Uri’s jaw pulses but he doesn’t say anything. The doctor gives me a dour look over the tops of his glasses. “I meant physically.”
I shrug. “Tired. My whole body aches. Probably because I haven’t been allowed any proper exercise since I was first trapped down here.”
Most doctors might view that as “alarming” or, at the very least, “noteworthy.” This one doesn’t bat an eye. I get the feeling he’s seen a lot worse than a hostage in a well-furnished basement getting fed three square meals a day. “How’s your appetite?”
“Nonexistent.”
“But you are eating?”
“Only when Nikolai comes in here and forces me to.”
That, finally, gets a reaction out of Uri. His eyes scour over me as his jaw tightens even further. I’m guessing he didn’t know about Nikolai’s visits.
Interesting.
“Can you lift up your shirt for me?”
I do as I’m told. Despite being only thirteen weeks along, I definitely have a belly. It’s small but it’s there. The doctor presses his fingers against the swell and purses up his lips.
“Well, you’re pregnant.”
I look up at Uri. “You happy now?”
He ignores me. “I want a sonogram done, Doctor. I want to be a hundred percent sure.”
“Do you really think I’ve tricked the doctor, too?” I demand.
Again, he ignores me. Why does that feel so much worse?
The doctor turns on the machine and squirts some of the ultrasound jelly onto my belly. It’s unexpectedly cold and I squirm in place until my body gets used to the substance. I don’t even notice that the screen has lit up with images of my womb.
“Whoa,” I breathe. “Is that my baby?”
The doctor’s eyes are fixed on the screen as he passes the rod up and down my belly. “Well, what have we here…？”
I frown. “Is everything alright?” The panic starts to build higher and higher the longer he delays answering me. My mind starts to spiral. Is there something wrong with my baby? Has all the stress affected the fetus? Should I have eaten more? Did I hurt my own baby before it’s even born?
Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.
I grab my bracelet and try to draw strength from my Z link. God knows I don’t have the father’s hand to hold, so this will have to suffice.
“It looks like we have twins on our hands.”
My hand drops my bracelet. My jaw drops right along with it. “I’m sorry… Did you just say twins?”
Dr. Grigory turns to me with the first glimmers of a muted smile. “I did. You’re having two babies, Alyssa.”
I let out a breath that comes out as a sob and a gasp all rolled up into one. “I’m a twin,” I say softly.
“It does tend to run in families. Congratulations.”
I can’t rub my belly because of all the ultrasound gunk lathered all over it but I look down at myself and I experience a rare moment of happiness. It’s a welcome respite from the last few weeks.
Twins.
My God.
Ziva, wherever you are… thank you.
“Can you tell if they’re going to be boys or girls?” I ask excitedly.
Dr. Grigory pats my knee. “I’m afraid it’s too early to tell. But another month and we should be able to discern.”
“Twins,” I repeat again, looking once more towards the screen. I can see the tiny little peanuts floating around in my belly. “Twins, Ziva.”
I grab my Z link again. It’s probably silly but it feels like a sign. A sign that I’m not alone. That Ziva is here with me—guiding me, helping me, protecting me. I’m not completely alone, even if it feels that way more often than not.
I turn towards Uri, excited to see his reaction. But all my joy curdles in my chest when I notice the deadpan scowl on his face. It’s utterly emotionless. He may as well have been told that his brake pads need to be changed.
“Thank you, Doctor,” he rumbles at last before gesturing to his men to help the doctor pack away his equipment. “We can wrap this up.”
It takes everything I have in me not to bury my face in the pillow and scream.
Before he leaves, Dr. Grigory prescribes some prenatal vitamins for me, as well as medication to help with the nausea. He makes me promise to eat well and drink lots of water and then he leaves with a crisp parting nod.
The security follows, hauling out the equipment the exact same way they hauled it in. I look up, hoping to catch Uri’s eye—but he doesn’t so much as glance at me before the door shuts in my face.