STORY: Adjustments, part 10 of ?
FANDOM: Remember WENN
AUTHOR: Michele Savage (1998)
RATING: NC-17, M/F, hurt/comfort
SUMMARY: After Hilary is brutally attacked and left for dead, she and Jeff
have some healing to do.
SETTING: 1942, Pittsburgh
FEEDBACK: Would be muchly appreciated. :-)
ARCHIVE: Hetsketeers. (anywhere else, let me know before archiving
please.), Sockii, this can be archived at Rest Is Silence too. :-)
DISCLAIMER: Remember WENN and its characters are copyright Rupert Holmes,
Howard Meltzer and AMC. No infringement is intended. The story is mine as
are any original characters.


         After returning to the station an hour later, Jeff apologized to 
everyone for flying so far off the handle, explaining that the last seven 
months had been extremely hard on both he and Hilary.

         Then he sought out Scott and apologized. Scott assured Jeff that 
he was forgiven and that he'd just saved him from having to screw up the 
courage to tell Betty on his own.

         An anxious Maple barged into the office, "Jeff! That stubborn kid 
of yours has decided now would be a good time to meet everyone."

         He flew out of the chair, "What? Where is she?"

         "Hilary is in the green room, I called a cab for you." Maple 
informed him. "I also called her doctor."

         "Thanks Maple," He rushed out of the office followed by Scott.

         "Is there anything from home you need to get Jeff?" Scott asked.

         He pulled keys from his pocket, "There's a suitcase sitting at the 
foot of
the stairs in the living room."

         "Don't worry about it Jeff, I still have a key." He turned to the 
redhead behind him, "Mapes, can I borrow your car?"

         "Yeah. I'm a little low on my gas ration this month," she 
explained, "but I think there is plenty in it."

         "Ok thanks," Scott rushed past the green room as Jeff went into 
it, "I'll meet you at the hospital Jeff." He ran out of the studio en route 
to the parking lot.

         Jeff went to Hilary who was lying on the couch grimacing through a 
contraction. "Darling, when did this start?" he asked as he knelt next to her.

         "Nine months ago!" She grabbed his shoulder and squeezed, "I was 
stupid enough to re-marry you. Again."

         "I love you too, Mittens" Jeff laughed, "but I was talking about--"

         She smiled as the pain subsided for the moment, "I think, given 
the back pain I've been feeling all day, that I've been in labor for a 
while." She lay her head on the arm of the couch, "The contractions 
themselves are far enough apart right now that I think we have time."

         Jeff rubbed her forehead, "All right, Maple called a cab for us 
and Scott went to get the suitcase we had packed."

         Maple peeked into the room, "Jeff, the cab is here."

         He turned, "Okay, thanks." After standing, Jeff leaned over 
Hilary, "Think you can walk or do you want me to carry you down?"

         "I'm okay." She pushed herself to a seated position and started to 
her
feet. "Be careful of my arm." She reminded as he walked to her right side.

         "Okay." Jeff helped her to her feet and let her lean against him 
as they made their way through the reception area of the station and 
downstairs to the cab.


         When they got to the hospital and got checked in, Dr. Jamison met 
them and assured that everything seemed to be proceeding normally. Jeff 
kissed Hilary and watched as they took her into the labor room.

         The nurses showed him to a waiting room where he sat and nervously 
clasped and unclasped his hands. Unwittingly he recalled the last time he 
was in a hospital waiting room. This time though it was for a much better 
reason. He wasn't panicked and afraid of losing Hilary. Well, much. Women 
have babies everyday. Ok, stop it Jeff before you think yourself into a 
tizzy; he reprimanded himself.

         "Hey. Here's that suitcase." Scott said as he sat next to the 
nervous Jeff.

         "Thanks," Jeff said. Then looked to the man next to him, "How did 
you get into the house? I didn't give you my key."

         "Oh, uh, I still had my house key." Scott answered sheepishly. "I 
guess I just never got around to giving it back to Hilary after I moved out."

         A perplexed look crossed Jeff's face, "Scott if Hilary hadn't lost 
the baby and I hadn't come back, you would have stayed married to her."

         "Well, yeah." Scott rubbed the back of his neck, "She needed someone."

         "Are you in love with her?" Jeff asked, "tell me the truth."

         "As irritating and frustrating as she is, I could easily have 
learned to
love her. But now," Scott shook his head, "No. I love her no more than I do 
Mapes." He noticed the confused furrow in his friend's brow and explained, 
"She's a very dear friend and I'd do anything for her, but am I in love 
with her? No."

         "Were you ever going to tell Betty?"

         "Once it would have been obvious that she was pregnant, we were 
going to tell everyone that we'd gone too far one night and I wanted to do 
right by her."

         "You were going to deny me as a parent?"

         "No. I was going to let you know. Hilary didn't want to. She was 
mad enough to erase you from existence, but she cried herself to sleep 
practically every other night." Scott sat back, "I knew she was hurting and 
would have regretted not telling you."

         "After she lost the baby, we decided to keep the marriage a 
secret." Scott continued. "We didn't separate right away because losing the 
baby was almost like losing you again. I didn't want to leave her alone. We 
were in the process of getting a divorce when you came back."

         Jeff took a breath, "I don't understand why you didn't."

         "It was her idea." Scott answered, "I think part of it was to get 
back at you and part of it was that she wanted some shred of stability. 
She'd had to adjust to losing you and a baby. I don't think she wanted to 
upset the apple cart again."

         "If you were going to stay married to Hilary, why did you pursue 
Betty so openly?" Jeff asked, now confused.

         "I'm not blind Jeff." Scott answered with a wave of his arm, "I 
knew damn good and well you'd worm your way back into Hilary's life. Hell, 
I kept a set of divorce papers ready with Doug because I knew eventually 
she'd realize you were the person she needed to be with."

         "I just wish Betty would make that decision." Scott finished. "I'm 
afraid that once Victor gets back, she'll want to be with him."

         "You're the one that's here Scott." Jeff reminded him, "Take 
advantage of the army putting you in charge of the w.e.n.n."

         Jeff looked at his watch and realized they'd been talking for the 
past several hours. He got up to ask about Hilary when Mary stepped out of 
the door.

         She smiled, "It's a girl. And she's beautiful."

         "Hilary's okay?" Jeff asked, wiping away a tear.

         Mary nodded and hugged him. "She just fine and asking to see you."


         Scott joined them and patted Jeff on the back. "I'll go back to 
the station and let people know."

         "No." Jeff stopped him, "Had things been different, you'd have 
been in my shoes about," he counted back and then gave a slight chuckle, 
"nine months go."

         "Why don't you wait for a bit. You can see the baby."

         Scott smiled, "Okay. You go ahead, I'll call the station."

         Mary told Scott what room Hilary was in and led Jeff through the 
doors.


         Jeff quietly pushed through the door and hesitated when he saw 
Hilary softly cooing to the baby she held cradled in her left arm. He 
couldn't remember having seen, what was to him, a more beautiful sight. He 
leaned against the door careful not to make a sound and watched.

         As he watched Hilary wipe a tear from her eye, Jeff thanked every 
God he'd ever heard about, and a few he made up, for allowing him this 
moment. He took a calming breath and quietly tapped on the door.

         She glanced up and smiled when she saw him walk into the room. 
Hilary turned back to the infant and whispered, "this is your daddy, 
sweetheart." She looked at him as he pulled a chair around the bed and sat. 
"I was telling her about you."

         Jeff laughed through tears of happiness that he couldn't stop. 
"What were you telling her?" He tenderly rubbed his index finger over the 
sleeping newborn's cheek.

         "I was telling her that she's very lucky to have Jeffrey Singer as 
a father." Hilary leaned toward his shoulder, "And we're very lucky to have 
her." She closed her eyes, "Oh Jeff," she began to cry softly, "How close--"

         "Mittens darling, don't do this." He put an arm around her 
shoulders and held his family close.

         "I can't help it." She replied, "I look at her little face and--" 
She caressed the tiny face, "I wouldn't let the nurses take her just yet. 
I'm afraid to let her go. Afraid I'll wake up."

         Jeff moved to sit on the edge of the bed. He leaned forward and 
tenderly guided Hilary's gaze to him, "Darling, I've promised you over and 
over that I would let nothing happen to you or the baby. I intend to keep 
that promise." He laughed, "If you think I was protective before, you 
watch." He leaned to kiss her softly, and then pressed a light kiss on the 
baby's forehead.

         "You know, we discussed it, but we never settled on a name for our 
little miracle here." Jeff realized.

         "I was thinking about that just before you came in." Hilary told 
him, "Your mother sent me a book that has names with their meanings. I want 
the baby to have a name that means something to all of us."

         "Did you find one?"

         She nodded, "Anjeanette. It means 'special gift.'"

         Jeff looked at the sleeping baby and smiled as she hiccuped. "She 
does look like a little angel."

         "That she does." Hilary agreed.

         "Anjeanette Singer." Jeff mulled it over, "I like it. Mama will 
like it." He thought for a second, "What about a middle name?"

         Without hesitation, Hilary supplied one. "Rose." She explained, 
"If it hadn't been for Rosie I may have bled to death and I would have 
certainly lost her." She indicated the baby by a slight lift of her arm.

         "Then Rose it shall be." Jeff said. "Anjeanette Rose Singer." He 
laughed and drifted a hand along the fine hair on the baby's head, "Right 
now your name is bigger than you are, but by the odds you will definitely 
grow into it."

         Hilary giggled softly then looked up when she heard a throat 
clearing near the room entrance.

         "Am I interrupting?"

         "Scotty," Hilary said surprised to see him, "no, you aren't."

         He started to walk in but gestured toward the door, "Are you sure? 
Because if I'm interrupting I could go."

         "Come and see your god-daughter," Jeff encouraged.

         Both Hilary and Scott looked at him in surprise.

         "What" he asked. "I can't think of a more appropriate person."

         Scott walked to the bed, "Oh, gee Jeff I-- I don't know what to 
say." He stumbled uncharacteristically over the sentiment.

         "That would be a first," Hilary laughed. She turned slightly at 
the waist, "Would you like to hold her?"

         "Oh no, I'm not--" his protest was interrupted when Hilary leaned 
forward. He bent and awkwardly took her.

         "Watch her head." Hilary reminded, making sure he had her securely.

         The movement stirred the baby awake and she opened her eyes 
slightly. She squeaked a small cry of protest and soon settled back into 
her slumber. Scott grinned widely and looked at Hilary. He could tell by 
the look in her eyes that she was thinking the same thing he was. About 
'could-have-beens'.  He walked around the bed and handed the baby to Jeff. 
"Here you go pop. She's gonna be a handful." He warned.

         Jeff laughed softly and nodded in agreement.

         "I'll leave the three of you alone to get to know each other. 
Maple is dying to know what you named her." He said and bade the new family 
farewell.

to be continued...
Biz