The doors opened and they walked towards the medical center. The closer they got the more Alice could smell the sterilizer, the hypo sprays, even the fresh linens on every biobed. The knot inside her stomach lessened as she was brought closer to her familiar space.
Alice turned the corner and there it was, everything that made sense. Doctor Crusher was putting away various agar plates, her attention was caught by their presence and she smiled. One eyebrow cocked to convey her slight confusion.
Beverly walked towards the pair and called out, "Alice, you aren't scheduled until tomorrow, what's going--"
Alice cut her off as she quickly rushed forward and hugged onto Beverly tightly. Beverly's mother instincts immediately had her holding onto Alice just as tightly but she still turned to Data for understanding.
"Doctor Crusher, the Captain has asked that you run a full medical examination on Doctor Baker. You will both join us after for a meeting with the senior staff." Data's voice made it all seem like a normal everyday occurrence.
Doctor Crusher absentmindedly patted Alice along her back and was unafraid to demand further information.
"A full medical examination? She just had one not even 12 hours ago. Does this have to do with the Felenian flu?" This last question Doctor Crusher asked of Alice.
She pushed Alice back enough to look into her eyes, to find the source of this mysterious visit.
Alice shook her head and found her voice falling. If she tried to explain it all to those mother eyes of Doctor Crusher's, Alice knew she'd end up crying.
Alice took a step away and then exhaled slowly. She retreated to Data and looked towards him for help. They didn't know one another, but she hoped he would understand her need for him to explain.
Thankfully Data took the social cues but in a very strange way. Data placed his hand over Alice's stomach and proclaimed to the Chief Medical Officer, "Alice and I are expecting a child."
Alice felt her ears heat up again and wondered if she would feel guilty at pushing Datas hand away. He wouldn't feel anything, but he'd want to understand later what he'd done wrong.
Beverly crossed her arms and blinked a few times.
"I'm not sure this new type of humor is working Data. Perhaps you should stick to slap-stick for now."
Data let his hand drop and Alice took the lead, she couldn't let this embarrassing situation escalate and her need to cry was far gone now.
"He's telling the truth, Doctor Crusher. I've been impregnated with Commander Data's child, all thanks to a being known as Q."
Alice could see the switch immediately at the mention of Q, maybe she should lead with that from now on. A dark glower took over Beverly's eyes and her nose flared.
"Q violated you!?" Well, that was not wrong. But Alice had seen with her own eyes the desire her future self had to have a baby with Commander Data. It was conflicting to say the least.
She and Data tried to placate the Doctor but Beverly was on a rampage.
"He thinks he can just play with fate as he sees fit, that we're all his play things!"
Alice strode forward and grabbed onto Beverly's arm. Doctor Crusher froze in place and cast a glance down.
"Please, Doctor Crusher, I just want to know if this is real or not."
Doctor Crusher took a few seconds more to breathe and calm herself down. Above all else right now, she had a patient who needed her. Beverly nodded her head to the side and said,
"Alright then. Hop onto a biobed and we'll find out."
Alice smiled and walked towards the closest bed. She lifted herself up and laid her head back until she felt the cool sheets all around her. A shadow covered her head and Alice looked up into the yellow eyes of Commander Data.
"I must go and inform the other senior officers of our meeting."
Alice nodded with understanding at his words. She had never expected the Commander to stay with her. But here he was, almost hesitating leaving her. Alice watched him contemplate a moment more before he strode forward and rested his hand on her stomach.
Data's eyes glanced back and forth between her own and where his hand rested as he softly whispered, "I will be back as soon as I am able."
And then he was gone. Alice felt heat at her ears for about the thousandth time that day. She refused to make eye contact with Doctor Crusher and instead stared at her feet.
A hood was lowered over her stomach and Doctor Crusher began pressing the controls embedded into the glass shield on the control panel by her head. Alice knew it wouldn't take Beverly long to find what she was looking for but the silence that stretched and her nerves made it feel like an eternity.
If this were real things would be different from now on. Her life was going to change permanently. But a small voice in the back of her mind asked a different question. What if it is a lie? What if there is no baby?
She hadn't given much thought to this. But what if it was all a misconception. A prank by Q on a poor, weak human girl. Alice looked up into the lights above her.
She hadn't expected this. Her mind had already begun to picture a little girl with dark brown hair and rosy cheeks. Or maybe a little boy with her mousy brown curls with yellow eyes that penetrated into her soul. Suddenly they were gone.
She didn't have to introduce this mystery babe to her mother, her grandparents. She wouldn't have to form an awkward co-parent team with a senior commanding officer.
That also meant she'd never show this child her favorite climbing tree from her youth. How to make her Grandmother's raisin cookies. How to walk, to run, to leap. She'd never be able to watch them grow and learn, to make mistakes and to triumph over them.
"Alice?" Doctor Crusher's voice brought her out of her trance and she felt abashed to feel stinging in her eyes. She blinked the silent tears away and gave her attention to her friend above her.
Doctor Crusher smiled and then nodded to the hooded screen above her midsection. Alice looked down and saw an image. The dark background with a white contrast in the center.
"Is that?" Alice couldn't finish the sentence, she didn't want to be wrong.
"That's your baby."