[turbolift - oh, shit]

[rn_chapel]

It was time.

The contractions had started when she was asleep, and Tina was so used to sleeping poorly that at first she didn't recognize what was waking her up. By the time she figured it out, she was at about twenty minutes between contractions. She got up and sent Jim a message.

Private to Jim Kirk (original-fineExperiencing early labor stage! Don't

Comments

[original_fine]

Jim had been waiting anxiously ever since the first message, busying himself as best he could and unable to concentrate on anything for long. When he got the second, he hastily tapped out a "yes, coming" message and rushed to sickbay, a mix of tension and eagerness in him not unlike a dangerous mission.

[axe_kicker]

Martha showed up a few minutes later, hair sleep-rumpled. She was wearing civvies for once - dark blue pants and a light pink shirt, both fairly worn.

She blinked at James for a few seconds before managing to form a sentence: "Where's Tina?"

[original_fine]

Jim looked awake--but only because he hadn't slept.

"I don't know," he confessed. "I know it takes her a little longer to get places than it did. I should... I mean, there's probably nothing to worry about."

Yet.

[axe_kicker]

"Oh," Martha said, nodding. "Right."

She waved vaguely at Dr Kuhn, and propped herself up against a wall, blinking furiously.

[axe_kicker]

It took another ten minutes for Martha's sleep-fogged brain to clear, but by the time it did, she thought both Dr Kuhn and Jim were looking more than a little anxious.

"She should be here by now," she said. It wasn't quite a question.

[original_fine]

Jim, who had been thinking the same thing, felt his jaw clenching tighter. He hated waiting--it was going to be bad enough, with Tina here, waiting to know everything was okay.

Not knowing where she was was worse.

Before he knew it, he was pacing in tight, controlled little bursts. Finally one set of steps took him to the comm unit.

Tina didn't answer.

"I should check her quarters," he said.

[axe_kicker]

Martha was already pulling out her PADD and tapping in her security overrides.

"No lifesigns in her quarters," she reported, then realised how that sounded. "But... that probably just means she's already left."

She frowned. "Wait, that's weird. One of the lifttubes reports comm failure."

[original_fine]

Jim had suggested it to give him something to do. But if Martha had better information...

"Which one?"

[axe_kicker]

"One stuck between Tina's quarters and here. Two lifesigns." Martha looked at Dr Kuhn, who was opening a drawer and thrusting an emergency kit into her hands.

"I have to stay on duty," he explained. "I'll send a team."

"Right," Martha agreed, and started running down the hall, kit swinging from her hands. She didn't bother looking back - she knew Jim was right behind her.

[original_fine]

He was. Jim followed, knowing she knew her way there better than he did, even if he could probably run faster. What was going on in this place? That a pregnant woman could get stuck in a lift without even communications? He felt his anger rising, and it was manageable, better than the fear.

At least she wasn't alone. But who was she with?

[axe_kicker]

Martha checked her PADD again when they hit the tube. The lift was one and a half floors down - so one floor down would be best.

She tapped in her clearance to the maintenance hatch set in the wall, ready to tear it free and climb down the ladder, when she caught sight of Jim from the corner of her eye. He looked furious, and underneath it, scared.

Give him something to do, she thought.

"Help me with this hatch?" she requested.

[original_fine]

He didn't need coddling. He had years of training, both theoretical and in practice, for this sort of thing.

It did feel different, probably, with Tina and Darcy on the line. As it would now with Bones and Spock. And having something to take it out on was not unwelcome.

He nodded, joining her and prizing the hatch open. If whoever was in there was capable of getting out, they would have.

"I'll go," he said.

[axe_kicker]

"You can't," Martha said.

Not that she didn't think for a second that Jim wouldn't follow her down, but did he really think she was going to let a little malfunction blind her into letting a sort-of civilian go into possible danger first?

Before he could argue - or try to physically prevent it - she swung into the tight space and climbed down.

[original_fine]

Jim was not a civilian--hadn't been since 17. 13, if he was counting. But he should have expected her response, and dammit, it was true he couldn't fit through the opening that was left in the actual turbolift.

He was going to have words with whoever had been responsible for this.