Relationship Out of WHAK

Saturday, August 6, 1988

'Congratulations everybody! That is the most amazing thing I ever saw,' exclaimed Walter, referring to the birth of Terri's baby.

'Yea!' Maddie squealed with excitement, while David smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

They watched in awe, as Walter Bishop cradled the newborn baby boy, placing him down gently in his mother's awaiting arms. Then, like clockwork, the doctor came through the curtain and brushed past them.

David was the first to feel like maybe he didn't belong there, and so he quietly backed out of the room.

Maddie, her curiosity getting the better of her, lingered and watched for a moment as the doctor tended to Terri. She was well aware that before long, she, too, would be in a similar situation. A nurse came into the room, placed her hand on Maddie's arm and asked her to wait outside in the lobby. 'Oh, I'm sorry... yes, of course. I just... I lost my bearings there for a minute. I'm sorry.' She seemed embarrassed and confused, like she'd just snapped out of a daydream.

Maddie walked out into the hallway and immediately noticed that David was missing. She went to check the lobby and the waiting area. There was no sign of him anywhere, and she suddenly felt strangely alone and so out of place. What was she doing here? Then... sheer relief... when he appeared from around the corner.

'There you are... I was looking for you! Where were you?'

'Men's room. Everything okay?' He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. 'You look frazzled.'

'Thanks,' she said sarcastically. 'I'm okay... are you okay?'

'Yeah. I'm okay.'

'Okay.' There, that was settled... they were both okay.

They stood there... just looking at each other. David could tell Maddie wanted to explode with questions for him. She could tell he knew he had some explaining to do. But now that they both had a chance to calm down, they knew this was not really the time nor the place.

Still, she needed to ask him one simple question though. 'Can you just tell me who that woman is?'

David looked around and pointed to some random woman standing by the nurses' station. 'You mean that woman? Don't know her.'

'David!' She wanted to ring his neck.

He was angry with her, too, but she did ask a fair question. 'Her name's Terri Knowles. I met her when I enrolled in Lamaze class. She was alone... I was alone. She asked if I'd be her partner.'

Maddie looked him in the eye as the full realization of the situation hit her. 'And you were doing all that for me...'

'For you...for us... for the baby.'

The depth of how deeply he cared for her practically took her breath away. She whispered the words, 'Thank you.'

He nodded, 'You're welcome.' Then he couldn't help but smile at her, but behind it, the hurt still lingered.

She was a little unsure of herself when she asked, 'Do you feel like taking a walk or something? We can get a little fresh air if you want...'

'No, I think... I should probably stay close by here in case Terri needs my help.'

'Right.' His words cut deep, and there was no hiding her disappointment. 'But I understand, though.'

'Look, we got it covered here. You and Walter... you should go home. He was up all night... and he doesn't strike me as the type of guy who's used to staying up all night. Like you, he strikes me as more of the "in bed by 9:30" type. He's bound to be exhausted. And I have no doubt that you are, too.'

Ever the stubborn one, she contested. 'I don't wanna go home... and I'm not tired.'

'Okay, whatever, Maddie... you're gonna do what you want. I, however, am going to go back and check on Terri.'

Maddie watched as David walked away. She felt bad. She lied to him. She was tired. But she had this unnerving feeling that she couldn't leave this place without him. Like if she left him here tonight, she might lose him forever. She felt this way, even though right now, he wasn't really hers to lose. So, she found a quiet waiting room, where the lights were dimmed, and she sat down and just closed her eyes for a while.

David returned to the delivery room to find Terri comfortably sitting up in bed, nursing her baby. He wanted to give her some privacy, so he went to sit down in the waiting room across the hall. Walter was in there, as well, and he put out his hand to David, as if to welcome him to sit nearby.

'Hey,' David said, as he took a seat.

'Hello David, is everything okay? Is Maddie okay?'

'Yeah, she's fine.' This was awkward for David for so many reasons. Not only did he know why Maddie took up with Walter in the first place, but he also knew that Walter knew that he knew why Maddie took up with him in the first place. Try saying that three times! And then the thought occurred to him that the man sitting across from him may very well be sharing a bed with Maddie. Awkward... no... awkward didn't even begin to describe how uncomfortable David felt sitting there.

He couldn't show it to Walter... to Terri... not to anyone, but David had never felt more wounded in his life. He didn't think there was any way he and Maddie could ever recover from this. She didn't understand him. She didn't understand that he would've done anything for her and the baby she's carrying. Anything. He would've moved mountains, but she didn't understand him. It really was that simple. And it all just broke his heart. Leaving... finding a new job... was probably the only thing he could do right now.

Likely sensing David's discomfort, Walter stood up. 'Well, I think I'm going to go take a walk down to the cafeteria. Can I get you anything? A cup of coffee, soda? I could get you a sandwich…'

'No, Walter. I'm good, but thank you.'

A couple hours went by, and Walter never came back. At least David didn't think so. He might've dozed off for part of that time, so he couldn't say for sure. He got up to go see Terri, and to his great surprise, found Walter sleeping in the chair next to her. Terri was holding the baby in her arms. David went over to her and kissed her cheek. 'Mother and son look happy and healthy,' he said with a big smile.

'We are, David, we are.'

'Did you decide on a name?'

'I did, but you're not going to believe it.'

'Try me… after the week I've had, I think I'd believe just about anything.'

'David, I would like you to meet… Walter Hayes Addison Knowles.'

'Ah... I like that... got a nice ring to it,' David spoke softly. 'Named after this bunch of crazies present at his birth. I'm sorry about all that, by the way.'

'Don't be sorry, David. Think of the story I have to tell.'

'That's true. Can I call him Wally?' David's focus was on the baby, so when Terri didn't give him an answer, he looked up at her.

'Only if he can call you, Uncle David...'

David was truly touched. 'Yeah... I'd like that...'

The nurse came in to take the baby back to the nursery, giving Terri the opportunity to get some much-needed sleep. David took a seat at the foot of the bed. He put his head back and closed his eyes. A short time later he heard footsteps coming down the hall... familiar footsteps.

Maddie's footsteps. His heart skipped a beat.

'Hi,' she whispered. 'Is it okay if I come in?'

'Sure... I woulda thought you'd have gone home by now.'

'I fell asleep in one of the waiting rooms,' she said matter-of-factly.

'Oh. Here... take a seat.' He motioned for her to sit down next to him. He wasn't about to show it on the outside, but he was happy to see her. Hell, he was always happy to see her... even after everything she put him through since she returned from Chicago. That's why it pained him so much to tell her what he was about to tell her.

But then she spoke first. 'What did Terri name the baby?'

'You won't believe it. She named him after all of us. Walter Hayes Addison Knowles.'

Maddie sat there and considered the name. 'Walter... Hayes... Addison... Knowles...'

'Who'd a thunk it?'

'Quite a day, huh? Weddings... births...'

'Yeah...'

'We can talk about it now... if you want... I mean the kiss.' She sounded hopeful.

'No,' he answered her. He figured, what was the point? 'Maddie, when you show up for work on Monday, I'm probably not gonna be there...'