"Fuck me..." he whispered, as all of this sunk in. Covering his face with his hands and laying there in silence for a moment. None of the rest of you knowing what else to say. You especially. Not now that you knew it most definitely wasn't your baby. Belonging instead to some other, anonymous dude.
"So what... what happens now?" he eventually spoke up again. Looking towards the doctors. His voice quiet and dejected.
"Well..." Dr. Saunders continued, taking a deep breath, "unfortunately, due to the age of the fetus, an abortion at this point is completely out of the question. Which means that you are going to have to carry it to full term and give birth. That's simply unavoidable at this point."
Shit. You thought to yourself. Having been in two minds before about Randall having an abortion back when you thought it was your baby, but feeling exactly of the opposite now. Not wanting him to have to go through with it. Not wanting him to have someone else's kid. If only we'd realized sooner. Kicking yourself over this.
"After that, well there are several options..."
"You mean, either keep it or give it up for adoption?" Randall asked. Not sounding at all thrilled by either idea.
There was no getting away from it now though. He was pregnant. He was going to have a baby. Talk about fucked up!
"Yes. Those are the main two," Saunders nodded. Muttering to himself then as he scratched at his chin, "I suppose if we knew who the father was, another option is that he could perhaps take legal custody of the child... But I'm assuming you have no idea who that could be."
Randall shook his head. Looking over at you again as if to say I thought I did, but replying instead, "No. No idea."
"We're sorry about this, Randall. We really are. All of this is so much for you to cope with already without adding a child into the mix." This being about the understatement of the century. He'd "died". Had his brain transplanted into his busty History teacher's body. Been a woman less that three months, and was now finding out that in another four he was going to be having someone else's kid. You were actually surprised he was taking this so well. Knowing that if it was you, it would be pretty much game over. The thought of childbirth alone and having to actually go through that was just too terrifying to contemplate, never mind what was going to happen to the baby after that. Saunders tried his best to be supportive though, offering then, "But we want you to know, if there is anyway we can help you with this. Be it medical, or if you simply need someone to talk to, Dr. Kerry and myself will be here for you. For whatever you need."
"Thanks. I guess..." Randall mumbled. This hardly being a comfort. You meanwhile thinking that this should go without question, seeing how it was their fault in the first place for not realizing Miss. Card was pregnant when they cut up Randall's brain. If they had, he wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.
Handing him a towel then to wipe the goo off his swollen belly while he switched off the ultrasound machine, the kindly old doctor paused suddenly, as if remembering something he'd previously forgotten about. "Oh, and I suppose I should also ask," he said, somewhat delicately, "if you would like know the baby's sex?" Having presumably gleaned this from the scan.
"Nah, that's okay, doc," came Randall's immediate reply. Not looking at all keen. "I think its probably best if I don't know. I've got enough to worry about as it is."
"Of course. That's no problem at all."
Having now removed the last of it from his stomach and pulled his blouse back down, you helped your friend get down from the table and did your best to give him some semblance of support. Telling him quietly, "Don't worry, dude. I'll help you through this." It may not have been your baby, and technically it may not even have been his, but you weren't suddenly going to abandon him in his time of need because of it. As strange and as painful as it felt knowing that he was going to have someone else's child, friends stuck by each other. That's just what they did. Especially friend's that were now as close as you and Randall were.
Forcing a smile as he thanked you, the two of you then returned to Kerry's desk to go over some of the ins and outs of Randall's pregnancy and what to expect. What changes would continue to happen to his body. When the due date would roughly be (around about March next year). As well as what preparations would need to be made closer to the time. Neither doctor pushing him just yet to make any kind of decision as to whether he was going to keep it or not. Merely telling him that he would need to seriously think it over, while at the same time warning him that as he moved into the sixth month of his pregnancy, his belly was going to start getting noticeably larger a lot quicker. Making it very difficult indeed to keep it a secret for much longer. Not that it was exactly a secret just now, you thought. What with all the rumors flying around. But for the moment anyway they were just that, rumors. And it appeared he had around about a month until there would be no question whatsoever that they were true.
For the next hour then, this rather long and grueling talk continued (Saunders at one point even mentioning telling Randall's parents, which didn't exactly go down well), ending finally with the two doctors arranging a follow up appointment in a months time, as well as giving him the number of an excellent gynecologist that they both advised him to see. Randall not looking at all enthused by this prospect.
"...And remember, if you have any further questions, don't be afraid to call me on my private line," Saunders told him as he walked you both to the door. Looking at you then and adding, "And Tim, I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but Randall's really going to need your support right now, okay?"
"Don't worry," you nodded. "He's got it."
Saying your goodbyes then (Randall now inundated with various little pamphlets about pregnancy) , the walk back to the car was made in complete silence. Wanting to say something to comfort your friend, but now knowing what. And at the same time, getting the impression that he didn't really want to talk either.
It wasn't until you were back inside his pink Fiat that he finally spoke up. Letting out what you could only describe as a mixture between a sigh and a chuckle, as he leaned back in his seat and groaned, "Well... that's that I guess, huh? Looks like I'm gonna be a mommy."
"Yeah..."
Looking over at you then, he gave you a little nudge with his elbow. "Cheer up, dude. At least you're off the hook. I'd have thought you'd be celebrating back there." Obviously trying to make light of this, but there being a real sense of disappointment in his voice too.
"Hardly," you told him. Even though you really should be jumping for joy. No longer having to worry about all the things that had been keeping you up at night. Telling your parents. Missing college. Having to raise a kid and learn how to be a father. Instead feeling nothing really but emptiness and concern for your friend. You realized however that this presumably wasn't the response he had been expecting, and quickly added as explanation, "That is, I... uh... I mean, it might not be mine, but you're still gonna have to have a baby. It's just not fucking fair is all."
"Nope, that it ain't," he agreed, slowly nodding his head. "Miss. Card fucks some guy months ago, and I'm the one who's gonna have to give birth. The least she could have done was let me be the one to fuck her." Randall still, even now, trying his best to make jokes.
Though the obvious question still lingered as to who exactly the father might be, and whether or not it was someone you knew (a teacher at the school perhaps), in all honesty, right now you really didn't want to have to think about that. It still very much stinging that it wasn't you. Having convinced yourself it was for almost a week now. Having convinced Randall too. Whoever he was, he wasn't you.
He wasn't me, you repeated to yourself as Randall finally started up the car to take you home. Not being in the mood for any further activities at his place. Wanting some time on his own to let it all sink in, and you not blaming him in the slightest.
"Guess I'll see you in school tomorrow," he said as you climbed out of the car in front of your house. Sounding rather unenthusiastic about the prospect of returning to class with all this now weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"Yeah. I guess so," you replied. Not particularly looking forward to it either.
Giving him a wave then, you slung your backpack over your shoulder and began to make your way up the drive. Stopping in your tracks as you heard him call out, "And Tim..."
"Yeah?" you asked. Looking back.
"Thanks for... you know, supporting me and shit. I really appreciate it."
"Of course," you told him. Repeating again what you'd said in the doctor's office, that you'd "do whatever I can to help out." Genuinely meaning this. "Just say the word."
Giving you a nod then, you watched him take off. Letting out a sigh as his little pink "hairdryer" disappeared from view. Hoping that you could indeed hold to this promise. Not really knowing yet what to expect, or what him having a child would mean for your friendship. Nor if he would even end up keeping it. There being so much still to figure out.
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