DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

Twenty-Three

"What happened?" Lois asked when she finally opened the suite door and Jason walked in carrying Brenda.

"I don't know," Jason said. "She just doubled over." He followed Lois into one of the bedrooms and laid her on the bed. She curled up on her side.

"Bren," Lois said sitting down next to her. "What hurts?"

"My stomach."

"Okay, I want you to start taking some deep breaths," Lois said. "Did you call the doctor?"

"Keri's calling Robin."

Lois nodded and smiled softly. "How are you feeling? Still in pain?"

"A little," Brenda told her closing her eyes.

"Jason, can you go get a cold wash cloth?" he only nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. "Girlfriend, what in the world were you thinking down there?"

"I was thinking that Sonny just blamed Lily's death on me and that Carly was standing by watching it all," Brenda said defensively.

"Calm down. You need to stay relaxed." Lois brushed the hair off her cheek as Jason returned with the wash cloth.

"Where's Miguel?"

"He's hanging out with the boys. He's fine," Lois told him. "Lay here for a little bit and take deep breaths." Lois ushered Jason out of the room and closed the door behind them.

"Is she okay?" he asked.

Lois sighed, running her hands through her hair, and looked at him.

"She'll probably be fine. It's some mild cramping. That happened to me too when I got worked up." Lois looked at him. "She told you right?" He only nodded. "She doesn't want anything from you. She doesn't need your money or your support. She felt she had an obligation to tell you."

"And just walk away from my own kid?" Jason asked.

"I left Ned because his family wasn't what I wanted Brook to grow up around. Brenda is adamant that her child will not be a target for your enemies."

There was a knock on the door and Keri came in with Robin.

"Where is she?" Robin asked carrying a medical bag with her.

"In the bedroom resting," Lois told her as the bedroom door slowly opened and Brenda stepped out. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not laying in there alone while you guys talk about me out here," she said walking over to the couch and sitting down.

"How are you feeling?" Robin asked.

"Better. I think the pain is gone."

"Can you let me check you out?" she asked. Brenda only nodded as Robin sat on the edge of the coffee table and took out a blood pressure cuff.

"Can I have some ice?" Brenda asked.

"Why?" Robin asked.

"She punched Sonny," Lois told them. Jason looked at Brenda who desperately wanted to smile at her victory but didn't. "I'll get it."

"You punched Sonny?" Robin asked, not hiding her smile. "Why?"

"It doesn't matter. Except he deserved it and it felt so good to see the look on his face. And Carly's."

Robin reached into her bag and pulled out a very unfamiliar piece of equipment.

"What's that?" Brenda asked.

"Sit up and I'll show you," she said. Brenda complied and Robin stretched it around her back and fastened the Velcro pieces together. She shifted Brenda's tank top over the device and flipped on a switch. "Okay, let's see what we find." Almost instantly the static sound of a thump-thump was heard and she smiled. "That's the heartbeat."

Brenda couldn't help but smile. She also couldn't help but look up at Jason who stood slightly in awe.

"Good and steady heartbeat. A fighter," Robin told her as Lois handed over a bag of ice and Brenda rested it on her free hand.

"Thank you," Brenda whispered to Robin.

"You're welcome. As much as I hate it, I need to get back to the hospital. I don't want you moving. You need to rest. And keep that on for awhile. If you start having any more pain, come into the hospital." Brenda nodded as she hugged her friend.

Jason couldn't help but take her place next to Brenda.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

Lois and Keri took this as their cue to disappear. They followed Robin out into the hall to have a conversation of their own, considering the concert was tonight and Brenda wasn't likely to give up going.

"Yeah," she said.

He didn't ask her permission as he laid both his hands on her slightly round belly.

"You really want me to have nothing to do with it?" he asked looking up at her. She was surprised to see the tears forming in his eyes.

"It will be easier in the end for you to keep your distance than to have this baby taken from you later in life."

"How do you know?"

"Because no matter what, in your life, she would become a target and would get be killed, kidnapped or I would be forced to separate you."

"She?" he asked.

"Well, it's too soon to tell, but I can't call her it forever," Brenda said with half a smile.

"I can't just not be a part of my child's life," Jason told her.

"Hey, you are not going in there," they both heard Lois call before the door opened and Sonny walked in followed by Jax and Carly.

Jason and Brenda both looked over at them, his hands still gently on her stomach. The group stopped when they saw them sitting there.

"Leave," Jason told them as calmly as he could.

"That's a really great idea," Lois said.

"Brenda, I'm sorry," Sonny said.

She just stared at him, full of every emotion possible. The thump-thumps started to quicken in pace.

"Brenda," Robin said coming up next to Lois. "Calm down. I know it's hard but you need to."

Jason's hands gently rubbed her stomach.

"You're pregnant?" Carly blurted out causing them to all look at her.

The heartbeat slowed a little but still kept a faster pace than before. Brenda laid her hand over Jason's and he looked up at her.

"Go," she whispered.

"I'm not leaving."

"Take them with you," she told him before slowly standing up and walking past all of them into the bedroom, closing the door.

Jason finally stood, defeated. Sonny stopped him before he could get out the door. Jason pushed him away.

"This is your entire fault," he yelled before walking out of the room and nearly slamming the door shut on his way.

Sonny looked at Lois and Robin.

"I have to agree with Jason. Brenda's in this condition because of the two of you," Lois said. "But maybe this is what you want, Sonny. For Brenda to lose her baby because she caused Lily and your unborn baby's deaths?"

"You know I don't blame Brenda. I was upset and it just came out."

"Sometimes that's when the truth does," Robin pointed out. "She's only in town for another day. I'd stay away if I were you."