Chapter Three

Sam did not need her alarm clock to wake her up the next morning. That was one of the major downsides to being pregnant - the morning sickness. She grumbled as she pushed herself to get up out of bed. She had to for crying out loud. Luckily for her and Luka, she made it there in time.

Luka appeared in the doorway moments later. "I love you," he told her as he walked over and knelt down next to her.

"Bite me," Sam responded as she extended one hand and flushed the toilet. "You're not the one barfing in the toilet for me. You're not going to do the labor for me."

Luka shook his head as he pulled her hair away from her face. "No, you're right. I won't go through labor for you, but I will be with you. I'll give you the epidural as soon as you get to the hospital, I promise."

In spite of how awful she felt because of the pregnancy, Sam had to smile. It was slight, but it was still there. "Remember, we have the OB/GYN appointment today at four," Sam reminded him.

"Can you clear that with Lewis?" Luka asked. "I'm working nights, so it's not a problem for me, but you're still on days, aren't you?"

Sam sighed. "I'll talk to her," she said. "I mean, this is going to require me to need some time off, especially towards the end. I don't want to get into specifics until after the appointment, but I'll let her know what's going on."

Luka nodded. "Right."

"But Luka?" Sam asked.

"Hmm?"

"No one else," Sam told him seriously. "I'm only talking to Lewis because she's my boss. No one else can know."

"Well, we can't keep it secret forever."

Sam sighed. "I know, but for now."

Luka nodded. "For now," he agreed as he kissed her gently.

Sam's heart was pounding as she entered the ER that morning. She had to find Susan, and convince her to talk in a private place. "Jerry," she said as she walked up to the main desk. "Has Dr. Lewis been in yet? It's important."

Jerry shrugged. "I just got here," he told the nurse. "Try the lounge."

Sam rolled her eyes at him as she walked over to the doctor's lounge. "Susan?" she asked softly as she opened the door slightly. "Susan, you in here?"

Susan Lewis turned around to face her. "Hey," she greeted. She looked at the nurse and noted the exhaustion in her eyes. "You know, Sam, if you're not feeling well, a phone call would suffice."

Sam shook her head as she sat down on the couch next to Susan. "That's not it," she said. "I need to talk to you about my schedule."

"I told you that I can't always put you and Luka together," Susan pointed out. "I'm sorry."

Sam shook her head again. "That's not it either," she said. "I'm going to need to leave early this afternoon," she admitted. "I know, I should have cleared this with you a while ago, but I'm sorry. It just kind of…came up."

Susan raised a suspicious eyebrow at Sam. "This isn't so you and Luka can do something kinky before he has to work, is it?"

"A thousand gallons of no," Sam said seriously. She sighed as she looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Susan had to know. She was her boss. She was going to found out eventually, and it was better that she knew then.

"Is everything ok?" Susan asked. Her tone switched to concern. Sam was avoiding eye contact and asking for time off that afternoon suddenly. Something had to be up.

Sam shrugged. "It's not the worst thing that could happen," she admitted. "I guess I'm not sure how I feel about it yet." She sighed again. "I have an OB/GYN appointment at four. I'm going to need to leave at three thirty."

There. Her secret was out. No one else besides Susan and Luka knew it, but someone else besides her and Luka knew about the baby.

"Well then let me be the first to congratulate you," Susan said warmly. "How far along?" she asked. "I'm just curious," she added. "If you don't feel like talking about it, I completely understand."

Sam shrugged again. "It's better than working on the MVA that's coming in."

"There's an MVA?" Susan asked as she reached for her doctor coat.

"Pratt, Abby, and Chuny can handle it," Sam assured Susan.

Susan eyed her suspiciously again, but she did place her coat back down on the couch.

"Oh, um, you're the only one who knows about this besides Luka, and I'm only telling you because I need the time off," Sam said seriously. "We'd both appreciate it if you kept this to yourself, at least for the time being."

Susan nodded understandingly. "Your secret's safe with me," she promised. "So how far along?"