Incurable
By Lisa Renee
Jump to new as of June 4, 1999
Jump to new as of June 22, 1999
Jump to new as of June 24, 1999
Posted on Saturday, 19-Sep-98
Based on the story "Doctors & Dependability" by the same author, and takes place two years later
lizabeth held the squalling infant in her arms, beaming. Her husband of a little less than two years stood behind her, looking down at the little child with awe and wonder, even though it wasn't his.
"Lizzy," William Darcy murmured, "you could let me hold my godson too, you know."
Alexander Robert Bingley was born on Jane and Charles Bingley's second anniversary. He was a marvelous present for the occasion, born with wonderful blonde hair that Elizabeth knew was unique to the Bingley family.
Lydia had added to the extended Bennet family as well. In addition to Rex Wickham, now two, there was Traci Anne, the apple of Lydia's eye. She was nearing six months.
It was baby season for almost everybody Elizabeth and William knew. Jane and Charles had Alex, Charlotte and Billy had Billy Jr. and one more on the way, Jenny and Steve Banks had a daughter, Rose, and Lydia had Rex and Traci. Francine was beside herself with joy over Alex and Traci, and Madeleine Gardiner couldn't be happier with Rose.
Holding Alex in her arms, Elizabeth felt the all too familiar feeling of sadness wash over her. Sighing for the third time, she reminded herself yet again that everything else was perfect. William adored her, and she adored him. Their relationship was wonderful. The Immunology lab was flourishing under the guidance of Drs. Rick Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, and they were acknowledged in top medical journals throughout the country as one of the best clinics available for the care of AIDS and Cystic Fibrosis. It was her dream goal.
It still didn't change the fact that as of yet Elizabeth Darcy could not get pregnant. It wasn't for lack of time, frequency, passion, or desire. For reasons she could not understand, there was no baby.
Dr. William Darcy, surgeon extraordinaire, had no explanation for this phenomenon either. He also believed that his relationship with his wife was enviable by any man. Elizabeth was beautiful, intelligent, and she loved him. He woke up with a heart ready to burst every time he saw her sleeping so sweetly next to him, and it just hurt that there was no little Darcy running around to make things complete.
They had come close twice. Twice Elizabeth had missed periods, gained weight, and twice she had miscarried in her third month. Elizabeth was not one to be emotional, but William knew how much it killed her each time. It was getting to be a touchy subject and he was afraid to even mention it or she'd turn away. Fear of failure was getting to Elizabeth, and William had no clue how to make it better.
Meanwhile, Alex Bingley had stopped crying and Elizabeth held him in her arms, singing softly. William could feel his throat tighten. The picture was nearly perfect, save the blonde hair on the baby, and the urge to leave the room was overpowering. He sat down in a chair instead, rubbing the bridge of his nose wearily.
"I know," Elizabeth said, looking up at him, "I know what you're thinking. But for today, let's just look happy for Charlie and Jane, okay? Please, sweetheart, you know that when you're upset, they're upset, and that's the last thing they need. Do you want to hold him?"
Will shook his head. "I don't think I could handle it," he replied, honestly. "Not right now."
Elizabeth looked away. The last miscarriage was less than two weeks ago, two days after Alex was born. "I'm sorry," she said helplessly. "I don't know what there is to do about it. Do you want me to make another appointment with that clinic?"
William shrugged.
"Don't do this, Will," Elizabeth pleaded again. "At least talk about it."
"I can't," he said angrily, and left the room.
Elizabeth gazed sadly down at Alex and sighed, hating the tears that sprung to her eyes.
Part 2
When Charles and Jane arrived to pick up Alex, Elizabeth was unnaturally quiet and William was nowhere to be found. Charles and Jane looked at each other and frowned.
"Lizzy," Jane started, but Charles put a hand on her arm.
"Liz," he said, "sometimes it takes a little time. Maybe you could try again?"
Willing her eyes not to well up, Elizabeth stared at her shoes. "I don't think William's going to want to again, not after last week." Her voice broke towards the end and Jane hugged her sister. "You know how much I hate when I can't do something, Jane, and I just can't."
"Try to stay positive, Lizzy," Jane urged, "it'll happen in due time. Listen, Charles will see you at work tomorrow morning. Cheer up, I promise things will work out okay."
Charles and Jane exited, but because Elizabeth didn't move from the doorway she caught Charles' comment on the way down the driveway to his wife.
"Maybe this wasn't a great idea," he murmured, holding Alex, "it just made things worse." Jane nodded sadly.
Mortified, Elizabeth backed away from the doorway, stifling sobs as she walked slowly upstairs. She had made it to the top after what had seemed like an eternity and turned into one of the guest bedrooms. Not knowing where William was, she didn't want to cry in front of him. He was so sullen lately, so she didn't think he needed to hear her cry. Somebody had to be strong.
William stood in his parlor shooting pool. The balls kept flying off the table because he hit them with so much force. He never meant to get angry, and he certainly wasn't angry with Elizabeth, but he was angry that he couldn't tell her why it bothered him so much. Truth be told, William felt slightly guilty because he was positive it was his fault. What could Elizabeth possibly be doing wrong?
Popping yet another ball over the billiards table, William resolved to go to that fertility clinic and get tested. Now all he had to do is find Elizabeth and tell her he would. William raked a hand through his already mussed hair and sighed. She was probably crying somewhere where she thought he wouldn't find her. Little did Elizabeth know that he always found her, or heard her at least, and it just added another pound to his already heavy heart.
Each footstep was slow as William trudged up the winding center staircase in his home. He hated making Elizabeth unhappy. It happened so rarely, but the baby issue wore on their tempers and nerves. His mother-in-law offered no help. Elizabeth thought he didn't know, but William was well aware of the questioning Francine subjected her daughter to. It was tasteless, vulgar, and it made William's blood boil.
He heard movement in one of the guest bedrooms so he peeked inside. William knew at once that Elizabeth had been crying, but she wasn't anymore. She had her eyes closed as she stretched out on the sleepaway sofa. Feeling intrusive, guilty and eager all at once, he pounced on her, earning a squeak of complete surprise.
"You know that I'm not angry with you, and that I'd never shun you because you had a miscarriage. I love you, Lizzy, and I always have. That doesn't change."
Her eyes opened and she managed a small, bashful smile. "This is new territory, and I'd like to do this together. Adoption is a solution we could think about."
William puzzled over her statement. Adoption? Should we consider it?
Finally, he smiled at her and winked. "What do you say we try again through natural means first?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively, hinting at the course he'd like to take.
"Right here? Right now?" Her brown eyes looked into his, questioningly, curiously, and then she smiled back, a broad smile. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him hungrily down onto the sofa.
Before her lips touched his, she giggled and joked, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!" William never remembered the old cliché sounding quite like that.
The next morning, William woke up to go to work almost an hour before his wife. He looked down at her, sprawled out on the bed, mouth slightly open, hair in every direction. With a small chuckle, he headed off to the shower. She must've slept like this since she was a child, he thought, getting another pang of sadness in his chest, I'll bet she was a beautiful baby.
Steam lazily curled out of the shower before William stepped in. With the water scalding hot and the stream strong, he couldn't even hear his own thoughts. At this particular time, he didn't really want to. This baby issue was ruining his concentration, and he hated to admit to his colleagues that he was distracted. There hadn't been any accidents or mishaps, and William was still renowned in his field, but most of the time as of late had revolved around this 'problem'.
Elizabeth heard the shower running and felt some of her missing liveliness come back in a flood. Try again we shall. Crawling out of bed, she sneaked into the bathroom and knew immediately that with the force of the water, William couldn't hear her. Shucking her clothes at the doorway, she silently stepped in with him.
He was late for work that morning.
Part 3
Dr. Katherine Bennet sat with her on again, off again boyfriend Dr. Rick Fitzwilliam in the small cafe in the lobby of Pride Hospital. She had switch specialties to prenatal care and embryology a year earlier, which wasn't too bad. Only one year was spent in the cardiology rotation, so she wasn't that far behind. Quirking an eyebrow, she slid a textbook over to Rick.
"That child looks like Alex," she said devilishly, and Rick laughed.
"Just because he has a pointy head does not make him your nephew, Kit. Don't you have to be at work soon?"
Kit looked at her watch and frowned. "Yes, I suppose so. I forgot that rotations start a half an hour earlier at Pride, and I also forgot to give GiGi a call over at Sense to make sure she locked the door today."
He tapped her lightly on the forehead with a pencil. "Absent-minded Kitty Bennet," Rick teased, and shook his head.
Kit disappeared, forgetting her textbook. Rick narrowed his eyes. Maybe Elizabeth would benefit from this book. It does cover pregnancy, after all... He left the cafeteria, vowing to have it back to Kit before she noticed it was missing.
Elizabeth got to work on time. Her shift started at 8. Purposefully, she bypassed the main reception desk and walked directly through the Emergency Room outside doors. Passing a mirror, she heaved a tortured sigh at the reflection of her flat stomach. Realizing that she was being completely and utterly ridiculous, she giggled and went on her merry way to Immunology.
On her desk a textbook was opened to a page, held with a paperclip. Pregnancy: Why some women need some extra help. Elizabeth sighed. Thank you, Kit. It wouldn't hurt to look, but Elizabeth felt so embarrassed that everybody knew of her troubles.
Everybody knew about her troubles. Apparently, Mrs. Bennet was not exactly silent on the matter. All the receptionists seemed to look at Elizabeth with sympathy, except for Caroline Bingley, who secretly enjoyed hearing of the problems in the Darcy household. Caroline was positive she could get pregnant, after all.
Throwing on a lab coat, latex gloves and a stethoscope, Elizabeth headed off to find Rick, who had probably started rounds early so he could play around with the new chemicals in the lab for a longer time. She met up with him near the elevator where he prepared to go to the pulmonary department to check on some of the CF patients.
"And how are we this morning, Dr. Lizzy?"
"Very well, thanks," Elizabeth replied with a sly smile.
Rick groaned. "Do I let you know every morning about my sex life or lack thereof? I don't think so..."
Elizabeth laughed. "Sorry. I couldn't help it."
"Surprised him in the shower again. Oldest trick in the book," Rick admonished jokingly as Elizabeth blushed a bright red, rendered quite speechless.
They were interrupted by the door opening on the seventh floor when Caroline Bingley stepped onto the elevator. She smiled smugly at Elizabeth.
"We certainly look jolly this morning, and it's certainly not the glow of pregnancy," she commented, with her nose in the air.
Elizabeth fumed. "How would you know? I could be pregnant. Last time I checked you had absolutely no say in the matter."
As soon as the doors opened again, Rick pulled Elizabeth out of the elevator. "We'll take the stairs. The great orange barracuda can stay in there by herself."
Biting her lip, Elizabeth reluctantly agreed.
Two more weeks went by and no results. Elizabeth was only happy that she hadn't miscarried, but there was no logical reason why she wasn't getting pregnant. William had agreed to go to the clinic, and the appointment was in a few hours. Her stomach was in knots only because she was afraid to find out if it was her fault or not.
William nervously twisted the class ring he wore on his pinky. He'd never forgive himself if it was his fault that Elizabeth couldn't get pregnant, and at the same time, he knew that they had a long road ahead of them if it was her problem, as well. Either way, he rationalized that it was their problem.
After a barrage of testing, temperature, blood, scrapings, samples, angles, and measurements, Elizabeth and William escaped into the car, red faced and embarrassed.
William shot a side glance at Elizabeth, and when their eyes met, they both began to laugh uproariously.
It was three days later when the ominous phone call came. When Elizabeth picked up the phone, she realized with only slight embarrassment that her knees were shaking. William picked up a different extension and they both listened impatiently.
"Right now we're going to keep you both on temperature control," the doctor began, and Elizabeth grimaced.
"We'll give Elizabeth a certain range that is optimum for fertilization and she'll take her temperature every night. Our biggest problem right now is temperature for you too, William."
William was silent as the doctor continued. "It seems that conditions are too hot for fertilization. Whenever you are at home, you are to be wearing ice packs."
"What? There?" Staring down at his pants, blinking in disbelief, William shook his head.
"I don't think I will take to that ice very well, not to mention that I wouldn't know when the temperature was 'optimum'," he continued, stubbornly, knowing quite well that there were special thermometers for everything.
Elizabeth turned away from the receiver and sighed, but William heard anyway. "I'll do it," he agreed. She smiled into the phone.
The doctor continued. "And in the meantime, it couldn't hurt for William to wear boxers instead of briefs."
"Thanks, Spring," she said, "I'll stop by and pick up what we need. Do I need to schedule another appointment?"
"We'll check in a month," Dr. Spring McManus told Elizabeth and William, "I wish you the best of luck."
"Thanks," William said, still smarting about the choice of underwear comment. I like my briefs, thank you very much!
"Thanks," Elizabeth echoed, genuinely thankful.
When Elizabeth came downstairs, she found William in the kitchen next to the microwave.
"Just practicing," he said, cheerfully, "I'll bet to thaw out the Darcy family jewels, it should be on power level one. What do you think?"
Part 4
I'm freezing, they're frozen, how the hell am I going to accomplish anything with an ice pack in my shorts for an hour? William grumbled and walked around the house uncomfortably. Elizabeth sat in the study doing patient charts, waiting for his temperature to fall into the acceptable range. Hating the ice packs and hating the thermometers had taken over William's hatred that there was no baby.
"Are you still icing, Will?" William grumbled some more before he could formulate an answer.
"You'll find me in the frozen section soon, dear," he yelled, with more than a little sarcasm. Feeling guilty, he knew it wasn't Elizabeth's fault and that he shouldn't be that way, but he was walking around in shorts filled with ice. He couldn't figure out why they would freeze him, especially considering it took him an extra long time to get anything accomplished when he was partially numb.
He trudged up the stairs to the bathroom. Pulling out the oddly shaped thermometer, he waited a few seconds and took the temperature of his nether regions. It was in the acceptable numbers.
"Honey," he yelled again, "let's go."
William wandered into Elizabeth's study to find her dozed off on her desk. He sighed. "Elizabeth... Dearest, my temperature is good... Hello?"
She didn't budge, so William headed to the bedroom, pulled the covers up to his chin and stared into the dark, completely annoyed with the whole process. Elizabeth did not join him for close to two hours, so wearily William went back to the study to see if she was still sleeping there. A glistening drop of saliva threatened to fall from her mouth onto the papers she had worked for so long on, so he gently wiped her chin.
Elizabeth made a few small noises, licked her lips, but her eyes stayed shut. It was nearing one in the morning, William was a bit anxious, so he simply lifted his wife from the chair and carried her like a sack of potatoes into the bedroom. Halfway down the hallway, he could feel her hands beating on him.
"What the.... Oh, I'm sorry Will, did I fall asleep in the study?"
William grunted in response and threw her on the bed. "I sat with ice in my shorts for almost an hour, Elizabeth. I'm still numb."
"Poor baby," Elizabeth cooed, a devilish glint in her eyes.
William bit back a smile. Good things come to those who wait, he thought, as he hopped back into bed with a bit more enthusiasm than he had before.
Two weeks later, Elizabeth had gained a bit of weight. Her normal disposition had been turning towards the cranky side, and she was unusually weepy. Hoping against hopes, she left Pride Hospital early and headed off to Sense to see the doctor again. Before she undressed in the office to put on the gown, she noticed not for the first time that her jeans were snug.
Taking a deep breath, she waited for the doctor. When she arrived, they discussed some options Elizabeth wanted more information on just for reference.
"We could consider in vitro," Spring said, nodding, "and we could implant more than one embryo to ensure results. We could also continue with the temperature control and give that another month... Wait, Elizabeth, why are you here? Your appointment wasn't scheduled for another week!"
Elizabeth looked up at the doctor bashfully, a small smile on her face. "I was hoping that I wouldn't need the other options, but I could tell William I got them anyway, just in case."
Spring laughed and pointed to the examination table. "We'll see, Elizabeth." After she rattled off some preliminary questions during the examination and collected a few samples to test for sure, Spring smiled. "It looks good, Liz. I'd say we're go!"
Trying to conceal her excitement but failing miserably, Elizabeth laughed out loud. Her grins turned to seriousness quickly, however, and she frowned. "I've miscarried close to where I am now," she murmured, "and I'm terrified that it'll happen again."
"You need to stop what you're doing immediately if you begin cramping. I know you don't want to go to the ward at Pride, but I'll put you in touch with Fanny Bertram. She's wonderful, and I promise Billy Collins will not know any of this. Are we clear?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Perfectly. I'll be careful," she promised, eyes glinting. Wait until I tell William! She headed down to her car through the back elevator, just missing the opening of the front elevator.
A very troubled Katharine Bennet exited from those doors and went into the waiting room of the OB/Gyn office. She nervously waited for her name to be called, and when it was she almost lost what little hold she had on her bladder. Something is terribly wrong with this picture, she thought to herself, because I'm positive I'm pregnant.
Part 5: The Baby Boom
If Spring was surprised to see a second Bennet sister in the same afternoon, she didn't let it show. Kitty stared at the ground the entire time Spring questioned her symptoms and was unnaturally quiet during the examination. Finally, she met the doctor's eyes and immediately began crying.
"I'm not married. I shouldn't be having a baby, Elizabeth should."
Spring held back a chuckle. "Don't worry about Elizabeth, okay? You have choices. Do you know who the father is?"
Kitty nodded. "I do."
"Then I suggest you speak with him and make a decision from there."
Kitty nodded again, thanked Spring, and vowed not to tell Rick until she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She was still shaking, and very upset. Maybe I should tell Rick now, she thought, doubtfully, and headed off to Pride. However, once she reached the halls of the Immunology lab, she ducked into one of the lounges and began crying softly, hoping Rick or Elizabeth would not hear.
After he had finally closed an emergency tonsillectomy, William headed downstairs to meet Elizabeth. He made it part-way down the hall before he realized that Elizabeth had left early, but decided to continue to see if Rick was around. William didn't get very far before he heard what sounded like muffled sobs. His heart hammered in his chest because the sobs sounded eerily similar to his wife's.
Peeking his head around the corner of the lounge, William saw Kitty crying as if her heart would break. His mouth felt strangely full, and he struggled to say anything of substance. William Darcy was not one for talking, especially not to crying sister-in-laws.
"Kitty? Are you okay?" Great, William, very astute.
She turned her tearstained face up at him and began crying again. He awkwardly sat down on the couch next to her and patted her back, wondering exactly what he was supposed to do with the crying woman.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Her sobs grew louder and William winced. "Shhh, shhh, it's okay... Did something happen to Rick?"
Kitty shook her head no, and then nodded yes. "In a manner of speaking," she whispered, eyes downcast once again, "He's going to be a daddy."
"Oh," William said soothingly, not registering. Wait! Wait, does that mean she's... Oh! "Kitty, are you pregnant?"
She nodded.
"Is it his?"
She nodded again. "Please don't tell anybody, William. Especially not Rick or Elizabeth."
William felt a heavy stone set in his stomach, and he swallowed with some difficulty. How does she expect me to hide this from Elizabeth?
"Just for a few weeks, please William? You're the only one I'm going to tell besides Georgianna for now. Please? It'll all be resolved quickly, and I promise Elizabeth won't be angry."
William doubted the truth of her statement, but he found himself agreeing. "Just for a little bit, Kitty. Your really do need to make a decision. But if anything does happen, beep me the number and KIT at the end, and I'll help you." The little voice in his head wondered what he was doing and how much it was going to get him in trouble.
He went home later that evening and rummaged through his refrigerator in search of something to eat. A completely heinous smell greeted his nostrils, so he leaned farther into the fridge in search of the food causing the stench. Elizabeth came into the kitchen in search of William and found him, at least his behind.
"Sweetheart? What are you doing in there?"
"I think I discovered a new odor," William called, trying not to gag. "If I name it, I think I'll win the Nobel Prize."
Elizabeth giggled. "Well, Mad Scientist, I have some little news for you and some big news for you. Which do you want to hear first?"
Since he was in the refrigerator and unable to talk face to face with her, he chose little.
"My sister is pregnant," she said.
William stiffened immediately and rammed his head into the nearest shelf as a result. He swore violently and extracted himself from the offending refrigerator, rubbing his head. How does she know? Do I have it written on my butt? This isn't funny.
"She is?" He managed to squeak out the question without appearing too guilty.
Elizabeth gave him a strange look. "Yes, is it that much of a surprise? What do you think she and George do all day? Read books?"
"Oh, you mean Lydia," William said, breathing a sigh of relief and earning another strange look from Elizabeth.
"Of course I mean Lydia, who did you think I meant? Mary?" She quirked her eyebrow at him and chuckled. "Honestly, William, what are you thinking?"
He shook his head. "Never mind me, Elizabeth, I've been sniffing the refrigerator fumes for too long. What's the big news?"
Elizabeth grinned at him. "Well, don't you want to come here and kiss the mother of your child?"
William coughed. "What did you say?"
"I'm pregnant. You're going to be a daddy, Will."
He flew across the kitchen and nearly tackled his wife. After he kissed her, she laughed.
"Take it easy, tiger, I'm supposed to be careful. We don't want any more miscarriages this time."
William agreed with her wholeheartedly, and gave a brief, silent thanks to whoever was listening that he didn't have to wear ice in his boxers anymore. "I think we should celebrate, Lizzy. Where do you want to go?"
She chose a Chinese restaurant, strange for her because she wasn't that fond of Chinese. In the car, she started laughing. "I saw our niece and nephew today, Will. Lydia was working the reception desk and she brought Rex and Traci. Traci is the chubbiest kid I've ever seen in my life."
William chuckled. "Wasn't she close to ten pounds? I know Rex was eleven, I spoke to the doctor who delivered him." I really hope my kid isn't a gynecologist's nightmare, he thought, and then broke into a huge dimpled grin. I'm going to be a daddy!
Part 6: Bad Rick
The problem grows...
Because he was beside himself with happiness, William decided he had to tell his sister, and also his favorite cousin. He found Rick at the Immunology lab and came in with a huge grin on his face.
"Hey Ricky Rich!" Rick laughed at his childhood nickname and stared curiously at his cousin.
"What's up, Will? We're not usually this smiley in the mornings."
"I'm going to be a father, Rick."
Rick jumped up, thumped his cousin on the back and grinned. "That's awesome, man! I'm so happy for you! Happy for you and really happy it's not me. Bachelorhood means no dirty diapers, feedings, strollers..."
The silly grin on William's face faded fast and he attempted to paste another one on his face. That sick feeling came back with full force and William wobbled for just a second. Kitty hasn't told him. He knew she wasn't planning to, but he hoped that she did. Evidently, she hadn't.
"Don't... Don't you wonder what it's like?" There, William thought, proudly, That was a good cover up!
Rick looked at his cousin. "Are you feeling okay? You look really sick."
"Sure, sure I am," William responded, a little too quickly, "but I do think you'll miss never being a father. Oh, would you look at the time? I have to be upstairs." He almost sprinted to the elevator, leaving a puzzled and curious Rick in his wake.
Elizabeth came in shortly, bright and cheery, and Rick stifled chuckles the whole morning. Her spirits had lifted and she seemed like the old Lizzy again, which made him happy. The patients were happy to see her that morning as well, and the labs were fun again. Rick disappeared for a few seconds and came back with a bouquet of flowers.
"Congratulations, mommy!"
Looking up from her records, Elizabeth blushed prettily and smiled. "Thanks, Rick. I thought Will had told, but I wasn't positive."
"Have you come up with names?"
Shaking her head no, Elizabeth shrugged. "I was thinking Adam for a boy, but that's about it. Maybe Derek."
Rick wrinkled his nose. "Derek Darcy? Are you kidding me? What about Kevin? I like the name Kevin."
Elizabeth shook her head again. "I don't think William likes 'K' names. I don't know why. Hey, when you get hitched, you can name your kid Kevin."
Laughing uneasily, Rick scoffed her statement. "I'll never get hitched, Lizzy, and that's perfectly fine with me."
Meanwhile, Kitty Bennet rolled over in her bed and moaned again, pitifully. Georgianna Darcy held up some Pepto Bismol and brought it to Kitty, hoping she could tempt her friend into trying to get rid of whatever stomach flu she seemed to have.
"Katherine Bennet, you need to do something. You've been sick as a dog for the last two mornings! If I didn't know better, I'd say you have... Wait, are you? Did you? Are you pregnant?"
Almost involuntarily, Kitty began crying again. "Yes," she wailed, "It's Rick's, he doesn't know, and I'm not sure if I want to tell him!"
"Are you keeping it?"
"Yes," Kitty wailed again, "but I don't know if I should! This should be Elizabeth's baby, not mine."
"Don't worry about Elizabeth. William called last night, and if you are pregnant, so is she."
Kitty felt happy for her sister for all of two seconds before she vomited again into the nearby garbage can. "Ohhhhh," she moaned, "I don't think I like this."
Getting up with help from GiGi, she made her way unsteadily to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Already, there was extra weight on her hips and it was maybe her second month. Kitty hoped that her children were not monsters like Lydia's, both in size and in virtue. It scared her more than she wished to admit. Her thoughts turned to Rick and she felt guilty for not telling him. Miserably, she figured it was for the best since she could never convince her wayward playboy of a boyfriend to even consider marrying her. He was too busy reveling in his single status, and he repeatedly told her that he liked how their relationship went, never too heavy, always fun.
As another wave of nausea washed over Kitty, she realized that the real fun had just started. She wanted to keep the baby, regardless of Rick. But she knew that if Rick didn't marry her or at least stay with her, she'd be ruining many relationships between people, namely Rick and Elizabeth. Kitty wanted to avoid that at all costs, but at the same time, she knew she couldn't hide her pregnancy forever. Just a few more weeks, William will help me, and I'll figure out how to tell Rick. I promise.
Part 7: Kitty's Dilemma
Gillian, Lily, Amy, Andrea, William mused as he made his incision across the belly of the man he was operating on to fix his hernia, Hannah, Lauren, Jamie, Elaine. The other doctors gave him odd looks as he continued onward with the operation, murmuring names as he went along.
"Baby names," his assistant, Gloria, explained to the other doctors, all who nodded. "It's his first, excuse his preoccupation."
"James," tossed out Dr. James Barclay, only half kidding.
"What?" His comment brought William out of his reverie, and he blushed. "Sorry, I'm just thinking of names for my baby."
"I see," teased Gloria, "Although I don't know if I went around saying names when I was pregnant. I do like the name Natalie, though."
William stitched the hernia with skill, quiet for all of five minutes. "Elizabeth thinks it's going to be a boy, you know," he said, "but I think it's a girl. Call me crazy, but I can only see a little girl."
"Well, you know it's going to be a boy, then," joked another doctor, helping William in closing the surgery. The patient, Mr. Harry Walters, woke up dreaming of babies and cribs. He shuddered thinking of how glad he was that his last child was in college.
Downstairs in the ER, Rick wheeled one of his trauma patients into curtain two, and while he was waiting for the nurse to bag the IV, he wondered why he hadn't heard from Kitty. It was usually Rick who stopped talking to Kitty, so it was very odd that she had not called. In the back of his mind he hoped everything was all right, suddenly feeling an odd premonition. He turned his attention back to the patient, reminding himself to ask Elizabeth if she knew anything regarding her younger sister.
Unbeknownst to Rick, Elizabeth worried about Kitty. It had been days since Kitty had called, odd because usually they would at least eat lunch together once a week since she was now working at Pride. Come to think about it, she hadn't spoken with Georgianna in quite some time, either. Something had to be up.
Kitty finally made it to work that morning and headed right for the surgery floor. Specializing in embryology, she knew exactly what was going on but she still needed somebody to talk to about it. Maybe Elizabeth felt the same way, but she was afraid to tell her sister for fear of Rick's reaction if he found out through the grapevine.
Looking at the floor and not ahead of her, Kitty almost walked straight into Caroline Bingley.
"Watch where you're going, Dr. Bennet! Other people use the hallway, too!"
Caroline's shrill voice was too much for the already queasy Kitty so she did the only thing that ran through her head and vomited in a nearby potted plant. Sighing only slightly dramatically, she turned to Caroline and politely asked her to call a janitor.
"I'm sorry I can't stay and chat, I have an appointment with my porcelain goddess."
Turning bright red and fuming, Caroline stared after the third Bennet sister with utter distaste. Pigs! Were they raised in a barn? What kind of people vomit in potted plants? Bennets! They're the only ones I can think of.
After her pit stop, Kitty made it to the surgery floor. She saw William at the end of the hall and almost wept with joy. Slowly, she ambled toward him pitifully. He took one look at her and ushered her into the doctor's lounge.
"Rough morning, Kit?"
She nodded miserably. "I'm not taking to this morning sickness business very well. I feel so alone, William, and you're the only one I can talk to."
He looked at her pointedly. "You could tell Rick, you know, or Lizzy. They'd be there for you too. You can't go every morning like this, they'll start to worry and they'll know something's up."
"I know," Kitty agreed, nodding, "I know. But I think if I tell Rick I'm pregnant and he doesn't marry me, I'll ruin Rick and Lizzy's friendship. You know how much it means to her, Will."
He thought for a second and nodded. "Okay. I'll keep quiet for a couple days. But you have to tell him soon. Promise?"
She held up her hand. "Scout's honor."
Part 8: Showdown
The silence of the immunology lab was overbearing. Rick put the eyedropper that he was using down and turned to look at Elizabeth, intent on recording data on the samples from the incubator. He sighed melodramatically, hoping to catch her attention, wanting to talk about his confusion over Kitty. Failing to do so, he began tapping his foot loudly, humming.
Elizabeth slowly set down her records and glared at him. "A simple 'Elizabeth can I talk to you' would suffice next time, Dr. Fitzwilliam."
He shrugged his shoulders, not in the mood to jest. "Have you spoken with Kitty lately?"
A bewildered look crossed Elizabeth's face. "No, I haven't. Why, haven't you?"
Rick shook his head no, and Elizabeth frowned. "You know that I hate when you stop talking to Kitty because you get scared about her attachment, Rick. I don't even think it's her attachment you're worried about. I think it's yours."
He choked. "What are you saying, Elizabeth?"
"I think you ignore her when you're afraid you're falling for my sister," Elizabeth continued, pointedly. Her dark eyes flashed but she remained calm. "Kitty has been faithful to you. She comes back even when you stop talking to her. Maybe she's trying to see what happens when she does the exact same thing."
Rick frowned. "I didn't want a lecture, Lizzy."
"You got one," she retorted, icily, "and I think that if you want to know what's wrong with Kitty you should ask her. Or one day, you'll find that she doesn't come back to you. She isn't stupid. Do you love her?"
Under Elizabeth's direct gaze, Rick flinched visibly. "I don't know," he said, avoiding an answer. He sighed. "I guess I'm waiting for a sign of what to do. I know it'll never happen if I avoid her. But she's avoiding me!"
"She's not hard to find," Elizabeth said, slightly exasperated, "She works in the same hospital as you do. Now, I'm taking a lunch break. I'm hungry and my back hurts."
She disappeared down the hall, leaving Rick alone to contemplate his situation. He felt like a world-class jerk who needed a very swift kick to the head. He could dish it out but he couldn't take it, and he couldn't believe how cruel he had been to Kitty. Disgustedly, he stood up and began pacing. So concerned with his image, he had completely neglected somebody who had truly cared. The question now was what he should do, if he should find her or wait to see if she came back. For now, hating himself for it, he took the coward's approach.
It was a little more than a week later that Rick was sick of getting the evil eye from Elizabeth. She was in a rotten mood because William was being distant, especially when she spoke of the baby or Lydia's pregnancy. That morning Elizabeth was in an especially foul mood having broken a slide, insulted a patient, and she was cramping something awful whenever she sat down. Alarm mounted steadily, and when the cramping didn't ease when she was pacing, it turned into full blown panic.
Racing for her book bag in the locker room, she rummaged through her small address and phone book for the name that Spring had given her if something felt odd and it was an emergency situation. Fanny Bertram, the paper said, and Elizabeth paged her on the OB/Gyn ward. Rick chose that moment to enter the locker room and he almost gasped at the sight of Elizabeth. She was pale, sweating, and from what it seemed, in a lot of pain.
Elizabeth put a hand on Rick's arm. "Don't call William until I know for sure if I'm miscarrying. I don't want to worry him prematurely, if that's okay. Just help me, please? If it's not all right, we'll call."
When Fanny called back, Rick wordlessly helped Elizabeth onto the back elevator because he was sure it was quicker using that one. She will NOT miscarry again, not if I can help it, he thought fiercely, hoping the elevator got her up in time.
Kitty sat in the lounge on the surgery floor vomiting again. William came into the room when he heard the retching and swore. "Kitty, this cannot go on for any longer. I'm taking you to the OB/GYN floor and getting you checked out. You've been vomiting for a week!"
She nodded weakly, but put a cold, clammy hand on his. "Please, William," she whispered, "Have Charlotte Collins get her husband away if I'm going to be up there? He's a gossip too."
William nodded, paged Charlotte, and took Kitty onto the front elevator, convinced that it was the faster elevator. I will never forgive myself if Rick never finds out about this child and she loses it, he thought fiercely, hoping the elevator reached it's destination before she truly became ill.
Rick and Elizabeth reached first and had just signed in as an emergency when the door flew open. The room went deathly silent as William and Kitty came in, William practically carrying the queasy and weak Kitty.
"Did you call him?" Elizabeth's question, directed at Rick went unheard as William stared in shock at his wife, pale and in pain. He'll be so angry if I miscarry!
"Elizabeth?" William thought he'd be sick. Why is she up here? Is she miscarrying? Why didn't she call? Why is Rick with her?
"Kitty?" Rick stared at her like he'd never seen her before in his life. She was weak, sick, and undeniably pregnant. Is this what she's been hiding from me? Did William know?
"William, did you know about Kitty's pregnancy?" Elizabeth was indignant. "Have you been hiding this all along? I can't believe you, I'm your wife!"
"And I'm your cousin! How could you hide this?" Rick was furious, practically spitting fire. "Katherine, I can't believe you. You didn't tell me? Am I the father of that baby?"
"How could you even think that you weren't? This is exactly why I didn't tell you!" Kitty's eyes watered dangerously and she gripped William's arm. "You can't handle this, can you. You could handle helping Lizzy but you couldn't even call me!"
"Elizabeth, are you cramping? Why didn't you call when you started feeling sick?" William couldn't figure out why Elizabeth would keep him in the dark about this, and he was angry that she asked Rick for help first.
"How could I tell you? You'd just get mad again," Elizabeth whispered, in more pain than before, and a nurse came to help her onto a gurney. "I'm miscarrying, William, please come with me, I'm scared." Her voice had taken on a high, shrill note that William couldn't handle. He helplessly looked at Kitty, struggling beside him, and over at Rick. There was no way he could drop Kitty, and there was no way he could leave Elizabeth.
William and Rick did a switch and William gripped Elizabeth's hand as hard as he could, unable to stop the tears that fell freely. Not again, please, whoever's listening! Not again!
William and Elizabeth disappeared into one of the rooms, and Kitty and Rick in another. Rick's mind was full, and he had a hard time voicing anything at all. She's pregnant. I'm a father. How sick is she? He paced until the doctor came in to see Kitty, and then he stared at the ultrasound screen, loosening the invisible collar on his neck. For the first time in a long while, Rick felt responsible for something. At once he knew he needed to be there for Kitty, and most importantly that baby.
"Is it okay, doc?" His question was hoarse, and he wanted to hold Kitty's hand but he wasn't sure she'd let him.
"The baby is fine. Katherine has a touch of the flu here, and we're going to watch her for a little while to make sure we get rid of that dehydration. We're also going to try and ease the vomiting. But right now, we're going to let her rest. Are you the father?"
Rick nodded, feeling choked up. The doctor left them alone for a moment, and Kitty smiled wanly through the tears that had been falling. Shyly, she spoke.
"Do you want to know the sex of the baby?"
Rick nodded.
"It's a boy. See there?"
He glanced slyly at her, and at her weak expression of amusement, they both began to laugh. Rick knew two things in that moment, that he did love Katherine Bennet, and that everything was going to be fine.
Part 9a
William paced back and forth in the room across the hall from Rick and Kitty. Elizabeth watched him with a mix of fear and uncertainty. One of the gynecological residents performed a pelvic exam while he was pacing, and at the silence Elizabeth grew more uncomfortable.
"Did I miscarry?"
The resident shook her head, confused. "No, there's no dilation at all. I'm calling the chief and then somebody will page your own doctor, okay Dr. Darcy?"
Both Elizabeth and William responded in the affirmative, and Fanny Bertram came into the room. "She's not dilated," Fanny murmured, "and there's no spotting. Are you still in pain, Dr. Darcy?"
Nodding, Elizabeth fought the urge to cry.
"What's wrong with me?"
A nurse wheeled in the ultrasound machine and began scanning over Elizabeth's belly. "There's the baby," Fanny said, pointing to a dark spot on the monitor, and as the nurse scanned over more, she gasped. Her look of alarm was noted by William and Elizabeth, who clasped hands tightly.
"What? What is it?" Elizabeth's voice was shrill, and William scanned the ultrasound trying to remember anything from his medical school days.
"There's a twin, Elizabeth. Unfortunately, it's an ectopic pregnancy and we're going to have to remove it. There's the problem. The pain you've been experiencing is due to the embryo in the fallopian tube. It's uncommon, but it's treatable in the stage that we caught it. The other baby should be perfectly safe, but I'm going to get you up to the OR and page Spring. Okay?"
The operation went smoothly, as expected. The baby in the uterus was unharmed, and the one in the fallopian tube was removed. When she woke up, Elizabeth opened her eyes to see William hovering over her face. In combination with the anesthesia, terror, and nausea, she jumped about a mile. The IV in her hand was tight and she frowned.
"Can I take this thing out yet?"
William shook his head. "Spring was here about an hour ago right after the operation. You did fine, and we still have the baby." He took her hand and tears brimmed on his eyelashes.
"Come here," Elizabeth whispered, and he buried his face in her neck. "We'll be fine. I promise."
"I love you,"' he murmured, "and don't you forget it."
Tiredly she stroked his cheek. "How could I? I'm tough. This baby is tough. No more secrets, Will, I'm so sorry I hid this from you."
"Don't even think about it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Kit. I hope she's okay, too."
Part 9b
Rick held Kit's hand as she drifted off to a peaceful sleep with the help from a mild sedative. She was severely dehydrated and the baby's health was still in question. It's little heart was beating, so Rick took that as a good sign and continued to peer over the shoulder of anybody who checked on her trying to find the news. He regretted being so obnoxious about relationships with Kit, because he knew to some extent that she was a lot less easygoing than he was. He made a promise to himself to be a better boyfriend, and a good father to this child.
He walked out of the room to check on Elizabeth, still concerned about her baby. He knew she had gone to the OR for emergency surgery; he just hoped that somehow, the baby was healthy and strong.
Elizabeth slept peacefully as well, and Rick smiled awkwardly at his cousin. "So," he began, not quite knowing what to say, "I guess I owe you an apology. I should have insisted that Liz call you and not depend on me."
"I suppose I could say the same," William responded sheepishly, "I should have known better. Kitty's pregnancy shouldn't have been a secret."
"How is the baby?" Rick looked at Elizabeth's form in the bed, trying to assess if she was okay or not.
"One is fine," William sighed. "She was ectopic as a result of some of the fertility drugs. Thankfully one was uterine, and it seems to be a strong one. She was on a fetal monitor during the operation to remove the ovarian fetus and not once did the baby show any signs of distress."
"Good to hear," Rick said honestly, and grinned. "Lizzy is a fighter. I think Kit is too, because our baby's heart keeps beating. Kit is pretty sick, I guess dehydrated from the flu and weak. But I'll make sure she gets better, I promise."
Looking up at his cousin, William finally smiled. The change in Rick was subtle but anybody who knew him knew that it was amazing. Eric Fitzwilliam, in one moment, had learned responsibility after almost thirty years.
"That's good to hear, Rick." Elizabeth's voice startled the cousins from their reverie. "It's about damn time. I was wondering when you'd realize that my sister is not one of your Barbie dolls."
"No, she's not," Rick agreed. "How are you feeling Liz? You freaked me out this morning, doctor."
"Try as I might, I can't diagnose myself," Elizabeth said, half-teasing, half-serious. "I just panicked. But next time, I promise I'll learn from this example."
"There won't be a next time," William and Richard exclaimed, in unison, and laughed.
Part 10
Dr. Elizabeth Bennet-Darcy idly stirred the remains of her apple juice (kept in a coffee mug as a minor concession to rituals). Her pregnancy was nearing the eighth month, and every day she thanked her lucky stars she never reached the size of Lydia Wickham. The truth, however, was that Elizabeth suffered from severe cabin fever and boredom.
She was able to look at slides under a microscope. Anything more interesting she had promised to take a break from sometime during her sixth month. A minor loss considering she had managed to carry the baby so long without mishap. The slides were slightly boring, mundane cultures and samples that vaguely reminded her of medical school.
"Ok, little one, I'll get us some pizza soon," she murmured, stomach growling. It never failed to amuse her, the fact that she had just eaten almost a whole box of Froot Loops and still wanted pizza. "Maybe we'll see if daddy wants some pizza too, or maybe uncle Rick."
The whirring of the fax machine caught her attention. Elizabeth's heart started beating wildly. Three months ago, word spread of a strange virus in South Africa. It was an isolated virus to begin with, three cases with no deaths. Her contacts at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta kept her posted on the virus, which multiplied in strange bursts, 10 new cases one week, none for two, etc. While Rick was in with patients the previous Monday, word of more cases came by fax. This time they hadn't stopped appearing. Hundreds followed in the past few days, the death toll increasing.
Through all of her Immunology training, the professor had spoken of outbreaks and the feeling of urgency, the adrenaline rushes, and the sheer feeling of pleasure of being on the team that went to stop an outbreak. Elizabeth had been working with AIDS, a sexually transmitted epidemic, and Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic defect. She had never seen an outbreak, as Ebola had been contained within the CDC and did not require help from other immunologists not working for the government.
The virus had yet to be assessed as an outbreak according to the fax. They wanted doctors from the CDC and also other immunologists to take a look at it and see if they recognized it before. Her friend at the CDC wondered if Elizabeth or Rick wanted to go see it, possibly help contain or treat it.
It was a huge opportunity. Medical journals, press conferences, the works. And Elizabeth simply could not go. Her emotions were heightened due to the pregnancy, and she was embarrassed by the hot tears that threatened behind her eyelids. Elizabeth handed the fax to Rick and scurried off to the cafeteria, half out of hunger, half because she didn't really want to talk about it.
Of course, because she didn't want to talk about it, William Darcy, her extraordinary surgeon husband happened to be in the elevator when the doors opened.
"Liz? Something wrong?" His voice held a tone of concern, as it usually did when she appeared upset.
"No," Elizabeth said, grumbling slightly, "I want to go to Africa."
"What?" Sometimes she didn't make any sense, thought William. Africa? What's in Africa? That virus is in...
"You want to go to Africa to work on this virus?"
She nodded. "I want to be in the journal, Will... I would do great work."
"You sure would," William soothed, "but the baby isn't as experienced as you are with those viruses, Lizzy."
"I know," she said, frowning deeper. "But Rick will go. I'll correspond with him, he'll send me samples... I can't just not work on this virus, Will. I won't go to Africa, but I have to."
Kitty appeared with a large sack of food from the other elevator. "Rick will go where?"
Part 11
Elizabeth cleared her throat and threw her arms around her sister. "Kit! I'm so happy to see you! You look good!"
William and Kitty looked at Elizabeth like she was slightly insane. "Liz, you saw me yesterday. What's going on?"
When Kit was around fourteen and Elizabeth was seventeen, Kit had caught Elizabeth on the phone long distance to an old boyfriend. The same look of guilt mixed with fear had crossed Elizabeth's face in that instant and Kit knew immediately that Elizabeth was trying to hide something important. That time almost fifteen years ago it was a long distance bill close to one hundred dollars.
"Is this about the virus you and Rick keep talking about?" An uneasy feeling grew in the pit of her stomach. "Is there an outbreak? Are they calling for outside help? Are you going? Is HE going?"
She grew agitated and Elizabeth felt helpless. "There is an outbreak, they are calling for outside help, I'm not going, I don't know if Rick is going."
"Rick wants to go though," Kitty sighed, knowing immediately that she was going to be shoved aside again.
"You're pregnant," William interceded soothingly, "and I'm sure Rick will think about this for more than a few minutes. The virus is not as important as you are."
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow and felt sick to her stomach. Rick was going to choose Africa over Kitty. It was a dream that had progressed since they were in school together. She was not allowed to go due to her pregnancy; no reputable agency would dream of sending her. She would simply analyze the data collected and search for a pattern or a cure. Rick would want to go be in the field collecting the data, treating the patients, and searching for the virus itself. She was hoping for Rick to choose wisely, but she knew better than that. He was probably home packing by now, Elizabeth thought darkly, hating her thoughts but knowing the truth.
Kitty looked pensive for a moment and grew red with anger. "How could he?" Hot tears spilled down her cheeks.
William frowned again. "You haven't spoken with him, he wouldn't make this decision without speaking to you first." His eyes met Elizabeth's. Would he? he thought, and looking into his wife's eyes he knew the answer. I'll kill him if the virus doesn't.
Rick Fitzwilliam sat on the phone making arrangements to go to Africa. He agreed to go just for four days to assess the situation from the biohazard level 4 tent which meant he would not have to go through quarantine. He understood that he couldn't do actual fieldwork, but he could be the one to analyze the data to send back to Elizabeth. Sighing heavily, Rick felt bad that Elizabeth could not accompany him to Africa, which they had wanted to do since they were in school. Positive that Kitty wouldn't mind just four days, he rushed out of his office to meet her for lunch.
Kitty hurled the bag of food at Rick angrily. "How long are you going for?"
Taken aback, Rick crossed his arms defensively. "Four days, Kitty. Just four days. Enough to do some analysis to bring back here, no quarantine. I'm not even seeing patients, I'm working directly in the data tent with samples and slides in the bio suit."
Elizabeth and Will stole away quietly, not wanting to interfere.
"Four days? Do you promise?"
Rick nodded.
"When do you leave?"
Rick scratched the back of his neck. "Three today," he mumbled."
"See you when you get back." Kitty stalked away angrily.
Part 12
Rick felt the heat as soon as he stepped off the plane in Africa, a sickeningly hot, humid wave and he pushed an errant lock of blonde hair off his forehead. His shirt was already saturated, and he cringed at the thought of the space suit type apparatus he would be wearing for the next few days. The area would be air-conditioned, the cold slowed the virus progression. Holding his briefcase and duffel bag in one hand, he stepped into the land rover that was to take him to his destination.
He stepped into the anti-bacterial shower, put on a pair of scrubs, and prepared to put on the space suit. Double gloves, a mask and shoe covers went on first, followed by the suit itself. The armholes and leg holes were sealed with duct tape, and then a helmet was placed by an assistant on his head and then taped around the neck. Finally, the assistant checked for holes in the suit, and finding none, sent Rick into the tent.
Several other suited beings worked in various stations around the lab. A computer station was set up in the far corner and Rick went towards it, knowing it was his computer so he could oversee the data analysis and send back important information to the CDC, the army, and Elizabeth. Hopefully, the data would be enough to find some answers. The suit was required because on the other side of the room, some doctors worked with samples and slides of blood containing the virus.
Machines beeped and whirred, and spat out data to be collected. Rick methodically entered the data, prepared explanations, and vaguely looked at the virus pattern to see if he could see anything, which was never his specialty. During medical school, Elizabeth was better at analyzing protein codes, and the others in his lab group had different talents as well. Elizabeth, Victoria Jamison, and Henry Tuttle were his group, and Elizabeth had a knack for seeing connections between victims, links that most dismissed. Henry had been able to predict outbreaks better than anybody, but all four had graduated top of the class. They were very capable and eager young doctors back then, eager to find the bugs and beat them. Elizabeth and Rick had studied AIDS and Cystic Fibrosis, Henry had picked level four viruses such as Ebola, and Victoria had worked as a consultant in an ER.
Another suited being come his way and stuck a hand out. Speaking directly into the comlink, the being introduced herself.
"Dr. Victoria Jamison here, analysis of protein codes ready. Who am I speaking to?"
Unable to contain his shock, Rick stood abruptly.
"Tori?"
"Ricky?" Victoria's smile was wide enough to see through the tinted mask of the suit.
"Yeah! I had no idea you were going to be here, how long has it been?"
"Almost six years, Ricky. I've heard you've gone soft, a pregnant girlfriend or something. That's not like you. You're like a kid in a candy store when there's a new bug."
An uneasy silence spread between them. "Yeah, she's due in a month, but I'm going back soon so I'll be there."
Victoria spoke in a low voice, reading her old friend like a book. "Shouldn't you be back there with her now and not in Africa studying viruses?"
Rick shrugged in his suit, still uneasily. "I'm only here for four days, Tori."
"Oh, that makes sense, data analysis for four days," Victoria said quickly. Four days? If that's what that woman thinks, she doesn't really know Rick Fitzwilliam at all. She'll be lucky if he comes home. It'll take him a day before he's in the field. And then it'll be quarantine for him when he gets back. If he goes back.
"Who's the lucky lady?"
"Kitty Bennet." Rick had grown tired of Victoria's questions. She knew him too well and it was frightening. There was still the current of underlying tension between them stemming from their medical school days. Rick had been hopelessly infatuated with Elizabeth, and Victoria with him. Finally, Victoria was able to break from Rick for a brief fling, which turned into a brief marriage.
"What happened to Lizzy?"
"Lizzy married my cousin William. You remember him?"
Victoria nodded in her suit, barely perceptible. "We shall chat later, Ricky."
They both turned back to her work and Victoria headed to the fax machine. She scribbled a note and sent it to Rick's home office fax.
Lizzy, It's a reunion here. Why aren't you nosing around Africa too?
Tori Jamison
© 1998 Copyright held by the author.