CHAPTER 1
I abruptly opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. I was in my room; I quickly sat up on my bed noticing I am soaked in sweat. The horrors from the night flashes through my mind, Kahn and the slow painful death from radiation is all I can think about. I wonder how long this will last. According to my alarm clock it is currently 5:30, no point in revisiting my nightmares. I walk to my bathroom and turn on the shower; I quickly undress myself and hop into the shower.
It's been two months since I have fully recovered from the Kahn incident, and I am still haunted by the memories. I cannot stand the way some of my crew look at me since I "died", they look at me as if I am going to drop dead again right before their eyes. I am glad no one brings it up though; everyone just goes around acting as if nothing has changed with me and I wish to keep it that way. I am glad to of had the Enterprise to distract me; we are currently traveling to an unknown planet called Siku, which apparently is covered in ice. Whether the planet is inhabited is unknown and we are being sent to find out. We are due to arrive in approximately ten days, but with us traveling the work on the ship has slowed down so I am not required to visit the bridge nearly as often.
Once I exit the shower I put on my uniform and decide to visit Bones since I have nothing better to do. I walk out the door and head to Bones' room, when I step into the elevator I am suddenly joined by Dr. Marcus and the doors close us in together.
Carol Marcus. I have gotten closer to Dr. Marcus ever since my recovery. When I was in recovery she sometimes would stop by and we would talk for hours. I know I have a reputation with women, but I swear…. this one is different. All the others were just sex, but with Carol I just want to sit down and talk to her for hours on end and maybe steal a few kisses. Her eyes are the perfect shade of blue, her hair smells of lavender, and don't even get me started on hr accent. I've never felt like this before, I have no idea what to do, and I have no idea how she feels about me.
"Jim." She says with a nod in her beautiful accent.
"Carol." I reply, loving the way her name feels on my lips. "How have you been?"
"You mean since yesterday?" she says with a small laugh, which makes me smile. "I've been fine, how are you?" She asks still slightly laughing.
"I've been good; I wish I had more work to do around here. I feel like I have nothing to do but think all day. Anyways, why are you up so early?"
"Scotty needed help repairing the disposal system, and I volunteered."
"Fun." I reply sarcastically, which makes her give another small laugh.
"Anyways, why are you up so early?"
"I'm the Captain, I'm very important." I joke, but she doesn't miss the bags under my eyes.
"Have you still been getting nightmares?"
"How do you know about the nightmares?'
"You mumbled in your sleep a lot when you were in recovery, but you still haven't answered my question. Have you still been getting nightmares?"
"Not really," I simply state. Her expression shows that she does not believe me for a second.
"Jim." She says in a stern voice.
"Okay. I'm still having nightmares."
"How bad?"
"Nothing I can't handle." I say, trying to avoid going deeper into this conversation, but I can see the concern in her eyes.
Before she can say more the doors open, and I am forced to leave. As I begin to walk out of the elevator her hand on my arm stops me, and I turn and hold the elevator open she looks right into my eyes.
"Jim," she pauses for a moment, I'm guessing to consider what she is going to say. "Since the ship has been so quiet, do you maybe… Want to get a drink later?"
"Of course." I reply not being able to contain my smile, and she seems to be suffering from the same problem. "What time?"
"How's seven-thirty?" she asks still smiling.
"Seven-thirty sounds great."
"Okay, see you then."
"See you then." I reply, I finally let the elevator close and I walk to Bones' room.
…...
I walk in and find him sitting on his couch focusing on his PADD; he doesn't even seem to notice my presence. I walk over to him and decide that it is probably time to make my presence known.
"Hey Bones." I say startling him and causing him to jump, which makes me burst out laughing.
"Dammit Jim!" he shouts, which does not help me control my laughter. "Why the hell are you so happy?"
"No reason." I reply simply, trying to decide whether or not to tell him about Carol.
"Okay." Is all he says in reply. Okay, I have to tell him.
"Okay, okay! I will tell you." I say as if he was dying to hear my explanation, my reply only seems to make him groan and he reaches out to grab his water. "I have a date." I say grinning broadly.
"Of course you do Jim. You're going to sleep with a random crew member and since you can't run away from her the next day, you are basically sabotaging yourself." He says and groans again. "Who is the poor soul?"
"For one thing it isn't like that, and she asked me out." I say and he just scoffs as he goes to take a drink of his water. "And that "Poor Soul" is none other than Dr. Carol Marcus."
Her name makes Bones joke on his water and slap my head. "Dammit! What the hell-", but he cuts me off.
"Are you kidding me? This girl just lost her father a few months ago, and here you are already trying to get in her pants!"
"God Bones, it's not like that!" I yell, frustrated that he thinks that I would do that to her. "Carol… she's different than the rest…" I pause, "I really, really like her."
"Oh of course you actually like her!" he says sarcastically. "Two months after recovery and you are already trying to screw one of the only women that can tolerate you!"
"I not screwing around Bones!" I continue in a serious tone. "I really do like her. I love how her eyes are the perfect shade of blue, I love her accent and her melodic laugh-", before I can finish listing her perfect qualities I am cut off once again.
"Damn, what did that maniac's blood do to you?"
"Can we just leave Kahn's blood out of the situation for once?" I pause, "What should I do?"
"Just be a gentleman, I guess." He pauses "Well be as close to a gentleman as you can be, and for the love of God don't sleep with her."
"Okay, I think I can handle that."
"Also, be careful with relationships kid, sometimes they come back and bite you in the ass." He pauses, "Is this all you wanted to talk about, because unlike everyone else I have work to do."
"Are you still watching my progress?"
"Yes, I am."
"I've been out of recovery for two months already. When will you just forget the whole thing?"
"None of us will ever forget that, Jim." He says in a serious tone. "We all saw you dead. That you're here now is irrelevant to the fact that I will never get that picture out of my mind. I also know that you definitely haven't forgotten that either."
I really don't want to have this conversation again. "You seem to have a lot of work to do, I will see you around Bones." I say then I silently walk to the bridge.