Double Life

Disclaimer: Don't own Wendell and Vinnie, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 36 (The Doctor Appointment)

They did the paperwork before the appointment and Taryn waited anxiously between Kelly and Wilma. She just wanted to leave and go down to Spencer's store. She had to support him. Wilma did call him up and let him know she was having a check up with her doctor. The woman at the reception desk was friendly enough, and there were several people with young children waiting with them as well as patients her age. Surely Dr. Neela wasn't the only one seeing them all, but she had no clue.

The nurse called her back after only ten minutes. This was great, considering she'd only ever been to free clinics and usually had to wait an hour or two before anyone called. She was eligible for health insurance at her work, but couldn't quite afford it.

After running through the vitals, the nurse sat her down to ask the basic questions. She sat on the examining table, gently tapping her heels against it. Kelly and Wilma sat in the blue chairs between the table and the blue counter.

The nurse had long blonde hair and had pink scrubs. She appeared to be in her late twenties. "Okay, Miss Baker." The nurse looked up from the desktop computer on the desk attached to the wall. Her fingers rested neatly on the keys and her smile turned up gently. "When was your last physical? Have you had regular checkups?"

"Um no…I've been waiting to get my health insurance started." Wilma was paying for this, so she was grateful to her. "I mean I guess I could apply. I haven't really checked to see when I'm eligible, I think it's next month, but I could be wrong. My vet clinic offers Cigna to their employees." She bit her lip and glanced at her sisters through the corners over her eyes. Her heart was racing and her face was flush. How could they be so calm?

The nurse cleared her throat and reached over, patting her hand to comfort her. The gesture did its job, but only mildly. "Okay, well you will definitely want to get that checked. Can you remember when your last physical was?" At that, she froze. What was an honest answer? Two years? Five?

"It has been a few years."

"When was your last pap smear?" Women were supposed to get those pap tests done every year, but she never did. She maybe had them regularly as a girl growing up through her teens and starting years of college, but that was it.

"I think about two years ago," She lied. Kelly glared sharply at her and she immediately shrank away as her sister corrected her for the nurse.

"She's not gotten one of those done since she was about twenty-three. She's thirty now." The nurse nodded and wrote the answer down in her notes. Taryn's stomach flipped over and she leaned her head back against the wall.

"All right, Dr. Neela may want to get that procedure done." That's what she was afraid of. Her shoulders slumped and the nurse looked at her with reassurance. "It is not a difficult procedure. Nothing to be afraid of."

"I know, I just…Doctors scare me sometimes."

"You will be okay, I promise, this is just a check-up correct?" Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, headaches, Taryn could name the entire list of things that had been going on in her body the last few weeks. "Now, you're here because of…" The nurse picked up her clipboard and ran through the notes. "Nausea and vomiting?"

"Yeah, headaches too."

"Okay." The nurse turned around and started to go through the questions. "Do you smoke?" She gagged at the thought of cigarettes. Nobody in her family smoked, and that was one of the only things she had in common with any of them.

"No."

"Drugs? Alcohol?"

"No, and I haven't drank in a couple months now."

"Okay. Have you been sexually active?"

"No." Kelly and Wilma shot her a suspicious look and Taryn flinched. She rolled her eyes and lifted an index finger. The Nurse retained her friendly smile. "I had sex one time with my fiancé back on the 5th. We are not currently active and are waiting until we are married."

"Oh? When is the wedding day?"

"We're thinking August 20th." Taryn folded her arms and tilted her head to the right. "Okay I lied, I can get Cigna. I just can't afford it right now. I'd be able afford it once I become a veterinarian. I suppose I could afford it once I get married, I don't know."

Wilma coughed and Taryn glanced over to her, "You do realize Vinnie has insurance coverage for his family and his employees. Right?"

"Oh yeah...So there is that." It slipped her mind really, but it was good to know she could likely be added to the insurance when she got married. "If I have to come down here then, I will."

"No, it's better we have this done now. Also when was your last menstrual period? Have to ask that to every female patient that comes in."

"My last period? Um…" Taryn put her hands to her stomach and frowned, she didn't really remember. "The 22nd of May, I think. I didn't get mine yet this month."

"Okay, thank you Taryn. Dr. Neela will be in to see you shortly."

"Thanks." After a couple more questions, the nurse went off. Taryn waited in silence and bowed her head. The nausea from earlier was gone, so she didn't see any point of this appointment. "Wilma. Honestly I can come here after Spencer puts me on his insurance, you don't have to pay…"

"Don't worry about it. It's necessary." Wilma crossed her arms and Kelly nodded her head. Taryn frowned and shrugged her shoulders and laid down on the examining table. She was terrified of this appointment. The last time she'd been comfortable with a doctor was longer ago than she could remember.

Ten minutes passed and a knock came at the door. Taryn jolted upright as a dark-skinned woman with an Indian voice greeted them. She had black hair that went down to her chin and a very friendly smile that meshed well with her inviting brown eyes. Taryn started to smile as the woman extended a hand. "Hello, Taryn? I am Dr. Neela."

"Hi! I've heard good things about you from Wilma."

"Ah." Dr. Neela smiled at Wilma and took a seat at her swivel stool. She held her clipboard in her hand and tapped it gently on her leg. "So tell me, why are you shaking?"

"Am I?" She hardly noticed. "I uh, it's been a while since I've been to a doctor. I get nervous."

"Well no reason to be sweetie. It seems we have a few procedures to get you through, and I'll try to get those done as quickly as possible and you'll be able to go home, all right?"

"Okay…so Wilma brought me here because I've been sick. Nauseous and moody, I guess. Some smells have been getting to me."

"And how long have these symptoms been going on dear?"

"A week or two now. I think it's just stress sickness."

"Stress sickness?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Well first, before we begin, I'd like you to take a quick test." Taryn stiffened and watched as the doctor pulled a rectangular object from a tiny packet. "It is nothing serious, we ask all new female patients to take this on every visit."

"What is it? Like…" She chuckled nervously and tucked her hair back as she studied the object. "Is that like a pregnancy test or something?"

"Yes." Dr. Neela rolled the chair over to her and handed her the object. Taryn held it carefully in her hair, whining as both Wilma and Kelly raised their eyebrows up. There was a round circle on the object and a rectangular screen. "I'm just going to show you this, you actually only have to pee in that cup-" The doctor pointed to the urine cup in a plastic bag that was sitting on the counter. "What my nurse has to do is take a drop from the urine and put it on that small round screen." The doctor slid her pen across the object and pointed towards the rectangular screen. "If one line appears, that will mean the test comes up negative, if there are two lines, it will be positive. If you have not been sexually active, you will have nothing to worry about."

"Um…" She was beginning to get nervous now, because she was starting to think on the occurrence of her symptoms. A normal period cycle was every 28 days, give or take a few days to a week. Her period should have come a week ago this month, or at the very least, started this week. "I haven't had my period, Dr. Neela. I only had sex once, that was with my fiancé. You don't think…"

"Well, take the test and we'll discuss this nausea you've been having. Okay sweetie?" She was soothed by the doctor's warm smile and quickly nodded. She threw herself from the table and looked away. "Which way is to the bathroom?"

"Down the hall and to the left."

"Thank you." Her heart skipped a beat as she stared down at the test. This didn't necessarily mean she was pregnant, did it? It was just a test that every woman did when they came to this clinic? "H-How long will it take to determine?"

"Only three to five minutes."

"Okay…I'll be right back."

It took her about five minutes just to go in the cup, only because she was essentially terrified of this procedure. The thoughts that were running through her mind involved Spencer's reactions to a potential pregnancy. She had to admit that he was her first, even when it came to her ex, she never had intercourse with him. Leaving the bathroom, she handed the urine cup, with a paper towel wrapped around it, to the nurse. She pushed her hands into her back pockets on her jeans and stared down at the cup. "It was my first time. Vinnie doesn't know, well he sort of does, I mean…It was just one time too."

The nurse lifted her eyes up and smiled tenderly at her, "Do you think you're pregnant?"

"I…I don't know. I'm kind of scared that I might be now that I think about the symptoms I've had lately. This is just a common procedure for new patients, right? We're not doing this because we think I'm pregnant?"

"Correct, but if you think you are, then talk to Dr. Neela. She will give you the best advice."

"Okay. I mean…if I were to be. It wouldn't be a bad thing at all, because I'm getting married and I want to be a mommy, I just-I don't know how anyone will react." She shook her head and laughed sheepishly as the nurse set the cup down on a sheet on the table. "I'm sorry, I'll let you get back to your job."

"It's okay, Miss Baker. Just remember, if this comes out positive, be open and talk to your fiancé and your family. I'm sure they will be accepting, because they are your family and family should always love you. Correct?"

"Yeah. It's just…you're right, I don't have any reason to be afraid. Thanks."

"Anytime." She saw a couple other pregnancy tests on the table with small bits of tape beside them denoting the names of the patients. The strong smell of urine started to overtake her and she quickly covered her nose.

"I'll let you get back to that." She rushed for her own examination room and took a deep breath before opening the door. Dr. Neela was still there with Kelly and Wilma. She smiled politely and motioned her thumb over her shoulder. "So the nurse has the test. I guess we'll find out, right? Do you think I might be pregnant?"

"I don't know yet, can you describe for me the symptoms you've been having sweetie? I was talking with your sister and sister-in-law, they seem to feel you're displaying some pregnancy signs."

"Ah…well yes I can describe them." She had a feeling that was why Wilma brought her here. She moved to the examination table and sat down. She anxiously rubbed her knees and bowed her head. "Well my last period started around May 20th, I think the 22nd. I had intercourse with my fiancé on the 5th of June." Dr. Neela hummed to herself and Taryn leaned back against the wall. "These weird symptoms I've been having started about a week or two ago."

"I see."

Kelly folded her arms over and bowed her head, shading her eyes with the brim of her hat, "Ovulation starts around fourteen days after the last period, Taryn. You could have been ovulating around that week."

"What do you mean?"

Dr. Neela pointed to a calendar on the wall, explaining Kelly's words in detail. "Ovulation is when the ovaries in a female body start to release the eggs. It is during this period of time, usually around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle that the egg can be fertilized. If you were to have unprotected intercourse around this timeline, you stand a strong chance of getting pregnant."

"It was June 5th." Now she was extremely nervous. What was she going to tell Spencer if she was pregnant? What could she honestly say? She hoped Carly and Wendell would be happy. "If-If I'm pregnant, do you think it would upset Carly and Wendell? I mean there's not much to do about it, but…but they just got a chance to really know their father as their father."

"They'll be fine," Wilma replied, "I don't think they would honestly be upset if you had a baby. They're not those kind of kids."

"Y-Yeah. You're right." She looked to the doctor and started to relax when she met her reassuring gaze. "So lately I've been nauseous, I've been turned off by foods I used to love while also eating weird things-like over salted sour cream potato chips. I used to find that flavor revolting." She pointed to her chest and meshed her eyebrows together. "My chest hurts. They're a bit swollen, no bumps or anything. My emotions are out of whack and I've been finding various smells revolting. I just haven't been feeling well…and to top it off, I haven't had my period this month. All this stuff really only started a week ago. My breasts didn't start to feel tender until yesterday." She paused and squinted her eyes in contemplation. "Also I've been really tired lately and I've started having to go to the restroom."

"All right." Dr. Neela stood up and grabbed a pair of gloves and her stethoscope. "It does sound like you could be pregnant, but we will have to wait for the results of the test. Until then, let's give you a standard check up. "

"Okay…"

"Now first, these symptoms do sound like pregnancy. Typically you'll find food aversions come from the rising amounts of estrogen. Many things can attribute to a rise in estrogen, however, pregnancy is a factor that can cause this symptom. As well as hormonal imbalances."

"I have been feeling more anxious lately."

"Right, so it would be a good idea to keep that monitored."

"Okay…"

"Now as your pregnancy continues on, your body is constantly changing. Hormones fluctuate and estrogen levels rise. The uterus expands as the baby grows inside of you, and this uterus sits right upon the urethra. Also known as the stem connecting to the bladder. It will constantly press, and as a result, you may find yourself urinating more. Also, blood level rises, even now your blood level is rising due to hormonal changes, and that causes the bladder to fill more often."

"Oh god…" She began to pale and looked over to Wilma and Kelly. Kelly smiled slightly and raised her hand up.

"It isn't as scary as it sounds, Sis."

"I hope not."

"Continuing," Dr. Neela folded her arms over and closed her eyes, still smiling with smooth confidence. "The fatigue will wear off around your second trimester, usually, but a number of things could cause it. One fact could very well be the increasing hormones your body is generating."

"So I'm getting hormonal changes are what causes all these symptoms?"

"Yes, but at the same time that can also mean you have a hormonal imbalance instead of a pregnancy. That is why there are pregnancy tests, to determine one hundred percent whether or not you are pregnant."

"And if I am? I have to come here more often?"

"Yes."

"Oh…I guess that wouldn't be too bad. I mean…You seem nice." She actually wouldn't mind seeing Dr. Neela again. She was comfortable with the woman, more so than most doctors she'd seen. "So…the Pap test is next, I guess?"

"Yes. Now a Pap Smear is not a painful process and will be quick. What we do with this is we determine if there are any changes in the uterus and we check for signs of cervical cancer. Typically these should be done every two years, but can be done each year. These tests can locate other potential threats, however."

"Okay…can we just go ahead and get that done then?"

"Yes. There is an examination dress in the drawers here. If you will put one on, I'll return in a couple minutes after I've taken a look at your test results."

"Thank you…"

The doctor had been right, the test was quick and simple, and did not frighten her at all. Even her physical checkup determined her to be in good health. It was determined that she would need to consider taking iron supplements, however.

After she was able to calm down a little, she was ready to hear the results of the other test. She was on the edge of the bed and holding onto Kelly's hand with a firm grip. She had Kelly promise not to kill Spencer if this came out positive. It was looking like it would be, since there were no signs pointing to other causes for the symptoms she had.

Dr. Neela walked in with her nurse, carrying a couple brochures and papers. She held her breath as the doctor took her seat. "Dr. Neela, just tell me. Am I pregnant? I mean I didn't think it could be possible on one time only, I just…"

"Well it is always possible, since it only takes one time dear." Dr. Neela closed her eyes and exhaled softly. "I'd like to schedule another appointment, but I would appreciate it if you could try to get onto your work's insurance. We are going to need to be scheduling regular appointments…"

"So that means-"

"You are pregnant, Taryn." She released a slow breath and squeezed Kelly's hand. It wasn't a terrible thing at all, but she was in a state of shock. Three words, and her entire world was going to change, forever. "Because you only had intercourse one time, that is helpful for us in determining a potential due date based off your LMP being May 22nd."

"Okay?"

"If you maintain regular appointments and everything goes well, the projected due date for your baby will be February 26th, 2014." Taryn took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"So I know it's said that there are a lot of appointments during pregnancy…"

"Typically, but that helps in delivering healthier babies. Typically in the early first trimester, four to twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy, one visit a month is recommended."

"Every four weeks? Okay…"

"In the second trimester, I recommend at least two visits a month. Every two to three weeks. Then the third trimester, I recommend a weekly visit until delivery. The frequency of your visits depends on your availability, however."

"Okay. It's my first child, so, I want to make sure I do everything right…you're absolutely sure I'm pregnant?" Dr. Neela smiled tenderly and opened a folder. She pulled out a black film paper and handed it to her. Taryn gazed down and felt her breath leave her lungs. There were two babies growing inside together, though they were more like embryos or fetuses, she couldn't be sure which. "These…"

"This is from a patient that had twins, we keep these on record a long time. The babies start out as an embryo and by the tenth week grow to fetal."

"Precious…"

"Inside of you right now, Taryn, is a beautiful, precious baby starting its life out as an embryo." Taryn felt a tear start in her eyes and began to smile. "It will grow to a fetus and continue to develop its limbs, appendages, to take human shape. You will be able to determine the gender in a few short weeks. Don't be afraid to be pregnant, there is nothing to fear."

"Except maybe being a mom. I think I'd make a good mom. I want to be a good mom. I'll…I'll do everything I can. I'll come to all the prenatal visits, I'll do everything I need to." She looked up from the picture and smiled tearfully. "I think I'm really just afraid of telling my fiancé, but I know he'll take it well. He's doing the best he can to be a dad to his two children now, so I think he'll be a great daddy."

"Good. I'm glad. Now." Dr. Neela took a deep breath and closed the picture into the folder. She held her reassuring smile. "Normally I like to schedule an appointment for the patient's seventh or eighth week for their first prenatal visits. Only if there is no preexisting medical condition. If that's the case, I set a closer date."

"I have no conditions I know of."

"Okay. Then I look forward to seeing you again. Will your fiancé be with you? Many of my patients have their husbands along with them, many times the husbands enjoy being a part of the process. Your fiancé may feel the same way."

"I'll ask. I think he will." She was starting to grow excited, thrilled with the concept of pregnancy. She was truly going to be involved, she wanted to bring this baby into the world healthy and bright-eyed just like his or her older brother and sister.

So Taryn is indeed pregnant and has gotten her first physical in a long time. What are your thoughts?