Disclaimer: BotP belongs to Sandy Frank. The rest is mine. Mine, I tell
you.
Jason didn't say anything as Sam and Dr. Michaels discussed the situation. Sam could tell a storm was brewing from the look on his face. Dr. Michaels continued asking Sam questions and scribbling things in her chart.
"While you're being held captive, Sam, I want to do an ultrasound," Dr. Michaels informed her. She went out into the hall and brought back an ultrasound machine. "Let's see what we have." She started up the machine and got Sam ready for the test. Aside from the icy cold gel on her abdomen, the test wasn't that bad. A small dark shape took form on the screen. "There you go, kids. Well, what do we have here?"
"What? Is something wrong?" Sam asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"See this blob here? That's the fetus. See this other blob? That's another fetus. Looks like you're going to have twins, Sammy. God really acted this time, didn't He?" When Sam didn't respond, Dr. Michaels continued, "Don't worry, Sam. Everything looks fine. I'll leave you two alone now. When you get home, call the office and make an appointment to see me in a couple of weeks. We'll talk more then. Bring Jason with you." Dr. Michaels collected her things and left, closing the door behind her.
The silence in the room was deafening. Sam's mind was whirling a million miles a second and Jason refused to look at her. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low growl. "We talked about this, Sam. We agreed."
"You heard what Dr. Michaels said. Apparently miracles do happen," Sam's voice was barely more than a whisper. The information was still sinking in. When Jason didn't respond, she added quietly, "You make it sound like I did this on purpose. You can do what you want, but I'm going to have them."
Jason didn't say anything as he stood up and walked out the door. After the door closed behind him, Sam curled up on her side away from the door and cried. In the five years they had known each other, Jason had never made her cry, even when he ran off to Europe for six months. Maybe it wasn't the fact that she was pregnant after years of being told she'd never have a child, but the fact that her marriage was over.
* * * * * * * *
Jason stalked through the halls of the hospital with a deep scowl on his face. Visitors and staff scurried out of his way. Everything that Sam and Dr. Michaels had said hung in his mind. He lost track of time as he walked. Several hours later, he found himself back outside Sam's room.
Sam had finally fallen into a light sleep, waking whenever the nurse stopped to check on her. Sometime after the floor had quieted for the night, long after visiting hours had ended, and the lights had dimmed, Sam woke up when her door opened and someone slid into the room. She turned enough to see Jason's silhouette in the light from the hall before the door closed. He took a seat in the recliner in the corner of the room. "I didn't think you'd come back," Sam said to him.
"I didn't mean to wake you." Jason took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. I'm being an idiot." His voice trembled slightly. "I don't want to lose you over something like this."
"There are worse things than having kids, Jase. After I found out that I couldn't have children when I was 18, it never really bothered me. I hadn't especially wanted to have any, but now --," her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, I know."
* * * * * * * *
As Sam's pregnancy progressed, the subject of calling Princess and going to visit the others reared its head. She didn't want to badger him about it, knowing that if she did, he would dig in his heels and get even more defensive about the subject than he already was. In late October, Jason surprised her by actually bringing up the issue himself. "If we're going to visit, then we better do it before you get too big to get on a plane."
"Are you saying what I think heard?" Sam asked.
"Yes. If you're going to call, you'd better do it before I change my mind."
Sam got her calendar out and made him pick a couple of dates so she could give Princess the option of choosing. Princess was shocked to hear from Sam. "I'll get him there, but it's up to you and the others to keep him there," Sam told her.
* * * * * * * *
Jason hadn't said much during the flight. Sam knew that he was nervous about seeing everyone again after 16 years. He had left under less than cordial circumstances and could hold a grudge like no one else. Sam reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Everything will be fine."
"Says you," came the surly response.
"Be nice. I know you can do it. Try not to pick any fights, okay?"
Jason took a deep breath and slowly released it before answering. "I'm only doing this for you, you know." He placed his hand on her belly. The growing babies within kicked at him. Sam placed her hand on top of his.
"I thought you were doing it to bury the hatchet with Mark and the Chief. Sixteen years is a long time to hold a grudge. Even I don't hold grudges that long." She got a sorry excuse for a smile out of him. "Don't do it for me. Do it for yourself. They're your family. I never had a family and I want our children to know yours."
The plane angled up to the gate. Jason got separated from Sam and exited the plane before she did. He waited for her at the door. When she came up to him, he reached for her hand. Sam tilted her head and whispered to Jason, "There's Princess."
They walked toward Princess and the young man standing with her. Princess didn't even get to say hello before her companion embraced Jason in a bear hug. Sam tried not to laugh at the expression on Jason's face. As he tried to disentangle himself, Princess mouthed the word "Keyop".
After disengaging the younger man, Jason held him at arms length and said, "Hello, Keyop."
"How'd you know it was me?"
"I had help. Keyop, this is Sam, my wife."
"Hello, Keyop," Sam said.
"And the big guy trying to hide behind the pillar is Tiny."
"Hi, Jase," the large dark haired man replied.
The trip to Center Neptune was anything but quiet. Keyop and Tiny took it upon themselves to catch Jason up on the last 16 years. Jason couldn't get over how much Keyop had grown and noted that he had finally outgrown his stutter. Princess had noticed that something was different about Sam, but couldn't figure out what that something was and Sam didn't enlighten her.
After being issued visitor badges and guest quarters, the group went to the Chief's office. Director Anderson and Mark were in a meeting, so they had to wait.
Sam seated herself on one of the couches so she could watch the fish as they swam by. Tiny attempted to make small talk with Jason, but he only received short responses. Finally, Princess had had enough. "All right, Sam. I know something is different about you."
Jason gave his wife a sly smile and said, "You might as well tell her. They'll find out as soon as you take off you coat."
Sam didn't say a word. She only stood up, removed her jacket, and sat down again. Princess's mouth dropped. She managed to sputter, "You're pregnant!" as well as a few other things. Princess hugged Sam and went after Jason, got a "Hey, none of that," out of him, but she hugged him anyway.
Tiny and Keyop started talking at once and kept it up until Mark and the Chief returned. "What's going on in here? We could hear you all the way down the hall," the Chief said.
"We're going to be uncles," Tiny told him.
Jason had slipped away from where he had been standing by the door and was now over by Sam. Neither of them said a word. Jason put his hands in his pockets and looked at the Chief and Mark.
"Jason."
"Chief."
"You must be Sam."
"Yes, sir."
There was an awkward silence until Princess walked over to Mark and whispered something to him. Mark took a deep breath and walked over to Jason. "It's good to see you again." He turned to Sam and introduced himself.
Jason hadn't said anything. "Why doesn't everyone sit down?" the Chief suggested.
Jason sat on the arm of the sofa next to Sam and Mark sat next to Princess on the other sofa.
"Princess tells us that you're a design engineer, Sam," the Chief said.
"Yes, sir."
"What do you design besides racecars?"
"Engines mostly."
"If you're interested in a change of scenery, we're always looking for good engineers."
Sam looked up at Jason, then said, "I'll keep that in mind, sir."
There was more awkward silence until Tiny decided he had had enough. He started asking Jason questions about his racing and what he had done since he left. Jason responded with as few words as he possibly could.
Finally, Sam stood up. "If you all will excuse me, I need to go for a walk."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Jason asked.
"No. You stay here and talk to the others. I'm sure I can walk up and down the hall without getting lost." She disappeared out the door.
"The doctors tell her to walk every few hours," Jason offered.
"When is she due?" Mark asked.
Jason shrugged. "Who knows? Every time she goes to the doctor they give her a different date."
"They can't tell?"
"How should I know? They ask her questions and she answers them. They run a few tests. It's all as clear as mud. Sam thinks it should be sometime in May, but they could come earlier."
"They?"
"She's going to have twins."
"Twins? You two didn't fool around."
"How do you think we got in this mess?"
Mark and Tiny chuckled at that. The Chief just shook his head. After that, things warmed up a bit. An hour later, Jason started to worry.
"She should have been back by now."
"Maybe she went back to your room?" Princess suggested. "I'll call out to the reception area. Maybe they've seen her."
"I'm going to go looking for her," Jason said.
"We'll all look," Mark replied.
They only had to open the door to find Sam. She sat on the sofa looking out the window as the fish swam by.
"I still think it looks like a giant aquarium," she said.
"Where have you been?" Jason demanded.
"I went for a walk and then came back here. I thought you might talk more if I wasn't around."
"If you weren't pregnant, I'd lock you up."
"Like I haven't heard that before," Sam countered. They bantered back and forth for a couple minutes.
"All right, you two. It's getting late. Is anyone interested in dinner?" Director Anderson asked.
Center Neptune only had a staff cafeteria, so the group returned to the mainland for dinner. Jason thought it was almost like old times. Keyop and Tiny really hadn't changed that much. They still had to tell their stupid jokes. Sam ended up sitting between them. She laughed occasionally. Every now and then she would glance at Jason, but he just smiled at her, never saying a word. Sam shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Is everything all right, Sam?" Princess asked.
"The kids are just really active tonight. They'll probably be rugby players."
Keyop asked, "What does it feel like when they kick?"
"Here. You can feel for yourself," Sam said. She took Keyop's hand and placed it on one side of her stomach. She then took his other hand and placed it on the other side.
Keyop never said a word, but he had the silliest grin on his face. At least he did until Jason saw what was going on.
"Keyop," Jason growled. "Take your hands off my wife."
Keyop jerked his hands back as if they had been burnt. Everyone laughed when they saw a devious smile cross Jason's face.
"Don't worry, Keyop. He'll have to go through me to get to you," Sam told him.
"No. I'd go around you," Jason replied.
Mark hadn't tried to say much to Jason other than asking a few questions about his racing career. It was easy to see that Jason still harbored resentment for Mark and the Chief, but he was attempting to keep the piece, even if only for Sam's sake.
After dinner, the group headed back to Center Neptune for the night. After saying goodnight and going their separate ways, Mark and Princess watched as Jason and Sam went back to the guest quarters.
"He should have met her 20 years ago," Mark said, "but she probably would have ended up dead."
Princess slapped him. "Mark, that's a horrible thing to say!"
"It's the truth. Even when we were kids, all the women he ever said hello to ended up dead."
Princess smacked him again. "She's been good for him. I always felt that Jason just needed someone to love him. We had each other. Tiny and Keyop had each other to pal around with. Jason didn't have anyone."
"Like it's our fault? He always was a loner. Why do you think the Chief was always sending him to a psychologist when we kids?" He dodged out of the way before Princess could hit him again.
* * * * * * * *
Jason agreed to stay four days, but it was hard for him. Princess drove them back to the airport. She hugged Sam and told her to keep in touch, and then turned on Jason. He was never much for hugging when he was a kid, but occasionally Princess could catch him unaware. "You keep in touch in too," she told him.
"I won't make any promises."
"At least call me when the babies are born."
"I'll add you to the list. Keyop insists that I call him every week with updates, but that's not going to happen."
"Your incorrigible, you know that?"
"Now tell me something I don't know." They announced that Jason and Sam's plane was boarding. They both waved good-bye and then they were gone.
Jason didn't say anything as Sam and Dr. Michaels discussed the situation. Sam could tell a storm was brewing from the look on his face. Dr. Michaels continued asking Sam questions and scribbling things in her chart.
"While you're being held captive, Sam, I want to do an ultrasound," Dr. Michaels informed her. She went out into the hall and brought back an ultrasound machine. "Let's see what we have." She started up the machine and got Sam ready for the test. Aside from the icy cold gel on her abdomen, the test wasn't that bad. A small dark shape took form on the screen. "There you go, kids. Well, what do we have here?"
"What? Is something wrong?" Sam asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"See this blob here? That's the fetus. See this other blob? That's another fetus. Looks like you're going to have twins, Sammy. God really acted this time, didn't He?" When Sam didn't respond, Dr. Michaels continued, "Don't worry, Sam. Everything looks fine. I'll leave you two alone now. When you get home, call the office and make an appointment to see me in a couple of weeks. We'll talk more then. Bring Jason with you." Dr. Michaels collected her things and left, closing the door behind her.
The silence in the room was deafening. Sam's mind was whirling a million miles a second and Jason refused to look at her. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low growl. "We talked about this, Sam. We agreed."
"You heard what Dr. Michaels said. Apparently miracles do happen," Sam's voice was barely more than a whisper. The information was still sinking in. When Jason didn't respond, she added quietly, "You make it sound like I did this on purpose. You can do what you want, but I'm going to have them."
Jason didn't say anything as he stood up and walked out the door. After the door closed behind him, Sam curled up on her side away from the door and cried. In the five years they had known each other, Jason had never made her cry, even when he ran off to Europe for six months. Maybe it wasn't the fact that she was pregnant after years of being told she'd never have a child, but the fact that her marriage was over.
* * * * * * * *
Jason stalked through the halls of the hospital with a deep scowl on his face. Visitors and staff scurried out of his way. Everything that Sam and Dr. Michaels had said hung in his mind. He lost track of time as he walked. Several hours later, he found himself back outside Sam's room.
Sam had finally fallen into a light sleep, waking whenever the nurse stopped to check on her. Sometime after the floor had quieted for the night, long after visiting hours had ended, and the lights had dimmed, Sam woke up when her door opened and someone slid into the room. She turned enough to see Jason's silhouette in the light from the hall before the door closed. He took a seat in the recliner in the corner of the room. "I didn't think you'd come back," Sam said to him.
"I didn't mean to wake you." Jason took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. I'm being an idiot." His voice trembled slightly. "I don't want to lose you over something like this."
"There are worse things than having kids, Jase. After I found out that I couldn't have children when I was 18, it never really bothered me. I hadn't especially wanted to have any, but now --," her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, I know."
* * * * * * * *
As Sam's pregnancy progressed, the subject of calling Princess and going to visit the others reared its head. She didn't want to badger him about it, knowing that if she did, he would dig in his heels and get even more defensive about the subject than he already was. In late October, Jason surprised her by actually bringing up the issue himself. "If we're going to visit, then we better do it before you get too big to get on a plane."
"Are you saying what I think heard?" Sam asked.
"Yes. If you're going to call, you'd better do it before I change my mind."
Sam got her calendar out and made him pick a couple of dates so she could give Princess the option of choosing. Princess was shocked to hear from Sam. "I'll get him there, but it's up to you and the others to keep him there," Sam told her.
* * * * * * * *
Jason hadn't said much during the flight. Sam knew that he was nervous about seeing everyone again after 16 years. He had left under less than cordial circumstances and could hold a grudge like no one else. Sam reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Everything will be fine."
"Says you," came the surly response.
"Be nice. I know you can do it. Try not to pick any fights, okay?"
Jason took a deep breath and slowly released it before answering. "I'm only doing this for you, you know." He placed his hand on her belly. The growing babies within kicked at him. Sam placed her hand on top of his.
"I thought you were doing it to bury the hatchet with Mark and the Chief. Sixteen years is a long time to hold a grudge. Even I don't hold grudges that long." She got a sorry excuse for a smile out of him. "Don't do it for me. Do it for yourself. They're your family. I never had a family and I want our children to know yours."
The plane angled up to the gate. Jason got separated from Sam and exited the plane before she did. He waited for her at the door. When she came up to him, he reached for her hand. Sam tilted her head and whispered to Jason, "There's Princess."
They walked toward Princess and the young man standing with her. Princess didn't even get to say hello before her companion embraced Jason in a bear hug. Sam tried not to laugh at the expression on Jason's face. As he tried to disentangle himself, Princess mouthed the word "Keyop".
After disengaging the younger man, Jason held him at arms length and said, "Hello, Keyop."
"How'd you know it was me?"
"I had help. Keyop, this is Sam, my wife."
"Hello, Keyop," Sam said.
"And the big guy trying to hide behind the pillar is Tiny."
"Hi, Jase," the large dark haired man replied.
The trip to Center Neptune was anything but quiet. Keyop and Tiny took it upon themselves to catch Jason up on the last 16 years. Jason couldn't get over how much Keyop had grown and noted that he had finally outgrown his stutter. Princess had noticed that something was different about Sam, but couldn't figure out what that something was and Sam didn't enlighten her.
After being issued visitor badges and guest quarters, the group went to the Chief's office. Director Anderson and Mark were in a meeting, so they had to wait.
Sam seated herself on one of the couches so she could watch the fish as they swam by. Tiny attempted to make small talk with Jason, but he only received short responses. Finally, Princess had had enough. "All right, Sam. I know something is different about you."
Jason gave his wife a sly smile and said, "You might as well tell her. They'll find out as soon as you take off you coat."
Sam didn't say a word. She only stood up, removed her jacket, and sat down again. Princess's mouth dropped. She managed to sputter, "You're pregnant!" as well as a few other things. Princess hugged Sam and went after Jason, got a "Hey, none of that," out of him, but she hugged him anyway.
Tiny and Keyop started talking at once and kept it up until Mark and the Chief returned. "What's going on in here? We could hear you all the way down the hall," the Chief said.
"We're going to be uncles," Tiny told him.
Jason had slipped away from where he had been standing by the door and was now over by Sam. Neither of them said a word. Jason put his hands in his pockets and looked at the Chief and Mark.
"Jason."
"Chief."
"You must be Sam."
"Yes, sir."
There was an awkward silence until Princess walked over to Mark and whispered something to him. Mark took a deep breath and walked over to Jason. "It's good to see you again." He turned to Sam and introduced himself.
Jason hadn't said anything. "Why doesn't everyone sit down?" the Chief suggested.
Jason sat on the arm of the sofa next to Sam and Mark sat next to Princess on the other sofa.
"Princess tells us that you're a design engineer, Sam," the Chief said.
"Yes, sir."
"What do you design besides racecars?"
"Engines mostly."
"If you're interested in a change of scenery, we're always looking for good engineers."
Sam looked up at Jason, then said, "I'll keep that in mind, sir."
There was more awkward silence until Tiny decided he had had enough. He started asking Jason questions about his racing and what he had done since he left. Jason responded with as few words as he possibly could.
Finally, Sam stood up. "If you all will excuse me, I need to go for a walk."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Jason asked.
"No. You stay here and talk to the others. I'm sure I can walk up and down the hall without getting lost." She disappeared out the door.
"The doctors tell her to walk every few hours," Jason offered.
"When is she due?" Mark asked.
Jason shrugged. "Who knows? Every time she goes to the doctor they give her a different date."
"They can't tell?"
"How should I know? They ask her questions and she answers them. They run a few tests. It's all as clear as mud. Sam thinks it should be sometime in May, but they could come earlier."
"They?"
"She's going to have twins."
"Twins? You two didn't fool around."
"How do you think we got in this mess?"
Mark and Tiny chuckled at that. The Chief just shook his head. After that, things warmed up a bit. An hour later, Jason started to worry.
"She should have been back by now."
"Maybe she went back to your room?" Princess suggested. "I'll call out to the reception area. Maybe they've seen her."
"I'm going to go looking for her," Jason said.
"We'll all look," Mark replied.
They only had to open the door to find Sam. She sat on the sofa looking out the window as the fish swam by.
"I still think it looks like a giant aquarium," she said.
"Where have you been?" Jason demanded.
"I went for a walk and then came back here. I thought you might talk more if I wasn't around."
"If you weren't pregnant, I'd lock you up."
"Like I haven't heard that before," Sam countered. They bantered back and forth for a couple minutes.
"All right, you two. It's getting late. Is anyone interested in dinner?" Director Anderson asked.
Center Neptune only had a staff cafeteria, so the group returned to the mainland for dinner. Jason thought it was almost like old times. Keyop and Tiny really hadn't changed that much. They still had to tell their stupid jokes. Sam ended up sitting between them. She laughed occasionally. Every now and then she would glance at Jason, but he just smiled at her, never saying a word. Sam shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Is everything all right, Sam?" Princess asked.
"The kids are just really active tonight. They'll probably be rugby players."
Keyop asked, "What does it feel like when they kick?"
"Here. You can feel for yourself," Sam said. She took Keyop's hand and placed it on one side of her stomach. She then took his other hand and placed it on the other side.
Keyop never said a word, but he had the silliest grin on his face. At least he did until Jason saw what was going on.
"Keyop," Jason growled. "Take your hands off my wife."
Keyop jerked his hands back as if they had been burnt. Everyone laughed when they saw a devious smile cross Jason's face.
"Don't worry, Keyop. He'll have to go through me to get to you," Sam told him.
"No. I'd go around you," Jason replied.
Mark hadn't tried to say much to Jason other than asking a few questions about his racing career. It was easy to see that Jason still harbored resentment for Mark and the Chief, but he was attempting to keep the piece, even if only for Sam's sake.
After dinner, the group headed back to Center Neptune for the night. After saying goodnight and going their separate ways, Mark and Princess watched as Jason and Sam went back to the guest quarters.
"He should have met her 20 years ago," Mark said, "but she probably would have ended up dead."
Princess slapped him. "Mark, that's a horrible thing to say!"
"It's the truth. Even when we were kids, all the women he ever said hello to ended up dead."
Princess smacked him again. "She's been good for him. I always felt that Jason just needed someone to love him. We had each other. Tiny and Keyop had each other to pal around with. Jason didn't have anyone."
"Like it's our fault? He always was a loner. Why do you think the Chief was always sending him to a psychologist when we kids?" He dodged out of the way before Princess could hit him again.
* * * * * * * *
Jason agreed to stay four days, but it was hard for him. Princess drove them back to the airport. She hugged Sam and told her to keep in touch, and then turned on Jason. He was never much for hugging when he was a kid, but occasionally Princess could catch him unaware. "You keep in touch in too," she told him.
"I won't make any promises."
"At least call me when the babies are born."
"I'll add you to the list. Keyop insists that I call him every week with updates, but that's not going to happen."
"Your incorrigible, you know that?"
"Now tell me something I don't know." They announced that Jason and Sam's plane was boarding. They both waved good-bye and then they were gone.