"Well, well, would you look at all these plants?"
It wasn't unusual for the botany lab to be bursting with exotic, intergalactic plant life. But today, the lab was especially full of life. Plant samples from Q13-17 decorated every table, every terrarium, even a few of the technician's desks.
"There…are a lot of them, Captain." Sulu eyed a spiny pink plant whose home had conveniently been made in his chair. "I think we might have outdone ourselves a little."
The Captain approached one of the tables holding the recently-acquired samples, his attention especially drawn to one plant. Its short leaves were broad and waxy, and hundreds of small, brightly colored flowers decorated the stem. "I wouldn't say you outdid yourself, Sulu," he said, focused on trying to trace the pattern of the flower petals. "You were thorough. Very thorough."
"Sounds like something Commander Spock would say. You trying to take his place, in his absence?" Sulu joined Kirk at the laboratory table. "That plant's a nice one, isn't it? Surprisingly Earth-like, for something that came out of deep space."
"It is quite mesmerizing," Kirk agreed. "And no, Sulu, I am no replacement for Commander Spock."
"I know Captain. Unfortunately." Sulu let out a heavy sigh. "It's no mark on you, Captain, but the lab's backed up now that we don't have him to help keep things running in an orderly fashion. You should see all the boxes of record tapes we've got waiting to be processed."
"I know, Lieutenant. I'd offer advice if I knew any, but I'm no lab expert." Kirk sighed; the best thing he knew how to do was sympathize with the lab personnel. Thankfully, the expedition on Q13-17 had given him something else to think about besides the fact they were down an important person. But now that it was over, his thoughts were once again filled with worry – about his colleague, and about what the lab was going to do with an unseemly amount of record tapes and plant specimens.
Sulu busied himself trying to get the spiky pink plant out of his chair. "Have you gone to Sickbay to see Mr. Spock today, Captain?"
"I did, this morning."
"Well, how was he?"
"His usual self, except he coughed a lot." Kirk leaned against the lab table, careful not to get poked by a spiny cactus-like specimen near his arm. He sighed. "I wish I could do something to help. I feel so…so idle just carrying on as usual. I'm down my First Officer and I'm not contributing at all…except for disrupting Bones' perfect, stress-free Sickbay environment."
"What, you barging into Sickbay unannounced?" Sulu teased. "Never."
Kirk chuckled, but he was serious. "Really, Sulu, I need to do something. I thought about sending food yesterday – something from his home planet, something he's used to. Comfort food, y'know?"
Sulu finally got the spiny plant out of his chair and settled on his desk – also far from ideal, but at least he could sit down. "Why'd you decide not to?"
"Because, Sulu, I don't know if there is such a thing as 'comfort food' on their planet." Kirk pressed himself upright. "It's all just food. I don't think they have favorites or preferences."
"So?"
"So what's the point of 'comfort food' then?"
Sulu had no immediate answer for that one, but he bit his lip in thought, idly brushing soil off his desk while he waited for an answer to come to him. Finally, one did. "Why don't you send some flowers?"
"Flowers?" Kirk almost burst out laughing. "Sulu, where am I supposed to get any of those out here?"
"You kidding?" Sulu gestured broadly to the room around them. "Take your pick."
Flowers. It wasn't a bad idea, actually. Flowers were a symbol of birth, regrowth, prosperity - perfect symbolism for a sickbay. The bright colors would liven up the dim walls and pinstriped curtains, offer a little breath of the outdoors inside. Fresh air was always good for the sick, wasn't it? At least, on Earth it was.
"You're sure these plants are safe, Sulu?"
"The ones in here are," Sulu replied, "unless you're planning on eating 'em. Their genomes haven't been fully mapped yet to test for any toxins."
"Well, nobody's going to be eating them, I can guarantee that." Kirk meandered back to the plant he'd been gazing at earlier, with the waxy leaves and tiny flowers. "But you're right about sending flowers - it's not a bad idea."
"You think McCoy would let you?"
"I'm not worried about that, Sulu. I can get away with a lot with ol' Bones," Kirk replied. But then he remembered: "Do Vulcans give each other flowers, Sulu? Does Vulcan even have flowers?"
"Oh, it's got flowers," Sulu replied. "But as for their traditions surrounding them, I've got nothing."
Damn. Kirk had to take a moment to collect his thoughts. Everything he tried to do to bring comfort to his friend was a dead end.
The bosun's whistle blew. Captain Kirk to the Bridge, acknowledge.
"I have to go, Sulu," Kirk sighed. "I'll see you around."
He was so lost in thought as he left the Botany Lab, he didn't hear Sulu ask if he should set the plant aside. It had been so long since he'd been on Earth for any length of time, Kirk was having to rack his brain for what else - anything else - he could do. Familiar food, lively flowers - other than that, he was running out of options.
He shook his head, defiant against his own thoughts. The Bridge. He was needed on the Bridge. He was distracted, but the Bridge Crew needed him, and his thoughts, and his utmost attention.
He found a callbox on the corridor wall. "Bridge, this is Kirk," he spoke into it, trying to hide the heavy sigh in his voice. "I acknowledge."