Chapter Five – Soul to Squeeze

Where I go I just don't know
I got to got to gotta take it slow.
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna give you some of my good time.

-Red Hot Chili Peppers "Soul to Squeeze"

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"All right, Abby, everything looks good so far." Janet Coburn wiped the gel from the sonogram off my belly and pulled my shirt back down over my torso. "However, I'd like to discuss a few other things with you."

Luka, who had been sitting on the other side of my bed, furrowed his brow slightly. "I saw the sonogram. You were right, everything looks—"

Janet held up a hand, cutting him off. "Everything appears fine, Dr. Kovac. What Abby and I need to go over is standard procedure for high risk pregnancies, which as you both know includes all women thirty-five and older."

"Amniocentesis," I replied, frowning slightly. Janet nodded.

"I know this is all review for you two, but I have to make sure you're informed. The probability of most genetic birth defects increases as you age, Abby. You're almost at fourteen weeks, and we want to be able to rule out as many abnormalities as we can this late in the game."

Luka and I exchanged a glance. We both knew all about the procedure, including the risks involved. Even so, the small voice in the back of my mind begged me to agree. I just needed to know everything I could about our baby, and I could tell Luka felt similarly.

Luka studied my expression. "You're sure?"

I nodded in response. "We might as well."

Janet smiled back and forth between us, folding her arms across her chest. "Of course, as with any procedure, you need to be made aware of the risks."

Luka and I listened as Janet gave us an overview of everything to expect. She even went as giving us a detailed explanation of everything from the preparation to the aftereffects. "We can schedule you in as soon as you'd like."

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Luka and I left the clinic not long after, still reeling from the most recent information we had been given regarding the baby. We walked the relatively short distance from the entrance to where Luka had parked the car in silence.

I glanced over at Luka, studying his expression with utmost curiosity. He held the newest addition to his growing collection of sonogram images in his right hand. I watched him steal a glance at the black and white photo before directing his attention to me, a large grin spreading across his face.

"Getting big, huh?" He asked, holding up the photo.

I grinned playfully. "Why do you think I made you take me shopping for new jeans yesterday?"

He laughed, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. "If I didn't know you, I wouldn't even be able to tell."

I rolled my eyes, pulling his keys out of his coat pocket. The car lit up as it unlocked, and we both climbed inside.

"You hungry?" He asked, backing out of the parking lot. He chuckled when I nodded enthusiastically.

"What?" I frowned. "I'm not allowed to be hungry?"

"Just teasing, Abby," He murmured, reaching for my hand and squeezing it gently.

We drove around aimlessly for a while before deciding on having something to eat at a nearby diner. Neither one of us was feeling much like any kind of takeout, but we still wanted to remain as low-key as possible.

Luka ordered a sandwich, but I was feeling a bit more like a cheeseburger and fries. The diner was relatively empty, and our food arrived quickly.

"Is that Ray?" Luka suddenly asked, glancing out the window. He pointed toward the other side of the street, where sure enough, Ray Barnett seemed to be waiting for the traffic to lessen before he crossed.

"Who's that with him?" I asked, pointing to the woman accompanying him. She had her hood up in the cold weather, and it was difficult to see her face from so far away. As the pair crossed the street, a strand of dark hair came loose from the woman's hood, and her identity was revealed.

"It's Neela!" I exclaimed, pulling my cell phone out of my purse and dialing her number. I watched as Neela reached into her own bag and answered her phone.

"She and Ray were on break," I explained to Luka after hanging up the phone. "They were planning on heading over here anyway. Apparently, Ray's been raving about their Chicken Caesar Wrap for months."

Luka chuckled. "Right."

Ray and Neela walked through the diner door a few moments later. Luka helped Ray and Neela push another table next to ours, and the four of us sat down to a late lunch.

"So you were both off today?" Ray asked, scanning the menu. "I'm telling you, Neela, Chicken Caesar Wrap. You've got to try it."

I nodded. "Luka was, but I had an appointment, so I took the day off."

"What kind of appointment?" Ray asked curiously. "You're not sick, right?"

Luka and I exchanged a glance. "No, I'm not sick. It was routine."

"Routine?" Neela piped up, frowning at me. "You didn't tell me anything that."

I knew I was in for it. If I didn't tell Neela now, she was sure to bug me about it later, and I was willing to bet money on Ray pulling something similar on her. "I wasn't going to tell anyone about it…yet," I replied thoughtfully.

Neela frowned, clearly confused. "Why not?"

"Because I figured you'd catch on in a few months anyway." Luka stared at me in disbelief. I had told him I wanted to keep things secret, and here I was, confessing to Neela and Ray.

"Wait…are you?" Ray's eyes widened.

"You're pregnant!" Neela announced. Her eyes traveled from me to Luka and back again, as though unsure of which one of us she ought to badger first. "Since when?"

"We found out around Christmas," Luka replied sheepishly. It was obviously an uncomfortable subject to be discussing with his employees.

"Congratulations!" Ray grinned broadly. "I mean, I knew you guys were together, but I didn't know you were seriously together."

"Thanks," I responded, smiling back. Neela still looked completely shocked, but I figured it would wear off eventually. Nevertheless, I was sure to expect an in-depth phone conversation later that night covering all the 'finer details.'

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Our appointment came and went, though my nervousness, especially when I caught sight of needle used in the Amnio, peaked considerably. Luka held my hand throughout, and Janet even talked me through the procedure. We were told to expect the results within two weeks.

To say my anticipation grew as we awaited word from Coburn's office would be a severe understatement, and I found myself more and more on edge with each passing day. The morning before I was scheduled to make the phone call was especially tense, and I just couldn't help snapping at Morris when we had been particularly annoying.

When we received the results, it was as though a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. I could barely hear the nurse's voice on the other end of the phone after she had told me that everything was normal. The only thing that seemed to register with my consciousness was Luka's hand and the assurance that our baby was perfectly fine.

I fell into his lap, the phone still in my hand as he rocked me back and forth lovingly. We kissed, intricately pouring our mutual feelings of relief and excitement together.

"Did they tell you?" He murmured into my neck. His hand slid down to my middle, caressing the slight roundness that had only just begun to make an appearance.

"Tell me what?" I responded unconsciously, lost in the moment.

He trailed kisses from my neck to my cheek, stopping at my lips. After kissing me soundly, he replied, "the sex."

"You want to know the sex?" I pulled away, caught off guard.

"Don't you?"

I frowned, tilting my head questioningly. "Well, I didn't ask…"

"Oh, what's going on in here?" We were interrupted by Morris, who, as per usual, had strolled into the room without knocking. "A little doctor-to-doctor discussion?"

"Go clear a patient, Morris," Luka droned, leading me out of the lounge. "Or better yet, I think Albright might be looking for you."

At that, Morris' eyes lit up. He glanced around excitedly. "Albright? Where?"

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I know I probably don't deserve reviews after how long I made you guys wait for that chapter, but a little comment or two would still be highly appreciated! I actually did have most of this written ages ago, but after changing computers, starting school, and finishing up my AP summer work, updating this story just continued to fall to the bottom of my priority list. I really do apologize to anyone who was anticipating this chapter, and I'll try my hardest not to go this long without the next one…again. :-/