A/N: Okay, so I know this chapter took a long time. I did a lot of research. This story is going in a different direction that I thought it would. If anyone wants to bounce ideas around PM me. Thanks to everyone for the reviews and the love. Keep them coming!
Chapter Five – A Little Heartbeat
The doctor's office was like a zoo. There were expecting mothers with their partners filling out forms or reading magazines. Most of the mother's were either in their late twenties or early thirty seconds. On the wall were slots of brochures anywhere from First Time Moms to information about Prenatal Vitamins. There was a small corner set up for children with pictures of babies on the wall.
The two receptionists behind the desk were happy to be there. They were typing in patient information while also checking in mothers-to-be.
Elizabeth walked up to the counter and signed in. She looked around at all the women that were there. She started feeling uncomfortable and old.
"Madam Secretary, how are you?" The red head receptionist, Stacy asked.
"I'm good thank you. I have an appointment with Dr. Benson." Elizabeth responded slowly grabbing Henry's hand. Her nerves and slight panic started. A memory of their first time doing this came flashing back.
"Yes ma'am. Can you please fill these forms out and we'll get you back in a minute." Stacy said handing Elizabeth a clipboard with a set of papers and a pen.
"Thank you." She said taking the clipboard and walking over to the corner were Frank was standing. She sat down in the chair feeling everyone's eyes on her. She never really felt uncomfortable in a crowd until this very moment.
She looked up from the papers and surveyed the room. Hoping that if she looked everyone in the eyes they would stop starring at her. Every person everted her eyes.
She looked over to Henry, "We have to get this news out fast."
"Yeah." Henry whispered taking her hand and squeezing lightly.
She looked back over to the paperwork and started filling it out. Coming to the last question, she heard her name called. Henry stood up and extended his hand out to her. She took his hand and followed the nurse into the back.
The nurse led them into a baby blue room in the back of the office. Frank stood outside guarding the door. The room had a slew of ducks and duckling painted on the wall.
Henry and Elizabeth sat down in the chairs across from the exam table. The nurse put Elizabeth's folder down next to the computer and logged in. She opened Elizabeth's records.
"This is your first time here Madam Secretary?" Nurse Cheryl asked.
"Yes Ma'am." Elizabeth responded handing the nurse the clipboard.
Cheryl looked though Elizabeth's papers to check that it was completely filled out. She reorganized the papers and put them in the folder.
Cheryl grabbed the blue blood pressure cuff that was hanging on the wall. "I'm just going to take your vital signs. And please call me Cheryl." She said placing the cuff on Elizabeth's right upper arm.
"Okay and please call me Elizabeth." She said smiling at Cheryl.
Cheryl just nodded her head as she took her blood pressure. She plugged it into the computer along with her oxygen and height. She gestured Elizabeth over to the scale.
She stepped up on the scale without bothering to look down. She definitely didn't want to know how much she weighed now. After her weight, she went back to sit beside Henry. She placed her hand in his lap for comfort.
"Dr. Benson will be with you shortly. I will be back to get blood from you afterwards. She will probably want to do a pap smear and an ultrasound. I'm going to leave this gown here just in case." Cheryl placed the gown on the exam table and let the room.
"Don't be nervous babe. We are in this together." Henry said soothingly, putting an arm around her shoulders. He pulled her in for a hug and kissed her on the hair.
She squeezed her hands around his arm and turned to kiss him lightly. He deepened her kiss. There was a light knock on the door that pulled them out of their kiss.
"Madam Secretary. I'm Dr. Samantha Benson. I'm very pleased to meet you." She said entering the room and extending her hand.
"Please, Elizabeth. Nice to meet you. This is my husband Dr. Henry McCord. You came highly recommended." Elizabeth said pleased to meet her new OBGYN.
Henry shook the doctor's hand and sat back down out of the way.
Dr. Benson quickly looked through Elizabeth's papers. She made a couple notes and then logged into the computer.
"I see this isn't your first child." She stated typing in some of her records.
"No, I have three children. All who are in their teens and young adult. This pregnancy was not planed whatsoever." Elizabeth felt like she had to add that comment in. She looked over to Henry.
"That's okay too. Your blood pressure and the rest of your vital signs look really good. Your weight is just about right for your height and how far along you are. How were your previous pregnancies? Any concerns?" Dr. Benson asked turning herself to face Elizabeth.
"I didn't have any real problems. Just really bad nausea and morning sickness with my last pregnancy. My blood pressure was also a little high. I was working for the CIA. I haven't had any morning sickness until this morning."
"Well that's good. I definitely want to keep an eye on your blood pressure. I don't feel we will have any concerns but since you stated that it runs in your husband's family we will watch out for it. Now how do you feel about this pregnancy?" She asked trying to get Elizabeth's entire story.
"Ah…" Elizabeth whispered through a long breath. She looked over to Henry and he just squeezed her hand. "As I said earlier, this was not in the plans. We had only decided on three kids. I have recently come back from a very stressful trip for work that has kind of shaken me up. I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. I'm excited but I have a very demanding job and worry how that will affect this baby. It's just …" Elizabeth could feel the anxiety slowly showing itself.
Henry realized she was getting herself worked up. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, "It's something that's going to take us a few days. No one knows yet except our oldest. And with my wife being in the public eye, I think she worries she won't have the time to get fully comfortable with this baby. But we are definitely over the moon excited." Henry took over answering the doctor's question.
"Yes, well this can be hard. I would recommend talking to someone. I have read about your work in Iran. I just want to make sure that you sail through this as smoothly as possible. Now, can you please change into this gown, than we can exam you? If you would like Dr. McCord can wait outside." Dr. Benson said getting ready to step out.
"No, I would like Henry to stay." She said getting up from her chair.
Dr. Benson just nodded as she walked out of the room to give Elizabeth a moment to change. A few minutes later she come back. Elizabeth was sitting on the exam table while Henry was standing next to her.
"I'm going to do a pelvic exam and a pap smear. Then we will do an ultrasound." Dr. Benson stated sitting in a chair in front of Elizabeth.
"An ultrasound? Isn't that a little early?" Elizabeth asked looking down at the doctor.
"Not at all. We should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Please lay back." Dr. Benson said placing a small sheet over Elizabeth's lap.
Dr. Benson performed all her exams. Henry just watched Elizabeth's face as she scrunched her face everytime the doctor did something that was uncomfortable. Dr. Benson changed her gloves as she stood up to stand on the other side of the table. She turned off the lights and turned on the ultrasound monitors. She turned the monitor so Henry and Elizabeth could see.
The moment the heartbeat of their baby came through, Henry's smile grew even wider. Elizabeth couldn't take her eyes off the monitor. The joy of seeing and hearing her baby for the first time went crashing over her body. Henry laid kisses in her hair. She finally broke her gaze from the monitors and looked over to him. He leaned down and placed a light kiss on her lips. "Baby's heart sounds really good and strong. I can print out a couple images." Dr. Benson said printing out a few images and wiping the ultrasound jelly off Elizabeth's abdomen.
Henry took the photos and helped Elizabeth sit up.
Ma'am? You're here?" Blake asked standing up to greet her.
"I just needed something from my office. I'm not officially here." She said walking past him and into her office.
Her office had become home to her. Even though she had fights with her staff and ambassadors, this was the place were she spend all her time. Lately, she spent more time in her office then at home with her family. She never wanted to take a job that kept her away but secretly she loved this job. As much as she didn't want this position, she was glad she took it.
There was a light knock on the door. She stood behind her desk and waited for the visitor to come in. Elizabeth took in a deep breath and sat down in her chair when her employee walked in.
Nadine walked into the office and sat in a chair across from her boss's desk. She waited patiently for her to start the conversation.
"Thanks Nadine. I have some news that I need to put out to the public. I need you to get the staff working on it." Elizabeth said grabbing an envelope from her bag. Even though she wasn't planning on telling her entire staff, she was now going to have to. With all the people in the doctor's office, this news was going to get and soon.
Nadine took the envelope and opened it. She took the sonogram out and looked at it puzzled. "Wait, who's pregnant?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and just looked at Nadine. Was she really going to ask her? It had her name on the top of the photo.
"Oh…" Nadine said looking down at the sonogram one more time. "Congratulations Ma'am. I will get the staff working on this." Nadine felt a little uncomfortable. She stood up and headed for the door. "Can I do anything else? I will clear your schedule for the next couple of days."
"Thanks Nadine. Let me know if anything major comes up though." Elizabeth said standing up as she watched her employee walk out of her office.
