In the 4 West ICU at PCGH, Lucy Coe's misery continued. "There is something really wrong," she wailed once the thermometer was removed from her mouth. She panted and clutched at her distended belly as another wave of cramps assaulted her aching abdominal muscles. She felt horrible! She felt sweaty, overheated, achy, and so nauseous. Her whole body felt heavy as if it was impossible to move which it pretty much was. "I am sooooo sick!" she whined.

Nursing student Kim Randolph rolled her eyes. "Your temperature is only 102.4. Does that really warrant all of this carrying on?"

"Only 102.4? What do you mean only 102.4? That is a fever! I am burning up!" Lucy ranted. But then she regretted it not because the student nurse brat didn't deserve her wrath but because her heart started racing even more than before and she felt dizzy and short of breath. Where in the world was her husband in her time of need?

XXXXXXXX

Nikolas Cassadine felt a bit guilty as he readied for his date with his girlfriend, Sarah Webber. His thoughts were occupied by another woman, the illustrious Katherine Bell. He had no information on Katherine other than she remained in the Cardiac Critical Care Unit. He suspected his Uncle Stefan had more information; it was easier for him to eschew patient privacy concerns as the hospital CEO. He also sensed his uncle was not as over Katherine as he wanted everyone to believe. He just wished he could respect him enough to explain that. Unfortunately, treating him as a child was a recurrent theme in their relationship and Nikolas had poor insight on how to change that.

Nikolas finished knotting his tie and did his best to let go of his frustrations and fears. He knew that he owed Sarah a pleasant evening and he needed to deliver on that. However, as he made his way downstairs, he glanced at his watch. It was only twenty minutes after six so if he was expeditious, he could have time to stop at the hospital and refresh the patient census one more time before he picked up Sarah. With that thought he grabbed his overcoat from the hall closet and started for the launch.

XXXXXXXX

Elizabeth Webber frowned at her Earth Science textbook it might as well have been written in latin for all she was able to understand. Earth Science was some weird amalgamation of geology, astronomy, meterology, and data collection. She hated it! She was also in danger of failing it which was a problem. Or at least when they got their mid marking period reports the week before she had a 65% average. Her grandmother clucked about how she should be more like Sarah. Except Sarah had never had to take Earth Science because in Colorado, the college prep science sequence consisted of Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. So, Sarah had started on that track.

In retrospect Liz wished she had started that track, but so many years of hearing how she was the dumber Webber sister, and really bad grades in eighth grade had placed her in an essentially remedial Science 9 course. Things only got worse from there because to an extent that course just made her feel even more like science would never be her thing. Perhaps that might have even been ok except the New York State Board of Regents seemed to think that all high school graduates needed a science sequence. So that left Liz stuck in Earth Science and still required to pass biology and chemistry to even graduate. It was absurd but her grandmother seemed to just smile and nod at whatever Mr. Matula, the guidance counselor said.

XXXXXXXX

Ned Ashton pulled into his own garage and glanced over at his wife in the passenger seat. He wanted to believe it was the glow of the garage lighting that made Carly appear so pale and ill. That was likely wishful thinking. "Well, we're home, how about if I help you inside?" he asked.

Carly nodded silently.

Ned remembered that some of the best times of his marriage with Lois, when he had felt closest to her was when they hadn't needed words. Unfortunately, in Carly's case he was afraid verbal communication required energy she just didn't have. "Why don't I just carry you inside?" he suggested.

Carly nodded again but Ned saw the tears in her eyes.

Ned gave Carly's shoulder a squeeze. "It's ok, Carly, I meant what I said before. We're in this together and I'm right here," he said.

"I'm sorry," Carly said. Her voice was faint.

Ned squeezed her shoulder again. "I meant what I said about that, too! None of this is your fault or something you need to apologize for. Please let me take care of you and our baby," he said.

Carly didn't say anything.

But for a moment, Ned wondered if maybe it was actually approaching one of those moments where they didn't need words. So, with that thought he got out of the car and walked around to the passenger's side.

XXXXXXXX

Sarah Webber ran the brush through her hair one final time and then laid it on her dresser. She reached for the Love's Baby Soft cologne and sprayed a gentle mist. Her grandmother still believed it was her fragrance of choice. It hadn't been since maybe seventh grade. Of course, her Grandfather Steve had continued to buy her a bottle every year for Christmas, so she had plenty. That made it the perfect thing to wear on a date with Nikolas since he believed she was sweet and innocent and that allowed her to save her CK One for someone who would appreciate that, like Zander.

Sarah smiled seductively at the thought of Zander Smith as she applied some pink tinted lip gloss. He was everything she wasn't supposed to want and everything she did. He was just fun, and he had connections. Unfortunately, her grandmother would surely have a fatal coronary event if she ever met him so she needed someone she could be seen in public with. Prince Nikolas Cassadine fit that bill perfectly. Plus, his wealth and privilege were hard to ignore or reject so it was really a perfect fit. Perfect fits could still be perfect with someone less perfect and more fun on the side.

XXXXXXXX

Carly Ashton's head swum as Ned helped her lay down on her left side and pulled the duvet up over her.

"Is that any better?" Ned asked. He crouched down beside their bed and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

Carly wasn't sure how to answer him. She thought she felt less dizzy if she was lying flat but the idea that she needed help to undress was a new level of patheticism she couldn't quite accept. "I'm sorry, I just felt really shaky and dizzy for a minute," she finally said.

Ned gave her shoulder another squeeze. "I know. Do you think you will be able to rest or are you too uncomfortable?" he asked.

Carly took a shaky breath and considered that. "It isn't really pain, I just feel so weak and unsteady that I'm uncomfortable," she said.

"I'm sorry. You asked me to hold you last night. Do you think that would help again?" Ned asked as he sat down on the other side of the bed.

As much as she was internally screaming YES! Carly struggled to form the words. The words had truly slipped out the night before and she was still a little mortified. She suspected that Ned sensed that. But there was more, she had felt secure and almost calm in Ned's arms. In contrast to the sloppy flab of Tony's embrace, Ned was strong and toned and held her with substance. It reminded her the way she had finally felt settled in Jason's arms the morning after they had practically nameless sex eighteen months earlier.

The peace she had felt in Jason's arms was what had brought Carly back to him repeatedly, despite his relationship with Robin Scorpio and her tryst with Dr. Tony Jones. She had found similar peace in Ned's arms which just made her feel like she was using him. Or perhaps she felt like she was using him because she was. "I'm sorry," she finally managed to choke out before the tears started spilling again.

XXXXXXXX

Carly's tears pulled at Ned's heart. He wished he knew Carly better and knew what was comforting to her because he hated to see her look so uncomfortable. He started rubbing expanding and contracting circles with intermittent pressure into her back. "You have nothing to apologize for. I just wish I could support you better," he said.

Carly didn't say anything. She moved restlessly as if she couldn't find a comfortable position.

Ned suspected she couldn't which just made him feel worse. He continued working out the tension in Carly's lower back. "Try to rest sweetheart, I'm right here, and I'm going to take care of you," he whispered.

Carly's voice was barely audible. "I know this isn't fair, but can you hold me?" she asked.

"Of course," Ned said as he laid down beside her and then pulled her back into his arms. She seemed to settle a little, perhaps that was a start.