Chapter 20: Looking on the bright Side

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals. Date Started: 12/3/24. Date Finished: 12/7/24. Enjoy!

"Hi Lizzie. What brings you in today?"

Lizzie Armstrong had been Jamie's patient since before he'd gotten promoted nearly seven months ago. She clasped and unclasped her hands in her lap, sitting anxiously on the exam table.

"It's probably nothing Doctor Reagan. But I haven't felt the baby move since yesterday."

Jamie felt a tiny pit begin to form in his stomach. But he was doing his best to quell it. Professional mask on, he nodded.

"Ok, let's see what's going on here. I want you to lie back on the table here. Do I have your permission to examine your belly?"

Lizzie nodded her head, and a slightly worried look crossed her face.

"Of course. What's wrong with my baby Doctor Reagan?"

The professional mask still on, Jamie gave Lizzie a confident look and gave her reassuring words.

"I will do everything to make sure your baby boy is safe and healthy. Now does anything hurt when I press down?"

Lizzie shook her head, and the worry creases in her forehead grew more.

"No. Is my baby ok?"

Letting out a quiet sigh, Jamie motioned for Mara to roll over the ultrasound machine towards him.

"That's what I'm about to find out. I want you to take a deep breath and relax. That's it. This might be a little cool."

Jamie continued speaking as he moved the wand around and focused on the screen in front of him.

"Come on bud. We just want to make sure you're ok in there."

Lizzie's husband Marcus, who'd been uncharacteristically quiet shook his head and let go of her hand.

"I'm out. I can't deal with this. I can't deal with a sick baby."

Marcus started walking away and Lizzie got tears in her eyes.

"Marcus, where are you going? You can't just leave us alone!"

Mara tried to bring Lizzie's attention back to the ultrasound screen.

"Everything will be ok Lizzie. Doctor Reagan will make sure of it."

Jamie paused what he was doing to momentarily look at Lizzie.

"It's ok Lizzie. He needs time to cool off. I'm sure he's just going to get a coffee. My first priority is to make sure you and your son Trevor are taken care of and healthy."

Lizzie still had a worried look in her face.

"How's my baby?"

Jamie continued moving the wand around on Lizzie's belly and a smile came to his face.

"Heart rate is good. Good blood flow. He's breathing and he just stuck his thumb in his mouth. He's moving. Have you been drinking enough water lately?"

Lizzie frowned and sighed.

"I-I've kind of cut back on how much water I'm drinking because I have to pee all the time."

A frown now replaced Jamie's smile, and he shook his head seriously.

"You are dehydrated. I'd like to admit you and monitor both you and the baby for a few hours, get you rehydrated and get you out the door and home. Resting."

Lizzie nodded and watched as another nurse brought in a wheelchair.

"I've been losing my mind at home. Taking it easy isn't one of my strong suits. I like to push myself past my limit most of the time."

Jamie nodded in understanding.

"I tend to be that way sometimes. But we all have our limits on what we can and can't do. I want you to keep yourself well hydrated. Dehydration can lead to preterm labor. We certainly don't want that. Trevor isn't ready to greet the world yet."

As Mara and another nurse helped Lizzie into the wheelchair, she looked at Jamie with concern still on her face.

"You're coming too, right?"

Jamie gave Lizzie a smile.

"I will be right behind you."

Lizzie gave Jamie a lopsided smile as Mara and the other nurse took her out of the exam room. Jamie needed to see if he could find her husband Marcus. Shutting the computer down he got up from the rolling stool and gave a nod and a smile to the nurse coming into the room to clean it up a bit. Exiting the exam room, Jamie made his way out to the waiting room. His eyes scanning the people waiting for news on impending births of other babies. He found Marcus sitting in a corner, looking indifferent. Taking a seat next to him, Jamie listened to him speak.

"Doctor Reagan. I appreciate everything you're doing to take care of my wife. I do. But a sick baby I can't handle that."

Jamie scooted forward in the chair next to Marcus and did his best to sound reassuring.

"Becoming a dad for the first time is scary. I get that. We can help you and Lizzie through the process so it's not so overwhelming. Right now, Lizzie and your son need you. She needs your support."

Marcus put his hands up in front of him and stood up.

"I can't deal with this. Just please do me one favor Doctor Reagan. Take care of Lizzie for me."

Jamie stood up and spread his hands.

"Lizzie is a little dehydrated. We're getting her set up in her own room right now and her hooked up to some saline to get her rehydrated. Your son Trevor is perfectly healthy and stable. He hasn't been moving as much because Lizzie is dehydrated. Once we get some fluids into her, she should start to feel him moving around more."

Marcus gave Jamie a hard look.

"No. There's something else you aren't telling me Doctor Reagan."

Jamie slowly put his hands in front of him.

"I assure you that there is nothing else that I'm not telling you. Everything I've just said is just that. Lizzie and the baby are going to be just fine."

Marcus shook his head and started walking away.

"But you don't know that for certain. Anything can happen. I gotta go. Just please, take care of Lizzie for me."

Jamie let out a long sigh as Marcus all but bolted from the waiting room towards the elevators. He couldn't make him stay if he didn't want to. Shaking his head, he made his way over to Lizzie's room and knocked.

"Lizzie, it's Doctor Reagan. May I come in?"

He heard a muffled response that sounded like a 'yes' and entered the room slowly.

"Doctor Reagan. Did you find Marcus?"

Jamie nodded and had a seat on the rolling stool by the door, sliding it over to the bed. Mara and Sierra were just getting Lizzie comfortable in the bed.

"I did. He was less than thrilled when I told him you'd have to stay here and be monitored for a few hours. He still thinks your son is very ill. I told him that wasn't the case and that you were just dehydrated, causing Trevor's movements to slow quite a bit. The two of you are going to be just fine."

Lizzie wiped a few tears away from her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"What a coward. I should've known he wasn't ready to be a father. He's not ready to grow up yet. Could you get a hold of my sister Gracie please? She lives in Queens."

Jamie placed a hand on Lizzie's shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"I'll get in contact with your sister. For now, I want to correlate with these monitors here to make sure they are giving me the correct readings."

Mara stayed as Jamie leaned in towards Lizzie and had her lean forward so that he could listen to her breathing. He continued his conversation.

"Ok Lizzie. I want you to take a breath in for me and let it out. Good. Another. Your lungs sound good. Let me get a quick listen to your heart. Hmm. It's a little elevated, but that's just because you're dehydrated. Once we get some more fluids into you, it'll come down. Mara, what was her last blood pressure?"

Mara looked at one of the monitors Lizzie was hooked up to.

"152/102. We need to get her blood pressure down doctor."

Jamie nodded and took a breath.
"Let's get her something to bring her blood pressure down."

With furrowed eyebrows, Lizzie looked over at Jamie tiredly.

"What's wrong?"

Jamie calmly explained what was going on.

"I'm going to have Mara give you something to bring your blood pressure down. Part of it is because your dehydrated. Some people, their blood pressure skyrocket's when they become dehydrated. Our bodies react in very different ways to various situations."

The worry creases returned to Lizzie's forehead.

"I'll be ok right? The medication won't harm my son, will it?"

Jamie shook his head as Mara administered the medication.

"No. It's perfectly safe. It might make you a little sleepy. I'll be back to check on you a little later. For now, get some rest alright?"

Lizzie nodded and her eyes became heavy.

"Daddy look! I'm a princess!"

Jamie had just come in the door, and he was tired. But he managed to scoop Maisie into his arms.

"You look very beautiful princess Maisie. Where's mama?"

Maisie put her index finger to her lips.

"Shh. Daddy. She's sleeping on the couch. Sadie's sleeping too."

Putting Maisie down on the ground, Jamie continued smiling at her and asked her a question.

"Have you finished your homework?"

Maisie avoided contact with Jamie for a moment.

"I don't wanna do my spelling daddy. Spelling is hard…"

Jamie knelt down to Maisie's level and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Honey, do you want daddy to help you with your spelling?"

Maisie nodded.

"Yes, please daddy."

Getting to his feet, Jamie kept the smile on his face.

"Ok, I'll be up in a few minutes to help you. I'm just going to check on mama."

Maisie disappeared upstairs and Jamie went over to the couch, leaning over Eddie and pushing a strand of hair out of her face. She continued sleeping. He then turned his attention to Sadie who was asleep in the basinet next to the couch. Overall, today was looking brighter. He had to remind himself from time to time to keep looking on the bright side of things.

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, what'd you guys think?