Work Text:
The stomach flu that you had was kicking your ass. Every day like clockwork, you would wake up with that awful nausea, run to the bathroom, and hurl. It didn’t make any sense; you’d had stomach bugs before, but this was different. You were ticking the imaginary checkboxes in your mind, a list of possible explanations. Jack was worried sick about you; you’d been together long enough for him to know that it wasn’t like you to get that sick. You had an extremely strong immune system; working with sick and injured people all day will do that to a person.
It started a week ago, and you were trying to get through work with no issues, but of course, here you were, throwing up in the bathroom at the hospital. Not as a patient, but as an emergency room physician. That’s actually how you met your husband; a few years ago you started your residency at PTMC. Jack Abbot was—and still is—the night shift attending.
You worked days, but you would see him before shift changes, and it drove you crazy: the eye contact, his voice, the way he helped you with emergencies. You were lucky you weren’t on the same shift, because just those times before the shift change were distracting enough to let you fall behind on your charting. Around two years ago, Abbot showed up on his day off to catch you leaving, and he asked you if you wanted to grab drinks with him. Now, two years later, you’re married and couldn’t be happier. God, he was everything to you, so attentive; he cared for you like no one else had; he really was your—
A knock on the bathroom door interrupted your thoughts.
“Hey hon, you've been in there a while; everything alright?” Dana’s voice rang through the door, supportive and patient. Suddenly nothing felt as heavy, but you were still on the floor, hunched over the toilet bowl.
“Yeah, I-I’ll be right out!” You responded, unsure of yourself, really hoping she would leave before you had to open the door. Of course, you knew better; Dana wouldn’t leave you after hearing the anxious stutter or tone in your voice.
Slowly, you pushed off the floor and flushed the toilet before dragging your feet towards the sink. You turned on the tap, splashing your face with cold water and washing your hands. Hesitantly, you opened the door and were faced with Dana’s worried expression.
She let you gather your thoughts before asking if you wanted to step into the break room with her for a minute or two.
You both sat down in the break room, and everything just crumbled. You broke down and told her about how you’d been sick, and the more you told her, the more you connected the dots in your head. You hadn’t fully realized until now that your period was also late; the combination of throwing up and a late period…
“I got to get back to work. Come and get me if you need anything, seriously.” Dana let go of the hand she was holding and stood up.
Once she was gone, the thoughts really settled in your gut.
You stood up on shaking legs and raced to a supply closet. You grabbed a pregnancy test and shoved it in your scrubs' pocket. You rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind you and sitting down on the toilet.
A few minutes later, the test was sitting on the counter, and you were taking deep breaths to calm yourself. Though the attempt at calming yourself was short-lived when you heard, “Trauma incoming, 3 minutes out!” from outside the bathroom.
"Fuck..." you muttered to yourself as you scrambled to grab the test; you put it in your pocket and left to meet everyone else, who were already gowning up.
—
You sat down in the empty locker room and closed your eyes for a good minute. You had just saved a patient’s life, and yet you felt no gratification or pride; you just wanted to go home. Hearing soft footsteps behind you, you turned around and were relieved to see that it was Dana.
“You alright, hon?" Dana’s voice cut into the silence, but it had a calming effect on you.
“As good as I can be.”
Talking to her reminded you of the test in your pocket.
“I took a pregnancy test." You explained,
“I-I took it before the trauma, so about thirty minutes ago,”
“Then the trauma came in—and I—I didn’t get the chance to see what the test said.”
Dana took a seat next to you and softly placed a reassuring hand on your back, rubbing circles in an attempt to soothe you.
“Me and Jack… We never talked about kids; we’re both so busy—I mean, where would we find the time?” You admitted
“I’ve always wanted kids, but—but I never thought to ask Jack; I assumed he would say no because of our schedules.”
Dana was listening, nodding every few words, and she let you talk for as long as you needed.
—
After having a deep conversation with her, you felt lighter, but there was still the test in your pocket.
“Are you ready to see it, hon?” She asked.
You took a deep breath and pulled it out of your pocket—nervously, you flipped it over.
Your heart skipped a beat as you stared at the positive pregnancy test in shock. Dana looked at you, waiting for you to speak. Instead, you sat in silence for a few minutes before she spoke up.
“How do you feel?”
You finally averted your gaze from the test to look her in the eyes.
“I’m… happy.” You smiled softly, but deep down, that nervousness was still in your stomach. How were you going to tell Jack? What was he going to think?
“You should head home early and take it all in. I’ll cover for you, alright?”
You almost hesitated but nodded anyway.
—
You opened the front door and could already hear the shower running.
Good.
You had time.
Taking deep breaths, you made your way to the bedroom, dropping your things on the counter in the process.
You took the test out of your scrubs and dropped them in the laundry bin before heading to your dresser. You grabbed a pair of pajamas and made your way to the bed, putting the test down on your nightstand while you waited for Jack to leave the bathroom.
—
The bathroom door opened and steam rolled out, revealing your husband, with a towel around his waist and small droplets rolling down his chest and dissapearing into the towel.
Fuck, no wonder you were pregnant.
When his eyes met yours, his expression turned worried; you never came home early.
“What are you doing here, baby? Did something happen?”
Before you knew it, he was by your side, searching for any signs of you being unwell.
“No, no, I just—Dana sent me home; she’s covering for me." You responded, your eyes not meeting his.
He grabbed your hand and traced soothing circles on your palm, and before you got any more anxious, you reached for the test.
“So, I’ve been sick for a while...”
“I’ve been throwing up a lot lately, a-and earlier I had a talk with Dana.”
“Shit—I just—I'm pregnant.” You admitted, looking away and already feeling tears well in your eyes.
Jack’s whole demeanor changed; he let out a breath and turned your face towards him. When your eyes met his, you could see that his gaze was soft, but your brain couldn't form the idea that he was happy.
“We—we never talked about kids; I mean, with our schedules, we’re so busy." You rambled on.
“Hey, look at me.” Jack interrupted and wiped a tear from your cheek, cupping your face in his hands.
“I love you so much, you know that.” He whispered to you, and you nodded, sniffling.
“I want to have a baby with you; I always have. I’m sorry I never brought it up—I didn’t think it was in the cards for me." He admitted.
"You... you do?” You looked into his eyes, unsure.
He nodded, staring at you with nothing short of love and devotion. “I would love nothing more than to be the father of our child; as long as you want this, I do too.”
The tears returned, and suddenly you were crying in his arms, but this time, they were happy tears. You weren’t alone either; you were both crying tears for the child you were having with the person you loved more than anything in the world.