I'm back from our vacation. Canada was gorgeous! We drove 6000 miles! Thank you to my faithful readers for your patience in waiting for this update. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Don't Look Away
Chapter 12
"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so,
For those whom thou think'st thou dost
Over throw,
Die not, poor death, not yet canst thou kill me."
John Donne, from "Holy Sonnets"
Jim and Leonard ate their fine meal with pleasure. Conversation was general, drifting from subject to subject, without hurry or stress, avoiding the topic of Tareem and the situation down planet on Beta Niobe. Finally, Leonard pushed back his plate. It had taken him a while, but to Jim's delight, he had eaten the entire meal. Leonard told Jim it felt good in his stomach. Jim got up to fill their coffee mugs while Leonard sliced the apple pie, giving them each a nice big piece. "I'll allow a nice big piece this one time, Jim. I know you've been stressed and worried about me, and apple pie is nothin' but good comfort food, for both of us," he added.
Jim grinned. "Much appreciated, Dr. McCoy. Usually you're a tyrant with my meal card," he teased.
"Well, someone has to keep an eye on your diet, you sure don't," Leonard groused. His eyes closed in bliss. "This is one delicious pie. Muriel outdid herself on this one. Apples are not too sweet and the crust is light and flaky. It's just as good as your mama's pie."
"It should be," Jim said, putting a large piece on his fork. "I commed Ma to tell her what had happened to you and got the recipe from her to give to Muriel. She was happy to oblige. You know she thinks the world of you, Bones. She was very happy to hear you're doing so well. Must admit, I down played the seriousness of what happened on the planet. No sense in worrying Ma at this point in time, now that you're better." He closed his eyes in bliss as the taste of apples and flaky crust hit his palate.
"That was mighty nice of your Ma, to share her recipe, Jimmy, and of you to go to the trouble of getting' it from her." He smiled shyly at Jim.
They ate in silence enjoying the pie until Leonard pushed his chair back with a sigh. "That was mighty fine," he said. "It sure is good to be back in my cabin and off that planet. I'd offer you a drink, Jim, but Geoffrey has me off the hard stuff for a while," he said regretfully.
Jim yawned. "It's fine, Bones. I'm on duty, and besides if I drink anything it'll put me out like a light."
Leonard looked at his Captain. Jim looked worn out. "Tell you what, Jim. I promised Geoffrey I'd take a nap, how about you doing the same. That sofa is very comfortable. Spock is at the helm, and you need the rest. A worn out Captain doesn't always make good decisions," Leonard added, winningly.
Jim yawned again. Bones was right; a nap would be a good idea. He was very tired. "Sounds good, Bones. I'll clear up here; you go ahead, get in bed. I'll hit the sofa as soon as I'm done here."
Leonard nodded. Surprisingly, he'd gotten his way, which just proved how tired Jim really was. Ordinarily he'd put up an argument about having to get back to the bridge. He patted Jim's broad golden shoulder on his way to the bedroom. "I'll see you in an hour, Jim, and no arguments. You need at least a good hour of sleep."
Jim cleaned up the dining area, pulled the light throw off the sofa, thumped hard on the sofa pillows and made himself comfortable. "Lights 10 percent," he told the computer. He was fast asleep before the lights finished dimming. Leonard took a little longer to fall asleep, listening to the faint snores coming from the living room. He was aware that Jim had been frightened by what had happened to Leonard on the planet; how close Leonard had come to dying on Jim's watch. Spock had had a few close calls before after a mission, but Leonard, besides the accident he'd had on Sansora, had never really caused Jim any anxiety for his safety. He thought sleepily, that maybe now Jim would realize what it felt like to worry yourself sick over someone, like Leonard had experienced too many times over his Captain. Maybe Jim would be more careful on away missions. One could only hope, Leonard thought sleepily.
Back on the bridge, Spock went into the Captain's ready room after he'd asked Uhura to contact Marack. He wanted Marack to see him, so he asked the lieutenant to pipe the communication in to the large ready room comm. He sat waiting for the connection to be completed.
"Mr. Spock," Uhura's voice said, "Marack is ready for you."
Spock faced the comm. "Marack, this is First Officer Spock of the Enterprise. Captain Kirk has asked me to speak with you about what has transpired with Tareem and our investigation into the illness that has affected your children."
"Yes, Spock. May I ask if it correct to address you as Spock?"
"Yes, Marack, you may address me as Spock."
"Then please continue, Spock, I am listening."
Spock told Marack about Dr. M'Benga's research into the mutated RNA Coxsakie Type A virus as well as the more virulent Type B. He explained, as simply as possible, how Dr. M'Benga had engineered the antiviral vaccine for Dr. McCoy. "It has cured Dr. McCoy, Marack, so,we are hopeful that further tinkering with the genetics of the virus will generate a vaccine that will cure your children. However, for that we need DNA samples of your species, since your genetic makeup is slightly different from Earth humans. The Captain wishes to know if you would be willing to give us DNA samples so that Dr. M'Benga can begin his work of the vaccine. Are you willing to do this? It is a small matter, just a swab of the interior of your mouth," he explained to Marack.
"Of course, Spock. Anyone of us on Beta Niobe would be happy to assist your physician. You are our last best hope for our children, Sir. I can only apologize profusely for what happened to your First, James, to your Second, Leonard, and to the rest of James entourage. It was a decision made by Tareem that the rest of us were not in favor of, but he refused to listen to us."
"I am aware, Marack. Tareem has told the Captain that was so. I also wish to inform you that by order of Admiral Boyce, Tareem has been arrested and incarcerated on our ship for what he did to James, Leonard, and the others. His ultimate fate is yet to be determined."
Marack's eyes widened in shock. "Was that really necessary, Spock? I feel that Tareem was not in his right mind when he did what he did. He is usually the most sanguine of men, very deliberate, very conservative in his actions and decisions. I fear that his worry about his children, about all our children, has unbalanced his mind."
"It was an order from Admiral Boyce, Marack. One which we cannot disobey. Star Fleet does not take kindly to our officers, especially a Captain of a Star Ship, being kidnapped, sequestered, and held against their will. I am afraid it does not bode well for Beta Niobe's admission into the Federation, but that has yet to be determined, and that decision will not be made by us."
Marack sighed. "I understand. We would be very sorry indeed to lose such an opportunity, Spock, but I can understand why your Admiral feels the way he does."
"I will contact you again when Dr. M'Benga and his medical technicians are ready to beam down for the DNA samples, Marack."
"Very well, Spock. We will be ready to receive your medical people as soon as you give the word."
"Spock out"
Back on the main bridge, Spock checked in with Dr. M'Benga to determine the time line for the medical team's beam down to Beta Niobe.
"I'm afraid it will have to wait for a couple of hours, Mr. Spock. I have to perform surgery on Ensign Donato. His appendix suddenly flared up last night; the kid waited to come in to see me until he couldn't stand the pain. Now it has to come out sooner than later. Nurse Chapel will assist me. It's not a complicated surgery, but it will take a couple of hours to prep him, perform the surgery, and keep an eye on him in recovery. With Dr. McCoy out, there isn't anyone but me to do this surgery. I'm afraid it's now an emergency surgery that can't wait."
"I understand, Dr. M'Benga. I do not believe two hours will, in any way, create a significant difference in the condition of the Beta Niobian children. Please notify me when you are prepared to beam down to Beta Niobe."
"Will do, Mr. Spock. M"Benga out."
Spock settled back in the command chair and suppressed a sigh. He would be gratified, (he did not say happy, even in his own mind) when the Captain would be back on the bridge, when Dr. McCoy would return to his duties in the Sick Bay, and to his usual place at the Captain left shoulder. Spock relished continuity and structure, not only in his life, but also in his working environment; those two elements had been sorely lacking on the bridge these last few days, and therefore in his life as well, since the initial away mission to Beta Niobe.
In McCoy's cabin, the one hour nap had turned into two hours when Jim finally stirred and opened his eyes. He stretched on the sofa; he felt good, rested, relaxed, for the first time in days. "Lights, 85 percent," he told the computer. He looked at his chronometer. He'd been asleep for a little over two hours, and from the quiet in the bedroom, so had Bones. Just what the doctor ordered, he thought with a grin. He heard Bones stir, get up from the bed, walk to the bathroom, then the water running in the sink. Bones soon came into the living room.
"Good nap, Jim?" The doctor's blue eyes smiled at him.
"The best, Bones. You?"
"Yep, slept like a baby. Geoffrey will be pleased." Leonard's comm pinged and he went to the counter to look at it. "Geoffrey and Christine are scheduled for surgery, he just wanted to let me know he'll be unavailable for a couple of hours. He said the nurses and med techs have nothing on their agenda for this afternoon so it should be quiet; they're holding down the fort."
"Good; that's good, Bones." Jim stood, pulled down his tunic, and walked into the bathroom. "I'm going to freshen up a bit before I head back to the bridge. I'm sure by now Spock has contacted Marack." He splashed water on his face. "Have a seat, Bones, I have something to tell you," he called out.
Leonard went to the replicator to get two cups of coffee; one black for him, one with cream no sugar, for Jim. He sat down on the sofa, still warm from Jim's body, and looked up as Jim came out of the bathroom wiping at his wet face and hair. He handed Jim his coffee. "What do you have to tell me, Jimbo."
Jim sighed."Youre not going to like it, Bones, but there was nothing I can do about it, at least right now." He sat down, took a sip from his mug, then told Bones about Tareem's incarceration on Admiral Boyce's orders. As he thought, Bones was furious.
"What the hell, Jim! That poor man was desperate, scared witless about his kids and all the rest of 'em too. He was wrong to do what he did, that's for sure, but that don't mean he deserves to be put in prison. He didn't know I was gonna' get so sick, I'm sure that was not his intention." Leonard stood up, pacing in agitation. "I'm gonna' talk to Dr. Boyce. Make him see reason about this. I'd like to know what Boyce would do, or me, or you, if they were his grandkids, or if it was Joanna, or Peter. We'd do just about anything! Same as Tareem."
"I know, Bones. But you almost died, and we were kept there against our wills. Fleet doesn't take kindly to things like that," Jim told him, calmly. "What he did was wrong, Bones, not to mention illegal on all Federation worlds."
Leonard huffed. " I know that, Jim! He was dead wrong to do what he did, instead of just talkin' to us 'bout the children. He does deserve some kind of punishment. Maybe removin' him from any position of authority on a permanent basis, but not imprisonment." He looked at Jim. "Tell me you agree with me, Jim."
Jim's warm hazel eyes grew cold. "I'm not so sure I do, Bones. I almost lost you; I'm not sure I can forgive Tareem for that."
"Now Jim," Leonard said, sitting next to Jim. He patted Jim's hand. "You're not one to bear grudges. I know I scared you, but as you can see, I'm perfectly fine now."
"No thanks to Tareem," Jim muttered.
Leonard eyes him in exasperation. "Let's just put this behind us for right now, Jim. I'll talk to Boyce later today. Maybe I can talk some sense into him."
The blaring sound of the ship's all call interrupted them. "Dr. M'Benga, please report to the brig immediately, medical emergency! Medical emergency!"
"That's Giotto's voice," Jim said, flipping open his comm. "Kirk to Giotto! What's happened, Lt. Commander?"
"Captain, I need Dr. M'Benga right now. And Sir, I prefer not to say what's happened over an open channel."
"'I'll be right there, Mr. Giotto." Jim looked over to see Bones pulling on his medical blue tunic and grabbing his medical kit."
"Bones! You're off duty! You're still recovering!"
"There's no one else, Jim. Geoffrey and Christine are in surgery. I have to go." Leonard told him, already going out the door.
Jim nodded, resigned to the inevitable. Bones was right, there was no one else available. He quickly followed the doctor out the door to the lift. "Main brig," Jim told the lift computer.
The lift door opened to a slightly chaotic scene. Giotto was kneeling on the floor outside the holding cell giving Tareem what looked like CPR chest compressions, while another security officer was at his head breathing into his mouth and nose. Bones knelt by Tareem's head immediately with his tricorder in hand.
"I've got this, Mr. Giotto," Leonard said, reading the results. He got out a hypo and pressed it against Tareem's neck. "You got to him just in time," he told him. "I've given him Tri Ox," he said, keeping a keen eye on the tricorder. He nodded in satisfaction. "His breathing and color are already better, but we'll need to get him to Sick Bay as soon as he comes around," he glanced up at Jim.
"Report, Mr. Giotto, what the hell happened?" Jim barked out.
Giotto sat back on his heels with a relieved sigh. "Captain, the officer assigned to Tareem sounded the alarm. He was keeping a close eye on him as instructed. It seems that Tareem removed the belt from his tunic, looped it around the back of the chair that's bolted to the bulkhead, then around his neck. He let himself fall forward on the chair to choke himself. If it hadn't been for the quick action of Lt. Pulaski, here, he would have succeeded. Tareem tried to kill himself, Captain!"
