How could things have gotten so bad? Why had Q thrown us back into this primitive version of Earth? Deanna kept her eyes on me as a nurse pulled amniotic fluid from her stomach at her navel with a very large syringe.
“Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll figure a way to get us out of here. I promise.”
I wasn’t very sure what some of these things were used for. Beverly could tell me exactly what medical instruments were used for and how they fit in with the current situation. Doctor Sartos smirked at me.
“You know more or less what medical supplies and instruments we in this century don’t you commander? Or should I say doctor?”
I couldn’t believe this, how could Eric Sartos be the great-great-great-great grandfather to this woman?
“That’s security clearance above your head Lieutenant, and our ships computer has 62 data-encrypted networks to help dissuade people or certain individuals from breaking into it. How did you get access to my service record?”
Doctor Sartos smirked some more and continued reading the paper that was falling to the floor monitoring Gracie’s heart rate pattern.
“Now that would take the fun out of it, if I told you how I did it.”
I let my anger stew under the surface. I turned my attention back to Deanna and cast a thought to her.
‘Listen to me Imzadi, no matter what they tell you, do not let them induce labor. Gracie isn’t a science project. Neither of our girls are.’
A flurry of emotions crossed her face and a strange smile crossed Doctor Sartos face.
“Right on time. Like clock-work.”
Doctor Sartos took the syringe from the nurse and injected the amniotic fluid into a glass vial, placing a label around it. I glanced at the machine monitoring the baby’s heart rate. Now it was my turn to narrow my eyes at the doctor.
“What do you mean ‘right on time’?”
The strange smile stayed on her face as she adjusted the controls on one of the many machines Deanna was connected to.
“No matter, her contractions are still highly irregular.”
Shaking my head once more, I grabbed for Deanna’s hand.
“What did you give her?”
Sartos pulled back the sheet to expose Deanna’s bare stomach. Letting go of Deanna’s hand, I pushed Doctor Sartos hands away.
“I’ll do it.”
She raised an eyebrow at me, but only shrugged her shoulders.
“Suit yourself doc. But I would think this stuff would be a bit antiquated for a 24th century mind like yours.”
Deanna’s eyes widened at me momentarily, she seemed startled.
‘Imzadi, what are you doing?’
I only smiled and continued pressing down gently on her stomach.
‘Doing Beverly’s job. Besides, I’ve done this several times before, a long time ago. It’s like slipping on an old pair of good shoes. I’m sorry, does that hurt?’
Deanna nodded her head and bit her lip.
“Yes”
I saw her relax a little when I put the sheet back over her stomach.
“It’s ok, I’m done now. Just relax.”
Just then, Beverly burst through the door to the room and almost snorted in disgust. I’d only seen her do that a handful of times, when she really didn’t like something.
“Doctor Sartos, just what do you think you are doing here? Deanna isn’t ready to deliver yet. You expressly went against her wishes and mine as her personal Physician. Patients have rights you know.”
Beverly pushed her way towards us and looked at Deanna. She had begun sweating, and looked tired.
“She’s having an allergic reaction to something. What did you give her?”
The twisted smile came back to Sartos face.
“Magnesium.”
I gritted my teeth, but held my tongue and let Beverly unleash her wrath at Doctor Sartos.
“Are you crazy? She’s allergic to Magnesium! Get some Saline and flush out her system.”
The nurses seemed more concerned than Doctor Sartos. They scurried about looking for what they needed. Beverly seemed to fit into this century and the 24th. She could survive in either one easily. One nurse hung a bag of liquid saline and squeezed it to help it go down into the thin clear tubing attached to Deanna’s arm.
“Deanna, how do you feel?”
She looked up at the both of us and nodded, smiling.
“Much better thank-you.”
Doctor Sartos growled in protest and abruptly left the room. Deanna gripped my hand and a look of pain crossed her face. Her body shook with every breath she took, she was resisting the grain. Beverly pressed the call button on the wall behind Deanna.
“No Beverly. Please no drugs. They’ll lose if I resist.”
Beverly placed a left hand over Deanna’s belly. Tears were streaming down her face. I didn’t like to see her in so much pain. She grunted and breathed through the pain.
“Deanna, there is only so much pain your body can withstand. Now I can give you something to reverse and curb the pain…”
Deanna shook her head no and was out of breath as the contraction subsided.
“No, no drugs Beverly. I’m not letting them win. If you give me something for the pain and to reverse labor, they’ll just try to re-induce later. I’m not letting them win. Gracie isn’t coming out. She’s staying right where she is.”
Beverly gave Deanna a watery smile and nodded her head.
“Now, you rest up. On your next contraction, I want you to straddle.”
Deanna and I both gave Beverly a confused expression.
“Straddle?”
She nodded her head yes kept her eyes on Deanna.
“It’ll help with the pain a little. My doctor told me that when I was in labor with Wesley. It worked wonders.”
I kissed Deanna’s forehead and then wiped away the sweat from it. She gripped my hand tighter than a vice as another contraction came through like a bad rainstorm. Beverly rubbing her back in large stroking circles. The two of us helped Deanna into more comfortable position.
“Here, let us help you. There we go. Should take the pressure off your hip joints. Remember to breathe. Keep breathing. That’s it.”
Looking up at the camera mounted on the ceiling I yelled into it, hoping that someone on the other end would hear me.
“You are losing! Do you hear me? You can’t have Gracie! She’s staying put right where she is!”
There was no intercom interruption. Only the beeping of the machines in the room and Deanna’s ragged breathing as she tried to catch it, regaining her strength for the next round of contractions. I looked her in the eye.
“How long can you keep this up?”
Deanna had a fierceness in her eyes I’d never seen before.
“For as long as it takes Imzadi. I’m not letting them have the last say in this. We’re not science experiments, and I don’t intend to be one, again.”
With another nod of my head, I saw her body begin to quiver as another set of contractions took ahold of her.
“It’s alright sweetheart, I’ve got you. We’ll get through this.”
Just behind the other side of the two way mirror, we had an unknown ally waiting to help us.
To Be Continued…
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