Unwrapping the mystery...

Posted on 01 Mar 2015 @ 6:41pm by Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D.

3,430 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo: Sickbay
Timeline: MD45 1730hours

[ON]

This time around there was no getting out of this. The communication had informed Dru in a more nicer way that if she didn't get to sickbay before the crew broke off for their seperate ships that both the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Counsellor, Dru's own boss, would be informed of the situation and of the counsellors avoidance of sickbay in the last three weeks.

Holding Markum's hand tight enough that she caused his knuckle to turn white, Dru dragged her feet a little as she tried to reason a way for this to not happen. "I could call her bluff...there's no mandatory reason that I should have to see her or why my boss would have to be informed of the situation. The Doctor doesn't know the circumstances behind the pregnancy...for all she knows your the actual father."

Markum wrinkled his forehead. "Dru, this is for your and the baby's own health and well being. I want to be sure you're okay before I take off on the Chronos."

As they both walked into sickbay, Dru looked around for the Doctor in question. The day has been going so well, her and Markum tried to fit a lost year and a half into just a few hours...a few hours they cherished given they were to be separated again before the evening was out.

Dressed in casual shorts and a t-shirt with runners on her feet; Dru used her fingers to push her hair back out of her face. It's all that she'd had time to grab when she swung by her quarters on the way here. No matter how comfortable it may have been, Markum's t-shirt wasn't proper attire for here.

Finally spotting the woman in question, Dru loosened her hold on Markum's hand as she approached the woman she knew to be Doctor Voutilainen, "My apologies that I couldn't make it before this Doctor....I had some other issues on my plate with trying to get crew evaluations sorted before our departure."

"I understand," replied Tuula. In truth, she knew that Dru had to have been avoiding her and ignoring her messages, but decided not to press the point. She looked around, making sure that no one else was in earshot aside from Dru and the man she had chosen to bring with her, and offered Dru a sympathetic smile. Given how she reacted to the news last time, Tuula tried to take on a professional tone and use as much tact as possible. "Now, judging by your reaction, would I be correct in assuming that this was an unplanned pregnancy?" she asked, warmly looking up at her patient.

Dru's hand tightened again in Markum's as she felt the urge to run again. Instead she just nodded her head before looking around at the biobeds. "You mentioned that the pregnancy looked like it was four to six weeks about....two weeks ago?"

"Yes, that would make it six to eight weeks ago now," explained Tuula. She looked up at Markum, wondering if he was here just as a friend or in another capacity. "Are you the father?"

Markum shook his head, "No Doc, I'm not."

"I see," replied Tuula, glumly as she lowered a biobed down to a height more comfortable for her. She could see why Dru was so nervous earlier. The prospect of raising a child alone on a starship without a father would no doubt be intimidating for anyone, even a Starfleet counsellor. "Take a seat," she added, motioning towards the biobed before continuing. "Now, you said earlier that this was impossible. Are you sure that you haven't--"

"Doctor!" Dru coughed as she looked down at her feet in embarrassment. She knew how the birds and the bees worked, last time had been a reaction to the situation she had found herself in. "Can you scan the baby and make sure it is ok? I have a couple of concerns...first and foremost being that I need you to identify if the fetus is a hybrid."

"Hmmmm," said Tuula as she drew her medical tricorder. Punching in a few commands, she had it calibrated to scan the fetus and stared intently at it as the readings came up. "I can confirm that it is a hybrid, likely Vulcanoid," she said as she closed the tricorder. "If you'll lie down on the biobed, I can make a better determination using its sensors."

Pausing for a moment as she tried to process the information, Dru looked at Markum over her shoulder for a moment before moving after the Doctor. She was scared at what might be unlocked but she needed to know if the pregnancy would be viable. "What do you mean by likely Vulcanoid?"

"I can be more specific if you lie down for detailed scanning and imaging on the biobed," explained Tuula. Dru's evasiveness and inability to remember who the father might have been was making her wonder what was going on here. Part of her simply wanted to ask the questions that were on her mind, but she also knew that whatever happened may have been a traumatic experience for Dru and might send her running out of sickbay again. "But the father is of a Vulcanoid species: Vulcan, Romulan, Reman, something like that."

As Dru sat up on the edge of the biobed, fear spread through her mind as the Doctor listed the aliens. Memories pushed at the box she had built in her mind as she tried to clamp down on it tight. "Six to eight weeks...you should be able to detect a heart beat?"

"I'd probably be able to detect something in detailed imaging," replied Tuula. "Though, with hybrids it is hard to say for sure how quickly the fetus will develop. Vulcanoids tend to have a longer gestation period than humans are used to."

Blinking, Dru looked over at the Doctor as she finally lowered herself into a lying position; trying to keep Markum in her sight. "What do you mean by longer gestation period?" She hadn't thought beyond the here and the now and even considered the time she would carry a baby within her for.

"Vulcan and Romulan pregnancies typically last eleven months to a year," explained Tuula as she prepared the biobed for the scans. As she did so, the round black omnidirectional scanners came up from the sides and surrounded Dru's abdomen. "With hybrids though, it is difficult to tell, so assuming a Vulcanoid father, it could be anywhere from the usual nine months to a year."

Although the scanners didn't cover her face, Dru could feel her breathing grow deeper and more rapid as the sensation of being restrained ran through her body. Making fists with her fingers, she tried to keep her focus on the current situation. "Is there any documentation of such pregnancies not being viable or there being complications?"

Tuula pondered the question for a moment. "There has not been much experience with other Vulcanoid species such as Romulans mating with humans. However, I can tell you that human-Vulcan hybrids are relatively common, and at most only require some slight genetic manipulation." As she fiddled with the settings, she was intently focused on her scans. "Hmmmmm," she mused out loud at the results.

Reacting to the noise, Dru's body tensed further as she clenched her fists harder. She could feel Markus' presence in the room still as she tried to harness it and use it to keep herself grounded. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing wrong, per se," replied Tuula. "I'm detecting some genetic markers which would be unusual for a Vulcan-human hybrid, so we can rule that out." She pressed a few buttons on the biobed, sending the data to a nearby terminal for analysis. Quickly, Tuula made her way to the terminal and initiated a comparative analysis with the DNA of the Vulcanoid species on file. A moment later, she had a match. "Reman," she said aloud. "The father is Reman."

As Dru heard the word Reman, she heard an almost click in her head as a flood of images and memories rushed forwarded. In a mad panic, she started to push at the scanner across her abdomen as she struggled and buckled to try get free, "No no no no no no NO!" Panic filled her face as the memories of hands touching her body pushed over. The pale grey skin...the lear across the aliens lips as he locked his eyes and pushed. "Stop stop stop stop STOP!"

"Dru, calm down!" exclaimed Tuula, pushing herself back towards the patient. It suddenly became clear what happened; all her suspicions had been confirmed. "Whatever happened, we can talk about this," she said, placing one hand on Dru's shoulder and reaching into a nearby medcart for a mild sedative with the other. "Just... take a deep breath, okay? In and out."

Dru tried to focus on the words being spoken to her but all she could feel was claustrophobia from the scanner and the hand pinning down her shoulder. As her body shook under the touch, her hands fisted hard where the clutched the scanner edges.

The counsellor's face was pure white as she looked first at Markus and then back to the Doctor, it was almost as if she was there in body not in mind. "Please let me go....Please....I'm begging you...."

"You have to calm down first!" Given the patient's current state, Tuula couldn't simply in good conscience let her go. She was a danger to herself and anyone else who might get in her way. So, channeling Dr. Mott, she quickly pressed the hypospray against her shoulder and pressed the button to inject her. "This is just a simple sedative, it will help you relax," explained Tuula as she placed the empty hypospray onto the medcart. "Just calm down, focus on your breathing. I'm here, I can help you through this. But you have to calm down first."

It all happened too fast. Dru had been focused on trying to control herself and her thoughts and fear; as a result she failed too see the hypo before it was pressed to her skin. Hitting out, she hit air as the Doctor pulled back too quick, the drug already in the counsellor's system.

"No...please...." Feeling the drug coarse through her veins, Dru turned her head to face Markum as she grew drowsy, not entering unconsciousness but losing control of the tension in her body. "Don't let them...."

"Dru, look at me," said Tuula, speaking softly to try to get her patient under control. "You're safe now. You're in sickbay. No one can hurt you here. I just need you to relax and take a deep breath. In and out, okay?" She looked into Dru's eyes and tried to put on as warm of an expression as possible. "I'm a doctor; I'm here to help. You can tell me anything."

Markum grabbed hold of Dru's hand and put his other warm, calloused hand on her cheek. "Dru, look at me...look at me sweetheart." Quinn said in a soft voice, "I'm here, Tuula is here. We're in Sickbay, aboard the Galileo. No one will hurt you, no one. I promise you, you're here with me and Tuula, the Doc."

Dru felt tears fill her eyes as she looked into the depts of Markum's. She tried to focus on the feel of his touch, to remember that same touch just hours before when she'd finally let him in. Closing her eyes as she let the semi sedative take effect. "I couldn't stop them....I couldn't....I'm sorry...."

Quinn held we close an ran his fingers through her hair. "It's not your fault, Dru, it's not your fault. You were a victim, you were powerless, and I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

With Quinn taking on the task of taking care of Dru's emotional health for the moment, Tuula decided it might be best to let him take it from, here, at least for a little while. Pressing a button, she retracted the scanners on the biobed and then retreated to her office to replicate tea for three.

Dru didn't notice the departure of the Doctor but she noticed the sudden retraction of her restraints. Moving to lie on her side as she pulled her knees against her abdomen; the counsellor leaned in closer to Markum's touch. "The baby would be part Reman...."

"Yes." confirmed Markum. "I'll still be here for you. I'm going to stay by your side, I don't care if the child is part Vorta, I'm not leaving."

Closing her eyes as she felt the first tear pass her eyelid, Dru pulled her knees in closer, a protective measure against the sedative she felt invading her body, "Take me home?"

Having overheard Dru's question, Tuula rolled back out of the office, leaving the tea on the tray in the replicator. "I just have a couple tests I need to run, but that should only take a couple minutes." She glanced back at the office. "I made tea, if you would like," she added, hoping her small gift would help make Dru feel safe in sickbay.

Dru curled up tighter, scared that the Doctor would use more drugs or even place the restraint back around her. She knew that her way of thinking was distorted but she couldn't stop it. She wanted time to rewind a few hours to lying in Markus' arms and feeling like no one or nothing could touch her ever again.

"I know you're feeling vulnerable right now," said Tuula, in a soft voice. With her hand, she motioned Markum towards the replicator in her office, to fetch the tea and any other comfort food that Dru might like. "No one had the right to do what he did to you. No one. But you're safe now. You're in sickbay, surrounded by people who care about you."

Seeing little response from the patient, Tuula moved in closer. "Dru, look at me. I know it's hard to imagine, but everything is going to be all right." In truth, she didn't know if Dru would ever get past the trauma to a point where she could honestly say she was fine. But the most important thing right now was having her believe that things would be all right.

Markum stayed close and held Dru's hand. "No one can hurt you again. No one."

Feeling Markum's hand in hers and hearing their words, it somewhat lessened the fear inside as she opened her eyes and looked between them both, imploring them to understand. "The sedative....Please make it stop...." Her words were confusing but she wasn't sure what others words could be put to her thoughts. She had no control over her body while the drugs where in her system, just like before. Memories kept flooding back, the helpless feelings she had had when before they made her powerless to be able to do anything, helpless to be able to defend herself. "Please...."

"It was a light dose; it will wear off in just a couple minutes," explained Tuula as she reached for her tricorder. "I just need you to relax. Take some deep breaths, and try not to panic or hurt yourself, okay? I made some tea if you would like." She scanned Dru's body again with the tricorder. "The sedative is already starting to wear off. Just take some deep breaths, focus on your breathing and try to relax. You're safe here."

As her eyes followed the tricorder, Dru held Markus' hand harder as she used him as an anchor of sorts to try not let her mind slip back into it's dark depths once again. Trying to follow the Doctor's instructions, she held her breath for the count of three before slowly letting it out.

"Very good," said Tuula as she waved the medical tricorder over Dru again. She wanted to reach out to her, pat her on the shoulder and tell her everything was going to be okay, but she was careful not to touch Dru. "Aside from the pregnancy, I'm not detecting any other complications," she said, knowing it was of little comfort. "This was clearly a traumatic event, and I would recommend you speak to a counselor. But if you ever need someone to talk to, you can hail me and I'll be there. As for the pregnancy, you don't have to make a decision right now, but you do have options."

As she listened to the woman, Dru shook her head in a denial of sorts. She was still trying to process firstly that she was pregnant and now that her child was part Reman. Options...right now her initial reaction was to abort straight away but in some rational functioning part of her mind she knew she couldn't make decisions now. Any decisions made now would be rash and rushed...open for future pain and regrets.

Allowing her legs to unfold, the counsellor tried to regain control in the only way she knew how, to ignore most of what was going on and just focus on the here and now...even if that meant ignoring the past. "We are all about to break away onto different ships, shattered about. Perhaps this is a conversation better had at a time in the future?"

"Of course," said Tuula. Her thoughts went back to six years ago, when she walked into that clinic in Helsinki, how lonely and vulnerable she felt. "I'm here for you. If you need anything, or even just someone to talk to, please, I'm just a call away."

Dru stared at the ceiling for a few moments if she wondered was it that easy. She knew that she couldn't avoid speaking to a counselling, she would need to inform her boss of her pregnancy amd questions were sure to be asked.

Using the leverage of Markum's hand, the counsellor swung her legs over the edge of the biobed as she closed her eyes against the dizzy and disorientating feelings which swarmed through her head. "I understand Doctor."

As Dru took a number of deep breaths, she realised a question she had answered earlier hadn't been properly answered. Keeping her eyes closed, she kept a hold of Markum's hand, "You never said if the pregnancy was viable at this point or not....Is there a heart beat you can detect?"

Tuula paused for a moment before answering. She knew that Dru had a difficult decision ahead of her and didn't want it to be made more difficult. "Yes," she said. "I did detect a faint heartbeat earlier, and human-Vulcanoid pregnancies are generally viable."

Dru gave herself a moment to process the information before nodding her head and pushing herself to her feet where she wavered for a moment before steadying herself. She gave herself another moment or two before finally looking at the Doctor directly, "Thank you for all of your help Doctor....I promise I will be in touch after the games."

"Please don't hesitate to call me if you need anything before then," replied Tuula. "Or even if you just need someone to talk to, you can hail me on the Chronos." She bit her lip slightly, glancing over at Markum for a split-second then back to Dru. "I know how difficult this situation is for you," she added, a subtle reference to her own personal history.

As Dru heard the sincerity behind the other woman's words, she slowly nodded her head. She didn't manage a smile, the roll of her stomach and the disorientation had her feeling drained; wanting to just get away. She looked in the other woman's eyes for a brief moment and recognised the understanding that lay there. Any other day she might try prob but today....today she just wanted Markus and to hide away.

Markum held onto Dru and nodded and he kissed Dru's forehead. "Thanks, Doc. I appreciate all your support and help."

Dru closed her eyes as she felt Markus warm kiss against her skin before allowing him to help her from sickbay. She had a lot she needed to think about but first she wanted to get herself to a place where she was able to make decisions.

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

CMCPO Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Gallileo

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