Day Two

by Starsinger

Wow, oh, wow, what else can I say about the amount of reviews/favs/follows that I've received on this story. I really appreciate everyone liking it. Give you a little bit of background, I was a nursing assistant for nine years and did home health work as well. So, I have quite a bit of knowledge in my background to go with what I write. Write what you know, huh? Second, I have a certain fondness for Nurse Christine Chapel. I met and worked with the original actress who played her/Lwaxanna Troi/Voice of the ship's computer. Her last Star Trek role was, in fact, ship's computer in Star Trek 2009. Nimoy wasn't the only returning original series actor, Majel Barrett Roddenberry was just never seen. Anyway, I met and worked with her at a couple of conventions in Dallas. Warm, charming, inviting, all of those things describe her. I was the last person sitting beside her taking money for pictures for her to sign. BTW, she only charged for the pictures, if you brought something for her to sign, it was free. Well, I've met a lot of Star Trek stars in my day, and if you're interested in any stories, including a practical joke involving Johnathan Frakes that's still being talked about today that I helped pull on the poor man, PM me, I'll see what I can do. The calvary is called. Don't own them.

It happened again in the middle of the night. Jim's body crashed. Another medication was administered. McCoy was frustrated. Jim's temperature was dangerously high, and if he didn't get it down bad things would happen. It was Nurse Crachett who came up with the solution. Jim had started talking deliriously in the coma. He called out for his mother. Finally McCoy could stand it no more. "Goddamn it Jim, you need to pull through! I know it hurts, but if by some cruel twist of fate you leave us, it had better be because some other crew in another universe desperately needed you. Because, when I die, I will hunt down your ghost and give it a swift kick in the ass!"

Chris stood there stunned as unnoticed tears poured down McCoy's face. She was about to say something when Nurse Crachett bustled in. She was an earthy woman who took a no-nonsense approach to her work. She pulled the sheet and hospital gown off Jim, leaving him exposed to the whole world. She picked up several objects from the tray beside her and started placing them strategically around the delirious man. They were rubber gloves filled with ice. She placed two on his groin, two under his armpits, and two on his face. She then deftly replaced the hospital gown and sheet. McCoy looked at her astonished.

"This is an old trick my mother taught me. The veins run close to the surface of the skin in the spots I placed those gloves at. It will help bring down his temperature as the retuning blood is cooled down," she patted McCoy on the head, as if he were one of her own children, and left. "Let me know when those need changing."

Now, McCoy had been roommates with Kirk for several years at the Academy. The kid talked in his sleep, in fact, he had entire conversations in his sleep. This was different, he was calling out for his mother, begging her not to leave, that he'd be a good boy, just don't leave him with Frank. McCoy stepped away from Kirk momentarily to call Spock, "Listen, Spock, has Jim's mother been informed of her son's condition?"

Chris had stepped outside to make a call of her own, "Nyota, that older Spock, can you get a hold of him? Maybe he can help us find out of Jim's still in there."

Meanwhile in San Francisco

"Mr. Scott, are you really trying to make us believe that you willingly went to those coordinates after Jim Kirk fired you?" Admiral Komack asked.

"Yes sir, I did. I trusted Jim Kirk like I've trusted no other man."

"Even after he fired you," Johnson said.

"He dinnae fire me, I resigned. When he needed my help I went. It was fortunate that I was on Earth. The Enterprise would be destroyed, otherwise. Listen, I know that ye're tryin' to assign blame here. Jim Kirk is not at fault for anything' but tryin' to do what was right. Even as it cost him his life. I would follow him to edges of the universe and back again for doin' what he did," Scotty's eyes sparked fiercely. He would not allow the Admirals to lay the blame of what happened at the feet of his friend.

They dismissed Scotty and looked at each other. Each and every crew member interviewed came to their Captain's defense. Some even cursed Admiral Marcus, he had threatened to destroy the Enterprise even as Kirk had begged for the lives of her crew. "We still need to talk to McCoy," Archer murmured. They all nodded in agreement as they rose.

Back in Zurich

McCoy rubbed his eyes tiredly. Nurse Crachett was one hell of a nurse. Her idea had brought Jim's fever had dropped to 100. He'd stopped talking, but worry still wracked McCoy's brain. He heard a voice, "Maybe I can be of assistance." The voice was familiar, even as it talked through many more years of existence than his younger counterpart.

McCoy turned and came face to face with the elder Spock. The one Uhura, Jim and Spock spoke of with such reverence and awe. He had to admit he was impressed by the Vulcan, "You must be Spock. How is it you can help?"

The old man looked at McCoy with genuine affection in his eyes, as if meeting an old friend again after a long absence. "I performed a mind meld with Jim on Delta Vega. I could perform one on him now, and help ascertain certain principles."

"Such as whether or not he's still there," McCoy muttered. Spock's sharp hearing picked up the barely spoken words and he nodded. "Well, what have we got to lose. Go ahead." McCoy watched as Spock's practiced fingers connected with Jim's temple.

The first thing he encountered was the pain. He knew this pain having suffered this death in his own time. He had spent time with the priestesses of Mount Seleya and their healers. They had taught him many things including how to soothe a mind ravaged by illness and pain. He did his best to do that. Then he searched, seeking that bright spot that always marked his friend. After much looking, he found what he sought. Lying in a ball at the back of his brain.

Jim? He asked.

Spock? Came the reply.

How do you feel?

Cold, scared, what's happening?

Doctor McCoy is trying to help you. Just be patient, old friend, you'll be back with them soon. Spock felt Jim's mind relax, the fear dissipating. True sleep hovered near, Soon, my friend, very soon.

Spock withdrew the contact and looked at McCoy, "He's still there. You can breathe easier now. He's scared, confused, and in pain. I helped soothe that a little. There is much satisfaction that the crew is alright though. I told him to be patient, you were doing what you could to bring him back." He reached out and touched McCoy's shoulder.

"Thank you, Spock. It helps to know he's still there," the elderly Vulcan turned and walked away.

Soon, the other Spock rounded the corner with two people. They both looked so much like Jim they had to be his mother, Winona, and his brother, Sam. Jim called him George just to irritate his stepfather. He carefully explained Jim's condition to them, he didn't want there to be any surprises for them. "So, you got his temperature to drop?" Winona asked anxiously.

"Yes, but he's not out of the woods, I don't know when this will end, or how it will, but I will do my best for Jim."

Winona murmured that she knew McCoy would and went into the room. Silence reined as both brother and mother took their places beside Jim. Not really knowing what to say. He was about to turn back to the nurse's station when he heard a little voice behind him, "Daddy!"

McCoy turned to see Joanna and Jocelyn walking down the hospital corridor. Joanna flew down the corridor and into Leonard's waiting arms. He wrapped them around the little girl and held on tight. Tears streaming down his face yet again. He looked at Jocelyn, "I have a three week business conference here in Zurich starting next week. I thought I'd come a little early. Why don't you two spend some time together. I have some arrangements to make."

McCoy held his little girl, thankful for the chance. Suddenly, things didn't seem so terrible. Things, for the moment, were right with the universe.