| Chapter 69 "Leighanne, come on, we're gonna be late," Tara said standing at the bathroom door. Leighanne had been in there for almost an hour now. Gary walked up, "She's still in there?" "Yup," Tara said, "Maybe you'll have better luck." Tara walked down the hall, leaving Gary to deal with Leighanne. "Anne, honey, if we don't leave soon we're really gonna be late," he said. Leighanne opened the door and walked out. Gary noticed that she looked pale. "Are you sick?" he asked. "Yeah, kinda," she answered, heading to the room they shared. Gary followed her. She sat down on the bed, looking a million miles away. "Anne, can I get you anything?" Gary asked. She just shook her head. Gary sat down next to her and pulled her face around so they were eye to eye. "Tell me what's wrong," he said. "I don't know, it may be nothing. Maybe it's all the stress of the premiere and then Nick....," she said. "Anne, just spit it out," Gary said. "I'm late," she said. Gary looked at her confused, "Late? Late for whaaaa.........Oh holy shit!!!" "I'm sure it's nothing," she said, trying not to laugh at the panicked look on Gary's face. "Well, um, while we're at the hospital today, why don't we have the doc check. Then we'll know," Gary said. "I guess we could, but I don't want everyone knowing about it," she said. Gary put his arm around her, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it." She smiled at him. "Guys, we need to leave!" Brian yelled from down the hall. "Coming," Leighanne yelled back, and stood up. Gary walked beside her, holding her hand as they went to join the others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick picked at his breakfast while A.J. watched. Nick looked over at him, "You want this?" "Nick, I don't think you took two bites of it, you sure you don't want it?" A.J. said. Nick shook his head, "No, go ahead." A.J. took the tray and dug in. It wasn't the best food, but he'd defiantly had worse. He was almost finished when Lyn walked in carrying her laptop. She walked over to the bed and kissed Nick, "Morning." Nick saw the computer in her hand, "Oh, you brought it!" Lyn laughed and handed it to him. Nick opened it up and Lyn plugged it in, and hooked it up to the phone line. Nick didn't say another word, he was totally engrossed in what he was doing. Lyn walked over to A.J., "How much of that did he eat?" "Like maybe two bites," A.J. answered. Lyn frowned. "Has he eaten anything since he's been here?" A.J. asked. "Not much at all. Definitely not enough to help him get better," Lyn said. A.J. looked concerned, "You know that's really not like him, he's usually the one getting everyone else's left overs." "Yeah, I may have a little talk with uncle Ted about it," Lyn said. "Where's everyone else at?" A.J. asked. "They should be here soon. I had a meeting with the administrator, which is the only reason I'm here this early," she said. A.J. and Lyn talked for a while, trying to get to know each other better. A.J. told her of his conversation with Nick the night before. And she filled A.J. in on some of the things that had happened before he had gotten there. Ted walked in, on his morning rounds. Lyn got up and met him, "There's something I need to talk to you about before you check on Nick." Ted listened as she told him of her concern over Nick not eating. When she finished he assured her he would take care of it. Ted walked over to Nick and got his attention, "How are you feeling this morning?" "OK, I guess," Nick answered. "But it would be better if you were out of here right?" Ted said. "Yeah, so when's that gonna happen?" Nick asked, with some hope in his eyes. "Not until you start eating," Ted said. "Doc, come on, have you tasted this stuff?" Nick asked. Ted laughed, "Yes I have, and it's not that bad. Is there some reason, other than the taste, that you aren't eating it?" "I'm just not hungry," Nick said. "Nick, I know that you probably don't have your appetite back yet, but you still need to eat as much as you can. It's the only way you're gonna get your strength back, and the only way I'm gonna release you," Ted said with his arms crossed. "Uncle Ted, what if we stopped with the cafeteria food and had him tell us what he wants and order it?" Lyn asked. Ted thought for a moment, "Just as long as it's not junk food all the time." Nick knew they were talking about him, but he couldn't keep up with what they were saying, and it was starting to really annoy him. "Guys, what are you talking about?" he asked. Lyn smiled at him, "Tell me what you want to eat, and we'll order it for you." "No more hospital food?" Nick asked. "No," Lyn said, "Just as long as you order some healthy food we won't make you eat the cafeteria food." Nick smiled, "Um, can I get some Fruit Loops?" "Nick, we said healthy food," Ted said. "I thought that was healthy food," Nick said. A.J. laughed, "Yeah, he grew up on the four food groups, Pizza, Hamburgers, Milk, and Fruit Loops." Lyn and Ted both shook their heads and laughed. "OK, I'll go get you some cereal," Lyn said. Nick smiled at her, "Thanks," then he went back to what he was doing on the computer. Lyn and Ted walked out of the room together. "Since when did Fruit Loops become a food group?" Lyn asked smiling. Ted just shrugged his shoulders, laughing as they walked down the hall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone made it to the hospital around 9:30. "Great, and I thought we were gonna be late," Kevin said, walking down the hall. They walked into Nick's room, just as he was finishing his bowl of cereal. "Hey Nick," Brian said, "Ohh man, where'd you get the Fruit Loops?" A.J. and Lyn burst out laughing. "What? It's a legitimate question," Brian said smiling. "Nothing, just a conversation we had a little while ago," Lyn said. Gary walked over to Lyn, "Um is your uncle here?" "Yeah, I think he's in his office by now, why?" Lyn asked. "Could you tell me where that is? I need to ask him some things," Gary said. "OK, go down to the second floor, it's office number 5," Lyn said. "Thanks," Gary said turning to the door, "Anne, would you like to come with me?" "Sure," Leighanne said as she walked out the door with him. Brian looked at Tara, "What was that about?" "I don't know, but they're both nervous about something," she said. Just then a middle aged woman came through the door. "Excuse me, is this a Mr. Nick Carter's room?" she asked. "Yes it is," Lyn said. "Oh good, then I'm in the right place. My name is Connie Harris. I'm from the School for the Deaf," she said. "Oh, good," Kevin said. He introduced everyone. Lyn pushed the laptop shut. "Hey, I was right in the middle of something," Nick protested. "Your tutor is here," Lyn said. Connie walked up and introduced herself to Nick. "You read lips pretty well," she said. "Thanks," Nick said. "But I guess you don't catch everything that's being said," Connie said. "No, not all of it," Nick agreed. "Well if you don't understand me, just tell me, OK?" she said. Nick nodded his head. Connie passed out several books to everyone. They all grabbed a seat, looking through what she had given them. "OK, well let's get started," Connie said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne and Gary walked into Ted's office and up to the receptionist. "Excuse me," Gary said, "Would it be possible for us to have a word with Dr. Jackson?" "Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked. "No we don't, but we are part of the group that is here with his �special' patient," Gary said. A look of recognition came over the woman's face, "Oh, I'll let him know you're here. Please have a seat." They sat down and nervously thumbed through a couple magazines while they were waiting. "Sir, he'll see you now," the receptionist said. Leighanne and Gary got up and walked back to Ted's office. "Come in," Ted said, "What can I do for you?" "Um, well, we were wondering if you wouldn't mind, um," Gary started. "Doc, would it be possible for me to get an exam and a pregnancy test done?" Leighanne asked. Ted was a little surprised, "I don't see why not. I can actually do it now if you'd like." "Now would be good," Leighanne said, "Just one thing though." "What's that?" Ted asked. "Can you not let any of the others know about this," Leighanne asked. "Of course not Ms. Littrell. What's done here is strictly confidential," Ted said. "Thanks, and one more thing," Leighanne said, "Just call me Leighanne." "Of course," Ted said, "If you'll follow me," he said leading the way. Leighanne and Gary followed him into an exam room as he instructed the nurse as to what tests he wanted. "The nurse will get the test going," Ted said, "It shouldn't take very long to get the results." "Thanks doc," Gary said. Ted smiled and left the room. Leighanne looked over at Gary, "You don't have to stay back here." "I know, I want to though," he said, smiling at her. Leighanne returned his smile, as the nurse came in to start the tests. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Damn it, this hurts," Nick complained. They had been going over the alphabet for the last hour. Nick was using his hand that his IV was in, and it was bothering him. "Why'd they have to put it in this hand anyway?" Nick asked. "Cause you blew the vein in the other one, remember?" Lyn said. "Nick, can you use your other hand to sign with?" Tara asked. "I'll try," Nick said, going back to signing. He wasn't as quick with the other hand, but at least it didn't hurt. Everyone seemed to be catching on pretty fast. Howie and Kevin seemed to have the most problems, while Nick, Lyn and Tara were already looking ahead in the book. Brian and A.J. were holding there own with it. "I don't know where Lee and Gary got off to, but they're already behind," Howie said. "Yeah, but we can help them catch up," Tara said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne and Gary were back in Ted's office. They had been told to wait there by the nurse. They were both concerned. After the nurse had done the pregnancy test, she had come back in and done several more tests they weren't expecting. "Maybe I'm just sick," Leighanne speculated. Ted walked through the door, holding Leighanne's chart. He walked behind his desk and sat down, still looking through the test results. "OK," he said looking up at them, "I've got the results." "And?" Gary asked, sitting on the edge of his seat. "Ms. um, Leighanne, you are pregnant," Ted said. She looked over at Gary, he was white as a sheet. "I'd say you were about five weeks along," Ted continued. "Five weeks?" Leighanne asked, "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'm about 99.9% sure," Ted said. Ted looked over at Gary, "Son do you need to lay down or something?" Gary just shook his head, so shocked he couldn't speak. "I'm going to have the pharmacy bring up some pre-natal vitamins for you, and when you get back to the states you need to see your OBGYN as soon as possible," Ted said. "Thank you Doc," Leighanne said, "Would it be possible for us to talk in private for a minute?" "Sure, I have a patient waiting anyway," Ted said getting up, "Stay here as long as you like." Ted left and closed the door. "Gary, are you OK?" Leighanne asked. He just nodded his head. "Gary, did you understand what the doc said?" Leighanne asked. He looked at her, "He said you were five weeks right?" "Yes," she said. Gary counted back in his head, "Five weeks ago you were staying with me." Leighanne nodded her head. He looked at her and smiled as a tear made its way down his cheek, "I'm gonna be a daddy." "You're really happy about this?" Leighanne asked, needing to know. "Anne, you know I've always wanted to have kids. And I admit this is kinda a shock, but yes I'm very happy about it," Gary said. Leighanne smiled as Gary pulled her into a hug and held her for a few minutes. The nurse knocked on the door, and brought in the vitamins. She went over the doctor's instructions with Leighanne, and started to leave the room. "Congratulations," she said. Gary and Leighanne both smiled, "Thanks." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Connie was impressed with her class. They were all learning at break-neck speed. "Guys, it's time for me to go," she said. "Aww, can't you stay for a little while longer?" Nick asked. She smiled at him, "You don't have to learn it all today. I'll see you in the morning." Nick looked disappointed, "OK." Kevin thanked her on the way out. "Man, I'm starving," A.J. said. "It is lunch time," Tara said. "Nick, what do you want for lunch?" Lyn asked. He thought for a minute, "Healthy right?" "Yes," Lyn laughed. "OK, let me try this," Nick said, holding up his hand and signing to her what he wanted. "You really want that?" Lyn asked. Nick nodded his head. "OK," Lyn said, picking up the phone to call in his order. "What'd he sign? I wasn't looking," Howie asked. "Vegetable soup," Tara said. "With tea," Brian added. Gary and Leighanne walked through the door. "Hey guys, where you been? You missed the first lesson," Kevin said. "Sorry, we had some things to take care of," Gary said. "It's OK, we can catch you up on what we did," Brian said. Tara walked over to Leighanne, "Is everything OK?" "Yeah, actually everything is great," Leighanne said smiling. "So you wanna fill us in, or are we gonna have to guess?" Tara asked. "Um, well," Leighanne said, "I guess we might as well tell you, it's not like you're not gonna find out soon enough anyway." "Tell us what?" A.J. asked. "Well, you guys might wanna sit down for this," Gary said. "OK, wait a minute," Nick said, "I'm lost. What's going on?" Lyn looked at him, "They have something to tell us." Nick looked at Leighanne, "What?" "I guess there's no other way to say this than to just spit it out, so here it goes," Leighanne said, "I'm pregnant." "Leighanne, did you just say you were pregnant?" Nick asked. "Yes I did, Gary and I are gonna have a baby," Leighanne answered. Everyone looked at Brian, afraid to express their feelings until they saw how he took it. Brian had his eyes closed, looking down, and gripping the bed rail for all it was worth. Tara walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Brian?" He looked at her. She could see mixed emotions in his eyes. He walked over to Leighanne and hugged her, "I'm happy for you. I know you always wanted to have kids." "Thank you," she told him, "You don't know how much that means to me." Brian moved over to shake Gary's hand, "Congratulations." "Thanks Brian," Gary said, not really knowing anything else to say. Everyone walked over and congratulated them. Nick watched as Brian quietly left the room, unnoticed by the others. He could tell that Brian was having a hard time with the news. Nick finally caught Tara's attention, and signed to her that Brian had left. She nodded her head, and made her way out the door, to find him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian was sitting in the indoor park when Tara found him. "Bri, are you OK?" she asked sitting down next to him. "Yeah," he said looking at her, "I guess it just shocked me." "I know, that wasn't the news I was expecting from them," Tara said. "Me either," Brian said. "Are you really OK with this?" Tara asked. Brian sighed, "I dunno. I'm happy for them, don't get me wrong, but I feel,.... damn I really don't know how I feel right now." Tara looked into his eyes, "Hurt, shocked, happy, and maybe a little jealous?" Brian smiled, "Yeah, and then some." Tara took his hand in hers, "Bri, do you want to have kids someday?" "Yeah, I'd like to, but not anytime soon. I don't think I'm ready for that responsibility yet," he said. "I think you'd be a great dad," she said. "And you'd be a fantastic mom," Brian said. "I dunno bout that. I think I'd be to nosy," Tara said. Brian laughed, "Well one things for sure, the kid would never be able to lie to you." "Yeah, I guess not. No fun for the kid huh?" Tara said. They both laughed. "I like the way we are right now, just us," Brian said. Tara nodded her head, "Yeah, I do too." Brian leaned in and gently kissed her, "I love you." She smiled, "I love you too." "I guess we should get back," Brian said standing up. "Yeah, before I left, Gary looked like he was about to pass out," Tara said. Brian laughed, "Can you imagine what he must be feeling right now?" "I don't even wanna go there," Tara said, taking Brian's hand and walking back towards Nick's room. Chapter 70 |