Disclaimer: I do not own Sleepy Hollow. The film Sleepy Hollow was made by Tim Burton who adapted it from Washington Irving's short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

AN: Thanks to Mel for pointing out that the doctor's name in the movie was "Lancaster", but since I'm lazy, I'm going to leave it "Brown." Thanks anyway.

Chapter 3: Fertility

Consciousness returned slowly to Ichabod. His brown eyes slowly fluttered open and he took in his surroundings. He noticed instantly that he was not in his room, but rather in the doctor's office, lying on top of the examination table, yet he couldn't remember why he was there.

Sitting up slowly he felt a slight twinge in the back of his head. He peered around the room looking for the old doctor, surely Brown would know why he was here. Glancing to his side, he saw a young woman sitting in a chair in the corner of the room. A blissful smile was on her kind face as her hand rested on top of her swollen abdomen. She turned and smiled at him sweetly and Ichabod had to resist the urge to blanch and pass out again.

"Hello, sir," she said good naturedly.

Ichabod tried to look casual, but the feeling of dread that had gripped his heart simply refused to let go. "Hello," he returned politely. He couldn't help but glance at her stomach. "Are you here to see the doctor?"

"Yes," she said, happily nodding down at her belly. "Since the mid-wife was killed by the Headless Horseman, the doctor is the only one I can see in my condition."

Just then Dr. Brown re-entered the room a cheerful smile on his face. A brief look of panic over took him as he glanced over at Ichabod, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "Constable Crane," he said brightly. "Awake at last I see. I'll be with you in a moment." He turned his attention back to the pregnant young woman and as far as Ichabod was concerned, the two might as well have left the room.

Pregnant. He was pregnant! No, it couldn't be true. It was impossible. He was a man, and men didn't get pregnant! Although, ever since he had come to Sleepy Hollow, things that he had once deemed impossible proved to be possible.

He almost chuckled to himself, but fought back the urge, remembering he wasn't alone in the room. Not too long ago he was regretting never having the opportunity to get married and have children and now he was actually with child! But how?

Hearing the front door of the doctor's office shut, he turned his attention back to the old man. Dr. Brown sighed. "Mrs. Blackwell," he said, referring to the young woman who had just left. "She had been wanting a child for some time now and was finally able to conceive. Thanks to the 'Lake of Fertility' no doubt."

Ichabod's ears perked up at the mention of the word "lake". "Lake?" he repeated. "What lake?"

"A small lake not too far from here. Near the edge of the Western Woods, only lake near here to boot. Legend has it that a lonely old witch cursed (although some believe that it was blessed) the lake so that who ever drinks so much as a drop of the water will become unimaginably fertile."

Ichabod paled visibly. Was it possible that the lake that he had visited that warm summer night was the "Lake of Fertility"? "This lake," Ichabod began, "is there any chance that it would work on... men?"

The doctor raised an eyebrow at him for a moment before understanding dawned on him. "That would explain it," he said slowly, rubbing his chin in thought. He turned to Ichabod and gave him a curious look. "But if you're the ... the 'mother' then ... who is th-"

"That is none of your concern!" Ichabod said quickly and forcefully. He flushed deep crimson at the thought. The only man that he had ever been with was the Horseman, so this was undoubtedly his child!

Dear Lord, he thought, unconsciously placing a hand on his stomach. I'm carrying a demon seed!

Dr. Brown nodded in understanding, it wasn't his business. "Well," he began again, "be that as it may, you may have to tell Miss Van Tassel if no one else."

Oh Dear God! Katrina! He felt like kicking himself. How could he forget about Katrina? His heart began to beat like mad. If she ever found out about this, their relationship would be over for sure.

"No."

"No?" the doctor repeated in surprise.

Looking up, he suddenly noticed that he had said that out loud. Still, he didn't feel the need to take it back. "No one must know of this, especially Miss Van Tassel."

Dr. Brown's eyes seemed to double in size at his words. "Surely you must be joking! I thought that you were courting Miss Van Tassel."

"I was. I am!"

"Then why would you choose to keep this from her? She'll have to find out sooner or later."

"Dr. Brown, I am asking for your medical advice, not your advice on life!" he exploded. He had enough to deal with already, he didn't need to think about Katrina right now or have an old man tell him what to do. He had no interest in having this old man act as a father figure to him especially when he was about to become one soon. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to keep this child!

The doctor gave him a stern look, shaking his head disapprovingly at him. "Well, I suppose it's none of my business-"

"It isn't," Ichabod interjected. He sighed, realizing that he was being rude. "I apologize," he said, sliding off the examination table. "I know that you are merely trying to help, but... it's just... I'm already having a bit of trouble dealing with this situation myself, and I can't rightly expect Katrina to understand something that's happening to me when I don't understand it myself." The doctor's still stern frown told him that the old man wasn't convinced. He sighed in exasperation and tried his best not to snap at him again. "I promise you that I will tell Katrina about my ... my ... condition as soon as I feel I can handle it myself, but until then you must promise me you won't tell anyone about this."

Heaving a reluctant sigh, the old man nodded in agreement. "Alright," he said. "Fine. You won't hear a word out of me, but you must take good care of yourself Constable. Get plenty of rest, don't do any heavy lifting and make sure you eat properly. You'll need to gain a lot more weight if you want that baby to be healthy. Any questions?"

Ichabod blushed slightly. "Well... just one," he said nervously. "How... how is the baby going to come out?"

Dr. Brown gave him a startled look. Perhaps he hadn't thought about that either. "Well... since you didn't seem to have an opening for the baby to come out, I suppose that we'll have to cut you open."

Ichabod paled at the doctor's words. "A Cesarean-section+" he said nervously. "Aren't those... fatal?"

Brown nodded solemnly. "Most are, but I recommend that you come back here for the delivery. I have preformed a few of those myself, and I've been successful for the most part."

Ichabod nodded. He paid the doctor and left. The bright sunlight hitting his skin warmed him considerably ... on the outside at least. Inside, the cold grasp of fear and dread on his heart refused to be warmed. He wondered if he was going to be able to survive the next nine months.

+Dr. Brown is talking about a c-section. Yes, they did exist back then, but they were mostly performed on dying mothers in order to save the children. Most of the women that had c-sections performed on them (that were healthy) died anyway.