They arrive home at the loft right after they stop for lunch at Remy's. Rick has been keeping a journal since this whole ordeal with the trial has started. He wants to make his last entry. He walks over to his office just outside of his bedroom then he turns toward Kate and Alexis.
"Kate, Pumpkin, I will be in my office for a while. I need to do a little bit of paperwork." Rick says to them and then he disappears into his office and closes the door behind him.
Kate and Alexis glance at each other with a questioning look. Wondering if they should concern themselves with whatever paperwork he was about to do? They decide to be sneaky and let him get started and then ambush him while he is in his "zone" later.
"What do you think is going on Kate?" Alexis asks.
"Alexis you know how your father can get once he sets his mind to something he is all into it and he never gives anything away." Kate sweetly replies.
They sit on the very expensive leather couch. Kate loves the feel of the leather on her legs. As she relaxes back into the couch she looks down at her growing belly. She is now just under a week overdue. She has thought that making love to Rick two weeks before her due date would give the twins the opportunity to make their grand entrance into this world. It seems that the twins have different plans. She glides her hand over the top of her stomach.
Alexis looks at Kate in awe. She is the very definition of what a mother should be in her estimation. Kate makes another pass over the twins with her hand. As Alexis looks on she sees the push of what looks like a very small foot.
"Kate, did you see that?" Alexis exclaims.
"Alexis that's nothing just wait a minute or two and then watch what really happens. It's right around lunch when they are the most active." Kate responds.
Alexis looks for any further feet or hands to appear on Kate's midsection. She looks and then out of the blue it looks like they are fighting in Kate's belly and then the twins finally calm down.
"Boy, they really need to get out of there." Alexis comments.
"Tell me about it, Alexis. They are so active around lunch then again at 3 am that they wake me and your dad out of a sound sleep." Kate states with a tone of misery.
"Kate, while we are waiting for dad to get into his zone, would you want me to fix you something to eat?" Alexis asks as she rises to head toward the kitchen.
"Alexis that's a great idea I'm so hungry." Kate replies.
"Okay lunch coming right up." Alexis singsongs heading to the kitchen.
"Alexis don't forget the pickles and the ice cream with the chocolate syrup and Tabasco sauce!" Kate reminds the younger woman.
They sit at the table as they eat. Alexis can not figure how Kate was able to get off the couch after being sunken into it so deeply. Somehow she manages to do it. Now Alexis wonders. How on earth she could be eating what was in front of her?
"Alexis, do you think he is in his zone yet?" Kate asks as she finishes off the last spoonful of that awful concoction.
"Kate, it has been so quiet in there I am sure he must be." Alexis confirms.
Alexis tries not to think of what the dirty dishes contains. She disposes of the remnants then washes those dishes. Once she is finished she and Kate very quietly start towards Rick's office. The twins have different plans. They are even more active than before. Kate stops a second before moving again as the twins settle down a little. They peer into his office from between the door jamb crack. Kate studies the expression on his face.
"Alexis, I don't believe this…Come here and take a look." Kate coaxes.
Alexis trades places at the crack. She spies her father in his chair. He had a thick tome in his lap, He was putting pen to paper. This was nothing new to her. Rick has always written in some sort of journal.
"Kate, I do not see anything unusual." Alexis whispers back. "Dad often writes in a journal of some sort. It is his way of chronicling his thoughts and daily life. You should see the journals he kept about me when I was growing up."
Rick unaware of the commotion beyond the door was marshaling his thoughts to make this final entry in the journal about the clinical trial. This journal has been a quest of sorts. He was given such a low survival rate when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He would note in his journal everything and anything. It did not matter how insignificant.
It held thoughts about the trial. The way that Kate and Alexis had researched everything and found the trial in the first place. The way Kate told him that they were going to be parents. He detailed her weird cravings such as her fascination with Tabasco sauce. He has a habit from the start of this journal of re-reading the previous 10 or 15 pages before entering his last entry. Once the last entry was complete he would close this particular chapter in his life. He has come a long way. And he has the support of the woman he loves.
He misses participating with Kate on her cases. He is not sad, but he is a part of her team. She is on a forced maternity leave. She has 6 months after the twins were born before she needs to return. They have talked about it. They came to the decision that he would stay behind and care for the twins once they were here. He would miss her and the boys at the 12th but everything would work out in the end.
"Alexis, does it look like to you that your dad is crying? He is just staring down at his desk." Kate asks as Alexis replaces her at the cracked open door.
"Kate, This is getting ridiculous us spying on him through this crack. I think we need to get in there and find out." Alexis admonishes.
They both rise from the crouching position then softly knock on the door. They hear no reply then they slowly open the door and enter his office. Moving as quietly as possible in order to not disturb him they move to his left. They just stand there looking at him. He still has the tome in his lap. His pen is in his hand. They both look at the page. It is totally blank. He has not written anything under today's date. His face is tear streaked. His eyes look so very tired but relieved. He still did not acknowledge either of them in the room with him. Kate being concerned tries to make contact.
"Rick, are you alright?" Kate asks as she gently touches his face.
"Alexis, Kate what are you doing in here?" Rick says startled.
"Dad we were worried. You have been in here for almost 2 hours." Alexis comments.
"Rick what's wrong?" Kate asks again gaining his attention by caressing his face.
Rick became a bit self-conscious as he turns to Kate to ally her fears.
"Kate, these tears you see me crying, are not tears of sadness. They are tears of joy. The fact that I am here with all of you is a miracle in itself. Since, all this has started. I have been keeping a journal from day one. Now I'll be placing the last entry. However, I am going to let the two of you read what I have written to this point.
They both look at each other. They know that what is written in the journal is private.
"Dad those are your private thoughts…I'd rather not read them." Alexis protests.
"I'm with Alexis on this one Rick…You should keep your thoughts private." Kate concurs.
"Kate, Alexis I appreciate your deference. However, this is my journey. It is also our journey too. We all are in this together. As a storyteller, I want you to know all about this journey that we made together." Rick states.
They both watch as he gets up from his chair. He places the tome on the desk open.
"Please read what I have written on these pages. This is not just my story." Rick says as he exits the room toward the bedroom and beyond then he closes the door.
They both look at each other stunned. Kate picks up the book.
"Come on Alexis, let's see what your father has written." Kate says as she settles on the love seat.
Alexis shrugs then joins her.
Kate holds the book on her massive belly then begins reading. It takes about 3 hours since they started, but they have completed it. They find how he was feeling, what worried him along with his fears and needs. They even tried to understand his doodles in the margin. They were both weeping then leaning into each other for some kind of support. Drying their eyes, they both walk out of his office then go searching for him.
They did not have to search long. His distinct sound as he sleeps gives him away. They follow the sound which leads them to him on the leather couch. Not wanting to wake him they cover him with a light flannel blanket.
"He is a very loving man." Kate says with much compassion as she eyes his sleeping form.
"I can't believe that he would actually think about ending his life, Kate." Alexis confesses after they remove themselves away to be considerate.
"Alexis, unfortunately, I can understand that feeling all too well." Kate confesses.
"Why Kate did you ever consider that too?" Alexis asks alarmed.
Kate looks ashamed but answers the question.
"Yes, I did once after my mother was murdered and no one would do anything about it I contemplated it." Kate replies. "So I do understand his wishes."
Alexis gasps as Kate continues.
"Alexis, you need to understand that he had hit the lowest point in his life. Me and your father were not actually exclusive when he was diagnosed. While he had my support, he wanted me out of his life, to be done with me. So he would die in peace sparing me the heartbreak of losing him. I guess that he thought that ending his life would spare the people he loves so deeply from the way this disease would ultimately take him away." Kate explains.
"I see his point about you but what about me? He never had this discussion with me. So what you're saying is that if we never found the trial he would have left me all alone without him?" Alexis asks horrified of the thought.
"Sweetie, while it seemed to be his best and only option at the time. He really did want to spare you all of his pain." Kate says darkly.
Alexis still unnerved by what she has read gets up.
"Kate would you like some juice. I find I am rather thirsty." Alexis asks.
"Yes, juice would be fine…Please, do not disturb your father as you go past him. He has had a very emotional day." Kate pleads.
"Kate I will be a quiet as a mouse." Alexis says which made Kate smile.
Having gone back to the office to discuss the book Alexis winds her way to the kitchen. Kate watches then chooses to move too. There was no reason she could not get her own juice. So she follows her out to the kitchen carrying the heavy book then settles on a stool.
Kate has caught up as Alexis places the glass on the kitchen island. She turns to put the juice container back in the fridge. Returning to the counter top, Alexis slides the glass over to her. The momentum carries the glass further than she has expected. The glass slides into the journal then knocks it off the granite top onto the floor. Kate stops the glass from spilling then reaches down to retrieve the heavy book.
Something is wrong, really seriously wrong. She isn't able to return to the standing position. She doesn't want to startle Alexis. She tries once more and the pain is becoming more sharp and unbearable. She finally was in labor. The twins have finally decided it was time to join the rest of us.
Kate cries out in pain as the next contraction hits.
"Kate what's wrong?" Alexis asks as she rushes to Kate's side.
That is when they both notice the puddle forming on the floor under her.
"Alexis I'm fine my water just broke. I'm going into labor wake your father. The twins are coming" Kate pants as another painful contraction hits.
Alexis did not need to wake her father since he woke up with Kate's first screams of pain.
"Alexis what's happening?" Rick asks as he bounds into the room.
"Dad it is finally happening…Kate's in labor" Alexis explains as Kate screams out again.
"Labor…? ...Oh, labor…The twins are coming." Rick responds.
Kate is still bent over by the breakfast bar. Seeing Kate like this he goes into full protection mode. Kate recognizes Rick beside her.
"Rick, I think that we should seriously think about going to the hospital." Kate pants through the next wave of pain.
"Where is the pain located babe?" He asks.
"It's mostly in my back I can't straighten up." Kate pants.
Thinking for a second, he places his one arm by the joint of her knees. The other arm is placed behind her back. Tilting her into his arms he slowly lifts her into his arms. He walks out into the living room. He looks into her eyes. He can see the pain she is experiencing.
"Alexis go into the hall closet and get me two or three tennis balls." Rick says.
"Dad...?" Alexis asks confused.
"Alexis, don't question, just do, okay." Rick says.
Alexis rushes to the closet and gets the tennis balls. Rick is hovering Kate over the couch. Alexis runs over to where he is located.
"Pumpkin, as I lower Kate onto the couch place one of the tennis balls right above her hip in the small of her back." Rick instructs.
Alexis complies. Rick lowers her onto the couch. The tennis ball is wedged into her back bringing her almost instant relief to Kate. They cover her with the same blanket he just used. It is still nice and warm. Then he kneels beside her.
"Kate does this help at all?" Rick asks.
"Rick the pain is more manageable now…Thank you. We need to move fast. These babies will be here very soon." Kate instructs.
"Alexis dial 911 for me, please." Rick commands.
Rick takes her hand and squeezes it gently.
"Hang on Kate, you'll be out of here soon..." He says as he looks down with a loving smile.
A/N: There will be the finale tomorrow.
A/N2: I would like to thank all the Guests and regular members who have sent a review for this story and my other ones as well. Earlier last week I might have acted like a cry-baby. And I do apologize. Reviews are what keep us going as writers. While we expect to please everyone who reads our thoughts of fiction, there are some people who act (and review) as if we are writing for their satisfaction. This is not the case. I hope that you, the reader are content with the way this story has gone. Again I thank everyone who sent a review good or bad.
P2P