51) The Sun Is Shining Every Day, But It's Far Away
Carolyn hadn't been around many pregnant women. They didn't tend to frequent space ports. Or the bars or boarding houses near the space ports. In fact, unless you lived on a family boat, childless, footloose and fancy free was kinda the life spacers became spacers for. There was a reason most affordable brothels (catering to all gender identities and sexual preferences) were usually within walking distance of a space port.
One thing Carolyn was sure about (regarding pregnancy) was that when the pregnant lady (that would be Zoë who would probably punch Carolyn's teeth out for referring to her as a lady) was of a certain size (hoop-ball under the shirt, watermelon belly, etc.) that stress should probably be avoided.
Since Mal had gotten shot (twice) and was confined to the infirmary (which meant bedrest and not even the sitting up in bed kind) for a couple days before he'd be up and around, that left Zoë in charge.
That Zoë was (and Carolyn had gotten this from Simon, so she knew it was true) supposed to be on bed rest herself didn't seem to faze the First Mate. She gave orders and figured angles and had Carolyn set down in the closest northern town with a space port. River knew to head north when she got separated from Serenity.
"When?" Carolyn gaped, "This has happened before?"
"Once or twice," Kaylee nodded cheerfully as she brought Zoë a meal. "We're all set whenever they get here." She assured the two of them, "Just gotta say when."
"They'll likely be here tomorrow sometime," Zoë shifted uncomfortably. "Mornin' if I know River."
Carolyn took a breath and reminded herself that getting worked up (i.e. upset and panicky) would do no one, least of all Riddick, River and Zoë any good. "Right…" She nodded. "Well, I'm on the bridge."
"Cap'n was askin' for ya," Kaylee told her with a sympathetic smile. "We're all closed up for the evenin', why'n't you go on an' check on him."
"I think I will," She was the first to admit that Mal's steady presence was a great source of comfort.
"He's pretty doped up," Simon cautioned her as she came to the door of the infirmary. "So, he's a little loopy. I've got to keep him on the painkillers, or he'll try to get up and walk out of here."
"Not questionin' your judgement Doc," Carolyn shook her head. "We all know he'd give a mule a run for its money on stubborn."
The Doctor shook his head in commiseration, and it occurred to her that while she could be supremely confident in Riddick's ability to return (relatively) unscathed Simon might not have the same confidence in his sister. "I'm sure they'll be fine, Rick's with her," She reminded him. "He won't let anything happen to her."
"Oh, no, that's…" Simon chuckled lowly. "River could get dropped into the worst slums on Hera mid-riot and she'd find a way to emerge triumphant." He smiled, "That Rick is with her…that's good though. Nice for her to have backup."
Carolyn got the idea that Simon's belief in River's abilities were close to (or perhaps exceeded) her own faith in Riddick's skills. Odd to think there was someone who could keep up with the huge convict.
River and Riddick got back on the boat at a run and lifted Serenity off the docks with little to no ceremony. And after a little rest the routine and shift schedule got back to a slightly adjusted normal. Mal groused about Simon's caution and his insistence on physiotherapy and antibiotics. But Carolyn noticed he still followed Doctor's orders.
Carolyn was still grateful when Simon pronounced Mal fit for duty without restrictions other than the Doctor's general instructions to not get shot again, please. "Much as I enjoy practicing my skills, removing bullets is getting just a bit tedious," He'd remarked sardonically. He put a mug of tea down in front of Kaylee and sat with his own cup only to jump up again as Zoë came to the door of the shuttle airlock.
"I think..." The First Mate stiffened, and Carolyn swore she could almost see the muscles of Zoë's belly flex and contract.
"I do believe you've got a different type of medical emergency," Riddick obviously hadn't intended to make Zoë jump but the fright didn't do her much good. Thankfully, Riddick was big enough that he could actually be of help to Zoë. Which was more than Mal, Carolyn, Kaylee or Simon could do.
"Simon, meet us in the infirmary," Riddick ordered when Mal seemed too flabbergasted to speak. "Zoë, I can help you walk, or I can carry you."
"Help me walk," She gasped, and Riddick nodded.
Carolyn really wasn't certain why everyone felt the need to crowd into the infirmary. Mal she could see, ready for Zoë to crush his hand as she went through labor, determined to remain at her side in case she needed him. Simon, of course, he was kinda necessary... but the rest of them?
Jack was peering in the windows in morbid curiosity. Riddick had set Zoë down and backed out just as fast as humanly possible. River, disliking the infirmary on a good day, was standing in the doorway. Carolyn had confined herself to the lounge. That was as close as she'd get unless she was needed. And she really (Really, REALLY) hoped she wouldn't be needed. (Dear Buddha, did she hope she wouldn't be needed.)
Kaylee seemed almost beside herself, "Oh boy oh boy, oh golly it's happening." Carolyn though Kaylee came from a large family, wouldn't she be familiar with this?
Mal was slightly calmer, though not by much, his nerves were obvious in his voice, to Carolyn at least and most likely to Zoë as well, "I'm right here Zoë, I'm not going anywhere."
Whatever Kaylee was looking at she sounded both awed and disturbed. Carolyn was just as glad she hadn't gone into the infirmary, "Oh my, that's... Shéns hèng de gāo wán xīng qí 'èr..." Seemed like Kaylee was good with machines and sex, just not the far end result of sex?
River turned away from the door and moved to sit next to Riddick on the steps, "This is very exciting." Strange, her voice was less than enthusiastic, and her eyes were dark and worried.
From the infirmary Carolyn heard Zoë not quite bellow but order in a good strong voice (she could be First Mate by virtue of that voice alone), "Everyone. Out."
That sent the entire crew into the lounge like a mass exodus but for Simon and Zoë and the First Mate added firmly, "Out. Out. Go up to the galley and wait there."
Carolyn found herself in the unenviable position of trying to offer comfort and sympathy over a situation for which she was vastly unprepared. She'd never had kids (adopting Jack didn't count since there was no labor involved beyond the hardship of dealing with a teenager), had never gone through labor much less pregnancy. And she hadn't lost her husband and father of said nonexistent child to a Reaver's spear.
Therefore, the only help she could actually give Mal was to make him tea and talk to him quietly (and not get offended when his responses to the conversational sallies came about five minutes after she'd finished speaking).
River was reading, but she hadn't turned a page in twenty minutes, so Carolyn doubted she was actually taking in any information. Kaylee paced and Jack sat in the lounge and played checkers against herself, or Riddick when he came back from the bridge.
The last time River followed him to the bridge and Carolyn looked at Mal. Usually the Captain would get an odd look on his face, like he wanted to make a remark but had restrained himself, whenever Riddick and River were (potentially) alone together. But he didn't even seem to notice. And this time it didn't exactly look like River was sneaking off to snuggle up to Riddick. She had a distinctly troubled expression on her face.
She and Riddick had just come back to the galley when Simon entered from the aft stairs, "You guys want to meet her?"
Now they all crowded into the infirmary to look at the baby, oohing and ahhing over her creamy milk chocolate skin and soft mop of dark hair.
"She's the jué dài jiā rén. What's her name," Kaylee had apparently recovered from the shock of getting a good look at how babies were born.
"Hoban, like her dad," Zoë's deadpan tone was pretty convincing. Enough for the mechanic at least, though everyone else gave her a look like she'd lost her mind.
"That's…um…that's a beautiful name," Kaylee stumbled over her words, her expression not matching them a bit.
Jack shook her head, "That's awful." Ah, the soul of tact and discernment, that was Jack.
"It's a joke Kaylee," Zoë informed her dryly. "Her name's Emma."
"I like that one better," Kaylee admitted.
Carolyn glanced back at Riddick to see his reaction to this mild insanity and found him watching Mal and Simon, his forehead wrinkled in a dark frown. River hadn't ventured far into the infirmary, staying close to the door, and Riddick had leaned against the counter nearby so she could lean against his side. Her gaze was fixed upon Simon and Mal as well, the two of them outside the infirmary door.
Neither of the other two pilots looked pleased, and River's gaze snapped back to Zoë with an alarmed expression. Before Mal could say a word, the slender girl had taken off towards the stairs, Riddick right after her. "Kaylee," The Captain snapped. "Fire up the engines. Carolyn, come with me."
When Mal was in a hurry the man could move, and she was grateful her legs were long enough to pretty much keep up, "We need a hospital." He bit off the words.
"The baby," Carolyn had thought Emma looked good and healthy.
"No, it's Zoë. She's bleeding," Terse with worry, as they reached the bridge, River already at the cortex. "River, where's the nearest hospital?"
"Paquin," River's hands were moving at a rate of speed Carolyn hadn't seen since their run in with the pirate AI. "Mining company has a private medical ship in orbit," She added. "It is however, affiliated with the Alliance, due to its…proximity to the planet."
"Already setting the course," Riddick added. "Folks might want to hang onto something."
Mal got on the comms and informed the rest of the crew while Carolyn tucked herself into the navigator's station. The Captain hung onto the overhead beam while Riddick hurled Serenity into a hard burn.
"The minute we dock they'll know who we are," River reminded her Captain. "We're being hunted."
"We'll deal with that when we have to," Mal shook his head.
"A moment of precaution now gives us more time later," River argued. "It won't slow us down."
Riddick glanced at her, "You need me to get back to the engine room with Kaylee?"
River nodded, "I need to reset the console to another ship ident. It'll hold for a few hours before the hospital ship drills through our firewalls."
"I can take over for Rick," Carolyn offered. "Similar to how we dealt with the AI?"
"Yes," River sent her a little smile even as her fingers flew over the keyboard. "With slightly less peril should something go wrong."
"How likely is that to happen," Mal wanted to know as Riddick stood and headed back to the engine room while Carolyn grabbed the stick and took his place.
"Very unlikely," River kept working. "Much easier this time." She nodded to Carolyn, "Tell them to count back from three and then go to manual control."
Carolyn nodded, repeating that into the comms and tried not to startle when precisely three seconds later the entire console went dark.
Author's Note: So you know how I said I'm cherry picking the comics? Some of this is part of the comics. I took the parts that seemed reasonable to me. The pregnancy, Zoë being confined to bed, and what happens afterwards...though I'm taking a few liberties as well.
Chinese Translations:
Shéns hèng de gāo wán xīng qí 'èr (Sacred/Holy testicle Tuesday)
jué dài jiā rén (beauty unmatched in her generation (idiom); woman of peerless elegance / prettiest girl ever)