“The Results”

by Jo and Stacey

Sid could see Colin pacing back and forth down the hallway. He smiled and went in to see his wife. The results of the paternity testing on SJ were about to be revealed. He sat calmly in the chair beside Katherine's bed, lifted her hand and began stroking her fingers with a fingertip, his head tilted, a satisfied look on his handsome face.

Kate's brow was furrowed as she sat quietly biting her lip. The test just had to prove that Sid was the father...it just HAD to! The math was all a bit fuzzy but she had to believe that things would turn out in her favor. She let out a little sigh to herself and managed a smile as Sid entered the room and sat down beside her, his fingertip cool on the back of her hand as he lovingly stroked it.

"Any news yet?" she asked, worriedly.

"Any moment now," he said, "and then, at last, we'll be rid of that annoying garage-keeper for good." He closed his eyes a moment. "Then we can take our SJ home where he belongs. With me...and you, of course."

Kate managed another smile for him. She, too, closed her eyes a moment, her heart pounding as she nervously decided on whether she should actually tell her husband exactly what she'd been thinking.

Finally, she opened her mouth, unable to keep quiet any longer, "Sid... what...um... what if...," she paused, took a deep breath, "I mean, you know Colin and I were...um...together...what if the test shows...?"

"Not to fear," he said, his smile widening, "I am the father of the child. The test results will prove such to be the case... without doubt. Don't you worry your pretty head about it for a minute longer. Everything is fine. I promise."

The door opened and the doctor appeared, file in hand, closely followed by Colin.

"Ah, Doctor! Do come in. We are most eager to hear what you have to say, are we not?" He smiled past the doctor toward Colin, a little glitter in his eye.

Colin glared at Sid. It took all the strength he had to keep from telling the slimy bastard off. He held his head high and his shoulders back as he waited to hear the results he knew in his heart would prove once and for all that he was the true father of Kate's baby. After all, it didn't take a rocket scientist to be able to figure out the math.

He stood with his arms crossed in front of him, glaring smugly over towards Sid, his eyes locked on him, as they listened to what the doctor had to say.

"Mr. Harbour, Mrs. Harbour... I have the results of the DNA test," she paused, cleared her throat, and opened the file in her hands. Turning to Colin and Sid, Dr. Larkin said, "Perhaps you both should have a seat."

"I'd rather stand," Colin said, not taking his eyes off Sid's.

"Good idea. You can get the hell away from my baby faster that way." Sid smiled as he said it.

Kate held her breath as she squeezed Sid's hand and awaited the outcome. She couldn't bear to even look at Colin.

Dr. Larkin looked back down to her file, "The results show conclusively that Mr. Harbour IS the father." She turned to Colin, whose face had turned white as he stood with a shocked expression.

"Oh thank God!" Kate exclaimed, letting out the breath she'd been holding in. She smiled up at Sid, both surprised and relieved at the outcome.

"No, no, no, no," Colin was saying, "This can't be right!" He turned to Kate, "Kate, you know this can't be right... the math, it just doesn't add up..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. O'Brien," Dr. Larkin told him, concern in her voice, "the test is quite accurate."

"One doubts greasemonkeys are all that good at math anyway," Sid commented. "Thank you, Dr. Larkin, for taking your valuable time to come speak with us.  Now that that's done, you may go back to your wrenches and lugnuts and leave me and my family alone." He glared at Colin, trying to conceal his pleasure at the man's confusion.

Colin looked from Sid to Kate, his face a mixture of anger, hurt and confusion. He opened his mouth to say something to Kate, then stopped himself.

Kate couldn't bear to look at him, knowing how hurt he must be. Never the less, she herself was pleased at the outcome of the tests. Sid was her husband and she loved him dearly and it was natural that he should be the father of her child - not Colin.

"Colin... please, just... just go," Kate told him, as he stood staring at her. "Please, for once, don't make a scene... not today, not here."

Colin stared at her a moment more then glanced over to Sid - his eyes locked on the man's once more. He hated the man, hated that he took his girlfriend and his child from him. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to rip that smug grin from Sid's face, but instead he just gritted his teeth and quickly left the room.

"Now," Sid said, standing up, bending over the bed and giving Katherine a long, lingering kiss, "now we can go."