The Pregnancy Ship

Chapter 12: A Surprise Visitor

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.

On Monday, Sharon was back at the office. However she was trying hard to keep in mind her doctor's concerns that she rest. She had her feet up like the doctor ordered and was wearing loose comfortable clothing. A soft grey jersey sweater with a handkerchief hem, a white tank top and a pair of grey ankle length yoga pants. She was drinking a cup of herbal raspberry tea that Rusty had gotten her when he drove her to work this morning and oatmeal with everything from Starbucks.

Andy had been called out in the middle of the night, and Rusty had been given strict instructions to drive her to the station no earlier than nine. She had decided to choose her battles carefully, and had arrived at nine instead of arguing to come sooner. Sharon finished up paperwork, the first hour. It was now 10:25am and her team was still not at the station, as they were still interviewing neighbors. She was just about to Skype her daughter Emily, when who should knock on her office door but Brenda Leigh Johnson a verrrry pregnant, Brenda Leigh Johnson.

Sharon's mouth dropped open. "Brenda Leigh! What are you doing here? I thought you were in DC these days."

"Ah was, Ah'm back in town because Ah'm close to my due date and she could come early, so Fritz and Anne thought Ah better come before Ah get too large to travel."

"I...um thought you couldn't have children. Oh well...I must have been misinformed," Sharon said apologetically.

"Yes, well apparently Fritz wasn't misinformin' me." Brenda Leigh said brightly. As Sharon started to slowly stand up to greet her, Brenda Leigh waved her back down. "No, yew just sit right back down. Ah'll come around." She came around to the side of what had been her desk until four years ago. It seemed eons ago now. She gave Sharon a small hug, which she returned, and an air kiss and then sat in the chair behind her grateful to get off her feet.

"As Ah was sayin, Fritz told me you were with Lieutenant Flynn and you two were expectin. He mentioned something about us all bein' on the same ship together? Ah thought he must be kiddin' me."

"That's understandable, a lot of people were surprised not the least of all Andy and myself."

"So how long has this been going on?" Brenda asked.

"I'm a week into my fifth month."

"Well, actually Ah meant the relationship, but my gosh yew look like yewr so much further along than that!"

Sharon narrowed her eyes and said dryly. "You would too if you were carrying twins like I am!"

Brenda looked stricken, "Oh ah'm so sorry! Yewr right! I would be probably twice as big, if ah were carrying two babies. Ah really am sorry, Ah forgot about the twins part. So how long has the relationship been going on?" Brenda asked.

"Well, we became friends first, over the last four years, but the last year and a half things have been heating up."

Brenda looked at her baby bump, "Ah'll say!"

Sharon 's face suffused with color and she looked down at her desk for a moment, then back up at Brenda. "Andy's and my situation kind of evolved from a very close friendship that was turning into something more. Then our relationship accelerated into something much more because of a few very catastrophic events in our lives. First he got hurt and he stayed with me then," Sharon gestured with her hands a little, "he fell in the bathroom and had to have surgery. He stayed with me again and then well, after he left, we realized we couldn't stand to be apart and then this happened," she waved her hand at her stomach.

"I guess you'd say it was a good thing that we were thrown into the situation because if we hadn't been, we'd still be only at the hand holding chaste kisses stage. After my first marriage I was almost permanently gun shy, so to speak. Poor Andy was so patient! But his accident showed us both that things can happen in a split second..." she pressed her lips together and went on. "As for the pregnancy, we both thought that ship had sailed," she shrugged her right shoulder and quirked an eyebrow at Brenda, willing her to connect the dots. "Who knew I'd still be fertile at 52?" Sharon smiled a quirky half smile at her own alliteration.

Suddenly the light of understanding came into Brenda's eyes. "The pregnancy ship? Oh Ah get it! Ah must confess Ah thought Fritz had gone completely around the bend with that one!"

"That expression has sure taken on a life of its own," laughed Sharon "I first started using it to explain how my 52 year old self had gotten pregnant. Then other people around my own age, also found out they were pregnant and it just seems to fit the situation. Now it's become a thing! So Brenda, how about you? Is that the way it was with you?"

Brenda laughed, and nodded her head. "Yeah, pretty much. Only Ah had hoped that my ship had sunk! The doctors told me Ah was experiencin early onset menopause, four years ago, which made me feel old, but relieved, because then Ah thought that meant there was no possible way Ah could get pregnant! It made me feel less guilty about not giving Fritz a baby like he wanted. Ah never thought A'd make a good parent. I'm too spoiled, bein' Ah am the Baby of my family and the only girl. Ah'm always too preoccupied with my job. Ah tried to tell Fritz that babies were never part of my plan, for my life. Ah guess that, with the exception of Fritz, that's why Ah've always been attracted to older men. They've already got that stuff behind them, so Ah don't need to feel guilty about not wanting to have kids.

"But with Fritz..." Sharon prompted.

"With Fritz?"

Sharon sighed, "What attracted you to Fritz if he isn't your usual type?"

"Have you not met him? Ah mean a girl would have to be dead not to be initially attracted to the man! One of the thangs that Ah think that drove us apart is that the guilt of not wanting a family with him was terrible. Ah just felt ah was holdin him back from the only thing that could truly make him happy. He tried to pretend it didn't matter, and Ah think he probably hoped Ah'd change my mind about havin babies. Then they told me about the menopause and maybe ah read more into it than they actually said, but Ah thought for sure Ah couldn't get pregnant. So, we didn't use anythin to prevent it. Then Ah got the job in DC, and when Ah moved to DC for my job, Fritzy helped me move and we christened my new place and then he came again, and we did it some more..." as she talked Brenda's face suffused with color, and she ducked her head and had the grace to look embarrassed, by her next statement.

"Then, when he came last time he caught me with Will Pope having dinner at my new place. Ah told him he'd just come to say Hi! Will Ah mean." Fritzi said it was all right, he had come to tell me he had realized that livin three thousand miles apart wasn't workin for him. He'd met someone he could have feelings for, and clearly Ah still had feelings for Will Pope and maybe we should call it quits. So we did. Then, Ah realized Ah was pregnant, but Ah didn't realize it till Ah was almost four months along, too late to have an abortion. So Ah called Fritzy and told him, he said he was interested in raising the baby himself. Then Anne said she was interested in helping him raise both their babies. Turns out they'll be raising their little boy and the baby Ah'm carrying is a girl, so they'll have one of each. Their both due within a few months of each other." Brenda was silent then, as she waited for Sharon to say something.

Sharon struggled to know what exactly to say to Brenda. She didn't really even know why she was telling her these things. They had come to respect each other after being adversaries for so long and had almost been friends by the time Brenda left. However time slipping away and duty to their jobs had gotten in the way of any true closeness.

"Well, Brenda," Sharon swallowed. "I..um think...that what you're doing for the baby and Fritz and Anne, is wonderful! She lost so much when she lost her husband and daughter in that car accident, although a child can never be replaced, raising other children might help her to heal. What about you? Are you absolutely sure, you can hand the baby over once it's born? If you aren't sure maybe...well...It's too late now." Sharon blew out her breath.

"Don't worry, Ah won't renege on mah promise, Ah have no desire to raise this baby, Captain. Ah mean...Sharon. Ah'm not like yew. Yew're like... like Mother Nature! What yew have done with Rusty, the last four years is amazin! I've never met yewr other two, but Fritz says they are very smart and very talented."

"Thank you, I'm very proud of them," she said, smiling at a picture of all three of her kids on her desk. When she looked up she saw that Brenda's eyes were suddenly swimming with tears. Sharon wasn't surprised, being pregnant had that effect on her as well. She handed her several tissues."

"Ah'm s...sorry S..Sharon, ah was wonderin' if Ah can ask yew a question?"

"Ask away."

Brenda swallowed and blew her nose, "Do yew think Ah'm a bad person for not wantin' to raise this baby?"

"Honey, I'm not a priest so I can't absolve you of anything..." Sharon said feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh Ah'm not lookin' for that, but Ah do want to know yewr opinion. Am I a bad person?"

"Brenda, I won't lie to you and say that I understand not wanting a child you are growing in your womb, because I don't. I've always been in love with my babies from the moment I found out I was pregnant, but all that aside, no I don't think you're bad at all. In our business Brenda, we see people who get pregnant unexpectedly, and keep the babies, then go on to do unspeakable harm to them. Not the least of which is ignoring them, and other much more terrible things to think about much less mention. By giving her to Fritz and Anne you are giving her to two people who will love and cherish her and one them is her biological father! So no I don't think you are bad at all! I think you're doing a very brave and very wise thing by giving her up to them. I've seen Fritz with children he's amazing, and so is Anne. It shows you love the baby enough to give her to people who will love and care for her and be the kind of parent you know you are unable to be."

"Thank yew, for that and for bein' honest about yewr own personal feelins," Brenda said sincerely as she blew her nose again.

"Did someone indicate they thought you were a bad person?" Sharon asked curiously.

"Not in so many words, but yew know my daddy died last spring?" Brenda tried to control the tears that were spilling down her face.

Sharon shed a few of her own tears. She had been very fond of Clay and Willie Rae Johnson. She nodded. "Yes, I had heard. I'm sorry for your loss Brenda Leigh," she said softly.

"It's okay...ah...ahm just glad they're together in heaven now. It's just so hard to think that Ahm an orphan now!" She wailed and sobbed into her tissue. Then suddenly the sobs stopped, she swallowed hard as Sharon patted her back in sympathy, and she continued her story. "Well we, my brothers and Ah were standing by the grave, and my oldest brother started saying how he wished daddy and momma had lived to see me with a baby in my arms. Ah said, they wouldn't have seen that even if they had lived because once she was born, she was being raised by Fritz, her father, and his new wife Anne. Ah was just tryin to be honest! Maybe Ah should have chosen my words more carefully, but Clay Jr has this nasty habit of getting under my skin! My brother just looked at me, with these really hate filled eyes and he said, well then it was good that they both were already dead, because that news would have killed them."

"Perhaps that was grief talking, and he'll think about what he said, and apologize for it, after he's had time to think about it?" Sharon asked not knowing anything about Brenda's brothers personalities, but hoping they hadn't always been mean to her.

"He did apologize, but only 'cause his wife overheard what he said and made him, "but it hurt. It also made me doubt my decision...for a moment."

"Do you still doubt it?" Sharon asked carefully.

"Oh no, it was only a brief moment. Ah'm very determined that Fritz raise this baby. Ah guess I'm just a bit scared, you know? The closer it comes the more frightened Ah become."

"I know how that feels, Brenda. I won't lie to you it is scary! The older you get the more babies you carry at one time, the scarier it gets, but once it's over and you..." Sharon realized what she had been about to say was not the case with Brenda, and quickly changed it. "Once you give the baby over to Fritz and see how much joy it gives him be a father, it will be worth it."

"Ah hope so. What about your other children? We're ya scared then too?"

"Oh yes, I was terrified. I had Emily naturally, and Ricky by caesarian, of course mine was an emergency caesarian not a scheduled one like it will be for the twins I hope." Sharon said as she rubbed her baby bump. "Which way are you having this one?"

Brenda was happy and relived to be able to discuss and asks question with another excepting woman that understood her situation without judging her. "Caesarian. The doctor says mah hips are too narrow to do it naturally. So she scheduled the caesarian for one week before her due date, which is September 30th. When are yours due?"

"If I was having them naturally, it would be closer to New Years, but we scheduled a caesarian for a couple days before Christmas so we could all be home for Christmas. With my age and the fact that it's twins, the doctor said she didn't want to risk a natural birth."

Since the door to Sharon's office was partially opened, they could hear the sound of Sharon's team coming back. "Well, it looks like Ah need to get goin', before anybody sees me. Have a great rest of your pregnancy Sharon, and thank yew for listenin'."

"You too Brenda, and anytime, but why not stay and say hello? They were your team before they were mine and they haven't seen you for years."

"Ah...Ah don't want them to see me like this," The former chief replied nervously.

"It's too late, they have already seen you, and so they will be hurt if you don't at least say hello. You don't have anything to be ashamed of Brenda, you're pregnant, you don't have a venereal disease." Sharon was surprise she had never seen the always-confident woman in front of her so unsure of herself before.

"Ah know but, this whole baby thing is so complicated, and Ah don't want them to judge me, about givin' it up."

Sharon could hear the nerves in Brenda's voice, so she tried to help her feel better. "They won't judge you. We all know Fritz and Anne, I'm sure the team will be happy that they both will have the chance to be parents. They deserve it."

If there had been more time to work together and not against each other Brenda was sure they would have become good friends. "You're sure?"

Sharon stood up, placed a hand on her lower back and lean backwards slightly to stretch out the kinks. "Absolutely. Would you like me to walk out with you? I have to go to the bathroom anyway."

"Can you?" Brenda asked worried. "I mean are you supposed to be walking around?"

"How do you think I get to the bathroom? Fly, on my broomstick?" Sharon asked sarcastically, but with an amused smile tugging at her lips.

Brenda eyes grew wide as she realized what Sharon was alluding to. That little picture of the witch Flynn had drawn on the murder board so many years ago. She knew! Brenda cocked her head as she realized that to her surprise, that yes she really, really liked Sharon Raydor. Who would have guessed it? Certainly not her! She smiled warmly at her.

Sharon smiled back at Brenda, as she sensed the new warmth coming from her. "Actually, my doctor does want me to have my feet up as much as possible, but if I sit too long everything aches and I put myself in danger of forming blood clots. So I have to get up every so often. Let's leave the office the back way and go to the bathroom then we'll go back to the murder room and say hey to everybody."

Brenda nodded and followed Sharon to the bathroom just outside her office, and then they made their way to the murder room. Sharon's team was busy constructing the murder board, but stopped when they saw their Captain with their former Chief. "Hey everyone, look who came to visit." Sharon said. As she spoke she held her hands, pointing to Brenda as if she were Vannah White and she was gesturing toward the letters of the puzzle.

"Hey Chief, glad to see you!" said Julio, being the first to hug her. Then Mike, Louie and Buzz followed, but not Amy who had never met her. Sharon stood slightly behind Brenda and gestured with her eyes and hands to not comment about her pregnancy. She mouthed the words, "let her be the one to mention it."

Amy came over to stand by Sharon, bringing over a chair for her to sit in. No words were spoken between them just looks. Sharon rolled her eyes and smirked but mouthed the words, "thank you." Amy nodded smiling back, but even after she had made sure her captain was seated she stood beside her and watched as most of the team greeted their former Chief.

Suddenly Sharon realized that Andy was missing. A terrible feeling of DeJa Vu hit her, "Amy, where is Andy?" She asked gripping the girl's wrist.

Sykes squatted down and looked Sharon in the eye so that she knew she was telling the truth." The Lieutenant is escorting the suspect down to booking, Captain then he is going to hit a meeting. The crime scene was pretty brutal and involved children, so he told me to tell you he is fine and will be back in an hour and a half."

Sharon searched Amy's face. The young detective stared back at her and qualified her statement. "Actually, he's physically fine, but emotionally he... well he... really...needed a meeting he said." Trying to reassure her captain she added, "he'll feel better after the meeting and then he'll come back."

"What was it about this crime scene that had him so shaken up?" Sharon questioned her.

"The little boys were similar in age, appearance and in other ways to his grandsons, Devlin and Ian. The crime was a hate crime Captain against, it seems boys who do girly things, like...ballet and cooking. Um they are not my words, but the words on the note that was pinned on the youngest boys jacket. We got him, though. He was hanging on the fringe of the crowd that had gathered near the crime scene. Something spooked him and he started running. Lieutenant Tao caught him in the building across from the crime scene. Lieutenant Flynn cuffed him, and offered to escort him down to booking, he and another officer someone named Jenkins. Lieutenant Provenza made him promise not to do anything to him and Flynn said the thought never crossed his mind. After all, he...Andy, had a family to support and a fiancé that would kick his ass nine times 'til Sunday, pregnant or not, if he didn't behave. Once the other prisoners hear what the suspect did to those boys, they'll give him a taste of his own medicine, far better than he could anyway."

Sharon started coughing trying to hide a choked laugh, at the kicking his ass part and then desperately tried to school her features back to impassive. This was not the right time for levity.

In the background Sharon could hear Brenda, Tao, Julio, and Buzz saying their goodbyes. Brenda bent down and hugged Sharon, and whispered in her ear. "You were right Sharon, they feel like you do, that Ah'm doin' the right thang. Again thank you for listenin'."

"It never hurts to listen, Brenda. Come back anytime," Sharon said sincerely.

"Thank yew, I might just do that, bye everyone!" She called out and gave a wave of her hand.

"Bye, Chief."

"Now Detective, what did Ah just tell you? Ah am not a Chief any longer. Ah'm just Brenda Leigh Johnson." Brenda walked out of the murder room with her back straight and her head held high.

"Now tell me the details of our case, please everyone." Sharon could be heard saying. Brenda smiled and walked down towards the elevator doors.

Please feel free to let me know what you think of this chapter or any of the other previous chapters as well.

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