Notes: We're headed down an angsty dip guys and gals, but don't worry, there's elevation on the other side!
By the end of the next week the kids and Andy had gotten over their cold and it ended up hitting Sharon. It had knocked her off her feet for a couple days, forcing her to stay and work from home. After a quiet weekend at home she returned to work on Monday working through the tail end of the stuffy nose and cough before she was back to full health.
"I thought you said you didn't feel nauseous when you were sick," Sharon says as she turns her nose away from the coffee Andy offers in her direction.
"I didn't," Andy says as he fills his mug before putting the pot back and sitting down at the table with her and the kids, "None of the kids got sick to their stomachs."
"I've been nauseous for days," Sharon says with a wrinkle of her nose as she finishes the toast in front of her.
"Maybe you should go to the doctor," Andy suggests as he reaches over and wipes Ricky's face off.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Sharon replies with a shake of her head.
"Then go and find out it's nothing," Andy suggests, "The rest of us were feeling better by this point, if you're not maybe it's something else."
"Down!" Ricky yells, banging his fists on his tray.
"Hey!" Andy says, giving the boy an unamused look, "No yelling."
"Wan down!"
"I'll get you down when we're done with breakfast," Andy tells him before turning back to Sharon, "I don't think it would hurt to go."
"I'll call when I get to work," Sharon agrees before starting to collect everyone's plates. She washes everything off quick before loading them into the dishwasher, "Em, go grab your bag, we have to leave soon."
"Okay," Emily says hopping down from her chair and running back to her room to grab her things.
"Wan down!" Ricky yells louder after Emily leaves.
"Richard!" Sharon snaps back. Ricky lets out an angry yell before starting to cry.
"Oh my goodness boy," Andy says with a sigh as he stands before undoing the tray on Ricky's chair before unbuckling and letting him down. The boy stops crying as his feet touch the ground and he wipes his eyes before walking to where Lily was laying in the corner of the kitchen. He squats down in front of her and reaches out to pet her head. Sharon shakes her head and grabs both of the kids' lunches out of the fridge before Emily comes back. She hands both of the lunches to Andy and kisses him on the cheek before kissing Emily and picking Ricky up to kiss his head.
"Thank you for taking them."
"No problem," Andy smiles and kisses her once more before taking the kids out to his patrol car to load them in. Sharon locks up the dog and the house before getting in her own car and heading towards the office. She gets in and picks up a few files from her desk before starting her day. She calls the doctor's office over her lunch break and makes an appointment to come in later in the afternoon.
On her way out of the office she stops by Andy's desk and taps her nails against the top. Her eyes scan the room, watching as the other officers glare at her. Andy looks up from the case file on his desk, arching his eyebrow at her.
"What's up?"
"I'm heading out a little bit early, there was an opening this afternoon that they were able to fit me into," Sharon says, hitching her bag over her shoulder, "I'll take care of getting the kids, do you know when you'll be home?"
"Late probably," Andy says, "I'll call."
"Okay," Sharon nods, offering him a small smile and a soft look before heading out to her car. She makes her way to the doctor's office, getting checked in before taking a seat in one of the open chairs. Prepared to wait she grabs one of the files from her purse and flips it open before starting to read and write.
It takes about twenty minutes before a nurse comes out to call her back. She stuffs the file back into her bag before following the woman back to an exam room. They take some basic vitals before she's left alone to change into the gown on the table. Sharon changes, folding her clothes up and setting them on the chair before climbing onto the edge of the table to wait. A few minutes later her doctor comes in and she offers a small smile in greeting.
"How are you doing Sharon?"
"I've been better," Sharon says.
"Want to tell me whats up?"
"The kids were all sick a couple weeks ago, and then I got sick last week," Sharon explains, "It wasn't anything serious just a basic cold, but I've been nauseous since it hit me. All the other stuff cleared up but it hasn't really gone away. I was talking to Andy this morning and he said he didn't really have an upset stomach or anything and neither did any of the kids."
"You got your flu shot this year?"
"Yeah," Sharon nods.
"Any other aches and pains?"
"Not particularly," Sharon shakes her head.
"Alright, let's look you over," The doctor says after reviewing some of Sharon's information. She snaps on a pair of gloves before starting to examine Sharon quietly before speaking up a few moments later, "When was your last period?"
"Um, it's been a few months," Sharon says as she tips her head back while her lymph nodes are felt, "With the IUD it comes and goes."
"You've been having sex?"
"Yeah," Sharon nods, laying back on the table as the doctor palpates her abdomen.
"Any pain?"
"No," Sharon shakes her head before sitting up again. The doctor looks over the paperwork again before taking her gloves off.
"Would you mind giving us a urine sample for some quick tests and then we'll see what we might be able to do for you?"
"Sure," Sharon nods. The doctor gives her a cup and points her towards the bathroom.
"Go ahead and get dressed and then give this a quick fill. Just bring it back in here when you're done."
"Thanks," Sharon says. The doctor leaves the room and she gets back into her clothes before heading over to the patient bathroom to fill the sample cup. After using the bathroom and washing her hands Sharon brings the cup back to the exam room, setting it on the paper towel before taking a seat back on the edge of the exam table. A nurse pops in and grabs the cup, taking it with her as she leaves.
Sharon looks at her watch as she waits, making sure that she was still going to be able to get to the school on time to pick up the kids. As her brain gets used to the silence she jumps as the door opens before her doctor comes in again.
"Sorry if I startled you."
"It's okay, I just zoned out there for a second," Sharon smiles, her mouth straightening as she takes in the doctor's apprehensive look.
"So, from what we can tell you are pregnant," The doctor tells her, leaning against the small counter in the room, "I can't tell you much more than that right now. What I want you to do though is go to your OB tomorrow and meet with her. Things are more sensitive with pregnancies that occur while the IUD is implanted. She'll be able to run more tests and help walk you through your treatment options."
Sharon's mouth gapes for a few moments, opening and closing before her eyes narrow in confusion, "What?"
"It's about a .5% chance of this happening with proper implanting…but it does happen," The doctor says, "The nurse at the front desk will get you scheduled for tomorrow, is there anything else that you need from me today?"
"Um…no," Sharon shakes her head with a twitch, her eyes glued to the floor as her brain wracks it self trying to process the information. She gets up and grabs her bag and jacket before heading out to the waiting room to talk to the nurse waiting for her at the front desk. The nurse offers her a few appointment times for the next day and she picks the earliest one available, thanking her as she fills out a reminder card before hurrying her way out of the office. She pauses next to the car and runs her hand across her middle, taking a shaking breath as her eyes tear up. She unlocks the car and gets in, taking a moment to collect herself before going to pick the kids up from school.
Ricky gets picked up first and then they walk their way over to pick Emily up before returning to the car. Sharon tucks them both into the back seat before getting in herself and heading home. Emily races inside to change her clothes and Sharon holds the door open as Ricky toddles in behind her.
"Wily home!" Ricky yells before going over to Lily's crate and flipping the lock to let her out.
"Come on, let's take Lily outside," Sharon says as she opens the back door. The dog runs outside, doing a few laps of the yard before going to the bathroom.
"Go pay?"
"Yeah, you can go out and play," Sharon nods with a small smile before looking through the fridge to decide on dinner. Emily comes skidding through the kitchen and out the back door a couple moments later to join the two in the back. Sharon pulls out part of a leftover chicken and grabs a box of macaroni and cheese out of the pantry before starting to ends up serving the kids the chicken and a little bit of mac and cheese, leaning against the counter as she finds herself plowing through the rest of the cheese coated noodles.
After dinner she lets them out back again as she quickly washes the dishes before going to the bedroom to change her clothes. She ends up in leggings and an oversized sweater, making her way out back to sit on a lounge chair as she watches the kids. Sharon jumps as she feels a hand on her shoulder, her head snapping up to look at Andy. He tilts his head and arches his eyebrow in confusion.
"Sorry, didn't you hear me?" Andy apologizes, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"No, sorry I didn't," Sharon shakes her head before offering him a small smile, "I thought you were going to be late."
"I got out earlier. You guys already have dinner?"
"Yeah, we just ate left overs. Do you want me to make you something?"
"No I can find something myself," Andy shakes his head before frowning again, "Are you okay? How did your appointment go?"
"Okay, I have another one in the morning though at 8:30, so I can get the kids to school."
"Another one?" Andy says with worry in his tone.
"I'm fine," Sharon assures him, "I'll tell you about it later."
"Okay," Andy says, squeezing her shoulder again before heading inside to make himself dinner. Sharon gets the kids bathed and ready for bed before tucking them in. She shuts the door behind herself and moves into her bathroom for her nightly routine. After brushing her teeth and washing her face she pulls her hair back in a messy bun, walking back down to the living room where Andy was watching tv, "You know I hate this awkward season between football and baseball, there's nothing on."
"Only another month before pitchers and catchers report," Sharon says as she sinks down close to him, immediately snuggling into his side and wrapping her arm around him. Andy's arm easily falls around her shoulders as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
"Vic called while you were giving the kids a bath, she was wondering if we could take the kids on Friday night also."
"Sure," Sharon nods, "It's nice that she's bringing them over more."
"It is," Andy agrees with a smile. The two of them sit for a while before Andy squeezes her, "What did they say at the doctor?"
"I'm pregnant," Sharon says, staring straight ahead at the tv, "That's why I have another appointment tomorrow. The doctor wanted me to go to my OB for more tests because of the IUD…apparently stuff can…it's just different."
"Oh…," Andy says, sitting quietly for a few minutes, "I wasn't expecting that."
"Me either…"
"Are you…do you…" Andy takes a deep breath before finishing his sentence, "Do you want to do this?"
"No, but we'll make it work," Sharon says, rubbing the palm of her hand over his stomach, "It'll get better."
[TBC]