No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 51
Tests
`
"Is that coffee still warm?" Dr. Gordon asked. He had just left Matt and Miranda in the den, and was now in the kitchen with Jo. Sam had to go to work, and Lizzie had, reluctantly, agreed to let her mother deal with her brother and best friend first. As Jo refilled his cup, he remarked, half to himself. "Days like this are why I don't like taking appointments before 10."
"How are they?" Part of her was sure they'd be fine. But the mother in her needed reassurance.
After a sizable drink, he answered. "Those two should be professional worriers. While last night's nightmares had different casts, it was caused by the same fear as always: The other one getting hurt."
"The difference this time is that the threat to Matt seems to be real."
"But so is his cover. Remember, according to that same boy, the team has declared him one of their own. Also, he has his own reputation for revenge pranks that David tells me can get rather nasty. Matt should still be careful, but I expect that, in the end, there won't be any severe incidents. And, if there is an incident, the payback will make a second even more unlikely."
"Are you suggesting that we just let this happen?"
He looked at her sympathetically. "Every time we send are children somewhere without us, we know, deep down, that there is a chance something could happen. Like it or not, there's very little we can do that wouldn't be potentially more damaging to his development."
"I know, but . . ."
"In all honesty, Jo, I believe that, with everything he has on his side, I don't think the threat to him is much greater than it was before."
"Part of that assumes he'll be on the football team." The tone of her voice made it clear that she still didn't like that idea.
"That's for you and Sam to decide. But if I may, I think he should do it." The look on her face said it all. "I know he's smaller than most players, and I know you're worried. But he'd be a punter, not a linebacker. As I understand it, the only time the other team would want to touch him, there are rules that say they can't." She still looked doubtful. "Also, as we've partly covered, if he's on the team, that gives him a certain level of prestige and protection in the school social structure that should make things easier on he and Miranda." Seeing she still wasn't liking the idea, he went for a common sticking point between parents and school-age children. "Finally, it might get him to take his school work more seriously."
The last part got Jo's interest. "How would it do that?"
"Something I've learned from other patients is that the state mandates a minimum grade point average for, among other things, participation in school sports. He says his last report card meets it, but barely. He's smart enough, but he just never took school seriously. But then, how many kids that age do? He realizes that, if he wants to be on and stay on the team, he'll now have to work hard at the books, too."
Jo was still doubtful, but she had more to think about. The doctor was also thinking. If his hunch was right, Matt was going to have two women concerned about this idea.
~~
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Miranda asked Matt.
They had had a productive talk with the doctor, and came to realize that their nightmares had been cause by that same fear that has been haunting them this whole time. After agreeing they needed to be more aggressive in dealing with that fear and it's affect on them, they reviewed again the events that seemed to spark last night's nightmares.
Matt was sure the doctor would be against Matt trying out for football, but after Matt explained what a punter did and how rarely they were involved in the rough stuff, the doctor surprised him by saying that he saw no reason Matt shouldn't try out. Matt had noticed Miranda had been fairly quite during the football talk, but had assumed she simply didn't know the game. Her question, and the concern with which it was asked, made him realize the problem. "You're afraid I'll get hurt, aren't you?"
"I think we covered that." He raised his eyebrows. "Sorry. But football's a rough game, and you're not exactly the towering jock."
"Thanks."
"You know what I mean. I've told you how hansom you are, and it's true, but you're not as big as those guys are. Even that friend of yours that told use about this has two inches and a good twenty pounds of muscle on you." That was true. Paul Schrader was larger than Matt, especially in the upper body. While Miranda liked Matt's build, which was what would be called a runner's build, she was not comfortable with the thought of him being out there with all those big guys.
"I know what you mean. But I can work out, and I'm still growing. Besides, with what Mark said about the team sticking their necks out like that, how can I not try out?"
"I guess you're right about that." She paused, then spoke again. "Why do people have to be like that?"
"We knew there could be problems. I'm glad that there's a chance to avoid this one."
She caught something in the tone of his voice, and looked at him sternly. "You're looking forward to this, aren't you?"
He tried to look innocent, but realized it was no good, and smiled. "Well, maybe a little. Think about it. Me on the football team. Even if it is just as punter, it's still the team. Most guys, at some point, dream about being a star at their favorite sport. Mine's football." Her face had softened while he spoke. "I know being a junior high punter isn't stardom, but it's about as close as I'm likely to get. Can you really blame me for that?"
"No, I can't. Just be careful, alright."
He had a smart remark cross his mind, but he knew she was serious, and seriously worried. So he dropped it in favor of a simple, but sincere, "I will."
~~~~~~~~
Elsewhere that morning, two teenage girls each awoke from very restless nights. Each was scheduled that day to have blood taken for a pregnancy test, the results of which would be known tomorrow. Either could have, of course, used a home test by now. However, in each case, the adults involved decided against it, not wanting to take a chance on either a false positive or false negative. So, they waited a little longer, until the optimum time for a blood screening. For each, that was sometime this week. With Monday being a holiday, the first day for the blood draw was today, Tuesday. Kate and Ethan asked for this earliest day. Melina demanded it. In each case, the parents involved agreed.
`
Once the blood was drawn, all they could do was wait until the results came tomorrow. Neither girl expected to sleep well tonight.
~~~~~~~~
Because Sam had been gone when Matt and Miranda emerged from the den, the discussion of Matt trying out for the football team was delayed until that evening. As it turned out, they only needed a half hour. While both Miranda and Sam were concerned about Matt's size for football, they conceded that the other players stuck their necks out for him, and both that fact, and the reason they did, stuck them as stronger safety arguments. Jo was still holding out until Matt spoke about wanting to try out, in roughly the same way he had when Miranda asked that morning if he was looking forward to it. What convinced Jo, however, was Miranda's reaction to hearing this again.
With a look of surprise, and growing relief, she asked Matt. "Did you hear yourself?" He looked puzzled. "All this time, worried about how different you are and what you've become. You just included yourself with most boys. You said, and I quote, "most boys dream about staring in their favorite sport, like I have about football". You just admitted to having something in common with most boys." She was rambling a little, and they all knew it, but they were letting her point sink in. This, more than anything else, convinced Jo to let it be his choice.
~~~~~~~~
While the night wouldn't be called restful for any of six young people, for four, it wasn't as bad as they'd expected. Matt and Miranda's nightmares had softened. Melina had accepted the result she expected so throughly by now, she was only disturbed by concerns about what this would do to Lanny. Ethan was worried about Kate's reactions so far, but was secretly hoping that she was carrying his child. Only Lanny and Kate found no sleep this night.
~~~~~~~~
Wednesday was not only the day that Kate and Melina would receive their results. Lizzie was feeling very pleased with herself. It was one month ago today that she and Gordo finally admitted their feelings for each other, and she was going to make it by giving Gordo the things she had gotten for him at the jewelry store. Even though Gordo never wore more jewelry than a watch unless he was in costume, she was sure he'd see the symbolism in her gifts, and include the one in his everyday wear. Once she felt ready, she had her mother drive her to his home.
`
She was met at the door by Gordo, holding a single red rose.
~~
Later on, Lizzie and Gordo were laying together in his room when Lizzie remembered her gift to him. "I have something for you."
He had seen the package when she came in, but didn't want to say anything until she did. "Do you mean that package you came in with?"
She slapped his shoulder. "Of course I do! What else could it be?"
"Lizzie, we're on my bed, both topless, and we just finished a," he checked his clock, "two hour make-out session. Do you really want me to answer that?"
Lizzie started to blush, then smirked. "I see your point."
It took a second for the sexual meaning to sink in, then he started laughing. "I hope you don't talk like that anywhere else."
"And ruin my image?" She couldn't hold back anymore, and started to giggle. "Hang on" she finally managed. She had placed the package on the desk, which was out of reach of the bed, so she had to go over to get it. After she sat back down, she noticed the odd grin on Gordo's face. "What?"
"That's one thing I'm going to miss about that cast on your leg."
"What's that?"
"The way your breasts bounce when you hobble topless."
She slapped his shoulder again. "You!" That got her remembering other, albeit rare, comments he'd made over the years. "You've always been a breast man, haven't you?"
"Pretty much."
Her face started to fade. "Lots of girls have bigger . . ."
Gordo interrupted her by pulled her down to him. "Lizzie McGuire, I've loved you since you were flat chested, and I never said bigger was better in my eyes." He spent a few minutes showing her how much he liked hers. When he stopped, she looked ready to slug him again. He spoke gently. "I'd love to continue, but can it wait until after you give me your gift?"
Realizing that she still hadn't done that, she blushed. "Sorry." She found where it was laying on the bed, then sat up. "Sit up, please." Curious, he did. "Close your eyes."
"Lizzie . . ."
"Pleeeeeeeease." He could never resist her little-girl voice, so he closed his eyes. She opened the box, took out the necklace, and carefully fastened it. This put her face very close to his, and she couldn't resist a quick kiss. Once she sat back, she said "okay, open your eyes."
He felt the weight on his chest, then on his neck, as she put it on him, to tell him that it was a necklace with some kind of medallion on it. Once he opened his eyes, he looked down. Hanging on a gold chain was a medallion, about three inches wide. It had a silver border about a quarter-inch wide, and silver backing. The middle was bronze. When he took it to get a better look, he knew immediately the inspiration. He remembered Matt's remark, comparing him to a phoenix. The design on it, carved in relief, was a Chinese phoenix. He was in awe of it, and Lizzie, because he knew how hard it was for her to think about what happened sometimes. "I don't know what to say, Lizzie. I mean, when I think of what this means."
She had never heard his voice quite like that. He was actually choking up. "Gordo, we, I, need to face it. You died, then came back. And it was a kind of rebirth, because it forced us to do what we've been refusing to do, and begin a new life together as a couple." She put the hand of her cast-free arm to his face, and he finally met her eyes. "I may not have been the first to say it, but it's true. You are my phoenix, Gordo. Life gave us a second chance to get this right, and I don't ever want to forget that."
It had been a long time since Gordo had worn a necklace. And that one, at the last, was just out habit. He finally didn't see the point in continuing, and stopped. Even though this was much larger than he would ever have chosen for himself, he didn't need to think about it. "I'll wear it every day, Lizzie."
"Well, you don't have to wear it with a suit, because I also got these." She reached into the box, and retrieved the other part of the gift. A set of cufflinks, thankfully normal sized, with the same phoenix design.
"You are amazing, Lizzie."
~~~~~~~~
The doctor looked at his young patient as she sat down. 'Too young,' he thought, 'too damn young.' Yet, he had to admit that the people here, both in the office and the waiting area, told of the support she had. This young woman had adults who already knew what this test was about, and were determined to help. Even more surprising to him was the young man sitting next to her. The way he held her hand, the general way he carried himself. 'This one's not a runner,' he realized, 'I hope she knows how lucky she is in that.' They had all agreed yesterday that there was no need for small talk today, so once everyone was settled, he began. "You'll recall I took three veils, to make sure of the results." She nodded. "All three tests came back the same. You are pregnant, Ms. Saunders."
Even though she thought she was ready to hear this, the words still shook her. That, combined with the fact that she still hadn't quite overcome the shock of being thrown out by her parents, and she couldn't stop herself from slowly breaking down.
Ethan felt it in her hand and arm. Using that arm as a guild, he found her head, brought her into his shoulder, and let her cry. He had so much he wanted to say, but it would wait. His Katie needed his shoulder right now.
Susan felt for her, but knew that it would have to be Ethan that helped her, so she stayed in her seat. It gave her time to plan out moving Ethan into that suite with her.
~~~~~~~~
"Ms. Bianco, your tests were all negative. You're not pregnant." The doctor had come to expect relief whenever she said this to somebody this young. So she was surprised be the flood of questions and denials from the young woman in question. Melina managed to keep from being vulgar, a feat in itself, but she was still very crude.
When her tirade was over, Lanny managed to sum it up with one question. "If she's not, what else would cause all this at once?"
"I believe it's not one thing, but a sequence of events, that explains it." She answered. She turned to Melina's mother. "I'd like to run some more tests to make sure it's nothing more serious."
"Of course."
She turned to Melina, who was glaring darkly at her. "You admitted yesterday that you were worried about being pregnant from almost the moment you mated. That's a great deal of stress to be under at your age. Left to fester, stress can make a person physically ill. The fact that you became ill when you woke was unfortunate, because it only reinforced what you had assumed when your period was late, and you convinced yourself that you were pregnant. You'll recall that you finally stopped having your 'morning sickness' when it looked like everything was going to be okay for your child."
"How do you know . . ." Melina began, but was interrupted.
"I told her." Lanny admitted. Melina glared at him. "I didn't want to take any chances, so I held nothing back."
She couldn't begrudge him that. "And how do you explain my period? It still hasn't come."
"Young women are more likely to have irregular, even skipped, periods. According to your mother, she didn't get completely regular periods until she was fifteen. That could easily explain it."
Something finally registered with Lanny. The request for more tests, the use of words like 'could', suddenly sank in. His thoughts scared him worse than a possible pregnancy ever had. "What are the tests for? What else are you looking for?"
All three women heard the fear in his voice. "What's going on?" Melina asked.
The doctor didn't believe in laying to a patient, whatever the age. "It's a very remote chance, but I wanted to be safe." Now they were all looking at her. "There are some physical conditions that can cause some of your symptoms. While most are easy to deal with, the list includes . . . cancer."
The silence was deafening.
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Don't yell yet. I didn't say she has it, just that it's possible. The answer is in the next chapter.
A/N: A picture of the medallion is in my Yahoo! group.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 51
Tests
`
"Is that coffee still warm?" Dr. Gordon asked. He had just left Matt and Miranda in the den, and was now in the kitchen with Jo. Sam had to go to work, and Lizzie had, reluctantly, agreed to let her mother deal with her brother and best friend first. As Jo refilled his cup, he remarked, half to himself. "Days like this are why I don't like taking appointments before 10."
"How are they?" Part of her was sure they'd be fine. But the mother in her needed reassurance.
After a sizable drink, he answered. "Those two should be professional worriers. While last night's nightmares had different casts, it was caused by the same fear as always: The other one getting hurt."
"The difference this time is that the threat to Matt seems to be real."
"But so is his cover. Remember, according to that same boy, the team has declared him one of their own. Also, he has his own reputation for revenge pranks that David tells me can get rather nasty. Matt should still be careful, but I expect that, in the end, there won't be any severe incidents. And, if there is an incident, the payback will make a second even more unlikely."
"Are you suggesting that we just let this happen?"
He looked at her sympathetically. "Every time we send are children somewhere without us, we know, deep down, that there is a chance something could happen. Like it or not, there's very little we can do that wouldn't be potentially more damaging to his development."
"I know, but . . ."
"In all honesty, Jo, I believe that, with everything he has on his side, I don't think the threat to him is much greater than it was before."
"Part of that assumes he'll be on the football team." The tone of her voice made it clear that she still didn't like that idea.
"That's for you and Sam to decide. But if I may, I think he should do it." The look on her face said it all. "I know he's smaller than most players, and I know you're worried. But he'd be a punter, not a linebacker. As I understand it, the only time the other team would want to touch him, there are rules that say they can't." She still looked doubtful. "Also, as we've partly covered, if he's on the team, that gives him a certain level of prestige and protection in the school social structure that should make things easier on he and Miranda." Seeing she still wasn't liking the idea, he went for a common sticking point between parents and school-age children. "Finally, it might get him to take his school work more seriously."
The last part got Jo's interest. "How would it do that?"
"Something I've learned from other patients is that the state mandates a minimum grade point average for, among other things, participation in school sports. He says his last report card meets it, but barely. He's smart enough, but he just never took school seriously. But then, how many kids that age do? He realizes that, if he wants to be on and stay on the team, he'll now have to work hard at the books, too."
Jo was still doubtful, but she had more to think about. The doctor was also thinking. If his hunch was right, Matt was going to have two women concerned about this idea.
~~
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Miranda asked Matt.
They had had a productive talk with the doctor, and came to realize that their nightmares had been cause by that same fear that has been haunting them this whole time. After agreeing they needed to be more aggressive in dealing with that fear and it's affect on them, they reviewed again the events that seemed to spark last night's nightmares.
Matt was sure the doctor would be against Matt trying out for football, but after Matt explained what a punter did and how rarely they were involved in the rough stuff, the doctor surprised him by saying that he saw no reason Matt shouldn't try out. Matt had noticed Miranda had been fairly quite during the football talk, but had assumed she simply didn't know the game. Her question, and the concern with which it was asked, made him realize the problem. "You're afraid I'll get hurt, aren't you?"
"I think we covered that." He raised his eyebrows. "Sorry. But football's a rough game, and you're not exactly the towering jock."
"Thanks."
"You know what I mean. I've told you how hansom you are, and it's true, but you're not as big as those guys are. Even that friend of yours that told use about this has two inches and a good twenty pounds of muscle on you." That was true. Paul Schrader was larger than Matt, especially in the upper body. While Miranda liked Matt's build, which was what would be called a runner's build, she was not comfortable with the thought of him being out there with all those big guys.
"I know what you mean. But I can work out, and I'm still growing. Besides, with what Mark said about the team sticking their necks out like that, how can I not try out?"
"I guess you're right about that." She paused, then spoke again. "Why do people have to be like that?"
"We knew there could be problems. I'm glad that there's a chance to avoid this one."
She caught something in the tone of his voice, and looked at him sternly. "You're looking forward to this, aren't you?"
He tried to look innocent, but realized it was no good, and smiled. "Well, maybe a little. Think about it. Me on the football team. Even if it is just as punter, it's still the team. Most guys, at some point, dream about being a star at their favorite sport. Mine's football." Her face had softened while he spoke. "I know being a junior high punter isn't stardom, but it's about as close as I'm likely to get. Can you really blame me for that?"
"No, I can't. Just be careful, alright."
He had a smart remark cross his mind, but he knew she was serious, and seriously worried. So he dropped it in favor of a simple, but sincere, "I will."
~~~~~~~~
Elsewhere that morning, two teenage girls each awoke from very restless nights. Each was scheduled that day to have blood taken for a pregnancy test, the results of which would be known tomorrow. Either could have, of course, used a home test by now. However, in each case, the adults involved decided against it, not wanting to take a chance on either a false positive or false negative. So, they waited a little longer, until the optimum time for a blood screening. For each, that was sometime this week. With Monday being a holiday, the first day for the blood draw was today, Tuesday. Kate and Ethan asked for this earliest day. Melina demanded it. In each case, the parents involved agreed.
`
Once the blood was drawn, all they could do was wait until the results came tomorrow. Neither girl expected to sleep well tonight.
~~~~~~~~
Because Sam had been gone when Matt and Miranda emerged from the den, the discussion of Matt trying out for the football team was delayed until that evening. As it turned out, they only needed a half hour. While both Miranda and Sam were concerned about Matt's size for football, they conceded that the other players stuck their necks out for him, and both that fact, and the reason they did, stuck them as stronger safety arguments. Jo was still holding out until Matt spoke about wanting to try out, in roughly the same way he had when Miranda asked that morning if he was looking forward to it. What convinced Jo, however, was Miranda's reaction to hearing this again.
With a look of surprise, and growing relief, she asked Matt. "Did you hear yourself?" He looked puzzled. "All this time, worried about how different you are and what you've become. You just included yourself with most boys. You said, and I quote, "most boys dream about staring in their favorite sport, like I have about football". You just admitted to having something in common with most boys." She was rambling a little, and they all knew it, but they were letting her point sink in. This, more than anything else, convinced Jo to let it be his choice.
~~~~~~~~
While the night wouldn't be called restful for any of six young people, for four, it wasn't as bad as they'd expected. Matt and Miranda's nightmares had softened. Melina had accepted the result she expected so throughly by now, she was only disturbed by concerns about what this would do to Lanny. Ethan was worried about Kate's reactions so far, but was secretly hoping that she was carrying his child. Only Lanny and Kate found no sleep this night.
~~~~~~~~
Wednesday was not only the day that Kate and Melina would receive their results. Lizzie was feeling very pleased with herself. It was one month ago today that she and Gordo finally admitted their feelings for each other, and she was going to make it by giving Gordo the things she had gotten for him at the jewelry store. Even though Gordo never wore more jewelry than a watch unless he was in costume, she was sure he'd see the symbolism in her gifts, and include the one in his everyday wear. Once she felt ready, she had her mother drive her to his home.
`
She was met at the door by Gordo, holding a single red rose.
~~
Later on, Lizzie and Gordo were laying together in his room when Lizzie remembered her gift to him. "I have something for you."
He had seen the package when she came in, but didn't want to say anything until she did. "Do you mean that package you came in with?"
She slapped his shoulder. "Of course I do! What else could it be?"
"Lizzie, we're on my bed, both topless, and we just finished a," he checked his clock, "two hour make-out session. Do you really want me to answer that?"
Lizzie started to blush, then smirked. "I see your point."
It took a second for the sexual meaning to sink in, then he started laughing. "I hope you don't talk like that anywhere else."
"And ruin my image?" She couldn't hold back anymore, and started to giggle. "Hang on" she finally managed. She had placed the package on the desk, which was out of reach of the bed, so she had to go over to get it. After she sat back down, she noticed the odd grin on Gordo's face. "What?"
"That's one thing I'm going to miss about that cast on your leg."
"What's that?"
"The way your breasts bounce when you hobble topless."
She slapped his shoulder again. "You!" That got her remembering other, albeit rare, comments he'd made over the years. "You've always been a breast man, haven't you?"
"Pretty much."
Her face started to fade. "Lots of girls have bigger . . ."
Gordo interrupted her by pulled her down to him. "Lizzie McGuire, I've loved you since you were flat chested, and I never said bigger was better in my eyes." He spent a few minutes showing her how much he liked hers. When he stopped, she looked ready to slug him again. He spoke gently. "I'd love to continue, but can it wait until after you give me your gift?"
Realizing that she still hadn't done that, she blushed. "Sorry." She found where it was laying on the bed, then sat up. "Sit up, please." Curious, he did. "Close your eyes."
"Lizzie . . ."
"Pleeeeeeeease." He could never resist her little-girl voice, so he closed his eyes. She opened the box, took out the necklace, and carefully fastened it. This put her face very close to his, and she couldn't resist a quick kiss. Once she sat back, she said "okay, open your eyes."
He felt the weight on his chest, then on his neck, as she put it on him, to tell him that it was a necklace with some kind of medallion on it. Once he opened his eyes, he looked down. Hanging on a gold chain was a medallion, about three inches wide. It had a silver border about a quarter-inch wide, and silver backing. The middle was bronze. When he took it to get a better look, he knew immediately the inspiration. He remembered Matt's remark, comparing him to a phoenix. The design on it, carved in relief, was a Chinese phoenix. He was in awe of it, and Lizzie, because he knew how hard it was for her to think about what happened sometimes. "I don't know what to say, Lizzie. I mean, when I think of what this means."
She had never heard his voice quite like that. He was actually choking up. "Gordo, we, I, need to face it. You died, then came back. And it was a kind of rebirth, because it forced us to do what we've been refusing to do, and begin a new life together as a couple." She put the hand of her cast-free arm to his face, and he finally met her eyes. "I may not have been the first to say it, but it's true. You are my phoenix, Gordo. Life gave us a second chance to get this right, and I don't ever want to forget that."
It had been a long time since Gordo had worn a necklace. And that one, at the last, was just out habit. He finally didn't see the point in continuing, and stopped. Even though this was much larger than he would ever have chosen for himself, he didn't need to think about it. "I'll wear it every day, Lizzie."
"Well, you don't have to wear it with a suit, because I also got these." She reached into the box, and retrieved the other part of the gift. A set of cufflinks, thankfully normal sized, with the same phoenix design.
"You are amazing, Lizzie."
~~~~~~~~
The doctor looked at his young patient as she sat down. 'Too young,' he thought, 'too damn young.' Yet, he had to admit that the people here, both in the office and the waiting area, told of the support she had. This young woman had adults who already knew what this test was about, and were determined to help. Even more surprising to him was the young man sitting next to her. The way he held her hand, the general way he carried himself. 'This one's not a runner,' he realized, 'I hope she knows how lucky she is in that.' They had all agreed yesterday that there was no need for small talk today, so once everyone was settled, he began. "You'll recall I took three veils, to make sure of the results." She nodded. "All three tests came back the same. You are pregnant, Ms. Saunders."
Even though she thought she was ready to hear this, the words still shook her. That, combined with the fact that she still hadn't quite overcome the shock of being thrown out by her parents, and she couldn't stop herself from slowly breaking down.
Ethan felt it in her hand and arm. Using that arm as a guild, he found her head, brought her into his shoulder, and let her cry. He had so much he wanted to say, but it would wait. His Katie needed his shoulder right now.
Susan felt for her, but knew that it would have to be Ethan that helped her, so she stayed in her seat. It gave her time to plan out moving Ethan into that suite with her.
~~~~~~~~
"Ms. Bianco, your tests were all negative. You're not pregnant." The doctor had come to expect relief whenever she said this to somebody this young. So she was surprised be the flood of questions and denials from the young woman in question. Melina managed to keep from being vulgar, a feat in itself, but she was still very crude.
When her tirade was over, Lanny managed to sum it up with one question. "If she's not, what else would cause all this at once?"
"I believe it's not one thing, but a sequence of events, that explains it." She answered. She turned to Melina's mother. "I'd like to run some more tests to make sure it's nothing more serious."
"Of course."
She turned to Melina, who was glaring darkly at her. "You admitted yesterday that you were worried about being pregnant from almost the moment you mated. That's a great deal of stress to be under at your age. Left to fester, stress can make a person physically ill. The fact that you became ill when you woke was unfortunate, because it only reinforced what you had assumed when your period was late, and you convinced yourself that you were pregnant. You'll recall that you finally stopped having your 'morning sickness' when it looked like everything was going to be okay for your child."
"How do you know . . ." Melina began, but was interrupted.
"I told her." Lanny admitted. Melina glared at him. "I didn't want to take any chances, so I held nothing back."
She couldn't begrudge him that. "And how do you explain my period? It still hasn't come."
"Young women are more likely to have irregular, even skipped, periods. According to your mother, she didn't get completely regular periods until she was fifteen. That could easily explain it."
Something finally registered with Lanny. The request for more tests, the use of words like 'could', suddenly sank in. His thoughts scared him worse than a possible pregnancy ever had. "What are the tests for? What else are you looking for?"
All three women heard the fear in his voice. "What's going on?" Melina asked.
The doctor didn't believe in laying to a patient, whatever the age. "It's a very remote chance, but I wanted to be safe." Now they were all looking at her. "There are some physical conditions that can cause some of your symptoms. While most are easy to deal with, the list includes . . . cancer."
The silence was deafening.
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A/N: Don't yell yet. I didn't say she has it, just that it's possible. The answer is in the next chapter.
A/N: A picture of the medallion is in my Yahoo! group.