AN: Thanks for reading.

D: Law and order SVU and all its characters are not mine.

CHAPTER 64 DRUM

The ringing of the phone helps to distract myself. I force myself to breath so I can answer it.

—Benson.— My voice is sleepy and hoarse.

—Hi Liv.— I recognize Kyle's voice on the other end of the line and hurriedly raise my hand to see the time on my watch.

—Oh, Hi Kyle.— I don't know what else to say.

—Still in bed?—

—Yes.— I do not lie.

—Did you hear my message last night?— He asks.

—ahm... Yeah, I did.—

—And are you coming? or are you going to deny, once again, my help? Because I am ready to go there and drag you here.—

—No, that's not... I just overslept. I'm sorry.— I think he is not kidding. I can picture him on his way here. —I will get a quick bath and get there a soon as possible.—

—Good. Drive carefully and eat something.—

—I am sorry.— I repeat.

—Don't worry. I'll wait for you here.—

—Yes ... bye— We say goodbye and hang up the phone. I raise my arms and stretch them as much as I can, letting out a very comforting yawn. I try to build up the strength to get up and run for a quick shower. I go into the water and rush to place the shampoo on my hair followed by the conditioner and lather my whole body. I rinse myself as quickly as possible and leave quickly. I wrap myself in my robe and while I am drying my hair with a towel I go to the living room to take some of the new clothes from the bags. I don't really focus much on choosing one in particular, as long as it's warm, I'm content. I dress clumsily trying to hurry. I take the hairdryer and brush my hair trying to give it a not-so-messy look. As soon as I finish I go to the kitchen I take a yogurt, an apple and a spoon and then leave the apartment in a hurry.


I enter the white and modern office still chewing my apple. A young woman looks at me behind the desk and a smile appears on her face. I approach her with a little uncertainty.

—Good afternoon. Are you Olivia Benson?— She asks me with a warm look.

—Yes. That's me.— I assure her somewhat surprised that she knew my name without even knowing me. I guess they were really waiting for me.

—Please come in, Dr. Beresford is wanting.—

—Thank you.— I look down a bit sorry for my delay, and I go to the door that I remember is the one to his office. I knock a couple of times while I take one last bite of my apple.

—Come in.— I open the door slowly and I look inside cautiously.

—Hello there.— He says with that nice white smile on his face.

—Sorry for the delay.— I apologize immediately.

—Don't. You are here now.— There he is, been so nice and warm with me as always. —Tell me how did you feel?— I take a seat in front of his desk.

—Fine... pregnant.— I answer without knowing what else to say because I haven't really thought about how I feel.

—Good sign. Still nauseous?—

—Yes. Less than before but yes, and few dizziness too.—

—Did you take your vitamins? —

—Yes, and I have respected the diet... ish.— He laughs.

—Very good. Good patient. Well, lets see how that little one is doing.—I nod.

I don't know how much difference there could be from what he told me a week ago, but I am not planning on complaining.

—Come lie down.— I get up and take off my coat to approach the examination table. I doubt a little and he notices cause soon his hand is on my back and he is helping me up. I settle down carefully. He walks over with the stethoscope and lifts my blouse a little.

—Someone went shopping, eh?— He's aware of everything.

—Yes.—

—Let's see what we hear in there.— I shudder at the touch of the cold device against my skin. I try to breathe calmly so that he can listen to whatever he is trying to hear. He moves the cold metal a little until a surprised expression appears on his face followed by a slight smile.

—There you are. Here listen.— He says bringing the device to my face. I slightly move forward so he can place it in my ears. The pressure bothers me a little at first but I just focus on listening.

—Do you hear it?— I don't really know what he's talking about. I think I hear my guts roaring or my stomach working but nothing else. —Listen carefully.— He tells me patiently. I try to concentrate and among all the strange sounds I can hear something. A very light noise.

—What is it?— I ask.

—Its incipient heart. It has began to beat like a small drum. Do you hear it?— I just nod my head. I can barely perceive it. I try to concentrate even more to hear it better. To find out if there is indeed something to hear. And suddenly my whole body freezes as if it wants me to listen to that beautiful sound. So weak, so quiet, so unique. Now I am certain that there is at least one beating heart inside me. Now I want to protect that little beat with all my strength.

—It's beautiful, right?—

—Yes.— I nearly say as I feel the cold tears sliding down my cheeks. Tears of joy. Hope.

Kyle silently leaves the stethoscope on me a couple of minutes letting me listen to the slight drum. I look up and see his crystalline eyes. They are full of tears as well.

—I'm sorry.— I say, removing the device from my ears and trying to dry my own tears.

—No... I am sorry. I...— He swallows saliva and with it his tears. He moves with agility away from me and I can see how he carves his eyes. I don't know if I should ask or just keep quiet, so I opt for the second option and stay in my place. It takes just a couple of seconds of awkward silence before he moves an apparatus toward me.

—Do you want to see it?— He asks me, settling again next to me.

—See it?—

—Yes. Do you want me to do the ultrasound?— I look at the device and understand. I feel an anxiety growing inside me, creating a hole in my stomach . I get nervous.

—Yes.— I answer quickly.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AN: Thanks for reading.