Susie emerged from the bathroom looking totally embarrassed and drained. She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and came over to Jeanie. Putting her hand on Mike's shoulder, Jeanie said,
"He knows, and he's going to talk to Larry. Don't worry. If anyone can help you, he can."
Mike was out the door in no time, walking to The Institute. He found Larry still working away on some detailed equipment inside the control panels, so he went to the rear of the lab and asked Cooper if he could borrow the blonde tech for a few minutes.
'What's up?" Cooper asked. "Larry in trouble?"
"His girl just showed up at my place. Said he's in three month's worth!"
The look on Cooper's face was priceless. He grinned, "You mean she's.....and he's....and he doesn't know....?"
"Yes!" Mike grinned back.
"Sure, take him outside for a few minutes.....as long as it takes, to give him a good talking to. Put in a few words for me, will you? I've always known someday he would get in over his head if he didn't cool down a little. But for his sake, don't be too harsh on him, alright? He'll probably be in shock for the next few days."
"Don't worry, I won't bruise his ego if I can help it!" Mike nodded, smiling. He went over and tapped Larry on the shoulder.
"Doc says you can take some time off for awhile. I need your help with a project I'm working on at home, o.k.?"
"Yeah! Great! Be with you in a sec!" the other said as he tightened something with a wrench on the top of the main console. When he was finished he threw the wrench down, grabbed his navy blue wind breaker from the coat rack, and the two friends headed out of the lab together. They were half-way down the corridor when finally Larry spoke again.
"What you havin' trouble with, friend?"
They were alone there, so Mike stopped so Larry would face him.
"I might as well give it to you straight, Larry. I've never kept anything from you, and I don't intend to start now. It's not a way to keep a friendship going. I don't have a problem at home, you do. It's Susie. She came to Jeanie in tears this morning. You see, she doesn't know where to turn, and wanted me to speak with you. I'm sorry I'm the one to tell you, but she's pregnant, Larry, and she says you're the father."
It seemed time froze for a few moments. Larry was so taken aback with the news he couldn't even open his mouth, but the expression in his eyes told how he felt. He was shattered, and felt as if he could fall to the floor in a pile of tiny glass pieces. When he was able to move again, he spun himself all the way around on his heel, slapping his leg angrily, and shouting, "God damn!" When he finally faced his friend again, he added,
"But I can't be the father, I.....I....didn't do anything...."