AN: Alright! Hi everyone! Thought I'd add a little to McCoy's character in this chapter and give a baby update! Now, I love having those who read engage in my stories. I'm leaving it up to you to decide the genders of the babies Charlotte is carrying. Two boys? Two girls? Or maybe one of each? It's up to you. I tried to do a poll but had limited results so I'll be going off of comments and tally up the results when I type up the next chapter that focuses on the babies. So please let me know what you want and what you thought about this chapter. I live for feedback! Thank you to everyone who has commented. It helps me want to keep going and also, has anyone seen the Audi Old Spock vs new Spock commercial? Absolutely hilarious! Check it out on YouTube!
Another clip that may be interesting is from the new movie. Do a YouTube search Star Trek Into Darkness Movie CLIP- Ears Burning. It's a scene between Kirk and Uhura. She mentions that Spock and her are fighting. Kirk's response is classic! Hope you like this chapter and hope to hear from you!
Tishbing
Chapter 26
McCoy scowled as he looked at the three medical files in front of him. His mind was itching to figure out the puzzle of Kirk, Riley and Jones. He'd taken to writing to Starfleet Medical with formal requests since his questioning of the involved parties had resulted in more questions than answers and they had promptly ignored him. He knew it was important but he just needed a prod from somewhere to get him in the right direction.
"Doctor? Is your shift not over?"
He turned towards the musical voice of T'Peni who was standing in the doorway to his office. He was reluctant to admit it but she had become a valuable asset to his team in sickbay. She was intelligent, quick and had a dry sense of humor that rivaled many he'd encountered. She seemed more relaxed than most vulcans he'd encountered. Perhaps it was her time on Earth that had softened the hard Vulcan attitude that was prevalent among her people.
"Yeah. I'm just trying to figure something out."
He stretched and felt the satisfying pops in his back. T'Peni was still watching him with a curious expression on her face. He angled his head and frowned.
"Somethin' on your mind?" He waved a hand to beckon her in.
She came into his office fully and carefully sat in the chair across from his desk.
"I am curious as to what you are investigating."
Her dark brown eyes bored into him and he shifted in his seat to try and ward off the nervousness he felt. He remembered that T'Peni was an accomplished physician and curiosity was a natural state of mind for vulcans but the look she was giving him begged him to tell her everything.
"It's not important. Besides, I was wondering if you got the report on Thomas Leighton, yet."
"Yes, Doctor."
She stood and came behind him. She leaned well into his personal spaced and typed on his keypad to bring up the file. She smelled of spice and sunshine even though they've been on this tin can for almost two weeks in deep space. He could feel the warmth radiating from her body and had to swallow a lump as her long black hair spilled over her shoulder and tickled his neck.
"Doctor, are you ill?"
He felt a flush on his neck and tried to cover it with his usual brand of snark.
"Of course I'm fine. Why would you ask?" He snapped.
Her lips twitched in what was clearly amusement but she refrained from commenting further and instead stood back to let McCoy view the screen. It painted a pretty dismal picture of the young man.
He was twenty-eight, a botanist who also had advanced doctorate degrees in mycology and entomology. He was a talented young man but at a disadvantage from his youth. He read further along the report that outlined the fact that he was missing his left eye and a good portion of the tissues surrounding the left side of his face. It was hidden by a patch to discourage people from staring and to protect the delicate flesh that was left after multiple surgeries to attempt to repair the damage. It had been a result of a phaser at close range, clearly intending to kill but only maiming and causing a lifetime of pain. Burns were the worst injury.
"T'Peni? When did he receive this injury?"
She leaned down again and pressed the screen to highlight the date. This time McCoy was too focused on the report to notice anything else.
"Approximately thirteen years ago. The exact date is unknown but the treatment regimen is listed from the USS Sagittarius."
McCoy narrowed his eyes and looked at the dates. He could feel the spark of understanding as he pulled up his three mystery charts in comparison to Leighton's. A sharp intake of breath next to him confirmed his suspicions.
"The dates match, Dr. McCoy."
He pulled up the file and saw the treating physician was a Dr. Patterson Chapel. He could feel the excitement building as he pulled Dr. Chapel's Starfleet file. This was the link he had been waiting for! It listed his wife, physchiatrist, Dr. Lauren Chapel and daughter Christine Chapel, currently serving as head nurse aboard the USS Enterprise.
He reached a hand to his comms when he was stopped by a firm grip on his arm. Slender fingers curled around his arms in a vice-like grip and he turned to see stern set of eyes watching him. He felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Doctor...Leonard, it is 2200 and this mystery has been around for thirteen years. One more night will not make a difference in your search for answers. Miss Chapel is likely resting and in my experience in working with her, she would not take well to being interrupted in her normal rest cycle."
She released his arm and stepped back once again to survey him. He hadn't even realized how late he had been there. He sheepishly rubbed a hand on the back of his neck.
"Yeah. You're probably right."
She nodded serenely and an idea struck him.
"Are you off shift?"
"Yes."
He smiled and took a deep breath.
"Want to grab a coffee at the mess hall?" He asked nervously.
His heart started beating a violent tattoo against his throat as he waited for her answer. She seemed to be sizing him up and he could feel his nerves getting the better of him. He was about to back out when she tilted her head.
"I do not believe coffee would be a wise choice at this hour however, I would appreciate your company for some tea."
He sipped at the bitter tea T'Peni had suggested for him and struggled to hide a grimace. Her eyes sparkled at his attempts to hide his displeasure and he laughed.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into trying this." He grumbled good natured.
Her amusement at his predicament increased as he frowned at the horrific aftertaste. It tasted like a mix between gym socks and citrus peels.
"I assure you, Leonard, that this tea contains a beneficial amount of antioxidants and has a calming effect on humans."
"I'll take your word for it." He muttered.
He had to admit, though, that he did feel more relaxed. Whether it was her company or the tea, he honestly couldn't say. He leaned back in the chair with a sigh.
"So, what do you think of life aboard the Enterprise?" He ventured.
She folded her hands in front of her and pursed her lips in thought.
"I find it to be an interesting experience. The lab facilities are impressive. The staff are capable and..." Her face softened. "The company I am with right now is fascinating."
He couldn't help blushing under her last statement. He hated it when his face gave him away and more often than not it did.
"I'm..uh...enjoying myself, too." He stuttered.
He forced himself to finish his tea and looked at the chrono on the wall. He jumped when he realized the time was 0100. She followed his gaze and seemed surprised herself and stood.
"I apologize for keeping you so late, Leonard."
She reached down and took his mug, lightly brushing her fingers against his as she did. He felt a jolt of warmth shoot up his arm and his face reddened further. He shot a glance up at her and saw the slender tips of her ears tinged green. She was watching his reaction with lowered dark eyes through her thick eyelashes and McCoy's jaw dropped in surprise.
"I wish you a pleasant night, Leonard."
His mind literally stumbled as she walked out, hips swaying.
"Well, damn."
The next morning came all too early for him as he struggled to stay awake with his coffee. McCoy had spent several hours awake thinking about T'Peni. He was surprised by his reaction and hers. He remembered the jolt of warmth from her and there had been...something else. He smiled into his mug and saw Christine Chapel walking by his office. He quickly put down his coffee and sped out into the main bay.
"Nurse Chapel, can I see you for a minute."
Chapel's eyes widened in surprise but she followed his lead into his office. He indicated the chair across his desk and he leaned a hip on the corner.
"Chris, I have a question and I'm hoping you can help me."
Her brow furrowed and she nodded carefully.
"Of course. What can I do?"
"I was doing a little research on a patient, Thomas Leighton, who came on board a couple of days ago and I found out that Dr. Patterson Chapel had treated him originally about 13 years ago on the Sagittarius."
Her brows furrowed in thought while she waited for him to continue.
"And I was wondering if you knew or remembered what the Sagittarius was doing around that time."
She bit her lip and her crystal blue eyes seemed to become distant. McCoy waited with bated breath and hoped for an answer. Her voice was quiet as she spoke.
"My mom and I were on the Sagittarius, taking advantage of the proximity to her next posting when the Tarsus IV massacre was discovered. I didn't see much because they kept me out of the way but my parents were busy with the emergency relief work."
Her hands clenched into fists and she stared off at the far wall. McCoy's relative good mood evaporated like water in the desert. He felt like he had been slapped.
"I did see one little boy...once...when I went down to the sickbay to see my dad. I remember he was like a living skeleton. His eyes were so big and frightened."
She shook herself as if a chill had run down her spine and grimaced but her eyes were still haunted. His stomach churned at the thought that that boy could have been Jim or Riley. The coffee turned sour in his stomach.
"My mom caught me and forbid me to go back to the medical bay after that. We were there for about a week until additional ships arrived to help with the evacuation and relief efforts."
He didn't know what to say as the final piece dropped into place. He felt no victory at solving the mystery, only worry. Worry for Jim, for Charlotte. Hell, he hardly even knew Riley and didn't even know Leighton and he was worried for them. He wondered if they had received proper counseling and after-care. By the lack of information on them he thought it unlikely. Riley's reaction proved that. It seemed hat Starfleet had wanted the worst of the tragedy swept under the rug, hidden so that the public only saw the minimal horrors.
He remembered the news feeds of the four thousand survivors. Their eyes haunted as they boarded transports to escape the hell of Tarsus. The rumors of the nine children who had been spirited away because they had survived the initial wave of executions from Kodos the executioner. If Thomas Leighton had been one of the nine then it stood to reason Riley, Jim and Charlotte were as well. Their behavior and the secretive natures they exhibited fit the profile.
"Dammit." He sighed and dragged a hand through his hair and gripped the ends, pulling slightly. The pain becoming a grounding measure as the scope of what he discovered sank in.
Chapel tilted her head, her blond hair falling onto her shoulders.
"What?"
He waved her off.
"No. Nothing." He mumbled.
He stood and ushered her from the office.
"Thank you for your help, Chris. I trust this'll stay between us?"
She looked surprised at the quick dismissal and stumbled on the way out.
"Uh, sure. Anytime doctor."
He grunted and the moment she left he sat down heavily behind his desk and put his head in his hands. Jim and Charlotte had been right. Sometimes the past should remain in the past but he had needed to know. His stomach twisted into knots at the upcoming mission to Cygnia Minor. The similarities between the tragedy that became the downfall of Tarsus IV and Cygnia was unnerving.
He was deep in thought when his office door opened again to admit the object of his thoughts. Jim Kirk walked in with a dark expression on his face and a PADD in his hand. He briefly considered letting Jim know that he knew but bit that thought in the bud. It'd be opening a whole new can of worms. Jim'd come to him if and when he needed to.
"What's wrong?" McCoy ventured.
He rearranged his features to reflect curiosity and concern rather than the gut-wrenching horror of knowing some of what his best friend had gone through. Kirk slapped the PADD on his desk and slid it across. His eyes hard and lines tightened around his mouth as his lips thinned.
"Scotty finally finished analyzing the replicator that Charlotte and Riley used. He found nothing. No errors, no malfunction, no power surge." He threw up his hands in frustration. "Nothing to explain what happened."
He leaned forward and pointed at the report, his voice lowered.
"But he did find that the replicator had been completely reset. The memory wiped and it had been so thoroughly cleaned that it didn't even have traces of Charlotte's DNA on it from when she had used it earlier. It's what he didn't find that was suspicious."
McCoy leaned back and folded his arms.
"You think someone's after Riley?"
Kirk shrugged.
"I don't know. I ordered security to review the surveillance and the footage was missing for the twenty-four hours surrounding the whole event."
McCoy rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. He remembered Charlotte had mentioned that the medkit on deck 12 hadn't been stocked.
"I think that someone should keep an eye on the kid."
"Yeah. I've got security keeping a discreet watch on him. If someone's after Riley then I'm not going to stand by and let it happen."
"Any suspects, Jim?"
Kirk shook his head with a jerk. This was clearly affecting him. The fact that someone had done something like this on his ship had to be frustrating.
"No. Not yet. I've got Giotto compiling a list of crew members capable of this level of manipulation and a possible motive but he's only been aboard for a week and a half. Who would want to kill someone they only just met?"
"I just don't know."
Charlotte was feeling pretty good. In fact, she was soon to be able to go back to work and hopefully get the biosensor leash taken off. Spock had been especially sweet with her and she had started to feel more relaxed. As relaxed as she had been, she was still eager to return to work and be a nurse again, not a patient. She was heading to the medbay for her fourteen week appointment with T'Peni.
She was an excellent doctor, almost as good as McCoy but Charlotte missed his gruff attitude. She'd been avoiding him like the plague and only seeing him in a patient capacity for the past week and a half. She decided to try and repair the bridge between them and maybe try and get back to being friends again.
She was walking down deck five when she saw Kirk leaving the medical bay, his face downcast and he was so deep in thought he almost ran straight into her. She sidestepped him and received a muffled apology before he sped off again. She watched him leave for a moment and then headed to the medical bay. She smiled and waved in greeting to Mi and Chris who were on duty. She felt a little awkward being in off-duty clothing while here but soon enough she'd be back. Nurse Baker came over and guided her to the private exam room and handed her a gown, directing her to lay down on the biobed after she changed.
Once she was situated, she waited until the doors opened and in walked T'Peni and Dr. McCoy. They seemed to be standing closer than usual but McCoy seemed a little tense. His shoulders were bunched and there were lines around his eyes as he looked at her. She could feel worry worming around her heart.
"Is everything ok?" She asked in a high pitched voice.
McCoy's face smoothed and he put a calming hand on her arm.
"Yes. Everything's fine. I just have other things on my mind."
He pulled the sonogram machine out from the corner while Charlotte lifted her shirt to expose her small bump.
"Today you get two doctors for the price of one."
He put the conductive gel on her and raised the wand with a flourish.
"And how are we doing today?" He asked with a smile.
Charlotte rolled her eyes but smiled at his humor.
"We are doing fine but eager to get back to work."
She fidgeted under his sudden snort of derision. T'Peni was at her right documenting the in depth scan from the biobed. She looked down at Charlotte.
"Miss Jones, I think that is a reasonable request. Your blood pressure has been stable and with the support of your bondmate you seem to have been recovering well from your abduction. However, I do think it would be wise for you to remain wearing the biosensor bracelet as a precaution."
Charlotte turned a hopeful glance to McCoy who's eyes were fixed on the screen. Charlotte gasped at the sight. They looked like real babies! She could see the outline of the four tiny hands, the little legs and it was exciting to see. She wished Spock could see this but he was busy in the labs with the Leightons and had been for the past five days.
"I agree with T'Peni but I want it to be half-shifts for the next couple of days. Baby A is looking perfect, measuring three and a half inches from crown to rump and baby B is a bit smaller measuring three point four. At this stage their livers are starting to produce bile and their spleens are starting to produce their own blood cells which will help a lot. You can reduce your copper supplements by ten percent."
He hit the print button and printed the customary two copies of each fetus and labeled them. He started to hand them to her but stopped.
"Are you sure you still don't want to know the genders? I could tell you." His grin widened and eyes sparkled like a kid on Christmas. He was definitely bursting to tell her and Charlotte paused. She was really starting to get curious now that she was beginning to show but as much as she wanted to know now, she also wanted Spock to find out at the same time.
"I think I'll wait a bit." She shrugged. "I kind of want Spock to find out at the same time. It'd be more fun."
McCoy rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Ok, Charlotte. I don't know how long I can keep a lid on it though. Already bets are being placed on what's growing in there."
Charlotte grinned even wider.
"It's more fun to leave them guessing a little longer."
"If you say so." He grew serious and placed a hand on her arm.
"I want you to still take it easy. Maybe the labs or charting for the next couple of days to help you get in the swing of things. You're still not gaining enough weight. I'm placing an increase in calories on your diet card."
She nodded her agreement and let both her and T'Peni help her up. She took the pictures and saw the biosensor on her wrist and frowned.
"Do I really have to keep this thing on?" She groaned.
It felt like an invasion into her privacy. It provided her location, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation rate directly to the sickbay at all times. It was frustrating. She'd understood having it on while she was recovering but now...
"Yes, Charlotte. It is a precaution that I think is necessary." T'Peni's serious tone cut off the rest of her protests.
"Alright. Thank you."
Charlotte meandered down the halls, her thoughts on the babies and the satisfaction of finally getting to do more than sitting in her quarters and doing nothing. She thought about being able to be a member of the crew again. It was light duty but it was better than nothing. She looked at the pictures in her hands and traced the outlines of the tiny lives that were growing inside of her and ran straight into someone, bouncing off of them and nearly falling when a set of strong hands gripped her tightly and held her while she steadied. Her pictures fluttered to the ground.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking..."
Her voice trailed off when she saw who she bounced off. The man looked down at her with surprise. The left side of his face was covered in a protective mask so only one blue eye was visible, his dark hair fell over his forehead in slight curls but his mouth was open in a small o of surprise. His hands tightened around her biceps and before Charlotte could protest he pulled her into a tight hug.
"C.J.! Jim told me you were here but I didn't believe him."
He pulled back but didn't release his grip as he looked her over, his eye settling on her slight bump.
"And you're starting a family. How wonderful!" He exclaimed.
Charlotte's cheeks heated under the unexpected scrutiny and to say she was surprised would be a gross understatement. She'd wanted to meet him again but after a little time to prepare.
"Uh, yeah." She flustered.
He released her and quickly bent to pick up her fallen pictures to hand to her.
"You look great. My wife Martha would love to meet one of the women who saved my life and I'd love to find out what you've been up to."
She overcame her speechlessness and grimaced a smile. He really did look good, all things considered. He seemed to be happy and pretty well adjusted. He placed a supporting arm around her.
"So, where are you headed? I'm heading back to the labs. I've got a couple of ideas on how to eliminate the fungus on Cygnus Minor but it's slow going. The captain has been kind enough to loan me his pilot, a lieutenant Sulu, to help. I'm surprised he's a pilot. He's amazing at analysis of fungal diversity in wheat rhizosphere. He should think about changing out of the gold and going to blue."
Charlotte laughed at the thought of Sulu giving up his passion of flying for science. He was a complex person who used the calming precision of science to counterbalance the action and excitement of being a pilot.
"I think you can try to convince him but won't have too much luck. I'm just heading home. I was on medical leave but tomorrow I get back to work. Half-shifts though." She scrunched her nose in irritation but Leighton started smiling wider, showing an impressive display of white teeth.
"Aren't you in the sciences?"
Charlotte stopped and tilted her head.
"Yeah? The medical sciences." She said cautiously.
He waved a hand dispelling Charlotte's silent protests.
"Since you're on light duty you could help Lt. Sulu and me in science lab one. I'll let that yeoman that's assigned to my team know and talk to Dr. McCoy. It'll be a win-win. I'll get a set of hands and we can catch up and you will be able to comply with the doctor's orders of light duty."
Charlotte considered Leighton's idea. It was better than doing filing and patient charts and considering Leighton's level of energy and good-natured attitude, it seemed like it might be fun.