“At this stage, we won’t be able to see much but the amniotic sac will have formed and…” He frowned at the screen and her heart pounded. “Are you sure about the conception date, Emily?”
“I’m positive. Why?”
“Because you don’t appear to be six weeks pregnant. If anything, I would have said you were more like twelve weeks.”
“I can’t be.” Her head began to spin. “Is the baby...abnormal?”
“No, no. Everything looks perfectly fine, just further along than I would have expected. Look,” he urged.
Her eyes turned to the screen. For a moment she couldn’t decipher what she was seeing but then she recognized a head and an arm. Her eyes filled with tears, and she reached for T’lan. He had been staring at the screen in awe, but at her movement, he reached out and took her hand.
“Look at my baby,” she whispered.
“Our child,” he corrected firmly.
Dr. Gaston cleared his throat. “I assume that means the child is half Yehrin?” He didn’t sound surprised. “That might account for the size difference. How long is a normal Yehrin pregnancy?”
“I do not know,” T’lan said flatly. Emily wondered again at his complete lack of knowledge about giving birth. She was pretty sure that most human men at least knew that a woman was pregnant for nine months. “I will inquire.” He began typing rapidly with the tips of his claws on his wrist device. Both Emily and the doctor watched in fascination until he looked up. “One half of a planetary cycle.”
“Six months?” she gasped.
“Yes.”
Stunned, she couldn’t find anything to say. Admittedly, a shorter pregnancy didn’t sound bad, but it only added to the foreignness of the whole experience.
“What is the sex of the child?” T’lan demanded. Emily smiled at his eagerness.
“It would be quite early to be able to determine that, and the baby has to cooperate. Try rubbing Emily’s stomach, the way you did when you put the gel on.”
T’lan’s hand stroked gently. On the screen, the small figure seemed to respond, rocking slightly, and twisting enough that they could all see between the baby’s legs. It was a girl.
“Praise the Ancestors,” T’lan murmured. “Thank you, my L’chka. This is a precious gift you bring me.”
“A girl.” Emily sniffed, suddenly overcome with emotion. “I knew it.”
“You are as wise as you are beautiful, little one.” T’lan’s face was as gentle as she had ever seen it.
A rapid pulsing sound filled the room and they both looked at the doctor.
“That’s the baby’s heartbeat,” he explained.
“It’s so fast. Is that normal?” she asked.
“Yes.” Dr. Gaston smiled. “The baby looks to be in fine shape.”
“She has but a single heart?” T’lan asked.
The doctor frowned at him. “Do the Yehrin have more than one?”
“We have two,” he said briefly, then shook his head. “It is of no consequence. She will always be protected.”
Picking up the wand, Dr. Gaston moved it back across her stomach.
“Well, I’ll be damned. There is a second heart beating in the same rhythm.” He shook his head. “Everything looks fine, but I wish I knew more about Yehrin development. Do you have any information that I can review?”
“No.” T’lan’s face hardened.
“Is there a doctor I can work with?” Dr. Gaston persisted. “Assuming that you are staying here, I would feel more comfortable if I had some additional resources.”
“Of course, I’m staying here,” Emily said firmly.
“For now,” T’lan corrected. “The baby—you—are too important to risk.”
Dr. Gaston raised his eyebrows. “Son, I can tell you that the most important thing in a successful pregnancy is for the mother to be happy.”
“Of course, I will keep my L’chka happy,” T’lan growled. “I will protect her and provide for her.”
“Hmm.” Dr. Gaston handed Emily a wet wipe to clean away the gel, then turned to the cabinet. He scribbled a quick prescription and handed it to Emily, along with several brochures on pregnancy, and a printout of the ultrasound. T’lan intercepted the documents and tucked them into his belt. “This prescription should help with the nausea. At least—” He glanced at T’lan. “I wish I knew more. Are there any human substances that react poorly with Yehrin stomachs?”
“Not that we have discovered.” T’lan sounded stilted again and Emily frowned at him.
“This is very mild so it should be fine,” the doctor continued. “But if you’re concerned and want to try a more natural remedy first, ginger tea and ginger ale can be very helpful for nausea. You can also try a few dry crackers before you get out of bed. There are other suggestions in the pamphlets. Do you have any questions?”
Emily almost laughed—she had so many questions she wouldn’t even know where to begin. Instead, she shook her head, suddenly exhausted. The rollercoaster of emotions had taken its toll. Ever watchful, T’lan immediately noticed.
“Come, my L’chka. We will return to your domicile.”
Dr. Gaston rubbed his chin. “Normally, I would say come back in a month, but under the circumstances, I would like to see you again in a week. At this same time?” T’lan gave a curt nod. “And, of course, call me any time before then if you have any questions or if anything happens that concerns you.” Kind old eyes studied Emily’s pale face. “I’m sure everything will be fine, my dear. Just take it easy and let the commander take care of you.”
“As if I could stop him,” she muttered.
“You will not tell anyone about this,” T’lan ordered.
“Of course not. I take doctor-patient confidentiality seriously. I will even enter this in my files as a routine checkup.” The doctor hesitated. “But people aren’t stupid. I’m guessing that by now, half the town knows that you brought her here. They’re going to wonder why. And I suspect that you are going to start showing very soon now, Emily.”
For a fraction of a second, Emily thought T’lan looked worried. Despite the differences in his features, she was becoming quite good at reading his expressions. Too tired to worry about it right now, she reached for her purse, and then realized that T’lan had swept her out of the house in such a hurry that she hadn’t brought it with her.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Gaston. I forgot my pocketbook. Can you send me a bill?”
T’lan immediately objected. “He most certainly will not.”
“T’lan, he needs to be paid.”
“Of course. But I will pay him.” His nails clicked rapidly over his wrist device again. “The money has been transferred.”
“Thank you.” The doctor looked a little startled. “I wish all of my patients paid that quickly.”
“We will go now,” T’lan stated.
For once she wasn’t tempted to argue with his autocratic ways. T’lan picked her up, and this time she didn’t protest, still feeling exhausted. He swept out into the entrance hall. Mary was still at her desk, looking more excited than scared now, but the other two patients had disappeared. He carried her out to the front porch and stopped. A crowd of people gathered across the street, talking and pointing at the house. When they saw T’lan, they grew silent but there was an undercurrent of tension. A low muttering started. T’lan gently lowered her onto a wicker chair near the doors. “Stay here.” He walked down the steps and simply stood looking at the crowd. A palpable aura of menace surrounded him. The muttering subsided.
“Disperse.” Only one word but it echoed in the silence. Many people edged away but a sizeable contingent remained. Emily felt sick as she looked at the defiant crowd, many of whom she recognized. This was going to get ugly.
T’lan did not bother to repeat himself. Before she realized what he was going to do, he pulled one of the mysterious tubes from his belt and pointed it across the street. She jumped to her feet and cried, “No!” just as a beam of blue light shot out and the
entire crowd crumpled.
“What did you do?” she whispered, grasping the porch railing.
“Do not be concerned, my L’chka,” he said calmly as he put the tube away. He gathered her up in his arms. She had a vague notion that she should be fighting him, but she was still numb with shock. “I did not kill them. They are merely unconscious.”
“T-thank you.” Her teeth started to chatter, and he tucked her closer. “Come, little one. Let us depart.” Unable to look across the street, she buried her face in his chest and let him take her home.
Chapter Ten
His little human snuggling against him gratified T’lan, but he did not like the expression of distress on her face. The humans he left crumpled on the street did not concern him. They would awaken in a few hours with sore heads and unsettled digestive systems. No matter. Hopefully, it would teach them to obey when a Yehrin warrior commanded. Still, he would rather not have been forced to action in front of her. Next time, he would bring another warrior along. Not that he doubted his ability to defend her, but it would have been preferable to remove her from the scene and leave another to issue the necessary discipline.
Damn S’mathan. None of this would have been necessary if the scholar had not convinced the Supreme Council to try a new approach on this planet, casting aside 1000 years of tradition. Knowing that he had paid the price did not alleviate T’lan’s anger.
As he turned on to M’lee’s street, he noted the slight tingle of the first barrier. T’chok had been busy. M’lee jerked a little but other than that, she did not respond. He cast a worried glance at her face. Her eyes were closed, and she was still much paler than normal. The damn humans had upset her.
When he reached M’lee’s domicile, he noted the small metal rods that marked the second barrier. Excellent. Not that he would ever be careless with her safety, but they would no longer need two warriors to physically monitor the approaches to the domicile at all times. The barriers simplified the process. The first screen would notify them of anyone approaching so that they would be able to see and evaluate any disruptions. The second screen could form an actual physical barrier if necessary.
Ducking his head to enter the door, T’lan felt a slight pang of regret that his M’lee did not live in a larger structure. He preferred the high ceilings and tall doorways of the doctor’s building. For a moment, he considered the advantages of seizing it for their use. Unfortunately, he suspected his L’chka would object. And when he considered the picture she had presented, surrounded by the perfumed femininity of her small bower, he could not be too regretful.
When he entered the front room, T’renan was seated by the window, monitoring the screens. T’lan nodded but did not pause before continuing on to the kitchen. His L’chka needed food and drink. There he found the Elder Female confronting T’chok. Despite T’lan’s concern for his female, his lips twitched. The small human looked like a sekhmet confronting a rockthar as she glared up at T’chok and wagged her finger. The actual sekhmet sat watching them with his head cocked.
“You are not taking my stove!” she protested.
“It is dangerous.” T’chok stood stone-faced but T’lan knew him well enough to see that he was equally as amused.
“Gran, what’s wrong?” M’lee started to struggle up in his arms. Ignoring her attempts, he nevertheless placed her carefully in one of the kitchen chairs. Tribs immediately abandoned his staring match and chirped at her. Absently, she picked him up and stroked his fur, but she still looked fragile and uncertain.
The Elder Female’s sharp eyes studied her. “Emily, sweetheart. You’re so pale. What did the doctor say? Is anything wrong?”
“Not really. My blood pressure and temperature are a little high but not too much. But the baby...the baby looks like she is twelve weeks along instead of six.” T’lan saw T’chok’s eyes flick to M’lee when she referred to the child as “she.” He absolutely trusted the older male’s discretion, but they would need to talk soon. “T’lan says Yehrin women are usually only pregnant for six months, so it looks like things are going to happen much more quickly than I expected.”
“She? You’re having a girl? That’s wonderful! And don’t worry, sweetheart. We still have plenty of time to prepare.” The Elder Female patted M’lee’s shoulder soothingly and turned to glare at T’chok again. “My granddaughter needs to be well fed. I need that stove.”
“I have already explained that the replicator will provide whatever nutrition is required.” T’chok pointed to the silver machine sitting next to the stove.
“I don’t trust your machine. She needs good honest Earth food, and I will cook it for her.”
“Enough,” T’lan ordered. M’lee looked distressed and he would not permit that.
“T’chok, isn’t our vessel equipped with a portable heat shield?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Very well. Bring it and install it over the stove.” T’chok saluted and left the room. He turned to the Elder Female. “The shield will cover the open flame, but we will adjust it so that you may still use your stove.” She opened her mouth, no doubt to argue. “It is that or the replicator.” She sniffed but refrained from further discussions. “Now. M’lee requires food and drink.”
“Of course, she does.” Her face softened. “Would you like some tea, sweetie?”
“The doctor said ginger tea or ginger ale would be good for her stomach,” he said. M’lee darted him a quick glance. She seemed surprised that he remembered, but he had committed every one of the doctor’s words to memory.
“I don’t have any ginger ale, but I can make some ginger tea. I’ll go to the store later and get some soda.” The Elder Female started bustling around the kitchen.
“The doctor also provided a prescription for nausea.” He handed her the paper. “How does this work?”
“I’ll need to take it to the pharmacy and get the medicine.” She peered at him over her glasses. “Emily did not feel comfortable with anyone knowing about her pregnancy yet. Do you agree?”
“It is inevitable, but I confess I would prefer to keep it within these walls as long as possible.” He suppressed a quick feeling of guilt that he had already told the Supreme Commander. The news was too important not to do so, but he hoped that his leader had taken his request for discretion seriously.
“In that case, it would be best if I took the prescription to Asheville and had it filled there. If I take it to Bert, the whole town will know.”
He glanced at the window. The day was passing, but she had plenty of time to make the trip before the curfew. “T’chok will accompany you.”
“That might defeat the purpose of my going out of town,” she said dryly. “I’m an old woman. No one’s going to worry about me.”
“M’lee, is this acceptable?”
Staring absently at her hands, M’lee started at the sound of her name but after a brief pause, nodded her head. The Elder Female gave her a worried look but started to hand her a cup of tea. T’lan intercepted it smoothly and took a quick sip. The underlying spice was quite pleasant, but he shook his head at the sweetness. No toxins registered, so he handed the cup to his little human. Both females stared at him and he lifted a brow.
“Why did you do that?” M’lee asked.
“To make sure it was safe.”
“You don’t honestly think that my grandmother would try and hurt me, do you?”
“Of course not. But I had not fully considered the fact that the child is half Yehrin. I will ensure that nothing harms her.” He turned away, ashamed that he had not realized earlier. Fortunately, they had all shared the food from her earlier meal with no ill effect. “I should have thought of that before. From now on, I will try all of your food to make sure that it is safe.”
Her face softened for the first time since they had left the doctor’s office, and she smiled. “Thank you, T’lan. That’s very sweet of you.”
He did not consider being compared to the awful sweetness the humans liked
a compliment, but she seemed to mean it in a positive way.
“Now you must eat, my L’chka.”
“I don’t really feel hungry.” She made a face. “But you’re right. I should eat.”
The Elder Female nodded. “Isn’t there anything that appeals to you, sweetie?”
Before she could answer, T’chok reappeared in the kitchen with a heat shield in his hands. While the females watched, he fitted it carefully over the top of the cooking device.
“That was fast. Where is your ship, anyway?” M’lee asked. Glad that his female had recovered enough to be curious, he still hesitated before answering. Discretion had been drilled into him since he first started his training. He decided on a truthful but vague answer.
“Close but cloaked so that no one can see it.” It was actually in the small green space two streets away. Now that he considered the matter, he would have T’chok bring it closer. If he needed to remove M’lee for any reason, he would prefer to have it close at hand. The area behind the domicile was large enough to hold the small vessel.
“Are you finished fiddling with my stove?” the Elder Female demanded. T’chok nodded. “I don’t suppose it will work properly but I might as well give it a try. Do you want some soup Emily? That should be easy to digest.”
“I think so. The tea does seem to be helping.”
“I have some minestrone in the freezer. It won’t take long to heat up and then I’ll go on to Asheville.”
“Call me when it is ready,” he ordered and motioned T’chok toward the front room.
“You’re leaving me?” M’lee asked anxiously.
“You are safe, my L’chka. There is a protective barrier around the domicile. You have only to call out when you wish me to return.” She nodded, but her eyes followed him as he departed.
The two warriors gathered around T’renan’s post at the front of the room. T’lan was pleased that the young warrior kept an eye on his screens as they approached. Although human ears did not work as efficiently as Yehrin ears, he kept his voice low and spoke in Yehrin.
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