Chapter Fourteen: Laughs
"Red Alert!!! All hands to battle stations!!!" The small form in front her groaned and rolled to the other side of the bed. "Come on Captain! You're needed." Another groan and a pale hand drew the sheets higher up. "Deanna, your mother is on her way!"
The Counselor sat up instantly; her dark eyes wide open. "WHAT?!" Startled she looked around her until her eyes caught the laughing face of Doctor Crusher.
"Quite an impression you make Deanna. Coming late to your first appointment as a Captain." Quizzically Deanna looked into her friend's face. She rubbed at her eyes with the palms of her hands and blinked.
"Captain?" Beverly frowned and looked at Deanna. All of a sudden she started laughing hysterically, startling the Betazoid. Deanna still didn't quite understand but Beverly's fit of laughter had an infectious effect and so Deanna joined her.
After Deanna had regained her composure again --she could breath again-- she asked her friend why they were laughing. The question couldn't be answered by either of and she decided to ask another instead.
"Why was it you come to wake me up anyway?" Beverly focused inwards for a second.
"Uh...? Oh, you were supposed to be in Sickbay then half an hour ago." 'Odd, I haven't slept uninterrupted for a long time...' She turned her gaze back to the ceiling and thought for a second.
Beverly studied the Betazoid for a while, realizing that something either bothered, or puzzled her but decided not to ask, happy that for the first time in months the look of sorrow and fear had disappeared from the younger woman's black eyes
They remained lying on the bed for a couple more minutes, until their breathing had slowed down and they were ready to get up and go to Sickbay. Deanna sat up first, eyeing the Doctor playfully.
"Bev, you are as red as a tomato," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, you don't look that smashing either Counselor." Crusher replied. "Now get yourself moving and dressed so that you can honor me with your first visit to Sickbay as a Captain." Both grinned slightly and Deanna got up. With a slight limp she walked to her bathroom and disappeared inside it.
Several minutes later Deanna reappeared from the bathroom, dressed in a beautiful civilian dress.
"What? Not showing off you medal and fourth pip?" Instead of answering Troi threw her friend a sly glance and proceeded her out her quarters. Grinning Beverly initiated her pursuit.
During their walk from Deanna's quarters to Sickbay Beverly studied Troi's leg carefully, the dress that darted behind the empath partially covered the leg, but nonetheless the Doctor was able to tell which of Deanna's muscles hadn't healed sufficiently. She's hadn't given up hope though, Deanna was still improving. Suddenly Deanna halted and turned, locking her gaze on that of the Doctor behind her.
With her eyes she conveyed her question about what Beverly was thinking. Being the empath and telepath she was now Troi could often pick up stray thoughts from her closest friends. This time however was one of the times when her new powers failed and therefore, knowing there was something important on Beverly's mind she asked. Unwilling to tell Troi what she was thinking just yet Crusher threw her a glance that said as much as 'later'.
Briefly Deanna twitched her mouth in playful dismay and then she entered Sickbay. "I'm exhausted! I feel like I've been running up and down the ship for an entire week!" With a loud sigh she hauled herself onto one of the biobeds. Doctor Crusher picked up a medical tricorder and started scanning the Counselor thoroughly.
"So, any insight into our behavior this morning Counselor?"
"Well, I guess that was the mental revenge for the last stressful month."
"Sounds acceptable." They winked conspiratorially and Beverly turned to study the scans.
"Your back and arm are fully healed, and so is your cheekbone." Patiently Troi waited until her Doctor would continue. "There's no more residue of the drugs in your system. So, apart from your leg you are totally healed and ready to return to duty." A sigh of relief escaped her throat. "You did it Deanna!" Both chuckled at Crusher's happiness.
"And the leg?"
"Is better than yesterday. I think you have a very good chance it'll heal entirely in time." Deanna extended her empathic sense; Beverly hadn't lied but she was afraid she might be holding something back. 'Odd, she feels...different.'
Gently she extended her probe a little further. 'Definitely different.' In her mind she went over the possible causes. When Beverly turned back to her the concentrated features of the Counselor worried her.
"Deanna? Are you all right?" Beverly's words shattered her concentration as the realization hit her.
"By Rixx! Beverly, irhai trhaisyaliha!!!" The Betazoid's foreign words, her broad smile and the twinkles in her eyes surprised the Doctor.
"What are you saying?"
"You're pregnant!!!" Beverly's blue eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.
"Deanna *what* are you talking about?!" Now it was Deanna's turn to be confused.
"You didn't know? Beverly, I'm sensing another presence -in- you. Judging by its strength you're 3-4 weeks pregnant!"
"But..." Her mixed emotions prevented her from speaking. Sensing her friend's inner turmoil Deanna hopped off of the bed and more or less forced Beverly to sit down.
"Shh, relax. I'll take a med scan." She nodded mutely. 'A baby?! But how? When? Oh my God! What will Jean-Luc say?!' Troi's soft voice interrupted her string of thoughts.
"Have a look." With trembling hands she accepted the tricorder and nervously looked at the readings. Softly she gasped and handed the device back. The empath sensed her emotions change from disbelief to uncertainty and eventually into immense happiness. Together they laughed and cried in joy.
"Oh Beverly, I'm so happy for you." The redhead mouthed a silent thanks when suddenly her features turned serious and concerned.
"What will Jean-Luc think? Oh, Deanna, what if he doesn't want the baby?" Tears welled up in her eyes, and the Betazoid squeezed her hands encouragingly.
"He'll be thrilled...once he's past the initial shock. I'm certain of that Beverly." The Doctor studied Deanna's face carefully but then agreed with her.
"How will I tell him?"
"Oh, can I tell him?! Please??? I'll never refuse any treatment again! Can I? Please?" Deanna's childlike enthusiasm made her smile. Her dark eyes were filled with hope and joy. 'How can I possibly deny her anything when she looks like that.' The mother-to-be sighed and nodded slowly.
"Oh Thank you!!! I'll be in your debt!" Softly grinning she shook her head. She hadn't seen Deanna this happy since...well since a long time. Maybe this was just what Deanna needed to get her life back together again.