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Chapter Three: High Risk

Kendra and Cindy both go in the kitchen to find out what Logan had made, both afraid to actually approach him yet. Instead of actually getting anything to eat, they stared at the chili that was left simmering on the stove. Neither one knew exactly what to do next.

�It was good that we brought her here, right?� Kendra asks breaking the silence.

�Where else would we go?�

�I don�t know. Its just that he�s going to hate her.�

�No, he isn�t. He just needs some time. He�s probably in a state of shock at the moment.�

�I feel for him. Imagine finding out that you are having a baby like this. I mean would Max have ever told him about her?�

�I don�t know.�

�One of us should talk to him.�

�I�ll go. You go check on Max.� Cindy quietly opens the door to Logan�s office, as Kendra walks back into his bedroom. Logan is staring at the computer screen.

�Hey.�

�Cindy, I don�t really want to talk now.� He replied without turning around.

�I know. I was just wondering when you think the doctor is coming?� Cindy knew that he needed to talk so she was going to force the issue.

�Bling went to go pick him up.�

�Can you trust him?�

�Yeah. But I am not quite sure how good he is with pregnancies, you neglected to fill me in on that detail.� Logan replied bitterly.

�Didn�t your mama teach you that it is rude to talk to people when your not looking them in the face?� That was Cindy�s futile attempt to lighten the situation.

�Didn�t your mama teach you that it�s rude to lie to a friend.� Logan swung back.

�I didn�t lie to you.�

Logan turned his chair around to face him. �But you didn�t exactly tell me the truth either.�

�She made us promise not to tell you. She was scared, still is, scared to death that somebody will hurt that baby. Can you imagine how she feels at this moment? All of her life, she never belonged to anyone, never knew her mother or father. She probably was never given much love when she was little. I know she never thought she would get pregnant. Then suddenly, one day waking up realizing that she had a life inside her. No matter where it came from or how bad the timing was, this is her child. Something that actually is hers and she was not about to let anyone take it away.�

�She should have told me.�

�She was too scared that somebody would find out.�

�She told you two.�

�Because she had to. Kendra was not about to let her walk out on us without a good explanation. Besides we were going to go and help her when it was time to have the baby.�

�And when was that?�

�In a couple weeks. Logan, I know there is nothing that I can say...� Cindy heard the door open and people come in.

�Logan, you here?� Bling yelled.

Logan go up and walked out of the office. He didn�t want to hear anymore of Cindy�s lecture, he wasn�t in the mood. �Dr. Peters, thanks for coming.� He shook the doctor�s hands. Cindy watched. �So, the situation is apparently a little more complicated than I thought. It turns out that my friend is pregnant.� Bling stared at Logan for a moment and then looked at Cindy, the two seemed to have a discussion without saying anything.

�Actually I know more about pregnancies than you would think. My residency was in emergency room and I specialized in OB/GYN emergencies before I went into surgery.�

�Good. She�s in here.� Logan walked with the doctor into his room. Kendra had turned the lights out and was laying with Max.

�You must be Max. I�m Dr. Peters and I think we�ve met before. Your the girl who donated her blood to Logan, right?� The doctor asked gently. Max nodded her head and smiled a little at this man. �Would it be okay if I turned on this light?� Max nodded her head. �Thanks, light will definitely make my job easier. Now lets get you on your back.� The doctor gently helped Max roll over. Logan noted how she was clinging on to Kendra�s hand. �Now, how far along are you?�

�Thirty two weeks.� Max replied quietly. She had finally started drifting off to sleep when the doctor had come in, so she was a bit tired.

�Really, your that far.� The doctor was surprised, she looked like she would have been about twenty-five weeks. �Tell me what your symptoms were that sent you to the hospital.�

�I started cramping and bleeding.�

�We have the doctor�s records, if you want them?� Kendra asked. The doctor looked up a little bit surprised. Kendra reached over into her coat pocket and pulled the notes out.

�Okay, let�s see. It says that you had a partial separation of the placenta, approximately 15% which isn�t bad, but isn�t necessarily good. I see they gave you some stuff to stop the cramping. Has it helped?�

�A little.�

�So you are having no more cramps?�

�They aren�t as intense.�

�What do you mean?�

�It feels more like the baby is kicking than punching me in the stomach.�

The doctor laughed. �Okay, but you are still having them?�

�Yeah.�

�Is that good?� Logan asked. He had been leaning against the back wall staring at Max the entire time.

�Well, it�s not a great sign. But then again it may actually be that the baby is just very active and actually is kicking her. What else did they say?� The doctor went back to reading the chart. �Your pressure is extremely low, which is probably causing your weakness. And your body weight, they noted, was a concern. However, the baby looked normal and healthy. Can I take a look?� The doctor proceeded to go on with the examination. When he was done, he began to talk again. �You are slightly dilated and your cervix has dropped. Meaning that in a couple days you will probably go into labor. The good news is that the baby looks like everything is fine and being premature won�t be much of an issue. It�s lungs are fairly well developed. I am concerned though with your own weight, we need to get you eating as much as you can to help give you energy for the labor. Also, the low pressure is a concern. Mostly because it is not the norm, usually new mothers experience high blood pressure not the opposite. Another worry about the pressure is their is a chance that the baby isn�t getting enough blood flow, which could severely effect her. But from the tests they did I don�t see any indication of that. So here is my recommendation. You need to get as much bed rest as you can. Eat as much as you can. Try to enjoy the few days you have left of not being a mother, okay? And no stressful activity. You need to be incredibly gentle with your body, any little thing may set off the contractions and we want to delay them as much as possible. Okay?� Max nodded. �Good, now I am going to come back tomorrow and check on you. I�ll give Logan my emergency number if there are any problems. But I want you to rest? And everything will work out fine.� The doctor smiled at this girl, she looked so young and delicate he thought. Yet from his previous experiences with her, he knew that she was a lot tougher than she appeared. He smiled once again at her and got up. �Good to see you again, Max. Logan, can I talk to you outside.�

The two walked outside of the room. Which severely unnerved Max, but she hadn�t the strength to complain.

�Here are my concerns. She is very weak. The doctors noted that they believed this to be a high risk pregnancy and I would have to agree with them. I think that there is nothing to suggest that the baby won�t be fine. But it is Max that I am worried about. Her blood pressure is extremely low and her heart rate is the same. Her body weight is not good either, which probably is putting undue stress on her heart. I am concerned about how she will do during the labor. Unfortunately, there is nothing really we can do, but wait and see. So the second she starts to have strong contractions again, you need to call me. I am going to come check on her tomorrow, but if anything abnormal happens please call okay?�

�Okay. Thanks for coming.�

�No problem. I owe you one remember.� Logan show the doctor out. He noticed Kendra walking out of the room. �How is she?�

�Sleeping. I don�t think I have ever seen Max sleep this much. The baby is really wearing her out. What did the doctor say?�

�He just wanted to let me know how hard he thinks that this pregnancy is on her and that he feels that this is a high risk pregnancy for her.�

�The other doctor noted that in his chart. How are you?�

�Me, fine. Has it been like this throughout the whole nine months?�

�I don�t think so. Though you know Max, she doesn�t like to admit any kind of weakness.� Kendra was worried about Logan. She didn�t tell him, but Max had sent her to go check on him. �I think that the worst for her was right before and after she left Seattle. She had started getting really sick. I actually knew she was pregnant before she told me. The signs were so completely obvious. She was nauseous all the time, she couldn�t hold anything down. She slept all day and almost every part of her body ached.�

�I didn�t see her before she left, actually I hadn�t seen her all week. That�s why I was cooking a special dinner that night.�

�If she had seen you, you would have known. I think that was part of the reason why she stayed away. There was also the whole Lydecker thing.� Kendra looked at Logan for a moment, trying to read his thoughts. He was hiding them pretty well. �So what did you cook?�

�Some chili, I didn�t know when you all would get here or when we would be able to eat. So I thought it would be best to make something that could sit a while.�

�Always prepared.� Kendra smiled.

Logan smiled back. �Get yourself some. I need to go do some work, but my door is open if you need anything.�

�Um, Logan ...�

�That was quick.� Logan laughed.

�Two things, well maybe three. First, where are you going to sleep tonight?�

�The guest bedroom. My bed is more comfortable for Max, plus there�s a bathroom. And...�

�And, can Max borrow some clothes. I have a feeling she is going to want to take a shower when she gets up and I just thought some fresh clothes would feel nice. Plus I don�t think she�ll fit in any of mine or Cindy�s clothes.�

�Sure, what ever you need?�

�Third, are you going to be okay when Cindy and I leave for work in the morning?�

�You mean am I going to start a knock-down drag out fight with Max tomorrow morning. No. Anything that I need to say to her can wait. Besides I am not really all that angry with her at the moment. More disappointment and numbness.� With that Logan walked into his office and closed the door. He heard Kendra sigh as he shut the door. He wasn�t in the mood to really discuss his feelings with anyone. He didn�t even really know what he was feeling or how he was supposed to be feeling. He heard some dishes rattling in the kitchen and figured that they were getting dinner. Than he heard the shower turn on. Max must be up, he thought.

Chapter 4