Chapter 2: Sky goes Dark
"Are you sure that she will be all right out there? I mean she has only been here a week. She needs her rest not out there gallivanting all over Jericho."
"Oh she is fine. She and Jack are just out feeding the chickens. I could keep you quiet when you were pregnant with her or Leaf. So the apple does fall too far from the tree." Craven chuckled.
Lilly made a face at him, "Are you sure she will be all right? "
"She's fine," He looked out the window and saw Lynn and Jack happily feeding the chickens.
Outside in the chicken yard...
"Jack want to help me feed the chickens?"
"Feed chickies." He laughed.
Lynn offered him the bucket of chicken feed. He took a handful and tossed it to the chickens.
Lynn laughed at the little boy, then groaned as she straightened up. Her back had been hurting more often now. "Jack want to go make cookies."
"Yay!" Jack ran for the house.
Seeing the enthusiasm in the little boy Lynn's heart ached. She missed Richard. Her mom told her that he didn't' deserve to have her care for him. Still, Richard was her other half and she didn't' feel complete with out him there. Pushing away her sorrows for now she called her dog "Cinder come on girl!" Lynn called to her. Cinder came trotting over. Lynn bent and started to scratch her ears, but as she knelt a sharp pain hit her that lasted 30 seconds, as abruptly as it started it ended. Out of breath Lynn began to stand again. "I wonder what caused that."
"Yin! Cookies. Please..." Jack shouted from the porch.
"Coming little man!" Lynn and Cinder headed for the house.
No one but the chickens noticed the drops of red fluid that had fallen into the dust.
Lynn was lying on the couch with her feet up, her arm over her eyes. Lilly noticed her daughter on the couch, "Lynn, want to go for a walk? The weather is beautiful today."
"Yes it is just came in an hour or so ago. My back has been hurting real badly. It hurts to stand." Lynn removed her arm from her eyes.
"My poor baby. Maybe you should just stay put then. Can I get you anything?" Lilly looked only slightly concerned.
Lilly thought to herself, "Now where did that boy get to?" She called out, "Jack, where are you?"
"Maybe some water," Lynn started to get up herself.
"Sit Lynn, I'll get it..."
"No. " Lynn bit her lip and slowly went back down.
Lilly headed for the kitchen and got a glass of water from the replicator. She returned quickly when she heard Lynn moaning,
"Lynn, are you all right?" Lilly hurried back into the room.
"It just hurts to get up," Lynn said out of breath, " really I'm fine."
Lilly put the glass down, "No you're not fine. I'm going to call the doctor."
"Mom your paranoid, "Lynn was able to sit up fine this time.
Lilly went over to the emergency Comm, and looked back at Lynn, "Tell me what is going on dear?"
"Yin!" Jack came running in from being outside with Craven. He ran over to sit on the couch with her.
"Mom your being paranoid just the ache's an pains of life that's all," Lynn smiled at her.
Lilly walked back over to Lynn and grabbed Jack as he tried to climb on the couch, "Whoa, young man. " Lilly sat down with Jack in her lap. Jack continued to fuss wanting Lynn. "Easy Jack, Lynn isn't feeling well."
Lynn tried to stop Jack but stopped again closed her eyes, and her knuckles went white against couch arm.
Lilly reached over and touched Lynn's arm, "You're not all right...I'm calling for help now! Craven take Jack outside." Lilly handed Jack to Craven.
"I think. The doctor might be a good idea," she said through gritted teeth. Lynn pushed back the white afghan and it was very wet. "Mom?" Her eyes went wide at her mom.
Lilly and Craven followed the doctor out of Lynn's room. "So what is wrong with my daughter!" Lilly demanded.
"Mrs.. Rose please calm down you are not doing your daughter any good. "
"Well tell me what is wrong with my daughter."
"Lilly.." Craven held her shoulders.
"Lynn is labor."
"That is obvious Doctor. But she isn't' due for another 8 weeks."
"We don't' know why but scans show she is progressing faster through stage one labor then she should. Like it or not she is having this baby early. I will keep you posted. I recommend you get her husband." The doctor headed off.
"That creep did this to my baby girl and I refuse to have anything to do with him," growled.
"Lilly..."
"I'm going to go take care of my daughter." he started toward Lynn's room.
"Dang it Lilly! Shut up!" He grabbed her and held her mouth shut. Receiving some cheers from several medical officers around.
"Lilly you are not doing Lynn any good. She is freighted and needs her mom. But also she needs her husband it is his right that he be there when his child is born. Don't' forget that Skyler is the father of our grandchild. "
Still holding onto her Craven let the hand over her mouth go. " Why should he care? He hurt my little girl."
"He isn't doing it is Mother Nature that is doing it. She needs both you and him right now."
"You weren't at Lynn's birth why should it be any different when her child is born." she spat at him.
Craven sighed, "I know I was late but I was there when she was born. I have regretted that I almost missed it. Richard deserves to be here when his child is bon."
"Maybe so..." she finally calmed down.
"Come on we will find a console and call him." Craven started to lead her away.
"DOCTOR!" A nurse shouted from Lynn's room. Several doctors came running to her room.
"Lynn!" Craven and Lilly said in unison and followed on the doctor's heels.
"Mom..." Lynn was crying in pain.
"Sweetheart" Lilly went over to hold her hand.
"Tell him I'm sorry." she was crying.
"Tell who?" He father was behind her mom.
"Richard..."
"Come on Lynn give us a push and we can have this baby out." the doctor coaxed
"I can't..."
"Yes you can sweetheart just one more. " Lilly coaxed
"No. I want Richard."
"Richard will be here soon..." Lilly looked to Craven.
"Tell him I'm sorry..." Lynn continued to cry. With in a couple moments the child came into the world.
"It's a girl," the Dr smiled up at her and handed the baby to a nurse.
"Did you here that Lynn?" Lynn didn't move. "Lynn are you all right?" Lynn still didn't react. "Lynn! "
The Doctor turned back to Lynn and his face went white." Get them out of here."
"What!" Lilly started to struggle with the orderlies. "Lynn! Let me go! Let me go. Lynn!"
As Craven and Lilly were escorted out the doctor could be heard shouting, "she is hemorrhaging badly. She is dying here..."
Lilly watched as the doctors worked feverishly to save Lynn. She paced the corridor with Craven watching her every step. Suddenly the nurse pulled the curtain covering the emergency room window closed, causing Lilly is stop dead in her tracks. Running along the hall to the window, she tried to peer through the pale blue material hoping to gage what was happening inside. Shadows moved past the window time and time again never seeming to stop. Lilly was beside herself with guilt. She was blaming herself for not getting Lynn the help she needed faster. Lilly leaned against the windowsill and sobbed uncontrollably now. Craven stood up from where he had been trying to read and headed in her direction. As he drew near, Lilly turned to the wall to hide her face from his view. Craven was not fooled by this and gently placed his hands on her arm and turned her back to face him. She fell into his arms as they both wept openly for their baby girl. A panic overtook Lilly as the door to the room opened and several sterns faced nurses walked past trying not to look at the distraught couple huddling together. Craven looked at Lilly and she at him, both with that blank look on their faces. What had happened? Why wasn't anyone telling them what was going on? Lilly crossed the corridor and found a seat. As she slumped down into the soft fabric a pain seemed to pierce her heart. Craven watched as his ex-wife lowered her head into her hands. He took the seat next to her and pulled her close trying to comfort her. She looked up into his eyes and that seemed to tell the story. "Why?" That question was unanswerable. Craven shook his head as if to say, "I don't know." Together they sat for what seemed like hours holding each other and shedding a never-ending stream of tears. Had they lost their beautiful daughter? The hours passed slowly and hope was fading...
Lilly paced the hall continuing to cry hysterically.
"Lilly.. You promised her you were going to call him." Despite his own grief he tried to be a part of reason.
Lilly said to her, "How can I live with this? My baby gone..." The yelling at craven, "Craven, I know what I said." She went back to pacing, "How can I tell Richard about Lynn? I can't believe it myself."
"Then do it! You owe it him. He is her husband and the father of our grandchild."
"Give me time Craven. How in the world do you expect me to tell Richard that his wife is dead?"
"Lilly I would rather it come from you. You don't think I know what it is like. That is my baby girl in there!" he pointed into where Lynn was, "It was because of your urging she came here. She should have stayed with him where she belonged."
"You're baby girl... You weren't there for her, I was." She began to get angry at her x husbands comments, "My urging? Craven you have no idea what you're talking about. Lynn called me...She begged me to let her come home."
"I was there when she was born and I took care of her the best I could," His temper beginning to come up, "Call him!"
"I just knew that man would cause my baby heartache. Why does it always fall on me to break bad news? You coward!" Lilly shouted back at him.
Craven sighed and starts the call, "Because it should come from her mom."
"Oh all right, I'll do it..." Lilly went to the console.
Richard was on the bridge of Star base 71 wooing. As he worked he closed his eyes; still not believing Lynn actually went home without him.
The 2nd shift ops officer got his attention, "Commander, I have incoming Priority Subspace Commander, sir."
"I'll take it in my office."
"Aye sir."
Richard walked into his office. "Computer: Onscreen" The computer brought the message up, "This is Star Base 71, Captain Richard Skyler, Commanding Officer. How may I be of assistance?" His face dropped when he saw whom it was.
Lilly Rose looked at her son in law, "err... Richard?" Craven Rose stood behind his wife his hands on her shoulders.
Richard folded his hands behind his back, "Dr. Rose, Mr.. Rose." he nodded, sat down and steeples his hands on the table.
"Richard I need to talk to you...are you alone?" Lilly started. Craven stayed silent and just squeezed her shoulders.
"Yes. Yes, I'm alone."
"Well you see..." Lilly started again.
"Richard you better sit down." Craven suggested.
Lilly had tears rolling down her cheeks; "It's about...Lynn."
"Where's Lynn? I want to talk to Lynn; " Richard got worried, "What happened?"
"Richard, Lynn is here but..." Lilly tried to say again.
Richard leaned forward, "But what?"
Lilly looked at Craven for support then back to Richard, "Richard, I'm so sorry..."
"You've finally convinced her to get that divorce you wanted? Is that what this is about? Your childish little rivalry for Lynn's attention?" Richard said bitterly.
"Richard be quiet and listen to me..." she demanded.
"Richard, Lynn went into labor this morning... the baby is all right..." He tried get this out.
"The baby is fine Richard, small but healthy," Lilly sniffed, "but Lynn..."
"That's too soon. That's... Not right. I know Lynn is there... Why won't you let her talk to me? What about Lynn?"
Lilly didn't know how to say this, "Well Richard, Lynn didn't make it...I'm so sorry son," she began to cry.
"What do you mean?"
"Lynn is gone..." Lilly tried to make him understand.
"No...That can't be..."
Lilly's tears began to come in rivers; "My baby's gone..."
"There is some kind of mistake, she was very alive when she left a week ago..." Richard tried to hold together, not doing it very well.
"I'm sorry Richard, there were complications." She cried, "The doctors did everything they could."
"Complications? What kind of complications?"
Craven answered him, "Hemorrhaging... They couldn't' stop the bleeding."
"She fought to stay with us Richard..." Lilly turned and cried into Craven's arms.
"I...uh, I...I have to go now... If you'll excuse me..."
"We will be waiting for you Richard..." Craven tried to reassure him. "We will take care of Jack for you."
"I will be there in a few days. Skyler Out." Richard closed the channel, and just sat there, completely numb.
On earth Craven held Lilly and allowed his own tears to fall.