Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek
A/N: Another quick update! This story's sorta taken over my brain, so hopefully I'll have it finished soon.
Canto Three: Devilish Guest
Captain's Log, Supplemental: We are still in forced orbit around Qillar, despite the warning the Qillaran leader has provided us with concerning 'meddling' where we do not belong. I find it most disconcerting that they feel the need to warn us not to meddle now, with my surgeon already incapacitated and my first officer trying to worm his way into the man's unconscious brain. I hate to think of what will happen if he can't get through.
I
"I ain't keepin' him here any longer, Leonard," Samuel said, leaning back against the banister as he and the Doctor came to a standstill on the stairs. "Folks are already startin' to talk, and there's no way they believe that crock about a rice-picker."
"Man needs rest," Leonard protested. "I can't very well order him on his way now, he's just startin' to get better."
"You don't know that, Leonard. You know as well as I that fella ain't human!"
"All I know, Samuel, is I've got a man needs tendin' and I'm gonna tend to him."
"Fine, then, you do that," Samuel said, heading down the stairs. "But not in my home!"
Leonard heaved a heavy sigh and started back up the stairs, muttering under his breath as he headed for his patient's room. When he entered, he found that Mr. Spock had sat up and was pulling on the shirt he'd been found in – a strange, blue, long sleeve shirt with odd decorations on the sleeves and chest. When it was on, Spock stood, draping his hands behind his back, and Leonard felt a wave of déjà-vu pass over him, but he shook his head and smiled at his patient.
"I am no longer welcome here?" Spock asked.
"Folks're a bit superstitious 'round these parts," Leonard explained with a shrug, snatching up his bag. "'Fraid of things they got no business bein' afraid of."
"I require no explanation, Doctor," Spock said. "I merely inquire as to whether there is another place in this town where I might stay, as I have neither money nor transport."
"Sure, sure," Leonard waved a hand as headed for the door. "Come along with me. I've got a guest bedroom don't get used very often anyway."
"Are you sure it will be acceptable to your family?" Spock asked, not moving.
"'Course it will!" Leonard replied. "Don't see why it shouldn't. Joanna'll love you and Jocelyn'll understand."
"If you are sure."
"I'm more than sure, I insist!"
The good doctor led the way down the stairs and out onto the road. Bright sun beat down on the house and fields as the two men started off towards Leonard's home. Leonard looked up to the sky, watching a gathering of dark clouds for a second before shaking his head and clicking his tongue.
"Fine time to kick you out," he muttered. "Samuel damn well knew there was a storm coming!"
"Will we not be able to reach your house in time, Doctor?" Spock asked.
Leonard looked at the sky again. "We might," he said. "But those clouds are movin' awful fast. We'll be cuttin' it close."
II
Kirk turned onto his back, staring at the ceiling of his quarters. Nurse Chapel had ordered him to get some rest, assuring him that she'd call if there was any change, but rest was the furthest thing from Kirk's mind. He'd tossed and turned, hell he'd even thought about having some brandy, but nothing was going to keep his mind off of the matter at hand.
"Why him?" he muttered to himself. He sat up and rubbed the heels of his palms against his eyes, letting out a long breath as he thought through different tactics he could use against the Qillarans, but there was nothing he could do without better understanding what he was up against.
"That's it!" He slid out of bed and hurried from the room, running down the hall to the turbo lift. "Bridge," he said, gripping the handle tightly. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of this before. "Lieutenant, open a general channel to the planet surface," he announced as he stepped off the lift and onto the bridge, making a beeline for his chair.
"Channel open, Sir," Uhura said.
Kirk could feel the eyes of every member of the bridge crew on him, wondering what exactly he was thinking. He took a deep breath and began. "This is Captain James Tiberius Kirk of the United Star Ship Enterprise and I have a question for the Qillaran leader."
That familiar flash of light filled the bridge and the Qillaran floated before them, blocking the view screen entirely. "Ask," he said.
"Why?" Kirk asked. "Why Bones, he's just a doctor, why not me? I'm the Captain, after all."
"You are happy here."
"What?"
"He is happy there."
That was all the Qillaran said before the flash came again and he disappeared.
III
"I can't believe you," Jocelyn hissed as she scrubbed at the plates piled in the sink. "You didn't even ask me, Leonard! Couldn't you at least have asked?" She handed him the top plate and he dried it slowly.
"He's my patient, Jocelyn," he said. "He's got nowhere else to go."
"So? Find him a hotel!"
"He has no money."
"Of course he doesn't!"
"Jocelyn, please."
"Please what?" She threw down the dish rag and turned to face her husband, her eyes narrowed in anger. "You bring this man into our home, this man you know nothing about, and you expect me to be perfectly all right with that? Have you looked at him?"
"He-"
"No," Jocelyn said, holding up her hand. "I don't want to hear about it. You treat him, you cure him, and you send him on his way." She turned back to this ink. "And keep him away from Joanna."
Leonard sighed and went back to drying the dishes. He knew better than to press the issue now that Jocelyn had it decided, but he wished he could make her understand, make her see that Spock was no more devil or demon than she was, but there wasn't anything else to say. He'd just have to do as he was told.
