Of course…blah, blah, blah, blah… yada, yada, yada… No lawsuits please… no infringement intended.
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This nausea was slowing her up this morning and Alexis had too much to do to let a queasy stomach hem her all up. When she'd slipped out of bed earlier, feeling like she was going to throw up, she did her best not to wake her husband. They had spent the night before arguing with each other and then trading glares across the room with snide comments until Sonny finally walked over kissed her and said he loved her, but that the conversation would continue in the morning. She returned the sentiment and let it rest, but if he'd of heard her in the bathroom he would have rushed her to General Hospital.
By now he was downstairs making waffles for everyone and thinking he was letting her sleep in a little. But Alexis Davis didn't slow down because of a tiny bit of discomfort. She had motions to file at the courthouse and a clerk who was on maternity leave. Then she had the shooting pain in her side that made her grab for the tiled wall behind her as she went to step out of the shower. Managing to ease out, the otherwise stalwart attorney gingerly got her robe on and tiptoed to the edge of her bed crawling into the fetal position willing the wave of pain to subside. She never heard the door open but soon felt her daughter's hand on her forehead.
"Mom, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Sam asked.
Alexis did not want her to panic, so she pushed herself up and said she was fine. But her eldest wasn't buying it that easily.
"You don't look alright. Do you want me to go get Sonny for you? It looks like you're in pain."
"Samantha, I have too much to do today to deal with Sonny and his overprotective behavior. I had a sharp pain that just took my breath for a second, but I'm fine now… really. Why don't you go and get ready and I'll be down in minute. I'm sure I just need to eat something and have my coffee." Trying not to wince in agony Alexis stood up and walked her daughter part way to the door. Sonny came into view as he reentered the room to get dressed for the day.
"What's going on?" He wasn't as large as most of his guards, but Sonny Corinthos could still fill a doorway and that was exactly what he was doing.
Sam started to speak, but Alexis put her had on her shoulder and spoke up instead. "Morning gorgeous, breakfast smells terrific… Sam just wanted to know if I had time to pin her hair up for her, but I don't because I need to be at the courthouse by 8:30."
"Alexis..." Sonny started, but wanted his daughter out of earshot, "Sam you better go get you some before Michael inhales it all."
Something was clearly going on and they didn't want her to know. Whatever it was, for once Sam didn't want to get involved. She knew her mother didn't feel great, but she also knew how stubborn the woman was and she figured she'd let Sonny have the battle with her and she'd have waffles. Slipping past her father she heard the door close as she headed down the stairs.
"Okay shows over, so why don't you sit down before you fall down." Alexis hated admitting defeat, but she did feel like she was about to collapse.
"I don't want her worrying about me when it's probably nothing. Which, correct me if I'm wrong is the same thing I told you last night. I have an appointment in a couple of days, and I'll survive until then, so back off."
"You're not invincible counselor. Why can't you just own that something isn't right and go in this morning."
"You have your work and I have…" Clutching her side again Alexis couldn't move or speak. Her eyes began filling with tears and the pain that started a week ago as an ache was now a constant throb. Being stubborn wasn't getting her anywhere. Sonny went over and guided her back to the edge of the bed and then went to the door and called for Leticia.
The nanny had been getting ready for the day herself when her often ornery boss called for her. With her bare feet and dripping hair, last night going later then planned, she ran down the hall hoping one of the twins hadn't gotten into anything while she was dressing. Those two could prove to be disastrous when left unsupervised.
"Yes, sir, I'll make sure everything is alright and that they have nothing to worry about. I'll send her right up."
Sonny wanted Leticia to get the twins and Michael out of the house ASAP. Alexis agreed to go to the hospital, but she wouldn't lie to Samantha. She knew she was old enough to handle the truth. Sonny had pulled out jeans and a sweater for her and as soon as the pinching in her abdomen stopped she hastily got dressed and pulled her hair up into a clip before she was struck again.
"Hey, Leticia said you wanted me. What's up?" Sam stood in the doorway looking at her parents and for the first time realized the mood and energy in the room left her feeling uneasy.
"Come her baby," Alexis gestured for Sam to sit on the bed next to her.
"Sonny is going to take me in to see Dr. Meadows this morning. I'm having a lot more pain since last night and with the nausea and fatigue… we just want to be safe not sorry, so I moved the appointment up."
Her eyes were getting full and a wave of nausea passed through her as well. She knew her mother had been feeling tired and that she wasn't feeling great, but she figured it was just a flu bug of some sort. Now, everything that wasn't being said made her think it was something much worse.
"Well, I want to go with you too. I mean I just want…"
Sonny was all over it, "absolutely not. You're going to school. We'll call and let you know what's going on. There's nothing you can do but hang around the nurses station and wait."
"So… that's all you're going to do too and you're going with her." Sam said annoyed and with a lot more whine in her voice then she wanted to display.
Alexis was drained and said nothing leaving Sonny and Sam at odds without a buffer once again. "It's not open for discussion Samantha. You're going to school period. When there's something to know we'll tell you. Finish getting ready and Danny will take you."
"Danny? Why can't I ride with Milo?" Not a fan of Danny's since her crush years ago was made known and he treated her like a kid sister. Sam was frustrated and that just made her pout and Sonny was in no mood for the behavior.
"Get going and don't you give him a hard time. You need me for anything you call my cell or try Jason." That was it… the conversation was over. Sonny would not be challenged in this area and in deference to her mother's condition Sam backed off.
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They had waited for an hour for Dr. Meadows to squeeze them in and Sonny didn't do waiting well. He stayed in with her through the exam and they sat in awkward silence while time passed and the test results came in. As soon she walked in Alexis and Sonny both took note of the look in her eyes. She was literally the portrait of pain. Alexis' hand shot out and grabbed on to her husband's. Sonny wanted to pace, but the tiny exam room wouldn't allow that sort of energy to run amok.
Breaking the silence first Alexis said, "It's bad isn't it?"
"It's not great, but it is treatable. Let me explain. Alexis you're about 8 weeks pregnant…"
"Oh, thank God. I thought you were going to tell me something… wait, you know I wanted to get pregnant again, so this wouldn't be bad news unless… what's wrong with the baby?" Alexis tended to ramble when her nerves took hold and no longer was she the confident attorney, but the timid Natasha from years ago.
"I'm so sorry… for both of you, but it isn't a viable pregnancy."
"What does that mean?" Sonny asked the physician pointedly.
"Alexis you have what we call an Ectopic Pregnancy. Meaning the embryo never came down into the uterus, but instead is lodged in the fallopian tube. It's why you've had the nausea, vomiting, cramping and fatigue."
"So the baby has no chance at survival at all?" Alexis was stunned. In moments she had and lost a baby. She was having a difficult time wrapping her brain around the information. And the way Sonny was squeezing her hand she knew he was too.
"I'm sorry, but no there is no chance of survival. What we have to focus on is getting you into surgery and removing the embryo without damaging the tube. And I hate to rush you, but we need to schedule the procedure right away."
"She has to have surgery? You want to end my child's life and we need to do it right away? I'm sorry, but we're going to need some time with this information. What about a second opinion?" Sonny moved in front of the window in the cramped space." He didn't mean to attack Dr. Meadows, but he did not feel good about anything she had told him. There must be something else out there they could do. Family meant everything to him and even an unborn child was worth the fight.
"You're entitled to a second opinion, but this occurs about 1 in 50 pregnancies and the procedure is considered standard. We need to move quickly to avoid further complications. If the fallopian tube ruptures it could prove fatal."
They were both feeling the walls close in on them and it felt like the air was being sucked out of the room. Sonny was running a hand through his hair and Alexis really wanted a paper bag to breathe into right then.
"Alexis, I'm going out to schedule the surgery for tomorrow morning. You two need to talk and make arrangements because this is not something that will wait." With that Dr. Meadows left the couple contemplating their next move.
Sonny went over to embrace his wife the minute the exam room door closed. And that was when she lost it. Alexis let out sobs muffled by her husbands shoulder. It wasn't like they were trying for a baby, but the topic had come up and neither wanted to do anything permanent that would prevent conception. But for some reason it felt like a loss and the mother-to-be was hurting.
"You don't have to do this Lex. We can wait if you want and get the second opinion."
"I trust Dr. Meadows and if she says this is necessary then it's what I have to do. I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for? She didn't say any of this was your fault. It happens and we'll get through it… together." Sonny kissed her cheeked and pulled away when he heard the doctor enter the room again.
"Okay we're set for first thing tomorrow morning. I'd like to get you checked in tonight and then we can monitor you and your pain and give you something if it gets to intense."
"I'm not just checking into the hospital without seeing my children and explaining things to them, but I will come back. Exactly what will this procedure entail?"
"Since the fallopian tube hasn't ruptured and the pregnancy hasn't progressed very far, laparoscopic surgery is all that's needed to remove the embryo and repair the damage. A laparoscope is a thin, flexible instrument inserted through small incisions in the abdomen. During the surgery a tiny incision is made in the fallopian tube and the embryo is removed, preserving the integrity of the fallopian tube. Alexis you can still get pregnant again if you decide that's what you want."
"Right now all I want is to see my children and get some fresh air." She slid off the exam table and gathered her things. "I'll be back tonight. Thank you." She was out the door and practically running for the elevators on the 10th floor. Sonny thanked the doctor again and trailed behind his wife. He was a bundle of nerves.