Disclaimers somewhere in part 1.

Two of a King
by Thunderboomer
part 5

"I don't suppose there's been any change," Dr. Manx asked from her perch by the examination table.

The latest of the psychics shook his head in quiet resignation. "Cadet Tegan's mind is repelling all exploratory probes. I do not believe there is a psi active on earth who could break through her defenses. Strangely, her own psi abilities seem almost completely muted beyond that defense screen."

Dr. Manx supressed a sigh. "Thank you anyway." She stared down at the Cadet's sleeping form, wondering if anyone would be able to break through. She'd had to bar Boom out of the infirmary; she knew how frantic he was about his fellow psi, but she couldn't risk him.

"Dr. Manx, if I might inquire," the psi began.

She stared him down. "You may not."

The psychic yawned. "Very well."

The psychic left the infirmary, revealing Boom hovering in the hallway outside still abiding his exile from sickbay. "Kat, please. I have to try!"

Kat glared at him. "No. That's final."

Boom didn't relent. "Please, Kat, I have to try."

Kat wondered if this constituted a good reason to just sedate her troublesome assistant.

"The worst thing that could happen is that I end back the way I was before. I'm willing to take that chance, as surely as if I volunteered for an organ transplant."

"That's not the worst thing that can happen, and you know it!" Kat fumed.

Lisa chose that moment to roll over in bed and hit the floor.

"Lisa!" Boom cried, ducking into the infirmary and scooping her up in his arms. "Kat, I'm asking you as a friend. She'll die if she's not healed soon."

Kat grabbed a sedative from the counter. "She'll be okay, Boom."

"SHE IS DYING INSIDE AND YOU KNOW IT," Boom yelled. Lisa moved fitlessly in his arms and he brushed a strand of her flaxen hair out of her face. "Let me help her," he pleaded. "I can do it, Kat."

Kat hit Boom with the sedative in her hand.

Boom collapsed to the floor, slamming both his and Lisa's heads against the linoleum.

Kat sighed. "Sorry, Boom, but I don't want to lose you," she said softly.

Lisa swam in an endless sea of darkness. Time had lost all meaning to her a while ago- if she could even be counted on to know when a while ago was.

Lisa? came the mental echo of Boom's psi-voice.

Lisa reached out. Boom? she murmured.

I'm here. Something happened, I can feel you now. Lisa, can you wake up?

Lisa struggled. It was like moving through treacle. A bit.

I don't think I can anymore. I think whatever infected us both can't be shared between us. One of us has to be strong for the other. Can you do that for me? She heard his psi voice choke up. I'm sorry I can't be the man you deserve, Lisa, but I see no other way.

But Boom... Lisa's mental voice choked up in response. She began to struggle, to reach towards him, and reach towards consciousness.

Be strong. Save yourself. No one will miss the man I once was, no one except you. And be strong for Kat too.

Kat? she asked, as the light began to shine in her eyes.

She's scared of what's happening to us. She won't-

Boom's voice faded out of her mind as Dr. Manx shined a light in her eyes. "Cadet Tegan?" she asked.

"Urgle," Lisa managed.

"Lisa, please talk to me. Boom is unresponsive," Dr. Manx pressed.

"Boom! I was just talking to him, whatever got him got me got him again."

Dr. Manx sighed. "I warned him about reopening the connection between you. It's jeopardizing both your lives."

Lisa groaned. "Sorry, Dr. Manx," she said.

"it's all right, Lisa. We just need to get you both in isolation far away from each other."

"Isolation?" Lisa asked, suddenly scared of the word. "We can't be separated, Dr. Manx. We're psis!"

"You never wanted to use your powers anyway, cadet," Dr. Manx said curtly. "It's safer for both you and Boom if you don't for the foreseeable future."

"It's not that I didn't want to use my powers, it's just..." She paused, realizing she didn't want to insult a senior officer. Especially one who had her medical records.

To Be Continued...