A/N: Erica often says things she doesn't mean and regrets them later. This is one of those times. Please bare with her and love her. She will get through it.

Chapter 10

"Oh god, David. Thank you for coming." He wasn't even off the elevator yet, and Bianca was motioning for him to follow her. "She's not making any sense…"

He nodded. "Slow down, Bianca. What happened?"

"She's pacing the living room. Rambling about anything and everything. She's not really making any sense. Coral found her like this, this morning and called me and Uncle Jack. Reggie and Kendall both stopped by before we could get here. I don't think that helped things."

"Has she been drinking?" He asked, hating himself for having to think the worst, but needing to know what exactly he was dealing with.

Bianca shrugged, unsure of anything other than Erica's erratic behavior. "There's a bottle of Vodka on the coffee table and it looks like she had a glass or two, but I don't think that was from last night. She won't really let us get close enough to know the answer."

"What happened last night to push her to this?" He wondered, noting the worry in Bianca's eyes. This wasn't just them finding Erica drunk or drinking, this was something far worse.

"She found that Miranda's middle name is going to be Mona."

"She didn't take that well."

"Threw us all out," She confirmed. "I'm really worried about her, David. I've never seen her like this."

"I need to examine her, so we have to find a way to calm her down, alright?"

"Alright," She nodded, opening the penthouse door now.

Erica was still pacing the room, rambling to herself. She was still wearing the clothes from the previous night. Pizza boxes and soda cans were still on the coffee table, despite Coral's best effort to clean up.

She didn't acknowledge either of them.

"David, thank god you're here," Kendall started, "She's not making any sense."

"Does she know you're here?" He wondered, eyes on Erica as he studied her. He was sure she was having a breakdown, and this was her struggling to pull herself through it.

Reggie shook his head. "She doesn't answer us, but she won't let us near her either. I don't understand what's happening."

"She seems like she's somewhere else entirely," Jack told him, "Even I can't get her to respond."

David nodded and stepped forward. "Erica," He breathed, his voice was low and soft, not wanting to startle her. They had to do this slowly, delicately, or they were going to push her further into her madness.

She stopped at her name, but didn't acknowledge David's presence.

"We're a little worried about you," He started, eyes fixed on her, waiting for any sign she was hearing him. Any sign she was able to follow along, "can you tell us what's wrong so we can help you?"

She looked him at then, eyes cold and blank. "I'm fine," She told him, through the most indulgent smile she could muster.

He raised an eyebrow at her and took a step closer. "I don't think you are. I'd like to examine you, make sure your heart rate and your pulse are in the normal range."

She was silent and still for a few seconds, before turning to face him. She stepped to him this time. "Of course you do, you're doctor God. That's what you do, swoop in and play hero to all the damsels in distress."

He could hear the icy, venom in her words. She hated him. "I care about you, Erica and I want to make sure that you and the baby are okay."

She cocked her head at him, and flashed him a knowing smile. "The baby…." She pushed out on an angry breath, as she stepped away. She crossed the room and made her way closer to where her family stood. "My miracle. My gift from god. The balm to wounded soul," She pushed the words out, her voice shaking with anger. "Well guess what, everyone? I don't even want it!"

Jack shook his head. Bianca covered her mouth in shook. Kendall's eyes fluttered closed. And Reggie watched with wide eyes.

"That's right," She hissed back that them, eyes sliding between them all, before landing on David. "I don't want it!"

"Mom…" Kendall started, but Jack spoke first.

"Honey you need help, please listen to David."

"Oh you want me to listen to David?" She laughed at that, eyes blazing into him. "You want him to help me? Want him to take care of me? Take care of this baby? This is all his fault anyway."

Bianca shot David a worried glance. There was no telling what she was willing to lay bare, and it was in everyone's best interest to stop her before she said something they would all regret.

"Erica," David started, lowering his voice just enough that the other's would struggle to hear him, "don't say something you can't take back."

She nodded and stepped to him, leaning in close. "You mean don't tell him you might be the father."

Her tone was cold. Emotionless. She didn't care if they heard. She didn't care if it broke their hearts. She didn't care about any of it.

"Stop it," He warned, "You don't need to do this."

"What do you know? What the hell do any of you know?" She asked of them, "You just keep smiling. Acting like everything is okay. Like life is happy and wonderful. Why won't any of you deal with it?"

"Like you are, Erica?" Kendall bit out, "By losing yourself in alcohol? You're pregnant and you're so unwilling to do deal with your issues that you would rather drink and put your child's health at risk."

"Kendall," Jack warned, shaking his head at her. They couldn't engage her. They couldn't play into her hands.
Erica took a step toward Kendall, but didn't speak. They all saw her wince before he could speak.

"Erica…" David was at her side instantly, Jack hurrying toward them.

She leaned forward and grasped her stomach.

David lead her to the couch, sitting her down quickly. "Are you having contractions?" He asked, hand on her wrist as he checked her pulse.

She shook her head. This child hated stress and always seem to know how to tell her when she'd taken it too far. When she was dancing on the edge with both of their health.

"Sweetheart, you can't keep going like this," Jack flanked her left side, his voice soft and soothing.

David listened to her heart. "Heart rate is high, but good. Pulse is elevated, though, it's nothing to be concerned with. Are you sure that wasn't a contraction?"

She nodded, but refused to look at him. At either them.

"When was the last time you slept? Ate?" David asked, watching Bianca, Kendall and Reggie talk amongst themselves. Her confession seemed to have been missed.

She shrugged, unwilling to let him be her savior yet again.

"Last night, I think," Jack told him, "I don't think she's slept either."

"We need to get her something to eat, and I've got a mild sedative in my bag."

Jack nodded. "I'll come get you when she's ready for the sedative." Jack stood and offered Erica his hand. She refused to acknowledge him or the help he was offering. "Come on, sweetheart, we need to get you calmed down. I'll make us something to eat."

She stood this time, still unwilling to acknowledge him. He led her away slowly, coaxingly.

"What were all of you doing here?" David wondered when Jack and Erica left the room.

"I was worried about her after last night," Reggie shrugged, "What's wrong with her?"

"She's just walking a really tight rope right now," David offered, "She's been hurt by a lot of things and she's not coping."

"She needs to get over it," Kendall added, less than amused with any of this. "They're her issues, not ours."

"We did this to her," Bianca reminded her. "We lied. We deceived her. We set her up for this."

"We were trying to protect her."

"Everyone needs to go, okay?" David told him, "She needs to calm down. Jack needs to try to get her to eat and I'll give her something to help her sleep."

"Why waste your time?" Kendall asked, "She's not going to wake up and be Erica again. She's enjoying all the attention."

"Kendall, please…" Bianca begged, blinking back tears.

"I don't need this anyway." She was gone before anyone could ask any more questions, slamming the door behind her.

"I better go check on Lily," Reggie mused, unsure what his next move was. "You'll make sure she's okay?" He asked of Bianca.

"I won't leave until she's asleep," She assured him, hugging him tight. "She'll get through it, Reggie. We just have to keep loving her."

He offered her and David a nod, and made his exit.

"What are we going to do, David?" Bianca asked when she was sure they were alone. "She's not getting better."

"Bianca she's not drunk," He started, "I think you're right, she hasn't had a drink since last night. That in itself is progress. This whole thing this morning, this is Erica fighting back, trying to find her way back to us."

"A nervous breakdown is a good thing?" She wondered, not sure that she liked any of this.

"Anything that makes her put down the alcohol and start trying to deal with her demons is good. She's got a long way back to us, Bianca, but she's in there."

She nodded. "She didn't mean what she said, David, about the baby."

"No she did mean it," He admonished, "She means everything she says right now. She's not thinking clearly. She'll come around."

"She's lucky to you," She offered through the watery smile.

"She's lucky to have you," He replied, "She loves you. You're her world. Don't forget that."

She would find her way out of the darkness. Out of her hell. It would be a long, painful road. Full of words and deeds she would regret. But she would come back to them. And all they could to help was wait.

Let her slay her demons on her own terms.

They would be here waiting.

To be continued