"Actually, I just mentioned to your partner earlier, your BP has come down a fraction but it is still slightly elevated so on an air of caution, we'll keep you in for another night to monitor you." The disappointment was quite clear on Connie's face, prompting Sam to lean forward.

"One more night won't hurt, especially if it's in your best interest." He glanced back at the nurse. "And the baby? She's okay too?" He was unaware but Connie's eyes flickered over to the side of his head, watching his reaction closely.

This was the first time he'd asked about the baby since being there.


The thrill of being caught had never quite been as much of a turn on as it was right now. They'd had four days of uncertain interactions since their rendezvous in the store cupboard. Four days of absolute hunger for more but neither could gauge what was happening. That is until they'd had a particularly adrenaline charged case in resus, forcing them to couple together and work as the dream team they once were. The close proximity between them, the sideways glances and utter ease it was to work so well with on another. The other staff couldn't help but notice how well they meshed together, how good they must have been as Cardiothoracic consultant and registrar back in the day. Needless to say, they were both turned on and ready to devour one another. It had led them to the Hospital Chapel of all places, surely they'd be going to Hell for this? They'd thrown all caution to the wind, arriving together and entering together just as soon as they could escape resus. The sexual tension peaked as soon as the door clicked shut. He more or less grabbed at her waist, pulling her into him whilst kissing her roughly before walking her backwards towards a large table in the centre of the room. Her hands were already at his tucked shirt, trying to pull it loose as soon as he'd backed her up to the large piece of furniture. Her lower back pressed into it unyieldingly as her hands finally managed to get beneath his shirt, her fingers smoothing over the skin on his sides sensually as she reciprocated the direness of their lustful lip-lock. His hand actions mirrored her intentions, popping her buttons down the front of her shirt to reveal her black laced bra. He broke the kiss just to observe her, the panted breaths between them only filling in the silence for a few seconds whilst they stopped dead, just staring at one another. For the first time ever in their history, Connie looked a little uncertain, almost as though she was going along with her feelings but deep down she was really thinking about it now that they'd stopped. Whereas Sam had never looked so sure in his entire existence. He moved in again, reinitiating the violent kiss as his hands resumed their previous task and finally got the last of her shirt buttons. Wasting no time, his palms began to venture beneath the white polka-dotted fabric of her blouse. He heard her moan as their tongues wrestled, his hands cupping over her bra with just the right amount of pressure. Two could play that game, her hands moved down on his sides, her left stayed put on his hip as her right smoothed down to the front of his crotch, squeezing at him gently. This time it was his turn to groan, and that he did. The sound of it spurred her on even more, the heat between them becoming almost too much.

"Wait, stop." She whispered breathlessly, pulling away from the starved kiss. He was about to starting coaxing her back to the moment, not wanting it to be over before it had even started. He'd been gagging for more for four whole days. Ninety-six hours. But before he managed to start sweet-talking, her fingers moved to his mouth and stopped him instantly in a shushing movement. Her index, middle and ring fingers pressed gently against his lips whilst her little finger dipped under his chin. He let his eyes wander across hers as they remained focused on the door. He too grew concerned about the approaching noise she'd halted the kiss for, their breaths bated with panic. She could feel her lungs burning as she held the air in against it's will. A rush of relief crashing over them when the talking shadows continued walking past, only just visible through the opaque glass in the doors. They both moved back into the kiss in a synchronised fashion, the small yet deadly thrill turning up the level of intensity even more. The chapel was still set up in white, the room dimly lit and candles burning at the foot of the large and comforting space. There had previously been a small patient wedding in here, hence the set up. The table they were leaning on was obviously used as a spread for a selection of foods but it was cleared now and being put to perfectly good use for other activities. He was leaning over her as she remained resting her lower back against the edge of it, his hands still holding her waist with a soft grip, her open shirt hanging on each side of her body. Despite his urgency and desperation, it was Connie who was rushing things along now, her hands had been massaging at his hardening crotch for long enough. Turning her attention to his belt buckle, she began tugging at impatiently as their breathing became more laboured and the kiss even more aggressive. With their tongues lapping against one another, they could feel themselves moaning with want. He quickly grew impatient, breaking the kiss once more to turn his attention down to his trousers as he ripped the belt open and forced his zipper down. She couldn't help but watch the show, her eyes low as she studied his every move and her mouth slightly gaped with anticipation. Their breathing was harsh and abrasive, hitting the quiet air sharply. As soon as he'd got himself out, she gasped loudly as he turned her roughly so that her back was facing his front. Pushing her forward so that she was slightly angled over the table, her palms pressed flat on the surface of it. She let a soft moan escape upon feeling his hardness pressed up against her figure-fitting skirt. He leant on her completely, his left arm wrapping around her middle just above where her lower abdomen met the edge of the table. His palm felt hot against the skin on her torso, her breathing even more audible now that their passionate lip-lock had come to an end. Her own left hand came to rest on his firmly as it lingered on her abdomen, her head tilting to the right and allowing his mouth access to the skin on her neck. He'd silently asked, kissing her shoulder beforehand and moving his lips closer to the nape of her neck. Her blouse had slipped, now hanging halfway down her back and thus giving him free-range of her skin to kiss along her shoulder. With the tilt of her head, he'd graduated to her neck, sucking and biting amorously at her flesh.

In the midst of these feelings, she could feel her brow furrowing and raising in the middle. Her stilted breaths being exhaled through her swollen and parted lips as she strengthened her grip on his arm that was wrapped around her middle. Her right hand was still pressed on to the table top, holding herself up at the right angle. He was moving his hips slowly, her back arching with each slow roll of his pelvis against her tight pencil skirt. It was only when she accidentally let a light moan escape that he finally let go of her to roll her skirt up over her hips, pulling her underwear down roughly and allowing her to step out of them before they resumed their previous positions. His left arm once again taking it's place around her middle, her left palm once more gripping at the top of his hand on her torso. He continued nipping at her neck, enjoying the sounds of pleasure she was making. Using his right hand, he guided himself into her slowly. A distressed moan of relief escaping both of them before he began bucking his hips slowly, his arm tightening around her to hold her in the same position. He moved his right hand to rest on top of hers as it remained flat on the table, his fingers lacing between hers and gripping at them tenderly. She could feel her legs struggling to support her own weight, which he had obviously foreseen and thus explained why his grip around her waist was so strong. She could feel herself moaning with each roll of his hips but for the life of her she couldn't stop. Her jaw became slack and her eyes closed delicately as her head once again tilted to the right and back a little to rest on his shoulder upon feeling his tongue return to her neck. His movements speeding up and his teeth grazing at her skin whilst he listened to each and every ecstasy tainted pant and moan she emitted. He let his own satisfied grunt be heard as he felt her left hand strengthening it's grip on his, guiding his palm up from her waist to her right breast and squeezing forcefully, ultimately telling him to do so. Despite him actually doing it, she didn't let go of him, her palm pressed onto the back of his hand solidly as she continued to guide him. Meanwhile his movements had quickened in response to her faster and higher pitched panting, indicating how close she was. Feeling him breathing hard into her neck, along with his unbreakable grip he had on her she almost felt her legs buckle with the overwhelming pleasure, crashing over her like a wave she could feel her legs shaking from ankle to hip. If it wasn't for him holding her up, she'd be front down on the surface of the table.

She didn't submit easily if not ever, but she remained on her feet for yet another orgasm and then his release too. Their spent bodies heaving against one another following the strenuous sexual act. They remained stood as they were for a moment or two before he pulled out, slowly re-doing his pants and shirt before looping his belt back through through the loops on his trousers. All the while he studied her closely, the pair of them still breathing in a laboured fashion, their lips bright red from passion. She'd kept her back facing him as she rolled her skirt back down, turning to face him as she re-did her buttons slowly, licking her lips with a slight smile on her face.

"After you." She breathed, motioning to the door as she straightened herself up a little more. They maintained their 'one leaves before the other' tactic just to be on the safe side, despite their impatience getting in here.

"Thank you." He shot her a seductive smile back, leaving her leaning against the table. He only turned to look at her once he began opening the door. "And, uh, thanks for the service." Throwing in a small Church pun, he held his hand up with a devilish smile, her black laced thong dangling in his grip before he shoved them into his pocket. "You'll get them back next time."

"Who says there'll be a next time?" She raised one brow, her breathing still a little heavy but her words just as sexy as ever.

"There will always be a next time with us." He let his eyes look over her once more, biting at his lower lip before leaving. She couldn't help but smile, despite being left knicker-less beneath her skirt. Although she'd never admit it to his face, their little sex-capades were the most exciting thing in her life right now.

Simple and uncomplicated, exactly how all relationships should be. Purely sexual and no strings attached.


Oh how things had changed. She felt awful for thinking it, but sometimes she really missed how simple and uncomplicated their sex sessions used to be. Even though both of them were cheating on their respective partners, it somehow seemed so much easier. She wasn't stupid, she knew being involved entailed more than just sex but she'd often find herself exhausted from all the extra things that came along with a relationship. She wasn't questioning her feelings for him, those she was she absolutely certain about. It wasn't a feeling she'd experience often so when she did, she always knew it meant something. Snapping herself out of her blank space staring, she turned to glance at his exhausted body as he slept uncomfortably in the visitor chair. It was evening once again, she was still being held captive as a patient and Grace had been and gone. That was the highlight of her day, seeing Grace after almost three days of not having her around. Dr. Goldman, he obstetrician had been in to see them and confirmed she was responding well to the medication intended to lower her blood pressure. Finally, a positive note. She'd be going home in the morning, on strict instructions that she stay in bed or at the very least makes sure she's resting appropriately. Connie didn't do rest, it wasn't a hobby of hers regardless of whether it was needed or not. However, she knew the importance, for Grace as well as her unborn baby so she'd abide, against her body's desire not to.

"Sam?" She spoke softly, as though she didn't want to stir him even though that's exactly what she was trying to do. "Sam?" Laying her hand on his gently, she smoothed her thumb over his skin and gave his hand a small squeeze. He woke quickly, sitting up in a panic as he began speaking before he'd even opened his eyes properly.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He was bolt upright, looking over her with his sleep deprived eyes as though he was searching for some sort of catastrophe.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong." She soothed quickly before pulling her hand away. "You looked uncomfortable, I was just going to say maybe you should go home? Grace probably needs her own bed, some regularity."

"I'm not leaving you-"

"I'm fine, Sam. Besides, it's not as if I'll be going anywhere until I discharge myself tomorrow." Her eyes scanned across him gently. "Go home." She continued to study him as he looked down, contemplating her suggestion. They suggested a longer stay due to her fluctuating blood pressure but with the news that she was fine, she wanted nothing other than to go home to her own bed.

"Is that a good idea? I think you should maybe stay, you heard what the Dr. Goldman said-"

"Yes, that I'm fine." She reiterated with raised brows and a small scoff.

"So you're just ignoring everything he said about possible organ failure?" His forehead wrinkled, struggling to understand her flippant attitude towards the severity of this medical issue.

"Organ failure comes along with full-blown eclampsia, Sam. I was showing signs of preeclampsia, and have since improved enough to be discharged in the morning. My organs are fine." Her voice was cold and stern, a complete turnaround from her previously warm and loving actions towards him. But this was them all over, hot and cold. Completely unpredictable and quite frankly a complicated duo.

"Look." He began, just as sternly as her. "I'm tired of hospitals. Sick to death of everyone I love and care about being in and out of here like it's the norm. So I apologise if I'm suffocating you, because God knows you can't cope with that but I cannot risk losing you as well." She felt her face soften upon hearing his angry yet heartfelt words.

"I'm not going anywhere-"

"Yes, for now but if you don't take this seriously-"

"If I don't take this seriously?" She cut him off, repeating his words back to him as she struggled to maintain her temper. "I have taken every minute of this seriously, Sam. You don't think I know exactly what's at stake here?" Her eyes glistened under the dim lighting in the room as she stared at him expectantly.

"You and Grace are the most important things in my life, the only things I care about. I just don't want to lose you. Either of you." His voice was considerably calmer now, a softness to his words that he thought would resonate with her but against his better judgement, it had the opposite effect.

"Yeah." She scoffed tearfully and looked down at her lap, adding to his confusion. "You've made it quite clear what you do and don't care about."

"What?-"

"Just go home, please." She begged quietly, quickly growing tired of the now emotional conversation as her face twisted in discomfort.

"Connie, I-"

"Just go!" She finally cracked, her loud yell hitting all four of the room's walls without warning. Her breathing quick and heavy as she struggling to keep her emotions in check. He stood up quickly in a panicked fashion upon noticing her becoming distressed, he was supposed to be keeping her calm not challenging her to a sparring match. Normally she could give him a run for his money but in her current condition she was in no state for back and forth jibes.

"Alright, alright." He reassured quickly. "I'm going, but please just calm down." He held his hands out as if he really wanted to help calm her but didn't dare lay a finger on her. His large worried eyes watching her as she struggled with her breathing. "Okay, I'm going to get the nurse, put this on." He leant over her, grabbing the oxygen mask and fitting it on to her face gently but before he even reached the door handle she leant forward in agony, a pained gasp leaving her mouth. It was muffled by the mask but the deep dip in her brow told him she was in some amount of pain. He ditched the plan to find help and instead moved back over to her and leant on the red button behind her head. "It's okay, someone's on their way." His words were breathy, a horrible warm feeling of panic and regret running through his entire body as he stood by helplessly. She wasn't making any noise, just leaning forward breathlessly as her right hand clutched at the top of her bump, smoothing her palm over it as if trying to massage the pain away. He tensed his jaw, about to bite the bullet and move closer to her but the nurse came barging through the doors before he could commit to the loving gesture.

"What happened?" She asked quickly, rushing to Connie's side and setting the doppler up as sufficiently as she could.

"I don't know." Sam stammered erratically. "She got upset and then-" Cutting himself off, he brushed his left hand over his head through his grey speckled hair. "I don't know."

"Alright, just lean back for me." She spoke gently, guiding Connie back to lean into the pillows behind herself as she raised the blanket to roll her gown up discreetly, placing the blanket back as soon as she had the doppler on her abdomen. "Okay, baby is quite distressed again. I'll need Dr. Goldman to come down and take a look at you, alright? But in the meantime, I need you to try and calm down." She smiled sympathetically watching Connie nod in response before she removed the mask from her face.

"What are you still doing here?" Her murmured words were almost inaudible due to her breathlessness but both the nurse and Sam managed to catch her sentence. He couldn't help but scoff in disbelief.

"You're unbelievable-"

"Mr Strachan, I think it'd be best if you left now."

"Don't worry, I'm going." He snatched his jacket from the chair angrily, stopping briefly to look back at her almost the same way he had done in the Chapel all those months ago, the look he gave her this time though was nothing like the one back then. He looked hurt, confused and tired. Finally leaving the room properly, he threw his jacket on and walked straight into Elliot's large stomach as he furthered down the corridor.

"Oh, Sam! Sorry, I didn't see-"

"Sorry Elliot." He huffed and interrupted his former colleague, getting his arms down his sleeves properly.

"I heard Connie had been admitted, baby trouble?" His worried eyes looked over the former registrars tired and irritated expression. "I take it you're obviously just leaving?" Understanding their tumultuous relationship, he'd half guessed they'd obviously had an argument and thus he was walking away angrily.

"I'm this close to giving up, Elliot." He motioned with his fingers to show just how low his patience was running. "Perhaps you could talk to her and figure out what's going on because I sure as hell can't seem to do right from wrong at the moment." He shook his head, looking past Elliot's kind and concerned expression. "She's ordered me to leave, I'm going to pick Gracie up."

"Perhaps you should stick around-"

"No." He smirked with ill-humour. "No, she's made it quite clear she doesn't want me here so I'm going, before I say something I'll regret." He finally made eye contact with the older surgeon, his face softening upon noting the look on his grey bearded face. "Look, I'm just tired, angry and confused. She's getting discharged tomorrow, I'll be back to pick her up. I think we both just need to cool off, that's all." He'd quickly registered the hurt look in Elliot's face, as though he was in disbelief that he was abandoning a pregnant woman during such delicate and sensitive situation as the one they were currently experiencing.

"Right, of course, you head home and get some rest." He smiled and patted his arm gently. "I'll keep an eye on her." He offered him yet another smile before watching a harassed Sam leave with what looked like the weight of the world resting heavily on his shoulders. He figured tensions might be high and thus entered the private room slowly, just in time for the nurse to exit.

"I'm sorry, she's not having any visitors-"

"I'm Elliot Hope, I work upstairs on Darwin." He paused. "I'm a friend, I think she could do with one right now." His eyes were full of empathy as he blinked at her, honestly he'd won her over at the first part of his sentence. She'd noticed Connie's tears, despite her doing the upmost to downplay them.

"That's fine." She whispered with a small wink. "You've got about fifteen minutes, Dr. Goldman will be down shortly to examine her."

"Thank you." He smiled sweetly and entered the cozy room, closing the door quietly behind himself. "I heard you'd been admitted, I just bumped into Sam-"

"Please, don't, Elliot." She breathed tiredly, the mask was no longer in use but he could see she was definitely in some discomfort.

"Right, okay, we won't mention him." Even his soft nature was already calming her, he perched himself in the chair Sam had previously sat in. His focus on her face not faltering for even a moment. "Preeclampsia?" He clocked the blood pressure cuff, partnered with the doppler being held in place on her bump beneath her gown and the blanket, the sound of her baby's racing heartbeat dancing around the room. She gave him a small nod in response, her gaze only meeting his for a fleeting second but even that was too much, setting off her already heightened emotions as she turned to look in the opposite direction at the window. Her right hand hadn't moved from her bump since Sam left, whilst her left one now came up to swipe quickly at her tears. Had she not been pregnant she reassured herself she'd be holding things together perfectly fine. It was just hormones. Regardless, she was hurting. Her sharp shuddering breath as she cried almost broke Elliot's heart. He could do nothing but watch on sadly. "Connie." He cooed, his gentle voice floating over her sensitively. "What is it?" He was met with a wordless response, just the sound of her trying to choke her own cries but she couldn't stop. Being the caring man he was, he couldn't stand to watch on without taking action. He stood slowly, pulling the chair in tow as he got as close to the bed as he could, his warm and podgy hand wrapping around hers on her bump. "Talk to me, Connie." Her body jolted with each heaved breath, shaking her head.

"All of this." She purred sadly in between shuddered tears. Her face finally looking back to her bump as she sniffled. "This mess."

"It's a hell of a situation you're dealing with, I can tell you that much." He smiled warmly, repeatedly squeezing her hand for reassurance. Her squeezing back was telling him to continue with the comforting action. "It'll all be worth it in the end, you know that."

"Of course." She breathed exhaustedly. "But the uncertainty the lies ahead, I just-" She ceased her sentence from continuing on whilst she tried to find the right words, he tear-stained face glistening before him. "Nothing feels right." As soon as she'd began thinking about it deeply once more, she seemed to become upset all over again.

"Alright, so fill me in." He calmed gently. "I'm not going anywhere, I'm settled and I'm here to listen. What's scaring you?" He couldn't refrain from frowning sadly when she shook her head quickly.

"No, no, I'm not supposed to be getting upset." Her concentration kept going back to her unborn baby as she tried to rebottle all of this angst.

"So speak it into existence, let it out and deal with it." He urged softly. "Internalising it is only making it a bigger issue, whatever it is, it'll fester and grow inside." There was a long silence with the exception of her soft and slowing sobs mixed in with her baby's heartbeat via the doppler. She allowed his words to float around in her mind for a couple of minutes before whispering.

"He's not interested." Her surprising confession made Elliot fall silent as he thought of what to say, he was a little embarrassed to say the least.

"I'm no expert in that department, but perhaps things will return to normal in the bedroom once the-"

"Not like that, Elliot." She whispered, interjecting his sentence as her eyes fluttered shut in recoil, a small and genuine smile appearing on her face even if for only a brief moment. He felt accomplished that his stupid misunderstanding at least gave her some sort of amusement, it was extremely short-lived though.

"My mistake." Her chortled heartily. "However, I fear I don't quite know what you mean?"

"This baby, he's not interested and it doesn't feel right." She sniffled again, her eyes still avoiding his and instead focusing on her bump. "You know, when I was pregnant with Grace, I pushed him out. Didn't want him anywhere near me, I didn't want him involved." She confessed sadly, inviting him to respond.

"I know." He folded his lips together, his eyes peering over the top of his glasses at her as she finally made eye contact with him. Her eyes showed him a pain he'd only ever seen once in her, when they turned Grace's ventilator off with the belief that she was going to slip away. He never wanted to see that look again but here he was, face to face with it once more. "I was there, I saw the arguments, the battles. The screaming matches-"

"Alright, I get the point." She huffed, not wishing to relive her ignorant past behaviour. "But this time I'm not stopping him, in fact I want him here, want him involved but he's just not bothered." He could feel the pain diffusing through her words, hitting his heart with a piercing force.

"It's different with men, I feel." He swallowed during his slight pause. "We don't know what it's like to be pregnant, we don't experience that extreme bond that Mother's do. It's when the baby is born that we become a Father. When Gina was pregnant with James I honestly felt like it only really clicked when she went into labour and it all suddenly hit me like a tonne of bricks." He smiled gleefully as he recollected the precious moment. "And then it dawned in me, this is it, I'm going to be a Father." She offered him a polite smile for trying but he could see his sweet story had made little to no difference.

"That's not Sam." She breathed, blinking quickly. "It's like he's flicked a switch and turned himself off, he's not there anymore. Even with Grace, I can see her talking to him, he's nodding and acknowledging her but it's like there's nobody home sometimes."

"Perhaps this is all taking a toll on him and he's struggling, more than he's letting on?" He offered another alternative, desperate to ease his friend's pain.

"I'm struggling, Elliot!" Her stirring words made him frown with worry as she pulled her hand from his grip and clutched at her chest, like her heart was physically hurting with all of this upset and crying, which he could agree was really not in her nature. "I can't do this alone, as much as I'd like to be able to say I could. I don't think I can."

"Have you spoken to him about this? Any of it?" He turned his authoritative voice on, leaning forwards as he attempted to keep a close eye on her actions, slightly fearing her raised voice and distressed state would kickstart something dire.

"And tell him what?" She sighed angrily, her chest trembling with her sharp tears once again.

"Everything you've just said to me." He frowned. "Connie, you're my friend and I care dearly for you, but you need to wake up. Sharing your concerns and worries with your loved one is not a sign of weakness or vulnerability, you have to let him in." His voice raised in pitch but not in volume, he was hypersensitive to the situation and didn't wish for her to become even more distressed than she already was. He could at least hear her baby's heart rate in the case of anything bad happening. "Sam's a sensitive man, despite how he might behave sometimes." Referring to his earlier behaviour in the corridor, he continued on. "There's only so much he'll take before he's had enough. The more you push him away, the more despondent he'll become. You need to explain all of these feelings to him."


"I take it things aren't going well?" Charlie's deep voice stirred Sam from his thoughts. He was seated in the staff room on the settee, drowning in his many thoughts.

"It depends what you mean by 'well'?" Offering the older nurse a tired eye roll, he rubbed his hands roughly over his face. Charlie grew concerned with the answer he'd received, prompting him to enter into the room properly and seat himself on the chair adjacent to Sam.

"Everything's alright with the baby, isn't it?" He quickly became alarmed, especially with the look on the younger male's face. He feared something awful had happened.

"She's on edge, she was fine." He paused mid-sentence, pondering whether he really wanted to spill the story to Charlie knowing how bad it sounded that he'd started an argument with her, despite knowing he should have been trying to keep her stress levels to a minimum. "I had to get out of there, for her sake."

"An argument." He guessed correctly, his lips folding together. "Everything I said about talking to her, how did that go?"

"It didn't." He tensed his jaw, his knee bouncing with aggravation. "I didn't get chance, she more less kicked me out before she doubled over in pain again." He blinked prior to rubbing his hands over his face tiredly. "Elliot's up there with her so at least she's not alone."

"Might I ask what the argument was about?" He pried sensitively, wanting to help as much as he could.

"I don't even know." Sam lied awfully and Charlie saw straight through it, offering him and weak smile as if to say Really? Is that the best you can do? Sam immediately rolled his eyes with annoyance. "She thinks I don't feel anything for this baby."

"Did she say that-"

"She doesn't have to, I know that's just how it seems with the way I'm behaving." His admission cut the veteran nurse's previous question short and was tinted with shame, his head hanging slightly as he fidgeted with the end of his tie. "I don't ask about her, don't ask to feel her kicking, I barely even acknowledge her existence." He scoffed sadly and Charlie sensed there was a deep sadness behind his words, inviting him to ask for more information.

"But why, Sam?" His eyes narrowed with confusion. "I thought this is what you both wanted, for Grace?"

"Yes, it was! I mean, it is, I just-" He stopped to breathe heavily. "I'm not allowing myself to get attached to this baby when there's a possibility of losing another child!" His voice spiked in volume. "Because I don't think I could handle that, and with our situation, if she loses this baby there's a strong chance we'll lose Grace too." There was a deafening silence following his revelation, Charlie took a moment to mull it over in his mind. He didn't want to speak and utter the wrong thing, especially regarding such a fragile situation.

"Sam, I'm not going to pretend that I know what you're going through because I don't. Quite frankly I wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy and it sickens me that it's happening to you all-"

"But?" He snapped angrily, his aching head really not in the mood for being talked at right now.

"But this is all stuff you should be telling Connie, not me." He furrowed his brow, carefully continuing after the small gap of silence. He'd left an open space for Sam to jump in with an argument but he remained still and quiet. "You know, if she thinks she want nothing to do with this baby, she's probably upstairs feeling extremely afraid and alone right now. I know she asked you to leave but this is Connie we're talking about, that's what she does when she's wounded. She'll push you away, say hurtful things and I know how infuriating that is, trust me. But that's just how she deals with things, just like how you stick your head in the sand and carry on like nothing's bothering you, pretending this baby doesn't exist just in case you lose her." He stopped briefly, mustering his next words cautiously. "Neither of you can do this alone, especially not Connie regardless of how strong she might seem. You need each other, so I suggest you pull yourself together, get back upstairs and talk to one another once and for all! For the sake of your children born and unborn, I have said it time and time again but this is the last time. Go and fix this before it's too late." There was a hint of irritation in his tone now, he was slightly sick of repeating himself. Of course, it was none of his business and he could easily butt out and remain outside of the relationship drama but he cared too much to just sit back and watch them both self-destruct, particularly when the adverse effects would interfere with not one but two young, innocent lives.