"Helen can't be dead, Bobby," Lindsay sobbed. "She can't. She's my best friend. She was going to have a baby. Please bring her back, Bobby. Bring her back."
Bobby stroked his wife's hair and held her tightly, fighting his own sorrow for a dear friend in order to comfort Lindsay. "I can't baby. I'm sorry. I wish I could bring her back, I wish I could." They stood that way for several minutes, both of them offering comfort and taking it from the other. Finally Lindsay pulled away and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Now what do we do?"
"I don't know," Bobby gently passed a thumb over her cheek to dry the tears. "We have to call Ellenor and the others. And her parents."
Lindsay nodded, "And Mike."
But before they could place the calls, the nurse laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. "I'm sorry dear, but the girl didn't have any identification on her. You'll have to come identify the body."
Lindsay nodded and sniffled. Bobby slipped an arm around Lindsay's waist, supporting her as they followed the nurse down the hall, tears still coursing down both of their cheeks on their way to do what every person fears.
They passed an exam room and the woman inside the room saw them and hurried out into the hall.
"Lindsay? Bobby? Oh God, what's wrong? Is everyone okay?"
At the sound of the familiar voice, Bobby and Lindsay spun around and Lindsay let out an excited shriek when she saw her. "HELEN!" She raced back down the hall and threw her arms around her friend's neck, clinging desperately as she sobbed again, this time from joy and relief. Bobby was right behind her and enveloped both in a bear hug.
Helen's eyes were huge and surprised. "What happened? Is Ellenor okay? Is Zoe?"
"They're fine," Bobby quickly reassured his friend through the happy tears which were falling down his face.
"Then what are you doing here? Are you okay Lindsay? You didn't have a problem with the babies, did you?"
Lindsay shook her head and sobbed out, "We thought you were dead!"
"What? Oh Lindsay, why on Earth would you think that?" Helen hugged Lindsay tightly to reassure her that she was okay.
"The nurse said you died," Lindsay continued to cry almost hysterically. Helen was alive! It didn't really matter how, but her best friend was okay! Lindsay was overjoyed, she hadn't been so happy in ages. Or maybe it was a different kind of happiness, the kind that came from almost losing something dear to you then unexpectedly getting back, a joy filled relief.
"Oh babe, no. No, I'm not dead Lindsay, I'm fine. See? I'm right here." Helen rocked back and forth a little in an attempt to calm Lindsay.
The nurse, who was bright red with embarrassment, walked back to them and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. There was a misunderstanding."
Bobby spun around and glared at her. "Obviously! I want an explanation and I want one now! You said that Helen was dead. Thankfully she's fine, but my wife is three and a half months pregnant with twins. She did not need this stress that your incompetence caused her!"
"I'm so sorry sir. You asked about the girl in the accident, who did die. Ms. Gamble wasn't in the accident."
"Wait, wait," Helen paused in the middle of trying to comfort Lindsay. "Why did you think I was in an accident?"
"Why don't we go sit down," Bobby suggested.
Helen nodded and steered Lindsay into her room, followed by Bobby and the nurse. Helen sat on the bed and Lindsay sat next to her. Bobby sat in the chair next to Helen and looked at her.
"Ellenor called us," he explained. "She said you were supposed to be home two hours ago to watch Zoe and you were answering neither your phones or your pager."
"Oh God," Helen groaned, feeling guilty. "I completely forgot about babysitting."
"Well she called to see if we knew where you were and we went to your office, then Lindsay called a friend at the police department. He said that there was a woman matching your description who drove a Taurus and was in an accident. So we came here and the nurse," Bobby shot her an evil look. "The nurse told us you died."
"Again sir, I'm so sorry," the nurse apologized. "You asked about the girl in the accident."
"It's okay," Helen soothed them both. "It was just a case of mistaken identity."
"Helen," Lindsay sniffed. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"
Helen sighed and stroked a hand over her stomach. "I was getting ready to go home and I went to the bathroom. When I was there, I realized that I had started bleeding. I panicked and I drove straight over here. I must have forgotten my phone and pager."
"Are you okay?" Lindsay asked, again scared for her friend.
"The doctor said that both the baby and I are fine, but he wants me to be on bed rest until I'm out of the first trimester. So two weeks. And if the bleeding doesn't stop or gets worse, I'm supposed to come back. I was just about to leave when I saw you."
"But you're both okay," Bobby asked again.
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you call us," Bobby asked. "We would have come."
"I didn't think of it," Helen spoke softly. "I was so scared, all I could think is how I had to get here."
"Thank God it's nothing serious."
Helen nodded. "I'm just not sure how I'm going to explain this to Ellenor. I want to tell Mike before I tell anyone else."
"Tell her that you're sick. When that doesn't work anymore, tell her that you're going into work late and leaving early and doing research at home. We'll come check on you during the day," Bobby promised and Lindsay nodded her agreement.
"You're really okay?" Lindsay asked, almost afraid to believe it.
"I'm okay," Helen confirmed, squeezing Lindsay's hand tightly. Lindsay nodded and Bobby stood up.
"Let's get both of you home. You need rest Helen and so do you Lindsay."
Both Helen and Lindsay nodded and Bobby helped them off the bed, hugging Helen. "I'm glad you're okay," he whispered in her ear. "You scared us half to death."
"I'm sorry," Helen whispered back.
"Just don't do it again," Bobby whispered. Helen laughed softly and nodded.
Bobby drove back to Helen and Ellenor's apartment with Lindsay riding in the back seat next to Helen, who she seemed afraid to let out of her sight. Bobby promised to get Helen's car the next day and pointed out that it would be safer if he drove. They all trooped into the apartment building and took the elevator to the apartment. Bobby knocked on the door and Ellenor threw it open and saw Helen. Relief washed over her face as she hugged her roommate tightly.
"You scared me! Where have you been?"
Helen sighed and when Ellenor released her, she turned back to Bobby and Lindsay. She hugged them both and promised that she'd see Lindsay the next day. Bobby and Lindsay went home, both exhausted from the events of the day while Helen dealt with her roommate.
"What happened," Ellenor asked again, a little aggravated.
Helen thought fast. "I passed out at work. Too much stress, I guess. But Kate saw it and made me go to the hospital. You know how I've been so tired?" Ellenor nodded so Helen continued. "The doctors there said I have mono. I need to stay here, in bed, for two weeks."
Ellenor shot her friend a skeptical look. "Mike's been gone for a month. Who have you been kissing?"
Helen threw a pillow at Ellenor and narrowed her eyes. "No one. I probably got it from the drinking fountain at work or something."
"Are you still contagious? You haven't been around Zoe, have you?"
"I don't think so. If I am, it's only for like three more days."
Ellenor rubbed Helen's arm gently. "I'm going to go to a hotel, to make sure Zoe's safe, okay?"
Helen nodded. She felt bad lying to Ellenor, especially making her worry for Zoe when there was no danger of the little girl getting sick. But it would be easier if both Ellenor and Zoe were out of the house, it would save Helen from answering questions she wasn't ready for yet.
"I'll be fine. And I'll pay you back for the hotel room."
"You don't have to do that."
"I know, but I want to. It's my fault that you have to leave your home, stay in a hotel."
Ellenor nodded and decided that she'd do something to pay Helen back. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Helen nodded. "I'm wiped. I'm going to head to bed."
"Okay. I'll check on you before we leave."
Helen nodded tiredly and walked into her room. She changed into a pair of women's boxer shorts and a Boston Police Academy t-shirt of Mike's before crawling into bed. When Ellenor poked her head into Helen's room before she went to the hotel, she found her roommate sound asleep with tears drying on her face and her hands clasped tightly over her stomach. Ellenor raised an eyebrow. She'd slept like that, her hand over her stomach, when she'd been pregnant with Zoe. She felt bad leaving Helen when she was sick, but Ellenor didn't want Zoe to get mono either. The tears did it though. When she saw them, Ellenor called Bobby and Lindsay and asked if they could watch Zoe for four days. They agreed and Ellenor crept back into Helen's room, sitting carefully on the bed.
"Helen," she whispered, nudging Helen's knee gently. "I'll be right back, okay?"
"What?" Helen asked sleepily.
"I'm going to drop Zoe off with Bobby and Lindsay, then I'll come back. I had mono in high school so I won't get it again."
"Okay," Helen murmured. Sleep was pulling at her and she knew that sleep was good for the baby. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Ellenor whispered back. Helen was asleep again before Ellenor reached the door. Ellenor turned around in the doorway and watched Helen sleep, wondering what secret her roommate was hiding.