Disclaimer: I still don't own Star Trek Voyager.
A/N: Sorry about the delay in posting! Here's the next chapter. It's somewhat of a lead in to future chapters.
Why was it so damn cold!
Her feet felt like they'd been stuck into ice water for the last hour. And as if that wasn't enough she had a massive headache that only got worse each time she had to run to the bathroom to throw up. She was over three months pregnant, so shouldn't the morning sickness have ended by now!
She'd have a talk with the Doctor about getting a hypo or something, but it was going to have to wait. These security reports about the shield updates needed her attention more at the moment and they would most likely take her another hour at least to properly go over.
However much she disliked this kind of monotonous work, she had to admit she'd rather tackle it then deal with smugglers like last week. The space miscreants had, fortunately, been more annoying then dangerous, but the damage they did manage to do to the shields were definitely something she'd like to avoid in the future.
She'd also prefer to avoid another lecture from the Doctor like the one she'd gotten afterwards. When the smugglers had first fired on the ship she had been standing by Operations and the force of the impact from the weapons fire had shook the ship enough to send many of the crew flying through the air…including her.
She hadn't even thought twice about being thrown forward onto the ground. She was used to picking herself up off the floor by then. It was only later, once the threat was neutralized, that she really thought about what happened. And apparently she wasn't the only one. Someone, she still wasn't sure who yet, had told the Doctor about her little meeting with floor and he had then insisted she be scanned to insure that the baby wasn't harmed on the impact.
While she half-listened to his lecture she remembered just what could have happened if she'd been further along in her pregnancy. Luckily the baby hadn't been harmed. At least not this time. She couldn't help but feel a bit guilty about temporarily forgetting her pregnant state and therefore not seeking the Doctor out immediately after the battle was won.
However, she also knew those types of risks were going to be following her around and there was very little she could do about it. Every member of this crew was in danger during any confrontation. As Captain it was her job to watch out for them, but now she would have to remember to watch out for one more person as well even if that person wasn't even born yet.
If the incident with the smugglers proved anything it was that her crew was looking out for the command team's baby as well. The thought was somewhat comforting, but also slightly unnerving. Since when was it the crew's job to keep an eye on their captain to make sure she didn't trip? Then again, since when does a starship captain get pregnant thousands of light-years away from the nearest Federation planet?
She could just imagine what Starfleet would say if they were here now. A pregnant captain who was engaged to her fist officer, a first officer who was a former Maquis terrorist, a couple other Maquis senior officers, a former prison inmate flying the ship, a former borg drone and borg children, a holographic doctor as the chief physician, and a random Delta Quadrant alien thrown in just for fun. Nothing about this ship was normal!
If she tired to explain it to a board of admirals who weren't aware of the situation she'd probably be deemed insane and locked away for everyone's own safety. The looks of shock and confusion that she knew would be on their faces might be worth the condescending remarks though.
'Buzz'…
Well, it seemed she had a visitor to distract her from her wondering thoughts and dull security reports. She bid them entrance and sat back in her desk chair just in time to see Tuvok walking in. Hopefully he wasn't here to add another report to the ever growing pile. "Tuvok, what can I do for you?"
"I have revised and condensed my initial shield reports." He stated in his usual nonchalant tone while handing her another data padd. She quirked an eyebrow at him suspiciously before looking down at the padd.
Yep, it was condensed, but still gave all the necessary information she would need for the logs. This must be part of the 'protect the Captain at all costs and from every threat' attitude. Next thing she knew he or one of the other senior officers would be ordering a twenty-four hour security escort to 'protect' her from hang-nails and splinters. No, actually it would probably only be twenty hours. After all, Chakotay could watch her like a hawk during the few hours of sleep she got.
"Thank you, Tuvok." She told him in her 'captain's voice'. She did in fact appreciate the thought, and it did make her job easier, but the signs of hovering he and the crew were showing didn't bode well for her. By the end of the nine months she'd probably be ready to lock them all in the brig, which would certainly be another surprise for Starfleet if they got home and half her crew were in a cell or barricaded in their quarters.
She watched him nod in response and turn to leave, but then a question inched it's way into her mind. "Tuvok…" she began, getting him to stop and turn back in her direction again. "What's the status of the pool?"
Normally that would be an odd question to ask the security officer, but she was sure he understood what she meant. Judging by how his hands went behind his back and he glanced away as if restraining a despondent sigh, it could be safely assumed that she was correct.
"I believe the latest odds were tied with one boy vs. one girl, however more bets are still going into the 'pool' and Mr. Paris is under the impression that more crewmembers will be betting on the child being a boy." The vulcan security officer informed her casually as if having a normal conversation about the ships energy status.
"Hmm...interesting." She said thoughtfully. For a few days there it seemed the crew was expecting her to have twins. She had taken several looks at a mirror in an attempt to figure out what they were seeing that she had supposedly been missing. "And what about you? What do you think it will be?"
"It would be a waste of time and resources to attempt a guess at something that we will know for sure in a few months time." His answer was far too rehearsed and expected for her liking. She raised an eyebrow at him knowingly and waited. Sure enough after a brief pause he decided to continue. "However, my hypothesis of the situation is that the child will be female."
The corners of her lips twitched upwards in a faint smirk as she nodded slightly. She would ask why he thought it'd be a girl, but he'd probably just give her a technical explanation of genetics and biology. Of course she could also ask if he had any wagers in the betting pool and how much, but she decided to spare him from having to answer. Besides, she could always find out later without him knowing.
"Alright, thank you for your analysis." She told him, picking up the data padd from her desk as if that was what she was referring to, even though they both knew it wasn't.
"Of course, Captain." He answered simply before retreating out of her ready room and to the safety of his station.
She smiled slightly for moment before sitting forward to begin reading Tuvok's new report. She could find out more about the betting pool, contemplate how to handle the crew's protectiveness, and imagine Starfleet's reaction to all of this later. Right now she just needed work on this report and hopefully have it finished before the baby actually arrived.
A/N: What do you all think the baby will be? Boy, girl, twins?
