Second Chances, Chapter 6:

Sitting on the couch in Jakes office, Leslie put her feet up as Jake massaged her shoulders. His back and neck rub felt so good as she tried to relax after the mornings events. "Hmm." Leslie groaned with pleasure. "That feels so good."
"If you'd let me I'd spoil you like this everyday."

"I believe you would." Leslie smiled, closing her eyes and letting her body relax. She sipped on the hot cup of tea he had given her and tried to unwind. As he massaged her muscles between his fingers, he felt her shudder slightly.

"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"I thought you said everything was all right?"
"It's more than all right."
"You're not making any sense."
"I felt the baby move."

"You what?" Jake smiled brightly as he stopped massaging and stood to face her. "What does it feel like?"

"It's very faint, more like a small muscle spasm. It's hard to describe." Leslie apologised as Jake placed his hand on her belly, knowing he wouldn't feel anything but trying anyway. "There."
"That's my boy." He teased her as he leaned in and kissed her. "When he hit you today…. I could have killed him." Jake admitted as he kept his focus on her womb.
"I know, and I'm sorry for putting you in that position." Leslie placed her hands on his cheek to comfort him.
"I just wish you would take it easy. If anything ever happened to you."
"I will from now on. I promise."
"I know I over react sometimes and I can be a tool, but when I saw Becker shoot you."
"I understand Jake. I do." Leslie knew he was scared of losing her, of losing the baby. He hadn't loved anyone so much since his mum and the pain of losing her when he was only young was still strong within him. "But Becker is gone now. He can't hurt us anymore."

"But what about the next guy? And the next guy?" Jake asked her.
"You can't protect us from everyone. You just need to have a little faith."

^^^^ 0o0 ^^^

"Hmm hmm." Hood announced his presence as he entered the offices of Doyle and Doyle investigations.

"Hood." Leslie was surprised to see him there as she stood up to greet him.

"Don't get up." He politely offered,

"How long have you been standing there?" Jake asked suspiciously.

"Long enough." Hood replied with a guilty expression. "Did I hear correctly? Did Becker shoot Leslie?" Jake wondered what to tell him as Leslie sat back down, knowing Hood would be full of questions.

"I think you'd better sit down." Leslie told Hood as she made some room for him on the couch. Jake grabbed her a fresh glass of water and together they told Hood everything from Becker taking Jake, to her pregnancy and why Jake reacted the way he did.

"I knew it was bad." Hood began, "But I had no idea."
"How could you?" Leslie asked, "And none of this leaves this room."

"You have my word."

"And Jake." Hood held out his hand. "I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time lately.

"We're best kind." He promised him.
"Oh and I guess congratulations are in order. I can't believe that you managed to get that one by me."
"Yeah, we've had a chuckle about that one ourselves." Jake showed Hood to the door, then turned back to look at Leslie, she looked exhausted.

"I know this isn't how we planned any of this, but I feel better knowing he knows."

"I know what you mean."
"At least now he can keep an eye on you when I can't. Keep you safe." He thought, "I'm not above a little blackmail either. Either you take it easy or I tell the Brass and put you on desk duty."

"Excuse me?" She bit back, throwing a pillow at him.

"You're crazy about me, you know you are, you'll forgive me in time." He grinned sheepishly at her.
"Don't push your luck Bucko." She grinned back.

^^^^ 0o0 ^^^

"Ok" Jake began as he called for everyone's attention before they served desert. "Some of you already know this and some of you don't so we thought it as time that everyone knew." Jake continued as Leslie squeezed his hand in support. He smiled back at her as Leslie pulled out the ultrasound photo they had been given at the hospital earlier in the afternoon. "Tinny, you're not going to be the youngest Doyle anymore, you're going to be a cousin." He informed her.

"Right on" Tinny squealed as she leaned over and hugged Leslie.

"What's going on?" Des asked confused by the photo.

"It's an ultrasound Des." Rose tells him.

"Leslies going to have a baby." Mal dumbed it down for him.

"No way. Awe congratulations b'y that's awesome." Des beamed, "I'm going to be an uncle."

"Yes b'y." Jake didn't have the heart to explain the truth to him.

"It's a little small don't you think?" Des commented, rotating the image around.

"Just like her father." Mal joked as Jake shot him a glare, "but seriously, is everything ok?"

"Best Kind. The doctor gave Leslie a clean bill of health." Jake replied relieved.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Tinny asked

"We decided not to ask. We want to be surprised." Leslie told her, grinning at Jake.

"Well here's hoping for your sake Leslie that it's a girl." Mal raised his glass, "Cause we all know that one of Jake is more than enough for anyone to handle."

"Here! Here!" Everyone toasted as they raised their glasses.