Chapter 2

After a week of avoiding each other, giving each other space in a sense, Susan began to miss Chuck, having him constantly pestering her to come with him somewhere. Whenever she happened to see him on a helicopter run she wished he would say something, but most the time he would brush past her. She was scared every time the helicopter lifted off the roof and she would hold her breath until she knew everything was fine. She was not only emotionally sick, but also physically sick because she had come down with a sort of flu. Although the symptoms didn't seem to follow her though the day.

After working a night shift, Susan found herself held up in the women's bathroom puking her guts out. She heard the door open and tried to stop herself, but it was no use. Whoever had just entered stopped walking for a moment and then tried to carry on as if nothing was happening. She saw two feet enter the stall beside her right before she threw up again.

Then she heard Neela's voice. "Dr. Lewis?" She had obviously recognized her outfit.

Susan would have responded, but she was immediately forced in to another round of vomiting. After it was over she found that Neela was standing in front of her stall, peering in nosily. "I'm fine Neela, just a little…um…flu maybe?" Susan leaned back, letting her head rest on the stall door, pulling her legs up.

"You're sure? You looked fine a couple of hours ago." Neela frowned.

"Yeah, probably uneasy about a patient, or something. I'm fine." Susan closed her eyes.

"It's not morning sickness is it?" Neela asked, looking down at her watch. It was almost seven in the morning.

"No, I mean…" Susan opened her eyes, racking her mind to remember when she had last menstruated. Hadn't she been due a few days ago?

Bolting up, she unlatched the stall door and tossed it open, almost knocking Neela over. "Sorry." She gave her an apologetic look and then rushed out of the bathroom, racing through the hallway. Abby noticed her, and commented, "I thought you were off." But Susan didn't stop to reply. She looked frantically around for Chen, knowing she had just got on. She found her assessing a patient in curtain area two.

"Deb." Susan pulled her aside, "I need your help."

Deb looked at her for a moment and then nodded, following Susan in to an empty room.

Moments later the tests were complete and it was all confirmed. "Susan, you're pregnant."

Susan was quite for a moment, letting this new information set in. "I have to tell Chuck."

"Is it his?" Deb asked, not trying to be nosey, just curious.

"Well who else's could it be? I'm pretty sure it's not Abby's." Deb whirled around and gave Susan a frightened, confused look. Susan just smiled that wouldn't-you-like-to-know smile.

Deb didn't ask questions, she knew her friend was joking (or was she) and instead patted Susan on the thigh. "I think that's the right thing to do."

Susan nodded, getting up, ready to head to the doctor's lounge to collect her things. However, as she walked by the admitting desk she found Kerry sitting there. And as soon as Kerry spotted her walking by, she stopped her. "Hey Susan, how would you like to be Chief of staff?"

Susan stopped dead in her tracks. That would be a big career move, but she just couldn't…not with a baby on the way and a touch-and-go relationship. "Kerry, I can't. Not right now." She said, and then headed on in to the doctor's lounge.

Kerry stared after her, a bit confused. Susan would be great for that position. She would have to hound her a bit more to get her in to the job. She really wanted her for it.

But Susan had other plans. First she was going to see Chuck. Maybe she hadn't sorted out all her feelings for him, but she knew she couldn't keep this child a secret and she wanted him to know so he wouldn't feel left out, especially since it was his.

Soon Susan arrived at Chuck's apartment. She went up, knowing he was off today, and knocked. She remembered he had a roommate, but luckily he answered the door. "Susan." He looked at her with a sudden seriousness. He hadn't studied her, or laid eyes on her for the past few days and frankly he had forgotten what looking at her did to him. "Why-why are you…"

"Can I come in?" Susan asked, looking past him to see if his roommate was around.

"Sure, Steve's out, if you were wondering." Chuck opened the door a bit wider and allowed Susan to step in. He closed the door behind her and then led her to a couch. "What's going on?" He asked, not sure if he should touch her, or keep his distance.

"Chuck, I came here as soon as I found out, so don't think I was keeping this from you." Susan studied him.

"Okay." Chuck looked worried for a moment, leaning forward, taking her hand in his as a reassuring gesture.

"Chuck, we're…" She bit the inside of her mouth, pressing her lips together, and then let it out, "we're pregnant."

Chuck sat there bewildered for a minute. Susan was about to get up and leave by the time he responded. "Susan, that's…that's great." He immediately reached over and took her in to a hug, smelling her sweet aroma which he hadn't smelled in quite awhile.

"Really?" Susan looked at him, a bit unsure of the whole situation.

"Yeah, it's wonderful." Chuck looked so proud at that moment. "Do I…I mean are we…am I going to be involved?" He looked hopefully at her.

"Of course." Susan reached out and placed her hand on his.

"Does this mean we're getting back together?" He asked as they came closer to each other, inches from kissing.

"I don't know." Susan was still not ready to get in to it, but she needed Chuck, at least at that moment she did. As she thought their lips were about to meet, Chuck pulled back.

"Susan, I don't want to have this casual, on-off relationship anymore." He had become serious again, and Susan didn't like this.

Susan looked down, thinking the situation over. "Do you think we could start over? Maybe try again?"

"You mean like go back to square one, just meeting?" Chuck tried to understand.

"Yeah." Susan nodded. Maybe if they didn't rush the relationship and took it slow, Susan could build up the ability to stay with one man, get over her need to be a single, have-sex- when-you-want, sort of gal.

"I guess." Chuck shrugged, glad Susan wasn't ending the relationship.

"Good, thank you." Susan leaned in for a kiss, but Chuck backed away.

"Wow, slow down, we've only just met." He grinned, thrusting out his hand. "I'm Chuck Martin."

Susan gave him a sort of glare, but took his hand. "I'm Susan Lewis, your ex-wife."

"Oh, yeah. I think I remember you." Chuck grinned, their hands left unknowingly together. "So what should we do?"

Susan frowned, looking glancing around his apartment. "We could make hot chocolate and watch a movie."

"Good idea." Chuck grinned. "Steve won't be around for another few hours." He fell in to her eyes at that moment and they became locked, staring intently at one another. Then after a pause they broke out laughing, letting go of each other's hands. Chuck got up and went to search for a good movie and Susan went in to the kitchen in search of some hot chocolate mix and something to heat water in. "What kind of movie do you want to watch?"

"Oh I don't care."

"How about something scary?" Chuck asked, fingering the horror section of his collection.

Susan twisted her lips, not sure of that idea. "Hum...I don't really like horror films."

"Okay, something funny?" Chuck moved on down to the comedy section.

"Do you have that movie with Steve Martin and…um…Bernadette Peters?" Susan frowned, setting a pot of water on the stove to heat.

"Yeah, I think so. The Jerk?" He pulled it out and held it in his hands.

"Yup." Susan grinned at him from the kitchen. After the water warmed up, she poured the cocoa mix in to two cups then poured the boiling water over it, mixing it all together with a spoon and swirling some whipped cream on top. Chuck had by then connected his DVD player and put the DVD in, wading through the previews as he waited for Susan to bring the drinks. She joined him on the couch, handing him his mug, and then made herself comfortable, the couch sinking so that their thighs were touching. She loved the feel of him next to her as they watched the movie, laughing their heads off at the dumbest things. Half way through the movie, Chuck eased his arm around Susan's neck and let his hand rest lightly on her shoulder, inches from her breast. She wished he would move his hand downwards just a bit, she missed his touch. Finally she worked up the courage to grab his hand and pull it down, keeping hold of it. He uneasily let his hand settle on her breast and she glanced over at him. He gave her a kind of uneasy grin and then looked back at the movie. This was crazy, it was like high school all over again. Susan frowned and leaned in to his arm, letting her head rest against his shoulder. Why was she always so hard on him? She never let him take her home, or out to lunch, even if she had the time, and she tried not to make plans with him. But when she was with him it was amazing. She loved being around him. She just didn't understand why she was so hesitant to be with him. Maybe she was scared…of…something?

As the credits rolled by and Bernadette and Steve danced on a porch in the background, Chuck leaned over and kissed Susan. She let his mouth envelope her own, their tongues meshing together, their lips becoming wet. She loved kissing Chuck. She loved his lips and the feel of his stubble on her cheek.

They parted, unwantingly, and Chuck sat forward, turning off the DVD player. Susan suddenly felt like she was intruding because Chuck turned to her, not knowing exactly what to say. Susan finally stopped the silence, "Should I go?" She asked, not wanting to, but knowing if she didn't she would feel terrible if they had sex because then she would feel like she was using him the way she had been.

"Yeah." Chuck nodded. "Steve's going to be home soon."

"Okay, well we'll make plans for tomorrow. Okay?" Susan was eager to be with him again. This was definitely new, Chuck looked rather surprised the she would want to make plans, she never wanted to make plans with him.

"Okay." Chuck nodded, rather excited about what they might do tomorrow. "How about dinner? Around 7:00." If she said she couldn't he would be mad, but he wouldn't show it.

Susan paused for a moment, "7:00 sounds great. You name the place and I'll be there." She reached down to pick up her purse where she had left it, and reached for her coat.

"All right." Chuck grinned. They leaned in for another kiss before getting up. Chuck walked her to the door where they kissed a few more times before Susan reluctantly turned to leave. "And I am really excited about this kid."

"I know, me too." Susan grinned. Chuck watched her until she got on the elevator, unable to take his eyes off of her, and then he closed his door, leaning up against it. He just had to keep telling himself; 'at least the relationship isn't over'.

Susan leaned against the side of the elevator after the doors closed. What was she doing? What had she gotten herself in to?

TBC