Chapter 10 Kids and Kittens

Disclaimer see previous chapter

Rating G.

Summary Cheryl is seriously hurt can Steve handle it and will their marriage survive? Cheryl goes in to labor and gets another surprise from Steve.

A/n Hey guys here's another chapter hope you like it. Almost their just one more chapter after this.

The next couple weeks passed without incident and the day came when Cheryl was allowed to go back to work. Cheryl woke up that morning and took a shower and got dressed. When she came back in to the bedroom Steve was just waking up.

"Good morning honey. How did you sleep," Cheryl asked?

"Good you?"

"I slept well and I am glad that I am going back to work today. Even if I have to do desk duty," Cheryl said with a face.

"I know that you are excited but I am glad that you have to do desk duty," Steve said with a smile.

"Yah you and Amanda."

"Amanda?"

"Yah the day we went shopping she said that you weren't the only one who glad that I was on desk duty." Steve leaned over and gave Cheryl a kiss on the lips before getting up and began to get ready for work.

At CGH Jesse, Mark Amanda, and Alex were all sitting in the doctor's lounge talking. "I wonder how things went at Cheryl and Steve's," Jesse asked.

"Something tells me somewhat interesting. I know that Steve is glad that Cheryl is on desk duty," Mark replied.

"That makes two of us," Amanda said with a smile. Alex and Jesse nodded in agreement. Just then Jesse, Mark and Alex were called to the ER. Amanda stood up as well.

"I have some autopsies to do see you guys later."

The day was uneventful for both Steve and Cheryl. Everyone was glad to see Cheryl back. Captain Newman even came out of his office to welcome her back. It was late in the afternoon when Cheryl looked up from her paper work and saw Steve getting up and putting on his jacket and Ben Chapmen getting ready to follow him. Chapmen and Steve were temporarily working together until Cheryl was back on field duty. Ben had come by the house the day after Cheryl had gotten out of the hospital the second and she had asked about the bruise.

"Hey Cheryl you look good it is so good to see you," Ben replied with a smile.

"Thanks it is good to see you," Cheryl replied as she got a good look at his face. "What happened to you where did you get that bruise?"

Ben looked with a shy smile. "Well um er Steve punched me three times but only twice in the face," Ben said sheepishly.

"You said three times where else did you get hit," Cheryl said in shock?

"In the stomach," Ben replied.

"Why on earth would he hit you," Cheryl asked incredulously?

Well because he was angry and scared and worried and I was a good target."

"Oh Ben I am so sorry. I will have a talk with him. He knows better he knows it wasn't your fault."

"No don't worry about it we took care of it we are friends again. Well I had better go can't wait to have you back at the station. I really can't wait until after the baby is born so I can have my partner back."

"Thanks that means a lot to me," Cheryl said as she walked him to the door.

Cheryl got up from her desk and walked over to the two men. "Hey guys what is up?"

"Hey Cheryl just got a call on a murder so I may be home late tonight," Steve replied as they headed for the door.

"Ok but please be careful," Cheryl replied.

"Don't worry honey I will be," Steve said resting a hand on her shoulder and then walking out the door with Ben following a long behind him. Lucky for Steve the murder was an open and shut case the murderer's finger prints were found on the victim. Then the murderer came back to the scene got interrogated by Steve and confessed quickly. The case hit Steve rather hard though. The victim was a pregnant woman who looked like they were Cheryl's age and looked a lot like her. Ben saw him flinch and begin to shake as they walked in to the bedroom.

"Steve, are you ok," Ben stopped as he caught of the victim. "Oh my god that looks a lot like Cheryl," Ben said softly.

"I know it," Steve said shakily. "Ok let's get to work and figure out who killed this woman and her baby. Steve had felt extremely sorry for her husband. "Mr. Williams I am truly sorry for your loss. It is a horrible crime to kill a woman but it is even more horrible when an innocent baby is killed!"

"Thank you Lieutenant tell me do you have any children?"

"My wife is pregnant and is due in about two months so I understand the pain you are going through. I could never imagine how I would be able to go on if someone did this to her. You have my solemn promise that I will do everything I can do to catch the person who did this to her."

"Thank you Lieutenant I believe you. Please give your wife my best."

"I will do that," Steve replied. Steve had never been so happy to tell a husband that the murderer was caught so quickly.

"Thanks Lieutenant Sloan Detective Chapmen things will not be easy for me but knowing that my wife's killer is caught will make it a little bit easier to move on."

"I am just glad that we were able to catch him," Steve replied as they left the house. Steve and Ben went back to the station to finish up the paperwork before heading home.

"Steve, tell Cheryl that I said hi will you," Ben asked?

"Yah I will good night Ben."

"Night Steve." Steve got in his car and just rested his head on his arms for a second before starting the car and headed home to his wife and unborn child.

Cheryl lay awake hoping that Steve would be home soon. He had called her from the precinct and told her that he was just finishing up the final paperwork and would be home soon. Steve walked in to the house and took off his jacket and put his gun on the table before walking upstairs to the bedroom anxious to get in to bed and snuggle up with Cheryl. Steve walked in to the room and looked over at Cheryl who looked so peaceful and happy.

"Steve…?" That was all it took Steve broke down and started to sob. Not just small sobs but bone racking sobs that shook his entire frame. Cheryl got up of the bed and pulled him in to her arms and began to guide him towards the bed.

"Steve, shh it's ok. What's wrong sweet heart you can tell me. Come on Steve it is ok," Cheryl said as she rubbed soothing circles on his back. Steve continued to sob hard for a while and then they finally eased up a bit and he lifted his head to look at Cheryl. The expression she saw there broke her heart. It was a mixture of sadness fear and anger.

Steve took a breath and started to talk. "The victim was a woman who was about your age and looked a lot like you. If I believed in everyone having a double this would be yours. Well anyway she was also pregnant and looked to be about as far a long as you... Her husband was so distraught. He asked me if I had children and I told him that my wife was due in about two months and that I didn't know what I would ever do if something like that happened to you," Steve said as his voice broke and a fresh wave of heart rinching sobs hit and he couldn't go on. He clung to Cheryl as if she would disappear without warning.

"Shh baby its ok. Come on honey their their it is ok," Cheryl whispered soothingly in to his ear. Finally the sobs subsided and Steve looked up and tried to smile at her but it didn't reach his eyes.

"I love you Cheryl."

"I love you to Steve," Cheryl replied as she gently pushed him down on to the bed. Cheryl knelt down and started to untie his shoes.

"Sweet heart I can do that," Steve said.

"Yes I know you can but let me do it for you. Just relax and let me get you undressed for bed ok honey," Cheryl pleaded.

"Ok if that is what you want," Steve replied.

"Yes it is," Cheryl said as she removed his shoes and socks and then started on his pants. Once she got Steve totally undressed she climbed in beside him and took him in to her arms. "Sleep my love," She whispered as she gently kissed him.

"Ok," Steve Murmured as his eyes began to close and he began to fall asleep. Cheryl noticed that his sleep was restless and she wondered what she should do. Finally after making a decision she got up quietly and shutting the bedroom door went to the phone and called Mark.

Mark had just finished a long 12 hour shift at the hospital and was just walking in to the house when the phone rang. Mark walked in and picked up the phone. "Mark Sloan."

"Mark, this is Cheryl."

"Hi Cheryl what is wrong honey you don't sound to good?" Cheryl briefly explained the murder and how it had affected Steve.

"Mark I don't know what to do. I finally got him to go to sleep but I can tell that it is a restless sleep and I am sure that he will have nightmares.

"I am going to come over and give you a sedative. If he wakes up and has nightmares try and get him calmed but if he has trouble going back to sleep give it to him ok."

"Ok I will do that. Thanks Mark I just didn't know what to do it hit him so hard. It was so hard to see him totally break down like that."

"I know I will be over in just a little bit. I will be waiting for you I don't want you to accidentally wake up Steve," Cheryl said. Cheryl looked in on Steve and was only mildly glad to see him sleeping because he was tossing and turning and she could tell that he was having difficulty with sleeping. Mark arrived about ten minutes later with the sedative. He took Cheryl in to a hug and reassured her that everything would be ok.

"Thanks Mark I know that but I am still worried."

"I understand honey. I am going to look in on him if that is ok," Mark asked?

"Of course it is ok," Cheryl replied. Mark looked in on his sleeping son and was just as concerned as Cheryl.

"I have a feeling that the likelihood that you will have to use the sedative is greater than the likelihood that you won't."

"Yah I thought the same thing. Well thanks Mark I am going to go to bed."

"Ok honey call me if you need anything," Mark said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I will," Cheryl said as Mark headed for the door.

"Night I will probably call you tomorrow to check on him," Mark said as he walked out and shut the door. Cheryl went back in to the bedroom and got in to bed and pulled Steve close and finally let sleep claim her.

The first thing that alerted to Cheryl that something was wrong was that Steve was shaking and saying no Cheryl no baby please don't die no… Cheryl woke up and took hold of Steve's arms. "Steve, honey its ok I'm here wake up it's all right. Everything is all right I am a live." Finally Steve began to respond and he opened his eyes. He was still shaking violently. "It is ok honey I am here," Cheryl repeated as soon as she sure that she had Steve's attention.

"I know but it was so real. I thought he had died," he said as his bottom lip trembled and tears filled his eyes.

"Steve, sweet heart it is ok," Cheryl said as she took him in to her arms and began to rub soothing circles on his back. Finally once she had him calmed some what she said, "Why don't I get you some warm milk. It will help you sleep."

"Ok thanks honey that would be great," Steve replied. Cheryl went in to the kitchen got a cup warmed some milk and then added Sedative. I am only giving you this for your own good Cheryl thought as she left the kitchen and headed back in to the bedroom. Steve took the glass from Cheryl and gave her a shaky smile before downing the glass in three gulps. Cheryl reached out and took the glass from Steve and placed it on the bedside table. Then she lay down and pulled Steve down with her and in to her arms as she did so she could tell the affects of the sedative was taking affect.

"Love you cher," Steve said as he drifted off to what Cheryl hoped was a peaceful sleep.

"I love you to Steve, good night," Cheryl said as she to fell asleep.

The next morning Steve felt really groggy and fuzzy headed when he woke up. His vision was slightly blurry when he tried to focus.

"Cheryl you up?"

"Yah I am," Cheryl replied as she walked in to the bedroom and made sure to come in to his eye line.

"I feel like I have been drugged," Steve said. Cheryl felt a pang of guilt when he said that. Steve saw the look that crossed her face.

"Did you give me something like a sedative?"

"Yes I did," Cheryl said softly not meeting Steve's eyes. "I just wanted to give you a peaceful night's sleep.

"Cheryl honey look at me," Steve said softly. Cheryl turned and looked at Steve.

"Honey I understand why you did it. The only thing I want to know is how you got the sedative and I have a fairly good idea how."

"Your dad came over last night. I called him when I saw how restless your sleep was and he came over when I told him what happened and gave me the sedative. It took affect quicker than I thought but then you drank the milk very fast. Are you mad at me?"

"No not at all," Steve said as he got up to get ready for work.

The next month went by quickly. Steve could tell that Cheryl was having a difficult time. She still had one more month to go and things were getting more difficult for. One day Steve called Cheryl to tell her that he was going to be home late because he needed to do something for Amanda. However, what he was actually doing was buying a pretty calico kitten with short hair. Cheryl heard the front door to the house close "Steve is that you?"

"Yah baby it is me. Hey close your eyes please."

"Ok I will," Cheryl said as she closed her eyes. Steve walked in to the kitchen and came up behind her.

"Don't open your eyes yet." Steve reached around her and put the tiny kitten in to her hands.

"Steve, what is it," she asked.

"Open your eyes and find out."

Cheryl opened her eyes and gasped. "Oh Steve it is so cute I love it."

"I thought you would enjoy some company when I have to work late."

"Oh Steve I love it," Cheryl said as a spasm of pain hit her and she cried out. Ohhh!!"

"Cheryl what is it," Steve asked in alarm.

It was just a contraction it is no big deal."

"A contraction yah that is to a big deal," Steve replied anxiously.

"Honey it is the first one I have had let's not jump to conclusions yet ok," Cheryl said as she rested a hand on his arm.

"Ok but if you have more tell me right away. The rest of the night passed fairly uneventful. Cheryl had some more contractions and true to her word she told Steve. Steve got worried and called his dad to see what he should do.

"Dad, Cheryl is having contractions what should I do?"

"You don't have to do anything unless they are five to ten minutes apart. Once they get that close you should head to the hospital ok son?"

"Yah thanks dad that helps a lot," Steve said as he hung up the phone and began to relax a bit. Cheryl went to bed around 10:00 she was tired and Steve joined her shortly their after. Cheryl woke up around midnight because of a rather strong contraction. She decided not to wake up Steve yet. She glanced at the alarm clock to figure out what time it was. About ten minutes later another contraction hit. Cheryl had to go to the bathroom. She got up and went into the bathroom. As soon as she sat down on the toilet liquid came gushing out.

"Oh sweet Jesus, my water just broke," Cheryl said to herself. Cheryl got up and put on some clothes even though they would get wet then she went over to Steve and shook him awake.

"Steve, wake up honey my water just broke." Steve sat up with a start.

"What did you say?"

"I said that I have had a couple of contractions and they are ten minutes apart and then I got up to go to the bathroom and when I did my water broke," Cheryl said as a particularly painful contraction hit her and she began to fall to the floor because of the pain. Steve reached out and caught her.

"Ok we are going to the hospital," Steve said. He grabbed her bag and helped Cheryl to the car. As he drove he put his phone on the seat next to him hit speaker and called Alex.

Alex was sleeping soundly until the ringing of the phone broke in to his sleep. "Hello," he said his voice laced heavy with sleep.

"Alex, it is Steve Cheryl is in labor her contractions are ten minutes apart and her water broke. I am bringing her in."

"Ok I will be right their," Alex said as he was getting up and getting dressed. Steve glanced at Cheryl and could tell she was in pain.

"How bad are they and how far apart are they?"

"They hurt like hell and they are now between three to five minutes apart," Cheryl replied as she had a sharp intake of breath as another contraction came.

"Ok honey just keep breathing everything will be ok. Steve then called his dad.

"Mark Sloan."

"Dad,"

"Oh hi Steve, why are you calling me so late what is going on?"

"Cheryl is in labor her water broke and her contractions are…" Steve was interrupted by Cheryl crying out in pain and saying to Steve

"Steve, we have a problem I can feel the head I need to push oh god it's coming."

A/n ok I know that I am evil but hey everyone has to use a cliff hanger. I will only update if I receive feedback.