CHAPTER THREE

"Darling, are you sure you're alright?" asked Daphne. "This is the fourth morning in a row you've been sick. I hate to say this, but you need to take a pregnancy test."

"No. No, it can't be," she said, shaking her head above the toilet.

"Elena," she laughed, "you know very well it could be. You told me how spectacular your American hero was in bed. You very well could be with child."

Elena finally gave in. Daphne made an appointment with her doctor and confirmed within the hour that she was indeed pregnant.

"You have to tell him, Elena."

"No, they have a lot going on right now. I'll wait."

She did wait. She waited and waited, hoping for some sign that said she should meet him in Louisiana. He texted her, called her a few times, and even asked when she would come for a visit. But it wasn't the same as ‘hey, I'm pregnant, can I still come?'. She needed to make that statement, and she couldn't muster the strength.

At seven weeks, she was feeling miserable. Beyond not being able to keep anything down, she was feeling pain in her abdomen and that had her terrified.

"Elena, you have to call him!" she said to the woman lying in the hospital bed.

"No. What if this is all a false alarm? I mean, it could be nothing. And if I lose the baby, then I put him through pain."

"You're being foolish!"

"Dr. Fayek?" said the man, walking into the room. "I, uh, I just saw your test results, and I have to say that I think the best thing would be to abort the child." Elena paled, staring at him.

"You need to work on your fucking bedside manner," snapped Daphne.

"I'm sorry, but there was no easy way to say it," he said, frowning at the young woman.

"There was a damn sure easier way to say it than the way you did. What's going on? How can it be fixed?"

"We don't believe it can be fixed," he said.

"Where's Dr. Baram?" asked Elena.

"She had to take emergency family leave," he said, not looking at them. "I'll be taking over your care. Listen, you need to decide about this soon. It could endanger your own life. I'll be back in the morning."

"Elena, you need to call him," she prompted.

"Daph, please. I'm tired. I need to think. Just let me rest."

She watched over her friend for an hour before she finally fell asleep. Then she did the one thing she swore she would never do. She invaded someone's privacy.

"When do you think Elena might come to visit?" asked Brix.

"I'm not sure," said Major, shaking his head. "I've called her a few times, but she seems different. Maybe she's moved on."

"I can't believe that," said Sebastian. "That woman was smitten with you."

"Smitten and in love are two different things," said Major. He looked at his friends, realizing that he may have just shown his hand. Shaking his head, they just smiled at him.

"It's alright, brother. We knew," said Forrest. "The newly married couples seem to be doing well."

They all turned to see Leif, Ellie, Magnolia, and Walker having breakfast together. She was still struggling with what happened to her in Egypt, but the counseling team was helping her and helping Walker manage the issues.

"I don't suppose you've heard from your friend Burkhard?" smirked Garr.

"No," laughed Major. "I don't expect I will hear from him, but I damn sure bet we'll see him at some point. I'll never understand why he helped us, but we owe him one."

"We let him walk away," said Sebastian. "That was enough."

Major nodded, then looked down at his phone as it buzzed. It was a London telephone number, but not the one he had for Elena.

"Hello."

"Is this Major Carson?" asked the distinctly British voice.

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Major, my name is Daphne. I'm Elena's friend. She's been staying with me for the last few weeks."

"Is everything alright? Is she alright?" he asked.

"I'm sort of glad that your voice is panicked. I can tell that you care for her. She's not well, and she wouldn't let me call you any earlier."

"Not well? What do you mean?" The others looked at him, frowning.

"She didn't want me to call you, Major, but I think she needs help. Right now, she's in the hospital, and they're telling her she needs surgery."

"Surgery? For what? What the hell is happening?" His voice was shaking with uncertainty and panic.

"I see. She didn't tell you anything at all, did she?"

"No, she didn't tell me anything. She said she was enjoying her time with you and might stay there. Please, just tell me what's going on?" he asked.

"If you know a specialist, perhaps bring them with you. Elena is pregnant. The pregnancy is apparently high-risk, and they are telling her to abort the child. She refuses." Before she finished her sentence, Major was up and walking toward Luke and the others.

"I'll be there in five hours."

"Five hours? That's impossible unless you're in Europe."

"I'll be there in five hours. Just tell her to hold on and don't do a damn thing until I arrive. Oh, and Daphne. Tell her I love her."

"What the hell is happening?" asked Brix.

"Elena is pregnant, and they're telling her it's a high-risk pregnancy, and she needs to abort the baby. I'm going over there and bringing her back."

"Is this the archaeologist that helped you?" asked Cam.

"Yes. Please, Cam. I need to go," said Major.

"I think we need to send a few with you. I'll get Gray and Ally. You guys get your gear. Brix, Sebastian, Forrest, and Alistair. Just in case," said Cam.

"Thank you, Cam."

"Just bring your girl home."