A/N: Thank you guys for putting up with my erratic posting habits again. Thank you to all who reviewed and were kind to me about the story and my trip. This is my last day of college! (Until fall, at least.)
Hehehe…thank you Holly.
Also thank you to all who continue to read this or at least happen upon it on day and give it a once over. I know I was goofy in the way that I ended the chapter, but I'm a dork who likes to build the suspense. Anyway…I hope you enjoy!!!
Chapter Eleven
"You come on with a come on, you don't fight fair." Donna turned up the volume as she turned another block away from the office. She felt that this was the only way to calm her soul as she made toward the doctor's appointment that could potentially change her life. "But that's okay, see if I care! Knock me down, it's all in vain."
She didn't hear her phone start to ring. "I'll get right back on my feet again! Hit me with your best shot!"
She saw the flashing a reached over to see who was calling while belting out the tune all the same. "Why don't you hit me with your best shot!" Josh. She realized he probably hadn't heard her say that she would be leaving for lunch.
"Hit me with your best shot!" She answered.
"Donna?" Josh knew it was her and from the sounds of it she was traveling with Pat Benatar.
"Fire away!" After those notes, she felt it best to reach over and turn off the radio. "Yeah."Josh had to grin. "You were dancing weren't you?"
"I'm in the car."
"You were sashaying all the same. I could tell the way you were singing. There was some dancing going on just now."
"Remember I said that I was going out for lunch."
Josh didn't remember and that was the main reason he called. "Date?" He couldn't help it. He had to sabotage them all he could.
"Wouldn't you like that?" She noticed the trend she just couldn't explain the cause. "I have an appointment."
"With whom?"
"Dr. Young."
"For a date?"
She sighed. "No. Think about why one would have an appointment with one titled doctor."
He paused. "Why do you have a doctor's appointment?"
Cause I might be pregnant, Josh. And if so, you'll be the father. But Sam likes to comment that I might just have a terminal disease. Either way, it's not good. "Check-up." She switched lanes while juggling the phone. "Dawn and I were talking and it had been a while."
This answer was enough to sate his curiosity. "When will you be back?"
She shrugged momentarily forgetting he could not see her.
He sensed her movements on he other side of the phone. "Do you have any cash?"
Another sigh escaped her lips. "You want lunch?"
"I have a meeting now and I'd pay you back if you run by that deli on your way in."
"Luckily for you mister it happens to be on the way." Donna glanced at her watch. "You have the thing now with that Pentagon guy."
"Yeah." Josh didn't know what to say. "Good luck." He opted for lame.
"Thanks." As she hung up, she considered the fact that she really didn't know what she wanted. "Well…no terminal illness."
Donna summoned up all her inner strength when she heard her name called by the receptionist. She knew that it would be the only way for her to get through the next few moments.
"Donna?" Dr. Young said when she came in the examining room. "Dr. Phillips conveys her regrets for being unable to see you today. She said that she would be back next week but apparently you didn't want to wait that long."
She nodded her head.
"Well then," The doctor said as she sat down on a stool and adjusted her skirt. "What brings you here today?"
Donna thought about throwing out the check-up excuse that she just gave to Josh, but realized that she should be honest with the woman who would more than likely take a look at all her outer parts. "I think I might be pregnant."
The doctor showed no reaction. "And what makes you believe that?"
From anyone else Donna might be a little annoyed, but this woman spoke with a warm smile that helped her let down her defenses. "Well…I'm late. It's happened a few times before so I wasn't too worried. But also I've been moody and I guess having morning sickness. I've been nauseous and getting sick quite often."
Dr. Young nodded. "Anything else?"
"Well, frequent urination and a strong desire for nachos."
Now the doctor's smile went to a chuckle. "I see. I uses you read the report as well that nachos is the food most craved by American women today?"
Donna nodded and smiled. "Though they do sound kinda good right now."
"Don't they always?" Dr. Young stood up. "Well, I don't think I have to ask, but have you been sexually intimate recently?"
"Yes." She looked down. "Neither one of us were using any protection."
"How long ago?"
"About a month and a week."
Young nodded to herself. "Okay. Though pregnancy sounds quite reasonable, we need to go ahead and do a full exam. I will get a nurse in here to get some blood work and we will run it to the lab and then perform an examination."
"Are you a general practitioner?"
"Lucky for you…" Dr. Young smiled. "Or maybe not, I happen to be a obstetrician/gynecologist. So you get to two visits for the price of one."
She left a message on the apartment phone that she would find out the results that night since Dr. Young was going to hound the people down in the lab for her. She then looked down at her cell to see that Josh had left her a couple messages and listened.
With a groan once they were finished, she dialed his number.
"Yeah."
"What happened?"
Josh lamented a thankful sigh. "There's a thing with a General Howard."
"Who's General Howard?"
"A four star general that retired this year that we for go to honor at the recognition banquet. He served in Korea and Vietnam."
"What can you do with a general when he stops being a general?" All in all she was pleased. Dr. Young declared her STD free. "Oh, what can you do with a general who retires?"
"Ha ha." Josh rolled his eyes. "Are you getting back here to help clean this up?"
"The next day someone hollers when he comes into view, "Here comes the general" and they all say "General who?""
"You're really on a little musical spree. All went well at the doctor?"
"They're delighted that he came but they can't recall his name."
"Donna." "Shut up if you want lunch." She was determined to finish. "Nobody thinks of assigning him when they stop wining and dining him."
"I guess the doctor went well."
"It seems this country never has enjoyed so many one and two and three and four star generals. Unemployed." She dramatically paused to conclude the end of her number. "Yeah. I get the test results tonight."
"Just a check-up?"
"Turkey or chicken?"
"Turkey."
"See ya in a bit." She was even more satisfied knowing that she didn't have to lie twice.
Donna was able to keep busy for the rest of the day with little annoyances about generals and the like. Luckily, Josh wanted to get out of the office and go watch a basketball game so she was able to get out of the office at a normal hour. That was when trouble began.
Being without work meant that Donna was now forced to think about…well everything.
Once she got home she didn't have to spend too much time with herself since Dawn came home with a Sam in tow. "I didn't know if you wanted me here," he admitted sheepishly. "If you want me to go I can." He stared down at one of the bags of food he carried in. "I just might take some of that with me."
"Heaven forbid!" Donna teased with a smile. Her tone then became serious once again. "Stay. And thank you, Sam."
"Drinks?" Dawn asked as she headed to the kitchen. "I know Sam wants a beer." She paused. "No alcohol for you until we know for sure."
"Water."
They ate the Italian food in silence while occasionally listening to what CNN was reporting. After dinner they all congregated on the sofa and stared at the phone in hopes of a response.
Then it came.
Donna leaped across the room before the first ring could finish and breathlessly answered.
"I am looking for a Miss Donna Moss."
"This is she." Her gasps were slowly dissipating.
"Hi. My name is Corey Lane and I'm calling on behalf of the New York Times. Have you thought about a subscription to the largest paper in the United States?"
"No."
He could sense her lack of interest, but he wouldn't go away. "Well, ma'am. Where do you currently get your news?"
"Mostly from the Communications office, but sometimes I get it from the NSA. When I don't get it there the Deputy Chief of Staff usually fills me in on what's released to the public. I'll look somewhere else for the comics though." With that she hung up.
Sam and Dawn gave her a look, but asked no questions.
Then another ring.
Donna took a deep breath before answering this time. "Hello, Donnatella Moss."
"Miss Moss."
It was Dr. Young herself. Donna couldn't breathe. "I have your test results here with me."
When she hung up the phone she was in a state of shock. She stared off in disbelief and stayed there until Dawn pulled her back. "Donna?" She hesitated. "W-What did they say?"
Donna couldn't speak-couldn't even walk. Sam was at her side in moments and carried her to the couch. "Donna?"
Sobs were her only response. In her mind, Donna wasn't sure if her tears were of happiness or grief.
