Captain Denton and The Veckparan Baby

By Jeremy Denton

Captain's Personal Log
Stardate 51976.3

Doc had to give me something to calm my nervousness again. I can't believe how nervous I am about my parent's visit. Okay, maybe I know why. The fact that I haven't seen them in a year has something to do with it. Plus the fact that they have no idea that Commander Jeremy Denton, my first officer, is also my husband.

Guess I should be going though, they will be arriving soon.

END LOG

XxX

"Jason, shouldn't you be going?" Jeremy asked as I hit the button sliding my computer into the desk.

"I am," I said putting on my uniform jacket but not worrying about zipping it.

"Come on. We don't want you to be late," he said.

XxX

The two of us headed to the transporter room and Jeremy worked the console while I stood there.

Sparks flew from the transporter console and the platform just as the transport finished its cycle. Once the sparks stopped flying, then the ship decided to shake violently.

"Jason, what's happening?" Mom asked, stepping off the platform.

"I'm not sure," I said and turned to Jeremy. "Beam them to our quarters."

"It's no use, transporters are down," Jeremy replied.

"Denton to Bridge," I said tapping my commbadge.

STATIC

"Comm-system must be down," I said.

"Here, take these," Jeremy said, throwing me a phaser, a tricorder and two commbadges.

I pinned the badges on and had the computer recognize my parent's voices.

"Jason, do you and the Commander share quarters?" Mom asked as the four of us headed for the turbolift.

"We do," I said, sounding sort of like a Vulcan.

"I didn't know Captain's had to share quarters?" Dad said.

"They don't. I chose to. Listen, the four of us need to talk but right now we're busy."

"But..." Mom began but my commbadge chirping cut her off.

"Bridge to Denton," Ensign Toban said on the bridge.

"Go ahead Ensign," I said, tapping my badge.

"Denton?" I heard Mom whisper to Dad, and I shot a quick glance to Jeremy.

"Captain, a Veckparan ship has decloaked off the port bow and opened fire. We've raised shields and returned fire."

"Very good. Jeremy and I are on our way to the bridge, Denton out," I said, tapping my badge and severing the connection.

"Jason?" Mom asked.

"Mom, listen, Jeremy and I are married. Have been for almost a year now. But that doesn't matter right now. Right now, I want to get to my bridge," I said and that was the last thing we said before we got to the turbolift.

"Report," said Jeremy and I motioned for my parents to take Jeremy's seat and mine.

"The Veckparan vessel is still attacking and our shields can't take much more of it."

"Open a channel."

"Channel open."

"This is Captain Jason Denton of the Federation Starship Timberwolf. We are on a peaceful mission. Please respond," I said, my hands on my hips.

"Lower your shields or we will lower them for you," the Veckparan on said.

"Who the hell do you think you are to attack my vessel?" I asked.

"I am Captain Torzon of the Veckparan vessel Bravill. Lower your shields Captain or we will lower them for you."

"This is an act of war against the Federation..." I said but was cut off by the screen turning black.

"Phaser blast, brace for impact."

That shot knocked Toban off the helm and unconscious.

I moved into his place.

"Evasive maneuvers, Pattern Delta-Four," Jeremy stated.

"Acknowledged, Pattern-Delta-Four," I replied.

"Firing phasers and a quantum torpedoes."

"Direct hit. Their shields and weapons are down."

"Intruder alert in main Engineering."

"What happened?" I asked.

"Captain, our shields dropped momentarily...and..." Ensign Robertson said.

"And what Ensign?"

"Twelve Veckparans are in Engineering and they are attempting to override out access codes."

"Lock them out," I ordered.

"It's no use, Captain. They have disabled the command pathways to and from the bridge.

"Acknowledged. Jeremy, Robertson, O'Reilly, you're with me"

"Jason," Mom said, concern in her voice.

"Mom, Dad, stay here. We'll talk when this is all settled."

"Let's go," I said, turning to Jeremy and the others.

"Dammit, turbolifts are out," I said after hitting the controls to call the lift.

"Come on, we'll take the Jeffries tubes," Jeremy said pulled open the hatch.

"Yvonne, you have the bridge," I said, climbing in the tube, Jeremy behind me, Robertson behind him and O'Reilly taking up the rear.

XxX

Fifteen minutes of crawling later and we stood outside Engineering.

Jeremy and I stood at either side of the doors and O'Reilly and Robertson stood with their phasers pointed at the doors.

The moment I hit the controls to open the doors, Jeremy disappeared.

"What the hell? Denton to Denton!" I said slapping my commbadge.

"Jason? What happened?" I heard Jeremy say but still had no idea where he was.

"Where are you?"

"I think I am on the Veck..."

"Jeremy? Denton to Denton. Jeremy, respond," I said but nothing happened.

"Bridge to Denton. The intruders are gone and we have regained control of the ships systems."

"Commander Denton has disappeared. Lock a tractor beam on that ship," I ordered.

"I can't do that Captain."

"And why the hell not?"

"They have cloaked, Captain. We are attempting to locate them."

"Very good, keep me posted. I am on my way to the bridge."

Not waiting for the others, I was in the turbolift in under ten seconds.

"Bridge," I said and closed my eyes and thought of Jeremy.

That smile that melted my heart the minute that I saw him standing on the bridge a year ago. The same smile that made me cry on our wedding day...

"Jason? Are you okay," mom said, jarring me from my thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure. I'm fine," I said and stepped past her and onto the bridge. "Tell me that you have detected the Veckparan vessel."

"Sorry, Captain. I have been unsuccessful."

"Understood. Computer, activate program Denton-Seven-Three-Delta," I said.

"Level ten authorization required," the computer replied.

"Authorization Denton-Delta-Two Seven."

"Program activated. Locking onto the Veckparan ion trail."

By this time, Toban was back at the helm.

"Toban, you're relieved," I said, taking a seat and began following the ion trail.

"Captain, tactical controls are being rerouted," O'Reilly, who was now back at Tactical, stated when I transferred tactical controls to my secondary console at the helm.

"I am aware of that, Commander."

"Jason, what are you doing?" Mom asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm getting my husband back," I said.

"Jason, I think that you should calm down. You are acting irrational," Mom said.

"I have showed no signs of being irrational."

"Jason, it's just that..." she said but I cut her off.

"Just what?"

"Two men, they can't love..." I cut her off again.

"How dare you come onto my bridge and say something like that," I said, turning to her but then I turned back to my station. "Computer, lock onto my parent's comm.-signals and beam them to my quarters."

"Transport complete," the computer replied.

"Robertson, seal off my quarters and disable the comm.-panel."

"Understood," Robertson replied.

"Two minutes to intercept," I stated.

"Captain, the Veckparan vessel has entered orbit around Para."

"Dropping to impulse."

"Captain, that has increased out intercept time to six minutes."

"Understood, activating the cloak," I stated.

"Robertson, scan for Commander Denton's comm.-signal or bio-sign."

"I'm not reading him on the planet or the Veckparan vessel."

"That's impossible. Hail the Paran officials," I said, giving Toban his station back and standing in the center of the bridge.

"Onscreen."

"I am Zardue of the Veckparan. How may I be of assistance?"

"Zardue, I am Captain Jason Denton. One of you ships attacked my vessel earlier today and then abducted one of my crew. I am here to retrieve him."

"I will help in whatever way I can. Let me see what I can find out and I will contact you if I have found anything useful out," he said and the screen went blank.

"Captain, I believe that he knows more than he is letting on."

"That makes two of us, Sandra."

"Captain, I am detecting transporter activity from the vessel," Sandra said.

"Can you get the coordinates?"

"Affirmative. Do you want me to transfer them to transporter room one."

"Yes. O'Reilly, Croyle, you're with me. Go to your quarters, change into civilian clothing and them meet at the transporter room."

"Understood," the two replied.

XxX

I took the turbolift to my quarters to get changed.

"Jason, do you have a minute?" Dad asked, as I stepped into my quarters.

"Not now, Dad. I am fixing to beam down to the planet's surface."

"Computer, seal the doors," I said, entering my bedroom and moving to my closet.

I changed into my lounge clothes consisting consisted of jeans and a t-shirt.

I took my uniform jacket off the bed and put it back on over my shirt, with the phaser and tricorder still in the pocket.

"Go get you husband, Jason," Mom said and I slapped my commbadge onto my t-shirt, concealed inside my shirt.

"Don't worry. I intend to," I said and exited my quarters.

XxX

"Jason, the coordinates are for a warehouse. I have set the transporter to beam us into an adjacent room that way we won't be discovered too soon," Yvonne said when I entered the transporter room.

"Very good. Crewmen, energize on my mark."

"Yes, Captain," the female transporter operator replied.

"Everyone ready?" I asked and when they nodded their acknowledgements, I turned back. "Energize."

XxX

The moment we materialized, I made sure the room was secure and I pulled out my tricorder.

My mouth gaped open when I saw the readings I was getting.

"Jason, what is it?" Yvonne asked.

"It's Jeremy but there's something else. I am detecting a second life-form inside him."

"May I?" she asked, taking the tricorder and studying the readouts. "Jason I believe that Jeremy has been impregnated and if these readings are correct, the baby has both your DNA and his."

"Okay, let me get this straight. Jeremy, my husband, is pregnant with our child and apparently the Veckparan assisted in that?"

"Precisely."

"Okay, let's go," I said.

"Everybody, stay where you are," I said, pointing my phaser at the large group, who appeared to be huddled around something or someone. "Where is my husband."

I demanded to know where he was and the group began to move and I saw Jeremy on a pillow, cradling a baby in his arms.

Slowly, I moved over to him, half in shock. "Jeremy?"

"Look, Jase, we have a son," he said, smiling, tears and sweat on his face.

"Oh Jeremy, he's beautiful," I said, sliding my phaser back into my pocket.

I sat at his side and brushed the hair out of his eyes.

"Captain, I apologize for abducting Commander Denton and for attacking your ship but my species has a way of reading people wishes and fulfilling them. And well, Jeremy wished for the two of you to have a son that is from the two of you and we made it happen," Torzon said.

"Well, I don't know what to say. Ummm, can we return to our ship now?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. Denton to Timberwolf. Five to beam up but beam my signal directly to Sickbay."

"Affirmative, energizing on your mark, Captain."

"Energize," I said, placing an arm around Jeremy's back and a hand on the baby.

XxX

"Computer, activate the EMH," I said the minute that we materialized.

"Captain, Commander? What do we have here?" Doc said.

"Doctor, this is mine and Jeremy's son."

"And what's your name," Doc said, placing his finger on the baby's hand.

"Jeremy, after his father who gave birth to him," I said, smiling at Jeremy.

"We can call him Jere for short," Jeremy said and Jere giggled in his arms. "Hold him, Jason."

Taking the small bundle in my arms, I didn't say a word but I did tap my commbadge.

"Denton to Bridge," I said.

"Go ahead, Captain," Croyle said.

"Yvonne, can you go to my quarters and escort my parent's here?"

"Sure," she said.

"Thank you," I said and tapped my commbadge again.

XxX

"Oh, Jason. He's beautiful," Mom said.

"Thanks Mom," I said.

"He sure is," Dad stated.

"What's his name?" Mom asked.

"Jeremy, after his father, who gave birth to him," I said and waited for her reaction.

"Yeah, we can call him Jere for short," Jeremy said, not caring what she thought of him or me, but like hell was she going to do anything mean to his son.

"Jere, I like that. Hello, little Jere, I am your grandma," she said, smiling and making giggly noises that made Jere smile and giggle himself.

"Mom, Dad, it's late. I am sure that you would like to get some sleep. You can have your own quarters or you can stay with Jeremy and I in our guestroom," I said but Jeremy stepped in.

"Actually, I turned the guestroom into a nursery," he said.

"Jeremy Denton, were you planning this?" I asked, smiling.

"Maybe," he said, smiling back.

"Well, looks like you'll have to have your own quarters but I think the ones right next door to ours are vacant at the moment."

"That's sounds just fine."

"Jeremy, little Jere, I'll be back once I have showed Mom and Dad to their quarters," I said, kissing both their foreheads.

"Okay. I love you, Jase," he said, smiling at me once again.

"I love you too," I said and turned and walked with my parents.

XxX

"You have a beautiful son, Jason," Mom said, taking my hands as I walked ahead of them, to their quarters.

I brought her hand to my lips, kissing the back," I love you, Mom. And thank you, he is beautiful isn't he?"

"He sure is, son. Spittin' image of his daddy," Dad said.

"Thanks Dad, I love you too," I said.

"We love you too," Mom said and then we made it to their quarters. "Here we are."

I entered the access code to open the quarters and had the computer recognize them and then the quarters would automatically open for them. Other than command staff, no one else had access to quarters other than the occupants.

"Mom, Dad, if you'll excuse me. I have to get back to Sickbay," I said, moving toward the door.

"Of course, can't stay away from that baby for very long, can you?" Mom asked.

"Nope and I want to see Jere too," I said with a wicked smile on my face and I ducked out of the door at warp 10.

XxX

"Doc, when can Jeremy and Jere leave?" I asked, standing next to Jeremy in Sickbay as he lie on a bio-bed.

"I have run all the scans that I need to and I see no reason why they can't leave right now," Doc said.

"Thank you, Doctor," I said and I held Jere while he got up.

XxX

"I love you, Jeremy," I said, sliding my hand in his and holding Jere with my other arm as we walked down the corridor.

"I love you too, Jase. I can't believe that we're parents."

"I know, I can't either. Look at him, he's so beautiful and he's from both of us."

"I know. Let's go home," he said and slid his arm around my back.

"Denton to Bridge," I said, tapping my badge.

"Go ahead, Captain," Yvonne said.

"Jeremy and I are on paternal leave until further notice."

"Understood. Bridge out," she said and the connection severed.

XxX

"Computer, open a secure channel to Starfleet Command," I said, tapping in my access code into the desk console.

"Channel open and secure," the computer replied.

"Admiral Nechayev," I said.

"Jason, what can I do for you?"

"Allissa, I don't really know how to say this but I am a father," I said.

"Oh, Jason, congratulations. How did this happen?"

"The Veckparans had a hand in it. Apparently they sensed Jeremy's wishes to have a child and made it come true. But the reason that I am contacting you is to find out if it would be alright for the Timberwolf to take some shore leave?"

"Things have settled quite a lot since the Dominion War ended. Yes, I think it would be alright for the Timberwolf to take a week or two shore leave."

"Thank you, Admiral. We will set a course for Earth within the hour," I said.

"What's the baby's name?"

"His name's Jeremy, after his daddy and we call him Jere for short."

"Again, congratulations and I look forward to meeting this newest member of the Federation as soon as you get back to Earth," she said smiling.

"Will do, Admiral."

"Good. Nechayev out," she said and the Federation symbol appeared once again.

"Denton to Bridge. Set a course for Earth. Warp six," I said.

"Acknowledged," Yvonne said.

XxX

"So why did you turn the guestroom into a nursery?" I asked, sliding into bed and moving up to Jeremy.

"I don't really know. I sort of had a feeling that it would be necessary. I had no idea that the Veckparans were going to do what they did. But now I am glad that I did."

"Me too," I said and I slid my arms around him and it wasn't long before I fell asleep with him snoring in my arms.