January 14 2021
AJ hadn't meant to schedule her own check-up. Between rounds, consults, and dragging interns back from their spirals, she barely remembered to eat, let alone sit still long enough for bloodwork. But Dave had been insistent.
Dave - Just a physical, cariño. You've been running yourself into the ground
he'd said that morning, showing up in her office with a grin and a lunch bag she still hadn't opened.
So here they were, side by side in one of the hospital's exam rooms, AJ perched on the edge of the bed in her scrubs while Dave sat in the chair, spinning a pen in his hand like he was the patient instead.
Aj- Feels weird being on this side
AJ muttered, glancing at the blood pressure cuff still wrapped around her arm.
Dave smirked.
Dave - What, being human for once?
She shot him a glare, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
AJ - Careful, I can still order a full panel and make you wait for results.
He chuckled, leaning back just as the attending physician, Dr. Rivera, walked in with a clipboard.
Rivera - Well, Dr. Brewster, everything looks good—except there's one thing I want to double-check.
AJ frowned.
AJ - Double-check?
Rivera flipped the page.
Rivera -Your hormone levels came back unusual. At first I thought it was a lab error, but the repeat draw confirmed it.
Dave leaned forward.
Dave-Unusual how?
Rivera gave them both a careful smile.
Rivera - Congratulations. You're about three months pregnant.
The room went very still.
AJ blinked once. Twice. Her brain, usually a machine of precision and fast analysis, stuttered like a broken record.
AJ - I—what?
Dave shot up out of his chair.
Dave - She's—wait, what?
Rivera nodded, calm.
Rivera- Three months, give or take a week. That would explain the fatigue you've been chalking up to overwork. And the nausea you told the nurse about—
AJ - That was food poisoning!
AJ blurted, heat rushing to her cheeks.
Rivera's polite smile didn't budge.
Rivera - Not exactly.
Dave's laugh cracked the silence, half disbelieving, half elated. He turned to AJ, eyes wide, hand hovering like he didn't know if he should hug her or give her space.
Dave - Cariño... we're—
AJ held up a hand, still staring at Rivera like the woman had just announced the moon was falling.
AJ -I don't even... I didn't show. How could I not notice?
Rivera's tone softened.
Rivera - It happens more often than you'd think. Every pregnancy is different, especially early on. But the ultrasound confirms it. Everything looks healthy.
AJ's hand drifted unconsciously to her abdomen, pressing against the flat plane that had betrayed nothing.
AJ - Three months...
Her voice was quieter now, more to herself.
Dave finally closed the distance, sliding an arm around her shoulders. His grin was wide, almost boyish.
Dave - Mateo's gonna be a big brother.
AJ turned to look at him, eyes flashing with disbelief, exasperation, and something she couldn't quite fight down — wonder.
AJ - You're really not panicking at all, are you?
Dave- Panicking?
Dave chuckled, kissing her temple.
Dave- No. Shocked? Definitely. But cariño... I'm happy.
AJ's throat tightened. For the first time in a long time, the head of neuro — the woman who always had the answer — was utterly, completely speechless.
Rivera slipped out discreetly, leaving the two of them alone in the room, sitting with the sudden weight of a new future neither of them had planned but now couldn't ignore.
