Hank and Dani - pick a doc, any doc!

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Dani has another one of her unending doctors appointments and several options are discussed for labour...and the wedding. Dani refuses to go. Hank convinces her to. There is coffee. And gelati. Life is almost good.



With Dr. McCoy's help Dani climbed off the exam table and headed straight for the bathroom, intent on peeing after the ultrasound. Emerging happily, she finished dressing and went to join him in his office to discuss a few things.

Hank waved her to a seat. "Since you're doing so well," he offered, smiling, "how about a cup of real coffee? Just one will do no harm, and I happen to have some very good stuff in the coffee-maker at the moment." She deserved a little treat... and the caffiene being a mild diuretic wouldn't hurt, either.

Coffee. Oooh. She hadn't realized how much she missed it until a few weeks ago at the coffee shop. Now she was intensely jealous of anyone with it, although she had managed to not have any since then. And now not only was she being offered it, but by her doctor. "Sure," she smiled gratefully as he went to get it, "Everything's okay, though, right?" she asked, worried that maybe he was trying to soften bad news.

"Everything's just fine. I'd even go so far as 'good'... the baby's a good size for the gestational period, which is good news... many first-time mothers as young as you are tend more towards the lower end of the birthweight scale. But I don't think you'll have a problem there." Hank poured two cups of the coffee - how he loved his office's little coffeemaker - and raised an eyebrow at her. "Milk? Sugar? A cookie?"

"Black," she replied, accepting the steaming mug. It smelled good. And it tasted as good as it smelled, she decided, taking a sip. Very good. "It better be a normal birthweight the little pig," she said almost fondly poking the baby back where she was being kicked, "I've been eating all the time."

"You have." Hank smiled, adding cream and sugar to his own coffee, and sitting down across from her. "Now... has anyone cautioned you about Braxton-Hicks contractions? False labour?"

"We talked about it in lamaze class...it's when you're body is getting ready for labor, but ain't actually time, ain't it? They said it feels like cramps in your lower back, but I don't know if I'd notice them any more than anything else in my back if I was having one," Dani replied, savouring her coffee instead of gulping it down and scalding her tongue like she wanted.

Hank nodded. "They can be almost as severe as early labour, or mild enough not to be noticed. Either way, they're nothing to worry about." He smiled, reaching over to pat her hand gently. "Have you decided who you want to have deliver the baby? Jean and Madelyn are both quite capable of doing so, and I'll be there to assist."

That wasn't how it was supposed to be, he was the doctor! "Not you?"

Hank smiled ruefully, lifting one huge hand. "I'd love to," he said gently. "But the doctor may be required to reach in to help the baby out, and, not to be indelicate, but given the size of my hands..."

Dani's eyes widened as she tried to imagine how...no. Not going there. That was painful. "Oh. Sorry. But you'll be there right? And Forge too?"

"I will definitely be there. And Forge too." Hank nodded. "You couldn't drag me away - well, massive life-saving surgery excepted, of course." He knocked wood, just in case. "But hopefully that won't be a problem."

"So does it matter who I pick then?" Dani asked curiously, unsure of the picking-a-doctor process. She'd never picked one before, always they had been assigned by the government or in Dr. McCoy's case, it just happened, "I mean, which one's better? Or just whoever's on shift?"

"Whoever you're most comfortable with," Hank said gently. "If you don't mind, then it can be whoever's on shift, but if there's someone you do feel more comfortable with, then it's good to have that person. Anything that makes it easier for you to relax is good."

"Dr. Bartlet, then?" she asked, tentatively, "If Dr. Grey's on shift, that's fine, but maybe..." she was quick to reassure him, "It ain't that Dr. Bartlet's better, but Dr. Grey's a telepath with control like me...maybe it'd be a bad thing to put her in a room with me like that?"

"That's probably a good idea... although I suggest you wear an inhibitor during labour. This is going to be a very frightening time for the baby, and it won't help if he or she is sensing your emotions as well." He smiled a little. "Giving birth is a scary thing, I'm told, even at the best of times."

If the video she'd watched part of in lamaze class was any indication, that was the understatement of the year. "Uh, yeah. You squeeze a watermelon through an orange and see how you like it," that came out more harshly than she'd intended. Sighing, she started again, "Sorry. I'm just...worried. Scared. Crazy. But more terrified than usual."

Hank reached over to take her free hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I promise, I'll be right there the whole time," he told her reassuringly. "So will Forge, and Jean or Madelyn. I know it's frightening, but you won't be alone, and we won't let anything go wrong, okay?"

"What if it does anyways? There were so many complications they discussed in class...and they said pretty much all were made worse because of my age." Now Dani was working herself in to a fit. She'd somehow stopped herself from thinking about them until now, but they all came pouring out in a jumble without stopping.

"Shh..." Hank put down his coffee and went over to hug her, wrapping her up in his arms and keeping his own emotions very calm and ordered, hoping that would soothe her. "You don't have to worry, for example, about any of the complications resulting from low birth-weight... even if you do deliver a little early, the baby's going to be fine. Actually, given his or her size, I wouldn't be surprised if you did... they tend to come out when they're ready, whether you think it's time or not."

"Early? But the wedding..." Dani bit her lip nervously, "What if I have the baby while everyone's gone?! I guess I'd go to the city hospital..."

Hank blinked. "You weren't planning to stay behind, were you?" he asked. "I thought everyone was going."

Now it was Dani's turn to blink, "Yeah, I already told Dr. MacTaggert and Mr. Dayspring I ain't going. Ain't right."

"Whyever not?" Hank gave her a puzzled look. It had never occured to him that she wouldn't want to go.

She sighed, realizing she better get used to explaining this. "I ain't supposed to fly, I just got divorced and I don't wanna be crazy at the wedding and ruin it, and I ain't going shopping for something to wear," she ticked her reasons off on her fingers, in order of the most practical. She wouldn't admit it, but she was also hurt that Ms. Dane hadn't made catering the wedding a part of her final, although she wouldn't admit it. "So I'll stay here."

"You don't have to fly - Clarice can teleport you. Perfectly safe. Being around a lot of positive emotions will be good for both you and the baby, and Muir's facilities are quite adequate if the child decides to make a dramatic entrance. And I, personally, will take you shopping for something to wear." Hank smiled brightly. "Any other difficulties?"

He was always so damn positive. "Only one. I still ain't going. To the mall or to Muir."

"But you must come to the mall. How can you help me pick out cribs and little sheet-sets and adorable changing tables with bunnies painted on them if you're not there?" Hank said reasonably. "And while we're there, I'll get you some fruit flavoured gelati and we can pick up a dress. It won't take long, I'm not like Lorna. I bet we can get one picked out in under twenty minutes." He quirked an eyebrow at her. "And... Dani, if you don't go, at least one of the doctors will have to stay behind as well. Probably me. We can't leave you unattended this close to your due date."

Sighing, Dani shrugged, giving in. She was not going to force anyone to stay behind just because of her, it was selfish and childish, "Oh. Right. Going crazy in a normal hospital would be bad, ain't it?" She looked up forcing a smile, "So. Mall?"

"It would." He rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "If, however, at any point, you want to go home, I'm sure Clarice would understand," he said gently. "But you'll like Scotland... it's a lovely place, and I imagine it will be your first time in a foreign country. I'll show you around a little... I've been there many times, working with Moira." He looked her up and down thoughtfully. "And you needn't shop for a dress if you don't want to. I'm sure I could find something to fit you, if you don't feel like going and trying things on."

"I ain't even been on a plane and I'm going to another country," she pointed out with a small smile, not quite believing it. "I just don't wanna ruin their wedding, you know? Is all they need, me a bawling mess."

"Aww..." Hank realized - much later than he should have - that weddings were probably going to be a bit difficult for her. "You can always miss the ceremony itself, if you like... and although I know it'll be hard for you, maybe being around all those happy people will help? I know the Mansion isn't exactly a haven of joy and stability, most of the time..."

"If I'm going, then I'm going, Dr. McCoy and that includes the mall. I have my inhibitor, if I have to, I'll turn it on. At least then I don't share my problems," once she decided something, she was unwilling to change her mind. "But not going shopping with Ms. Dane. I just need a dress, nothing else."

"Of course." Hank nodded. "Although I'm still holding out for gelati as well." And he'd make sure the mall trip was as low-stress as he could make it... no pushing her to get things she didn't want, and focusing on the things for the baby, which presumably she'd be less worried about him spending money on.

Mmmm....gelati she was willing to let him splurge on. It was like heaven in a little coloured cup. Getting something for the wedding and braving the mall was more than worth gelati. Suddenly things were looking somewhat better. Dani nodded to herself, preparing to leave. She'd taken up enough of his time, "I better go...you probably have other things to do...Thank you."

"I always have time for you, my dear," Hank said gently. "But I'll see you tomorrow... we'll go out in the afternoon, how does that sound?"

"Sure..." Dani paused in the doorway, biting her lip, "They speak English in Scotland, right?"