Jack Malone POV:
Jack's Office
March 6, 2004
1:15 p.m.
I grab my coat and head towards Danny's cubicle. "I finally got a hold of Sam. I'm heading to Richmond."
"Mind if I come with you?"
"If you think it'll help," I answer, as I head down to the car. I shake my head in confusion. "I can't believe she's pregnant. She should have told me sooner."
"Hold on," Danny eyes me as I start the car and pull out from the parking garage. "Who told you she's pregnant?"
"She said she had morning sickness. What else does that mean?" I question. Danny's suddenly very quiet, and his silence scares me. "What did she tell you?" My voice rises in anger.
"Oh, no," he shakes his head, "I'm not getting in the middle of this one."
"I'd like to know why she ran away. I spoke with the woman she tried to stay with last night, and she mentioned it was because of my kids and how they rejected her. I can't see that being all, and now knowing she's pregnant--", I let out a sigh in frustration.
"I think she was trying to protect you, Jack."
"What?" I glance towards him and back at the road.
"Leaving you. I don't think she could handle the pressure of telling you she was having a baby and then your kids not liking their half-brother or sister."
"I don't buy it."
"Well, that or it's not your kid," Danny quips.
"No," I shake my head, "there's no one else. I would know."
"I'm just saying," Danny shrugs and sits there in silence. I let out a frustrated sigh and hit the gas so we can get there as soon as possible.
************
Samantha Spade POV:
Holiday Inn
March 6, 2004
6:39 p.m.
I lounge around, not really hungry and too tired from vomiting most of the day to do anything more than sleep.
I eye the clock, realizing if Jack's really coming, he'll be here any minute. I can face the consequences or—a loud knock at my door tells me it's too late to run.
"Samantha!" I hear his voice as he continuously knocks, waiting for a response.
"Just a second," I groan, stumbling towards the door. My skin is still pale and my hair is tied back in a messy tangle. I pull back the door and head right back for the bed and crawl between the sheets.
"Sam, I don't think you have morning sickness." He moves towards the bed and I notice Danny coming inside apprehensively.
"Yeah, must be a touch of the flu," I groan, grabbing for the trashcan.
"Have you had any fluids since you've been sick?"
"I can't keep anything down," I answer, before I dry heave into the trashcan.
Jack sits beside me, his hand on my forehead. "Go down and get her some Gatorade," he instructs Danny. I hear the door latch shut and a few minutes later I lie down and shut my eyes.
"Sam, I'm worried about you."
"I'll be fine," I answer, trying to lie perfectly still so I don't puke again.
"How long have you been sick?"
"I don't know—too long," I whimper.
"I can drive you home, and you can try to make an appointment with your doctor?"
"No," I shake my head. "I don't get sick."
"Could have fooled me," he quips. I eye him to shut up. "Why don't you let me take you home and to my doctor? He can prescribe you something that will help you sleep."
"No drugs," I shake my head, the movement making me puke once again.
I hear the door and Jack quickly opens it to let Danny in.
"Here," he hands Jack the bottle and he opens it for me. Once I'm finished throwing up, I lie back down. "Don't drink too much."
"I won't," I answer, taking a tiny sip of the drink.
"I think we should get her to a hospital," Danny whispers towards Jack. They exchange glances. "Dehydration," Danny points out, trying not to bring up the main reason for his concern—if I'm pregnant, this could cause major concern and be a health risk to the baby.
"I don't want to go to the hospital," I groan, covering my face with my hand. "Isn't there some other option?"
"Samantha," I hear Danny's voice and can feel his eyes staring at me. "It's for the best," he tries to reason with me.
"Jack," I plead with him as I feel my stomach assaulting me again. I grab for the trashcan, and after I'm done puking, Jack helps me stand up. "Please," I groan, begging not to be taken to the hospital.
"You're not getting any better on your own," he answers. Danny opens the door and helps escort me down to the car.
"Ugh," I groan, shutting my eyes as soon as I sit down. "Do you even know where you're going?"
"Believe it or not, I do," he answers. Danny hands me the ice bucket and I clench on, ready at a moment's notice.
We get to the admissions desk at the hospital, and I'm grateful Jack knows how to answer just about every question for me—except the clincher.
"Date of last menstruation?"
"Sam?" I hear Jack's voice, calling me back to reality. I groan, feeling my stomach somersaulting as I grip with white knuckles a small pan the nurses offered me in the waiting area.
"I--" Jack's eyes are on me and Danny immediately glances away, knowing the honest answer.
"This is the last question, sweetheart," the woman tells me. "You'll be in a bed in no time." She eyes me, intent on the date and I can't bring myself to lie.
"I don't know," I fathom, figuring it's not a lie. I really can't remember, because it's been so long.
Jack lets out a sigh and eyes the woman as she types something into the computer. "You can go back in the waiting area. We'll call you when it's time."
Thirty minutes later, I'm sitting in a wheelchair, being escorted into a fairly large room, with a curtain separating the area.
I lie against the small bed, as the nurse comes in and closes the curtain to help me change into a gown. Jack and Danny are both on the other side and as the nurse approaches me, I gesture for her to come closer.
"I think I might be pregnant," I whisper, chewing on my lip. She eyes the chart.
"I don't think this is morning sickness. When was your last period?" Her voice is above a whisper and I glance around, hoping Jack hasn't heard.
"Over a month," I respond. "I took a pregnancy test last night and it came back positive."
"Those are supposed to be done in the morning."
"So, I'm not?" I question with intrigue.
"We'll run a blood test, along with some other tests." I lie back, and she covers me with a warm blanket. "We're going to give you an IV and see what the results of your electrolytes are. We'll see what the doctor has to say about you being pregnant." She smiles reassuringly and lowers her voice. "Are they with you?" she asks as she gestures towards the feet on the other side of the curtain.
"Yes," I nod with a yawn, feeling my stomach tense again. "I don't want them to know I might be pregnant."
"Don't worry," she pats my arm gently, then scribbles a few notes down and opens the curtain. She heads out of the room and Jack moves towards the bed.
"Did the nurse give you anything yet?" he eyes me. I shut my eyes, not wanting to tell him about the possibility of being pregnant.
"Samantha," I hear Danny's voice and glance into his eyes. He's standing at the foot of the bed.
I nod my head, knowing that I should tell Jack, and I want to—just not right now.
*****************
Jack Malone POV:
Richmond Medical Center
March 6, 2004
8:19 p.m.
I take a seat beside her bed, clasping her hand in mine. She lets out a small moan in protest as she once again sits up to vomit. Her skin grows pale as she slips out from under the covers.
She hovers above the bedpan for a few minutes before lying back down. She doesn't vomit and I hope she won't again.
I'm worried about her. I still don't understand why she ran. I can't figure out what she's so afraid of. I can see the fear and heartache in her eyes, and it scares me. Does she really want to leave me? Am I not making her happy? Maybe she hasn't changed—I know she hated being tied down before I came along, but I thought things were different now.
Oh, Sam. I wish I knew what to do and what to say to make things better between us. One failed marriage and now this. I shake my head in disgust. I had no right to step into her life and hurt her. She should have turned me in to OPR when she had the chance.
I move my free hand to her face, brushing the sweaty strands from her forehead. Her eyes flutter open and I feel my stomach in my throat.
With such a simple look, I see and feel so much. I squeeze her hand, trying to reassure her—and myself as well.
I don't have time to say anything and I worry that my voice and any other sounds might cause her to latch on to the bedpan again.
I hear footsteps into the room, and see the doctor slowly going over her chart while approaching the bed.
"If you could wait out there, I'd appreciate it," the doctor smiles politely and I give one final squeeze to Sam's hand before slipping from her view.
I move to the other side of the room, the curtain dividing us. Danny takes a seat in the spare chair, and I pace a hole in the floor.
"She'll be fine," Danny tries to reassure me.
"I know," I nod. "I really screwed up, I can't believe she tried running away," I eye Danny. "I just wish I knew what I did to upset her."
"Maybe it's what you didn't do."
"What are you talking about?" He's quiet, contemplating if he should say anything more. "Danny, if you know anything--"
"You need to talk to Samantha."
I let out a frustrated sigh and see the doctor pull back the curtain. Samantha has tears falling from her eyes.
"Shhh," I move towards the bed, ready to grasp her hand when she pulls it to her face, to hide and cover the tears. "You'll be all right." I try and soothe her worries and emotions.
She nods her head and closes her eyes. I can't tell if she doesn't want to face me, or if the medicine she was given is making her tired.
I feel Danny's hand on my shoulder and I step back from Sam's bed.
His voice is low, to keep her from waking up. "Why don't we get something to eat while she's sleeping? She's not going to want to be around food later."
"Yeah," I nod in agreement and follow Danny down to the cafeteria.
Jack's Office
March 6, 2004
1:15 p.m.
I grab my coat and head towards Danny's cubicle. "I finally got a hold of Sam. I'm heading to Richmond."
"Mind if I come with you?"
"If you think it'll help," I answer, as I head down to the car. I shake my head in confusion. "I can't believe she's pregnant. She should have told me sooner."
"Hold on," Danny eyes me as I start the car and pull out from the parking garage. "Who told you she's pregnant?"
"She said she had morning sickness. What else does that mean?" I question. Danny's suddenly very quiet, and his silence scares me. "What did she tell you?" My voice rises in anger.
"Oh, no," he shakes his head, "I'm not getting in the middle of this one."
"I'd like to know why she ran away. I spoke with the woman she tried to stay with last night, and she mentioned it was because of my kids and how they rejected her. I can't see that being all, and now knowing she's pregnant--", I let out a sigh in frustration.
"I think she was trying to protect you, Jack."
"What?" I glance towards him and back at the road.
"Leaving you. I don't think she could handle the pressure of telling you she was having a baby and then your kids not liking their half-brother or sister."
"I don't buy it."
"Well, that or it's not your kid," Danny quips.
"No," I shake my head, "there's no one else. I would know."
"I'm just saying," Danny shrugs and sits there in silence. I let out a frustrated sigh and hit the gas so we can get there as soon as possible.
************
Samantha Spade POV:
Holiday Inn
March 6, 2004
6:39 p.m.
I lounge around, not really hungry and too tired from vomiting most of the day to do anything more than sleep.
I eye the clock, realizing if Jack's really coming, he'll be here any minute. I can face the consequences or—a loud knock at my door tells me it's too late to run.
"Samantha!" I hear his voice as he continuously knocks, waiting for a response.
"Just a second," I groan, stumbling towards the door. My skin is still pale and my hair is tied back in a messy tangle. I pull back the door and head right back for the bed and crawl between the sheets.
"Sam, I don't think you have morning sickness." He moves towards the bed and I notice Danny coming inside apprehensively.
"Yeah, must be a touch of the flu," I groan, grabbing for the trashcan.
"Have you had any fluids since you've been sick?"
"I can't keep anything down," I answer, before I dry heave into the trashcan.
Jack sits beside me, his hand on my forehead. "Go down and get her some Gatorade," he instructs Danny. I hear the door latch shut and a few minutes later I lie down and shut my eyes.
"Sam, I'm worried about you."
"I'll be fine," I answer, trying to lie perfectly still so I don't puke again.
"How long have you been sick?"
"I don't know—too long," I whimper.
"I can drive you home, and you can try to make an appointment with your doctor?"
"No," I shake my head. "I don't get sick."
"Could have fooled me," he quips. I eye him to shut up. "Why don't you let me take you home and to my doctor? He can prescribe you something that will help you sleep."
"No drugs," I shake my head, the movement making me puke once again.
I hear the door and Jack quickly opens it to let Danny in.
"Here," he hands Jack the bottle and he opens it for me. Once I'm finished throwing up, I lie back down. "Don't drink too much."
"I won't," I answer, taking a tiny sip of the drink.
"I think we should get her to a hospital," Danny whispers towards Jack. They exchange glances. "Dehydration," Danny points out, trying not to bring up the main reason for his concern—if I'm pregnant, this could cause major concern and be a health risk to the baby.
"I don't want to go to the hospital," I groan, covering my face with my hand. "Isn't there some other option?"
"Samantha," I hear Danny's voice and can feel his eyes staring at me. "It's for the best," he tries to reason with me.
"Jack," I plead with him as I feel my stomach assaulting me again. I grab for the trashcan, and after I'm done puking, Jack helps me stand up. "Please," I groan, begging not to be taken to the hospital.
"You're not getting any better on your own," he answers. Danny opens the door and helps escort me down to the car.
"Ugh," I groan, shutting my eyes as soon as I sit down. "Do you even know where you're going?"
"Believe it or not, I do," he answers. Danny hands me the ice bucket and I clench on, ready at a moment's notice.
We get to the admissions desk at the hospital, and I'm grateful Jack knows how to answer just about every question for me—except the clincher.
"Date of last menstruation?"
"Sam?" I hear Jack's voice, calling me back to reality. I groan, feeling my stomach somersaulting as I grip with white knuckles a small pan the nurses offered me in the waiting area.
"I--" Jack's eyes are on me and Danny immediately glances away, knowing the honest answer.
"This is the last question, sweetheart," the woman tells me. "You'll be in a bed in no time." She eyes me, intent on the date and I can't bring myself to lie.
"I don't know," I fathom, figuring it's not a lie. I really can't remember, because it's been so long.
Jack lets out a sigh and eyes the woman as she types something into the computer. "You can go back in the waiting area. We'll call you when it's time."
Thirty minutes later, I'm sitting in a wheelchair, being escorted into a fairly large room, with a curtain separating the area.
I lie against the small bed, as the nurse comes in and closes the curtain to help me change into a gown. Jack and Danny are both on the other side and as the nurse approaches me, I gesture for her to come closer.
"I think I might be pregnant," I whisper, chewing on my lip. She eyes the chart.
"I don't think this is morning sickness. When was your last period?" Her voice is above a whisper and I glance around, hoping Jack hasn't heard.
"Over a month," I respond. "I took a pregnancy test last night and it came back positive."
"Those are supposed to be done in the morning."
"So, I'm not?" I question with intrigue.
"We'll run a blood test, along with some other tests." I lie back, and she covers me with a warm blanket. "We're going to give you an IV and see what the results of your electrolytes are. We'll see what the doctor has to say about you being pregnant." She smiles reassuringly and lowers her voice. "Are they with you?" she asks as she gestures towards the feet on the other side of the curtain.
"Yes," I nod with a yawn, feeling my stomach tense again. "I don't want them to know I might be pregnant."
"Don't worry," she pats my arm gently, then scribbles a few notes down and opens the curtain. She heads out of the room and Jack moves towards the bed.
"Did the nurse give you anything yet?" he eyes me. I shut my eyes, not wanting to tell him about the possibility of being pregnant.
"Samantha," I hear Danny's voice and glance into his eyes. He's standing at the foot of the bed.
I nod my head, knowing that I should tell Jack, and I want to—just not right now.
*****************
Jack Malone POV:
Richmond Medical Center
March 6, 2004
8:19 p.m.
I take a seat beside her bed, clasping her hand in mine. She lets out a small moan in protest as she once again sits up to vomit. Her skin grows pale as she slips out from under the covers.
She hovers above the bedpan for a few minutes before lying back down. She doesn't vomit and I hope she won't again.
I'm worried about her. I still don't understand why she ran. I can't figure out what she's so afraid of. I can see the fear and heartache in her eyes, and it scares me. Does she really want to leave me? Am I not making her happy? Maybe she hasn't changed—I know she hated being tied down before I came along, but I thought things were different now.
Oh, Sam. I wish I knew what to do and what to say to make things better between us. One failed marriage and now this. I shake my head in disgust. I had no right to step into her life and hurt her. She should have turned me in to OPR when she had the chance.
I move my free hand to her face, brushing the sweaty strands from her forehead. Her eyes flutter open and I feel my stomach in my throat.
With such a simple look, I see and feel so much. I squeeze her hand, trying to reassure her—and myself as well.
I don't have time to say anything and I worry that my voice and any other sounds might cause her to latch on to the bedpan again.
I hear footsteps into the room, and see the doctor slowly going over her chart while approaching the bed.
"If you could wait out there, I'd appreciate it," the doctor smiles politely and I give one final squeeze to Sam's hand before slipping from her view.
I move to the other side of the room, the curtain dividing us. Danny takes a seat in the spare chair, and I pace a hole in the floor.
"She'll be fine," Danny tries to reassure me.
"I know," I nod. "I really screwed up, I can't believe she tried running away," I eye Danny. "I just wish I knew what I did to upset her."
"Maybe it's what you didn't do."
"What are you talking about?" He's quiet, contemplating if he should say anything more. "Danny, if you know anything--"
"You need to talk to Samantha."
I let out a frustrated sigh and see the doctor pull back the curtain. Samantha has tears falling from her eyes.
"Shhh," I move towards the bed, ready to grasp her hand when she pulls it to her face, to hide and cover the tears. "You'll be all right." I try and soothe her worries and emotions.
She nods her head and closes her eyes. I can't tell if she doesn't want to face me, or if the medicine she was given is making her tired.
I feel Danny's hand on my shoulder and I step back from Sam's bed.
His voice is low, to keep her from waking up. "Why don't we get something to eat while she's sleeping? She's not going to want to be around food later."
"Yeah," I nod in agreement and follow Danny down to the cafeteria.