Don woke with a start. He wasn't sure what had woken him, and it actually took him a moment to remember where he was. Then he heard it, a muffled whimper coming from Stella. Immediately his eyes sought her out and they found her face distorted by a grimace, eyes squeezed shut. He reached for her hand, calling her name and realized it was clenched in a fist.

"Honey?"

She let out a long breath and her face and hands relaxed. She turned to Don watery emerald eyes focusing on him.

"Meds wore off," she told him, her voice husky.

"I'll call the nurse," he replied instantly. "We'll get you more."

She shook her head and would have argued with him if another contraction hadn't hit just then. As it built in strength her hands again squeezed into fists and she bit her bottom lip, trying desperately to keep from crying out.

Don's hand quickly found the call button which he pressed several times. Then he stood and cupped Stella's cheek.

"It's ok Honey, let it out."

She shook her head, closing her eyes again, her teeth now piercing her lip. A nurse bustled in asking what they needed, then taking one look at Stella's face, saying it was time to check her progress again. By the time the contraction had passed she'd pulled on gloves and pulled back the sheet covering Stella. She sat at the bottom of the bed, helped Stella raise her right leg, saying she could remain on her left side, and slipped her hand inside. Pulling it out she smiled at Stella.

"Congratulations, you're just a bit passed seven centimeters. That means you've moved into the last phase before you get to push. It shouldn't be too much longer now." Seeing Stella again bite her lip she told her, "Don't fight the pain. Let it out. Yell, scream, no one will mind."

Stella nodded and finally let out a low moan.

"Hold her hand, rub her back between contractions, whatever she needs. I'll get some ice chips for her to suck on and let Dr. Emery know she's making progress."

Don nodded and reached for Stella's fisted hand. She clutched his, seeking his strength.

"Squeeze my hand Stel, let me help you." Stella nodded and suddenly Don's hand felt like it was trapped in a vice grip. He winced but kept quiet. If this was what Stella needed he would gladly take it. He just wished there was more he could do. As he felt her grip relax and heard her again let out a long breath.

Over the next three hours Don did everything he could to help ease Stella's discomfort. He held her hand, whispered words of encouragement, comfort and love, fed her ice chips, wiped her brow with a cool cloth, helped her change position and massaged her back. As the hours passed her contractions had come closer together until they reached the point of a new one starting before the last one ended. They increased in intensity and duration and it broke his heart to see her in such pain.

As she lay there, her body preparing to bring their child into the world, his heart captured a picture of her that would last in him until the day her died. Her gown and hair had become soaked with sweat, her face was flushed from exertion and her eyes were lit with an inner strength and determination he admired.

He smiled as his beautiful lady-like Stella let out a string of curses that would have made a sailor blush. He tried to comfort her again, but was startled when she lashed out at him. The nurse, who'd just come in, sent him out to the hall for a break, telling him not to take it personally. Now as he leaned against the wall, just outside the door his mind wandered to the day they'd learned Stella was pregnant.

Stella had been sick for nearly a week. They had originally thought she had the flu, but when it lingered, Don had grown concerned. He'd tried to get her to see her doctor but she refused. He tried to get her to stay home, but after three days she'd insisted on going back to work. And so it happened that rain-soaked spring day they, along with Mac and Danny arrived at the scene of a drive-by schoolyard shooting. Six children were being assessed by EMS while four others lay dead, along with two adult aides and an obviously homeless individual who'd been walking past the fenced in play area.

The three CSI's had split up, each taking a different body to examine. Don saw Stella tighten her jaw as she leaned over the body of a little boy who couldn't have been a day over six. She knelt down and began to collect evidence. For some reason Don couldn't wander too far from her. He wasn't sure why, but when she stood, then closed her eyes, a hand to her forehead, and swayed, then fell to the ground, he wished he stayed closer.

He'd rushed to her side, his yell for a medic causing Danny and Mac to look over and see Stella lying next to the boy. Both joined him as he cradled her in his arms calling to her.

"Stella! Open your eyes!"

The medic arrived and quickly applied pressure to stem the blood flowing from the cut on her forehead. A moment later her eyelids began to flutter. Don quickly explained that she'd been out of work for the three days with flu-like symptoms. He also said that she insisted on returning to work despite still having symptoms for the last five days.

"Damn it! She told me she was feeling better," Mac let out.

"You wouldn't have let me come back," Stella told him softly. The medic then took her vitals and when she struggled against Don to sit up he held her down. He told her she needed to go to the hospital, that she needed stitches. Stella cursed as she looked at the four male faces focused on her. She knew she could convince each of them individually that she was fine, but combined she was beaten. She nodded her head indicating she would go.

Mac started giving Danny directions on getting more help to the crime scene and he was surprised when Don interrupted.

"You can handle it Mac, I'm going with her."

Mac looked at Don, then Stella, and finally at Don again. He knew from the look on Don's face he wouldn't change his mind, but he was trying to figure out exactly what was going on between him and Stella.

"Alright Don. Call us when you know something." Then he and Danny went back to work.

Don could feel Danny giving him confused looks, but he didn't care. Stella was his, had been for over four months, and it was about damn time their friends and co-workers knew. The medic was going to call for a stretcher, but Don told him it wasn't necessary. Then he stood and leaned back down taking Stella into his arms. He followed the man to the ambulance and placed Stella on the stretcher just outside it's door. Then he waited while the loaded her inside before climbing in beside her. The doors closed and they started off to Saint Vincent's Hospital.

Don was hurt when Stella flat out ignored him. She answered all the medics questions but ignored Don's attempts to talk to her. The medic bandaged her head and started an IV then sat back filling out forms, still keeping an eye on Stella. Don noticed his smirk as Stella continued to ignore him. Finally Don gave up knowing that Stella needed to cool off before she'd let him in. When they arrived at the hospital Don accompanied her into the exam room. Stella was swiftly moved from the stretcher to the a bed. Then the medic explained to the hospital staff what had happened. Then he pushed the stretcher out and gave Don a sympathetic smile as he left.

Another nurse entered, then a doctor, who began to examine Stella, asking her questions all the while. Don was surprised at first to hear Stella answering them honestly, then he grinned as he realized she knew he'd call her on it if she lied. The doctor's next question wiped the grin right off his face though, and immediately his indigo orbs locked on her jade ones. Don moved to the bed and took her hand in his. Stella turned to the doctor and told him she wasn't sure.

After a brief discussion about Stella's fertility issues the doctor had a nurse draw blood. Then while they waited for the results he cleaned, stitched and bandaged Stella's forehead. He left them then to see if her test results were back.

"Stella" Don was a concerned when she wouldn't look at him. He reached out and gently forced her chin up. He swore when he saw that she was fighting tears.

"I'm sorry," she said so softly he almost didn't hear her.

"What? Why?"

"For everything," she replied her voice cracking and her tears overflowing and rolling down her cheeks. "For not seeing a doctor sooner, for insisting on going back to work, for being angry with you, for..."

"Hey, hey! That's enough." He sat next to her on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his arms. "Everything you're apologizing for is part of why I love you. You're strong willed, and stubborn, and independent, and strong, and Stella I love every one of those qualities in you. If you weren't all of those things, you wouldn't be my Stella. Understand?"

She nodded and her head rubbed against his chest. He smiled when her breathing evened out and she pulled back enough to look up at him. Her tears had stopped yet her vulnerability caused his breath to catch.

"Do you think I might be?" she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Well," he began as he tangled hid hand in her hair. It's not like we don't do it at every opportunity." He smiled at her.

"And we've never used any protection so, yeah. Its a good possibility."

"But they said..."

"They said it was unlikely, not impossible."

Stella nodded then sighing, laid her head against his chest. She loved hearing his heart beat. It made her feel safe,and not alone. When the doctor came back that's how he found them. Stella leaning on Don. Him kissing the top of her head while the hand he had still tangled in her curls massaged her scalp. He cleared his throat and they pulled apart slightly, looking to him to confirm their miracle. He smiled and said "Congratulations Stella, you beat the odds. You're pregnant."

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AN: Ok it's 2:20 am and I"m exhausted. We got back home around 5 but my husband had to ba at work at 2 so I haven't been to bed yet. I started working on this and just couldn't stop. Therefore please excuse any type o's. We had a great weekend. My younger son's team won first place. It was great. You'd have thought it was the Stanley Cup. Any way here it is so please enjoy, AND THEN REVIEW. Ok I'm a reveiw slut. I love the praise so heap it on. LOL! God I'm tired. I'll try to update again by Friday, if not sooner. I think we're gonna have 2 or 3 more chapters. Definitely 2. Ok I need sleep, I'm rambling. Enjoy.