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[Milliways] OOM: London, 2006
Nov. 6th, 2007 02:35 pmSarah Jane has decided she despises these sorts of visits. She has never actually been entirely fond neither of medical doctors in the first place (Harry Sullivan being the exception, of course) nor of the need for what she’d consider unnecessary time in bed. Maybe it is because of all those times she has wound up in the emergency ward in the past. Or maybe it is because of her impatient nature. Either way, she can’t help but be grumpy as she enters the clinic.
But she knows that she’ll do anything for her child already, even if that means facing uncomfortable appointments with Dr Ross every month. Thankfully, the wait isn’t very long. She still feels a bit like the stranger in this world sometimes, especially after her discovery of Doctor Who. Seeing all the other women in the waiting room - the ones that don’t have to worry about being caught living on a forged identity, the ones whose children truly belong to this world – it hurts sometimes. Sarah doesn’t like watching how happy they are. She doesn’t like how they don’t have to worry about their child messing up any time-space continuums.
Even if it is only her second visit here, the exam is starting to become routine. Dr Ross smiles at her and asks basic questions: How are you? How is your husband doing? Have you felt the baby move? If so, how often? Any spotting? Any horrible aches or pains? How’s that job hunt going? And the new town house? Even if Sarah Jane doesn’t like the clinic as a whole, she’s found herself warming up to her doctor. There is something genuine about the woman. She’s someone who really does love her work and Sarah admires that. Soon enough, her weight is taken and her blood pressure measured. A fetal doppler stethoscope is used to measure the heartbeat. Sarah Jane closes her eyes as she listens to it. The sound will never cease to amaze her.
Then, it’s time for Sarah’s favorite and least favorite part: the ultrasound. It’s the whole reason she walked in here with an uncomfortably full bladder – better to highlight the uterus, according to the instructions given last time. But it’s made her fidget more than usual throughout the entire exam. She lies down on the table and frowns a little when her shirt is rolled up. She’s getting fatter, and even though Sarah knows that it’s perfectly normal, she still feels self conscious about it. A cold gel is rubbed on her belly before Dr Ross starts the exploration.
Sarah Jane can easily see the screen from where she lies. It’s hard for her to make out any significance in the image, but as far as she can tell from Dr Ross’ nods and murmurs, everything seems to be normal. The wait for explanation is interesting and uncomfortable all at the same time. Valerie is moving again and it makes everything all the more unpleasant. Finally, after what seems like forever in Sarah’s opinion, Dr Ross turns away from the screen to smile at her.
“Congratulations, Mrs Bond,” she says. “Everything appears to be in order for your baby. It looks like it’s developing along normally, at the proper size and point of development for a seventeen week old fetus. Would you like me to run you through the anatomy on the screen?”
She nods, feeling rather proud of herself for taking such good care of her body and child (for the most part). After watching the ultrasound this entire time, of course she’d like to know what is on there. So they begin, looking at the digits and limbs and heart and the overall child. Dr Ross promises to get a print out of this ultrasound to Sarah before she leaves. Then, she asks whether or not she would like to know the sex.
“You can tell already?” Sarah asks after blinking a little. It has been something she had been debating. She knows that James has been curious, but truth be told, she herself has grown attached to her hopes. She’s almost afraid of hearing otherwise.
“Yes. Your child is well enough along that I could give you a probable likelihood.”
Seconds later, Sarah Jane caves to her curiosity. Seconds after that, she’s beaming with joy. It’s a girl. She and James are going to have a little girl after all. Valerie Charlotte, she thinks as her eyes fill with tears. She was right. It’s a glorious feeling.
It’s an even better feeling when she gets home later that evening after allowing herself a small shopping trip at Harrods. She had wanted to celebrate, and the best way she could think how was to buy an adorable sleepsuit for Valerie: white with pink petals all over and pink frills on the fronts and the sleeves. For fun, she had the clerk wrap up the box: a present for James when he got home. And now she is home, happily waiting on the reception room couch with her book until he gets home from work. Sarah Jane finds it hard to concentrate though. She’s too busy going over the news again and again. She would rush into Milliways, but James has to be the first to know.
Thankfully, she doesn’t have long to wait. When she hears the door close behind him, Sarah rushes out of the room with the box behind her back. She kisses him hello and, as much as she doesn’t want to give anything away, that over eager smile won’t leave her face. They murmur their hellos and before James has a chance to ask how the doctor’s visit went, Sarah holds the box out to him.
“Surprise,” she whispers as he takes the box with confusion. Sarah Jane giggles as he questions her as to the occasion. She doesn’t say why, only encourages him to undo the wrapping and open it. Her looks at her doubtfully, but, knowing better than to argue does comply. A few moments later and the box and wrapping is dropped on the floor by the door as he holds up the sleepsuit by the hanger.
The look he gives her is clearly expressive of further confusion. She can also see a hint of distaste in his eyes as he studies the garment warily. “What is this?”
She beams, taking it from him and setting it on the coat rack before she reaches for his hand and places it on her stomach. Sarah eyes the floor for a moment, trying to see if the ultrasound is sticking out between the wrapping and tissue paper on the floor.
Finally, “We’re having a girl, James. Dr Ross confirmed it in the ultrasound today. Which was also in the box, you know.”
It takes him a moment. James breathes in and then smiles back with amused resignation. “I guess you were right.”
Sarah nods, bending down to pick up the ultrasound from the pile of rubbish. She hands it to him, pointing out their daughter carefully. When she glances up to see his reaction, the overjoyed beam on his own face makes her heart swell. It is, she decides, the best feeling in the world.
But she knows that she’ll do anything for her child already, even if that means facing uncomfortable appointments with Dr Ross every month. Thankfully, the wait isn’t very long. She still feels a bit like the stranger in this world sometimes, especially after her discovery of Doctor Who. Seeing all the other women in the waiting room - the ones that don’t have to worry about being caught living on a forged identity, the ones whose children truly belong to this world – it hurts sometimes. Sarah doesn’t like watching how happy they are. She doesn’t like how they don’t have to worry about their child messing up any time-space continuums.
Even if it is only her second visit here, the exam is starting to become routine. Dr Ross smiles at her and asks basic questions: How are you? How is your husband doing? Have you felt the baby move? If so, how often? Any spotting? Any horrible aches or pains? How’s that job hunt going? And the new town house? Even if Sarah Jane doesn’t like the clinic as a whole, she’s found herself warming up to her doctor. There is something genuine about the woman. She’s someone who really does love her work and Sarah admires that. Soon enough, her weight is taken and her blood pressure measured. A fetal doppler stethoscope is used to measure the heartbeat. Sarah Jane closes her eyes as she listens to it. The sound will never cease to amaze her.
Then, it’s time for Sarah’s favorite and least favorite part: the ultrasound. It’s the whole reason she walked in here with an uncomfortably full bladder – better to highlight the uterus, according to the instructions given last time. But it’s made her fidget more than usual throughout the entire exam. She lies down on the table and frowns a little when her shirt is rolled up. She’s getting fatter, and even though Sarah knows that it’s perfectly normal, she still feels self conscious about it. A cold gel is rubbed on her belly before Dr Ross starts the exploration.
Sarah Jane can easily see the screen from where she lies. It’s hard for her to make out any significance in the image, but as far as she can tell from Dr Ross’ nods and murmurs, everything seems to be normal. The wait for explanation is interesting and uncomfortable all at the same time. Valerie is moving again and it makes everything all the more unpleasant. Finally, after what seems like forever in Sarah’s opinion, Dr Ross turns away from the screen to smile at her.
“Congratulations, Mrs Bond,” she says. “Everything appears to be in order for your baby. It looks like it’s developing along normally, at the proper size and point of development for a seventeen week old fetus. Would you like me to run you through the anatomy on the screen?”
She nods, feeling rather proud of herself for taking such good care of her body and child (for the most part). After watching the ultrasound this entire time, of course she’d like to know what is on there. So they begin, looking at the digits and limbs and heart and the overall child. Dr Ross promises to get a print out of this ultrasound to Sarah before she leaves. Then, she asks whether or not she would like to know the sex.
“You can tell already?” Sarah asks after blinking a little. It has been something she had been debating. She knows that James has been curious, but truth be told, she herself has grown attached to her hopes. She’s almost afraid of hearing otherwise.
“Yes. Your child is well enough along that I could give you a probable likelihood.”
Seconds later, Sarah Jane caves to her curiosity. Seconds after that, she’s beaming with joy. It’s a girl. She and James are going to have a little girl after all. Valerie Charlotte, she thinks as her eyes fill with tears. She was right. It’s a glorious feeling.
It’s an even better feeling when she gets home later that evening after allowing herself a small shopping trip at Harrods. She had wanted to celebrate, and the best way she could think how was to buy an adorable sleepsuit for Valerie: white with pink petals all over and pink frills on the fronts and the sleeves. For fun, she had the clerk wrap up the box: a present for James when he got home. And now she is home, happily waiting on the reception room couch with her book until he gets home from work. Sarah Jane finds it hard to concentrate though. She’s too busy going over the news again and again. She would rush into Milliways, but James has to be the first to know.
Thankfully, she doesn’t have long to wait. When she hears the door close behind him, Sarah rushes out of the room with the box behind her back. She kisses him hello and, as much as she doesn’t want to give anything away, that over eager smile won’t leave her face. They murmur their hellos and before James has a chance to ask how the doctor’s visit went, Sarah holds the box out to him.
“Surprise,” she whispers as he takes the box with confusion. Sarah Jane giggles as he questions her as to the occasion. She doesn’t say why, only encourages him to undo the wrapping and open it. Her looks at her doubtfully, but, knowing better than to argue does comply. A few moments later and the box and wrapping is dropped on the floor by the door as he holds up the sleepsuit by the hanger.
The look he gives her is clearly expressive of further confusion. She can also see a hint of distaste in his eyes as he studies the garment warily. “What is this?”
She beams, taking it from him and setting it on the coat rack before she reaches for his hand and places it on her stomach. Sarah eyes the floor for a moment, trying to see if the ultrasound is sticking out between the wrapping and tissue paper on the floor.
Finally, “We’re having a girl, James. Dr Ross confirmed it in the ultrasound today. Which was also in the box, you know.”
It takes him a moment. James breathes in and then smiles back with amused resignation. “I guess you were right.”
Sarah nods, bending down to pick up the ultrasound from the pile of rubbish. She hands it to him, pointing out their daughter carefully. When she glances up to see his reaction, the overjoyed beam on his own face makes her heart swell. It is, she decides, the best feeling in the world.
