16 years ago
"You need to eat Jim" Phil said while they were eating breakfast.
"Am I in trouble?"
"No of course not. Why would you think that?" Chris asked.
"Because I didn't tell you about the bruises and now you want to talk. So am I in trouble? Do I need to go away?" Jim asked slowly.
Phil dropped his fork. "Because you didn't..." Phil shook his head. "No kiddo. That is not your fault and it never will be. But you need to understand one thing Jim. No matter what you do or what happens or if you get in trouble, Chris and I will never. You hear me never send you away. We looked to long for you to let you go. You are in our hearts now and we will never let you go. Never."
"Amen to that. You are our kid now Jimmy. We will never send you away." Chris told him.
"But then why do you need to talk to me? You looked at the bruises and then you said we talk later?" Jim asked confused while playing with the food.
"Jim eat first then I promise we will talk. Like I said you are not in trouble. Nothing to worry about." Phil tried again. Both he and Chris were already finished.
"Not hungry. Can't you talk now?"
"Jim how long has it been since you last ate?" Chris asked. They both noticed that Jim lost some weight.
Jim struggled. "Some. But I am not hungry. Can we talk?" Jim tried again. Chris gave Phil a concerned look.
They were getting nowhere with Jim's head fixed on the talk. "Alright. We will talk."
Jim nodded and looked with pleading eyes to tell him what he wanted to tell them.
"You remember some of last night kiddo? I did a quick check and had put on a splint on your arm. We would look at it later." Jim nodded.
"Well now is later. After breakfast we need to go to the hospital to take a look at your arm. Also we need to do a quick check on you." Phil stood up when he realized Jim was holding his breath. Panic. He kneels besides Jim's chair and put a hand on his back.
"We also need to take some pictures of your bruises. I know you are scared kiddo. But Chris and I will be with you the whole time. We never let you go." Phil rubbed Jim's back to remind his body to breathe.
Jim kept looking at the distance. He didn't say anything for a couple of minutes.
"Jim do you understand what I just said?" Phil asked and Jim nodded. "You have questions?"
"Why...why do you... you.. need pictures? They never ma.. make pictures. This was enough. Al... always enough. Wh...why do you need pictures?"
Phil looked at Chris who came to sit by his side. Also disturbed at what Jim just told them. Phil took his comm out to record what Jim was telling them. "Who is they Jim?"
"Doctor's"
"Your mother or Frank brought you to the doctor when you were hurt or sick?" Chris asked.
Jim shook his head. "He is mean. He hurt me more." Jim was crying softly. "Make me sick. Don't want to go to the doctor. Please, please don't make me go to the hospital. There are doctors. They hurt me. Please please. They tied me to the bed so they could hurt me."
Chris stood up and put Jim in his arms. "Oh come here kiddo. It's okay. Let it all out. You are safe with us. Shhh kiddo. You are safe baby. Phil and I will protect you."
Phil ran a hand through Jim's hair while Chris tried to calm him. It took awhile and still some convincing but they finally got Jim to the hospital. Chris let Archer know what happend and told him where they were. Archer told them they didn't need to worry about the other stuff they needed to do today. Number one and he would take care of that. Only if Chris and Phil knew what that meant but they decided to let it be and indeed just focus on Jim.
"How long do we have to stay?" Jim asked as he sat on Chris lap who sat on the biobed. Phil was talking to someone outside the door.
"Don't know kiddo. Phil is doing the talking in this one."
"But...but he would do it, right?" Jim asked he was trembling slightly that wouldn't go away. Phil wanted to give Jim something to calm down but couldn't give Jim anything because he refused. They let him because he would only be worked up more.
"That is what they are talking about. It shouldn't take much longer. But one thing is for sure, we will not leave you."
"Okay." Jim said while he held Chris hand tighter to his chest.
It didn't take much longer before Phil and a familiar man stepped inside the room. "Doctor Clauds? What are you doing here?" Chris asked surprised.
"I work here for the moment until the ship gets back into space, Christopher."
"They wouldn't let me document it. It had to be another doctor." Phil said frustrated.
"But...but you said you would be my doctor." Jim shook his head. "No no. You said... you said.."
Phil sat down next to Chris and Jim. "Hey Hey calm down. You are right. I would be your doctor and no one else."
"But but..." Jim looked at Doctor Clauds.
"Remember I said we needed to make pictures?" Jim nodded. "Well the pictures need to be taken by another doctor because it's a case we are involved in."
Jim looked confused. "You didn't hurt me. You didn't do this."
Doctor Clauds decided this would the right moment to explain. He took a chair and sat in the front of them. The recording from Doctor Clauds comm was put on.
"Hello Jim. I think you still remember who I am." Jim nods. "I want to explain why I am here. You are right Phil and Chris didn't hurt you but they want to adopt you. You were placed out of home because your mother and uncle hurt you. You know the word abuse Jim?" Jim nodded.
"Can you explain it to me so I know you understand it right?"
"People who beat you even if you didn't do anything."
"Do you think you are abused Jim?"
Jim shook his head no. Chris and Phil looked confused at that. "Why would you say that Jim?" Chris asked.
"I did something. That's why they beat me. I deserve it." Phil and Chris gasped.
"No no no kiddo, listen. No matter what you do or how bad it is. You never deserve to be beaten. That is wrong. No one can hurt you like that. It's wrong if they do that." Phil told him.
"Jim, did your mother or Frank always gave you food?" Doctor Clauds asked.
"No. Not always. But I did something bad then, was punishment. Or they just forgot but that was okay. I wasn't hungry." Chris and Phil looked at each other again.
"Did they sometimes yell at you or called you names?"
"Sometimes." Jim said softly now.
"Jim I want you to think about what you just told me and think again about the word abuse. Abuse could be physical by hurting someone, or emotional by calling you names but also neglected. They forgot you."
Jim looked at Chris and Phil. "You think I am abused?"
"Yes darling, we think you are." Chris said.
"What do you think Jim?" Phil asked.
"I...I think I am." Jim had tears in his eyes and turns his head to hide his head in Chris shoulder.
"Jim. I know it's hard. But we don't want you to get abused again. We want to protect you. We want you safe. We need to make pictures of your bruises, do a quick examination so we can make sure they will not hurt you again." Doctor Clauds said sympathy.
"Phil is a doctor." Jim sniffed.
"And he can stay here. And so can Chris. But Phil can't do this examination. They need to be your parents right now so they can adopt you if you would still like."
"Yes kiddo. We want to adopt you. This is one examination I can't do but I stay right here so I know everything will be done right okay?" Phil asked as he ruffled Jim's hair and Jim nodded softly.
"Alright. Let's begin." Doctor Clauds said. After the examination they were all glad it was done. Jim was trying hard to work with them but the anxious won over. He was terrified of doctors and hospitals. Even a tricorder was too much.
Chris was walking around the room with Jim in his arms to calm him down while they waited for the results. Jim was so still suddenly it was terrifying.
"Phil I think something is wrong with Jim. He is not responding." Chris said worriedly after trying a couple of times to get a reaction.
Phil stood up immediately took Jim's head in his hands. Looked in his eyes and felt his puls. "Come kiddo look at me. Tell me you are still there."
"Phil?" Chris asked concerned.
"He is getting in a shocked state. Give him pressure. He needs to feel." Phil said urgent.
"Pressure?" Chris asked confused.
"Yes pressure. A hug. Big one." Phil said as he put his arms also around them so Jim was sandwiched between them. "Come on kiddo. We are here. Nothing will happen. Relax now kiddo."
Doctor Clauds opened the door of their room and looked confused at the scene. He turned to leave to give them some privacy when he noticed the concerned looks Chris and Phil's both had on their faces.
"What is wrong?" Doctor Clauds whispered. Knowing Jim was still anxious when he left the room.
"Stuck in his panicked state turned into a shock state." Phil whispered while still keeping pressure.
"Pressure therapy? Is it working? How long has he been like this?"
"Couple of minutes. I felt his hand a minute ago twitching and he is grabbing our shirts right now."
"All right. I will give you 5 more minutes. You know Phil we need to intervene if it takes longer." Clauds said and Phil nodded.
Phil and Chris did their best to keep talking to Jim. Let him feel he is safe. While Doctor Clauds sat in the corner of the room observing. It was almost four minutes when Jim moved his head and snuggled closer. He took a couple of deep breaths. He blinked with his eyes a couple of times. He looked around who was holding him. When he heard Chris and Phil voices, his body relaxed. He put his legs and arms stronger around Chris and snuggled closer before he closed his eyes again and fell asleep. Phil an Chris held on for a moment longer to be sure he stayed that way while Phil took his pulse.
"He is asleep and calm again." Phil whispered.
Doctor Clauds stood up. "I would want to keep him longer for observation but I know it would only make things worse."
Chris and Phil nodded.
"I have documented everything from the examination so it could be used for his case. I also got the results I wanted to discuss with you. The bruises on his torso would bother him for awhile but nothing is broken. His back is showing scars that are older than the once you now see. My guess is three years old. Looks like a belt. The abuse is longer going on than we would guessed. His arm needs to be in a splint for a couple of more days. It's not broken just bruised. He is also malnourished. His allergies are probably not working with him but he needs to put on some weight. As you noticed he is too light and too small for his age."
"We noticed." Chris said softly.
"I wil keep an eye on it. So can we go now? I think we need to get Jim as fast as we can back home." Phil asked.
"Yes, that would be wise. I got a bag for you to take with you. Epi hyposprays and if he needs it. Just to be sure sedatives." Doctor Clauds said.
"He won't need..." Chris begins.
"Just to be sure Chris. I am not saying you have to use it but just have it with you just in case." Doctor Clauds said.
"Thank you Doctor Clauds. We will be fine. We take him home now." Phil said and Clauds wished them good luck.
Present
"He was abused. Why would a parent abuse his child? On my planet children are praised not abused. It would be a crime." Spock said angry.
"It would be a crime on any planet I think Spock. It is not exactly normal here." Len said.
"I am glad Jim found you when he ran away. What would happen if he was lost or worse." Uhura said.
"Of that we are thankful everyday." Chris told them.
"What happend this afternoon downstairs. Was that a trigger on what you just told us?" Spock asked.
"Yeah it was. The anxious would always be there." Phil told them.
Len looked at the monitors above Jim's bed then at Phil. Phil nodded. "It's time to say night night again. Visit hour has past already."
"Oh I didn't realized how late it was already. We better get going indeed." Uhura said as she stood up.
"We will see you again tomorrow. Goodnight." Spock said as he followed Uhura out of the door.
"Yeah of course we want you back tomorrow. Why would you even ask?" Len said sarcastically as the door was closed.
"Len, just be nice." Phil said.
"I am nice. I am just saying."
"You don't want to hear it?" Chris asked. Indicated the story.
"I think someone who is awake for awhile, who wanted to sleep while telling the story don't want to hear more. Your heart rate and blood pressure are getting up Jimbo."
"You cheated." Jim mumbled.
"I cheated? I think I helped you hiding it little brother."
Jim groaned and turned over so he was on his back. "You didn't gave me the right one."
"Oh now you want also a choice in what kind of painkiller you get? Did you hid your head or something?" Len asked as he laid a hand on his forehead. Jim slapped his hand away.
"Knock it off Bones."
"Both of you knock it off. Jim sit up. Got you something." Phil said as he walked to them with a bowl with soup.
"What is it?" Jim asked as he sat up.
"Soup. The one you like so eat up."
Jim sighs but took the bowl and took a couple sips before he put it down again. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what? Someone who needs to eat but won't eat?" Len said.
"I will eat but I can't if you two keep watching me eat. Turn around."
"Oh for god's... Jim don't act like a little kid and just eat the damn soup. I thought you wanted to get out of here?"
Jim sighs. "Stop telling the story."
"Why do you want us to stop son?" Chris asked curiously.
"You are telling them too much."
"Such as..?" Phil asked.
"You telling the story and you telling all the glorious details. They didn't need to know everything." Jim said angry as he crossed his arms.
"You think Spock wouldn't figure it out on his own? Or Uhura? They are smart enough you know and observing." Bones told him.
"Still they didn't need..."
"It's a question they still want an answer to even if you suspect something Jim. I would know." Bones said and gave him a sad look how he found out at the time.
"That is different. You are my brother."
"I wasn't at the time."
Bones looked at the other two in the room. Chris was already asleep and Phil wasn't too far behind in the relax chair.
"But still you lived with us."
"Just like Spock and Uhura are now. A ship is big but also very small. We see them every day. They will also be our family."
Jim sighs. He had a point. Damn Bones with his psychology degree. He took the bowl and finished the soup. Bones smiled and sat besides him in silent for a while.
Jim laid down again and turned on his side so he was facing Bones. They sat in silence for an hour before Jim spoke again.
"You need to get me out of here Bones."
Bones sighs and put the PADD down he was reading from. "We went already over this Jim."
"Bones. Seriously I can't stay here any longer."
Len moved his chair closer to Jim's bed. "Jim you are not healthy enough yet. Don't you think I would let you go home if I thought I could? I am almost done with repairing your back. But the problem is you are still fighting the infection. You still have a fever. You need to be fever free before you can leave the hospital. Then there is also the dehydration and you not eating enough. And on top of that all, you still look like a raccoon who needs a hibernation"
"I will not sleep here and you know it." Jim said irritated.
"Well I am sure I saw you sleep a couple of times."
"Bones I can't sleep in a hospital. At home I will sleep. I only slept here because you drugged me."
"I only drugged you the last time."
"And before that I passed out and didn't even remember getting in a hospital and the other time... well you know what happened. I will not sleep here naturally."
Bones sighs again. "Jim I would look after you at home if I could, really. But the problem is you still need things that I only can get at the hospital."
Jim closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "How long?"
Bones rand a hand through Jim's hair. "As long as it takes. Just a couple of days I think. Maybe less." Len gave Jim his PADD. "Here, maybe you can help me with this. Got stuck in a game. Can't go to the next level."
Jim smiled and took the PADD. He easily finished the level with no difficulty and went to the next. Len watch Jim play the game while he kept running his fingers through Jim's hair. This would distract Jim on his hospital stay and kept him calm.
Next morning, Uhura and Spock were back and brought breakfast.
"You don't have to keep bringing us food you know?" Phil said amused.
"Well we want to. Besides you are telling us your story you probably never told anyone else. We really appreciate it." Uhura said.
"So you keep buying us food?" Len asked.
"No.. well yes... we just come here around dinner time so we could as well bring you food."
"We appreciate it. Thank you." Chris said.
"Well let's continue were wel left off." Phil told them.
To be continued...