Author's Apologies:  Hey, this is short… I know. And really kind of delayed… Sorry about that. More soon. School hard. (Buffy, Buffy…
your season premiere is only a few weeks away...)

Want me to hurry it up?  Write me: vegasbaby81@yahoo.com  I'm here to entertain you.  So, am I?

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Previously in "Distracting," Judy filled Karen in about Lily's pregnancy, Katie offered to give Karen a ride home from Booklovers, and Grace, Zoë, Rick and eventually Judy convened at Lily's hospital room for a visit.

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Part 11a "Reassure Me"

The Hospital

Rick and Judy walked down the hall toward the nurse's station.  Neither said anything at first, both waiting until they were out of earshot of the room.

"I suppose you're looking for the real story," Rick began after they had traveled a safe distance.  He ran a nervous hand through his hair.

"When did all this happen?" Judy asked.  "I mean, I know you said she threw up blood earlier."

"Yeah.  At the station.  She apparently went to see Dr. Wellman, who did an ultrasound."  Rick paused as they approached the nurse's station.  He asked the nurse at the desk for a pitcher of water.  When the nurse left to get the pitcher, Rick and Judy resumed the conversation.

"What did they find?"  Judy prompted.

"Well, there was a spot that looked suspicious.  Dr. Wellman wanted to be safe—do a CAT Scan and an MRI.  You know, just to be sure what we're dealing with."

"A spot?"

"Yeah.  I'm not really sure what that means.  I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions.  The specialist was supposed to come and fill us in on some things tonight.  But, I'll have to get the story from Lily later since he obviously came the second I left."

Judy seemed a bit overwhelmed.  Rick wished there was something he could tell her definitively.  Hell, he wished he knew something definitively.  But, right now all he knew was based on speculation and worry.  There wouldn't be concrete answers until tomorrow's tests were done.  Which left all of tonight for more speculation and more worry.

As they both stood there trying to reason through their anxieties, the nurse returned with the pitcher.  Rick thanked her and led Judy down the hall to the vending machine alcove.  After Rick ordered a cup of coffee out of one of the machines, he led Judy to a few chairs in the corner of the alcove. 

"That's not all," Rick said.  The tone of his voice caused a lump to form in Judy's throat.

"The baby?" she practically whispered, barely able to choke out the words.

"Exactly, the baby… I don't really know what's going on to be honest."  Rick took a deep breath.  "Dr. Wellman ran a pregnancy test earlier.  It came back negative."

"So she's not pregnant?"

"That seems to be the consensus." 

Soliloquy Rick:  Our family is already big.  And, at first, the idea of another kid… at our age, at this stage in our lives—well, it was somewhat intimidating.  But, somewhere along the line, I guess I really started to look forward to it.  I mean, Lily and I—having a  baby.  (He smiles.)

Rick shook his head.  There was a lot to digest.  "We should probably get back."

Judy nodded, still trying to comprehend everything herself.  "Yeah.  Lily is probably waiting for her water."

The two stood from their chairs, manned with beverages, and made their way back to the room in silence.

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Next time in "Distracting," Lily talks with her daughters and Katie receives some impromptu advice from Karen on the ride home.

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