"You don't have to hide that you've got an erection from me."
Ryan moved his hands, and the paper covering sprung back up a little. "It's just a little embarrassing, I guess. I've had plenty of exams before, but we literally had sex for the first time like, four days ago."
Scott nodded understandingly. "It feels different because we have a relationship than it would if I were a random doctor working at the city clinic?"
Ryan nodded. "I know you're a doctor, and you're here to do doctor things, and pretty much nothing you've done so far has been different from other exams I've had–"
"Other gynecologists have given you their jacket?"
"Besides that!" Ryan laughed. "I just think, maybe my body's reading the situation wrong, and expecting something. I've never gotten a boner during an exam before."
"I've had a few patients get aroused while getting a pelvic exam. It's not out of the ordinary. But," he got in real close to whisper in Ryan's ear, "considering our existing relationship, I don't mind helping alleviate the symptoms once we're done?"
"No no no! It'll go away on its own. Besides, this setting is really weird. And well... you know I can't keep quiet.'
"Fair enough." Scott didn't push it any further. In this instant, Ryan may be his boyfriend, but he was also a patient. They were in an exam room, not the bedroom. He chided himself. He was perfectly capable of waiting before, there's no reason he couldn't be patient now. It was a little harder now that he'd gotten a taste, but not impossible.
Next came the fun part. Ryan repositioned himself and propped his feet up in the stirrups. It was an overly vulnerable position, and in previous exams there'd always been another person present, but this time he felt safe enough to request just the doctor, considering who that was.
Scott narrated the whole ordeal as he did it, which put Ryan more at ease. The speculum was cold, but there wasn't much that could be done about that. He hated the clicking sound as it locked open, but there wasn't much that could be done about that either. The swab was downright uncomfortable, but Scott was over quickly. Having the steady monologue throughout it was nice. Needless to say, Ryan didn't have to worry about his lap covering popping up by the time it was done.
Next was the even more fun part. Out came the speculum and in went the fingers. True to his promise, Scott didn't probe his prostate, but Ryan still had to sit through whatever that belly squishing part was called where they somehow could feel his internal reproductive organs. Despite the person performing it, it was a decidedly unsexy experience. Ryan could never tell the difference between one part of his belly and another, but he figured Scott knew what he was doing. He couldn't see Scott's full face clearly because of their positions, but his brows were knitted and he kept checking the same spot for some reason.
"Ryan, how regular are your periods?"
"What?!" Ryan was surprised by the question. "What do you mean? I don't get periods. I'm a guy! I've never had a period."
"Omegas have uteruses, so they should have periods, but I can't find your uterus." Scott pulled his fingers out.
"You... can't find my uterus?" Ryan was confused.
"Yeah. Your ovaries are fine, and right where they're supposed to be, but your uterus isn't there. We're still waiting on getting your patient file from your previous doctor's office but, do you remember ever getting a hysterectomy?"
"No...? I've only ever had one surgery, when I had appendicitis as a kid."
Scott looked thoughtful. "Wait here, I'm going to go get something. You can get out of the stirrups now. Don't get dressed yet though."
Scott left quickly leaving Ryan even more confused. Still, he was thankful for getting to sit back up and close his legs. It was weird, he didn't feel as exposed when they were in Scott's bedroom doing pretty much the same thing as he did now. It was an atmosphere thing, probably.
Scott wasn't gone too long, and ended up bringing in a device that looked like a fancy rolling AV cart.
"What's that?" Ryan asked a little apprehensively.
"An ultrasound machine. I want to get a clearer picture of your abdomen. Don't worry, it won't hurt. And I'm not putting anything else inside you." He gave a wry look and added, "Not until you tell me to, anyway."
Ryan stuck his tongue out and followed Scott's instructions to lay back down. He'd never had an ultrasound before, but he thought it was only used to look at babies? The gel Scott put on him felt weird and cold. Well, pelvic exams were never a pleasant experience either way. Scott slid the scanner across his belly, studying the screen intently, humming thoughtfully. He'd wondered how Ryan could have such bad hemophobia as someone who should have a period, and now he had his answer.
"Remember how you said the thought of being pregnant made you uncomfortable?" Scott asked as he started at the grayscale monitor.
"Uh, yeah...?"
Ryan had a second of an 'oh shit am I pregnant' panic before Scott added, "Looks like you don't have to worry about that. You've had a subtotal hysterectomy. You can't get pregnant. Twenty-odd years ago it was an uncommon practice, but parents could consent to sterilize their male omega children, especially if they were already going in for surgery, so that's probably what happened. That's not the case now, but yeah. Your cervix is intact, but you have no uterus."
Scott's words hit him like wave after wave of relief. He can't get pregnant. More importantly, he never could get pregnant. Why had none of the other doctors he'd seen said anything? Did they just assume he knew?
"Are you okay?" Scott asked as he started cleaning off the gel. "You're looking a little spacey. I'm sorry, I could have probably given you that news a little better."
"Cuddle Bug, you don't realize how much of a relief that is to know, that I've never been able to get pregnant."
Ryan wasn't too worried about what that meant for his current relationship. They'd already talked about this. Scott accepted the fact that Ryan didn't ever want to be pregnant. Besides, even with the idea of having children not excluded from the table, neither of them were ready to be parents right now. They both wanted at least a couple of years to chase each other around naked, first.
"Your ovaries are in good shape, so if we decide some years from now we want kids, this office has a great surrogate network." Scott seemed to pick up at least a little of Ryan's train of thought.
"I guess we'll save money on condoms?"
Scott let out a snort of surprise at Ryan's off the wall comment. He caught Ryan's teasing expression.
"Are you saying you don't like those expensive ribbed condoms I bought? If anything, they're good for keeping the mess down, and there's no such thing as too much lube."
"Not at all, they feel really good." Ryan turned a little embarrassed. "It's just... maybe now that we know it's safe... we could try without one...? For... curiosity?"
Scott set the machine to rights and cleaned off the last of the gel. "If that's what my dear boyfriend wants, that's what he'll get! Once he tells me he's ready, of course."
Ryan was still embarrassed by his boldness in asking the question to begin with, but was really surprised when Scott agreed to it so quickly. Nevermind agreeing, he left the final say in the matter completely up to him!
Ryan was happy to finally be able to get redressed too. He's feet had gotten cold. It suddenly hit him that the exam was pretty much over, and he'd been wanting to ask Scott a very important question.
"Hey, what do you want for your birthday? I know it's like a month away, but I want time to prepare."
"Oh, Hot Stuff," Scott wrapped his arms around Ryan's waist. "You don't have to buy me anything. The only thing I want is your company."
"But isn't there a figurine or something you'd like?" Ryan pressed for an answer. "I probably can't afford a game, but if you tell me your favorite series, I could probably find you something?"
Scott gazed into Ryan's earnestly sparkling brown eyes. He loved this guy so much. He didn't want anything but Ryan's extra time. That's all he wanted, really. He got the feeling Ryan wouldn't back down with an answer like that though, so he decided to give an easy one.
"If you really feel you absolutely need to get me something, then Nintendo. Anything with Nintendo characters, I'm sure to love. Honestly though, a night with you would be worth a thousand birthday presents." He kissed Ryan's nose playfully. "Now then, my next appointment starts soon. I hate to cut things short, but..."
"I know how important your job is," Ryan returned the kiss, "I don't mind."
"I'll walk you back to my office. You don't want to forget your bags."
They left the exam room and made their way down the hall. Scott noticed some of the nurses checking them out. No doubt they were the subject of some gossip. Especially after that day he bought Ryan in to sleep on the couch. No matter. His colleague Dr. Bromsfeld had told him the majority of it was simply lament that the bachelor doctor was obviously off the market.
He'd also been filled in on a betting pool for when he and Ryan would be mated. Apparently most everyone thought they made a cute couple. In the interest of keeping the betting pool fair, and maybe just because it was cheeky, he very deliberately dodged all of Dr. Bromsfeld's questions on the matter of when Ryan's cycles may or may not fall.
They got to the office and Scott made sure Ryan had everything in his bags. Ryan returned his lab coat with gratitude, and made sure to thank him profusely for letting him borrow a spare shirt for his heat again. And, for the vibrator too. Scott made sure to ask several times if Ryan had enough food to get through it, and was assured each time that he would be fine.
They did eventually really have to part for sure though, do with a quick kiss and a hug, Scott went off to his next appointment, and Ryan went off to the waiting room to wait for his ride service. He'd only used it a few times so far, but he'd wondered how he'd got along without it before. It was infinitely better than taking the bus. He tried his best to not abuse the privilege.
--------------------
Halfway through his next appointment, Scott's phone showed a message from Ryan that he'd gotten back home safely. Later on that day, he'd gotten an even more important notification. Ryan's medical records had arrived.
Scott looked through it the first chance he got. Sure enough, there was the hysterectomy noted at the same time as an appendectomy at age three. Few childhood illnesses, caught up on all vaccinations... Then there was a notice of hospitalization a few years ago, for moderate lacerations, abrasions on the wrist and ankles, malnutrition, and a severe case of diaper rash. It made Scott's blood run cold, and his stomach drop. What in the hell had been done to him?
Ryan obviously wasn't ready to talk about it, otherwise they would have talked about it already, right? More than sex, this wasn't something to rush. He told
himself that even if Ryan never ever wanted to talk to him about it, that was okay. Even if he was really curious. He thought back to the way Ryan said "I've never been able to get pregnant," and how relieved he sounded. It certainly hit different now.