Kathryn
ooo
Verity is due in a few hours, and Tom asks if he can wait at my office. "You're closer to the med center," he explains. "And I have to work, but it won't happen if I stay here."
I can't leave him alone in my private office, but the conference room's open: This morning's meeting will be in the lab. Inventio sent new data, and there's been a change.
To my surprise, Owen's here talking to Scott and Reseil. He shrugs. "Admiral Nechayev sent me out."
Maybe, but I doubt it's a coincidence, so I just nod and start the meeting …
"There's a slight increase in emissions," Scott says as he points to several bright spots on the screen. "No new areas are coming up, though."
"No red alerts today, then," I say. "Timeline effects?"
"Computer modeling pushes the event up by a week or so. Not much effect in terms of the big picture," Scott replies. "Though Inventio is reporting a great deal of ship activity in the sector — a lot of private ships."
"We'll see what the Andorians and Vulcans have to add when their data arrives next week," I say.
"Anything new from the Romulans?" Owen asks, and I shake my head.
"No response from our contacts, either," Reseil adds.
"Well, send this information to Picard's team," Owen says. "As for the rest, we're walking a fine line here. The science agencies have halted drawdowns from their outposts. And we're sending personnel back to DS 4 and 5; there's some activity near the Delta Quadrant border." He shakes his head. "Word's gotten around; there are folks who want to test our security in the area."
"What about the border evacuations?" I ask.
"Our patrol ships are making stops at the colonies involved to explain the evacuation plan. But they're getting resistance. To them, we're asking them to abandon their homes for something that might or might not happen a few years from now. Or something that might not happen to them."
"Well, it is going to happen," I point out. "But considering there are private ships near Romulus, someone is getting the message."
ooo
"You're up early; shall I order extra coffee?" I gently tease Owen as we head to my office. We run standard shifts here, but with the time difference, it's 0500 in San Francisco.
"I've been at DS5 for the past few days; I'm not sure what time it is," he admits. "I could use some breakfast."
"That I can do. You can join Tom in the conference room; he hasn't eaten, either" Owen raises an eyebrow. "How's he doing?"
"Worried, but at least this isn't uncharted territory. And our conversation with the doctors helped," I say. "Work's keeping him grounded, too."
Owen looks relieved. "I'm glad to hear that." He pauses for a moment and actually looks a little embarrassed. "Julia and I are glad you're here to support him through this."
There's a whole backstory behind that statement, but I don't want to hear it today. Or ever. "Tom and Miral are very important to me," I say softly. "And right now, Miral needs all of us. So, I'm glad you're here, too."
ooo
After breakfast, Owen and I adjourn to my office to message Nechayev. We barely finish when my aide buzzes: Miral will arrive within a half hour. We hustle to the Med Center, where we're shown to a waiting area next to the Emergency Room. Lewis and Dr. Hibs, both in scrubs, pop in.
"The shuttle just arrived, so they'll have her down here shortly," Dr. Hibs explains. Tom raises an eyebrow. "Long-distance transporting has been known to cause metabolic changes. Safer to put her in stasis and bring her down on a shuttle," she explains. "For now, though, you can watch through here," she adds, nodding toward the large window that looks out on the ER.
We don't have long to wait. The staff snaps to attention as a team of people in scrubs wheels a small stasis pod into a cubicle, followed by a grim-looking B'Elanna. A woman in civilian clothing diverts her into our room.
"I'm Liari Rolu, one of the counselors here at the Med Center," she says pleasantly. "They're doing the hand-off right now; they'll call you in when they take Miral out of stasis." She turns to B'Elanna. "Commander, I'm told we have housing for you, so when you're ready, someone from Family Services can take you over."
The counselor leaves, and we look at each other for a moment. "How is she?" Tom finally asks.
"So far, OK," B'Elanna says softly. "She didn't want to go into stasis; wanted to sit up front in the shuttle." This makes us all chuckle, then that awkward silence drops again. Fortunately, a nurse steps in. "We're taking her out of stasis now," she announces. "Commander, Mr. Paris, follow me, please."
ooo
Tom
ooo
I give Kate's hand a quick squeeze before B'Elanna and I run out of the room. What I see in that cubicle doesn't make me feel better. My baby girl is lying, pale and still, in the stasis pod. Damn thing is triggering my claustrophobia, and I'm taking deep breaths to stay calm.
"Let's get her out of there," Dr. Hibs orders, and we hear the hiss as the door pops open. Miral doesn't move …
"Oxygen levels and blood pressure are returning to normal," Doc reports, and it occurs to me that he's not taking center stage for once.
Just as I was about to pull Miri out of there, her eyes open. She looks around as Dr. Hibs bends over her. "Hi, there, Miral, it's Dr. Hibs," she says softly. "You're in Toronto, at the hospital where you come to see me. "
Miri starts to sit up, and Dr. Hibs gives her an assist. "Mommy?" she calls.
"Right here, baby," B'Elanna says, stepping up. "Daddy's here, too." I step up, and she gives me a big grin. "Hey, Squirt," I manage to say over the lump in my throat. "I'm glad to see you."
She kind of frowns at me, then asks, "Kat?"
I don't dare look at B'Elanna. "She's in the other room. And Pop is here, too. In fact …" I say as I look behind me, "you can see them; look through that window." Kate and Dad look surprised by the attention, but that turns to relief as Miri gives them a small smile and wave. They wave back, and Kate touches two fingers to her lips, then lays them on the glass.
"Can I have a cookie?" Miral asks, which makes us all laugh.
"I bet you are hungry," Dr. Hibs said. "Let's get you to your room, and we'll get you some breakfast. With a cookie."
ooo
The four of us follow as Miral is taken to her room. Poor kid is uncomfortable with all the movement, but the nurses quickly get her settled in.
Dad slips over to her side. "I have to go back to San Francisco and report to Grandma," he tells her softly, which makes her giggle. But Grandma and I will be back to see you, and there will be ice cream," he says, and she nods happily in agreement. "All right, kiddo," he says as he plants a kiss on her forehead. "I love you. We'll see you later."
He comes over and murmurs to Kate, "I'll call after I talk to Nechayev, not that I think anything will change," then rests a hand on my shoulder. "If you need anything, call. Seriously."
"Do you want me to stay?" Kate murmurs after Dad leaves.
I'm a little surprised by the request. "Yes … unless you have work," I say in case she needs an out.
"Nothing pressing," she assures me. "I just don't want to be in the way."
"You're not. And Miri did ask for you." She just smiles softly.
ooo
Miral's just started eating when Dr. Hibs calls us into a small conference room.
"The good news," Doc says, "is that the damage hasn't spread from the first scans."
"She still needs surgery," Dr. Hibs continues, "but it won't be as extensive, so recovery will be easier.
"The bad news," she continues, "is that Miral's viral load is higher than I'm comfortable with. We need to bring that down before surgery."
"I thought the new combination of drugs was working," B'Elanna says.
Both doctors nod. "The combination that Dr. Harker suggested has worked quite well," Doc says. "But viruses … adapt," and he nods sympathetically as B'Elanna and I wince at his choice of words.
"We're going to try another combination," Dr. Hibs says. "But in the meantime, we can keep her comfortable. I'm going to order some light therapy, and," she looks at her PADD, "seems she's been signed up for school."
"All right," B'Elanna says, "I'll stay with her …"
"B'Elanna," Doc breaks in. "When was the last time you ate? Or slept, for that matter?"
"I'm fine," she insists, though she's not fooling anyone. She looks like hell.
"The doctors on the Verity would beg to differ," Doc says firmly. "It won't help Miral if you collapse. And as your family physician, I'm prescribing some lunch and a long nap. Miral will be fine with her father."
She caves more quickly than I expect.
ooo
Kathryn
We settle into a routine while we wait for Miri to be cleared for surgery. Tom sits with her mornings, I take afternoons, and B'Elanna takes evenings. Lewis announced that he would take overnights. "Unlike you, I don't require sleep. And I'm in a better position to take care of any emergencies."
Phee comes up one afternoon to see Miral; her teacher arrives, so we step into the nearby consultation room.
I offer coffee from the always-full pot, but she looks a little sick at the thought.
"You all right? This has been going on for a while."
"I'll be fine."
Ah, the family trait. "If you'd like, I can get Lewis over here to do a quick scan." My hand's hovering over my communicator when she grabs it.
"I know what it is, Kath. It's not contagious, so don't worry about Miral. And yes, I'm seeing a doctor."
She's seeing a doctor? I'm racing through scenarios — all bad. "All right. We aren't talking about something fatal, are we?"
She snorts. "Generally not."
I sit back and take a good look at Phee, lingering on her face. I have a suspicion about what's happened. But she doesn't want to tell me, for whatever reason. I could press her on this … but Phee is what, 41 years old? And as Daddy once reminded me, we're both adults …
Cut the crap, I tell myself. The truth is that I'm already stretched emotionally. And I don't need to court more drama. Especially if I'm not wanted. So ...
"Just tell me one thing: Are you safe?"
She looks at me like I'm nuts. "Well, yes …"
"Good. Look, if you need me, if there's something I can do, I'll be there. Otherwise, it's your life, my dear. You handle it as you see fit."
And as I head back to Miral, it hits me: If my baby sister is keeping mum about a pregnancy, especially if she's keeping it from Nico, having plausible deniability will be a very good thing.
ooo
Early evening and I'm back in the office for a bit. Reseil pokes her head in. "Working late?"
"There are a few things I can't work on in a hospital room." She nods and looks at me closely. "Everything OK?"
"Miral had a good day," I begin, then debate saying more. But Reseil isn't under my command; she's a colleague and a friend. "Let's just say that I had to resist the urge to get involved in my sister's life."
She frowns. "Can you talk about it?"
"At the moment, all I can do is speculate. Which bothers me, but there it is."
"Can you fix it?" she asks, which makes me laugh. "Oh, no. And getting involved could backfire on me."
She laughs too. "Actually, I understand. Jogan reminds me that many problems can solve themselves without my interference.
"He has a point," I admit. "And thanks for the backup."
"Any time," she says with a wink. "See you tomorrow."