A Grave New World
Part 9
By: AW
Date: December 2018
Length: 1025 words
Summary: What would have happened if during Gravity it had been Janeway and Chakotay on that mission instead of Tom and Tuvok?
What if it had've been six months instead of two weeks?
What would have happened between J/C?
[2 MONTHS AFTER PART 8]
The months had flown by.
Nicky was no more.
[6 WEEKS PREVIOUSLY]
Kathryn had lost the baby weight.
If you looked at her you wouldn't be able to tell she had given birth not two weeks ago.
The doctor approached her. "Let's see how the scar is healing shall we Captain?"
Kathryn lifted her shirt. The doctor glared at the angry mark. "What did he use a chainsaw?"
Kathryn stared at the Doctor, "Don't be too hard on him, he helped Nicky into the world."
The Doctor sighed, "That's what I've been wanting to talk to you about."
Kathryn stared at the Doctor, "What is wrong with my baby Doctor?"
He sighed, "I think you should get your husband here are soon as possible."
[PRESENT]
They were down on a planet in the Delta Quadrant staring at a tiny grave.
Kathryn moved back as the Doctor took photos of Nicole Janeway's grave. He had stated this was in case the couple ever wanted to remember.
Kathryn had stated that that part of her life was over now.
She had tried and she had lost.
She was not meant to have a family and a real life – that's why for Captains it was called a pipe dream.
She sighed and briefly ran her hand over her belly where two months ago she held a miracle.
[6 WEEKS PREVIOUSLY – SICKBAY]
Chakotay rushed into sickbay. "Kathryn? Is Nicky okay?"
Kathryn shook her head unsure. "I don't know the Doctor won't tell me anything until you got here."
Chakotay looked at the Doctor, "Doc?"
The Doctor walked up to the couple. "I'm sorry Captain, Commander: Your daughter is dying,"
Chakotay's mouth dropped open. "How long?"
[PRESENT]
The Captain stared at the tiny grave marker and kissed her fingers and pressed them to the grave. "We will always love you Nicky."
Chakotay put his arms around his wife and led her to the area where the transporter would pick them up.
They were whisked away and materialized inside the transporter room.
Kathryn turned to Chakotay. "Let's go back to our quarters. We have the day off."
Chakotay nodded and followed his wife home.
[JANEWAY QUARTERS]
The couple sat at the table, Chakotay brought them 2 herbal teas. "I want coffee Chakotay, I can finally have it again: That's what I want."
Chakotay stared at his wife, "You need sleep Kathryn. It has been a hard couple of months for us."
She stared at Chakotay. "We have to get over this – This is why Captains don't have families and lives. This is why Starfleet creates these rules. This is why Captains have to be on boosters. Nicky should never have happened."
She was yelling at this point. Chakotay watched the tears streaming down his wife's cheeks.
He pulled her to him. "It just isn't fair Chakotay."
He kissed her on the top of the head. "I know love. I know."
[4 WEEKS PREVIOUSLY – SICKBAY]
The Doctor looked at the forlorn couple before him. He pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Kathryn. "My God Chakotay: Nicky never had a chance."
Chakotay shook his head he was no scientist and the numbers on the paper meant nothing to him. "This is our genetic structure, this is Nicky's. Those insect bites we had on New Earth kept us safe from the poisonous structure of those spiders. When we created Nicky the hybrid genes did not mix with the poisons structure of the spiders, they caused hydrocephalous to form in the development of Nicky's brain."
Chakotay stared at the scientific information that was being passed between the Doctor and his wife. "If I'm not mistaken this says it negates the boosters too?"
Kathryn nodded. "We couldn't stop this; and now that the doctor knows , our son will be fine and protected."
"You're pregnant?"
Kathryn nodded and placed her hand over her belly. "This time we'll get it right hopefully."
He walked up to her and kissed her and let his hand roam on her belly. "How far along are you?"
She laughed, "Only two weeks and we would not have known except the doctor did a complete genetic work up and he found our little surprises."
"Surprises?"
"It's twins the Doctor says."
"I thought it was a boy."
"I don't know just a hunch that one of them at least, is a little Chakotay."
He kissed her. "Doctor are the twins okay?"
"Better than okay as long as the Captain follows the regime I gave her, I don't see any issues."
Chakotay stared at the EMH, "I'll make sure she follows them."
Chakotay took Kathryn's hand and took her to their quarters.
[PRESENT]
She had broken down in front of Chakotay about Nicky; but they had buried their baby girl today.
She knew he wanted her to calm down because of the twins, but the hormones just made her so unpredictable lately.
She put a hand over her belly where a bump had begun to form. They hadn't told anyone yet, but she knew it wouldn't be long before she began to really show her condition.
Chakotay walked up behind her and wound his hands around her waist. "How are the twins doing today?"
She smiled and placed a hand over his. "Fine we went for our eight week checkup this morning and Doc says the babies are fine."
"You're going to start showing sooner with this pregnancy."
She laughed, "Don't I know it." She ran her hand down her front, feeling the beginnings of the swell. "I guess we should start to tell people sooner than later."
He kissed her on the forehead and let his hands wander to her engorged breasts.
Kathryn groaned at the sudden contact and she pulled him into their bedroom.
END PART 9
TBC IN CHAPTER 10