Have We Been Here Before?

Chapter Fifty-one - A Virus Among Us

Enterprise

Mid November 2269

Spock

He heard the announcement over the intercom and turned to Nyota, but she was already rising from her station. Jim turned around in his chair and waved her on, and she left the bridge quickly, headed for the day care center to get their son and keep him away from exposure to whatever it was that was sweeping the ship. He called down to her lab, and asked for relief, and a few minutes later one of her officers entered the bridge.

It wasn't long before McCoy was on the bridge as well, briefing Kirk on whatever the epidemic was. He seemed to think it was some kind of virus, but had no idea where it had come from. They hadn't been on any planet in several weeks, nor had they been at a space station or outpost. It was probably a mutation of something common, but they hadn't been able to isolate it yet, or figure out how it was spreading.

At shift end, he went to the mess hall and retrieved enough carry-out food for several days, carrying it home in one of the disposal bags. Once in their quarters, he and Nyota stashed most of it in the stasis unit. The fresh fruit he left on the top of the cabinet beneath the synthesizer, and they left out what they would eat tonight. No more mess hall until this thing was over.

The next morning, they had difficultly in persuading Grayson that he could not go to daycare. Nyota finally put him on his side of the baby gate so that he could get out of their quarters. He came back at lunchtime, and held Grayson while he ate his soydog, giving Nyota a small break.

It was mid-afternoon when he sensed that something was wrong. Nyota felt fuzzy over the link, not her usual sharp self at all. And Grayson was upset about something. It was when Grayson began to cry for Nyota, and she did not respond that he began to be concerned, and then Grayson began to call for him. He jumped up, telling Kirk that something was wrong with Nyota, and hurried off the bridge.

He entered their quarters at a run, headed straight for the bedroom. Nyota lay sprawled on the bed, and her skin was hotter than his. She did not seem to be conscious. Quickly he summoned McCoy from sick bay. When the medical team arrived, he stepped across the baby gate and picked up his crying son, drying the tears off his face, and then going to quickly change his diaper. He cradled his son against his chest, speaking soothingly to him, and Grayson reached up and patted his face. "Mama?"

He carried his son over to the bedroom door, where Grayson could see his mother. McCoy was injecting her with something, and suddenly she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. He uttered a soft sigh, relaxing somewhat, and his son patted his cheek again, sending comfort. He got a picture of McCoy, and a feeling of surety. He smiled down at his son. Yes, McCoy would certainly fix her up again.

McCoy did not want to take Nyota to sick bay. He said the people there were sicker than she was. Spock would stay home and take care of her. It was official policy during this epidemic. There were too many sick for all of them to fit into sick bay, anyway. He was told, however, not to let Grayson into the bedroom where she was.

For several days, he tended to her, bathing her with a damp cloth, and giving her the medication that McCoy had left. In the evening, before bedtime, he would bring Grayson to the door where he could see his mother.

And then, at last, the fever broke. Nyota awoke, and was aware of where she was. He carried her into the bathroom, and stood in the shower stall, holding her, letting the warm water run over her body, while she cried softly in relief. Then he dried her off, and dressed her in soft, comfortable clothing and laid her down on the bed while he went to make her a nest on the couch. And then he carried her in, and laid her against the pillows he had put there, and covered her with a blanket.

When she was settled, he made tea, and took a cup to Nyota. When she had finished that, he brought her a small plate with pieces of fruit, and a croissant. It was time she had something more than broth. When she was eating, slowly, he went and got Grayson, and fed him fruit and cheese and part of a croissant, as well.

After they were finished eating their breakfast, he carried his son into the bathroom, and washed his hands and face, and then he carried him to the couch, and carefully set him between the back of the couch and Nyota's body. He sat down on the floor, one hand supporting his son, and the other touching Nyota. He cautioned Grayson not to climb on Nyota, and watched as his son smiled, and patted Nyota's arm, and laughed happily. Nyota smiled and squeezed his hand, and he relaxed just the smallest bit.

Two days later saw Nyota sitting on the couch, working on her PADD, while he was on the comlink, directing his staff from their quarters. He had downloaded the reports from her officers to the PADD for her, and she was trying to catch up. The dark circles were almost gone from under her eyes, and when he had told her that the day care center was going to open back up the next day, she smiled, and said she guessed that meant that she could go back to work. He just frowned at her, not agreeing in the slightest.

Grayson was standing up at the baby gate, shaking the bars and making little noises. When Nyota asked him to lift their son over the gate, he made her promise that she would not try to life him. She just smiled at him, and said she would not need to try, because he was there. He did not think that was an appropriate answer, but he got up and lifted Grayson over the gate, anyway.

Grayson toddled over to the couch and patted Nyota's leg, and she reached out and ruffled his hair and told him that she would play with him as soon as she finished her work. Then Grayson walked along the edge of the desk, and started trying to grab things off the top. He moved everything to the middle of the desk, where his son could not possible reach anything. Grayson came around the desk and patted his leg, asking to be picked up. He refused, not lifting his eyes from his work. Grayson tried again, and he looked sternly at him. Grayson gave up and went back to Nyota, asking for something to eat, but she said it was almost lunch time, and patted his cheek without really looking at him. She was definitely trying to finish reviewing those reports.

Grayson finally gave up and sat down on the floor to look at books. He shuffled through several before finding one of his favorites, filled with pictures of animals. He began turning the pages carefully, pointing to each picture and attempting to name the animal. He was actually doing a fair job of it, too, until he got to the longer words. Nyota began to gently correct him, until she gave up on her reports and told Grayson to bring her the book. And then, of course, Grayson could not get up on the couch by himself. He found himself in a quandary. Either he stopped his work and went and lifted Grayson up onto the couch, or Nyota was going to attempt to do it herself. With a sigh, he stood up and went over and lifted Grayson up. And then he bent down and whispered in her ear that if she did not behave, he would change his intended plans for tonight. She giggled at his, and reached up to run her fingers down the curve of his ear, igniting him. He let her feel his reaction, before he straightened up again, and went to prepare their lunch.

While he set the table and warmed up food, Nyota read to Grayson, and helped him to pronounce words. When everything was ready, he retrieved Grayson, and gave her his arm to lever herself up with. She walked over to the table, much steadier than she had been, and ate everything he had put out. He was much relieved that her appetite had returned.

But as soon as she had finished eating, she began to yawn, and when he made the suggestion that they take a nap, she just grinned, and headed for the bathroom. When she came out, she settled down on the bed, and he laid Grayson beside her, laying down on his side on the outside edge of the bed. Grayson giggled and squirmed and settled himself in between his parents, and Spock reached over his son, and laid his hand on his wife's hip, and the whole family settled down to sleep. This week had been stressful, and he had not slept enough. A short nap would help his concentration. He felt Nyota's giggle in the back of his mind, and ignored it.