Hi All!
Well, this chapter turned out to be a lot longer than I planned…oh well :-)
All relative disclaimers apply…yadda yadda yadda…
Thank you for your wonderful reviews. RedLion2…you rock! ;-)
Enjoy,
Failte
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Lance turned to the main console when he heard it beeping. "You're entering Arusian airspace, state your name and business."
"Pvt. Latham requesting permission to land."
"Permission granted."
"ETA fifteen minutes."
"Copy that." Lance flipped off the microphone and turned to call Dr. Gorma.
"You aren't going to overreact, are you?" Keith asked him.
Lance turned from the console after alerting Dr. Gorma, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do. This woman has been cleared by both Kadmus and Dr. Gorma, she's coming to help Darcy, let her do her job."
"I just want to talk to her, get a feel for her before she examines Darc. After what happened with Fatina, can you blame me?"
Keith shook his head, "No, but go into this with an open mind, will you?"
"I'll go into it with a guarded open mind."
"We would never let anything happen to her."
"I know." Lance ran his hand over his face in frustration. "She's in pain, Keith. She tries to hide it from me, she doesn't want me to worry, but I know."
Keith studied him a moment, "Have you been getting any sleep, Lance?"
"I didn't get much last night, maybe a couple of hours."
"You need to be rested, not just for the team, but for Darcy too."
"I know, Keith, don't lecture me." Lance snapped.
"You want to talk about it?"
Lance sighed, "Ever since she spoke to her father, she doesn't want us sleeping together, but I don't want to leave her alone at night."
"How did you handle that last night?"
"I slept on a cot by her window."
Keith chuckled, "You've got it bad man."
"The woman I love, the woman I am about to marry, is pregnant with my child and she is having intense, unexplainable pain. What would you do?" Lance snarled.
Keith rubbed the back of his neck, "I, uh, I would probably do the same thing."
"What if…what if this kills her?" Lance whispered, lowering his head.
"Oh man," Keith laid his hand on Lance's shoulder. "That's not going to happen. She's too strong. Does Dr. Gorma think her life's in danger?"
Lance shrugged, "He doesn't really know. He just said that the baby seems to be progressing nicely and that she has strange spots on her womb that don't seem to be affecting the baby but he thinks are causing the pain. He doesn't know, that's why he asked Kadmus for help."
Keith felt powerless. He wanted to be able to say or do something to make him feel better. "She'll get through this, Lance. We're here for you."
"Thanks, man." Lance squared his shoulders and stood up straighter when the door opened and Dr. Gorma entered.
"Any word, Lieutenant?"
"They should be landing in a few minutes." Lance told him.
"Let's go out to the tarmac and meet them," Keith suggested.
The small transport ship began it's decent onto Arus. Lance fiddled with his communicator, flipping it open and closed. He hopped from one foot to the other and his hands shook slightly with nerves.
"Calm down, Lance," Keith whispered. "Before I have Dr. Gorma sedate you."
"Bite me, Keith." Lance muttered under his breath.
"Did you say something, Lieutenant?" Keith asked in his best I'm-the Commander-so-don't-cross-me voice.
"Nothing, Captain."
Keith murmured something that sounded a lot like "smartass".
All talk stopped when the ship touched down. Lance held his breath as the door opened and the steps unfolded down. Pvt. Latham was the first to leave the ship. He saluted Keith and Lance and nodded to Dr. Gorma.
"How was the trip?" Keith asked.
"Fine, sir, no problems," the Private responded.
"Where is she?" Lance asked.
"Foyle, her grandson, said he would see her off the ship."
"What's she like?" Lance whispered.
Latham leaned toward him and lowered his voice, "She doesn't
talk much but she seems nice. Foyle is
very overprotective of her."
They raised their heads at a shuffling sound.
At the top of the steps stood Gadara and her grandson, Foyle. Even though she was stooped over with age, Gadara stood taller than Lance or Keith. She had to be at least six foot, eight inches, taller if she stood up straight. Her hair was cut severely short and was the color of pewter. Her features were pinched and squished into the center of her face, making her head appear much larger than it actually was. Small glasses rested upon her upturned nose and she squinted down at the men below her.
Foyle was much shorter than his grandmother, he barely came to her shoulder, and was rail thin. His hair was shaved short and bright yellow. His eyes and ears were entirely too large for his head, while his nose and mouth were a little too small. They both wore plain, wheat colored robes and brown sandals. Gadara clung to his arm as they slowly made their way down the steps.
Foyle stepped forward and spoke with a low, gravely voice. "I am Foyle, grandson of Gadara. We have come to help as a favor to Kadmus. May we please go to the patient?"
Keith bowed slightly, "Welcome to Arus Foyle, Gadara. I am Captain Keith Whitaker, Prince Consort of Arus. This is Dr. Argus Gorma, the royal physician, and Lt. Lance Collier, my second-in-command. It's Lance's fiancée you're here to see."
Foyle turned to his grandmother and spoke to her in low tones. Gadara responded with low murmurs that they could not understand. Foyle turned back to the three men. "Thank you for your hospitality. But Grandmother would like to see the patient right away."
Keith and Lance exchanged glances. Keith nodded to him, letting him know it was up to him.
"With all due respect, Foyle, we would like to talk to you both first. We have had problems in the past." Lance told him.
Nodding, Foyle turned back to his grandmother and spoke to her again. She looked over Foyle's head and studied Lance for a moment before speaking to her grandson. He nodded and turned back to Lance.
"Something worries you." He stated.
"I'm worried about Darcy's health." Lance replied.
"Darcy," Foyle repeated her name. "That is the ill woman?"
Lance nodded.
"Why don't we come inside and talk," Keith suggested.
He led them into a formal parlor used for meetings, after instructing Pvt. Latham as to where he could take their bags.
"Can I get you anything?" Keith asked them.
Foyle translated for his grandmother. "No, thank you. We are fine, although Grandmother might like
something after she examines the patient."
Lance leaned forward, sitting on the edge of a chair opposite the couch where Foyle and Gadara sat. "Let's get down to business then. Darcy was infected about a year ago by a poison made with the Ttechken plant. She had a fever, chills, and was unconscious for almost three days. She's two months pregnant now and has started having really bad pains in her abdomen. Dr. Gorma found spots on her womb that he can't explain and we're wondering if that is what's causing the pain and if they were caused by the Ttechken poison. We need to know what we can do to help, is she in danger, and is the baby in danger. Can you help?"
Foyle looked at him a moment, absorbing everything he had just said before turning to his grandmother and translating it into a series of low murmurs. Gadara listened, nodding slowly. She looked up at Lance, noticing the way his leg shook with nervous energy and the way he tapped his fingers on his knees. She murmured lowly to Foyle.
"Grandmother said she knows of what you speak and that she will be better able to offer help once she examines the patient."
"I think you should just let her in to see Darcy," Keith muttered.
"You have to understand our caution," Lance continued. "We've had problems in the past where magic has been used to disguise evil people to look like people we trust. That is how Darcy was poisoned in the first place as well as a recent situation that burned us. Please don't be offended, but understand that I've become wary of who I let near Darcy, especially now."
They watched as Foyle once again translated. "We understand, Kadmus explained what had happened in the past. All I can say is that we know Kadmus and would never do anything that would hurt him or anyone close to him. As a favor to him and in his honor, we swear we are who we claim to be and we only wish to help."
Lance looked at Dr. Gorma who nodded his acceptance.
"I think we're wasting time here," Keith said.
"Alright," Lance stood. "Do you need anything before we go?"
Foyle shook his head and indicated the bag Gadara
wore across her, "Grandmother has everything she needs in her satchel."
"I'm going to go to Castle Control and check on things," Keith said.
"Contact me if you hear anything from Kadmus," Lance told him as Foyle helped Gadara to her feet.
"No problem." Keith patted Lance on the shoulder. "It'll be alright, man."
Lance walked a few steps ahead of the others as Dr. Gorma filled Foyle and Gadara in on everything he knew about Darcy's condition. He flipped open his communicator and dialed up Darcy.
"Yeah, Barlow."
"Hey, Darc, how you feeling?"
Darcy was lying back on her bed, rubbing her sore abdomen. Hilla had just left and Allura and Cady were sitting with her as she tried to ignore the pain.
"I'm, uh, I'm alright. What's going on?"
"We're on our way to your room, Gadara is here and she's anxious to examine you."
Darcy nodded, her heart racing, "Alright."
Lance lowered his voice, "Are you up for this?"
"Now's as good a time as any."
"Okay, we'll be there in a minute." Lance snapped the communicator shut and turned to the others, "She knows we're coming."
"How is she?" Dr. Gorma asked.
"She's in pain, but she won't admit it."
The older man shook his head, "Stubborn."
"Yeah," Lance said fondly.
Gadara watched him, smiling a nearly toothless grin at him.
Allura opened the door when Lance knocked. Darcy was stretched out on the bed, pale, her hands shaking slightly. She knew that whatever she imagined was probably a lot worse than the reality of it, but she was terrified of what this woman would say.
Lance sat on the unoccupied side of the bed, taking Darcy's hand in both of his, "You okay?" He whispered.
She smiled weakly and nodded.
Gadara and Folye came around to the other side of the bed. Darcy's eyes widened slightly as she took in the imposing figure of the medicine woman.
"Hello…Darcy." Foyle spoke to her. "My name is Foyle, grandson of Gadara."
"Hello," Darcy whispered.
Gadara murmured something.
"Are you in pain now?" Foyle translated.
"A little. I took something for the pain and it's starting to fade."
"How often do you get the pain?" Foyle continued translating.
"It comes and goes, there really is no definite time."
Gadara felt Darcy's ankles and then wrists.
"That's not where the pain is," Lance muttered, earning a dirty look from Darcy.
The old woman leaned over and stared into her eyes, prying her lids open, studying them.
"Can you describe the pain?" Foyle asked.
"It's…it's kinda like a tight band of pain right around here." Darcy traced a line across her stomach.
Gadara murmured and Foyle turned to Dr. Gorma, "You say you have found spots on her?"
"Yes," Dr. Gorma stepped forward and pointed to spots on Darcy's torso. "Around about here, here, here, and here. According to the scans, they appear to be growing and shifting."
Gadara placed her fingertips on Darcy's stomach and pressed down. Darcy gasped and her back arched as pain shot through her.
"Hey, watch it!" Lance called out. "Be careful!"
Gadara looked up at him, returning his angry, protective expression with one of slight amusement. She turned from them, picking up her bag and murmuring to Foyle.
"It would be best if you left." Foyle told Lance.
"What? No way!" Lance jumped up and stood beside the bed.
"Maybe you should, Lieutenant." Dr. Gorma spoke up. "It'll be easier to examine her."
"No."
"Lance," Darcy whispered. "It's okay."
He looked down at her, "I don't want to leave you alone."
"I'll stay," Allura said, still standing by the door.
"As soon as their done, you can come back," Darcy pleaded.
Hurt mixed with frustration left Lance feeling angry.
"Here," Allura pushed Cady into his arms. "Take Cady to Keith, she's needs to be changed. By then I'm sure they'll be done."
Lance opened his mouth and shut it when he looked down into the wet eyes of Darcy. Why did she want him to go? That hurt and confused him more than anything else. Allura took his arm and led him from the room. She gave him a reassuring kiss on the cheek and shut the door.
Lance stood, staring at the closed door a minute until Cady began crying. He looked down at her scrunched up, red face and sighed. "Come on, let's go find your Daddy."
Keith was standing at the main console in Castle Control, talking to Kadmus. He turned when he heard Cady crying and motioned for Lance to come forward. Keith ended the transmission and took his daughter, cradling her to his chest.
"Kadmus is about twenty minutes out," Keith told Lance.
"Why doesn't he just appear like Haggar does?" Lance muttered.
"He doesn't like to unless it's an emergency, he thinks it's rude, and he is bringing a lot with him, it's difficult to transport all of that." Keith felt Cady's heavy diaper. "Whoa, someone needs to be changed. Why are you here?" He asked Lance as they left Castle Control.
"I was kicked out. Why would they kick me out?" Lance's voice rose.
"It's probably easier for them without you there, fussing over Darcy."
"It's my job to worry about her."
"It's probably for the best, Lance."
"What?" He asked, incredulously.
"Let them examine her, as soon as they know what's wrong they'll tell you."
"Darcy asked me to leave," Lance whispered. "I thought she would want me there."
Keith shrugged, "Who knows. Maybe it's one of those unexplainable, hormone driven pregnant woman things."
Lance paced the nursery anxiously, checking and rechecking to make sure his communicator was on.
"You should be watching this," Keith said as he diapered Cady. "You need to practice."
"I know how to change a damn diaper." Lance snapped.
"Don't swear in front of the baby," Keith snapped back.
"I'll swear if I damn well want to!" Lance's voice rose.
"Look," Keith turned around, holding Cady in place with one hand. "You cannot go back in there like this. If you go in angry and hurt, swearing and yelling you're just going to upset Darcy. Suck it up, get over it, slap a smile on your face and do what they tell you to do. Do it for Darcy."
Lance's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for water. He ran his hands through his hair and sank down in the rocking chair. "God help me, Keith, I don't know what to do."
"I just told you what to do. Just be there for her, help her in any way you can. Keep her safe and comfortable." Keith lifted Cady, settling her on his hip. "You've got a lot riding on this, Lance, swallow your pride and do what Gadara tells you to do."
As if on cue both of their communicators went off.
"Whitaker."
"Collier."
"Captain, Kadmus is landing." Caleb said.
"You can come back Lance," Allura told him. "They're done."
"I'll be right there." Both men said, shutting their communicators.
"Here, take Cady back to Allura, please." Keith handed his newly dry and changed daughter to his best friend.
Lance took Cady, holding her to his chest as he ran down the hall. Cady giggled and squirmed, thinking this was some new kind of game.
Allura met him at the door, she took Cady and offered Lance a weak smile.
Darcy was sitting up against the headboard, pillows piled behind her. She held her hand out to Lance, he swallowed his hurt and frustration and sat beside her, taking her hand in his.
"What did she say?" Lance whispered.
"I told her to wait until you got here." Darcy whispered back.
Lance watched as Gadara dug in her bag, pulling out small sacks and setting them on the desk while Foyle spoke quietly to Dr. Gorma. "Kadmus is here."
Darcy sighed and leaned against him, resting her head on his
shoulder, "When did he arrive?"
"He's landing now."
"Do you think we should wait for him?"
"It's up to you."
She tilted her head back to look at him, "Are you angry?"
Lance looked down at her tired, pale face and felt his emotions shift. "No, honey, just worried." He leaned down and kissed her gently.
Dr. Gorma cleared his throat. Lance lifted his head, trying not to feel annoyed, while Darcy's face flushed bright red. "Gadara believes she can tell you what's wrong."
Allura jumped when there was a knock on the door behind her. She opened it to find Keith and Kadmus standing there.
Gadara grinned her wide, almost toothless grin and murmured excitedly. Kadmus crossed the room and took her hands in his, murmuring to her in her native tongue.
Everyone in the room watched this exchange. Lance felt the knot in his stomach loosen as he watched Kadmus talk to her. It was a friendly conversation, one that took place between two people who had known each for years. Lance knew he could trust Kadmus. They had known him for years, Allura and Koran knew him their entire lives. He was one of the most respected and admired people in the universe. If he believed this woman could help Darcy, then they couldn't help but trust her. However, patience wasn't one of Lance's finer points.
Kadmus looked toward the bed when he heard Lance clear his throat, loudly.
"Lieutenant," Kadmus smiled at him. "Sorry, how rude of me. It has been a while since I've seen Gadara."
"Can we cut to the chase?" Lance asked.
"Of course." Kadmus nodded to Gadara who spoke to him in low murmurs while he translated for her. "The poison seeped into the Sergeants blood and into her womb where it scarred her. There was not enough of the poison to render her completely barren, but it will make any pregnancy difficult. As the womb grows to accommodate the baby, the scarred tissue is being pulled and stretched, causing the pain."
"What can we do about that?" Lance asked.
Gadara continued murmuring, indicating the small sacks she set on the desk.
Kadmus listened a few moments before continuing. "There are some herbs and teas that will help. Gadara will show you how to use them. Some of the herbs need to be heated, like, a, uh, potpourri, I think you call it. The smells are soothing and will relax. The teas will help with the pain and one of them, the Fennimoria tea, will actually help with the damage caused by the Ttechken poison. It would have been better if she was drinking that before she became pregnant, but this will help."
"Is this safe for the baby?" Darcy asked quietly, rubbing her hand over her stomach.
Kadmus nodded, "Yes, none of this will hurt the baby."
"So that's it?" Lance asked, wary of how easy it all sounded.
Kadmus turned to Gadara and they exchanged a few words before he turned back to them. "There will still be some pain and discomfort, that won't completely go away, but it will get better. The Sergeant will need plenty of rest and try to avoid stress. She said it helped with the pain when you massaged her stomach, continue to do that. Sometimes the simple act of touching can help ease pain."
Gadara separated the sacks and explained them to Kadmus who in turn explained their contents to Dr. Gorma, Darcy, and Lance. Allura and Keith left, only to have Allura return moments later with a dish on a stand over a candle. She handed it to Gadara who smiled at her and began arranging various leaves and flowers in the bowl.
Lance stood, kissing Darcy on the forehead before crossing to where Dr. Gorma and Kadmus stood beside the desk, going through the sacks.
"Can I ask you guys something," Lance asked quietly with his back to Darcy so she couldn't hear him.
"Yes, Lieutenant, what is it?" Kadmus kept his voice low, sensing Lance's need for secrecy.
Lance glanced over his shoulder and felt relief when he saw Allura sitting on the bed, talking animatedly to Darcy. He turned back to the two men, "Be honest with me, completely honest with me, I need to know. Is Darcy's life in danger?"
They exchanged glances before Kadmus spoke, "I don't think so."
"You don't think so?" Lance repeated.
"We can't say for sure, Lieutenant, but she is a strong woman and with the proper rest and care and help from you, she should be able to pull through this."
"But you can't guarantee it?" Lance asked.
"Lieutenant," Dr. Gorma spoke up. "Even with all the advances in medicine, there is always a slight, marginally slim chance of fatality during childbirth, and the Sergeant's case is a special situation."
Lance ran a shaky hand over his face.
"Lieutenant, Kadmus and Gadara are both going to stay for a while. The three of us are going to do everything in our power to help her." Dr. Gorma assured him.
"Lance."
He whipped around to find Darcy standing beside.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Yeah," he slid his arm around her shoulders. "Now that we know what's wrong and how to treat it, everything is fine."
"I'm going to take Gadara and Foyle to get something to eat," Allura told them. "Would you like anything, Kadmus?"
"Oh yes, I could use something to eat." Kadmus said before turning to Darcy. "Take it easy, Sergeant, make sure you get something to eat and have your tea before bed."
She smiled at him, "Yes sir.
Thank you for everything."
Darcy saw everyone to the door, thanking them profusely. She missed Allura whispering to Lance, telling him to take the rest of the evening off.
"What's your schedule for the rest of the night?" She asked him after the others left.
"It looks like I have the night off."
"Oh, good, let's go for a walk." Darcy walked around the room, turning off the lights. "Allura and I were talking about the ceremony and I think we've come up with the perfect place to hold it, I want to show you."
"Shouldn't you be resting?"
Darcy rolled her eyes, "I've spent the entire day in my room; the walls are starting to close in on me."
"You sure you're feeling up to it?"
"I feel fine, really Lance. The medicine has kicked in and I want to get out."
"Alright, milady," Lance offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
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Later that night, Lance watched Darcy as she slept. It was going on two in the morning and sleep evaded him. She had had her first cup of the tea Gadara had given her. She was to drink a cup every morning and night, it would take time, but eventually it would help reduce the damage done to her womb.
Darcy was lying on her back, one arm bent above her head, the other laying across her stomach. She was sleeping deeply and soundly. He watched as her chest rose and fell, the movement of her eyes behind her lids, the way the moonlight cut through her blinds and across her bed. She sighed contentedly in her sleep.
Deciding he could deal with her wrath when she caught him, Lance stretched out on the bed beside her. He relaxed and slowed his breathing, hoping sleep would come.
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Lance stood in the doorway to the castle, looking out over the yard. It was winter, a sprinkling of pink tinted Arusian snow covered the ground and a bitingly cold breeze swept through the trees. His heart was heavy as he stood there. This was the worst day of the year for him, it was the anniversary of one of the greatest days of his life and the worst.
"Lance?"
He turned and saw a very pregnant Allura standing beside him, holding a clutch of daises.
"They just arrived." With a weak smile, she held the flowers out to him.
"Thanks." He murmured.
"I'll keep her entertained until you get back, then we can start the party."
He nodded.
Allura hugged him and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Taking a deep breath, Lance crossed the threshold, pulling his jacket tighter around him. The door shut behind him and he suddenly felt very alone, cut off from everyone else, but that was how he preferred it. With heavy feet, he trudged across the yard, past the lake and toward the woods.
A small cemetery was fenced off. Lance walked through the opening in the fence, past the few grave markers to the back corner. He knelt beside a small gravestone and brushed the snow off it.
Darcy Collier
Beloved wife, friend, and mother.
She was taken too soon, but will
never be forgotten.
Swallowing hard, Lance set the daises, her favorite flowers, in the small vase on the side of the gravestone. He came to see her all the time, tending to her grave, talking to her, looking for solace. But this was always the hardest day to come. Ignoring the cold, he sat down, facing the gravestone.
"It's been another year, Darc," his voice was low and raw. "She turns four today. It's been four years. God, I can't believe you've been gone for four years, that's twice as long as we knew each other." He ran his hand over the words engraved in marble, tracing her name. "They say it will get easier with time, I can tell you it doesn't. At least not yet. She is more like you every day. She's so smart and inquisitive. It's like a little part of you lived." He closed his eyes and tried to compose himself. He had a little girl's birthday party to attend, his little girl. "I have to head back honey. Your parents are here. And Sven, Romelle, and Erik, and the rest of the Force. She is loving the attention. I guess she gets that from me."
Lance stood, brushed his jeans off. "I love you, Darcy."
Before leaving he brushed off the rest of the gravestone, exposing her birth and death dates.
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Lance woke with a start. His eyes wide, focusing on the shadows dancing across the ceiling. She was dead. She died on January 23, two weeks before her due date. A tightening in his chest made it difficult for him to breath. He sat up, gasping for breath.
Darcy shifted and opened her eyes, "What is it?"
He shook his head, "Nothing, go back to sleep. I, uh, I need a drink." He went into her bathroom, blinking in the harsh light.
This is not happening, he thought to himself. He decided right then and there that on January 23rd, he would make sure she was not out of his sight. If need be, he could take her to the hospital wing and make her stay there, under doctor's care and guards, to make sure she was safe. To his sleep deprived mind, at 3:30 in the morning, that made perfect sense.
Lance crept back into her room to find Darcy watching him.
"Another nightmare?"
"No, go back to sleep," Lance sat on the cot.
"Come here, Lance."
"I thought you wanted…"
"I can change my mind. Come here." She patted the bed beside her.
Lance lay stiffly beside her. Darcy curled up next to him, her head on his
chest and her arm across his waist.
"Everything will be alright, Lance.
We know what's wrong now. The
baby will be fine."
"I know." He brought his arm up around her and hugged her to him.
"Then what is it?"
Lance gently rubbed his hand up and down the arm she had wrapped around him. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," she yawned.
"Why, uh, why did you want me to leave this afternoon when Gadara examined you?"
Darcy lay quietly and he felt disappointed, thinking she had gone back to sleep. He sighed, kissing the top of her head.
"I didn't do it to hurt your feelings," she whispered finally. "Part of me did want you there, but another part was scared and nervous. What if we were making a big deal out of nothing? What if it was really bad? I, uh, I guess, I don't know, I guess I was a little embarrassed. I know that sounds stupid, but it's like when you're being examined by a doctor, you would rather do it yourself."
Lance bit his lip to keep from reminding her that she had let Allura stay.
"I'm sorry if it upset you."
"I was just wondering." He muttered.
Darcy tilted her head back and kissed his chin, "I love you."
He brushed his lips over hers, "I love you too."
She snuggled closer to him, "Everything will be alright, Lance."
He didn't respond. For the second night in a row, he watched her sleep, afraid to close his own eyes.
