Chapter 5
The awkward silence had Finola fidgeting in her seat. She sat next to Bryan in Craig Maddox's office as their boss reviewed the report from the medical director. Finally, he looked up, his eyes going from Bryan to her and back again.
"What the hell am I supposed to do in this situation?" he asked in an exasperated voice.
"Sir, I think-," Bryan attempted to answer but Maddox cut him off.
"That question was for me, not for you." He picked up the report. "You two had sexual relations as a result of a debris-related event. It says neither of you feel there are any HR issues, which should have been the end of this. But then you," his finger jabbed at Finola, "were found in his," his finger shifted to Bryan, "hotel room. Tell me what happened there."
Finola spoke up. "We were just talking it out."
"Bryan?"
Bryan shifted in his seat, the slightest blush creeping onto his face. "Just talking, sir."
"You're shit at lying to me, Bryan! Which means it was more than talking." He threw his hands up. "What am I going to do with you two? You're my best team! Together, you've successfully investigated and brought in more debris than any other team. I don't want to split you up, but if you're sleeping together, protocol dictates that I do just that! Could you tell me that was just a residual effect of the debris and won't happen again?"
Bryan sat up straighter. "Is that what you want to hear?"
Maddox snorted. "Not when you say it like that!"
"Listen, sir, this thing between us was already brewing and this debris event just sent our relationship to the next level. We're not going to go back to the way it was," Bryan stated.
Finola bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling ear to ear. To hear him admit he'd been developing feelings for her the whole time she'd been suppressing feelings for him made her ridiculously happy. And here he was defending their relationship to their boss!
Bryan continued. "Finola and I are professionals. We can keep this off people's radar and continue doing our jobs just as well as we always have. Put us on some kind of probationary period. A month, two, whatever amount of time you want. If our performance slips, you'd be completely justified to split us up."
Maddox's jaw worked as he mulled over Bryan's words. Finola desperately hoped he'd agree.
Finally, Maddox sighed. "One month."
XXXXXX
Everything got back to normal at work. Bryan and Finola were the utmost professionals, investigating every debris case sent their way. None was quite as exciting as the one that brought them together though. Although, the one where a middle school girl developed telekinetic powers and used them to torture the bullies that had tortured her really hit a soft spot for Finola.
As normal as everything stayed at work, that's how much changed in their personal life. Finola moved into Bryan's townhouse. They learned how to live with each other, her getting him off a steady diet of fast food and him giving into streaming Disney+ only to discover how much he loved the Star Wars and Marvel shows. They spent their nights exploring each other, finding more ways to give each other pleasure.
About three weeks later, Finola walked through the door utterly exhausted. She'd been called into a teleconference with MI-6 that had lasted two hours longer than it should have. She'd wanted to strangle Ferris as the woman argued continuously with the other agent, who's name she couldn't even remember.
Then, when she'd finally been released and thought she could go home, Dr. Patel ambushed her in the hall. She'd wanted more blood from Finola because there were some conflicting numbers on her blood work from earlier in the week. When Finola expressed concern, Dr. Patel had assured her she'd explain everything once she got it figured out. Finola didn't see any choice so gave her blood as requested. She used the last of her energy to drive home.
As she walked inside, a delicious aroma enveloped her. She breathed deeply, licking her lips.
Bryan strolled out of the kitchen. He had a dish towel slung over his shoulder and a smile on his face.
Uh oh, he cooked, Finola thought. Bryan's last two cooking attempts had resulted in disasters, which she ended up cleaning. Yet, the smell caressing her nose now wasn't like before. Not a hint of burning.
Apparently seeing the worried look on her face, Bryan held up his hands. "I swear I didn't screw it up this time. It's just grill cheese. And I promise to clean up all the mess." He took her coat, hung it up for her, then guided her into the kitchen.
The table had already been set for two. She sat down in her spot, trying to remember if he'd ever set the table before. Usually, if she didn't cook, they ate takeout on tray tables in front of the TV.
He brought over the pan containing two grilled cheese sandwiches. He slid one on her plate and the other on his. As she marveled at the perfectly cooked sandwich, he brought her a glass of chilled lemonade. She knew for sure there had not been any in the house, which meant he'd gone out and bought it.
Still perplexed, she took a bite of her sandwich. "Mmm, this tastes so good!" She wolfed down the sandwich, not realizing just how hungry she was.
His smile widened. "I used three different kinds of cheese. The guy at the market said to use Gruyere in it."
Finola stared at him. She didn't even know what Gruyere was. "What is going on? You're acting weird."
Bryan swallowed. Instead of answering her question, he asked his own. "What did the doctor say about your blood test? All you said in your text was that she needed more blood."
"There were some conflicting numbers and she needed some more blood to figure it out. Why? Do you know something about it?"
Bryan chewed his lips, his eyes looking away from her. "I overheard a conversation I wasn't supposed to hear. Between Maddox and Dr. Patel."
"About me? What did they say?" Finola's chest tightened. Was there something seriously wrong with her?
"They said your hormone levels were going up, even though they shouldn't be." He paused, taking a deep breath. He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
Oh, god, I'm dying! she thought with horror.
Bryan's eyes met hers. "You're pregnant."
Finola froze. Her heart seemed to stop dead in her chest. "No." She shook her head. "That can't be right."
"Finola, it's okay," Bryan tried to reassure her.
"No, it isn't!" She stood up, pulling her hand out of his. "I took that morning-after pill! And now I'm on regular birth control. I can't be pregnant!"
"Birth control doesn't work if you're already pregnant," he told her gently.
Her investigative training took over. It demanded proof before a final conclusion could be made. "I need to take a test," she blurted out. "Right now."
Bryan nodded. "Good idea. I'll drive."
Finola wondered if he thought she'd crash her car with the state she'd gotten herself in. She wasn't sure if him acting so calm made her feel better or worse about this whole situation? Why wasn't he freaking out?
When they pulled up to the pharmacy, she barely gave Bryan enough time to park the car before she leapt out. He scrambled after her. She found what she needed in the family planning aisle. Bryan already had his card out to pay for it when she got to the register.
Back at the house, Finola stomped up the stairs. Something about doing this in the tiny downstairs powder room seemed wrong. She slammed the bathroom door shut. She angrily shoved her pants down and forced herself to pee on the stick. Then she stuck it on the side of the sink to wait for the results.
As she stood there, looking at the test that could determine the course of the rest of her life, emotions welled up inside of her. They threatened to overwhelm her. She backed into the wall and slid down to the floor before her legs could give out.
Then the tears came. It was just a trickle at first as she thought about what a positive result would mean. Would Bryan want her to have an abortion? Was that why he was being so nice?
The trickle of tears increased until they gushed out of her eyes. Sobs wracked her body. She rocked back and forth in distress.
"Finola?" He opened the door, his expression full of concern. When he saw her, he dropped down to the floor next to her and pulled her into his lap. His arms wrapped around her. He let her cry into his chest, which probably ruined his shirt.
After what felt like a long time, her sobs decreased into sniffles. "I'm sorry," she told him.
"It's okay. What did the test say?"
"I haven't looked at it yet. I just don't know what to do if it's positive. I don't want to saddle you with something you don't want. I told you there wasn't anything for you to worry about, but I was wrong."
"Who says I don't want it?"
Finola looked at him sharply. It wasn't an answer she expected. "You do?"
He shrugged. "I like kids, sometimes more than adults. Okay, I admit I've never taken care of a baby before, but I could probably figure it out." He tilted her chin up with his finger and kissed her sweetly on the lips.
Finola's heart fluttered.
Bryan's voice rasped with emotion. "I kept myself isolated from everyone for so long. I wouldn't even allow myself to think about having a family. Then you walked into my life and changed everything."
Finola could feel tears in her eyes again, touched deep into her soul by his words. She kissed him back.
"Should we see if we're having a baby?" he asked as she pulled away.
She nodded, then reached up to grab the stick off the sink. She held it out for both of them to see the result together.
"We're having a baby!"
