Prototype

A/N: Apparently, I'm not done with this storyline. The muse has me in a chokehold.

Pairing: S/U

Rating: Mature.

Summary: Sequel to "What He Needed." Nyota discovers that something is not right.

Disclaimer: Characters are not mine. Damn.

Part I: Genesis

I resumed my position on the Enterprise and we headed off for our five year mission to seek out new worlds and boldly go where no woman has gone before. Captain Kirk stepped into his official role with the ease of slipping on a pair of well-worn shoes. So did Mr. Scott, who ran Engineering as if he designed the Enterprise himself. Everything was smooth and easy, and our official maiden voyage was a few days underway when I realized that something wasn't quite right with me.

The captain was kind enough to give Spock and me our own private quarters. It was no longer a secret that we were a couple. Apparently, Scotty told anyone within earshot about our behavior on the transporter pad. Neither one of us was embarrassed by it, so the captain's insistence that we move in together was very much appreciated. We needed to be together.

I have always enjoyed the best of health. I have taken steps to maintain my good health with a strict diet, exercise and regular checkups. So when I woke early one morning with a pounding headache, it was a surprise. Spock slept peacefully behind me, his arms around me. I did not want to wake him, but my headache was excruciating. I sat up on the edge of the bed and massaged my temples and then the back of my neck. I took several deep breaths and got some water, but nothing helped.

The headache was blistering, hurting my eyes and ears. I made a cold compress and lay back down, placing it over my eyes. Hopefully, it would wear off before I had to report to the bridge. It did not. I did not want to worry Spock, so I went to work. But halfway through my shift, I could not take it anymore. The bridge was very bright and there were thousands of blinking lights and beeping noises. My earpiece was uncomfortable; it hurt while it was in my ear. I felt nauseous. My breasts were tender and my body ached. I thought my period was about to start.

Spock and I were already in love before he lost his mother and Vulcan. We became even more so when the Enterprise returned to Earth for repairs. He and I spent the ensuing weeks grieving together and it cemented our relationship. So he knew that I was not feeling well even though I tried to hide it. He came over to my console.

"Lieutenant Uhura, are you not well?"

He would know that I was lying if I said that I was fine and I would not insult him by doing so.

"I have a slight headache, that's all."

"You look pale," he said. "You should report to Medical Bay."

"I'm fine, Commander."

He raised his eyebrow and lowered his voice. "Please," he said. Then he went over to the captain and they had words. Spock returned to me. "I'm relieving you, Lieutenant. You are ordered to report to Dr. McCoy."

My head hurt so bad that it did not matter that he had to order me to go to sickbay. Dr. McCoy gave me a hypo to relax the muscles around my head and neck. I lay on the cot in sickbay for thirty minutes and then felt good enough to go back to my duty. I did not tell him about my achy breasts; I knew it was time for my cycle to start. It was sacrilege that Starfleet physicians had not yet found a cure for premenstrual syndrome, but we could fly across the galaxy.

"No," he said when I tried to get up.

"I'm fine, Dr. McCoy. The injection worked.

"Lieutenant Uhura, you are experiencing a migraine headache. Migraine headaches do not just go away. What I gave you is a temporary remedy. You need to go to your quarters and lay down for the rest of the day and night. You should have only dim light and very little noise. I will send a hypo with you to use when the pain returns. I'm going to inform the captain that you need forty-eight hours of peace and quiet."

"Forty-eight hours—Dr. McCoy, I have a job to do!"

"You are not in a position to do it as well as you should, Lieutenant. I'm sorry. You need to be in a quiet, dark place and the bridge is anything but that. The captain will understand. Now, would you like for me to inform Commander Spock?"

"No," I said. "I'll tell him."

"I'll check on you in four to six hours. Go get some rest."

I was so relieved that Spock insisted that I go to sickbay and even more relieved when Dr. McCoy ordered me to our quarters to rest. I was exhausted. The suite was cool and dark. I nearly tore my uniform trying to get the zipper down and removed everything but my panties. I got into bed and was asleep the moment my head touched the pillow.

* * *

I awoke to the touch of Spock's fingers against my face. He was sitting on the edge of our bed, caressing me.

"Ashayam, are you better?"

"I am now," I said. My head didn't hurt like before and I was hungry. My breasts still hurt, but that was nothing compared to my headache. Spock would know by touching me how I felt, but he chose not to take advantage of our link. He would never intrude if I didn't want him to.

"What is your prognosis?"

I made a face. "A migraine headache. Dr. McCoy is making me take two days off."

He nodded. "If my understanding of the phenomenon is correct, it is best that you do so. The activity on the bridge will only exacerbate your pain, as I noticed today."

"I don't want to miss two days of work, Spock."

"It is out of your hands, k'diwa. The captain will agree with the doctor's assessment, as do I. If it is necessary, he will order you not to report to duty. I do hope that it will not be necessary."

I nodded. "It won't be." I wouldn't do that to him.

I was still in bed with the sheet over me. He glanced over my body and then looked at me again. "I came to check on you, Nyota. I must report back to the bridge. I will return after my shift. I insist that you continue to rest."

"I will," I said. I knew better than to argue with my husband. I lay back down and was asleep moments after he left me.

* * *

I was awakened again, this time by Dr. McCoy, who was doing a reading with his tricorder. My headache was back and my stomach was in knots. My breasts throbbed. I felt bile rising in my throat and got up to run to the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before I threw up. McCoy was right behind me and I was humiliated for him to see me like this, but I had no choice. I threw up until there was nothing left, and still I kept retching. I couldn't even be upset that he was seeing me nearly naked.

McCoy wet a towel. He helped me up and back to bed. I wiped my face with the towel and lay down again. I felt horrible. Not only did my head hurt, but also my stomach and I was acutely aware of my aching breasts. I was hot all over, yet I was trembling.

"Lieutenant, tell me how you are feeling."

"I'm sleepy; I feel like I can't get enough sleep. My head is killing me. My body aches, my stomach hurts, my breasts are sore and I'm so tired. Do I have the flu?" I asked.

He was moving the tricorder over me, studying the readouts intently. Then he sat back in his chair and smiled. "No. You're knocked up."

"What?"

"You're pregnant." He was almost cheerful, which said a lot for him.

"I'm pregnant?" I said. I was dumbfounded.

"Yes," he said. "I suspected it this morning, but I was not sure about it until now. Lieutenant Uhura, you're going to have a baby. According to my readings, you're about four weeks into your first trimester."

I did not know how to respond to that, so my next question was decidedly ridiculous.

"How?"

McCoy looked at me. "How else would you get pregnant, Lieutenant?"

I shook my head. "I mean, I know how, but…"

"Why don't you get some rest," he said. "I'm going to send you some instructions on your PADD, and we are going to start your prenatal care immediately. I take it the commander does not know?"

"No," I said. "I'll tell him when…when I'm ready."

"You're going to have to tell him soon, Lieutenant. The commander is ridiculously perceptive and I dare say he is going to notice that your body is changing."

"I'm not showing yet."

McCoy shook his head. "Spock is a hobgoblin in every sense of the word, but there is nothing wrong with his acuity. Your breasts are already swollen. Other symptoms vary from woman to woman, but that is a constant. You might be sick your entire first trimester, or you may not. You may crave certain things or you may not. You will need to eat and rest, however. You can't hide this from him. He's going to notice your physical and emotional changes, no matter how slight.

"Don't call my husband a hobgoblin, Dr. McCoy," I said.

"Green. Blooded. Hobgoblin." he said. "So you are married?"

"We bonded while the ship was being repaired. It was very private and very recent." It was less than six weeks ago.

"So you're Mrs. Hobgoblin," he said. "I won't say anything, but do not be surprised if Commander Spock asks you if you're pregnant."

"Doctor, I need to get my head around this myself. I need to get used to the idea before I tell Spock."

"Get used to it fast," McCoy said.

TBC