Chapter 3
Heather trudged through the corridors, ignoring the open-mouthed stares of the crew. She didn't have to look at them to know they were there. As she passed the O'Brian's quarters, she heard the tiny voice of Molly O'Brian.
"Daddy," she started. "Did that lady break her leg?" Her father turned bright red, shook his head, and herded his daughter back into their quarters.
Heather shook her head in disgust and winced. She had the most horrible headache, though she couldn't imagine why. She thought it must be from learning her way around the station and meeting more and more new people each day. She had been on DS9 for over a month now. The station was starting to feel like home.
She grew more and more tired and her headache grew worse as she made her way to her quarters. Once there, she collapsed on the bed, leaving her crutch to clatter on the floor. She fell asleep almost immediately.
The persistent ringing of her door chime woke her up. She moaned and rolled over. She didn't feel like getting up and answering the door.
There was a click and then the door slid open. Whoever was at the door had apparently overridden the lock. Soon the familiar faces of Kira and Dax, her two best friends on the station, appeared at her bedside.
"You okay?" Kira asked in concern. "You were supposed to be on bridge duty ten minutes ago." Heather waved her hand vaguely.
"Oh, I'm okay. Just not feeling that well today." Dax placed her hand on Heather's forehead, brushing away loose strands of hair.
"Heather, you have a fever. You really should go up to sickbay." Heather sighed. She hated going to doctors, but it seemed her friends were not to be deterred. She swung her legs over the bed and stood up. She nearly collapsed on the floor. Kira put her arm around Heather to steady her, while Dax hit her com badge.
"Dax to bridge. Lt. Martinez isn't feeling well, so Kira and I will be escorting her to sickbay." Back on the bridge, Captain Sisko frowned. He hoped his new officer wasn't that sick. "Go right ahead." He said. Dax also put her arm around Heather to steady her even more, and the three of them slowly made their way to sickbay.
"It's just the common flu." Dr. Bishir said, running a tricorder over Heather, while Kira, Dax, and Captain Sisko all stood by, anxiously awaiting the news.
"But because of her disability," he continued. "It's worse then it would be in someone without a disability. It will also take her longer to get over it. Because all the muscles in her body are affected by the CP, she is more susceptible to diseases then most people. " Captain Sisko frowned deeply. If Heather was more susceptible to diseases, she got them worse then most people, and it took her longer to get over them, was she really fit for duty? He was definitely having second thoughts about having Lt. Heather Martinez as an officer on his station.
A/N: Yay! I've finally updated! Yes, it's true, people with CP do tend to be more susceptible to diseases, and they do take longer to get over them, and they do get them worse then most people. For me, a cold can last three weeks, sometimes even a month. Anyway, like I've said in my A/N in my other story, Ghost Contradiction, I have MAJOR writer's block for my Full House story. If you have ANY ideas PLEASE tell me. I'm stuck with that story. Thanks!