The doctor watched as his patients materialize. Once fully materialized he pulled off their helmets and with some help got them on to bio-beds. They were both unconscious but stable. After getting the rest of their space suits off the crewmen left and the doctor was free to check for permanent damage due to lack of oxygen.

Tom was fine. He would wake up of his own accord soon.

He moved on to B'Elanna whose scan relieved to him what she had learned that morning.

"Hmm…" Tom said as he woke up.

"And how are we feeling Lieutenant Paris?"

"Like I have done my skull a serious wrong and it is punishing me."

"Ah yes well that is oxygen deprivation and it will pass."

"That doesn't help me now does it?"

"No it doesn't."

B'Elanna stirred. Tom's gaze shifted.

"What's going on?" B'Elanna said.

"Ah you're awake too Lieutenant."

"My head is killing me!"

"Again that is due to oxygen deprivation," the doctor said. He turned to Paris, "You are discharged Lieutenant. There were no lasting effects."

"Great," he said and moving slowly got up and made for the door. "You coming B'Elanna?"

"I need a word with her," the doctor said turning to her. "Something came up on your scan."

B'Elanna grimaced. "If it's what I think it is than he will find out eventually. You might as well tell him now. He has a right to know, I guess."

"What's going on?" Tom said warily but walked closer.

"B'Elanna is pregnant," the doctor said. B'Elanna grimaced again.

Tom was speechless, but then a dream came back to him and it didn't seem so strange.

"But I am afraid to tell you," the doctor said. "There maybe something wrong with the fetus."

"What?" Tom said. "Why?"

"Due to the extremely unusual chemical state your body was in during the Pon Farr when you conceived, key proteins never formed. And also your per-longed oxygen deficiency at such a key time hasn't helped."

"The Pon Farr?"

"Yes," the doctor said. "From the unusual chemical state and the timing I can state with confidence the fetus was conceived during the incident a few months ago when you contracted the Pon Farr Lieutenant."

"I will have to conduct more tests to be sure."

"Can you…" B'Elanna asked. "I mean is there a chance it would be okay?"

"Not quite sure," the doctor said. "I will need to have you come back tomorrow Lieutenant. It's ironic don't you think. I mean the Vulcan Pon Farr was what allowed you to conceive so easily but is also created the problem."

"Can we do the test now?" B'Elanna asked.

"I have to prepare for it and your body need time to recover. Tomorrow is best."

"Alright," B'Elanna said. She was too tired to argue.

B'Elanna made to leave. Tom followed.

They were both so tired they went straight to her quarters because they were closer and passed out on her bed.

The computer woke them less than eight hours later.

"I forgot to tell the computer I wasn't going into work," B'Elanna said sleepily. She told the computer to cancel her wake up and rolled over. Neither of them got any more sleep however and within a half hour they were both up.

"B'Elanna," Tom said and she turned away from her coffee to face him. He walked all the way up to her so they were just a foot apart.

"I realize that you were dying and deoxygenated and everything," Tom said. "But did you mean it?"

"Yes, but I don't expect you to reciprocate or do anything, in fact let's just forget that this ever—"

"Don't be stupid, B'Elanna." He leaned in and kissed her deeply. Pressing her up against the wall. Her eyes closed.

"Forgetting is not an option," he said. "And"—he moved his hand over her flat stomach.

"What do you want to do about-" he looked down at his hand.

"I don't know," B'Elanna said. "It's all too much. I just wanna wait and see what the Doctor says."

"I don't know what we are to each other now B'Elanna but I am here."

"What do you mean." She looked up at him.

"I mean if you have this baby I want to be involved. I never wanted to be like my father, absent. And his child's conception is what saved your life. I won't regret it."

She was floored. And suddenly she wasn't sure what she wanted. The baby to be okay or for the doctor to tell her it wasn't possible.

"I didn't know you felt that way." He leaned in and kissed her gently this time.

"Then let me make myself perfectly clear." He kissed her again. Her eyes closed and she forget where she was.

"Doctor to Lt. Torres." The Doctor's voice brought her sharply back to reality.

"Torres here."

"I am ready whenever you are, Lieutenant?"

"Be there as soon as I can. Torres out."

B'Elanna finished her breakfast and got dressed. Since this was her quarters Tom just put on what he had worn the day before.

"Do you want me to-I mean I could come with you."

"No that's okay," B'Elanna said. "It's just a test right."

"Okay," Tom said. "If that's what you want. Let me know when you know."

"See you after then," she said and made to leave.

"Not so fast," Tom said. He put his arms around her from behind and turned her around to face him.

"What?"

He kissed her and followed her out.