round and around we go

 "Do you know how high your blood pressure is?" Dan asked. He'd taken Ivy's blood pressure with the kit at home.

She said nothing but swelled a frown. Finally, she said it was all Jay's fault. He'd found someone. The coworker was moving in.

"Oh," Dan told himself time and time again he'd be better with these situations, but he didn't really know-how. "I'm concerned about this. I want you to get a check-up." It was best to stay focused on her blood pressure.

"Why? I don't have time for that," Ivy winced back as if he had no right to tell her anything. He grabbed his thermometer gun and zapped her forehead. No fever, at least. 

"You need to relax," he said.

"How can I?" When Hope was with Jay there was her older pre-schooler son (from Brian) Keanu and of course her part-time job. Although, she worked from home.

"Just tell them you can't take him right now. You, have to take care of yourself." Dan sighed wondering what could he really do.

"I don't want to go to the hospital." She fretted and hugged herself.

"Of course, you don't." He nodded and went to get the last thing in the medicine cabinet. Perhaps it was time. At least, they could rule it out.

"Just take this." He handed the pregnancy test over to her. 

"Why would I do that?" She looked at him as if he'd really lost it. Sex was a rare treat these days. They were hardly ever alone.

"Didn't we have sex when we got the flu?" He shrugged.

"Well, that was just..." She winced as if she could barely remember it.

"You were the one going on how sexy  you were, even if you had such a raspy voice." He tilted his head as if it wasn't easy to explain this.

"Yeah, but-" He could tell by that stare how sexy she thought she was, and evidently she was.

"It's probably nothing-" Dan kept even lipped. As always, he felt he was up to nothing these days, but work and more work and then to come home to cook and clean.

She looked up at him as if he was the worst. She took the pink box as if she would actually do something he wanted her to do.

"Well, if anybody can handle it," Jory gave Dan a slap on the back as they went out into the cold to shoot a few hoops. "It's you. Congratulations." 

Of course, Dan didn't smile back. He was as somber as he ever was.

"Look, you are the best. Much better than me," Jory confessed as he threw the ball hard and Dan took it like he was down to business on the court.

"Oh, you have such confidence in me," He possibly smirked as he took a shot and it went in. The wind was getting brisk. There was no reason to be here, but it was good to be outside.

"Well, I'm kind of dense. And selfish and lord knows how long the list really is, " Jory's smile was open. "It just goes on and on with Rachel." He mentioned how she was on his ass about getting them a house. "God, I wish I'd bought one when I got here." The market was so intense these days. They were stuck.

"I know, I wish I'd kept my parents' house," Dan nodded. They played another round of one on one. Moving built warmth, but Jory knew they'd get sick if they stayed out in these plunging temps. 

"Why is it so hard to make a woman happy?" Jory wanted to know and he got a snicker out of Dan as they walked to the gas station for some coffee. 

"I thought you nailed it with Rachel," Dan smirked. "I mean, you guys are starting a family."

"It's never-ending, you know." Jay nodded with a sigh. "She's got me calling my family at least once a week now. Thank god, they aren't coming out here until May."

"So how's that long-lost sister of yours?" Dan asked after they sat down by the window in the corner with their hot coffee. 

"I don't really know," Jory said Rachel was keeping tabs on that. Lynsey wasn't with Casey anymore. "How's your long-lost sister?"

"She's been good," Dan nodded. "At the University. We try to see each other more often."

Jory sighed. Just one more thing Rachel wanted him to do. Go and see Lynsey.