Jennica's Story
7. The Future of Us All
J/C
Rated MA
June 2009
By: AW
Length: 1,802 words
Summary: Kathryn informs Jennica and Harry of the problems, and Tom decides it's not their decision.
Disclaimer: blah blah blah, I DON’T OWN THEM
Tom rubbed B’Elanna’s head and finally watched as she fell into a deep sleep. He ran a hand over her belly and felt a kick from inside and realized truly, for the first time that this was his ‘grandchild’ that she was carrying.
Tom sighed and walked out to the living room. He hit his combadge, “Tom to the doctor.”
“Yes Mr. Paris. What’s wrong?”
“We have a problem with B’Elanna.”
In sickbay the doctor was going over cell samples from an ensign. “What do you mean that you have a problem with B’Elanna?”
Tom sighed, “She’s remembering doctor: The memories, she’s remembering everything; and we have to stop it.”
“There is no danger to the foetus I don’t think. I think that Jennica’s baby is fine.”
“I don’t care about Jennica’s baby at the moment doctor, I know that’s my grandson, but this is my wife.”
The doctor paused, “Tom, she’s the one who decided that she would carry this baby.”
“And we’re the ones who decided to wipe her memory rather than let her deal with it on her own.”
“There was no time Mr. Paris, unless you wanted a complete stranger to carry your grandbaby.”
Tom was yelling at the E.M.H., “I don’t care right now all I want is my wife happy and healthy again.” He looked over to where B’Elanna was lying in the bed in the next room and watched her begin to convulse. “Oh my god doctor, she’s going into convulsions!”
“Doctor to transporter room 2, emergency transport: Lieutenant Torres to sickbay.”
“Yes Sir.”
The doctor watched as B’Elanna materialized on the sickbay biobed. “Mr. Paris, I need you to come to sickbay and help me out.”
“Yes, Doctor, I’m already on my way.”
Tom ran out of his quarters waiting for Jennica to come and take care of the children. “Jenn, take care of the children for me for a bit, I gotta go to sickbay the doctor needs me.” He refused to tell Jennica that her son’s life was in danger.
“Sure dad, did the doctor say how long you were going to be needed?”
“No and I already informed the Captain that you might not be on duty today.”
“Thanks dad.” And Tom ran, he needed to be by his wife.
Tom ran into sickbay and saw B’Elanna laying down quietly on the bed, at least her seizures had stopped, at least that was one good thing that was working in her favour.
“Mr. Paris, I know you have children to take care of but your wife and your grandson’s lives were in danger.”
“Doctor, we can’t just keep repressing these memories.”
“We may not have a choice if you want your grandson to come in good health.”
Tom smacked the bed, “I don’t care, I need my wife to survive and to be healthy. I can’t live without her.”
“I understand Tom, but you have to let the parents know: They have to be a part of this process.”
He shook his head, “They can’t be a part of this doctor, I’m B’Elanna’s next of kin. I have the power to make these decisions: not Harry and not Jennica.”
“But this is their child she’s carrying.”
“I don’t care, I’m not going to lose my wife over a child that was created out of a night of indecision and indiscretion.” Tom felt like that day all those years ago when Kathryn had told him she was pregnant. If something had been wrong with Kathryn and she had not been able to carry the baby without putting her life at risk, he was sure that Admiral Janeway would have put his foot down.
“I can’t lose her doctor.”
[Bridge]
Kathryn sat in her ready room and stared at the monitor: there was a report from the doctor. B’Elanna was in the hospital. Her grandson was in danger.
Tom wanted to abort.
Kathryn couldn’t make that decision nor did she have the right.
“Janeway to Paris, does Jennica know?”
She felt the hesitation on the line. “Oh Tom please tell me that Jennica and Harry know.”
“I can’t tell them Kat, they’ll insist on me trying to keep both the baby and B’Elanna healthy and the doctor and I have determined that that’s not possible.”
“Tom they’re the parents they have to know.”
“And I’m B’Elanna’s husband and the decision is ultimately mine.”
Kathryn sighed, “So why did you tell me if you didn’t want them to know?”
Tom stammered, “You’re the Captain you have a right to know.”
“That’s bullshit Tom, if you want me to soothe your guilty conscious I can’t help you.”
“Paris out.”
Kathryn had to talk to Chakotay. “Janeway to Chakotay.”
“What is it Kathryn? Your kids are being really difficult and I’m not due on the bridge for another hour.”
“I talked to Sam she’ll be right there, I need to see you in the ready room a.s.a.p.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Ten minutes later, Chakotay walked into the ready room. “What was so important that you had to see me right away?”
“Tom wants to abort Jennica’s baby.”
Chakotay looked confused, “Why?”
“B’Elanna’s in trouble. Tom is beside himself, he doesn’t want to lose B’Elanna.”
“But Kathryn, she’s only five months pregnant: that baby won’t survive.”
“I realize that Chakotay, but Tom refuses to tell the parents.”
Chakotay sighed, “Does he have the right to abort?”
“By law, he’s the next of kin to B’Elanna Torres, and he can make those medical decisions.”
“It’s not right Kathryn, and you know it. Harry and Jennica have to know.”
He looked at his wife who looked beside herself with fear and concern for the baby and for her Chief Engineer. He tilted her head up to look at him straight in the eyes. “You’ll make the right decision Kathryn, you always do.”
“I wish I had as much faith in me and my decisions as you do.”
“You should we all do.” He bent down and gave her a kiss.
Kathryn looked at Chakotay and nodded; she tapped her combadge. “Janeway to Jennica.”
“Yes mom?”
“What are you doing right now?”
“I’m taking care of the Paris brood.”
“Okay can you take them down to my quarters, and ask if Sam will take them too? I need to talk to you immediately.”
“Okay mom, are you sure she’ll be okay with all five kids?”
Kathryn smiled, “She has Naomi with her to help her out.”
“Alright mom, I’ll be there as soon as I get them to your quarters.”
[15 minutes later – Ready Room]
Kathryn heard the door chime sound, and said “Come.” She knew who it was.
Jennica walked into the ready room and saw her mother sitting behind her desk, looking none too happy. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“When was the last time you spoke with your father?”
“When I took the children this morning, he said there was an emergency in sickbay.” She looked confused at her mother, “Is everything okay?”
Kathryn sighed, “What did Tom tell you about who was in sickbay?”
“Nothing all he said was the doctor needed him immediately –“
There was a minute when she stared at her mother, “What is it mom?”
“I think you should go down to sickbay and see your father right away.”
Jennica nodded and was about to leave when she turned around and looked at her mother, “Do I need to bring Harry with me?”
Kathryn gave her daughter a sad smile, “It might not be a bad idea Jennica.”
Jennica nodded, “Okay thanks mom.”
Kathryn shook her head and headed out to the bridge and watched Jennica and Harry leave and head for sickbay.
At first Kathryn had not been fond of the fact that Jennica and Harry were together. In fact she did not like the fact that Jennica was with anyone, but she had soon discovered that Jennica was not a little kid anymore and despite the years that she had lost to the Borg, she was still an adult.
And Kathryn knew she had never really been her mother.
[Sickbay]
Tom watched as his best friend and his daughter walked into sickbay. “Hello, is something wrong?”
Harry stared at the scene before him, he hadn’t really seen B’Elanna in a couple of weeks and he realized that she was getting big with his child. Jennica stared at B’Elanna, “Dad, that’s our baby in there.”
“And that’s my wife suffering on the biobed.”
“You have no right to decide our fate; B’Elanna knew what she was getting into when she decided to carry our child.”
Tom was angry, “You can have other children, I can’t have another B’Elanna.” He had tears streaming down his cheeks.
The doctor came out of his office, “Oh, dear. You two need to stay out of this.”
Harry piped in, “The hell I will this is my son.”
Tom stepped up to his best friend menacingly, “I will not risk B’Elanna for a child that was never alive.”
Jennica looked at her dad, “It wasn’t your decision, it was your wife’s and she made it.”
The doctor stared at the scene before him, “This animosity isn’t doing anyone any good.”
They turned around at the sound of B’Elanna’s muffled words. “What the hell is going on?”
Tom rushed over to her side, “B’Elanna? Thank god.”
“What happened?”
He smiled, “Nothing you’re fine now.”
“Is the baby okay?”
The doctor sighed, “For now.”
“But?”
“But I’m not sure for how long. These seizures are taking their toll on B’Elanna’s body, and it’s not good for the child.”
Tom walked up to the doctor, “I can’t lose her.”
The doctor sighed. “Doctor to Captain Janeway, could you please report to sickbay.”
“I’ll be right there doctor.”
[Ready Room]
Kathryn turned around and stared at her husband. “Chakotay, did I do the right thing by telling Jennica and Harry that their baby could be in danger?”
“I don’t know what else you could have done being you.”
Kathryn looked at him confused, “Being me?”
“The way you are you hold all life at its highest regard and that wasn’t Tom’s decision to make even if legally it was.”
“Is this the gray area you’re always talking about?”
Chakotay nodded, “Let’s go to sickbay and see what’s going on with our daughter.”
Kathryn nodded and they made their way out of the ready room to meet their future, and that of their eldest daughter.
To be continued in 8. Difficult Decisions