Fallout

Posted on 28 Nov 2014 @ 5:49pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eva Kovalev

1,425 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Section 12, Room 11 && Deck 3 -Sickbay
Timeline: MD 36: 1300

ON:

[Eva's quarters]

Eva lay on her bunk. The past few days she'd been suffering from a severe case of nausea when she woke up. It'd gotten worse until this morning she'd had to beg off her shift. Whatever was wrong she'd have to speak with someone in sickbay, probably Naois as he was usually on shift this time of day.

Standing, then pausing for a close to a minute, Eva slowly made her way to sickbay, stopping a few times while her head swam. Finally however, she made it to sickbay. Walking in, she smiled weakly at Naois before wandering over to a biobed and sitting, then lying down.

"Eva?" Concern spread across the Vulcan's features as he strode towards the bed, already flipping open his tricorder, detaching the scanning wand as he reached the bed. "Are you alright?" She didn't look alright but it was bad form not to ask, in his opinion. "What is wrong?"

Eva closed her eyes, fighting a wave of nausea before she spoke. "Been having nausea the last little while. Been ignoring it until today. Got bad enough this morning I had to quit a shift early. And now I'm feeling dizzy on top of it all."

"Nausea and dizziness," Naois repeated, starting to wave the scanner around her head. "Have you been eating properly and getting sufficient sleep?"

"I have been yes. Haven't had time to go off ship either, just too busy with the repair & refit work aboard ship."

"Too busy." The Vulcan sighed softly. "You have taken time to recover, have you not?" He started scanning her chest area to see if something was amiss there.

"I stayed on modified work duties for the duration Dr Voutilainen ordered. And as we're working with Starbase personnel, we're working 8hr shifts right now as that's what they work. Eight on, Sixteen off."

Naois nodded quietly as he focused on his scans. He arched an eyebrow when he reached her abdomen, his face suddenly devoid of any expression. He reset something on his tricorder, the took another scan before looking up at her. "I believe I have discovered the cause of your nausea," he told her.

Eva had been too busy fighting the nausea to notice Naois stopping at her abdominal area. "What's causing it?"

"Hormonal changes," he deadpanned, turning the tricorder around. "You are approximately eight weeks pregnant."

"eight weeks? But I haven't ..." Realization struck Eva like a ton of bricks. She knew exactly when and how. "Oh."

Naois nodded quietly. "Yes," he answered hollowly. "What do you want to do now?" he continued, almost afraid of her answer.

That was the question wasn't it. What did she want to do with the child? Feeling sick enough as it was, the emotional sucker punch of finding out she was pregnant was enough to make her feel ill. Fighting the urge to throw up, Eva took slow breaths as she regained her composure.

"I don't know Naois. I really don't know." Eva felt tears begin to run down her face as she slowly sat up.

Naois injected her with something to help against her nausea then helped her up to her feet and just held her to him.

"Shhh," he soothed her, "we can talk about it in the office."

Wiping a tear from her eye, Eva followed Naois into a side office. Slumping down defeatedly in one of the chairs, Eva waited for Naois to sit down before she spoke. "I'm sorry Naois."

"For what? We knew this could happen, and I will not abandon you. I keep my word Eva, I will do right by you if you choose to keep the baby. If not, then I ask, no I beg of you not to terminate the pregnancy but give the child up for adoption."

Eva looked into Naois' eyes. She could see the sincerity in his gaze as he waited for her answer. "I can't kill our child Naois. But are you prepared to take care of us? For me to take the place of your last mate? Are your children going to accept me into their life?"

"Yes. And yes they will," Naois promised.

Eva took a deep breath. The medication was kicking in and her mental balance was slowly coming back. "Thank you. This is a lot to absorb all at once on top of a queasy stomach." She smiled uncertainly at Naois. "We're having a baby."

"We are having a baby," Naois confirmed, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "Do you want to meet my children? If you intend to be their mother too, you should. When you are ready of course."

"I would like to meet your kids," Eva paused, "but I also think we both need some time to think about what we both want. Right now I don't know exactly what I want. I know I want a good family for this child to grow up in but I also want to know I'm choosing the right man." She looked up at Naois. "I don't mean to imply you are anything but a good father and would be a wonderful husband. I just need to know we 'click,' and as wonderful & intimate as the Pon'farr was, I need time to be sure I'm choosing you because I want to be with you, not because the sex was good or of some perceived obligation on either of our parts."

"But we do have an obligation now," Naois noted carefully, "and I will not abandon you, no matter what. I am here if you need me, for as long as you need me. All I am asking is not to abort the pregnancy, as you said all life is precious." He hesitated, showing some of his fears. "All I need is to know nothing will go wrong, that you will be safe. I have no biological children Eva, my wife could not conceive. The one time she did, she nearly died so we did not risk her life again."

Eva nodded. "You have my word Naois. All I ask right now is for space to figure out my life now that I have a child to care for. You will be a part of their life no matter what." Eva leaned in close to Naois. "Can you trust me to make the right decisions for our child? If we are to be together we will be."

Hesitating briefly, Naois took a single step back to give her space. "I can," he promised, "but I need you to promise me you will come if you need anything, even if we are not to be together."

"I will." Eva smiled, her face softening into more of a grin. "Don't be surprised if you see me more often. You never know, I may decide to keep you."

To that, the Vulcan chuckled softly. "Keep me hm? Well, if you will have me, I am yours." He snapped his tricorder shut. "I want you here for a check up every week, though you may wish to go to a different doctor, as there would be a conflict of interest since you are carrying my child."

Eva nodded. "Perhaps Dr Voutilainen? She is aware of how we came to be here. Not that I expect anything but the highest in discretion from any of the staff, just she's aware of our situation."

"That would be a suitable selection yes. Doctor Voutilainen is a good doctor, and I trust her completely. I agree, she is aware already, so no need to disturb others with this."

"Then I will speak with her next week for my first appointment." Eva slowly stood to go, a little unsteady on her feet as she adjusted to standing. She gave Naois a hug and a friendly peck on the cheek. "Give me a few days to get my self together and I'd love to meet your children."

"Yes ma'am," Naois replied formally, returning the hug. Carefully, though not wanting to seem too forward, he rested his warm hand against her stomach. It was of course too soon to feel anything, but it seemed proper, at the time. "Call me when you feel ready, and I will make arrangements."

Eva lingered for a moment, enjoying the gentle touch of Naois' hand on her stomach. "I will. Thank you." She smiled back at him as she left the office.

OFF:

Lieutenant j.g. Naois Mercy
Medical Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

PO2 Eva Kovalev
Engineer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Drew]

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