Surprise

Posted on 14 Sep 2021 @ 7:40pm by Lieutenant Xu Chang Lau & Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov & Lieutenant C'Tora Kuroka & Lieutenant JG Oliver Stevens

Mission: Picking up the pieces
1804 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Walking along the decks of the Andromeda, Rose was on her way to the holodeck for a bit of a workout. She’d been having trouble with a few personal image issues and she often found that working out helped to clear her mind and allow her subconscious work on thought problems.

Approaching an access to the turbolifts, Rose spotted the Operations Chief, Lieutenant Lau, “good afternoon Lieutenant, how are you?” She asked

"I'm not sure..." still fighting the nausea's feeling, her eyes watering significantly from the feeling that was threatening to over take her. She forced herself to stand up straight, one hand still on the bulkhead to steady herself. "Would you mind helping me to sickbay Lieutenant!"

Hurrying over to her side, Rose took Xu’s arm and put it around her shoulders, “alright, easy dose it. Are you right to walk or do you need me to carry you there?”

"I should be ok... on no!"
The wave of nausea took over, pulling deeply within her stomach and before she could react it happened, as if in slow motion in a horrific incident that no one should ever have to experience. The contents of her stomach erupted from between her lips, dappling not only her own workout gear but the uniform Rose had put on this morning ready for duty.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself before looking up at Rose, tears in her eyes from the exertion of what had just happened but also from the mortified embarrassment she was also feeling.
"Lieutenant... I'm so sorry!"

“That’s alright, it’s not the first time I’ve had someone throw up on me and it won’t be the last” Rose replied before reaching down and picking Xu up in a piggyback, “keep it together fleetie, I’ll have you right soon enough” she said as she hurried toward the closest turbolift and headed straight to sickbay.

Thankfully the journey to sickbay took minutes even if it had felt like an eternity as she had forced down wave after wave of nausea. Thankfully the feeling was starting to pass completely now but was still thankful all the same that she had arrived at sickbay.

Barging in through the doors to sickbay, Rose looked around for a free biobed, “hey Doc, you’ve got a new patient” she called out

C'tora and M'tara had just finished having their lunch together when he heard the Sickbay doors open from his office. " Don't forget we have a dinner appointment later tonight. " He said to M'tara as he stepped out of the office. C'Tora wrinkled his nose as the smell reached him. He looked to Xu. " So what seems to be the problem? "

"the lieutenant seems to be ill, feeling weak and throwing up" Rose answered as she knelt down to allow Xu to climb off of her back easily.

"I've been feeling a little out of sorts for a few days now Doc... but today I just feel nauseas constantly!"
The slight Asian dropped herself onto a biobed allowing Rose to not have to carry her any longer. "Commander Datari and I were training in the gym when I came over feeling really bad!"

" So the symptoms started a few days ago? " He asked. As he reached for a medical tricorder. " So tell me Xu, Have you been waking up and feeling nauseated and feeling better after throwing up? You have plenty of energy and then a sudden feeling of fatigue? Your blood iron levels have dropped and your folic acid levels are lower then usual as well. " He stroked his chin briefly. Then softly under his breath he said. " Going to have to check the water supply again." as he shook his head.

listening to the symptoms, Rose thought they sounded familiar. Nausea in the morning, sudden changes in energy, low iron levels or in her case copper levels. Moving to stand beside Xu, she gently put a hand onto Xu's shoulder, "I know this is kind of personal, but when was your last cycle?"

She had to think, cycle? He couldn't mean... could he? Her mind raced thinking about the last contraception inhibitor injection and it was no more than a month, was it?
"Doctor... I did come in for my contraceptive injection last month didn't I?"

C'Tora Checked his PADD for a minute and looked back up. " I see the one for the month before....Hmm. " Glancing back down at the PADD and checking it again. " I know you normally come to me for your medical visits. You didn't happen to come in and see Syvar that day did you? We were pretty busy during that time. It will be a few days before I can be a hundred percent certain, If the estrogen levels go up within the next day or two my medical diagnosis would be is your pregnant. "

C'Tora ran a quick scan with the medical tricorder. " Right now I'm about ninety five percent certain. If we get a full positive, we'll fit you in once every two weeks for a brief check up and development progress of the child which should take a minute or two and you'll be on your way. " Watching the expression on her face he had a few more questions for her. " Xu, please sit down. From the look on your face I can assume that this was unplanned. Do you have any questions or concerns that you'd like to discuss? "

Gently putting a hand onto Xu's shoulder, Rose gave her a warm smile, "I know what you're feeling right now, this is a big change"

C'Tora quickly tapped on the PADD checking additional information and frowned. He knew Xu had a million questions racing through her mind at the moment, and he would give her the time she needed to formulate those questions. He looked to Rosaline. " Lieutenant Belikov, I am going to need you to return to Sickbay within the next day or two if you don't mind. According to my records you are overdue for your annual physical. "

Rose looked over at C’Tora with a slight look of confusion, “shouldn’t you focus on the patient you have?”

" I am focused on her, But it doesn't hurt to give a friendly reminder. Your health is just as important to me. " C'Tora said.

"Oliver needs to know!"
Xu chipped in, everything around her nothing but white noise as her hand moved to her stomach and she could almost see the baby, even if it was only a fetus at the moment, but she could sense it almost.

Sensing Xu’s heightened emotions, Rose gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, “everything will be ok. Just take a few deep breath”

C'Tora smiled. "Congrats Xu, I think it's wonderful personally. The bringing of a precious life into our world is always a joyous thing and a reason to celebrate. I think you and Oliver will make great parents. " C'Tora tapped on his PADD. " Ok Xu, would you like me to send a message to the operations officer that family housing will be needed in the future? I'd be happy to do that for you. "

"I still need to speak to Oliver... Could one of you call him?"
Elation, fear, worry, joy... It was a torrent of emotions hitting her all at once but at the same time, how? Something didn't feel right to her but she couldn't put her finger on it, not now anyway.

C'Tora Smiled. " I would be more then delighted to do that for you." He tapped his comm badge. " Lieutenant Oliver Stevens. Please report to Sickbay as soon as possible, You are needed here. Doctor Kuroka out." He looked up at the chronometer on the wall briefly. " Well that should get him here, nor do I believe anyone will give him any static for being summoned to Sickbay. Would you like some privacy to tell him when he arrives? If so you may use my office."

"On my way," Stevens replied.

"No!" she said very simply and very weakly as the news started to settle in. "I think I need a friend here as well... I have no idea how he will take this news!"

C'Tora nodded. " If you'd like me here for moral support, then I'd be happy to stay with you here Xu. I think Oliver might be a little surprised or even briefly shocked when he hears the news." He smiled. " But I have seen the two of you together, and I can tell that he really loves you. So I believe he will take the news well, but don't be upset if he needs a moment to think and absorb the information. "

“I’ll stay as well if that’s ok. I’ve been where you are and I know how it feels” Rose said, thinking back to when she told her own partner about her pregnancy.

C'Tora looked to the sickbay entrance. " I expect he'll be here shortly. " He took a moment to think before speaking. " Xu, I believe you and Oliver will make great parents. It will be a little scary and hectic at first, but it will become second nature to you rather quickly. Take it from someone who helped raise eight siblings. I have some experience in the matter and will gain even more in the future when M'Tara and I decide to start our own family."

The door opened and a worried Lieutenant Stevens walked in.

C'Tora looked up at the sound of the door opening. " Lieutenant Stevens, Thank you for coming. There's a small matter we need to discuss. "He looked to Xu encouragingly.

"You remember a week or so ago I said I had a Doctors appointment... Well I may have forgotten about it, and, well there is no real easy way to say this..." she looked at Oliver directly in the eye taking in his laps lazuli colour of his iris's and hoping that their child would inherit them.

"Oliver, your going to be a father!"

Oliver was visibly and very clearly terrified for a moment and then a big smile swept over his face. "I'm beginning to think we should have just got hitched that night you know. Okay so .... erm ... how do we do this? Are you feeling okay? Lets hope Xu Junior gets your class and decorum right," he smiled at her.

Xu held her position for a moment, feeling a swell of emotion build until she couldn't hold it anymore. She threw her arms around his neck, kissed him while tears of joy started to cascade.
"I love you!"

END

Lieutenant C'Tora
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Xu Chang-Lau
Chief Operations Officer

Lieutenant Oliver Stevens
Chief Transporter Officer - NPC

Lieutenant JG Rose Belikov
Chief Intel Officer