In a Single Heartbeat
Disclaimer - Paramount and Viacom own the characters from Voyager, although they didn't often treat them right. The story line belongs to me.
A special thanks to: My friend and editor of all my stories, Mill3rs.
Chapter Sixteen – Bad Dreams Resolved
"Well, Captain, that concludes our business. We thank you for your assistance" the Goroth senator nodded his head and the transmission ended.
Janeway glanced at Krey, standing next to her on the bridge. "He's ordered a cease-fire on the planet and a release of any prisoners taken to work in the mines," she stated, moving toward her chair.
"He still denied any knowledge of the men trapped in the mine or of another transport of soldiers in the area," Krey replied. She slowly paced in front of the command chairs.
"Please sit down," Janeway motioned to Chakotay's chair. "The last we heard from the away team was that they were breaking through the tunnel and that Lieutenant Paris had responded to them." She glanced at the young ensign at Ops. "Any more transmissions from the away team?"
"No, Captain, nothing further from Commander Tuvok."
"Captain, we are ready in Astrometrics," Lieutenant Carey's voice came over the comm system.
"Lieutenant, I would prefer to wait until the away teams are back onboard until we fire the photon blasts," the captain ordered.
"Aye, Captain. We will hold until your order," Carey answered.
# # #
"Noo!!" B'Elanna cried out in agony. "It's my dream. It's coming true." She searched frantically for a heartbeat as Harry gently pulled her away from Tom.
"B'Elanna, let the Doc take care of Tom." Harry led her to one of the small benches and pushed her down to sit. "What's this about a dream?" he asked as he squatted in front of her keeping himself in her line of site.
B'Elanna shook her head and tried to see past Harry's shoulder. "B..before we met up with the Helmar, I had this nightmare. Tom and I were running away from someone. I don't know what. We were out of breath and I didn't think I could keep going. He grabbed my hand and said that we needed to reach the flyer. Suddenly five soldiers appeared with projectile rifles and the one in the lead fired at us. Tom fell forward and when I turned him over his jacket was covered in blood." She shivered violently and started to stand. "I have to go to him, Harry."
"No, B'Elanna," Harry grabbed her arm and held her in place. "The doc's working on him right now.
"But in the dream, there was blood coming out of the side of his mouth, just like now and no heartbeat. Harry, I have to be with him." She pushed the younger man out of the way and moved to Tom's side.
The doctor finished scanning Tom. "He has a clean wound through the left ventricle of his heart," he stated as he placed a cardiac stimulator on Tom's chest. "He's in cardiac arrest. We need an emergency beam-out to sickbay as soon as we are in range."
Tuvok tapped his comm badge. "Shuttle Copernicus to Voyager, we request an emergency beam-out to sickbay of Lieutenant Paris and the doctor when we are in transport range."
"Voyager here, Tuvok. I've alerted transporter room one," Janeway's voice filled the small shuttle. "What happened down there, Commander?"
"We were fired upon, Captain, and Lieutenant Paris sustained a severe chest injury."
Reaching into his medkit, the doctor retrieved a hypospray. "I'm given him 20 milligrams of Cordrazine. I need someone to set the charge on the stimulator while I monitor the readings."
"I will assist you, Doctor," Tuvok's calm voice helped the others focus. He knelt at Tom's side and reached for the stimulator.
"I need it set at 50 mill joules," the doctor said. After a short pause, he looked at Tuvok. "He's not responding. Increase the charge to 70 mill joules."
B'Elanna stood at Tom's head as Harry held her in his grasp. Tears ran unnoticed down her face and she shivered in his arms. "Spirits, he has to be all right," she murmured.
The doctor looked up as Tom's heart began beating on its own again. "He's alright for now but he needs to get to sickbay as soon as possible."
Harry let B'Elanna go and she dropped to Tom's side. Gently stroking his face, she glanced up at the doctor. "Thank you," she whispered and turned back to her husband.
"We're nearing Voyager," Ayala announced from the front of the shuttle.
"Commander Tuvok, we are in transport range," the captain's voice came through the comm system. "I've initiated a beam out directly to sickbay."
B'Elanna glanced down at Tom and the doctor as the two figures disappeared in a blue haze.
"How is Lieutenant Paris?" the captain asked.
"He was in cardiac arrest, but the doctor managed to stabilize him," Tuvok responded. "We have other wounded onboard, Captain, but they are to await our docking on Voyager."
"Very good, Commander," Janeway replied. "The shuttlebay doors are open; you are cleared for docking."
# # #
The doctor and Tom materialized in the surgical bay and were met by Ensigns Harper and Wildman. The doctor immediately raised the medical shield over Tom and initiated life support. "Ensign Harper, please prep Lieutenant Paris for cardiac surgery. He sustained a chest wound from a projectile rifle on the planet's surface," the doctor shook his head in aversion at the primitive weapon and the amount of damage it caused.
The sickbay doors slid open and B'Elanna and Harry rushed in. Seeing them, Samantha Wildman approached. "The doctor is getting ready to operate, B'Elanna." You can both wait in his office." She gestured to the glass walled enclosure. Taking B'Elanna by the arm, she led the two officers into the doctor's office. "His condition is stabilized right now, and you know that he's in good hands. I'll let you know when you can see him." She turned back to the surgical bay and moved to assist the doctor and Ensign Harper.
Harry sat on the chair next to the doctor's desk while B'Elanna paced in front of the window. "B'Elanna, please sit down. The surgery will take some time and you're exhausted. You won't do Tom any good if you collapse at his biobed later."
"You're right, as usual, Starfleet," B'Elanna answered falling back on the nickname she had given Harry at the beginning of their journey nearly seven years ago. She sank into the large chair behind the desk and stared out the window. "He has to be alright," she whispered.
Harry reached for her hand and squeezed it slightly. "He will be, Maquis, he's strong," Harry smiled. "Besides, you'd kill him if he wasn't"
B'Elanna smiled back, leaned her head against the high back of the chair and closed her eyes.
# # #
Captain Janeway glared at the viewscreen in her ready room. "You assured me that there was a ceasefire and that all of the prisoners, that your soldiers had taken, would be released unharmed."
"Yes, Captain, but…" the Goroth senator started to answer, but was cut off sharply.
"No but, Senator. I have a crewmember that is on life support and is undergoing emergency cardiac surgery due to your overzealous commanders." Janeway snapped. "We offer your people assistance and this is how we are thanked?"
"Please, Captain. I have stated before that General Talkin was acting without my authority. He has been removed from command and his soldiers will be dealt with. You and your crewman have my sincere regrets for this incident. I was unaware that the soldiers had even conscripted off-worlders in the mines."
"Senator, before we proceed with the photon blasts, I must be assured that the Helmar will no longer be victimized by your army," Janeway stood and moved to the port behind her desk. She could see the line of planets leading away from the brightly glowing sun.
"Captain," a familiar voice had Janeway turning back the viewscreen. Lorish stood next to the Goroth senator. "Senator Nealtor has given my people his word. He is sending me in a shuttle to your ship so I can be re-united with my sister and my nephew, Bromar."
Janeway's face softened as she listened to Lorish. "Very well, Senator. I will get back to you when my crewman is out of surgery and the Helmar have been returned to their planet. We will then discuss the terms of our assistance." She reached forward to close the link. "Voyager out."
tbc…