Two weeks passed and everything was normal from the outside. Better even, for the band. They had more studio time in London and a few singles they had recorded might even get in the charts.

The house had been quiet without George. His peculiar ways, constant guitar playing and annoying whining over who ate the last biscuit or when was dinner (which he usually said straight after lunch) made the Harrison household feel so very different. Louie's mother let the dinners slide now and then, they even ate tuna sandwiches for tea because George wasn't there.

A follow up appointment had been organised a few weeks previous on that original first visit to the hospital. That initial visit was a day after Lou spoke, or didn't if you look at it that way, with John. The doctor on duty that first ever so embarrassing day organised the follow up as he was wanting to make sure Louise was 'healing' and back to 'good' health.

She arrived at half three and sat waiting forty-five minutes to see the young-ish physician Doctor Nate or Doctor Matthews as the nurse called him.

Nate was his first name, but he felt patients responded better to the use of his given name, Louie being a good case in point. He was quite handsome and Lou worried at how he looked upon her mangled body.

As the nurse busied with the surgical equipment Nate reviewed the chart. Louie lay flat with a thin white sheet over her, her bottom half cold and bare. She cringed at having the nice doctor viewing down there again but it was better than the family doctor reporting all and sundry to the Harrison tribe during the Christmas party held at the church in a few weeks' time.

Louise stared at the ceiling...

"So Louise, I'll check you're healing on the inside, take a look at those burns- see how they're healing up, remove the stitches from the gashes over on your hip and the other couple on the inside of your thighs" Louise looked blankly at the doctor, his head downcast viewing her notes... he listed the things as you might on a shopping list, methodical and bland. Her eyes went to water and, to stem the tide, she dug fingernails deep into the palms of her hands.

Doctor muttered to himself a little more then stood over her, watching her intently as he spoke "Now Louie, have you been feeling well, in yourself, other than these injuries of course. Not sick, feeling unwell, like the flu?"

"No, pretty good in that regard" Louie spoke when spoken to, not any more or less, she kept a straight yet tension laden face and tried overly hard to hide any emotion or pain.

"I want to take some blood, just for a few tests, make sure your in tip top shape" He smiled sincerely as a lock of hair fell over his eyes.

Louise struggled through the procedures and quietly sobbed as he rammed things in her and the light that shone brightly on her privates had her closing her eyes as she tried to 'relax' and open her legs wide, knees apart. All the while the nurse handing instruments over and the doctor pressing intermittently down on her belly, mumbling insipid, supposedly encouraging things like 'all over soon', 'there, that wasn't so bad now, was it' and her absolute favourite 'sorry.'

The blood was taken, a deep dark red. Like the red wine at church, only thicker and hers.

She sank dejectedly down on a chair in the draughty waiting room to wait for the test results doctor had ordered. Fingers knitted and fidgeting she stared intently at a black scuff mark that marred the otherwise spotless linoleum floor. She had to wait another hour. Finally the nurse came along, placing a hand on her shoulder, waking her from daydreams of before's-

Before she was vilified.

Before when she felt whole.

Before when she could smile and feel happy, feel anything.

The doctors desk was stacked with textbooks and files, a few diagrams and lots of pens, a jar of lollies beckoned at the rear and she waited yet again.... she was alone in her thoughts and her mind screamed constantly...

Why so long.

I want to leave NOW.

"Right" Nate dropped opposite her onto his special leather office chair, she was on a plastic stool by comparison, uncomfortable and rigid. He turned over the pages of her chart and placed another single sheet in the front, the blood test she presumed. He frowned slightly at the sheet and looked her over, watching her face, smiling softly, encouragingly. "Now I ran a few tests, the standard things- blood count for anaemia, white cell count for infection- all were clear, so that's fabulous".

It's not the end of it, she thought as he wiped his face and went to touch her shoulder, she shrank back. "Just tell me, stop farting about doctor, I can't stand all the dithering"

He chuckled and grinned at her "You're one strong girl Louise but this here..." He reread for the fifth time, tapping the page, frowning "This is big... I need you to know I'm here whenever you want to talk, alright..." He still paused, gathering his thoughts, she was so timid yet so strong as she sat, shoulders back, chin set.

She huffed but the look on his face had her holding her purse strap tightly, had she some horrid incurable disease?

"You're pregnant, Louise"

He eventually touched her shoulder gently and held her steady, her fingers combing through her hair in agitation and fear.

He was the only one, him and the nurse the only ones that knew her tale and she had no other rescuer to stop her losing her sanity.

She was pregnant.