Samantha Spade POV:
Richmond Medical Center
March 6, 2004
10:39 p.m.
I open my eyes, feeling a little better in terms of nausea, but slightly dizzy. "Danny?" I see him glancing through a magazine and he looks up, surprised to see me awake.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fair," I yawn. "Where's Jack?"
"Bathroom. You look better."
I nod my head and he stands up and approaches the bed. "What'd they say about you being pregnant—anything?" He eyes me with worry and sadness.
"They're not sure yet," I whisper. "The doctor said they wanted to keep me overnight for observation." My voice catches in my throat and Danny sighs and rests his hand on my arm.
"Hey," I glance up to see Jack making his way into the room. "You're looking better. I talked to the doctor on the way back in and they said they wouldn't release you until tomorrow?" he eyes me curiously.
"That's what they said," I answer, my mouth dry. I close my eyes, not ready to tell Jack the news just yet. I feel his eyes on me, and I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
I hear footsteps approaching the bed. "We're going to move Ms. Spade." My eyes open, as I watch the scene unfold before me.
"Is everything okay?" Jack glances from the doctor and back towards me.
"We have a few tests to run. When we're done, we'll move her into a private room for overnight observation."
The nurse comes into the room and helps me into a wheelchair. "Your color's back," she tells me with a smile. "How's your stomach?"
"Better. I just feel like I could fall over," I laugh softly.
"We'll have to make sure you don't," she answers.
"Is it all right if we come too?" Jack questions.
"I think it would be best if you stay in the waiting area. We'll come and get you, as soon as she's done."
Jack leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead as I am strolled down the hall.
"Where are we going?" I question.
"Your lab work came back positive," she leans down to whisper, "but we want to make sure nothing's changed."
I nod my head, letting out a soft breath.
"Don't worry," she smiles, strolling me into the room I'll be staying in. She helps me into the bed and brings in the equipment to run an ultrasound.
"Isn't it too early?"
"No," she shakes her head. "We're going to look for a strong heartbeat and make sure everything looks good. It's good you didn't wait any longer to come in."
I nod my head, closing my eyes and praying that everything will be all right.
****************
Jack Malone POV:
Richmond Medical Center
March 6, 2004
11:28 p.m.
I shove my hand into my pocket, gathering my car keys. "Get some sleep," I say as I hand them to Danny.
"What about you?" I sit slouched forward, my elbows on my knees with my head in my hands.
"I've got to stay with her."
"Jack."
"I have to know she's okay. I'm worried. They shouldn't need to keep her overnight."
Danny rests a hand on my shoulder and says, "Relax."
"Easier said than done," I huff.
"Jack." His eyes rest on me and I feel as if he knows something I don't. He lets out a contemplative sigh. "Don't upset her," he tells me, as he stands up and heads for the door with my keys in his hand.
I let out a sigh and close my eyes, trying to calm my thoughts. There's so much I don't understand, including why she ran away. I can't even comprehend why she would do that. I know she has commitment fears, but to do this is absurd.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Samantha's ready to see you now." I glance up at the nurse's face and follow her into a private room. "She's sleeping," she warns me, "but she seems to be doing better. She'll likely be released in the morning."
"What was wrong with her?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't discuss that with you," she answers. "There's a chair for you to sit down in, and we can bring in a cot for the night, if you'd like."
"The chair's fine," I answer, as I slip inside her room and see her lying peacefully under the covers.
I take a seat beside her bed, wanting to touch her but not wanting to rouse her. She needs her sleep and I close my eyes, resting as uncomfortably as imaginable till the early hours of the morning.
"Jack?" I hear her scratchy voice and open my eyes to see her watching me.
"How are you feeling?"
"Thirsty," she croaks out and I get her a cup of water and some ice to slowly down. "Thanks," she yawns and I put the plastic cup on the end table.
"Everything's okay?" I feel her eyes on me and she glances away towards the window. "Sam?"
"Everything's fine," she whispers in a haze.
"It doesn't sound that way. You want to tell me what's going on?"
I hear footsteps enter the room and see Danny following behind the doctor.
"Everything seems to be good. Are you feeling any better?"
"Much," she answers with a nod.
"We're going to release you, but we urge you to have a good 48 hours of bed rest. We don't want any complications."
She nods her head as the doctor slips out of the room. "Complications?" I repeat. "Sam?"
She stares at Danny, trying to avoid the question as long as possible. "Jack, I'm--," she lets out a sigh, as I hang on her words.
"You're what?"
"Pregnant," she whispers, and I swear my jaw drops to the floor.
"I thought you had the stomach flu?"
"I did," she nods. "I'm also two months pregnant."
"How?"
"How do you think?" she laughs softly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know till--" her voice trails off and I hear Danny slipping out of the room to give us privacy.
"Why did you run?"
"Why do you think?" she eyes me. "You have two girls who hate me. I can't deal with that right now."
"They don't hate you," I try and reassure her.
She laughs softly, shaking her head. "They hate me."
"Sam, it just takes time."
"It's been time!"
"Less than a month," I point out, "Hannah's still seeing a therapist and fighting her off. She'll get through to her and we'll be okay."
"Will we?" Her eyes look hurt.
"Sam, tell me you want this baby?"
"I do," she nods with a sigh. "I'm just not sure I'm ready for you to be the father."
"Samantha?" I shake my head. "I love you." I take her hands, pressing a sturdy kiss to her palms as I clench on to her fingers.
"I know," she answers. "I love you too but you have two children as it is. You don't need a third."
"Sam," my voice catches in my throat.
"I want a transfer."
"What?" I croak out.
"I want to transfer to the Richmond field office," she repeats as I feel my heart ripped in two.
"No, you don't. You're just upset."
"Jack," her voice is steady and her eyes are never wavering. "I love you but I can't be a mother to your children. I can't take the chance that they'll hurt or even so much as be mean to this child." She draws her hand along her stomach. "Maybe one day we'll be able to be together, but now isn't the right time."
She closes her eyes, not being able to face me. I draw my hand to her cheek, trying to get her eyes on me.
"Sam," I whisper, drying her tears with my finger. "I want to be a part of this child's life."
"You can't." She burns me with her words, "You have two children who need you more than I do."
"Sam--" She silences me with a look.
"Take me to the hotel?"
"You need plenty of rest," I remind her, watching as the nurse comes in and helps her into a change of clothes and then into a wheelchair.
"I can walk," she laughs, trying to fight off her attempts but finally succumbing when reminded that she needs rest.
I carefully help her into my car, as Danny offers to drive us back to the hotel. I allow him, so he can pull up in front of the hotel and I can help her inside.
"Jack," she laughs softly, with my hand supporting her body. "I'm fine!"
"I'm not letting you go," I tell her, hitting the button for the elevator. Her eyes meet mine with the words and she lets out a sigh.
"I wasn't trying to run away," she pauses. "I just can't take the fact your kids hate me and might hate my child. I don't want my baby to go through what I've been through."
"Maybe they won't hate the baby," I question.
"They will," she sighs. "It affirms that you're with me and not with Maria."
"Am I?" I eye her. "I don't feel like I'm with you anymore. You keep the pregnancy from me, you try and run off--"
"Jack," her eyes tell me to be quiet and I nod, knowing she doesn't need to be hearing this right now. She still isn't one hundred percent better, and I want to make sure she will be all right.
Richmond Medical Center
March 6, 2004
10:39 p.m.
I open my eyes, feeling a little better in terms of nausea, but slightly dizzy. "Danny?" I see him glancing through a magazine and he looks up, surprised to see me awake.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fair," I yawn. "Where's Jack?"
"Bathroom. You look better."
I nod my head and he stands up and approaches the bed. "What'd they say about you being pregnant—anything?" He eyes me with worry and sadness.
"They're not sure yet," I whisper. "The doctor said they wanted to keep me overnight for observation." My voice catches in my throat and Danny sighs and rests his hand on my arm.
"Hey," I glance up to see Jack making his way into the room. "You're looking better. I talked to the doctor on the way back in and they said they wouldn't release you until tomorrow?" he eyes me curiously.
"That's what they said," I answer, my mouth dry. I close my eyes, not ready to tell Jack the news just yet. I feel his eyes on me, and I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
I hear footsteps approaching the bed. "We're going to move Ms. Spade." My eyes open, as I watch the scene unfold before me.
"Is everything okay?" Jack glances from the doctor and back towards me.
"We have a few tests to run. When we're done, we'll move her into a private room for overnight observation."
The nurse comes into the room and helps me into a wheelchair. "Your color's back," she tells me with a smile. "How's your stomach?"
"Better. I just feel like I could fall over," I laugh softly.
"We'll have to make sure you don't," she answers.
"Is it all right if we come too?" Jack questions.
"I think it would be best if you stay in the waiting area. We'll come and get you, as soon as she's done."
Jack leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead as I am strolled down the hall.
"Where are we going?" I question.
"Your lab work came back positive," she leans down to whisper, "but we want to make sure nothing's changed."
I nod my head, letting out a soft breath.
"Don't worry," she smiles, strolling me into the room I'll be staying in. She helps me into the bed and brings in the equipment to run an ultrasound.
"Isn't it too early?"
"No," she shakes her head. "We're going to look for a strong heartbeat and make sure everything looks good. It's good you didn't wait any longer to come in."
I nod my head, closing my eyes and praying that everything will be all right.
****************
Jack Malone POV:
Richmond Medical Center
March 6, 2004
11:28 p.m.
I shove my hand into my pocket, gathering my car keys. "Get some sleep," I say as I hand them to Danny.
"What about you?" I sit slouched forward, my elbows on my knees with my head in my hands.
"I've got to stay with her."
"Jack."
"I have to know she's okay. I'm worried. They shouldn't need to keep her overnight."
Danny rests a hand on my shoulder and says, "Relax."
"Easier said than done," I huff.
"Jack." His eyes rest on me and I feel as if he knows something I don't. He lets out a contemplative sigh. "Don't upset her," he tells me, as he stands up and heads for the door with my keys in his hand.
I let out a sigh and close my eyes, trying to calm my thoughts. There's so much I don't understand, including why she ran away. I can't even comprehend why she would do that. I know she has commitment fears, but to do this is absurd.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Samantha's ready to see you now." I glance up at the nurse's face and follow her into a private room. "She's sleeping," she warns me, "but she seems to be doing better. She'll likely be released in the morning."
"What was wrong with her?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't discuss that with you," she answers. "There's a chair for you to sit down in, and we can bring in a cot for the night, if you'd like."
"The chair's fine," I answer, as I slip inside her room and see her lying peacefully under the covers.
I take a seat beside her bed, wanting to touch her but not wanting to rouse her. She needs her sleep and I close my eyes, resting as uncomfortably as imaginable till the early hours of the morning.
"Jack?" I hear her scratchy voice and open my eyes to see her watching me.
"How are you feeling?"
"Thirsty," she croaks out and I get her a cup of water and some ice to slowly down. "Thanks," she yawns and I put the plastic cup on the end table.
"Everything's okay?" I feel her eyes on me and she glances away towards the window. "Sam?"
"Everything's fine," she whispers in a haze.
"It doesn't sound that way. You want to tell me what's going on?"
I hear footsteps enter the room and see Danny following behind the doctor.
"Everything seems to be good. Are you feeling any better?"
"Much," she answers with a nod.
"We're going to release you, but we urge you to have a good 48 hours of bed rest. We don't want any complications."
She nods her head as the doctor slips out of the room. "Complications?" I repeat. "Sam?"
She stares at Danny, trying to avoid the question as long as possible. "Jack, I'm--," she lets out a sigh, as I hang on her words.
"You're what?"
"Pregnant," she whispers, and I swear my jaw drops to the floor.
"I thought you had the stomach flu?"
"I did," she nods. "I'm also two months pregnant."
"How?"
"How do you think?" she laughs softly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know till--" her voice trails off and I hear Danny slipping out of the room to give us privacy.
"Why did you run?"
"Why do you think?" she eyes me. "You have two girls who hate me. I can't deal with that right now."
"They don't hate you," I try and reassure her.
She laughs softly, shaking her head. "They hate me."
"Sam, it just takes time."
"It's been time!"
"Less than a month," I point out, "Hannah's still seeing a therapist and fighting her off. She'll get through to her and we'll be okay."
"Will we?" Her eyes look hurt.
"Sam, tell me you want this baby?"
"I do," she nods with a sigh. "I'm just not sure I'm ready for you to be the father."
"Samantha?" I shake my head. "I love you." I take her hands, pressing a sturdy kiss to her palms as I clench on to her fingers.
"I know," she answers. "I love you too but you have two children as it is. You don't need a third."
"Sam," my voice catches in my throat.
"I want a transfer."
"What?" I croak out.
"I want to transfer to the Richmond field office," she repeats as I feel my heart ripped in two.
"No, you don't. You're just upset."
"Jack," her voice is steady and her eyes are never wavering. "I love you but I can't be a mother to your children. I can't take the chance that they'll hurt or even so much as be mean to this child." She draws her hand along her stomach. "Maybe one day we'll be able to be together, but now isn't the right time."
She closes her eyes, not being able to face me. I draw my hand to her cheek, trying to get her eyes on me.
"Sam," I whisper, drying her tears with my finger. "I want to be a part of this child's life."
"You can't." She burns me with her words, "You have two children who need you more than I do."
"Sam--" She silences me with a look.
"Take me to the hotel?"
"You need plenty of rest," I remind her, watching as the nurse comes in and helps her into a change of clothes and then into a wheelchair.
"I can walk," she laughs, trying to fight off her attempts but finally succumbing when reminded that she needs rest.
I carefully help her into my car, as Danny offers to drive us back to the hotel. I allow him, so he can pull up in front of the hotel and I can help her inside.
"Jack," she laughs softly, with my hand supporting her body. "I'm fine!"
"I'm not letting you go," I tell her, hitting the button for the elevator. Her eyes meet mine with the words and she lets out a sigh.
"I wasn't trying to run away," she pauses. "I just can't take the fact your kids hate me and might hate my child. I don't want my baby to go through what I've been through."
"Maybe they won't hate the baby," I question.
"They will," she sighs. "It affirms that you're with me and not with Maria."
"Am I?" I eye her. "I don't feel like I'm with you anymore. You keep the pregnancy from me, you try and run off--"
"Jack," her eyes tell me to be quiet and I nod, knowing she doesn't need to be hearing this right now. She still isn't one hundred percent better, and I want to make sure she will be all right.