A Taste of Honey
Chapter Sixteen
Dr. M'Binga entered the room again, and said to T'Prie,
"I am going to check your progress. He acknowledged Elsse and said,
"How is the mother of the mother-to-be fairing."
She smiled, and nodded.
Of course, the doctor did not have to explain the procedure.
"You are four centimeters, you have a while to go. Just to let you know we are keeping McCoy busy in the back. I will let him know about your progress. I don't recall him acting this way before."
"He is part of the bond with our daughter. We did not do that with Blake. He is emotionally compromised."
Elsse interjected,
"He is experiencing a degree of discomfort, Keep an eye on him."
M'Binga smiled and nodded, realizing that she had firsthand information on this because she had been bonded to a Vulcan. That fact loomed before him as an almost insurmountable barrier. If human and Vulcan relationships were compared, the Vulcan came out the winner. On a personal level his thoughts were, 'Damn their telepathic abilities.'
He patted T'Prie on the hand and said,
"I will talk to McCoy; perhaps he does not fully grasp why he is experiencing this agitation and then allow him to come back to you for a little while. I don't want any negative feelings to affect you or the baby. You two can shoo him away when that becomes obvious to you both."
Elsse's eyes seemed to be having some sort of effect on him and after nodding he left the room, after several paces, he leaned against the exterior wall and took a deep breath. He had a selfish thought in regard to Elsse, 'All that beauty going to waste…'
Once he had talked to McCoy, he noticed a look of reconciliation in the young man's eyes. He then left to join his wife and mother-in-law as a far less anxious almost-father.
The clinic had very modern birthing rooms that were tailor made for each specific specie that would be serviced here on Na'cluv2. For Vulcan and humans there was a waiting room with a large argon encased glass window that could be cleared so that family members could attend the birth. The actual delivery room muffled any cries of discomfort but the plastic shields worn by the delivering physician housed a microphone dedicated to his voice so the doctor could advise the family of the events taking place. The mother-to-be's head was facing away from the window and a bassinet was kept warm to receive the baby.
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M'Binga was present again and with this examination he told T'Prie,
"Little lady, your daughter is almost here. Would you like to ride or walk to the delivery room?"
Elsse made the decision for her daughter,
"She will walk."
McCoy agreed.
Nyota was notified and she too suited up and joined them in the delivery room. Once T'Prie was placed on the table, her legs positioned and the drape engaged the window was cleared so the family could observe this miracle. McCoy, at the head of the bed was successfully coaching his wife and a mother was on each side holding T'Prie's hand. Her breathing was excellent, control admirable and progress remarkable. They were not in the delivery room for thirty minutes when the final pushing was encouraged. There was one loud scream before McCoy/Blake guided a black haired beauty into the world. His pride knew no bounds. His words, laced with a southern drawl were,
"She is as lovely as a Georgia morning."
Instantaneously he realized his error and added,
"That is how my old friend Leonard McCoy would welcome every female he brought into the world."
He had noticed Nyota's head whip around when he had made that statement and her eyes had rested on his masked and shielded face. She had then shaken her head as if she had experienced a brain short circuit, bowed her head and then grasped her daughter-i-law's hand and kissed it.
McCoy/Blake did not shirk his responsibility and after the baby was cleansed and wrapped he presented her to McCoy and asked the couple what the baby's name would be. Both answered together, Grayson. McCoy carried his daughter to the window so that the family could get a closer view. Her little hand reached out to grasp his finger and he felt deep satisfaction.
Once T'Prie was settled into an after-delivery suite with its adjoining setting room the family made their way in with the children who had been returned to the parents. The wide-eyed youngsters were instructed to view their new cousin who was nestled in her bassinet. There was a meal prepared from dishes that various friends of the family had brought to the clinic's cafeteria. The family's absence from T'Prie's room allowed her to take a nap and the family enjoyed their meal in silence. Her husband did not leave her side as he looked in wonder at his beautiful daughter's ears, pointed like her mother's.
It was while the family was eating that Spock sought out his friend. The conversation started,
"Dr. McCoy, I was able to observe our son today. He is a credit to both of us, but especially to you, for you have refined him in his field of medicine. You are the 'now'. I was aware of Nyota's reaction to your announcement in the delivery room but through our bond be assured her doubts were momentary and are now forgotten. McCoy lowered his mask and asked,
"Do you think she could possibly recognize me?"
"That is highly unlikely."
"Then I will join the family in the cafeteria. I wish my eyes to see her again."
Stopping at the door Leonard McCoy turned to Spock and said,
"I must thank you for so much, especially for the peace of mind' your care of Nyota has afforded me. I fear, this will be the last time my eyes will see you and her, so I wanted to let you know you are the noblest male I have ever met and it has been my honor to know you."
When Spock's emotions might surface he usually slowly blinked his eyes and this he did before he spoke,
"Doctor McCoy, Leonard, my greatest treasure is My Nyota and it was only because of you she truly became mine. I have had three children with her. My oldest son I share with you, but he and his family are now with you and you have eased into my place as guide and protector while they are on this planet. In this area, I too have peace of mind. I consider you my friend. I have not dubbed many individuals with that title, but I consider it my privilege to call you such. Raising his fingers in Vulcan salute Spock said,
"Live Long and Prosper Leonard."
McCoy/Blake smiled and ran his fingers through his gray hair and then replied "Peace and Long Life' to you Spock. Just then his stomach growled and he looked down, smiled and said,
"Look who has the last word.'
They then both walked toward the cafeteria together.