While they wait, Chris fluffs the pillows on the bed and eases Lilly back onto them. He takes her hand in his. "I'd reduce the ship's speed, but once the reaction is triggered slowing down won't resolve the symptoms. I'm sorry for that."

Lilly nods. In addition to the nausea she is now dizzy. The room feels like it is swaying, as if it is a boat on the ocean rocking side to side. She grabs the edge of the bed wanting to feel something steady and unmoving. Chris gives her other hand a reassuring squeeze while his practiced eye catalogues her symptoms. Everyone assigned to Enterprise is a certified emergency medic, it's one of its Captain's little quirks.

Mild sweating yet she is shivering, he thinks. Light sensitivity is increasing based on her squint, but her pupils are still fully dilated. Chris whistles and Lilly flinches. Sound sensitivity too. He says softly while tucking a blanket around her, "Computer reduce lights to lowest setting and engage aural shield. Are you prone to migraine headaches?"

"Yes, but they aren't frequent. I understand if you want to slip out before the medic gets here, that you prefer the crew doesn't know about us. I'm fine now."

Chris tilts his head towards her and narrows his eyes. "You're nowhere close to fine." In a gentler tone he says, "And your assumption is incorrect. Yes, I prefer to keep aspects of my personal life private. That said, it's not that I don't want the crew to know about us, rather I don't want to share you with them just yet." Lilly smiles, a smile that lights up her face, the one that Chris already treasures and pines for. The one he wishes she'd reserve solely for him. He continues, "What is happening between us is special, I've never felt quite like this about anyone before, certainly not so quickly … like I've always known you, yet when we are together everything in my life is new and fresh and full of promise." He shakes his head almost imperceptibly, eyes rolling up slightly. "I know that sounds … is … incomprehensible. Perhaps the inability to describe this is directly proportional to how precious and important it may grow to be."

Lilly starts to respond, and Chris tenderly shushes her placing his finger on her lips. "Later."

When the door chimes, Chris answers it and briefs the nurse. He stays within earshot but on the periphery as any commander concerned about a guest on board his ship would do while the nurse conducts a scan and injects Lilly with appropriate medication.

Within a couple of minutes, Lilly starts gasping for breath and her skin flushes bright red.

"Her pulse is weak and thready, and her blood pressure has dropped. Anaphylactic shock," the nurse reports calmly as she loads a different medication into her hypospray and releases it into her patient. Chris resists his intense need to ask if she had checked for allergies before administering the treatment. He flexes his fingers instead. My crew is well trained and the best in their fields. They don't need or deserve an armchair quarterback.

The nurse's fingers never leave Lilly's wrist as she continues monitoring pulse and respiration both with her scanner and her five senses, a protocol insisted on by Enterprise's CMO. "That's better but your vitals are still on the low side. I'd like to take you to Sickbay for observation. Do you feel up to walking there? It's not far."

Lilly responds affirmatively, but Chris can see her subtle hesitation. "I'll go with you in case you need an extra hand."

During the slow walk down the corridor to the turbolift, Chris reminds himself multiple times to step back and allow the nurse to hover near Lilly in case help is needed. Near the lift, Lilly halts suddenly. "I'm a bit woozy, I need a minute …" Before she crumples to the floor, Chris gathers her in his arms. She twines hers around his neck and leans her head against his chest, grateful to be enveloped in his comforting strength.

By the time they arrive in Sickbay, Phil Boyce, and Robert and Sarah April are already assembled and waiting. The nurse had summoned Enterprise's CMO, Bob and Sarah insisted on coming as well, he to check on his aide, she as Enterprise's former medical chief. While Phil, Sarah, and the nurse converse, Bob retreats to the corner where Chris is waiting. "They alerted you as well?"

"Yeah," Chris answers distractedly as he tries to follow the rapid medical jargon. All he can make out is '… severe … reaction … immune system.'

"I don't see any other way," Phil says.

Sarah nods, "I agree, her immune system is raging out of control. It will have to be suppressed for the next week and a strict quarantine set up. But fluids first." She turns to the nurse, "Will you see to that?"

"Yes ma'am."

Lilly props up on her elbows, "I'm right here, there is no need to speak of me in third person."

Patting her hand, Sarah replies in a motherly but firm tone, "Hush dear and let the professionals talk. No one wants to hear from the lawyer right now."

Phil motions to a waiting aide. "Given the infrequent traffic near the VIP quarters, quarantine in her own will be adequate. See to it."

"That's not so bad, at least I can get some work done." Lilly remarks.

Sarah shakes her head vigorously. "Absolutely not. No work. You may rest, you may read, you may watch vids, you may sleep. If you are well-behaved and feel up to it, a few meticulously screened visitors may be permitted." She orders her husband, "Bob, make sure any and all work materials are removed from her quarters," and Enterprise's current Captain, "Chris, slow this damn ship down. I know there is no clinical evidence that is warranted, but you never know."

"Yes dear," Bob says with an amused but fond smile.

"Yes ma'am," Pike replies and calls the bridge. "Reduce speed to warp six until further notice."

"But I …" Lilly starts.

The nurse smiles sympathetically at Lilly after injecting her wrist with a capsule of concentrated fluids and electrolytes that would slowly filter into her bloodstream. Leaning down she says softly, "Given the brass in the crowd that has gathered, its best you lie back and gracefully accept whatever they have planned. I've worked for both Drs. Boyce and April as well as served under both Captains Pike and April. Individually each is daunting. Combined few stand a chance of preserving against the incoming force of their tsunami."

"But I feel better," Lilly protests.

"Maybe right now. But that will soon change. And acute warp sickness can be tricky."

While she waited in Sickbay for her treatment to finish and for quarantine preparations to be completed, Lilly knew she should be asking more questions about this condition or at least be more concerned about how it was affecting her body. But all she could think about was the reassuring sense of safety when cocooned in Chris' arms as he carried her to Sickbay, and the warmth in his eyes as he told her his life was new and fresh and full of promise when they were together.