TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter/story includes depictions or allusions to rape/non-consensual sex/sexual assault.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Oscar parked the car and turned to his friend. "Okay, so before we go in there, there are two things I need you to please keep in mind." Mer blinked. "One, this is an aquarium, so that means there are a lot of fish behind glass. You can't eat them." Mer nodded but Oscar was pretty sure he didn't understand the gravity of the situation. "Two, Trent works here. He is a tour guide, so I have no idea where he may or may not be. If you see him walking through the hallways, don't tackle him or do anything untoward to him. He's working, okay?"

Mer gave him a thumbs up and Oscar closed his eyes, not really ready for what may or may not come. He sighed and got out of the car as Mer followed him.

*******************

They walked into the aquarium and as Oscar suspected, Mer immediately stopped and looked at everything in awe. Oscar made a face as Mer looked above him at a model whale and the walls painted like the ocean. It could never compare to the real thing, but it made Mer feel like he was home again. Oscar grabbed his hand and he looked at him.

"Come on, we need to go see Kyle."

But-

"I can take you on a tour or something later, okay?"

Mer nodded as Oscar pulled him along. How can someone who lived in the depths of the ocean and has probably seen these creatures firsthand be so enthralled with this? Oscar thought as he pressed the button for the elevator.

Mer was looking around some more when he spotted one of the large tanks set into the wall and wiggled his hand free from Oscar's to take a look. It was the Open Ocean tank that housed many fish including angel fish, schools of tuna and bass, large stalks of coral with tiny clownfish nestled in the anemones, different sized rays, a few eels that peeked out from their holes, and many more. Mer squealed in delight and pointed at them, looking over at Oscar. Oscar smiled as the elevator opened up and he motioned for Mer to come with him.

"It's not like you didn't live in the ocean." He said as he stepped onto the elevator.

Mer went over to where Oscar had gone and looked at the rectangle room in speculation. After some coaxing, he finally stepped inside and Oscar pressed the button, the doors closing. The elevator moved a bit and Mer gasped, grabbing onto Oscar for dear life.

WHY ARE WE MOVING!!! he signed largely while still trying to hold onto Oscar the same time.

Oscar started laughing. "It's called an elevator. It helps humans get to the top and bottom of really tall buildings."

Mer didn't argue and closed his eyes when the movement stopped and the rectangle room dinged. He looked out and saw daylight, piquing his interest to let go of Oscar. He walked out of the elevator and immediately felt nauseous. He had never been so high, so fast...

"You okay?" He shook his head. Oscar noticed the pallor of his face. "You need to throw up?" Mer nodded.

Oscar tried to find something for him to vomit it and grabbed an empty bucket. He shoved it under Mer's face just as he hurled into it. The office door where Kyle works opened up just then as she came out holding two buckets full of fish heads and other sludges. Seeing Oscar and hearing Mer, she stopped walking and stared at him.

"Why are you up here?"

"Hello to you too?"

Kyle looked at Mer and then yelled, dropping the buckets and running over to Mer. She pulled the bucket out from him and looked inside, a horrified expression on her face.

"What the hell is your problem?!"

"What do you mean?"

"You- You-" She looked up at Oscar with a fierce expression. "Do you not know how to fucking read?!" she snarled.

"Huh?" She pointed to the Sharpie writing on the side where it said, CONTAINS ACTIVE JELLIES. Oscar squinted at the writing and then looked at Mer, who was wiping his mouth. "Well shit, Kyle, how am I supposed to read that when it's facing the opposite direction and written so small an ant couldn't read it? And who keeps jellyfish in a Home Depot bucket?!"

Kyle started yelling even more as Oscar stood his ground on the information not being given properly. 

***********************

While they yelled at each other, Mer walked over to the other buckets that were lined up along the wall and saw one with a lid on it that had a picture of the head of Medusa on top of it. He turned his head at it and opened the lid. There he found three large jellyfish calmly floating in the water. He looked back at the two of them as they yelled at each other. How am I supposed to tell them that the jellyfish are safe? he thought.

He tried squealing at them and he even tried yelling Oscar's name but he wasn't able to yell very loud. Finally he just dipped his hand into the water and pulled the large jellyfish out. He walked over to the two of them and squealed loudly, shoving the jellyfish between them. Kyle yelped, jumping back as Oscar leaned back.

"Whoa! Mer!" Oscar chastised.

Mer glared at him as Kyle walked closer.

"Where did you find that? And how are you holding it? Doesn't it sting?"

Mer shook his head and then pointed to the open bucket that was at the wall. Kyle walked over as Mer trailed behind and looked in the bucket, seeing the other jellyfish in there. She made a face and then looked at the long tendrils wrapped around Mer's arms.

"I could have sworn I put moon jellyfish in the bucket, not black nettles..." She looked at Mer and scratched her head a little. "Sorry I yelled at you... You can put it back now."

Mer nodded and put the jellyfish back in the bucket with the others. Kyle put the lid back on and then looked at the two of them.

"Why are you two here?"

Oscar looked at Mer for a second. "There's been a um... revelation about Mer's condition and I would like to get him checked out. You're the only person who believes he's a merman and also might have the equipment we need."

Kyle frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Remember, I said he was pregnant?"

"Ohhhh, I got you. Well, you kind of caught me in the middle of feeding all the large fish."

"I'll help you out."

Me too.

"You can't." Oscar said.

Why not?

"Because until we get a good gauge on what's happening I don't want you to lift heavy stuff, okay?"

Mer looked perturbed and crossed his arms but he nodded and sat on the bench next to the jellyfish. Kyle watched him walk away and looked at Oscar.

"Is it really that serious?"

"Yeah... it's... pretty crucial we understand what's happening."

Kyle nodded. "Alright then. When we are done you tell me what you need and I'll see what we can do."

Oscar nodded and grabbed one of the buckets.

******************

After about twenty minutes, they were done and Kyle motioned for them to come into her office so they could talk privately. She directed Mer to sit in her chair while she stood up and leaned on the desk.

"Oscar says this is kind of serious?" Mer nodded. Kyle looked at Oscar. "What's going on?"

Oscar reminded her of what happened the day before and then told her about the 'large' discovery. Kyle glanced at Mer a couple of times during the explanation and then finally turned to him fully.

"Can I get you to lay down on that bed?"

Mer obliged and laid down on his back. Kyle pulled his shirt up to see his stomach and reached out to touch it then pulled back.

"Is it okay to touch your belly? Some people are weird about it and you don't know me well enough..."

Mer looked at Oscar and he smiled at him. Mer nodded and Kyle did as well, reaching out to touch his tummy. She could feel the taut skin under her and felt around gently, trying to determine if the size of the child was really this big or something else. She prodded Mer a little and then stood back up, looking down at him with a curious expression.

"And you say you're only a month along?" Mer nodded. "I'm not necessarily doubting you but are you sure it's just a month since this happened?" Mer nodded again with a frown. Kyle also frowned. "Oscar, can you step out for just a moment?"

"Huh?"

"Step outside for just a moment. I need to speak with Mer personally."

"You can't read sign language?"

"I have paper. Out."

Oscar made a face but stepped out of the office. Kyle made sure he wasn't eavesdropping and then grabbed some sticky notes and a pen. She sat down in the chair and rolled over to in front of Mer. She handed him the writing stuff and looked at him with a worried expression.

"I know this is scary and I can't imagine the hell you went through to end up in this situation. I know you don't know me very well, but I want to help you as much as possible. I had Oscar leave because I want to make sure that you're telling me the absolute and utter truth. You don't have to spare my feelings and Oscar isn't here to spare his. Please answer me honestly: are you truly only one month along?"

Mer stared at her for a moment and then wrote on the sticky note.

Y DOO U NOT BELEEV ME?

Kyle smiled kindly. "It's not a matter of that, Mer. I'm here to help you (both) and even though I don't know you two that well, from what I have heard of your relationship, you both tend to do this weird 'not lying by omission' thing. You know Oscar is quite... dramatic when he is feeling his feels," Mer smirked. "And I just want to make sure that you're not trying to lighten the gravity of this issue just so Oscar won't continue to feel guilty... like saying it's recent but it isn't. I'm not trying to make you say something else and I'm not saying I don't believe you just because, I just want to know where you really are so I can help you. This is confidential between us, okay?"

Mer thought for a moment and then made a gesture for a bigger piece of paper. Kyle grabbed some computer paper and he folded it to write. He handed it to her.

THE CHILD IS REELY ONLY A MUNTH. ONNEST. BUT... IT IS NOT THE FERST TIME SHE TRIDE.

Kyle read the sentences and then looked at Mer with a hurt look.

"Can I ask a professional but also personal question?" Mer nodded. "Were you... held against your will?"

Mer bristled and looked away. It was all Kyle needed to know.

"Understood. One more question and I won't make you speak anymore of it, okay?" Mer nodded but he wouldn't look at her. "You said it wasn't the first time she tried. The first time she tried to... have sex with you or the first time she tried to um... uh... breed you?"

Mer looked down at his lap but didn't answer. Kyle needed to know but didn't at the same time (more for literal and figurative damage control) and so she was going to drop it when Mer held up two fingers. Kyle turned her head at that, not sure what was happening and then realized what he meant. Kyle felt her heart drop and she put her hands around his hand to make him stop. He looked up at her and she smiled sadly at him.

"You don't have to answer any more questions, okay?" He nodded and she pat his hand. "I'm so sorry you had to endure this. I'm so sorry this person did this to you." He nodded again and she sniffled, trying not to cry. "With that said, I'll need to take a look at the baby and figure out the growth pattern. You may be in for one hell of a package."

She got up to let Oscar back in but Mer grabbed her hand, making her turn back. He handed her a sticky note.

U PROMISS NOT TO TELL OSKER?

"I promise. That's something for you to say if you want to say it. There are some further tests that I need to do because of that, but Oscar doesn't need to know what they are for. I'm your doctor and on land we have this thing called 'doctor/patient confidentiality'. It means that only you and I know this information unless you allow me to tell someone or you do it yourself. I am under law not to tell him."

Mer nodded and wrote again. I WANT TO SAY IT TO HIM MYSELF. HE WILL BE BETTERR IF I SAY IT.

"Understood."

She went to leave again but Mer pulled her hand again, another sticky note placed in it.

RITE?

"I just said I wouldn't tell him-" Mer shook his head and pointed to the second sentence about him telling Oscar. Kyle didn't really understand and Mer jabbed at the sentence again. "I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what you mean."

Mer sighed, hating that he couldn't talk to emphasize what he wanted. He wrote on another sticky note, hoping to clarify.

OSKER WILL TAKE IT BETTER IF I TELL HIM, RITE?

Kyle gave a slight nod in understanding now. "Ah, I see... Well... I honestly couldn't tell you. Oscar's a funny guy when it comes to stuff like that. He's very... involved, I guess would be the word. He seems to put his whole self into these things and is more empathetic than normal. It's like he purposefully imagines himself in the same scenario so that he can be as close to the same feelings as you are in order to understand how to help you. I mean... that's the definition of empathy but he kind of takes it to the extreme. You know him better than I do, Mer: do you think he can handle it?"

Mer shrugged. U R RITE ABOWT HOW HE IZ. IT MAY NOT MATTER.

"Damned if you do and damned if you don't, right?" Mer nodded with a sigh. Kyle put her hand on his arm, not tall enough to reach his shoulder. "Whatever decision you make and however you decide to do it, it will be the right one. This is your experience and you have every right to tell whoever you want and however you want to. Oscar will have to accept whatever form that may come in. He really has no say in that."

Mer nodded and Kyle went to the door.

"I'd throw all these notes away so he doesn't see them."

He nodded again and started gathering up the stickies and crumbling them up. Oscar came back in just as Mer threw the last of the notes away.

"You alright?"

Mer nodded and Oscar sighed as Kyle frowned from behind him.

"What do you think I was doing to him?"

"I don't know."

She made a face at him. "With the child being so large and it only being one month, I'd like to do an ultrasound on him and see where we are in terms of growth." She looked at her watch. "Don't you have work to do?"

Oscar looked at his as well. "Oh, shoot..."

"Would you be opposed to me keeping Mer up here while you work? I won't send him off for studies or anything. I mean, it's not everyday as a marine biologist that I get a real merman in my midst."

Oscar looked at Mer. "Would you be okay with that?"

Do I have to go back in the shaky up and down rectangle?

Oscar laughed a little. "He wants to know if he will have to go in the elevator."

"I mean, we can take the stairs down but I'm not climbing four flights to come back up. I can try to manage the tasks around so that we can go floor by floor, I guess..."

Mer smiled and gave Oscar a thumbs up.

"If you're okay with it, I can leave you with Kyle. If you need anything, either of you, I'm right downstairs in the gift shop."

Mer nodded and Oscar waved goodbye as he went to the elevator. Mer looked back at Kyle as she smiled at him a little too much. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Grab a notebook, dude. You're going to be telling me some facts."