Sipping coffee from a travel mug, Sara sat next to Grissom in the waiting room at the doctor's office, her hand comfortably wrapped in his. He had insisted on driving her, and she had been grateful for his company. When the nurse called her, Sara squeezed his hand and left him with her coffee. After the official weight, height and vital signs with the nurse Sara sat on the edge of the table, swinging her legs slowly as she waited. A soft knock at the door announced the arrival of Dr. Beth Williams.
"Hello Sara, I haven't seen you in a while," she said, sitting down on a stool, "what brings you in today?" Sara sighed.
"My husband."
"Oh?"
"He just came home from Peru, and he's worried because I've been really tired."
"How so?"
"Well, I've been working a lot, maxing out on overtime, double shifts, sometimes triples. But I've been doing that for years, barely sleeping and I've been fine. Except now I seem to be permanently tired and I sleep like the dead, which I've never done."
"Hmmm, we've talked about your sleep patterns and work before. Maybe you're body isn't tolerating that kind of routine anymore. You were used to a much slower pace in Costa Rica and Europe weren't you?"
"Yes," admitted Sara, "but I've been back here for over a year, and it's only recently that there's been a change."
"Is there anything else?"
"I drink coffee like its going out of fashion, and I'm ok until I stop, but then I crash completely." Sara thought for a moment, then added. "And something feels off; I can't put my finger on it, but something's wrong. I thought it was just that I was missing Gil while he was away, but now I'm not so sure."
"Ok, I want to draw some blood, and do an exam, you're overdue anyway, and see what's going on, alright?" Sara nodded and the doctor handed her a plastic cup. "The bathroom is across the hall, if you just give me a urine sample and leave it on the shelf, then come back here and I'll draw some blood." Grimacing Sara headed for the bathroom.
Beth was good with needles, Sara hardly felt the prick as it pierced her skin, but her head roared and her vision swam as blood rushed into the tube.
"Whoa," she muttered, swaying slightly.
"That's never happened before," said Beth, raising the end of the table and helping Sara lay back against it. She removed the needle and taped a piece of cotton over the puncture mark. Sara gasped, and fainted.
...
Her nose itched, and the lights were too bright. Feeling sick Sara clawed her way out of the darkness and opened her eyes; Beth was standing next to her holding a cup of water and an emesis basin.
"What happened?" groaned Sara, her head aching.
"You fainted when I drew blood."
"Oh," said Sara, unimpressed. She closed her eyes, trying to get her bearings. "Ugg."
"Here," Beth handed her the water; Sara sipped it gratefully, her head clearing. She sat up carefully, breathing slowly and deeply.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, that was weird."
"Do you need help changing into a gown?" asked Beth, running her eyes over her patient.
"I don't think so," said Sara, sliding off the table and standing carefully, testing her balance. She felt weak and sickly, but her legs just about held.
"Ok, put this on then," said Beth, handing her the gown, "and I'll be back in a minute." She left and Sara sighed to herself, she hated this part. Unwinding her scarf she realized her neck was going to be on full display without it; cursing her husband internally she promised him revenge when they got home. Leaving her socks on because it was cold, she put on the gown and sat on the table again, leaning back and closing her eyes, trying to will away her sudden nausea. When Beth returned ten minutes later she found her patient asleep, and snoring.
"Sara," she called gently, shaking her awake.
"What?" asked the brunette, sitting up abruptly, her eyes flying open. "Oh, sorry," she apologised.
"That's fine, I got cornered by one of the nurses." Beth talked quietly as she proceeded, and to Sara's relief said nothing about the marked skin of her neck, though she did emit a tiny smile which caused Sara to blush deeply.
"Ok," said Beth, standing back, "everything seems to be fine to me. Why don't you get dressed again?" She left again and Sara gratefully slipped back into her own clothes, wrapping her scarf very carefully around her throat. She was tying her sneakers when the doctor returned.
"Alright, I see no problems with your exam, but I have a few questions."
"Sure," said Sara, sitting down.
"When was you last period?" Sara started counting in her head and then stopped, unable to remember.
"I don't know," she said at last. "But that's impossible, I can't be..." she trailed off, trying to work it out and failing.
"It's improbable, but not totally impossible," corrected Beth.
"There's a less than ten percent chance that I can conceive," said Sara, still trying to remember, "and I've always been irregular."
"Ok, let me ask you this, before he got home, when was the last time you saw Gil?"
"Seven weeks ago," said Sara, thinking that they had broken their at least once a month rule when the Peruvian government had asked him to stay on longer.
"Ok, well we tested your urine and you are pregnant." Sara inhaled sharply, her mind going blank with shock.
"Congratulations," said Beth, smiling warmly and clasping Sara's hand.
"I ... I don't ... I can't ... I mean..." Sara gave up trying to speak and tried to wrap her head around what the doctor was saying.
"I think you're further than seven weeks," the doctor told her, "and I'd like to do an ultrasound." Sara nodded, still unable to comprehend the concept. Beth stood up, concerned at Sara's silence.
"Do you want me to get your husband?" Sara nodded.
"Please," she whispered. When Beth left the room, she drew her knees up and rested her chin on them, trying to concentrate when her mind was suddenly clamouring with a thousand thoughts and feelings, each demanding to be heard first.
...
Grissom watched Sara walk through the door with the nurse and sat back in his chair, staring at the coffee mug he held in his lap. Worries assaulted his mind and he twisted the mug around and around in his hands, without even realizing what he was doing. He sat for what felt like an eternity, wondering what could possibly be taking so long, the nightmare scenarios running through his head getting progressively worse as the time passed. Every time the door opened his head snapped up; looking for Sara. When the nurse stuck her head out and called his name Grissom thought his heart would stop. He hurried forward, his grip on the mug making his knuckles white. The nurse left him at the door to room 6. He opened it to find Sara sitting on the table, her expression blank, her eyes unseeing, her arms around her legs, clutching them to her chest.
"Sara," he gasped, running to her. He sat on the very end of the exam table, next to her feet and took her hands in his. "Sara what is it?" She looked up at him, her mind still reeling with shock, her tongue tied all in knots. "Talk to me honey," pleaded Grissom, out of his mind with fright as he took in her clammy skin and uneven breathing. Unable to form words, Sara took hand and kissed it, trying to smile and then let her legs fall into a tailor seat before pressing his palm gently over her belly and staring into his eyes. He held her gaze with his worried blue eyes as realization slowly dawned on him and his mouth fell open slightly in surprise. His expression asked her a silent question and she nodded. Heart pounding, Grissom pulled her gently into his arms and pressed his face into her hair, breathing in her soft scent. Sara clung to Grissom and closed her eyes, feeling tears begin to slowly meander down her face and drop onto his jacket.
...
The customary knock at the door, and then Doctor Williams was back again, this time wheeling a portable ultrasound machine. Sara sat up and wiped her tears away, keeping one hand in Grissom's.
"Are you feeling any better?" asked Beth, pressing two fingers to Sara's wrist and counting as she looked at the large clock on the wall. "You're pulse is almost normal again," she commented.
"A little, yeah," replied Sara, clearing her throat. Grissom frowned, uncomprehending. "I fainted," said Sara quietly. She squeezed his hand. "I'm alright, just shocked." Sara lay back on the table and pulled up her shirt to expose her smooth stomach. Grissom stood opposite the machine as Beth set it up; one hand firmly holding his wife's, the other stroking her hair soothingly as he ran his eyes over her, conducting his own checks of her welfare. Knowing what he was doing, Sara smiled at him.
"Alright, let's have a look then," said Beth, smearing gel on Sara's abdomen and then gently applying the scanner. For a moment nothing happened, then a black and white image appeared on the screen. Gil and Sara watched, transfixed as Beth concentrated, a check list running through her mind. She turned to look at the couple; their expressions were mesmerised mirror images. Beth smiled and pointed to the screen.
"You are approximately thirteen weeks Sara; this is the head, the body, arms and legs. Everything looks perfectly normal right now; I don't see anything that concerns me." She shut off the machine, wiped the gel off Sara's skin and waited while Sara sat up and Grissom settled next to her.
"Ok, I know we talked when you came back from Europe so here's what to do for now. I know you're craving it to stay awake, but lay off the coffee. Drink tea instead, or juice. All the usual things you know about. I want you to obey your body; if it tells you to sleep more, you need to sleep more." Beth spoken seriously, watching Sara. Her patient nodded, listening closely. "Most importantly you need to avoid excess stress, you need to eat regularly, and you need to be very careful at work around any hazardous material. We are going to be monitoring you more carefully than usual, considering your history."
"We're moving to New Hampshire in a month," said Grissom, his arm protectively around Sara's shoulders.
"Then I suggest you locate a medical practise before you go and call ahead to make sure they can fit you in. I'll give you copies of all your records to take with you, and I can help you find a good practise if you need."
"Thank you," said Grissom, seeing Sara was still struggling to centre herself. "Oh, we recently acquired two rescue kittens. I know they've been cleared by the vet, but we weren't expecting this," he told the doctor. Beth nodded,
"We'll test for Toxoplasmosis then. I call with the blood results when I get them." She looked at Sara, who still looked relatively faint and shakily. "Can you stand?" Sara got unsteadily to her feet, shivering. Her vision swam when she moved her arm and the tape over the spot where Beth had drawn blood pulled tight. She swayed, Grissom held her upright. Beth checked her over briskly. "I want you to take the night off and rest, I'll give you a note for your boss," she noticed Grissom's slight reactive movement and guessed what he was about to say. "I'll make sure it has no specific reason on it, you can say what you like. Don't forget your vitamins, and I'll see you in two weeks. Call me if you have any questions or problems."
...
A few minutes later Grissom steered a still dazed Sara to the car and helped her in. Sara rubbed her eyes, wishing the fog would clear from behind them. The movement of the car made her stomach lurch, and when they arrived home she stumbled into the bathroom and threw up. Disgusted, she brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth repeatedly.
"Time for bed," said Gil firmly, unzipping her jacket and helping her out of it. Sara acquiesced, but insisted on a quick shower to get the feel of the doctor's office off her skin. They settled in bed, her back against his chest. Grissom wrapped her protectively in his arms, flush against his body and pressed a palm to her stomach, imagining the tiny life forming beneath the skin as they succumbed to slumber together.