Tara and Jayson were just coming to the end of their shift and their patrol. For the most part, things had ben very quiet. They hadn't even encountered anyone being drunk and disorderly! So they had simply waited for someone to yell. Tara was the first to hear the woman. It was a young Bajoran and a young man was running away from her. He seemed to be holding a bag.
"He stole my bag!! Someone do something!" The woman cried.
Without thought, Tara raised Chiron. As she got a clean shot, Chiron fired. The energy burst hit the man, sending him immediately to the ground.
"Go get her statement and I'll take care of him," she said.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a wink.
She went to the man, who was now unconscious and sprawled on the floor. The bag, and it's contents were scattered on the floor before them. It was a typical purse, Tara realized, with credits and maybe latinum . . . He was trying to rip her off. Well . . . This was the commerce section after all, Tara thought. She tapped her commbadge.
Jayson walked up to her. "So what have you got?"
"Woman's bag is right there. Scan an image of it and take an inventory of it's contents. I'm taking this bad boy to sickbay," she replied. "I'm sure he's fine, but he's out cold. Better to be safe than sorry."
"All right," he said.
"I'll b back in a flash," Tara replied, as she called for an emergency transport for two to sickbay. They disappeared in a shimmer of light.
In sickbay, Tara quickly made sure that the perp was okay and that she hadn't hurt more than perhaps his pride. After she arranged for his removal to the brig, she returned to the Promenade with Jayson. He had the statements and scans he needed and the woman had been grateful to get her things back.
They carried on their patrol, but as they neared the end, Jayson pulled her into some shadows and passionately kissed her.
"Mmmm," Tara smiled. "A woman could get use to that!" Her eyes sparkled.
"Then maybe I'll have to do it again . . . and take a little more time . . " He replied kissing her again, this time with more passion and yet lingering.
As he finally pulled away, Tara bit her lower lip smiling. A light flushed spread over her body. "It's a good thing our shift is almost up. I doubt I could wait long to have you all to myself at this point!" she laughed softly.
He smiled. "That's the way I planned it!" Just as he was going to kiss her once again, their comms went off.
"Chief Carmichael, Petty Officer Sandoval, this is Erin MacDavies," a young voice said. It was the young woman that helped watch Zoe for them.
"What is it?" Tara asked immediately alarmed. She knew Erin wouldn't have contacted them unless it was important.
"Zoe . . . She won't stop crying and she seems to have a fever . . . I'd take her to sickbay, but I just thought you'd want to do it, since you're her parents."
"We'll be there in a few minutes," Jayson replied. "Try to make Zoe as comfortable as possible."
"If she has a fever don't dress her in anything warm and don't bundle her in a blanket," Tara add.
"Yes, sir, ma'am . . ."
Without thinking, the two took off toward Security's headquarters aboard the station. It didn't take them long to log out and make arrangements for the next day off schedule just in case Zoe needed them. Being a parent was top priority to both of them, and Zoe being sick too precedence over anything else.
Once that was done, Jayson had a difficult time keeping up with Tara as they ran all the way to their quarters, only stopping in the turbo lift. Both said nothing since they were both worried.
As they reached their quarters and the door opened, Tara saw Zoe in Erin's arms just crying away. She was dressed in a light weight pink onesie, but her dark hair was already matted to her face.
"Oh no . . . Oh my angel . . ." Tara replied as she took Zoe from Erin. Immediately Zoe stopped crying.
Jayson gently caressed Zoe's head. "She is burning up. We need to take her to sickbay now," he said.
Tara nodded.
"I'm sorry," Erin said, her blue eyes reflecting her concern.
"It wasn't your fault," Tara replied. "Babies just get sick . . . It happens."
"I've got the diaper bag," Jayson said, as he swung a bag over his shoulders that was loaded with a blanket, diapers, wipes, baby powder, diaper rash ointment, a couple of toys, a jar of food with a spoon, and a bottle of water with a small can of formula, just in case she got hungry. And it was decorated all over with the Earth Disney characters Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.
Tara could still tell Erin felt badly. "Don't worry. I'll let you know how she is when we get back, all right?"
Erin nodded and walked out the door. Tara and Jayson followed with Zoe. As they went into sickbay, they were greated by Nathan rather then Cherrin.
"Hey there, what's this?" he asked.
"Nathan, my daughter's sick," Tara said as calmly as she could, but she was worried. "She has a fever."
Nathan immediately escorted them to a biobed and scanned Zoe.
"Her temperature is close to 105 degrees," he said. He disappeared and came back with a hypospray. Tara held Zoe as he injected the medication. She whimpered a little, but didn't resist. "That was something to bring down the fever. She seems to have picked up a virus, which allowed some bacteria to grow rapidly in her ear. The virus, itself is pretty innocuous, but we need to treat that ear infection. I'll start her here on some antibiotics. Then I'll give you a course for her. It will be only a once a day dose for no longer than four days. But it will rid her of the infection. In fact, she might even feel more like herself tomorrow."
Tara and Jayson both sighed in relief. "Thank you, Nathan."
"Anything for a friend," he said. He left once again. This time, he returned with a small bottle of liquid. "Give her 3 ccs of this once a day for the next four days. If you have to slip it into her formula or water," he said.
"All right," she replied, gently stroking Zoe's face as Zoe laid on the bed still whimpering a little, but not as much. She was already cooler to the touch.
Nathan quickly injected some of the antibiotic into her and then said. "That's it. The rest is up to you and the medication."
"Is there anything we should watch out for?" Jayson asked.
Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "Just the usual. If she seems worse, or if she develops a rash, bring her back in immediately."
"Will do," Jayson replied. He stroked Zoe's hair and looked into her eyes that were so much like his own. "I guess we're ready to go home then."
Tara replied. "I know I am . . ." She sighed as she lifted Zoe into her arms. The girl was almost completely asleep now. "Thanks again, Nathan," she said.
"I am here to serve," he said with a slight bow and grin.
Tara laughed softly. "I'll keep that in mind."
With that Jayson and Tara left sickbay. Jayson pulled out the blanket from the diaper bag and wrapped in around Zoe as she now seemed cold. She was also dead asleep on her mother's shoulder. Quietly, they walked home as the family they were.