AN - I'm on a role with stories lately, I have a two further two ideas after this. 4th in the series. This is just a short story. As always I don't own anything I'm just playing with them. I'm sorry everyone but this took over from Nebula's Ashes.


Chapter 1

Jim awoke to a bright light and the chirping of birds outside of his window, that wasn't normal. There was no birdsong unless he requested the computer of the Enterprise to play some and the light that was coming from the window looked like sunlight. He blinked looking around the bare white room, it didn't look like a hotel room, or if it was it was a very cheap one, it looked almost clinical. He shifted feeling creaking from the springs of the single bed he was laying on, he studied the bed, plain white metal frame with sprung metal supports that a thin foam mattress was laid upon. As he shifted the mattress crinkled, it had a waterproof cover on? He sat up allowing his feet to touch the cold tiles, as he did there was a clinking he looked down, leather restraints were unfastened and hanging from the bed frame they were brushing the floor as he shifted. Where the hell was he?

He rubbed his face noting there was a plastic bracelet on his wrist, he studied it, there was a printed label:

Kirk. James T

Patient: 937-0176

He squinted at it, patient? He could hear movement outside of the door it was solid metal with a small viewing window, no handle on this side. Was he trapped? A prisoner?

The door unlocked with a loud clunk making him jump, it opened and a man that would make 'cupcake' look small opened it, he was smiling in a friendly way though which seemed to mean he wasn't going to hurt him. "Wakey, Wakey, rise and…Oh, you're already awake" he moved into the room, pulling the blind up to allow more light in, he then opened a cupboard removing plain grey tracksuit bottoms and a matching hooded top, he threw them on the bed next to Jim it was followed by a black t-shirt. He turned frowning at the lack of response "You feeling ok Jim?"

Jim picked up the clothes but stayed sitting "Sorry where am I?"

The man's face changed to a pitying look but spoke kindly "Not this again, look you've got a session with Doctor Hardman at 10:00 why don't you get yourself ready and I'll see what I can get you for breakfast, fancy anything in particular?"

Jim opened his mouth but someone yelled "Luke! I need help in here" Luke rushed out of the door, Jim peering out after him, he could hear screaming, it looked like his room was in a long hospital corridor, there were rooms identical to his set out in intervals. There were other residents in pyjamas either looking out their own rooms or heading away from the commotion. The screaming was coming from a room just down from his, curiosity got the better of him and he decided to investigate. Two orderlies dressed in their white scrubs were holding a third man down on the floor, he was struggling frantically, screaming obscenities at them, Luke was adding his weight but had a hypodermic needle in his hand, he used his teeth to remove the protective cap and pushed it into the man's bicep.

The struggling calmed and when they were sure he was down, they carefully released him, Luke stood recapping the now empty syringe "Looks like Franks in for another few days of solitary" he noticed Jim in the doorway "Did you need something Jimmy? Are you ok to get ready by yourself?"

"No I'm good thanks" Luke smiled and backed Jim away from the door, giving him a friendly pat on the arm as the other two orderlies carted 'Frank' away, "What'll happen to him?"

"Don't worry about him, we'll take good care of him"

Jim picked the clothes up from his room, when had he decided this was his room? There was nothing personal in it at all. He quickly left following the other 'patients' to the bathroom, it was a large white tiled room, with 6 shower cubicles, they were open with no curtain and there was a bored looking orderly watching the patients shower, but he only seemed to be making sure they were ok, Jim couldn't see anything malicious. Jim headed to the empty one at the end, placing his clothing on the wooden bench in front of it, he noted the bench was bolted to the floor. "Don't forget your towel Jimmy?" the orderly pointed to a stack of white towels to the side, Jim picked one up and hung it by the shower cubicle. The patient next to him seemed in a word of his own as he stripped and entered the shower, Jim started to undress feeling very strange, he wasn't ashamed of his body by any means and on board the Enterprise there were occasions after gym sessions that you would see other naked forms while changing but this, he eyed the orderly again who gave him a re-assuring smile "It's nothing I haven't seen before Jim, now c'mon before all the hot waters gone" Jim stripped and stepped into the steam as quickly as he could, he showered side on so he could see anyone approaching. He quickly dried and dressed noting that he had to put his slippers back on, what he'd give for trainers or his Starfleet issue boots, they were comfy.

He followed other patients to the canteen, Luke waved him to an empty seat then slid a tray in front of him, it was grey with little slots for the food different items. There was a plastic beaker of juice, cup of water and a plastic fork. Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, it looked disgusting, the eggs were white and had a lot of liquid running off them, definitely reconstituted, the bacon was fatty and stringy and the toast was cold "Sorry you took a little longer in the shower" Luke said as he held up a small medicine cup that rattled, Jim took it peering inside, there were 3 tablets. "What's this?"

Luke rolled his eyes as if they had done this before "Your medication" Jim was still looking at him expectantly "one to calm you down, one to clear your head and one to help with your episodes"

Jim wasn't about to take anything they gave him, he still had no idea how he got here.

Luke pursed his lips "Y'know Dr Hardman won't see you unless you've had your meds."

Jim still didn't take them, Luke lowered his voice "Look you can either take them, or I can make you and I'd prefer not to do that."

Luke was right, Jim couldn't really fight them he'd seen how Frank had been dealt with, he decided to play along, he took the pills like he would a shot then swallowed a load of orange juice, careful to keep the pills in his mouth.

Luke folded his arms "I'm not falling for that again" they had a small staring contest, then Jim gave in he swallowed the pills with the rest of the orange. Luke leant forward "Say ah" he checked inside Jim's mouth to make sure the pills were gone and took the small cup from him smiling "That's better, if you're good during your session I'll save you a chocolate pudding at lunch, how's that sound?"

It sounded condescending and Jim really wanted to respond rudely but he decided to play nice "Sounds great" he replied unenthusiastically.

"C'mon time for your appointment" Luke lead him down a corridor to an office, he knocked on the door and a nasal voice responded "Enter" Luke opened the door, ushering Jim inside, then closing the door not following him in. "Ah James, how are we feeling today?" Jim rolled his eyes, he loved being talked to like he was a three year old.