"Well, I'll have to buy them a baby gift," Natalie said as she forced a smile while Michael now watched her skeptically.
"Yeah right."
"What? It's like you've said it's time to throw in the towel right?"
"Yeah and I've been saying that for months now, and you never listened before."
"But it's different now, they have a baby, they're a family," Natalie said as her eyes watered at the thought of it. Michael was about to repeat his warning to Natalie when John and Evangeline walked from a nearby examination room. And again Natalie forced a fake smile. "Hey you two," She greeted joyfully though she felt like her heart was breaking. Both Evangeline and John threw her a nervous smile, as both prayed there wasn't a scene. "I hear congratulations are in order, so," She leaned in and quickly gave a stunned Evangeline a hug. "Congratulations."
"Uh ... Thank you," Evangeline replied as she eyed the girl before her with suspicion.
"I wonder where you heard that," John said as he smiled and glared at his little brother.
"Hey, I'm just a very proud uncle," Michael said folding his arms across his puffed-out chest. John couldn't help but chuckle at his brother.
"Well if you guys will excuse me I have a meeting with a client that I need to get to now," Evangeline said as she checked her wristwatch.
"You sure you up for that?" John asked as he rubbed one of his hands against her belly, causing her to smile at him endearingly as Natalie looked on in envy.
"John, I'm pregnant, not an invalid, women have been birthing babies since the beginning of time, and back then they didn't even have drugs, which now that I'm thinking on it, I want a lot of. My pain threshold is low, so lots and lots of drugs, ok?" She then directed her eyes onto the younger McBain brother. "Got that Michael?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I knew there'd be perks in dating the brother of a doctor," She said giggling a bit. "Now gotta go."
"Well, I'll take you," John said as he grabbed her hand firmly in his.
"It's ok I can catch a cab, I know you're probably needed at the station, no need to take me."
"I wanna take you," He said as he tugged her a bit closer to him.
"Geez John, are you gonna be this bad the entire 40 weeks?" Michael asked with a laugh and the smile instantly faded from Evangeline's face.
"40 weeks?" she repeated the fear of first-time motherhood back in her eyes. "That's…"
"About nine months, which is the normal gestation for a baby," Michael said to her.
"A human baby?" She asked bunching her brow a bit. "I thought that was an elephant."
"No, actually they carry for about two years," Natalie threw out, impressing both McBain men.
"Ok, I'll shut up and stop my complaining then and be grateful I'm not an elephant," Evangeline said with a smile as John embraced her, pulling her close, and kissing her temple.
"Don't worry I'm gonna be right there every step of the way," He reassured her.
"Great, can you have it too?" She teased as she smiled up at him.
"I would if I could baby," John replied as both Evangeline and Natalie rolled their eyes.
"So easy for them to say it when they know they can't actually do it," Natalie threw out as Evangeline nodded her head in agreement. She then glanced at her watch again.
"I really have to get going," She said to John, and then she noticed Dr. Brooks standing behind the Nurse's stations holding out the two discs, which she grasped with the quick thank you.
"Ok, see you later Mikey, Natalie I'll see you at the station," John said as he grasped the disc Evangeline held out for him, and then he took her hand in his.
"Bye," Evangeline added and then they made their way to the elevators.
When she arrived back at the station she had made it a point to avoid him, not that she had to try hard, since he hadn't come out of his office, he just sat at his desk staring at the computer. When the forensics for the latest killing club murder came in she knew she had to get them to John and so she mustered the courage as she moved to his door and softly knocked. He hadn't even looked up from the monitor and so she opened the door and let herself in.
"John?" Her voice startled him as he jumped slightly and hastily turned off the computer monitor, which Natalie instantly took note of. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you, I did knock but I guess you didn't hear me."
"Sorry, Natalie what can I do for you?" John asked as he turned in his chair and gave her his full attention.
"Just the new forensic on the killing club murders," She said as she waved the files a bit and then moved closer and handed them to him. "Uhm, is that what you're working on?" She asked as she nodded to the computer.
"Oh, uh, no, I was…" As he stammered Natalie slowly reached out to press the power button for the monitor, letting her finger hover a second to give him a chance to stop her, and when he didn't she pushed it, and after a second the dark screen slowly illuminated and showed the image that John couldn't seem to tire of watching. Natalie looked at the scene in interest and slight confusion. John took note of her expression and smiled a bit as he explained.
"It's the baby," He said. "Not much to see yet, except this," He pointed to the pulsating movements in the middle of the screen. "It's the heartbeat," Natalie couldn't help but smile at the look of pride on John's face.
"You're really excited about becoming a father, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am. To tell you the truth never thought I'd want kids, didn't think I'd be good at it, but now," He paused as he smiled at the monitor.
"You're already picturing yourself coaching his or her soccer team?" Natalie said and he chuckled a bit.
"Yeah, something like that."
"I really am happy for you John, and I won't bother you anymore, you know about 'us', since there never really was an 'us' except in my head," She said embarrassed for the first time at the way she'd been acting, throwing herself shamelessly at John.
"Hey, just forget about it ok, we're still friends and I'll always care about what happens to you."
"Yeah I know, anyway, there's the file speaking of which, I have a lot of that to do myself but after lunch. I'm heading to Rodi's would you like me to bring you something back?"
"No thank you, I'm gonna have lunch with Evangeline."
"Right," Natalie said bowing her head for a moment as sadness washed over her face. She then forced a smile as she looked back at John. "Well see you later then," She said and then hurriedly left the office. John stared after her for a second, he hated that he was upsetting her but he knew this new situation called for him to finally put his foot down with Natalie. No misunderstandings, no reading more into things, no mixed messages whatsoever. He had a family to think of now. 'A family' the words invoked such intense emotions and John smiled as he stood, grabbed his coat, and headed out.
