The Nature of Things

Chapter 10

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Brian waltzed into the lobby of the clinic like he owned the place. Looking around he spotted several tricks he'd once had a good time with and Jennifer and Molly sitting in a corner.

Sliding into the empty seat next to Molly, Brian smiled softly, and Jennifer and let Molly hold tightly to his hand.

When the nurse called Molly back she informed Brian and Jennifer that they had to wait outside for her. Jennifer started to protest until Molly told her mother that she would be okay. The adults sank back down into the uncomfortable chairs and pretended to read the outdated magazines that were lying around.

Jennifer leaned over and peered at the article Brian was engrossed in and started laughing.

"I never took you for the kind of man who cared about what kind of foods you should pack in a child's lunchbox."

"I'm not."

"Thank you for coming."

"I'd do anything for Molly." Despite himself he smiled back at Jennifer. "I thought Justin would be here."

"He's not answering his phone again. That's the third time in a week; I'm starting to worry about him."

"He's a big boy, Mrs. Taylor, he can take care of himself."

"I'm sure he can, but at least when he was with you, I knew where he was."

"He hasn't told you where he's staying?"

"No. Do you know?"

"All I know is that he is staying with this kid Casey."

"Do you know Casey?"

"I know of him."

"Well?"

"Justin's an adult, I can't stop him from making mistakes."

"I don't want my son getting hurt, Brian."

"I don't want that either."

"Then get him to come home."

"You know that I can't do that. He'll come home when he's ready."

"Fuck that, Brian. Get over there and bring him home before he gets hurt."

They were interrupted by the nurse asking them to come back to the doctor's office. Once they were seated with Molly between them, Brian placed a light kiss on her cheek and held her hand as they waited for the doctor.

Several minutes later she entered the room and looked around at the small group that waited quietly. Smiling she opened Molly's chart and read a few pages before she began.

"First let me say how brave Molly has been through all of this. I've given her the name of a support group and she's informed me that there is a family friend that has been through this that she will be talking to. It's good that she has a lot of support. I've ran a few more tests. Unfortunatly most of the test results for the STDs won't be back for another week or so, but I will call you the second I have the results. The preliminary pregnancy test is negative,

but with the rape happening only a few days ago, I suspected that result. I want to do a follow up test in two weeks, which is around the time that Molly should have her period."

Brian paled at the mention of feminine functions and the doctor suppressed a laugh. She knew Mr. Kinney well, as she had treated him in the past for a case of crabs.

"Sorry, Mr. Kinney."

"No problem, Doc."

"As I was saying, we will need to follow up on the blood work for a few months. Even if the tests come back negative I want to retest in three months to be sure. Do any of you have any questions?"

Brian hesitated, waiting for Jennifer or Molly to speak first. When he was met with silence he spoke up.

"Why wasn't she offered the morning after pill at the hospital?"

"As of now there is no set protocol that requires that hospitals to inform victims that they have an option of receiving the pill. They just assume that the patient will contact her primary care doctor and get it. Some nurses will risk their job to give the victim the pill, but most are too afraid of losing their job."

"So now she has to wait to find out if she could be carrying her rapist's baby. You know that really fucking sucks, Doc."

"I'm well aware of that Mr. Kinney, but unfortunatly the nurses' hands are tied until the Department of Justice changes it's protocol. What we can do is give Molly all of her options and the best care possible. If she is pregnant, then we will discuss her options at that point. But I would recommend that she start thinking about whether she wants to have the child or have an abortion. Adoption is also an option that is available to her. It will be a rough few weeks until we know for sure, so I suggest that we give her all of the support and love that we can."

Looking to Molly she continued. "Molly, if you need anything please feel free to call me. Given the nature of what I do here at the clinic, I've become a really good listener. Go to the support group, let them help you."

"I will. Thank you, Dr. James."

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Brian stopped at Woody's for a drink before heading home. As he tried unsteadily to open the door he heard the most annoying mewing and looked around to see what it was. He spotted the small black and white face peeking out from behind a plant. Trying to ignore the small animal, Brian once again tried to get his building's door open. After dropping his keys, he came face to face with the kitten and knew that he couldn't leave the poor little thing there to die.

Scooping up the fur ball, he finally got the door open and slid the kitten into his pocket as he opened the elevator door. Once inside the loft, he sat the kitten on the floor and went to search out milk for it. After pouring a bowl and watching it lap it up, he picked it up and examined it..

"Figures you'd be a fucking girl. Now what am I going to do with you?"

After several minutes of listening to the kitten mewing and squirming to get down, he set her down and watched as she found Justin's old jacket and snuggled in for a nap.

"Well you have good taste. Maybe Molly would like you. I'll take you by tomorrow. Now don't get too comfortable; you aren't staying."

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Molly opened the door to find Brian holding a squirming, crying little bundle of sneezes. Passing the kitten over to her, she immediately pushed it back into his arms.

"No, I'm allergic to cats."

"What the fuck are you talking about? Justin loves cats."

"Well in case you haven't noticed, I'm not Justin. And I am allergic to cats, so get that little shit out of here."

"So what the hell am I supposed to do with her?"

"I don't know and I don't care, but get it out of my house."

"Fine, I guess I'll have to give her to Gus."

"Well then get going. Come back when you are pussy free."

"You know, you sound more and more like your brother everyday." He was half way out the door when he remembered the other reason he had stopped by. "Oh, yeah, here's Cynthia's number. She's expecting your call."

"Thanks, Brian."

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Molly ran upstairs and called Cynthia right away.

"Cynthia, it's Molly. I hope I'm not bothering you."

"No, you're fine. I've been expecting your call actually."

"Thanks. Um ... I was kind of hoping that you would go to my first support group with me. "

"I'd be happy to. Brian went with me to my first one."

"I bet that he was a big help."

"You'd be surprised. So when is this group?"

"Tonight at eight, at the church on Liberty Ave."

"How about we meet for dinner at the diner at six. That should give us some time to talk beforehand."

"Great. I'll see you then."

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Lindsay was trying to get Gus to eat his spaghetti at the table when Brian pounded on the door. Wiping her hands on her shirt, she yanked the door open and let out a loud sigh when she saw Brian.

"Look Gus, Daddy's here. Maybe he can get you to eat at the table and not on the carpet."

"Daddy!" Gus dropped another handful of spaghetti on the floor and ran to Brian.

Brian stretched out a hand and stopped him just before getting sauce all over his Gucci pants. "Don't you dare get that on Daddy's new pants. They cost a fortune."

"Daddy, I want pants like yours."

"How about a present instead?" With a flourish Brian pulled the kitten out from behind his back and handed her over to his spitting image.

"Kitty!!!!!!!!!"

"Brian Aidan Kinney, you did not just think you could bring him a cat without asking me first."

"Keep your panties on, Lindz. I just found the thing last night and apparently Molly is allergic to cats. And I'll be damned if it's living with me."

"Damn, damn, damn, kitty."

"Now look what you started. Gus, honey, that is bad word and what happens when we say bad words."

"Dollar goes in the jar." Grabbing Brian's hand he drug him to the jar sitting on the end table and pointed. "Put a dollar in Daddy. Bad words cost money."

Brian threw a twenty in. "Just to cover the next five minutes, Gus."

Gus laughed and took off down the hall with the kitten, leaving Lindsay to try to figure out how to make Brian take the cat back.

"Brian, I don't want a cat. Take her to the shelter."

"And disappoint our son?"

"That isn't fair."

"Now, Lindz, you know I've never played fair. Besides Gus seems to like her. Oh and I brought litter and a box and food and toys."

"When did you become so animal friendly?"

"I've always been friendly with animals."

"I meant the four legged kind. I can't have a cat Brian."

"Lindsay, let me explain something to you. You own the fucking house, you can have whatever you want."

"You are such a prick sometimes."

Gus came running back down the hall, half carrying, half dragging the kitten with him. "Look, Mommy, kitty likes cookies."

"Oh, Gus, the kitty can't eat cookies."

"Kitty likes cookies. Gus likes cookies."

"I know. Come on let's go find the kitty a place to sleep."

"My room. Come on Zoey, you can sleep with me."

"Zoey?"

"Like Elmo's friend. Now Gus has a friend too."

"Looks like you're keeping her." Brian laughed and let himself out as Lindsay tried to keep Gus from strangling the cat as he drug her up the stairs.

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