Surprise! for hesdead_jim

[cadet_amara]

Amara enjoyed the night shift, but she had to admit it made it hard to get out of bed. She wondered why her sleep cycle was so effected. Space was always dark. It shouldn't matter what the clock said. However, when she tried to get up this particular day she felt as if she hadn't slept at all. Every muscle in her body ached, and she felt... well... odd. Something was off. Her stomach felt like it was squirming... and she felt ill.

She looked down and was surprised to see her stomach looked a little bloated. "What the-?" She got up quickly and went to check her appearance in the mirror. Yes, her stomach was definitely not as flat as it usually was. There was a certain roundness... as it she were... no, not possible. She wasn't even going to entertain the thought. First of all she never missed her birth control. Second, if she were pregnant a belly wouldn't have appeared overnight. It simply didn't work that way. It must be something else.

Whatever it was, it felt like something just moved in there. That scared her, and she carefully felt her abdomen, shocked to find there appeared to be something inside her. Moving. Responding to her touch.

Frightened and trying not to panic, she dressed quickly and rushed off to Sickbay, hoping Leonard was on duty. Whatever was going on was definitely going to require his attention.

Comments

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I know, sweetheart. I know," he just tightened his hold on her then. He didn't know what else to say, or do. He just needed to comfort her.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"What should I do?" She asked, genuinely wanting some direction here. "What now?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. You... are already connectin' with him, aren't you?" so he couldn't tell her that she needed to not fall in love with this child.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She hesitated then nodded, knowing it would do her absolutely no good to lie. "I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help myself. It's strange... I'm not normally so quick to love."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I know. I... don't know what ta say. It's goin' to hurt you when he dies an' honestly, unless M'Benga comes up with a miracle, he's goin' to die," he didn't know when, but he expected it to be soon. Very soon.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She nodded, knowing very well that was the likely outcome. "I know... I've been trying to prepare myself for that. I'm used to being hurt, why should this be any different?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I don't want you ta be hurt," he let out a breath and sighed, tugging her back tightly against him. "M' sorry. I shoulda been able ta protect you from this."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Hurt is a part of life, Leonard. There wasn't anything you could have done to protect me." She closed her eyes and returned his tight embrace. "Just be here, alright? I think that's what I'll need more than anything."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I will be. I promise, I will be," he would take care of her best he could do. Not that he knew how to take care of someone in a situation like this, but he was made for that. He was made for caring for people, even if his gruff exterior said otherwise.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." She sighed and went to sit down, resting her head in her hands. "This is exactly why I stopped letting myself get close to people. It's easier to lose when you don't care."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

He didn't know what to say to that, so simply sat beside her, lifted his hand and settled it on her lower back. "You can't let yerself stop love from bein' part of yer life."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She sighed a little and moved to rest her head against his shoulder. "I was doing a pretty damn good job of it before. Until you came along." She gave him a weak little smile. "And now this..."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I know... but love, though it hurts like a bitch sometimes, is worth it," he felt he could say that now. He'd gone through heartbreaks but he realized now how they led to better things, or even to just the next step in life.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"I hope you're right." She yawned and tried to get comfortable. "So now all I can do is wait and see what happens?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"I know I am," he replied. Shifting his arms to hold her, he nodded his head slowly. "Yes... I'm sorry I can't do anymore."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"You don't need to be sorry. There's nothing more you can do." She closed her eyes and sighed again. "I'm really tired."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Sleep, then. You need yer rest, sweetheart," he wanted her to be comfortable, to be well rested. Whatever was to come, she would find easiest to face if not totally exhausted.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She nodded and closed her eyes, not really wanting to go to bed alone at the moment, and exhausted enough to fall asleep right there. "You too..."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"We can go on ta bed together then," he wouldn't sleep much, mostly to keep an eye on her to make sure she was sleeping all she needed to.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Karan's in my bed." She sat up and opened her eyes. "I didn't have another place to put him."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Oh... well," he cleared his throat as he looked around. "Think you'd sleep settled on the couch with me?" It'd be a squeeze but they'd be all right.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"I can sleep anywhere. Floor would do even." She got up to find a blanket for them. "Think we can both even fit up here?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"You ain't sleepin' on th' floor. We can both fit." And if they didn't, he would take the floor.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She nodded and laid down, rolling on her side to try to make room for him. "Tell me if you need more room.... The floor really wouldn't bother me. Really." She wanted to make sure he was comfortable, since she was the one asking him to stay.

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

He shifted and lay there with her, arms wrapping around her. "An' you tell me if you do too. If anyone goes to th' floor, it's me. No arguments."