Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own ER. The songs mentioned are "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall and "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones. No copyright infringement is intended.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Susan Lewis-Greene was folding laundry in the bedroom she shared with her husband, Mark. The radio was playing a current hit song, 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.' Susan turned up the volume and began dancing and singing along with the music.
"But I said no, no, no, no-no-no, I said no, no, you're not the one for me, No, no, no, no-no-no, I said no, no, you're not the one for me," Susan sang. Mark approached their bedroom and stood in the doorway, a huge grin on his face. Susan turned around and blushed when she saw Mark watching her. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough," he teased as he entered the room. "You looked like you were having fun."
"I was," Susan replied. She rubbed her hands over her four-months-pregnant belly. "And the baby liked it, too."
"Hey in there," Mark said as he rubbed Susan's belly. "In a few more days we'll find out if you're a boy or a girl."
"I can't wait to find out," Susan admitted.
"I'm pretty psyched too," Mark said. The song on the radio changed, and 'Come Away With Me' began to play. Mark smiled at his wife. "It's our song." He held out his hand. "Would you dance with me?"
Susan smiled and took Mark's hand. "I'd love to." The couple wrapped their arms around each other and swayed gently to the music.
"Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song
Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can't tempt us
With their lies
I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won't you try to come
Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you
And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me."
Mark rubbed Susan's back as they were dancing. She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled.
"I remember dancing to this at our wedding," she said. "Our first dance as husband and wife."
"I'll never forget that day," Mark said softly. "It's up there with the day you said you loved me, and when you told me you were pregnant." The song ended and Mark looked at Susan. "I love you."
"I love you," Susan replied, and they shared a kiss. At that moment, Susan felt a small kick in her stomach. She looked up at Mark, her mouth slightly open in surprise. "I - I think the baby just kicked."
"I felt that!" he said. Mark placed his hand on Susan's belly and a few moments later, felt another small kick. "Wow."
"That's our baby," Susan said. Mark hugged her and they continued to dance.
000000000000000000000000
A few days later, Susan was working at the nurses' station at County General. She glanced at her watch and her co-worker and best friend, Abby Lockhart, laughed.
"I know you're excited, but I've never seen you check your watch so many times!" Abby said.
"I just want my break to come so Mark and I can get to our appointment," Susan said excitedly. "We're finding out today if the baby is a boy or a girl."
"Hmm," Abby replied, and stared at her friend's pregnant belly. "I'm not one to believe in those old wives' tales, but from the way you're carrying, I'd say you're having a boy."
Dave Malucci, Susan's co-worker and cousin through marriage, appeared behind Abby. "I think she's right, Sus," he said. "I'd bet it's a boy."
"Oh, are we placing bets now?" Susan asked good-naturedly. "Is there a pool I don't know about?"
"Right," Abby scoffed. "Like there's anything secret in this place!"
"This is the place where secrets come to die," Dave chimed in.
Mark walked up to the nurses' station and placed a chart in the rack on the counter. He checked his watch and Abby began to giggle.
"What?" Mark asked.
"You and Susan are both so excited for this appointment," Abby said. "Go on, you only have a few minutes left. I'll cover for you."
"Thanks, Abby!" Susan said. "We'll let you know how everything goes."
"Are you going to tell us what you're having?" Dave asked.
Susan and Mark exchanged looks and both nodded. "Yeah, why not," Susan replied. "I don't see why we should keep it a secret. See you later!" Mark wrapped his arm around Susan's waist and they walked off.
Abby walked over to Dave and muttered, "Five bucks it's a boy."
"You're on!" Dave replied as they shook hands.
000000000000000000000000
Upstairs at County General, Susan held Mark's hand as her OB/GYN, Janet Coburn, ran the transducer over Susan's pregnant stomach.
"Everything looks good," Janet commented. She turned to the expectant parents. "And you want to know the baby's sex?"
"Yes," Mark answered. Susan nodded her head in agreement.
"Okay," Janet replied. She looked at the screen a moment longer and then smiled. "You're having a boy."
Mark's face lit up. "A boy? Really!"
"Take a look for yourself," Janet answered, and made room for Mark to see the monitor. "That's a boy!"
"A little boy," Susan whispered. She looked over at the monitor and tears of joy sprang to her eyes. Mark leaned in and kissed her.
"Our son," he said as he stroked her hair.
000000000000000000000000
Susan and Mark returned to the ER, both still looking at the sonogram picture that Janet had given them.
"Look at his little arms!" Susan said, amazed.
"They're perfect," Mark answered. "Are you hungry?"
"A bit," Susan replied. "Hey, a lot of our friends are at the nurses' station. Let's go tell them first, okay?"
"Anything you wish," Mark said. "I'm going to hold you to that," Susan retorted. She and Mark approached the group, which included Dave, Abby, Luka, Carter, and nurses Lydia, Haleh and Connie. "Hi, everyone."
"We have news!" Mark chimed in.
"How's the baby?" Luka asked.
"Perfect. Very healthy," Susan replied.
"I'm so glad to hear that!" Haleh said, and hugged Susan and Mark. "We've waited so long for you two to finally get together, and now you're having a baby!" She wiped her eyes. "Oh, darn it!"
"Aww, Haleh!" Susan replied, and hugged her in return. "Thank you."
"So, is it a boy or a girl?" Abby inquired. Dave, standing behind her, raised his eyebrows.
"Was I right?" he asked.
"Let's take a vote," Mark joked. "If you think Susan is having a girl, raise your hand." The doctors and nurses looked at each other, and Carter raised his hand.
"A girl? No way, man, she's having a boy," Dave commented.
"And if you think we're having a boy, raise your hand," Mark instructed. Everyone but Carter raised their hand and Mark smiled at his wife. "Hun, tell them what we're having."
"We're having…a boy!" Susan exclaimed. Abby embraced her, and Dave gave Mark a quick hug.
"Congratulations, Mark," Dave said, and then hugged Susan.
Mark and Susan were congratulated by the remaining doctors and nurses and then walked off to the doctor's lounge. Susan took her coat out of her locker and Mark put it on for her.
"Thank you," she said. "I could get used to being spoiled, you know."
"Good, because I plan on keeping this up," Mark replied.
"Really, for how long?" Susan asked with a laugh.
"Oh, forever," Mark answered as he kissed her. At that moment, his pager went off. "It's my patient from this morning. I told OR to page me when he was out of surgery. I'll just be a little while."
"Go, I'll wait," Susan said. Mark exited the lounge and Susan took off her coat. She sat on the sofa and gazed at the sonogram picture again. "My little boy."
The door to the lounge opened and Susan glanced up. Dave entered and sat next to her.
"That's going to be a good-looking kid," he said. "It has Lewis genes."
"Yes, we Lewis women are beautiful," Susan responded with a smile. She noticed that Dave was quiet. "Are you okay?"
"I want to have a baby with Melanie," Dave began. "But I don't want to screw anything up."
"What would you screw up, Dave?" Susan asked. "I've seen how you are with Callie. You're an excellent dad."
"Thanks," Dave said. "But sometimes I feel like I can't do anything right."
"Like when Weaver gets on your case?" Susan asked. Dave nodded. "Ignore her. She's a self-righteous bitch."
Dave laughed slightly and added, "I guess you're right." Susan took Dave's hand and he looked at her.
"I wouldn't have introduced you to my cousin - who I love dearly - if I didn't believe that you were a good person," she began. "You've made Melanie so incredibly happy and I see how much you love her."
"She's my whole world," Dave said. "Her and Callie."
"Talk to her," Susan said. "I do know, however, that she wants to have a baby."
Dave raised his eyebrows in interest. "She said that?"
"Last week, when she and I went shopping for maternity clothes," Susan said. "She said she couldn't wait to have a baby with you, and she thinks you're a wonderful father to Callie."
"Thanks, Susan," Dave said. He stood up and kissed Susan's cheek. Mark entered the lounge.
"Mr. Parks is recovering well," he announced.
"That's good news," Susan said. She stood up and turned to Dave. "Let me know how it goes, okay?"
"I will, I promise," Dave said. He made himself a cup of coffee and walked out of the lounge.
Susan turned to her husband. "So, lunch?" she asked. "I'm eating for two now." Mark smiled and helped Susan put her coat on once more.
"Any preference?" he asked.
"Doc Magoo's?" she said. "I'm in the mood for a huge cheeseburger."
"Doc's it is," Mark responded, and opened the lounge door to let Susan exit first. They walked past the nurses' station and waved good-bye to their friends, then walked off, hand in hand, to spend the afternoon together.