(A/N – Here we go, everybody. Lucky chapter 13 is ready for inspection! I hope you enjoy it, and as always, please be kind enough to review!)
Nine Months In the Socks of The Motamiya's – Chapter 13
"Hello again, Kari and Davis," Dr. McKnight said, bowing as the young couple entered his office. "Pleasure as always to see you too!"
Davis and Kari gasped as they looked at their doctor, who was now grinning from ear to ear, scratching the back of his new shiny bald head.
"D-d-doctor...your hair! What happened to your hair!" Kari exclaimed, her jaw ajar.
"Yeah, doc," Davis exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Your head looks like a cue—oomph!"
Kari laughed loudly as she drew her elbow back from Davis' gut. "What he means to say is—"
"It's okay! It's okay! I've heard it all today," Dr. McKnight said laughing. "It's no big deal. It's going to take some getting used to that's for sure. Please, have a seat." He said, gesturing to the two chairs.
"Why did you shave your hair off, doc?" Kari asked, slowly sitting down in the chair. "At our last visit, you said you were going to get a trim…not a hack!"
"You try finding a barbershop in Japan who knows how to do a bald fade." Dr. McKnight said, shaking his head. "By the time that barber was done with my head, I looked like a temple monk."
"Funny, but now with that bald head, you kinda look like a Buddha stat—OW!" Davis exclaimed, as Kari pulled her foot back from his shin.
"That's okay, that's okay. I've heard that one several times today from the nurses." Dr. McKnight said, a smile on his face as he flipped open the chart on his desk. "Now lets see how you're doing today. This is going to be your last monthly visit; from here on out, we are going to meet every other week."
"Every other week? Why so often?" Kari asked. "My friends are as far along as I am, and they only go every three weeks."
"Well, it varies from doctor to doctor," the African American explained, turning to his keyboard and tying in a few commands. "That and I did some research through your health records and I found out that you had a very serious bout of pneumonia when you were younger."
"Yeah." Kari said, lowering her head slightly. "It was serious. The doctors said I almost died."
Davis took her hand and held it tight. "Will that hurt the baby, doc? Is Kari or the baby in any trouble?"
"Oh, no, no." Dr. McKnight said, shaking his shiny head. "None at all. Kari and the baby are in perfect condition. I'm just bearing on the side of caution a bit, based on this information and Kari's frail size."
"My size?" Kari asked.
"In all honesty, Kari, when you first got pregnant, you were the size of my pen." Dr. McKnight said, picking up a blue and green pen from his desk. "And that worried me a bit. People your size usually have a lot of trouble and discomfort when pregnant and especially during delivery."
"I always was on the small side." Kari said, a small grin forming on her face as she put her hand on her round stomach. "That has changed, though."
"And that's why I've been pushing, no pun intended, to have you put on a bit more weight. Your body needed and needs the energy to carry and birth a child." Dr. McKnight said, continuing his typing. "But, for all intents and purposes, you rose to the challenge beautifully; I haven't heard any complaints about discomfort and I don't foresee any troubles during delivery."
Kari and Davis gave an audible sigh of relief.
Dr. McKnight picked up his giant silver hourglass and gave it a flip, allowing the dark blue sand to flow from the top bulb down to the bottom.
"So, with that being said," He said, setting his elbows on his desk, cupping his head in his hands. "What do you guys want to do today?"
Kari and Davis gave a sly grin. "We're ready today! I think we should start out with a physical exam, then move on to an ultrasound."
"And after that, we talk about what to expect for the next few weeks until the next visit!" Davis finished.
The doctor nodded his approval. "You've been studying, haven't you?" he asked, standing from his desk. "Sounds like a plan to me. Let's roll with it."
As Davis and Kari stood from their chairs, the front door breezed open to reveal a young brown haired guy standing in the doorway grinning from ear to ear.
"What's up, man! You know I had to see it for myself!" He laughed as he walked into the office.
Dr. McKnight rolled his eyes and sighed as the guy began poking his finger at his bald skull. "Davis, Kari, this is my friend best friend James, but everyone calls him 'Jyoura'."
"3rd Year resident, representing that Cali flava fo' sho!" James said, shaking Davis and Kari's hands. His attention then focused back on the doctor. "You really did it, dawg, didn't you?"
"Yeah, man. I told you I would. Look, I gotta get these guys checked out, but I'll two-way ya later, okay?"
"Sure, man. Check it, I got the new Bizzy-Bone CD from the states the other day I'll bring it round later for you to hear."
"Cool, man. I'll holla." Dr. McKnight said, holding out his fist. "Peace out, man."
"Koumi fo life, man." James said, hitting his fist against the doctor's before walking out the door. "Late."
The African-American doctor gave an embarrassed chuckle. "Sorry about that. I forgot that I told him to stop by today."
"It's cool. He seems like a nice guy." Davis said, as he led the way to the door.
"Dr. McKnight, if you don't mind my asking, what does "Koumi for life" mean?" Kari asked, puzzled.
"You know, I've known him for four years, and I've never really asked him about it." Dr. McKnight said, shrugging his shoulders. "He's an oddball to be sure, but he's one of the most brilliant neurosurgeons I ever came across."
"Note to self," Davis whispered to Kari as they walked ahead of the doctor. "Never come in here for brain surgery."
"Oh, Davis." Kari giggled.
"Well, no wonder you've been waking up early every morning, Kari," Davis said, gawking at the ultrasound monitor. "That kid is as big as a football!"
"Why, Davis, you're right on the money." Dr. McKnight said, jamming his free hand in his lab coat pocket. "The baby at this stage is exactly the size of a fully inflated football, if not a bit bigger. Here," He pulled out a lollipop and handed it to Davis. "Have a lolly."
"Cool!" Davis said, unwrapping the candy and popping it in his mouth.
"So, do you guys want to see what sex the kid is this time around?" Dr. McKnight said, moving the probe in position. "You better make it quick, while the kid is in a good position."
"Dai-chan, do you want to know?" Kari asked, looking up at Davis. "I really don't care one way or the other."
"I wouldn't mind knowing so we could at least get around to picking baby names and painting the nursery." Davis said, cocking his head to one side. "But I would like to have a little surprise in the delivery room."
"Oooooh, after you said that, I really want to know now!" Kari squealed. "I say we find out now, and end the suspense.
"Well then, lets find out," Davis said, kissing Kari on the cheek. He looked up at the doctor and nodded. "What we got in there, doc?"
"Here we go." Dr. McKnight said, maneuvering the device around Kari's belly. He squinted at the screen, adjusting the contrast and brightness controls. "Let me see here…it looks like you have a…"
Kari scooted up on the bed a bit while Davis leaned in close to the monitor.
"…kid that should be in gymnastics."
Davis and Kari groaned loudly, slumping down. "You mean it moved again!" Davis sighed. "How can that be possible!"
"Simple. It's a baby." Dr. McKnight said, shrugging his shoulders. "It's made to be on the move in the womb. It's trying out it's new muscles and joints. It's experimenting with sending signals from it's brain to the muscles it wants to control."
Davis stood from his stool and pointed a finger at Kari's stomach. "Experiment on your own time, junior! You better send the signals to your legs and move over so the doctor can see what you are right now or else you're grounded for a month!"
"What are you going to do, Davis?" the doctor asked, cocking his head to one side. "Ground him to his womb?"
"If you think I'm carrying around this kid for 10 months, you are sorely mistaken, Daisuke Motomiya." Kari said, patting the side of her stomach. "Don't worry, little one. We'll just be surprised on your birthday. You just come out of there on time, okay?"
"Looks like your kid is listening to you." Dr. McKnight said, giving Kari's stomach one final pass. "The baby is in a head down position, which is normal for month seven of pregnancy. The child is getting into a position ready for birth."
"No wonder my bladder feels full after a bottle water." Kari said, as Dr. McKnight switched off the machine. "It's using it as a pillow!"
"Exactly. But you still need to keep up with your liquids." The doctor said, handing Kari a towel. "De-goo yourself. Your body needs water to flush itself out, because you're carrying wastes from both yourself and your baby that need to be constantly flushed out."
"Okay, doc." Kari said, wiping off her stomach.
"So doc, when are we looking for a baby to be born?"
Dr. McKnight picked up Kari's chart and flipped through the pages. He then looked at a calendar and did a few calculations. "Based on the dates I have, and the current fetal development, I think we can expect Kari's little one sometime in mid or late December. If I were to put an exact date on it, I would say the 23rd."
"We're going to have a Christmas baby?" Kari asked, dreamily. "Really and truly?"
"That's just an estimate." The doctor said, holding up a hand. "It may be earlier, it may be later. I've actually had a couple deliver their kid a whole three weeks past their due date."
"THREE WEEKS PAST!" Kari and Davis exclaimed.
"Uh-huh." Dr. McKnight said, nonchalantly, pulling a lollipop from his lab pocket and unwrapping it. "I delivered a kid that was three weeks past due about a month ago. It sometimes runs in the family."
Davis raised a hand to his forehead. "Doc…I was one week overdue."
Kari shook her head and sighed. "My brother Tai was 2 weeks past due."
The black doctor shrugged and popped the lollipop in his mouth. "Well don't be surprised if you're still baking that bun in your oven while burning your old good luck charms." He reached down and pulled a disk from the ultrasound machine and started writing on it with a black marker.
"Somedays, I think you just enjoy making your entry into the world a little hectic, don't you?" Kari said, lowering her shirt over her stomach. "Not even here and already causing trouble."
"Okay guys, time for your next homework assignment." Dr. McKnight announced, snapping the DVD in a slender red case. He reached under the computer and pulled out a DVD case with a picture of a couple holding a newborn. He handed the disk to Kari.
Davis looked at the title on the cover, reading it out loud. "You Put It In There, You Get It Out."
"Wild guess," Kari said dryly, sitting up on the bed. "From the same couple who wrote those books you gave us?"
"Yep. I recommend it to all my couples who are this close in their pregnancy. It explains childbirth in simple everyday language, and shows you scenes of different real live births as well as postpartum care."
"We'll be sure to watch it." Kari said, slipping her shoes on.
"I hope you will, your final exam is a little less than two months away. So you should review all of your notes, and study." Dr. McKnight said, shaking their hands. "I'll see you in two weeks then."
"Okay, thanks doc! See ya later!" Davis said, shaking the doctor's hand before walking towards the door.
"Hang on a second, Davis," Kari called out. She turned back to Dr. McKnight with a small grin playing on her lips. "Umm, doc, do you mind if we…" Her eyes wondered up to the doctor's skinned shiny head. "For luck?"
The African-American doctor laughed and smiled broadly. "I don't mind at all. But make it quick." He then bowed, revealing the top of his head.
Kari and Davis grinned broadly and rubbed the top of the doctor's dark head gently.
To Be Continued…
(A/N – Lucky chapter 13 is locked down and put on the shelf! Now it's time to reply to what you said about chapter 12:
Dark Qiviut – I went back and made those corrections in the story that you mentioned! I really appreciate it! If I miss anything else, please let me know! The Kari and Davis moment in this chapter was really cool to write and more than interesting! For a guy who's written nothing but Takari stories, it was interesting yet challenging to write Kari with another guy. I hope I rose to the occasion!
Anthony1 – Thanks for understanding about the delay! I'm still confused as to how I locked myself out the house, but what matters is that I'm now back in the house, and this chapter is uploaded on time! It was a very last minute decision to have the girls know about what the guys were up to. I wanted readers to cock their heads to one side and have a good laugh. The "tummy moment" that you're talking about was really fun to write too. I pulled about 97 of Davis' personality from the show, which is as pure as I could get for that particular moment!
Paige34 – Patience, patience, my friend. The babies will come soon enough! There are things that must be done, steps that must be taken and tummy scenes to write! I am so happy that you're satisfied with how Dr. Greystone is portrayed in the story! I love the feedback that you're giving me for this very special character! Why am I not surprised that you want the submissive type of husband like TK? You strike me as the Yolei type:P
JyouraKoumi – I hope I did you proud, man! I loved writing the interaction that your character and the good doctor had! It was really down to earth! I hope I have the opportunity to use him again! KOUMI FOR LIFE!
Steve-Racer – I never thought I'd see the day when you of all people would wait to see the next chapter of a Daikari story! Thank you so much! As far as the ninja/kendo thing, for the purposes of THIS story, they're the same. But in reality, I'm not exactly sure! I'm assuming they're related some sort of way!
And to everyone else who read my story, thank you so very much! I really and truly appreciate it! Look out for chapter 14 and the winner of the 100th review contest! See ya then!)