CHAPTER 13

"Shot? Coma?" Ommigod, I felt myself go light headed and I started to sway a bit, Eddie forced me to put my head between my knees until I felt better.

After awhile I asked Eddie if he would take me to the hospital.

"Are you sure? There are a lot of people there who blame you for all this"

"You mean, Mrs. Morelli and Bella? They both have left me messages on my answering machine abusing the hell out of me. They aren't going to do anything to me, after all, I'm carrying Joe child"

"But there's Terry and a couple of the boys from vice aren't to happy with you"

"I don't care, I'm still his fiancée, I'm still wearing his ring, and he hasn't called off the engagement that I know of and most important, he is the father of my baby"

Eddie thought for a minute, "Ok, I'll take you. By the way, you look really good for someone whose 20 weeks pregnant"

I felt my eye widen, "20 weeks, Eddie I'm only 15 weeks, am I that fat?"

"No, sorry Steph" he mumbled. "Let's go"

1 hour later, my hair was curly again, I was wearing clothes. Unfortunately my normal jeans didn't fit anymore, so I had to wear my new pregnant jeans, the ones with the elastic waist band. Eddie was walking me through the hospital.

"Just remember what I said about everyone ok?"

"yep"

We walked through the door and the corridor ahead was full of cops and Morelli's family. The corridor fell silent as everyone looked to see who it was. Carl wondered over to us.

"Hey Steph, long time no see, you look good"

"Yep, just getting a bit fat."

"I have to admit, you choose the right time to visit. Mrs. Morelli and Bella just went home on doctors orders to get some sleep, but you'd better be ready for a fight, because they left Terry Gilman sitting in there with him, she hasn't left his side since she arrived."

"So, how is he?"

"The doctors with him now. He was shot twice in the chest and once in the forearm" Carl told me

Ommigod, I think I started to go lightheaded again, because the next thing I knew, Eddie and Carl where leading me over to a chair, forcing my head between my legs again.

A few minutes later the doctor came out of Joe's room; Carl grabbed him as he walked past.

"Excuse me doctor, how is he?" Carl asked.

"Are you family?"

"I'm his fiancée" I spoke up.

The doctor gave me an odd look, but continued. "Office Morelli caught two in the chest, one bullet grazed a lung, but it missed the heart the other hit his kidney. The shot to his forearm was just a flesh wound."

I placed on hand on my stomach "Will he be ok?"

"He should make a full recovery, provided he wakes up soon, the longer he's in the coma and less his chances are"

"Was he conscious when he was bought in?"

"According to the emergency doctor, he was asking for his fiancée, but I thought that the woman in his room was his fiancée, because that's how she introduced herself."

"Oh, well, can I see him please?"

"Sure, he's only allowed one visitor at a time, so you'll have to get that woman out of there"

I nodded and told the doctor thanks.

"Do you want us to get her out of there Steph?"

"No, I'll do it, just hang around because I'm pretty sure she ain't gonna want to go."

I took a deep breath, walked over to Joe hospital door and looked in. Terry was sitting there, really close to him, holding his hand and murmuring to him. She glanced up at the door and saw me.

Slowly I made my way over to his bed, I looked around, and Joe was hooked up to all sorts of machines and tubes. I placed my bag on the spare chair and lent over Joe to kiss him on the forehead.

"What are you doing here?" Terry hissed, "this is all your fault"

I ignored her and sat down on a chair, with my back to the door.

"Didn't you hear me? What are you doing here? Mrs. Morelli and Bella are going to kill you when they get back."

I looked up at her, "Sorry, I wasn't listening, MY fiancée is in hospital. Did you say something?"

"Yes, the man I love is in hospital, all because you couldn't keep your hands and lips to yourself"

"Hey Terry, lets take this out to the corridor" Where Carl and Eddie can stop me front strangling her.

In the corridor, still surrounded by Joe's family and cops, we continued our agreement.

"Ha, the man you love, listen honey, he doesn't love you, otherwise you would be wearing this ring. He's my fiancée and the father of my baby" I said, waving my hand in her face.

"He only proposed because your pregnant you stupid slut, you don't even know who the father of the child is"

"You know what, I don't have to take this from you, he's my fiancée, so just stay away from him" I turned to walk away, when Terry grabbed, my arm, turning me to face her and swung at me, I didn't have time to duck and she connected with my cheek. Boy did she know how to punch, I went down like a sack of potatoes, nearly landing on my stomach.

A couple of cops grabbed her from behind, while Carl and Eddie rushed over to help me up. Protectively, I put both of my arms around my stomach and glared at her.

"The next time you do something to harm me or this baby, I will be on you so fast, you won't know what has hit you."

"That goes for me as well," said Eddie

"And me" Carl added.

A couple of other cops stood behind me, no man likes to see a pregnant lady hurt.

Terry glared at me and struggled out of the grasp of the cops. She walked past me, purposely bumping into me, causing me to step back a bit.

"You ok Steph?" they asked.

"Yeah, I just want to go back inside"

It took about 10 minutes for me to convince them that I was fine, and that I promised to call them if there were any changes.

Finally I settled myself in the uncomfortable hospital chairs, until a nurse came in to take Joe's vitals and took pity on me, she later bought me a more comfortable chair.

I sat there for what felt like hours, just holding Joe's hand, our fingers intertwined, watching Joe breathe. The doctor told me that it was good he was breathing on his own, plus, if I spoke to him, there was a chance he could hear me.

So I sat there telling him about what happened after he left Carson City, even how I ended up in hospital, and running into Sally in Philli.

Eventually I got around to the really important stuff.

"Joe, I'm soooo sorry for what I did. I didn't mean for it to go so far, he was just there comforting me, because I was really upset with you and upset with myself, Ranger was just there. I'm not trying to make excuses for what I did, and I don't expect you to forgive me straight away."

After I finished, I sat there, just hoping that he would wake up and tell me everything was ok, but he just layed there.

At about 1pm, I realised how hungry I was, I hadn't eaten since we left Philli and with Doctor Tim's warnings ringing I my ears, I went in search of the cafeteria.

Outside Joe's room where still two of his workmates. I asked them if they wanted anything. Both said no, one even offered to go for me, so I could stay with Joe. But I needed to get out of the room. I told them to come and find me if there was any change.



After wondering around the hospital for 15 minutes, I eventually found the cafeteria, and promptly stacked my tray with as much as possible, mostly salads and fruit, 'cause it was all they had.

On my way back to Joe's room, I went via the nursery and had a look at all the newborns. I must have stood there for while, because a nurse came over to me and asked if I was ok.

"Excuse me miss, are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Actually could you tell me please tell me the name of the resident obstetrician?"

The nurse looked at me "of course, there's two obstetrician's working at this hospital, Doctor Seymour and Dr Wheeler, who is actually a OB-GYN. Doctor Wheeler is on call today, would you like to speak to her?"

"Yes please" I replied

I sat down and read a couple of 3 year old Who magazines.

Doctor Wheeler finally came out to see me.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Wheeler"

"I'm Stephanie Plum, and as you can see, I'm pregnant"

"So I see, you're about 15 weeks right?"

I nodded

"Would you like to step into my office, so we can talk," she said, pointing me in the direction of her office.

After we sat down, she asked me some questions.

"Is this your first doctor's appointment?"

"Yes and no, it's first check up, but I only got out of hospital 1 1/2 weeks ago, in Carson City.

"I have an opening at 2:30, if you could come back then, I can give you a full check up. Can we expect the father to be here?"

"Umm, no, he and I aren't really on speaking terms at the moment, he's in a coma in this hospital"

"Oh, I'm sorry"

"It's ok"

"Is there someone who can be here with you during the check up?"

Mary Lou, Lula, Connie, Valerie, mum, grandma. "I'm sure I can find someone"

"One last this, what was the doctors name in Carson City, so I can get a copy of your chart?"

"Doctor Tim Rogers"

"Thanks, I'll see you at 2:30"

I left her office and slowly wondered my way back to Joe's room, when I got there, Joe wasn't alone.

"Hey Steph"

"Mary Lou, what are you doing here?"

"Well duh, I heard about Joe, then Eddie rang me and told me about Terry, did you really threaten to kill her? Anyway, I left Lenny with the kids and came to keep you company."

"Good, I was just about to call you, can you come to the doctor with me this afternoon, I have my first check up"

"Sure, after all I've done it twice"

"Thanks"

As it turns out my first check up was relatively easy. Doctor Wheeler asked me questions about my general health, activities, hobbies, alcohol, drugs, family, prior doctors and medical history. Then I had to sign some release forms. Then she took my vitals.

She gave me advise for what to do and not to do, what how she saw the pregnancy progressing, how she would function as the pregnancy progresses and what I hospitals she worked at. It turns out this one was the closest.

Finally she did a pelvic exam and drew some blood for tests and took a urine sample.

After we had finished, I sent Mary Lou to my appartment to get some clothes for me, and I went back to Joe's room.

Waiting for me was Mrs. Morelli and Grandma Bella.