Kathryn woke the next morning and remembered the Doctor's orders: rest...rest...rest. She groaned inwardly, but knew it was for the best. Climbing out of bed, she headed for the sonic shower. She instinctively placed her hand on her abdomen, I seem to be making a big mess out of this aren't I? Kathryn sighed as the water ran over her body. Once finished she stepped out and wrapped a robe around her body. Heading over to the replicator, she thought it would be a good idea to have a little something to eat, not being able to remember when the last time that was. She grabbed a book from her bedroom, replicated a bowl of fruit, and sat down on the couch. She had a feeling this was going to be a long day.
In the messhall, Chakotay sat alone trying to eat his breakfast, but couldn't seem to get what happened with Kathryn last night out of his mind. B'Elanna walked up to him, stirring him from his thoughts. "Hey, is this seat taken?"
"Huh? Oh, of course not. Have a seat. How are you?"
"I think the question should be targeted to you. What's up? You don't look like you slept at all." She watched as Chakotay tried to stifle a yawn.
"I'm just worried about the Captain. There is something going on with her and I can't quite put my finger on it yet."
"You know Chakotay, if you don't mind me saying, you two have not been the same since we beamed you back from that planet. What happened down there? You've never talked about it."
Chakotay sighed...maybe if he talked to someone it would give him a new perspective on the situation. "Kath-, the Captain and I became very close on the planet. We shared a lot, got to know each other a little more, and like I said, we became very close." B'Elanna nodded in understanding. "The day Voyager contacted us, it was like our whole world fell apart. And the day we left, she became the Captain again, and not the woman I came to finally realize how much I truly loved, although no matter who she is I will always love her."
B'Elanna could see the tears begin to form in her old friend's eyes. "Chakotay, I think that person is still there, it's just from what I have seen she is wrapped up in protocols and regulations. I have a feeling she loves you just as much as you love her, but she is scared of going against what she was always taught. Do you want me to talk to her?"
"No, that's alright. I don't want to put her under anymore pressure than she already is. I really have to get going though. I'll talk to you later." B'Elanna watched as Chakotay left the messhall. She hoped things would be resolved between him and the Captain soon.
The next day Kathryn awoke to feeling slightly more relaxed than she had been. She agreed to meet with the Doctor today so he could do another check-up and discuss her options with her. After replicating something to eat, she made her way to sickbay. "Ah, good morning Captain! Why don't you take a seat over there and I'll do some scans to see how you are doing." Grabbing a tricorder, he began his work. "How are you doing this morning? Any pains or discomfort?"
"No, I feel a little more relaxed today. I slept well last night for a change."
"That's good to hear. Why don't we step into my office and talk so we aren't disturbed."
Kathryn took a seat, starting to feel a bit nervous. "Well Captain, scans show you to be doing much better today. Stress levels are still a bit on the high side, but have gone down considerably since the other day. If you wish to continue with this pregnancy you are going to have to manage your stress a lot better than this."
"That's the thing, I don't know if want to go through with this pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I want to have a baby more than anything, but being a Starfleet Captain, stranded in the Delta Quadrant isn't exactly an ideal setting. What if something was to happen during or after the pregnancy? I don't think I could forgive myself."
"Captain, I understand your concerns, but have you forgotten there is already a baby on board Voyager." Before the EMH could continue, Kathryn interrupted, "Ensign Wildman is not captain of this ship. She doesn't have to worry about the lives of over 100 crewmen!"
"Captain, calm down please. I was only trying to make a point," the Doctor got up and moved to sit on the edge of the desk in front of her. "Captain, I know you realize the options in this situation: you can terminate the pregnancy, which I really don't think you want to do; you can allow someone else to carry the child for you, whether you want to disclose your identity or not; or you can choose to have this baby, which I really think in your heart you want to do."
Kathryn slowly looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Chakotay came to see me last night, just briefly. He wanted to inform me that earlier in the day sensors had picked up a planet with similarities to that of Earth. He was able to contact the Prime Minister of the colony that lived there and considered allowing the crew to have shore leave on the planet. The Prime Minister wishes to speak with me before officially agreeing to anything. I think, if all goes with the Prime Minister, I might take some time on the planet...find a quiet place."
She saw a small smile on the Doctor's face. "I think that would be a good idea. Am I to assume you might be close to making a decision."
"I think so. I just hope in the end I make the right one." Kathryn stood up and began walking out of the office. "Oh and Doctor, thank you for listening."
"No problem Captain." The Doctor watched her leave sickbay and hoped that in the upcoming months there would be a new bundle of joy on the ship.
Later that day, Kathryn spoke to the Prime Minister of the planet D'kar. She found him to be completely hospitable and granted shore leave for the crew, along with her request...a small, secluded cabin away from town. She wanted to be by herself before she came to her final decision. Once the transmission had ended she contacted Chakotay and let him know that the crew could start taking shore leave tomorrow. She also added that she would be going down to the planet as well, something that took Chakotay by surprise since it always seemed hard to get her to take a break. He noted however that as of late, a lot of things seemed to be different with her.
Once she was finished making all the arrangements, Kathryn started packing some things that she would need. She was actually looking forward to spending some time on the planet.
In the messhall, Chakotay sat alone trying to eat his breakfast, but couldn't seem to get what happened with Kathryn last night out of his mind. B'Elanna walked up to him, stirring him from his thoughts. "Hey, is this seat taken?"
"Huh? Oh, of course not. Have a seat. How are you?"
"I think the question should be targeted to you. What's up? You don't look like you slept at all." She watched as Chakotay tried to stifle a yawn.
"I'm just worried about the Captain. There is something going on with her and I can't quite put my finger on it yet."
"You know Chakotay, if you don't mind me saying, you two have not been the same since we beamed you back from that planet. What happened down there? You've never talked about it."
Chakotay sighed...maybe if he talked to someone it would give him a new perspective on the situation. "Kath-, the Captain and I became very close on the planet. We shared a lot, got to know each other a little more, and like I said, we became very close." B'Elanna nodded in understanding. "The day Voyager contacted us, it was like our whole world fell apart. And the day we left, she became the Captain again, and not the woman I came to finally realize how much I truly loved, although no matter who she is I will always love her."
B'Elanna could see the tears begin to form in her old friend's eyes. "Chakotay, I think that person is still there, it's just from what I have seen she is wrapped up in protocols and regulations. I have a feeling she loves you just as much as you love her, but she is scared of going against what she was always taught. Do you want me to talk to her?"
"No, that's alright. I don't want to put her under anymore pressure than she already is. I really have to get going though. I'll talk to you later." B'Elanna watched as Chakotay left the messhall. She hoped things would be resolved between him and the Captain soon.
The next day Kathryn awoke to feeling slightly more relaxed than she had been. She agreed to meet with the Doctor today so he could do another check-up and discuss her options with her. After replicating something to eat, she made her way to sickbay. "Ah, good morning Captain! Why don't you take a seat over there and I'll do some scans to see how you are doing." Grabbing a tricorder, he began his work. "How are you doing this morning? Any pains or discomfort?"
"No, I feel a little more relaxed today. I slept well last night for a change."
"That's good to hear. Why don't we step into my office and talk so we aren't disturbed."
Kathryn took a seat, starting to feel a bit nervous. "Well Captain, scans show you to be doing much better today. Stress levels are still a bit on the high side, but have gone down considerably since the other day. If you wish to continue with this pregnancy you are going to have to manage your stress a lot better than this."
"That's the thing, I don't know if want to go through with this pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I want to have a baby more than anything, but being a Starfleet Captain, stranded in the Delta Quadrant isn't exactly an ideal setting. What if something was to happen during or after the pregnancy? I don't think I could forgive myself."
"Captain, I understand your concerns, but have you forgotten there is already a baby on board Voyager." Before the EMH could continue, Kathryn interrupted, "Ensign Wildman is not captain of this ship. She doesn't have to worry about the lives of over 100 crewmen!"
"Captain, calm down please. I was only trying to make a point," the Doctor got up and moved to sit on the edge of the desk in front of her. "Captain, I know you realize the options in this situation: you can terminate the pregnancy, which I really don't think you want to do; you can allow someone else to carry the child for you, whether you want to disclose your identity or not; or you can choose to have this baby, which I really think in your heart you want to do."
Kathryn slowly looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Chakotay came to see me last night, just briefly. He wanted to inform me that earlier in the day sensors had picked up a planet with similarities to that of Earth. He was able to contact the Prime Minister of the colony that lived there and considered allowing the crew to have shore leave on the planet. The Prime Minister wishes to speak with me before officially agreeing to anything. I think, if all goes with the Prime Minister, I might take some time on the planet...find a quiet place."
She saw a small smile on the Doctor's face. "I think that would be a good idea. Am I to assume you might be close to making a decision."
"I think so. I just hope in the end I make the right one." Kathryn stood up and began walking out of the office. "Oh and Doctor, thank you for listening."
"No problem Captain." The Doctor watched her leave sickbay and hoped that in the upcoming months there would be a new bundle of joy on the ship.
Later that day, Kathryn spoke to the Prime Minister of the planet D'kar. She found him to be completely hospitable and granted shore leave for the crew, along with her request...a small, secluded cabin away from town. She wanted to be by herself before she came to her final decision. Once the transmission had ended she contacted Chakotay and let him know that the crew could start taking shore leave tomorrow. She also added that she would be going down to the planet as well, something that took Chakotay by surprise since it always seemed hard to get her to take a break. He noted however that as of late, a lot of things seemed to be different with her.
Once she was finished making all the arrangements, Kathryn started packing some things that she would need. She was actually looking forward to spending some time on the planet.