Perfect Storm

Chapter 33 - Just The Two Of Us

At eight thirty the next morning, Kate was reclining on a paper-covered bed with her shirt tucked up under her bra, watching on nervously as Doctor Benning squeezed ice-cold gel onto her stomach.

"Ok, let's take a look shall we?"

For a few seconds, the room remained silent until suddenly it was filled with a number of whooshing noises. Doctor Benning moved the ultrasound wand around until she eventually stopped on the left side of Kate's stomach.

"Here we go."

She flicked the screen towards Kate who looked up at the black and white picture and there on the screen was her baby. She could clearly make out the shape of its head and body but it was the sound of its heartbeat echoing in her ears that made her eyes fill with tears.

"Everything looks as expected."

She moved the wand around a few more times, clicking some buttons on the ultrasound machine before moving back to the centre of her stomach.

"You want a copy of that to take with you? I can print out a few extras for Dad if you'd like?"

'Dad. Jesus Christ.'

Hank didn't even want her in his life, let alone an unplanned baby. She couldn't get past how easy it had been for him to dismiss her after months of telling her how much he loved her and how he'd always be by her side. She wondered how on earth she could put an innocent child in the middle of all of that mess.

"Yeah, sure. Thank you."

Swiping the gel from her stomach, the doctor gave her a minute to right her clothing before returning with a small stack of sonogram pictures.

"Here we go. Oh, and Kate?"

"Hmm?"

"Happy Birthday."

Her eyes flicked to the small calendar on the doctors desk confirming that it was indeed the sixteenth of September.

'Thirty four years old. How the hell did I forget my own damn birthday?!'

She'd had a lot going on in recent weeks so it wasn't really surprising that she'd lost track of time altogether but, even still, her lack of awareness made her uncomfortable.

She was a cop, she didn't do ignorant.

With a small smile and a quiet thanks, Kate tucked the pictures into her purse and left the surgery. Stepping out into the early autumn air, Kate drew a deep breath, placing a palm on the small swell of her stomach.

'Sorry kid, looks like it's gonna be just the two of us.'

Getting into her Jeep, she tossed her purse onto the passenger seat and pulled out her silenced phone, scrolling through the list of unread messages. She had birthday greetings from her mom and Ted, her brother, Erin and a message from each member of the unit.

'Nothing from him.'

She wasn't sure why she was surprised. He had basically told her that he wanted nothing more to do with her so his lack of contact shouldn't have been a surprise but it felt like salt in the wound nonetheless. When she slipped her phone back into her purse, she tugged out one of the ultrasound scan photos, running her thumbs along the edge of the page lightly. This would be her last birthday as just 'Kate'. The next one, she would be 'Mom'. And she was completely terrified.

"Alvin, you have to let me-"

"Just...make sure I make bail, alright? That's all I ask."

Hank dropped his chin to his chest with a sigh, frustration beginning to seep into his tone at Alvin's stubbornness. He had been awake all night, his mind chasing all potential solutions to the mess they were in and coming up empty.