[Kairu]

Lauren soon drifted into her third memory. This one held a the first sense of pain and guilt with her relationship with Reynolds. It is a memory she likes to not mention. It was a number of months after Reynolds' promotion to Captain. Lauren now served as a bridge officer on Reynolds' ship, Mind's Attrition. Lauren had been in medbay all day, having had tests done in that time. She fell very ill and Reynolds had her sent to be examined. It wasn't until Reynolds walked in that the doctor came back with the results. Reynolds and Lauren watched him approach, Reynolds being the first to speak. Lauren was still not feeling well, she just wanted to be better. Reynolds: "Well Doc? What is wrong with her?" The Doctor returned a saddened, depressed look. He seemed like he was resentful of the results. He then looked at Lauren, carefully trying to figure out how to word the results, but felt that being blunt would be the best option. Doctor: "Lieutenant, you're pregnant. I'm sorry, Captain, I did a genetic paternity test. It's your child, Sir." Lauren was still silent. She merely gripped Reynolds' hand, terrified of the news. She was sitting on the bed, and looked up at Reynolds who was standing next to her. He looked at her fearful expression, and then took a deep breath. Doctor: "You know the answer to that. Both of you do. You can keep the child, but due to your condition, I will have you removed from active duty and transferred back to a proper medical facility back on Reach. That way you're close to your family and off the chaos of a starship. The alternative is killing the child now and staying here onboard and resume your duties after a follow-up examination. As a Doctor, I must plead with you to keep the child. You two are both great parents and deserve the bundle of happiness you've conceived. But I leave the choice up to you." The news was a bombshell, but the reality is what they needed to focus on. In the end, it came down upon Lauren. She'd be the one to have to keep the child, conceive it full rerm, give birth and raise the child on her own, or get rid of the child to stay with Reynolds. The room remained fairly quiet, everyone thinking to themselves. It was like that for a few minutes until the doctor spoke up again. Doctor: "You should be fine for the night. I gave you something to alleviate the symptoms. Go back to your cabin and lay down and rest. Discuss the decision. I'll give you two a couple days, but any longer, and your condition may worsen. Come back if they do before then." The Doctor left the two alone and went back to his office. Reynolds helped Lauren down from the bed and back to his cabin. He decided his over hers for the privacy and room, including the company. Whether he liked it or not, it was now a real issue they must deal with. When they returned to Reynolds' room, he helped Lauren into bed. She layed there. She was still. Inside, she thought she could feel the child inside her, despite how early it was. She just stared into the distance, the shock being the barrier keeping her away from the reality. Reynolds climbed into the bed behind her. He wrapped his arm around her abdomen, Lauren quickly siezing his hand again. She continued to stare in shock. Her mind in crisis mode trying to think of all of the options. Eventually, her subconcious threw her mind into a state of rest as she slept through most of the night. Later into the next day, Lauren was doing ok. It was the first time her symptoms had eased. She got herself up. She quickly located Reynolds in his bathroom where he was shaving before his shift. Lauren approached behind, embacing him. She rested her head on his back, her hands holdng his chest. Lauren: "I don't want it, I can't have it. It has been my dream to be fleet admiral. I won't let an... an accident, stop me from that!" Lauren's voice had escalated. It started out calm, but very quickly escalated into anger. Reynolds was shocked by what he was hearing. He was certain she'd keep it. He spent most of his morning accepting the idea and even supported it. Reynolds: "Lauren, you can't be serious! This child is a gift to us from the universe for our love. We can have this child and when he is old enough, you can rejoin the Navy." Lauren: "No! I don't want to take a break from my career. I want to stay here with you. I don't want to leave! Plus you need me on the Bridge! I couldn't handle losing you when I'm on Reach raising our child. I need to be there for you. I need you!" Lauren began to cry, still embracing Reynolds. Reynolds stopped shaving to return the embrace. Reynolds: "Lauren, I want this child, and in time, I am sure you will be glad to have it too. In the mean time, I need to finish shaving and get to the bridge." Lauren released her embrace. She stood there trying to let Reynolds' words sink in. After several minutes, they both left the bathroom. Reynolds was just about to leave for his duty shift when he stopped to say good-bye to Lauren. Reynolds: "Look, Lauren, I will be done on the bridge at 2100 hours. When I get back, we can talk more about this. Okay?" Reynolds brought her in for one more embrace before leaving. Lauren: "O- Okay. Yeah. Sure." Her voice was muffled from the embrace, but Reynolds had heard it clear enough to let her go. He pecked her lips. Reynolds: "I love you." Lauren stood there sad and depressed. Reynolds accepted that as the best she could do. He then left the room and went back to the bridge. Lauren had spent most of the day thinking more. Her opinion unswayed. She truly didn't want her child. She felt bad, but she didn't want to lose everything she worked for to be in vain. It was when she finally decided she was going to do something. Lauren worked her way to the medbay where she was greeted by the Doctor. The Doctor, normally would be cheery to see Lauren, but her return meant either she had made up her mind, or her condition worsened. The Doctor helped Lauren to a bed. When she was laying there, she finally said why she came. Lauren: "I made up my mind. I don't want the child. Please remove it, Doctor." The Doctor was horrified at what he heard. He never would have suspected Lauren to say that she didn't want to help a life. Doctor: "Ok... ok! Does the Captain know?" The Doctor was still astounded, but was also suspicious that she may not have let Reynolds know. Lauren: "Yes. We talked about it last night and agreed that it would be best for the crew and my career to not have this baby." The Doctor was still hesitant, but he couldn't deny Lauren her choice andd freedom to decide. Doctor: "Very well, Lieutenant, I will prep for the surgery right away." Lauren's mind went black, presumably because of the surgery. It seemed like an eternity, but her mind soon picked up where it would normally resume. She was back in Reynolds room. He had helped her out of the medbay and back there. Lauren was weak from the surgery, but her symptoms had subsided. She was back in the part of the bed, staring at the wall. Reynolds, on the other hand, was at the table. He was doing his best to keep his anger at bay. Reynolds: "Why? Why did you do it?" Lauren turned her head and looked at Reynolds. Lauren: "I did it because I didn't want a child. Besides I did this for us, Marcus." Reynolds: "Us? You mean you! There was no us in that decision! Dammit Lauren! I wanted us to have a child!" Lauren: "What you think it was an easy decision to make? I just killed a child! A Human being who didn't even know they were alive! And you think I made the decision lightly?" Reynolds: "Why do you think I wanted the child? I couldn't live with condemning an innocent child! We could have gave it up to a more suitable family!" Lauren was done with the argument. She didn't want to be in the same room, being yelled at for a choice she believed she had no choice to choose differently. She got out of the bed and stormed out of Reynolds' room back to her cabin. On her way back, he mind had raced and began doubting itself if she had made the right decision. When she arrived back to her room, she fell on the bed and cried. She cried her eyes out. Soon after Lauren's mind went black again