= Back Log =
Main Sickbay, Maternity Section=
=Starbase UNITY=
Trent stood back, away from Mai's biobed as the nurse
continued preparing for her pregnancy. He felt like he
should be doing something useful at the moment, but
unfortunately, there was nothing for him to do.
The nurse walked back to where Trent stood.
"Sir, do you plan on filling in for her husband?" the nurse
asked.
"Huh?"
"Do you plan on being here when she gives birth?"
"Oh ... well ... I don't know," while Trent felt somewhat
comfortable with Sarah when she gave birth, he felt a little
awkward with Mai. "I don't know what she and Ricky had
planned. I don't even know if she wants me here for that."
Just then, he turned and saw Rangi enter the area.
"Commander?" Trent said.
"Captain" Rangi replied and glanced quickly to the nurse and
back to him. "No word from your brother?" she asked.
"No, though I wasn't expecting anything right away," Trent
said, making sure he held back what Rick was doing and
why he wasn't available at the moment. "It may be a couple
of days or more before I hear from him."
" Right." Rangi replied eyeing the man in front of her.
"What can I do at the moment?" Trent asked.
" Well that depends on what you and MaiKai want." she
replied. " Have you discussed it with her?"
Seeing his look of uncertainty she added:
"Does she want you as a birth partner or do you prefer to
stay out here?"
"Well, I uh ..." Trent took a deep, uncormfortable breath.
"I
guess it's whatever she wants. I haven't really had a chance
to talk to her about it."
" Now might be a good time." Rangi suggested "...before
things develope further but...if you're not keen on it then
please say so. You're no hel p to anyone if you flake out on
the floor. Let's go and ask her." she ended pointing to the
door.
"I won't flake out, Commander," Trent said with some
authority
and confidence. "I've been through this twice before with my
wife. It's just ... well ... she's not my wife. I mean, if
she wants
me there, then I'll be there. But that's up to her."
" Ok then...let's see what she says." Rangi replied and
turned towards the side room.
Trent decided to wait at the doorway so that Rangi could
talk with Mai.
Mai heard the sound of feet approaching. She was amazed in
herself
because as much pain as she was feeling at the moment, she
thought that most other senses would have had a drowning
effect.
The nurse in charge handed Rangi a med padd telling her that
all was going well and there were no worries. She looked
enquiringly at Trent.
Rangi skimmed the last entries on the padd and with a smile
at Maikai asked if, in Ricks absence, Maikai had thought
of anyone she wanted as a birth partner.
Mai looked up in utter frustration like that was the
only thing that Rangi could ask her at this time or
something.
"Not really, no," was all she could muster since she almost
spat "hell no".
"Then its up to you." Rangi replied glancing back at Trent.
"...but she will be fine either way."
She gave him a reassuring and confident smile.
"Well ... I can just wait out there," Trent nodded toward
the waiting room feeling somewhat relieved.
The nurse went with him and showed him to a small side room,
offering to get a snack or a drink for him. She would, she
said, keep him informed.
She was good as her word and returned fairly frequently but
most often said things like:
" She's fine, dont worry" ""Alls going well" and finally
"
Shouldnt be long now", none of which was particularly
soothing to Trents slightly frayed nerves.
After what seemed an interminable time, the door opened
again but this time it was not the nurse but Rangi who came
in.
" Congratulations." she said, smiling to him " You are an
Uncle to a lovely baby boy"
He stood and took a sigh of relief.
'I'm sure Rick will be pissed that he wasn't here,' Trent
thought
to himself. 'I know I am.'
"How is MaiKai?" Trent asked, then added. "and the baby?"
"They're both well...MaiKai's tired of course but other wise
they're fine." Rangi replied.
"Good. I'll allow her to rest," Trent said. "I'll check on
her in the
morning. If anything changes, then I'm sure you know how to
contact me."
" I do." Rangi answered. "...and I hope we'll hear from your
brother soon." she added.
Trent nodded as he walked out of the waiting room.
Rangi retraced her steps and, smiling at the scene of mother
with her new baby asked: "So...have you thought of a name
for him?"
MaiKai frowned. She would've rathered Rick was
here. They had talked around names, but they had
never really finalized on a name. Mai smiled when she
decided what she would want to call their son for the
rest of their lives, "This is Michael Anthony Rodgers,"
Mai rocked her son in her arms. She was really tired,
but she didn't want to let him go. "Rangi can you do me a
favor?"
"Of course... What is it?" Rangi asked, standing now beside
them looking down at the the baby.
"You see: I'd like Rachel to meet her new brother as
soon as possible," Mai smiled as he baby turned over sides
in her arms.
"It's still early" Rangi replied glancing at the wall
chrono. " What say you have a rest for a few hours then we
can arrange for Rachel to come and visit?
Perhaps her Uncle would like to come with her." Mai only nodded. She just wanted to hold her
son tight to her body a few seconds more
before she knew it would be time to doze off. = End Log =
Captain Trent Rodgers
SB Unity Commander Rangi Summers Med Adv. 1st Task Force CMO SB Unity
Lieutenant MaiKai Rodgers
Pediatrics Doctor
SB Unity
