"So? C'mon explain then!"
Clay shrugs. He's torn between telling them the whole truth and trying to bluff "I don't know what you're talking about."
Sonny looks up suspiciously. Tearing open the beer pack, he takes two out handing one to Trent "You want one?" he offers Clay
"Um... no. Look Sonny, you have to go; I have an appointment I need to get to."
"Okay, yeah sure. But you have to tell me first, about this woman then, I'll go!"
"Nothing to tell!"
Sonny looks around, peering over his shoulder "Oh, so your shower, it just came on all by itself did it then? Like a ghost or somethin'"
Clay closes his eyes, he too can hear the sound of running water "Look Sonny..." he sighs loudly ".. I don't know, this is hard to explain. But it's not what you think. It's not a new woman exactly"
"Oh my god!" a sudden realisation dawns "You didn't? Oh, you did! What the hell are you thinking? No don't answer that! You know, I thought that damn ice queen was gone for good. Clay seriously why her!?"
"Oh no!" Trent looks across, frowning at Sonny "Oh no, you don't mean...not Elsa? He's not seeing her again?"
"Oh, Jeez Clay! No wonder you didn't wanna say nothin" Sonny takes a deep breath "Well okay, but just keep that damn woman away from me, that's all I can say! I mean why, why would you? I didn't think you liked her that much, let alone inflict her on us again!"
"What?" Clay frowns. Then he realises that they think he's back with his ex, Ellen. "No! I don't like her. No it's .. not!"
"So why the hell get back with her then? Oh my god Clay, I can't think of anyone worse, surely there has to be another woman out there that you like?"
"Sonny!" Clay stifles his laugh
"What? What is so damn funny? Clay that woman, has no sense of humor, she's a total bitch!"
He drinks his beer, shaking his head. The sound of the water stops and they now hear someone moving around in the bedroom.
"Oh, I'm gonna get gone, I can't be doing a show down with her, again! C'mon Trent, drink up. Clay we'll sees you laters" he sighs, draining the rest of the beer in his hand "You know, Jason's not gonna like this one bit, not one little bit!"
"Yeah, well um ... thanks for coming." Clay quickly tries to shepherd them out of the door. He's now rethinking his whole plan, about taking Kelsey and meeting the team this afternoon.
I mean if this is Sonny's reaction to the thought that he might be back with Ellen. Then how the hell will they feel when then find out it's not her, but Kelsey?
Sonny gets up from his seat, picking up the pack of beer. Then he frowns and puts it down again "You know what, I think I'll leave you them, your gonna need them, cos god only knows how anyone deals with that woman so...ber ..rr!" Sonny's voice trails off as he stands staring at the doorway to the bedroom.
"Clay, shall we get something to eat before we... go... tooooo..."
Oh my god! Kelsey stands at the doorway, her mouth drops open and the hairbrush she's using gets caught in her hair. She's wrapped only in her towel as she and Sonny, just stare at each other. Both of them are open mouthed and neither of them speaks. Sonny's eyes flick sideways, glancing at Clay
"Are you fuckin jokin' ? Clay, have you lost your tiny mind? I mean, can't I leave you alone for five minutes without you doin' something stupid!? What the hell is she doing here?"
Sonny's rant continues and Clay can't get a word in "Sonny...Sonny, will you ...Sonny please... Sonny, will you just shut the hell up and let me explain"
"Explain?" he frowns " I mean, what the hell is Jason gonna say to that!" he points angrily at Kelsey "Oh my god, there is nothing in the world that could possibly explain that!"
Sonny gulps all of the bottle beer back and opens another. He feels like he's in shock
"What could possibly make you think this, this is a good idea, hmm? What possible thoughts came into your head. For god sake Trent, speak to him, he needs fuckin' medical help if you ask me!"
Trent just stands frowning, he's staring at Kelsey, curious and confused. Then he realises something's not right "Sonny, Sonny shut up!"
"For god sake Clay, these past months do you not remember what they've been like? How she messed with your head, aborted your bab...by..y..."
"SONNY!" Trent snaps, nudging him "Shut the hell up!"
Kelsey stands fixed in the doorway, lip quivering, her face full of hurt as Sonny continues to rant about her.
Trent sighs " Sonny, shut up and look!"
"Look? Look at what?" he turns around and for the first time properly he actually sees her "Oh ...my...god! Is... is she pregnant?" he frowns "Clay, did you get her pregnant? Oh my...how the hell long, has this been going on?"
"No, no it's the same baby, you idiot!" Clay laughs. It's not funny but Sonny's reaction, though expected, is. "She um... didn't go through with the termination"
"What?!" Sonny frowns. He's now quietened down mainly because he doesn't really know what to say. He looks over at Trent, he's just as confused. "Can this be right?"
Trent shrugs "Well yeah, I mean, I guess. If she didn't...you know. Then yeah!"
"Just over three weeks." Clay smiles "What I mean is we have, a little over three weeks until the baby comes" He hands another of the beers to Sonny "It's all good. Sonny, I want this, so be pleased for me, yeah?"
"Holy shit!" Sonny's in disbelief. He lifts his hat, running his fingers through his unkept hair. "This for real?" he wanders across to where Kelsey's standing in the doorway, looking her up and down "You really havin' his baby?"
" Yeah!" she nods nervously. Unsure of how he's going to react " Yeah, it's real"
He looks back around at Clay "Jesus Christ!" He frowns "Anyone else know about this?"
"No. No, not yet. That's um... that's what we were gonna tell everyone, this afternoon, at the bar"
"And you didn't think maybe a heads up first, rather than, like a surprise?"
"I don't know" Clay shrugs " I kinda figured that if you all saw her you might not .. you know ...be so angry about it"
"Oh! Oh, so you were gonna use her to soften the blow you mean, for when Jason finds out?"
"Yeah maybe" Clay laughs.
"Yeah maybe!" Sonny sighs "Well, you don' t know Jason very well then do ya. Not when he's in full rant mode" he turns back looking at Kelsey and he smiles. Taking a deep breath in he then does something unexpected. He kisses her cheek "Congratulations! You know, I can't believe you're making our boy into a man"
She smiles nervously "Me either!"
"So ... you know what you havin' then?"
"No." she shakes her head "Not really. I mean, I've been calling it she, but ...but we don't know not for sure. That's where we were going. We have a scan booked"
Hmmm. Sonny grunts. He wants to be angry with Clay, for again letting his heart rule his head. But he can't, he can't because inside he's bursting with pride for him.
He knows how much Clay wanted this baby, as wrong as it all was. The speed it all happened. But he also knew the pain he was in, when he told Sonny that she wasn't going to keep the baby. That he'd have to live with her decision, and for practical reasons he knew why.
But truth was it still hurt him, and Sonny knew just how much. All the nights, these past few months, he'd sat with him. Mopping up his vomit and consoling him when he drank himself into oblivion.
Clay had always been all or nothing where women were concerned. Sonny had seen it time after time. With Stella, asking her to marry him only a very few months after they started dating.
Then Rebecca when he considered leaving the teams, moving to Washington only to find out she was sleeping with her boss. And now this one, Kelsey. She was so wrong for Clay on so many levels. Their jobs, the short time they'd known each other and now this baby but Clay was all in and so as always Sonny would be there for him.
"Can I?" Sonny puts his hand out tentatively. She smiles, nodding nervously, looking at Clay as if to ask permission before placing Sonny's hand gently against her towel clad body.
"I'll warn you. She's a live wire this morning" she looks up at Clay and smiles again "You know, for some reason.." she laughs "I think her daddy has pissed her off"
"Oh my god!" Sonny gasps as the thudding feeling against his hand. A look of astonished amazement crosses his face and he swings around to look at Clay "Oh my god! She's a real kicker right there. True-life pipe hitter. She'll make a great breacher with kicks like that!"
"Well..." Kelsey smiles ".. maybe she'll be the first female Tier one operator?"
"Err no!" Clay frowns "She's not doing anything like that. Nothing so dangerous!"
"Oh, right!" Kelsey frowns "What cos women don't do that kind of thing, right? Just watch yourself Petty officer Spenser!"
"Err no..." Clay comes over and kisses her " .. because, no child of mine is going anywhere near any danger!"
She smiles reaching up to kiss him "I better get dressed." she turns his wrist checking the time on his watch " We need to go soon if we're going to make this appointment"
"Hey... " Trent smiles as he and Sonny gather their things to leave "Congratulations!"
"Thanks!" She smiles as she disappears back into the bedroom
She sits herself on the bed and sighs. Thinking how relieved she is that some of the team know now. She has to be honest, she was dreading meeting them all, wishing that Clay had broken the ice about her return first. Yeah, she got why he wanted to do it his way, so that Jason wouldn't rant in their faces, not with her being pregnant, or at least that's what Clay had hoped.
It still felt odd though, just turn up like that, but still, now Sonny and Trent know she feels somewhat happier, relieved. And at least Sonny seemed to be onboard. Sure, she guessed that he still had his reservations. That she could tell, After all, she had hurt his friend. But her and Sonny had a honest respect for each other. He was honest enough to tell her how he felt when she left, and she respected that.
Jason on the other hand, she didn't know very well. She knew, from how Clay described him, that he had a mind of his own and he certainly wouldn't be easily charmed by her. She wondered if he really would think them being together, Clay becoming a father, if it would be a good idea. She sighs again.
She needs Clay to win him around though, otherwise how was Clay going to get the leave that he needed to come with her to the UK? She wanted him there, but she also knew that if he couldn't get authorisation she might still have to go back alone. Hmmm
Hmmm. She pulls on her black combats, before sliding her feet into her sneakers.
Aahhhh! She closes her eyes rubbing her hand under the baby bump at the tight ache she can feel. Oooh shit! Pheww! "God you are awake this morning!" She smiles "Hey, Mummy gets to see you in a little while." She lays back on the bed gently massaging the kicking bump.
"So .." Clay frowns at Sonny as they stand near the door ready to leave "What do you think Jason's gonna say, I mean about Kelsey being back?"
Sonny shakes his head standing his empty beer bottle down "You know I have no idea. I mean whatever he says, just know it's cos he's just worried about you. Look Clay, we all saw what you went through, when she left. When you thought...well you know. And I mean, I'm pleased for you and all, it's great it really is, but c'mon man, you hardly know each other. Do you even know where this goin, hmmm? I mean long-term what's gonna happen?"
"I don't know.."Clay shrugs "..but it'll work out. I love her Sonny that's all that matters"
"And she loves you right? Yeah?"
"Yeah. Yeah I think she does"
Sonny looks hesitantly at Trent "Well that's good then. She loves ya, like you say, that's all that matters. Hey look, you know we got your six right! And Jason. I'll help you speak to him. But just give him time to get his head around it. He'll come around."
Clay smiles "Yeah. Look sorry but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. We really do have an appointment"
"Oh jeez man, really? I was wanting to watch this game!"
"Yeah well, we have a scan appointment" he smiles "We're gonna find out what sex the baby is and I can't wait!"
"Oh hey, that's great man" Trent pats him on the shoulder "And don't forget to ask for a picture. You can show us all later. We can check she's prettier than you!"
Sonny shakes his head and sighs "Hey I'm happy for ya! Really I am and you know what this means?" Clay frowns as Trent shrugs at him. Sonny laughs "It means...that the beers are on you!"
o-o-o-o-o-o
"Okay then, Ms Roberts and ...Mr Spenser. So you've had a scan before?"
"Um... yeah.I mean have. This is Clay's first time." she smiles, she can feel a nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her hands are shaking and she gets a chill of anxiety. Pheww!
She takes deep breath as Clay takes her hand in his "You okay?"
"Yeah! Yeah..." she smiles "I told you, everything's fine" She lies, she always feels nervous, something about these scans always induces a dread inside her. Worrying something might be wrong.
"Alright then, let's make a start, shall we? If you'd like to remove your shirt then lie back, I'm going to put some of this gel on. It might feel a little cold"
Hmmm! She unbuttons the front of her shirt, taking it off and handing it to Clay. He lays it on the chair beside him then he moves his chair closer. He's holding her hand in his, gently squeezing it. He's so excited but he can feel a tense nervousness about her "Hey, just relax!"
She grips his hand tight. Mmm... Aahhh! She groans. Closing her eyes as a pain flashes across her stomach again "Yeah, I just wanna know everything's alright"
The doctor looks at her and he smiles trying to reassure her "Everything will be fine. I see from your form that you don't have long until the baby is due"
"No, but she um.. she has to stay in there a while longer I'm due back in the UK next week"
"Oh wow! Long flight for someone so pregnant. That won't be very comfortable"
"No, no I guess not" she smiles
"Alright then, here we go!" he places the transducer against her skin and gently moves it around in the gel. He adjusts the screen around so that both Clay and Kelsey can see it better. "Oh! there we go, can you see?"
She takes another deep breath in and holds it, as she looks up at the screen. She opens her eyes and then turn her head, smiling "Is she okay?"
"Um..." he frowns checking the scan for a nervous few moments he's quiet "Yep! Yep the baby looks great. Everything looks more than fine. Can you see?"
He looks at Clay who's just sitting in awe staring at the black and white moving image on the screen. It's so clear and he can see the baby's face. He still sits in silence as Kelsey turns to look at him "Clay? Clay are you okay?"
"Yeah! Yeah I'm fine. Oh my god!" he smiles "Is that our baby? God you can see her so clearly. Oh wow! This amazing" he gasps as broad grin sweeps across his face "Can we get a picture?"
"Yes" The doctor smiles at him "Yes of course."
Kelsey sighs as she relaxes now. Watching the baby as it moves around on the screen. She can feel her wriggling around inside as he doctor moves the wand firmly over the round curves of her bump It's like she's trying to move away from it.
"Well as you can see..." he points at the screen ".. the baby is turned nicely. And the head is very well engaged there." he looks at Kelsey "It certainly won't be long now. If I was you, I definitely wouldn't leave that flight to long... oops! There she goes..." the baby kicks out vigorously "She doesn't like me interfering with her!"
Kelsey smiles, she can feel the kicking, it's much more intense today " Oooo yeah!" Aahhhh! she groans "Yeah, she doesn't like that much!"
"Perhaps we disturbed her sleep time. You sure have a feisty one in there. I don't think she's going to be hanging around too much longer. She seems eager to get here!"
"You said she ?" Clay looks up at the doctor "Is it definitely a she?"
"Um... I can check for you. Do you want know? I mean, I guess that's why you came at this late stage"
Kelsey's face drops as she looks at Clay "Um.. do we want to? I mean, I don't know. Do we really want to know?"
"Oh, I thought perhaps you knew as you said she earlier?" the doctor frowns
"Oh no. No I just called it her They couldn't see properly at my last scan" She takes a deep breath. Suddenly she's not sure if she actually wants to know, perhaps preferring to just wait. "It's up to you. " she smiles hesitantly at Clay "You choose"
"Oh! Um... why? Don't you wanna know?" He can see some flashes of doubts in her eyes.
"No, I'm good " she shrugs "Whatever you want. I mean ... that's what we came for, right? For you to find out. It's your present, you choose"
Um mmm! He frowns "I guess... I mean, I'm really not bothered. I mean it doesn't make a difference if you'd rather not know?"
"I don't know, maybe it would be kinda nice to wait, you know, a surprise of sorts? Like I say it's up to you. If you wanna know then that's fine by me" She lies she actually doesn't want to know but she told him he could before they came, so she doesn't want to take the choice away.
Clay really does want to know but he can see some hesitation in her response and he thinks that perhaps now she doesn't. He toys with his conscience. Knowing won't make any difference so why upset her now?
He sighs looking up at the screen "Everything's okay with the baby? The baby, it's all healthy?"
"Oh yeah! Yeah, it's doing just great!" the doctor smiles at him.
"Okay!" he looks at Kelsey again, he can see her willing him not to ask. And so he puts his feelings aside "No! No, I think we'll wait. Like you say, it might be nicer to have a surprise. I mean we only have a couple more weeks. Lets leave it" he leans across and kisses her.
She smiles. She's relived. She now realises how much she didn't want to know "Thanks! It doesn't matter, right? So, as long as the baby's all alright I'm good with it"
"Okay then... we're done then" The doctor wipes the gel from her stomach with his paper towel "I'll give you a minute, I'll just find a wallet for your photographs. Take your time, have a closer look"
"Thank you!" Kelsey smiles she uses a bit more tissue to wipe the rest of the gel off her skin.
Clay's sitting and staring at the image on the screen "Oh my god! She's perfect!" he smiles, leaning forward he places his lips gently against Kelsey's and kisses her.
"Can you pass my shirt!" She grimaces with a pain as she pulls the shirt around her shoulders, fastening the buttons slowly. Fidgeting around on the bed trying to loosen the ache in her back. Pheww mmmm! She takes a deep breath
"You okay?"He frowns looking at her concerned.
"Yeah I'm good. She's just busy in there today! That was you, you know.." she smiles at him "What we did this morning!" Phewww! "Oh God! That one was stronger. Like he said, I guess she didn't take too kindly to being prodded around either"
She jumps down from the couch pulling her shirt over her bump. Clay puts his hand against her skin lightly rubbing over and around the curve. He can feel the baby moving around and he smiles, kissing Kelsey on the lips again "This was a perfect, today. A great present, I loved it. I can't wait till she's here for real"
She smiles "Yeah well you need to speak with Jason. Sort this time off out, so that we can fly back. You heard the doctor, she's not going to stay in there much longer and um... well.." she fiddls with the collar on this shirt "Clay, I've decided, as long as I can get a flight. Then I'm going back Monday" She watches his face, seeing him frown with annoyance "I can't afford to wait now. I wanna get home, I wanna be settled before she arrives."
"Okay" he kisses her again "Okay, yeah you're right. You need to be relaxed. I'll sort it. I'll sort it today with Jason. I promise."
The doctor is back and he hands Clay the photographs. Holding the door for them "Goodbye Mr Spenser, and good luck" he smiles,
Kelsey picks up her purse up from the floor "Thank you for this, it's been great!"
"My pleasure. And Ms Roberts, remember what I said don' t leave that flight too long, she's not gonna be hanging around in there"
Awwww! She takes a breath as the baby gives a big kick again "Yeah, tell me about it!"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Okay so you ready for this?" Clay smiles as he looks at her. as she sits next to him, in the passenger seat of his truck.
"Hmmm! Yeah but don't make me any more nervous. I'm already worried about facing them"
"Hey... hey, it's gonna be okay. Jason doesn't bite.. well only sometimes" he laughs putting his hand on her thigh and stroking it reassuringly.
"You're not helping saying things like that Clay Spenser! And ..." Aahhhhh. ".. I really should have gone to the loo again, before I left the restaurant." Hmmm "So you think Sonny told him anything?"
"I don't know. It might not be a bad thing, if he has. And..." he frowns watching her fidgeting around in the seat ".. you really need the ladies' room again?"
"Hey, you try carrying eight pounds of baby elephant around on your bladder, then we'll see how many times you need to pee!" Aahhh! She leans back in the seat rubbing her chest "You know I shouldn't have had those onion rings. They've really given me heartburn now"
"Well..." he laughs "if you remember, I did say three portions was too much! But someone insisted!"
"Yeah well ..."She smiles, biting her lip ".. they didn't have marshmallows so ... it was onion rings or nothing"
He moves over and holds her cheek kissing her, his hand soothing around the curve of her waist as he looks her in the eyes.
She puts her hand to his cheek, running her fingers through his hair "So you think they'll be okay? About you taking the leave I mean. You are going to ask him, today? Do you think it's too short notice?"
"Hey, don't worry about it. Leave it to me. I told you I will sort it and I will. We'll sort the flights when we get home. Just stop worrying about anything. You just concentrate on staying relaxed"
She smiles "Clay... thanks. For doing this. I know how important it is to you, to be there. But I do really want you there as well"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Alright then! So that's four beers, a whiskey for Ray and a Club soda, for Trent!"
"What the hell? You on some sort of diet there Trent?" Sonny frowns
"No, no I have a long drive later up to my mom's house. So figured best not start on the beers or I may not wanna go!"
"Oh, right well that drive sounds fabulous"
"Yeah, but I haven't seen her for a while and you know .. I just got thinking about her today!"
"So Sonny..." Jason turns looking at him "..you speak to Clay? You find out what this big news is yet?"
Sonny exchanges furtive glances with Trent "Um.. err well kinda of" he takes a deep breath "Look Jace, just go easy on him when the tells you okay?"
Both Jason and Ray sit upright now interested in the development that Sonny seems to know something "So what? You know what it is, that he's coming to tell us?"
"Well um ... yeah kind of, I guess. We um ... we went to see him earlier"
"Soooo? C'mon then spill. What's the big secret? What's he up to?"
"He um... he does have a woman."
"A new woman?! Wow! And so? What's wrong with her?"
"Well ... look, she's not exactly new, this woman he's seein. What I mean is, he's seen her before!"
Jason frowns, thinking for a moment. He looks over at Ray "Oh no! Oh no, no! Please... tell me hes not?" he rubs his head and sighs "The ice witch! That um... what's her name, Elsa? He's not seeing her again is he? Oh my god is he crazy?"
"Ellen!" Trent frowns "No. No it's not Ellen, Elsa,... the ice queen, no it's not her!"
"Not her?" Jason frowns "Then who? You know who, right"
Trent nods "Yeah, yeah I was with Sonny when we found out. Look Sonny's right, just go easy, he's really happy and there are..." he takes a deep breath "complications! That, make it more complicated"
"Alright, c'mon then spill! Who the hell is she? And what the hell are these complications?"
"Um..." Trent frowns, wondering why he's got left with the explanation now.
"Well..." Ray nudges Jason "... it looks like we're about to find out. He's here!"
They all turn around in unison. Looking over at the doorway entrance to the bar. The can see Clay standing outside the bathrooms waiting.