The Pregnancy Ship

Chapter 3: I'll be good

This is an A/U story

Disclaimer: These are not my characters they are fully James Duffs. I just love them so much and love to play with them.

Sharon woke up from her nap, and tried to figure out what had woken her. Then she heard the knock again. She stood up slowly, straightening up and ran her fingers through her hair. She looked for her watch and only found the acupressure bracelet, so she looked up at the clock. It was only 8:00am! "Just a minute! Who's there?"

"Chief Taylor, Captain. "

She opened the door, and he came in. She indicated a chair. "Have a seat Chief." She went around to her chair, pulling at the hem of her blazer, as she sat she straightened her lapels and pushed her hair away from her face. "What can I do for you, Chief?"

"You left me a message asking to see me on my door."

"Oh yes, right. Um...I meant...never mind, you're here. So I'll get this over with..." Chief Taylor had seen Sharon Raydor angry, happy, and sad and a myriad of different ways but flustered wasn't one of them. No, flustered was new.

"Chief, Andy's and my relationship has...elevated quite a bit since we last talked..."

"What, you're getting married already? It's only been 6 months!"

"Well, I imagine that might, " she took a deep breath putting her hand to her heart, "happen sooner than later, but that's not what I meant. Um..." She fiddled with her hands for a moment looked up, and said it quickly, "Andy and I are going to have twins, Chief."

Russell Taylor's eyes bulged, and his mouth opened and closed like a fish. "I um wasn't expecting that."

Sharon snort laughed, "believe me when I say, we weren't either. We thought the pregnancy ship had sailed years ago, but apparently it hasn't even left the harbor."

"Will you retire?"

"I'm not planning to. I'd like to stay on as long as possible. If all goes well, the latter part of the third trimester I will have to go on maternity leave. I'm beginning my second trimester now. When I'm finished my maternity leave, I'd like to come back and put the children in daycare here, so I can still feed them myself. That's what I hope for. Of course if I have trouble all my plans go down the tubes. I've been pregnant before Chief, and kept a full time job up until I delivered. But I've never been pregnant with twins before, and at my age, it will be tricky. I may need to make some concessions."

"Such as?"

"Not going to crime scenes, letting my team handle those, unless for some reason they need me. Not getting into dangerous situations and staying off my feet as much as possible."

"Well, the first two is something you've been doing mostly, already. Letting Provenza take the lead on investigations was a smart move on your part. You have earned the loyalty and devotion of your team, Sharon. Have you told them yet?"

"No, I wanted to tell you first," she said nervously knotting her fingers together.

"Don't be nervous, they'll be happy for you! They love you! Amy will be over the moon."

"Provenza will be stunned. Wish I could be there when you tell him," he said, chuckling.

"Well, I haven't told Rusty yet, but as soon as I do we'll tell the team."

"You should probably do it very soon. They need to know in case...anything happens."

"Do what you have to do to keep yourself and your babies healthy. Remember your team is there to support you. Due to your management style you have taught them to work independent of you so if you have to be out for doctor appointments or anything else they should be okay. You know I will have to report this to, Chief Pope."

Sharon flattened her lips and pulled her top lip through her teeth, she nodded, looking down at her desk. "Yes sir."

"Don't worry Captain, over the last four years your leadership of Major Crimes has improved the division exponentially. You've closed cases faster, with less money spent then any other division. You make Will Pope look good. He will do what he can to accommodate you. That being said, he will be floored as I was with this news."

"As were we, Chief. Again, Andy and I did not set out to get pregnant let alone with twins! For crying out loud, I was 52, my last birthday! Nevertheless we are very happy, it just didn't seem real until we saw this," she showed him the sonogram.

"Sonograms have improved since my wife and I had children, this is amazing. It's so very clear! There are really two of them in there! Although I must say, it doesn't look like it from looking at you."

"Thank you. I um usually don't show till the end of the second trimester, but I'm sure that will not be the case, with this pregnancy. Thank you Chief for being so understanding about these unusual developments."

"My wife and I had something similar happen to us. We had Sapphira, Diamond and Trey and thought that was it. Then lo and behold, 15 years later here come Zoe and Zachary. So, I can't very well not be understanding. Be very careful, Captain. Late pregnancies can be very rough on a woman, especially those involving twins. I speak from experience with my wife. Do what you're told by your doctor, take it easy, and keep your feet up as much as possible. Your team will understand, once they know what is going on. Maybe you need to tell them first. Rusty will understand once you explain things, he's out of town anyway, right?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, I've got work to do, I'll see you at the budget meeting this afternoon, at 3:00?"

"Yes sir." Sharon's green eyes darted back and forth. As her face suffused with color, she had been in the middle of preparations for the budget meeting when the nausea and dizziness kicked in. Had she finished it or just begun?

"I am sure you are well prepared for this meeting...as usual."

Sharon swallowed, "of course sir! I will be."

Sharon waited for Taylor to leave and then practically sprinted to the bathroom! Damn her pregnancy bladder and her pregnancy brain. It was going to be a very long day. Andy and the rest of her team arrived ready to brief her on the latest murder; Sharon was catching up with what she hadn't gotten done for the budget meeting. Luckily she only had a few things not done. Dotting the i's and crossing the t's so to speak.

"Captain, we've got the murder board set up are you ready?" said Provenza

"Yes, Lieutenant, I'll be there in a minute." Sharon made another bathroom run, and hurried to get back to the murder room. She saw Andy holding a chair for her in front of the murder board smiling at her.

She turned toward him and started to sway. Amy was closest to her and grabbed her to keep her from falling on her face. "Whooo Captain, take it easy. Here, sit here." Amy pulled up a chair and helped Sharon into it. "Put your head down." Sharon did as she was told, and then felt Andy kneeling next to her with a cool wet paper towel on the back of her neck.

"What's going on with her?" Provenza crabbed, "for crying out loud!"

"Andy, we're going to have to tell them now," she whispered.

"Okay, but I thought you wanted to wait until we talked to Rusty."

"That's not an option now. He'll have to understand."

"I repeat what is going on?"

"Sharon sat up slowly. "Lieutenant, everybody, we've just found out, that we're going to... Um…we're…that is Andy and I are going...to be parents again."

"You're pregnant?" Amy squealed!

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that!" Said Buzz.

"I thought so!" Said Tao.

"You thought so?" Asked Sharon.

"You forget, Captain. I was in med school before I became a police officer. I recognize the signs. When Amy came back with the pizza, and I could hear you being sick...um...your door was ajar, I put two and two together."

"Are you going to be okay, Captain?" Julio asked quietly.

"Well, to tell you the truth we don't know, Julio. Thank you for asking we hope so. Because you see, it's not just that we're having a baby late in life. It's more complicated than that. It's that we're not just having one baby, we're having twins." Everybody in the room gasped! They were stunned.

Tao adjusted his glasses, and wheeled his office chair over to her. He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "You know Captain just because you are in your 50's doesn't mean things have to go wrong. More and more women are having babies at your age. They are concentrating on their careers and putting off having children until later. So it is more common now. With healthy eating, which you already do and exercise, low impact, which you already do with the swimming and good medical care you have a very good chance of having healthy babies and living to see them grow."

Sharon 's eyes filled up with tears. "Thank you Mike, for your confidence in me."

"No problem Captain, but that's not to say there aren't risks. Preeclampsia for the mother, Down syndrome is a possibility for the child. But exercise lowers your risk of Preeclampsia. There is nothing you can do about the other. Other than...um terminate the pregnancy, which wouldn't be an option you would pick. I'd take it."

"Not unless the child would be so physically damaged their life would be one of suffering." Throughout the whole time Sharon's and Andy's news was being discussed Provenza hadn't said a word. He was pale, and sweating.

"Hey Louie, you okay? Aren't you going to say something about our news?" Asked Andy.

"Congratulations Captain, Andy. Now would you please excuse me? Tao could you brief the Captain on our murder? I have to go. Would you excuse me Captain?"

"Yes, of course Lieutenant, but Louie, are you okay? Is there something I can do?"

Provenza ran his hand over his face, "I'm fine I think. I'll...um...know more after I...talk to...um someone." With that, Provenza walked quickly out of the murder room. Andy followed him. Everyone looked at each other with confused expressions on their faces. There was a collective shrug, and then Tao, Amy, and Julio all briefed Sharon on the murder.

Sharon listened attentively. Asking periodically for them to repeat certain points. "Could you go through the timeline, once more? What time did the murders happen here, in LA?"

"The times were the same as the original but it happened yesterday not today. Yesterday was the fourth of August, which is the same date Captain, as the original Borden murders. Course the year is different. Is there something you're looking for specifically?"

"Well there are a lot of similarities in these new murders. The times, the date, but there are also differences to the old Lizzie Borden murders, the names for instance. Our Lizzie was born Elizabeth Andrea, whereas the original was born Lizzie Andrew. Our Abby was born Abigail Denton, instead of Abby Durfee. Her last name was Gardener instead of Gray before she became a Borden. Also Andrew's name was Andrew Johnson Borden not Jackson. The ages are different; our Andrew was in his forties the original Andrew was 70. I believe our Abby also was in her forties the original Abby was 65. The girls are just out of their teens .19" and 21, the original Lizzie and her sister were in their 30's. Also their alibis are different. I understand the girls say they were selling produce at a farmers market on the other side of town. How come it took so long to discover their parents were dead? Did they stay in town during the weekends of the farmers market? How did they get there? Do they have a car? Please don't tell me they drove a horse and cart on the highway in California."

"Yes ma'am, they have a very old truck, with an open wagon in the back with slats on the side to keep the produce in. They said they used to have to drive all the way home, which with traffic could take about 4 or 5 hours but they convinced their father to let them stay at their grandmothers house while they were selling at the market. Told him the more time spent at the market and the less traveling back and fourth the more money they would make."

"Their fathers tyrannical controlling behavior is another similarity. It makes me wonder if the killer is trying to improve on the story or completely confuse us. Which I'm beginning to think is a distinct possibility."

"Or..." said Amy.

"Or?"

"Or the similarities are a coincidence and have nothing to do with what happened 123 years ago," said Amy.

"When it comes to murder, I don't really believe in coincidences, especially in this case. What are they odds of a family with almost the same names as the original Bordens, being murdered in the exact way the originals were? At the same time on the same day one hundred and twenty three years and three thousand miles apart?"

"Not very good, nearly non-existent, but it happened. So maybe the odds are very good," said Tao. "I don't even know how to calculate that one."

Sharon nodded in agreement, and went on with her questions. "The differences in their alibis are vast, and yet their life circumstances are very strangely similar and yet different. Julio, what do you know about their life in general?"

"It was weird, Ma'am."

Sharon rolled her eyes and smirked, "define weird, Julio?"

"Well, they seem to have lived like the Amish, but they weren't Amish. There was no electricity they used propane or battery. There was no TV or radio. No books or reading material except the bible. They did have running water, but their stove was an old fashioned oven the kind you needed coal for. They grew their own vegetables and canned them raised their own meats. They had cows and goats for milk, chickens for eggs, and eating. They washed clothes with a scrub board like they did 100 years ago. It seems like the father Andrew did this purposely to isolate the girls as much as possible. Making them work real hard so they didn't have much time for socialization. They were home schooled with an emphasis on math. The girls were only allowed to read an hour a day, and there were only their bibles to read. They were made to go to bed at 8pm and get up with the chickens."

"In Los Angeles?" Sharon asked incredulously.

"On the outskirts, Ma'am."

"Then how is this our problem?"

"Well the notoriety, for one thing and Chief Pope wants us to handle it."

"Have you talked to the girls yet?"

"Not much Ma'am they were real upset when they came home and found their parents plus they asked for lawyers."

"Why did they ask for lawyers?"

"Don't know Ma'am, but they don't seem to be real bright, and apparently they thought they were being arrested, so they started asking for lawyers. We tried to explain, but they kept screaming for lawyers so we got them court appointed attorneys."

"So we are waiting for their lawyers. Where are they?"

"Ma'am, they're in interview one and two. Each has a uniform with them. They also each have a bottle of water. Lizzie asked for a peanut butter sandwich. Emma didn't want anything to eat. Said she had had breakfast before she came home."

"Thank you, Julio."

Sharon looked at her watch, and only found the acupressure bracelet yet again; she remembered then that she had forgotten her watch. She looked through her pockets for her phone. Finally finding it clipped to her belt. She looked at the time, it was 11:00am She still had some time to observe the girls being interviewed before the budget meeting and could maybe even get a half hour or even an hour nap in there. Somewhere. Sharon saw Andy coming towards her through the murder room. He had a large bag in his hands from Olive Garden. He looked a little bemused as he took their food out and left the rest on Amy's desk, "eat everybody. Dig in."

He reached her and she asked anxiously, "Is Louie alright?"

Andy nodded towards her office, and they went in together, closing the door and the blinds. "Apparently, Patrice has been trying to tell him something for about two days, but every time she tries, something happens and they get interrupted he thinks she may have been trying to tell him she is on the pregnancy ship with us. He went home to talk to her."

Sharon started to giggle. It started deep in her chest and ended in a most undignified snort. "I'm sorry Andy, I know he's your friend, but oh my goodness! I'd pay money to be a present during that conversation!"

"I know right! Provenza a daddy again! That should be interesting!"

"I must confess, it would be nice having company, you know. Sharing in the miseries of pregnancy with someone my own age."

"You can always share with me," he pouted.

Sharon giggled yet again, and tilted her head to the side smiling at him. "You're sweet Andy and quite frankly, I love you to pieces, but you're a guy. You have no idea what it's like to be pregnant!"

"I know, but I'd be willing to wear one of the pregnancy bellies that SIS has for undercover work. I'm sure it won't give the full experience, but I guess it'll give me some idea."

Sharon's heart melted yet again for this man. Her face held a thoroughly besotted expression. "Oh Andy, I love that you are willing to do that. What did I ever do to deserve you? But with our jobs," she giggled again, "I don't think that would work well." Her mind forming a visual picture of Andy waddling around the murder room with a baby bump and the hilarity of it caused her to guffaw with laughter yet again, the laugh bending her over at the waist, and again she snorted. She covered face as it suffused with color.

Andy chuckled too, knowing where her mind had gone, because his had been right there with hers. "No, I know it wouldn't go over well here at work, but maybe at home. Do you think they'd let me borrow one? By the way don't be embarrassed by your snort laugh, I think it's adorable."

"Adorable? Me?"

"Yes, you. You are adorable."

Sharon smiled but then suddenly became serious. "I'll talk to Anne, about the pregnancy prosthesis when I see her at the budget meeting. You know I saw Anne with Fritz the other day. I didn't realize that he and Brenda had called it quits, but apparently they have. They were never really on the same page he wanted children, she never did and she was really wrapped up in the job. It was good to see both Anne and Fritz so happy. They were smiling at each other and holding hands. She's been so alone for so long. I know how loneliness feels. It hurts deep down in your soul, but my loneliness was because my children had grown up and moved away. Jack has always been gone more than he's ever been home, and I stopped loving, him a long time ago. I can't imagine how it would feel to have lost your only child and the man you love because someone was stupid and decided to drink and drive."

Andy's face clouded. "I'm surprised she would consider a relationship with Fritz, considering his background and how she lost her family. But I hope they will be happy together. If she's half as happy with Fritz as I am with you that would be something great!"

"You say the sweetest things, Andy. And Andy, I'm sorry if what I said about drunk drivers hurt your feelings," she put her hand on his cheek.

Andy took her hand in his, and kissed it. "You didn't hurt my feelings, Sharon. I've been sober for twenty years, but before that I was a drunk and I've heard rumors that I was a jerk at times." He said sardonically, "but I guess because I was a cop before I was a drunk, I always had Louie drive me home or I'd get a cab, or I'd walk home. Even when I was drunk off my ass, I knew it would destroy me altogether if I hurt some innocent child, like...like Gracie, while I was behind the wheel drunk."

Sharon wiped tears away with her thumb under her glasses. Sharon knew Gracie had been a young girl Andy had witnessed being knocked off her scooter, by a drunk driver. He had seen her die in front of his eyes. It had profoundly affected him. "I'm so glad Andy, that you never drank and drove. I can't say that much for my ex-husband, but thank God he never hit anybody. As far as Fritz is concerned, I think with him being open and honest with Anne, she could see his overall kindness and how good he is with children helping her forgive him for his past mistakes."

"Okay, enough sadness. Let's eat, I got us chicken Gnocchi soup, a salad and bread sticks, and after we eat, you go down for a nap before we interview the girls."

Sharon had been sipping her soup and she almost sprayed it out all over him. "Andy, do you think you're going to put me down for a nap like I'm four? I'm your Captain and I..."

"Yes, you are my Captain, but you are also the mother of my babies, and the love of my life. Your doctor put me in charge of making sure you get enough rest and eat properly, and you agreed. You said you would be a good girl and listen. I'm not trying to boss you Sharon, I used a poor choice of words to express myself. All I'm trying to do is make sure you eat and sleep enough, and stay healthy, so that you and little Egbert and Egberta survive this pregnancy, and we can raise them together."

Sharon stared at him. Then she blinked, and her beautiful green eyes were swimming in tears again, "okay, " she said simply.

"Okay? Are we okay?"

"We're okay. Andy, but...just so you know I was already planning on trying to take at least a half hour nap if not an hour before we interviewed the girls and I have to go to the budget meeting."

"That's good. It shows you are paying attention to your body and that, Andy and I won't be alone in our efforts to keep you and those babies alive and well."

Sharon looked up at the sound of her Doctors voice. "Dr Lockhart, what are you doing here?"

"Apparently, you left before you got your B12 shot yesterday, Sarah got real busy, and forgot to test your urine sample, so I need another one. I want to take another vial of blood, for some blood sugar cultures that should be done every time you see me." Sharon groaned. She hated needle, but she knew she was in for a lot of them with this pregnancy. Thank goodness she had Andy to distract her. She swallowed the rest of her soup and then started to roll up her sleeve.

"Sharon, we'll be doing the blood test last."

"But you said I needed a B12 shot."

"It doesn't go in your arm, honey." Sharon's chin trembled for just a second and she looked at Andy in panic.

He stood up, and helped her stand. He whispered in her ear and she relaxed then he helped adjust her clothing so she could receive the shot. He then leaned down to talk softly to her as she leaned over her desk, he whispered about Egbert and Egberta and speculated about Provenza and Patrice having their own little Egbert or Egberta and before she knew it was over. They readjusted her clothing, and she took the cup from the doctor and the bag Andy had brought the salad in, took the salad out then she went across the hall to the bathroom.

While she was gone Dr Lockhart looked at Andy, "I'm so glad she has you. Jack was... well you know what Jack is. He was never there for her, ever. She had to go through two full term pregnancies, and two miscarriages that he caused, by herself. It makes my heart happy to see her with someone who loves her, and will be by her side through out this journey you two are taking."

Sharon joined them, holding out the bag to the doctor. Her eyes were a little red.

"Sharon and Andy, I just want to ask are you aware of how rare it is for a woman to become pregnant naturally at your age, with your own eggs and carry to term? It's not impossible, but it's rare. There are lots of women getting pregnant at your age, but they use donated eggs or they've frozen their eggs for a later date. Nevertheless, Sharon you've been always quite fertile. I remember you saying you were almost afraid to stand next to Jack for fear of getting pregnant. My first and I'm sure your first impulse Andy is to wrap Sharon up in cotton wool and treat her like a china doll, but she will not like it. See she's already getting huffy." The doctor said indicating Sharon's face, looking like a thundercloud.

"You," she pointed at Sharon, "don't fight him young lady. He loves you and only wants to keep you and the babies safe. You don't have to do it alone this time. Let him help you take care of you and those babies, and you," she pointed at Andy. "Don't let her scare you into giving up and letting her do what she's prone to do, which is too much. Keep reminding her of the end game of happy healthy babies and a healthy Sharon too. Don't forget this could end up being very dangerous for you if things go sour."

"Our friend Mike Tao, who went to medical school before he became a cop, he's very smart, said that exercise helps against the possibility of preeclampsia," said Andy. "He also said that just because she's in her 50's doesn't mean things have to go wrong."

"Well no, they don't have to go wrong. I'm not saying they will go wrong and we can try real hard for it not to go to. We just have to be prepared for if they do go wrong. As far as exercise, yes low impact exercise like swimming is good. I know you have access to a salt-water pool on the roof of your condo, but no swimming alone! Also no diving or jumping in feet first."

"Honestly, you two, I've been pregnant before. It's not like I'm new at this. Although I haven't been pregnant with twins, I have been pregnant! Give me some credit for knowing how to take care of myself!"

"We are not trying to minimize your amazing ability to take care of yourself and those around you. We know you've been pregnant before, but you've never been pregnant with twins and you've never been pregnant at this age before. Let your baby daddy help, Sharon. You didn't have Jack to help you; he was never there for you. Andy wants to be, let him, Honey."

"I will, I'll let him help, I'll listen to him when he tells me to slow down or take a nap or eat. As surprised as I was to be in this situation, now that I know about Egbert and Egberta, I want them to have a chance at life so I'll try to be good."