Authors Notes:-
This is the chapter you've all been waiting for, the one that finally tells you what is making Claire and Marion so sick. (Like you can't already guess LOL). I just want to thank all my reveiwers. I have come to realise that without you guys this story would never have been written let alone finished so thank you all for giving me the inspiration to continue this. This chapter is dedicated to Gem6 and Ellie-R, who have stuck with this series from the very beginning. I could never have done this without you.
The Bill:Beech Is Back.
Chapter 4: You What?
At Claire's house, John and Claire are just getting ready for bed.
"I've just realised," starts John, "Did you ever find out what was making you and Marion so sick in Australia, because whatever it was seems to be better now."
"Yeah actually, and your wrong about it being better now. Well I don't know about Marion but ...."
"What do you mean? What's wrong? Is it something serious?"
"Not really, it depends on how you look at it I suppose," answers Claire.
"Claire, just tell me ok?" says John.
""Alright but you might want to sit down for this," starts Claire, "I ... I'm ... I'm pregnant."
"WHAT?" yells John in shock, "did I hear that right? But .... How? What? When? Is it true?"
"One question at a time. Yes, it's true, it was as much of a shock to me as it is to you, and before you ask, I wondered why I was so sick in Australia, so I went to a local Doctor, I thought it was food poisoning at first, can you believe that?"
"No, what?" stutters John, struggling to come to terms with it all, "When did you see a Doctor?"
"You remember that night it Australia, when you and the gov went to the bar an', me and Marion stayed behind in the hotel room?"
"Yeah," says John listening carefully.
"Well we got talking about how sick we'd been feeling and made an agreement, that if we were still feeling sick the next day we'd go see a Doctor. Well anyway, the next day came and we were still feeling sick so when you and the gov, carried on to the Australian Police station, we went to the Doctors and arrived back at the hotel, just before you guys called about the tip off."
John struggles to digest all he's been told and Claire just sits thinking about what she's just said. Soon they are both fast asleep.
At Stephen's house, Marion and Stephen are in bed cuddled up under the blankets, talking about everything that's been happening in their lives during the past few months.
"You and Claire seem to be getting on quite well," comments Stephen.
"Yeah we am. It almost seems like all four of us have been best mates for years."
"You know what Mar, you never did tell me about what Claire told you about how she got together with John."
"I thought I had. Well, it's nothing overly exciting, just that they became close after working this one case and she was run off the road or something. Well without going into details, they got together shortly after that but had to watch what they were doing encase someone found out," explains Marion.
"That was probably because she was worried I'd find out and how should I put it, blow a fuse," states Stephen.
"Really? You wouldn't really do that though."
"No, but I gave the impression that I would, then, most people will do as they're told. How else do you think I got to where I am today? They won't do anything that has the slightest chance of getting them into trouble because they know I'll come down on 'em like a ton of bricks. It's only me and you that know any different."
"So you're saying that you scare your staff into following the rules hey Ste? I like it."
"Yep, you're not the only one who acts like at totally different person at work you know."
"You know that night in Australia, when you guys went down to the bar, what did you talk about?" asks Marion.
"Nothing much, just about how he's feeling with everything that's happened and everything. He said he wasn't too surprised to find out Claire's CIB because he was already slightly suspicious anyway. Something to do with an old mate of his, saying he knew Claire before she joined Sun Hill or something. I wasn't really listening, I was too tired and too busy worrying about what was making you and Claire so sick. Did you ever figure it out Mar?"
"Yeah, I would've told you but I was in shock and with everything that's been going on it didn't seem like the right to discuss it," explains Marion.
"If you were that worried you should have told me."
"It's not that easy. I went to the doctors that morning I stayed behind at the hotel and lets just say that what I found out was the last thing I was expecting."
"What do you mean? What's so bad that you're this worried Mar? I've never seen you this scared before."
"It's nothing life threatening, just unexpected," Marion tries to explain.
"Just tell me Mar; it can't be that bad, maybe I can help."
"Somehow I doubt that Ste."
"We'll never know if you don't tell me."
"You've got absolutely no idea, have you Ste?"
"No, just tell me Mar."
"Alright," sighs Marion, "I ... I'm pregnant!"
"You're not serious?" asks Stephen.
"I knew you wouldn't understand," sighs Marion turning her back towards him and rolling further away.
"Hey Mar, come back here, I understand, I guess I just don't know what to say. Talk to me; I never even thought ...." says Stephen.
Marion slowly turns back over to face him with tears glistening in her eyes threatening to fall.
"Hey don't cry Mar, I'm sorry, I should've thought, tell me what I can do to help."
"I don't know, I just don't know, I never thought anything like this would happen and I just don't know what to do," cries Marion.
"Shh, everything's gonna be ok, come here, it's alright," coos Stephen carefully pulling Marion into his arms, "lets get some sleep and talk about it in the morning, things will be clearer then."
Marion continues crying in his arms for a few minutes before falling asleep.
"Night Mar, love you," whispers Stephen into the air, "Don't worry everything will be fine," he adds, giving her a small kiss on the forehead before also falling asleep as close to her as he can possibly get.