Prompt: Chekov, Joanna - She Blinded Me With Science
Boom
James Kirk and his security attachment overrode the security protocols in the labs and burst into the secondary science alcove even before the ship's environmental systems had a chance to clear all of the smoke from the room. Leonard McCoy raced in only steps behind with his medical team.
Though the dim, emergency-lit lab appeared deserted they could hear someone coughing, but it didn't sound like it came from the lungs of a child.
″Joanna!″ McCoy called, not bothering to restrain the naked fear in his tone.
There was a long, horrible moment of silence – save for the coughing - before they all heard the most beautiful sound in the world, ″Over here, Daddy.″
McCoy rushed towards the sound of his daughter's voice, Kirk right on his heels, and crouched down near the lab table where Pavel Chekov and Joanna had apparently taken refuge. His daughter was held protectively in the young ensign's arms and had an emergency oxygen mask over her face. She was wide-eyed and dirtied but at first glance appeared unharmed.
Chekov was pale and couldn't seem to control the coughing spasms that wracked his thin frame. McCoy noted that there was only one emergency mask – the one protecting Joanna – and determined that Chekov mustn't have had any protection from the thick smoke that had filled the lab and set off the Enterprise emergency alarm.
Seeing her father, Joanna launched herself out of Chekov's arms and into McCoy's, knocking him back into Kirk who kept them upright.
″I'm so sorry, Daddy! I was just checking out the 'speriments when one of the computers turned red and said something went wrong. I swear I didn't touch anything. I promise!″ The mask muffled her words slightly but they could all understand her frantic explanation.
″I know, darlin', I know. So long as you're both okay.″ Leonard clutched her to his chest and closed his eyes for a moment to pull himself together. They stayed that way for a long moment until Joanna pulled back and looked into his face again.
″Pavel's sick, Daddy. He pulled me under the bench when the fire started and the doors closed and he hasn't been breathin' too well since it got so smokey.″ Joanna turned worried, too-perceptive eyes towards her savior, currently being helped up by the medics, and McCoy had a feeling that his young daughter's hero-worship had increased exponentially.
″We'll get him fixed up, Jo, I'll take a look at him right now. Can you stay with Jim while I do that?″
Joanna hugged her father firmly once more before being transferred to the waiting Captain's arms.
McCoy grabbed his tricorder and began to gather readings on Chekov. Before they transferred him to a stretcher to take him to Med Bay, McCoy placed a hand on Chekov's shoulder. ″Thank you, son.″
″It is a pleasure, Doctor.″ Chekov responded, words interspersed with the coughs he tried valiantly to control.
″Let's get you fixed up.″