JP-LtCmdr. Talos Dakora & Samantha Richards - It Takes Two [Part 3]

[Samantha Richards]

((Sickbay, Deck 7, USS Artemis))

After giving Sam and Talos a little bit to adjust to the information, Dr. Rani came back to the exam room with an equipment cart in tow.

Rani: ::offering Sam a box of tissues:: How’re we doing? Need a few more minutes?

S. Richards: No, it’s okay. ::Taking the tissues and looking at Talos:: We’re okay.

Rani: First thing we need to do is talk about your options.

S. Richards: No need. We’re keeping it. 

A simple nod and soft smile were all Dr. Rani offered in acknowledgement of that very personal decision.

Rani: Alright then, let the questions begin.

S. Richards: I mean, I definitely have a few questions-

Rani: ::interrupting:: No, no dear. Not your questions. We will get to those in a few moments, but first you have to answer my questions. 

Sam nodded. Although confused, there really couldn’t be that many questions. At least she hoped not… 

Dakora: Well, for one, I'd like to–

The doctor cut him off sharply.

Rani: Sorry, Da- Commander, you’re really just a spectator for this part of the appointment. You’ve already done your part.

Shrinking down as best as his large frame would allow, he replied sheepishly.

Dakora: Right. Uh, sorry. Carry on.

Rani: ::to Sam:: When was your last cycle?

S. Richards: It’s been since before Frontier Day ::Grimacing a bit:: but I figured being assimilated–twice, had something to do with it. Either that or being stung by a Galadoran ::shrugging:: That day wasn’t my best… 

Rani: And do you have a general guess as to the date of conception?

Without hesitation, they both recited the same date. Sam felt her cheeks go red when she realized that probably meant he had been thinking about their adventure  just as much as she had. Little did either of them know, It ended up being the night that changed both their lives forever. 

Rani: Hmm… Eleven ::counts on her fingers:: No, ten weeks.

Taking notes on her PADD, Dr. Rani asked Sam a sequence of standard questions in rapid succession; drug use, medical conditions, external risk factors, previous pregnancies. It was personal, probably uncomfortable, and the doctor didn’t let up until they were done.

Rani: Now that all of that nonsense is out of the way, do you wanna hear your baby’s heartbeat?

S. Richards: ::Nodding:: Yeah… I would like that.

Talos looked to Sam. The pair barely knew each other, but now it seemed they'd soon be parents. The idea made his head swim

Yet, he knew he wanted to be there. Every step of the way. He wanted to be the father his dad never had been.

Dakora: I’d like to. I mean, if you're ok with it…

Nodding again, Sam gave him a smile. If he wanted to be involved, she wasn’t going to stop him. In fact, it was what she hoped for. 

Rani: I Just need you to lie back.

As she spoke she prepared Sam and the equipment for an ultrasound. It didn’t take long before the screen showed a crisp, three dimensional gray image of a tiny little bean and an audible woosh-woosh accompanied the picture.

A genuine smile appeared on Sam’s face despite how surreal the moment felt.

Rani: A healthy heartbeat for the little Beta-bean.

Talos blinked twice, unsure about what she meant.

Dakora: Beta… bean?

S. Richards: The little what?

Rani: Beta-bean. Daddy is a Betazoid, baby is about the size of a bean. ::she patted Sam’s hand:: Beta-bean. 

As much as Sam didn’t want to think that was funny… It kind of was. 

S. Richards: ::Covering her laugh:: Look Talos, we made a beta-bean. 

Rani: We’re not quite finished, I just need to take a look- Yep, just as I thought. Your Beta-Beans came as a pair. 

Suddenly the Doctor wasn’t funny anymore. The smile and snickers from Sam faded as quickly as they came.

S. Richards: Cute. ::shaking her head:: The first joke was funny. The second one? Not so much.

Showing them the first fetus, Dr. Rani held up one finger, and then moving the image to show them the second, she then held up another finger.

Rani: Two strong heart beats. Twin trouble-making telepaths on board. ::smiles broadly and looks at Dakora:: Bit of an overachiever, Commander?

Just when Sam thought the situation couldn’t get anymore difficult, it did. Not only did she have to contend with becoming a parent with a near stranger, but having two babies with him.

Talos' mouth fell open, at first but no sound came out. After a moment he managed to eke out a couple of words.

Dakora: Two!? Twins!? That… uh, that can't be. Should we… Can we have a recount!?

Rani: No, I assure you. There are two in there. I’ve been doing this a long time. Here-

With a few adjustments the image shifted to a wider view so they could see both little grape sized fetuses curled in on themselves.

S. Richards: I think I’m going to be sick… 

Without a word, Dr. Rani produced a small receptacle and handed it to the expecting mother. She then taps a few commands on her equipment and prints out a selection of nice 3D images of the ultrasound.

Rani: What a blessing, double blessing even. ::looks at the pictures before handing them to Sam:: I promise, they get cuter.

S. Richards: ::Staring at the pictures still in shock:: I sure hope they do. 

She hesitated a moment before handing the photos to Talos. The reality of their situation still setting in. 

He was far from an expert on the subject matter, but even Talos couldn't argue with the images. 

Dakora: Oh. Two. Okay. G-great…

Rani: ::tapping away at her PADD:: Commander, if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to log Miss Richards in as a clinic guest who came in alone, for the time being anyway.

Still trying to catch up with all that had been revealed, Talos swallowed as he shifted his gaze to the Doctor.

Dakora: I, uh, I appreciate your discretion, Doctor Rani…

Rani: ::to Sam:: I’m going to fill a prescription for some nausea medicine and daily vitamins for you. If you need anything else while you’re here on the Artemis, please just stop by or send me a message. We can do our best to keep this quiet until the two of you are ready to share your news. 

It was another shock to her system, thinking about how they were going to even tell people.

S. Richards: Yeah… Thank you. 

The blood drained from Talos’ face a little. 

It was a secret, but one that would only keep for so long. At some point he'd have to tell his friends, his colleagues that… well, that he was going to be a father.

Dakora: Right. Just… yes. Thank you!

Rani: No, no please. It was my pleasure. This sort of surprise is a rare one these days, I’m just happy to be a part. If either of you need anything at all, you know where to find me. And Sam, please stop in before you travel back to Amity.

Sam nodded, that was all she could manage in that moment. In such a short amount of time her whole world had changed and she struggled to process all of it. Her eyes settled on Talos, trying to gauge how he was feeling. 

Rani: Commander Dakora, before you go- ::holding up a hypospray:: Why don’t we take care of that birth control, hmm?

He frowned, relenting with a shrug.

Dakora: Sure. Go right ahead, though I think that ship has sailed, hasn't it?

Rani: No, of course you can’t get her pregnant again, don’t you think two is enough?

The older woman chuckled, clearly amused with herself, before giving her XO his overdue dose of birth control and reminding him to see her again in a month. With a final beaming smile at the still shocked looking couple, Dr. Rani loaded up her supplies and left the exam room, still chortling under her breath.

After the doctor made her exit, Sam reached over to Talos and took his hand.

S. Richards: Looks like we have a lot to talk about… 

Talos’ gaze shifted from the Doctor to Samantha.

The mother of his children.

It was a lot to take in.

Dakora: Yeah. It seems like we do…

But even as he spoke he motioned toward the exit to sickbay. At the very least, their discussions could happen away from the prying eyes of his crew.

((XO’s Quarters - Deck 02 - USS Artemis))

Now that the two were back in his quarters, despite the particularly life changing news they had received, Sam still felt a comfort in his space. They both slinked down onto the couch, Sam rested her head on his shoulder and put her hand on his knee. 

S. Richards: So… What does this mean for us? ::Pausing for a moment.:: You said we are in this together, but are we in this together together?

To his credit, there wasn't a moment of hesitation in his thoughts or his words. No, Talos responded almost by reflex.

Dakora: We're in this as together as you're willing to let me be. 

She smiled at him, she felt like he genuinely wanted to be involved and that was all she really wanted. 

He took off his comm badge and set it on the coffee table in front of them and loosened the collar of his uniform before continuing. He was stressed, scared, worried and half a dozen other similar words. But somewhere inside of him, there was a little twinge of excitement too. 

Sure, it was complicated and there was no end to the things they’d need to discuss and work through– and then there was the awkward fact that they really only barely knew each other. He clamped down on his thoughts and continued.

Dakora: I know that this wasn’t really part of the plan– for either of us. But like it or not, it looks like we’ve got a reason– No, two reasons that we’ve got a bunch of stuff to figure out– and fast. I, uh… I’d like to be as big a part of that as you’re comfortable with. You know?

S.Richards: I want nothing more than to do this together. It’s not going to be easy, but I really do think it’ll be worth it. ::rubbing her hands over her stomach:: I think we owe it to them to at least try right? 

So much had changed in the space of an hour or so, with so many more changes to come that neither of them could even consider right now, that it was hard to imagine they’d been planning on a romantic few days of shore leave just a handful of minutes before.

Dakora: Good. Yeah. ::He smiled.:: I can work with that.

He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. 

Dakora: Hooooly strokes. ::He settled back into the couch beside her.:: It’s been a day, hasn’t it? ::He yawned, despite himself.:: So, are you craving anything? That’s a thing, right? Or is it too early?

She interjected before he talked himself into a nervous circle.

S.Richards: That’s what the cheese puffs were earlier I’m guessing. ::Shrugging and squeezing his hand back:: I don’t really know. 

Dakora: Right. ::He exhaled.:: I’ve got a lot to learn.

S. Richards: We both do.

END

======//////======>

LtCmdr. Talos Dakora

First Officer

USS Artemis-A

O238811CD0

&

Samantha Richards

Civilian Science Liaison

Amity Outpost

A240103SR3 

With Special Guest

Dr. Audrea Rani

written by

Ensign Alix Harford

Medical Officer

USS Astraeus, NCC-70652

D240104AH2