CHAPTER 14

Facing the Truth

CHAPTER 14

MONTH LATER: SWITZERLAND

"Sark you OK?" Lauren asks as she looks at her lover concerned by his pale expression and heavy breathing.

"We need to get out of sight love." Sark says looking around.

Lauren steps up to him. "Let me see." She gently pulls his jacket aside wincing at the wound in his shoulder. "I have some old friends from college who live nearby. He's a doctor. He could patch you up."

HOUR LATER: HOUSE

"Lauren" Mia Thyler smiles then frowns when she sees the blond man leaning against her friend, "what happened?"

"Philip around?"

"He is. What happened?"

"Probably not a good idea to ask too many questions Mia." Lauren lugs Sark into the house as a dark haired man joins them.

"What happened?" Philip demands when he notices the pale, bleeding man.

"Long and complicated story."

Philip nods "Shot or stabbed?"

"Shot." Lauren answers

"Still in?"

Sark nods "Definitely." He grimaces

"Lets get it out then."

Once back in the empty office Lauren swallows a wave of nausea as she helps Sark out of his jacket, sweater, and shirt. She blinks back tears at the sight of the bleeding wound.

Seeing her expression Sark lifts his hand to her cheek, "I'll be fine." He assures giving her a small smile. "Why don't you go get cleaned up." He suggests

Lauren shakes her head.

"Not like I'm going anywhere." Sark points out.

Lauren smiles faintly, "All right." She kisses him lightly then walks out of the room. She joins Mia in the kitchen. "Its good to see you Mia. Sorry its like this." She removes her jacket putting it over the kitchen chair.

Mia shrugs "At least I get to see you. Bathrooms down the hall and second door on your right. Would you like some tea?"

"I'd like that." Lauren walks down the hall entering the bathroom she turns on the faucet and washes her hands watching the small amount of blood swirl down the drain. She swallows heavily her stomach rolling. "Oh sh" she barely reaches the toilet before throwing up. She leans against the cabinet 'OK Reed that doesn't happen to you around blood. You don't mind blood... you've seen Julian's before.' "Last time I..." Lauren trails off thoughtfully. Her eyes widen and she quickly scrambles to her feet flushing the toilet she rinses her mouth out and hurries out of the bathroom. "Mia do you have a calendar?"

"Yeah it's on the side of the refrigerator. Why?"

Lauren looks at the calendar her mind counting backwards then suddenly feeling weak she sits at the table.

"Lauren, are you OK?" Mia asks concerned at her friend's expression.

'I can't be.' Lauren slowly looks at her friend, "I think I'm pregnant." She says stunned.

Mia looks at her friend startled then quickly recovers, "Only way to know." She stands opening a door, "Philip always over orders so we have to keep things here. Last week he ordered some pregnancy tests. I think that I put part of the order in here." Mia shuffles around

Lauren sits there her mind racing barely hearing her friend move about in the closet. 'I can't be... can I? I mean I haven't yelled at Michael in a while.'

"Here"

Lauren snaps out of her thoughts to find her friend holding out a pregnancy test. She takes a deep breath taking the box, "Thanks." She makes her way back to the bathroom.

HOUR LATER

Sark opens his eyes to see Lauren resting beside him her head on his good shoulder, "Hey sweetheart."

Lauren lifts her head giving Sark a small smile.

"Hey what's wrong?" Sark asks concerned by her expression.

"Well" Lauren sits up "I uh just found something out."

"What's that?"

Lauren takes a deep breath, "I'm pregnant."

Sark sits up "You sure?"

Lauren nods her hand resting on her middle, "I really want to have this baby Julian."

"Then you will."

She looks at him, "I can't lose another one Julian." She says pained. "It hurts too much."

Sark cups her cheek, "We'll do whatever we have to do to make sure you have this one." He kisses her forehead. "It'll be OK Lauren." He assures

Lauren closes her eyes, 'I hope so.' She takes a deep breath and opens her eyes giving him a small smile. "I love you Julian."

"I love you."

COUPLE HOURS LATER

Lauren kisses Sark's forehead and smiles as he slowly opens his eyes, "Hey you."

"Hi"

"How are you feeling?"

"A little sore but fine. What time is it?"

"Just after midnight."

"Did you call in?"

Lauren nods "I also called home and checked on Sophia."

"How is she?"

"Sleeping. She's her happy self."

"Good." Sark rolls his shoulder wincing in pain. "We shouldn't stay long."

"No one knows we're here."

"Still it's better for your friends if we don't stay long."

Lauren nods absently resting her hand against her middle.

Noticing her action Sark smiles faintly, "How are you feeling?"

"Scared. Nervous. Excited." Lauren sighs. "So many conflicting emotions." She hugs herself, "Mostly scared."

"It's going to be fine."

"I really want to believe that Julian." Lauren sighs

"When do you want to tell Sophia?" Sark asks

"Not yet. I don't want to get her hopes up."

"Did she know about the other pregnancy?"

"No."

"We'll have to tell her sooner or later." Sark points out.

"I know... I just don't want to go home and tell her and get her hopes up then lose the baby."

Sark nods "Understandable."

Lauren lies down her head on his good shoulder and they quietly talk.

JUST AFTER DAWN

Sark glances at Lauren as she sits beside him in the passenger seat her arms crossed over her middle, "Why don't you get some sleep." He suggests. "We won't be there for another hour."

"I'll sleep on the jet." She looks at Sark "How's your shoulder?"

"Fine." Sark rests his hand on her thigh.

Lauren shivers slightly at his touch "Julian"

Sark looks at her, "Hmm?"

She stares at him, "Pull over."

Seeing her expression Sark pulls over in the wooded area, "What?"

Lauren scrambles out of the car needing to get out and calm her suddenly raging hormones, 'Now is not the time Reed.'

Sark follows Lauren a few feet from the car where she is leaning against a tree, "What's wrong?"

Lauren silently groans, "Remember that craving I had with Sophia?"

Sark smirks at the memory, "How could I forget."

Lauren steps up to him her hands going to his pants

WHILE LATER

"Better?" Sark asks stroking her cheek.

Lauren nods kissing him lightly, "For now."

"We're going to be late if we don't get back on the road."

"I know."

"So darling what are we going to do about the current living situation?" Sark asks as they start back to the car.

"We'll talk about that later."

Sark grabs Lauren pulling her back against him his hand sliding under her sweater, "I will not be shoved out of my child's life this time Lauren." He says fiercely his lips inches from her ear.

Lauren covers his hand with her own, "I know. We just have the whole issue of what would happen if we did live together."

"Still have the option of disappearing." Sark muses

"You know he'd look for us."

"I wish you would just bloody tell him."

"We agreed Julian." Lauren turns to look at Sark, "He can't find out."

"Fine but when she's old enough we tell her the truth... Vaughn as well."

Lauren sighs "We'll discuss it when need be." She steps away from him heading to the car.

Sark stares at her then follows.

HOUR LATER: JET

"You're late." Jack Bristow says coldly as Sark and Lauren board the jet.

"Car trouble." Sark lies smoothly as he and Lauren sit across from Jack.

"How was the mission?" Jack asks

"Fine. Ran into gunfire but all went well." Sark answers as Lauren hands Jack a disk. "Hope that's exactly what you wanted."

"We'll have to see." Jack looks at Lauren "Why did you agree to go on the mission with him?"

Lauren shrugs "Sydney would have tried to shoot him... as would Michael."

"What happened?" Jack asks

NEXT NIGHT: LONDON

Sark glances in the rearview mirror to see Sophia asleep in the car seat. "Your parents wore her out." He says amused

"I know. Normally she wakes up and the moment she sees you she starts talking." Lauren looks at Sophia. She glances at Sark smiling faintly.

"What?"

"I was just thinking"

"About?"

"We did good." She nods at Sophia.

Sark brings her hand to his lips, "Of course we did Darling."

"Staying?"

"Of course."

WHILE LATER: REED HOUSE

Lauren smiles at the sight of Sophia fast asleep in Sark's arms, "I'll put her to bed can you...?"

Sark nods dropping a kiss to Sophia's head he hands Sophia over to Lauren.

Sophia whimpers

"I know." Lauren soothes rubbing Sophia's back. She walks out of the foyer and up the stairs into Sophia's room. She sets the girl in bed tucking her in. She sits on the edge of the bed looking at Sophia, 'My little girl. I really want to give you a little brother or sister to play with... hopefully this time everything will be OK.'

Downstairs Sark smiles when he notices Sophia's blanket on the duffle bag, "Can't let her sleep with out her blanket." He opens the duffle bag where he finds her stuffed bear, "Or her bear."

Lauren looks up as she feels Sark drop a kiss to her head. "Hi"

"Found these." Sark sets the blanket and bear beside Sophia.

"Oh I forgot I put them in the bag. Thanks."

"I'll go finish checking then we'll talk?"

Lauren nods giving him a small smile. "Sure."

"Would you like me to draw you a bath?"

"Thanks love." Lauren looks back at Sophia.

30 MINS LATER

Lauren sighs happily as she leans back against Sark as they lie in the Jacuzzi tub. "It's good to be home."

"That it is love." Sark kisses her shoulder.

"Tomorrow I will make an appointment with the doctor."

"Good." Sark rests his hand on her middle as he trails his fingers of his other hand down her arm, "This means no more missions for you."

"I know." Lauren rests her head on his arm, "Be careful when you go out."

"I will darling." Sark assures kissing her temple. "It's going to be OK Lauren."

"I hope so, I really do. I want..."

"Want what?"

"I want the chance we never had with Sophia."

"We'll have that chance Lauren."

"I can't lose this baby."

"You won't." Sark murmurs

COUPLE MORNINGS LATER

"Darling"

"Go 'way sleeping." Lauren snuggles into the covers.

Sark chuckles kissing her shoulder, "I know darling but the alarm went off 30 minutes ago."

Lauren pulls the covers over her head, "Not getting up."

"We have work." Sark pulls the covers away. "I let you sleep in"

Lauren looks at him and scowls "I hate you."

"And for what reason have I earned this mornings hate?"

"Now I'm going to have to rush."

"No you won't. I have already woken Sophia and she's currently getting dressed."

"You didn't let her pick her clothes did you?" Lauren demands rolling onto her back.

"Do you think I would allow my daughter out of the house in mismatched clothing?" Sark asks aghast.

Lauren laughs "No you wouldn't."

"Get up and get ready. Breakfast will be ready when you come downstairs."

"What no kiss?" Lauren demands

"Perish the thought." Sark kisses her passionately only to be interrupted by a little voice.

"Help." Sophia calls "I stuck"

Lauren smiles against Sark's lips, "You deal with her and I will go shower."

Sark chuckles "Enjoy." He moves off the bed walking out of the room closing the door behind him.

WHILE LATER

Lauren walks into the kitchen and smiles when she sees Sophia sitting beside Sark on the counter, "Hey you two."

Sophia grins, "Mama"

"Morning Soph. How'd you sleep?" Lauren asks as she hugs the little girl.

"OK."

"Good." Lauren kisses Sophia's forehead.

"Breakfast is ready."

Lauren nods setting Sophia on the floor, "Go sit down." She watches Sophia scramble to the table, "Morning." She kisses Sark's cheek.

"How are you feeling?" Sark questions

"Fine. I made that appointment."

"When?"

"3."

"Call me when its done?"

Lauren nods

"It's going to be fine." Sark assures handing Lauren a plate.

Lauren nods stepping away from Sark she sets the plate before Sophia "Eat up."

"Here" Sark hands her the second plate.

"Thanks."

3:30PM: DRS OFFICE

"Well you are indeed pregnant." The doctor says as she looks at the ultrasound screen. "About 4 weeks."

"Everything OK?" Lauren asks concerned as she looks at the screen her eyes on the tiny form.

"Looks good."

Lauren releases her held in breath and smiles

"Since you've had a miscarriage I would like to see you every two months."

"Not a problem." Lauren assures her eyes on the screen "I really want this baby."

"We'll do whatever we can to make sure this baby is born."

Lauren nods

HOUR LATER: CAR

"Well?" Sark demands

Lauren shifts the phone in her hand, "I'm about 4 weeks. She said both of us are fine. I have to go in every two months."

"Still worried?"

"Yes but not as much. She's running some blood tests to make sure everything is OK."

"Good. Going back to work?"

"Yes."

"Talk later?"

"Sure." Lauren hangs up.

NEXT