FLY TRAP
Chapter
11
Talking
'How's he doing, Doc?' Archer stood at reed's bedside, looking across at phlox.
'The alien fluid seems to have O two carrying capabilities. The respirator is keeping the fluid oxygenated, his heart is pumping it, his cells are being kept alive.'
'Can you save him?'
'I have given him an injection to speed up the production of erythrocytes, and anti rejection therapy to prevent the rejection of the alien fluid in the mean time.' He scanned his patient. 'The rest is up to him.'
Malcolm was motionless on the bio-bed. The scanner thrummed with the beat of his heart and the rhythm of his breathing, but he was cold, and his skin was sickly pale. He looked lifeless.
'Let me know of any change.' Archer left sick bay.
Phlox kept visitors away from his patient for the first night. Twice Malcolm's heart stopped. Twice Phlox got it going again.
Mara came in the next morning. She sat by his bed and talked to him. Phlox left them alone and Mara gently took his hand. There was no response from Malcolm, but Mara knew that comatose patients could often hear.
'You've got to get better, Sir. I want to get to know you.'
She cried, stopped crying, and cried again.
She told him of her early memories, her home town, her reasons for joining Starfleet, even her phobia.
She told him how he made her feel
At the end of the day, Phlox sent her back to her room. 'You'll be no good to anyone if you don't sleep, Ensign Beckett.'
Mara kissed Malcolm on the forehead and left.
Phlox had told Archer how Beckett had spent the entire day at Reed's bedside. Archer had relieved Mara of duties for the time being.
The next day Mara took a book with her to Read to Malcolm. It was one of her favourites. She sat down and took his hand. It felt warmer. He didn't look so pale.
'Doctor, he doesn't feel so cold today.'
Phlox smiled at her. 'Yes Mara. He's producing red cells, and regaining his body temperature. The alien fluid and tendrils are being absorbed into his body. I think he will recover, given time.'
Mara felt happy. She squeezed Malcolm's hand. Was it her imagination, or did he squeeze hers back?
'I am going to read to you today, Sir. I hope you enjoy it.'
She opened the book and began to read.