Wow, hello! I didn't think I would be posting on ever again, but this little fic happened and we'll see where it goes. With NANOWRIMO starting, I can't promise when this will be updated so…
The monitor screeched in alarm as the boy's pulse rose erratically before flatlining. The nurses did their best to revive him, but after several minutes of frantic working, he called it.
"Time of death, 15:40." Bones kicked the wall beside him in frustration. "Dammit."
He removed his blood-soaked gown and tossed it in the biohazard bin. Five. Five dead now. A virus was sweeping through the Enterprise and he was powerless to stop it. Stalking down the hall, he ignored everyone glancing at him and closed himself in his room. How old was that Ensign? Nineteen? Just three days ago he'd been talking about sending home a Nucurian necklace to his mother for her birthday. Now it looked like they'd be sending his corpse along with it.
Bones reached under his bed for the bootlegged bottle of bourbon he kept there. He wasn't supposed to drink on duty, but he wouldn't make it the next few hours if he didn't have some liquor in him. Prying the bottle open with his teeth, he ran a hand through his hair and took a swig straight from the bottle. The liquid burned a track to his stomach and he winced in pleasurable pain. Anything was better than the hell he was experiencing with all these crew members dropping like flies.
Bones fell back against his bed and kept the bottle between his legs. He hadn't bothered to turn the lights on and the silence of his quarters threatened to put him to sleep. When was the last time he'd slept anyway? Sometime before their last docking. There was a knock on his door and he sat up quickly, setting the bottle on the nightstand.
"Not now." He yelled at the door. "Go find Chapel if you want something."
He heard the keypad giving authorized clearance and the doors swished open with a release of air. "Dammit, Jim. I said not now." Bones glared at the Captain and reached for the bottle. "But since it's only you," he held out the bottle. "I'll share my private stash."
"Not that garbage you call bourbon." Jim smiled briefly at him before sitting beside him on the bed. "How's Ensign Morris?"
"Dead," Bones said flatly with another drink. "Just like the rest."
Jim sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Any idea what's causing this?"
"None. I've looked in all the books. For awhile we were thinking it was Yularis fever, but that checked out once the meds stopped working." Bones handed him the bottle and Jim took a small sip with a grimace. "I can't figure out why it's spreading to only certain crew members. The attacks seem so random."
"Spock is looking into it." Jim murmured. "Together you two should figure something out."
"Great," Bones rolled his eyes. "That's the last thing I want right now. The statistical likelihood of me screwing up another one."
"For what it's worth, you're a great doctor." Jim gave him another one his small smiles. "Just remember he's part of this crew too."
"It's not like he let's me forget." Bones screwed the lid on and rolled the bottle under the bed. "When's the last time you slept? Your eyes have more rings than a mother racoon."
"Been busy," Jim rose. "I'll get around to it."
"You better. I don't want your scrawny ass to be the next one brought in."
"Is that a threat or…" Jim stepped aside as they walked back out into the hall.
"Take it as you will." Bones gave a gruff smile and straightened his shoulders. "Thanks, Jim."
"Any time."
He received a clap on the back before an office approached the Captain with a question leaving him alone.
Bones sighed, heading towards med bay. He could do this.