Before I forget, remember that this is all based upon what was known in season 2, specifically about Charlotte. And specifically meaning that back then, before they announced that Charlotte was a urologist, all indications pointed to her being a neo-natal specialist. Which, for those that don't know, would also mean that Charlotte is an OB/GYN, as from what I understand, you can't be a neonatologist without first having the OB field covered. On top of all general practitioner knowledge, of course. This is why earlier in this story I referred to Charlotte as being a 'women's doctor', or at least being skilled in that area, while not pursuing it actively.

On with the story:

When the door bell rang, she rolled her eyes, and quick and irritated kicked over the footstool and stood up to the peep hole. Figuring it was Dell come back about something stupid, but no doubt with food, she was willing to hear him out while she ate.

But when she opened the peephole Caroline was more than surprised at just who was standing there.
"Can I come in?"

Caroline's face looked frightened and worried as it shone through the barred peep-hole of Charlotte King's front door.

"Am I in trouble?" She asked.

Pretending to be Southern in nature if not voice he answered sternly, "I'm sorry I asked you a question. It wasn't a question. Open the door," he ordered.

He saw her face disappear from the peephole, heard a thud and the sound of latches being released. As Caroline held the door open for him he noticed she still was worried and obeying out of fear alone. Sam shrugged. Whatever worked, it was fine with him.

"You're home alone," he announced hiding his concern. While he didn't always like having the girl at the practice to be baby sat, he certainly didn't think that at this point she should be left alone.

For a brief moment she looked at him the way Charlotte sometimes did, as if he were stupid, already asking a question he knew the answer to. But then the look vanished as did the expression that she were about to spit out a smart aleck answer. It was because she was afraid of him. Sam knew that the fear was okay for the moment, serving his purpose, but that it couldn't remain so.

"Yeah, yes," she answered quickly, more formally.

So it worked for him and he might be able to get it continue to work to his advantage, which really only meant working to the girl's advantage.

He stood where he was, until she fumblingly offered him a chair to sit in in the living room.

He'd nodded and said thank you in answer before sitting.

Caroline stayed at a safe distance tapping her toes, her eyes darting from one side of the room to another.

"You're not planning on shooting me, are you?" He asked keeping his voice serious.

Her eyes widened instantly, and her mouth puckered, cheeks reddening as though she were on the verge of tears.

Quickly realizing his mistake he shook his head. "Nevermind, forget I said anything." He hadn't meant to make her cry.

"Am I in trouble?" She repeated her previous question.

"For what?"

"For anything," she offered.

He shrugged. "Maybe, probably not."

She gave a slight nod, then continued to stand silent.

Wondering why I'm here, he knew.

"Sit down," he gave her a smile then to let her know it wasn't a command.

She shook her head sadly. Then she sighed.

After a while she sat down on the couch, but looked hardly more comfortable than she'd been standing. She tried adjusting her position several times to alleviate discomfort to no avail, while Sam looked away pretending to be fascinated with the wall.

When she's stuffed every possible pillow behind herself, and Sam felt her fidgeting stop he resumed his original pose realizing belatedly she was probably jealous of his relaxed pose, and the fact that he wasn't in pain.

"You shouldn't be left alone," he announced saying what was immediately on his mind.

She shrugged, trying to look unconcerned, and not in pain.

"Why are you here?"

Good question. He certainly wasn't going to tell her the truth. If he did, she might tell Charlotte, and that might not be good. So he decided to speak around the truth, no matter how unpleasant the conversation would be.

"You shouldn't be so angry with Dell."

Her mouth became a straight line, her jaw tightened. She let out a slow quiet sigh, and Sam knew it was because she was keeping herself from saying whatever she was thinking.

"He really cares about you."

He saw her face cloud with anger and other emotions that she was working hard to conceal. The result was that her face scrunched up much like a pouting child before a temper tantrum. He remembered then that Cooper had mentioned she liked to throw things.

"Go away," her voice was watery and her lower lips stuck out.

"Caroline, I just meant that you should-"

She shook her head.

"Just go. Leave. Go away now. My Aunt Charlotte will not like that you were here."

Her jaw was so tight, it had to be painful. So to keep from causing her more pain or exerting herself further, as the tight rein she had on her real emotions had to be exhausting, Sam gently rose from the couch.

"Fine," he answered keeping his voice calm and non-judgmental. "But if you need anything you know you can always call us at the practice.

She didn't even nod in response.

Cooper dropped down onto the couch in Sam's office and sighed. Sam raised an eyebrow.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"Whenever I'm around Charlotte's niece, I feel…well, it's not like I," he paused for a moment in thought, "I mean I know that, I would know what to do if-"

Sam smiled and chuckled. "You're afraid she's going to go into labor, aren't you?"

Sam laughed harder and gave a knowing grin.

Cooper looked at him in shock. "How'd you know?"

He cocked his head and shrugged up one shoulder. "I know."

Cooper eyed him warily. "You know?" He looked at him more closely. "You know?" He repeated. "You wouldn't know unless, unless"

"I've felt the same way too."

"Around Caroline?" He sighed in relief. "Thank God, it's not just me."

"Nope." Same shook his head. "Naomi."

"What?!"

He nodded and Cooper leaned forward. Sam nodded towards the door. "Close it."

Quickly, Cooper did eager to hear whatever Sam had to say.

"Now, I love Naomi, you know. I mean, she was my wife, the mother of my child. And I love Maya, I of course I loved Naomi even more when she was pregnant- but I was scared too."

"Scared?"

"Out of my mind scared. While I loved the idea of becoming a father, and I was scared of how I would be able to become that- I was more scared, well- I mean, you know, the thought of seeing someone you love in pain. And the pregnancy had already been hard on her. The thought of her being in labor and being in all that awful pain? And then I would just have to stand there and watch it? It scared me to death."

"But when it actually happened, it was all okay, right?"

He snorted. "Hell no. It was worse. It was even worse than I imagined, even with my slammin' imagination. It was terrible. It was a nightmare. I apologized to her so much, and told her I'd do all of it for her would never get her pregnant again or she could kill me, and I meant it. I wanted to take back the whole idea of having a child-" he paused and shook his head, his eyes closed at the memory.

"Wow." Cooper exhaled and made a face of pained sympathy. "That is bad. I mean you'd think that being doctors and all, and seeing births and delivering babies, I mean we've all done it. I've done it."

Sam laughed. "I know. That's why you refuse to have anything to do with patient deliveries anymore."

"Hey, I don't see you stepping up in the department either. And yes, I happily let Dell and Pete have that area covered."

"I'm good once they're out," he continued, "the babies. And you know, that other stuff that's done to make a baby isn't so bad either," he grinned, "it's what happens in between- I hated it. All the screaming and crying."

"I know what you mean, not my cup of tea either."

Cooper sighed again. "So you know where I'm coming from."

"I know exactly where you're coming from."

"I just don't get how it doesn't phase Addison or Naomi, I mean we're men and have no fear of something that painful happening to us because it physically can't happen- they're women it is a real possibility for them."

"We're sissies."

"Yeah."

Cooper sat for a while then finally blurted out, "Something happened last night. At Charlotte's."

Sam's eyes widened in fear. "The kid have the baby?" He asked as a way to keep Cooper from knowing he'd visited the girl already that morning.

"No, nothing like that."

"Good." But you were afraid she was gonna?"

"I thought we went over that."

Sam held up his hands apologetically, but couldn't help grinning.

"Charlotte left us alone to go to the store-"

Sam laughed. "Did she pull her gun on you?"

"Not exactly. She did remind me that she had it, though. She stayed in bed for a long time, then she came out to get something to eat. At first she was upset to see me there, I didn't think she knew I was there, but then she was okay, we talked, ate, things were normal."

"And?"

"And all of a sudden she seizes up in pain, screaming."

Sam stared, wide-eyed.

"It was her back. I thought something was wrong earlier, she wouldn't sit down, and then it made sense that her back was hurting the whole time."

"What did you do?"

"She just stared sobbing, she couldn't move. I asked if it was her lower back like before and she nodded, because she couldn't do anything else." He took a breath in, "So I tried to remember what Pete had done, and hoped I was right. I put her in that turtle pilates yoga whatever pose, with her hands and knees on the floor, and pushed down on the backs of her hips with both hands. I felt something pop, then she relaxed and started crying."

Sam had been so engaged in Cooper's story that he hardly noticed Naomi hurrying past his office in her coat.

When Cooper paused for breath, the fact registered. Sam immediately rose from his chair and opened the door.

"Nae, where are you going?"

Naomi stopped in the hall, slinging her purse over her shoulder. "House call," she answered smiling.

Sam opened his mouth to say something, but as Naomi turned back around, he closed it and stepped back into his office.

"What is it?"

Sam sat down on the couch next to Cooper. "Said she had a house call."

Cooper looked confused. "I didn't think you could get IVF treatments at home."

"You can't."

"I didn't know Naomi really did house calls anymore," Sam spoke again, voicing his confusion, "usually Addison or Pete have that covered."

"Usually Pete," Cooper nodded agreeing.

Sam sighed. "I might as well tell you. I went to Charlotte's house today to see Caroline."

Cooper nodded appreciatively. "How was she?"

Sam grinned and answered, "Not in labor." He started laughing then and slapped Cooper on the back.

"You cannot tell anyone about that!" Cooper insisted.

"What?"

"Hey, I'm serious. You tell about that and I'll tell everyone that you were a sissy about your own kid's birth!"

"Hey! That's not a joking matter!"

"So we're agreed."

Sam looked at him sidelong and sighed deflating like a balloon. "Fine," he agreed grudgingly.

Cooper stood up then, announcing ominously, "Naomi doesn't make house calls."

"No, she doesn't." Sam agreed.

"Something's going on."

"That would be my guess."

"Are we going to find out what's going on?" Cooper looked at Sam the light of adventure in his eyes.

Sam grinned. "Yes, yes we are."