Here we go… thanks again for the reviews… let's get moving on…
Chapter 10- The Tide Begins to Turn
"So how are we feeling today?" Dr. Lee studied her patient for any signs of anxiety or distress.
"Tired, but that comes with the territory. So, what did the tests show? Are we ok?" Carly fumbled nervously with the bracelet on her wrist.
"First things first, let's go ahead and see if we can't listen to the heartbeat. Next time you come in I think it might be a good idea to have an ultrasound just to check everything out."
Lying back on the table, Carly bit her lip in distress. She knew that her doctor was avoiding the question. She was a master at the art of avoidance and evasion.
Soon the reassuring sound of a heartbeat could be heard throughout the small room. It was faint, but it was there.
Carly let her breath out in a sigh of relief; she hadn't even realized that she had been holding it.
Putting the fetal monitor down, Dr. Lee cleaned of the goop on Carly's stomach and tried to figure out the best way to approach the nervous mother-to-be. She decided to go for the direct route.
"Ok, I realize that you probably prefer me not to beat around the bush here. You've lost weight since I last saw you and frankly you look like the smallest breeze could blow you over. You're blood pressure is still too high. I don't need to tell you that it is important to minimize your stress level and get plenty of rest. At this point it is safe to say that you have a condition called PIH, or Pregnancy Induce Hyper-tension."
Carly felt her stomach tighten in fear, "Is my baby at risk?"
"I know I sound like the bringer of doom and gloom. But, I want to put strong emphasis on the fact that if your blood pressure continues to rise we might end up putting you on bed rest and though you won't want to hear it, it could come down to you or the baby… I know that this puts a lot of added pressure on you, but I want you to be prepared in case our options become limited. For now we are going to put you on a safe blood-pressure medication, a form of magnesium sulfate to try and control your blood pressure. I strongly urge you to discuss the situation with the father because he does need to know that we are going to consider this a high-risk pregnancy."
"Dr. Lee I appreciate your honesty, I really do and I realize that there is only so much you can do for me and the rest is up to God… But, I want you to do whatever it takes to make sure this baby comes first. I will sign whatever I need to sign, do whatever I have to for this child. If I have to go to China or Europe to see some kind of specialist, I'll do it… Nothing else matters but this baby."
Tears of frustration filled her eyes and Carly wiped them away impatiently, "Just tell me what to do."
Dr. Lee felt bad for the other woman, she really did, but if they couldn't keep the problem under control, it wouldn't matter where she went or what she did, both mother and child would still be in danger.
Jason pulled in a deep breath of the salty night air. It was good to be back in Port Charles. For the last three weeks he had been all over the world it seemed… Florida, Puerto Rico, even Brazil. It seemed like when ever one fire had been put out another would ignite somewhere. Something fishy was indeed going on and it had Alcazar's name all over it.
His gut instinct told him to put a bullet between the guy's eyes, but it all came down to Sonny. He had to be the one to make that decision. Someone had been giving Alcazar and his flunkies information. Critical information that allowed him to be just one step ahead of them every time. Jason would put his money on Ric Lansing being the one behind Alcazar's sudden ability to get past them and it was a damn shame that Sonny wouldn't let him take him out either.
Taking his mind off work he focused his attention on his other problem… Carly. He didn't know what it would take to make things right, but not talking to her, not seeing her… it was making him crazy. No matter what he did, no matter what was going on, it was her face he saw before he went to sleep and it was her face he thought of as soon as he woke up. He tried to tell himself that Sam was the one he loved but it all came back to Carly. He couldn't imagine not having her in his life. It wasn't about just wanting her in his life. He NEEDED her in his life.
Her laughter, her smile… her PLANS…
Flashes of her smiling up at him with passion in her eyes had become more and more regular lately. Was his subconscious mind trying to tell him something?
Tonight he would go over to her house and talk to her and he would do whatever it took to make sure that she was back in his life.
Sitting behind her desk Carly searched the internet looking for anything and everything that might give her information on PIH. Sometimes knowledge wasn't so good because the words "placenta abruption", "Seizures", "Poor Fetal Growth" and worse "Death" kept popping out.
How could she tell Jason about this baby when so much could go wrong? She knew she wouldn't be able to hide it forever, but for now it was the only way she could spare him the same pain and agony she was going through at the moment.
She didn't know how long she had been staring at nothing, but she must have been completely absorbed in her thoughts because the phone rang three times before she even heard it.
As soon as she had picked it up with a terse greeting, Lulu burst into sobs.
"Carly… I don't want to wear a Moo-moo…" Came the sniffling voice on the other end.
"Calm down Lulu and tell me what's wrong." Having been pregnant before Carly had a good idea what was coming next.
"I can't fit in my clothes… my jeans… I have boobs Carly… boobs… the baby is taking over my body…" Was Lulu's dramatic outburst, "I absolutely refuse to look like a beached whale… I will not wear a Moo-moo, I refuse…"
"OK. Take a deep breath and calm down. I want you to meet me at the mall. There are several stores there that we will be able to find something other than a Moo-moo. Times have changed… I mean, do actually see me dressing in anything remotely unfashionable?" For the first time that day Carly smiled. She could use a distraction and this would be more fun than staring at a computer screen.
hours later
"Oh my gosh… I am exhausted… I don't think I will be going back to the mall until after the baby is here…" Lulu collapsed with a smile onto the couch.
"Just what until you start buying clothes and little baby stuff… you'll be going back and it will be a lot worse." Carly sank to into the stuffed recliner next to her with a sigh.
"You know you really didn't have to buy all that stuff for me… Nikolas gave me money yesterday. Edward and Tracy BOTH, if you can believe it, slipped me money when they thought no one was looking…" Lulu laughed feeling lighter then she had in months. Today had been a perfect day.
Part of her had been sad because she had always imagined that she would be doing this kind of stuff with her mom… Carly must have sensed it because she was careful to maintain her role as friend and cousin…
"Carly would it be really mushy for me to say that I am SO glad that you're my cousin… and well, sometimes I feel like you're more like an older sister… I guess what I am trying to say is, thanks… for everything." Lulu looked down with pink cheeks, embarrassed just a little about her speech.
"Sweetie, it is my pleasure. I never had a brother or sister, well if you don't count Lucas, and I'd like to think that if I did she would have been exactly like you… Plus I am keeping my finger crossed that I'll be able to get into some of those tops." Carly smiled back at the younger woman.
"Anyone home?"
Both girls turned and groaned as Luke walked in the door caring what could only be two large pizzas.
"What? I thought you ladies would appreciate dinner after a long afternoon of shopping. I've heard rumors that stores all over Port Charles will never be the same…. Hello Princess…" Luke dropped a kiss on Lulu's head as he set the pizzas on the coffee table.
"So what's in the other bags?" Lulu asked reaching moving her shopping bags off the couch.
"Ah, this bag my dear is for Lucas III… and this one is not for young mothers…" Luke dropped one bag in Lulu's lap and pulled a six pack of beer from the other. With a dramatic sigh of pleasure he dropped onto the couch next to Lulu popping the top off with a keychain bottle opener.
Shyly Lulu stared down at the bag in her lap. She was both pleased and surprised that her father had bought something for the baby, and she could tell that even though he was acting nonchalant he was nervous about making such a gesture.
"Oh my…" Lulu burst out in to peals of laughter as she pulled out the tiniest Hawaiian print shirt that she had ever seen.
"I bought one in my size so we can go kick back sometime… maybe runs some scams, break a few hearts… you know, manly Spencer-Men things."
"What is this?" Lulu eyes fell on the tiny box at the bottom of the bag. Opening it up she rolled her eyes and held it up for Carly to see. Inside were the smallest silver loops that she had ever seen."
"Well, we have to match." Luke shrugged with a sheepish grin, "I had to buy two of them, but it doesn't hurt to have a spare. Oh… where are my manners."
Grabbing another beer out of the six pack Luke offered it to Carly.
"Uh… no thanks. I'm not in the mood for beer tonight." She refused politely.
However, Luke was determined, "Well, I could whip you up a cocktail or get you some wine from that swanky wine cellar in your basement."
"No… really, I think I am going to just have some water. I'll just get something when I grab some plates and napkins from the kitchen. Carly jumped up and headed for the kitchen. But Luke's next comment froze her in her tracks.
"Caroline… is there some particular reason you aren't partaking in an alcoholic beverage…" Luke asked taking a swig of his beer.
"Just not in the mood…" She mumbled and reached for the kitchen door.
"So tell me what's going on at the Q's… How's my step-monster?" Lulu tried to cover, but look would not be side-tracked.
"It wouldn't happen to be an excuse for hormonal outbursts would it? You know, similar to the one my sweet little girl is experiencing?" Luke arched an eyebrow waiting for a response from his niece.
Cursing Dr. Lee under her breath, Carly turned and faced her uncle, "Ok… Luke… I am going to let you in on a little family secret… and I am going to step out on a limb here and trust you with it… You're right… I'm pregnant."
"I figured that was the reason you looked as if you were going to lose your lunch the other day in the doc's office… So, who's the lucky father… a certain hunky, Aussie blonde or are you be giving the Port Charles Mob King another heir to the throne?" Luke had never been the most tactful at best and his comment earned a hit over the head with a pillow from Lulu.
Carly didn't smile, didn't even attempt to respond. She just turned and walked out of the room with no expression at all.
"That's great… she trusts you with something so important and you make a joke…" Lulu frowned at her father with disappointment.
"Awww, come on… I know it's Jax's baby… I was only kidding around… Wait, wait a second… why do you look so worried… could it be that my darling niece has been playing around when the playboy's out of town? Is that why there's a need for secrecy?" Luke sat up smelling a scandal in the making.
"I am only going to say this once… Let it go… Carly doesn't need the stress… part of the reason for the secrecy is that the pregnancy isn't going to be an easy one. So, for me, please just drop it and pretend you don't know anything about it." Lulu pleaded with her father hoping to reach through his need for excitement.
Luke agreed to silence and after Lulu went into the kitchen in search of plates, napkins and Carly, who had mysteriously vanished, they settled down in front of the television making small talk and eating pizza. Neither one knew that they were both silently worrying about the same person and the child she carried.
SPOILERS:
Jason apologizes, what will Carly do?
A father is revealed.
Ric is full of surprises.