Chapter 6
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Warning: Pregnancy nightmare from Chapter 5 will be discussed briefly during the vision quest.
Kathryn Janeway slowly awakened to sensations of discomfort. Her bladder felt like it was ready to burst, and she also had a horrendous headache. She slowly got out of bed and went to the head. After having taken care of the discomfort of a full bladder, she picked up the hypospray the Doctor had given her. Pressing it against her neck, she activated it and heard the hiss that would bring relief from her headache.
For a few moments, she stared at the bathtub, remembering the horrible nightmare. She closed her eyes and willed the images to go away, focusing instead on how Chakotay had comforted her.
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she had a snack waiting for her on the nightstand. She walked back to the bedroom and picked up the yogurt, a glass of water, and her PADD. She took them to her living area and sat on the couch. Chakotay had been thoughtful enough to replicate the yogurt in a cooling dish, so it was still cold. She ate it as she continued to study the PADD the Doctor had given her. The options on the actual delivery process were interesting. She knew that Samantha Wildman had opted for natural. Her mother had also done natural childbirth. If they could handle, then so could she. Besides, drugs could conceivably slow the progress of labor. She didn't want anything to slow her labor down.
When she finished the yogurt, she set the dishes in the replicator and pressed the recycle button. She had never been so bored in her life. Even the backpacking trips her parents had forced on her as a kid seemed interesting right now. She was reasonably certain if she left her quarters the Doctor would end up confining her to sick bay. Then she would really be bored. She recalled that she had some reports on her desk here in her quarters. That should keep her busy. She'd just have to keep track of the time and not be reading them when Chakotay came by to check on her at the end of his shift. He had not said he would come, but she had no doubts that he would. She went to her desk and got the PADDs and then went to her bedroom and got the pitcher of water. Once she had these things, she settled down on the sofa and began reading reports.
An hour later, she affixed her thumbprint to approve the last report. Laying the PADD down on the other two, she sighed deeply. There were still ninety minutes left on the Alpha Shift. She picked up all three PADDs and stood to carry them back to her desk. After she stacked them neatly on her desk, a thought occurred to her. She could take a vision quest and discuss things with the gecko.
She got her medicine bundle and sat on the floor near the view port. She took out her akoonah, her picture of Molly, and the carving Chakotay had given her. Placing her hand on the akoonah, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the Pacific shoreline. Opening her eyes, she saw the gecko.
She sat in the warm sand and held her hand out to him. As usual, he climbed into her hand. "Hello, gecko."
"Hello, little one. You seem to be more at peace than the last time we talked." He flicked his tongue twice.
"Yes, I'm feeling much better. I told Chakotay about the baby that night. He has promised to stand by me. The crew seems happy about this too."
"Ah, see it is as I told you, little one."
"The Doctor told me I'm carrying a girl. Chakotay and I will have a daughter."
"Yes, little one, you and the valiant warrior will have a daughter who will bring much happiness to all who know her."
Kathryn smiled and looked down. "I know everyone loves little Naomi. I never imagined the next baby born would be mine."
The gecko silently contemplated her for a time, then continued. "Do you wish to tell me about you nightmare, little one?"
"I dreamed I was taking a bath. I felt a pain in my stomach and saw blood in the water. When I stood up, I felt a sharp contraction and my baby fell from my body into the bloody water." Her eyes brimmed with tears as she recounted the nightmare.
"Little one, do not let fear overshadow your joy at carrying this child. Your nightmare was your sub conscious mind's response to the activities of today."
"I guess going down as a member of the Away Team was not such a good idea," she admitted quietly. "I am just so used to being in control."
"You must allow others to take control at times, little one. You have an excellent crew. They know their jobs."
"It will be difficult to pull back. I'm rather fond of being in the 'thick' of things."
"Yes you are, little one. However, even the eagle must know when to land."
"Chakotay told that back on New Earth."
"He is a wise warrior. Allow him to be by your side. Listen to him, and heed what he says."
"I will try, gecko."
"Now, little one, it is time for today's quest to end. Heed what you've been told."
She opened her eyes and saw the familiar surroundings of her quarters. She thoughtfully put her medicine bundle in order and placed it back on the shelf.
Sitting back on the couch, she began to ponder what the gecko had told her.