Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters, only my OC - Kaitlyn Donovan.
This story is the sequel to All's Fair in Love and War.
Query: What sacrifices must be endured by those that secure our freedom?
Thank you to Just a Crazy-Man, bina W, and IrishBug74, LoyaulteMeLie, Lupinesence, jeangreyten, Belen09, Silver-ShadowSpark and Cap'nFrances for the reviews, and to everyone that is following this story and adding it to their favorites!
A/N - I really haven't fallen off the face of the Earth - I've just been sick the past month and a half. I highly recommend that you don't catch the flu, then a cold, that finally turns into bronchitis. Anyhow, I finally have the energy to write after a full day of teaching. The next few chapters of each of my stories will likely be shorter (5-7 pages, instead of the usual 10-15) as I get my groove back. Thanks goes out for all of the private messages and well wishes - ya'll are awesome!
Chapter 13 - Rest to Heal
The Price of Freedom
Chapter 13 - Rest to Heal
Vulcan Compound
Ambassador Soval walked into the Medical Center and came over to the bed of their visitor. He raised an eyebrow at Doctor Strom in question.
Doctor Strom took a deep breath, "Her readings are curious. It appears as if she is in a healing trance - but is that possible?"
Ambassador Soval thought carefully before he answered, "Captain Donovan is unlike any other Human I have met. She meditates most days and usually has great control over her emotions. She was distressed when she came in?" he inquired.
Doctor Strom nodded, "We could all feel the distress radiating off of her. She asked to rest and collapsed on the bed." He pointed to the black strap on her upper arm over her uniform, "It is a dampening field, she deactivated it before she came in here. Why would she feel she needs a personal dampening field?"
Soval immediately thought back to when she was transported from the Vulcan Compound. Evidently, it had an impact on her. He wondered what had happened to her. She never spoke of it and he never inquired. "Is Commander T'Pol here?"
Strom nodded, "She arrived earlier this evening."
"Please have her come here. We will seek her advice." Soval stated as he clasped his hands behind his back and watched as Captain Donovan breathed heavily.
A few minutes later Commander T'Pol arrived and raised a curious eyebrow.
Doctor Strom quickly explained how Captain Donovan arrived and ended up in their Medical Center.
T'Pol glanced at the doctor, "Have you informed anyone that she is here?"
"Should we?" Doctor Strom questioned. "She was clearly distressed. How do we know she is not in danger? Is there someone we could contact that she trusts explicitly?" He did not know what had happened to Captain Donovan, but he did not want her to be put in any danger.
Soval quirked an eyebrow, "Doctor Phlox? I believe he has been her physician on many occasions." He looked to T'Pol in question.
T'Pol nodded, "They seem to have a very amicable relationship and she has sought him out on several occasions when she could have gone to another physician. With your permission, I will ask Doctor Phlox to transport here."
Soval gave his permission with a slight nod, "Be discrete and not mention her by name."
T'Pol stepped away and made her communication to Doctor Phlox.
Doctor Strom passed the medical scanner over her again as they waited for the Enterprise doctor to arrive.
T'Pol came in a few minutes later with Doctor Phlox in tow.
"What has happened?" Phlox questioned quickly when he saw who the patient was in the bed.
Doctor Strom explained the situation and handed the scanner to Phlox for him to read over all of the information gathered.
Phlox finished reading and nodded slowly as he contemplated what information he could tell them. "I believe you made the right decision calling me." He indicated the black band around her arm, "Captain Donovan started carrying that with her to use, if she felt the situation warranted." He looked between the three Vulcans, "I trust that you will keep what I am about to say in confidence?"
The Vulcans nodded in agreement.
"She was transported away from a meeting with you?" Phlox directed to Ambassador Soval. "She was abused and she resorted to a healing trance to balance herself after that ordeal. I believe she has done the same thing now. It does not look like she has any physical damage this time, but it was more likely mentally taxing. Did she have her PADD on her?"
Doctor Strom picked it up from the side table and handed it to Doctor Phlox, "It is locked."
Phlox smiled, "She has an emergency code." He punched in the code she had told him a few weeks ago - 911. He nodded as it unlocked and he pulled up the last message she received. His brows furrowed, "This message is in Vulcan - what does it say?" he showed them the screen.
Soval read the message, "I can help you find the answers you need about that mission." Soval watched as the Denobulan's eyes widened in recognition of what mission the message was referring to.
Doctor Strom looked at the Enterprise doctor that seemed to understand, "What mission? And why is the message in Vulcan?"
Soval took a deep breath, "One that was very troubling to Captain Donovan. I would like to speak to Doctor Phlox privately."
Strom and T'Pol left quietly.
Soval raised an eyebrow at Phlox, "Someone obviously knows about that mission - and no, I do not know the details - only that it did not end well. Should we just allow her to heal here?"
Phlox nodded, "I think that would be best. I will stay and monitor her tonight. Most likely she will wake up on her own - she has an uncanny internal clock."
"I would prefer for her to heal on her own, since we do not know what transpired tonight." Soval agreed.
"Thank you for allowing her to stay here - she must feel safe within the Vulcan Compound." Phlox pointed out.
Ambassador Soval tilted his head slightly, contemplating the Denobulan's words. "Captain Donovan is always welcome here, as are you. Please keep me informed if her situation changes." He turned and left the Medical Center.
Strom and T'Pol were waiting outside the doors.
"Doctor Phlox will monitor her condition, please assist him if he requires anything." Soval directed Strom. He watched as Strom headed back in the Medical Center. Soval turned to T'Pol, "Check all communications from our people to see if any match the message sent to Captain Donovan."
T'Pol nodded and turned away.
"Commander," Soval quickly realized his faux pas, "Forgive me. Congratulations on your marriage."
T'Pol nodded, "No offense taken when none is intended. Thank you, Ambassador."
Soval watched as she took her leave. He headed to his quarters to meditate on recent revelations. He took off his outer robes and lit the candle and sat down gracefully. He took slow, deep breaths to center himself.
Someone had transported Captain Donovan away from the Vulcan Compound and abused her, and now someone was manipulating her further - someone who spoke Vulcan. He knew of no Vulcan that would know any information about that mission she went on. Could it be someone in Vulcan Intelligence?
Soval breathed deeply. He would not get centered tonight if he did not put this aside. He took another deep breath. He would speak to Captain Donovan tomorrow when she felt better. Now that he had a plan, he could focus on his meditation.
XXXXX
Captain Donovan waited for Ambassador Soval to exit his personal quarters. She tried to shake the feeling that all of the Vulcans were staring at her. She knew they weren't, and that they did not gossip - but she couldn't blame them if they did. She straightened as Ambassador Soval stepped into the corridor.
Soval spotted her immediately and came over to her. "You appear to be better."
Kaitlyn nodded and gave him a small smile, "Yes, I'm feeling much better. Thank you for allowing me to stay here last night - I was not well and I would not have been able to make it to my apartment."
Soval watched as her expression slowly changed to one of sadness.
She took a deep breath, "I did go and meet someone last night that upset me. The message was in Vulcan - but it was not anyone from the Vulcan Embassy. I really can't say anything else about what happened. I'm sorry, Ambassador." she apologized.
"There is no need for you to apologize, Captain." Soval indicated for her to walk with him, "Would you care to join me for the Morning Meal? Afterwards we can discuss the last trainings your unit has with us before your departure."
Kaitlyn gave him an appreciative smile - thankful that the issue of last night would be dropped. "I would be honored, Ambassador."
XXXXX
Enterprise Sick Bay
Doctor Phlox waited. He had sent Lieutenant Reed a message a few minutes ago after he had returned from the Vulcan Compound. He could almost picture the Lieutenant's face as he read the message and knew that the man would quickly conceal any emotions that threatened to escape. Phlox calculated that it would take the Lieutenant less than five minutes to arrive in Sick Bay. Phlox looked up as the doors swished open.
Lieutenant Reed entered cautiously, then went straight over to Phlox when he assessed they were alone. "What happened?" he asked the doctor quickly.
Phlox pulled out a PADD and handed it to the Lieutenant. "She said for you not to worry."
Malcolm closed his eyes tightly, then took a deep breath. If she had to preface the conversation, he usually did worry. He looked over Phlox carefully, "Is she okay now?"
Phlox smiled, "Yes, she is. She just needed to sort everything out." He indicated the PADD, "She said you'd know how to access that."
Malcolm nodded as he glanced at the PADD. He gave Phlox a small smile, "Thank you for taking care of her when I can't." He'd kept himself busy the past week, but his thoughts kept drifting to Kaitlyn. He missed her.
Phlox gave the man a wide grin, "My pleasure. Have a good day, Lieutenant."
Malcolm nodded again, then headed to his office in the Armory to read Kaitlyn's message.
XXXXX
Enterprise Mess Hall
Trip Tucker nodded to people in the crowded Mess Hall as he made his selection and headed to the table in the far corner where his best friend sat. As he approached, he quickly picked up on Malcolm's foul mood. He sat down and gave Malcolm a quick glance, "You bothered by something?"
Malcolm took a sip of his water as he slowly analyzed the crowded Mess Hall. "There are too many people freely running around this ship."
Trip raised an eyebrow, "But they're all Starfleet - they've been vetted. Malcolm, they're just here making repairs and getting everything ready for us to launch." he tried to unwind the uptight Head of Security.
Malcolm shook his head, "I can't keep up with everywhere all of them are wandering off to. I found one of them coming out of Sick Bay a little while ago when Phlox wasn't in there." he pointed out.
Trip shook his head, "Malcolm, not everyone has an ulterior motive. I'm sure the guy was just getting a bandage or something."
Malcolm frowned. Trip was too easy going and trusting. "I also found a few of them working in Engineering late last night when none of your staff was there."
That statement gave Trip pause. He sat up straight and looked at Malcolm, "What were they doing?"
"Just diagnostics, they said." Malcolm shrugged, knowing he had finally gotten his friend's attention. No one worked on the engines unless Trip, or one of his staff was there to oversee their work. "I told them to leave and come back later."
Trip nodded his thanks, "Maybe you could show me where they were when you came in?"
Malcolm gave his friend a small smile, "As soon as we're done."
Trip continued to eat and watched Malcolm surreptitiously. "Have you heard anything from Donovan?"
Malcolm's fork stopped midair, then he set it down. "Why would she contact me?" He questioned.
Trip's face went to an all out grin, "Come on! You two fancy each other - why wouldn't she?" His grin faded as Malcolm looked cautiously around the crowded room again.
Malcolm picked his fork back up, "We're just colleagues, Trip." He hated to lie to his best friend, but he wasn't going to put her in any further danger. He'd nearly had an aneurism when he'd read Kaitlyn's message. The worst thing about it is that he couldn't do anything about it - not without raising red flags to Harris' people. Malcolm leaned slightly closer to Trip, "Though, I am looking forward to seeing her at the Send Off Friday night."
Trip grinned again. So, he was right - Malcolm was smitten. Trip went back to eating, but he was already plotting.
XXXXX
TBC.
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