LEAVING LOVE
Chapter 2
Kathryn stepped onto the turbolift, oblivious to the reactions of her officers and friends. In the last three weeks, she had suffered visibly. Her face was pale and drawn, and her hands were skeletal, her uniform hanging loosely on her wizened frame. Then, there were her eyes. Once bright and full of life, they were now dark, empty…dead. It was as if the Kathryn Janeway they had all known was gone. She hadn't been seen in the mess hall for weeks now, and discreet scans indicated that the replicators in both her quarters and her ready room had been used only to synthesize massive quantities of coffee, as well as a few bowls of soup, which had been put back into the recycler nearly full each time. By the end of the month, the senior staff estimated that she had lost at least twenty pounds, and she hadn't shown up for her annual physical in sickbay. She entered the bridge, and suddenly stumbled. Tuvok, who was looking over the shoulder of the officer at the tactical workstation, reached out and caught her upper arm. He did not let go for a long moment. His eyebrow rose slightly as he realized that he could very nearly wrap his hand around her arm.
She shrugged out of his grasp. "Thank you, Tuvok." She turned, entering her ready room without another word. A moment later, they heard a muffled thump, as if something heavy had fallen. Tuvok ordered everyone to remain at their posts as he hurried to the ready room. The door slid open at his approach to reveal the captain, lying prone on the floor beside her desk, her face pale and her lips blue. Tuvok tapped his combadge.
"Tuvok to sickbay. Medical emergency." The familiar blue beam of the transporter engulfed them both, and they appeared in sickbay. The Doctor was at their side instantly, helping Tuvok lift Kathryn up onto a biobed. The Doctor looked over at the Vulcan questioningly, his expression grim.
"What happened?" He began scanning her, letting the tricorder's wand slowly down the length of her body.
"I do not know, Doctor. Is she…all right?" The Vulcan seemed to be agitated, almost worried.
"She's certainly not in perfect health, but she's not dying. She is, however, suffering from exhaustion, malnutrition…" He trailed off as he moved the wand over her abdomen. "…and pregnancy," he finished cheerfully, snapping the tricorder shut. The Vulcan's eyebrow rose slightly, but he said nothing. The Doctor pressed a hypospray to her neck gently, and her eyes flew open. She sat up and looked around.
"Wha-what happened? Why am I here?" She looked from the Doctor to Tuvok, then back again. Vulcan and hologram exchanged glances.
"Captain, it appears that you, well…" He trailed off for a moment, and she aimed a glare at him that would have vaporized any lesser person, but the hologram, unaffected, continued slowly. "You fainted."
"I did what?!" She looked, unbelieving form friend to physician.
"Just like I said, you fainted," came the brisk answer. "You lost consciousness for several minutes You were—are—suffering from malnutrition, exhaustion, and over consumption in the extreme of caffeine." His disapproving frown faltered as he thought of the news he was about to deliver. Kathryn gave him a dirty look as he continued. "And there's one more thing…" She stared at him, trying to hide her curiosity at whatever it was that could make a hologram fidget. The Doctor took a deep holographic breath. His eyes met hers. "Congratulations, Mommy, there's a baby on board."
For the second time that day, Kathryn Janeway fainted.
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