Summary: Lies, deception, everything has a price ... what is the price of shame?
Disclaimer: I do not own them
A/N: Any reviews will be welcomed, any flames will be shared with friends for laughs.
Chapter 5
By the time Alex awoke Walker had already left for the day. She got dressed and went into the kitchen to grab her a cup of coffee before heading out and found the note on the table asking her to come to CD's for lunch.
Alex smiled but then the nagging thought of her having to take the medicine came rushing forward. She wanted to take it now, but knew it would only cause her to be late for work, and that in turn would send Miranda to call Walker to find out where she was. Shoving the bottle down in her purse she ran out the door.
The morning at work was hectic. Alex had spent the whole morning convicting a drunk driver of manslaughter, and now it was only fifteen minutes before she was supposed to meet Walker for lunch. Grabbing her purse she told Miranda she would be back after lunch to finish up the final paperwork on the conviction.
As she pulled up to CD's, Alex looked over at the shop across the street. It had since been closed down, but she could not get the image of his face out of her mind. Everytime she glanced over there it gave her chills. Shaking the feeling off she got out of the car and walked into CD's.
Inside Walker and Trivette both were sitting at the counter. Alex made her way over, saying hello to Sydney and Gage who were sitting in a booth off to the side. "Can a lady get a glass of lemonade?" she asked, winking at CD.
"Coming right up, and how about a ham and cheese sandwich to go with it."
"Sounds great, with tomato, and lettuce, and how about a bit of mustard too."
Walker's face scrunched up and the mustard part. He wasn't fond of it, and neither had Alex been, but he supposed it was the whole pregnancy thing. "How are you feeling today?"
Alex looked at him, a bite of sandwich still in her mouth. After swallowing it she replied, "I feel fine Walker. A little queasy now and then, but that is to be expected." Alex brushed off the worried look given to her by Walker and finished off her sandwich. It felt good for food to stay down.
Alex and Walker left the bar and went back to work. Alex spent the afternoon staring at the bottle in her purse. She knew she was supposed to take it but quiet frankly she didn't see any point in making herself sick. Shoving it back down in her purse she forgot about it for the next two days relishing the fact that at least she could enjoy meals if nothing else.
It was on the third day, that Friday that Alex grew worried. Her appointment was at noon and she knew that Mr. Sakara would be pissed if he knew she wasn't following the plan. When she entered the office her stomach was in knots. She tried to ease her worries by thumbing through a magazine, but when she picked it up she saw a family playing with their baby on the front cover and tossed it to the side.
"Mrs. Walker, the doctor will see you now."
Alex stood up and made her way into the room the nurse instructed her too.
"The doctor asked for you to strip down," the nurse told her handing her a gown to place on. Alex's eyes went wide. Suddenly she became very ill at ease. She didn't want to undress at all, but she was too scared not to follow what she was told. Ten minutes later she was sitting on the frigid table, scared out of her mind of what was about to happen.
Mr. Suling walked into the room and stood there staring at Alex. She wanted him to say something, anything, as the constant silence was driving her insane with worry. His silence soon ended though.
"Mrs. Walker, I see here that your weight has gone up by one pound."
"Isn't that good?" Alex asked, wondering what he was getting at.
"On the contrary Mrs. Walker, had you been taking the medicine as I told you, then I would see a significant drop in your weight. Now how is it that you have been taking the medication and yet you have gained this weight?" Alex gulped, her hands starting to tremble as she answered.
"I haven't taken it in three days."
Mr. Suling seemed to grow agitated at this. He paced the floor, his anger growing as he did. "You are not complying with our agreement Mrs. Walker. How is your husband to believe that you are going through the morning sickness phase if you do not take the ipecac? Is there some reason you want your husband dead, for if you do not start doing exactly as Mr. Sakara asked he will be before you can even leave this office."
Alex started backing up as Mr. Suling came towards her, but she really started to panic when he grabbed her by the arm, twisting it in his hand. "You will take the medicine Mrs. Walker won't you? As a matter of fact I think a double dose is in order for the day considering your failure to do so for the past three days."
Alex wrenched her arm free for his grasp, all rational thought gone for a moment. "Even if I do take it just how in the world am I supposed to look pregnant in the next couple of weeks?"
Mr. Suling's face broke into a smile then. "Now Mrs. Walker I'm sure you can figure out a way to make it appear you have a small stomach, as for later do not worry that is taken care of."
Alex stared at him dumfounded. "This is ridiculous! I can't make myself look pregnant! What am I supposed to do walk around poking my stomach out day and night?"
Mr. Suling burst out laughing then. "It seems Mrs. Walker you have answered your own question. As I have said, when you need to look further along then you will, for now you will do as you are told. Know that if you feel the need to deviate from the plan again I will have to shoot your husband in the leg as a reminder."
Alex gasped hearing the sincerity in his voice. She knew that she was being stubborn, but she also knew that the medicine would make her drastically ill. She just wanted to wake up and find this all to be a dream, that things were back to normal and that none if it were true. Alex closed her eyes for a mere second and when she opened them she found Mr. Suling looming over her, his one hand on her stomach, the other rubbing her thigh.
"Such a fine woman you are Mrs. Walker. I can see now why the ranger married you. You know I really should show you what a real man can do."
Alex jumped off the table, grabbing her clothes from the chair beside it. "Back away from me! If you harm me then your bosses' plan is ruined, and don't think I wouldn't call him and tell."
Mr. Suling held his hands up in submission. "Have it your way Mrs. Walker, but you don't know what you are missing out on."
Alex dressed faster than she ever had before once Mr. Suling left the room and then she ran out of the office, jumping into her car. She squealed tires leaving the office, and didn't slow down till she was a block from CD's. Once she pulled up she laid her head on the steering wheel. She knew what she had to do but it didn't make it any easier.
She went inside and sat down, and CD brought her out a steaming bowl of soup. "Eat up honey it is colder than ice outside today, and you look a bit worse for the wear."
Alex smiled wanly at CD and lifted the spoon to her mouth. The soup was good, but after three bites she found that it began to taste like the ipecac to her. With a shudder she pushed the bowl away.
"Alex honey, is something wrong?" Walker asked, taking her trembling hand in his.
Alex stared at him, seeing once again the concern. "I don't really feel well. Is there anyway you could drive me home?"
Trivette overheard the conversation. "Go ahead partner. I can get CD to drive Alex's car over later on tonight."
Walker thanked both of them and walked Alex to the Dodge Ram, opening the door for her. He started the engine and soon the heat seemed to take some of the chill off, but before Alex could really get warm they were home.
Walker again opened the door for her and led her inside. He closed the door behind him and led her over to the couch and sat her down. "I'll go get you an aspirin."
Alex stared at the Christmas tree in front of her. Just two days ago Walker and her had put the finishing touches on it. That day had been a happy day, and Walker had brought out a brand new crystal red ornament and place it on the tree. At a closer look Alex could see it had both their names on it, but Walker had brought out another ornament right after. This one he told her was the baby's ornament and that they would write his or her name on it when the baby was born. Now the ornament was dangling in front of her reminding her of her lie to him. Alex let two tears slip from her eyes but she hastily wiped them away when she heard Walker coming back into the room.
"Here, maybe this will help you feel a bit better."
Alex thanked him and took the aspirin. After swallowing it she laid her head down on his shoulder and stared at the lights on the tree. It felt so good to feel safe and secure, snuggled up to him, but Walker was anything but safe and secure.
Alex had taken only a couple of bites of her dinner, knowing that it would be less to come up later, but Walker took this as a sign that she was feeling even more under the weather. "how about I go and make you a nice bubble bath to relax in?"
Alex waited for Walker to leave out of the kitchen before standing up and walking over to her purse in the living room. She dug down till she found the dreaded bottle and opened it. Two doses Mr. Suling had told her, but she didn't know if he could stomach even one. Opening the lid Alex held her nose and took the first swallow, and then quickly took the second before she could change her mind. She closed the bottle back up and dropped it in her bag, and went into the bathroom knowing it wouldn't be very long before it took effect.
"Your bath is ready," Walker said, seeing Alex standing in the doorway, but he soon got worried as Alex broke out into a sweat and ran for the toilet. After kneeling down in front of it Alex began heaving everything she had eaten in the past three days.
Walker was at her side in an instant, brushing her hair away and patting her back, giving what little comfort he could. It wasn't until five minutes later when Alex was still heaving that he grew even more worried. Alex was no sobbing in between gasps of air as even more fluid came up. "Alex, honey just try to take a breath in between," he coaxed, still rubbing her back.
Alex was fighting a losing battle. Everytime she tried to take a breath in the next surge would hit her and she would heave again. Another two minutes and her body was merely dry heaving, but again everytime she tried to take a breath her stomach would contract and she would gag. It had gotten to the point it was painful now, and Alex reached down and clutched at her stomach, willing the pain to stop, the heaves.
Walker saw Alex holding her stomach and moaning. "Alex, what is wrong? Is it the baby? Alex talk to me." he said, his voice growing louder with his fears.
Alex tried to answer and went to stand up, but her knees would support her, and she crumpled to the floor. The next time she went to stand Walker was there to support her, but her head was swimming too much. Her vision was coming and going, her stomach and chest on fire, and with one last look at Walker, Alex collapsed in his arms.