Time Jump -- six months later

[slayers_desire]

Her third pregnancy had been different than the first -- but April couldn't really place a reason why. The morning sickness lasted longer. She felt tired more often.

And the cravings for blood were more frequent -- and more demanding on her.

Even now that she was six months pregnant, she was still getting sick occasionally. And she felt it harder and harder to feel motivated for most normal things.

And today -- she can't get out of bed. Literally, it is like her insides hurt.

"Clark..." He was going to get the two other kids ready for the morning. But even though he is down the hall with Jonathan and Laura, she knows that he will hear her.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark's been worried about April as this third pregnancy has progressed. The other two weren't as hard on her, and he's felt fortunate that he heals so quickly, with the amount of times she's needed his blood.

He's in the middle of dressing Laura for the day when he hears April, and hears that odd note of pain in her voice. This is something new.

He sets Laura down on the floor next to Jonathan. "Watch your sister for a minute, okay?" He waits just long enough to see his son nod before he rushes back to the master bedroom. "April?"

[slayers_desire]

April can't even give Clark a weak smile right now. "My insides hurt... I think something is endangering the baby."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The news is like being doused with ice water, and though he doesn't panic, it's a near thing. "We need to get you to a doctor."

[slayers_desire]

"I agree..." She takes several deep breaths. "We better call in a babysitter."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark nods and immediately goes for his phone, dialing Impulse's number. "Bart, we need you to watch the kids. It's an emergency." Not his first choice, but certainly the fastest.

To his credit, Bart doesn't ask many questions, simply showing up at the door within a few seconds of Clark's call. "Everything okay?"

[slayers_desire]

In times like this -- when she can barely move out of bed, without feeling pain (which doesn't happen. This might be the first time) -- April is glad she is a psychic. She can use her telekinesis to get a bag ready. And dressed while Clark is downstairs talking to Bart.

She swings her feet to sit on the edge of the bed. But waits for Clark before she tries to stand. After all, April also knows her limits.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Not exactly," Clark answers. "I don't have time to talk about it. The kids are upstairs."

Bart looks concerned and slightly startled at Clark's uncharacteristic shortness. "Okay, get going then. Don't let me hold you up."

Clark's already heading back up to the bedroom, trying to decide where he can take April. The hospital is a bad idea, in case the problem is something to do with the baby's heritage.

[slayers_desire]

Luckily they have a few doctors they can call upon -- without even having to go to the hospital. And there are a couple who have offices at Watchtower Prime who care for those with special abilities.

April uses Clark's support to get up to her feet. She immediately puts her arms around her neck. "Let's go."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark picks her up, and takes off without hesitation. Watchtower Prime is the only destination that makes sense, although he doesn't waste any time calling ahead there either.

A small part of him feels guilty for not telling the children that Mommy and Daddy are leaving for a little while, but he doesn't want to use valuable time trying to explain why.

[slayers_desire]

April knows that the children will be a little upset -- especially since April and Clark usually have time to say goodbyes before leaving in the past. Or one of them stays behind to answer questions.

But she hopes they will understand.

Luckily for them -- one of the doctors at Watchtower Prime is at his office today.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We need help," Clark says upon entering Watchtower Prime, still carrying April. "Something's wrong with the baby."

[slayers_desire]

"Right this way..." The nice nurse leads them to a back room. She gives April a hospital gown to change into.

"The doctor will be right with you."

April will need some help changing. But by the time she is in the hospital gown, the doctor has entered the room.

"I'm Doctor Cameron Scott. My nurse is Janet." He introduced himself. He helps April to lay down as he checks her vitals. Janet gets an ultrasound machine so they can also examine the baby.

"Our records show that this is your third child? Were your pregnancies like this before?" He of course wasn't the attending doctor in those situations, but he wants to know everything to help.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark shakes his head. "No, they went fine. We had to have a C-section for our first, but everything before that was fine."

[slayers_desire]

Doctor Scott refers to their file again, while Janet preps Aprils' stomach for the ultrasound. "This could be complications because of the fact you are both different species. But let's take a look, shall we?"

The tiny fetus appears on the ultrasound monitor. The doctor frowns at some of the vitals he sees on the read-out. "The baby is definitely under stress."

"We have to do an amniocentesis test. It will collect amniotic fluid, which contains discarded cells from the fetus, to detect certain types of birth defects."

"Will it hurt?" April worries.

"I am afraid so. But it is a necessity so I can see what is going on."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark feels his heart clench when he hears the word 'birth defects,' and he squeezes April's hand a little tighter. "Do it."

[slayers_desire]

"Okay Mrs. Kent, just lay as still as possible. It is important that you do not move." The needle necessary for the procedure is very thin and long. And it takes a lot of willpower for April not to flinch during the process.

"According to our files, both of your first two children have similar blood cells as you, Mr. Kent. Is it going to be possible to get a blood sample from you?" Janet asks softly.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Fortunately, because of April's increased need for blood, Clark has simply taken to carrying his blue kryptonite bracelet around with him. "Yes," he says, reaching into his pocket for the lead box containing the mineral.

[slayers_desire]

"I will take a small sample so we can compare it with the amniotic fluid." Janet explains, as she prepares a needle to withdraw some blood.

Already, the doctor is collecting the sample he will need to do some tests.

"It will require 15 minutes for us to complete testing." He informs them.

April nods, right now she can only look at the ultrasound monitor and wait for answers.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Fifteen minutes is a long time when you're waiting anxiously for news. Clark refuses to leave April's side, holding her hand. He can't stop thinking about what might be wrong with the baby, why this pregnancy would be so different. There's only one thing he can think of that might be different, and he's scared to voice it out loud, but it still echoes over the bond.

What if it was the red kryptonite?

[slayers_desire]

April grasps his hand tightly, tilting her head to look at him when he voices his concerns.

We will face this together. No matter if it was... or wasn't

[kalel_ofkrypton]

I know. He squeezes her hand, though he can't stop feeling guilty. What if it was the red kryptonite? What if it's his fault there's something wrong?

[slayers_desire]

She frowns slightly, sensing his guilt so strongly. Please... don't blame yourself.

The doctor comes back into the room. He has a concerned, serious face.

"Clark. April." He uses first names this time. "There are no birth defects." He knows that is something they would want to hear first.

"However... the baby's amniotic fluid is the similar to April's blood. Which is causing the stress. The baby requires more blood than the others two did. And while Clark's blood was the right type for the first two children... this one is not getting the same kind of nourishment. The baby is demanding more from April herself, instead."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Hearing that they can't detect any defects is a small relief, though then he still has to worry about what else might be wrong. He listens as the doctor lays out what they know about the baby, and April's condition. "What does that mean?"

[slayers_desire]

"This will be a very risky pregnancy. As you are aware -- animal blood or human blood wasn't enough to sustain the first two children."

"So we are faced with the dilemma that we basically need vampire blood to help sustain this child."

"Which is why I must put you on bed rest... immediately. The baby is able to access your blood naturally... but any extra physical demands of your blood -- is basically taking that nourishment away from the baby."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The news is very concerning to Clark. "Will that be enough on its own, or do we need to find a vampire to donate?" He's not even thinking about the fact that April being confined to bed for the next few months will complicate their lives. All he's concerned about is her health, and the health of the baby.