So beareth the sweetest fruit...

Posted on Mon Jun 17th, 2024 @ 2:28pm by Lieutenant Acacia Thomas & Lieutenant Aaron Byrne & Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost

1,095 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Ethics, Morals & The Prime Directive.
Location: Sickbay Maternity
Timeline: 2 days prior to planetary arrival.

"You're here?". Acacia's voice shook and the tears set clung to her eyelashes slid down her cheek and another set of bright lines. "How are you here? " A sound that was half laugh and half sob escaped her as she pushed away from the bed she was supporting herself on and flung herself at Jack.

"It's...a long story." Jack spoke as he strode towards Acacia only then to hold onto her.

"Am I hallucinating? I can't..." Another quiet sound of distress escaped her lips. "Are you really here?".

"I'm here." Jack was often a man of few words, which often led to a reputation that when he spoke, people listened.

Aaron stepped away to ready the isolette, for he didn't anticipate now that the Colonel was here that It would be long before there was another life aboard the Dreadnought. He couldn't hear their whispered conversation, but the deep rumble of the male voice seemed to bolster her.

"All right little sister" He said with a fond smile for the doctor who's friendship had gotten him through the academy."Are you ready now?"

There was a head shake in the negative, and she had not yet let go of her fistful of the colonels uniform. "I'm scared" it was the barest whisper of sound.

Aaron raised his eyes to meet the startlingly blue-eyed gaze of Colonel Frost and raised an eyebrow. He mouthed the words 'she's scared' at him.

Jack leaned low as if to whisper in her ear. "Do you remember the young purple haired woman in the transport, and how I put myself between you and everyone? You felt safe, well I am here now, you can feel safe again."

Safe. I am safe and he is here..... Acacia snuggled into his embrace in much the same way she had that day on the transport. The tension left her shoulders and she slid her hand down his uniformed chest. Instead of groping him as she'd done back then, she grasped his hand and lightly tugged it onto her belly.

Letting her guide his hand Jack felt what she wanted him to, taking a moment to let it sink in. How things had changed from that transport to now, how the older marine found the younger doctor. He was a career marine, married to the service, to the green uniform but now he had additional priorities, even if his Father disapproved of them. Still, he wouldn't let that sway his choices, or his actions.

The cadence of Acacias breathing was increasing and her head dropped but this time to rest on his chest. Her hand fell away from his and her fist clenched in the jacket of his uniform. This time however, she yielded to her body's demands, her breath escaping in a short scream.

Jack could only be there, a pillar of strength to draw from, a source of comfort and safety. He knew this would be a particular journey she would have to walk but she wouldn't have to do so alone.

"Ow..." She whimpered once it was done and she could once more raise her eyes to his. It was both unnecessary and tearfully spoken.

"Pick a moment, focus on it, picture it, centre yourself in it while this moment takes its course. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." He was sure that the Captain would understand given the situation.

"Tell me...what happened to...Bertrick" she panted, resting her forehead on his chest. "Did you end up killing him? I'd really like it if you did. I would have cheerfully taken him apart without anesthesia.". Her voice steadied as she rested on him and she raised tired blue eyes to meet his. The ghost of a smile hovered at her lips.

"That's a story for another time, you have more important matters to attend to." Jack spoke softly.

Two beeps, quiet ones emerged from the pad at the doctors side. Aaron looked at the readout and spoke"All right acacia, we need to get baby out now. It's starting to not like the contractions. Either you push or I intervene.". Aaron's eyes rose from where he was kneeling to the eyes of the Colonel who he knew would have drifted to him when he started speaking and mouthed a very clear command though he didn't make any noise 'Tell her to push.'

"You need to push Acacia. It hurts I know, but you need to do this." Jack whispered, trying his level best to be a man and not the Marine he was so constantly being.

Her tongue darted over her lips and she nodded slowly against his chest. Catching her breath, and inhaling the scent of her marine she found a strength borne of loving him completely. Leaning into his embrace her fingers dug heavily into his shoulders as she did finally do as she was asked, and pushed.

Surprise flickered over Aaron's face and he swiftly knelt on the floor of the maternity bay. The baby was near enough without her efforts to assist, and when she finally did push it came very swiftly.

Acacia swore in her native tongue and whimpered "It burns..."

"That's just baby crowning...push through it little sister. "

"Ja-" it wasn't clear which name she was calling out, but her face twisted with pain again and the cry turned into something primal and wild.

"I'm here." Jack replied. It was hard for him to stand there, he was a marine. If there was a problem he would fix it, if something needed to be moved he moved it. A threat needed dealing with, he dealt with it. Here, there was no threat, nothing to be moved, aside from being in the here and now..it was all he could do.

"That's the head born." Aaron said softly, a blanket now spread over his arm. "Red curls and a hand up by their chin..."

"Almost, just a little longer." Jack spoke softly, he didn't know what to do, there was no manual for this, no training provided. All he could do was count on his presence and touch was enough to give her what she needed in this moment.

A final time she inhaled the faint scent of aftershave, and leaned into Jack's embrace. He would feel more than hear her cry as it was muffled in his uniform.

There was silence for a moment, that was broken by the thin, wet whimper of a cry from The baby that now rested in Aaron's palms.

"Congratulations friends. It's a girl.".

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