Precious time

Posted on Thu Apr 6th, 2023 @ 8:39am by Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Various
Timeline: MD1 1900 hrs
2116 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Heather sat on one of the camp beds being used as temporary beds for those recovering in medical. The few biobeds that were available were being used for the more seriously wounded, who needed round the clock monitoring.

Now she was hydrated, rested, and had eaten properly Heather was feeling a whole lot better. The news that she was three months pregnant had come as quite a surprise, she and Fernando had been trying for a baby, but with several negative tests, and the disaster she’d completely mistaken her own symptoms. Now she sat eating her dinner, such as it was given the food situation. She was more concerned with eight month old Cody than herself, he was starting out on solids and at present there wasn’t the usual range of foods for him.

Ferando hobbled in, his leg was healed but sore and weak but he never complained. Others were much worse off. "Heather, look what I have for Cody." He dug into his jacket pockets and withdrew three jars of baby food. One of peas, another of pears and the last one carrots. "What do you think?"

Heather smiled as she stood up and walked over to him. “I think you are the most amazing man ever!” She kissed him on the cheek as she took the jars. “I’ll put these under the bed, it’s my little hideaway spot.”

Fernando smiled at Heather's kiss and comment. "No, I am just a man who loves his wife and son very, very, much." He walked over to the one chair they had and sat down and gently rubbed his leg.

“Still giving you pain?” Heather looked at her husband concernedly. “Would you like some pain relief? I may not be on duty right now, but I’m still a nurse.”

Fernando smiled at her, "It is nothing Heather, just a little sore. I will be fine. Save your pain relief my love but thank you for offering."

Heather nodded. “I’m hoping that I’ll be allowed to get back to my duties soon, they need as much help as they can get right now. Plus I don’t need to be here, I want to be back at our tent with you, and Cody.”

"If you do return to duty, do not overdo it my love. You have another to think of as well." Fernando said gently.

Heather paused to sit back down. “You’re right I do.” She smiled as she flattened down her uniform over a small round in her stomach. “How I didn’t notice this when I looked in the mirror last I honestly don’t know!”

Fernando chuckled, "It is not important now Heather. What is important is that you know now, and you know how to budget your time and work as to which jobs you can or cannot do."

Heather nodded. “I won’t be overdoing it, that I promise you Imzadi. I just hope we find our way home in the months before our baby is due.”

"We must remain optimistic Heather and not give in to despair. I am confident we will get home."

Heather nodded and smiled. “I’m not going to give in to despair Imzadi, I’ve been there and done that before. I’ve survived the destruction of one ship, we’ll survive the damage to this one.”

Fernando nodded, "Yes you did Heather. What was done to your former ship and crew was a crime and I hope Starfleet was able to find and punish those responsible as well as recover if not all the crew a good deal of them." He smiled at her, "Do not worry. We will get back to our home. We must stay strong and not lose faith.''

“I won’t lose faith Imzadi, not as long as I have you at my side.” Heather smiled warmly. “How’s about you take me home? They were talking about letting me go next time you came anyway.”

"A most excellent idea my love. I would love to be seen in the company of a beautiful woman such as yourself." He extended his arm to her. "Shall we go?"

Picking up Cody, Heather paused long enough to collect the jars of food Fernando had brought for their son. “By all means” she took hold of his arm smiling proudly. “I’m lucky to have you Fernando.”

"My precious Heather, It is I who am lucky to have you. You are my everything. I would be lost without you."

Heather nodded. “Then its a good job you’ll never be without me Imzadi. You’ve brought new meaning to my life.”

"And you have given my life purpose and filled it with love Heather." Fernando replied solemnly.

Heather couldn’t help but shiver as they got out into the cold. The air temperature was bitterly cold, and she cradled Cody close to her under the warmth of her jacket. She just hoped their tent would be warmer.

Fernando held Heather close as they walked back to their tent. The cold was constant, it never let up. You learned to deal with it and keep going. "We will be to our tent soon Heather. It will be warmer. I assure you of that."

Heather nodded as she huddled up to Fernando keeping their son warm underneath her clothing.

Fernando pulled Heather close, to ease the biting cold as they drew closer to their tent and the warmth it provided.

As they reached their tent Heather was glad to get inside, it was comparatively warm inside the tent compared to the freezing temperatures outside. “Thank heavens we’re inside! There’s cold and there’s just downright bitter!” She carefully placed Cody down wrapping him in some warm blankets.

As they reached their tent and got inside, Fernando removed his jacket. he had one last surprise for Heather. He reached into the jacket's packet and brought several packets of hot chocolate. "For you Heather, I know how much you like it." He wouldn't tell Heather what he had to do to obtain them. Work extra shifts but it was worth to see Heather happy.

“Ohh Fernando” Heather smiled warmly before giving him a curious look. “Just what did you have to do to get all of those for me?”

"Um Heather, can't you just be happy you have them?" Fernando replied, hoping Heather would let the matter drop.

Heather nodded. “I’m just worried about you Imzadi” she gave Fernando a worried look. “I don’t want you working overtime or anything just to get treats for me.”

"But I like making you happy Heather and you do enjoy your hot chocolate." He pointed out and went on. "Seeing you and Cody happy makes me happy." Fernando explained.

Heather nodded. “I am happy! Just being here with you makes me happy.” She smiled. “Speaking of hot chocolate would you mind boiling up some water?”

Fernando smiled, "I would be pleased to do so." He said as he got their teapot and set to work boiling the water for Heather's hot chocolate.

“Thank you Imzadi” Heather smiled as she checked Cody was warm enough, taking off her outdoor coat she placed it to one side and put on her warm fleecy top, it was one thing she’d managed to take from their quarters when the disaster struck. “I guess I’m going to have to learn how to make clothes, either that or recycle someone else’s maternity clothing.”

"Talk to Commander Kelea-Salik. Perhaps she has some maternity clothes you can borrow." Fernando suggested.

“That’s a good point” Heather nodded. “The main problem is most people’s things would have been destroyed along with their quarters. I don’t know how we’re going to get home when the ship is in such a state.”

"The ship is being repaired Heather, It just takes time. If I go up, I will go by out quarters and see if I can get you and Cody some clothes." Fernando replied.

“I’m not complaining Fernando” Heather offered a warmer smile. “I guess I’m just more worried than anything else, more for Cody, and now that I’m pregnant.”

"I know you aren't complaining my turtle dove. I'm just trying to ease your mind and let you know there is nothing to worry about. "Also not everyone's quarters were destroyed Heather."

Heather nodded. “That’s a blessing in disguise, but we’ll no doubt be crammed in like sardines once we start heading home. I feel sorry for those who’ve lost everything, all those memories and belongings gone.”

"Items were lost Heather, you still have your memories but I agree in that many lost more than others and we all need to pinch in and help wherever we can." Fernando replied then announced, "Hot water is ready."

“Wonderful, here you go...” she passed over a packet of Hot Chocolate to put in a cup. “Would you like one?”

Fernando poured the packet into the cup and stirred it, look it even as little marshmallows in it." As he handed the cup back to Heather. "Yes please."

Heather smiled as she handed over another sachet, and took her drink. Blowing it a little she took a small sip. “Mmm that is so lovely.”

Fernando repeated the process and soon had a cup of hot chocolate for himself. Taking a sip, he commented, "You are right Heather, this is divine."

Heather grinned. “You’re sure you’re okay with us having another baby? I know we planned it, but I don’t think either of us expected me to get pregnant so soon.”

Fernando took another sip of his hot chocolate. "I am thrilled my little chickadee. Cody will be a big brother and we will have another child to love. Why would I not be okay?"

Heather smiled. “It’s just me, being a worry wart!” She grinned.

Fernando put his cup down and walked over to Heather and sat down beside her. "Do not be a worry wart Heather. Everything will be alright and we will get through this as we always do...together."

Heather nodded as she cuddled up. “I know we will, I think the disaster aboard ship dredged up some old memories of what happened aboard the Wildcat. I haven’t thought about it in a very long time, not since I was in slavery.” She offered a brief smile. “We lost so many, some killed, some sold off by slavers, those other survivors are still missing.”

Fernando held Heather close. "Get rid of those thoughts Heather, they do you no good and serve no purpose. Those that are still missing will be found. I promise you. As for you, no one will ever make you a slave or take you from me. You are my wife and my world."

Heather nodded. “I’ll try Imzadi, I really will. I just need a little time, and with you by my side and our children I can’t go wrong.” She smiled as she looked at Cody all snug in his blanket.

"We will help and support each other Heather. That makes the struggle easier to bear." Fernando replied as he kissed Heather softly.

“I wish I knew what happened to the others from my old ship Fernando. There’s still so many of them missing. They can’t all have been sold into slavery, at least I hope not!”

Fernando nodded sympathetically. I know my love. I promise when we get back aboard ship we will find out about your former shipmates. We will get answers to what happened to them."

Heather nodded. “It can wait until we get back to the Federation, right now we need all our resources, more so when we get back aboard ship.”

Fernando nodded, "As you wish my love. However, we will find the answers we need. We will not be denied." He assured her.

Heather nodded as she lay down on the bed to rest, she patted it motioning for Fernando to join her.

Fernando nodded happily and lay down next to Heather, his arm going around her. Even in this place, he was with the two people he loved more than anything in the universe.

“I do so love you Imzadi, amongst the craziness of the universe, and our duties you keep me sane!” Heather smiled a wry smile.

"And I love you my angel. I love you so very much. We are a team Heather, we both to what we can for each other and of course Cody." Fernando replied with a smile.

{OFF}