Mathematicians and Scientists (Saanvi×Ben)

Chapter 2: Results are In

Ben

My world feels like it's falling apart these last few weeks. Olive and I have been drifting, I struggle to protect Cal, and all the problems with Grace feel like more than I can handle. I'm stressed. I'm tired. I'm exhausted. 

And now, there's the baby. It just has to be mine. Maybe us having another baby could be what fixes everything. Maybe it would draw our family together, and maybe it would be enough to make Grace get over Danny.

I've been sitting in the car waiting on Grace for 5 minutes. She finally comes out looking rather sick. I can't decide if it's her normal pregnant-sick look or if she is so worried she's sick.

The drive over is rather quiet. I see her look over at me a few times, but neither of us say much. When we finally get to the research center, I ask Grace if she is alright.

"I don't know, Ben. Since you got back everything has been so stressful, and now this baby. I mean, what are we going to do if it isn't yours."

"Hey, don't worry about that yet! We don't know right now, so there's no reason to stress." I shoot her a reassuring look, and grab her hand.

She gives me a half- hearted smile and opens the door.

Though I am able to comfort her and all, I am still incredibly nervous. We walk into the research center and down a hallway. Saanvi sees us and takes us to a patient room. I'm so grateful for Saanvi. She's been a great friend through all of this, and I am happy to have her here.

Grace excuses herself to the restroom. I can't tell if she genuinely needs to go or if she needs to calm her nerves so I don't follow.

Saanvi looks at me sympathetically. She actually may understand what's at stake with the results, given that I have confided in her a few times about Danny.

"How are you feeling ?" She asks me.

"Honestly, I'm just scared and nervous," I tell her.

"There's no need to stress, Ben. I am sure you guys can work it out no matter what the results are. It's going to be alright. "

Just then Grace walks back in and sets down her phone. It goes off a few times.

"Are you gonna get that?" I ask her.

"No, no. Nothing is that important right now."

"Okay, to begin the testing I am going to need a blood sample from Grace ....." I start to zone out. This part is all on Grace. I believe Saanvi already has my blood sample from prior research.

Saanvi collects the sample and informs us she'll be back in ten minutes. Grace looks over at me.

"Why didn't she take your blood sample too?" She asks me.

"Oh, she already has it from some other research. "

" What research?" Grace asks with a tint of anger in her voice.

"Research to try and help Cal. " I reply.

Any research we've done for 828, at least on my part, has the end goal of saving my son.

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" She asks like I should tell her everything I ever do.

"Can we not do this right now? Let's just focus on what's at stake and for once not argue."

She nods her head, but I know she's irritated with me. This is more than I can handle right now, and I feel like it's been more than 10 minutes. I look at a clock and it's been 15.

It's another 5 minutes before Saanvi returns. I can't read her face. It's blank like she's in research mode.

"I ran the test twice, just to be sure and thorough. The test, it wasn't a match. I'm so sorry, Ben... but the baby isn't yours. "

Tears build in my eyes, followed by anger. For once, there's nothing I can do. I am helpless to the situation.

" I have to tell Danny, it's only fair." Grace says as she walks out, not giving me a second glance. 

Saanvi comes over and puts her arm around me.

"I'm so sorry," she says, "I can't even imagine what you're going through."

We sit there for what feels like an hour while I am dazed by the situation before we get up. Saanvi pulls me into a hug, and tells me I should get home to my family. She's right of course, but I have no clue what I will say when I get there.

"If you need anything, feel free to stop by. Don't feel like you're a burden, because you're not, " she says as I walk out.