Surgery

"I'm afraid surgery is our only viable option, Helena" Ed Spencer said in an apologetic voice. He stared at the X-rays in front of them. He had yet to meet her eyes.

Helena looked at her friend and co-worker with a blank expression. The words Ed had spoken barely penetrated the fog enveloping her mind. The years of medical training had not prepared the mother for the plight of her child. Right now Helena Koenig was in the role of a mother instead of a doctor.

She had suspected Emma was ill, but never had anything this severe. Emma ran a low-grade fever for several days before Helena chose to take her in to see Ed. She made it a policy to leave her family's medical treatment to either Ed or Bob. It kept their treatment more objective. After they had been in the treatment room a few minutes Emma's temperature had spiked to 104 and Ed immediately ordered a series of tests. The results floored Helena. X-rays showed, and Ultrasound had confirmed, a small tumor on Emma's left ureter near her kidney. Soon it would obstruct the flow from the ureter; if the tumor were not removed, would cause Emma's body to become so septic that she would die.

"Of course we could consult with Drs. Mathias or Vincent, but you and I can both see what the answer will be." He turned to her and took her hand. "Look, why don't you go and talk to John? Then come back and see me. Emma is resting now and by then I will have the rest of the lab tests."

John Koenig looked up as his wife came through the door. As he observed her expression and posture he dropped everything. Getting up he went around his desk and took her in his arms. They had been through many trials together and he had never seen her look this way. Puzzled he was about to ask her about it. She had mentioned taking Emma in to Medical Center today for a check up. Helena had told him she thought it was something small that would be put right with a round of antibiotics. He felt a rush of fear and pulled away, looking Helena in the eyes.

"Is Emma all right?" It was all he could mutter.

Helena broke away and sat down on the couch. John handed her his freshly filled cup of coffee. She took a sip and breathed deeply, trying to compose herself. As she began explaining, he sat down next to her and took her hands. He listened intently, asking few questions. When she was finished they walked back to Medical Center together.

As they walked into Medical Center Ed Spencer was examining the latest lab results. Setting them aside, he got up to greet them. It was agonizing to be the bearer of such grave news and worse still when it was the child of such cherished friends. Ed could tell by John's set jaw and Helena's erect posture that they had resolved themselves to pursue the best treatment possible for their daughter. Helena reached out and touched Ed on the arm.

"We're ready Ed, go ahead and schedule Emma's surgery. I'd like Bob to scrub in with you though...I...uh... John and I will wait in my office." She turned to her husband.

"Can I see her?" John asked.

Ed nodded, "Sure John. She's in Examination Room three." He turned to Helena. "I called Bob in a few minutes ago and we have the surgical suite ready now. We should be operating within the hour. Why don't you go with John?"

When they entered the room Emma was sleeping. John reached over and brushed his hand against her forehead. It was hard to believe she was so sick. Just a few days ago she had been begging her Uncle Alan for an Eagle ride. At just three years it was already obvious that she had a growing interest in flying. John wondered if she would get the chance to develop that interest.

When the nurse entered and told them that they were going to prepare her for surgery he leaned over and placed a tender kiss on his daughter's cheek. As he pulled away her eyes fluttered open. Seeing her daddy, Emma gave him a weak smile and drifted back to sleep. The nurse wheeled her into another room.

John found the waiting to be excruciating. Not a patient man, he wanted results quickly. It was not in his nature to sit back and let someone else control the situation. Realizing his impotence only made his anxiety worse. He got up to look across Medical Center to the operating room. It was a small office and he done so many times already. Looking at her husband, Helena realized what he was going through. John was very protective over his family, especially she and Emma. She settled on the sofa with her slate, but was sure she wouldn't be able to concentrate.

As soon as Alan Carter's Eagle had landed Pete Garforth approached him with the news about Emma. In shock and disbelief he headed straight to Medical Center. When he entered Helena's office both the Koenigs were there. Helena was sitting on the sofa sipping coffee and trying to keep her attention on the case histories in front of her. John was pacing the room like a caged animal. Alan immediately sensed the tension they both were feeling. They looked up as he entered.

"I came as soon as I got the news. How is she?" His brow was furrowed with concern.

"They took her into surgery about a half hour ago. Ed said he would contact us as soon as he knew something," Helena responded. Her face was drawn with worry.

"What happened? All Pete said was that she was being operated on. She was fine when I left. Even begging for an Eagle ride, as usual." Alan had tried to encourage Emma's love of flying. He had sensed even as young as she was that she would develop into an instinctive flier, a rare commodity in their tiny community.

Helena went to the dispenser and drew Alan a cup of coffee. She could understand his bewilderment, after all she was still dealing with her own issues over the circumstances of Emma's illness. After he was seated she began to explain.

"The evening after you left for C-2 she began to run a low grade fever. I didn't think it as very serious so I gave her an analgesic and put her to bed early. The next day she was running about as usual. Even when she refused to eat I thought everything was fine. She was still upset because John wouldn't let her have a slate like Alex, so I thought that was it. That night she couldn't keep anything on her stomach." Helena sighed and closed her eyes. "The next morning I brought her in to see Ben for a check, thinking it might be an ear infection at most. After some routine tests they found she had a urinary tract infection. X-rays showed the cause was a tumor on one of her ureters restricting flow from her kidneys." Helena paused. Tears were welling in her eyes.

"What can they do?" The words came out sharper that Alan had intended.

Helena took a handkerchief from John. "Right now they are going to try to remove the tumor and identify it. After it is identified we will know if it is likely to spread to the rest of the body. If it is too invasive and can't be removed they will have to remove her kidney." Helena's hands began to tremble. It was obvious the stress of the past few hours was taking its toll on her. "If I had just brought her in sooner the infection wouldn't be as serious. What kind of doctor am I?" She sobbed openly.

John moved in immediately to comfort her. Alan knew from his expression that he was as worried for her as he was for his daughter. "Helena you can't blame yourself, there's no way we could have known. You know that if we had been back on Earth it would have been much worse. We would have kept treating her with antibiotics, thinking it was a virus or cold. It might have been too late before we caught it then." He held his wife close hoping the tears would subside.

After a quick word with John, Alan got up and quietly left. There wasn't much he could do for them sitting in there. Kate Goldburg had Richard with her and would have her hands full. Alan decided to run a quick errand then pick up Alex from school. John had promised to call as soon as they had any word at all.

Sandra Benes was working quietly at her workbench when the door chimed. A quick glance at the commpost told her it was Alan Carter. Activating a switch at her console, she gained him admittance into her sanctuary. Few people were invited into her small apartment, but Alan, an old and trusted friend was always welcome. She gave him a fond smile as he approached. Leaning down Alan kissed her lightly on the cheek, then took a seat next to her workbench.

Sensing his mood, she dropped what she was doing and turned to face him. "How was the trip to Ceres II?" She inquired, testing the waters.

"You know the old saying...A nice place to visit." He smiled back, but it was devoid of his usual light-heartedness.

"I heard about Emma Koenig. Has there been any word?" There was no need to ask if he knew. It was obvious he did.

"I just left Medical. John promised to call when she gets out of surgery. Helena is taking it pretty hard."

Sandra leaned forward placing one hand benignly on Alan's knee. "Perhaps you are, too?"

"I just can't believe it. She was so healthy a few days ago. It's just hard to think of her as being that sick. She's such a little girl." He sat up and reached into his pocket. "One of the boys from C-2 sent this over." He handed Sandra a small crystal about the size of a lima bean.

Sandra detected that Alan did not want to discuss Emma's situation any further. "Thank you, it is a new mineral I want to try using in an upscale version of the slates. I've been redesigning them." She turned back to her workstation and opened a drawer. "Speaking of which, I know you did not need this until later on in the month, but I had some extra time so I got finished early." She removed a smaller version of the slate that hung from Alan's belt. Alan's expression brightened at the sight of the smaller slate.

"Actually, I came by hoping you could get it done sooner. I wanted to give it to Emma as soon as she comes around." He took her hand and held it tight. "Thanks, love."

"No thanks necessary. That is what old friends are for." Turning her attention to the slate she activated it. "I made a few modifications in the programming since we discussed it. Let me show you." Alan took his seat again, listening intently to Sandra's instructions. The slate was programmed for a variety of games and simulations, but would not allow her to open doors. Sandra also programmed it so she could communicate with Alan's slate, but sending text messages only. Alan knew this would not satisfy Emma for long, but it was plenty sufficient for a three-year-old.

"Wonderful! She is gonna love it!" He exclaimed as Sandra finished demonstrating it for him. Emma had been very upset when Alex, being school aged, was issued a slate, but she was denied one due to shortages in supply. John Koenig was not going to play favorites.

Sandra scowled. "You spoil that child, Alan. You should settle down and have your own before Emma is completely ruined." She shook her head. "A three year old with a slate, really!" She turned back to her workbench and picked up a computer board making a show of examining it.

Alan took this as his cue to leave. Getting up he placed another kiss on her cheek. "You really are the greatest, Sahn. Thanks again, love."

"Alan," She called when he had reached the door. "Just make sure the commander does not know that I had anything to do with it."

Alan's next stop was Alpha's growing school area. Alan waited outside Alex's classroom at the end of the school day. The five year old had only started school a few weeks ago and chattered enthusiastically about it at every opportunity. Alex also made sure Emma heard how he was learning how to use his newly issued computer slate, which drove her mad with envy. She insisted that she was a big girl and could use a slate too. Her father was just as adamant that she couldn't attend school-- or have a slate-- until she turned five, like all the other children. Emma had been driving the entire family crazy with her wish for a slate. Alan grinned and patted the next best thing, waiting in his

pocket, and hoped he could give it to her soon.

In a few minutes the five-year-olds came pouring out of the classroom and streaming down the corridor in brownian motion, meeting up with parents or someone sent to get them. Alex took a bounding leap and came grinning into Alan's arms. "Where's Daddy?"

"He's in Medical center with your mom and Emma. Emma's sick."

"Okay," Alex said with cheery disregard. "Are we going home?"

Alan swung the little boy to his back while Alex giggled. Alan caught Jenna Silberstein's eye and grinned. "John asked me to pick him up," Alan explained.

Jenna nodded. "He sent me a message."

"Where are we going?" Alex asked as they headed down the hall.

"Out to the Eagle Bay for a while. I need to talk to Mr. Garforth about an Eagle."

"All right!" Alex said triumphantly. Alex loved any chance to be close to the Eagles.

Alan made Alex promise to stay within sight then sought out Pete to work out a problem he'd detected with the Eagle he had flown this morning. He talked with Pete for no more than 10 minutes, making arrangements to tow the Eagle further into the hangar for maintenance. As Pete left to begin the process, Alan heard something above him.

"Look at me, Uncle Alan!"

Alan looked up to find Alex peering at him from the upper support grid of the Eagle. His first reaction was to shout at him to get down. If he fell, Alan wasn't sure Helena would survive having two children as patients in Medical Center at the same time. He wasn't about to test that theory. Then he relaxed. Alex wasn't in danger; he was only doing what any little boy would do given the circumstances. Alan climbed quickly up to join him.

"Great view from up here," Alan said with a grin.

"Yeah!" Alex agreed. "Wait'll I tell Emma!"

Alan nodded. Assuming Emma was ok, she would be insisting on climbing an Eagle next time she was out here. He hoped Helena didn't find out.

"Where is Emma?" Alex asked.

"I told you, she's in Medical Center."

"Mama doesn't let us stay there with her. She says it 'stracts her."

"Emma's sick, Alex." Alan said patiently, realizing the little boy really didn't understand.

Alex nodded soberly, then turned to Alan and said, "I'm hungry. Are you going to have dinner with us?"

"You and I are going to eat in the cafeteria."

"Okay."

"Want to watch them move the Eagle before we go eat?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay, we'll watch from my office." Alan wanted to make sure Alex was well out of the way. He watched carefully while the little boy climbed down.

The Koenigs were sitting in each other's arms when Ed entered Helena's office. Neither noticed his presence until he crouched down beside them. Untangling from each other they assumed a more attentive position on the sofa inviting him to sit beside them. With eager anticipation they waited for him to take his seat and make his report.

"I think I have good news." He began. "We were able to remove the tumor with a minimal amount of trauma. The ureter appears to be unobstructed and allowing a normal flow."

Relief washed across John's face. One worry was eliminated. Her kidney was saved. He noticed that Helena did not completely share his relief and his heart sunk again. "What is it? I thought this was good."

Helena looked over at him and took his hand. "It is good. Very good, but we still aren't sure what type of tumor it is or what its chances of returning or showing up somewhere else are."

John comprehended that the danger was not entirely past. "How soon can we find out?"

"Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be rushed. I'll have the results in the morning likely. I'll call you as soon as they are in." Ed got to his feet. "In the meantime, you two look done in. Since Emma is out of danger for the moment, why don't you go home and get some rest? I'll call you if there are any changes."

Helena shook her head. She couldn't even think of leaving Emma. She turned to John. "I'll stay here in case she comes around, but Ed's right: you should go. You have a base to run. You need your rest."

John knew it was pointless to try to argue with Helena. Besides, she was right. They were no use to anyone if they were completely exhausted. He had two little boys and a base that needed him, too. He knew Emma could be in no better hands. Pulling Helena close to him he whispered, "Alright, I'll run by Main Mission and check on things. Then I'll see to the boys. After that I'm going to try to rest." He tapped the slate on his belt. "Call me as soon as you know anything, ok?"

"I promise." She replied as she reached up to kiss his lips. "Now get out of here and relax a little. We'll be fine."

Alan and Alex joined Carolyn Devers and her son Josh in the cafeteria. Alex told his buddy all about his afternoon at the Eagle hangar while Carolyn updated Alan on Emma's condition. John Koenig joined them about halfway through the meal. He looked worn out and worried. Emma was out of surgery and stable, but not recovered from the anesthesia yet. Ed and Bob felt they had gotten the entire tumor and she would make a complete recovery. The lab would be determining whether the tumor was malignant or might spread.

Alex greeted his father cheerily, and John seemed to take comfort from his son's lively presence. "Alex, do you think you could spend the night with Alan tonight?"

"Really? Yeah!"

"We'll be fine, John." Alan assured him.

"Kate will keep Richard. I've already talked to them. Helena won't leave Emma, so I'm going to take her some supper. She'll be spending the night in Medical Center with her, but I'd like to stay with them as much as possible." John explained the family's complicated logistics for the evening. "I'll meet you two back here for breakfast."

Alan agreed and John kissed his son goodnight and hurried away.

Helena looked at the form of her sleeping daughter and breathed a sigh of relief. Emma was having a very difficult time recovering from the effects of the anesthesia. It was not an entirely unusual occurrence for children to become nauseated after the fact. It was very difficult for the parents also. Watching a young child retching and moaning, not quite awake, but not entirely unaware was enough to tear the heart from any parent. Helena wondered why she hadn't seen it before. Certainly, she had sat by many bedsides wiping the brow of a child and reassuring the parents that it was a natural reaction and nothing to be alarmed about. The difference she knew was that it was another person's child before. She was detached because as a doctor she had looked at the situation from a physician's standpoint, not understanding the torment mother went through watching her child suffer and being unable to do anything about it. The tables had turned now though and here she sat at Emma's bedside, wiping her brow, whispering consolations, and wishing she could do anything for her.

Wiping a stray curl from her daughter's face, Helena felt a fierce protective instinct. Not unlike the feeling a lioness has for her cub. She must protect at all costs and die if necessary. She smiled to herself, perhaps even though they had been trapped on this rock traveling through space for years they weren't that far from nature.

With Emma resting easy for the moment Helena sat back in her chair and relaxed. She should try to get some sleep, but she knew that until her daughter was out of danger and resting comfortably she could not rest herself.

Quiet times like this always made her pensive. John had called her a pocket philosopher. She and Victor had spent many evenings, when they weren't fighting for their survival, pondering the powers that be. She knew if Victor were here right now he would tell her how lucky she was and she would agree, though not for the reasons that he would make. It was true enough that the Alphans had been fortunate. After years in space they had found suitable habitation, though less than perfect. They were now starting to live as they had dreamed of for those many years, married and starting families. All that aside she felt her good fortune had started long before the discovery of Loki. It had started at Breakaway. She knew she would never have fallen in love with her soulmate had she been anywhere else. And because of that incident she felt completed. Three wonderful children and a loving husband had been the result of that event and she would never regret it.

Emma began to stir again and Helena rose from her seat to swab her forehead as Laurie, the nurse on call, entered the room.

"Dr Spencer prescribed an antiemetic for her." She said as she added a yellow liquid to Emma's IV.

Helena looked up and smiled. She remembered from Laurie's personnel file that she had been a pediatric nurse back on Earth before breakaway. She had transferred to Alpha after a broken marriage. Her experience was invaluable to the Alphans now.

"The anesthesia is tough on these little ones." She continued. She leaned over Emma placing a caring hand on her forehead. "Hopefully the worst is over for her. Buzz if you need me."

Emma was starting to shiver and Helena was pulling the covers close around her when John entered with a tray from the cafeteria. Placing the tray on a table nearby he leaned over and kissed his wife.

"How's she doing?" He said taking a seat next to his daughter on the bed.

"It's been rough. She's been ill from the anesthesia, but Ed just gave her something for that. She'll probably be fitful through the night though."

John could see that Helena was exhausted and a night sitting up with Emma would take a toll on her, but he also knew that barring the emotional strain Helena had the stamina of a workhorse. He didn't even ask if she wanted a break, he knew she would refuse. So, he took the cloth from her hand and began to swab Emma's brow.

Conceding Emma's care to John, Helena sat down heavily in the chair next to the table where John had left the tray. She glanced at the food tray but pushed it aside untouched. "How are the boys?"

"Alex is thrilled to spend the night with Uncle Alan and Richard is giving Kate fits." He smiled at the thought. Kate had never been his favorite person. He rinsed out the cloth and continued to swab Emma's brow. "She looks so peaceful now. Like an angel."

Helena sat and watched John care for their daughter. There was a special bond there that could only be shared by a father and daughter and no matter what happened it would always be there. It gave her a warm feeling inside. She had known John had not been as excited as she had about having children, but he was a wonderful father.

John broke in to her reverie. "You should eat. It's the house specialty, you know. Vegetable Lasagna, just like mom used to make."

His efforts at humor brought a faint smile to her face. One of the things she loved about John Koenig was his ability to brighten her heart in its darkest moments. It was part of the unbreakable bond they shared.

Reluctantly, he returned the cloth to the basin and turned to Helena. "I guess I'd better go. I have to check in at Main Mission and then I'll be back. I told Alex he could visit Emma in the morning." He leaned over to kiss Helena goodbye. "Try to eat a little something and get some rest. I'll check back soon. Call me if you need me, OK?"

Helena nodded her head and returned John's kiss. After he left she rubbed her weary eyes. Sliding the untouched food tray aside she returned to her daughter's bedside.

Alan took both Alex and Josh to the gym to play soccer with a number of other children. Just before bedtime they walked Josh home and headed to Alan's quarters. After a bath, Alan tucked Alex into bed on the sofa in the living room.

"Uncle Alan, will Emma be better tomorrow?" Alex asked.

"I hope so, cobber."

"What did they do to her?"

Alan considered what to say to the five-year-old without scaring him or worrying him while still letting him know how serious the problem was. He started cautiously. "Remember when you told me your Momma let you use one of her microscopes to look at cells?"

Alex nodded.

"Some of the cells in Emma's body grew the wrong way. They were making her sick and Dr. Ed and Dr. Bob took those cells out."

"Will it hurt?"

"It may for a little while, but it'll let her get well."

"How do they know which cells to take out?" Alex asked drowsily.

"Mostly because they know a lot about how your body works. They also have tests they know how to do to tell them what's going wrong. The way Mr. Garforth and I know when something goes wrong with one of the Eagles."

Alex nodded seriously.

"Get some sleep now, mate." Alan advised. "We'll check on Emma in the morning after breakfast." Alex closed his eyes, yawning.

It was still early, but Alan headed for bed with his slate, turning down the lights to keep from disturbing the boy.

Late that night Alan woke to hear a rustle and a sob. Alan turned over groggily. "Alex?"

"I had a bad dream," the little boy sobbed. "Emma was crying."

Alan put his arm around the little boy who settled against him and was quickly breathing slowly and steadily, soundly asleep once more. Alan dropped quickly back to sleep as well.

The next morning Alex was again his lively and cheery self. When John met them for breakfast Alan told him about Alex's nightmare. John sighed and nodded. With three children, it wasn't unusual to have one awake with a nightmare, and despite his daytime bravado, Alex was probably picking up the adults' concern for Emma.

Alex asked again about visiting Emma.

"Sure, Tiger. We'll all go check on her," John said. "Then I'll take you to school." John turned to Alan. "I'm going to try to get Helena to go home and sleep this morning. Could you clear your schedule and stay with Em this morning?"

"It's already done," Alan said quietly. "I've got plenty to do by slate."

"Thanks," John clapped him on the shoulder, and they headed for medical center together.

"Mama?"

The call startled Helena back into reality. On and off through the night she had been reminiscing about her own childhood relationship with her father. Looking up, she was greeted by the sparkling green eyes of her daughter. Smiling, she kissed Emma on the forehead. "How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"Hurts Mama." Emma pointed to the site where Ed had made the incision.

At that moment Ed came into the room smiling. His demeanor relieved Helena.

"Good morning ladies." He looked at Emma. "How are you feeling today, precious?"

"Belly hurts. I'm hungry."

Ed smiled. It was a good sign that her appetite had returned. Removing his slate from his belt he ordered an analgesic and some broth for her. "Uncle Ed will give you something to make your belly feel better and you'll have something to eat soon. I'm going to talk to your Mommy now, OK?"

" 'kay." She replied as she turned her attention to a cloth storybook that her mother handed her.

Turning to Helena the grin returned to Ed's face. "I know I should wait for John, but I knew you would want to know as soon as possible and I just couldn't wait."

Helena felt the butterflies in her stomach. She knew it had to be good news by the way Ed glowed, but part of her was afraid to know, dreading the worst.

"It's going to be ok Helena! The tumor turned out to benign." He widened his stance preparing to catch Helena as he saw her face blanche. "She's okay, Helena," he repeated.

She was about to take her slate from her belt to call John when she saw him walk through the door, Alex and Alan in tow. He stopped when he saw Helena and looked from Helena to Ed. Drawing the wrong conclusion he strode to Helena's side, taking her in his arms. "How bad?" he asked Ed.

Ed sensed his misunderstanding. "No John. It's not bad. Emma's going to be fine. I think Helena is just a little over tired." He helped John lead her to a chair.

"I'm...I'm all right. I...I'm just so relieved," she stammered. She took the glass of water Ed offered her. She then smiled at her son and opened her arms to welcome him into her lap. He hugged her tightly, which lifted her spirits more than anything else.

Emma lay still, watching the others, but she smiled when Alan moved to sit beside her on the bed. "How're you feeling princess?"

"My tummy hurts." She said, with an imperious glare at Dr. Ed, who had promised to make the hurt go away.

"It'll get better soon, I'm sure." Alan comforted her. "Hey, I brought you something." He pulled the little slate out of his pocket. Her eyes went round and her mouth made a perfect "o".

"A slate!" she said with awe, glancing up at her father as she took it from Uncle Alan. "My slate?" she asked.

"Made just specially for you," Alan said with a grin. "It doesn't do everything Alex's does," he said quickly, before her father could protest. "It can't open doors, or call anyone but me, and you have to write what you say to me, no pictures or sound."

"Write with letters?" Emma asked, touching the screen and each button reverently.

"That's right. So you'll have to learn to write quickly." Alan said, now paying more attention to Emma than her parents, as she began to explore the toy.

"I will," Emma said earnestly.

Alex was leaning forward in his mother's lap to look at his sister's toy. He whispered to his mother, "It isn't a real slate, is it?"

"Real enough for her for right now," his mother said indulgently. She glanced at her husband who was still trying to decide whether he should protest. Taking the slate away from Emma now would undoubtedly precipitate a full scale war with the child. Alan's timing had been perfect.

John watched Emma's awed delight over her new possession. He wasn't sure how Alan had managed to come up with it and he made a mental note to ask him sometime. He didn't really mind though, the smile on his daughter's face and glow in her eyes was all he really had to see. John didn't think Alan could have given her a more perfect gift if he had produced her very own Eagle. Check that, he thought to himself, one day she may just ask for one.

Looking at Helena he saw what a strain the past 24 hours had been on her. Her eyes were red and swollen and her face was drawn. He knew she needed rest in the worst way and now that Emma was completely out of danger he intended to see that she got it. Ed had given him a couple of tranquilizers in case Helena was too keyed up and overtired to sleep. Alan and Emma were so engrossed in her new toy they would never know when the others left. Alex was off to school and Richard and Kate had reached détente. For the next few hours there would be peace at the Koenig's. Taking his wife by the arm he led her towards the door. He fully expected resistance and was quite surprised when she only stopped by Emma's bed to kiss her and tell her she would check on her soon. With a final wave to Alan they were out the door.

They met up with Josh and Carolyn just outside of Medical Center, and she offered to take Alex to school. John and Helena were free to make their way home. When they reached the apartment John drew Helena a warm bath and insisted she have a warm soak before she turned in. She simply nodded and followed his direction without question. When she got out and entered the bedroom, John was sitting on the edge of the bed in his pajamas.

"Aren't you supposed to be going to work?"

"I will later," he said enigmatically. Kano and Fraser knew how to find him, and he had spent most of last night in his office, unable to sleep, but knowing Helena would send him away if he had returned to Medical Center. "Feeling better now?" He asked.

"Much. Did you check on Emma?" Tired as she was she couldn't resist her maternal instinct.

"Yeah, she talked Alan into ordering her some rice pudding. They were just finishing up when I called. Alan said she wouldn't turn loose of her slate to eat it so he had to feed it to her." He smiled and shook his head.

"I wonder where he got that slate." She said as she slid between the covers next to her husband. Yawning uncontrollably.

"I have my suspicions." He looked over at the beautiful fan of blonde hair resting on his arm. She was already to sleep. "I love you, Helena." He drifted off to sleep thinking he could never be happier about the chunk of rock they lived on being blasted out of Earth's orbit.

The following week, Kate Goldburg looked out of her office door to see Emma running across the workroom. Helena was right behind her with Richard tucked on her hip.

"Well, young lady, you look fit."

"I'm all better," Emma beamed proudly as she entered Kate's office. "Dr. Ed said so. Look at my new dress!" Hands stuffed in her pockets, she proudly held out the skirt of the little dress. It was the blue of Shermeen flax of course, but somehow different. Kate looked closer.

"Did you paint this?" she asked, looking up at Helena.

Helena smiled and nodded. "She woke up the other day and nothing fit her. She's gained weight, grown an inch and eats everything in sight. Emma chose the design. I wanted birds, she insisted on Eagles."

There were puffy, wispy clouds painted on the blue field of the skirt and yoke. Flying through the clouds were several small well-detailed Eagles. There was one just over Emma's heart and four more scattered around the skirt.

"That's wonderful. You're quite talented."

"Alan drew them. He thought I'd gone crazy, asking him to draw Eagles on a piece of cloth-- until he found out it was for Emma, of course."

"New shoes, too!" Emma said, peering down at the pair of black slippers on her feet, similar to the black maryjanes Kate remembered wearing when she was a little girl.

"Well, you're all dressed up. What's the occasion?"

"We're going to have lunch with Daddy."

"Ah," Kate said with a smile.

"We came by to thank you for looking after Richie while Emma was so sick."

Kate smiled at the little redhead who smiled back and leaned towards her, holding out his arms. She took him from his mother and he gave her a hug. "You're welcome, that's what friends are for."

"Knowing how you feel about children, I'm really grateful."

"We managed, didn't we, Richie?" The little boy smiled and parroted her definitive nod. He hadn't been an angel, but Kate had coped. "Besides, I knew I could give him back any time he became too much."

Emma had climbed up into a chair next to Kate's desk and pulled something out of her pocket. Kate glanced over at her. "Is that a slate?"

"A toy slate," Helena corrected. "Alan gave it to her. It doesn't do all the things Alex's does, but she's content-- for now."

Kate smiled. "She certainly seems to like it." She knelt by Emma who was using a slate pen to drag little symbols around the screen. "Are those electrical symbols?"

Emma explained, "That one with the lines straight gives you the power to make things go. These squiggly lines slow the power down, and this curvy one holds power back. You make things with them." Emma's voice faded out as she concentrated on her little game.

Kate stood again. "That child knows more basic electronics than I do."

Helena looked at her daughter with pride. "She also figured out how to write Alan a message this morning, with a little help from Alex." She looked at her friend who was still holding her youngest son. "I'm so relieved she's ok. I don't think I've ever been through such an awful time."

The two friends exchanged a look. Kate, more than anyone else-- even John-- knew what awful things Helena had lived through. Richard leaned back towards his mother who took him back with a smile and accepted a kiss from him. Kate still had no interest in motherhood herself, but she knew this was exactly what Helena had been made for.

Paula Austin

Ellen Lindow

May 1999