HI Folks! Sorry about the long wait on an update. I'm still doing a balancing act, but I want to get on with my story. Thank you for liking the last chapter and your continued support. Please R & R. Your words and your support mean everything to me. Love - Carebearmaxi
Little One
Chapter 16
Simon dropped Harvey off at the hospital. Simon offered to go with him into the emergency room, but Harvey insisted no and thanked him. He promised he would call as soon as he knew anything.
Harvey hurried into the emergency room. He was a little less than patient in his panic about Donna and the twins.
"Harvey Specter….my wife Donna Specter is here?" He hurriedly asked a green scrubbed nurse pulling a file behind the reception desk.
"Let me see, Mr. Specter. I was just with her," The tall red headed nurse said as she pulled a file and handed it off to a shorter black nurse. With Donna so prominent in his mind, the nurse whose name was Justine reminded Harvey of his wife. Justine buzzed open the closed door into the beds and Harvey hurriedly opened it and walked through it with hurried footsteps.
"Follow me, Mr. Specter," Daria the shorter nurse said. "She was hit by a car when she was crossing the street on the main road. It seems she got out of her car and unthinkingly stepped into oncoming traffic. The driver couldn't stop in time and struck her," Daria the shorter black nurse had told him.
"Was it a hit and run?" Harvey asked hardly able to speak.
Daria looked up at him and said, "No, she called 911 and stayed with Mrs. Specter until the police and ambulance arrived."
"Is the driver still here?" Harvey said looking around as he continued to follow Daria. Where is she? His mind kept thinking.
"No, but here is her number. She really wants to speak with you." Daria handed him a slip of paper with a phone number on it.
Finally, they stopped, and Daria swiftly pulled a green curtain back. Donna was lying on a bed. She had a bruise on her arm and some scrapes on her porcelain skin face. He spotted the covers over her and the bump was still there, but whether the babies were still there he had no idea. He was almost too scared to find out.
"Is she?" Harvey could not finish the question. Luckily, Daria knew the answer.
"She's sleeping. Your babies seem to be fine, too, according to the chart. You will have to talk with Dr. Strahan for more information. She is the on call OBGYN and the attending physician when your wife was brought in."
Daria looked at her watch. "She is due back in about 15 mins. So, until then I will leave you alone with your wife."
Harvey swallowed hard. "Thank you," he said stiffly and quietly.
"You're welcome, Mr. Specter,"
Daria then left Harvey standing near Donna's bed. Donna was resting. She did not look like she was deeply sleeping because he had watched her enough to know when she was sleeping peacefully. Harvey knew when his wife was really asleep. When Donna was in repose she would curl up on her side and her face would take on an ethereal quality. Sometimes when he would sneak a peek at her, it would seem to Harvey that she was not really lying beside him. That she was an angel who, if touched, would float away. He took a step forward. He bent and kissed her forehead.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Harvey….you're here."
"Of course, I'm here," he said swallowing hard and taking her hand in his. He held it while he reached over to the stool that was sitting a little way from the bed. He pulled it over and took a seat. He did not want to stop looking at her. Once settled he put her hand against his lips and felt how cold her hand was. Was she ok?
"Donna, are you cold?"
"A little now that you say something. The babies are fine by the way. I know that's the first question you wanted to ask me, but you were afraid of upsetting me if they weren't."
A huge sigh escaped Harvey's lips. He physically released a breath that he had not been aware that he was holding. He saw Donna smile when his shoulders relaxed. He kissed her hand gripping it tightly.
"Harvey, it's ok. You can let go a little. I'm not going anywhere," Donna said with raised eyebrows.
Harvey held her hand. It was her left hand and then he realized that her wedding ring must have been hurting her hand being squeezed so fiercely. With Harvey's left hand, he stroked her hair from her forehead. Donna smiled, closed her eyes, and trapped his hand between her cheek and the pillow by snuggling into it.
"Hey.." Harvey whispered leaning closer.
"Hey.." Donna whispered back wanting him to kiss her.
So, he did kiss her; and Harvey's lips never wanted to leave her soft responsive mouth. He sighed against her mouth and broke the kiss. He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Donna…" he said with a hitch in his voice. He almost cried seeing her like this.
"I know, Harvey. I'm good. I was just resting waiting for other tests to come back."
"What happened?"
"Oh, silly me. I had been talking to Charlotte on the phone, and I got out of the car to pick up some food for our little gathering tonight when out of nowhere I stepped into oncoming traffic. You'd think since I lived most of my adult life in New York City that I would not do something stupid like not looking both ways before I cross the street," Donna finished hurriedly. She was being sarcastic intentionally so as to interrupt Harvey before he could say anything. Donna was sure either a lecture or some emotionally revealing statement would be forthcoming from him and she was not sure she wanted to hear it. Funny, once all she wanted was to hear words of love and feeling from this man and now since he was so generous all the time another emotion filled statement would break her heart. I love him so much. I never not want him to think I will not be here for him. I would never abandon you, Harvey.
Just then the curtain was pulled back swiftly and a woman with a surgical cap on her head wearing a white coat carrying a file stepped up to Harvey.
"Dr. Strahan, you're Mr. Specter, I presume?" Dr. Lori Strahan greeted as she held out her hand to shake Harvey's
Dr. Strahan was a tall, blonde, buxom woman with a loud voice and an unmistakable presence.
"Yes. I'm Donna's husband," he said shaking her hand back. He still looked anxious even though he was a little calmer now that he talked with Donna.
"I just got the test results back. You, Mrs. Specter, are a little anemic so I am putting you on additional prenatal vitamins."
"What about the babies?" Donna asked trying to sit up on the bed.
"They are good. However, are you suffering from some contractions off and on?"
"Yes, but I thought they were just Braxton-Hicks. They do eventually stop," Donna said. Harvey gripped her hand a little tighter knowing how scared she was of miscarrying.
"They are. However, your cervix has become a bit weak and we don't want to have you go into premature labor which is what can happen with twins. I want to get an ultrasound of the twins while you're here to confirm they are good. I am going to wheel you up to Obstetrics. I may need to keep you overnight for observation."
Donna swallowed hard and looked up at her husband. Harvey had his poker face on. He did not want her to see how worried he had suddenly become.
"Harvey?"
"We will postpone tonight if we have to. Don't worry. One thing at a time. We got this," Harvey said quietly.
The orderlies came in shortly and transported Donna to Obstetrics.
The room was white but had some cheerful pictures of pink and blue bunnies in frames spaced strategically on the wall.
Donna moved from gurney to the reclined chair. As Donna looked down she spotted a few drops of blood left on the sheet of the gurney where she had laid for so long. The drops looked fresh. Dr. Strahan noticed her looking back and then looked herself. She did not say anything, but she and Harvey helped Donna onto the reclined seat. Harvey then looked back and saw the blood on the sheet.
"Donna take it easy. Let's take a look. I think they are fine," Dr. Strahan said as she settled Donna. She spread the jelly on her belly and primed the machine.
"Ooo, that stuff is always so cold," Donna said as she shivered a little. The nurse spread a blanket low over her legs.
"Sorry. Is this your first ultrasound?"
"No, we had one when the doctor in New York confirmed her pregnancy," Harvey said. "I still have the pictures." Harvey smiled sideways looking at Donna.
"Ok, here we go," Dr. Strahan said as she moved the transmitter around on Donna's belly.
"Let's see here's baby #1 looking nice and content. Here its heart is beating. Let me turn up the audio," Dr. Strahan said as she hit a button and the sound of the fetus' heart whooshed throughout the room.
"Strong one, sounds like," Harvey said.
"Yes, it does. Now let's move onto baby #2," Dr. Strahan said.
"Ok, here we go. Look how close #2 is to #1. It looks baby #2 wants to be snobby and not face us. Its back is to us, see?" the doctor said pointing to the screen.
"I don't hear anything," Donna said. "You didn't turn down the sound, right?" Donna started shaking from fear and Donna could feel one of the babies react to that.
The doctor moved the transmitter around to see if they could shake baby #2 into a different position. The baby moved a bit, but one could not tell if that was voluntary or because of the movement baby #1 seemed to be doing. Suddenly another whooshing sound flooded the room.
"Is that?" Harvey asked. Donna had her eyes focused on him since the doctor had been unable to get baby #2 to wake up.
"Yes it is. Baby #2 moved. Here's that heart we hear!" Dr. Strahan said joyously as she pointed to the little baby now squirming and sucking its thumb. Dr. Strahan had seen just about every situation in her 25-year career. However, she always hated having to give expectant parents bad news. Fortunately, it looks like this couple would be spared bad news.
"Babies look fine. By the way, in case you weren't told when the first ultrasound was done. The babies are sharing a womb. You have here a set of identical or almost identical twins as far as I can tell," the doctor said as she wiped the gel off Donna's tummy and then covered her again.
"Now let me take a look at that cervix to make sure it isn't open. I will try to feel it first with my fingers. If the cervix is not torn or anything then your bedrest is just the next two weeks. If you are torn, there are many things I can do to keep it from opening prematurely. You may need to be on bedrest for the remainder of your pregnancy or up to 38-39 weeks which is about the best time to have the babies be born if necessary."
"The blood you see may not have come out of that part of you, Donna. You did have other areas from which you were bleeding I noticed."
"Where else could Donna be bleeding?" Harvey asked the doctor. He hated to think his wife had been hurt in any way.
"Her back has had some lacerations, Mr. Specter," the doctor said as she had maneuvered Donna's legs into the stirrups. Quickly, Dr. Strahan tried to manipulate the cervix with her fingers. She turned away and inserted a speculum.
"I apologize. Usually we don't do this until late pregnancy to see how far dilation is, but in this case since you were bleeding it is necessary."
The doctor looked and then felt Donna's cervix again. After a few minutes, the speculum was removed, and Dr. Strahan removed her gloves.
"We're done. You can get comfortable again," Dr. Strahan advised as she patted Donna's foot.
"Well, what's it going to be?"
"The babies are fine. Your cervix is not torn or open. However, I'm going to talk to the other attending and get our notes together and get you out of here. First, though, I'm going to have two orderlies take you back downstairs. I will give you time to get yourself together before I have them come in."
"Thank you, Doctor," Donna and Harvey said.
"You're welcome. I hope I'm on duty when your babies are born."
"Donna," Harvey said as he was guiding her into their front door. She was limping a little as they discovered her foot had been slightly fractured in the accident.
"Yes, Harvey," Donna replied knowing that he was going to lecture her in something that she already was about to do. She was having a bit of difficulty walking on the walking cast they gave her so she allowed Harvey his say.
"I want you to go right to bed. The doctor said two weeks bedrest to be sure that nothing goes wrong."
"Harvey, I'm cruddy. I need a bath or a shower or whatever I can do to get clean. I've been in the street for God's sakes!"
"No problem. I'm more than happy to get you clean," Harvey said with an upraised eyebrow which was always his signal to her that he was flirting.
"Nice try, Mr. Specter…but I don't think we can do that safely yet," Donna quipped back.
"Well, I'll take what I can get, Mrs. Specter," Harvey responded kissing her on the side of her head.
When Donna sat down she noticed the cuckoo clock that Louis and Sheila had bought them for a combination going away/wedding present. It was a beautiful Swiss Chalet complete with shutters which a young blonde woman opened while her brunette beau dressed in traditional Swiss shorts, suspenders, white shirt, and hat climbs up a ladder to the window. Every hour on the hour that woman opened the shutters for her fiancée, but he never quite made it. When Donna spotted the clock, it said 4:50 pm. They had a house full of guests coming in two hours and nothing had been done. Not even one phone call to postpone the party.
"Harvey!" Donna said in her commanding COO voice. "We need to either call everyone or I'm hosting from the bedroom."
"The dinner party! I had forgotten. I had intended calling everyone while you were dressing but I totally forgot!" Harvey said holding his forehead. "Well, I guess we'll have to call them and postpone."
Suddenly Donna's cell sounded. She looked down and rolled her eyes.
"It's Charlotte," Donna said a little disgustedly. Her sister seemed to be a real pain in the ass these days. Donna just wished her sister would crawl back into that hole she had been in for six years. Donna looked at Harvey who had been standing in front of her in indecisiveness as to what to do first. He looked down at her and gestured her to pick up but put it on speaker.
Donna did what she was told.
"Charlotte," Donna said carefully.
"Donna! Are you all right! All I heard was a screech of brakes before you hung up!"
"Yes, I had a little accident."
"Charlotte, this is Harvey. Can you do us a favor?"
"Of course, anything. What can I do?"
"Donna's accident was a little bit more serious than she made it out to be. We have a house full of guests coming tonight and we need someone to help host along with me as Donna is on bed rest for the next two weeks."
"Harvey!" Donna mouthed with fire in her eyes as she glared at her husband.
"Char-" Donna started and tried to force her way while Harvey mouthed his protest.
"I'd loved to do it! Can I bring Troy? I don't have a babysitter right now and I don't like him staying by himself just yet."
"Of course, you can bring him, Charlotte. I haven't seen him for a while. I think he will get along just fine with our friends." Harvey said while he had come to sit down on the couch next to his wife and squeeze her hand.
"Ok, what time should I be there, and do you need me to pick up the food?"
"I guess so, Charlotte. Thank you," Donna said warily still glaring at her husband whose hand she released roughly. Donna continued to tell Charlotte where to pick up the food and what time to be here. I know he means well, but what the hell is he thinking?
After she hung up the phone, Donna rose and limped herself down the hall to the master bathroom.
"Donna, wait!"
"No, Harvey. I'll be fine. I don't know what the hell you're thinking, which is pretty odd for me, but just let me be. Don't worry. If I need you you'll hear." Donna continued her long journey to the master bath.
Harvey just sat on the couch and watched while his pissed-off wife limped away from him. He knew better than to follow her when she was in that mood. He then called Mike to tell everyone about Donna and that the party was still on.
At the party which was supposed to be a "let's get acquainted" type of party, Donna was fiercely bummed that she was to remain in bed while all the activity happened in the living room. She especially hated it that Harvey had requested Charlotte host.
Donna was not suffering that humiliation at all. This was her home! She was Harvey's wife and knew more about the running of a law firm than, obviously, the four senior partners put together! She also could host a party like no one had ever seen. She would be ok. She would sit on the couch with her feet up, wear her flats, when she went to get up and walk which would be only to the table and the bathroom. Charlotte could serve. Troy could keep the guys company when the females and the males separated or drifted to other parts of the apartment.
Harvey came into the bedroom looking for his wife who should have been in bed and was not pleased to find her dressed in her designer Seraphine floral print maternity dress which was one of the purchases she with which she surprised him. Wearing her dress, the bump was prevalent. He watched her as she hooked her earring onto her ear and checked her hair.
Donna caught his worrisome look in the mirror.
"Don't say it, Harvey. I will be fine. See? I'm wearing my flats and I plan to sit on my ass the entire night and let Charlotte serve. There's no way-" Donna said as she walked toward her husband.
Harvey reached out and took her arms and watched her as she became more and more animated with how mad she thought he would be.
"Donna…Donna," he said stroking her upper arms. Donna stood close to him and placed her hands on his chest.
"Harvey, I will be fine. Now is Charlotte and Troy here?"
"No," Harvey said. Then they could hear the door open and shut and people walk through.
"Donna! Harvey!" Charlotte called from the living room.
"Well, she's here now," Donna said and reached up to kiss Harvey who closed his eyes and slowly joined her in the kiss. Her lips were soft, and he closed his eyes and enjoyed it. When he opened his eyes, Donna was stroking his upper arms. They embraced.
"Uncle Harvey," Troy said as he came in the room. Harvey pulled far enough back in Donna's arms to allow her alone to see him roll his eyes at Troy's addressing him. Donna smirked back at him with a "don't, Harvey, he really likes you" look.
He kissed her one more time leaning in and her hand lingered on his chest until he turned around to face their nephew.
"Hey, Troy, I'm really glad you came here tonight!" Harvey told him as he put his arm around his shoulders and led him from the bedroom.
Donna turned back around to her full-length mirror. She turned to the side and placed her hands on the babies' bump. She turned to the front of the mirror and sighed.
"Here goes nothing…."
