Here is the next chapter every one, please enjoy and Sanctuary still isn't mine… damn… ANYWAY, Enjoy!
The trip home was as uneventful as expected with my turning stomach. Several times I put it on autopilot to wait for waves of nausea to pass. Several times I heard Kate lose the battle much like me. However, we landed safely and made our way home without any real problems to speak of.
"Kate, Will cornered me before we left yesterday and said that Henry was talking to you about a second opinion?" I asked her after we had unpacked and were in my office after the staff meeting. She turned to look at me from the door frame. She walked back in as I moved for the couch. She sat down across from me.
"Yeah he said Will was talking to you about going to see Ally when we got back." I nodded and moved over to sit beside her. I have to admit I am seeing Kate more as a friend, and shopping with her is fun.
"Kate, I feel I should tell you that Ally will check us for everything, I trust her very much and I do think it is a good idea, we can go at the same time, the boys won't be there because she is primarily a gynecologist, but she is my normal doctor as well." Kate nodded and looked at me. I reached out a grabbed one of her hands giving it a squeeze and smiling slightly, hoping to release some tension in the air.
"How soon can she see us? I'd like to know why we are like this and the boys aren't getting sick at all, it kind of makes me jealous." Kate said. I nodded in agreement; they hadn't been sick at all which was puzzling, because Will and Henry don't have the immune system I do.
"I'll call her in a minute and see when she can fit the both of us in, with back to back appointments, unless you want us to go in at the same time?" I asked her. She visibly tensed when I suggested different times. I nodded. "Same time then." It was more of a statement but she relaxed. I released her hand and she got up and smiled at me before going out the door, nodding her thanks.
I got up and made my way to my desk. Sitting and pulling out my phone I dialed Ally's number and waited for her to pick up.
"Hello, this is Dr. Urban." Ally answered. I fingered the end of my skirt before talking.
"Ally, it's Helen, I need an appointment for me and my colleague, Kate, for the same time as soon as possible." I said getting it all off of my chest as calmly as possible.
"I have an opening in twenty minutes, can you and Kate be here in that amount of time Helen?" the concern radiated off of her, usually I was forced into the physicals every year.
"Yes, we will be there, and Ally, I need us both checked for everything, Kate is nervous so I ask for you to see us at the same time and the same room please." I asked knowing that she would allow it.
"Of course, Helen be warned I will do a pelvic exam on both of you though as your check up is needed again." I sighed; of course she wouldn't forget the fact that I had conveniently been out of the country when my appointment was scheduled, earlier in the year.
"Ally I wouldn't expect anything else." I smiled and stood walking out of the room to go find Kate after hanging up. I found her in the hall heading towards the residential level.
"Kate, we need to go, Ally said she can get us in if we leave now." I looked at her and she nodded.
"Okay then, let's go and get this over with." I nodded again and we changed course heading for the garage instead. Once there we took the Tesla Roadster, and headed out.
An hour later it was my turn to be poked and prodded while Kate's tests results were being processed. She hadn't been subjected to a pelvic exam, which surprised me a little. My blood was drawn and I was directed to the exam table. I sat down and looked at Kate. We were both clad in the paper gowns that everyone was given for the physical exams. Ally walked in after the nurse left with a vial of my blood for testing. I smiled at her, then frowned when she walked over and placed my legs in and feet in the stirrups.
"Ally, why must we do this now?" I whined, because in my opinion, this was the worst part of being a woman, other than menstrual cycles, the dreaded Checkup one must endure. She looked at me and smiled.
"Because, Helen, you 'missed' you regular appointment and I know for a fact that this is the part that you hate the most. I'm cornering you now because Kate can hold your hand while I probe because I know it embarrasses you a little." She smiled slightly as she donned a pair of gloves. I groaned. I looked at Kate and she came over to stand by me. I grabbed her hand and held it. Ally then proceeded to probe and my grip tightened on Kate's hand and she squeezed it back.
"Hmm, Helen, when was your last menstruation?" Ally asked. I started to think back and realized that my period should be coming next week.
"Three weeks ago, my next one should start in six days." I knew this because I was like clockwork that was how I knew I was pregnant with Ashley, I was late. Even with all the stress in my life I was like clockwork. She looked at me from over the little coverlet and stared at me.
"Ally, don't look at me like that, what's wrong?" I asked suddenly nervous and nauseous, again. She removed her gloves and disposed of them and removed my legs and feet from the stirrups. I immediately shot for the trash can and emptied the contents of my stomach into it. Ally held my hair and rubbed my back this time while Kate brought me water and a towel to clean up with. I moved back to the table and sat down.
"Thank you both." I said as Ally moved to sit in front of me on the rolling stool as Kate sat on the visitor chair. I took a deep breath anticipating Ally's next question.
"How long have you both been vomiting?" Kate and I looked at her, then at each other. Resigned, I spoke for the both of us.
"About a week and a half, we woke up one morning on our recent family vacation not feeling well, I thought it was a nasty stomach flu or other virus, so we rested for the rest of the trip and got back earlier this morning. Will and Henry said we should seek a second opinion, so I called you. Why?" I asked and then she burst into laughter. I was puzzled. 'Why is she laughing…? Oh no…' I looked at Kate in shock as I realized where Ally was taking this. "Ally, we can't be, it is against all odds that we are both pregnant." I stated rather flatly. There was a knock on the door and Ally answered it and was handed two charts with test results. She looked them both over and handed them to me. I looked at them side by side. On both charts the blood tests for pregnancy came back positive with hormone levels raised in all the right places. I looked at Ally in disbelief.
"Kate, Helen, I am pleased to inform you that you are both pregnant." Ally smiled as the news sank into us. Ally then led us to a room with two beds and an ultrasound machine. She motioned for one of us to lay down.
Kate was first, the picture showed up and we were looking at a small but defined life in Kate's tummy. Kate's face lit up and she grabbed my hand and looked at me. I smiled at her and she smiled back. I noticed that everything looked good for a three week old fetus.
Then it was my turn. I was on the table and Kate was by my side holding my hand again as the wand was moved across my midsection in search of the little bundle of joy. What was found was a little shocking. I looked at the monitor, then Ally, then Kate. Ally smiled and I stared down at my tummy.
"Congratulations Helen, you are going to have twins at least, it's too early to tell but yes at least twins." I took my free hand from behind my head and placed it on my abdomen. I looked back at the monitor as my tummy was cleaned the rest of the way off.
Three hours later.
"Will darling, I need you to breathe in and out deeply and slowly." I said as soothingly as possible. He was staring at me like I had grown two heads. "I was shocked too but you still need to breathe." I was standing beside his chair supporting him as he was hyperventilating. Henry's reaction hadn't been any better; he had passed out, even while sitting down. Will had smiled and then a look of pure shock formed on his face when I explained it was at least going to be twins, maybe more. He calmed after a few minutes and Big Guy handed him and Henry a glass of water.
"You are both pregnant, and due on the same day, and we are supposed to take that lightly?" Henry said from his position beside Kate on the floor. "Mom, this is a little weird for us, especially me." I nodded at Henry his child would be born around the same time as his siblings. I could see how that would be odd.
Over the next few days Kate and I were forced to make changes, one being the fact that we had both been taken off of the active list, no missions other than shopping were allowed for us. Declan and his nephew, Charlie, flew in to take our places for bag and gabs. Kate and I were not happy on one particular morning when we both happened to find the boys arguing over which one of us was more important, me with twins, or Kate because it was her first pregnancy. I shoved my way between them and forced them apart.
"You both have ten seconds to calm down or I will calm you both down with a tranquilizer! I am in no mood what-so-ever, to be fought over, and for the record, we are both at the same level in the medical field, get over it!" I yelled at them. They calmed and Kate put her gun back. I stalked off towards the kitchen with Kate in search of food. Since learning of our conditions we had both started to pick up on our cravings. We found that we shared the same cravings, and had the uncanny knowledge to know when the other wanted something.
"Carrots and Whipped topping, with chocolate shavings?" I looked at Kate and she nodded in earnest.
After our snack was prepared we relocated to the lab as I needed to run some tests on Damian, the nubbin. Lately he had not been himself, sneezing and what could possibly be called coughing. I checked the tablet for his results and sure enough it showed that the poor little guy had a cold. I frowned and looked over as he sneezed himself into camo-mode.
"Aww, he is so cute when he sneezes." Kate said looking at him with a smile. I nodded in agreement taking another bite of our strange albeit, delicious, snack.
"Damian has a minor cold and will be kept in isolation until he gets better." Kate nodded and took the cage to a separate enclosure with a cooling system. I turned back to the tablet and started inputting the data into the charts when my cell phone began to vibrate in my pocket. Annoyed, I answered it.
"Dr. Magnus speaking." I said into the phone, and then took another bite of my snack.
"Helen, I need to see you and Kate for your two month checkups." Ally's voice said over the phone. I looked at the date on the tablet in my other hand and rolled my eyes.
"Yes Ally, I was going to call you tomorrow about that, but if you have time could we do it here, there are some residents who I need to pay some close attention too, please?" I took another bite of the blissful snack as Kate walked into the room back to her bowl.
"Yes Helen, I'm on my way now actually I figure you have everything there and you want to again deliver there I assume?" she asked. I hadn't thought about it really, but I realized that was the only way I was going to do it in a hospital, if something went wrong they didn't have blood or medication compatible with me.
"No point moving from my nice comfortable home to a hospital that is less equipped than I am to deliver a baby, so yes, if we could do everything else here that would be wonderful, thank you Ally." I said in relief, taking another bite of my snack.
"Then I will meet you in the infirmary in ten minutes, I am parking now." She informed me and i rolled my eyes.
"Yes, Ally we will both be down there in ten minutes for our checkups." I hung the phone up before she could say anything else and nodded toward Kate.
"Our presence is requested in the infirmary for our two month checkup, we should get going, or she will attempt to confine us." Kate nodded at me as I stood up grabbing my bowl I started toward the infirmary with Kate.
Halfway to the infirmary we met up with Ally who took in the contents of our bowls and scowled. I looked at Kate then back at Ally and shrugged, taking another bite. The truth, the little concoction that Kate and I were eating was one of the only things we could really keep down.
Two torturous hours later, after the checkups, Kate and I bolted for the changing rooms. I pulled the curtain, still listening to Ally, explaining to Will and Henry the need to make sure we each got more sleep if it meant locking us in a room. I frowned and reached for my underwear, stepping into the lace panties and pulling them on then grabbing the bra, which was already tighter fitting than normal, I fastened it with some difficulty. I finished dressing with the notion that much needed clothes shopping was in order. 'As if I need bigger breasts anyway.' I thought to myself. I roughly pulled the curtains open to see Will standing there waiting with my unfinished bowl of food. I instantly smiled and took it from him.
"Somebody looks like she has been neglecting her food." He teased. I mock glared at him and was rewarded with a kiss. I pulled away and smiled again as Will put his hand on my lower abdomen and looking at it with such awe, I smirked.
"Have you never seen a pregnant woman, Will?" I teased. He looked at me and smiled.
"Of course I have, but they have never been carrying MY children." He softly retorted. I grinned at him again and nodded. He looked up at me with a smirk on his face. "This means you need to go shopping, I can see the line your bra has created, you've gone up a cup size." He said running a finger over the line as I looked down and saw that there was, indeed, a noticeable change in my cup size. I groaned and nodded again. I
"This isn't the worst part of being pregnant, but it is pretty close, with Ashley I had morning sickness through the whole pregnancy, even during labor." I cringed. I really didn't want to have morning sickness the whole time. "Will I just thought of something, we need to get the stuff for the nurseries, we should go out later and at least get the cribs and bassinets, and maybe some new clothes." I may only be two months along, but with twins it appeared that I was going to show faster, which meant that I needed to brief the network, soon. Will nodded in agreement.
"Tomorrow." He looked at me seriously.
"Tomorrow, with Kate and Henry." I said figuring they would need to as well. Will nodded back and turned to head back to the main levels.
Ally walked over and put a hand on my shoulder. I covered her hand with mine and looked down at my stomach. There was already a more noticeable roundness to it and I sighed. Yep this was going to be fun.
"You and Kate both work out, you need to take a prenatal yoga class, there is one in town and I know you don't like not have control of your schedule but you and Kate are signed up for two times a week, if you both keep jogging or move to swimming. If you stop I will know and you will both be taking yoga more than that." She added sternly with a look that I knew very well. I gave that look a lot, but never really had it directed at me. I nodded quickly in agreement.
"Now I know why no one fights my authoritativeness as a doctor, we are scary." I chuckled and Ally nodded. She walked off towards Kate. I exited the infirmary to attend the daily conference call for the heads of house in the network. I groaned, they would already know that Kate and I were removed from the active list but not why. I walked back into the lab just as the screens lowered. Henry was there, waiting patiently. This was going to be the difficult part. I stood to attention snapping out of my thoughts, putting my bowl down.
"Hello everyone, there are some important things that we need to discuss this evening." I said as everyone came into view on the monitors with my team standing behind me. Several of the heads looked at me and smiled and then there was Pilee who smiled and was the first to speak.
"Helen, you look well, but I noticed that you have been taken off of the active list, I trust your health is well?" she asked with concern, I nodded and smiled at her.
"To the point, Pilee, thank you." I smiled at her before taking a deep breath. 'Time to drop the bomb.' I thought. "Everyone, I assure you that my health is well, perfect so far, as well as the twins I now carry," many of the heads' faces paled then they sighed in relief, then they all started talking at once. "Ladies and gentlemen calm down, I'm not dying, I am pregnant. That is the only reason I am off of the active list I assure you."
Three peaceful hours later I was in my giant bathtub, enjoying a very nice lavender and vanilla bubble bath. I had a book and a cup of tea. Music was playing and I was taking the time to relax. It was nice and I remembered how I felt the need for sleep with Ashley and it was doubled this time. Yes I should absolutely enjoy the peace and quiet now, before they can move and I can feel it and before they are born. There was a soft knock on the door of the en suite, I sighed.
"Come in." I called softly, fully enjoying the lull of the scents in the room. Kate walked in and sat down beside the tub. "Kate, what's wrong sweetheart?" I asked softly. She started crying. I reached a hand out and grabbed her chin making her face me.
"I... I don't know, I just feel bloated and not sexy at all." She hiccupped. I knew exactly how she was feeling; I had the same thoughts when I was pregnant with Ashley.
"Oh Kate, get in the tub, I know exactly how you feel. I felt it the first time I was pregnant. It will pass eventually." She looked at me in shock as I told her to get into the tub, but she complied anyway. I moved around to her back and started rubbing. She sighed and relaxed a little. "Kate, I will be here for you, we all will, just as I know all of you will be here for me. I am more than happy that this time there is a woman to be my understanding friend throughout this whole thing." I smiled. Kate turned to look at me and she smiled. She then moved behind me and gave me a massage. The day was at an end and the most difficult part was telling the network, and I had survived it.
After we had finished our bath, I climbed out and dried off. I wrapped a towel around me and went to my closet. I grabbed two robes and went back to the bathroom. A few minutes later Kate and I were curled up on the bed watching Chicago and singing along with the songs. Sometime later I was sleeping lightly when the door to my rooms opened and there was a click as the TV was turned off then the door closed again. I paid no attention and curled up beside Kate, drifting back into the world of dreams.
Yep. The next chapter will have a little time jump, not a big one. R&R please.