Meeting Point
Disclaimer: I still don't own it. Just Marie. But the rest really isn't mine. So I'm not really making a single credit from this. Which sucks. Big time. Cause you see, my account could really use the credits.
Author's Note: Thanks yous to CK, Fuzzeh, Time and Fate, Nocturnal Rose, sarajm, and Yayyou. Wow... that has got to be the longest list of review thank you I've ever written. You guys totally rock! A special thanks to Fuzzeh and CK, once again for randomly insane and caffeine filled messages which make me happy. =)
Second to last chapter. I'm quite sad to admit that too. But, the next story has already grown from a one shot, passing through a 2-3 chapter stage, and is now somewhere up near 10 chapters. You may blame Fuzzeh.
Part 11: Meeting Marie
"They have dropped out of warp." Spock's cool voice cut across the bridge, startling all back to the present.
"What?"
"It seems that their warp engines have been disabled." Spock looked to his captain with a half nod to confirm his data.
"Can we beam them out?" Jim had stood up from his chair to pace over to the science station, stopping half a step away, every muscle in his body taunt with emotions.
"Ensign Chekov is in the rear of the ship, and Lieutenant Sulu just barely out of the confinement field."
Jim hit the com switch. "Scotty, beam them out."
"Aye Capt'n." After a few tense moments of silence, the Scott's mumbles cursing began to filter over the still open audio line. "Ah have Chekov. But I cannae get a lock on Sulu. His signal is deteriorating."
"Mr. Scott," Spock softly cut into the conversation, "I suggest you hurry. The self-destruct mechanism has been engaged." Next to him, Jim simply stared at the pointy eared Vulcan with an expression of sheer incredulity.
"When were you going to tell me that?" His answer was a single raised eyebrow. "How long?"
A prolonged silence followed the question, and ever so slowly, Jim turned to the view screen, his heart sinking to the soles of his feet. Just as his eyes fully focused on the screen, a brilliant fountain of lights and colors erupted, blasting the ship out of existence. The shock wave rattled and shook the Enterprise somewhat. But Jim did not seem to notice. His hand trembling slightly, he once again reached for the com switch.
"Scotty?"
"Ah got him, Capt'n." Shoulders slumping somewhat, Jim half collapsed against the nearest bulkhead, his blue eyes closed in relief. "Doctor McCoy is taking 'em both to sickbay. Sulu's in a bad way."
"Thanks Scotty, I'm on may way down to sickbay." He closed the line, and turned to Spock. "You have the bridge." Not waiting for an answer from his first officer, Jim slipped into the Turbo, slouching against the back wall. It had been supposed to be a simple reconnaissance mission. Nothing fancy about. A chance for some kids to stretch their legs without anyone else around. Gain some experience. Any other day, he would have gone down with them. This one time he hadn't. With a low snarl, he punched his right hand into the wall, and felt the satisfying crack of bones giving way. Sometimes, he was almost tempted to agree with Bones about his masochistic tendencies. Times like these, when the pain seemed to pull him back to the present and nauseatingly enough felt welcoming and even pleasant.
By the time he reached sickbay, he had fully composed himself again, and it was the same arrogant, cocky Captain who strode through the door. Chekov sat on one of the biobeds; Chapel was busy cleansing some minor cuts. Beyond him, through the open door of one of the few private rooms, he could see Marie's pale face as it rested against the white pillow. Her lifeless countenance made him clench his wounded hand in frustration. He should have trusted her to know. Swallowing down the bitter feeling in his mouth, he casually strode over the Chekov.
"How you feeling kid?" He kept his voice as light as possible, radiating a confidence he didn't really feel just then.
"Better. Thank you for coming for us." The voice was subdued, not nearly as chirpy as normal. It was a voice Jim Kirk could understand far too well. It asked if perhaps, he could have done something differently.
"I would never leave a crewman behind. Not as long as I live." The young Russian nodded his head, before looking over towards where he could just barely see Marie.
"Vill she be alright?" Jim carefully placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, feeling his heart break just a little bit at the innocence the navigator seemed to have lost.
"I don't know. That is a question for our doctor." He caught Pavel's blue eyes with his own and waited until the other man nodded, before turning towards the nurse still tending to the slight wounds. "Speaking of our doctor..."
"Lieutenant Sulu's spine was damaged. Doctor McCoy is operating even as we speak." Not so long ago, Jim would have demanded an update from Bones. Not so long ago, he would have rushed in and pestered until he had what he wanted.
"How long will it take?"
"It depends on the neural damage, Captain. It may take several hours." Jim nodded, and headed towards where Marie lay in a drug induced sleep. He couldn't even begin to catalog the wounds he saw. For all of his experience with wounds, it bothered him infinitely to see them on one of his crew, and not himself.
With a sigh he sat down, contemplating his security officer.
"What is it you're dreaming Marie?" The eyes behind the lids twitched as she relieved memories of her past, oblivious to the man sitting at her bedside, or of the sickbay she rested in, not even the ship she was on seemed to have a part in her memories...
"Marie! Ma petite Chèrie!" The gruff voice of her papa called out as a five year old her ran through the summer wheat field. Her arms were stretched out on either side of her and she pretended to fly. With a giggle, she allowed him to grab her around the waste, and twirl her up towards the blue sky.
"Here Captain." Nurse Crevecoeur handed him a cup of coffee an hour after his vigil had begun. Pavel had joined him, sitting on the other side. His eyes were red rimmed as he waited for news of Sulu's status.
"Tu sais Marie, le soleil ne se couche jamais. Il reste reveiller pour garder ton sommeil." Seven year old Marie looked up at her Papa with wide eyes as he tucked her into bed. She knew he was lying, but she couldn't tell him that. It would be her secret. After all, she knew he was only telling her that so she wouldn't be scared of the dark anymore.
"You should get some rest, Pavel." Jim said as yet another hour slipped by. The young navigator just shook his head, and Jim let it be.
"Incroyable! Tu the prends pour qui? Tu peux pas simplement rester des mois dans l'espace, et après, demander que tous soit comme c'était." The voices were loud. But the seventeen year old Marie had long ago learned to live with them. For the past ten years, it had only gone down hill. She knew her Papa and Maman had stopped loving each other long ago. But it hurt. She loved them both still.
"Jim." Bones' voice was quiet. Not his normal gruff and grump voice. Turning, Jim could see the signs of exhaustion and nodded. Quietly, so as to not disturb the sleeping Pavel, he rose and stepped from the room.
"How is Sulu?" A satisfied smile crossed the doctor's lips for a moment, before vanishing again.
"He'll make a full recovery. It seems the injury happened not long before beaming, so he wasn't moved. The break was clean, and no nerve endings were damaged. It'll take him a few weeks to be back to peak, but with his diligence and stubbornness, he'll make it no problem." Slowly, Jim nodded, before he turned to look at the motionless Marie.
"And Marie?"
"I don't know Jim. I simply don't know." In silence, they watched as her chest slowly rose and fell. "Physically," Bones finally spoke again, "she'll recover. But some of those wounds..." he couldn't finish. Understanding, Jim placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"What happened to your hand?" A small smile tugged on Jim's lips. Perhaps he'll be okay after all if he can smile again.
"A wall." Bones simply nodded and let it be.
"Je suis toujours été fière de toi, ma fille." Her mother's voice filtered through her consciousness. In this place of darkness, it seemed almost unreal. She was surrounded by black. Somehow, she suspected that if there were objects in this place, they would be black as well. Even though she knew she did not care for black. Her world was a colorful world, filled with brilliant blues and reds and yellows. Something told her that it was her world no more; that it was better to stay in this world of black. Here, nothing could hurt her.
"Wake up Marie. Please." The gruff voice did not belong to her past. And yet she knew she had no present. Did she?
Author's Notes
I could be really mean and just leave it at that. But I already did promise one more chapter. =)
When you review... could you answer a small question?
Do you think Marie dies?
a) yes
b) no
c) mystery ending
I'd love to know what you come up with. Though I can't promise that the one with the most votes will actually win... *evil grin*
some French translations:
Ma petite Chèrie – my little dear
Tu sais.... ton sommeil – you know Marie, the sun never goes to sleep. He stays awake to guard your sleep.
Incroyable!.... comme c'était. - Incredible! Who do you think you are? You can't stay in space for months and afterwards demand that everything were as it has always been.
Je suis... Ma Fille. - I have always been proud of you. My daughter.
