"Mister Arlette, I have some news about your baby."

The doctor's grim face did nothing to reassure Eddie that any news the doctor might be imparting to him was going to be positive, in any way, but nevertheless, he spared a quick glance at Fiona before standing up to meet the balding man. Although, he had to say that if it weren't for the fetal heart monitor, he might have already gone completely ape on the idiots in this hospital. "What is it?"

"I've contacted her obstetrician for further monitoring of the baby but so far, her heart rate has remained steady and she's shown no signs of anything wrong." The doctor informed Eddie quietly, "I'm Doctor Garrott by the way, Steven if you prefer. Where, may I ask, did this anxiety attack take place?"

"We were looking at a place we thought we wanted to buy but not anymore." Eddie shook his head, looking over at Fiona. "She's been like this for a while. Anxiety attacks, mood swings, even before she was pregnant."

"Do you know what anxiety is?" Steven questioned him.

"Not really."

"Anxiety is the body's fight or flight response, but heightened. It's an over-reaction to stress." Steven explained patiently but his words were sharp and intelligent. "High levels of adrenaline cause symptoms of a panic attack such as increased heart-rate, an inability to focus, nausea, feeling panicked, shortness of breath, etcetera. Most of the symptoms you described to me when you brought her in. Anxiety attacks during pregnancy expose the baby to high levels of cortisol. Since this is the first severe anxiety attack, she's had since being pregnant, the baby will most likely be fine."

"What would happen if she has anymore?" Eddie asked him - although the feeling of dread creeping up on him let him know that he probably didn't really want to know the answer.

"She could deliver prematurely and the baby could have developmental delays. There are a number of long-term effects this could have on her, but the fact is, we won't know more until her obstetrician arrives." Steven explained with a quick glance at Fiona. "Her heart-rate is down to almost normal. It's up but nothing that concerns me. What does concern me is her blood-work. If these calcium levels are any indication, she's been diagnosed with preeclampsia."

"On her last doctor visit," Eddie nodded, shoving his hands into the pocket of his jeans. "We've been working on her diet."

"I'm going to consult with her doctor about a calcium supplement and a Vitamin-B-twelve supplement. Her low levels indicate she's borderline anemic." Steven sighed, sharp gray eyes examining the heart monitors and the oxygen monitor. "Mister Arlette, what concerns me is that she isn't taking the necessary steps to ensure a healthy pregnancy."

"Listen, Doctor Garrott, she hasn't exactly had the best year. There was a hostage situation at the store she worked at and she was caught in the middle." Eddie informed him sharply, not at all liking the doctor's implications. He wasn't sure if he was tired or protective or both but his tone was seething and he practically foamed at the mouth when he finally spoke again. "She was borderline Post Traumatic Stress for a month and has had anxiety ever since. Her pregnancy hasn't been easy on her and anxiety certainly hasn't helped. She was in bed for the first three months and that was when she could get there without throwing up. I understand what you're saying but you need to understand the circumstances. We didn't plan this pregnancy. Hell, we haven't planned our lives for at least a year now."

"I'm sorry. I was not made aware of this. I'll consult with her obstetrician and ensure she receives the care she needs." Steven apologized before stepping out of the room.

It was without his permission that the tears stung his eyes. Damn it to all hell. He had not meant to go off on the doctor like that. He wass exhausted and he couldn't handle the stress anymore. He'd known for a while that this was going to catch up to him. He knew that his technique of just hiding it all away would not prove so tried and true this time. It was going to come out and he wasn't sure he was prepared for the backlash. He collapsed back into the chair and dropped his elbows to his knees, buring his face in his hands.

The broad expanse of his shoulders tremble with a vulnerability so rarely seen in Edward Arlette and it was for the first time that let himself have this moment of vulnerability. His cheeks are quickly dampened with tears. He didn't know why he's crying. He couldn't pinpoint any of the last ten months being the cause because it had been such a jumbled up mixture of happiness and stress and exhaustion. He couldn't say that it was any of it or maybe it was all of it.

He just didn't know.

But he had to let it go. For his sake. For Fiona's sake. For his daughter's sake.

xxx

It was two hours later when her obstetrician arrived. Abigail Carter was a one-woman show, that was for sure. She was a graceful, elegant woman but she had her eccentricities and he thought that was why Fiona adored her. She wasn't cold and clinical. She actually genuinely cared about each of her patients and seemed to adore Fiona just as much as he knew Fiona loved her. She smiled calmly at him as she entered the room and swept her eyes over Fiona's sleeping form.

"How's the patient?" Abigail asked him softly, kneeling beside his chair.

"Calm, for now. But earlier...it was bad." Eddie shook his head, scrubbing his face with his hands. "I have never seen her like that."

Abigail just nodded and stood up, moving closer to Fiona. She examined the heart monitor of mother and baby with equal intensity before speaking again; "Well, all in all, the baby's heart rate seems normal and Fiona's is slowly returning to normal. I want to run some more blood work because I understand Doctor Garrott is concerned about her calcium levels."

"Will they be okay?" Eddie asked her, obviously quite scared of what she might say.

"Oh, I'd say they'll both be fine." Abigail smiled reassuringly, "But you do need to understand that if this happens anymore, there could be negative long-term effects on the baby."

"Like what?"

"Like for instance, prenatal stress has been linked to emotional and conduct problems in girls. That's in children, though." Abigail explained calmly and patiently. "In infants, it tends to lead to temperment problems and an increase in fussiness. It can also cause problems with attention and emotional reactivity along with a decreased rate of mental development."

"Which means?" Eddie was concerned and Abigail clearly sensed that because she smiled reassuringly.

"That your child could develop anxiety as well and it could be just as bad, if not worse than her mother's." Abigail explained, looking over at the heart monitors again. "I really don't think there's anything to worry about though. I'm going to run a prenatal test as well as Fiona's bloodwork. We'll see how that comes back. If her calcium level is low I'm going to give her a calcium supplement and she should be on her way home within the next two days."

"Okay." Eddie nodded although he isn't sure he actually understood any of what she just said.

"Mister Arlette, these tests take a while and Fiona is going to be asleep for quite some time. Might I suggest you venture out for something to eat?" Abigail suggested, noting his exhaustion. "These last few hours have clearly exhausted you and there isn't a thing you can do while we run these tests on Fiona. Go home, take a shower, maybe nap for a bit, get something to eat and come back. You'll feel much better and it'll give you a chance to process everything."

"Alright." Eddie nodded, standing up from his chair. "I need to make some calls. Take off from work for a few more days."

"Go. She'll be fine." Abigail encouraged him. "I promise."

"Call me?"

"Of course."

Eddie reluctantly left the hospital to make some calls and get something to eat. While he knew that he wouldn't be of any use while her doctor ran tests, he also couldn't help but feel like he should have been there with her. Nevertheless, he returned home after a quick stop for a meal he wasn't sure he would eat, and picked up the phone. This was one phone call he dreaded but it had to be done. Her mother deserved to know the truth.

"Hello Missus Bickerton, this is Eddie Arlette. I'm calling about Fiona..."

Um. Yeah. Soo...'kay, bye! Lol! So I'm just going to go curl up in a ball in a corner and you know...do that the thing that writer's do when their muses hate them and bail out on them for TWELVE freaking days! i.e. I'm going to go coax my muse back into working form and get his fantastic ass in gear - my muse is, essentially, Robert Downey Jr. and yes, his ass is fantastic! Lol! Leave me some love, Dolls!

Love ya,

RobertDowneyJrLove

P.S. To my dear niagaraweasel, I wrote this chapter because as much as you love hurt/comfort, I know you were probably secretly hoping for a happy ending on this one.