Chapter Text
At the Shaw Memorial Hospital
The 12-week checkups are always a little nerve-racking, especially for Lucy.
She doesn’t know much about her father’s side family history—just that her biological father was her mom’s patient and is dead now. That lack of info adds a layer of unease, making today's appointment feel a bit more daunting than usual.
As Lucy sits waiting for her appointment, watching Tim fill out forms and the nurse drawing her blood to get the results for her blood work, an uneasy feeling starts to creep in. She tries to shut it down, but of course, thoughts don’t work like that—they refuse to listen, swirling around despite her best efforts to stay calm.
Tim’s done by the time Lucy is called in to the scanning room for her ultrasound by the nurse to get changed for them to start, Tim follows her.
Once they’re inside, Tim flashes Lucy a smile, and she returns it, though it’s not her usual relaxed one.
Tim's been with Lucy long enough for him to notice, and just as he’s about to probe, Dr. Walker walks in with the ultrasound technician for her nuchal translucency (NT) scan. Lucy silently thanks her lucky stars—Tim doesn’t get the chance to ask what’s on her mind as she doesn't want to worry him.
Dr. Walker begins with pleasantries, asking the usual questions and saving the more detailed topics for later. She introduces the technician, who specializes in NT scans, as the scan begins on Lucy’s abdomen.
Tim is beside her, holding her hand with his biggest smile, and Lucy tries to push her uneasy thoughts aside, focusing on the screen and enjoying the sight of their baby.
During the scan, Dr. Walker informs them that Lucy’s due date falls between August 12 and 15. Lucy smiles at the thought that their baby might arrive on August 13, the same day as Tim's birthday.
As Lucy glances away from the screen, her unease returns. The technician has stopped describing what she’s seeing, and Lucy catches the serious expressions on both the technician’s and Dr. Walker’s faces.
Dr. Walker's ever-reassuring look seems to have faded, and this makes the knot of worry tighten in Lucy's chest. Something doesn’t feel right.
Tim, sensing the tension, is the first to speak. "Umm... is something wrong with Lucy or the baby?" he asks, his voice laced with concern as he looks between the technician and Dr. Walker.
“Mr. & Mrs. Bradford,” Dr. Walker begins gently, her voice kind but serious. “I don’t want to alarm you, but there’s something we need to discuss about your baby.”
Lucy’s heart sinks, her stomach tightening with dread, and she feels an urge to throw up.
Tim, always in tune with her feelings, gently squeezes her hand. When she looks up, he’s already watching her, wordlessly urging her to stay calm—while clearly trying his best to do the same himself.
“As you can see here on the ultrasound,” Dr. Walker says gently, pointing to the screen, “there are a few markers that suggest your baby might be at risk for a genetic condition. One of the things we check during the NT scan is the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. In your case, that measurement is a little higher than what we normally expect at this stage, and that can sometimes be an early indicator.”
Lucy feels like the air is knocked right out of her, as if someone punched her in the gut. Her breath stutters, her mind scrambling to process the words. She stares at the screen, at that tiny fluttering heartbeat, her thoughts colliding in chaos. “What… what does that mean?” she whispers, her voice trembling.
Dr. Walker’s tone stays calm and professional, measured in the way only a doctor used to delivering hard news can manage. “This doesn’t mean we’re certain,” she explains gently, “but it is one of several markers we look for when screening for Down syndrome. At this stage, these findings aren’t definitive, but they are enough to recommend further testing if you’d like more clarity. And I do want to add—because this is a geriatric pregnancy—the chances statistically are higher. But that does not mean your baby has Down syndrome. It only means we need to be cautious and keep monitoring.”
Lucy goes into a trance, her mind swirling, until Tim’s grip tightens around her hand, grounding her. His voice, calm and steady—his way of keeping her anchored and pulling her back as he asks, “What are the next steps?”
Dr. Walker, speaking in her most empathetic tone, says, "Mr. Bradford, it would be good if Lucy could get dressed, and we could complete the remaining checkup. We can discuss the next steps in my office."
Tim nods in response, and as Dr. Walker and the technician leave the room, he helps Lucy off the ultrasound table.
Moving almost on autopilot, Lucy dresses herself. With Tim holding her hand, they walk to the doctor’s office. Yet Lucy’s mind is blank, as if she’s disconnected, unable to feel anything at all.
At Dr Walker's Office
Dr. Walker performs the check-up and reviews the results from Lucy’s blood work. Tim’s the one who answers Dr Walker’s questions, as he knows Lucy isn’t in the right space to process anything.
To Lucy, Dr. Walker’s voice fades into the background, sounding like distant white noise. She's completely disconnected from her current reality.
Dr. Walker begins explaining the next steps, her tone careful and measured. "I’d like to reiterate what I’ve said before—NT scans are not 100% accurate. To confirm if the baby has Down syndrome, we always recommend further screening for certainty."
The mention of “Down syndrome” snaps Lucy back to the moment. Her mind, previously distant, suddenly sharpens, and she begins to fully register what Dr. Walker is saying, the weight of the conversation finally settling in.
Dr. Walker continues gently, “We have several options, like Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) or amniocentesis later on. We can schedule an NIPT for Lucy as early as tomorrow. As the name suggests, it’s non-invasive, carries no risk, and offers nearly 99% accuracy. However, if the NIPT confirms our suspicions of Down syndrome, we can consider more definitive tests like Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis. Both come with a small miscarriage risk, around 0.1 to 1%, but not if they are performed by skilled professionals. These tests provide 100% accuracy, giving us clear results. I’ll connect you with our best perinatologists, Dr Santos, and she will perform the tests. So, can I book an appointment for you with Dr. Santos tomorrow? She’ll perform the NIPT, as you're currently within the testing window, and we can move forward after we get the results. Okay?”
Lucy just nods, rising to leave Dr. Walker's office. She slips back into autopilot, her mind blank, barely aware of her surroundings.
Tim thanks the doctor and guides Lucy out of the doctor's office to his truck, but she's too lost to register anything anymore.