No. 7 The way you shake and shiver (silent panic attack)
TW: traumatic memories, fire
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Keenser was hiding. He was hiding under one of the beds. He could hear the sky rumbling outside, then suddenly the room was lightened.
The Roylan winced in fear and made himself even smaller, curling his body up into a ball.
He hated it. He hated this planet! Too many thunderstorms. But they had to stay here for a while. Kirk had asked them to help the inhabitants with a broken machine. One that was essential for the planet's survival.
Another loud crash.
Keenser winced again and squeezed his eyes shut.
His body was trembling. He was just so scared of everything going on outside.
"Keenser?"
That voice. He opened one eye to see human feet stepping into the room.
Scotty.
"Where are ye, wee man? We need to finish our work for today."
Scotty walked around and suddenly his face was right in front of Keenser. The human had knelt down to look under the bed.
"There ye are. What are ye doing down there?"
Keenser opened his mouth to answer but no sound left it. And when there was yet another crash and lightning, Keenser shut his eyes once more and covered his ears with his hands.
Memories started to wash over him.
His home. He was lying in bed. A thunderstorm. A lightning strike. Flames. There were so many flames!
He shook his head, tears pooling in his eyes.
The stench of smoke and burned flesh filled his nose again. So many Roylans. Burning. Set on fire.
He could still hear their screams.
His body was shaking more and more as he tried to stop the horrible memories from floating through his mind.
"Keenser? Keenser, hey… talk to me laddie."
He heard Scotty's voice. He felt his hands trying to pull him from his hiding place. But he quickly pulled them back and hugged his own body tightly.
"Keenser! What's wrong? It's just a wee thunderstorm."
Keenser shook his head. No. No wee thunderstorm.
It was death. It was fire. It was his worst nightmare coming back to haunt him.
His breathing got faster. His pulse was racing. Sweat and tears were running down his face.
"Leonard? Leonard, we need help here!"
The doctor. Scotty was calling for the doctor.
But even McCoy couldn't put out the flames. He couldn't stop the other Roylans from screaming. From dying.
A thunderstorm like that only occurred once in a thousand of years on Royla. That's what they had told him back then.
Why? Why did it have to occur during his lifetime?
He started to sob. Why did it have to happen to him?
He didn't know how much time had passed but suddenly there was another voice in the room.
"I don't know what's wrong… I… I found him like that and-"
"He's having a panic attack."
"A panic attack?! What? Why?"
McCoy didn't answer. Instead he lay down on the ground and moved beneath the bed so that he was lying next to the Roylan.
Keenser felt one arm getting wrapped around him, then the other.
"Shh, it's okay. You'll be okay Keenser."
He kept on crying and shaking.
"It's not real. The things you are seeing… they are not real."
But… but the smoke! And the fire! And… and the thunder…
He didn't know how but suddenly McCoy was rocking him gently.
"It's long gone Keenser. It's not real."
How? How did he know?
With every minute passing, his pulse slowed down again. His breathing got calmer.
"You're okay."
He… he was okay, wasn't he? There was no fire. There were no other Roylans.
When Keenser dared to open his eyes again he just saw McCoy next to him. And Scotty.
The Scotsman had sat down on his knees again too, staring helplessly at his friend.
"Laddie?"
Keenser blinked a few times, taking in his surroundings.
This… wasn't Royla. This was Worios IV. A hotel room.
Keenser's eyes moved over to McCoy who smiled gently at him.
His medical file.
McCoy knew about what had happened back then. He knew about Keenser's past. That's how he knew what to do.
"You're okay buddy."
Keenser just nodded. A grateful nod.
He was safe. As long as his friends were at his side.