While You're Making Other Plans

by Miss Shannon and Glistening Sun

6

After work, Andy had told Sharon in no uncertain terms that he was driving her home and that she should not even think about objecting. He was in full work mode, constantly checking around them to see if they were being followed or threatened in any way. The whole car was bristling with his nervous energy and he had his hand on his gun when he came around to open the door for her. Sharon felt rather like having her personal bodyguard, a bodyguard who held her hand and kissed her soundly the moment they were in the elevator. Sharon gratefully relaxed into Andy's embrace. She hadn't meant for him to find out like this, but sharing the burden had been good. Over the past weeks she had sometimes worried how she should protect Rusty or herself once she was further along in her pregnancy, and Andy seemed to be taking it okay.

When Andy immediately excused himself to go to the bathroom she wasn't too surprised. She knew he would be making sure all windows and doors were securely locked, and probably peek into the cupboards as well just to assure himself that Stroh wasn't there. She sat down at the table and closed her eyes, imaging their lives a few months from now, herself heavy with child, talking, making plans, having dinner together. Dinner. Hmm. What would they have for dinner? She felt like icecream, or maybe peach cobbler. Hmm, yes her grandmother's recipe … that sounded yummy! Lost in her daydreams of sweet, crunchy pastry and still warm succulent peaches, it took her a while to notice that Andy hadn't come back like she had expected him to.

"Honey, what would you like for dinner?" she called and pushed herself up out of the chair. Maybe she could convince Andy to make that cobbler for her! She licked her lips in anticipation and made her way to the bedroom. The sight that greeted her there made her smirk. Andy was lying on their bed covered by her favourite black and white striped blanket with only his feet sticking out.

"Andy?"

A grunt.

"Why are you hiding under my blankets?"

"Come here!" His voice was gruff, and much louder than she would have expected it.

"Is that an order, Lieutenant?"

"You bet it is! Now get in here and talk to me!"

The moment she eased herself down next to him he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Dammit, Sharon. If I didn't love you so much I'd kill you for keeping this from me."

"Good thing you love me, then," she whispered, returning his kiss with more tenderness.

"Not funny!" Andy knew full well that there was no point in arguing with her about what was already done. She had tried to protect him. His pregnant girlfriend had tried to protect him, the seasoned homicide detective. "Sweetheart, you know that I worry about you. Can you at least promise me you'll tell me if you receive anymore threats?"

Sharon merely continued placing soft kisses to his lips, running her fingers through his hair and humming softly when he tightened his embrace even more. "Honey, do you know how to make peach cobbler?"

"I do, but how did we get from threats against your life to peach cobbler?"

"I want peach cobbler for dinner, and if you make it for me, I promise to tell you about any new threats."

/

The next morning they finally had the appointment to see Sharon's long-term OB/GYN, the man who had delivered both Emily and Ricky, and whose wife, Betty, had become a good friend. A good friend who, it turned out, had only just found out that Sharon was expecting.

„Sharon, there you are! I can't believe you are pregnant! What a lovely surprise! Mamma Sharon, come here and let me give you a hug! Now tell me everything. Everything!" Betty pronounced every syllable while she pulled Sharon into a bear hug, "I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked Doc's schedule this morning. My dear friend Sharon coming in for an antenatal visit! Who'd have thought! Now tell me, how did this happen?"

Sharon returned the woman's embrace heartily and laughed, "Oh Betty, just the way these things usually happen."

"You mean you got carried away. At your age! How exciting!"

"Betty, please!" Sharon tried to protest knowing it would be futile. If Betty was on a roll, she was unstoppable. "It's so nice to see you, too! Now tell me, how have you been?"

But Betty didn't respond to Sharon's attempt at changing the subject, instead continuing in so perfect an imitation of Sharon's voice that Andy could only shake his head in laughter, "Oh, this is terribly embarrassing, but I don't really know how this could have happened. We were so careful. Betty, I'm telling you, we really were careful this time!"

Andy was still laughing, "I'm getting to know a whole new side of you, sweetheart!" This woman was like a tornado and he was amazed to see Sharon being happily pulled along. Sharon had talked about her OB/GYN and said that he was special, but this Betty person was quite something, too.

It was as though Betty was noticing him for the first time since they had walked into the surgery. "Sharon, look at you. One surprise after another! It looks like you've finally come to your senses and ditched that idiot." Then she let go of Sharon and extended a hand to him, mischief sparkling in her eyes. "Mr. Baby Daddy, I presume?"

"Will you stop it! Gosh, Betty! Really! Meet Andrew Flynn, my partner, and Andy, this is Betty Cottle. She's …"

"I'm the one who keep this place running while my grumpy husband plays doctor with all the young women that come to visit."

Andy's breath caught for a second, but then he watched Sharon's dissolve in laughter, "Oh Betty, some things never change, do they? Do you remember when he promised to stop calling me young woman when I made Lieutenant?"

"I seem to recall there was another condition, something about no more 'accidental pregnancies'?"

And then Sharon's blushed and started fanning herself, making a incomprehensible noises. God, she was adorable! Andy had never seen her so flustered, and happy at the same time. He had to make her tell him all these stories. Who would ever have thought that Sharon had friends like this, friends who got away with teasing her and all she did was smile and blush. Suddenly Andy couldn't wait to meet the doctor. If his wife was anything to go by …

Betty was now putting her hands on both her hips, vigorously shaking her head. "And now look at you, Sharon. You can't be all that much younger than me. Who knew you still had it in you?"

"Well, Andy and I certainly didn't!" Sharon wrapped her arm around Andy's waist and pulled him close. "And I will insist that this counts as a miracle rather than an accident. I'm telling you, the young doctor at Cedar's ER thought we were quite a show!"

"I imagine he would have! Well, you know you're in good hands here." Betty's whole demeanour suddenly changed: gone was the exuberant laughing to reveal a warm caring woman who gently patted Sharon's hand. "Go and take a seat. I'll let him know you're here. And congratulations to the both of you."

Andy watched the two women look at each other and he found himself getting curious about their history. It seemed strange for someone to take such liberties with Sharon – and to get away with it. He wondered what Sharon had been like in her twenties, before Jack and the reality of living with an alcoholic had changed her. She seemed so serious now, at least on the outside, but over the years he had started to see beyond that. She could be downright goofy, even if it wasn't brought on by pregnancy hormones like her recent penchant for hugging everyone and hiding under blankets.

"The Cottles and I go back a long time. I hope you didn't feel left out."

Her concern touched him and he pulled her close, "I love seeing you so relaxed, sweetheart."

"He's ready to see you now. Just to give you a head's up, he's convinced this is all one big prank."

Sharon rolled her eyes and pointed with her chin to Andy. "So did this one here."

"Men." Betty responded with another eye roll.

"Men, indeed. Well, let's go, Andy, you'll finally get to meet Doc Cottle."

Andy wasn't sure what to think, but he stood up and offered his hand to Sharon, which she, of course, ignored. Damn independence, he was only trying to be a gentleman while she insisted on showing him she didn't need his help. But she did grab his hand when they started into the direction Betty had indicated.

"Well, well, well young lady, what a lovely surprise you're paying us a visit down here in our quarters." The white-haired man with a tanned complexion that spoke of his love for Los Angeles' beaches walked around his desk with a big smile and an unlit cigarette dangling from the side of his mouth.

"I'm happy to see you, too, Doc."

"And I see you've brought a friend." He eyed Andy curiously, nodding when Sharon introduced the two men. She had to suppress a smile when she noticed them seizing each other up, each with his particular brand of protectiveness for her. Over two decades ago Sharon had been one of the first patients at Doctor Cottle newly opened surgery. She had met his wife Betty at a Lamaze course where they had bonded over the absence of their husbands, one because he was delivering other women's babies the other because he was nursing his bourbon or a hangover. While the two women had struck up an immediate friendship, Sharon never would have gone back after that legendary first appointment if it hadn't been for Betty. Then, as she got to know the Doc, she had learned to see beyond the rough exterior to the warm-hearted man and caring physician he was.

"It may come as a surprise for you, but my chart tells me you're here for an antenatal check-up."

Sharon blushed a little, her hand closing around Andy's as she nodded furiously.

"Which, given your age, is impossible, so that only leaves one option: fertility treatments. Why would a woman of your age and emotional maturity consider that a prudent course of action?"

"Indeed, why would I? We didn't get any treatment, this … just happened." Sharon's cheeks were burning. She had expected the question, but this kind of interrogation was still a little hard to stomach.

"And I am Father Christmas. Young lady, these things don't just happen at your age."

"But it did!" Andy leaped to Sharon's support, almost growling at the other man. Who did the old guy think he was? He might be doctor, but he was going to show him how to treat his Sharon.

"Ah, ah, ah! Let me be the judge of that."

Sharon patted Andy's arm, giving him a warning look and silently telling him to step down. "The pregnancy's already confirmed by an ultrasound at the ER."

The doctor shook his head and mumbled something about ERs and clueless greenhorns. "Now, climb up on the table so we can see what's really going on."

"Sweetheart," Andy whispered when the strange doctor had turned around to give Sharon some privacy while she took off her clothes. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Hell, it was the worst idea ever! He needed somebody competent to look after his girlfriend and their baby and not this … this guy with his rude sense of humour! Sharon laid a soft hand against the side of his face, looking deeply into his eyes. "I told you Doc Cottle was special, didn't I?"

Good grief, why did she have to be so stubborn. Surely she had to see that she needed a specialist, someone who looked after her and their baby properly. "But I'm not sure he's the right person to look after you and our baby. He's so …"

"Rude? Grumpy? Trust me, he's a great doctor. Don't let yourself be fooled by his attitude."

Andy pulled out his last and, he thought, rather brilliant, argument: "But he doesn't even believe you are pregnant!"

"Neither did you!" This time it was Andy's turn to blush. Before he could think of a suitable comeback, the doctor was back, ordering Sharon to lift her top so he could start the ultrasound. Their little argument was quickly forgotten as the sound of their baby's rapid heartbeats filled the room leaving three sets of eyes looking at the imagine on the screen in wonder.

"I've never seen anything like it. Sharon, would you care to explain why an educated and intelligent woman like you doesn't use contraception?"

Andy rolled his eyes, this was going to be a long appointment!