Disclaimer: If you recognise it from the show, I don't own. I borrowed them. I will return.
A/N: Ok, so, this would be flowing better if the dialogue could have been entirely my own... but its not. I'd like to thank the webmistress' at Steps, for the transcript of quotes that are important to the couple.
jakc: You are fast becoming my BH genevra... loving the reviews, makes me happy!
Brindabella: Glad that Mrs Jones isn't alive, makes my life easier. Hurrying isn't me... I'm a perfectionist- don't like this chap though...
Two weeks later found Evan back at work, confined to desk duty. The two of them were an amusement for the rest of the staff- Evan treating Tess like she was wrapped in bubble wrap, and Tess watching him like a hawk; worried he was going to shatter into a thousand pieces.
She began to dream of him, her subconscious and conscious minds battling with each other. In her dreams, he became every male in her life - the boss, PJ and Ben. In a sinister voice, he told her she had no control… In her awake state, she took it to mean she couldn't control him.
The next night, she dreamed of him holding their child. As he leaned down to kiss the small child, he smiled at her, oblivious to the gun being held to his head, threatening the life of all three.
She spent the day contemplating their new psychic link, unsure what else she could call it. She had known someone was threatening him while she was asleep. She contemplated what the meaning of her previous dream. What was it that she couldn't stop, she kept asking herself. Her later, more considered answer made sense. She couldn't stop him from wanting to be a father to their child. She couldn't stop him from protecting her. She could embrace it, or fight a loosing fight.
She found him, after he'd finished interviewing a suspect, beckoning him into the interview room.
"Bringing a child into this world is different from coping alone." She stated, unsure what to say. "You'll be right," he said, hoping that she was going to say what he thought she was. "You gotta think about someone else, not just yourself. You gotta think about the world that you're bringing them into." Tess paused, knowing she was about to cross the line that she had previously drawn in the proverbial sand. "You said that you still wanted to be my friend." The small voice in Evan's head began cheering, but allowed all he uttered was a simple "Yeah." "Like right through this till the baby's born and after?" "Well I'm not sure about the delivery room." his words bought a smile to both their faces'. "I don't know… I'll let you off at the delivery room, if that's what you need." It would be a sacrifice for both of them. As she broke into a smile, he reached out to place his hand on her stomach. She thought to herself, being honest for once: 'Friend's is all I can manage at the moment.'The two of them got more amusing to their colleagues after that. Evan began mothering the pregnant Tess. He brought her meals, urging her to eat, saying the baby was hungry, even if she wasn't. Her stomach began growing, and she was unable to wear her uniform comfortably. Evan offered her spare, unsure how she would react. Her hormones had kicked in and the group were avoiding her wrath. Ben began doubting her fitness for work so while on patrol, they headed to the hospital, telling Evan to patrol the vending machine, knowing their hot chocolate was better than normal. Jonesy arrived just as the doctor was offering to do an ultrasound, wanting to be one hundred per cent sure everything was fine, knowing that the heartbeat didn't show everything. She began to argue, but Evan's right as a father kicked in. "No, don't argue Tess, not this time. I'll be outside." He left, allowing the doctor to do his work. He returned when beckoned. "Is everything ok?" He asked the moment he was at her side. "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine." She smiled, knowing what was on his mind. "Do you wanna have a look?" "Thought you'd never ask". The doctor looked at them for a long moment. Years as the son of a cop, then years as a cop himself, had honed Evan's ESP. "First baby" He answered the doctor's silent question. The doctor considered their matching uniforms, realisation dawning. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise." The doctor answered, moving the stick on her slightly rounded belly. "You are the father, yes?" At the hesitant nod on both, he continued: "Would you like to know the sex?" They both answered at the same time, looking at each other, surprised at the answers, surprised they had such differing opinions. Evan changed his affirmative to a negative, knowing it was her right to choose. "Print out a picture if he wants, he can frame it." "It's incredible." "Yeah…yeah it is." She smiled at him as he knelt beside her bed, taking her hand in his. "It's enough to make anyone cry." He whispered to her. "It's the disinfectant... It makes my eyes water." She replied. They both knew she was kidding herself. Later that day, when she handed in her belt, he sighed, knowing that she was safer, knowing that she wouldn't be taking up any of his pants and that she would eventually be happier.