Chapter 22

Dean woke up suddenly. He touched his stomach. He had a bad dream, several bad dreams. In one dream William is the father, and in another Roman & Seth left Dean. He didn't know which is worst.

No, it was where Roman & Seth left him. In that one, he felt a hole in his heart. At least in the dream where William is the father, he had Roman and Seth standing by him. Helping him… But Dean just dreamt it.

Then Phil came in.

"Hey Deano." Phil announced as he came in. "What's new?" He continued.

Dean looked down. Should he tell Phil? He knows Phil will eventually find out. But to tell him now, or later? Might as well do it now.

"Hey, something is up. What is it? You can tell me." Phil said.

"I found out some news yesterday, and well…I don't know how to tell people." Dean explained.

"Just come out with it. It's the best way." Phil told Dean.

Dean sighed.

"Okay, I'm just going to come out and say it. But do want to warn you, it will be unbelievable, and you will probably laugh. But I'll be ready. I know it will hurt, but might as well get used to it." Dean told Phil.

"I'm…I'm…pregnant." Dean said slowly and quietly. Now he's waiting for the laugh, and the jokes.

"Okay." Phil said back.

"What? No jokes?" Dean asked Phil.

"Nope. Why should I laugh, and make jokes." Phil said to Dean.

Dean just sat there surprised. He didn't know what to think or say.

"Hey, I am surprised, and a little shocked, but I won't make fun of you Dean. Maybe when you get a little bigger I will, but not because of that." Phil told Dean.

Dean smiled shyly. "Thanks." Dean replied back.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, who's the father?" Phil asked. Then he nudged him.

"That's the other thing, it could be one of four guys. Roman and Seth, and then the doctor told me the sperm can still 'sit' in the fallopian tubes for a little bit. And I was with Randy and William about a week or two before Roman and Seth. I'm not a whore." Then Dean stopped, trying to control himself. Then Phil grabbed Dean's hand and squeezed it.

"I know you are not." Phil told Dean. "You have a good heart." Phil continued to say.

Dean took a deep breath and continued.

"I was in a bad relationship, and Roman & Seth helped me get the courage to leave Randy and that life behind. I didn't think I could, but they gave me strength to do it. Anyways, Stephanie is going to get their DNA by having everyone give samples for a drug test. And when she does get them, she's only testing at least three. William doesn't work there. So if they are not the father, then I'll know its William. Then I will have to tell William. But I hope it's not him or Randy." Dean finished telling Phil.

"Just believe." Phil told Dean.

Soon as they came in, Stephanie had security wait for everyone and let them know it was a surprise drug test.

Stephanie didn't want them to know why she really is doing this. And she's trying to figure out how to tell people about Dean's condition when the time comes. But she figured wait until they find out who the father is. She'll apologize for having them do this, but she'll explain later. And she'll have to keep Dean away from here until then. Dean is getting bigger. They can make excuses now, but later everyone will need know the truth. But she's more worried about Dean.

After a couple hours, she had all the specimens sent to her doctor's office.

Dr. Reed already told her staff to send most to another lab, but keep only three. Then in four weeks, they will find out who. She is happy that she could do this for Stephanie, and Dean. And she had very few people on this, and had them sign confidentiality agreements. This is a very sensitive, and private matter. Something like this is news, but somethings should not be in the news. She'll get the results in bout a couple of weeks, but it will be a little longer for Dean though.

Then her assistant came to her about Dean's ultrasound picture. While Dean was in her office getting the ultrasound done, she took pictures of his uterus. Dr. Reed smiled to herself. It was strange to say him and uterus in the same sentence. She wanted to look more closely what's going on. She heard he did get stomach aches before this. So she took pictures all around to see what's going on.

Dean laid in bed, playing cards with Phil. Having a good time. Then Stephanie and Dr. Reed came in. Dean looked up, and smiled.

"Hi!" Dean said as Stephanie came in.

"Hi Dean!" Stephanie said back.

Then Dean seen both their faces. It didn't look good.

"What's wrong?" Dean asked.

"Can we talk privately?" Dr. Reed asked.

"It's okay. I told Phil. He is going to watching me after I leave, I won't be able to hide anything from him." Dean laughed.

"Okay." Dr. Reed said.

Then she showed Dean his ultrasound pictures. "I took these yesterday when I was doing the ultrasound. I took more than the babies. I also took pictures all around your stomach. And noticed some scarring. You were pregnant before Dean. Way before this pregnancy. About two other times it looks like. And you miscarried both times. And by the scarring, you were…looked like you were beaten Dean." Dr. Reed finished.

Tears formed in Dean's eyes. He couldn't believe it. He was pregnant before? But lost them. He remembered all the times Randy hit, kicked, punched, and pushed him.

"Why?" Dean asked.

He looked up. Looking for an answer. No one had one for him.

"Not this time. If Randy is the father, I will do whatever I can to keep them away from him." Dean said. "Or die trying." Dean continued.

Everyone looked at him. Stephanie looked at Dr. Reed and Phil.

"Can I speak with Dean for a minute…alone?" Stephanie said to them. Phil and Dr. Reed nodded and left.

After they left, Stephanie looked at Dean.

"There is something I need to tell you." Stephanie softly said.

"I know what you thinking. I know you are not thinking of suicide, but leaving. I would know signs of suicide. Considering I was thinking about it at one time. I was at a low time in my life. I was in love with a man who was dating someone else, everyone hated me because I'm the bosses' daughter. They didn't take me seriously. Then one day or in this case night, I was at the pier, and I was thinking of jumping. I found a small pier that is barely occupied, waited when there wasn't many people. Then as I was about to go over, but then a young man came over and started to talk to me, for no reason. He was polite, and sweet. He didn't know me, but he knew I was upset and sad. He told me a beautiful woman like me wouldn't have any problems. I just laughed. But he took the time to talk to me. Just talk. And I should tell this man how I felt, no matter the outcome. What else do I have to lose he said. I told him rejection, but he just told me if I didn't, I would regret it. And I would feel better about doing it. And he was right. I told this man, and I felt better." Stephanie told Dean.

"So what happened with the guy you liked? And this guy who helped you? Did you ever see him again?" Dean asked Stephanie.

"Well, I married that man, and the guy who helped me? He came into my office looking for a job. And I hired him." Stephanie told Dean as she looked at him.

Dean looked surprised at Stephanie.

"Me?" Dean asked.

"Yes." Stephanie responded. "I wore a hat. I didn't want anyone to recognize me." Stephanie responded.

"Is that why you…" Dean started to say.

"Yes. But you gave me my life back. Without you, I would have never told Paul how I felt. And he felt the same. Now we have a beautiful daughter, and another child on the way." Stephanie confessed to Dean.

Dean just looked at her at smiled. "Really?" Dean asked her.

"Yes." Stephanie smiled. "And it would work out good for you. We can go together, or I could send you on an errand to the doctor for me. This way no one will get suspious until you find out." Stephanie explained to Dean.

"Sounds good." Dean responded back.

"Stephanie, thank-you." Dean told her.

Stephanie came over and kissed Dean on the cheek and gave him a big hug.

"I love you. You know that right." Stephanie told Dean.

"Yes." Dean whispered.

Stephanie rested her head on Dean's shoulder.

Then suddenly Phil poked his head in.

"Is it okay to come in now?" He asked.

"Yes." Stephanie laughed.

Phil and Dr. Reed came back in. They all talked some more. Setting up appointments for both Stephanie and Dean with her. And Dr. Reed told them she got the samples, and sending it in to do the DNA testing. And the others went to the other lab for the drug tests.

Dean is excited and nervous about the results for the tests. Nervous to see who the father is, and he told Dr. Reed he does want to know the sex of the babies. This way he can decorate the nursery of what he is having. He'll have to get a bigger apartment since he is having triplets. He has to be prepared in case Roman and Seth want to break up with him. And Stephanie is letting him stay home until he finds out. Plus his doctor wants him to take it easy when he gets out. By the time the results are in, he'll be back at work, and he'll know who to tell.

It's almost time for Dean to know who the father is. Dr. Reed is scheduled to come in and take the DNA of his babies. He is a little nervous about the large needle. He seen how long the needle is, and he is scared. And when he is alone, he would lift up his gown and look at his stomach. It is getting bigger. He would rub his tummy. He just couldn't believe that there are little beings are in his stomach. He looked at the time. He noticed Dr. Reed will be coming in soon. So he pulled down his gown, pulled up his sheets, rested his hand on his stomach. He wanted the babies to know he is there. Then he laid his head back on his pillow and closed his eyes. Figure get some sleep before the doctor comes.

Dean heard someone say his name. He opened his eyes and it's Dr. Reed.

"Hi Dean." Dr. Reed said. "Are you ready?" She continued. Then her assistant came in with an ultrasound machine, and another nurse came in pushing a small cart.

"Yes." He responded back. "I'm ready to find out." He continued.

"Okay, let's take a look here." She said. Then she lifted Dean's gown, and squeezed the gel on his stomach. She looked at the screen.

Dean seen the look on Dr. Reed's face.

"What…What is it?" Dean asked.

"There seems to be two sacks. That's unusual. But not uncommon." She told Dean.

Then doctor asked for a needle, and Dean closed his eyes. He felt the needle go in. He grabbed the sheets and bit the bottom lip. Kept him from yelling.

"Breath Dean." Dr. Reed told Dean. Then she heard Dean breathing. It was ragged, but at least he's breathing. Then she pulled it out.

"Okay, the second needle." She told her assistant. Then she did the same thing with the second.

"Just one more time Dean. Then it will be all over." Dr. Reed told Dean.

Dean nodded his head. "Okay." He managed to get out.

"All done." Dr. Reed finally said to Dean.

Dr. Reed seen the sweat on Dean's forehead. She patted his shoulder.

"You did great." She whispered in his ear.

"The babies?" Dean asked.

"They are fine." She told Dean.

Dean smiled.

"In another week, you will know and the guessing will end." Dr. Reed told Dean.

Dean relaxed more hearing the news. He couldn't wait.

One more week. He thought to himself. One more week…