Tomorrow, Today Will Be Yesterday
"A little to the left," a muffled voice spoke. "Now down some."
"Some?"
The first voice spoke, "um... seven degrees."
"Seven degrees," the second person said lowly.
"Ow! Stop! Move it back!"
"Are you injured?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Shall we try this again?"
"Like it'll hurt less if you pinch my fingers a second time?" B'Elanna
Torres frowned. Seven blinked.
"I hadn't thought of that."
"You should give it a try sometime," Torres said dryly.
"Maybe we should resume our work on this panel another time," Seven said.
Torres shook her head.
"No, I'll just get someone else to help me," she mumbled.
"Lt. Torres, are you alright?" Seven asked.
"My hand's fine," Torres replied, looking up.
"No, I meant emotionally. You seem... detached."
"Ah. Well. I suppose I am a little distracted."
"You are worried about Jeremy."
"How did you know?" Torres sat back on her heels. Seven shrugged minutely.
"The Captain mentioned that Lt. Paris was distracted as well earlier today,
and for the same reason."
"Oh. Well, she's right. But there's no real reason to worry I guess... the
Doctor said it was just a sprained ankle."
"You are concerned... because he is so young?"
"Yes, I suppose so. It's odd for a one-year-old to sprain his ankle, you
know?" Seven studied her curiously.
"Are they worth it?"
"What?"
"Children. Are the difficulties experienced with raising them worth the
trouble?"
Torres looked thoughtful. "Yes, I think so."
"Then Jeremy must be worth a lot," Seven said drily. Torres burst out
laughing, much to Seven's surprise.
"Yes, Seven, I suppose that he is," Torres smiled.
"Ha, ha, my ankles are more swollen than yours."
Janeway groaned, "Oh, quit trying to make me feel better." Lt. Moretta
snickered and continued eating. She and Captain Janeway were sitting in the
Mess Hall. Moretta was off duty, and Janeway had been relieved of duty four
days previous.
"If you're not going to eat it, I will," Moretta offered, pointing at
Janeway's tray. The older woman sighed.
"Take it," she said, closing her eyes. She was the same woman of nine
months ago, only slightly larger, and somewhat weaker.
"On second thought, you're looking awfully pale," Moretta commented. "You
should probably eat it."
"You're the one who's hungry, not me," Janeway said wryly, not opening her
eyes.
"Yes, but.." Moretta trailed off with a snort. "No, I won't get into this
argument. You'll just end up ordering me to shut up."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Janeway grinned and peeked a eye open.
"Right." Moretta pushed the plate in front of Janeway again. "Now eat, or
I'll get Neelix." Janeway opened her eyes.
"Why is everyone always using him as a threat on me?" she grumbled, staring
down at the food. "First Seven, then Chakotay, then Harry, then Neelix
himself, and now you."
"It's a good threat though, don't you think?" Janeway just snorted.
"If I eat will you leave me alone?"
"Maybe," Moretta said lightly. "But I really wanted to talk more about how
much my feet hurt."
Janeway's only response was a long groan.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that your jokes are killing me."
Moretta blinked, and then started laughing. Janeway sighed.
"Was it something I said?"
"Oh, no, nothing Captain," Moretta said, attempting to smother her
laughter.
At this point Seven entered the Mess Hall. Moretta took one look
at her and burst out laughing again.
"Did I miss something?" Seven asked, sitting next to Janeway. The captain
looked at Moretta, who was looking a people and laughing.
"I'm beginning to wonder." She turned and looked at Seven. "Did you have a
reason for coming in and saving me from that hyena?"
Seven didn't ask the obvious question, but instead she touched her nose.
Janeway was quiet for a minute, and then chuckled.
"I'm doing fine, Seven," she said. She repeated Seven's gesture.
"Fine." Moretta was now laughing at someone else, and had her head down on
the table. Janeway glanced quickly at her, and then to Seven.
"Shouldn't you be on duty?" Janeway threw evil looks downward at the plate.
Seven stared at the food, and then nodded slightly.
"Ah... yes, I should be, Captain. I shall return to duty now."
"Good," Janeway made shooing gestures. Seven picked up the tray and headed
out. Janeway sat their innocently, and sipped her drink. After a few
minutes Moretta had calmed down sufficiently and sat back up. She blinked
in confusion.
"You ate?" she said.
"Yes.." Janeway said in a non-committed way.
"But..."
"Seven took my tray up," Janeway explained. Moretta turned in her seat.
"Seven was here? How did I miss that?"
"You mean you don't remember laughing at her when she came in here?"
Moretta blinked. "No, I don't."
"And you're saying that I'm the one who isn't healthy?" Janeway raised her
brows. Moretta began to snicker again. Janeway raised her hands helplessly.
"I give up! I'll be someplace else if you find a good joke to tell me."
Janeway patted Moretta's arm as she rose to her feet and left the Mess Hall
as hastily as she could manage.
She had made it halfway to the nearest turbolift when she stopped. Janeway
swayed in place for a moment, pressing her palm against the wall. She
winced, and then shook her head. After a few careful steps Janeway
continued on her way to the turbolift. She swayed once more before reaching
the turbolift, and her voice shook once she stepped inside.
"Deck Two," Janeway ordered weakly. There was another person in the lift,
Janeway looked at him briefly. It was Ensign... Ensign..Karsens... Parsens?
Something like that. At the moment Janeway's memory wasn't working too
well. There was just this pain, and Janeway didn't like it. The man... it
was Lt. Harris, Janeway was pretty sure of that now, stared at her
curiously.
"Captain, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Janeway gazed ahead. She let out a little cry, and
Harris's look turned to concern.
"Computer, cancel that order," he said. "Go to Deck Five, Sickbay." The
computer chirped in response just as Janeway's hand flew to the bridge of
her nose and pinched hard.
"Lt. Paris, what now?" the Doctor said in a whining fashion. Then he looked
again. "Oh, I'm sorry. Let me help you." He rushed up to aid the person who
was with Paris.
"She just kind of... collapsed... in the turbolift," Paris explained.
"I see," the Doctor said. "Help me put her on a biobed." Paris complied
without saying anything, and helped the Doctor put Janeway on the nearest
biobed. She groaned, and her eyes opened.
"Oh, goooods," she wailed.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, Lieutenant," the Doctor hurriedly went to get a
tricorder. "Her water's broken, that's all."
"Oh," Paris said dumbly. "Oh!" He jerked in surprise. "Already?"
"Yes, already," the Doctor snapped sarcastically.
"Should I go get Seven?" Paris asked.
"Well..." the Doctor looked at Janeway, who had fallen silent again. "Use
your better judgement."
"I'll go get her," Paris decided, and nearly ran out of Sickbay.
"Strange, he almost did the same thing when Jeremy was born," the Doctor
smirked, and turned back to Janeway, who was looking at him. "Now Captain,
just relax and you'll be alright. We'll get you changed... and drugged...
and everything will be fine." Janeway didn't say anything-she just rolled
her eyes at him as he went off to find one of the blue-green Sickbay robes.
And as it was, the Doctor chose this moment in time to start explaining
everything to her like she was a six year old. He helped her to her feet,
and led her to the changing area. When she returned a few minutes later,
the Doctor was tapping several small hypospray vials. He looked up and
smiled.
"Ah, good. You can lay down again now." He gestured at the biobed.
Janeway's eyes never strayed from the hypospray as she did as she had been
told to do.
"What's the hypo for?" she croaked after a few minutes.
"Oh, yes. I'm going to have to sedate you."
"What?!"
"Please Captain, its for your own good."
"You just don't want Sickbay trashed," Janeway said, groaning softly. The
Doctor smirked.
"I'm not worried about that... you're not B'Elanna."
"Very true," Janeway's voice was numb.
"So will you just let me do this?" the Doctor picked up the hypospray.
"Well..." Janeway looked thoughtful, but then nodded. "This pain issue
stinks more than I thought it would."
"That's a good Captain," the Doctor said.
Seven looked down at Janeway, who was asleep. "How is she?"
"Well, considering the fact that she is sleeping, I'd say that she's doing
alright."
"I was unaware than women slept through labor," Seven said sarcastically,
thinking of previous births on the ship.
"Well, unfortunately she's rather weak. It has mostly to do with her age
and the amount of stress that she has been under," the Doctor checked a
tricorder, and then resumed speaking. "I've been warning her and
restricting her for the past nine months. But has it done any good?"
Seven gazed at her. "I suppose not."
"No, it hasn't. She just keeps on doing what she wants to..." the Doctor
continued to mumble to himself for awhile, ignoring the look he was getting
from Seven. There was a faint line of sweat on Janeway's forehead, and the
corner of her eye twitched occasionally.
"When will she wake up?"
The Doctor looked at the chronometer. "In a few minutes. I've been
observing the progress... and she should wake herself up soon." Seven
nodded.
"What do you mean by that?"
"The force of the contraction.. well, you'll see for yourself." The Doctor
shrugged slightly and went into his office. Seven sighed and remained
standing near the biobed where Janeway was still asleep. After several
minutes Seven decided to sit and wait, and moved to do so. However, a loud
groan of pain caused her to stop and whirl on her heel.
"Doctor!" Seven called. The Doctor emerged from his office.
"Ah. See, I told you so," the Doctor couldn't resist the poke. Janeway
moaned again. Then she fell relatively silent.
"Are you alright Kathryn?"
It took Janeway a moment to catch her breath. "Just... fine!"
"If you were fine your skin would not be flushed and you would not have a
high rate of respiration," Seven noted.
"Oh Seven, just shut up!" Janeway wailed. The Doctor took Seven by the arm
and forcibly led her to the chairs.
"You'll be much more usefully over here, Seven," he said. She protested.
"I fail to see of what use I am sitting-"
"You'll be out of my way," the Doctor snapped. Seven jerked back in
surprise and obediently sat. He nodded and went back to Janeway. Seven sat
nervously, thinking. What if something happened? What if something went
wrong? What would she do?
Calm down, Seven told herself, the Doctor will not let anything happen to
her. Or to the child. She looked up and watched the Doctor carefully. And
if he does I will scramble his damn program. Maybe torture him first. If
you can. Can you torture a hologram? Seven paused in consideration of that
thought. It was a possibility. Janeway moaned again and Seven's attention
shifted. Oh, I hope everything is alright. But then its only been ten
hours... so nothing is probably wrong.
"There, that's good Captain." The Doctor murmured something else, and then
went back into his office. Seven felt a terrible urge to go and see Kathryn
for herself, but she clenched the sides of the chair that she sat in and
remained otherwise motionless.
Will it be a boy or a girl? Seven thought to herself, surprised at the fact
that she was doing so. It was like a tiny echo of her own voice inside of
her head. Strange. I know that we asked for it to be a surprise.. but now
that its almost time... Oh, this is unbearable! Why can't it just be over
with already? I just want to hold them and know that everything will be
alright. That we'll all be safe. No worries. Never be separated. Never...
Harry Kim tapped his fingers on his console nervously. Chakotay glanced up
at him, and then back down to the floor. Paris shifted in his seat. Torres
tapped in commands into the Engineering panel. Kim continued tapping. After
a moment, Torres stopped and looked over at Kim. He finally realized what
he was doing, and looked around guiltily from Torres to Chakotay and to
Paris. They were all glaring at him.
"Please, Starfleet, will you stop tapping? You're worse than Tom was when
Lixa Wildman was born," Torres kept her voice to a soft snarl. Kim sighed.
"Sorry, I can't help it," he apologized. "I mean, the Captain doesn't have
a baby every day, now does she?"
"No," Chakotay put in, "but its no reason to get excited."
"It is partly your child though, Chakotay," Torres noted softly. Chakotay
raised a brow.
"True, but that's not the point."
"What is the point then?"
Chakotay sighed. "I don't have a point."
"I didn't think so."
There was relative quiet on the Bridge for about another ten minutes. The
non-senior members of the Bridge crew were giving curious looks to those
who were, and the senior officers were doing their best to ignore the
looks. Kim cleared his throat. Someone started tapping again.
"I mean, its been over a whole day!" Kim uttered under his breath. Torres
rolled her eyes.
As this maddening scene was taking place on the Bridge, Sickbay was
sounding like a torture house.
"Oh, GOD! That hurts!"
A scream, and then quiet.
"I'm glad that I can't feel pain," the Doctor said wryly, pulling his hand
free from Janeway's. She clenched her teeth.
"Can't you just make the pain stop?" she moaned through her clamped jaws.
The Doctor sighed.
"I would, but there's too much...stuff... in your system as it is to be
healthy."
Janeway moaned.
The Doctor turned to the chairs, where Seven was still sitting. She had
been there for nearly fifteen hours, barely moving the whole time. She
blinked dully up at him.
"Is it over yet?" Seven asked softly. The screaming seemed to have gotten
to her about twenty minutes previously.
"I'm afraid not yet," the Doctor sighed. Seven frowned. "Though, if you'd
like, you can be her focal point from now on."
"Alright," Seven said. She rose from the chair stiffly, joints popping as
she moved. Seven walked slowly over to the biobed. Janeway opened her eyes
and smiled weakly up at her.
"How are you feeling?" Seven asked softly.
"Like I've been run over," Janeway replied honestly. The Doctor came back
with a damp washcloth.
"Here, you can use this to help cool her off," he explained. Seven took the
washcloth and mopped off Janeway forehead.
"I'm so tired..."
"Shh," Seven quieted her, running the cloth over her cheeks. "Just relax."
"It's very hard to," Janeway said roughly. The Doctor returned.
"Alright," he said. "Captain, when the next contraction starts..."
"Focus on Seven's hand and push," Janeway nearly growled.
"Right."
"I think I'm getting the-" Janeway's retort was cut off with another moan.
She was holding onto Seven's free hand, and squeezed with such force that
Seven thought that her fingers might break. She flinched as Janeway
screamed through the contraction. The Doctor called out commands to
Janeway, which Seven was curious to know if Janeway even heard or not.
Finally though it was over, and Janeway flopped back onto the biobed.
"How much... longer?" she wheezed. The Doctor checked a tricorder.
"Very soon," he assured her. "You're fully dilated. So when the urge to
push comes again, don't fight it."
"Like I would even think of it," Janeway said. She didn't get anything out
past that.
It felt like it would never end-there was just the urge to PUSH! Her brain
cried out dimly-"Push! PUSH! Push like you've never pushed before! Just
PUSH dammit!" She willingly obeyed. It was a horrible pain. Felt like she
was going to rip up the middle. It hurt like hell! She pushed hard,
clenching her hands, digging her nails so hard into the side of the bed
that she almost left permanent impressions on the metal. At first she was
screaming, but then she couldn't even hear that anymore. It was just
pain... pushing against the pain. She was so tired! and just wished that it
would be over already! Then the sound returned for a brief moment and she
heard herself screaming, but doubled over. But then there was nothing
again, nothing put the insatiable urge to push. She felt that if she just
pushed a little more, a little harder-no, this wasn't even thinking
anymore-then something had to give!
Seven cried out in pain. A snap-there had been a definite snap-in her hand.
But Janeway wasn't letting go, in fact it looked like Janeway wasn't even
connected to herself anymore. The Doctor had quit telling her to push even.
Janeway had, like in most situations, apparently taken control of the
situation again. Little did Seven know that it was really Janeway's body
that was in control, and not her brain. Janeway's scream had broken off
after over a breathless moment running, and now all that was left of it was
a choked gasp-almost a gurgle. Her whole being seemed focused on ridding
her body of the life within. The Doctor was saying something, but it seemed
neither of the women present actually heard or understood a thing that he
was saying. It was just as well, because suddenly it was all over, and
sound returned like blood rushing into the ears.
There was a rapid sequence of sounds. The Doctor was saying something
again. Then a small gasp of relief from Seven as her hand was released, and
a somewhat louder gasp from Janeway as she remembered to breath again.
Janeway fell back onto the biobed. She was panting, but there was the most
beautiful smile that Seven had ever seen on her face. She seemed flooded
with relief. Janeway's eyes closed and she let out a weak laugh. And then
there was a loud wail. The baby. Janeway's eyes fluttered open and she
watched, barely about to move. There was a pause as the Doctor lifted the
baby.
"It's a girl," the Doctor announced finally, after cutting the umbilical
cord and cleaning out the baby's mouth.
"Oh, a girl," Janeway breathed. She smiled again. Seven moved to the other
side of the biobed, holding her hand carefully. Janeway gave her a smile
again, and to Seven that was all that mattered. "I'm so glad that is over."
"I am too," Seven said lightly. It took Janeway a moment to realize that
Seven's hand was bent oddly.
"Oh, Seven, did I do that?" She didn't even make an effort to move for the
moment. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, you only broke something," Seven said indifferently. Janeway
laughed.
"Oh, you make it sound like nothing."
Seven blinked earnestly. "It was nothing." Then she smiled as the Doctor
returned.
"When can we see her?" Janeway asked immediately.
"As soon as I've finished making sure she is completely healthy. And
cleaned up. But first I was wondering if you had a name in mind?"
Janeway looked to Seven for a moment, who nodded. Names were something that
had been discussed and settled on some time ago.
"Marija," Janeway looked up at the Doctor. "Marija Annika Janeway."
"A very nice choice," the Doctor noted. "And one with meaning as well."
"Yes," Seven said softly.
"Seven, if you wouldn't mind waiting a few more minutes for me to patch up
your hand? I heard the Captain give it a nice crunch a few minutes ago..."
Janeway started laughing.
"Of course, Doctor."
"It's a girl!" A jubilant voice cried out on the Bridge, almost as soon as
the information came up from Sickbay. Almost everyone's look on the Bridge
turned to Kim, who flushed under the attention.
"Ah, the report just came up from Sickbay," Kim continued.
"Well, read it Ensign," Chakotay prodded, though the same information was
glowing the computer screen next to his seat.
Harry cleared his throat and read the old fashioned birth announcement.
"Umm... Marija Annika Janeway, born on the 28th day of April, 2376, at 1402
hrs. Weight, 6 lbs, 14 oz."
"And I bet she looks just like you Chakotay," B'Elanna called out. Chakotay
flushed faintly and smiled.
A few minutes later the Doctor carried over a small, squirming pink bundle.
Janeway let out a cooing sigh.
"She's so small," Janeway exclaimed. "And it hurt so much!" The Doctor
chuckled, for once silent about his wonderful part in it.
"Commander, don't you want to go see the baby?" Paris asked. "You let me do
the same when Jeremy was born."
"Ah..." Chakotay looked around, and pointed quickly at Torres. "I think I
will. Lieutenant, you have the Bridge." He was into the turbolift before
everyone present could start laughing.
"Oh, she's so tiny," Janeway said softly, about ten minutes later. She had
cleaned up some and changed into a fresh Sickbay gown. Janeway cradled her
daughter in her arms. Seven was pressed against the bed, leaning over
Janeway's shoulder.
"Marija," Seven's voice was soft with awe.
"She has Chakotay's eyes," Janeway observed.
"What about me?" Chakotay asked from where he stood near the entrance to
Sickbay. Janeway looked up with a smile.
"Chakotay, come look," Janeway motioned him over. Chakotay came and leaned
over her other shoulder, a broad grin on his face.
"So, any opinions on which mother she looks more like?" the Doctor asked.
"You know that doesn't matter, Doctor," Seven said, never looking up.
"She's ours, and that's all that really matters."
"Indeed," the Doctor sniffed lightly.
"I take it that the Bridge crew already knows?" Janeway glanced up at
Chakotay. He nodded.
"Yes. Harry jumped the gun and announced it almost as soon as the Doctor's
report hit the main computer." Janeway chuckled softly, causing the infant
in her arms to stir. "How do you feel?"
"Tired," Janeway responded. "Very tired. But otherwise I feel pretty good."
Janeway's gaze settled on Marija.
"Well... I should be getting back to the Bridge," Chakotay excused himself.
"Of course," Janeway smiled. "I'm sure you won't forget to tell everyone
how wonderful your new daughter is." Chakotay nodded and chuckled lightly
as he left them in Sickbay. Seven remained standing reverently next to
Janeway and their child for a good deal after that. Nearly an hour passed
with them both like that, silently watching. Then, Janeway yawned.
The Doctor took this opportunity to make Janeway take a nap. "Perhaps you
should be returning to duty as well, Seven?" He spoke softly to her. She
acknowledged his presence after a moment, and looked up.
"I suppose," she said reluctantly. "It is getting late." She patted
Janeway's shoulder, snapping her out of her reverie.
"What?" Janeway asked softly.
"I should be going, Kathryn," Seven said. Janeway nodded slowly. Seven
leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her forehead, and then on Marija's. "I
will see you tomorrow morning?"
"Of course," Janeway smiled. "Good night, Seven."
"Good night, Kathryn." Janeway heard the Doctor whispering congratulations
to Seven as he led heard to the exit. She sighed and looked down peacefully
at her baby.
Sickbay was dark when Janeway finally woke from her 'nap'. The Doctor was
gone as well, and Janeway looked around in mild confusion at first. Then
she remembered-Marija. Where was she? Janeway got off the bed stiffly, and
padded over to the crib where the infant was asleep. She leaned on the edge
of the crib and gazed down at the sleeping baby. "Sometimes I watch you
while you sleep
I know you're somewhere in a dream
and I'll cradle you in my arms tonight
'cause I know your soul is somewhere up above
Lullaby and goodnighton this starry, this starry night
sleep tight, tonight
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray that my soul will keep
'cause I know that you are somewhere else tonight
and I hope I'll see you somewhere up above
We can sleep all of our worries away
'cause tomorrow, today will be yesterday
Lullaby and goodnight
on this starry, this starry night
sleep tight, tonight
Sleep tight, tonight"
Janeway looked up. She had heard something... had she been on Earth she
would have thought it was the wind. But here on Voyager it couldn't have
been that. Janeway smiled and shook her head. It almost sounded like...
angels. She bent over the crib and scooped Marija into her arms, cradling
her carefully. After a few minutes the baby came awake and cried hungrily.
Janeway paused, wondering what exactly to do.
"Kathryn?" Seven's calm voice rang out in Sickbay. She turned.
"Seven. What are you doing up?"
"I had the computer notify me when you woke," Seven said quietly, coming to
stand at Janeway's side.
"But weren't you asleep?" the captain looked up at her with mild concern.
Seven shrugged lightly.
"Yes, but it doesn't matter." They looked down at Marija, who now rested
quietly. She gurgled softly, and yawned. Janeway smiled. Seven ran a finger
over her daughter's forehead, humming absently. Janeway looked at her.
"You want to know the strangest thing?" she said softly.
"What?"
"A few minutes ago... I heard that same song that you were just humming."
"I don't see how," Seven blinked. "I was just humming nonsense." Janeway
looked at her in mild confusion, and then just shook her head.
"Very strange, wouldn't you say?" she smiled. Seven didn't reply, she just
nodded briefly in return. Their attention was drawn away from the peculiar
happenings by another hungry cry from Marija.
"I should probably be tending to her," Janeway said apologetically. Seven
nodded again.
"It's alright. I should probably be getting back to sleep anyhow." She
smiled, and kissed Janeway goodnight.
"See you in the morning."
"Of course," Janeway smiled and returned the kiss. "Good night."
"I hardly see how 0100 hrs is night," Seven said lightly as she moved to
the doors. Janeway's chuckled followed her out. Janeway turned her
attention back to the baby in her arms.
As she took care of Marija's needs, Janeway found herself singing
softly..."Lullaby and goodnight
on this starry, this starry night"
Fin