"Which of you are Ms. Quinlan's next of kin?"
Dean and Sam looked with concern at the doctor, who approached them.
"Well, our uncle would be her next of kin, Doc," Dean said. "But we're all living together."
The doctor nodded. "I'm Doctor Gutierrez. You're the ones who brought her in?"
Sam nodded. "Is she okay? The baby?"
The doctor's face was troubled. "We're monitoring her. It would be better for the baby if we can prevent labor for a few more weeks, but in the worst-case scenario, we may have to deliver early."
Dean frowned deeply. "What does that mean?"
"Is she going to be okay?" Sam asked.
The doctor looked from Dean to Sam. "We're doing our best."
Before the doctor could walk away, Sam reached out, stopping his hand just before contact. "Can we see her?"
The doctor looked up at him, then to Dean. "Well, she's resting, but you can go in for a few minutes."
Sam and Dean moved into the room where Lizbeth lay attached to an IV bag and monitors with her eyes closed. Sam moved to her side and looked at the monitors, recognizing one as a heartbeat monitor, but not knowing what the other monitors were for. "Liz?" he murmured.
Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek and her blue eyes looked up at him.
"Hey," he smiled. "How are you feeling?"
She frowned. "What did the doctor say about the baby?"
Dean stepped closer. "He says you're both gonna be okay."
Sam looked at his brother, then down at her with a nod. "But how are you feeling?"
She glanced from Dean to Sam. "Foolish. Scared. Tired."
Sam's eyebrows did a dance, taking her hand. "Foolish? Why foolish?"
"All my fussin' about not needing you guys to stay with me...if you hadn't been there…" her eyes filled with tears.
Sam leaned closer to her and Dean took her other hand, being careful not to disturb her IV line.
"Liz, you're not foolish."
"Not at all. Both of us would have had the same objections in the same situation," Dean smiled.
Liz's eyebrows rose. "So if you're ever pregnant, I know what to expect?" she smiled, looking at him.
Dean frowned. "Hell, no! If I'm ever pregnant, I'm not handling anything as well as you have!"
She laughed as Sam chuckled.
The nurse came in. "Excuse me, gentlemen. She needs her rest."
Sam, Dean and Liz looked over to her, then at each other.
"I hate it when people tell me what to do," Liz muttered.
Dean grinned. "Couldn't tell."
She frowned at him as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"If you don't have anything better to do," Dean grinned. "You might consider getting some rest."
Sam chuckled. He leaned down then and kissed her cheek. "We'll be hanging around."
She looked up at him. "Sam," she furrowed her brows. "Thank you."
He gripped her hand and nodded at her. Then he released her hand and walked out of the room behind Dean.
#
#
Bobby Singer nearly ran into the waiting room of the hospital and looked around. He found Sam and Dean sitting to the side by the windows. "Dean! Sam!" he called out, moving to them. "How is she? The baby?"
Sam and Dean both stood.
"They're being monitored," Dean said.
"What does that mean?" he frowned and moved away from them.
It didn't take long for them to be in Liz's room again, fully up to date on her condition, with Bobby as her next of kin.
"What exactly is a 'placental abruption'?" Dean asked.
"Is that what's wrong?" she asked.
They turned to look at her.
"Hey there, Lizzy," Bobby smiled, moving to her side. "How ya feelin'?"
"Like I'm lookin' at three grown men who are afraid to tell me something," she frowned.
Sam took her hand again and nodded. "Doc says it might be a placental abruption, but it's hard to diagnose. They're waiting on your blood tests and they want to do an ultrasound."
Liz looked at him. After a moment, she nodded her head. "Can you get the doctor for me? I need to find out the particulars."
Dean held up his hand. "I'll go."
"So how ya feelin'?" Bobby asked again.
Liz smiled at him. "I'm okay, Bobby Bear." She gripped his hand. "Don't worry." She looked at Sam. "How's your back, by the way?"
Sam frowned. "My back?"
"You carried me from the house to the car!"
Sam smiled. "You don't weigh anything," he shrugged. "Easy to carry you."
Liz's smile included her eyes. "Well, you know the right things to say, my friend!" Then she frowned. "But seriously…"
He chuckled. "Seriously. My back is fine." He brushed her hair back, gently. "I'm more worried about you," he said. Then he held up his hand. "Even if you don't want us to."
"Got that right," Bobby grumbled.
The doctor came in and Liz spoke to him. In the end, she was assured that she would be taken for an ultrasound in less than thirty minutes and should have the results in about an hour. After that, they should be able to determine if she would need to remain hospitalized or if she could be moved home.
"Either way," the doctor said. "It will be complete bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy."
Liz nodded, then swallowed. "Doc," she frowned, then cleared her throat. "Did I do this?"
The doctor looked as surprised as the other men in the room. He tilted his head. "This?"
"Is it because I didn't have doctor's appointments-?"
"There is no way to cause or prevent this, Ms. Quinlan," the doctor assured her. "It is a very rare occurrence and we don't know how it happens. I don't want you beating yourself up or dwelling on how you could have prevented it, because there isn't anything you could do."
She nodded.
At that moment, an orderly came in with a gurney and spoke to the doctor.
Doc looked back at her and smiled. "Time to go to the ultrasound."
"Uhm," Liz looked at Sam, then to the doctor. "Can Sam go with me?"
The doctor nodded. "Sure."
Sam's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Me?" He looked at Dean and Bobby, who both shrugged. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Please?"
Sam swallowed and nodded, following as they wheeled her out of the room.
#
#
Sam sat next to Liz and held her hand as the technician exposed her belly and spread a clear gel on it. He looked down at her and smiled, nervously, as the tech moved the wand. Suddenly, Sam saw a picture appear on the screen to Liz's left, and his jaw dropped open as his eyes widened.
"Is that…?"
"Yep," the tech smiled. "Is this your first ultrasound?"
"Yes," both Liz and Sam responded, then looked at each other.
She frowned and moved the wand. She tapped on her keyboard and moved the wand again, tapping again.
Sam's eyes were fixed on the image of the infant on the screen. His hand tightened on Liz's.
"Sam?"
He looked down at her and smiled. "It's amazing!" he whispered with awe in his voice.
She smiled. "The baby's okay?"
The tech smiled. "Looks like. Healthy heartbeat. Do you want to know the baby's sex?"
Sam's eyes widened as he looked at Liz.
"Ah, no," she responded, biting her lip.
The tech nodded without further comment. She continued to move the wand and type on her keyboard. After a few minutes, the tech cleaned her equipment and used a towel to clean Liz's belly. "Okay, so the doctor has to review the results. You should get them soon."
"Thank you," Liz whispered.
There seemed to be some shine to his eyes when Sam looked down at her as the tech went out and the orderly moved in. "Thank you for letting me come with you," he said, softly, to her.
She smiled up at him. "Thanks for coming with me."
#
#
When her doctor walked in, he found her asleep with four men watching a football game in her room. He chuckled. "There's a lot of muscle in this room," he intoned, alerting them to his presence.
"Doc!" Bobby started.
He held up a hand as all of them stood to face him and he looked at her. "Before I wake her and tell her the results of her tests, I need to ask you all something." After seeing them all nod, he said. "I hope the fact that you're all here is that you care enough about this young woman to make sure she takes care of herself."
Four faces looked surprised. "Of course," Bobby said, quickly, which was echoed by the others.
He nodded. "Because I'm going to be giving her very strict instructions. And it is very difficult for a lot of women, especially with the end of the pregnancy looming. They feel like they have so much to do before the baby comes but it is imperative that she follow the instructions to the letter, no matter what."
"We'll make sure she follows them," Dean said.
"Follow what?" Lizbeth's voice interrupted them. She was stretching awake when they looked back at her.
"My instructions, Ms. Quinlan. You're going to make a deal with me," the doctor said.
She frowned. "What?"
"The placental abruption is very slight and your contractions have stopped. I'm giving you two options: Option Number 1, you stay here in the hospital for the next three weeks until baby is considered term and we deliver at that time. Or Option Number 2, you go home with weekly appointments until the baby decides to come-"
"Option 2!" she smiled.
"-on total bedrest."
Her eyebrows rose. "What?"
"Total bedrest. You can get out of bed to go to the bathroom, to move from bed to the couch, but nothing else. No cleaning, no cooking, no nothing but bedrest. And I'm serious about this, Ms. Quinlan. Any unnecessary activity could exacerbate your condition. And if you start bleeding or contractions, you're back in the hospital pert-quick, got it?"
"Got it," Dean, Bobby and Rufus said in unison.
Sam dipped his head to hide his smile. He looked at Lizbeth, who frowned at them.
"What the hell?!" she asked. "Since when do I need all of you speaking for me?! I haven't even seen you, Rufus, in ten years!"
"Since you came to live in my house-" Bobby started.
"Since Sam and I drove you here, half-scared out of our heads-" Dean started at the same time.
"Doesn't mean I don't care-" Rufus insisted simultaneously.
Sam held up his hands at the same time as the doctor.
"Is it going to be a problem?" the doctor asked Lizbeth.
She shot the men at the end of her bed a look filled with venom. "I would like to take Option Number 2 and have no objection to following your rules, Doc, but I need these jackasses to know that I will not be treated like I'm made of glass."
The doctor looked at her. "It might be best if you think of it as being made of glass, Ms. Quinlan."
She frowned at the doctor and, before she could say anything, Sam stepped forward. "Doc, uh, guys, could I have a moment with Liz?"
Everyone in the room looked at Sam as if he'd lost his mind, but eventually, they all left. Then he looked at Lizbeth. He held his hands up and walked to her bedside. "I'm gonna need you to control your temper and just listen for a minute."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why is it, every time you approach me when you think I'm angry, you look like you're surrendering?"
He smiled and put his hands down, straightening. "I figure it's the safest way to approach you."
She took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine. I'll listen."
"None of us - not me, Dean, Bobby or Rufus - think you're helpless, normally."
"Being pregnant is not a terminal illness, Sam!"
He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to wait for her.
She sighed. "Continue."
"In this case, where the baby is concerned, we have to treat your pregnancy like it's terminal, Liz." His eyebrows knit together. "As in if you don't let someone take care of you, it could be deadly to you and/or your baby."
She looked down at her hands.
"Look, we're hunters. It's our job to protect people, to save lives. But it's not often that we get a chance to do it for something so ordinary as caring for a family member in this way. Let us do this for you and the baby."
She looked up at him with a deep frown. She swallowed and looked downward again. "You have to understand that I've always stood on my own two feet. Never depended on anyone for anything."
"Not even your brother? Your folks?"
"Not since adulthood."
He took her hand. "Let me—let us take care of you, Liz."
She looked at his hand holding hers. Then she cleared her throat, then she nodded. "Okay."
He smiled at her. "Okay."
She gripped his hand back. "Just…" she paused. "Remind me from time to time when I get to bein' difficult."
His smile widened. "Will do."
She nodded. "Better get that doc back before he sets up permanent accommodations."
#
#
"So I figured you could hang out down here, on the couch, during the day," Bobby said. "Then we could take you up to your room at night - as long as the climb doesn't hurt you."
She smiled. "Thank you, Bobby Bear," she said, as Sam helped her sit down on the couch. She turned to lean on a stack of pillows piled up on the end of the couch.
Sam took off her shoes and put them out of the way at the end of the couch, then sat near her feet on the couch.
"Thank you, Sam," she said.
Dean came in from the kitchen with a TV tray, followed by Rufus with a glass of water. They set it up where she could get to it.
"Guys," she held up her hands. She reached for Bobby's hand, which he took. "Listen," she said.
"We know: you're not an invalid," Dean growled.
She smiled. "I appreciate that, but that's not what I was going to say. I wanted to tell you all that I appreciate everything you're doing and you're willing to do for me. I never wanted to be a burden on anyone but, sometimes, you have to lean on friends and family," she looked at Sam. "So I'm going to try not to be impossible and I'm going to depend on you all to let me know when I am being impossible, so I can try to stop."
"This is impossible," Rufus grumbled.
"Shut up, Rufus!" Bobby snapped. "Nobody said you have to stay."
"Kiss my ass, Singer! You know I'm not gonna let anything happen to Johnny Q's daughter and grandbaby."
Liz laughed. "It's okay, Bobby. I know big bad hunters don't like the mushy stuff. That's all I wanted to say."
"So tell us what you need," Rufus said.
She shook her head. "Right, now, just a little rest."
"I'll go get you a blanket," Dean said, going for the stairs.
Bobby squeezed her hand and frowned down at her. "I'll go figure out what's for dinner."
Rufus nodded. "I'll help."
"Who said I needed it?"
"You know you don't know your ass from your elbow in the kitchen-"
Liz smiled as she watched them walk away, then looked at Sam. "Thanks for being the voice of reason at the hospital."
He nodded. "When you need a reminder, or someone to vent to, just call me."
She reached for his hand. He gave it to her and she squeezed it. "I'll try to remember."
He smiled as Dean arrived with a blanket.
"Can we get you anything else?" Dean asked.
She shook her head. "I think I'm just going to take a nap - if Bobby and Rufus can take care of dinner without arguing too loud."
"We'll remind them you're in here resting," Dean chuckled.
Sam stood then and took the blanket from Dean. He covered her with it and helped her remove a couple of pillows so that she could recline more. Then he patted her knee. "If you need anything, just call us."
She nodded. "Thanks, again, Sam," then she looked at Dean. "and you, too, Dean."
#
#
"Hey," Dean's voice interrupted Sam's study of yet another of Bobby's tomes. Sam looked up.
"Looks like a vamp case in Fort Collins. Get your gear."
Sam looked at the book in front of him as his brother started to turn away. "Hey, uh, Dean?"
Dean stopped, his eyebrows up.
"Why don't you take Bobby? Or we can call in Garth—"
Dean frowned at him and tilted his head. "You want to pawn off our case on another hunter? Are you sick?"
Sam nodded, standing. "Ah, yeah. I just don't think it's a good idea to leave right now."
Dean frowned and walked closer to his brother. "And why not?"
Sam's eyes moved toward the door to the room in the direction of the stairs.
Dean blinked. "Liz? You want to stay because of Liz?"
"Well, she needs help—"
"Yeah, and Bobby will be here!" Dean frowned. "And if he needs help, he can call Rufus or Jody!" He moved closer. "What's going on, Sam?"
"I just don't feel like we should be abandoning a friend in need."
"We're not." Dean took a deep breath and rubbed his face. His frown deepened and his green eyes pierced him. "Are you falling for her?"
Sam's eyebrows rose. "What?" He frowned. "C'mon, Dean!"
"Then what's the problem, Sam?!"
"Lower your voice, Dean!" Sam whispered. "What if she goes into labor while we're gone?"
Dean growled through gritted teeth. "Then Bobby will take her! He'll call us and we'll beat feet back. But we're not going to sit on our thumbs waiting for a baby that isn't your kid!"
Sam frowned. "It's not about whether or not it's my kid! She's depending on us!"
Dean tilted his head and looked him up and down. "So you want to ask her permission to go do our jobs?!"
Sam frowned. "I'm not saying that!"
"Go, Sam."
They turned to look at the stairs, where Liz was taking them step by step. Sam moved, quickly, to her side and took her arm to assist her to the couch. He glared at Dean, then looked at her.
"The two of you are going to go bonkers cooped up in here with me. Bobby and I will be fine for a few days."
"Great! Fort Collins is only a ten hours away," Dean said. "We should be back in just a couple of days."
Liz nodded. "And I'll probably sleep for most of it."
Sam looked down at her. "You're sure?"
"Go. Or I'll go with Dean."
Dean's eyebrows rose and he looked at Sam, then to Liz.
She shook her head and raised her hand. "I know I can't go. So you go!"
Sam nodded. "Okay." He stood, then looked at Dean. "I'll grab my gear."
Dean frowned after him. Then he looked at Liz sitting on the couch. "We'll be back in a couple of days," he said, again.
She grinned. "I know. And I know you're as concerned as he is."
Dean frowned and nodded.
"But I'm glad you guys are getting out for a little while. Just be safe. Make sure you come back. In one piece."
Sam entered the room as she finished what she was saying and stopped short. "Liz…"
"Get out before I get back up," she grinned.
"Well, we'll be gone and back by the time that happens," Dean grinned, suddenly.
They left while she was looking for something to throw at him. She laughed and relaxed back into the pillows she'd left on the couch.
#
#
"What on earth is wrong with you, girl?!"
Liz frowned up at Bobby from her bed. "What?"
"You haven't gotten out of bed except to pee in two days."
"Well, no shit, Bobby, I'm on total bedrest."
Bobby moved further into her room. "I mean, you haven't even moved to the couch downstairs. I kinda thought you had a routine these days."
She groaned. "I do. I'm just being lazy."
"Is it 'cause the boys aren't here?"
She frowned and looked at him askance. "Why would it have anything to do with them?"
Bobby fought a smiled. "I don't know. Maybe you're gettin' to like 'em."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course I like 'em, Bobby! They're like family."
"And maybe you like one of 'em a little better than the other?" he asked, tilting his head in her direction.
She tilted her head in a mirror of his, frowning at him, then shook her head. "And which one are you imagining I might like?"
"Sam." Bobby sat at the foot of her bed. "And no wonder. He's been at your beck and call ever since the hospital."
"He's being kind, that's all."
He tilted his head. "I wouldn't put it past Sam to be kind, all right, but I'm startin' to think there might be more to it. From him and from you."
She looked at Bobby. "What are you tryin' to say, Bobby Bear?"
"Just remember, he's a hunter."
"So am I."
"No," Bobby frowned. "You were. Now you're a mom - or you're gettin' ready to be - and that kid is more important than anything else. And if you decide to get involved with someone, that kid, and you, have to be that person's main priority. Not The Life."
Lizbeth leaned forward and reached for Bobby's hand. "Thanks, Bobby Bear. For carin'. And you're right: my hunting days are probably over. But since all my friends and family are hunters or friends or family of hunters, I don't know how likely it will be for me to meet a non hunter."
Bobby grumbled. "Probably right."
"Should we call them? Let 'em know we're okay?"
"Hell, no! They can pick up the damned phone. Should be checkin' in to make sure you're okay."
She smiled. "Well, if they do, wake me. In the meantime, I'm going to take a nap."
"Another one? Didn't you just finish one?"
She smiled. "I"m trying to save up my energy. I won't get any sleep after the baby's born, remember?"
He patted her leg and stood. "If you say so."
#
#
Dean and Sam moved into Bobby's house and dropped their bags in the spot designated by Liz as acceptable.
"Great, you're back," Bobby grumbled from his desk. "Now maybe she'll get back to normal."
Both Sam and Dean raised their eyebrows, then exchanged looks.
"What's that mean?" Dean asked.
"She hasn't gotten out of bed since you guys left."
Sam nodded. "She's on bed rest, so that's good."
"She doesn't even come down to the couch—"
"Stop your grousing, Bobby Bear!" Liz said from the stairs.
Sam moved quickly to assist her.
She smiled at him, taking his hand. "Hey, there, Sam. When did you get back?"
"Just a few minutes ago."
She allowed him to help her down the stairs, then to the couch. "Hey, Dean. Welcome back."
"Oh, now you come down?"
She frowned. "I thought the whole point of our conversation was to get me out of bed!"
Bobby looked at Dean. Then back at her as she walked to the couch. "So you didn't decide to come down because the boys came back?"
Liz leveled a look at him. "Listen, if you don't want me down here, I'll go back to bed."
"I didn't say I didn't want you—"
"Hey!" Sam spoke even as Dean stepped forward with his hands raised.
"Back to your corners," Dean growled.
Sam helped Liz to the couch as Dean watched Bobby. "Are you guys going to fight every time we leave?' Dean asked.
Liz grinned from the couch. "Depends… will it make you come home faster?"
Dean and Sam looked at each other, alarmed.
Liz laughed out loud, leaning back on the couch. "Oh, my lord! You all so are predictable!"
Dean and Sam exchanged looks with Bobbie, who shook his head and walked out of the room as Liz grinned.