LOST - PART 2

DISCOVERING

CHAPTER 37

Adam helped his new wife climb down from the hansom cab, then looked up at the driver.

"Thank you, Sam. I owe you one," he said quietly. The driver just nodded, then drove away.

He took Thea's hand and pulled her down the front walk, and then in the front door. He shut the door behind them and hung up his hat as she nervously waited, not knowing exactly what to expect from him.

Taking her by the hand again he led her down the front hall, turned to go down the downstairs hall, and into the sitting room. Towing her over to the sofa, he sat down and pulled her into his lap.

Then she gasped as he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her so tight she almost couldn't breathe.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was? Or what could have happened to you?" He ground out from a tight throat, giving her a slight shake. She looked at him surprised.

"Adam, I've been to the lower eastside before. The people know me there and I'm the only legitimate doctor willing to help them."

He leaned back to stare into her eyes for a moment, and she could feel how tense his body was.

"I made it clear to Julius he was never to take you down there without me again," he said heatedly. "And now I'm telling YOU."

She frowned slightly at first then her expression cleared and she nodded her head.

"Alright," she said and she saw a brief flash of surprise cross his face. Then his eyes narrowed as she nodded.

"I mean what I say, WIFE."

"I know and I think it's a perfectly reasonable request. We ARE married now."

He looked at her suspiciously and then seemed to relax a little when she said, "I mean what I say too, HUSBAND," and smiled.

Still irritated he said, "Do you have any idea who your patient was?"

"Of course!" she said seriously. "Everyone knows Marm is the biggest fence in the city, possibly the biggest on the east coast." She shook her head, "I didn't remember who Julius was until we got to the coach."

"You knew!?" he said, incredulously. "And you went anyway?" She could see his jaw muscles bulge as he ground his teeth. "She's not just the biggest fence, she's the most powerful criminal in New York. She has deep influence." He glanced away for a moment, thinking deeply and trying to tamp down his anger.

In a few moments he shook his head, and took a deep breath as he made up his mind.

"I also have to tell you that Julius is the person who got Mike, Jerry, Jon, and Nate out of jail in time to make the wedding."

"What? Really? Now I'm completely confused!" She scrambled off his lap to sit next to him and they looked at each other blankly for a while.

"This just doesn't make any sense," he finally said and Thea nodded.

"Why would Marm do that?"

"I don't know and I also don't like the implications. It's not like I ever did anything to help her and you've never seen her before."

"No, I haven't," she agreed and they both thought about it some more, until Thea said, "Maybe it wasn't you, or me..."

He looked at her sharply, "You mean one of the boys."

"I hope not, but..."

"But.." he echoed, "It's the only thing that makes sense. And that thought DID cross my mind."

"I'll have to look into this," he rose and held a hand out to her. "And I want you to understand, I'm still angry." He pulled her to her feet. "But in the meantime, let's be sure you know everything there is to know about defending yourself."

Nearly a month later on a Sunday afternoon, Adam and Nate were digging a hole to install a post at the corner of the front sidewalk and the brick path leading to the side entrance.

Adam was holding the post upright while Nate pounded in the wooden pegs holding the guide wires in place. Both men looked up when Doctor Charles came out the office entrance door.

"Having fun boys?" the doctor said when he stopped at the end of the brick walk. Nate laughed, "Tons!"

"So how did she do?" Adam asked, smiling.

"Oh, healthy as a horse," David answered. "But she does need to talk to you, the sooner the better." That wiped the smile off of Adam's face and after a quick narrow-eyed look at the other man took off down the brick walk as Nate stood.

"You did say she's ok, right? he asked the doctor and the other man patted him on the shoulder. "Yes Nate, she's fine and that's all I can tell you." Then he began to chuckle as he walked away.

When Adam went inside, he started down the hall and stopped to look in her office. Not seeing his wife in the room he continued down the hall, then turned into the kitchen.

Thea was sitting at the head of the table, with her back to him and he stood watching her for a moment.

"Thea," he said and saw her lift her head, but didn't turn around.

He moved to sit in the chair to her right and was troubled to see her face was flushed red.

"Thea," he repeated and put his hand over hers that were clasped together on the table. They were ice cold.

"What is wrong?"

She turned her head to look at him blankly for a second, then she blinked and tried to smile at him.

"Physically, I'm fine," she answered," but as for mentally, I'm not so sure."

Startled, he looked at her in surprise. "I don't understand."

Looking down at the table, she shook her head.

"Thea, just tell me. There's nothing you could say or do that would make me love you any less."

She shook her head again, then cleared her throat. "I've been having these dreams,' she said.

"Dreams..." he echoed.

"Yes, every night," she said and shook her head again, as if denying what she had just said.

"What kind of dreams," he asked, watching her carefully and she finally met his gaze, but couldn't seem to get any more words out.

"Are they..." he stopped to search for an acceptable term. "intimate dreams?" he asked gently.

She winced, "Yes," staring down at the table again.

He shook her clasped hands saying , "Theadora, look at me," and she reluctantly looked him in the eye again.

"They're not dreams," he assured her with a serious expression.

She jerked back in her chair. "What?!" she said not believing.

"They're not dreams," he repeated, and smiled. "You've been waking me up every night," he continued and tried not to laugh at her shocked expression. "I wasn't sure if you were awake at first, but now..." his voice trailed off when her eyes sparked with anger.

WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP!" she almost shouted.

"Isn't it common knowledge to never wake a sleepwalker?" he gave her an innocent look that no one in their right mind would believe.

She stared at him for a moment, and he could see when her anger began to drain away.

The corners of her mouth began to quiver, then she began to laugh. He smiled with relief.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Theadora. Doctor Charles gave you a full bill of health," he said and she gave him an odd smile as she came to sit in his lap. Cupping his face in her hands she pressed her forehead to his.

"He also told me I'm pregnant."