<USS Avalon> New Dad Worries by Sussanna Jameson & Ming Kabuki

 
Ming left the shuttle deck in a pensive yet oddly giddy mood. He couldn't  
shake the feeling that Josh was up to something that would be nothing if not  
dangerous. He bit back a sigh. I'm going to have to talk to him again soon, he  
thought as he ran a hand through his long black hair. As he lowered the hand, 
it  brushed the data chip that he had tucked into his pocket. Just the thought 
of  what was on there made him grin the sort of smile people usually 
described as  idiotic. He didn't care. If he was going to be an idiot, he was a 
very 
happy  one. With that in mind, he went to deliver the chip to the person 
logically  would need it. 
He was still smiling, and half way humming, when he walked into Sick Bay. 
Smiling as she looked up to see Ming in the doorway, Anna finished fiddling  
with the hypospray in her hand. "Well if it isn't the Grim Reaper. Going for 
the  undercover operative look today?" 
The look of slight terror on her patient's face made Anna laugh as she  
applied the anti-biotic to the man's throat. She leaned in close and whispered, 
 
"Don't worry, he only makes official calls in his full uniform." 
Ming snorted in amusement and shook his head. "Don't let her fool you, man,"  
he said to the patient. "I'm on the job all the time. My brother lives in a  
tropical area. He traded black for white and khaki. Doc, I'd like a word when  
you're through." 
"All done here, just don't scratch at it, okay?" She winked at the man as he  
scuttled out. "And no more sticking things in places they don't belong!" His  
bright red face as he belted for the door made her laugh even louder. "They 
made  me CMO, can you believe it? I'm barely a proper doctor and they go and 
give me  my own department." She shook her head still with amazement. "So, what 
can I do  you for?" 
"Congratulations, Anna. You ought to be proud of yourself.  And we can  be in 
the same boat. I'm barely a proper priest but they let me graduate," Ming  
said, his bright blue eyes shining. He took the data chip from his pocket and  
held it out to her gingerly. "They tell me that ours is going to be the first  
baby born on Avalon. Pretty interesting coincidence since this is our first  
one..." 
Taking it, she led the way into her office. One wall was totally taken up by  
a print of Uluru. She could almost feel the heat of the Australian sun 
beating  off of its huge red sides. "What's this?" she said as she inserted the 
chip 
into  her console. 
"I don't know if it will work from there and don't worry--I had nothing to do 
 with its making. You know how very important Vilya's religion and Bajoran 
are to  her. I...you know I hate messing with the replicators so I asked Joshua 
for a  little help. I wanted to surprise her...make it a little more like it 
would be  at home," Ming began. 
Nodding for Ming to continue, Anna waved him to a seat. "Want a drink or  
anything? Sorry," she grinned," it's just that I've never had an office with a  
replicator before." 
Ming sat in the most comfortable seat he could find then leaned forward,  
resting his elbows on his knees. "No, no--I'm fine. Stupidly happy but I'm 
fine.  
I told Josh I wanted to set up a traditional Bajoran birthing room for her 
and  he just let his fingers fly all over his console then out came that. He 
said to  use holodeck one but I don't know if you can view the contents from 
here. I hate  touching those things," he said with a wry smile. 
Anna let the chip load completely before taking a look. As usual for a  
holographic data chip, it gave a three dimensional view of the program. The  
details were intricate and awe-inspiring. "Sport's quite the talented  
holoprogram 
designer, isn't he?" Slipping it back out, she handed it to Ming  again. "Keep 
that safe. Has Vilya had her first check up yet?" 
"To tell you the truth, I don't think so.  I don't know if it's because  of 
some Bajoran thing or if she's still worried about the effects of that virus  
on Human DNA," he said with a shrug.  He offered her a smile and added, "I  
think she was kind of waiting for you to come back from that conference,  too.  
It's really soon now but I know she'd prefer you since there aren't  any 
Bajoran midwives about." 
Blushing, Anna smiled warmly at him.  "I'm honoured, though I think it  best 
to tell you now that I've never delivered a baby, human or otherwise.   I've 
done simulations on the holodeck," she said hopefully. 
Ming chuckled lightly and waved a hand in dismissal.  "Ask her but I bet  she 
says the same thing that I do--I have faith in you.  Honestly, that  virus is 
my only real concern.  I hope to God that it doesn't cause some  side effects 
now, after it's been in her bloodstream, and in the baby's, after  these last 
months." 
There.  He'd said it.  Twice now.  Certain of his older family  members 
called it bad luck to mention bad things that might happen but that  reeked of 
superstition to him. 
"Bring her in for a check-up, we'll do scans but from what I remember before, 
 there was nothing on them to indicate anything wrong."  She leaned forward  
and put a hand on one of Ming's.  "Don't worry, she'll be fine and so will  
the baby." 
"Thanks," he said simply.  "Maybe it's just first time dad reaction but  I 
bet most first time dads don't have to worry about all this...technical  
stuff." 
 No, he told himself, don't be that way.  Go on a positive  train of thought. 
 He stood up and snickered slightly.  "I'll bring  her over after her next 
shift is done.  You can hear the longest ongoing  argument I've ever been 
involved in.  I say 'girl' and she says 'boy'." 
"When I find out, would you like me to tell you?" 
"Oh no, please don't.  Or, at least, don't tell me.  My mother had  six 
children without knowing.  I don't want to know either.  I will  cheerfully 
take 
whatever God gives us," Ming replied.  He shook his head to  forestall any 
discussion about his last statement.  "Take the clothes from  the Reaper but 
you 
can't take the Reaper from the man," he added with a  wink. 
"True enough," Anna said with a wink.  "Well, bring her over, we'll have  a 
chat about the birth and try to quell any other fears the pair of you  have."  
Standing, she took Ming's hand and led him back to the main Sick  Bay.  "I'll 
see you both later."

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