Scattered

Posted on 27 Jul 2015 @ 5:59am by Lieutenant Min Zhao & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas

1,630 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 09 - Empires
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Section 30, Room 15 - Min & Jared's Quarters
Timeline: MD 02 - 2330

ON:

Finally able to take a break from the chaos of trying to keep the Galileo in one piece, Min had a chance to go back to her quarters. She was grateful that she'd been given interior quarters as some who were along the inside of the hull weren't able to go back to their quarters, and were bunking down in quarters that were undamaged, or some cases, somewhere they could curl up for a snooze.

Stepping into her quarters, Min was confronted with the mess the combination of the ships transit through the anomaly, subsequent loss, then regain of gravity had caused. She knew Jared would be home soon, his shift had coincided with hers, and she was looking forward to some sleep, after some time with her husband.

That meant she needed to start by clearing the bedroom, it was also the room with the most stuff, and as a result, the most messy. She began to pick things up when she heard the door swoosh open. "In here Jared" she called out from the bedroom.

Jared was feeling drained and exhausted, the shift had been eventful for lack of a better term. The seeing their home looking such a mess only added to the misery he was feeling. Hearing Min's voice cheered him somewhat and he waded his way through the mess to their bedroom. "How are you?" he asked as he stepped inside.

Min looked at Jared, tiredness obvious in her eyes. "I've had better days." She picked up a small holo showing a picture of Lian taken soon after her birth. Sitting down on her side of the bed, Min put the projector on the bedside table, tears streaming down her face before she broke down crying.

Jared didn't know what exactly was wrong, probably just stress and missing Lian, but he was smart enough to know she didn't need him to try to fix things, not now. She just needed him to be there for her.

He crossed the short distance between them and wrapped his arms around her.

Letting the emotions she'd bottled up during the past few days go in a flood of tears, Min held Jared tightly.

He almost started to say something, but instead just held her.

The silence and his touch was comforting and eventually Min was able to regain her composure. "Sorry Jared. I don't why that set me off." She remarked, sniffling as a few final tears dripped down her cheeks.

"it's okay,"he told her. "Whatever it is, I'm here for you. I love you and I'm not going to leave. We'll figure this out, whatever it is."

Min nodded. "Probably just stress. I haven't been feeling myself this past week." Min wiped a tear from her eye, smiling up at Jared. The smile disappeared very quickly as Min felt the sudden urge to throw up. Pulling herself from Jared, hand on her mouth, Min ran for the washroom. Just making it, Min retched on her hands and knees as her last ration pack came back up, followed by dry heaves.

He knew something was wrong the minute she turned and ran. He raced to the bathroom right behind her. He was worried when she started to throw up. He didn't know quite what to do, so he just held her hair out of the way so none of the vomit would get on it. "Min?" he asked in an anxious tone. Are you okay?"

Once her stomach finally settled enough, Min shifted into a sitting position on the bathroom floor, head between her knees. "I guess my tummy didn't like the ration pack." She looked up at Jared. "Just nerves Hun. I'll be okay."

"Are you really okay? I mean earlier on the bridge you were feeling funny too. How long has this been going on?"

"A few weeks, why?"

Well, we only learned about this assignment last week, it couldn't be nerves."

"What else could it be then?" Min asked Jared. Then it dawned on her, "Jared." she said with some urgency, "Go get that test kit from my bedside table. Yeah, that one."

Jared knew the test kit she was talking about, he'd seen it a dozen times. Wordlessly he walked to their bedside and came back with the kit. "You really thing your pregnant?" he asked a faint smile on his face.

Min nodded. "Nausea. I haven't seen my period in two months. And we're not on the shots. You do the math."

Jared leaned against the wall, not sure what to think.

While her words sunk in, Min opened the kit and took out the small hypospray like device. Pressing it against her arm, Min depressed the activator, drawing a small sample of her blood into the machine. A few seconds later, the device beeped. "Jared?"

"Yes Min?" he asked uncertainly.

"I'm pregnant Jared. Almost two months along if the reading is correct." She handed him the device as she stood up. "Can I have a glass of water please?"

He stared at her for several seconds before doing anything. "Su, sure," he managed to say, as he stood to his feet, "coming right up. "Two months?" he asked, "Min that's amazing."

Taking the glass when he came back with it, Min quickly washed her mouth out with a bit before drinking the rest. "That's what it says." She smiled unsurely at Jared, her emotions in a turmoil of worry and excitement, before going and embracing him. "We're having a baby Jared."

"Yes, I know, I heard you the first time Min, I'm okay with it. I'm more than okay with it. I'll be here for you. I love you and I'm not leaving you. Are you going to be okay with it?"

Min held Jared. "I'll be okay Jared. Maybe not the best time to find out but we'll make it work." A grin broke out on Min's face as she kissed him. "I'll have to see the doctor obviously but for now, shall we finish cleaning the bed then get some sleep, stud?"

Jared laughed, "Yeah that's a good idea, I think we could both use some sleep."

Min took Jared's hand and led him into the bedroom. Most of the stuff was already off the bed, having fallen to the floor so there wasn't much to clean up thankfully. Pulling him close to her, Min kissed Jared deeply. "I missed you."

'I missed you too, " he replied some of his tiredness leaving his body at her kiss, "you do know me enough by now, that if you keep kissing me like that sleep is going to be out of the question, don't you?"

"I do," Min replied, beginning to unbutton his uniform. "I also know that tomorrow is a new day and I know just how to wake you up."

He grinned at her as she removed his uniform top. "Well two can play at that game," he told her as he reached to return the favor.

Min smiled demurely at Jared as he began to remove her uniform shirt, slowly exposing her chest. Since the day they'd met, she'd enjoyed his touch, his hands caressing her. Now as his wife, and mother-to-be of their first child together, she found the touch comforting.

He looked deeply into her yes, a mixture of love and desire, "We could just cuddle if you want, "he offered, "or get wild and crazy. It's your choice."

Min hated that choice, but lack of sleep was getting the better of her. "Let's cuddle for now. Promise you'll get me in the morning lover."

"Of course dear, cuddling is just fine for now. I like holding you, and I am pretty sure you won't have to remind me to get you in the morning."

"Mmm." Min responded, her hands already working to remove the rest of his uniform, "then help me undress and we'll crawl into bed."

Jared helped her shed her clothes even as his fell to the floor. "Did I tell you I loved you?" he whispered as he slipped into the bed and gently pulled her down beside him.

Min slipped under the covers, curling up in Jared's arms. She smiled a tired but dreamy smile as she held him again. Taking his hand and placing it on her tummy she grinned a little. "You did more then that Jared. In a couple months you'll be able to see your handiwork."

"I believe that would be our handiwork," he replied cheekily.

Min gave Jared a gentle poke in the ribs. "I still blame you. If you weren't such a handsome guy I wouldn't have taken you into my bed, let alone have your baby."

He smiled at her as the lights dimmed. He kissed her forehead, "Yeah the man always get the blame.'

"Always." Min remarked, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "If it's twins that's my fault." she said, closing her eyes and curling into his arms again.

"Well I doubt that's going to happen," he replied snuggling closer, "but i will keep that in mind. Should we record that for posterity?"

"Twins? Or me being wrong?" Min whispered to Jared. She could already feel her eyes drooping, sleep trying to claim her.

"Both," he replied with a yawn he couldn't suppress. "I think the idea of our having twins is against the odds and what I meant by the posterity part is recording that just in the off chance that it is twins that you are going to take the blame for it."

Gently snoring, Min never heard his last statement, her eyes closed, her body limp in Jared's arms.

END:


LT Jared Nicholas
Science Officer
USS Galileo

&&

LT Min Nicholas
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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