Seven Shades of Hell

Posted on Tue Feb 25th, 2020 @ 4:42pm by Commander Tressa Brislan-Antilles & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 15: Old Ghosts
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 0930Hrs, December 7th, 2390

Rachael Yamaguchi was standing outside the counseling offices, she had been told that she needed to see this person but she didn't know who it was.

She didn't want to talk about what was bothering her but she suddenly heard her name being called as she turned to find Xavier Brislan coming towards her, she caught him out of the air as he leapt at her.

Rachael hugged Xavier close to her as she tried not to cry, she had missed her friend. "What are you doing here...?" Rachael asked softly.
"Does your mom know where you are?"

"Yeah, we're helping her move in her new office!" the boy said, hugging Rachael.

We live here now, Aunt Tressa is the new Counselor. Kaylee's mental tone was still shy, but Rachael could feel the girl's love even though she was out of sight.

"Your mom is the new Chief counselor?" Rachael inquired.

"Yes! We have a new class too and I have a new vid game, will you play with us tonight?" Xavier asked.

And have dinner with us?

Rachael smiled. Of course she though to the two children. I do have to talk to your mom.... she wants some of my time the teen smiled. Kaylee.. where are you?

Here! A moment later Kaylee was in Rachael's arms, laughing.

Rachael gently held the little girl against her as she smiled. God, I've missed you guys. She tapped the door chime in silence.

"Enter."

Rachael tapped the door release as she entered Tressa's office. "Tressa." Rachael greeted her friend.

"Rachael," the woman said with a smile. "Oh dear, you have a Kaylee on your arm. I'll call Medical and have it removed...."

Kaylee laughed in Rachael's arms as her brother ran back in. "Okay you two, back to our quarters for now. Let's get your rooms finished by dinnertime," Tressa said. She put a box in Xavier's hands, hoping it would slow the boy down. It didn't.

Rachael gently placed Kaylee so she could run off with her brother as they went back home. "So... Tressa.. what are you doing here?" before she felt the other woman draw her into a hug, she relished the contact as she had deeply missed her friends.

"I had a chance for reassignment, and I have only used my psychiatric education within the context of being a medical doctor and first responder. Opportunities like this don't come along every day," the doctor said with a grin. "Now, what is new with you?"

"I could complain.." Rachael responded quietly. "I suspect my issues with grow..." she gently placed a hand over her belly. "I still can't believe it... I'm pregnant...."

Tressa exhaled slowly. "That is big news," she said, motioning towards the couch. "How do you feel about that?"

Rachael went over to the sofa and she sat down. "I have no idea... Paul and I didn't rush into it, we thought we'd taken all precautions..." she sighed. "we wanted our first time to be a gentle loving affair... I had no idea..." she stopped.

"You didn't know you could conceive the first time?"

"I didn't expect it to take one time Tressa..." Rachael sighed. "I thought it was just sex... nothing ventured and nothing risked.." she sighed. "and now... my childhood is over.. I'm about to become a mother...like mom..."

Tressa moved towards the replicator. "We certainly have a lot to talk about, may I offer you a drink?" she asked.

Rachael nodded her head. "Sure.." she closed her eyes as she felt the fear of what was coming, the choices she would have to make and everything else. "I'm scared Tressa.." she admitted.

The counselor returned to the couch with two cups, handing one to the girl. "I cannot imagine," she said. "I think it is very reasonable to be scared. Raising a child is a big responsibility. I doesn't mean the end of your life so much as the beginning of a new one, with a new role."

Rachael accepted the glass as her hands shook. "You have no idea Tressa..." she whispered. "My brother struggled with watching his wife suffer... she had her issues with it, no working out, no long hours and all that crap... Celeste is a little bigger then I am.... I'm about 40 pounds lighter and six inches shorter then she is..." she almost whimpered. "How am I gonna carry a child to term....?"

"That is terrifying, but there are other options, and your obstetrician will be able to help you." Tressa's eyes went distant for a moment and a slow smile appeared. "Rachael, I have seen so many frightened mothers in labor, and when their child is born it is all forgotten. In that moment you begin to fall in love," she said softly. "Did I ever tell you how I came to have Kaylee and Xavier?"

Rachael shook her head. "No.... I never heard that story..." she was going to say something else but she wanted to hear this story first

"I was working at the Academy in San Francisco when I received the message that my brother and his wife had died. They worked for Starfleet Intelligence, and I didn't often hear from Aiden because of his job. The next day I was brought to the Chief Surgeon's office and there they were; my niece and nephew, two five-years whom I had not met before that day. Oh I had seen pictures of them of course, and videos, and Aiden was planning to relocate to Mars at the end of the year when their contract ended. But everything had changed now."

Tressa stopped for a drink of water. "So these two kids are here staring at me, and Xavier looks just like a mini-Aiden. They had little backpacks on, and the Chief told me that I was their guardian for now since they had not been able to notify their mother's family and they were closer to Earth. They looked so... lost. We didn't hug, I held my hands out and they took them, out of habit I think, and I took them home. They asked me when they were going to see Mommy and Daddy." She stopped, holding the young woman's gaze. "It has been a journey Rachael, we have grown to know and love one another. I am fortunate that their mother's family on Betazed has not pushed for custody but they never completely gave up their rights. We learn from one another every day, and they have made me a better person. But if you had asked me that day if they would be with me years later I would have said no, who am I to take care of two children?"

She gently took Rachael's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "You have begun a journey too, but not alone. You have your family, and you have me. This is a safe place," she said, moving her free hand in a circle. "This is where we will talk through all of your fears, and your plans, and what you had for breakfast," she said with a smile. "This is where the rest of your life begins."

Rachael looked down at her now flat stomach and abdomen where her baby slept, where it would grow and develop into her own son or her own daughter. "Alright..." she paused. "I had no idea...." she admitted. "I'll need to contact Paul... let him know.. but... I don't know..."

What she left unsaid was that Paul Harrison might not wish to be a young father, he might run away from his responsibilities in the matter as this was his baby too as she smiled at Tressa