tp39


	Part 39 Tom walked into sickbay during his lunch break. His lower back had hurt on and off all morning, and he had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't just the normal pains that went with being pregnant. Which was why he was in sickbay to see Dr. Kéla'an instead of in the mess hall having lunch. Tom glanced around, and when he didn't see the doctor, he went to sit on one of the biobeds. "Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Holographic program," he ordered once he was seated. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency," Dr. Kéla'an said with his standard greeting as he was activated. Then he turned and noticed Tom on the bed. "Ah, hello, Mr. Paris. What can I do for you?" Tom bit his lower lip before he answered. "I think I might be in labor." Dr. Kéla'an frowned and picked up a tricorder. "What makes you think that?" he asked as he walked over to Tom. Tom shrugged. "I've had pains in my lower back all morning," he said. "It feels different than usual. I think it might be contractions." The doctor opened the tricorder and scanned Tom. He studied the readings intently, then closed the medical device and looked at the pilot. "You're right, Mr. Paris. You are in labor," he said. "And you're too far along to stop it." Dr. Kéla'an sighed, then continued. "I'll get you a sickbay gown." With that, he reached under the bed and got the gown, which he handed to Tom. "Here you go, Mr. Paris. While you change into this, I'll call the bridge and tell the Captain that I've placed you on maternity leave." Tom got off the biobed and, with the sickbay gown in one hand, headed for the bathroom. When he reached the door, he stopped and turned to look at Dr. Kéla'an. "Are you going to perform the cesarean now?" "No, I won't do the surgery for another two hours. Why?" Dr. Kéla'an asked. "Then there's no need for Chakotay to be here yet," Tom answered. When he saw the doctor's quizzical look, he grimaced slightly. "I don't need him down here, hovering over me. It would drive me crazy." Dr. Kéla'an nodded in understanding. He knew how protective the commander had become since Tom got pregnant. He had heard Tom complain about it every morning for the past ten weeks. "Very well, Mr. Paris. I'll tell the Captain to keep Commander Chakotay out of sickbay for now." Tom smiled in relief. "Thanks, Doc," he said, then turned and went into the bathroom. When the bathroom door closed behind Tom, Dr. Kéla'an walked into his office and commed the captain. "Kéla'an to Janeway. Please activate your monitor to the Emergency Medical Holographic channel." A moment later, Captain Janeway appeared on his screen. From the looks of it, she was in her ready room. "Yes, Doctor?" "Captain, I must inform you that I have placed Lieutenant Commander Paris on maternity leave." "On maternity leave," Janeway repeated. She got a worried expression on her face. "Is something wrong with him?" Dr. Kéla'an hastened to reassure her. "No, Captain. Nothing's wrong. Mr. Paris has just gone into labor." Janeway's concerned expression didn't disappear. Instead, it got more pronounced. "I thought you said that Tom wasn't due for another two weeks," she said. Dr. Kéla'an raised an eyebrow. "He wasn't. However, there is always a margin of two weeks on either side of the due date," he stated calmly. "Especially with the first child." "Oh." Janeway looked relieved. "I'll send Commander Cha..." Dr. Kéla'an interrupted her. "No, Captain. Don't send Commander Chakotay down here." When he saw Janeway's curious look, he elaborated. "Mr. Paris specifically said that he doesn't want the Commander in sickbay yet." Janeway blinked in surprise. "Why not?" "He said, and I quote: 'I don't need him down here, hovering over me. It would drive me crazy.'" Janeway laughed out loud at this. After a few moments, she got her amusement under control, but didn't lose her smile. She, too, had noticed how protective Chakotay had been for the last ten weeks. Then she thought about it. Actually, Chakotay has been extremely protective of Tom ever since he got pregnant. "Very well, Doctor. I'll make sure that the Commander stays on the bridge for the time being." "Thank you, Captain. I'm sure Mr. Paris will appreciate it. I'll comm you when Commander Chakotay is needed down here. Kéla'an out." With that, the doctor turned off his monitor and left his office. When Dr. Kéla'an returned to the main part of sickbay, Tom had left the bathroom and was waiting for him. He took the pilot's arm and led him to one of the biobeds. Once Tom had climbed on, Dr. Kéla'an put a blanket over him. "Relax as much as possible, Mr. Paris," he said. "I'll be in my office if you need me." "Sure thing, Doc," Tom said, and watched as Dr. Kéla'an left, then sighed softly and decided to see if he could reach his sister. He leaned back so he was half-sitting, half-lying on the bed. Then he closed his eyes, relaxed completely and reached out mentally. #Rhiannon.# For a moment nothing happened, but before Tom could start to worry, he heard the reply. #Ishaan?# Rhiannon's 'voice' was filled with delighted surprise. Tom smiled mentally at his sister's joy. #I didn't interrupt anything, did I?# #Only an incredibly boring meeting,# came the grateful answer. Tom had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud. He knew how much his sister hated meetings. When he got his amusement under control, he said, #Good. Then you can talk to me while I lie here in sickbay.# He regretted the words as soon as they left him. He felt a wave of anxiety from his sister, and rushed to calm her. #Nothing's wrong,# he said. #I'm in labor, that's all.# Rhiannon sent a strong wave of relief. #Oh, thank the goddess. You had me worried for a moment.# Even though he knew Rhiannon couldn't see it, Tom grimaced. #I know, and I'm sorry,# he apologized. #I didn't mean to.# #It's okay,# Rhiannon said, her mental voice gentle. #So, how long before the doctor performs the cesarean?# #A little under two hours,# Tom answered with a sigh. #So, what should we talk about for the next two hours?# Rhiannon asked. When the only reply she got from her brother was the mental equivalent of a shrug, she considered it. Finally, she got an idea. #Why don't you tell me what's happened since the last time we spoke?# she asked. #I assume that the cure Dr. Kéla'an found was effective.# It was a statement, not a question. #Yes, it was,# Tom answered, then proceed to show her his memories of what had happened on Voyager since the doctor found a treatment for the virus. *** #Captain Janeway gave you a shuttle?# Rhiannon's voice was incredulous. #Yep. My very own shuttle. To do with as I please,# Tom answered with a mental laugh. #As long as I don't crash it,# he added. #Oh, of course." Rhiannon sighed. #So, what do you plan on doing with it?# She never got an answer. Instead she received a wave of pain as her brother was hit by another contraction. She rode it out with him, then said, #They're much closer together now. I think it's about time for you to have that cesarean.# Tom sighed. #You might be right. I'll talk to you when this madness is finished.# #You better,# Rhiannon said sternly. #You have to tell me if it's a boy or a girl.# #I will,# Tom promised, then closed the connection with one last 'goodbye'. When Rhiannon's presence disappeared from his mind, Tom opened his eyes, blinked a few times, then focused on where he was. He looked over at the doctor's office and saw Dr. Kéla'an sitting by his desk, apparently going over some reports. He cleared his throat, then called to get his attention. "Doc." Dr. Kéla'an looked up from what he was doing. Seeing that Tom was awake again, he rose and went out to his patient. He picked up the tricorder from the bedside table, opened it and scanned the pilot. A moment later, he closed the device and addressed him. "Well, Mr. Paris. Your baby is about ready to be born. Just let me call Kes and the Commander, then I'll make the preparations for the surgery." Tom smiled slightly. "You better call Chakotay first. Knowing him, he's driving everybody crazy by pacing on the bridge." Dr. Kéla'an laughed at this. "Probably," he agreed. "Kéla'an to the bridge." "Go ahead, Doctor," Janeway answered. "Captain, Commander Chakotay's presence is required in sickbay." "I'll send him right down. Janeway out." With that, the comm line was closed. "Kéla'an to Kes." "Kes here, Doctor." "Please report to sickbay right away." "On my way. Kes out." Dr. Kéla'an looked back at Tom. "I'll just get everything ready," he said. "As soon as Kes and the Commander gets here, I'll do the cesarean." He waited for Tom's nod of acknowledgement, then went to get the things he needed. When he'd gotten what he required for the surgery, he returned to Tom's biobed, put the equipment down, and retrieved the medical tricorder. Seeing what he expected, the doctor smiled in satisfaction and closed the device. "Well, Mr. Paris, everything is right on schedule. Now, if Commander Chakotay and Kes would get here..." he trailed off when the persons in question arrived. He watched as the commander went straight to the biobed and picked up his mate's hand. Dr. Kéla'an noticed the first officer's anxiousness and quickly reassured him. "As I just told Mr. Paris, the birth is progressing on schedule," he said. "And now you and Kes are here, we'll start." The doctor erected a privacy screen before addressing the two men. "I'll give you a local anesthesia, Mr. Paris. Commander, I need you to distract your husband while I do the cesarean." When Tom and Chakotay nodded, Dr. Kéla'an placed another, smaller screen across Tom's chest to prevent him from watching himself cut open. Then he opened the sickbay gown, picked up a hypo spray and applied it. *** Forty-five minutes later, Dr. Kéla'an put down the regenerator. He removed the screen from Tom's chest, then turned and took the baby from Kes. Carefully placing the bundle of infant wrapped in a blanket in Tom's arms, the doctor smiled. "Congratulations, gentlemen. It's a girl." For a moment, Tom just looked at the bundle in his arms, then he carefully drew the blanket aside. He stared at his daughter in silence for awhile, admiring her. Then he tucked the coverlet around her again and glanced at his mate. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" Chakotay averted his eyes from the baby and met Tom's shining eyes. "She's perfect," he said in awe. "And so tiny." Tom chuckled softly. "Newborn babies usually are." "I guess so," Chakotay said with a smile. Then he bent down to press a gentle kiss to his husband's lips. "Thank you," he said when he straightened. Dr. Kéla'an broke the tender moment. "Well, gentlemen. I need to inform the Captain that Voyager's family has gotten a new member," he said. When the two men looked at him, the doctor asked, "Have you decided on a name for her?" Tom and Chakotay exchanged a smile, then turned back to Dr. Kéla'an. "Yeah, Doc. We have," Tom answered. "We'll call her Abiona Rhiamon," Chakotay added. Seeing the doctor's quizzical look, he elaborated. "Abiona was my grandmother's name. And Rhiamon is a variation of Rhiannon." Tom noticed Dr. Kéla'an's puzzled expression. "Rhiannon is my Darrbakhian sister," he explained. "I see." The doctor smiled slightly, then called the captain. "Kéla'an to Janeway." "Yes, Doctor?" "I wish to inform you that, at star date 49045.5, Lieutenant Commander Paris gave birth to a healthy girl. The baby weighs 3450 grams and is forty-eight centimeters in length. Fathers and child are fine." When Dr. Kéla'an stopped speaking, cheers were clearly heard on the bridge. Janeway waited for a moment to let the noise settle, then spoke to the doctor. "That's wonderful news, Doctor. Give Tom and Chakotay my congratulations." She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "When can they have visitors?" Dr. Kéla'an considered it before he answered. "As long as it's no more than one or two crewmembers at a time, Mr. Paris can have visitors in one hour." "All right, Doctor. I'll inform the rest of the crew. Janeway out." She closed the comm line, fully planning on being the first one in sickbay to see Tom and Chakotay's youngest daughter. The End Back