Reid sat down on the sofa next to Kari. His face was full of concern.
"Just tell me what's wrong, Sweetie", he said, taking her hand. Kari pulled her hand back.
"I'm not sure how to approach this", she said, standing up. She paced for a while and then stood up against the wall. Reid wanted to run to her, hug her; the look of sheer terror on her face was agonizing.
"Was that a pregnancy test you took?" Reid asked.
Kari nodded.
"And it was negative?"
Kari nodded again.
"And you're wondering when we're going to talk about us?" Reid said, standing up, and coming a bit closer to Kari. She looked so timid and scared. She reminded him of a baby bunny. He smiled, despite the situation.
"You think this is funny?" Kari asked, clearly hurt.
"Not at all", Reid said. "You just look so, timid. This isn't like you."
"I've never been here before", she said, sliding down to the floor. Then she jumped up quickly and ran for the bathroom. Reid followed her, holding her hair back while she vomited.
"Do you have another test?" he said, reaching for a towel out the linen closet to wet for her.
"JJ made me buy two. Just in case."
"Smart woman", Reid said, dabbing her face. "I think you should take the second one. Just in case it's a false negative."
"A double negative is a positive", she said.
"Yep, and we'll talk about us. Promise", he said, closing the door behind him. He reached in her breast pocket and pulled a ring out. He'd been carrying it around for weeks. He was hoping tonight at the reception would be the right time.
Reid paced the floor for exactly two minutes before Kari opened the door.
"Negative", she said, he head hung low.
"Alright, let's go then", Reid said, grabbing her purse and her keys. "Don't worry about clothes; you're staying with me tonight. I have a feeling neither of us is going to sleep until we get some answers."
"But where are we going", she said, as she took his hand that he offered.
"Emergency Clinic. I f you're not pregnant, something's wrong. And we need to know what."
Kari and Reid got to the hospital in record time. For it to be a Saturday night, it was surprisingly empty.
"Hi Kari, I'm Dr. Jones", the doctor said. "It seems we're having some stomach issues?"
"Yeah", Kari said. "I'm so nauseated and I keep vomiting. Nothing stays down."
"Kind of the obvious elephant in the room but, are you pregnant?" Dr. Jones said, getting his stethoscope.
"Took two tests tonight, both negative." Kari hung her head. Reid noticed her demeanor. 'That's the second time she hung her head', he thought. 'Did she wish it were positive?'
"I'm still not going to rule it out", he said. "Jenny will be in here shortly and take some blood. No worries", he said, patting her shoulder. "We'll cure what ails ya. Now let me listen to your stomach."
Kari lay back on the table and the doctor listened for a while. He moved his hand to the lower right side of Kari's stomach and gave a gentle push.
"Oww!" she said and sat straight up. The doctor sat her up.
"I need to take your temp." He placed the thermometer in her mouth and it beeped after 10 seconds.
"103.8. Hmm. One sec." He picked up the phone in his office and dialed the desk. "I need a gurney right away and tell the surgery team to prepare for an appendectomy."
"Spencer", Kari said, reaching for him.
"Dr. Jones?" Reid said.
"I'm sorry, but we really need to move fast. I'm not trying to alarm or scare you, but your symptoms are that of appendicitis. If it is, and I'm pretty sure it is, we need to operate. Now."
"Spencer", Kari said, holding on to him. "Spencer I'm scared."
"It's OK", he said. "I'm right here. It's routine. You can't have your appendix rupture, Hon."
The nurses came and wheeled Kari away to prep her for surgery. Reid sent a text to JJ and in 2 minutes his phone was blowing up from the whole team.
Reid went back to the waiting room and sighed when the emergency room doors opened and two brides, two grooms and the BAU walked through.
An officer came from behind the desk.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, noticing the party.
"It's OK", Rossi said. "We're family."
"Good looking family", the officer said.
"I didn't think you guys were coming! I know the party is still going", Reid said.
"The party ended when JJ came back and said Kari wasn't feeling well. Then when JJ got the text from you, we just all came here", Morgan said. "How long has she been in surgery?"
"About an hour", Reid said. "I'm worried, guys."
Morgan sat down next to him with his arm around Reid's shoulder. "Don't worry man, she'll be just fine."
"Of course she will", Fran said. "She has to be", Fran said, leaning into Rossi.
Dr. Jones came out about an hour later. "Dr. Reid?"
"Here!" Reid said, standing up and trotting up to the doctor.
Dr. Jones pulled him aside. "Have you contacted her parents?"
"I sent them both messages. They're overseas at the moment in Germany, but replied that they were to be updated."
"Well, we got her back in the surgery quickly, but the rupture had started. Right now, she's heavily sedated and we're waiting to see. She bled a lot more than we thought and she needs blood. As her only representative here, we need you to sign to agree to the transfusion."
Reid swayed a little bit and Morgan ran straight to him.
"Reid, what is it?" Morgan said.
"She needs blood. I, I have to sign."
"Is it necessary?" Morgan asked Dr. Jones.
"I hate to be grim, but yes. Life or death."
"Sign it, Spencer", Morgan said, taking the clipboard from the doctor.
Spencer signed the form and Dr. Jones left with a loving pat on the shoulder.
Sitting in the waiting room, Reid waited another hour before Dr. Jones came back again.
"She improved fast", Dr. Jones said. "I have no doubt. She's going to make it, Dr. Reid."
"Can I go see her?" Spencer said, wiping his eyes.
"Absolutely", he said. "She's been asking for you."
Reid turned around and faced his family with hugs. He smiled brightly as he pulled the ring out of his breast pocket. He held it up to the light and as Penelope gasped in excitement, turned winked at them and ran for the door.
"Well about time", Rossi said, as the team headed back to the recovery room.
"Kari", Reid said softly, as he entered the room.
"Baby", Kari said, drowsily. "They cut me open."
"Yep. You're a Frankenstein now", he said, chuckling.
Kari laughed slightly. "Oww", she said.
"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" Reid said.
"It's OK", Kari said, with a weak smile. "I'll be better in no time. So wanna talk about us now?"
"Now?" Reid said. He had since put the ring back in his pocket. He didn't want t over excite her. Hell, a joke just made her wince in pain.
"No time like the present", Kari said. "Besides, Doc says I ain't going now where for at least a day, so…"
"Are you up to it?" Reid said. "I don't want to wear you out."
"Never had a problem with that before", Kari said, with a grin.
"Oh you're a bad girl", Reid said, pulling up a chair. "The team's here, so let's make it quick, they want to see you too."
"OK", Kari said closing her eyes. "What do you want from me?"
"Honestly?" Reid said.
Kari gulped. "Yes. Honestly."
Reid fumbled around in his pocket and pulled out the ring. Kari tried to sit up unsuccessfully, and Reid had to move her electronic bed to upright sitting position.
"What the hell?" Kari said. "How long have you had that?"
"Don't miss a beat, do you?" Reid said smiling. "I've had this for about 2 months now. I've been carrying it with me in my pocket for a couple of weeks. I, I wish I knew how to be totally romantic like Rossi or Morgan, but I seriously…to answer your question, forever, Kari. That's what I want from you. Forever."
Kari looked at the ring in Reid's hand and back to his face. "Are you asking me to marry you?"
"I am."
"Then say it", Kari breathed emotionally. "Please. I need to hear you say it."
"Kari Marie Summers…"
"You did not just ay my whole name."
"Will you let me do this?" Spencer said, chuckling.
"Oh, right, sorry", Kari said, trying to sit up straighter and not wince in pain. The room door opened slightly and Kari's eyes went to the right just a bit to see Penelope give her a thumbs up. Reid didn't even hear the door open wider and the team stand in the doorway.
"Kari Marie Summers, I love you. I never want you to be in a place like this again, any where in the world for that matter without having my last name, with out being my wife. Please. Will you marry me?"
Trying to hold back tears that were flowing steadily, Kari yelled "yes!" as Reid put the ring on her finger. The whole squad in the door erupted in cheers, as Reid leaned in a kissed Kari sweetly.
"I love you, Spencer", Kari said, her face mere inches from his.
"I've always loved you", Spencer said. "And I always will."