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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2005 14:46:07 GMT
Jason was in Sickbay, surveying his equipment to see if the Romulans affected any of it, or used any of his medications. The anaprovalene was gone, Jason noted, adding to his request list.
The door opened, and Jason turned to see Ensign Hicks came in. "What can I do for you, Ensign? Another check on the baby?" he asked.
"Yes, if you don't mind," she said. "I want to make sure the baby's okay."
Jason ran a fetal scan. "Yep, looks like everything's normal."
"Excellent. How long till we know the gender?"
"A few more weeks should be enough," he said.
"Great, I'll see you then. Thank you, Doctor," she said, and left Sickbay.
That gave Jason a thought. "Doctor Black to Commander Hope. Could you come to Sickbay? I want to confirm the pregnancy rumor."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2005 14:54:08 GMT
S'reena frowned, stopping the game she was playing with the girls. "On my way doctor," she called, after tapping her combadge.
"What rumour," she muttered, "I've been feeling sick for days, and it's been confirmed by two people..what more confirmation do I need!"
Before leaving, she was making sure that the girls would be all right on their own for a few minutes, and she told them firmly to stay away from certain areas in their family quarters. After getting the assurances, she moved her hoverchair around and directed it to sickbay, occasionally bumping into walls and people.
"Sorry!" she called after them, "this takes getting used to...on a daily basis at that."
Finally, she maneuvred into sickbay, and moved to get up and climb onto a biobed, but Jason stopped her. "What," she said irritably, "I'm getting tired of this thing, it is severely limiting my movements and I can't work like this!"
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2005 15:07:38 GMT
"I prefer you to stay in the chair, Commander, at least for now. I know you don't like it, but your body needs time to recuperate. And before you tell me you're fine, you should know you nearly died on my operating table," he said, but then had to repress the lack-of-control feeling he had battled the majority of the mission. "However, for now I suggest you try walking for an hour or so a day. We'll increase it as I see your body can handle it. But no walking yet while on duty."
She gave up and slumped back in the chair. "Why do you have to confirm I'm pregnant? I know I am," she said somewhat defiantly.
"And who confirmed that you were?" he asked.
"Commander Bates suspected I was, and as did a Romulan guard," she said.
"Neither of which is a medical professional," he pointed out. "Did either scan you?"
"No," she said just the slightest bit subdued.
"That's what I thought. Computer, activate a fetal scan on S'reena Hope. Stay still, Commander," he said.
A few minutes later, the scan was completed, and the image of the fetus appeared. Jason waved her over. "You are indeed pregnant. And it Looks like your baby is healthy. Looks to be about a month along...which puts you delivering about the same time as Ensign Hicks." S'reena looked puzzled at that. "Oh, theres an Ensign in the Science Department that's pregnant as well."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2005 19:57:20 GMT
S'reena sighed with relief as Jason confirmed that her unborn child was in good health. She had feared that, despite feeling reasonably well, the foetus would be damaged without her knowing or sensing it. Even though she was not a telepath, or even remotely empathically inclined, she had known during the two previous pregnancies if something had been wrong.
"Science you say?" she then asked, "then I should know her as I have been this ship's chief science officer. Unless she came aboard quite recently. Could you introduce me to her?"
S'reena paused, trying to stretch her body. However the hoverchair didn't leave much room for her to do so and she grunted in annoyance. "It would be nice to have a person to talk to who's going through the same quirks as me." She smiled wanly at the CMO. "One hour a day, but not on duty," she complained, "and what if something happens and I can't do my job? I very much doubt the next CO will want a disabled first officer."
She sighed again. "I admire Commander Bates, I have no idea how he manages this. I feel so....disabled, handicapped, limited in my movements."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2005 1:34:24 GMT
"I admire Commander Bates, I have no idea how he manages this. I feel so....disabled, handicapped, limited in my movements."
"Well this certainly gives you something to talk to him about. He might be able to give you some advice on how to get around like that as well. And as for the new CO, don't worry. You won't be confined to that chair for very long, only a couple weeks. And as far as the Ensign, she came aboard a few months ago. And you just missed her. However..." He tapped his commbadge. "Sickbay to Ensign Hicks."
"Yes, Doctor, is there something else," she asked over the comm-line.
"Ensign, I know you just left Sickbay, but would you mind coming back?"
"No problem. I'll be there in a minute," she said.
And a few minutes later, she came in. "Yes, Doctor?" She then noticed S'reena. "Oh, hello Commander."
"S'reena, this is Natalie Hicks." He then turned to Hicks. "Commander Hope was just confirmed as being pregnant, and due to deliver within the same week as you."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2005 19:54:06 GMT
S'reena smiled uncertainly at the younger woman. "Seems so," she said, "so, is this your first child?" She gazed at the woman, then averted her gaze, feeling terribly uncomfortable.
<Hicks>
~~~later~~~
S'reena sat on the floor in the middle of her quarters, gently playing with her two daughters, who were attempting to play Twister, a 20th century game with rows of colours and an arrow that spun around on a little board. S'reena took to twisting the arrow to a certain colour while the girls screamed with laughter as they maneuvred themselves in almost impossible positions.
Suddenly S'reena screamed, as she lost focus on her girls and her mind was drawn back to the cell. She fell over and rolled herself into a foetal position, drawing her knees up to protect her stomach and throwing her hands over her head. She started, as Kahlan shook her with all her might. "Mommy?" the little girl asked, her eyes wide with fear.
S'reena shook herself and smiled weakly at her eldest daughter. "I'm all right. here, you may do the spinning now, I need to lie down for a moment." And she did exactly as she said, lying herself down on the floor. Soon, she had fallen into a deep restless sleep.
Kahlan watched as her mother lie down and gazed down at Yarna, who was oblivious to anything that hadn't to do with the game. The girl shrugged once and went back to join her younger sister. Soon, however they stopped again, as their mother started twitching and moaning, and this time wouldn't wake up when Kahlan shook her.
The girls looked up when they heard the doors slide open and shut. "Daddy daddy!" Kahlan screamed as she ran to meet her father. "Daddy, something's wrong with mommy!"
Michael set down his briefcase and bent down to give his daughters a hug, but was startled by the look of fear in Kahlan's eyes. "Let's have a look then shall we?" He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw his wife lying in the middle of the living room, apparently asleep but twitching and curled up in a defensive position, as if she were fending off an enemy. "Kahlan, take Yarna and go play in your own room."
"But..."
"Now Kahlan!" Michael bellowed, as he raced forward. "S'reena honey, wake up," he said as he shook her, "it's all right you can wake up now." And indeed, S'reena woke up but shrank back from him, her eyes wide with sheer terror as she did so. Michael slowly inched forward and gathered her up in his arms, hugging her tightly. "What did they do to you," he whispered, rocking her gently. Then he picked her up and carried her to their bedroom, laying her down gently onto the bed. Then he went back into the livingroom and retrieved a hypospray and a sedative from his briefcase, and walked back to the bedroom.
"Here honey, this'll help you calm down. It's too bad Yrdis has transferred, you really should go talk to a counselor."
"Karynn," S'reena murmured, as she tried fending Michael off. She didn't want to be sedated, but it seemed her husband was determined, so in the end she let him.
After Michael had seen to it that his wife was resting comfortably, he walked to the nearest computer. "Admiral McCormick, I'm terribly sorry to call you at this hour," he apollogized, apparently having forgotten about the time difference between the Hanson and Starbase Conqueror, "but I think you're the only person who could possibly get through to my wife. I don't know what's been done to her, but she really should talk to a counselor. Since Hanson at present doesn't have one S'reena trusts, I believe that you should talk to her. Would you....?" He left the question hanging in the air, gazing at the screen almost pleading. "She trusts you admiral," he added, "as do I."
<McCormick>
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Karynn McCormick
Fleet Admiral
For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. -van Gogh
Registered: Apr 28, 2003 8:05:07 GMT
Posts: 1,185
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Post by Karynn McCormick on Sept 5, 2005 6:01:40 GMT
"Certainly, Michael... I'm on my way. McCormick out."
Karynn closed the comm. link and wiped her hand over her face. She had just fallen asleep only moments before Michael's call so she was still groggy. The urgency in Michael's voice, however, soon pumped the adrenaline through her and she dashed around her quarters getting herself together. Soon, she was out of her pj's and into her uniform and heading for the Hanson's moor.
The long walk to the umbilical gave her time to think. She had no idea what condition she'd find S'reena in and furthermore, she had no idea what she could do to help. But, Michael's words kept repeating in her mind and they didn't set upon her lightly - McCormick counted it a great honor that S'reena Hope, after all they'd just been through, trusted her.
Michael answered the door to the Hope's family quarters with a worried look on his face.
"Thank you for coming," he said, ushering her inside.
"How is she?" Karynn asked immediately, not bothering with any pleasantries.
"She's resting now. I gave her a mild sedative though she didn't want it." Michael's eyes met the Admiral's and she could see the pain in them. "I've never seen her like this. She's responding even to me with pure terror." He ran his fingers through his hair as though he was at his wit's end. "I feel so helpless... and I don't know want to do for her." At that point, a tired and frustrated husband teared up. He sank into a chair, emotionally drained. A blank stare came across his face as he chewed absentmindedly on his thumb. "I just don't know what to do," he repeated again.
Karynn placed a gentle hand on Michael's shoulder. "I don't know what to do either, but I'll try to talk with her. Maybe that's all she needs right now... someone to talk with." McCormick switched to a slightly more authoritative tone and said, "I know this is difficult for you, and I'm sorry to appear cold but, when I get back in here after talking with S'reena, I want you to have pulled yourself together. It won't do her any good to see you upset. You need to be strong for her... and for your children."
Michael closed his eyes and nodded, "I know, I know... you're right." He wiped the few tears from his eyes with his palm. He cleared his throat and said, "Thank you, Admiral."
Karynn smiled at him, patted his shoulder and proceeded into the bedroom where S'reena was resting. Her eyes darted open as soon as she felt Karynn's presence and she bolted upright, a look of fear on her face.
"It's alright, S'reena," Karynn said calmly, "It's just me." McCormick stood still for a moment allowing S'reena to see who she was before advancing toward her. "If it's alright with you, I thought we might have a little chat."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2005 6:17:23 GMT
S'reena sighed, seemingly there was no avoiding this. She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest, stiffling a yawn. "What can I do for you admiral?" she asked, her voice tremblin, though she desperately tried to keep some dignity. She knew she was failing miserably, and she couldn't remember just how exactly she had gotten to bed. The last thing she remembered was playing Twister with her daughters. "It must be awfully late for you."
The Romulan motioned to the nearest chair, and noticed her hands too were shaking. "Michael called you didn't he?" she finally asked, and continued without giving the admiral a chance to respond. "I don't know what's happening," she continued, avoiding to meet the admiral's eyes, "at one moment I am perfectly happy playing with my children, and the next moment I wake up in my bed, shaking and apprehensive. Michael said I should talk to a counselor, but in the absence of one I had planned to call you in the morning. Doctors always tell me it helps talking to people you trust, and I have a bit of trouble trusting counselors, and just when I started to trust Yrdis, he gets reassigned."
Now she looked up to meet the admirals eyes, and wipes the tears that were streaming down her cheeks from her face. "I think you're the only one I can talk to," she whispered, "I don't know why, but I trust you, despite everything." She averted her gaze again, feeling somewhat ashamed at having an admiral see her cry.
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Karynn McCormick
Fleet Admiral
For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. -van Gogh
Registered: Apr 28, 2003 8:05:07 GMT
Posts: 1,185
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Post by Karynn McCormick on Sept 7, 2005 2:00:26 GMT
"Yes, it is strange that a mission which began with me accusing you of treason ends with you trusting me." Karynn slowly walked toward her. "When you think about everything... our history with one another... it's miraculous you trust me at all." McCormick was alluding to the past in which she nearly killed S'reena while under the influence of a mysterious virus. "Ironic, isn't it?"
Karynn dismissed S'reena's gesture to the nearby chair and opted instead to sit at the foot of her bed. She could tell the closeness made S'reena feel uncomfortable, but she was willing to wager she could put her at ease soon enough.
"I know it's difficult, but can we forget I'm an admiral for a while?" McCormick placed her hand over her collar. "There, is that better? If you can't see the pips there, does it help at all?" She was grinning widely with a slightly sarcastic glint. The silliness of the request managed to get a small smile from the Commander and her body language relaxed a little.
"Not really," S'reena answered with a friendly tone.
Karynn laughed softly. "That's what I've always admired about you most... you're always honest."
"Not everyone appreciates that about me."
"I know. But I do. And I know you couldn't be any other way." Karynn, ever the nurturer but never the mother, spoke so gently and matter-of-factly that S'reena's outer walls began to tumble down. McCormick sensed it and decided to go for the heart of the matter. "In the same way, S'reena, you must face the trauma of your torture with honesty. You can't hide it away or pretend it didn't happen... or even suppress the memories. I think that's why you've been having these waking nightmares."
"But I don't try to suppress them consciously. I do have flashes of what happened... but I find it's easier to get through my day by shaking them off." S'reena was trying to be open to her, Karynn could see, but her emotions were so confused that she was unsure of how to feel.
McCormick paused, closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Inwardly she wrestled with whether or not to tell S'reena of her own struggle with the past. After a stretch of silence, she made the decision that it just might help them both to tell her.
Karynn spent the next few hours talking and telling S'reena about the death of her fiancΓ©. She had watched him die right next to her but had been powerless to help him. Guilt along with soul-wrenching grief had rendered her lifeless for months following Ethan's death. She had wished several times over that she had died with him. It was only through expressing her grief and learning to use Vulcan meditation techniques she was able to recover.
"I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did," Karynn urged compassionately. "You need to talk about what was done to you. Express your anger... these were your own kinsmen, yet they did this to you... and your children! I would imagine it has angered you to see such blatant, animalistic disregard for life coming from people of your heritage - and perhaps even made you fearful that you carry the same ability to inflict harm."
S'reena's chin shot up quickly. She looked into Karynn's face, her eyes wide, reacting as if a switch had been turned on.
Karynn patted S'reena's hand and smiled. "You think about it. And if anything I've said makes sense to you, then follow my advice. I've never pretended to be much of a counselor and I don't think I'll be hanging out my shingle any time soon. But, if you need me, I'm here for you." She got up to leave but turned before going. βOne more thing. You asked me at the graduation ceremony about becoming your unborn child's godparent." McCormick looked sheepish for a moment then continued. "I didn't answer you right away because, frankly, I wanted to know exactly what the job entailed before saying yes or no. I've researched it a bit... and... I would be honored."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2005 9:29:07 GMT
S'reena smiled through her tears, as she listened to the admiral. Yet as the admiral had guessed, she feared giving in to her anger, out of fear it might hurt others and drive her friends away from her. "Perhaps I should go to the holodeck and find myself a program to work off the aggression," she muttered, and glanced with a half-eye into the living room, at her hover chair, "as soon as I can walk properly again. I hate that thing, it is so....limiting."
Only then did she realize that Karynn had acknowledged her request to be a godmother. "I am glad you accept," she said earnestly, this time gazing directly at the admiral, "my children tell me you've been amazing with them. Seems you've spoiled them." This time her smile widened, her own problems suddenly forgotten. "I am feeling much better now, thank you admiral," she said, "though I've no idea what brought you here." Then it struck her. "Michael must've called you......the dear. I imagine he's been very worried, or he'd never...."
Then she leaned forward, ignoring the mild discomfort of her sore muscles and quickly hugged the older woman. This even surprised herself, because generally she wasn't the hugging sort, nor the touching sort. Still smiling, she leaned back against the wall. "I'll have Michael make up the guest room, it must've been the middle of the night for you. And I won't take no for an answer admiral."
S'reena quickly called for Michael, and he gladly went to make Kahlan's room into a guest room, lodghing the older child with her little sister. "We're going to need bigger quarters," S'reena muttered to herself, but was still smiling.
<karynn>
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2005 19:20:47 GMT
The next morning found Noah rolling himself down the corridors of the Hanson, headed for the Hope's quarters. He pressed the key.
"Come in," he heard from the other side. The door opened, and he rolled in somewhat. The first person to notice him was Kahlan, who was playing on the floor.
"Mommy, mommy! It's Noah, the nice man who took care of me!" she called to the next room.
Commander Hope then maneuvered herself into the room. She rode a hoverchair; easier to use for the experienced, harder for the novice. "Commander Bates, what a surprise. I see that my daugther remembers you well. What can I do for you?" she asked coming closer.
He took that as an invitation to wheel further into the room. "Well, I heard by word of mouth that the pregnancy was confirmed, and that you were stuck in that chair. I figured you might want a sympathetic soul to talk to."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2005 20:04:46 GMT
S'reena beckoned him to come in further, motioning for Kahlan to move aside. "How....kind of you," S'reena said slowly, "you are the second visitor today." The Romulan motioned towards Kahlan's bedroom. "Admiral McCormick came by last night, and we insisted she didn't return to base in the middle of the night. Do please keep your voice down somewhat, the poor soul's still sleeping."
She maneuvred her own means of transportation back a little, and frowned as it didn't quite go the way she intended. "Can I get you anything?" she enquired.
"Thank you, no. I just had breakfast," he said, leaning back and patting his stomach. "I notice you had a bit of trouble there. Challenging isn't it?"
S'reena frowned. "I have no idea how you manage to move around so quickly!" she exclaimed, picking up her youngest as she moved into the kitchen to attend to their own breakfast. "You don't mind if we eat a little I hope, as we've just gotten up. Michael's already left for work a few hours ago, he has the really early shift for the rest of the week."
"I don't mind at all," he said, and moved himself a bit closer. "And the mobility comes from two things: the chair and experience. I have better control over the chair as I move it myself. Mechanical chairs have to move a certain amount to move at all, and its often more than you intend. Second, the fact that I've been in one of these since I was 10. I'm used to it."
S'reena moved back into the livingroom, with Yarna proudly holding on to a tray of bowls and spoons. "Would you mind?" she asked Noah, motioning towards Kahlan. "I really hope to be able to do without soon. Jason said I should walk on my own legs for an hour a day, and certainly no more, and I've already had my hour. I was glad to be able to just stand in once place, I didn't get to walking much. But I've got a fysiotherapy session with Jason scheduled for this evening."
"I don't mind at all, Commander," he said, and began arranging Kahlan's place."Sometimes I regret never having a family." He carefully got her the proper portion. "Doctor Black seems like a bright young lad. Although I don't doubt that he, every other doctor I've had, will try to be the one that finally develops the implants my body won't reject, and get me walking."
"How did you end up in a wheelchair?" S'reena suddenly bluntly asked, "surely therapy and willpower will get you somewhere?" She fell silent, waiting for Noah's answer while trying to feed Yarna, and at the same time quench the urge to vomit at the smell of food. She swallowed visibly, and managed to keep the few bites she had taken during the talking down.
"I was climbing a rather tall tree one day, and was about 30 meters in the air. Unfortunately, I discovered the tree had a hawk nest in it. The parent attacked me, and I fell. I completely shattered my lower spine, taking my spinal cord, and the ability to use my legs with it. The doctors tried implants to get them going again, but for some reason I have a unique body chemisty that rejects all biomechanical implants, so I'm stuck with a wheelchair."
"And what of completely mechanical implants, or completely biological replacement?" S'reena asked, while setting Yarna down on the floor to continue playing. "To be honest, I am extremely glad this Romulan didn't hit anything too vital. Eventually I'll learn how to walk again, I just hope it's going to be sooner rather than later." She cocked her head to listen when she heard something coming from one of the rooms. "Ah, the admiral's awake. I'm sure she'll join us shortly."
She looked back at Noah. "Sure I can't get you anything?"
"Actually yes. Ask the replicator for selection Bates 157," he said as he kept an eye on Kahlan as she ate.
S'reena moved to the replicator, knocking a small table over in the process. She cursed under her breath as she ordered Bates' suggestion, and was surprised to see a mug of herbal tea materalizing. "Make that another one," she told the replicator, "with two sugars." Another mug appeared and she maneuvred herself back towards the table. "There you go. Admiral, can I get you anything?"
<McCormick>
She turned back to Bates. "So, got any tips and tricks for me? Seems like I'm going to be stuck like this for a while to come."
"A few. Always remember to reduce speed when going around corners and through turns. Otherwise you overshoot your mark, or run into a wall on turns," he sipped his tea. "I warn you, this is a bit bitter. And the sugar will only lessen that. It won't get rid of it."
"I always drink my tea with sugar, it's not palatable without any." S'reena said curtly, and sipped the tea. She shuddered at the bitter taste, but continued to sip it. "I already discovered the corner trick with going forward. It's turning backwards that's still being a pain in the backside. But then, driving backwards has always been a problem, even when I was learning to drive a hovercar back on Earth."
She smiled at Noah, and then at Karynn who had joined them at the table. "Please help yourself if you want anyting admiral," she said kindly, motioning towards the replicator.
<Karynn>
ooc: joint post Noah Bates and myself.
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