Chapter 11

Catherine had left Gil's office in a daze. Was it possible ? Could she be pregnant again ? She stopped at the nearest pharmacy and got out. She walked inside towards the back and looked at the small boxes - E.P.T, Fact Plus, Clearblue Easy. There were so many. Catherine pulled up the blue and white box of Clearblue Easy and looked at it. 99.9 effective. The scientist in her said it was pretty good odds. The woman in her couldn't help but shake holding the small box. What if she was pregnant with Warrick's baby? She couldn't even begin to fathom what that meant. She touched her flat stomach and smiled. A pharmacist walked by.

"Do you need any help? "

"No umm I think I found what I was looking for. "

"Congratulations. "

Catherine looked down at the box. She went up to the cashier and paid for it. It was placed in a brown paper bag. She walked out carrying it. She could be pregnant with Warrick's baby? The possibility hadn't even dawned on her. She assumed that they had used protection each time that night but it was such a blur. Catherine blushes flashing back to that night. She flashes on Warrick's beautiful green eyes. It was his best feature or so she had thought until that night. What would she tell him ? How would she tell him ?

Catherine left the pharmacy in a daze. She got into her Tahoe and headed home. She should be scared witless at the concept of being pregnant again at her age but in actuality she was happy. She looks down at her watch. Lindsey wouldn't be home for another 1 1/2 hours. How would she tell her daughter ? Would Lindsey be happy at the idea ? Or would she be jealous and angry. Then all the questions about Warrick. How would she answer them ? A myriad of questions went through Catherine's mind like a ball being spun in a pinball machine. Catherine looked over at the box. A baby. A mixture of her and Warrick. A honk of the horn from the car behind her brought Catherine back to the present. The light was green. She hit the accelerator and headed home.

Catherine didn't really remember the drive home to her apartment. She was in a daze. She could be pregnant. But what would that mean for her life? It would change it up and down. How would she tell Warrick? Would she? They were barely on speaking terms. She didn't want him to come to her out of obligation. She could raise the baby herself right? But he did have the right to know he was going to be a father. Did he even want to be a father? She knew that he had a hard life being raised by his Grandma after his mother died when he was just a kid. Catherine wasn't sure what to do. She put her keys on the desk and looked at the bag. She pulled out the box and looked at the instructions. "Well, mind as well find out. "

Catherine was standing in the living room waiting. The time seems to pass by so slowly. She could hear the ticking of the living room clock. The buzzing of the fridge. The traffic outside. Time seemed to stand still. She could be pregnant. The phone rang.

"Gil…"

"So have you taken the test? "

"I just got it. Gil I need to figure this out myself. "

"I know. I just wanted to see how you were. "

"I'm…" Catherine looks down at the stick in front of her face. Two blue lines. She looks again at the stick then the box to make sure. Eyes darted between the two items making sure that she was seeing it correctly. "Pregnant. Oh my god. "Catherine felt tears come to her eyes and smiled. She was happy, nervous, excited all at once. She hears mumbling on the phone.

"Pregnant. Did I hear you right Catherine? "

"Yeah…. Look Gil. I've got to go. "

" O.k. Look if you want to talk. "

" I know thanks Gil. "

Catherine was stunned. She sat down on the couch and looked at the test. She was pregnant at 40. She couldn't believe it. Lindsey called an hour later. She wanted to stay at a friends place over night. Catherine was relieved. She wanted to see her young daughter but she needed time to digest what had happnened. Catherine called her doctor the next day and had it confirmed. She was definitely pregnant. About 6 weeks.

" Is there anything wrong ? "

Dr. Miller looked at Catherine and touched her hand, " No. It's just with your age and work environment we have to be more careful with you. Now your blood pressure is a little high. I want you to remove what stress you can from your life. I know that is easier said then done. I also want you to get as much sleep as you can. I don't want you to get overtired. You need as much sleep as you can get. I know that you can be working on a case and forget about the time. Follow a sensible diet. Watch your sugar intake older mothers are more susceptible to gestational diabetes."

" But is everything o.k. ? "

" It will be fine. You're body is ready to do this. You have a lot in your favour. You're healthy, don't smoke and in good shape. All of this works to your advantage. It just will be a little harder with your age but it will be fine. Relax. "

" I understand that. I just didn't realize that it was possible. "

" Look Catherine you're really not that old…. "

" I know that. A friend explained that to me. It's just I never expected to be pregnant again."

" But you are happy with the concept right because if… "

" No I'm very happy. I just assumed that all I would have would be Lindsey. I never realized. "

" That's good. Any other questions ?"

" Yeah. I'm just not sure how Lindsay is going to react. "

"She's a very astute 12 years old. Just be straight with her and she will be fine. Let her know that she will get all the love that she needs. Play up the role that she's going to be a big sister. Let her help choose things for the nursery. "

Nursery…She was going to have a baby. Catherine couldn't believe it.

" The father ? "

" It's complicated."

" Oh. Well he should probably know. Does he want to be a father ? "

" I honestly don't know. "

" You should at least find out his family medical history just to be safe. "

" I know. " But how am I going to tell Warrick ?

" O.k. we are going to schedule some blood tests for you. I want you to come in and have an ultrasound in say 4 weeks. I know that you have a difficult job. I want you to remove as much stress as possible. Can your boss limit your work ? "

" Yeah…Is this going to be o.k. ? "

" It will be fine. We just need to be careful like everything else. Be happy about the baby that you are carrying. Just make sure to get a lot of sleep and eat right. I'll see you in two weeks for another appointment to check your blood pressure. I am also going to give you some pamphlets on genetic testing. Now don't worry about this but I should advise you that older parents have a higher chance of having a child with Down's syndrome. But we will cross that bridge when we get to it."

" O.K. "

Catherine drove in a daze back to her apartment. Lindsay would be coming home in a couple of hours. How would she tell her young daughter ? She arrived home and sat on the couch. She still didn't feel the greatest. Just then the door bell rang. She went over and opened the door.

" I know you said you wanted to deal with it yourself but I thought that you might need someone to talk to. "

Catherine laughed. Gil was standing there with a quart of milk with a blue and pink ribbon attached.

" A congratulatory gift. "

" Milk ? "

" Well I couldn't very well get you a bottle of wine right ? "

" True. Come on in. " Catherine smiled.

" Cath you look tired ? "

" I feel tired. "

" I can see that. Look go take a shower and get some sleep. I'll try and rearrange the schedule at work. You don't need to be working Nicky's case. "

" Gil I need to finish this case. I'll just work in the lab going over Kelly Gordon's case. I'll be fine."

" O.k. But if it gets too much I'm pulling you off. No disagreement. "

" Fine. I'm too tired to disagree. "

" How about some food ? I could fry up some eggs… "

Catherine heard the word eggs and rushed to the bathroom. Gil arrived outside the door.

" Sorry. So I guess not eggs. I'll make you some chicken broth instead with some saltine crackers ? "

" That sounds better. " Gil walked over to her and grabbed a cloth. He put it under cold water from the tap. He passed it over to Catherine. She looked up at him. "That would be fine but Lindsey will be coming home soon. "

" I'll take care of her for a bit. "

" I really should tell her. I mean she will find out. "

" She doesn't have to today Cath. You just found out that you are pregnant. Give it time to sink in. You can tell her in a bit. "

" Thanks Gil. "

Gil walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. Catherine could hear the rustling of pots. She felt the acid churn in her stomach.

Catherine closed the bathroom door and removed her clothes. She turned on the hot water and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt good along her body. She looked over her body and thought of the changes that would happen. She couldn't believe that she was pregnant. They hadn't used protection that night. They had been caught up in the moment. She always used protection. She flashes on the baby and touches her stomach as the water cascades down her body. A beautiful baby. A mixture of light and dark. Who would the baby look more like ? Her or Warrick …Warrick what was she going to do ? He had a right to know the truth but what would he say. Would he be happy ? Or sad ? Or angry with her ? She wasn't sure. She had to find some way to tell him the truth. Catherine finished her shower and got changed into another outfit. She looked down. She soon wouldn't be able to wear these jeans anymore. She touches the denim fabric. Catherine goes into her bedroom and lies down on the bed. She can still see him lying there on his stomach just sleeping. She falls asleep.

A bit later she heard noises out in the living room. She could hear Lindsey's animated voice talking about school. Catherine pulled herself out of bed. She walked out into the living room. Gil and Lindsey were laughing. There were pieces all over the place to an experiment. She laughs. Gil was explaining the solar system to Lindsay. Catherine looked at the clock. She had been asleep for 3 hours.

" Gil you should have woken me up. "

" It's fine you needed your sleep. "

" We made pancakes for supper. "

" Really? " Catherine looks and sees the dirty dishes in the sink.

" We were going to clean them up in a bit. "

" Are you feeling better mommy ? Uncle Gil said that you had a bug in your tummy. "

Catherine looked at Gil. Lindsey walked over and gave Catherine a hug. Catherine held her daughter close and smoothed her hand over the pale blonde hair. She kissed the top of her head.

" I'm feeling much better. So how was school baby girl ? "

" I'm not a baby anymore mom. "

Catherine smiled. She wasn't a baby anymore. She would be someone's big sister. Catherine touches her stomach and looks at Gil. Over supper Lindsay talked about school and the fun that she had.

" And Paul lent me this new CD. It's really cool. Oh Uncle Gil said he would help with my science experiment… "

" Really ? Just as long as it's not an ant farm. "

" What do you have against the bugs ? " Gil looked at her with a wry look on his face. Catherine laughed.

" No it's going to be about the solar system. Uncle Gil said he would help me put it together and make a model... "

Just then Gil's beeper went off and so did Catherine's. Gil pulled out his cell phone and talked for a moment.

" There's been a break in the case. We need to get to the office. "

" Mommy do you have to ? "

" I do. I'm sorry. Do you want to go stay with nana ? Or do you want to stay with Mrs. Trimble ?" Catherine felt the guilt eat at her. She barely spent enough time with Lindsey but with two children ?

" Mrs. Trimble. "

Mrs. Eleanor Trimble was a 65 year old petite woman with brown hair. She always wore her hair in curlers. She was a widow having lost her husband Charlie to cancer the year before. She was Catherine's next door neighbour. She was a grandmother of three and loved taking care of Lindsey.

" I'll call her and see what she says. "

" She's fine with it. O.k. Go get your bag. "

" O.k. "

Catherine looked at Gil. Gil walked over and touched her shoulder.

" How am I going to do this with two children ? I barely spend enough time with Lindsay. "

" You'll figure it out. You're a great mom Catherine. "

" So what's the break ? "

" Greg said that he and Sara found something big that could crack the case wide open. Look Cath if you want to just stay here and sleep that's fine. "

" And what would you tell the team ? "

" That you caught a bug. It would be fine. "

" No I need to help with this. Look if I feel tired I will come home and relax."

" O.k. But if it gets too much I'm pulling you off this case. "

Catherine and Gil dropped off Lindsey at Mrs. Trimble and headed out to his Denali. They got inside and drove to the Crime Lab.