A few days later, Gretchen was working the ER when she turned to the next patient and was surprised to see a familiar face.
"Adyson? What are you-" Gretchen began to ask but stopped when she recognized the bandage on her friends arm. The wrapping straight from the Fireside Girl's First Aid Manual, "What'd you do?"
"I was teaching some of the older girls the safety courses on knives...and well Accident Prone Sweetwater strikes again," the tall brunette replied with a shrug.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow, "I thought you were-"
Adyson replied with a sigh, "We got a divorce last month.
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry," Gretchen said.
"Don't worry about it, it was mutual. We just grew apart, it happens," Adyson replied.
Gretchen unwrapped the bandages, and looked at wounds, "I'm going to have to suture these."
Adyson smiled at her short friend, "Whatever you think is best."
Gretchen pulled out the needle with anesthetic, "This will just hurt a little, then I'll suture everything."
"Okay. Hey, you've been busy the past few months. Tell me, how are you and Ferb doing these days?"
"We're doing fine. I do miss getting together with everyone, but I only get actual weekends off every couple of months," Gretchen replied while stitching the gashes closed.
"That's a bummer," Adyson remarked.
"Holly still single?"
"Yup...Uh Gretch there is something you should know about that marriage rumor in High School."
Gretchen was almost finished with the sutures when she replied, "I know. Holly started it."
"How'd you-" Adyson's question was interrupted by Gretchen.
"I figured it out."
"You know, she still believes that stuff her cousin told her about not getting what you want out of a relationship," Adyson stated.
"That's too bad," Gretchen remarked with a sigh.
"I know. Although, in the end things didn't work out for me, we still tried to please each other. Not always successfully, but we tried," Adyson said
Gretchen gave a nod in response.
"I've never known you and Ferb to fight," Adyson remarked.
"We argue now and again," Gretchen replied as she finished the sutures.
"Not to the point where you're ready to leave him," Adyson pointed out.
"We do love each other and we try to work things out," Gretchen replied.
"Maybe I should come to you for relationship advice," Adyson commented teasingly.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow in reply.
Adyson became serious, "Then again you and Ferb are not like most couples. I mean you two didn't run into the run of the mill 'oh he's ignoring me so let's see if I can be vindictive'."
"Now I'm impressed," Gretchen commented.
"About?"
"You're more observant than some of our friends."
Adyson looked at the sutures, "What? Look, I've known you for years Gretch. You've always been the one to dissect a situation and find the root of the problem. Then there's Ferb."
"What about him?" Gretchen was preparing to go on a defensive tangent.
"He's just as bad, he analyses everything. I used to think it creepy that he wouldn't say anything to anyone. Then I figured out that he was watching everyone and everything, paying attention and fixing what needed to be fixed. You once said that he listened to you, really listened to you," Adyson explained.
"He still does," Gretchen replied.
"That's what makes your relationship work. You're more open with him," Adyson stated.
"Well we are married," Gretchen pointed out.
"I meant before that," Adyson said.
"There were some things we weren't exactly open about," Gretchen returned.
"Okay. Not going to push you on that," Adyson backed off.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow.
"You're good at that," Adyson noted, "Hey if you want to meet up and talk...do you still have my number?"
Gretchen nodded.
"I can get almost any afternoon off, with a little notice," Adyson mentioned.
"Okay. I'll let you know how my schedule works out in a week or so," Gretchen replied.
"Great. It's been too long."
"How is everyone?"
"Who?"
"Everyone. Ginger, Katie, Milly and Holly."
"Well Milly's having some marital problems. Ginger's still dating Baljeet. Katie's engaged...and Holly well...she's" Adyson stopped with a shake of her head.
"Katie's engaged?" Gretchen asked, surprised.
"I think it's about three months until her wedding," Adyson answered.
Gretchen gave a sad nod.
"You should know about Katie, she sent the invitations out a couple of months..." Adyson trialed off when Gretchen busied herself cleaning up the area, "I didn't realize that you... I'm so sorry Gretchen."
"Katie's and my friendship has been a bit uneasy since that day you and I got angry with each other," Gretchen replied tightly.
"That was the only time I've ever seen you at that state," Adyson remarked.
Gretchen nodded.
"I'll see you in a few days then," Adyson said.
"You're planning something," Gretchen noted.
Adyson gave a slight shrug, "Maybe."
"I can see the gears turning in your head," Gretchen pointed out.
"Am I good to go?"
"Yes. Keep the area dry and the stitches need to come out in ten days."
"Got it. Oh, by the way, say 'hi' to Ferb for me will you? I've not seen him in forever."
"Sure thing Addy.."
Adyson chuckled lightly, "Thanks for the patch job, like always."
Gretchen laughed and shook her head, "Only you would joke about this."
"I have to either laugh or cry. I'm tired of crying over things that could have been avoided," Adyson replied.
"I'll call you."
Adyson spotted Shane, "Hey Gretchen, who's the good looking guy?"
Gretchen caught sight of who she spotted, "Shane? He's just a co-worker of mine."
"How about you introduce me?" Adyson inquired.
"Uh, I don't think that's a good idea," Gretchen said.
"Why not?"
"He bats for the other team."
"Wha-"Adyson then realized what Gretchen said, "Oh...shame."
"He's a great guy," Gretchen commented.
"I'm sure he'll make someone very happy one day."
"He does make someone happy."
"Good. Good people deserve happiness."
"Everyone deserves happiness," Gretchen stated.
"You have a point...I guess," Adyson replied.
"I think you'll find the right guy sooner or later," Gretchen returned.
"I hope sooner rather than later," Adyson commented.
At the end of her shift, Gretchen was in the staff room preparing to go home. Shane looked over at the young woman and noted how worn out she looked.
"You look tired," Shane remarked.
"I am, it's been a long day," Gretchen responded dully.
"You don't look well," Shane added.
"I'm fine. I just need to get some sleep," She replied, slinging her lunch cooler on to her shoulder.
"See you tomorrow, Starshine," Shane said.
"See you tomorrow Shane," Gretchen returned the farewell.
Ferb greeted Gretchen when she arrived home a short time later.
"Hello sweetheart."
"Hi Honey," Gretchen mumbled in return.
"You look worn out," Ferb noted.
"I've had a long day," Gretchen answered.
"Are you hungry, or just want to go to bed?" Ferb offered.
"Second option," she replied as she headed for the stairs.
"Gretchen? Love, is something bothering you?" Ferb queried.
"I'm just tired that's all," Gretchen tried to assure him.
"Do you want me to wake you in a couple of hours?" He asked.
"No. Just let me be," her response was a little short and snappish.
"Gretchen, please. I just want to make sure you are all right. You're not eating and when get home, you are worn out and just go to sleep. I'm worried about you," Ferb pleaded with her.
"Ferb please, just let me be," a begging tone could almost be heard in the twenty-four year old's voice.
"Gretchen, I'm worried that you might be seriously ill," Ferb returned, concern evident in his voice.
Gretchen raised her voice, "Just leave me be!"
Ferb stood in the bedroom door way, tears rolling down his face, his usually stoic expression broken, "This has been going on for a week now. What's wrong?"
Gretchen started to cry, "Nothing is wrong, just leave me alone."
"You're crying," Ferb pointed out.
"Nothing is wrong," she insisted.
He cut across the room and sat next to her, "No secrets."
"Why can't you leave me alone?" Gretchen once again tried rebuffing her husband.
Ferb replied gently, "Because I love you too much for that."
Gretchen was full out sobbing now, "I don't know what's wrong. I'm tired all the time, I can't eat and I just don't feel well."
"I want you to see your doctor. As soon as you can," Ferb replied.
"I don't know," Gretchen was hesitant, after all she did work with her doctor.
"For me? I can't stand seeing you this way," Ferb coaxed.
After a long pause he got an 'Okay' for an answer.
"If you had to hazard a guess what's going on?" Ferb prompted.
"I would say flu, but," She paused as she shook her head slightly, "it's not."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
She looked at him and he could see the fear in her eyes, "I'm fairly sure."
Ferb reached out to hug her.
Gretchen cringed away and screamed, "Don't touch me!"
Ferb eyes went wide as he quickly retracted his arm, then gave her a worried look, "What was that?"
"Sorry...I just can't handle being touched right now," Gretchen replied.
"All right. I won't touch you until we know," he said quietly.
"I need to be alone," she informed him.
Ferb gave a nod, "I'll sleep in the den tonight," Then he left the room and headed down to the den to spend the night.
Gretchen sobbed then whispered, "Ferb... I'm sorry."
A few days passed and Gretchen went to her doctor's appointment with her doctor and colleague, Doctor Eric Manson. The two were sitting in his office after he gave her a routine examination.
"Have you been anywhere recently where you could have picked up a virus?" Dr. Manson inquired, looking over Gretchen's medical charts which laid open in front of him.
"No," Gretchen replied.
"I want to take a blood sample just to be sure," he said, once again glancing over the recent notes.
"Okay," Gretchen thought it wise to go with what her co-worker/physician had to say.
"As your doctor, it's slightly alarming that you have a sudden onset of symptoms when you are generally healthy," Manson continued.
"My husband's concerned that I've had these symptoms for the past two weeks," Gretchen admitted.
"That would be cause for concern. You say you're not eating?" Manson gave a nod as he asked the question.
"Not much," Gretchen responded.
"And you claim to feel ill in the evenings," Manson noted then continued, "Is there a chance you could be pregnant?"
Gretchen shook her head and answered, "I took a home test and it came out negative."
"I think we should double check just in case," Manson said, pulling out a few sheets of paper and writing on them.
"But it said-" Gretchen tried protesting before getting cut off.
"I'd rather be safe than sorry."
"You think I might be pregnant?" Gretchen inquired.
"You said you've been trying to become pregnant for the past four years?" Manson returned.
"Yes, but we've been unsuccessful," Gretchen answered, a note of misery crept into her voice.
"Do you think there might be a chance?" the doctor asked.
"I guess there could be a chance," She admitted.
"This would be a wanted pregnancy, if that is the case?" Manson asked.
"Yes, of course," Gretchen confirmed.
"Well then, I think I'll order a blood test to make sure," he replied as he finished filling out the paper work.
Gretchen nodded.
"Let's get that done and I'll notify you with the results," Manson said.
"Thank you," She replied as she took the orders and left his office.
Gretchen sat in her car, in the hospital parking lot and looked over the lab forms. After re-reading the papers for the third time, mostly to double check on what the good doctor was looking for, she drove to the lab. She went in and handed them the orders. She was only at the lab a short while before she left for home.