Stranded

Chapter 10

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."

Maya Angelou

Leonard went on. "Well, according to the intel Star Fleet's gathered, the slave ships are big; they have a large crew complement plus the number of captured slaves they use on the ships. So if the virus hit the crew hard like it has me, I'd say they'd have to wait until all the raiders are healthy again. I can guarantee you, Ny, no one who's gotten as sick as I have with this virus could possibly participate in a raid. I'm weak as a kitten, and can barely walk. And...it might have hit them even worse, 'cause we have no way of knowing how this flu manifests in Orions. They're humanoid, but very different than Terrans or the Sarenans."

Nyota was silent for a minute. "Len, do you think it was the Orion girl who brought the virus here to Torreon?"

"Yeah, I think she might have. She was probably already sick with it for several days before they sent her down here. And I also think that Alarik got it from her. Maybe others here in Torreon got sick too, but not as sick as Alarik and me. And remember they didn't have a doctor, so they took care of themselves with probably only the Apothecary's help. They could've just stayed home and gotten over it, or got medicine from the Apothecary to treat their symptoms. I know I got it from a carrier, that's for sure. Probably someone asymptomatic. But to be sure about that I'd have to investigate this mutation in the lab to see what the incubation period is and what the transmission rates are."

Leonard looked Nyota over carefully. She looked a little tired, but perfectly healthy. Still he couldn't help but worry. What if Nyota got sick? How would the two of them fare here alone, how would they take care of each other?

Leonard's dark musings were interrupted by a soft knock at the screen door. Nyota got up quickly to answer it. "Killeen," she said in surprise. "Come in? Have you come to see Dr. McCoy?"

"I came to see both of you and to bring you a hot, nourishing dinner. Doranna called me and informed me that Dr. Mkkoy was ill, quite ill, she said. She also informed me that you were taking care of him, that she had purchased food stuffs for you to cook nourishing meals for him, and that Alarik had brought you heaters for this cold house. I thought to myself that I, too, would like to be of assistance, and since you could not come to my home for dinner, I came to bring dinner to you and the good doctor." He handed her a box that was warm to the touch.

"This is so kind of you, Killeen, it smells delicious. Thank you very much!" Nyota beamed at him. "It's very important that the doctor has good nutrition to help him recover." Nyota took the box from him. "Come in and sit with the doctor while I put this in the kitchen."

She led him to the sofa. "Leonard, Killeen is here to visit with you. He was kind enough to bring dinner for us; we're in for a treat. Sit down, Killeen." She motioned him to the chair which was situated well away from the doctor.

"Well now, Killeen, that's mighty nice of you. Poor Nyota has been run off her feet since last night. She's been takin' good care of me. We've been tryin' to figure out what this illness is, and where I got it. It's a lot like Alarik's, but I'm thinkin' Alarik was sick too long ago for me to have caught it from him." Leonard paused to clear his hoarse throat and take a sip of the honeyed tea.

His hoarseness seemed to come and go, another symptom of note for Geoff. "So, Killeen, do you know anyone who's been sick like me? Or... Nyota thought of this, a stranger in the village who might've been sent to the Apothecary or to me because they were sick? We don't know everyone here so I wouldn't have known if the patient was a stranger, new to the village. Alarik did mention talkin' to someone who needed an Apothecary, but that person didn't come see me. He said it was just before he got sick himself. He described her, but neither Nyota nor I remember seeing someone adorned with a metal necklace and bracelet."

Nyota came back into the living room and overheard Leonard. "It's important, Killeen, for us to discover how the doctor contracted this illness." She interjected.

Leonard nodded. "That's so. If someone is ill and they don't have symptoms, we doctors call that being asymptomatic, that person could cause a lot of other people to get sick too, just by being around them and spreading the virus. If we found that person, I could treat them, and prevent anyone else from getting sick." Leonard covered his face and coughed. "This virus is nothing to fool around with, Killeen. You remember how sick Alarik was, and I'm feeling pretty bad myself."

"Yes, I see what you are saying." Killeen frowned, shocked by the doctor's appearance, heavy cough, and hoarseness. He stood. "I fear I am fatiguing you, Dr. MkKoy, so I will take my leave. But, if you and Nyota wish it, I will go to the Apothecary to inquire if there has been anyone seeking medicines for an illness like yours and Alarik's. It is my sincere wish that you return to robust health quickly, Doctor."

"We'd 'preciate your doin' that, Killeen. Very kind of you."

"That would be very helpful, Killeen," Nyota said, walking him to the door. "I was going to wait until the doctor was napping and run over there quickly myself, although I am hesitant to leave him alone. I don't think calling the Apothecary's shop would be best, they are always busy taking care of the people who come in." Nyota told him. "Also while you're there if you would please ask if anyone new to the village has gone in not feeling well and needing medication."

"I will ask, Nyota. I will go now, before the shop closes its doors. When I return to my home, I will call to tell you what I discover."

"Thank you, Killeen."

"Take care of the good doctor, Nyota. It pains all of us that he is so ill."

"I will, Killeen."

Nyota closed the screen door and locked it. It was still sunny and bright outside, much warmer now than last night and even this morning. Although it was afternoon now, the bright sunshine coming through the screen door and small window added a cheery glow to the otherwise drab, rather gloomy living room. Nyota had a fondness for warm cheery colors, and her officers' quarters on the ship, small though it was, reflected her taste in vibrant colors. This house had nothing warm or cheery about it, probably because it was a rental, but still, she thought, the owner could have done something to make it less bleak and dreary.

Doranna had mentioned the owner had been delighted to rent the old house to them, that it had sat empty a long time. In Nyota's opinion, it would have been easier to rent or lease it if the owner had made some effort to make it more inviting and cheerful. Oh well, she thought, shaking her head at the drab room, they wouldn't be here too much longer, but still, it was a shame. The house had good bones and great possibilities for improvement.

It was time for Leonard's afternoon meds and, mindful of Geoffrey's injunction to get more calories in him, his mid-afternoon snack too. What could she give him? She thought of what was in the pantry and in the cooling unit. The food Killeen brought for them would be for dinner; she wouldn't touch it now. Having a complete dinner already prepared for Len was one less task for her to do. She had to admit she was feeling tired, three hours of sleep last night was definitely not enough with all she'd had to do and her constant worry about Lenard.

With a glance at the doctor who was engrossed in his reading, she went to the kitchen and washed her hands. She would fix cheese on toast for him, and make more tea. That would do until dinner. She hastily prepared the tea, melted the cheese on the toast, and put it all on the tray. She placed the tray on the lamp table. "Len, sorry to interrupt, but it's time for your snack and meds." She pulled out the cartridges and hypo from the doctor's bag and waved them in front of his nose.

Leonard dutifully set aside his reading padd and Nyota noted the time for Geoff and Jim's report.

"Thanks, Ny." He injected himself, handed the hypo and spent cartridge back to her, and glanced at the snack and tea. "Cain't believe I'm hungry again. That's not a usual occurrence with this flu."

"I'll make a note of that too. Geoff will be pleased you have an appetite. Len, if you promise not to move from here, I'm going to take shower. I didn't get a chance this morning. I'm not expecting Alarik or Doranna until later. They're bringing a few more groceries for us. They're such kind people," she added.

"This village has nothin' but good people in it, darlin'. We cain't let anythin' happen to them."

"I know." Nyota closed and locked the front door and looked around once more.

Leonard caught her glance. "Go on, go take your shower, I'll be fine here eatin' and readin'. Shoo, go on now," he motioned with his hand.

Laughing, Nyota shooed. Maybe a quick shower would revive her. She was very tired, but she couldn't afford to lose focus, Leonard needed her. Under the hot water she ran over all the points about the Orions for her report to Jim and also the list of Len's symptoms for Geoff. She quickly toweled herself dry and stepped into the warmth of her room to dress. She grabbed her comm and went back to the living room.

"Feelin' better, Ny?" Leonard looked up from his treasured medical padd. At least reading padds were used here and there was no need to hide his. "You're lookin' mighty tired, darlin. It's wearin' you out, lookin' after me."

"Don't you worry about that, Leonard McCoy. I've gotten my second wind now. And aren't you always taking care of all of us on the ship? And haven't I done with little or no sleep whenever we're on red alert? I'm fine."

She sat down in the chair, opening her notes and changed the subject. "Len, I'm going to run over my notes with you, see if there's any symptom I left out, or if there's anything I should add for Geoffrey. I also jotted down what Alarik told us about that Orion slave for Jim's report."

Leonard sighed. "Jim's gonna' be mighty upset about that. If it hadn't been for Komack, they'd be here already and that Orion slave ship wouldn't have dared orbit around Sarena."

"I know, but it can't be helped now, so let's hope the ship gets here before the Orions attempt anything."

There was silence between them as Leonard read, and Nyota wrote her notes. There was a knock at the door and Nyota and Leonard's eyes met in alarm. Her comm was in her hand!

Leonard held out his hand. She snapped it close, silenced it, and handed it to him. He tucked it carefully down between the edge of the sofa and the seat cushion, pulled the quilt closer over his body and nodded to Nyota. She went to answer the door; one of Leonard's patients was standing there.

"I'm so sorry, but the doctor is ill, and is not seeing patients," Nyota told the man whose name she couldn't remember.

"I'm not here to see the doctor," he responded. "Alarik informed me the Doctor is ill and has a fever. I brought some fresh fruit for him. Perhaps you can make a refreshing beverage with them." He lifted a bag for Nyota to see. It was filled with the local citrus fruit, a cross between an orange and a lemon. She had seen them at the market but they'd never tried them.

"Thank you..." She unlocked the door.

"Ezio," he supplied, and handed her the bag.

"This is very kind of you, Friend Ezio. The doctor and I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

"You are welcome. I prepare a drink from this fruit often. You cut the fruit, squeeze the juice, add water and honey to sweeten it to your taste, then cool it. Please tell Dr. Mkkoy I wish him a speedy recovery." He turned to go.

"Friend Ezio, before you go. We are trying to determine how the doctor could have contracted this illness. It is similar to Alarik's but not quite the same. Why don't you come in to speak with the doctor? Just sit on the chair well away from him, and it will be quite safe. He'll be happy to see you. He's not used to inactivity or sitting for so long."

Ezio chuckled. "I understand. I, too, do not like to be idle."

"Friend Dr. Mkkoy, good evening," Ezio said genially, taking the seat Nyota indicated. "I am grieved you are ill. I brought fresh citrus fruit for juice. It will be beneficial for you, Doctor."

"Thank you, Friend Ezio. I'm grateful. I'm very weak with high fever." The fever bright blue eyes looked at Ezio keenly. "To my way of thinkin', I probably got this from someone, a patient maybe, probably someone not too sick when they came in. Maybe someone new to Torreon? I'd like to find that person, make sure others haven't come down with this same illness."

"Ah, yes I see. It is very good of you, doctor, to concern yourself with others in our village while you are so ill. You care deeply for the welfare of others. Those of us who came as patients were assured of that immediately by your concern and care of us. If it will ease your mind, I will make inquiries to see if anyone has been ill."

"Also please ask if there have been any strangers in the village, Friend Ezio. Such a person could also have brought the sickness, but I would not have known they were strangers." Leonard started coughing, and sipped at his tea.

"I fear conversing with me has caused your cough to worsen, Friend Doctor MkKoy." Ezio looked worriedly at Nyota and stood to leave. "Do not fatigue yourself further. I will take my leave. I will call Friend Nyota if I discover any information for you."

"Thank you, Friend Ezio," Nyota said, as she led him to the door. "I appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing the fruit. Have a pleasant evening." She closed and locked the screen door, then bolted the wooden door. She also checked the window making sure it was closed and locked. She would be getting in touch with the ship soon, and it wouldn't do for anyone to accidentally overhear any part of that conversation.

She sat down and sighed tiredly. "Now we have four people asking questions, Doranna, Alarik, Killeen, and now Ezio. If there are any Orion slaves around I'm pretty confident one of those four people would spot them. First of all, they'd be strangers, and secondly the neck and wrist jewelry are a dead giveaway. Between them, those four people must know every person and every business owner in the village. A stranger will stand out like a sore thumb."

Leonard nodded. "This is good Ny, the four will be able to cover a lot more ground then we ever could've. Also, if they're the ones askin' questions they won't arouse any suspicion."

Nyota looked at the time. "Alpha shift is almost over, time to comm the ship and make our reports to Jim and Geoff. After we finish, it'll be time for dinner, and then your meds." She looked around debating. Should Len eat here or at the table in the kitchen? She had felt the chill in the air when she'd let Ezio out. The outside temperature was beginning to drop, but the living room fire was still blazing merrily. The kitchen had no heat except for the stove, so the living room it would be, she decided.