Episode 7: Copper
It had been a four months since Spock started to come to her quarters at night. Some times they talked and other times it was for physical comfort. Nobody on the ship seemed to really notice except maybe the captain. The rumors about Jones and her marriage had been stamped out at the wake. People were more focused on Dells and Lola's up coming wedding. Vivian didn't think Lola was good for Dell for obvious reasons but he seemed happy so she left it alone. Lola had been a little nicer but Vivian assumed that was because she was engaged and didn't see Vivian as a threat anymore, not that she was in the first place. On the plus side Vivian hadn't been captured or injured on her last few missions.
She also had been hanging out with the bridge crew more and more. Sulu and been teaching her the basics of fencing, she was pretty bad but it made for a fun time. Chekhov had been upset about her trying to sacrifice herself for him but she quickly stamped that out and they were once again on good terms. Kirk did everything he could to make a comment about Spock in someway that would get her to blush. The few that knew would smile along, others just thought the captain was being himself. Scotty was furious when he found out about her injuries but he was back to his usual self when she was back to work laughing and joking along with the others. Jones death still could still be felt by the ones that knew him but the ache had lessened with time.
The last few weeks she had been feeling under the weather. "What is it this time?" McCoy asked with sarcasm. "I haven't been feeling well and my stomach keeps turning." She smiled gently grimacing when her abdomen pinched in pain. "Alright well have a seat." He told her as she hopped up on the bio bed as he grabbed the scanner. He waved it around her head and stomach and his face contorted in confusion, so he ran the scan again. When he continued confused he grabbed a different scanner. "What is it?" she asked concerned. He didn't say anything as he ran the scan for the third time. "I don't know how this is possible."He mumbled. "What. What is it?" She asked panicking slightly.
"You're pregnant." He deadpanned. Her heartbeat speed up then slowed as she paled. "How is that possible didn't I have my shot a month ago." She asked frantically. "That was what I thought too." McCoys confused voice responded. He went to a data pad and tapped through it looking for her information. He let out a grunt when he found what he was looking for. "Well apparently one of the nurses switched it with a pain inhibitor that was meant for Lt. Uhura." "So I really am pregnant." She added blankly the information still hadn't set in completely. "Do I need to ask who the father is?" He added dryly. She hadn't thought about Spock yet or how he would react. She placed her hand on her lower abdomen. She could feel a warmth spread through her chest. She hadn't thought about children since the planet but she was happy, a little worried, and a little excited at the prospect.
"Well if this is scan is correct the copper in the baby's blood could be harmful to you." He looked over the scans. She felt her heart clench in panic. "Don't worry I have a shot for that but you'll need to come see me after each shift for the next five months. It looks like you're a month along." He added as he watched her reaction. She let out a huff, that was going to be trouble some, but she knew it would be worth it. "But after the first six months you'll only have to get one, once a month until the babies born." He added calmly. "I take it you'll tell the father soon." He added eyeing her. She froze in apprehension she didn't know how Spock would take this. "I'll tell him don't worry." She told him absently touching her lower abdomen.
"Good because I'm sure Kirk and everyone else will want to know and I can't tell them until you tell the father." He added with a smirk. She chuckled before hoping off the bio bed. "Take it easy alright. I wont recommend you for lighter duty until after the sixth month." He stared at her seriously. "Aye, Aye Doctor." She saluted with a smile. "Smart ass" was the last thing she heard before she left sick bay she chuckled and headed to her quarters.
That night Spock visited her quarters and she fully planned to tell him but after the initial meditation together he was called back to the bridge. The next weeks ended in the same way, he was either too busy to come or he was too distracted. She decided to hold off a little longer but she vowed to do it soon. McCoy would give her a look when he saw her each day after her shift but she would wave him off, it wasn't the right time. At night she had taken to having conversations with her stomach knowing full well the baby couldn't hear her yet.
"I never know what to say to babies or where to start. I know you can't hear me but i'm going to love you like you should be loved." she rambled staring at the ceiling rubbing her abdomen. "I know I should tell your father but the last few weeks has been so busy I can't seem to find the right time." she continued softly. Her rambling was cut off by her door chiming. "Speak of the devil. Well come on lets go greet him." She murmured to herself and walked to the door.
"Dell? What are you doing here?" She asked confused stepping aside to let him in. "I'm freaking out and I needed to talk to someone." He added, his stance a little tense. "And you thought of me?" She added still confused. "Shouldn't you be talking to your fiancé?" She continued eyeing him. "That's the problem I'm freaking out about the wedding." He answered running his hand over his face. "Well go sit on the couch and I'll make you something to drink." She answered walking over to the replicator. "Hot chocolate and a glass of water, chilled." she spoke clearly, she grabbed the drinks and sat down next to him. "Now tell me whats so bad that you saw fit to come to my quarters in the middle of the night." she added eyeing him. "Oh like you were doing anything important." he jabbed. She rolled her eyes chuckling slightly. "You know your fiancé could take this visit the wrong way." she continued watching him.
She spent the next hour soothing his worries about his up coming marriage. They were in the middle of a story when her door chimed again. "Are you expecting someone?" he asked looking at her curiously. "Yes and No" she answered getting up, Dell followed after. The door whooshed open Spock glanced at the two his eyes darkening slightly. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked his voice cold. "No I was just leaving. Thanks for your help I just hope I haven't screwed up the wedding." He added ignoring Spocks glare kissing her on the temple and walking past Spock who was watching him leave. Spock entered the room and glanced around his shoulders dropped slightly when the room seemed to be in order. She glared at that, his lack of faith in her was annoying.
"He was having doubts about the wedding, and he came to see me to sort out his thoughts." She added relaxing slightly knowing that being upset with him was useless. "I came to tell you the Captain, myself along with two others are going on a diplomatic mission we will be gone for close to a month." He finally spoke seting his sights on her face. "Is this a proper send off." she flirted slightly, but as usual it went right over his head. "No we leave tomorrow." he answered raising a eyebrow at her. She chuckled slightly before planting a soft kiss to his neck running her hands up his arms over his shoulders before ghosting over the tip of his ear. He growled before dragging her to the bed. She would tell him about the baby some other time. She would plan the perfect welcome back dinner, right now it was all about the send off.
The next few weeks were interesting she was starting to feel a presence in her mind similar to a mind meld but fainter. It was a constant state of confusion and wonder and it was a soft and warm feeling. She went to McCoy to ask about Vulcan births and maybe see what was going on. He glared at her whenever he saw her after Spock left, it was the end of her shift and she was coming for her shot. "I take it you didn't tell him before he left." He grunted out. "No I didn't."She whispered bowing her head slightly. He let out a sigh "get on the bio bed." He gave her a shot and she felt a great feeling of fear that clenched her throat. She grabbed at her neck trying to breathe. "What?" He asked frantically grabbing a scanner. As she rubbed her abdomen and pulled up in her mind why she was taking the shot her throat relaxed and the fear dissipated, it was replaced with what she translated as understanding.
"I think the baby is in my head." She added chuckling slightly. He looked at her funny before nodding."Right those green blooded hobgoblins are telepaths." He grumbled putting away the scanner. She laughed before hopping off the bio bed. "See you tomorrow." She waved leaving sick bay.
She spent the night trying to connect in someway to the baby but all she was getting was vague flutters of emotion. She loved it and couldn't wait for when the baby developed further and was able to communicate better. For now she would wait and babble on to the baby about everything and nothing.
The next week she was working in engineering joking and laughing with Scotty when she was paged "Ensign DeLuna please repot to the bridge."
"On my way." she responded before making her way to the bridge. "See you in a little bit." She added thoughtfully to Scotty. "Aye, aye." He responded distractedly waving her off. She chuckled before entering the turbo lift. Spock and the others were suppose be back in a week she hoped there wasn't anything wrong.
She was heading to sick bay after her meeting on the bridge. She just received her assignment and she needed to discuss with McCoy if she would be okay.
"No."He responded firmly. "You don't even know what I was going to say." She replied as soon as she stepped into sick bay. "I talked to Lt. Lore about the mission when he came in for a physical, and you're not going." He told her not leaving room for argument. "But its just an observation mission. We're taking scans and coming back. We'll be gone a week tops. If you just give me the shots I'll take them when I need to." She stated firmly pleading her case, she knew this would be one of her last chances to go on a mission. They argued a little longer before he finally gave in and showed her how much she was suppose to take and how long between shots.
"Don't make me regret this." He added as she was leaving. She smiled softly "Don't worry this is the last mission and once Kirk and Spock get back I'll tell them, you know they wont let me go once they know." she waved slightly before leaving sick bay. He shook his head mumbling to himself about being tricked by small pixie women.
The next day Lt. Lore and Vivian sat in a shuttle bond for a set of coordinates about three days from Enterprise.
The shuttle was quiet for the first few hours, they both seemed to be trying to come up with something to talk about. Finally Vivian just went for it. "Do you remember that time we hid my uncles tool kit?" She giggled at the memory. He let out a breath and chuckled as well. "He was so mad when he found out it was us." he laughed. "He made us clean the mess hall for a week." She giggled. "It was worth it to see the look on his face." Lore added. They chuckled for a few seconds before going quiet again. This time Lore tried "Do you remember when we were on the moon colony and found that little puppy we must have been about 11 or 12. It followed us all day and we begged and begged to keep him. Finally when you asked your uncle, you gave him the look and he caved instantly." He asked holding his stomach laughing. She giggled again and nodded vigorously.
"Yeah we kept him in Engineering and named him Sprinkles." She added. "Oh yeah." he roared with laughter. "your uncle hated the name and so did everybody else, besides us." He continued. "Yeah I remember we spent all our free time teaching him different tricks. Got him to fetch equipment for my uncle" She smiled at the memory. "yeah...what ever happened to sprinkles?" he asked calming slightly. Her demenor changed to a look of longing. "He died about 6-7 years ago. It was old age." she smiled softly. "He lived a good life." Lore stated smiling calmly "The best." she added. They spent the next week catching up and sharing old stories. "...and then he dropped the wrench right on his foot." She finished wiping her eyes after laughing so hard, Lore doing the same.
"You know I never understood why we never kept in touch." Lore added checking the console making sure they had the data they needed before setting the coordinates back to Enterprise. "Its hard on freighters, they're rarely in range of each other. It was better we didn't try we would have just been dissapointed, but I don't plan to lose touch this time." she added turning to her own console. She felt a sudden wave of pain in her abdomen. She felt fear slam into her. She noticed the time and paniced slightly she had been talking longer than she thought and was a couple hours late for her shot. She immidiatly jumped out of her seat to get her hypospray. Lore not understanding her sudden change turned quickly to watch her. "What are you doing?" He asked concerned. She ignored him and checked the hypospray before placing it to her neck she felt a slight pinch and the pain in her abdomen faded quickly. "What is that? I don't remember you having any illnesses." he replied standing in front of her. "Its not an illness its...preventative care." she replied lamely. He raised his eyebrow at her. "You were never a good liar. Come on tell me whats going on. I don't need my co-pilot passing out on me." He smiled slightly reaching out a hand to help her up from her kneeling position.
They sat back in their spots he stared at her for a few minutes. "Well?" He finally asked staring at her expectantly. She took a deep breath "I'm pregnant." she blurted. Lore sat shocked. "you're what?" she gave him a look. "I'm sorry I'm just suprised...I didn't know you were seeing anyone." He added slowly. "So what does that have to do with the shot?" He asked gently. "It's to prevent copper poisoning." She mumbled. She was upset that she was having this conversation with Lore and not Spock but thats what she gets for waiting. His eyes widened in shock. "Vulcan baby?" he half asked half stated. She nodded watching him carefully. "You can't tell anyone when you get back." She added. "Why?" he added eyeing her. She hung her head "because I haven't told the father yet." She mumbled quietly. "Seriously." he smirked. "What do expect him to do...show emotion." he joked. "It's not funny." she glared at him. "alright alright. It should be pretty easy to guess who the father is seeing as theres only two vulcans on board. "I know who the father is." she yelled swiping at him. He ducked slightly she wasn't trying to hurt him. "Come on chill out I was joking...must be all those pregnancy hormones." He ducked again when she took another swing, but he could see the smile tugging at her lips. She was about to reply when the consoles started going off.
"You've got to be kidding me." She whimpered angrily. He ignored her and checked the panel. "Klingons" He muttered angrily. "What?" She asked horrified. Of all the people she'd been captured by she had yet to be taken by klingons. She was glad for it, but her luck had just run out. "We're no match for them." Lore told her calmly as he could. "I know, what do we do?" She added trying to remain calm. Normally she wouldn't be horribly worried but she was pregnant and it wasn't just her anymore, not to mention if she got captured she had no idea what she would do about the shots. Enterprise wasn't expecting them back for atleast three days, she could see Lore racking his brain. He sent a distress beacon and tried hailing the klingons. Before they knew it they were being transported to the bird of prey. They were greeted with weapons in their face. They were taken to the brig of the klingon ship. Once aboard, the shuttle was destroyed, Vivian whimpered slightly. She was lucky she had just taken her shot because now she was out and she didn't know what she was going to do.
"Shut up." She heard a thick Klingon voice bark. Lore stepped in front of her the Klingons laughed. "Are you alright?" He asked softly keeping his eye on the Klingon guard. She nodded hugging her self around her lower abdomen. "I just hope Enterprise got our distress call." She murmured softly. "Me too...me too." He added touching her shoulder.
On Enterprise
"I now pronounce you man and wife..." Kirks voice rang through the mess hall where the wedding was taking place. Dell and Lola kissed and the crowd cheered. The celebration was in full swing. Dell had been upset Vivian wasn't there but he knew she wouldn't be bothered to much by it.
Kirk and Spock had returned with the other two a few days ahead of time. Spock was anxious to see Vivian again he could tell before he left there was something she wanted to tell him he could feel it through their bond. Kirk saw Spock standing off to the side as usual. "Enjoy yourself Spock. She'll be back soon. They're suppose to rendevous in two days" Kirked responded before clapping him on the shoulder and walking away. As McCoy walked up to Kirk Spock saw the doctor eye him with a glare. Spock merely raised his eyebrow in response. He left the mess hall returning to his quarters to meditate. He was in the turbo lift when he felt a wave of pain crash over his mind making him stagger using the wall for support.
"Vivian." whispered through his lips, before he changed course for the bridge. Just as he got to the bridge the red alert blared.
The mess hall went into action everyone heading to their assigned position. Lola looked angry Dell could tell. What bride wouldn't be angry their wedding reception was ruined by a red alert. "Come on" Dell whispered as he put his forehead to hers before grabbing her arm and dragging her out. As they moved through the halls he could hear her mumbling. "She better not have ruined my wedding." was one of the last things he heard before they had to split to go to their stations. "I love you." He called after her retreating back but it fell dead as she was already to far gone. He dropped his arm and headed to his station.
The bridge was alive with activity. Kirk arrived on the bridge "Report." He commanded the helm. "Klingons sir." Sulus voice answered quickly. "Hail them." Before they could do that, one of the Klingons face appeared on the screen. "Hello Captain, I believe we have somethings that belong to you. For future reference you might want to send better spys, they were far to easy to detect." The Klingon smirked. "What spys?" Kirk asked calmly. "Don't play games with me Captain. One male and one female human in a shuttle heading toward our space. You can't tell me thats a coincidence." The Klingon shot back forcefully.
Spock went on alert immediatly. This was going to be a difficult situation. "Let us talk to them." Kirk demanded knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere with the Klingon. "As you wish Captain." was his sly remark.
