guilty about being with Sweet Cloud so much but
his fire for her seemed to grow even worse as the weeks of waiting
dragged on.
38 Morn had met her, and they were instant friends. Morn knew full well
what was going on, but said nothing. Finally The "God's Hope" entered
orbit. The pod detached and made its way to the city's port, where an
ambulance picked up its cargo and rushed her to the city's best
hospital. She hadn't woken once during her long journey. The
bleeding was well under control, and her belly was so full when North
finally saw her, that he was sure the Doctors wouldn't have to wait
much longer.
39 He had barely left her and was returning home, when his battle com
buzzed, and he was called back to the hospital. His wife was waking up.
By the time North got back she was asking for him.
40 "Not long, Commander," insisted the Doctor, "We haven't told her
anything yet. Be as gentle as you can!"
41 North nodded. A chair was sat by his wife's med com, and the Nurses
and Doctor withdrew. When his wife saw him, her eyes brightened and she
tried to reach him, but the med com's fields stopped her. "My feet
hurt awful," she asked, "are they badly hurt?"
42 "They took them off some time ago," explained North, "and much of
your legs below the knee, also.
You're hurt inside, too. But they can't do anything about it right now
until they're sure that little fellow inside you can survive in an
artificial womb until they can take it out."
43 "Why can't they just wait until I can have him?" asked Valley
Blossom.
44 "Because it would kill you," North explained, "and if it didn't do
that, it could mess you up so bad you'd never have any more. You can
see him really well. Do you want to?"