With Arms Wide Open

Chapter 24

"You called Mother?" Jaal asked, standing before Sahuna in the Med Bay.

She turned away from the files she was reading and looked at him, rubbing her hands together before her. "Ah Jaal, I'm glad to see you. I have something very important I need to speak with you about." He watched as she switched weight from one leg to the other, looking at the floor as she carefully chose what she was going to say. It was so strange to see her like this after so many years of leadership in the resistance. She was always so head strong, so sure of everything, but he couldn't understand what had her so on edge? "It's about Sara." She said, barely above a whisper.

He froze as the worry that he had tried so hard to keep at bay slowly crept forward. The closer Sara came to the end of the pregnancy he found every meeting with his mother or Dr. T'Perro more unbearable. With every paused breath or hesitation they took his mind would jump straight to the darkest possibilities, and it didn't change now. Was something wrong? He was just with Sara at her recent check-up, everything was fine. Had something changed? Before he could ask her eyes lifted from the floor, staring straight at him. "Sara can not face the Archon, at least not yet. Not until the baby is born."

His fear grew instantly, threatening to consume him, but before he could allow it he had to ask, "I-is there a reason for your concern? Is something wrong?"

She quickly waved her hands before her and shook her head. "No, no, Sara and the child are fine Jaal, but that is not the point." He sighed heavily, holding his face in his hands, allowing her words to extinguish the swell of emotions within him. Sahuna could see the toll this all was taking on her son. The sleepless nights he spent in the Lab, the loss of appetite. She worried for him, as well as Sara and her soon to be grandchild. She needed to find a way to help, and this was the only way she knew how. "Sara is expected to give birth within the month. And while the pregnancy has thus far been without issue that is not to say it will remain that way. She is human Jaal, about to give birth to a half Angaran child that is much larger, and in almost every way much different. It will be the first labor of its kind, we MUST err on the side of caution. She must put her duty to defeat the Archon on hold." She waited, eyeing him carefully in an attempt to anticipate his reaction, but what happened was not at all what she expected.

His hands fell from his face, revealing a smile and tear stained cheeks. He rushed her, wrapping her up in a tight embrace. All went quiet, nothing but the sound of dull beeps from incoming data and medical stat alerts. He stood with his mother wrapped in his arms as he tried to understand the emotions sweeping over him. Was he thankful? Was that it? Surely it was more. The very thing he had been fearing all this time had finally been agreed upon by another. It was no longer him just being over protective or a 'worry wart'. His fear was finally justified. Validated. "I couldn't agree more." He replied, squeezing her ever so slightly more. "I just haven't had the heart to tell her. Or perhaps it was more fear than heart." He released her and took a step back. "So much is on the line. I can only imagine the weight she is carrying, or how she must feel. She's the Pathfinder. Her duty to ending this war will not be so easily swayed. And even if it could, would it not be selfish of me to ask her to put it aside for the child? For me? Her overly worried husband."

"Oh my son," She smiled as she reached out to caress his cheek. "You are also carrying the burdens too, do you not see it?" She dried his cheek with the pad of her thumb. "I do."

"But-" He began when she shushed him quietly. "I'm sure she knows she has more than one duty now, and while it will ultimately be her decision to make, I feel she may be more easily persuaded than you may think." Before he could respond the door to the Med Bay opened. He turned around, shocked of what stood before him. The whole crew on the Tempest crowded around the entrance all wearing smiles and smirks.