A Serious Case of Serian Strep Throat

By: Galford340

Disclaimer: I do not own.

Summary: McCoy comes back from a mission ill, only to later find that he cannot talk. Luckily he can compensate for this loss of speech, but the only one who can hear him is Spock. And thus their story begins.

Rating: M

There was the familiar ring of the transporter as it began to beam back the landing party that had been sent to Sagittarius Ten. The sound became more intense as four figures started to take shape on the pad. Mr. Spock stood quietly next to the transport engineer, Nurse Chapel standing still as stone next to him. The moment they solidified Doctor Leonard McCoy began to sneeze profusely while he attempted to dust off some of the snow that was frozen onto his shoulders. "Damn it Jim I'm a doctor not a doctorcicle!" he growled in a horse voice and rolled his eyes when Jim smiled sweetly at a young ensign.

"Cool it Bones," the captain said with a hearty laugh before he roughly clapped the doctor on the back as he and two security personnel began to step off the platform. McCoy touched at his throat and followed suit, shrugging off Christine when she attempted to express some concern. Before he could even get out the door he felt and iron grip engulf his upper arm. Blue eyes looked down at long fingers and the sleeve of a blue science uniform.

"Doctor I believe you should report to sickbay," Spock's voice caused McCoy to lift his gaze until their eyes met. "It seems that you are coming down with the Serian Strep Throat."

"Serian Strep Throat," McCoy growled and tried to tear his arm away for affect only to find his efforts futile. "Why Spock I didn't know you went to medical school," he retorted sarcastically and glared at where the Vulcan was holding his arm. It was unusual for the Vulcan to risk physical contact just so he could express his observation.

"Doctor McCoy-" Nurse Chapel attempted to placate the doctor, only to be cut off when Spock retorted.

"Doctor, you are aware of the consequences if Serian Strep Throat remains untreated -"

"Damn it Spock you either let me go or I swear to…"

"Gentleman," Captain Kirk said in his commanding officer voice, "McCoy get to sickbay, you look dead on your feet. Spock, I've got some samples I need you to take back to the lab," he held out some glass cylinders. The Vulcan released McCoy swiftly and took the samples, both he as well as the doctor attempting to shoulder their way through the transport room door first.

Once in the hallway the pair parted ways in opposite directions, Spoke looking as stoic as ever while Doctor McCoy looked like he desperately needed to kick an ensign. Christine Chapel followed quietly behind him, tentatively listening to his sniffling while he continually tried to clear his throat. "Sounds like Serian Strep Throat alright," she commented idly, pretending to whistle to herself when Doctor McCoy arched his brow over his shoulder at her.

"Isn't there some other hallway you can take to sickbay?"

"Oh, come on. There's no reason to get snippy with me just because Mr. Spock was right."

"No need to rub it in."

"I think it's nice that he noticed that you weren't feeling well," the nurse muttered more to herself than to the doctor.

He heard her and smiled to himself as he lightly touched his upper arm which was still warm from the Vulcan's touch. "Is that envy I'm sensing~" McCoy felt his voice grow increasingly softer. The doctor touched at his throat and cleared it roughly only to start coughing with such force he had to support himself against the wall closest to him. Christine was instantly at his side as he struggled to maintain his short breath; his nose crinkled briefly before he sneezed in her face. "…sorry…" he croaked and she laughed.

"It's all part of being a nurse, doctor."

Once he was safely behind the sickbay doors he began to peel off the damp clothing he had worn whilst down on Sagittarius Ten. As he pulled his medical tunic he sighed in relief as he started to rub at his cool skin. When he walked over to a bio bed he noticed that Christine was already preparing the hypo sprays with the necessary antibacterial injections for the treatment of Serian Strep Throat.

"You're not going to even run a diagnosis?" he asked as he pushed himself to sit properly on the bed, the most she offered him was a pursed upper lip and an ill tempered brow. It was an expression remarkably similar to his impatient scowl. Before he even had a chance to pull the CMO card on his head nurse he heard the familiar hiss of a hypo and felt his head connect with the bed.

The next time he was able to open his eyes he was alone in the sickbay, the only other sound being the monitor beeping over head. With a sigh he tried to get comfortable, only to start coughing as he tried to rearrange himself.

His throat felt strangely moist and raw, his tongue dry in his mouth while his throat felt almost like it was rotting into his esophagus. "…" he tried to open his mouth and speak only to feel air pass from his lips but no noise. McCoy pressed his fingers to his throat and winced, but aside from the pain in his throat he felt as healthy as a horse. He pushed aside the blankets, slowly sliding off the bed expecting to feel some other symptoms of his illness. 'What the devil?' he stood up and felt over himself caressing his forehead briefly but felt no heat.

"Doctor," the voice of another nurse called from the other room, a young man stepping out to intercept the doctor. "Nurse Chapel requested that we keep you confined to sick bay for twenty-four hours."

McCoy opened his mouth to explain his dilemma only to feel his mouth moving but no words were coming out. The doctor would have growled in frustration, but instead his face merely contorted as he ruffled his hair. "…" he attempted yelling but even then the most he could muster was a slight grunt.

"Doctor McCoy…" it took a moment but eventually the young man pieced together some idea as to what was going on. "Your voice… it's gone," the young man declared and rushed over to computer hoping to reach Nurse Chapel.

'Give the kid a prize,' McCoy snorted silently and massaged at his mute throat. Never before had he realized how much he relied on his ability to communicate just to do simple things. His bright blue eyes darted towards the door and Christine stepped in, Kirk following close behind her.

"Bones."

The doctor lifted his hands to indicate that there was no reason to panic just yet. There was a strong possibility that being mute was only a temporary condition that would dissipate within the hour. McCoy winced when the nurse started to draw some blood samples.

Nurse Chapel loomed over the computer her lips tightening as she critically inspected every line of her report. "I followed that procedure to the letter," she declared though she sounded none too pleased by this revelation.

"What does that mean?" Kirk asked the Nurse only to look and the doctor.

'It means we'll have to wait for the lab results,' Leonard thought with an exasperated sigh.

"We need to wait for the lab results, Captain," she said and briefly looks at the doctor who fluttered his eyes in that cocky manner that was all too familiar. The nurse smiled and glanced at the captain who seemed more concerned than amused.

"Are you going to be alright?" Kirk asked only to receive a dismissive wave that caused him to shake his head. "Keep me posted," he said and looked at Nurse Chapel who nodded her head in understanding. As Kirk strode to the exit he was surprised when he nearly slammed into Spock.

"Captain," the Vulcan nodded his head and stepped aside to allow his superior to pass. Kirk eyes him curiously before he continued towards the bridge. With his usual long strides the first-officer stepped into the sickbay and made his way over to the doctor. McCoy felt his heart race a little and prayed that the heat rising in his body was some sort of fever.

'Spock?'

"I came to see how your recovery is commencing," Spock had his attention diverted to the monitor. The human's blood pressure, temperature, and respiration all looked to be exceptionally healthy for a man who was recovering from a Serian bacteria.

'Great Spock just great. My throat feels like its on fire… and my tongue feels like sandpaper. How can it get any better?'

"There is no reason to gripe at me doctor."

"Mr. Spock… Dr. McCoy lost his voice," Christine seemed a little confused when Spock replied to Leonard's silence. Apprehension showed in the first-officers eyes as he looked over at the doctor for confirmation.

'You can hear my thoughts?' McCoy would have been relieved to finally be heard, if it had been anyone other than this green-blooded computer. When Spock realized that what he was hearing from the doctor was transmitting from inside his own head he hardly seemed surprised.

"I believe that you are projecting rather loudly doctor. It seems that you're compensating for your vocal silence-"

The doctor's face reddened as his anger started to bubble, the monitor behind him beeping in response to the abrupt change. Spock looked at the monitor then back at Leonard, his trademark brow lifting in the most irritating manner. 'Why you green-blooded over sized Christmas elf!'

Before his anger could rise to astronomical levels the sickbay doors opened as the young male nurse stepped back in. He seemed slightly skittish as he handed the results from the test over to Nurse Chapel. Eagerly she accessed the results and glanced over every word eagerly, her gaze shifted between the doctor and the document in her hand.

'What is it?' McCoy thought restlessly and Spock rubbed at his temple. Slowly Nurse Chapel handed the PADD over to McCoy who looked it over only to tense up suddenly and set the pad aside as he lurched forward. It had been as he predicted. Somehow the bacteria had mutated leaving only a single irreversible effect: speechlessness for an unknown length of time. 'It might be permanent,' Leonard thought helplessly and looked up at the trio surroundings him.

"But it may also be temporary."

'And what are the chance of that, you blasted computer?'

Spock looked over the results and stared off into space for a moment. With such a slowly mutating bacterium it was possible that it would linger not longer than a few weeks, but once McCoy's immune system was rejuvenated it would at most take a few days. "I would say that the chances of it being temporary are in your favor. Though I can offer no guarantees," Spock looked at the CMO and found that he seemed far from relieved.

'Well Spock…'

"Yes Doctor?"

'As you can see my recovery is commencing just fine,' McCoy thought snidely lifted the PADD up to Nurse Chapel who took it back before it could end up buried in Spock's skull. She peeked between the two of them, McCoy signaling that he would be fine for the moment.

"You are recovering doctor," Spock seemed to be searching for the proper term as he watched Christine and the young male nurse eave, "But you seem anything but fine."

'How astute of you Mr. Spock, any other obvious facts you would like to point out?'

"This sort of disability will not cost you your position," Spock offered and McCoy was surprised when he realized that in his own Vulcan way Spock was trying to comfort him. Or at least offer him as much comfort as a Vulcan could offer without being too human. "… but that is not what bothers you." Spock realized this when he noticed the blank look McCoy was giving him.

The doctor smirked in a manner that eventually turned into a sort of silent chuckle. It surprised the first-officer how much it bothered him to see those lips part but hear only the passing of air. 'You're on a roll today Spock,' Leonard fixed his bright blue eyes on the Vulcan which caused Spock to rock a little on his heels as he attempted to divert his gaze. When McCoy had such a gentle stare it was surprising how these human controlled themselves when victim to his tender eyes. 'I'm not real good about keeping my mouth shut Spock. You're probably more aware of that than anyone.'

"Then perhaps this will be a good exercise for you."

'Very funny Spock.'

"Doctor, need I remind you that Vulcans do not joke?" the first-officer straightened his posture in a proud manner before he bid the doctor farewell. It was tempting for McCoy to ask that the Vulcan pay him another visit, but his pride could not get him to verbalize such a request. Before he could adjust himself in just the right manner to fall back asleep he noticed the tall form standing on the far end of the room. "I will come see you again before I go on duty," Spock's deep confident voice carried across the room before he continued his journey towards the sickbay exit.

Swish. Spock stepped out the door, leaving the doctor to stare owlishly at the closing door the Vulcan had just passed through. 'Exactly how much am I projecting?' the doctor wondered to himself and nuzzled into his pillow feeling strangely content with the idea that Spock would be paying him another visit.