Merluca's Love Story

Chapter 23 ~ Telling the Truth?

    "Andrew, I-um..." Mer stutters because she doesn't know what to say. She hides the ultrasound picture in her white coat pocket. Her heart races as she tries to figure out what to say. "I was experiencing some abdominal pain so I wanted Alex to do an ultrasound just to make sure." She hated lying to him, but she didn't know what else to say, and she didn't want to give away the surprise. "Oh okay. Sorry to hear that babe. I hope you feel better!" He gives her a kiss and walks off. Mer thinks he bought it, but now, she really did feel some pain, but it wasn't her abdomen. She ran to the closest bathroom and threw up once again. Mer gets a page from Alex for a consult in the pit. When she gets down there, she examines the patient, "Hi, I'm Dr. Grey, but you can call me Meredith if it makes you more comfortable. I hear someone's tummy hurts?" The little girl nods. "Okay, well I'm going to lift up your shirt and examine you. Is that okay sweetie?" she asks. "Yes that's fine. My name is Rosie." "Okay Rosie, I'm going to put my hands on your tummy and press down in some spots. I want to let you know that it might hurt so you can go ahead and squeeze your daddy's hand." Mer palpates Rosies abdomen. "Some tenderness in the right upper quadrant. Lets take her to MRI to see if we can find anything" She says to Alex. She tells the dad the same thing and Mer takes Rosie to MRI. "Okay sweetie, this machine is called an MRI. You are going to lay down right here and I'm going to push a button that puts you inside the machine. The machine will not hurt you, I promise. I'll give you some earplugs or headphones because there will be some loud noises but you shouldn't be scared sweetie." Mer says to reassure Rosie. "Okay Meredith. I'll trust you."
    Alex walks in about a half hour later, "Are her scans up yet?" "They should be coming up in a few minutes. I just lied to Andrew before meeting you in the pit. He saw me walk out of the exam room and he asked me what was wrong. I said that I was having some abdominal pain so I wanted you to give me an ultrasound just in case. I think he bought it but I don't know for sure." Mer wasn't sure on what to do. Will Andrew understand why she lied to him after she tells him about the pregnancy? "Tell him that you're pregnant and thats why you were walking out of the exam room, getting an ultrasound of the baby. Trust me Mer, he will understand why you lied. You didn't want to spoil the surprise, that's all." Alex was really good at calming her down when she got stressed about something. "Thanks Alex. Oh, the scans are up... damnit."