THE BABYBy: R. MackenzieDate: January 14, 1999Setting:  Voyager welcomes a new member to their family.Disclaimer:  Paramount owns them, I'm just borrowing them."Voyager to Shuttle Cochrane."Captain Kathryn Janeway looked anxiously at her first officer asshe again attempted to hail the long overdue shuttle craft whilepacing nervously across her bridge.  Her hail was met by silence.The away mission was suppose to have been a simple one, meet upwith a local trader and exchange goods.  The man was reputable andhis goods would have made life a little easier on Voyager for awhile.  Now her away team were two days past the scheduledrendevous time and they'd been unable to locate them.  Any contactwith the various planetary governments had been met withobstinance.  No one would say whether or not the shuttle and awayteam had made it to the planned meeting place."Captain, I've found the shuttle!"  Ensign Harry Kim exclaimed. "She's about three light-years away, just entering the upperatmosphere of the fourth planet.""Status?"  Janeway turned and faced the ensign, praying that theaway team was all right."The shuttle appears intact," he meticulously continued to pushbuttons, trying to coax out the readings they all wanted to hear,"there's too much interference to get an internal scan.  But weshould be able to contact them as soon as they clear the planet'satmosphere.""Let me know when they're clear," she ordered while answeringCommander Chakotay's hopeful smile with one of her own.  "Helm, setan intercept course with the Cochrane.  Maximum warp."Janeway reclaimed her center seat as her orders were carried out. She made note of the anxious atmosphere on the bridge, everyonewaiting for news, hoping for the best.  The last two days had beenstressful on everyone.  So many people had already been lost to thefollies of the Delta Quadrant.  No one wanted to add any more namesto an already too long list."Shuttle Cochrane to Voyager.  Please come in.""On screen," she again stood to face the screen, this time Chakotaystanding with her, offering his silent support, "Shuttle Cochrane,this is Voyager.  Are you all right, Crewman Dalby?"  she asked theman who appeared on screen.  He appeared to be okay, but they allknew that looks could be deceiving, "Where's Ensign Paris?"  Shecringed inwardly.  For Tom Paris to allow someone else to fly aship while he was on board, something serious must have happened tohim.  What if he wasn't even on board?  She stopped that train ofthought.  She was not going to lose another crew member, especiallynot Tom Paris."I'm fine, Captain," he stole a glance at something behind himbefore continuing, "but Mr. Paris has been injured.  Are we intransporter range yet?""Five minutes to transporter range, Captain," replied LieutenantCommander Tuvok from his tactical station.Not letting on how relieved she was, she addressed the man beforeher, "Mr. Dalby, we'll be in transporter range in a few minutes. What happened?"Before Dalby could respond to the question, a baby's cry could beheard over the link."What was that?" Janeway immediately asked, not believing that itcould be what it sounded like."Um, Captain," the man hesitated, unsure how to explain, "it's along story," he again turned to look behind him and then turnedback around, his face reflecting his unease and concern, "one thatyou're going to have to see to understand."Janeway took a moment to decide whether or not to push the point. She wanted to know what had happened, but it was apparent that theman before her was in no condition to pilot the shuttle and giveher a report, "Very well, Mr. Dalby, we'll meet you in sickbay.""Aye, Captain.  Cochrane out.""Mr. Tuvok, have the transporter room stand by to beam a pilot overto bring the shuttle in and have the away team beamed directly tosickbay," she knew she didn't have to wait for an 'aye, Captain'from her Vulcan tactical officer, "Commander, contact sickbay, letthem know they're about to have at least two patients coming theirway."Chakotay nodded as he returned to his seat to fulfill her orders,his imagination going into overdrive.  Was that really a baby's crythat they had heard?  And if so, where had it..he...she come from? What had happened on the away mission?  Just how serious was Parisinjured?  With a glance around the room, he knew the rest of thebridge crew were all wondering the same things."Transporter room one is standing by," Tuvok's voice broke thesilence that had descended on the bridge.Janeway began to pace the length of the bridge again, the secondspassing by with an exaggerated slowness."Transport complete," Tuvok informed them a few minutes later.That was all Janeway needed, "Mr. Tuvok, you have the bridge," shewas already moving toward the exit, "Commander, you're with me."*****When they arrived in sickbay they found the Doctor working at themain bio-bed over the unconscious form of Ensign Tom Paris. Crewman Kenneth Dalby was seated on a nearby bio-bed, cradling asmall baby in his arms while anxiously watching every move theDoctor made over the prone man.  Ensign Samantha Wildman, theDoctor's current assistant, stood by Dalby attempting to run a scanover them both while fighting the urge to take the baby from theobviously nervous man."Report," Janeway called out as they made their way over to thecrewman.  They came to a stop between the two bio-beds and awaitedthe Doctor's diagnosis."Mr. Dalby is fine, just a slight case of exhaustion," the Doctorbegan while continuing his work on his most frequent andtroublesome patient, "Mr. Paris has a concussion, five broken ribs,a broken leg, a fractured jaw and wrist, a bruised kidney andspleen, a punctured lung and numerous other cuts and contusions. I had to sedate him to get the baby out of his arms so I couldtreat him," he stated in his usual annoyed toned, "He refused tolet her go.""They put him in a pit and made him fight for her."The occupants of the room turned as Dalby softly spoke.  He had hiseyes focused on the baby in his arms, still trying to calm her. They could tell he was unsure of what exactly to do with the littlewiggling bundle, but had no intention of letting her go.Janeway looked to her first officer.  They needed to know what hadhappened, but were they going to be able to handle what they weretold?  How could someone have made Paris fight for a child thatwasn't even his?  Before they could begin their questioning, thesickbay doors opened to Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Tom's friendand lover.  Chakotay watched her as she practically ran over to hisunconscious form, "What happened?  Is he going to be all right?"she begged of the Doctor."Lieutenant," Janeway interrupted the engineer's interrogation,"the Doctor is still assessing Mr. Paris's condition.  Perhaps youwould join us in his office," she motioned for Chakotay to escorther from the room, noticing the look of relief that crossed theDoctor's face.  He may be just a hologram, but he, like everyoneelse, still feared for his well-being when the half-Klingon gotupset, especially over her mate.Turning back to the other occupants of the room, Janeway continuedto direct her people, "Mr. Dalby, would you be up to giving us areport?"  He looked haggard, but they needed to know what hadtranspired, needed to know if there was something for them to beworried about.Dalby raised his head to look at his commanding officer and noddedhis head.  Slowly moving to the edge of the bed, he carefullyjumped to the ground, still cradling his precious cargo."Crewman," Ensign Wildman moved closer to him and held out herarms.  Noting his reluctance to relinquish the tiny bundle, Wildmanadded with a reassuring smile, "I promise, I'll take good care ofher."Looking again at the small child in his arms, he bent to drop agentle kiss on her forehead, brushing the thick strands of darkblack hair that had fallen forward.  Wrapping the dirty blankettighter around her, he then carefully handed her over.  Janewaynoticed the smile growing on the ensign's face.  Who'd have thoughta big, burly man such as Ken Dalby could be so gentle with a baby? Once he was sure she wasn't going to throw a fit over the shift incare givers, Dalby turned toward the Captain and walked with herinto the Doctor's office.He took the empty seat next to B'Elanna, away from the door, asChakotay and the Captain perched themselves on the edge of theDoctor's desk."Mr. Dalby, what happened?"He took a moment to collect his thoughts, unsure of what to say. The story was really Paris's to tell, not his, but there was notelling when the other man was going to be able to tell it.  Hedecided to start at the beginning and tell them what he could."We were en route to the meeting place, no problems, when we pickedup a distress signal.  It was a short distance away, so we deviatedfrom course and went to offer what assistance we could," his darkeyes were distant, unfocused as he spoke, "We were the first toarrive.  It was a small recreational vehicle, the father had beenkilled instantly, the mother was pinned in the wreckage.  She'dgone into labor.  Paris was able to deliver the baby, but themother was too far gone."He closed his eyes at the memory, fighting the tears thatthreatened to fall again.  It had been awful.  "She begged him totake her.  She didn't seem to be able to let go until she had hispromise that he would.  After..." he had to take a deep breath tosteady himself, grateful that no one was pushing him.  This washarder than he'd thought it would be.  "We contacted the localgovernment, informed them of the crash and what happened.  Thelocal militia arrived and we were escorted before the governor.  We explained our actions and then Paris was immediately challenged forguardianship of the baby.  We didn't understand what was going onor what we were suppose to do.""Why didn't Mr. Paris just leave the baby?  They were her people,surely there was a family member that could have taken her?"Janeway questioned.  Prime Directive aside, the baby should beraised by her own people, not a group of strangers."It wasn't that simple, Captain.  As we came to find out," Dalbyreplied bitterly.  "The mother had given the baby to Paris, as faras their laws were concerned, he was now her father."At that moment, the baby chose to cry out and Dalby was immediatelyon his feet and heading for the door.  "Mr. Dalby," Janeway stood and intercepted him, "I'm sure EnsignWildman can handle the baby," she placed her hand on his arm andsteered him back to his chair.  If anyone on Voyager knew how tocare for a baby, it was Samantha Wildman.  Up until a few minutesago, she was the only person on board ship with a child of her own.He hesitated and looked out of the office window, fighting the urgeto ignore his commanding officer and go get her.  With Parisincapacitated, Dalby felt an overwhelming need to know that thebaby was safe, hold her in his arms.  Noting that she was quietingdown, he reluctantly returned to his seat and the story.  No onesaid anything and he was oblivious to the looks that were passingback and forth between his senior officers."According to their laws, he had been challenged, he had to fight. Hand-to-hand combat, winner to take the baby.  The only otheroption was for Paris to be executed as a dishonorable man.  One whoobviously couldn't fulfill his obligations," he looked to his rightas he heard the sharp intact of breath from B'Elanna.  He sent hera sympathetic, sad look.   "They kept us locked up until the day ofthe fight.  Today," he was back to gazing at nothing, the blankexpression on his face, "I still don't know how he did it.  Theyweren't exactly uncivilized, we were fed and had beds to sleep on,but taking care of a new born baby didn't leave a lot of time forrest," his gazed wandered to the view outside the office window,"once it was over, they just let us go."Janeway didn't know what to say as Dalby ended his report, not sureshe wanted to know any of the details.  They had faced many unknownand unusual situations on their trek home, but this one.  She shookher head and looked to her first officer, noting that he too seemedto be at a loss."Does she have a name?" This from B'Elanna who hadn't said a wordsince entering the office.  Chakotay noticed the pensive look onher face and wondered what she must be thinking.  Paris was nowapparently a single father and she was his girlfriend.  What wouldbe her roll in his life now?The Doctor chose that moment to walk into his office, carrying thebaby now wrapped in a clean, pink baby blanket and contentedlysucking on a bottle.  "I've repaired Mr. Paris's injuries, for yetanother time," he stopped a few steps in, unsure of who to hand hisnewest patient to, "this little one is fine, just hungry," he saidwhile looking at the faces of the people gathered in his office.B'Elanna stood and walked over to him, "May I?" she asked whileholding out her arms, ending the Doctor's dilemma.  He gentlyhanded her over and B'Elanna returned to her seat, making herselfcomfortable while getting use to the feel of a baby in her arms. She didn't see the amazed and amused looks on the faces watchingher.After casting his own amazed look at the engineer, the Doctoraddressed his superior officers, "I have relieved Mr. Paris fromduty for the next week.  He'll need to stay here tonight, then hecan complete his recuperation in his quarters.  I have alsorelieved Mr. Dalby for the next twenty-four hours to rest."Dalby's head nodded in acknowledgment, his attention focused on thechair next to him.  "He hadn't decided on a name yet.  Just keptcalling her his little beauty," he stated as he watched B'Elanna,with growing confidence, handle the baby, one arm cradling hersmall form, the other hand holding the bottle for her to eat.  "Hewas afraid that you wouldn't like her.  That you wouldn't wanther," he continued bluntly while leaning over to run his fingersacross her small forehead, watching her eyes appraise the womanholding her.  In the past four days he had gotten to know more ofwho Paris the man really was than he had discovered during the lastfive years.  People expected him to act and be a certain waybecause of who he was, because of his family name, but that wasn'thim, not really.  Dalby now understood Janeway's faith in him,Harry's undying friendship and loyalty and B'Elanna's love.  Evenunderstood how Chakotay could get past his hatred and call the mana friend.  This away mission had been quite the eye opener.Janeway, Chakotay and the Doctor looked on as B'Elanna tore hereyes away from the baby's face and looked at the man across fromher.  She couldn't deny the fears Tom had voiced to him.  Shehadn't really ever wanted children, not after her own messed upchildhood and the fear that she could end up being like her ownmother.  But now, holding this small creature in her arms,memorizing her tiny features she found she wasn't so disinclined tothe idea.  Was she still scared?  Terrified.  Definitely.  But thatwas okay, she figured what new parent wasn't?  Smiling, shereturned her gaze to the baby's face, brown eyes looking intoinnocent dark, green ones, "People have been known to change."Chakotay's mouth fell open.  He had known her the longest, probablyknew almost as much, if not more, about her than Paris did, butthis was something he never thought he would see.  Janeway triednot to laugh at her friend's disbelief.  She, herself was prettyamazed at the sight before her.  Who would have thought thevolatile half-Klingon would have risen to the occasion, Tom wasgoing to be quite surprised."Doctor," Janeway turned her attention to the medical officer, "Iwant to be informed when Mr. Paris awakens.  There are somequestions he needs to answer.""I plan on keeping him sedated until morning.  Although I havehealed his injuries, his body needs time to recover from the shock. He's going to be quite stiff and sore for a few days.""Tomorrow morning then.  Mr. Dalby, you're dismissed," Janewayturned her attention to the crewman, "I'll let Commander Tuvok knowthat you'll be off duty until the day after tomorrow.  Also, pleasehave your report on my desk upon your return.""Aye, Captain," he confirmed her orders and reluctantly left afterplacing another kiss on the baby's forehead."What about the baby?" questioned Chakotay, "If Paris is out untiltomorrow and even then not going to be able to move around verywell, who's going to take care of our newest crew member?""Get that smug smile off your face, Commander," B'Elanna statedwhile scowling at her friend.  He gave her a who me? look at whichshe just rolled her eyes.  "I'll take care of her.""Okay, then who's going to take care of you?" he retorted."B'Elanna," although Janeway found the interaction amusing, thefact remained that her chief engineer had more knowledge andabilities with the warp core than she did with children, especiallyone so young and dependent on someone else."Captain," B'Elanna looked up, cutting off her commanding officerbefore she could voice her doubts, "She's Tom's daughter.  I'm notgoing to just turn her over to anyone.  Besides," she returned hergaze to the baby, removing the now empty bottle from her mouth,"I'm going to have to get use to taking care of her."Janeway made note that there was no doubt in the woman's voice asto how this situation was going to resolve itself.  Tom was thefather, so apparently, B'Elanna was going to be the mother.  Shebit her lip to keep herself from laughing.  The irony of things."Very well, if you think you'll be all right, she's yours for thenight," Janeway smiled at her junior officer, "why don't you checkwith Sam and see if maybe there's some baby things left over fromNaomi that she wouldn't mind loaning you."Chakotay took the empty bottle and helped B'Elanna out of thechair. "Thank you, Captain.  Doctor, can I see Tom before I leave?""Yes, of course, follow me," he stated, unable to keep the surpriseand awe out of his own voice while gesturing for the new mother toproceed him from the room.  He had always dreaded the day whenthese two would undoubtably start having children, but it neveroccurred to him that they could be so protective, gentle andloving.  He was going to have to rethink his previous assessments."I never thought the day would come when B'Elanna Torres wouldwilling say yes to taking care of a baby," stated Chakotay as theywatched her walk to Tom's bed side, expertly lifting the baby toher shoulder to burp her."This has certainly been a day full of surprises," Janeway ran atired hand across her forehead.  Although it appeared that Tom andB'Elanna were willing to take on the care and responsibility ofthis child, were they going to be able to give her all she needed,especially with their already full list of duties and obligations?*****B'Elanna Torres walked through the quiet corridors of the StarshipVoyager carrying a box with the last of her things, feeling contentwith herself and the world around her.  Life had certainly thrownher a curve and the last several months had been full of a lot ofchanges, ones that she was now willing to admit were for her owngood.After Tom was released from sickbay, they had talked for hoursabout what they wanted with their lives.  From work to theirrelationship to what they saw in the future, both wanting to makesure that they were heading in the same direction, not movingapart.  Neither of them wanted to jump into a family and then haveit fall apart later.  But as they would both come to find out, theyhad already made their decisions- they wanted to be together, thebaby was giving them the push they needed to put their fears andinsecurities behind them.And now, three months after the entrance of Melissa K'Lynne intotheir lives, they had not only combined their personal items, buttheir lives as well.  She entered their new quarters and lookedaround at the boxes and furniture scattered throughout.  Shakingher head at the disorganization, she set the box down and wonderedwhere they were going to put everything.  They didn't have a lot ofthings, but add in everything that had been given to them for babyand wedding gifts, they now had more than they knew what to dowith."You kept your face like that for too long and it's going to staythat way permanently." She jumped, never having heard the door open, and turned to facethe person entering the room.  Fighting to keep the scowl on herface, she scolded, "It's not nice to sneak upon someone like that."Tom smiled as he walked over to her, their sleeping daughtercradled snugly in his arms.  He leaned down to give his wife a kissand an apologetic smile.Although they had been given two weeks for a honeymoon, they hadn'twanted to leave their daughter for that long.  Their friends hadtried to reassure them that she would be well looked after and thatthey had nothing to worry about.  It didn't help.  They enjoyed thetime they had to spend together but could only take so much of notseeing and being able to hold their daughter.  After a week, theyended their solitude and while B'Elanna gathered the last of herthings from her old quarters, Tom had gone to retrieve theirdaughter from Ensign Wildman's care.  "So, where do you think we should we start?" he asked, lookingaround the room himself.She watched as his blue eyes scanned the various items scatteredthroughout the room and realized how natural it was to see himstanding there with a baby in his arms.  How could she have everthought that this was not what she wanted?  She couldn't believethat she had fought him about starting a family."Earth to B'Elanna," Tom softly called to her, noting the far awaylook in her brown eyes.Not wanting to give up the peace and happiness she was feeling, shesuggested, "How about we just sit for a while.  It's not like wedon't have time to sort through things later.  After all,technically we are still on our honeymoon."Smiling in understanding, he responded, "I have no problem withtaking some time for our little family," the tone in his voicereflecting how happy he was at her request.  He had never thoughtthe day would actually come when they would be a family.  For solong they had kept each other at arms length, dancing round theidea of a commitment, never talking about it unless forced to.  Andnow, thanks to one little child, he had what he had always wanted-a family of his own to love and cherish.Gently placing their sleeping daughter in her mother's arms, Tomcleared away the things stacked on the couch, pulled over thecoffee table and reclined back against the couch cushions, kickingoff his shoes and putting his feet up on the table.  B'Elannajoined him, fitting perfectly into the crook of his arm, with herhead resting on his shoulder, her shoeless feet next to his. Nothing was said as they sat together, enjoying the time they hadto just be with one another.