AN: Keeping the Tony and Melissa bits short at the moment because there are some really big and intense moments coming, and this is build up to them.
Chapter 4
The Base Hospital cafeteria was far from a fine dining experience, leaving him to choose from only sandwiches or crackers.
He'd opted for plain, unflavored crackers. He would rather starve than eat them himself, but they seemed a good option for a pregnant woman who was struggling with food.
Tony would have known what to get for Jeannie. He would have mulled over the benefits and pitfalls of all the options. He would only select the best and trust that he knew how to help her.
Roger shook his head, crackers in hand as he headed back for Jeannie. "Come on, Tony. You have to wake up. Jeannie needs you," He whispered under his breath.
He caught sight of Jeannie a few seconds later. She was on her feet, Dr. Bellows in front of her, his hands on her forearms, steadying her.
"Major Healey," She breathed, eyes meeting his as soon as he was close enough. "Please tell Dr. Bellows I am fine. That he does not need to be concerned. I need to see Anthony."
Dr. Bellows shook his head, eyes on Jeannie, but he spoke in Roger's direction. "I came to tell you both that the tests were finished and you are welcome to see Major Nelson. Jeannie nearly fainted when she stood."
Roger nodded, at her side now. "She's okay, sir. I will look after her."
"You've been unwell, and now you have nearly fainted, Jeannie. You need to be examined. Major Nelson would not allow this to slide by."
Jeannie let out a hard sob at the mention of Anthony. She wanted desperately for this to be a bad dream. For them to be at home, trying to sort through Haji's list, disagreeing about gender and how he wanted her to take it easier than she was.
This was all wrong.
"I am fine, Dr. Bellows. I just need to see Anthony, please."
The last of the words slipped out in a near wrench. She moved to cover her mouth quickly, shaking her head as she hurried away.
Roger forced out a hard breath and started after her.
Morning sickness didn't seem the right name for what Jeannie was going through.
"Major Healey," Dr. Bellows said, hand on his arm as he attempted to pass by. "She needs a doctor."
"She's fine, sir. Please leave it alone. She just needs to see Tony."
Dr. Bellows shook his head, unconvinced. "She's not well, Major."
"She's fine, sir," He tried again, but Dr. Bellows expression was unwavering. He was not going to let this go.
There was no way he could examine Jeannie, or any other doctor for that matter.
"She's having a baby," He said it quickly, in one long breath.
Dr. Bellows eyes went wide, and he nodded slowly. "Major Nelson never mentioned…"
"Tony doesn't know," Roger interrupted. "She only found out this morning, when Tony and I were in the capsule."
"Oh what terrible timing," Dr. Bellows lamented. "The poor girl."
"She been unwell for a few weeks and she's really struggling today. I don't really know what I'm doing," Roger shook his head, the words falling hard from his lips.
He wasn't made to be a husband or a father.
But Tony was and he couldn't be here for the greatest moment of his life.
Yet he was the one having to be a better man than he had ever been.
He couldn't let them down.
"Tony would never forgive me if something happened to Jeannie or the baby."
Dr. Bellows was quiet for a moment, the weight of the days events settling over him. "He would never forgive us, Major. We are a team here at NASA and we stand by one another when the need arises."
Major Healey wouldn't do this alone. Jeannie wouldn't go through this alone. They would be by her side until Major Nelson woke.
"I will ask around, see if there is anything we can do for her medically. In the meantime, when she is up to it, the two of you go see Major Nelson. I will take the fall should the hospital have any issues."
Roger exhaled, nodding. "Thank you, sir." He hurried off in the direction Jeannie had gone, hoping she was up to going in with him to finally see Tony.
Dr. Bellows watched him go, before turning his attention to Major Nelson's door.
They had no further information as to why he was still unconscious.
All tests results were normal and there was no medical reason why he should not have regained consciousness.
He sighed and shook his head.
"Wake up, Major. She needs you." He said under his breath as he turned away, intent to find a doctor who could advise him how best to help Jeannie with her morning sickness.
They wouldn't let anything happen to her or the child.
And they would do everything humanly possible to help Major Nelson regain consciousness.
Nothing. There was nothing in this house of her.
Nothing that referenced her.
Her bottle wasn't anywhere to he found, either.
It didn't seem to exist. She didn't seem to exist.
Tony raised a hand to his face, his confusion starting to get the best of him.
There were pictures all around. Of his life with Melissa.
Vacation pictures. Gala and reception pictures. Pictures at press conferences and NASA parties.
Engagement and wedding photos.
He studied each one, trying to understand how this was possible.
There were no photos of children, and he hoped that meant there were none.
Children…
Jeannie.
She'd gone to see Haji after nearly fainting in his arms. She would be back by now.
Roger thought she might be pregnant.
He reached out to the wall next to him to steady himself, air leaving his lungs.
He could vividly see their children. Girls with her eyes. Boys with her smile.
He could hear them too. A house full of them. Laughing, bickering and probably blinking.
He wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything.
Including his moon landing.
"Tony? We need to leave in half an hour," Melissa said, leaning out the bedroom door. "You don't want to be late for your own reception."
He didn't care about the reception. He didn't care about NASA or even Melissa.
He had to get back to Jeannie. To their child. To the life he had worked so hard to build for them.
He took a deep breath and nodded to himself. He would get dressed. He would escort Melissa to the reception and he would find Roger as soon as they arrived.
And they would figure this out.
He had to.
TBC