The time comes... earlier than planned.

Posted on Sun Sep 5th, 2021 @ 8:26am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Commander Sthilg & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD7
1561 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

Still not feeling the best Leilani decided to head to Sickbay, last thing she wanted was for anything to go wrong with her pregnancy. Making her way there she walked inside and made her way to see Sthilg. She hadn’t asked George along for now as she hadn’t wanted to worry him.

Sthilg was looking over some files when he heard the doors open.

“Excuse me Doctor” Leilani offered a brief smile. “I’m sorry to disturb you but I’m not feeling the best, I think something might be wrong.”

" Well my dear let'sss get you on the biobed and take a look." He said reassuringly as he lead the way to his office.

Leilani followed hoping her instincts were wrong, she still had some time left before she’d have to let Emily take over as her surrogate. She hopped up onto the biobed in Sthilg’s Office. “I’ve been experiencing some discomfort, it’s becoming more frequent and I’m getting concerned.”

" Well let'sss take a look. Can you role up your ssshirt pleassse?" The doctor asked as he prepared the scanner.

Leilani did as she was asked, rolling up her shirt she let Sthilg do his scans. “It’s not good is it?”

The gorn did his best to hide his expression, but even he couldn't hide it. Still he gave her a ressuring smile " Jussst lay ssstill and relax. Everything'sss going to be all right." He said typing a code into the computer to alert Emily that she would be needed to transfer the child ASAP.

===Charles Family Quarters===

George was reading a story to Hendor when, in the back of his mind, he felt a spark of nervous concern from Leilani. When he tried to reach out to her, he found her shielding her thoughts from him. He then reached out to his sister. Em? Something's wrong with Leilani. She wasn't feeling well earlier, and now she's blocking me from her thoughts! I'm watching Hendor right now and I don't want to scare him. Please, find out what is going on!

Emily was about to answer her brother when the alert from Sthilg came through to her console, George... you need to come to Sickbay, I’ll meet you there.

Hearing her words, George knew he had to go. After explaining briefly to Hendor, he dress the small boy in a set of pj's and had him bring a blanket and the story PADD. The two then made their way back to sickbay. Once they arrived, he asked one of rhe nurses to keep an eye on Hendor, while he went to check on his wife.

Making her way to Sickbay Emily was nervous but prepared to do what she had to do to ensure the safety of her brother and sister-in-law’s baby. “Hey” she smiled as she approached Leilani and Sthilg.

“It’s time... already!” Leilani looked at Emily. “I wish I’d had more time.”

“Hey don’t worry” Emily smiled. “I’ll take care of your baby I promise, and you’ll be able to carry him or her again once Sthilg has you sorted out. Right doctor?”

George finally found the trio and stepped into the room. "Imzadi!" He moved over to Leilani's side, gently taking her hand into his. "What's going on, Doc?" He asked as he moved his eyes to Sthilg.

Emily looked towards Sthilg as well, though she knew what he was going to say.

" We're going to have to transfer the baby early. Leilani'sss womb tissssssue isn't getting enough oxygen. We can worry about Leilani'sss transssplant later. Emily can you please take a seat on one of the bio bedsss." the doctor said as he prepared one of the small medical transporters.

Nodding Emily hopped up onto the biobed next to Leilani, she was nervous but she knew this had to be done for Leilani and for George.

This worried George. "Uh, Doc, with it being earlier than we were planning, is there any danger to the baby, Leilani or Emily?"

" There isss, thankfully you have a doctor who'sss been doing thisss sssince before you were born. Nothing isss going to happen." Sthilg said as he sanitized his hands.

“It’ll be okay Imzadi” Leilani looked towards her husband. “Just hold my hand” She held out her hand for George to hold.

Moving back to her side, George hadn't even realized that he had both released his hold on her hand or moved a few paces away. Taking her hand in his, he held it against his chest, as he sent loving images to his wife's mind.

" Okay let'sss painkillersss and muscle relaxation to both of them. " The gorn said as he drew a hypospray with a dark blue liquid with in. " Thisss is a transporter aid it will make sure the embryo movesss asss painflesss asss posssible." the gorn explained to Leilani.

Leilani nodded. “I understand.” She was trying to hide how she was truly feeling from George, how much she felt she was a failure in not being able to carry their baby for the full term. It hurt, emotionally, having to give up her baby.

Emily could sense Leilani’s turmoil, but not her true feelings and she understood why she would hide them. They would have to sit down and talk once all the drama was over with.

George leaned down and gently kissed Leilani's forehead. He knew she felt that she was failing him. Stay calm, Imzadi. You are not failing me in the slightest. Remember that this is only happening because of the actions of another. You are the strongest, most beautiful woman I have ever known. I love you, my partner, my wife!

I love you too Imzadi Leilani held tightly onto George’s hand.

The gorn gave them as long as he could before he placed the hypospray against her neck. When he was sure she was out he began to start his work. It took a mere moment for him to make an incision to cut the umbilical cord before the child could be moved. Now they had to hurry as the attending nurse activated the transporter. To his relief, the transport went well. Now they had to stabilize Emily and reatach the umbilical cord.

George watched everything in total silence. He barely even breathed, for fear of distracting Sthilg and his team from doing what they had to do to safeguard his entire family. He sent warm, loving thoughts to his sister as the nurse started to work on her.

The gorn's artificial hand was doing it's work as he made an incision into Emily's womb tissue and began connecting up the umbilical cord. it took less than thirty seconds, but it felt like a lifetime before the silver wire withdrew. Without saying a word the gorn instantly turned to the nurse who gave him a thumbs up at the life signs. " Everything is stable doctor."

George released the breath his was holding. "Our baby is safe?" Though the nurse had just said so, George still needed it said to him, to be sure.

" Everything'sss looking good. We'll need to keep your sssister monitored, but everything gone well. Sssorry it took ssso long i'm getting old." The gorn said giving George a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Too long?" George chuckled as he reached up and gently held the powerful hand that covered his shoulder. "I held my breath during the whole thing! From start to finish, couldn't have been more than ninety seconds!" Looking down at his sleeping wife, he asked, "Will she...feel empty?" He looked back up into Sthilg's friendly eyes. "I know she thinks that she failed somehow. I don't believe it though. She could never disappoint or fail me. I just wish I could help her belive that."

" Talk to her make sssure she knowsss you don't blame her and it'sss not her fault. Tell her you love her and her baby and nothing will change that." The gorn said reassuringly as he could. " When ssshe'sss recovered i can ssstart planning her transssplant. The cloned organ is already grown."

The young pilot nodded in agreement. "Of course I will. She is the brightest star in my sky. Well, next to our baby, of course." He smiled and chuckled. Then, "Is that wrong to say? I mean, until I met Leilani, Emily was the center my life. And now, our unborn child is already starting to replace my wife. I...I'm not sure if....does that make me a bad husband now? To put our child ahead of her in importance?"

" No, it doesssn't. It makesss you a worried first-time father. Believe me i know how it feelsss." The gorn said reassuringly." I'm sssure Doctor Yehalsss will be able to help you when ssshe can arrange an appointment. "

Hearing the elder officer say what he did, did help George. He sighed softly, in quiet relief, then asked, "I'm never going to stop worrying about our baby, am I? Even when he or she is fully grown with babies of their own?" A small grin started to cross his face as he pretty much knew the answer.

The gorn nodded. " You will never ssstop worrying my friend. Welcome to fatherhood."

{OFF}