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