Jennica's Story
8. Difficult Decisions
Pairing: J/C, P/T, K/7
Rated MA
June 2009
By: AW
Length: 1,806 words
Summary: Directly after 'The Future of Us All', Kathryn makes the final decision, and hard feelings are thrown all around.
Disclaimer: blah blah blah, I DON’T OWN THEM
Kathryn and Chakotay walked into their quarters and looked around. Sam was nodding off on the couch as Kathryn went to Hannah’s crib and picked her up. The child was staring at her through sombre brown eyes so much like her father’s.
“I don’t know what to do honey. Your dad and your sister’s father want to get rid of that child. In my heart of hearts I know as the Captain of Voyager, I need B’Elanna as my chief engineer.”
Kathryn sighed and clasped the baby to her breast. She looked down at the nursing child, “Could I take the joy of motherhood away from my daughter? I love you all so much, and I want her to experience the joy of motherhood too.”
Kathryn finished nursing the baby and put her nodding baby back in her crib to sleep for the night.
Once she was sure that all her children were asleep and dreaming of suger plum fairies and happy places she went over to the couch and patted Sam on the shoulder. “Thanks Sam, you can go now.”
Sam nodded, “No problem Captain.” She woke Naomi up and took her home.
Kathryn walked up to Chakotay who had been in the other room checking on the Paris children. “Chakotay we have to figure this out.”
Chakotay looked at his wife, “Figure what out? This isn’t our fight Kathryn.”
“I’m the Captain.”
“Yes I know, but that has nothing to do with –“
“I need my chief engineer and I can’t run this ship without her: It’s not an option.”
He shook his head, “Kathryn it’s not your decision to make.”
“As Captain of this ship when it interferes with ship’s operations, I have to make it my business and my decision.”
Chakotay shook his head, “You’re going to force her to abort aren’t you?”
Kathryn silently nodded and let a stray tear escape her completely intact facade. “Don’t think this isn’t painful for me, that is my grandson B’Elanna is carrying.”
Chakotay nodded, “I know.”
For a moment Chakotay realized that his wife had to make decisions that were in the best interest of the crew and no matter what, he knew 99% of the time her decisions were correct. “I’m sorry Kathryn.”
She looked at him, “I know.”
[Sickbay]
Tom stayed by his wife’s bedside: praying that she would be okay. “Listen to me Lanna, I need you to be okay. I need you to survive this.” He felt the tears rolling down his cheeks, “No matter what don’t hate me for the decisions that I make.”
Tom heard the voice of his Captain over the com. line. “Janeway to Paris.”
“Paris here Captain.”
“Can you come and meet the Commander and myself in the ready room as soon as possible please?”
Tom sighed and looked at the doctor who nodded telling him he could leave for a few moments. “I’ll be right there Captain.”
“Thank you Lieutenant.”
Kathryn turned to Chakotay, “Are we doing the right thing?”
“As Captain I think you’re doing the only thing you can do.”
Twenty minutes later Tom walked into the ready room. “Tom.”
“Captain, Commander.”
Kathryn sighed, “I need you to know that the decision I made, was one I made as the Captain and not as Kathryn.”
Tom nodded, knowing as Captain of this ship the decision she made was final. “So what did you decide Captain.”
“That baby cannot risk the life of my chief engineer, I need her too much to get this crew home.”
Tom nodded, “You’ve decided to force her to abort haven’t you?”
“I have to Tom. I can’t run this ship without my chief engineer.”
“What about Jennica?”
“She is really important to me, but I can’t let family overrule the ship’s business.”
Tom stared at Jennica’s mother, “I don’t envy you your job Kat.”
She gave him a crooked half smile, “Some days neither do I.”
[Sickbay]
Chakotay walked into sickbay and stared at B’Elanna, she looked like she was sleeping.
He and Kathryn and spoken of what had to be done, but he to speak to B’Elanna: she had been his best friend for too long. He touched her face and realized no matter what she would always be his best friend.
She had taken it upon herself to try and carry his grandson to term.
For that he would be forever grateful.
Finally she woke up and Chakotay stared at her and three words came out of his mouth, “Thank You B’Elanna.”
B’Elanna smiled at him and then her eyes rolled back in her head and convulsions started again. Chakotay yelled out to the doctor, “Doctor, she’s seizing again.”
The doctor ran out of the room, and placed a hypospray to her neck. The seizing stopped almost immediately and as she hit the biobed for the last time, he water broke.
Chakotay hit his combadge, “Chakotay to Janeway.”
“Yes Commander, what can I do for you.”
“Can you get down to sickbay now and bring Tom with you.”
Kathryn stared at Tom, this was the call they never wished to get. “We’ll be right there Chakotay.”
“Why didn’t you ask him why we were supposed to go to sickbay?”
“We don’t have time Tom, he sounded rushed, and scared.”
Tom nodded and they walked out of the ready room and towards the disaster - that was no doubt sickbay - happening at that moment.
[Sickbay]
Chakotay stared at B’Elanna’s lifeless body. “Doctor what is wrong with her?”
I have checked and the hypertension that she experienced caused preeclampsia. She will lose this baby: I suggest that you call Harry and Jennica to sickbay so they can say goodbye to their son.”
Chakotay looked at the doctor, “So that’s it: It’s over.”
The doctor nodded solemnly, and hit his combadge. “Chakotay to Harry.”
“Kim here.”
“Do you know where Jennica is? I think that you two should come to sickbay immediately, there has been an emergency concerning your child.”
Jennica covered her mouth with her hands, “Harry we haven’t even talked about a name for our baby.”
“We can always try for another baby.”
She stared at Harry, “This one wasn’t even planned. I never wanted to be a mother, in fact until about a year ago: I didn’t even know that it was possible for me to think about being a mother.”
Harry looked at her, and realized what he had fallen in love with all those months ago. “I still love you Jennica, and I still want to marry you.”
Jennica laughed sardonically, “Harry you don’t even know what you want.”
Harry took Jennica’s hand, “We have to get to sickbay and I do know what I want. I want you.”
Jennica laughed, “Yeah right, I couldn’t even manage to carry our child to term.”
Harry approached Jennica and let his lips descend upon hers. She looked at him through clear blue eyes brimming with tears. “We need to get to sickbay.”
Harry nodded and took her hand and headed with her towards sickbay.
[Sickbay]
Kathryn and Tom were standing by B’Elanna’s bed. She looked pale, sick: nearing death and they both worried that if something wasn’t done soon, there could be nothing they could do for her. “Doctor?”
“I would really like to wait until Harry and Jennica get here before I do anything that would jeopardize the life of the child.”
Kathryn stared at the doctor about to countermand his decision when the parents of the child that would never know life walked through the doors.
“Mom, Dad, Chakotay...what’s going on?”
“B’Elanna is dying. She has a severe case of preeclampsia, and she can’t carry that baby for much longer.”
Jennica let the tears fall down her pale ivory complection. “That is my son she’s carrying.”
Tom approached her, “And that is my wife whose carrying him. I can’t lose her.”
“And I don’t want to lose my son.” Harry responded.
Kathryn shook her head, “I’m the Captain and I can’t lose my chief engineer: not if I’m going to get this crew home. If you don’t make the decision I will.”
Chakotay watched the scene unfolding before him. He had to give his wife credit, she never folded: and sometimes that was her undoing.
Harry looked at B’Elanna lying back on the bed, looking sick and tired and knew that Tom and Kathryn were right. “We can’t lose B’Elanna: We need her to get home.”
B’Elanna’s eyes opened briefly, she looked at Harry. “Damn straight Starfleet.”
Tom rushed up to his wife. “Hold on B’Elanna, we’ll take care of you.”
She had tears in her eyes as she looked up at Tom, “I know you will Tom, and I’m sorry I couldn’t manage to carry your grandson.”
“Hey it’s okay, no one blames you.”
She shook her head, “You’re going to abort the baby aren’t you? I don’t want Jennica and Harry to think of me as the failure who could not help them through a bad situation.”
Kathryn interrupted, “No, I’m making the decision to abort the baby; it’s my prerogative as Captain no one else is to blame but me. I need my Chief Engineer.”
Kathryn glared at Tom and at Harry and her daughter, trying to get across the point that there was to be no hard feelings towards anyone. “Is that an order
Captain, are you ordering us not to feel hostility towards each other?”
Jennica glared at her mother, “Well mom.”
“Yes, that’s an order.”
Jennica just looked at her mother, shaking her head. “You can’t order somebody to get rid of an emotion or to get rid of resentment.”
“Well I am, and you’re going to listen.”
Jennica turned around and walked out of sickbay.
Harry stepped up, “I think that this time Captain, there are going to be some hard feelings towards you as well.”
“That’s enough Ensign.”
Kathryn emphasized the rank and Harry bowed his head and shook it. “I’m sorry Captain but this time I can’t comply.” And he followed Jennica out of sickbay.
Chakotay came up from behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You made the decision you had to Kathryn.”
“Then why does it feel so wrong?”
She turned to the doctor, “Doctor, can you start the process? You have my authorization to do anything that you deem necessary to save Lieutenant Toress’ life.”
The doctor nodded and Kathryn walked out of sickbay with Chakotay following close behind. As he was about to leave sickbay he was stopped by Tom’s voice. “Chakotay: Thanks.”
Chakotay glared at Tom and left sickbay.
To be continued in 9. New Transitions