Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the ship, or anything at all.
Chapter 27 – SickElizabeth awoke, feeling ill; her head ached, she felt dizzy when she moved and sick. She attempted to stand only to collapse back onto the makeshift bed, eliciting a groan. Admiral Paris must have heard her, as he strode through the partition between the main room and the bedroom area.
"Elizabeth, honey, what's wrong?" he asked, sitting down next to her and placing a hand on her damp forehead. She was burning up, and that was no lie.
"Liz, I'm going to call the doctor," he said tapping his commbadge, his face shadowed by concern.
"No, I'm okay, just a little dizzy that's all, I'll……" she trailed off as the doorbell rang.
"Enter," the admiral said turning on the makeshift bed to face the door.
Captain Janeway entered, "Good morning," she said. The admiral hid Elizabeth's face from her view. At the sound of her mother's voice Elizabeth shrunk into the covers, this was just what she didn't need. Now, she would have to go to sickbay.
"Kathryn, she's not well I'm afraid," he said, shifting slightly so that she could see Elizabeth's face. In one swift movement the captain was knelt next to Elizabeth, so that their faces were on the same level.
"What's wrong?" she asked, putting out a hand to stroke Elizabeth's hair.
Admiral Paris sat watching the two of them, his hand lingering next to his commbadge. He sighed, the captain was very gentle and kind with her, it led him to the belief that perhaps Elizabeth would decide to stay here with the mother she had always wanted. He watched as Elizabeth told them captain how she was feeling, and he saw her reach for the captains other hand, gently squeezing it with her own clammy hand.
"I don't want to go to sickbay, please don't make me. I want to stay with you," Elizabeth whispered, almost in tears at the Captain's suggestion of going to sickbay.
A slight frown passed across Janeway's face, but she smiled reassuringly, "Shhhh, I'm not going anywhere. The doctor can come and see you here if you want," she said, gently.
Elizabeth nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. Admiral Paris sighed quietly, he felt anger rising in him, anger at Q, anger that such an innocent, young and harmless child should have had to nearly die, endure two weeks with Q and then be introduced to her mother – the woman she had always aspired to be like – only to have it all ripped away. After all, in a few hours time she would have to make her decision, himself and Deanna, or her mother and Tom. He knew how hard it was going to be for her whatever she chose, either way she was afraid she would hurt people she loved dearly, and yet she had to choose.
Captain Janeway turned to face him, and nodded – signalling for him to call the doctor. Within a few moments the doorbell rang, and the doctor and Deanna appeared.
"I was discussing counselling with the doctor," she explained, following the doctor in Elizabeth's direction.
Elizabeth shrunk closer to the Captain, who slipped an arm around her protectively, all to happy to provide love and reassurance. However, she wasn't the only one, Deanna sat on the end of the makeshift bed and took hold of Elizabeth's hand.
"Well, she has a severe case of the tulancan ague I'm afraid. I did tell her and yourself Captain that she should have stayed in sickbay until today," he said, justifying himself as he continued to scan Elizabeth with his tricorder.
The Captain sighed, "Doctor, I would like to keep her in my quarters, could you treat her there?" she asked, hopeful he wouldn't overrule her and order Elizabeth to sickbay.
He nodded, a look of understanding on his face – for all the captain knew this could be her last day with her daughter for years, perhaps forever.
He injected Elizabeth with a hypospray, "This should make you feel a little better. I will be back to check on you later," and with that the doctor turned to Admiral Paris who questioned him further.
-Fin-
Hmmmmmm, who will she choose? Please review.
