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 15
Alex didn't want to open her eyes, but there was a voice calling to her, begging her to wake up, and when she opened her eyes she saw Walker leaning over her. Her heart skipped a beat for just a moment, and she sat up fast, her thoughts jumbled. "The baby!" she yelled.
Walker helped Alex to sit up and handed her a glass of water. "The baby is fine for now Alex. Drink something and then we can talk about it."
Alex sipped the water and tried to get comfortable on the bed, but every position seemed to pull the skin even tighter on her stomach, and it hurt. Walker saw her discomfort and put a pillow behind her back hoping that would help ease the pain a bit. Alex moved up, gasping, and grabbing her stomach when the sharp cramp jolted through her.
Walker waited till the cramp passed and then started to tell Alex everything the doctor had told him. Alex listened while he spoke, all the while wishing she could tell him.
"If we can just keep the baby inside you for a bit longer then everything will work out."
Alex burst into tears. "Walker look at me. There isn't anymore room for anything, not even an inch. I feel like I am going to burst open at any minute."
Walker wiped her tears away. "I know you are in pain Alex, just hang in there. You are doing a wonderful job. I couldn't be more proud of you, just a little while longer." Alex couldn't stop the tears coming. If Walker only knew that within the week it would be all over, that he would know the truth and his whole world would come crashing down around him. Alex laid in Walker's arms crying until there were no more tears.
"Do you feel better now?" he asked, holding her at arms length. Alex nodded that she did.
"I have taken the rest of the week off. I had some vacation days stocked up so I took them. We can keep each other company, because I am not letting you do anything for the next week, then maybe by Easter you can enjoy the cookout."
Alex didn't say a word, she couldn't the words stuck in her throat. "How about a bath? Will you help me as I don't think I can get up on my own."
Walker helped Alex to stand up, and she wobbled when the dizziness hit her. She waited until everything came back into focus before shuffling her feet to the bathroom. She didn't have to take off her shirt as Walker had done it the night before, but getting her pants off without leaning over was impossible.
"Let me help you," Walker said pulling her pants down to her ankles, and then holding her while she stepped out of both them and her panties. Alex stood beside the tub, holding on to the wall while Walker filled the tub with water, and then helped her ease herself in. The water felt good at least surrounding her, but her swollen stomach stuck up above the water's edge.
Alex reached for the washcloth but the action sent a new pain shooting through her. Mr. Sakara was a liar, that she knew. There was no way in the world she could even function.
A smile crossed Walker's face. "It would seem you need a bit of help. Let me help you Alex."
Alex sighed but nodded her head yes. Walker picked up the washcloth soaping it up and rubbing her back in smooth circles, covering every inch of it. He then moved down to her legs, going all the way to her toes. "What about my hair Walker. I can't even wash my own hair," Alex said a couple of tears sneaking out of her eyes.
Walker picked up the shampoo bottle, pouring some into his hand and working Alex's hair up into a lather. "That feels good," Alex admitted.
Walker then took a cup and dunked it in the water, and poured it over Alex's head, "Walker! you didn't tell me you were going to try and drown me!" Walker chuckled, pouring another cup of water over her head. Alex thought they were done but Walker picked up the washcloth, and then he seemed to think about it and dropped it in the tub. He picked up the soap and lathered his hands into a mountain of bubbles and then laid them atop Alex's swollen stomach, and began to massage. Alex at first gasped, the first touch painful, but as Walker worked the soap over her stomach she gritted her teeth against the pain as she watched the smile come over his face at doing so.
"I believe Mrs. Walker that you are all clean," Walker announced. He helped Alex to stand up, and then wrapped the towel around her. The towel only covered half of her now, leaving her stomach without any covering, and she shivered at the coolness.
"Come on Alex, it is back to bed with you. The doctor says you need plenty of rest." Alex let Walker lead her back to the room, and watched as he went through his chest of drawers before he pulled out one of his tee-shirts and pulled it over her head. Alex felt like an invalid. She couldn't bend over for it brought so much pain she felt like she was going to pass out.
"Walker you are too good to me. I don't deserve all this."
Walker helped to get her into bed pulling he covers up to cover her. "I won't hear any talk like that Alex. You deserve this and so much more. You are carrying our child, not an easy task. Let me pamper you just a bit Alex, and don't try to deny you are in pain, I can see it in your eyes."
"Cordell Walker, I love you so much."
"And I love you Alex, now get some rest. I have to go call CD and Trivette to let them know how you are or they will be trying to tear down the door."
Walker helped Alex to get around the house all week and at the end of the week she was still in a bit of pain. "I can't even tie my own shoes Walker!" she yelled, in frustration.
Walker came over and while Alex sat on the couch tied her sneakers. "Alex, of course you are in pain. This afternoon our friends will be here to help us celebrate. You have gone through hell with this pregnancy. You have to promise me you won't do anything to try and help. I have everything under control."
Alex crossed her arms, and found that they were laying atop her stomach and huffed at the smile Walker tried to hide. "Fine, go shower and get ready. I will sit here till you get back."
Walker went off to shower and Alex sat on the couch, unable to get up on her own any longer. She had to either get help, or try to stand without screaming when the strain of her stomach muscles pulling against the bags inside her made her want to pass out. When the phone started ringing Alex was glad Walker had laid it beside her. She picked it up thinking it would be CD as he had called already twice this morning to see if they needed any last minute things.
"Hello," Alex answered, but the voice on the other end was not CD's.
"Mrs. Walker, so nice of you to answer the phone. Your help in the matter with your husband must be commended."
Alex grew scared, her stomach started to churn again with the same feeling of being sick. "What do you want?"
"What I want Mrs. Walker is to tell you the good news. Tonight you shall confess to your husband of what you have done. You will then be free from all the pain you have suffered, and from what I gather are still suffering."
"Tonight? I can't tell him tonight, all of our friends will be here. It is Easter!" Alex yelled, then held her hand over her mouth, hoping Walker had not heard.
"You will go through with the plan just as we agreed Mrs. Walker. You will tell your husband tonight and be rid of the lie you have been keeping from him, or your husband will spend his last day on earth today, your choice Mrs. Walker."
Alex stared at the phone, tears running down her face. "I can't, it will kill him."
"Your husband is a fan of the Jets football team I assume."
Alex stared at the phone. "What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Your shirt, or should I say your husband's shirt. The one you are wearing now. You see Mrs. Walker, I can and will kill him should you not confess. The decision I will leave up to you. Good bye Mrs. Walker."
Alex was still staring at the phone long after Mr. Sakara hung up. She put the phone down and sobbed into the pillow on the couch, trying to muffle the noise. Her whole world was crumbling. Alex listened and heard the bedroom door open and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, placing a smile on her face before Walker came to sit beside her.
Walker joked that CD should really stop calling but his face grew very serious when he saw the few tears Alex had missed. "Who was on the phone Alex?"
Alex gulped back the bile that was rising in her throat. "It was the doctor. He was just checking to see how I was."
"Is everything all right? Is there anything I need to know?"
Alex shook her head, not wanting to open her mouth afraid she would tell Walker everything if she did. "Everything is fine, I just tried to stand up on my own."
Walker helped her stand up, "I've told you to wait for me and I would help you. Come on. I'll get us some drinks and we can sit on the porch and wait for everyone."
Walker walked Alex out to the porch swing before leaving to go and get them a glass of iced tea. Alex lowered her head into her hands. Tonight she was supposed to break Walker's heart. Tonight the only man she had ever loved would find out she stared him in the face and lied, and tonight he would find out the baby inside her, the one he spoke to at night when he thought she was not listening was never there to begin with. Alex wanted to die.