"What?!" Greg stood up, the ring box forgotten in his hand. "Are you sure?" He moved closer to her, eyes widening.
Morgan looked down at Greg's hand and then back to his eyes, angry with herself for ruining the moment. "Yes. I have an appointment on Friday," she almost whispered, uncertain of Greg's reaction.
Greg licked his lips. "That's great," he croaked, his eyes wandering. "I need to sit down." He moved past her to sit on the bed. Morgan sighed and followed him.
"Greg, it's okay to be scared. I know I just threw a lot at you. But, you are happy, aren't you?" She panicked. "I mean, you're not mad, are you?"
Greg turned to look at her. "Morgan, I'm thrilled. Really," he smiled. "I'm sorry. It just took me by surprise." He leaned in and kissed her, calming her. "What about you? Are you happy?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure what to think. I'm scared, I guess. I don't know if I'm cut out to be a mom." Morgan looked down at her hands willing herself not to cry. "Like today, for example, I had to process the bodies of a precious two year old boy and his mother. All I could think about was what if it was my kid? What if I got called to a scene one day and my child was the victim? What if I can't protect him or her?" Unconsciously, she rubbed her stomach. Greg put his hand over hers causing her to look up at his face.
"Morgan, you are going to be a wonderful mother." He kissed her again. "Besides, I will always be there to protect you both."
"Um, you were just shot, remember?" Morgan reminded him, smiling as she said it.
"Yeah, and I've been beaten and burned before too. Just can't get rid of me." He picked up the ring box again from the bed. "You never answered my question," he said holding the box out to her.
She smiled taking it. "Yes. Of course I will."
She heard shouting as she approached her dad's office. A man in a dark suit emerged, anger etched in his features. Her dad followed him out the door.
"You haven't heard the last of this, Sheriff," he huffed, staring Ecklie down.
"Maybe not, but I've said my piece about it. Nothing will change that. My hands are tied." His worn face perked up at the sight of Morgan. The man in the suit turned and glared at Morgan before brushing past her. Her expression said exactly what she was thinking: what was that about?
"It's nothing. Come in," her father answered her voiceless question. She sat in the plush chair opposite his desk. She felt like a child about to be scolded, taking a deep breath to soothe her frazzled nerves.
"So, you wanted to talk to me?" she started.
Ecklie sat on the edge of his desk. "I'm concerned about you, kiddo. I heard you've been feeling sick a lot on the job lately, and every time I've seen you in the past couple weeks you've looked so defeated. I wasn't going to say anything, but then David mention something about overhearing you set up a meeting with a doctor. Well, I just figured I should check in, make sure it's not something more serious."
Ugh, Hodges. That nosy little gossip. She would deal with him later. She squirmed in her seat knowing there was no way out of this. She just had to say it.
"Actually, Dad, I'm pregnant. About eight weeks along." Ecklie stared at her, jaw set, fury in his eyes. She braced herself for the worst.
"Who's the guy, Morgan?" he spat. "Where is he in all this?" He got up and walked behind his desk, falling into his office chair.
"It's not like that. We've actually been together for a while. In fact, he proposed to me last night," she hit back. It was like falling back into an old routine, the arguing. "He is going to be there for me, unlike some other men in my life."
"Hey! That's not fair," he sighed."Please Morgan, let's not do this. I'm happy for you and this mystery guy. I just feel left out of your life. So, who is this guy?"
"That would be me," Greg's voice caught them both off guard. He hobbled in from the door, obviously still in pain, and sat in the seat next to Morgan, taking her hand in his. She stared at him, surprised. She had told him about dreading this meeting but never expected him to show up. She was just blowing off steam, unleashing all the worries she had held in for so long.
"Sanders?!" Ecklie looked incredulous. Shock transformed into rage. "What the hell? How long has this been going on?"
"I love your daughter, sir," Greg began. "I know I should have come to you first, but that was my mistake, not hers. Look, I take full responsibility."
"You damn well better." Ecklie stood readying for the fight, fixing his gaze on Greg, when a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Sheriff, you are needed up front," the secretary surveyed the scene before her. Ecklie stormed out the door, pushing past her.
The rest of their co-workers had been much more receptive to the news. At first, everyone had exchanged glances and some, knowing smiles. Then came the congratulations and hugs. The team treated them to breakfast after the shift, toasting the couple with mimosas (a virgin glass for the mother to be). Overall, the night went over better than either could have predicted, but the disconnect with her father weighted heavily on Morgan. Their relationship had finally seemed to be in a good place. Now, the resentment and heartache from her teenage years were resurfacing, breaking whatever had been mended.
Time passed quickly and slowly. Morgan felt she had lived a lifetime in just a matter of months, learning more than she ever thought possible about babies, birth, and bottles. Yet she still felt unprepared for the radical change her life was going to take in a short period of time. She was only three weeks shy of her determined due date. She laid stretched out in the recliner, her swollen feet resting comfortably. She relaxed, closing her eyes, as Greg bend down next to her. He ran his hands over her bulging belly. Softly, he spoke to his unborn daughter, receiving a swift kick in return.
"Did you feel that?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, honey. All the time." Morgan replied without opening her eyes.
"Well, excuse me for being enthusiastic," Greg teased. He sat on the arm rest and ran his fingers through her hair.
Morgan sighed and looked at him. "Sorry. Hormones. Have I told you how much I love you lately?"
"Not since yesterday." He grinned. "So two days left until your maternity leave, are you ready?"
"Yes. No. Don't know. So tired," she mumbled drifting off to sleep. Greg kissed her temple. After so many lonely years, he finally felt like everything he ever needed or wanted was laying in front of him, gently snoring.
"So, last day for a while. Want to grab a bite to eat? My treat," Hodges peeked in on Morgan in her office. She had been on nothing but desk duty for a month or so now and welcomed the needed break from paperwork.
"Absolutely," she responded grabbing her jacket. On their way out, they bumped into Finn.
"Where are you two off to?" she questioned.
"Getting grub. Care to join us?" Morgan asked. Finn agreed and together they headed to the parking lot. They drove off, unaware of the two men in the black sedan that begin to trail them. One of them, a man in a dark suit with angry features and a grudge to settle.
The crowd at the diner was slim due to the late hour. Morgan and Finn had placed their orders and were waiting for Hodges to make up his mind.
"Now, how fresh is the fish in the fresh fish platter? A day old? A week?" he needled the waitress. The girls rolled their eyes.
"Dear God, just order already," Finn remarked, prompting him to just go with the fish platter. "Finally! Now on to more important matters, like have you and Greg set a date yet for the wedding?" She looked at Morgan amused.
"No, not yet. He suggested we just elope, but I want things to be right with my dad first. I want him to be there, even though we have barely spoken in months." She played with the straw in her water, averting eye contact with either of them. A loud sound broke the conversation, bringing everyone's attention to the entrance of the restaurant where two men stood holding semi-automatics.
"Nobody move. You by the cash register, call the police and tell them you are being held hostage. I'm not here for your money. I'm here for justice, and I intend to get it on my own terms."