Prompt: Sulu, Uhura - Palm
Slide
Hikaru didn't see her fall, but he heard her shout of surprise and the sound of tumbling stones as they crashed and cracked their way down the steep, rocky decline into the valley below.
″Uhura!″ His heart in his throat, Hikaru ran towards the edge were he'd last seen Lieutenant Uhura. He dropped to the ground several feet from the edge and stretched out on his stomach to spread his weight out while he inched towards the cliff side and peered downwards.
His wheeze of relief was audible when he saw her on a ledge about a fifth of the way down the hill rather than in a crumpled heap at the very bottom.
″Uhura? Can you hear me?″ At first Hikaru saw no movement from the woman below and his fear mounted again until he finally heard her response.
″Y-yes.″ Her voice was hesitant and rough, but still the most beautiful he'd heard all day. ″I'm alive.″
″What are your injuries?″ Hikaru grabbed for his communicator as he waited for an answer.
″Cuts and scrapes, my shoulder hurts enough that I can't move much, and a bump on the head.″
As Hikaru relayed this to the Enterprise he looked around the immediate area taking stock of the rocky hill without any clear path downwards that would allow him access to Uhura easily.
It was never easy. And if it ever was, he likely wouldn't trust it.
Closing the communicator and replacing it at his waist, he called down to Uhura, ″There's still too much atmospheric interference to use the transporters. They're sending another shuttle down with a medical team. They'll be here soon.″ He hoped.
″It's okay, Hikaru. Don't worry, I'll make it.″ Although her voice was stronger now, Hikaru could hear the undercurrent of pain that she was trying to hide from him.
″I'm coming down, cover your eyes.″
″You're what? No-″
Her objections came too late to stop him from beginning his descent down towards the far end of the ledge she was on. He dropped quickly downwards in a partially controlled slide, dislodging rocks and brush as he went, but was far enough away from Uhura to not rain the mess down on her.
He managed to slow his fall enough to hit the ledge and keep himself from tumbling over and clung to a large rock for several moments to catch his breath and wait for his heart to come down from his throat. Holy shit!
When he straightened and moved towards Uhura's reclined form, he met her eyes and saw the fear and anger in them. ″Are you out of your mind?″
″It's been suggested.″ He flashed a grin at her and knelt down next to her. He brushed rocks and stones from around her head and removed his gold tunic, folding it and placing it under her head.
″You're insane.″ Uhura pressed her lips together to stifle a moan of pain as the movement jolted her shoulder. ″But thank you.″
″Anytime, Nyota.″ He clasped her good hand, palm to palm, and squeezed lightly.
