Chapter Three: Rise and Shine

Gently lifting Jake's hand, Bashir turned it over. There, just where Nog had indicated, was a raised bump, faintly pink against the paler skin of Jake's palm. He scanned the area, but still detected nothing more than a mild skin irritant. Even a basic blood test failed to reveal more, and Bashir frowned, wondering how an apparently non-existent venom could have such an effect. Unless the venom itself dissipated quickly, he mused, and only its effects remained, or perhaps it was all concentrated now deep in Jake's brain where it was almost impossible to detect without more invasive means than he was ready for.

After all, the cause was only truly important in finding out the cure; it was possible he would be able to wake Jake without ever knowing what had caused this. The lack of knowledge would bother him for days, even weeks afterward, but it wouldn't matter to Jake, or even to Sisko if he could sound properly reassuring.

So, the most important thing now was not to discover why the bite had had such an effect on Jake, but to see if he could rouse him.

He started with the stimulant he used when the commander or other officers insisted on pushing themselves past the point of exhaustion, a low dose that took into account Jake's youth.

Jake began moaning and tossing restlessly, and for a moment Bashir was encouraged. ''Jake? Come on; wake up, buddy."

Jake mumbled in his sleep, the monitors showing signs of the distress of a bad dream, but none of the shift to wakefulness that should have occurred.

He could have increased the dose, but he doubted it would have any further effect other than to increase Jake's restlessness, and reached instead for the brain wave stimulator he perhaps should have tried first.

Pressing the contact points to Jake's temples, he activated it at the lowest setting. Almost immediately, Jake's brain wave pattern spiked into the increased activity of wakefulness, and Jake was blinking up at him. "Dr…Bashir…? What happened…why am I in the infirmary?"

Bashir smiled in relief as he set the device aside, realizing now that he probably should have waited to try to rouse Jake until he could let Sisko know. It wouldn't matter as much since he had been successful, but the commander wouldn't have been pleased with him if his first news was that he had tried and failed…and not alerted him immediately afterward.

"You had a little trouble waking up this morning," he explained lightly. "Your father had a meeting he had to go to, so he asked me to keep an eye on you here. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess; my head hurts a little, but it's not bad."

"That should pass in a few minutes," Bashir assured him; "it's just a side effect of the neural stimulator I used to wake you."

"You had to wake me? Why?"

"I don't know, Jake," Dr Bashir admitted honestly. "Nog told me you were bitten by some kind of insect yesterday; I think that's probably what caused it, though I can't find any trace of venom in your system."

Jake stared at the bite mark on his wrist, rubbing it as if it itched. "So you woke me…but you didn't cure me?" he asked uncertainly, not looking at the doctor.

"Not yet," Bashir said calmly. Sitting on the edge of the biobed, he put a hand on Jake's shoulder. "You'll be fine, Jake," he promised. "Whatever that venom is, I'll get to the bottom of it, and we'll get it fixed."

"Thanks," Jake whispered.

"In the meantime, I'm sure you must be hungry after sleeping so long," Bashir went on in a lighter tone. "What do you say to going to get some breakfast?"

"Yeah…I could eat," Jake admitted.

"Good. Let me just do a quick scan, and then we'll get you some clothes from the refresher. How's the headache, by the way?"

"Oh…almost gone, I think."

"Good," Bashir said again. "If it's still bothering you after we eat I'll give you something for it, but I doubt that will be necessary."

He got Jake's clothes for him and waited while the boy dressed.

"Where are we eating?" Jake questioned, joining the doctor in the tiny waiting area.

Bashir grinned ruefully. "I smelled waffles in your quarters earlier, but they're probably stone cold by now… We could go to the replimat, or I'll treat you to any of the restaurants on the promenade."

"Nah, the replimat's fine."

"Let's go, then."

Bashir kept the conversation light over the meal, discussing baseball and school and the story Jake was trying to write. "Did you put me in it?"

Jake grinned. "Maybe," he teased.

Bashir chuckled. "Want dessert?" he offered.

"At breakfast?" Jake asked, startled.

"Well, it might as well be lunch by now," Bashir pointed out.

"Sure, I will if you're gonna."

"It's a deal," Bashir agreed, relieved that Jake's appetite didn't seem to be affected.

They were just bringing their desserts back to the table when Bashir's combadge beeped. "Sisko to Bashir."

"Bashir here," he responded. "Jake and I are just having lunch at the replimat; want to join us?"

"Sure," Sisko responded, relief in his voice. "Be there in five minutes."

"No need to rush. Bashir out."

Less than five minutes later, Sisko set a plate of replicated food on the table and slid into the seat beside his son. "How are you feeling, Jake?"

"I'm fine, Dad."

Sisko glanced at Bashir, who nodded quietly, causing the commander to relax enough to take a bite of his meal.

"We can talk back in the infirmary," Bashir added, "but we might as well finish eating first."

Sisko nodded, relief at finding his son awake being enough to make him remember he had never eaten breakfast.

Next chapter coming next week!

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have only minimal internet access, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. (But they are much appreciated, even if you're reading this story long after I originally post it!) If you have questions regarding my Deep Space Nine alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie