Tom laughed with self-derision. "Have you forgiven yourself? I know I haven't."
"We did what we could."
"Do you think this is a second chance to do it right, or is it all going to stay the same?"
"I don't know, Tom."
"So, it begins...."
*****
"Not a bad way to spend a honeymoon if you think about it," K'Leena said stretching languidly in the bunk of the Delta Flyer. Her skin was still flushed and dewy from their recent activities. The trip to the Badlands took them almost a full month and they enjoyed every minute of it.
Lucas chuckled as his hand roamed over her, coming to rest on her stomach. He splayed his fingers over the taut skin and felt the baby move.
"I think we woke him," he said with a wicked grin.
"Gee, I wonder how?"
No one could do the 'wide-eyed innocent' thing quite like his wife. Lucas roared with laughter.
She still had that look when she climbed on top of him. Lucas, however, stopped laughing the minute she ground her hips against him.
*****
"K'Leena, wake up," Lucas shook her slightly. "We're here."
She rose slowly. "Why didn't you wake me? I would have flown the plasma storms."
"I've flown them before, it was no big deal. I may not be quite the pilot you are, but I can handle my own at the helm, you know," he teased.
"Come on, this planetoid had a large number of bio-readings. I think it's the best place to start."
The settlement was large. Three, four hundred people, at least. Children and adults of all ages. Incredibly diversified, too. Lucas counted more than two dozen different races represented. How could a colony so large be so isolated and survive, this planetoid was little more than a rock in space. There was no way these people had built this settlement without a great deal of outside help. Help from whom? and more importantly...why?
A middle-aged Bajoran woman dressed in long flowing skirts approached them.
"We don't get many visitors here," she informed them warily.
"I'm sure you don't," Lucas stated neutrally. "Is there someone we can speak to? Someone in charge?"
She hesitated a moment, looking intently at Lucas.
"Yes, follow me."
*****
"Dad?" Lucas asked the man in front of him. It was his father, but it wasn't. What the hell is going on?
"Son of a...," the older man stared in disbelief for a moment then continued with a wry grin, "You have her eyes. I've wondered what you were like."
"Who the hell are you?" Lucas was fed up with everything, he wanted some answers.
"My name is Tom Riker and I guess you could call me your uncle."
"My father is an only child."
"Yes, I was. This will take some explaining. Why don't the two of you sit down? Your wife looks like she's ready to collapse." Tom noted with some concern as he looked at the obviously pregnant young woman.
*****
Ro Laren viewed the other woman intently.
"You're B'Elanna's daughter," she stated with plain conviction.
K'Leena returned the gaze, surprised.
"You know my mother?"
"A long time ago. In the Maquis. We were friends."
"Really?" Her mother never talked about her time in the Maquis. B'Elanna was a very private person. There was a great deal about her K'Leena didn't know.
"I knew your father too, at the academy. The best damn pilot I ever saw."
*****
"Do you really think Lucas would take her all the way to the Badlands in her condition?" B'Elanna asked her husband.
Tom looked at her incredulously. This was -K'Leena- they were discussing.
His wife smirked grimly. "Yeah, you're right. We'd better get packed."
*****
K'Leena and Lucas stayed with the settlers for almost two weeks. It was amazing what they had accomplished. Even if they did have some help....
"We couldn't have done it without Tom and Will," Laren told them.
"Yeah, I can see that," Lucas replied.
"Your secret is safe with us," K'Leena said.
"But you're not the ones that are the real threat, are you?" Tom Riker asked.
Lucas met his intense gaze. "No, we're not."
*****
...and imperils....
"What do you mean you don't know how to fix it?!" Lucas asked angrily. "Your mother is an engineer for crying out loud! You fly these things for a living!"
"And your mother is a councilor, Mr. Sensitivity," she snapped back. "I'm the one eight months pregnant, stuck in a powerless shuttle, on the edge of the -Neutral Zone- I might add, and you're yelling at ME!? I just fly 'em, I -don't- fix 'em."
"Great, just great," Lucas mumbled in disgust.
"Besides, we've got a -much- bigger problem to deal with," she told him tersely.
"And what could -possibly- be a bigger problem than -this-?" he asked sarcastically as he turned around, only to swear feelingly.
"Goddammit, K'Leena! You can't do this to me!"
Lucas dropped to his knees next to where she was doubled over in pain. Carefully, he pulled her into his arms and helped her to the floor. When the contraction ended she raised her eyes to his and he saw the absolute terror he was feeling reflected in them.
"You are going to be the death of me, woman," he said grimly and pulled her tight against his chest. "I suppose it was -far- too much to hope for that you would give birth without getting into trouble, wasn't it, Blaze?"
"How much does Captain Proton know about childbirth?"
"I'm hoping enough to save your ass yet again."
He sounded so damned annoyed with her she couldn't help it, she began to laugh. "My hero."
Lucas growled and cast a gaze to the ceiling, praying for patience, strength and a whole lot of luck.
*****
"Lt. Burns, please have a seat."
"What can I do for you Admiral LaForge?"
"I've been informed that the Valiant's repairs are done. I don't think I want to wait for Captain Riker to return from his honeymoon to test her. I want you to take her out for a two week shake down. There will be no need for you to report in during this time unless there is a problem.... Understood?"
"Understood, sir."
"Oh, one more thing. Steer clear of the Neutral Zone, we picked up an Alpha Team distress call from the vicinity a couple of hours ago, and since we -know- Captain Riker is on Risa with his wife, it must have been a sensor error caused by the ion storms in the area. Correct?"
"Correct, sir."
"Very well, -Commander- Burns. The Valiant is your ship until her captain returns."
Mike startled for a moment then grinned, "Aye, sir."
*****
Lt. Commander Mike Burns exited the turbo lift and walked to the command chair of the Starship Valiant.
"Computer, recognize authorization Burns, Alpha Team, two."
--Authorization recognized.--
"Transfer command codes to Lt. Commander Michael Ryan Burns, tau, gamma, three, zero, one."
"Transfer complete. U.S.S. Valiant is now under the command of Michael Ryan Burns."
"Helm, set a course for the Neutral Zone, warp nine point nine."
"Aye, sir.... Course laid in."
"Engage."
*****
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" K'Leena hit him in the shoulder with her closed fist, punctuating each exclamation.
"Hey! What are you hitting -me- for?"
"Cause it hurts, dammit! And it's all your fault!"
"It's supposed to hurt. You're having a baby."
She was just going to have to kill him, that's all there was to it. Lucas was going to die without ever seeing his son. She was in no mood to spar with him.
"Not here! I'm supposed to be in a hospital, with doctors and pain killers! -Lots- of pain killers! Kahless, this is so much worse than I thought it would be!"
"Pain killers? That's not very Klingon of yo
u," he taunted. Anything to get her mind off their dire situation. Even if it meant a broken bone or two for him.
K'Leena reached up and grabbed him by the collar. Her eyes blazed with ice blue fire.
"Listen to me, Lucas Riker," she said threateningly. "I've been a pretty good Klingon my whole life, and I'll happily be one again when this is over. But right now, I'M HUMAN! ...OH, Kahless, here comes another one."
Lucas brought her arms around his neck again. They were sitting on the floor of the shuttle, face to face, with her legs over his, slightly curled around his waist. The tricorder informed them she was experiencing 'back labor' because the baby was positioned face up for delivery. This position was the only one that allowed her to withstand the pains. When they began she would hold onto his neck and he would lean back just enough to take some of the pressure off. Unfortunately, the pains were coming so fast now, it didn't help much.
"Breathe," he reminded her gently as he leaned back on the bulkhead. She kept holding her breath against pain.
K'Leena drew in a ragged breath and tried to stay on top of the contraction. How could you forget to breathe? It had been more than a day since she went into labor. Kahless, how much longer could it go on? She had a whole new respect for her mother, that's for sure. Fifty-one hours of this? How the hell did she do it? Come to think of it, why would she have -ever- done it again?
Lucas placed his hand on the small of her back and applied counter pressure. He could feel her fear and desperation along with the pain. Why hadn't she stayed at home? Why didn't you -make- her! Traipsing across the quadrant eight months pregnant was a foolhardy thing to do. Dammit, she was so reckless. He raged internally at the whole thing.
"Lucas?" she asked weakly as the contraction ebbed. He brushed the damp hair from her forehead.
"Yeah?"
"Quit it! Believe me, I'm more angry at myself than you are."
"I'm sorry, Imzadi," he said with remorse. She didn't need to deal with his anger, too.
"What does the tricorder say?"
Lucas frowned as he read the bio-readings.
"Nine centimeters. We're almost there."
"Lucas, I was nine centimeters two hours ago. Something's wrong."
"We don't know that. The baby's heart rate is fine. Don't panic." Please, don't panic.
"What if the Doctor was right? What if I'm too small to deliver the baby?" There was such fear in her voice, Lucas began to tremble himself.
"That was full term. You're almost a month early. He's a lot smaller than he would have been. You'll be fine," he comforted her.
"Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
"You're a lousy liar."
He kissed the top of her head as it lay on his chest and was about to say something more when he felt her stomach begin to harden again.
"Oooooooooh...God, no! Not again...." she panted shallowly, trying to control the pain.
"That's it, baby. You can do this."
They were so intent on her contraction, the hum of the transporter beam didn't register. The newest occupant of the shuttle took one look at them and swore vehemently.
"Oh hell, K'Leena! I haven't delivered a baby in 25 years!"
"Daddy!" she breathed in relief, then asked in confusion, "How did you find us?"
The two men exchanged grim looks. "That's not important now," her father said.
Tom knelt down next to the pair and took the tricorder from K'Leena's husband. Lucas didn't like the scowl that appeared on his father-in-law's face when he checked the readings.
"Damn!" Tom swore again. Why couldn't the women in his family have babies without complications? He slapped his comm-badge in frustration. "B'Elanna, beam us over. K'Leena's in labor."
Once on board the runabout, Lucas helped his wife onto a bunk. B'Elanna brought a blanket and Tom lifted up the T-shirt she was wearing and checked the baby's position. He stopped palpitating her stomach when the next contraction hit and went to stand over by his wife while she rode it out with Lucas' help.
"What?" B'Elanna asked quietly. She could feel the tension in him.
"That baby's too big," Tom replied in frustration, "her pelvis is too narrow, we don't have a fetal transporter, or proper medical equipment, I haven't delivered a baby in more than 25 years...take your pick."
"Hey," she placed a hand on his cheek and brought his eyes to hers. "It will be all right. You can do this."
"Send out a priority one medical emergency distress call, if we're lucky there might be a starship close enough to help."
"Tom, we're so close to the Neutral Zone, what if...."
"B'Elanna, this is serious, even a Romulan Warbird would be a blessing right now."
Their eyes met in understanding.
Tom leaned down, rested his forehead against hers and pulled her to him. God...he loved this woman. Even after almost thirty years of marriage, they still shared a bond few would ever know. He tightened his embrace for just a second and whispered, "Go..." before turning back to their daughter.
"K'Leena, honey," Tom began gently when the pain ended. "The baby is facing the wrong way, you won't be able to deliver unless I turn him. He's too big. Do you understand?"
"Then it will be okay?" she asked.
"I hope so. He's a little bigger than I would like. Let's try this and see before we start to worry, okay?"
K'Leena nodded. Lucas read Tom's thoughts like a book.
This isn't going to work, is it?
Startled, Tom met Lucas' intense gaze. Damn telepaths.
I don't think so, but I have to try. The alternative is a Cesarean section.
What can I do?
Hold her down, this won't be easy. I have nothing to give her for the pain.
What limited medical supplies they had needed to be conserved if he needed to operate.
Lucas leaned over the head of the bunk and took her hands in his. He crossed her arms over her chest and brought his head down next to hers.
"Try to relax. Your Dad knows what he's doing."
She trembled with fear. Tears ran unchecked down her face. He felt her stiffen when Tom began to rotate the baby. Her breath came in ragged gasps. The pain tore at her from the inside out. Still, she tried to control it.
Another contraction began to build. Lucas felt it before she did. His eyes met Tom's.
Hold her.
K'Leena was losing control. This was too much for anybody. She bit through her lip to stop from crying out.
"Go ahead, let it out," Lucas whispered, his lips brushing her ear.
The tortured screams echoed through the small ship. Tears burned the backs of his eyes as he tried to soothe her. Her pleas cut into him, body and soul.
"Make him stop...please, Lucas...make him stop...."
"I can't, baby...you're in trouble here," he managed to choke out.
Not only was he feeling her agony, but the pain radiating from Tom was intense. It was killing him to have to hurt his daughter like this.
Her back arched as she screamed again and Lucas had to use some force to keep her down. Then she went limp and lost consciousness.
"Done," Tom said, his voice shaking with emotion. B'Elanna had returned and placed a hand on his shoulder, comforting him the only way she knew how.
Lucas gently wiped the sweat from his wife's face. He shook with fear. What if he lost her?
"Wake her up," B'Elanna said quietly. "If she sleeps through the beginning of the next one she won't be able to stay on top of it. She'll come to screaming and out of control."
Lucas stroked his wife's cheek.
"Wake up, 'Leena. He's done now."
Her blue eyes opened slowly and looked right into his.
"Are you okay?" he asked, still shaking.
Klingon Hearts 09 Hidden - What Lurks in the Darkness Page 8