Watching the greyish, undecipherable picture on the monitor was leaving Brenda Johnson in awe as she stared transfixed in delight at the little movements that the doctor told her was the heartbeat of her baby. Unadulterated joy covered Fritz Howard's handsome face. His strong firm hold on his wife's dainty hands meant to provide emotional support to his nervous wife fretting over the precarious pregnancy.

Brenda never thought the prospect of motherhood would bring happiness and fulfilment in so many levels. She once thought it was something she could forego, and more important matters require her attention like catching criminals and securing confessions of their crime to save the City of Los Angeles the expense of a trial, but the unexpected arrival of her niece Charlie's sibling provoked unexpected maternal instincts and profound emotions, seeing the immense joy the new baby brought to her brother and his wife, not to mention her aging parents who found delight in doting on their little grandchild.

"Is that really my baby? Is he healthy?" cried Brenda.

The middle-aged doctor smiled at her and reassured her all was good in her second trimester. Even if she had been an obstetrician for fifteen years, the miracle of life and the ecstatic faces of the parents seeing the unborn baby never ceases to amaze her.

Fritz planted a kiss on his wife's head, his arm slid over her shoulder for a little hug and a gentle squeeze of great relief that their baby succeeded over his unstable first trimester.

"I told you everything is going to be fine as long as you don't let work stress you out," said Fritz.

"Oh, Fritzy…" She returned his affection with a quick kiss on his lips, gratefully smiling for his unwavering love and strong emotional support.

"Can we know if it's a boy or a girl?" she asked the doctor excitedly.

"We will know on your next ultrasound in five weeks."

The doctor smiled broadly, noticing double movements on the screen.

"Looks like I even have greater news for you… looks like you are having twins…" her forefinger showing the pumping motions up and down.

"Oh, Frtzy, this is absolutely wonderful news," squealed Brenda, asking more questions from the doctor.

Brenda was ecstatic about the news and was oblivious to the ringing on Fritz' cellphone. Fritz moved aside to take the call without leaving the room.

"Agent Howard…" he muttered over the phone.

The voice on the other end sounded agitated and a little shaky.

"Agent Howard? Shhh…. It's Lt. Provenza… how's Chief Johnson? Is she sitting down?"

"We're in the hospital for a check-up and ultrasound… why, is everything alright?" he asked, dreading his response. Provenza would not have called him instead of his wife if it was not extreme bad news.

"I'm sorry to bring bad news… I couldn't tell Chief… maybe you could find a better way to tell her to lessen the blow… but I have to let her know lest she hears it on the news… then that would be a greater catastrophe…"

"You're not making any sense, Lieutenant, what is it that will be on the news?" asked Fritz impatiently.

In a solemn tone Provenza relayed the news.

"There was a terrorist attack at the Das Cataratas Hotel where the LAPD seminar is being held 18 officers were killed including Chief Pope."


Fritz didn't know how to break the devastating news of her colleagues' deaths to Brenda. He was worried this would undermine the happiness she was feeling over the twin fetus she was carrying. Worse, he was afraid that it might cause her mental and emotional stress that could possibly harm their unborn twins.

The extreme happiness they felt from the hospital was carried over at home. Brenda was humming an off-tune children's song as she prepared dinner, stopping her hum only to ask Fritz about his thoughts on the baby names that were popping into her head.

"How do you feel about the name Alexandra?"

Fritz looked up from his cell. He was exchanging messages with his colleagues about the terrorist attack, still unable to tell Brenda about it.

"Hmm? Sounds lovely," he said absentmindedly.

"We can call her Alex. Just like Charlie's boy nickname or is Theodora better? Then we will call her Ted," she mused delightfully.

Stirring the pumpkin soup as more baby names came up, her joy undeniably unrelentless that Fritz could not tell her Provenza's news.

"Would you like to name our son after your father and my father? Stephen Clay. How does that sound?" she flashed him another winning smile.

Fritz decided to tell her after dinner just before they go to bed so that she would be all relaxed, laid in bed. He knew no matter how he tells her or when and where he tells her, the tragic demise of her colleagues would still be a huge blow, not only for Brenda but for the entire LAPD, but taking her in his arms as he broke the tragic news might help soothe his wife's high-strung sensibilities caused by pregnancy hormones.

They were seated at the dinner table enjoying Brenda's stuffed chicken with potatoes and pumpkin soup when the loud ringing of their front bell reverberated the room.

"Who could that be at this hour?" said Brenda as she immediately stood up, having her seat closer to the front door.

A feeling of dread overcame Fritz at the possibility it was someone from her squad to relay more bad news.

"Brenda! Let me get that," he scrambled to his feet to beat her to the door, but she was already opening it.

The door opened to reveal Brenda's worry-stricken parents who immediately fell in to engulf her in their arms at the sight of her.

"Oh my god, Brenda…", cried her mother.

"We're so glad you're alright," said her father, drying a tear from his eye.

"Momma! Daddy! What brings you here?" she exclaimed in surprise as she was swallowed by their warm embraces and kisses of great relief.

"We heard the news… and we were so afraid for you…" said her father.

"Afraid for what?" she asked, her eyes held no clue as to what they were talking about.

"Didn't you know…" said Willie-Rae.

Fritz immediately ushered the old couple in to take a seat, interrupting her conversation with Brenda.

"Uhm… Willie Rae, I was finding the right time to tell her after dinner," explained Fritz, hoping her mother-in-law would keep her mouth shut.

"Tell me about what?" asked Brenda.

"Oh… let your husband be the one to tell you. I'm going to the bathroom," said Willie-Rae, feeling bad for spilling the beans her daughter's husband seemed to be protecting her from.

"Now that the cat is out of the bag, maybe we should tell her about the assassination of the police officers in Iguazu Falls," said Clay.

Brenda was aghast. "What assassination are you talking about, daddy?"

Fritz rolled his eyes in exasperation. "It was not an assassination, Cliff. There was a terrorist attack."

Horrified by the news Brenda sunk into her husband's arms.

"Why didn't you tell me, Fritz? Why? What happened? I need to do something about this!"

"Please calm down, Brenda. Just calm down. It's not going to be good for you-this is why I was looking for the proper time to tell you."

Fritz tightened his embrace around his wife, hoping he could take away all her worries and pain.

"There is no right time, Fritz," she said in a low voice.

Fritz hushed her and kissed her head. He knew she was a strong person, and nothing can easily take her down. He had faith in her.

"Fritz, how is Lieutenant Flynn? Please tell me he is alright. I'd feel very guilty if something happened to him," said Brenda, still laying her head on her husband's chest.

Fritz sighed. She must know but guilt shouldn't weigh down on her shoulders. It was nobody's fault.

"Lt. Flynn is missing… along with Captain Raydor."