Be sure and check the DeGrassi Saviors website for my full writing schedule through May.
Ch. 4 Gotta Live My Life
(CLARE)
"So you think about names yet?" Justin asks leaning on the back of my chair and looking at the copy I'm typing up.
"I'm only twelve weeks we don't even know what we're having," I remind him staring at my computer screen. "This shouldn't be so hard I only have to write a couple hundred words for the anchors to lead into that interview I did with the CEO of Rhine Industries yesterday. I can't think of a single lead in," I huff in frustration.
"You just need to relax you're too stressed and overthinking it the way that you tend to do," Justin tells me as he begins rubbing my shoulders. I relax into the massage, he does it all the time and he's very good at it, nearly as good as Drew. Just as I'm really getting relaxed there's a knock on my door and he stops rubbing my shoulders just as my boss opens the door.
"Clare forget the interview there was a shooting at Toronto Western, it just came over the scanner you need to get down there right now I want you on this. Brad and the crew will meet you in the garage in two minutes," she says and then leaves my office.
I jump up from my desk, grab my go bag and rush down to the van. The station has several but I see the crew at one van when I get in the garage so I know that's the van. We rush to Toronto Western and we manage to be the first crew here, only by a minute as another station pulls in right behind us. The police are already here and have enough of a barrier that we can't get near the emergency entrance. I get out, quickly check my hair and makeup grab the microphone and Grady the cameraman gets the camera mounted, he turns it on and Christiana cues me to start. She's our segment producer and she'll feed me information through my ear piece as we get it.
"This is Clare Torres at Toronto Western Hospital where just moments ago several shots were fired inside. We're getting reports that the shots were fired by a patient in the emergency department. Police believe the suspect is high and came in with a bullet wound. There is no word yet on how many people are injured but hospital security has evacuated the emergency department. They believe the suspect is contained in the…"
My reporting is cut short when more shots are fired, not in the hospital but outside. I don't even realize what's happening until Grady grabs me and pulls me down. We stay on the ground for what seems like a long time, I look around at what I can see, other people are crouched on the ground. The shots are being fired from a broken window at police they aren't really anywhere near us but it doesn't make the situation any less frightening. When the gunfire ceases and we all stand up Christiana begins feeding me information and I go right back to reporting.
"The suspect just opened fire on police through a rear window, you can see the damage," I say walking a little and Grady follows me to get the shot. "Police returned fire wounding the subject and were able to subdue him with a bean bag gun. He's been placed under arrest and after his bullet wound is treated at this very hospital will be taken to jail. We're getting reports now that the only other casualty was an officer who was hit with a ricocheted bullet in the leg. The officer is being treated and will be fine. We'll bring you more on this story later," I end with my sign off sending it back to the anchors. Of course the first evening news isn't for a couple of hours but my segment will be cut in and blend seamlessly.
Before leaving I get a quick interview with one of the officers which will also be cut in. Christiana has me film two more lead ins and two more sign offs before we go back to the station. I go straight to my office to type up the copy for the anchors for my segment. I don't have long before I have to get it to the Associate Producer.
"Are you okay we heard the camera crews were being shot at," Justin comments following me into my office.
"We're fine he wasn't even shooting at us he was shooting at the police," I reply as I sit down, wake up my laptop and start typing.
Since I'm focused on getting my work done Justin leaves my office. I finish and e-mail it to the AP before going down to the editing bay to see how they're doing with my segment. I stay in until they're done and then go to my office to get my stuff and go home. I'll get home just in time for dinner and to watch the news with Drew. I get home before Drew so I put on my station and look through the kitchen to decide what to make for dinner. I start defrosting chicken and cutting up vegetables when Drew comes home.
"Hi Angel," he says coming in the door, he locks up and comes over to kiss me. "I'll help you in a minute," he tells me before walking back to the bedroom and washroom.
"How was work?" I question when he comes out.
"Great how was your day?"
"Good my interview from yesterday got put off for breaking news but I got to cover it," I tell him as he starts cooking the chicken and puts on water for rice.
"That's great Angel you'll be behind that anchor desk before you know it," Drew grins kissing the back of my neck.
"Oh here's my segment," I say as it comes on and Drew puts the rice into the pot. The chicken and vegetables are done so I cover the pans and put the lids on.
I watch my segment smiling and Drew watches with a proud smile, until he hears the first shots and sees my look of fear on the screen. His look of pride turns to fear and anger, his hands clenching into fists. It doesn't get any better when my segment ends.
"You were covering a shooting?! What if you'd been hurt?" He exclaims.
"I wasn't hurt I'm fine and if I'd been hurt you would have been notified," I remind him.
"I never want you to be hurt but now you're carrying our baby. It's not just your life at risk. You can't do those kinds of stories anymore," Drew says flatly.
"I love you more than anything in this world Drew but you do not control my life. I'm a field reporter it's my job and I will cover whatever story Natalie tells me to," I respond.
"I'm not trying to control your life I just don't want you to be shot and I don't think I'm out of like when I ask you not to go on dangerous assignments," Drew replies and his tone is quickly becoming an angry growl.
"I know that you worry but I can't just choose my assignments because my husband will worry. Don't you think that I worry about you every time you have to go on a trip?"
"That's not the same there is very little chance of me dying in a plane crash or something but if you're covering in the field covering a shooting you could get shot! Not to mention I'm not the one that's pregnant," Drew responds nearly yelling at this point.
"Well that's a very sexist point of view," I snap back.
"I'm not being sexist Clare I don't want you doing assignments like that ever but especially while you're pregnant. That's not the first time you've been in danger on an assignment, they seem to have you covering the stories like this more and more!"
"How do you think I'm going to make it to the anchor desk Drew? Natalie knows I'm pregnant and she would never intentionally put me in danger," I shoot back with irate frustration that we're even having this argument.
"Intentionally or not I don't want you covering these dangerous stories there are other reporters. Why can't you cover the pet shows and entertainment circuit?"
"Aaagghh!" I scream in aggravation and grab my purse heading to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I can't talk to you when you're being so stubborn I'm going to Paige's to rant and cool down," I reply slamming the door behind me.
I'm certain that he'll follow me and we'll continue the argument at Paige and Owen's place. It wouldn't be the first time and I doubt it's the last. It's sort of an unspoken arrangement we have with our backups. Whenever either couple is in a fight that isn't quickly resolved and we're getting frustrated, saying the same things over and over or simply need some space, we go to the other couples apartment. It helps to have someone act as mediator and a voice of reason, and to help us cool down. We have much the same arrangement with Adam and Ash but we usually go to Owen and Paige's place so we're not putting Adam in the middle of the arguments.
I run down to the car and drive straight to Owen and Paige's place using my key to get in. They're eating dinner on the sofa with the TV on and tuned to my stations 6:00 broadcast.
"I told you Drew was going to be angry," Owen says with a snarky confidence to Paige.
"Ugh he is so stubborn and being totally unreasonable," I huff.
"You want to sit or pace angrily until he gets here?" Paige asks.
"Pace," I reply as I start pacing.
"You want to take a few swings at the punching bag in the office?" Owen offers.
"Yes I do," I nod and walk back to the office.
Owen showed me long ago how to properly hit the punching bag. I'm still punching it when I hear Drew come in and he walks back to the office.
"I hope you're not envisioning me," Drew comments leaning in the doorway.
"Just your pigheaded stubbornness," I respond looking at him.
"I'm not being pigheaded," Drew replies.
"I love you like crazy Drew but you are pigheaded and stubborn. I'm not going to cover fluff pieces just to make you happy Drew. Covering fluff pieces won't get me behind an anchor desk. I hate it every time you have to leave and worry about you the whole time that you're gone. I hate it but I know it's part of your job and I would never ask you to stop or tell Bob that you can't."
"My job puts me on planes and in office buildings yours puts you in real danger, bank robberies, shoot outs at hospitals, car wrecks, Mu…"
"Oh for heaven's sakes Drew it's not like that happens every day most of what I do is in depth interviews. I wasn't even being shot at today, the bullets weren't anywhere near me, Grady pulled me down but no bullets came anywhere near us. I reported on one car wreck and there's never been live fire at anything else I've reported on. I could be mugged in the street or car jacked or hit by a car crossing the street!"
"I know that but your job puts you at even greater risk, I've never been happy when you were sent on stories that were dangerous. Now you're carrying our child and I'm constantly worried for both of you. I don't care if the bullets weren't anywhere near you I don't want to think of you at a scene where people are being shot at!"
I scream in frustration again and storm out to the living room, "Will you tell him how unreasonable he's being?"
"Not taking sides," Owen shakes his head, "but if I was I would say that he has every right to worry this much after you were at a shootout."
"Ugh I wasn't even shot at, it wasn't anywhere near me he was shooting at the police. It's part of my job and I'm not going to stop just because I'm pregnant," I respond angrily throwing up my arms.
"Clare's right it's her job, it's not as though she's intentionally putting herself in danger she's doing her job. She has just as much risk of getting in a car crash on the way home," Paige says in my defense and I grin.
(DREW)
Clare and I have been having this argument for over an hour between our place and Owen and Paige's. After she left I turned off the stove, threw out the half cooked rice and put the chicken and vegetables in the fridge. I knew she was coming here and I wasn't going to let the apartment burn down because we're arguing.
Owen is on my side and Paige is on Clare's, I thought arguing with one pregnant woman would be hard but arguing with two is nearly impossible. We're getting absolutely nowhere, I'm still insisting she stop and she still refuses.
"Drew you're being an idiot I'm not going to do anything that will put me or the baby in danger but I'm not going to stop doing my job."
"I'm not asking you to st…"
"Ahhh," Paige squeaks and we all look over at her. She's been alternating between sitting on the sofa and pacing; currently she's sitting on the sofa and holding her stomach.
"Sweet Cakes you alright?" Owen asks walking over there.
"Yes," she says with a waiver in her voice as she tries to stand, "everything is fine but my water just broke and we should probably go to the hospital."
"Oh it's baby time," Owen grins excitedly grabbing me by the arms. "It's baby time we have to go to the hospital! We need…we need…crap I forgot what we need," Owen comments so excited that he's forgotten the whole birthing plan.
"Owen let's get Paige out to the car, Drew grab Paige's bag and lock up," Clare says taking charge.
I run into the bedroom and grab the bag they have pre-packed for the hospital, quickly turning off all the lights and then lock the door. Owen is in the backseat with Paige and Clare is in the driver's seat so I get in the passenger seat with the bag at my feet. Clare drives to the hospital and I help Owen get Paige out of the car. They go in while Clare and I park and then we run up to the maternity ward. We find Paige's room; she's being changed into a gown when Clare and I come in.
"Anything we can do?" I ask setting the bag down.
"We need a doctor where's the doctor?" Owen questions anxiously.
"You can make him calm down," Paige replies.
"The doctor will be in when he needs to be, please lay back Paige I need to see how dilated you are," the nurse says and Paige lies back. "Do you want an epidural?" The nurse asks after looking at Paige.
"Yes definitely," Paige nods.
"Do you want all these people in the room?" The nurse inquires.
"Yeah they should all be here," Paige tells her just as another contraction comes on and she starts to scream.
Owen rushes over and Paige grabs his hand squeezing so hard Owen makes a painful face. Clare reminds Paige to breathe while Owen's just in pain. Thankfully for both Paige and Owen an anesthetist comes in and gives Paige her epidural. She's far more relaxed after this and Owen doesn't look in pain anymore but he's not any more relaxed. Paige's contractions become more frequent and the next time the nurse comes in she tells Paige it's time and goes out to call the doctor. Paige's entire labor only takes two hours, by the time the doctor comes in I can already see Andrew crowning. He comes into the world with a strong cry and we're all crying with joy. Owen cuts the cord and I put my arm around Clare and she takes my hand. The nurses clean him up while Paige delivers the placenta, then they bring Andrew over wrapped in a blanket and give him to Paige.
"Andrew Dylan Milligan welcome to the world," Paige smiles with happy tears in her eyes and kissing her son's head. They're still doing stuff on Paige down below but we're all up by her head now. "I'm your mommy and this is your daddy, and these are your God Parents Drew and Clare."
"Hey Buddy I've been waiting a long time to see you and you are beautiful," Owen grins stroking his son's cheek.
Clare and I also greet Andrew and then leave the new parents to go make phone calls. Clare calls Tris and Owen's parents, Fitz and Jenna, Eli, Darcy, Jake, Glen, while I call my parents, Adam, Paige's parents and Dallas.
"We called everyone, well most everyone we didn't call Dylan but I'm sure your parents will," Clare says when we go back to the room. Paige looks tired but she's beaming happily at her son and Owen is beaming at them both.
"Thanks, look at him isn't he just the most perfect little thing you've ever seen?" Owen grins.
"Yes he is, we'll let you guys rest and bring the car back in the morning," I tell them and Owen just smiles. "If you'd been shot today we'd never be able to experience that moment with our own child," I tell her when we're in the elevator.
"Oh bloody hell you are not starting that again," Clare snaps getting out of the elevator on the wrong floor and I follow her.
"We weren't done arguing we stopped because Paige went into labor," I remind her as we walk down the hall.
"We are done arguing because I'm not giving up my job and I'm not going to turn down assignments that have potential danger," Clare responds stubbornly.
"What do you call what you did today? You went to a place where some maniac was still shooting," I contend pulling her into an empty room since we're attracting a lot of attention arguing in the hall.
"I went on assignment Drew, the assignment I was given by my boss. I'm not going to turn down assignments because I'm pregnant. I can't just do fluff pieces for the next twenty eight weeks because you love you me more than anything in the universe," Clare argues crossing her arms.
"But I do love you more than anything else in the universe and the thought of you being hurt kills me. I watched you go through cancer and it was the hardest thing I ever had to watch. I know you weren't hurt today but all I could think about when I heard the shots was a bullet hitting you."
"And every time you go on a trip I worry that you won't come back but we can't live our lives in fear Drew. I don't want you to worry but I won't take easy assignments just to make you feel better. I love you so much Drew, more than I ever thought possible, you are everything to me and I know you feel the same but this is my job. I'm fine and I'm going to be careful and take care of myself and our baby," she says and before I can argue she grabs my shirt and pulls me into a passionate kiss.
I wrap my arms around her, opening my lips and my tongue goes out wrapping around hers. My hands pull her blouse up and caress her skin, I'm already getting hard and Clare deepens the kiss. She grips my shirt pulling it over my head breaking us from the kiss. She drops my shirt to the floor and I put my hands under her ass picking her up, she wraps her legs around my waist and I walk her to the hospital bed. She takes my belt sliding it out of the loops and pulls my pants down with my boxers. I hike up her skirt up and take her panties off dropping them to the floor. Opening her blouse and pulling up her bra I start kissing her breasts stroking myself a couple of times until I'm completely hard. Gently sucking her nipple I thrust in and Clare bites her lip stifling a moan.
Clare lifts her legs a little and wraps them around my waist, I make a low grunt and Clare rakes her nails into my hair. Her back arches as I slide all the way in and attach my lips to hers again. I quickly increase my pace partly because I need to release and partly because I'm worried someone will walk in on us at any minute. Clare's nails drift down my skin, along my back and arms, we stay locked in the kiss mostly to quiet our moans of ecstasy. The rails on the hospital bed come in handy when I'm going so fast we can barely breathe. Clare and I climax at the same moment, deepening the kiss and moaning into it. I slow down and release Clare's lips, kissing her skin as our orgasms dissipate. I pull out of her, giving her a soft kiss on the lips and lying on my side next to her on the bed. Holding her like this on the hospital bed reminds me of doing it every night when she had cancer.
"We should probably get dressed and clean up before someone finds us," I comment and Clare nods.
I hand her clothes to her and we get dressed, I look around and clean up, taking the sheets off the bed so they can be washed. I hand Clare her purse and she hands me the keys for Owen's car and I drive it to our place, we'll retrieve our cars tomorrow. As soon as we're inside I look the door and Clare starts walking back to the bedroom but I grab her hand.
"I'm sorry but I'm not going to stop worrying about you and I'm never going to like it when you're covering those kinds of stories," I tell her and take her lips for a soft kiss.
"I know and I'd be worried if you did stop worrying. I'm always going to be worried about you too. But you can't demand that I change my job because it's dangerous on occasion. I promise that if I ever feel like the assignment will put me in danger I'll talk to Natalie but you have to promise not to flip out any time something happens while I'm covering a story. I cover the news Drew things are going to happen around me and as much as I know you want to you can't protect me from ever getting hurt. I'm not sick again and I know how hard it was for you to watch me go through that, I know how much you worried but if you keep this up you'll have an ulcer by the time the baby is born."
"I know but every time you're in pain it hurts me. I'm sorry I worry so much it's just because I love you so much and you're right I want to protect you from the world. I know I can't but I want to. I love you Angel more than anyone and anything in any universe, I love you more and more each day and I will never stop. I don't care if it's selfish of me the only one I care about at that station is you, we've been together for seven years and a few minutes apart is too many. The thought of losing you…"
Clare kisses me before I can continue, it's a brief kiss and she holds my hand when she pulls away. Her wonderfully bright blue eyes lock onto mine with a deep and almost pleading look.
"I know Drew," Clare says kissing the palm of my hand, "for me too. You know you're not allowed to die. I'm not dead I'm not even hurt and I love you more."
I laugh and take my wife in my arms kissing her deeply and passionately and so grateful that she's okay. I hate that her job puts her in danger, even if it's only on occasion, but it's her dream and I would never take that from her I love her too much for that.
Update Friday March 20th with more sexy time, Drew on a business trip and Owen and Paige experiencing new parenthood.