For Author's note and Disclaimer, see chapter 1

Chapter 29

"Spock, how are you doing?" Jim called into the corridor, pacing anxiously where he waited.

"The doctor is unchanged, I am, adequate," the Vulcan replied. There was not enough oxygen for him to waste any on conversation and the cold was even more bothersome. Even so he took some satisfaction out of knowing his body heat served a purpose.

"They should be back any second now," Jim told him, hopefully. "Blast it, where are they?" he rounded on Scott who shrugged, knowing it was frustration speaking.

Pounding footsteps in the corridor alerted him to the ensign returning, oxygen masks in his arms and Jim all but tore one out of his arms. Putting it on hurriedly and barely taking the time to tighten the straps while Scott took one of his own, putting it on and grabbing the last two while Jim was already inside the corridor. Running over to the two men, his two best friends he threw himself down on the floor beside them. Scotty was only seconds after him, one mask in his hand that he thrust at Spock who took it. The other one he turned on the valve on before he pressed it over the McCoy's mouth and nose, noting the hiss of the air and the faint fogging on the mask.

"At least something," he lifted his eyes to the Captain's. "He's breathing and that's something at least."

"Yes, but we need to get him back, and warm," Jim was calmer now that he was acting, was doing something and had his friend in his arms.

"Captain," Spock nodded down the corridor they had come from where Nurse Chapel was now standing. "I believe I am the best suited to carry the doctor, if you would allow me?"

"Yes, yes," he hated giving up control now that he was finally getting it back in his grasp, but he checked the mask over Bones' face, made sure it was fitted tight and that oxygen was flowing, then he allowed Spock to take him. One arm under his knees, the other around his back and supporting the head against his shoulder.

"Put him down here, Spock," Nurse Chapel took command as soon as they reached her, and there was no doubt that she was in command. "Close that door, the chill is creeping out, and Captain, you can hold him, better to keep him off the floor if we can for now. I doubt we have to worry about any back or neck injury." She took the medical scanner out and ran it over the still body even before Jim had sat down and settled his friend against him. They had other trained medical staff on board, but they were field medics and while they were technically better qualified than Chapel he actually prefered it to be her. She was the one who worked the most closely under the CMO, and he knew that Bones trusted her well enough. Bones would prefer to be treated by her, trusted her to be competent and therefore he was happy to let her handle the situation regardless if protocol said she should or not. She was using the scanner, picked up McCoy's hand in hers, checked his pulse, pried one eyelid open to study the reactions.

"Mild frostbite, hypothermia and oxygen deprivation," she stated grimly. "Not irreparable, but we need to get him to bed so I can treat him. Sickbays too cold, I can't take care of him there now. It's better if you take him to your quarters, he should be coming around soon. I'll go past sickbay and gather what I need. Keep the mask on him and give him a blanket until I get there but nothing else. Absolutely nothing to drink even if he wakes up."

"There's no danger in moving him then?" Jim wanted to be sure.

"No, not in moving him itself, but be careful," she urged. "And don't turn up the temperature in your quarters either. Not until I can do a full examination of him."

"We will follow your instructions," Spock promised as he picked up the unconscious form of his friend again.

"Just please hurry," Jim urged, not surprised that she wasted no time in replying, nor about the fact that Scotty stayed with them as they made their way towards the captains quarters.

Shortly before they reached his quarters again he noted a faint groan and held his own breath. In Spock's arms the doctor shifted, a hand jerked, the head tossed lightly with another soft groan. "He's coming to," he reached up a hand to touch his cheek, still icy cold and then bit his lip.

"Indeed," Spock noted. Not moved in any way by the fact he simply continued to the cabin and strode in through the door. Depositing his burden on the bed he stepped back to allow the captain to crowd in.

"Bones, Bones, can you hear me?" Jim grasped his arm. "Come on Bones, wake up."

"Captain," Scotty came to his side, holding the blanket he had picked up from the couch. "Put this over him."

"Thanks Scotty," Bones was already laying on the ones that was on the bed so he was grateful for it. "Come on Bones, wake up man," he urged as he draped the blanket over him, then grabbed his chin lightly. "Wake up."

"Captain, I do not think that is very beneficial," Spock mused as he moved to the other side of the bed where he could keep vigil while remaining out of the way.

"Aye, let the man come to at his own, at least till we know more," Scotty urged. "Christine will see him alright for sure. She's a good lass, she'll see him alright."

Jim nodded slowly. "Should we take off his boots? At least get him a little more comfortable."

"Aye, I don't think that can do any harm," Scotty decided. He really did not see how it could, and the captain was going stir crazy waiting. Allowing him to do that would keep him from doing something he most certainly should not be doing.

Jim pulled the blanket back, easily removing the too large boots and frowning over the icy feel of the skin under his hands. "God he's cold," he breathed.

"We'll get the blanket back around him, just like the nurse said," Scotty put a hand on his shoulder and he nodded, tucking the blanket in around his feet to another groan. As Jim sat on the edge of the bed and put a hand on his shoulder Bones' eyes fluttered open, half lidded and weary he seemed to struggle to focus on them. Even so Jim heaved a sigh of relief as he saw it, turning to face him fully.

"Bones, do you understand me?" Jim gripped his shoulder through the blanket. "Do you know what happened?"

Drawing a deep breath as if to speak the doctor broke out coughing under the mask, turning his head and fighting weakly against the blanket as he strove to raise his hand.

"Take it easy lad, there's no hurry there," Scotty stepped in. "Ye just take it easy an' think about that for a bit why don't ye? Nurse Chapel will be back in just a few minutes to see to ye. She'll be making sure yer alright so she will."

"That's right," Jim nodded, forcing himself into calm again.

"Cold," the voice was weak and hoarse as the coughing subsided. "So cold…"

"Chapel said we shouldn't turn the temperature up, but I can do it if you want?" Jim frowned.

"Wha'," Bones broke off coughing again. "Wha' happened?"

"We found you in a corridor unfit to sustain human life, much too low oxygen content and temperature," Spock reported the facts. "Nurse Chapel has already diagnosed hypothermia and mild frostbite. She urged us not to raise the temperature."

"She's right," Bones had struggled to lift his head but let it drop back. "Don't, too cold."

"She should be back here any minute now," Jim promised. As if on cue the door slid open and he could hear the click of her heels on the floor.

"Doctor McCoy," she stepped forward and Scotty stepped back, ensuring that there was room for her to work. "I'm glad to see you're awake, how are you feeling?" Even as she spoke she ran the scanner over him again.

"Cold," he rasped. "So cold…"

"You got a mild case of hypothermia, but it's not so serious we can't correct it yet," she noted. "State your name?"

"McCoy, Leonard, Bones…" he had to cough again as his voice was weak and dry.

"Good enough," she offered a slightly amused smile. "I'll allow it to pass. Do you remember where you were? What you were doing?"

"Yes, thirsty," he winced and she frowned, peering at the scanner then looked up.

"Get him a little water, room temperature, no colder and no warmer," she allowed.

"I'll get it," Scotty hurried to obey. He was soon back with a cup with some lukewarm water in it. Chapel checked the temperature, then nodded to Jim.

"Help him sit up a little so he can drink, no more than a sip Doctor, then the mask goes back on, but I need to know you're lucid and you know the drill."

There was a small nod as Jim moved to the head of the bed where he could help Bones half sit propped against him. Watching as he had a small sip of the water, then turned his head away from the mug.

"Scotty called me to engineering," he started. "Took care of it, then went back, so tired and so cold, too cold, then nothing..."

Nurse Chapel nodded grimly as she ran the scanner over him again, this time she took longer at it Jim noted. "I'd like a better account later," she decided. "But for now I'll settle for it. You're lucky Doctor, very lucky, mild frostbite, not severe. We can treat it easily here, as far as I can tell where the hypothermia is concerned all we need is to get you warm and you should be alright."

Jim frowned as Bones was still leaning heavily against him but still made a gesture and Chapel showed him the screen. He blinked and shook his head lightly a few times as he struggled to focus, then nodded slowly.

"Alright, I'm going to give you something to help you with the discomfort," she rummaged around in her pouch before loading a hypo, once more Bones blinked slowly before he seemed fully able to focus on it and he nodded again before she held it to his arm. The hiss caused him to drop back his head further and he fumbled with the blanket.

"Mask stays on for another hour at the very least," Nurse Chapel seemed to know what it was he wanted. "Then if you're still breathing fine it can come off. Until then I don't care what you say, now let me see those frostbites." She pulled back the blanket a little at a time, taking special care with his hands. Dexterity and sensation was indescribably important for a surgeon. Especially for him who prefered to rely on what he saw and felt rather than on what a scanner told him. She knew how important it was to him and would never risk the slightest chance that he lost any sensation because she was careless. Treating the rest of the minor damage did not take so long though she still took as much care with it. The fact that she worked with him and respected him aside she had always admired that, that he always did his best every time with every patient. McCoy never took a shortcut, never decided that something was good enough when he could do better.

It was why he offered his tunic to Uhura, why he would smile and pat an ensign on the shoulder. Take the extra time to make sure cuts did not scar at all, he did that, always. How could she then do less for him?

It had taken close to an hour in all, dermal regenerator, skin treatment, and his body temperature was not quite back to normal but he was getting there. There was no blue tinge on the fingertips and he had sensation in his toes which was all in all a good thing. Removing the mask she checked his breathing, showing him the result and feeling grateful for the nod.

"You're good for the moment," she decided. "Since it's almost morning I won't say that you'll rest for the night. But you will rest Doctor, you will sleep, eight hours I should hope, and I don't want you alone for that time. Captain, you haven't got any sleep either, I suggest you take the opportunity to do so now. If there are any problems, anything at all, or if he develops a cough, breathing difficulties, feel worse in any way. You will call me, ask him if you want, he'll know what's wrong, but just in case he decides to get self sacrificing about it I want to know."

"We'll make sure to inform you," Jim offered with a small smile. "Believe me, we'll keep a close eye on him." He would have to reschedule his shift because he really had not got enough slept and he knew it. He needed sleep, and Bones needed someone with him, so there was no point in arguing with the nurse for the sake of it.

"Good, I'll check in on you later Doctor," she decided as she collected her supplies but fitted a cartridge in the hypospray. "It's a mild sedative, if he's unable to rest for any reason, in pain or discomfort you can give it to him. It'll let him sleep for a couple of hours but nothing more. Don't let him tell you not to, if you think he needs it, just administer it."

"Thank you," Jim agreed. "Anything else?"

"He knows what to do," she fixed her boss with a firm look. "And he'll tell you, honestly, or he'll have to deal with me later, are we clear Doctor?"

"Yeah, jest wanna sleep now, still too blasted cold," he mumbled and Jim felt the shiver run through his body.

"Do you want me to get you something warm to drink now?" he asked and Bones shook his head.

"No, nothing warm, not yet, blood might still be cold, extremities, if'n the cold blood gets ta the heart it can kill ya. Jest need ta warm up slow like, naturally, it's all in Mah head anyway," he sighed. "Feel cold, feel so blasted cold whether Ah am or not, cain't tell fer sure right now, so just slow and careful."

Jim frowned, glancing at Chapel, he wasn't sure if he had ever heard the slow drawl so pronounced before with Bones seemingly being unaware about it. He really did not seem to notice it himself.

"See, he knows," the nurse smiled softly, apparently not overly concerned. "And if you have any further questions, get me, now I'm going to get another hour or so of sleep. Rest well Doctor."

"Thanks, Nurse," his voice was quiet and tired as Jim helped him to settle down and Scotty followed Chapel with a grin thrown over his shoulder.

"There's another blanket under you, can you move a little so we can get it?" Jim asked and Bones struggled to make his stiff limbs comply. He was a little clumsy in his movements, but with Jim steadying him he shifted off the blankets and then lied down, tremors still running through his body. He frowned a little as he noted Jim draping the third blanket over him.

"Spock's, ain't it?"

"I believe at the moment you need it more than I do Doctor," Spock stated. Watching them his face did not betray any concern. "I am quite well."

"No, no," Bones shook his head. "Vulcans got higher body temperature than humans, ya ain't gonna be warm 'nough. Ah am, jest don't feel like 't."

"Doctor, if your speech impediment is anything to go by, you are at the moment quite unwell and obviously in dire need of aid," Spock stated and Bones blinked.

"Mah, wha'?"

"You picked up a little bit of a southern accent there at some point," Jim smiled softly. "I think that's what Spock is referring to."

"Tha' ain't no im'pedment of no kind!" Bones flared, pushing himself up even as Jim tried to grasp his shoulder to keep him down. "Now yer gonna take yer danged blanket yer green blooded hobgoblin or so help me Ah'm gonna make ye, cause I fer sure ain't gonna have no green blooded popsicle!"

"As I was saying, your speech impediment is quite worrisome and I am well enough," Spock seemed unmoved even as Jim was able to push Bones back down without much of a fight.

"Your core temperature is below normal Bones, nurse Chapel said so herself," Jim mused. "Spock is right, you need it more."

"No Ah don't, Ah'd jest be overheating in a minute," Bones shook his head. "Vulcans cain't take the prolonged cold, Ah'll be warming up in a bit."

"Allright," he wasn't sure if he agreed or not, but one thing was clear. As long as Bones had it in his head that Spock needed the blanket he wouldn't rest. Since Spock had been subjected to the cold in the corridor when he went in after Bones, there was also a chance that he was affected more than he was admitting and since he would be on the couch while Jim stayed with Bones, he wouldn't know if the Vulcan was too cold or not. "You win Bones, Spock will take his blanket, if you lie down and sleep, okay?"

"M' not the one's a arguing," the southerner drawled tiredly.

"Of course you're not," Jim mused as he picked up the extra blanket and handed it to Spock who accepted it with a raised eyebrow.

"M' not," shifting Bones wrapped his arms around himself, shivering. "Bull-headed green blooded hobgoblin s' wha' doin' the arguin.'"

"If you say so, now keep still and let us try to get you warm," Jim placed a hand on his shoulder again, worried his friend would get it into his head to get up and check on Spock personally. He would not put it past him. Satisfied he was laying quiet for the moment he sat on the edge of the bed to remove his own boots and tunic.

"M' warm 'nuf," Bones drawled again. The southern lilt rolling thickly of his tongue in a way that had Jim turning his head, tunic forgotten in hand. "Somwha' anyways, jest m' brain don' believe it yet."

"Alright," having undressed he peeled back the blankets carefully enough so that he could slide in under them. Aware that Spock had not yet gone to bed himself but was watching quietly from the other side of the partition wall. "You're still cold as ice you know," placing his hand along Bones' arm, on the bare skin he felt the cold as well as the shivers that ran through him. Violent tremors shaking the older man no matter what he said about warming up.

"Difference a'tween being an' believing," Bones mumbled quietly, arms so tightly wrapped around his chest Jim was worried he'd dislocate a shoulder.

"Do you want that sedative so you can sleep?" Chapel had told them not to listen to him, and if he felt he wasn't giving the right answer Jim would ignore him but he also figured that there might be a good idea to at least ask him first. He didn't have to listen to him if he did not want to after all.

"No," now Bones shook his head. "Wanna know m'self wha's going on."

"Alright, then try to relax and sleep," he urged. "Me and Spock are here, we'll keep an eye on you. You're still shivering you know."

"Noticed," he gritted his teeth to keep them from chattering. "It'll stop."

"I sure hope so," it worried him, he trusted both Nurse Chapel and Bones but it still worried him. Trying to arrange the blankets so they were covering Bones a little more he reached out his arm and wrapped it around his chest, pulling the shivering man close. The skin was ice cold against his chest and legs, cold enough to make him shiver himself for a moment before he adjusted to the cold. He noted that Bones stiffened for a moment, then the older man relaxed more. Slowly the shivering eased up as Jim kept an arm around him, his body heat conserved under the two blankets adding to what meagre heat Bones had left and allowing him to slowly start generating more on his own.

Even so Jim found himself sleeping restlessly, dozing but waking up whenever Bones shifted too much beside him.

TBC

Thank you all for reading, the Cricket is thrilled...