Denise was sitting on the couch waiting for Frank to return home from training newbies so they could get going; she had a doctor's appointment and reasonably or not, she was nervous. Her doctor insisted on amniocentesis since she was over 40 and Denise feared the results and the risks to her unborn baby. She was doubly relieved when Frank came home, he'd been such a source of strength for her throughout the pregnancy and she knew that would never change. It had been hard on him, her hormones were running wild and even the littlest thing could and often did send her into hysterics or fits of anger. No matter what it was, Frank would keep his cool and speak gently and softly until she was able to get control of herself.
Frank arrived home only a little while before their appointment. He looked tired and slightly put out by something he'd experienced that day. "Hey, Baby. I'm going to need a bath and one of your special massages tonight. Those kids are anything but ready to be on that darned tower," Frank complained dropping his pack at the door and taking off his boots.
She smiled at him "I can do that. Are you going to be okay to go with me to the doctor today? I can go by myself if you don't feel like it, "she told his as he came over and kissed her lips.
"Doctor? You have an appointment today?" Frank asked trying to remember what this one was for and if she'd told him. "Did I know about this one?"
She chuckled at his lack of memory, it was a good day. "Yeah, remember I'm having my amnio today," she told him.
"Oh, your amnio, that's right. That's the one with the huge needle right?" Frank asked for clarification. It was hard to keep all these tests straight. "What the heck did people do when they didn't have all these test things?" He wasn't comfortable with anyone stabbing Denise with a huge needle.
She smiled when he cringed at the thought of a huge needle being stuck into her stomach. He could be so protective that way. "That's the one, and to answer your question, people rolled the dice and took their chances but now there are so many ways to correct potential problems it is a good idea to be careful," she said.
"Can I shower before we have to leave?" Frank asked. "I don't want you going through that alone. You didn't have one with Jeremy, did you?"
"Nope, but apparently I'm old! And it's precaution?" she said laughing "Go ahead and take a shower, we can leave when you get done," she told him
Frank hurried in the shower and put on civilian clothes to drive Denise to the doctor. They were taken to the back where she was told to lie flat on her back after changing into a hospital gown. They stressed how important it was that she relaxed as much as possible before they began the procedure and rest when she got home that night to avoid any complications.
A few minutes later the tech came in and began the ultrasound process to assist the doctor in positioning the long thin needle so he'd get the best possible sample of the fluid in Denise's uterus. Once he determined where he was going to insert the needle he bathed her abdomen in alcohol, "Mrs. Sherwood, I want you to relax as much as you can. This is going to sting a bit when I pass it through your abdomen and you might experience some cramping so try not to panic, it is normal."
Denise hissed when the needle passed through her skin and clutched Frank's hand. Apparently the doctor's definition of a little bit and Denise's were two different things.
Frank hated seeing Denise in pain. "Try and relax honey," he said rubbing her hand trying to comfort her.
"Keep very still, Mrs. Sherwood," the doctor warned when Denise involuntarily shifted just a hair. She focused on keeping still and managed it even as the cramping she'd been warned about began. She groaned at the unpleasant sensation and squeezed Frank's hand.
"Denise, try and stay calm sweetheart, I know this hurts, but it will be over soon," he said kissing her hand trying to help her maintain calm.
"It's better now," she told him and watched the screen along with the doctor as he finished the procedure.
"We're going to monitor the heart beat for a short time and make sure there isn't any excessive cramping or bleeding, you'll experience some of both, but it shouldn't be too severe. It is important to stay off your feet tonight."
"Okay, I can do that, but please tell me it is just for tonight, I will go insane if it is any longer than that," she said chuckling but that soon turned into a sharp intake of breath as a massive cramp hit her.
Frank laughed while still holding her hand. "Just breathe, sweetie," he told her and turned to the doctor. "She isn't exaggerating you know, she will go insane if she can't do things for herself after a while. But don't worry she will stay off her feet as long as it takes," he said looking at Denise.
Denise took a deep breath, "But what about you? You need me tonight, you said so," Denise reminded him as the doctor checked Denise and made sure she was only spotting lightly.
"All looks good hear, just rest a while and listen to the music," he instructed turning on the audio so they could hear their child's heart beating.
"Honey, that can wait, you have to rest, and that means you aren't doing anything tonight. You are getting pampered for the rest of the day," he said while they sat there listening to the beat of their baby's heart.
"No, you said you needed me and I need to be there for you, Frank," Denise argued. "I'm pregnant, not sick."
"No Denise, I'm fine. You have to rest, doctor's and husbands orders, no arguing," he told her trying to make her agree.
"You came home exhausted and the first thing you said was you needed a massage, you never do that; you always ask how I feel then tell me how you feel. If you feel bad enough to reverse the order and to forget an appointment, you need me more than I need to lie around with my feet up," Denise countered.
"Denise, no arguments! I feel fine now, it was just a stressful day, you, however just had a huge needle stuck into your uterus, you are going to go home, rest, take a shower and I am going to make sure you don't lift a finger tonight," he told her, he knew she could be stubborn so he was ready to do battle.
Denise continued to argue with him until they got home. She had to finally gave in when after a warm shower ,she was cramping pretty bad, so instead of keeping up her side of the fight she let Frank take care of her, though promised him when she was better he was getting that massage "When you get better honey, you can do whatever you want with me," he told her with a small kiss on her nose.
"Can we talk about the baby?" she asked wanting to do something pleasant to pass the time.
"Sure we can, I think that's a great idea," he told her, he was giving her a massage trying to ease her cramps and keep her mind off of the pain.
"The test will tell us if anything is wrong and what the baby's sex is. I'm not sure if I want to know if anything is wrong because we'll have a huge decision to make, but I think I want to know the sex so we can be ready. What do you think?" Denise asked enjoying the tender touches of her husband.
"I don't know about knowing the sex, I think maybe I want it to be a surprise," he said kissing her shoulder, hoping she wouldn't get upset.
"It'll make shopping and picking a name easier," Denise pointed out. "And I just think it'll be fun."
"Yeah that's true," he said thinking maybe she was right, maybe they should find out.
"Let's decide now though, Frank, if anything is wrong, do we keep going and hope or do we pull the plug?" Denise was surprisingly clinical when she said that.
"We just need to keep going and hope for the best," he said hoping she wouldn't suggest abortion as an option, because in his mind it wasn't.
To Frank's chagrin, Denise started crying. He instantly became alarmed, "Denise? Baby, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I didn't think you'd say that," Denise sobbed. "I'm so happy you did but I didn't think you'd want it if it wasn't perfect like Jeremy."
"Honey, of course i want this baby, no matter what I will love it with all my heart and soul," he told her finally just pulling her into his lap, rocking her back and forth gently trying to calm her down.
She quieted quickly, "I love you so much, Frank," Denise declared and held onto him. "So much. And on the sex thing, we'll compromise. I can find out and you can be surprised? Fair?"
He hugged her close and kissed her head. "I love you too baby, yeah that sound good to me," he told her kissing her head again, and playing with her hair while she continued to lay on his shoulder loving the comfort and warmth of being in her husband's arms.