Author: A. Price
Summary on first part.
Feedback to andrahumphry@netscape.net
Authors Note: This is the public announcement part of the fic! I do not condone anyone not having proper prenatal care with a qualified doctor, I work in the medical field so I do know how important that is. But.....this is fiction, so I've taken some liberties. And it still may be a little slow in parts because it's still setting up part of the fic. And once again thank you to all you who sent such nice feedback!
Joyce ushered Buffy out the door and into the car. They never noticed the small black truck that followed them to the doctor's office. Buffy filled out the forms the nurse gave her, she had to smile at the Anne Geddes prints that hung on the walls. Fat cheeked babies in different surroundings, all smiling. She was going to have a baby, she and Riley. It seemed unreal. Riley, they had to find him, she needed him with her. This was too big to take on by herself.
Joyce watched Buffy with a worried look, a baby under any circumstances could be stressful but with Buffy's lifestyle and with Riley missing, she wasn't sure that even her very strong daughter could handle it. She smiled at Buffy and patted her arm.
The nurse called Buffy's name and she followed her to the lab. "We've got to get some blood work and a urine sample. Then Doctor Franks will see you."
"Hi, I'm Kris and I'm going to draw some blood." The tech told her cheerfully as she tied the tourniquet around Buffy's arm. "Is this your first baby?" She asked as she filled several tubes with Buffy's blood and labeled them.
"Yes." Buffy answered shyly. She was nervous about the exam.
"I know you and your husband are excited." The tech smiled at her and handed her a urine cup.
Buffy winced at the mention of her 'husband' as she went to the bathroom.
When Buffy left the bathroom the nurse was back. She followed her into an exam room where she changed into a paper gown and sat on the table.
"Hi, Buffy. I'm Doctor Franks." The doctor smiled and shook her hand. "We ran another pregnancy test to confirm the one you did at home. You are pregnant, and looking at the dates you put down here, I'd estimate about eight weeks along. Any morning sickness?" He asked as he looked at her chart.
"Not really, just tired." She answered.
"That's normal, you lie down here, while I get the nurse. We need to do a pelvic and then we'll make your next appointment." He called to the nurse and she returned to the room.
When the exam was complete, Buffy dressed and the nurse gave her a large bottle of prenatal vitamins and an appointment card with an appointment in four weeks. "If you have any questions or need anything, just call." She told her with a smile.
Buffy joined Joyce in the waiting room and they left the doctors office. "Well, what did he say?"
"He said I was in very good shape and they took blood if anything is wrong they will call your house with the results." Buffy sighed.
Dr. Franks returned to his office to find a strange man sitting behind his desk. "Who are you?" He demanded.
The man stood and flashed a military looking badge, "Agent Tucker, is Buffy Summers pregnant?"
"That's priveliged information." Dr. Franks told him as he picked up the phone.
Agent Tucker grabbed the doctor's hand with a tight grip. The doctor winced with pain. "I repeat, is she pregnant?"
Doctor Franks nodded his head yes.
"I want her chart and her blood samples."
"But, I can't ........." Dr. Franks was cut off midsentence.
"If you want to continue to practice medicine. You will do what I say." Tucker tightened his grip again.
The doctor could tell by the look in the man's eyes that it was not an idle threat, he handed the chart to Tucker. "The blood is in the lab." He mumbled.
"Thank you, you won't regret helping me." Tucker told him as he left the room.
****
Riley rubbed at his sore wrists. They had let him out of the restraints to do some psychological tests. He had looked at ink blots and answered stupid questions most of the morning. His mind drifted to Buffy, Buffy and his baby. He had to find a way out of here.
Dr. Irvin sat at his desk looking over the results of some of Riley's tests. The phone rang and he put down the chart. "Irvin," he answered. "Yes, you followed her? She is pregnant. That's good news, more research possibilities. You have her chart and blood samples. Good work! Bring them to me at once."
He leaned back in his chair, "Yes, you bring the samples and send a couple of men to her mother's to pick her up." He hung up the phone and went to the safe in the wall, opening it he pulled out more files, the name Walsh prominent across the front of them. "Walsh, just what did you do to Finn, and will it be passed on to his children?"
*********
"Giles, where the hell did you go shopping? Medical Supplies R' Us." Spike asked as he helped him pack boxes.
"Laugh if you will. But you will need these supplies when the baby comes."
"And you really think we can deliver a baby?" Angel asked as packed a warming blanket and a bag of tiny diapers into a box, " and what is this contraption?"
Giles blushed slightly, "That is a breast pump, Angel. I'm not sure if Buffy will prefer to breastfeed or to bottle feed."
Spike smirked at Angel, "He's prepared for both." He placed several cans of formula and multicolored baby bottles in a box .
"The baby won't even be here for months, Giles." Angel told him as he sealed the last box.
"And by then you will be prepared. I've given you all of those books and I have complete faith you can do this. If there is any complication whatsoever you will take her to the nearest hospital."
"So we get to babysit the Slayer and I do mean "baby"sit. What are you going to be doing?" Spike asked.
"I am going to enlist Willow and Xander to help find Riley. Buffy is going to need him." Giles told him as he sat down on the couch. He was exhausted having made all of the arrangements for Buffy's care during the night.
Joyce decided to take Buffy on a shopping trip. She would need maternity clothes and would not have the chance to shop for them. So she picked up several blouses and pants and a couple of dresses in varying sizes so she could wear them through the pregnancy.
It was near dark when they finally made it home. Joyce opened the door to find Spike and Angel stacking boxes and Giles asleep on her sofa. Buffy followed. She smiled when she saw Angel and Spike as bad as this situation was she still had her friends, Angel in his shining armor and Spike in his, well his slightly tarnished armor. "Have you heard anything about Riley?" She asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry, Buffy. But no, we haven't. Giles is going to have Xander and Willow on the case as soon as they both get back into town." Angel assured her.
"I know they'll find him." She said softly as she went to the kitchen. Angel followed her placing a hand on her shoulder, "Buffy." He said softly, "He's going to be okay."
"Can you promise me that?" She asked staring him in the eye.
Angel stood silently.
"You can't. I'm carrying his child, Angel." She said softly.
"Buff.." He started.
"I need to be alone." She told him as she opened the back door and walked out into the darkness. She looked up into the starry sky and softly called to him "Riley, Riley, where are you?"
"You'll soon be with him." The voice said harshly as one man grabbed her and the other tried to inject her with a syringe of clear fluid. She fought wildly freeing herself from the man holding her and screaming loudly, the two men looked at each other and ran for it.
Spike and Angel were at her side in moment. "What happened?" They asked in unison as they helped her into the house.
Buffy explained about the two men and the syringe at the end of her story she added, "I think they were Iniaiative."
Giles spoke, "I was afraid of that. You must go now, Buffy. Let's finish your packing."
**********
Angel dissappeared while the others were packing the car. Spike found him in the basement punching a wall. "Whats with you?" Spike asked.
"Nothing." Angel replied cleaning the blood off of his knuckles with a rag.
"So you took nothing out on the wall?" Spike asked raising an eyebrow.
"It's Buffy. I love her." He stated simply.
"And this is news?" Spike asked sarcasm dripping.
Angel ignored his remark and continued, "I want her safe, but I am so angry at her for letting herself be put in this vulnerable situation. Or maybe I'm angry because she's found that normal life, I wished for her. I don't know, but just now when she was attacked it dawned on me just how dangerous this is for her. I can't lose her, Spike."
"She's not your's to lose, Angel. Not anymore." Spike told him, and the sarcasm had been replaced by a kind sympathy in his voice.
"I guess she isn't mine anymore, But I don't want to live in a world without her, do you?" Angel asked pointedly.
Spike didn't answer, but as he turned to go upstairs he muttered under his breath, "Hell, we are all in the same boat, Peaches, Finn and me. We all love Buffy Summers."
********
Angel rejoined the group as Joyce was giving Buffy a hug. "Be careful, sweetheart. Don't forget you are carrying precious cargo. I love you."
"I love you too, Mom." Buffy told her tearfully.
Giles gave the keys to a large SUV to Angel, it was loaded with supplies and all of Buffy's baggage.
"Hey why does he get to drive?" Spike complained loudly.
Joyce turned to the two vampires, "You two, take good care of "my" baby,"
"We will, Joyce." Angel told her sincerely.
"Shotgun!" Spike called as they got closer to the vehicle.
Bufffy rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Are you * sure* this is a good idea, Giles" She asked as she climbed into the back seat.
TBC next up a funfilled road trip and settling into the safe house!
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