fanfic_name = And Thunder Rolls
chapter = 7
author = Adam Scott
Rating = AP15
Type = Alternative Universe
fanfic = Chapter 7 - Coming of Age
I awoke to the face of a very concerned Miriya Sterling staring back at me. "What happened, where am I, where's Lisa!?" I ask her panicked. She answers in as caring a voice as the former Zentraedi warrior could muster, "you're in the infirmary, you passed out, Lisa is here and awake, Dr. Grant is looking her over now." I sit straight up in bed and I feel the blood rush out of my head and I get a little woozy for a moment but soon regain my composure. I get off the bed and head straight to a nurse who directs me to where they are examining Lisa.
I push back the curtain to the room in triage where Dr. Jean Grant was examining Lisa. Lisa is awake and alert. She has an IV, heart monitor and a fetal monitor hooked up to her. Jean was prepping Lisa for an ultrasound when I walked in. Lisa looked towards me and gave a worried smile. I could tell that she had been crying. Her face looked drained, as white as a sheet and her normally well kempt hair was quite disheveled. There is an open space on the near side of the bed. I walk over to her, take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. She returns the gesture but doesn't let go. With my other hand I begin to stroke her long brown hair. I feel her relax a little. Then we focus our attention on the ultrasound monitor.
Dr. Grant moved the probe up and down Lisa's abdomen until the small form of our unborn child could be seen, its heart beating quickly but steadily, its limbs wiggling slightly, reacting to the pressure of the probe on the womb. Dr. Grant turned and smiled, indicating that all is well. She snaps a couple of pictures takes a few measurements and then puts away the equipment. Dr. Grant then leaves for a few moments to take a look at lab results. Lisa cleans the gel from her tummy and then pulls the blankets back over herself. She was shaking slightly, as if she were cold. I lean down and gave her a hug, she whispers a weak "thank you" and I went back to stroking her hair. We were both worried as to what could be the problem. Was it the stress? Was Lisa ill and we didn't know it? Or was it something more sinister. The possibilities raced through my mind. What could have caused this to happen?
After several minutes, Jean returned. She had a look of calm concern upon her face. Then she began to speak. "Lisa, everything with your baby is fine, as far as we can tell he or she will be healthy and strong, however," she turns to look at both of us and continues, "Mama is not." She pauses a moment and then explains. "You are suffering from pregnancy induced hyper tension, it is quite common but it can be very dangerous. It can lead to Preeclampsia, a condition that could mean premature birth and even death for the mother and infant. As of right now you are on mandatory bed rest." Lisa's head seems to sink at the news. This is not what she wanted to happen. Then she started to protest but I put my finger to her lips to calm her and said "It's O.K., I've had to lean on you, now you need to lean on me." She started to shake her head; this was something that she couldn't accept. She had a fleet to run and a mission to fulfill. I couldn't let her, I had to reassure her. "I can do this", I protested. "You know I can, besides, I can always ask you for guidance. You and our child are too important to me and everyone else, to be put at risk." This seemed to settle her a little. Then Lisa made a surprising statement, "Rick, looks like you're going to be leading the fleet for now." Hearing her say those words made my head swim. I expected more of a fight. But perhaps we have matured a little over the years.
After another hour of early morning calls to everyone of concern, I took Lisa home. When we arrived, Jo was cooking breakfast and Max and Miriya were taking care of the children. The children were giggling. Dana was running circles around Max, who was laughing up a storm and lying in the middle of the living room floor. Roy was trying his best to keep up with Dana. Miriya was watching from the sidelines in quiet amusement. She had never had a "childhood". She was a clone, a manufactured being. She had no concept of what being a child meant. And watching her energetic daughter, laugh and play and explore the world around her, was a favorite pass time. Miriya was amazed at how Dana would become fascinated by the most ordinary things. In many respects, mother was like daughter. They were both fairly new to this life. Dana was still young, barely 3 and Miriya because she had only known this way of life for about five years. When she was a Zentraedi, she took pride in her strength and skill. She was among the most honored and feared of the Zentraedi. But when she met Max, she discovered a power even greater than her own. A power that she didn't understand and it made her fearful. She couldn't defeat that power, no matter how hard she tried. That greater power was love. Max had that power and defeated her. Not just with his skill but with his heart. That is what made him so great. In the end she understood and surrendered. She was ready to die, everything she knew, every thing she had ever understood, had been defeated. But Max showed the depth of his power with compassion and spared her. He took her in his arms and showed her the way. He gave to her a path into this strange but awesome power called love. Now he is her mate, her husband and friend. Their relationship is nothing like she had ever known before and will likely never know again. This man, this micronian, had more power than the entire Zentraedi fleet and he had given it freely, to her. Now, Dana had become part of that strength, as were Lisa and I. We were more than friends, we were her family. And Miriya would protect her family with her very life if she had to.
By now I was totally exhausted. I took Lisa to the couch and sat her next to Miriya, who immediately put her arm around Lisa as if she were trying to protect her. Lisa smiled at the gesture and turned the protective hold into a hug, which flummoxed Miriya a little. She understood hugs from Max and Dana but had never hugged anyone else. She wasn't sure how to react. As Lisa let go, Miriya kissed her since that is what she and Max would do after a hug. Lisa, surprised, pulled away quickly. Miriya looked confused, "did I do something wrong?" she said. Lisa hearing her, laughed cautiously. "No" Lisa replied,"it's just that woman usually don't kiss each other." Miriya's face dropped. She was still having trouble with human customs. Lisa looked at her face and could tell she was frustrated and hurt. She only wanted to show her friend how much she cared, not knowing that it wasn't "normal" to show affection that way. Lisa tried to boost her spirits a little "But it's O.K. Miriya, sisters do. And you are like a sister!" Miriya's face started to lighten up, "but why did you pull away and laugh?" She said with a bit of hurt and confusion. "I was just surprised by it Miriya, it wasn't something that I would expect coming from you. But please, don't worry, you did nothing wrong." With that said Lisa wrapped her arm around Miriya again and hugged her. A smile returned to Miriyas face. She finally understood. This time when Lisa let go, Miriya gave her a quick peck on the cheek instead. The same type she would give Dana. Lisa chuckled again and the two friends settled back onto the couch. Max and I shared our own little laugh about the situation but said nothing.
Breakfast was ready but I wasn't hungry. The excitement and trauma of the past few hours was just too much. I went straight to bed. General Reinhardt had taken temporary command of the fleet while Lisa and I recovered. I was going to meet with him in CIC at 12:00 to relieve him and officially take command of fleet operations.
As I lay in bed, waiting for sleep to find me, I listen in to the commotion and chatter in the neighboring room. Lisa, Miriya and Jo were looking at the ultrasound pictures and piping away about what the baby looked like. Max was wrestling with the kids and loving every second of it. Dana and Roy were laughing and giggling as Max pretended to let them get the better of him. I couldn't help but smile. This was the stuff of dreams. For most of my life I had believed I would be a bachelor. I had dreamed of having a family like this but never thought it was possible. This is what I had wanted with Minmei even though, deep down in my heart, I knew she wasn't right for me. But now I'm living my dreams. What more could I want or ask for.
I drift into a fitful slumber. The monsters return to my dreams but this time was different. I knew what I had to do and why. I knew that I could no longer run scared. I knew that it was my time to take charge. My future is in my hands, no one else's. This time I conquered the monsters. And the little girl was never lost for I held her safe in my arms. They knew that I was coming and that I brought terrible vengeance with me. I would become their nightmare and I would be the reason they would no longer sleep. They no longer had power over me and I would destroy them.
State = Continuará/To Be Continue
feedback = Sí/Yes
email = jscott_73ATyahoo.com