Prompt 33: "I'm pregnant"
Summary: Alternate discovery of Shelagh's pregnancy in season 6.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Sister Winifred cheerily let herself into the Turner flat, patting herself on the back for a job well-done. It took her and Mrs. Turner a little while to find their footing with each other, but she was pleased that they seemed to get along well now. In hindsight, their relationship probably would've gotten off to a better start if anyone had bothered to tell her that she essentially came to Nonnatus to replace Mrs. Turner after she left the order or that Mrs. Turner was a former member of the order in the first place. Even when Shelagh came to take over from Sister Julienne, no one told her anything, and so she royally put her foot in it when she offered to handle "any of the religious aspects of running Nonnatus house because they could be difficult for others to understand." Mrs. Turner gave her a glare that could've melted the paint off the walls and Nurses Franklin and Miller audibly gasped. She made herself scarce the rest of that week.
Now, though, Mrs. Turner trusted her completely and even gave her the task of seeing to Dr. Turner and the rest of the surgery when she needed to go home. She hoped Shelagh was feeling better. Cape Town Tummy had wreaked havoc on all of them, but Shelagh didn't seem to be able to shake it.
"Mrs. Turner?" Sister Winifred called out. No answer greeted her. She hoped Shelagh hadn't fallen asleep, the last thing she wanted to do was interrupt rest. "Mrs. Turner, it's Sister Winifred."
When Shelagh still didn't answer, Sister Winifred peeked around into the sitting room, frowning when there was no sign of the other woman. Perhaps the kitchen, then? She walked around the corner into the Turner kitchen and gasped.
"Mrs. Turner!" she cried out as she quickly knelt beside an unconscious Shelagh. "Shelagh, can you hear me?" she checked her pulse and her eyes before concluding that it was likely a fainting episode due to dehydration. She'd never been so grateful to be in a house with a telephone.
She was five rings in before she remembered that no one was at the surgery because she'd just closed it and sent Dr. Turner off on his rounds. Sighing in frustration, she hung up and dialed Poplar 459 instead.
"Nonnatus House, midwife speaking." Sister Julienne's familiar reply calmed Sister Winifred immensely.
"Sister Julienne, it's Sister Winifred, I'm at the Turner residence, it's Mrs. Turner-"
"Shelagh?" Sister Julienne asked, voice immediately rising in concern. "What's happened."
"I don't know exactly, but I suspect fainting due to dehydration. She had to go home early from the surgery today when she didn't feel well." Sister Winifred explained. "I don't think it's an emergency, but I was trying to reach Dr. Turner, only he's out on his rounds."
"I understand." said Sister Julienne. "I'm on my way. I agree, it's probably not anything serious, but I'd like to sit with her until Dr. Turner returns. Will you wait with her until I arrive, please?"
"Of course, Sister." Sister Winifred hung up and resumed her place on the floor next to Shelagh. She wouldn't be able to move her somewhere more comfortable until she woke, but she did rearrange her a bit before checking her head for bruising. Satisfied that Shelagh wasn't at risk for a concussion, Sister Winifred sat and waited.
Sister Julienne arrived in record time. Unfortunately, Patrick arrived minutes later and the sight of two Nonnatun bikes up against his flat sent him running inside in a panic.
"What's happened?" he asked frantically as he raced inside, not entirely sure which room he was headed to.
"In here, Dr. Turner!" a voice called out from his sitting room. He ran around the corner to see Sister Julienne and Sister Winifred attending to Shelagh, whom they'd moved to the couch.
"My God, Shelagh, is she alright?" he asked, eyes darting back and forth between the two nuns.
"She'll be fine, Doctor." Sister Winifred assured. "I'll take my leave, then, Sister." She nodded to Sister Julienne and made her way out the door.
Patrick stood and looked over Shelagh nervously, his medical brain taking him to the worst possible scenarios.
"Patrick." Sister Julienne softly called, trying to peacefully gain his attention.
"What happened?" he asked again.
"Sister Winifred came to update Shelagh after you closed the surgery. She found her unconscious in the kitchen. Based on her not feeling well earlier, we think she may have fainted due to dehydration." Sister Julienne calmly explained.
"She's been feeling out of sorts ever since we got back from South Africa," Patrick elaborated as he sat on the couch beside his wife, "but I didn't realize how bad it was."
"Most of us have luckily left Cape Town Tummy behind us." Sister Julienne ruminated. "Has she still been vomiting as frequently?"
"More, actually, come to think of it," Patrick thought carefully, "but mostly in the mor...nings…" he trailed off, unwilling to embrace the spark of hope quickly building in his chest. He couldn't hide the way his breathing sped up, though, or the way his eyes began to sparkle. "Oh my god."
"Dr. Turner, do you think she could be…?" Sister Julienne couldn't bear to name her hopes either.
"I-I don't know." he stammered. "It's been so long since we even thought to consider the possibility."
A small groan drew their attention as Shelagh blinked slowly awake. Patrick and Sister Julienne beamed down at her.
"Darling, it's alright." Patrick soothed as he ran his hand over hers.
"Patrick? Sister Julienne?" Shelagh whispered as she tried to gain her bearings.
"We're here, my dear." said Sister Julienne warmly. "Take your time. You're absolutely fine, you just fainted."
"Oh no, I'm sorry." Shelagh instinctively apologized.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Patrick insisted. "No, don't sit up. You need to rest." he gently pressed her back down as she tried to sit up to face them.
Shelagh lay down and tried to take in the expressions on her husband's and her mother's faces. They were concerned for her, but there was also a hope in their eyes that she couldn't ascribe to her simply waking up. As the rest of the day came back to her, her heart fluttered. Could they have figured it out? She'd only gotten it confirmed that morning, was it written on her face?
"Shelagh," Patrick tried to find the words, "I don't even know how to ask you. It's been so long since I ever thought I would ask you."
He looked to Sister Julienne, but she was just as at a loss for words as he was. Luckily, Shelagh took pity on the both of them. She'd been terrified to tell anyone, but somehow, waking to find the two people she loved most on this earth spontaneously in the know, was incredibly comforting and inspiring.
"I didn't know how I was going to tell you." she smiled. "But, you don't have to ask me, Patrick, Sister Julienne...I'm pregnant."
Sister Julienne let her tears of hope and happiness flow and Patrick practically fell down on Shelagh to hug her close.
"This, this is a true miracle, Shelagh." Sister Julienne cried.
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I'm so afraid of what could happen." Shelagh admitted, shyly. She couldn't bear that she was having any kind of reservations after hoping for so many years.
"I'm not." Sister Julienne insisted. "Because I never stopped praying." she took one of Shelagh's hands as Patrick took the other.
"We won't let anything happen to you or the baby, Shelagh." Patrick promised. "I know you both know I don't put much stock in faith, but I can't believe our dreams would finally come true only to be taken away from us."
Shelagh felt her fears evaporate in his eyes and smile. Years ago, he'd told her to just watch his face and she sobbed when she knew she never would. Three years later, she could honestly say it was worth the wait.
33 down, 17 to go! Hope you enjoy!