Disclaimer: ST characters aren't mine. However, Izzie, Joe, Eli , and Cat are mine.

Chapter 10-Give Up the Ghost

2011

Izzie few into his arms. "Oh God, Eli!"

Eli hugged her back. "What's wrong cher? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Izzie began to hyperventilate. Was it all a dream? No, it couldn't have been. This isn't right. It doesn't feel right. I shouldn't be here.

Eli began to rub her back, "Hey sweetheart, it's ok. Were you having a rough dream?"

"Eli, what day is it?" asked Izzie.

"It's Thursday babe," he replied.

Izzie shook her head. "No, I mean the date. What's the date?"

"It's December 8. Are you ok Izz? I think you've been working too hard."

Izzie sank down onto the bed. December 8. Thursday. We have the party on Saturday…the day Eli was killed…will be killed. Oh God this isn't happening. What do I do? Normal. I have to act normal.

She cleared her throat. "Yeah…um, I guess I have been working a lot."

Eli smiled. "Well don't worry I'll take care of you. How about I go run and get you some soup and crackers?"

Izzie blankly nodded. "Um yeah. Sounds great."

Eli gave her a quick kiss. "I'll be back in 20."

She remained sitting on the bed for another 5 minutes. In complete shock. Her heart felt as if it had been shattered into a million pieces. Spock. She had lost Spock. But had regained Eli. This is my chance to save his life. Izzie felt conflicted.

Izzie slowly made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Stepping in, she sank to the floor and finally let the tears come.

2259

The Enterprise was able to locate Spock on Jaco IV and beam him aboard the ship.

Jim was waiting for him in the transporter room. "Spock! Thank God! Wait, where's Izzie?"

Spock could hardly choke the words out. "She's…she's gone Jim."

"Gone? What do you mean gone?" asked Jim.

"I do not know what happened. We encountered a lightening storm. One particularly strong bolt hit the ground and a portal opened. Isobel was pulled through."

"No. Not Izz." Jim saw the grief in Spock's eyes. He knew that his first officer had become attached to Izzie but he didn't know just how deep that attachment was until this moment.

We'll find her Spock. We won't stop, until we find her."

Spock nodded.

2011

Izzie feigned illness the next day so that she wouldn't have to go to work. On Saturday, December 10 Izzie was able to talk Eli out of attending the Christmas party. Instead, they stayed home and watched a movie.

Eli had noticed that Izzie's behavior had been unusual. She looked almost zombie-like. But he knew that she'd been having a lot of pressure at work and just assumed she was a bit burnt out.

Over the next few weeks, Izzie tried to develop a routine. She went back to work and tried to do her best. However, she noticed that for the past few days she'd been experiencing frequent bouts of nausea and fatigue. Not wanting to go to the doctor, she drew her own blood and ran some tests.

Her HCG levels were extremely elevated. No. No way. Eli and I haven't had sex since I came back…or never left…or whatever. I can't be pregnant. I can't handle being a mother!

Looking at the remainder of the tests her eyes were drawn to one specific test. Her copper levels were abnormally high.

Realization washed over Izzie. Copper. This is Spock's baby. Izzie felt guilty for the relief that she felt. While she was hated hurting Eli, this baby was the only reminder that her time on the Enterprise and with Spock was actually real.

What am I gonna do?

Izzie debated the rest of the day whether or not to tell Eli. She knew that he would likely think she was insane and have her committed to a psych hospital. It's better he find out now than in a couple months when I birth a kid with pointy ears and no sense of humor.

She called Eli and asked him to meet her in her office when he was able. She glanced down at the clock and looked at the time, 11:30pm. Izzie went back and forth in her mind as to what details to omit in her story.

Then Eli walked in. "Hello beautiful! I was surprised to get your call. It's late. What's up?"

Izzie motioned for him to sit down. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"Ok…Eli there's something I have to tell you and you're gonna think I've completely gone off the rocker."

Eli looked puzzled. "You can tell me anything, cher."

Izzie looked around the room. "I really don't even know where to begin…"

An hour passed. She'd told him about how she'd witnessed his death, her passing out in her office and waking up on the Enterprise. She told him about the life she'd made for herself and the friends she had. She left Spock out of it, figuring that Eli would only be able to handle so much at once and that she'd explain the rest later.

When she was done, Eli just stared at her. "Oook, so let me get this straight. I died and you got carried off to some starship in the future?"

Izzie nodded.

"Wow. That's…umm…some story."

All of a sudden thunder began to rumble in the distance.

She looked towards the window. "It's thundering. Just like the night I was sent there."

"Izz, it's just thunder. It's probably gonna start raining soon," said Eli.

She shook her head. "No. I have to go outside." She took off running.

"IZZ! ISOBEL!" called Eli.

She was standing in the middle of the lab's courtyard, soaking wet, looking at the sky.

Eli touched her arm. "What are you doing?"

All of a sudden the thunder rolled and lightening flashed. The portal had reopened.

She looked through and could see three figures. It was Jim, Bones, and Spock.

Eli's eyes widened. "Well that's something you don't see everyday. You weren't kidding were you Izz?"

Izzie heard Jim's voice. "Izzie, we gotta go now! This thing's not stable, it won't stay open much longer."

She looked at Spock and then back at Eli.

She had to make a choice.

Izzie turned and faced Eli…

A/N: Who's she gonna pick? Am I really this mean? Damn! If you're still reading this story then I applaud you.