And baby makes four

Posted on Tue Sep 26th, 2023 @ 9:07pm by Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Various
Timeline: MD4 0615 hrs
1986 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

~ Sthilg & Deanna’s shared Quarters ~

Having gone to bed early mainly due to the fact that she was tired, Kara had been woken in the middle of the night by the familiar sensation of contractions. She’d had Braxton hicks quite a bit lately, but having had a baby before she recognised this for what it was.

She gently nudged Malakai. “Mal...wake up.” She sighed as Malakai barely stirred. “Mal...it’s time!!”

The words "It's time" penetrated Malakai's slumber and he was instantly awake and moving. Jumping off of the bed and throwing his uniform on. "Right time! How close are your contractions, Kara?" He asked as he hopped around on one foot trying to get his boot on, all while his head looked like it was on a swivel as he tried to locate the bag he and Kara had packed for just this.

Kara shook her head. “I don’t know yet! It just woke me up.” She motioned to where the bag was before grabbing her dressing gown off a nearby chair.

Sthilg was being the gentleman and was sleeping in the bath when he heard the commotion outside. Standing up he wiped the sleep from his eyes as he saw what was going on." The bags on top of the seventh bookcase," he said softly as he looked over at Kara. " How are you feeling." he enquired.

“Like a pregnant woman in labour!” Kara offered a wry smile. “It’s not Braxton Hicks this time that much I know.”

Malakai finally located the bag and pulled it from the bookcase. He was working on getting Kara into her winter coat. "Come on Kara. We need to go!" His nervousness evident.

" Do you need me to carry you?" Sthilg enquired.

"Doc, you need to deliver the baby. If Kara needs to be carried I can do that." Malakai replied.

Kara looked between both, she didn’t have the time or patience to argue so she simply nodded. “It would probably be a faster trip if I was carried” she looked at Malakai knowing he would probably be upset if she chose Sthilg instead.

"Right." Malakai said simply as he bent down and gracefully scooped Kara into his arms, holding her tenderly and easily. "Let's get you to medical, so we can welcome the newest member of the Starr family into the world."

Sthilg nodded as he followed behind the two

Being a nurse Kara was used to the routine of helping pregnant women in labour with their breathing, now she was having to focus on her own. Being a nurse was so much easier than being the patient, right now she was hating being the patient.

"How you doing sweetie?" Malakai asked as he carried Kara into medical. "Anything I can do or get for you?"

Kara offered a smile as she looked up at Malakai. “Just find me a private room? I don’t want to be in main sickbay, there’s always the nurse’s office it has a bed.”

Mal didn't hesitate. he headed straight for the nurse's office. Entering he was relieved to find it empty as he gently laid Kara down on the bed. "How's that Kara darling?"

Kara nodded. “Better, you know me...I prefer privacy!” She offered a brief smile. “We could be here a while, I’m not that close yet.”

Mal nodded and held her hand gently. "I know you do Kara and so do I. This is our moment, with our baby. We'll share him, her with others after they are born."

Kara nodded. “Can you call Tate for me please? I promised her she could be here as my second birth partner.”

"Tate? Sure thing Kara." Mal replied as he tapped his combadge. "Malakai Starr to Lieutenant Sullivan. Tate, come to Sickbay, the nurse's office. It's time." he finished simply, figuring Tate would know what he was referring to. "Alright Kara, I called Tate. Anything else you need darling?"

Kara grabbed hold of her husband’s hand as another contraction came and went. “Just...don’t leave me!”

Mal's fingers curled around Kara's "Not going anywhere Kara. I'm with you all the way," He promised as he leaned forward and kissed her softly.

Sthilg returned having changed into the medical crimson robes as laid out the tools. With a swift movement of his hand the data began flowing into his eyes. " Okay, everything'sss going well my dear. Jusst lay back and breath in calmly." The lizard said in his calmy doctor tone.

The summons in the early morning. while not unusual in her work as a counselor or as someone who regularly helped out in sickbay, did not come so often that Tate had to take a moment to fully awaken. Once she processed why she was being called, it didn't take long for the fatigue to be replaced with excitement and pure joy. "On my way."

It didn't take her long to arrive with the small bag of items she thought might be useful just in case. "It sounds like someone is ready for a birthday party!"

— Several hours later —

Kara lay with her head back on a comfy pillow, Labour was going slower than she liked and exhaustion was starting to take its toll, as she cat napped between contractions. With Tate there helping out as her second birth partner she was still gripping Malakai’s hand as she had since Labour had begun, almost unwilling to let him go.

Malakai continued to hold Kara's hand. He knew she must be exhausted. Labor had dragged on for several hours. He was thankful for Tate's calming presence as Kara cat napped and her contractions seemed to be getting closer. He took a washcloth and dapped her forehead wiping the perspiration away. He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. Lying there, exhausted as she was, Kara had never looked more beautiful. She radiated beauty.

Kara opened her eyes and looked up at her husband offering a teary expression. “How much longer? ... I’m so tired!!” She gripped his hand as the strongest contraction yet made her cry out, it was so much easier being a nurse instead of a patient.

Mal smiled down at her. "Soon Kara, very soon." He was about to say more when Kara cried out at the strongest contraction yet and her grip on his hand was like a steel vise. "Not much longer Kara. I promise you. You can do this Kara ad then you can rest and hold our baby."

Tate knew all was well with mother and baby by simply looking at her tricorder and her monitors. She was also learning that a lot could be determined simply by the sounds a woman made during her labor and a gentle but well-placed hand on her belly. Labor was progressing, but it was a bit slower than she would've expected for someone who had given birth previously. To Sthlig, she offered, "What about trying a more upright position, like all fours or slow dancing, Doctor? I realize having Kara on her back gives you easier access to the main event, but from her perspective, I can see where it would feel a bit like pushing a boulder uphill."

"I can get Kara to her feet for some slow dancing Doc, if you think that will help move her labor along." Malakai offered.

The gorn nodded. " Be very careful. I'll keep ssscanning."

Mal nodded and turned his attention back to Kara. "Kara sweetie, take my hands and let me help you to stand up. We're going to do some slow dancing right here in the room and see if that helps your labor."

“Dancing?” Kara gave he husband a look that she said no, but she reached for his hands anyway. Gently moving to get to her feet. “Just don’t let me go.”

"Kara." Malakai smiled at her. "I am never going to let you go. But I know this has been exhausting for you and you do want to see your baby right?"

Kara nodded. Holding onto Malakai as they slowly danced it didn’t take more than a few minutes before gravity began working for her. Kara gripped onto Malakai as their son finally decided it was time to make his entrance into the universe.

Malakai heard Kara's gasp and could she her stiffen in his arms. "Doc! Tate! It is time." As he rushed to get Kara back into bed.

Sthilg helped him along though his artificial arm's spindly wire form kept suspended under Kara just in case. "Everything going great kara. I can sssee his head jussst keep breathing and pussshing."

Tate was going to suggest Kara remain in an upright position to deliver her baby, but by the time she came into the room, she could see Kara was already being eased into bed. The good news was, with things this far along, there was no stopping them, no matter what position the mother happened to be in. Sullivan came alongside Kara and gently supported one leg while helping her to breathe. "You can do this, Kara. Get ready to pant if you're asked, love. We don't want your son popping out like a champagne cork."

Kara nodded as best as she could, the nurse in her telling her what she needed to do, breathing her way through she lay back in sweet relief as her son finally made his long awaited arrival.

Malakai was all smiles as their son arrived. He was at Kara's head whispering to her. "We have a son Kara and he's gorgeous!" He then leaned over and kissed her fully on the lips.

Kara returned the kiss with an exhausted yet emotional smile. She was eager to hold her son.

Sthilg was running his scanner over the newborn his white eyes looking at the results. His free hand was gently rubbing the child back slightly until the boy with a rather powerful cough coughed out a large flem which splattered against the doctors uniform. The young boy started to cry as the doctor handed him to his parents. " One perfectly healthy boy." he said warmly a smile on his face.

Kara held onto her son, tears running down her face as she looked at him. “Hello little one” She looked at Malakai as she showed him his son. “He’s so perfect! What are we going to call him?”

Malakai didn't answer right away, he was so overcome with emotion with the birth of their son and Kara being alright. He smiled brilliantly at her his eyes full of tears of happiness. " How does Matthew sound? We can call him Matt." He suggested. "Unless you have a name you like better."

Kara nodded. “Matthew, I like it! I know Mattias will as well.” She kissed their son’s head before looking back at Malakai. “Would you like to hold him?”

"Oh yeah. I hadn't thought about that. Maybe we should pick another name. I don't Mattias's head to get any bigger than it already is." Mal joked.

“No, I like it, let’s keep it.” Kara stifled a yawn as she handed over their son to Malakai. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep.

"Well okay. Hope I don't break him." Mal answered nervously as Kara handed him their son. Mal took the small infant and held him tenderly, gingerly like he was fine china. "Hello there little guy. I'm your Daddy, your mom is right there." He the boy so he could see Kara who was now sleeping peacefully. "Over here is Doc Sthilg and Counselor Tate Sullivan. You'll meet your big sister a little bit later. Welcome to the world. You are very much loved and always will be for you are infinitely precious." Mal finished by kissing the boy gently on his forehead.

{OFF}