Tenaya and Summer left Dillon to rest after his trying night, coming into the room as Scott, Flynn and Ziggy were coming down the stairs, heading to the kitchenette. They all paused for a second, seeing them in their slightly sleep-deprived state.
"The procedure was a success." Tenaya informed them, causing a collective sigh of relief from the others. "He's resting now, but Dr. K's pretty confident."
"Where are they?" Scott asked her.
"Dr. K, Sam and the twins all went to rest." Summer replied. Scott looked to be a little disappointed at having been asleep when she had finished, and so hadn't been there to congratulate her.
"How was Sam?" Flynn asked her. Summer turned to him, seeing the concern on his face. She knew that Flynn was only concerned for her welfare because of the baby. He just wanted to know that she hadn't exhausted herself or put any undue strain on herself.
"She was fine; she's just a little tired." Summer assured him. "Dr. K's let her have a bed here. She should be fine in a few hours." Hearing this, Flynn smiled, happy to know that everyone had gotten through the procedure without ill effect.
"Well I can see you two didn't get much sleep, so I'll just put on some coffee." Ziggy called over as he went to the counter.
"Well I for one am pretty hungry, so I'm just heading to the kitchen." Flynn added, making his way over. Scott looked at Summer and Tenaya a small smile playing on his lips.
"So how are the two of you holding up?" He asked them.
"I haven't really slept well, but other than that I'm pretty good." Summer told him. "I'll feel a lot better once Dillon's up and around."
"I'm alright." Tenaya added as he looked at her.
"Well I'm just happy this all worked out for all of you." He told them, leaving it at that. He didn't really think that it would help any to reprimand them over their rash decision to rush out into the wastes to confront him. Although it had ended well, it could easily have led to disaster, and they both knew it. Seeing the way they maintained the vigil though, he knew that making them feel worse about their decision wouldn't accomplish anything. "I'll help Dillon with the breakfast."
Summer took Tenaya by the hand and jerked her head in the direction of the sofa, leading her there and sitting down with her. Tenaya already knew what she wanted to talk about, and she wasn't looking forward to the conversation. Naturally, she had always wanted Ziggy to be the first to know.
"How long have you known?" Summer asked her as they sat down.
"I've known about a week." She replied in a small sigh. "As you know Ziggy and I spent the night together after Chas' wedding. I noticed I was late, and I remembered you telling me about that whole process, so I took a test."
"Did you...?"
"It wasn't planned." Tenaya interrupted her. "We were caught up in everything and we kind of...got caught up in everything."
"So you didn't take any precautions?" Summer asked her. Tenaya just shook her head.
"I never thought we'd take that step, not yet anyway." She said quietly. "Once we had...you know..., it never occurred to me that this might have happened."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Summer asked her.
"I wanted to tell Ziggy, but I knew he'd only worry." She explained as she thought back. "With the gang war and what happened with Dillon, a lot was going on, and I knew you'd need me in case Venjix attacked again, but I knew none of you would let me take the risk, so I just kept quiet and continued trying to help you get Dillon back. I planned to tell Ziggy then. I really wanted him to be the first to know, I don't know how Dillon could have known."
"I have to admit that kind of freaked me out a little too." Summer conceded. "I would really like to know more about what happened to him while he was out."
"I really hope he gets better soon." Tenaya replied. "Not just because he's my brother, but because I don't want to keep doing this. I really don't want to risk harming the baby any longer than I have to."
"Well Dillon already said he's going to take back the morpher as soon as he's back on his feet." Summer assured her, pulling her into a tight hug. "So have you thought about how you're going to tell Ziggy yet?"
"I really don't know how to, he's going through a rough time with this whole Fresno Bob thing." She continued. "It's really knocked him for a loop. Between that and dragging him into the whole Dillon thing, he's been through a lot. I really don't know how he's going to react."
"Tenaya, he needs to know." She replied. "One of the things that's hurt him so much about this business with his dad is the fact he's been lied to."
"I know, I guess you're right." Tenaya sighed. "I'll have to find some time to talk to him later."
"Talk to who?" Ziggy asked as he arrived with two cups of coffee. Summer accepted hers, before getting off the couch.
"You know, I think I could probably do with a lie down." Summer told him, before walking away. Tenaya noticed her going to the kitchenette first, likely to find a way to get the others out the way. She had been in the Garage with them a lot longer than Tenaya, and so knew exactly how hard it was to get any measure of privacy. Tenaya was thankful for this, putting her cup aside and took his hand gently, guiding him down onto the sofa and clearing her thoughts, trying to find how to begin.
Over in another area of town, Chas was sitting alone in his office, when Brie came in, making her way to a chair instinctively. She was now three months pregnant, and was noticeably beginning to show. She sat by his desk as Chas switched off the screens showing the maps of the activity in the city concerning the territories held in the gang war. He hadn't let anyone know of his involvement in the machinations of Fresno Bob and D46's activities, not even Brie. He had figured it was probably safest for her and their child if no one knew of his involvement, not to mention he was certain that the people of Corinth would be unlikely to be understanding of him trusting his city to a crime boss and a Venjix infiltrator.
"Chas, you're spending all your time in this office." She complained as she poured herself a glass of water from the jug on his table. "I've hardly seen you in the last couple of weeks."
"I'm sorry Brie, but I'm getting pressured from all sides on this." He told her. "I have refugees coming in from the contested zones every hour of the day, people have been picketing my office wondering what I plan to do about the last gangs, and the press are having a field day saying I'm just hiding here and pretending the problem doesn't exist."
"Chas, you knew that's what things would be like when you took this job." Brie reminded him. "Look at what has happened since this started. The Yo-Yo brothers are behind bars, Newmark is dead and two of the Cartels have been completely disbanded. Most of the city is back under control."
"That's not what the tabloids are saying." He sighed. "I really wish we were making more progress with the last of the territories. I just want all of this to be over. I know we're a long way from the border, but I know how I'd feel if you were at risk. That's why I'm so frustrated with how this is all going."
"I know you are, but you can't spend every hour of the day here." She told him. "Did you even remember that I had a scan today?"
"Was that today?" He asked her. "Brie, I'm so sorry, I was waiting on a report..."
"You're always waiting on a report." She muttered quietly. "I really wanted you to be there."
"I'm sorry I forgot, I'll make it up to you I promise." He said apologetically, making his way over to her and holding her. He placed his hand on her belly, stroking it softly. "You know the two of you are the most important thing in the world to me. I want to make the city safe so that our baby can grow up in a world that isn't so messed up."
"I understand that Chas, I just wish you didn't have to be away so much." She moaned as she held him. "I'm really proud of you."
"That means a lot Brie." He told her. "I'll have a guard detail take you home. Just rest up and take care of the little guy. I'll be home as soon as I can, I promise."
"I'll hold you to that." She replied, kissing him softly. A couple of guards came into the room to escort her home. "Try not to stay too late."
"I'll try." He stated as she went with them. "I love you."
As she left, he sat on his desk, feeling a little regret as he did so. He had missed a lot more of her pregnancy than he would have liked, but he was desperate to secure the city. He didn't want to bring his child into the city when it was threatening to tear itself apart.
"Your wife seems like a good woman." D46 announced as he arrived behind him. Chas just sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder if I deserve her." He commented. "What's going on?"
"Spike Mike's continuing to fortify his position." Marcus replied, moving round where Chas could see him. "He's reluctant to attribute any significant manpower to an assault. The truck's still there, they haven't made a move."
Chas pulled out a cell phone and dialled Hicks, getting an answer quickly.
"Hicks, what's going on with Ronan?" He asked him.
"They're building up to something, but the way Newmark went down, everyone's pretty nervous about making a committed move." He told him. Chas cursed under his breath as he heard this.
"Thanks Hicks, I'll get someone to take the truck out." He informed him. "If no one's going to check it out, there's no point in leaving it out there."
Back in the Garage, Tenaya was still just sitting, staring at Ziggy, unsure as to how to break the news to him. She fidgeted a little as she stared at him.
"Tenaya, you can tell me anything, you know that." He assured her, stroking some hair back behind her ear. "Did Dillon say anything?"
"He kind of did, but not the way you think." She told him. "Ziggy, you know I love you, I feel like we have something special, something that I've never felt before."
"Tenaya, if there's something wrong..."
"No, it's nothing like that!" She rushed out, seeing that he was becoming a little worried. "You remember what happened at the wedding?"
"How could I forget?" He asked her. "It was the most amazing..."
"Ziggy, I'm pregnant." She interrupted him. Ziggy paused for a second, staring at her for a moment. She looked at him, hoping to hear him say something, anything to indicate how he felt about the news. "Ziggy, please say something."
As he raised a hand, preparing to start, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell off the sofa, slumping to the floor. Tenaya knelt beside him, trying to revive him.
"Ziggy, wake up!" She yelled, trying to bring him around. "Ziggy!"
He started to stir a little at her touch as she shook him, beginning to rub his head a little before looking up at her.
"Ziggy are you alright?" She asked him. Ziggy looked at her, completely aghast as he remembered what she had told him.
"Did you just say...?" Tenaya just nodded to confirm what he was trying to ask. Ziggy pulled in towards the couch, resting his back against it to prop himself up as he felt himself getting a little weak again. "You're pregnant?"
"Yes, I'm pregnant." She reiterated.
"The wedding?" Ziggy asked her. Again, she nodded as she struggled to keep it together. Ziggy pulled her into him and held her gently as thoughts raced through his mind. He couldn't form any coherent thoughts. All he could do was hold the woman he loved as he stared into space, trying to imagine what the future would hold.
Fresno Bob came into Chas' office, finding him sitting there, pondering the way things were going. Their latest idea for ending the gang war had failed so far. They had thought that the truck would succeed in luring the remaining gangs out of hiding, but so far they hadn't taken the bait, forcing them to abandon the plan.
"It's alright, we'll think of something." Bob said warmly. "I didn't get to where I am by giving up when my first idea failed."
"We can't just throw the military into the contested zones; people are going to get killed." Chas replied regretfully. "If I just get Colonel Truman to launch an all out offensive, it'll tear what's left of that area apart."
"I'm not sure this idea's a complete failure yet." D46 told them, leaning against a wall, thinking about their options. "I just wonder if we're using the right bait."
Back at the Garage, Summer returned to the main room after having a lie down, finding Tenaya sitting alone on the couch. She approached her, noticing red streaks running down her face as she got closer and sat down next to her, tapping her on the shoulder.
"I guess you talked to Ziggy." She said as Tenaya looked at her. She just nodded. "I guess it didn't go that well."
"He never said anything." She muttered sadly. "He held me, and he kissed me, but he didn't say anything about how he felt or what he was thinking."
"Where is he?" Summer asked her. Tenaya just sniffed and shook her head.
"He left a little while ago." She informed her. "He didn't say where he was going. He just left without saying a word. It looked like he was freaking out."
"I guess it is pretty big news." Summer said with a shrug. "How are you coping?"
Tenaya didn't say anything; she just broke down in tears, at which Summer just held her, allowing her to cry on her shoulder.
At the orphanage, Ms. Foster was preparing lunch for the kids when she heard a gentle knock on the door. She looked up, finding Ziggy standing there. She just stared at him for a second. She hadn't seen him in several days. Looking at him, she couldn't help remembering the last time Benny had visited, begging her to tell him the truth about who she really was.
"Ziggy, come in." She welcomed him nervously. "This is a nice surprise, are you here to see the kids?"
"Not quite, I just needed to see you." He began, giving her a slight nervous feeling. Had Benny told him? Did he know she had lied to him? "Can I talk to you?"
"Of course, you know you don't have to ask that." She replied, showing him in and offering him a chair by the kitchen table. He sat down with her, breathing a heavy sigh as he did so.
"What's wrong?" She asked him, a little afraid about what he would say. He was clearly upset about something. She knew that he had found out about Fresno Bob, and she was a little worried he had found out about her too.
"Tenaya's pregnant." He told her. She felt a little relieved to hear this, but was no less concerned about him. "I found out a couple of hours ago."
"I take it this wasn't planned." She asked him. Ziggy shook his head as she held his hand in a comforting gesture.
"We got involved in a moment at Chas' wedding." He told her. "We got caught up in the moment."
"Well it's not ideal." She said quietly. "How's Tenaya?"
"She seems to be coping." He said with a shrug. "I wish I could say the same about myself."
"It's natural to be nervous." She said reassuringly. "Everyone gets scared when they find out they're having kids."
"It's not just that." He continued. "I'm not sure I'll be a good dad."
"What you talking about?" She asked him in a small laugh. "You are the most caring, wonderful person I've ever met. The way you take care of those kids when you come around is amazing!"
"I've only ever watched them for a couple of hours." He reminded her. "Taking care of a kid full time is a totally different story. What do I know about taking care of kids?"
"Nobody ever really knows what to do with kids." She replied. "It's just one of those things you learn through experience."
"It's not even like I have anything to go on, my own parents ditched me." He muttered. "I'm confident I'll be a horrible father, just like my own dad."
She felt a little hurt by what he had said, but she understood. She put her hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"I have every faith in you." She assured him. "Any kid would be lucky to have you as a father. Just because Bob left you..."
Ziggy held up a hand, cutting her off as she said this. She realised her mistake as he turned to face her, looking at her confused.
"I never told you about my father." He whispered. "How could you know that?"
Ms. Foster just sat, fidgeting uncomfortably as she stared at him, uncertain as to how she could answer him.