Bear My Babies

“What happened?” Blair asked, the squeak on the phone letting Thomas know he was sitting up from whatever hunched position he was currently in.

Thomas laid out the details of Melissa’s office and explained what Melissa had told him about Nathaniel being in jail.

Blair whistled loudly. “That’s pretty crazy stuff. You guys are going to be head over heels in love with each other sooner than I thought.”

“Shut up, Blair. Just call me when you find out anything about her ex.” Thomas hung up the phone before Blair had a chance to stop cackling like a hen and answer him.

He pulled into his parking garage determined to get some work done for the day somehow. He was surprised to see Bruce waiting for him outside his building.

“Listen, Thomas, can I have a minute to talk to you about Melissa?”

He wasn’t sure what exactly Bruce could want to tell him, but something in Bruce’s eyes told him this was something he was going to want to hear.

“Yeah, man, come on up to the office.” Thomas led the way through the building and up to his office. “Can I get you a drink or something?”

“No, this will only take a minute. I want you to know about the risks associated with what you’re doing.”

“Melissa told me the baby might not make it, and he or she might not have the gene.” Thomas wasn’t sure how much Bruce knew about the paranormal world.

“This isn’t about the bear baby—yes, I know what you are. I know about all of it and sometimes I think it would be easier if I didn’t know. I’m talking about the effect it’s having on Melissa.”

Thomas straightened. “What kind of effect?”

“Every time she takes the full treatment, she’s violently ill for hours, having to go to bed and cancel all her patients for the day. The treatments change her body in ways we haven’t even started to study, and I’m worried about how bad the after-effects will be. I care about Melissa, but I’m not telling you this because I’m jealous. I’m telling you this because I want you to understand what you’re asking her to do. I don’t think I would be a good friend if I didn’t.”

“Why hasn’t Melissa told me this?” Thomas was angry; he didn’t know how sick she’d been. He was angry with her for not telling him.

“Because she wants to do it. She wants her research to work and she values that more than her own health. It’s hard to talk her out of something once she decides it’s what she wants to do.” He smiled.

Thomas could tell Bruce did genuinely care for Melissa. He decided he wouldn’t mind terribly if they got together and Bruce was around his kid. The fact that he was looking out for her was enough to stifle the jealously Thomas felt toward him.

“Thank you for telling me, Bruce. I’m definitely going to talk to her and take into consideration everything you’ve told me.”

“Okay, then I’ve done what I can.” Bruce reached out and shook his hand. “I have to get back to my office before Melissa gets there. I’ll see my way out.”

Thomas sat for a long time trying to figure out the best approach for the situation. He was really upset she hadn’t been honest about what the shots were doing to her body. Maybe he’d been too quick to okay an experimental process because he wanted a child so badly. He really needed to talk her and figure out what the best choice for her would be, he’d never be able to live with himself if she was permanently hurt because of him.

***

Melissa pulled into a random parking lot and screamed into the interior of her car. Too many people were around her at her office for her to be able to have the mandatory melt down you are allowed to have when your life was violated. Tears tracked down her eyes as she punched the wheel, making the horn sound off, scaring the hell out of her.

The moment she noticed her building had been vandalized, she had been holding off a major panic attack. It was pulling on her full force, trying to get her to break. Melissa focused on her breathing, willing her body to calm down. Thomas’ large arms surrounding her filtered into her head and her lungs started to expand. She focused on picturing Thomas. His strong warm body protecting her. The clean scent that seemed to always surround him. After a moment, the panic started to ebb and she was no longer shaking.

Why did he have to be so amazing? He swooped in and saved the day without her having to prompt him. Melissa would have to remind Nathaniel multiple times just to take out the trash, and in the end most of the time she would end up doing it. Thomas just took charge, knowing exactly what she needed and helping her get it.

He acted as a band-aid the entire morning. Soothing her and making everything seem like it would be all right. That was until he mentioned his date with Hilary.

“I’m so stupid,” Melissa moaned into the empty car.

She hadn’t been lying to him about wanting to get started on making the baby immediately. These people, whoever they were, meant business. Melissa was afraid to push it any further. Besides, when Thomas held her, she stupidly thought they were a united front. Making a baby with him while he was being attentive seemed like the right choice. But right after she mentioned them making a baby, the old fashioned way, no less, he mentioned one of the people she would never be able compare to.

Melissa’s head dropped to the headrest as tears streamed down her eyes. “Please let this be because of the hormones,” she said out loud. This connection she felt toward Thomas needed to stop immediately. He was going to be with Hilary and she was going to be with herself. Melissa knew she needed to stop herself from forming any more of an attachment to Thomas. If she didn’t, she would be miserable the rest of her life. Anything she had to share with him in the parental way would be awful if she didn’t get a handle on her emotions.