Author: Elizabeth
Rating: PG-13 or higher
Category: J/A, L/G
Summary: One way or another someone�s always late. The outcome could either be serious or lucky
Disclaimer: I own no one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joan went to Kevin�s room and knocked on the door.
�Come in!� he called.
She walked in and saw him at the computer. She smiled.
�What are you doing?�
�Oh uh�nothing.� He closed the browser so she couldn�t see what he was looking at.
Joan pursed her lips but didn�t push it. �I um�Kevin, I�m keeping the baby.�
Kevin looked at her silently. He held out his hand and she went over to take it. He squeezed it.
�If it helps you�I�m okay with that. The only thing that matters is you�re alive.�
Joan smiled. �Yeah.�
Kevin pulled her onto his lap and sighed. �Well now that you�ve made your decision, I guess it�s time to get to know the little guy huh?�
�Um�sure!�
Kevin put his hand on her stomach. �Hey. Hey I�m your Uncle Kevin. I�m going to teach you everything you need to know about sports. We�ll just ignore the little problem of the wheelchair.�
Joan rolled her eyes but her heart had swelled. �Think mom and dad will be okay with this?�
�I don�t know. That�s not up to me to decide.�
�Yeah. Will you be there when I tell them?�
Kevin grinned. �Count on it.�
Joan hugged him close.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, Joan sat her parents and brothers down in the living room of the house. Luke and Kevin already knew what this was about. They were just waiting for the parental reaction.
�So after some much needed soul searching and�looking back on everything that has happened I realized that�I couldn�t give this baby up. He or she is a part of me. I�ve decided to keep him. I know it�s a big decision and I will have a lot of sacrifices to make but I have to do this.�
�Joan, are you absolutely positive about this?� Helen asked.
�Yes mom. I�ve never been so sure about anything and Adam will be right there with me. I also have Kevin, Luke, and Grace. I just need you.�
Will and Helen just sat there for a few minutes. Helen got up and hugged her daughter. Joan held onto her for dear life.
�I�m here for you, sweetheart. I�m always here.� She said softly.
Joan smiled through her own tears.
Will sighed and stood up. �I have to get back to work on the case.�
Joan, Kevin and Luke looked at him.
�Dad�� Kevin started.
�I�ll be back late.� Will went to get his jacket.
�Dad, I need to talk to you real quick.� Luke went to follow him but Will closed the door before he could get to him. Luke balled his hand into a fist but just stood there. Kevin shook his head in disbelief.
Joan looked down, disappointment filling her body. �I knew he�d react that way.�
�He just needs time.� Helen rubbed her shoulders. �He�ll find his way.�
�I hope you�re right.� Joan said softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Three months had passed since the conversation with Joan and her parents. Her stomach was still growing each week and she had found out she was having a boy. Adam was with her for the first ultrasound, which was special for the both of them. While it hurt knowing how this baby came to be, they couldn�t help but feel a sense of responsibility for him.
Luke was getting better and better with his emotions each day but he still had his demons. Joan took notice that he never looked at her stomach, which hurt but she knew he would find a way to accept what was going on.
Will was almost the same way. He dived into work trying to find Joan�s attacker. He never said or did anything about the baby. While Luke, Kevin, Helen, and Adam would be helpful about baby furniture and clothes, Will never said anything. Grace pretended not to care about that stuff but let her guard down when she had to buy a biker bear, saying that there had to be a reminder of her somewhere in the baby�s room.
A couple of weeks into January, Joan found out the sex of her baby and made sure to tell everyone. She didn�t expect to be hounded with names so quickly. From Monday until Thursday night, everyone was giving her options. The next day, Joan, Adam and Grace walked into school and headed for their class. Joan had on a bulky sweater to hide her stomach.
�Isaac?� Adam asked.
�No.�
�Joseph?� Grace offered.
�No.�
�Girardi, we�ve given you every name in the book. Pick one!�
�It�s not that easy.� Joan made a detour to her locker and opened it. �I mean I have to think about what goes good with Girardi. Luke and Kevin are already taken.�
�Didn�t Kevin tell you that the baby better be named after him?� Adam asked.
�His ego is way too high.�
�What about Matt?� Adam asked.
�Matthew Girardi. That�s acceptable. Give me time you guys. I have like five months.�
�Yes but you never know. Babies like to come early.� Grace smirked.
�You really want to torture me don�t you?�
�It�s the highlight of my day.�
�Go make out with your boyfriend.�
�Who�s your brother.�
�Oh. Ew!� Joan shuddered. �I just ate!�
�More than I ever thought possible.� Adam said.
Joan glared at him. �Hormones buddy.�
�Sorry.� Adam smiled and kissed her. Grace rolled her eyes and walked away. Joan noticed she soon came to a stop and put a hand on her head.
�You okay?� Joan called.
�Excellent, Girardi!� Grace replied, as she started moving again.
Joan sighed and looked down at her stomach. �Does it show?�
�Does what show?� Adam asked.
�That I�m�you know.� She indicated her belly.
�Not really.� He hugged her so that he could discreetly put a hand on her bump. �It�s okay. If anyone asks, it�s mine.�
Joan pulled away to look at him. �Yours? You really want people thinking that?�
Adam thought about it and smiled. �Sure. I don�t mind.�
�I couldn�t do that to you.�
�Don�t worry about it, Jane. I said I�d help and that�s what I�m going to do.�
Joan blushed and they kissed. The bell rang and they pulled apart.
�We better go.� Adam said.
�Yeah. Ugh! I hope Friedman doesn�t wear that cologne again.�
Adam raised an eyebrow. �I didn�t think he wore cologne.�
�Yeah, yeah.� Joan waved the thought away.
During Physics, Joan was absentmindedly doodling names on her notebook. She could barely pay attention to what was going on. Luke, Grace and Adam snuck occasional glances at her trying to catch her eye but she never looked up. Joan jumped when a piece of paper flew on her notebook followed by two more. She opened them up and stifled a laugh.
Matthew Luke Girardi?
Matthew Gabriel Girardi?
Matthew Adam Girardi?
Joan looked at her brother, who went back to looking at Miss. Lischak. She looked at Grace, who immediately began looking at her notebook. She looked at Adam, who continued to draw. She couldn�t believe they had done that. It was so unlike them.
�No, no and no.� Joan muttered.
All three looked at her. Joan just smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�You�re cruel.� Luke said following his sister out of the classroom. Adam and Grace followed as quickly as they could.
�Am not. I�m just�partial.�
They went into the hallway where everyone was talking about some burglary.
�Did you hear about the stream of burglaries? They think it�s the same guy. Black ski mask and a black cotton sweater. Weird huh?� some kids were saying.
Joan froze in her spot then walked away quickly.
�What�s the matter with her?� Grace asked.
�That�s what the guy was wearing. Black ski mask, black sweater, and black pants.� Adam said.
Grace watched Joan run into the bathroom. She looked at Luke and Adam.
�Wait here.�
She went into the bathroom and saw Joan washing her face.
�Girardi.�
Joan looked at her. �It might be him. I know it�s him.�
�You don�t know that.�
�He�s still out there. What if he comes after me again? Oh God�what if he tries to take my baby?� Joan put her hands on her stomach protectively.
�No one is taking the kid from you. All right? He�s not coming back. He�s gone, Girardi, we don�t have to worry about him anymore.�
�How do you know that?�
�I don�t. All I know is you�re my friend�and I do whatever it takes to make sure no one, and I mean no one, gets away with hurting my friends. I�m gonna do something unconventional and if you ever tell anyone, you�re dead.�
Joan smiled slightly as Grace hugged her. The baby happened to kick at that moment and Grace pulled away.
Joan laughed. �He�s saying hi, Aunt Grace.�
�That�s Godmother.� Grace bent down. �What kept you?�
Joan shook her head.
�Come on before Rove and Geek boy send a search party.�
Joan rolled her eyes and they left the bathroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, after hanging out with Adam and Joan, and enjoying a make out session with Luke, Grace decided to head home.. She made a stop at the drug store to pick something up and for some reason the cashier gave her a knowing smile.
Grace had the house to herself. Her father was out working and her mother was out doing who knew what. So Grace had time to think before using what she had bought. She was thinking about how what she was about to see could change her life in more ways than she thought possible. Finally, she decided enough was enough and took the test.
She was in the bathroom waiting for the results when she heard the door open and close. Grace heard rustling but no one call out to her that they were home.
�Mom?� she called.
She got up and headed into the hallway. �Mom? Dad?�
No answer. Grace bit her lip and grabbed a bat from the closet. She slowly went down the stairs. Her eyes widened seeing someone in black standing there. The figure spotted her and Grace froze.
�Who are you?�
He didn�t answer. He walked towards her. Grace took a step backwards onto the step above.
�I�m warning you. Don�t take one step closer.� He didn�t listen. �I swear to God I�ll kill you.� Grace threatened but he kept moving. Grace dropped the bat and tried to run upstairs but he grabbed her.
�No! Let me go!� she screamed. Grace tried to hit him but he threw her down. Grace groaned as she hit the floor. She tried to stand but he slapped her and she fell back down.
He was suddenly on top of her and Grace knew exactly what was going to happen. Grace hit him as hard as she could and she suddenly had a flash of Joan grabbing her hand in the examining room, a look of complete terror on her face. Grace was so shocked that she nearly lost her strength and he grabbed her arms and pushed them over her head. Grace screamed and pulled herself loose. This was not going to happen to her. Not after what happened to Joan. Grace looked up and spotted a plant sitting on the table. Grace reached out with her hand and pulled the leg of the table forward but he tried to stop her.
�Feisty one, aren�t you?� he started to run his hand down her side.
Grace fought him as hard as she could. �Get off me!�
�Not until I�m done with you, sweetheart.� He leered. He put his mouth to her neck and her eyes widened.
Grace was terrified out of her mind but she continued to try and pull the table forward.
As he was trying to pull her pants down, the plant fell.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke and Joan were in the kitchen eating some leftover dessert. It was late and they knew they had to get to bed but for some reason they were still up. The phone rang.
�Who could that be at this time of night?� Joan asked.
�Maybe it�s the boogeyman.� Luke said in a fake scary voice.
�Oh stop.� Joan rolled her eyes.
Luke picked up the phone. �Hello?�
�Luke! Oh God!�
�Grace? What is it, what�s wrong?� Luke immediately knew something was wrong. Her voice was shaking and he could hear her trying not to cry.
�He�he�he�s here.�
Luke�s eyes widened. �Who�s there?�
Joan looked at him and immediately stood up. �Grace?�
�Him! I know it�s him! He tried to�he tried�Luke, he tried to rape me!�
�Oh God. Grace, what is he doing?� Luke looked at Joan. Joan�s eyes widened in terror shaking her head. She didn�t want to hear this. It couldn�t be real.
�He�s unconscious. Hurry Luke, please! I need you.�
�I�m on my way.� Luke hung up the phone. �Get dad up.� He ran for the door.
�Luke, what happened?� Joan cried out.
�He�s there! He�s at Grace�s house!� was all he said before running out.
Joan realized what was going on and ran upstairs. �Daddy!�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke banged on the door and Grace answered, tears in her eyes. Luke looked at her in shock. There were scratches on her arms, her tank top was torn, and she had a bruise on her cheek. Luke immediately hugged her. Grace held on tightly, her body shaking in fear and relief.
�Where is he?�
�I knocked him out. He�s by the stairs.� She said shaking in his arms.
Luke went inside and stared down at the monster. Luke clenched his fists tightly. He had the urge to stomp on his face but he knew he wouldn�t be helping Grace by killing him.
�Where�s your dad?� Grace asked. Luke had never heard her sound so scared.
�He�s coming.�
Grace held herself, shivering. Luke saw this and grabbed a jacket putting it around her shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her, shielding her vision away from the stairs.
�I�I�ve never been so scared in my life.�
�It�s okay. You�re safe now. You�re safe.�
Grace gulped.
A few minutes later, Will ran in and looked at Grace. He was shocked at her appearance. This wasn�t the girl he knew. �Are you all right?�
Grace nodded. Joan ran in.
�Grace!�
�Joan!� Luke said in shock.
�Girardi, you shouldn�t be here.� Grace went to pull her away.
�No.� Joan looked at the unconscious clad figure. The memories came back to her and she remembered. Anger filled her body as she realized that this monster had just tried to attack her friend. She looked at her father. �It�s him daddy.�
�Are you sure?�
Joan nodded. �I know it�s him.�
Grace looked at her. Joan looked back at Grace. Grace walked over and hugged her. Joan closed her eyes. Luke looked at Will.
�Get him out of my sight before you have to arrest me for murder.�
Will wrapped an arm around Luke and radioed for back up. Luke couldn�t take his eyes off of the man who had torn his sister apart and almost did the same to his girlfriend.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adam ran into the hospital and spotted Joan and Luke. His dad woke him up after being contacted by Grace�s father. Hearing that Grace was admitted to the hospital and that Joan�s attacker had been found, he got dressed and immediately headed for the hospital.
He went down the hall and spotted her sitting on a chair next to Luke, Kevin, Will, and Helen.
�Jane.� He ran over to her and hugged her. Joan had never felt so relieved to be in his arms.. �How�s Grace?�
�Shaken up but she�s fine. Still the same ole Grace.�
�Yeah. She kept refusing to come here until she nearly fainted from all the shock.� Luke said. �The doctor�s still with her.�
Adam nodded and looked at Joan. �Jane?�
Joan looked at him. There was a sparkle in his eyes and it reflected in hers. She smiled �We got him.�
He smiled. �Yeah.� He hugged her again. She pulled away after a moment.
�But why did Grace nearly have to get�� Joan shook her head. She looked around.
�Who are you looking for?�
�God.�
Adam and Luke looked at each other and back at her.
�Never mind.�
The doctor walked out and spoke to Grace�s dad for a moment before going to make his rounds. Rabbi Polanski went over to Luke.
�I think you should see her.�
Luke looked at him. �Don�t you want to see her?�
�Of course I do. She needs you now. Luke? Don�t leave her.�
That statement confused Luke. He looked at Joan for a moment before going into the hospital room. He saw Grace sitting up looking at some food that had been given to her.
�Hey.�
�It�s a conspiracy.�
�What?� Luke smiled.
�They want to keep people here longer so they make crappy food.�
�Wouldn�t that just make people want to leave a lot faster?�
�It doesn�t work. It�s a chemical problem.�
Luke sat across from her and Grace looked at him.
�I�I�m sorry. I should have walked you home�stayed with you until your parents got there.�
�No. Don�t. You�ve done enough of those for Joan, don�t start with me.� Grace said firmly.
Luke nodded. �Are you all right?�
�Yeah I�m fine. The doctor recommended a psychiatrist. I told him where he could take his advice.� She smirked.
�Not really funny.� Luke said.
�I�m not laughing. Luke I took a pregnancy test.�
Luke looked at her in shock. He hadn�t been prepared for that.
�What um�what did the results say?�
�He broke in before I could get them.�
�You got pushed around and�Grace, are you pregnant?�
Grace nodded. �The doctor asked if I was sexually active and I said it was none of her business but she needed to know so I said yes. She asked if there was a chance I was pregnant and�I told her yes. She ran an emergency ultrasound. The baby�s okay. Strong heartbeat. Really small. Small and helpless and I am the stupidest person in the world.�
�No. No you�re not stupid don�t ever say that. I never want to hear you say that. Grace, you�re the smartest person I know. You did what you had to do to keep yourself safe.�
Grace shook her head. �Yeah but at the same time, I could have killed the baby. I couldn�t live with myself if that happened. I know we�re young but I can�t get rid of the baby. Especially not after what just happened.�
Luke took her hand and stroked it. He looked into her eyes.
�How far along are you?�
�Um�9 weeks so two months.�
�But you�re safe, the baby�s safe, and everyone is safe.�
�Yeah. That�s the whole idea of not telling you that you were a father for two months but I lost the baby.�
Luke frowned a bit. He didn�t like how she was talking.
�Grace, is there anything you need me to do?�
�Just hold me and�don�t leave me.�
�I won�t.� Luke sat beside her and held her close to him.