Chapter 4
"Captain's log, stardate 2382.36. I have decided to stay in orbit of this planet until we are assured that Tasha Yar is really who she says. As much as we want to believe that she is telling the truth we cannot rule out the possibility that she is or is under alien influence."
"Well, you seem to be just fine. Are you sure you don't want to know the gender of the baby?" Dr. Alyssa Powell asked as she finished Deanna Riker's examination. Deanna looked up at Will. He shook his head.
"No. We'd like to be surprised." Deanna answered her. Will smiled and took Deanna's hand in his.
"I don't blame you; I didn't either when I had mine." Alyssa added as she began to put away her equipment. "But you're definitely in for a surprise."
"How is your little one doing?" Deanna asked.
"Aaron? He's well but not so little anymore." Alyssa smiled. "As for you, just remember not to overdo it. The baby is quite healthy and should be arriving soon."
"Thank you Doctor." Deanna called as they sauntered out of Sickbay.
"I'm glad that little Jean-Luc is going to be healthy boy." Will commented as they walked back to their quarters.
"Well I still think that Kestra is going to be a girl." Deanna shot back playfully. "Speaking of Jean-Luc though, I did receive a message from Beverly last night. She and Jean-Luc are getting married."
"Everyone knew it would happen eventually." Will chuckled. "I guess he finally got the nerve to ask her."
"Nope." Deanna grinned. "She asked him."
Will shook his head. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
Suddenly Deanna clutched her abdomen and nearly fell. Will quickly grasped her arm before she collapsed.
"What's the matter?" He asked with concern. "Are you ok? Is it time?" Deanna took a few deep breaths before standing up again. "No," She answered shakily. "I'm fine. I-I just need to lie down."
Will sat in his pajamas on the bed next to Deanna. Too nervous to sleep himself he glanced over at Deanna as she slept. He gazed fondly at her sweet face, framed by her soft, flowing curls. He swept his gaze to her belly where his child had been growing for nearly ten months. Suddenly, he felt a strong wave of protection for her and his child rush through him.
"I'll always be here for you Imzadi." He whispered softly taking her small hand in his own larger one. "I promise; I'll never leave you again." He softly kissed her hand before laying it back down where it was before. He stood and dressed readying for the new day that was rapidly approaching.
Just as he was about to walk through the door, Deanna sat up in bed gasping for breath. Will ran to her side. "Imzadi, Are you alright?"
Deanna grabbed Will's hand and squeezed it tightly. "I-I think Its time."
"You mean the baby? Are you sure?" Will spluttered anxiously.
Deanna squeezed her eyes shut as another contraction racked her body. After it passed, she nodded.
"Can you walk?" Will continued questioning her.
"I think so," She swung her legs over the side of the bed. Upon standing Will assisted her to the Turbolift. "Deck eight." Will called once they were in. He stood next to Deanna nervously. "Are you okay?" He asked again as he noticed her heavy breathing.
"No," she said through her teeth. "I'm not okay. I'm in labor."
Will was taken aback, alarm clearly on his face.
Once the Turbolift stopped, Will helped Deanna through the hallway to Sickbay. He walked her through the door and to a bed. By now her breathing was labored further and she was wincing in pain. A human female walked into the room. "Nurse!" Will called. She quickly came over.
"My wife is in labor, where is the doctor?"
"Doctor Powell went to her quarters a while ago. I'll tell her to hurry back." The young nurse quickly summoned the doctor on the ships communications before coming back over. "She said she'll be here as soon as she can." The nurse walked over to Deanna. "Meanwhile we can get you set up. I'm Nurse Larson."
Larson began to scan Deanna with her medical tricorder. "Her contractions are only minutes apart. This baby is coming and soon." Nurse Larson tried to make her as comfortable as possible. A few minutes later Dr. Alyssa Powell hurried into the room.
"Doctor!" Nurse Larson called. "Her contractions are only a few minutes apart and her water just broke."
"How far is she dilated to?" Alyssa asked as she came to look her over.
"She is at eight, no nine centimeters." Nurse Larson responded checking her tricorder.
Will looked from one to the other confused by these unfamiliar terms. "Is she okay? How much longer do we have to wait?" He asked apprehensively.
"They'll be fine." Alyssa answered.
Deanna took Will's hand and squeezed it hard. Will winced but didn't complain. He looked at Deanna, worry etched on his face; he felt as if something wasn't right. "Imzadi, are you alright?" He whispered softly. Deanna didn't respond. She just looked fixedly ahead.
"Alright Deanna," Alyssa began. "When I tell you to push, push ok?" Deanna didn't answer.
"Okay, push!" Alyssa called. Deanna cried in pain and complied. "And again." Alyssa called. Newborn cries filled the air. Alyssa took the baby in her arms and handed it to the nurse. Will looked relieved.
"Is it a boy?" He asked excitedly. Alyssa handed the child to Nurse Larson who wrapped it in a blanket. "Yes," She answered handing the baby gently to Will. "It's a boy." Will cradled the baby carefully in his arms and smiled. The baby squinted his small dark eyes that mirrored Deanna's. "You look just like your mommy." Will mumbled.
"Okay we've got one more." Alyssa announced as she went back to work. Will jerked up his head astounded. "Wait, there's another one?"
"You said you wanted to be surprised." Alyssa smiled. "Okay Deanna, push!" Deanna complied. "Doctor," Nurse Larson called. "Something's wrong. The baby is stuck." Alyssa looked over Larson's reading.
"What do you mean something's wrong?" Will asked tensely. "What do you mean it's stuck?"
"Larson, give her a hypo. I'm going to have to perform a fetal transport." Alyssa grabbed a tool Will was unfamiliar with.
"What are you doing?" He asked as Larson gave Alyssa the injection. Deanna closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
"What happened?" Will demanded rushing over to Deanna. "Why did she lose conciousness?"
"Her blood pressure is getting lower." Alyssa muttered before looking at Will. "Larson, please escort the captain out while I finish up."
"What?" Will asked panicking. "No I want to stay with Deanna!"
"I'm sorry." Larson apologized as she gently escorted him to the door. "The doctor needs to focus and she can't because you won't calm down." She put her arms out. "I need to clean up the baby." Will begrudgingly gave up the child.
Will paced around outside of Sickbay. It had been only an hour but to Will it had seemed like an eternity. He looked up as Dr. Powell entered the room. Will rushed up to her. "Is Deanna ok?" Alyssa sighed. "I'm not sure. The fetal transport was a success. Your daughter is in stable condition and is cleaned up. You may come see her now."
"I will but first, how is Deanna?"
"She is still in a comatose state."
"Why?" Will demanded.
Alyssa shrugged. "She should have woken up by now. I'm sorry; I don't know why she is still asleep."
"Can't you wake her with a hypo?"
"I've already tried. Her blood pressure went really low earlier, I'm afraid a higher dose might affect her badly."
Will nodded seriously. "Can I at least see her?" Alyssa nodded and showed him to her room then left him there. Deanna lay on her bed unmoving. Will rushed to her. He sat in a chair next to her bed and clutched her left hand with both of his.
"Deanna, Imzadi," He attempted to talk to her telepathically. "I don't know if you can hear me but, I love you. I love you so much and I hope that you know that. Please don't die. We have two beautiful children, a boy and a girl." He stared into her pale face, his eyes teeming with unshed tears. "Please don't die Imzadi."
