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Chapter 9

Natalie walked out of the station and she didn't know if she wanted to cry or kill John Mcbain, he resigned, first he left her and now he's left his job, she was pretty sure she knew he probably was on his way to leave town if he hadn't already, Bo said he found his resignation on his desk this morning when he got in about eight am. She felt weak at the knees and she sat on a bench right outside the station to regain her strength.

Hugh was walking into the station when he saw Natalie on the bench, she didn't look good, he walked over to her, said her name and as she looked at him he could see she was starting to pass out, he ran closer and caught her upper body as she did. After a few minutes of trying to wake her she did.

"Natalie, Natalie" Hugh said as he saw her eye's open

"Are you alright?" He asked with concern

"What happened?" Natalie asked him as she came to.

"I saw you sitting here and you just passed out, come on you don't look so good I'm taking you to the hospital to be checked" Hugh told her as he started to help her up off the seat.

"Don't be ridiculous Hugh, I'm just under a lot of stress" Natalie told him a she pushed his hands away from helping her

"I'm not taking No for an answer," Hugh said in a demanding tone as he looked into her eyes. Natalie didn't want to fight so she let him drive her to the hospital, Hugh waited for Natalie outside the exam room as he watched a nurse come out with some vials of blood. A few minutes later he watched as Michael walked in to examine Natalie.

"Hey, I didn't even look at the chart, what's wrong?" Michael said as he saw Natalie sitting on the exam table

"Your asshole coward brother that's what's wrong, he left me and I'm pretty sure he left town." Natalie told him not being able to control the anger she was feeling for John.

"Natalie, he wouldn't do that," Michael told her as he recalled his conversation with John last night.

"Sure he would and he did, he even quit his job" Natalie told Michael

"What? Are you sure?" Michael said still not wanting to believe that John just left.

"Do I look like I'm lying" Natalie said as she felt weak and she felt like she was going to throw up, Michael saw she was going to be sick and he handed her a pail to be sick in.

"Lets see what's wrong with you first and then we'll discuss my brother" Michael said as he checked her chart, the nurse came in with a report on her blood, Michael looked at it and then looked at her.

"Not sure if what I'm going to tell you will make you feel better or worse. Natalie you're almost four months pregnant." Michael said as he went closer to her and touched her shoulder.

"Impossible Michael, I've been getting my period." Natalie told him.

"Yeah, when was the last time?" he asked

"Two months ago?" she told him not wanting to accept the fact that she could be pregnant. She thought about it and she realized it could be possible but just not four months.

"Okay so maybe I'm pregnant but not four months, I haven't missed that many periods," she told Michael as he looked at her with his answer.

"It doesn't always matter, something you still get a lighter period for the first few months, you wouldn't be the first it happened too." He told her and Natalie thought back to about four months ago, it had to be crossroads, the first time they made love since she was back, they made love a few times that night, but she knew when she conceived, it was at crossroads, how ironic she thought, roads crossing, paths crossing yet that was the first place she met John and yet he chose to take a different road, he left and she was having his child. Natalie was becoming overly emotional when she saw Michael pick up the phone in the room.

"What are you doing?" she asked him as she had a feeling he was trying to call John.

"I'm calling my brothers cell, he won't leave town if he knows you're having his baby"

"Put the phone down right now Michael! Right now!" Natalie demanded

"Natalie we need to tell him before he leaves town " Michael pleaded with her

"You mean if he hasn't already, and I'm not telling him! You aren't going to either" Natalie again demanded

"Natalie he has a right to know" Michael told her

"He has no rights here, none! It's my body, my baby at the moment and I don't want my doctor telling anyone my medical information, got it Michael, so you understand me know?" Natalie said threatening Michael with a confidentially case.

"Natalie I know you're upset with him but if he knew" Michael said as he put the phone down and again walked closer to her

"I know Michael but if he knew he'd come back or stay because he felt obligated to, not because he wanted to, not because he could get over the things he said to me late last night, the choices he wanted me to make. I can't tell him about the baby to get him to see things my way when he doesn't or doesn't even want to try. He'd just be miserable, we'd be miserable, I just have to wait this one out and do this alone. I'll have this baby alone and raise it alone if I have to but I can't use it as an excuse to have him stay when he feels he needs to go." Natalie told him strong when inside she felt like crying.

Natalie and Michael ended their debate on whether or not Natalie should try and tell John about the baby and in the end although Michael tried really hard to convince her, it was Natalie's decision. And her mind was made up for now. Natalie walked out of the room to find Hugh still standing there waiting for her.

"What are you still doing here?" she asked as he walked over to her

"I was waiting for you, I wanted to make sure you were alright" He told her as he saw her eye's tear up, she looked away from him as a few escaped and he noticed it.

"Hey Nat, what did the doctor say?" Hugh asked as he watched her cry a few tears, a site he had never seen before.

"It was good and bad news all wrapped up in one," she said softly not looking at him

"Want me to call John for you?" Hugh asked as she looked at him

"No " she said softly as she continued to cry in front of him.

"Are you sure?" he asked as he put his hand on her shoulder

"Yeah, I'm positive, John's not around anymore and I'm not really sure where he is and ...and... and I'm having his baby" Natalie said crying and Hugh pulled her close and held her to his chest.

"I'm sorry I wish there was something I could do for you, I know we don't know each other to well but.. I'm a really good listener and I can be a pretty good friend when I need too." he told her as he held her

"Thank you, but I think I just need a Little time alone" Natalie said as she pulled out of his hold on her and she wiped away the last remaining tears on her cheek.

"I understand, I'll drive you home to the hotel" Hugh told her as they began to walk away.

"No, not to the hotel take me to Llanfair" Natalie said as she turned to him.