TWO DAYS LATER

Elisa's appointment had been scheduled during regular business hours, meaning that she was there alone. She'd been looking forward to start having her appointments at night so that Goliath could join her, but Doctor James had specifically requested this one.

So, here she was, she thought giving her feet a light swing as they dangled off the table.

When the Doctor finally entered the room, he looked slightly harassed.

"Before we do anything, I have to ask you a question," Doctor James said, tapping her file folder against the palm of his other hand, "How many people know about your pregnancy, and who, if any, am I allowed to talk to."

"What?" Elisa asked.

"As things stand, right now I am not allowed to talk to anyone because of patient confidentiality laws," He reminded her. "However, I have had a virtual flood of people, gargoyles and everyone in the last few weeks, some more than once, coming to me for advice and asking questions."

Elisa groaned. "Sorry, Doc."

"Hey," He said, holding his hands up in a shrug, "I can't tell them anything without your permission. I can give them general advice, the kind you'd get from any book or magazine. That doesn't bother me. What does," He frowned at her, "Is being ganged up on by the entire Maza clan. At once."

"Are you serious?" Elisa gasped.

"Very," He said. "Let me just say that while your dad is intimidating…"

"But mom's worse," Elisa said with a grin.

"Yeah," He said on a chuckle. "I see where you get it from."

"I got it from both sides, doc," Elisa said with a grin. "Just because my father's quieter, doesn't mean he doesn't have some impressive intimidation tactics."

Doctor James shuddered.

"Okay," Elisa said with a sigh. "Let's say I was to give permission for someone to be able to come and get information from you about me in case of an emergency during the day. Who would I give it to?"

"That's your choice," He shrugged. "But as the pregnancy progresses, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have a daytime emergency person or two to be on the safe side."

"Okay," Elisa said. "I'll pick a few."

"Good," He said, standing in front of her.

Elisa took a deep breath, then released it with a whoosh. "Everyone's been coming in and bothering you?"

"Yes," He verified. "But to be honest, it put my mind a little at ease knowing just how many people in your life, some of them you probably wouldn't even guess, have come by because they are concerned about you and the baby's health. They want to help."

Elisa nodded. "Okay. Permission wise, I guess my mother and Skyler for daytime emergency purposes."

He pulled out a piece of paper from her folder and wrote the names on a form.

"Sign here," He said.

Elisa hesitated, "This is JUST for information about my pregnancy, correct? They can't ask about previous injuries, accidents and health stuff?"

Doctor James hesitated a moment. He had a feeling there was a story there, and wondered just how much she had hidden from her family in the past. Shaking his head, he said, "You're still my patient. I will only share what you would like me to. Unless there is a health issue stemming from a previous injury or illness that would have any relevance to your pregnancy, I won't share that information."

"Okay," She said, and signed her name.