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Chapter 3

Vic found some amount of relief in knowing that at least one other person she worked with was aware of her pregnancy. Although Branch probably wouldn't have been her first choice, she had to admit that, thankfully, he did keep his word to her and keep his mouth shut about the baby. More than that though, she felt indebted to him for actively helping her keep her secret throughout the week when a situation arose that she couldn't seem to talk her way out of.

Okay, two situations; once, when he'd volunteered to take her place covering a car accident, citing that he was going crazy cooped up in the office and again when he'd asked for Ferg's assistance gathering evidence on a case that they would have normally partnered up for. Damn. Did that mean she owed him twice? Vic was certain Branch would let her know when he wanted payment.

Thanks to his help, Vic managed to avoid work outside the office except for a quick run to the hospital and another to the diner for test results and food for someone utilizing a jail cell, respectively of course. She was utterly relieved when Friday came around; unfortunately, she wouldn't get through the week free of all suspicious behavior.

It shouldn't have been a big deal. She was around eight weeks pregnant and had survived without any of the awful symptoms you hear about coming along with it. It appeared her luck was running out.

Vic loved coffee. She loved it to the point that she almost couldn't function without it and became irritating even to herself when deprived. Surprising then, isn't it, that a whiff of the strong, heady scent from the pot Ruby was brewing made Vic's stomach roil in complaint. The upset was so sudden that Vic barely understood what was happening before feeling the nausea rise in her throat.

The panicked "Oh no." that slips past her lips reflexively is what draws Branch's attention. She's pale as a sheet and it becomes very clear very quickly what's wrong as she reaches for the trash can beside her desk.

"Vic?" He says, though he doesn't expect her to answer, and moves instinctively closer, hand falling to her back. "Ruby? Can you grab some water or something?" He calls out to Ruby, who has already begun moving toward them.

"Right here." She responds, detouring to the little mini-fridge they keep in the office. "Why don't you get her cool cloth, Branch?" She continues, her maternal nature taking over as she takes his place next to Vic.

"Here, honey." Ruby soothes as Vic stops vomiting. "Try to sip this, now." She says when the younger woman turns away from the can, offering her the water bottle.

"You alright, Vic?" Walt questions from the edge of the room, having emerged from his office at the noise.

"Fine." Vic answers cautiously, the nausea still swirling and the shaky feeling you only get from being suddenly, horribly ill making her body feel unsteady.

"Here." Branch states, holding up a damp wash cloth in offering as he returns to the room. He moves closer than any of them would expect, squatting in front of Vic as he hands over the compress, and staying there when she applies it to her face.

Ruby is the first to ask Vic why she didn't tell someone that she wasn't feeling well and for a brief moment the expectant mother forgets to breathe. The look Branch shoots her says she needs to respond.

"I wasn't, I mean I'm not," Vic mutters quickly. "I didn't think I'd be sick." She explains.

"Maybe you should take the rest of the day off." Walt's nodding his head as he suggests it, but is quite certain she won't be going anywhere.

"No, really, I feel better now." Vic assures them, not knowing what else to say since what seems to be her first bout with morning sickness appears to have passed.

"Okay, but if you feel worse, you can go home." He says, but doesn't move to leave the room even when she agrees. Instead, he takes in the way Branch and Ruby hover for another few minutes and how his blonde deputy reassures their concerns. The latter is not a surprise to Walt, because Ruby is a surrogate mother to all of them and fusses accordingly at every opportunity. The former, however, very much is. Perhaps he hadn't been paying enough attention, God knows he's been preoccupied lately with his own problems, but he doesn't know when Vic and Branch became friends.

At least Walt assumes they're friends, as the two deputies' interactions normally consist of bickering rather than conversations about each other's wellbeing. He certainly wouldn't have thought Branch would be volunteering to remove the soiled garbage after retrieving a cool compress for the sick woman. He wonders when this change occurred and the reasons for it briefly, before deciding to follow Branch from the room.

He catches up with the younger man outside and lifts the lid to the outside garbage can when Branch moves to place the bag in it.

"Thanks, but you didn't have to help me take out the trash." Branch states and waits for Walt to say something in explanation.

"Yeah," Walt nods and pauses briefly. "You seem awfully concerned about Vic." He states, but doesn't know how to approach what he's really thinking about.

"I didn't know that was a problem, being that we work together and we're friends." Branch responds with a cock of his head. He has a feeling he knows where this conversation is headed and doesn't know quite how he feels about it.

"Look, Branch, Vic's a married woman, and you might want to remember that if you're thinking of looking in that direction." He finally says, thinking of how they've seemed to be more in tune with each other lately. Though flirty seems to be one of Branch's primary personality traits, the behavior can become problematic with an unavailable woman.

Branch can't stop the sudden laugh or the quick crooked grin that comes forth unbidden. He decides he's amused at the thought of Walt worrying over his relationship with Vic.

"Well, it really wouldn't be anyone else's business if that's what I was doing, but don't worry, Vic and I are just friends." Branch tells him and stops even as he's turned to walk away.

"And no matter what you might think of me, Walt, I don't mess around with married women." He continues resolutely, before moving around his boss and reentering the building.

Branch pays no attention as Walt falls into step behind him and instead focuses on Vic's appearance as he returns to the office and sits at his desk. She's not so pale now, but she's chewing on the end of her pencil and glances up at them in curiosity.

"Feel any better?" Branch asks before she can question him about reappearing at the same time as their boss.

"Uh, yeah, okay." Vic nods, still not completely sure of it herself.

"Sean's coming home today, right?" His voice is quieter now and she wonders if Ruby can hear and what she thinks about him asking if she can. Regardless, the question is innocent enough and Ruby can't see what he's really asking, though it's plain on his face.

"Yeah, he should be home anytime now, actually." She nods in assurance, but her stomach jumps for a completely different reason than morning sickness at the thought.

She has no idea how Sean is going to react to her news, especially since things have been so rocky between them lately. She only hopes Sean can see the happiness through the surprise as she's come to over the past week.

So, I know it's a bit early, but I've been thinking about if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl… I'd love to know what you guys think as I try to decide. Suggestions? Thanks!