JP-LtCmdr. Talos Dakora & Samantha Richards - It Takes Two [Part 2]
Travis
(((Sickbay, Deck 7, USS Artemis))
Dakora: Judging by the mess we left behind in my quarters, symptoms include vomiting…
S. Richards: ::Gesturing to Talos in agreement:: Yeah that… And I just feel… off? ::sighing:: My body hurts and I just want to sleep.
Rani: Well, that’s no good. ::takes out tricorder:: We can’t have a stomach bug ruining your romantic visit.
With a knowing smile and a playful wink, Dr. Audrea Rani began scanning her patient completely unphased by the looks on either of their faces.
Sam’s mouth fell open slightly, shocked at the doctor’s forward comment.
S. Richards: ::Stumbling on her words:: Uh.. I- uhm. No… Well, I mean. ::shaking her head in frustration:: He’s not the only reason I am here.
Rani: Sure, sure… Of course not.
The warmth had spread from his face to his ears as he reddened with embarrassment. Against his own nature, he’d managed to avoid any of these types of entanglements for his entire tenure as XO. Until he met, Samantha anyway.
Dakora: Right. ::He grinned sheepishly.:: Yeah. We were just catching up. I’m sure she’s super busy with… ::He waved a hand.:: Science stuff.
It was clear that he had failed to convince Doctor Rani.
Rani: Really, Lieutenant Commander, ::turning to Sam:: and um, I’m sorry I’m just realizing I’ve skipped right over introductions. ::chuckles:: I’m Dr. Audrea Rani, and you are dear?
S. Richards: Oh yeah, My name is Samantha Richards, but you can call me Sam.
Rani: Well, Sam, Commander, the two of you have nothing to worry about. Doctor-patient confidentiality and all that.
Just then the scanner beeped a soft little sound and Dr. Rani reviewed the information before tucking it away.
Rani: Alrighty Sam, I’d like to ask you some questions. They can get a tad personal, would you like me to kick the Commander out?
Instantly, he felt like he was intruding. While they’d had an amazing… date. Yeah, you could call it a date. And they’d exchanged some flirtatious messages in the intervening weeks, but really they didn’t know each other all that well.
Dakora: Oh, of course. I can g-
Sam reached over and grabbed Talos’ arm pulling him towards her. She wanted him to stay but didn’t want him to feel like he had to.
S. Richards: No, he can stay. ::looking up at him and lightening her grip on his arm:: Uhm… If you want to, that is…
Her touch did its thing and for a moment all of his nervousness and discomfort was replaced by a strong desire to take care of her and make sure she felt supported. After all, she was a long way from home.
Dakora: Yeah. ::He shrugged.:: Of course, yeah.
Rani: Ah, new love. So precious. If everyone’s staying, let's just jump on in. Okay? ::not waiting for a response:: When did your symptoms start, dear?
It was an active effort for Sam to not respond in any way to the “new love” comment. Obviously she had feelings for him but it was way too soon for that particular four letter word.
S. Richards: ::Trying to refocus:: After I left the DQ, on my way here. So it’s been a few weeks… I kept thinking I was over it, but it keeps coming back.
Rani: I am so sorry. Being sick will make a trip miserable. ::pause:: Nausea, vomiting, anything else? How’s your appetite been?
S. Richards: ::Shrugging:: Sometimes eating makes me sick and sometimes not eating makes me sick.
Scan results had already told Dr. Rani what she needed to know, and Sam’s account of her symptoms only confirmed the obvious. Wanting to be gentle with her delivery, Dr. Rani pulled a stool over to sit near the edge of the biobed. She placed her hand gently on Sam’s hand and smiled at the couple.
Rani: And it seems someone must have had a slip-up on their monthly injections.
It was said more as a statement, rather than a question. Her face was soft and neutral. This was the kind of news she didn’t get to break every day in Starfleet and with the modern advancements in family planning, surprising a couple with the news was even more uncommon. She waited for a moment as realization crossed both their faces.
Dakora: N-No, I… Uh get mine at the recommended–
He trailed off as the realization hit him. In the wake of Frontier Day, the Artemis’ sickbay had been full to the brim with the actual injured. He’d voluntarily bumped that particular appointment and then hadn’t rescheduled it.
The understanding crashed into Talos like a punch to the gut.
S. Richards: ::Giving the Doctor an uneasy look:: What are you trying to say?
Rani: I’m saying congratulations. You’re pregnant.
His gaze shifted from Samantha to the Doctor, then back again.
Dakora: W-wait. Are you sure? I mean… Should you check again?
But the look on Doctor Rani’s face caused that hope to die on the vine.
She heard the words, but struggled to grasp them. The shock clearly displayed across her face as she tried to form a response that didn’t include a variety of other four letter words.
S. Richards: ::whispering in disbelief:: I’m pregnant…
Her eyes slowly moved from the doctor to Talos.
Rani: I’m going to step out, give you two a few minutes and then we’ll talk. Okay?
She didn’t wait for an answer, instead she smiled reassuringly at the couple and left the exam room to give them some privacy.
The two of them stayed there, trying to sort through every emotion that came with the bombshell that had been dropped.
S. Richards: ::Instinctively putting her hands on her stomach and looking up at Talos:: How did this happen?
Talos sat on the edge of the stool next to the biobed, his eyes wide as he tried to process everything he’d heard in the last few seconds.
It hardly felt real.
But as Sam put her hands on her stomach, he knew with a strange certainty that it was very real.
He reached out and carefully placed his hand on her knee.
Dakora: Sam… I’m so, so sorry. This is– I think this is all my fault…
S.Richards: I- We… uhm… ::through heavy breaths:: I don’t understand. Was she right? Did you miss your injection? ::fighting back her emotions as she answered her own question:: I guess you must of… I haven’t been with anyone else… In like, a really long time. How could you just forget?!
He frowned, softening his voice as he tried to explain. She had every right to be upset with him.
Dakora: It was after Frontier Day… you know. There were only so many ships with fully functional sickbays… and the Artemis was one of them. ::He squeezed his eyes shut.:: So when my appointment– THAT appointment– came up, I didn’t want one of the Docs to have to take their attention away from someone who was really hurt for me.
He opened his eyes, settling his dark gaze on her green eyes. She looked– understandably– distraught and it made him want to die a little bit inside.
Dakora: You… we… I met you in that… you know. ::He waved his hand in front of him before smacking his own face with his palm.:: that window.
S. Richards: I can’t believe this is happening… ::holding back tears:: This is really happening…
Despite all of the feelings she was having, she reached out and set her hand on top of his that was still resting on her knee. She was scared but still wanted his comfort, even though she was arguably a bit upset with him. That didn’t last long as she realized, she was just as much to blame as him. As they say, it takes two…
Amidst the tidal wave of emotions, a silence fell between the two of them. A thousand “what ifs” started to creep up on her.
S.Richards: Listen… I’m keeping it. Whether you want to be involved or not… I mean, I really hope you do, but I understand if you don’t want to. ::shifting her gaze away from his:: I hoped I would have kids someday... I just didn’t quite imagine it would happen like this.
She grew anxious at the thought of facing becoming a parent alone, causing her tears she had been holding back to finally start to fall.
Talos' concerned expression gave way to a sort of nervous, uncertain smile.
Dakora: No. Yeah. Of course… we're, uh… we're in this together. ::He paused.:: If that's ok with you?
S.Richards: ::Nodding:: That's more than ok with me. ::giving him a small smile and wiping away her tears:: I don’t want to do this alone.
TBC in part 3
======//////======>
LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0
&
Samantha Richards
Civilian Science Liaison
Amity Outpost
A240103SR3
With Special Guest
written by
Ensign Alix Harford
Medical Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
D240104AH2