A Riverside Christmas Mystery
Chapter 4
"Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
"Mr. Spock, Look! Davy wants you to hold him," said Peter.
"Here, take him, Mr. Spock," Winona handed the baby over to Spock, who automatically put out his arms to hold him. Everyone looked on, fascinated at the sight of the Vulcan with the baby in his lap.
"Oh my God," murmured McCoy. "Unbelievable! Where is my camera! I gotta share this with the crew!"
Davy, oblivious to everyone's scrutiny, looked solemnly at Spock, who looked back at him just as solemnly. He tentatively lifted Davy and stood him on his lap. The baby's sturdy little legs held him within the Vulcan's hands, and one small hand suddenly dropped the bottle and lifted up to touch the upswept eye brow. His little face broke out in another beguiling grin and then tiny fingers went up further on Spock's face to tentatively feel the elegantly pointed ear. His fingers explored gently, then left the point of Spock's ear and came back down to touch his own small ear, then once more the little hand went back to Spock's ear for another soft exploration. The baby chuckled softly and the watching adults and Peter burst out laughing.
"Spock, he likes your eyebrows and your ears," said Jim, amused and enchanted at the sight of the baby in the arms of his gentle and impassive First Officer.
"The child obviously has a high degree of intelligence," said Spock, catching the exploring little hand in his own, and with a soft gleam in the dark eyes, he handed the baby back to Winona.
Bones picked up the bottle, rinsed it off and handed it back to Davy. "Well, Spock, you gotta' understand, a thirteen month old baby doesn't have much discrimination yet, they enjoy anything different," he said laughing. His gentle hand brushed the fluffy baby curls and soft cheek.
"Jim," said Winona over the general glee, "I just had an idea. We know how old Davy is, and we know his first name. Couldn't we access the birth records of all baby boys born around that time at nearby hospitals to see if we can find out who his mother is?"
"I don't see how we can, Winona," said McCoy. "That information is highly encrypted by all hospitals for the protection of the children. It would probably take somethin' like a court order, and we certainly can't ask for one."
"But surely there's a way," protested Winona. "Jim what do you think?"
"It's an idea, Ma, if we can somehow figure out how to get the information." His communicator beeped and he looked at it. "It's Uhura. Yes, Uhura?"
"Jim, I'm ready for my ride. I'll meet you where you dropped me off, if that's ok."
"That's fine, Uhura, one of us will pick you up in a few minutes," answered Jim.
"I will pick her up since you and McCoy will be busy, Jim. Perhaps Peter-kam would like to come with me?" asked Spock. "We would have a little time to discuss your progress in chess, Peter."
"May I, Noni?" asked Peter eager to spend time with his Mr. Spock whom he loved almost as much as he loved his Uncle Jim.1
"Yes, of course, Peter. You go on with Mr. Spock. Just don't forget you have to feed Sorrel when you get back. I haven't seen that kitty anywhere for a while now. I bet he's hiding somewhere warm and cozy."
"He's in my room, Noni, sound asleep in his basket with his paws around his toy tiger. I checked on him earlier. He's being lazy today," said Peter.
"It's the cold weather, Peter. You and Mr. Spock put on your heavy coats. It's snowing hard now," she said looking out the back door at the beauty of the tiny bit of cobalt blue sky that could be seen and the pristine snow coming down fast. "Peter, I want you to look down to see how beautiful the world looks covered in snow from high up in the shuttle."
"I will, Noni." Peter said, as he went to get their coats. Peter and his grandmother often played a game Winona had made up. Wherever they went, Winona would say softly to Peter,
"The world is full of beautiful things.
Butterfly wings, fairy tale kings."2
Then Peter and she would look around them until each of them found something beautiful to enjoy.
Jim got up to use his mother's comm in her office. "Spock, when you pick up Uhura, fill her in on all that's happened. Maybe she'll have another idea about how to trace Davy's mother. Meanwhile, I'm going to comm Scotty. It may take a little while to reach him. Bones, you go ahead and get the DNA sample from Davy and have it ready to go."
"Yes, Jim, I will do so" said Spock. "Shall we go, Peter-kam?" Peter nodded and handed Spock his coat, hat and gloves. "Thank you, Peter."
Bones went for his medic kit and Jim went in to his mother's office to input his Enterprise Command priority code for long-range communication and waited for access.
Winona sat with Davy in her arms thinking. It's worth a try to look for Davy's birth certificate in local hospitals, she thought. Maybe Dr. Jeffries or Gavin Bradford 3 would help us. Starfleet Intelligence Service could probably do it faster and Gavin would help if I asked him to and told him why or maybe Tom Jeffries has computer access to Terran hospital data basis. We'll talk it over when Uhura gets here. Winona patted the baby as he wriggled in her arms wanting to get down. Solving a problem, she thought, is about starting with the simplest solution and working up from there. McCoy came back with his medic kit.
Bones knelt in front of Davy. "Hey, little guy. This isn't gonna' hurt. It's just a little swab inside your mouth. Hold him, Winona." McCoy tilted Davy's head, inserted the swab in his mouth, gave a quick swipe, and pulled it out. Davy let out an indignant squeal, but he didn't cry. "There that's all there is to it." McCoy encased the swab and went to his medical tricorder. He would read the swab and encode the results of the DNA into the comm squirt Jim would send to Christine for the search.
McCoy came back and sat by Winona. "It will take a few minutes so as soon as Scotty responds, we'll send the results to the Enterprise, Winona. It's a good place to start at least," said Bones. "Try not to worry too much; we'll get to the bottom of this. Jim's not one to give up until he has answers."
Winona puts squirming Davy down on the floor and the baby stood up. He grabbed on to McCoy's knees, and then walked around the table by himself holding on to the chairs as he went "I know Leonard. It just worries me that Davy's mother is in danger and that she needs our help. Davy needs his mother. He's such an adorable child, she must miss him terribly."
"Well, he couldn't be in better hands, that's for sure, and meanwhile we'll do all we can to find her and help her." McCoy patted Winona's hand.
Winona sighed. "I better go feed the animals before it gets colder. Our chickens, horse and donkey wait for no man or woman."
"I'll help you," said McCoy. "I bet Davy would love to see the animals. Let's wrap him up well and take him outside. I didn't realize you had a horse and a donkey too." McCoy picked up Davy and they went into the bedroom to get his coat and hat.
"Yes," said Winona, trying to get the coat and hat on the squirming Davy. "The horse is Jim's. He loves that horse; he's really getting up there in age, but he's very healthy and we take good care of him. George bought him for Jim and Sam when he was just a colt. The boys and Ginger sort of grew up together. Jim still rides him when he comes home, and Peter rides him all the time. He loves the fact that his father used to ride Ginger. I only ride the donkey…he's a nice donkey, very affectionate and intelligent and his name is Dapple. I named him after Sancho Panza's donkey in Don Quixote."
"Come on Davy, let's go outside and see the horsy," said McCoy as he carried the baby back to the kitchen. "Jim," he yelled, "we'll be out in the barn for a while."
The cold was bitterly raw outside, the snow falling hard now, but the barn was warm and smelled of hay, horse-flesh, and leather. McCoy carried Davy over to see the donkey. Dapple lifted his head and looked with interest at his two visitors and the baby and when Winona filled his feed box, she leaned in to scratch between his eyes, and he gave her an affectionate nuzzle. "Hi Dapple, how is my sweet donkey? It's way too cold to go for a ride today, Dapple, so it's just feed for you today." Davy reached in and touched Dapple, and received the same soft nuzzle. His eyes opened wide, but he didn't draw back.
Winona laughed softly, flashing the dimple at the corner of her mouth. "He's just like Jim at that age, he wasn't afraid of anything, even as a baby. I had to watch him like a hawk or he'd be running out the back door and into something dangerous. Thank God for Sam. He always kept an eagle eye on Jim when they were boys. Despite their five-year age difference, those two were very close; Sam, the protector of his baby brother, and Jimmy, who worshipped his big brother." 4
McCoy saw that her large hazel eyes were luminous with sadness, but serene for all that.
Ginger, whose name described his color, got his share of feed and an affectionate pat, and then they went out to the chicken coop. Davy was fascinated by the clucking and scurrying of the hungry birds.
"Ma, Bones," Jim's shouted from the kitchen. "Scotty's on the comm. Bones, bring the DNA squirt."
"Coming, Jim," shouted McCoy. "It's ready to go."
"You go ahead, Leonard. Davy and I will finish here," said Winona holding out her arms for the baby. He wiggled, wanting to get down, and Winona set him down, firmly holding on to one of his hands and keeping a close eye on the chickens who liked to peck.
The chickens were all fed to the delight of the enthralled baby, and she picked Davy up to go back inside, when she heard the flitter coming in for a landing. "Look, Davy," she said pointing.
Spock, Peter, and Uhura came out of the shuttle loaded down with shopping bags and walked over to the chicken coop.
"Miss Nyota, I'll take your bags inside for you," said Peter, tickling Davy under the chin.
"I will help you, Peter-kam."
"Thank you, Peter, Mr. Spock, but no peeking either of you, ok?"
"Nyota, it's so lovely to see you!" Winona beamed at the lovely Communications Officer. "I'm so glad you're finally here."
Uhura came over to Winona and gave her a big hug including Davy in her encircling arms. "Winona, it's lovely to be here! Thank you for inviting me, I've been looking forward to this visit for months!" She stepped back to look at Davy. "My goodness, what a gorgeous child. Mr. Spock and Peter caught me up on all that's happened." She stroked the velvety baby cheek. "Don't you worry, Davy, we're going to find your mother, sweetheart, or my name isn't Nyota Uhura!"
"Nyota, let's go inside, it's getting much colder. We'll be down to the low teens by tonight, I'm sure."
Jim, McCoy, Spock, and Peter were in the living room. The fire guard was up and Jim had built a roaring blaze in the fire-place. Peter sat in front of the fireplace on the floor playing with Sorrel and the three men and Uhura were discussing the chance of finding a DNA match for Davy.
"Hi Nyota, looks like you had a good shopping day, from the look of the bags." Jim stood up and with a keen look at his mother's face, he reached for Davy. "Sit down, Ma. You look a little tired."
"Thank you, Jim. He's such a good baby, but he is heavy," Winona said, handing over Davy. "I've forgotten how heavy a 13 month old baby can be."
"Jim, Jim, Jim, Uncle Jim," Bones, Spock, Uhura and Peter all spoke his Jim's name at the same time. Davy looked up at Jim from his lap and said clearly, "Ji."
Winona burst out laughing.
Jim chuckled. "Davy," he said as he ruffled the soft baby curls and bounced him up and down on his knee.
"Wouldn't you know it," said Bones, in mock disgust. "Kirk good looks and charmin' smile trumps McCoy medical care and Vulcan ears every time."
"Indeed," said Spock, a twinkle in his eyes. Uhura and Peter just grinned.
"What, Ma," said Jim his hazel eyes never leaving the soft brown ones looking up at him. The baby's hand reached up to touch his mouth and Jim took the little fingers between his teeth and gently nibbled at them. Davy gurgled in delight.
"I've decided to comm Gavin Bradford and Dr. Jeffries and ask them if they would do a search through Iowa birth records to find Davy's mother. SIS and Fleet Medical have access to any and all data basis, and I think that should be our first step."
'And you think they'll do it, Ma?" Jim looking at his mother's face, thought that it might be impossible, especially for Commander Bradford, to refuse Winona's request.
"Oh, I think they will," Winona flashed her golden smile at him." When I tell them Davy's mother is in danger and that we need to help her, they'll understand how important it is to find her."
"I think it's worth a try, Ma. The DNA sample search will take at least a couple of days, so trying another avenue is worth while. This baby needs his mother and she needs him." Jim's tactical mind was already looking for other possibilities if the DNA search was unsuccessful or if Commander Bradford or Dr. Jeffries were unwilling or unable to help them.
Jim set Davy on the floor and watched him crawl over to Peter playing with Sorrel. "Watch the kitten, Peter. We don't want him to scratch Davy."
"I will, Uncle Jim." Peter picked up Sorrel and held him in his lap as Davy crawled over to them. The baby sat by Peter, but made no move to touch Sorrel.
"I think I'll comm Gavin now, and then try to speak with Tom Jeffries. After I do that we'll start supper, spaghetti primavera tonight with a kale salad. By the way, Jim, I've invited Gavin and Tom to come for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and they've both accepted. Neither of them have any family close by, so it will be nice for them to be here with us. They're staying at a hotel in town; I just wish there was room for them here," she said a little wistfully. "It would be so much more fun for them."
As she walked to her office, McCoy looked after her admiringly. "Your mama is an amazin' woman, Jim boy. Strong, brilliant, beautiful, gentle, and compassionate. She reminds me of that old poem about Sir Galahad, "My strength is as the strength of ten because my heart is pure."
Jim nodded, his eyes shining. "She's had a lot of sorrow and loneliness in her life, Bones, but you'd never know it. She adored my father, heck, we all did, but because he was gone so much, she had to raise Sam and me almost totally by herself, keep the farm goin.g, and manage a full-time job. She's one of the most admirable people I know, Bones, and I'm not just saying that because she's my mother. Sam felt the same way and so did my Pop. If it's within my power, there's not anything that I wouldn't do for Ma."
Spock, listening quietly to Jim, wondered what it was like to grow up in a home where you were loved and accepted unconditionally; where you had the freedom to choose your life path; where expectation was tempered by nurturing and condemnation for childhood failures unknown. No wonder Jim was so self-assured that he could laugh at himself, that he could fall or fail and then try again without feeling shame. No wonder he was so open with his affections, so accepting, and forgiving of transgressions, (Talos IV came to mind). This home, where Jim grew up gave him those gifts of character.
Winona came back looking pleased. "Gavin was happy to help. He said he'd get started right away; he agreed that the sooner we find her the better. It will take a while, he said. Iowa has a lot of hospitals and medical facilities. I couldn't talk with Tom, his office said he was with patients, but I left a message and he'll call me back."
She bent and picked up Davy. "Davy, love. I think this evening we'll skip your bath and just top and tail you, young man. It's time to start dinner."
"I'll do it Winona," said Bones, taking Davy from her.
"There's some onesies in his suitcase, Leonard, and more diapers. I'll probably have to shop for some more clothes and diapers for him tomorrow. Nyota, why don't you go with Leonard and unpack. I made room in the closet and the bottom drawer of the dresser is yours. Are you sure you're ok with sleeping in my room with the baby in there? He may wake in the night."
"Don't worry, Winona, we're used to sleeping through anything on board ship. Davy won't bother me a bit."
"Come on, Ma. We'll all help with supper. After that, we'll sit, relax with some hot chocolate in front of the fire and enjoy the rest of the evening."
After supper, they adjourned to the living room; Jim poured hot chocolate for everyone. Spock and Peter set out the chess board; Bones and Uhura sat quietly talking, and Jim went to sit by Peter to watch the chess game.
Winona sat in the rocking chair with Davy rocking gently and softly singing the lullaby she had always sung to her boys.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby.
When you wake, you shall have,
All the pretty little horses.
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys,
Go to sleepy you little baby.5
Davy's eyes closed in sleep and she went to put him down and turned on a night-light between the twin beds so she and Uhura wouldn't wake the baby when they came in to sleep.
As she came back in the comm unit in her office beeped. "It's probably Tom Jeffries," she said as she went to answer it. She came back in a few minutes and her smile told the story. "He'll help," she said simply.
"Of course he will," murmured Bones.
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1 See "Hostages" for an explanation of the closeness between Peter and Spock
2 Bobby Darin
3 See "Ring of Treason "
4 See "Rain of Stars et al
5 Anonymous, thought to be African American in origin