Fashion Emergency

Jayme left Aidan’s room on the fifth floor, rode the lift to the third floor to Karissa's office.  She buzzed and the door opened and she found Karissa standing by the fish tank. "Morning."

“Good morning,” she said softly.

The Major smiled and walked over and gave her friend a hug, "how are you feeling?"  Jayme asked.  She knew that Nathan had sent lab results to her and Will and so she didn't know what to expect on this visit.  Jayme released Karissa and moved to sit on the couch.  She watched while Karissa went to the replicator and ordered two protein shakes and joined her on the couch--handing her one of the drinks.  "I'm going to take you up on your shopping offer--I need to get a uniform for work and also something other then these scrubs to wear else where.  Nothing fits!"   She saw Karissa laugh.  She slugged the other woman on the arm and said, "Hey, it’s not funny."  Jayme mopped.

Karissa smirked. “You’re pregnant! Nothing’s supposed to fit for awhile. You’re lucky you’re only having one! Imagine you were having twins like I did.”

"Oh hell,"  Jayme replied. "Shall we go?"  Jayme asked standing.  She noticed that Karissa wasn't moving and sat back down.  "Nathan said he wanted to see us after lunch..."  She said thinking that was the reason the other woman wasn't moving.

“I know,” she said softly. “He told me. It’s the lab tests. I’ve seen yours and I’m going to up your SSRI a little. Your levels still aren’t optimum.”

Jayme huffed out a breath and frowned when she heard Karissa announce that she was upping her SSRI again.  "Why?"  Jayme demanded and then saw Karissa hold up her hand to stall her off, and then understood when the other woman announced.

"I'm also adding another medication to your program.  I want you to take it at night and it will help prevent the anxiety induced nightmares and contractions related to the nightmares." 

Jayme closed her eyes and scrubbed her face and then ran her fingers through her hair.  "Damn it, Karissa, I was just getting to where I wasn't feeling like a zombie all day, do we have to and what is it that your adding?"

“Rasidal,” she replied. “It’s an anti-anxiety med, but it’s also tested well in calming contractions, so needless to say, it’s safe to use while you’re pregnant and should reduce any contractions you’re still having. With luck, you won’t have to use any extra doses of Tributaline and Magnesium Sulphate.” Karissa paused for a moment as if there was something more she wanted to say and yet nothing came out.

"Fine, what else do you want to tell me?" Jayme demanded slowly getting out of the shopping mood.  "Never mind, let’s go shopping."  Jayme stood and headed for the door and smiled when Karissa followed.  "So, do they make maternity uniforms?"

A soft smile again returned to Karissa’s face. “Of course, they do,” she replied. “I would know . . .” She laughed.

"Where should we go first?"  Jayme asked.  But before they could head out Karissa handed her a small med cup with an extra dose of her meds and some water.  Jayme took it and turned to head out the door.

“Well, I know there’s a maternity shop called Peas in a Pod. I think I know where it is,” Karissa said. “But we should definitely stop at McCairn’s Kid depot. They have so much baby stuff to choose from in there it’s wonderful!”

Both women shopped and took a tram across town and purchased several outfits at the little maternity shop and then they'd stopped for lunch and Jayme was glad to sit and relax, they ate and talked for a while before heading to Starfleet HQ.    There they ordered up two Marine standard duty uniforms when Jayme wandered a way and sat down. 

Karissa looked at her with concern. “Are you all right?” she asked, assessing Jayme’s condition as best as she could without a tricorder.

"I'm not feeling so great."  She rubbed her back and then looked a little green and said to Karissa, "I'm nauseated and my back hurts."  She closed her eyes and took several slow deep breathes, and added, "I have a killer headache."

“Okay, time to go,” she said. “I’m going to get us and emergency transport back to Paladin.”

"We can just take the tram...don't..."  She was cut off as Karissa ordered, "Immediately Karissa used her personal comm. "Medical Emergency. Two to beam directly to Paladin E/R," she said. "Lock on to my coordinates."

It took only a moment before they were enveloped by the blue light of the transporter. They’re-emerged at Paladin and a team of medics and doctors were waiting.

"I need someone to contact Dr. Fletcher and let him know his wife is in the ER," she said as she followed the medics who took Jayme to an observation bed.

"Oh hell,"  Jayme muttered as they got her out of her scrubs and wrapped in several warm blankets while other drew blood and started an intravenous line.  "I just needed to lay down and rest Karissa--this is not necessary."

"I want her blood pressure checked, I want her proteins and sugars checked . . ." Karissa ordered.

"Your blood pressure seems a bit high," she said. "And you're retaining fluid . . . more than usual. When was the last time you felt the baby move?"

Jayme lay on her side and looked at Karissa, and said, "Just before we transported."  Jayme said trying to relax and not stress.

"Well, that's good news . . . and the baby still seems healthy. But you on the other hand I'm afraid will have to take it even easier . . . Those back pains are more contractions. They're different, but just as damaging. I'm going to recommend you stay on the tribulatine. In fact, I may up the frequency of doses . . . I think it would be a good idea to put at least a couple more in there . . . The high blood pressure isn't high enough to give you medication, but with the fluid retention, it could get there . . . That's also why you had the headache. Of course, you know a lot this . ..  It isn't new to you.," she said. "You're a high risk pregnancy and right now, the best thing you can do is stay off your feet. I know you hate to hear that, Jayme, but . . . It's what's best for you and the baby . . ."

Before Jayme could interrupt, Nathan arrived.

"Don't worry, Nate," Karissa smiled gently. "She's going to live. But I thought you would want to know what's going on."

"Put a couple more of 'what' in there?  Jayme asked not understanding what Karissa was saying.  She looked to Nathan, and said, "Fine, send me back to quarters and I'll stay there... I don't want to stay here in PMC until you got off shift which will be tomorrow at this time."

"Well, you can return home in a couple of hours. I want to monitor your blood pressure along with the baby, just to make sure there aren't any problems I'm missing," Karissa said. "Once I'm sure then I'll let you go. Oh, and I'm ordering a dose of magnesium sulphate too . . . Just as a precautionary measure since your contractions haven't stopped. They've just changed."

“Fine!"  Jayme said knowing that she wouldn't win against Nathan or Karissa. "Can you send me up and maybe I can visit with Major Aidan."

Karissa paused and then nodded. "I can't see why not . . .

"How long, will you keep me and monitored?"  Jayme said as they placed the foetal monitor on her and added the medications.  "When will you move me upstairs."

"Give me about fifteen minutes to set it all up," she smiled and walked off, leaving Nathan and Jayme alone for the moment.

Several hours later Jayme was in more pain and knew she was feverish.  She called for the nurse in charge and the next thing she knew Dr, Hancock was there running several scans and said, "Jayme that left kidney is infected and you need surgery to open the duct from the kidney down to the bladder. I've contacted a specialist and Nathan.   I'm going to be there monitoring you and the baby while the surgery is done.  You'll be back here in about an hour."  The side rails went up and the bed started rolling down the hall.

Several hours later Jayme woke up slowly to see Nathan sitting beside her bed. "Nate?" He squeezed her hand and brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead, "go back to sleep Jayme."

The next day she woke and sat up and looked around, Aidan was reading.  "Damn." Jayme said.

"Jayme?"  Aidan glanced up from her book to notice the other Major was awake.

Jayme looked over at Aidan and smiled, swung her feet over the side of her bed, and stood up slowly. She noted the other Major's frown and said, "Its okay.  I feel fine, really."

"Remember where that got us last time," Aidan tried to sound reassuring.  "Just be extra careful."

"I remember."

Jayme washed her face in the sink and then sat back on the bed.  "Ugh, I hate this place and I'm ready to return to base.  Do you know where they stashed my clothing?  Jayme looked around and really wanted to have Nate come claim her and whisk her away before Karissa stopped in and wanted to talk.  The door opened and it was a nurse with medication for both women and breakfast.

"You hate it...I hate it.." Aidan smiled, "Sorry I don't know what they did with your stuff.  I'm still trying to get them to let me out of here and back to familiar surroundings.  Things haven't exactly been easy. Not too long before my brief visit with you, where you prescribed something to help me sleep I had a major panic attack and it still has me rattled."

"What did Karissa say about the panic attack?"  Jayme asked trying to force herself to eat.  She'd taken the meds and knew that it wouldn't be very long before she'd start to feel herself drifting. The door opened and in walked Karissa.

Aidan shrugged, "We're still working on that." She was well past being tired of hospital food. Eating a few bites then taking her medication.  Her head turned towards the door just as the Counsellor walked in.

"Good morning, ladies," she greeted cheerful. "I'm glad to see you're both up and, Jayme, you seem to be looking well. Nathan should be here soon. Once Will checks you over, I'm going to release you to go home, but I want you to rest for the 48 hours; after that, light duties for a week." She knew she wouldn't have to remind Jayme of the contract. So far in most things, Jayme had been compliant.

"And I'll see you in a few days for our session. But until then, I do want you to rest as much as possible." She then turned her attention to you. "And how are you feeling today, Aidan?"

"I'm feeling good," Aidan responded.  "There's several things I'd like to discuss with you later."

Karissa nodded with understanding. "Well, we can talk about that later. Want to talk in the holodeck again?" she asked. "I have a new program. It's just a lake setting, but it's relaxing. You might like it."

Aidan smiled slightly,  "That’s sounds pleasant..."

Karissa smile back.

Before she could reply Nathan came in. "Ah, early I see," she said with a grin as she looked at him.

"Figured, she'd be harassing you about getting out of here by now." He said taking a seat on the side of his wife’s bed.

"Well, you can see for yourself. I think she's recovering pretty well. I have her orders written on her chart if you care to look; 48 hours off-duty and 1 week of light duties. That might continue for longer, depending on how things go."

"Fine," Jayme said with a frown but didn't argue.

"Well, I'll be back for one final exam and the discharge paperwork," she said. "I'll see you again shortly." With that Karissa walked out of the door.

An hour later Jayme and Nathan transported to the Marine Base and walked the half kilometre to housing.  Once there Jayme showered and pulled on a set of fuzzy pyjama’s and moved to relax on the couch.  Nathan came in and handed her a cup of tea and sat on the couch and pulled her legs across his lap and turned on the vid to see what kind of entertainment was playing.