Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 14: 'Right under the nose of trouble

Flashback:

Miami Medical Research Facility

Miami, Florida

June 2000

"Ready to find out if you're a mother or not?"

Juliet unintentionally held her breath. Shaking hands opened up the piece of paper in front of her.

'Test results: Positive.'

Putting a hand over her mouth, Juliet held in her tears. David took that as their queue to leave the lab so they could talk.

"Coffee break?"

Nodding, Juliet got to her feet and stuffed the paper in her skirt pocket. Making their way to the usual exam room, Juliet let her tears go as soon as David shut the door.

"Oh my god, it worked! It worked, it worked, it worked!"

David could see the excitement in Juliet's eyes. He'd never seen her this happy before.

"We're not through the woods yet Jules. You still have to carry to term for this to go through to clinical human trials."

Juliet knew the risks, and she was happy with the outcome of all this. Her research really worked.

"I know that. Don't worry, I'll stay off my feet when I need to. Take breaks more often, get eight hours of sleep, eat better and have the baby when it's time. Anything else you'd like to add to the list?"

David pulled her into a hug.

"I'm there for you every step of the way Jules. Just know that."

Juliet gave a happy watery smile and spoke into his shoulder.

"Thank you for believing in me. I couldn't have done this without you."

David gave a sigh and looked into her eyes when he pulled away.

"We'll have to schedule a sonogram next week. I'll take care of everything."

Juliet felt the butterflies in her stomach again. Wiping the tears away from her face and making sure it wasn't red, she walked out of the exam room and towards the break room. It was only 20 feet away. Walking in and then out again, she felt her heart sink as Ed came arrogantly striding down the hallway.

"Do you have a minute Juliet? We need to discuss something."

Juliet felt her heart clench and her hands begin to shake. He knows. He knows! He's going to lock me up somewhere and never let me out of his sight! Following Ed back to his office, she fidgeted as she sat down in one of the overly expensive chairs.

"How far along are you?"

She felt heat in her cheeks but she took a breath to calm herself.

"I'm sorry?"

Swallowing, she listened to Ed repeat himself as he sat down in the chair behind his desk.

"How far along are you with testing your injections on that male field mouse?"

Sighing and closing her eyes, she opened them and told her findings.

"Unfortunately Ed, the field mouse died yesterday at 24 weeks and 3 days. I'm not quite ready to test it again until I know exactly what happened."

Surprisingly, Ed found her explanation satisfactory and waved her off. Sighing as if annoyed he poured himself a glass of scotch.

"Very well Jules. But I expect a full report from you in the next three weeks."

Rising from the chair Juliet exited Ed's office and went towards the break room. A wave of dizziness swept over her and the air seemed to leave her lungs. The edges of her vision were beginning to go dark and then she saw nothing.

"Juliet?"

David had become worried when he couldn't find her and went looking. He hadn't expected to find her unconscious in the break room. Making his way over to her he called her name one more time.

"Juliet? Can you hear me?"

Another coworker came into the room and took in the situation. David didn't have to tell her what was going on.

"I'll get some help."

David placed her head on his lap and took her pulse. It was strong and regular. But he had to wait for the paramedics. It was just a precaution after all. There was no such thing as being too careful. Especially not in her condition. They were lucky that a hospital was so close to the university. A couple of paramedics came in a few minutes later. One with brown hair and green eyes spoke first.

"Sir, can you tell me what happened?"

As the paramedic opened up his bag, David told him exactly what he knew happened.

"I don't know. I just found her like this unconscious. Her name is Juliet."

The other paramedic on the left with blond hair and gray eyes then spoke.

"Does she have any medical conditions?"

David shook his head, but then lowered his voice so that only the paramedics could hear him.

"No. But she's pregnant."

Both the paramedics were nodding their heads in agreement and went about checking Juliet out. The one with green eyes looked at the other and spoke directly to him.

"Ok, let's get a blood pressure and get her on some oxygen."

David watched helplessly as the green eyed paramedic placed a nasal cannula in Juliet's nose. While the other placed the blood pressure cuff on her left arm. He lowered his voice once more and directed his words at both paramedics.

"This stays between us. No one here knows she's pregnant but me. It needs to stay that way."

The blond haired gray eyed paramedic looked slightly annoyed.

"By state law sir we cannot breech privacy. We cannot tell anyone who doesn't have permission to know her condition."

Of course David knew that, he had to make sure only because now there was a crowd gathering around the door to the break room. Closing his eyes, he spoke to the crowd.

"There's nothing to see here everyone. Give Juliet some space."

The crowd dispersed from the doorway except for Ed who feigned concern for his ex-wife.

"What's going on here Doctor Jacobson?"

David wanted to yell at Ed, but he knew better.

"Juliet passed out. Nora called 9-1-1."

The green-eyed paramedic eyed Ed for a moment.

"Doctor Burke, you know her?"

Ed waved the paramedic off and stepped closer. David wanted to glare. He was drunk.

"She's my ex-wife. Make sure she gets the best care. Get her back on her feet again."

David knew the real reason why he was extending every available resource to Juliet, it was because he wanted her to expedite her research for his own gain. He wanted to curl his fists and deck him one.

To Be Continued...