Hi guys, so sorry for the delay... Work has been monopolising all my time and energy. I can't wait till the summer holidays! Roll on Wednesday!

Part 23

If she continues to chew on her nails for any longer she will not have any left at this rate. She's a nervous wreck, because any moment now she will be called in to see the doctor, and there's a possibility that life as she knows it might completely turn on its axis and never be the same again. With all that was going on with Fitz, adding a baby into the mix- it would somehow make their affair feel even more illicit.

Fretting and sat alone in the waiting room, she prepares to face her destiny, but finds herself longing for Fitz's support more than ever, wishing he was here. Although they are both aware, that even if they took New York out of the equation, Fitz sitting in a doctor's surgery that catered for Blacks and Hispanics only, holding her hand in solidarity and hoping for the best possible outcome would never come to pass. Because sadly, society dictated that she would always have to go through this part alone.

It was the price she paid for being with a white man.

"Olivia Pope?" A nurse calls for her, smiling pleasantly when she spots her… "The doctor can see you now."

She feels sick to her stomach.

Xxxxx

"Sir, I've got it!" Jake announces with pride handing over all the evidence that Jerry needs to confirm his son's affair.

The pictures leave very little to the imagination. It was just what he needed. "When did you take these?" Although following his conversation with Mellie last night, he has his suspicions.

"Last night," Jake answers, and then explains how he followed them to a motel, where Fitz paid for a room and then how the two of them; who seemed desperate for each other- proceeded to undress and embrace, before remembering themselves and closing the curtains- effectively blocking the view to his camera lenses. Except it was too late by then, as he already had all the proof he needed.

"Great job Jake. I knew I could rely on you to come through with the goods…" Jerry turns around and retrieves a piece of paper from his desk, with an address scribbled on it… "I need you to take a copy of the photo's first, and then deliver a copy to this address."

Jake takes the piece of paper from him and looks at him knowingly. "Of course Sir, I'm on it."

Xxxx

"So, what can I do for you today Miss Pope?"

She gulps, feeling uneasy. The fact that her doctor was male, did very little to help ease her discomfort… "I ummm, I came to enquire about the contraceptive pill…" She finally gets out, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"I see," he looks at her, with what appears to be an element of scrutiny… "And your husband? He wishes for you to be on the pill too…" he fishes.

"I'm not married," she clarifies, feeling like a naughty child who is about to be reprimanded for her wrong doings.

"I see," he repeats, writing something down on a note pad; and in the face of his obvious judgement she finds herself lowering her head in shame. "Well in that case, "your boyfriend"… does he agree on this method of birth control too?"

"Yes, yes he does… not that it should make a difference, whether he agrees or not, because at the end of the day this is my body." She replies in annoyance.

"Indeed Miss Pope, it is your body- however I assume you have chosen to share your body with this man, despite the fact that you are not married, otherwise you wouldn't be here… Therefore, I am simply trying to work out the dynamics of your relationship, and the reasons as to why you feel the need to go on the pill… I apologise if this makes you feel uncomfortable, but establishing a sexual history is a must."

Despite herself, and not appreciating his male chauvinistic attitude either, she replies… "Of course, I understand… I'm just not used to this…"

He cuts her off unceremoniously… "Well Miss Pope, having sex comes with a certain level of responsibility and maturity- and if you're unable to handle that, then maybe you're not ready to undertake all that sex entails, which includes a frank discussion about appropriate birth control…"

"I can handle it…" she bites back, incensed by his bedside manner. He couldn't make it any more obvious, if he tried. The man was cut from the same cloth as her father; he did not improve of her choices.

"Good, now that we have that cleared up I have a few more questions for you; that's if you wish to continue…?"

"Go ahead…" she encourages, suddenly eager to get this over and done with, so she can hurry up and leave.

"How long have you and your partner been engaged in sexual intercourse." He asks matter-of-factly.

"Not long, just a few weeks..."

"And have you been practising safe sex?"

Here comes the heavy judgement she thinks, as she answers him truthfully… "It had been our intention to do so, but no; not always…"

"Right, so there's a chance that you could be pregnant? Obviously, you do realise you cannot go on the contraceptive pill if you are?"

She can't help but be curt in her response. "Yes, I am very aware of that." What did he take her for, a fool?

Carrying on, paying no mind to her tone he looks down at his notes, and questions… "When was you last menstrual cycle?"

Shit. "I can't remember exactly?" She feels silly and ill prepared, although to be fair she was never one for tracking her periods, because they had always been so irregular…

"Well, have you had one since you've been sleeping with this man?" He asks, slightly exasperated by her lack of knowledge.

She thinks on it hard, until a sinking feeling slowly overcomes her… "No, I don't think so, not that I can recall, sorry..."

"Right Miss Pope, in that case I feel it is necessary that I run a few test and an examination… First to rule out pregnancy, and then any other disease that you may have been exposed to- seeing as you and your partner are not officially committed by marriage, there is a greater chance that he may be sleeping with others too. "

She doesn't even get a chance to respond, as he abruptly calls for a nurse… "Verna, please can you get Miss Pope into a gown and have her prepped for a full pelvic and PAP; we also needs to take a urine sample and bloods. Thanks."

By the time the doctor (who she was quickly growing to detest) had finished questioning her, and performing one of the most intrusive examinations she has ever been subjected to, she was left feeling completely stripped of her dignity, and in addition to that incredibly frightened at the prospect of her results. Sensing her worry and apprehension, Nurse Verna kindly sits with her, once she has dressed back into her clothes and nervously waits for the doctor to return to the room with her results.

"It's going to be okay my dear…" Nurse Verna tries to reassure her; although it's to very little effect.

Because Liv has a very bad feeling, deep down in the pit of her stomach.

Xxxxx

Hearing his post box being opened and slammed shut, curiously, Eli heads through his front door and over to the box at the end of his lawn. When he opens it he finds a sealed the Manila envelope inside… The postman had already come and gone earlier that morning, so he wasn't expecting anything else until the next day… How strange? He turns the envelope over, in search of his name and address, but it's not written on it anywhere... Again, very strange. What was going on? Ever so quickly, he finds his guard is up as he looks around suspiciously; something was definitely off about this package… What was in it? And why had it been delivered to him?

Slowly and carefully he opens the envelope to inspect its contents.

What he sees completely floors him. No way... No way, it can't be true?!

Xxxxxx

The doctor takes a seat in front of her. To her eyes he almost looks smug…

She suddenly feels sick again.

"I'm sorry Miss Pope, but at this time I will not be able to prescribe you the contraceptive pill, because tests has revealed that you have the hCG hormone present in your urine, levels of which indicate that you are in the early stages of pregnancy."