A/N: Each chapter is from one of the trio's point of view. This one is Jim.
It was dead and that was the end of this. Jim heaved a sigh of relief. It had been painful- he'd never tell a soul but those few seconds had been agony- and now it was over. They'd get a Security team in here ASAP to clean everything up and-
The phaser dropped onto the carpet. Jim listened as the sounds in the room quieted to a whisper. He could hear the air circulating, a wisp on the edges of tables and knick-knacks. There was a shuffling, too, where Spock was trying to pick himself up off the floor.
And Bones- Jim's thought process ground to a halt. The Doctor had both hands braced against the wall. A tremor was working its way through his legs, and his gaze was locked on the body. That's right. It's dead, and that means she's dead for certain. Oh, Bones…
Jim pulled himself upright. McCoy didn't move and inch. That wasn't very reassuring. He was relieved to see Spock up and at 'em, though. It was bad enough that the monster had clocked his First Officer once already. Any additional injuries he had sustained would be worrisome indeed. Spock nodded once and Jim knew everything was going to be fine. He'd witnessed many a song and dance on the marvels of Vulcan self-healing, but Jim was more partial to honesty. Spock said he was fine. Jim would trust him.
McCoy however did not look fine. Beads of sweat coated his forehead and his eyes were glassy. Jim's heart rate picked up. It wasn't right, Bones looking like that. The Doctor had been in high spirits, Jim remembered in his mind's eye. The two pictures did not align. He couldn't stand the scene before him, not the so-called resolution to their problem.
"I'm sorry, Bones." He said it once, and he'd be saying to over and over in any language he could pull off. Staggering slightly, Jim crossed to the wall where McCoy was perched. Slowly, carefully, he took a hold of his friend's arm. Jim could feel the muscles flinch even when McCoy showed no other signs of movement. That, and he noticed just how warm the Doctor was.
"Spock," Softly. McCoy had the look of a rabbit in an open field, nowhere to run, no cover. "Spock, is there a hand scanner on the desk?" There was, and he knew it. The Doctor's hammering heart needed no reason to shift into a higher gear. Jim kept his voice soft and his touch gentle as he reached for McCoy's other shoulder. Bones wasn't responding to any of it- which was reason enough to be concerned- but just in case…
"I have it, Captain." Spock, bless him, kept his voice low. The way he carried the scanner didn't look right, but Jim was going to take this crisis one problem at a time. They should be confined to Sickbay, all three of them, but until they knew Bones was stable Jim wasn't going to risk it. He glanced at Spock's arm before nodding.
"If you'd be so kind." He ran his thumb in little circles on McCoy's arm. The Doctor's breathing was becoming more ragged. Something in the wall clicked. The air settled heavily on the three of them.
"It is not…" Spock began before glancing at McCoy. "It is not what I would have expected to see, Captain."
"Oh?" Involuntarily, Jim tightened his grip.
"No. I would suggest… That we take care of this elsewhere. The readings indicate more medication than is necessary, as well as… Lingering effects." Spock had picked up on the code. Every second that ticked by meant the hitch in McCoy's lungs became more pronounced. The moisture on his face drained toward his chin in two even streaks.
Jim let the pang in his heart chart his course. "Go ahead, Spock. Clear the hall."
There was infinite understanding in Spock's expression. It gave Jim pause for just a second. Spock- dare he say it- empathized. That churned the broiling in his stomach, made his lungs a fraction tighter. They were a new crew, but what they had seen already…
He eased McCoy off the wall and into his arms. The Doctor all but collapsed. Jim knew Spock didn't make mistakes, but he didn't like they way his facts made themselves clear. He knew he'd be feeling it soon, the effects of the salt drain, but right now he had a job to do. Jim was responsible for this next part. He was the Captain. No one could carry this but him.
Bones was shaking. Jim supposed it was better that the Doctor had little awareness. He hoped he'd never have to do this again, to never have to carry his insensible friend to Sickbay. The Doctor was proud, but more than that he was hurting so deeply. Jim tried to write it off as exhaustion on his part. He was the Captain. The philosopher in him pointed out he was human as well. The duality had him straddling the line constantly. His duty or his self, when they didn't happen to coincide.
But, he could do this. Jim could tell Spock's arm would be out of commission in some capacity. It was only logical that he should take care of this.
Nurse Chapel was waiting for them in the emptied Sickbay. They'd decided to bury Dr. Crater on the planet. Not that the poor man would've been witness to any of this. It was a horrible business.
Bones was still unmindful of the events unfolding as Jim set him down on the biobed. He had his fists clenched in the fabric of Jim's shirt, but nothing else had changed. It seemed he'd shut down. With Spock's readings, well, Jim couldn't blame him. He still saw the look on McCoy's face: 'Lord forgive me'. The Doctor fired again. Jim wished it could have been him. If he could offer his friend one small mercy…
"Who gave him this?" Chapel was looking at the biobed readout. "He never takes the stuff, let alone more than one…"
"How many?" Jim asked without taking his attention from his friend.
"At least four."
Four. Jim, with all his migraine trouble, never took more than three. He, a seasoned medicator with somewhat of a tolerance to boot, never took more than three. How had Bones come to four?
"Security, report to Doctor McCoy's quarters." Spock's voice echoed in the empty space. "The creature has been killed. Please remove the body to the planet's surface." Spock turned and met Jim's questioning gaze. Obviously, the Captain couldn't tear himself away. It went without saying. Spock would attend to it.
"Make sure to come back here afterwards. I don't like that arm."
"Affirmative, Captain."
Chapel was back with another hypo. "He needs fluids. I can't tell if he's been drained or how much. Those pills sure did a number…"
It was more than the drugs, Jim knew. Bones had been lulled with the same song that had pulled Dr. Crater under. It stood to reason that McCoy would be fuzzy when Jim came barging in. The Doctor had realized. He had fired twice.
Jim heard the hiss of Chapel's hypo, but he didn't register what it meant until after the body in his arms went limp, until after that first wave of panic hit in his chest. He released the breath he'd hastily sucked in. Gently, he laid McCoy down.
Spock returned before Jim realized that time had passed. His First Officer carried half a glass of water.
"A hypothesis, Captain." He explained. Softly still, Jim noticed, even though Bones was out. "If I may?" Spock knew he had yet to be checked over. Jim was going to let it slide. While he knew the problem existed, just this once.
"Do it."
And it didn't take long. "Two capsules dissolved in the water-"
"Two the regular way. All at once." Jim ran a hand through his hair. "She didn't want him waking up while she was parading around in his skin."
Spock didn't nod. Something shifted in his eyes. "Indeed."
"How about we get than arm checked. And your head too." It only just occurred to him. Spock had been decked by what added up to McCoy, then had to force the Doctor to act out of a drug-induced stupor. Those eyes stayed as they were. Jim had not known them long, but he knew there was no resentment there. The eyes spoke volumes.
Chapel returned to handle Spock's treatment. Jim parked himself between the two biobeds. McCoy's face lay slack to his right, Spock's stood impassive to his left. He could not come up with two braver faces, not among his old classmates or acquaintances. How lucky was he to have friends like these.
A/N: Thanks for reading! : )
And I KNOW I ougtha be working on 'Leave It To Us', but I'm slightly stuck so I'm trying to untangle the plot mess I've left myself in.
SOON.