules and Winnie at the desk. "Gossiping ladies?" he asked with a grin. Jules turned to look at him. "Always." He could see the slight bump under her coat and wrapped his free arm around her waist. "Ick! Gross!" Sadie shouted when he leaned in to kiss her lightly. "Stop it!" She reached out and pushed her hand against Sam's ear.

"Sadie, that's not nice." Jules told her sternly.

"But I told you to stop!"

Jules sighed and reached out to take Sadie of of his arms, but his other hand came up and pulled her back to his shoulder. "No carrying," he reminded her. Sadie wouldn't hear it. "I want to go with Mommy!" She struggled in Sam's arms and leaned out towards Jules.

He placed her on the ground. "Sadie, Mommy can't carry you."

"Why not?" she whined.

"Because it hurts her back." It wasn't a total lie. It did hurt her back. But the real reason was because she couldn't. She wasn't allowed to, and with the half basketball attached to her stomach there simply wasn't any room. She was already carrying an extra 20 pounds.

"But I'm little! I won't hurt her."

"Sadie, no." Jules told her. "I can't carry you for a while, baby. Remember, I already have to carry around your little brother."

Winnie seemed amused by the familial scene in front of her. The Braddocks were definitely one of a kind. "You think it's funny, don't you?" Sam asked. "Just wait until you get to go home. I'm sure Spike's having a blast with Arianna today." Winnie or Spike usually dropped Arianna off at the same daycare that Sadie was supposed to go to, but whenever they had different shifts they would keep her home.

"I'm very sure he is. She's keeping him in shape for the days when he misses workout with the team." Winnie joked.

"Yeah? Maybe she could give Sam a hand with that." Jules replied with a chuckle. "Looks like Sadie's not quite cutting it."

Sadie's head shot up at the mention of her name. "What?" she asked. She had planted herself in front of the television near the treadmill, which for some reason she loved to watch despite the fact that it only played the news. "Nothing, Sadie." Sam replied quickly. But nevertheless, she jumped up and ran back to them. "I cut lots of stuff. Paper, pictures, crayons, Mommy taught me how. She said that I could show you sometime Daddy. Do you have my pink scissors?"

Jules shook her head. "Not now, Sades. When we get home." she promised.

She frowned and trudged back to her spot in front of the tv. Sam turned back to the girls. "So, not to be rude or anything because you know I love seeing you, but is there a reason you're here?"

She reached into her purse. "I had another appointment today. Sadie wanted to bring you a picture."

"Sadie did?"

"Yep."

"What?" Sadie asked again. Jules smiled. "I was telling Daddy how great a helper you've been today." Sadie smiled and turned her attention back to the tv.

"Sadie, what are you watching?" Sam asked. Jules walked over to look at the screen. It was showing a hostage situation at city hall. "Oh, Sadie!" she covered her eyes. "Winnie, shut it off. Sadie, don't watch that. You don't need to watch that. Shut it off Winnie!" Sam ran over and pressed the power button and the screen went black.

"Mommy!" Sadie whined.

"Sadie, no. You don't need to see that." Jules lifted her off the floor and went to fix her on her hip, but Sam swooped in and lifted her away. "No lifting," he reminded her. "Sadie, those were bad people they were showing on the tv. Mommy doesn't want you watching that."

"But Daddy, I want to -"

"Sadie, no." he told her sternly. He looked over at Jules. "You should probably get going. It's almost lunch." He placed Sadie on the ground and looked over his shoulder to the briefing room. "I should probably get back to the guys anyway. I'll see you at home?"

"Absolutely." She watched him closely and he pulled her in tight for a hug. "Be careful." he whispered.

"Walk us to the elevator?" she asked. When she was sure no one could hear them, she pointed Sadie towards the elevator and turned back to him. "Sam, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" he asked. She raised her eyebrows. "Sam, why are you worrying so much? I know you worry but you're not like this. Something's up."

"Don't - I mean -" He pointed back at the dispatch desk television. "Don't go near there okay? You get hurt and I lose you both." He ran his fingers through her silky hair. "And don't - crash the car - or something. Okay?"

"Says the guy who totaled my jeep." she chuckled. He stared at her.

"Sorry. Not funny." She reached out and pressed her palms against his cheeks. "I'll be careful if you will." She kissed him gently and then walked backwards to the elevator just as the siren rang though the floor. "Team Three, hot call. Gear up." came Winnie's voice through the speakers. He turned back to the desk. "I gotta -"

"Go. I'll see you at home." When she turned back to Sadie, she was waiting inside the elevator pressing a button over and over. "I pressed the open one Mommy." she said proudly. Jules smiled and ran her fingers through Sadie's long blonde hair. As long as Sam came home safe, she was the happiest girl in the world.

So voila, chapter 10. Stay on the lookout for new chapters!

. . . And review :)