Chapter 8: A Solution

Summary:

A trip to engineering to try and help Valerie regain her memories leads to disaster, and just when she starts to lose hope-another member of the crew offers a solution.

"Oh, there's my girl! The second best engineer on the Enterprise!" Scotty called out as he came over.

"Scotty?"

"You remember me?" he said with a joyous expression.

"I remember your name. I seem to recall names of those I was close to. I'm sorry I don't remember much else."

"Argh!" a yell rang out from nearby as one of the engineers cut his hand.

Bones rolled his eyes and ran over, looking at the wound. "Scotty, tell me you still have that medkit stashed here I ordered you to keep on hand?"

"Yeah, Doc—its' right over here." Scotty jogged over and grabbed the kit that was stowed away under his main desk.

As Bones began seeing to the injury, Scotty spoke with Valerie. "So, Lass—I wasn't expecting to see you in here for quite some time."

"Bones and I thought a tour of some familiar places around the ship might help me regain my memory."

"Well, I'd be happy to show you around Engineering again, lass. It was your home away from home."

"Leonard?" Val questioned the doctor.

Bones turned from his unexpected patient and gave her a questioning look. "It's up to you. It won't take me long here and I'll catch up with you."

She nodded then turned and smiled at Scotty. "Lead the way, Scotty."

A few minutes later, Bones was packing the medkit back up when he heard a shout from somewhere overhead. "Bones! Get your arse up here quick!"

He had just snapped the medkit shut and grabbed it up, running up the stairs to the walkway overhead. It took him a minute to find where Scotty was knelt over Valerie, who was curled up in a ball sitting on the walkway. "What happened?" He ran up to her and knelt down beside her, rubbing his arm on her back. "I'm here sweetheart, what happened? You alright?"

"I—it's so high…"

Leonard held her tight. "It's alright, we'll get you back down from here. Just keep your face turned to me and I'll walk you down, okay, sweetheart?"

She nodded quickly and slowly stood with him. He held her close, her head buried in his chest, and took his time walking back down the walkway and out of engineering. Scotty was following close behind.

"Are you alright, lass? I'm so sorry—I never expected. Of all of us you were the least fearful of heights. It never occurred to me."

Valerie took a deep shuddering breath and sniffed, wiping a stray tear from her eyes. "It's not your fault, Scotty. I guess—I guess not having those memories has changed some things about what I am and am not comfortable with. Like heights."

Leonard and Valerie said goodbye to Scotty but remained where they were in the hall. He had released his grip but now rested his hands on both her shoulders and bent to look her in the eye. "How you doing, darlin'?"

She shook her head. "I feel like I got hit by a torpedo."

"Probably the crash after the adrenaline rush. Why don't we take a walk to sickbay and let me do a few scans, just to be sure you're alright? We should do a comparative scan of your brain today anyway, to make sure everything is continuing to go well."

She nodded and allowed him to lead her, a hand at the small of her back, towards sickbay. A few minutes later he was looking over her brain scan results on a view screen in the private medbay where she sat on a bed. She slipped down from the bed and came to stand next to him, looking up at the images. "So, that one is before?" she said, pointing to the first image.

"Mmhmm, and this one was yesterday when they brought you in, and this one is today."

"The one today looks more like the first one."

"Exactly. The swelling is going down and everything is looking more normal. That's a good thing."

She sighed. "I know I should be happy about that, but I guess if something quirky showed up, I'd at least feel like we could point to it and say 'that's why I can't remember'."

He reached his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "We'll figure this out. I promise."

She leaned her head into him. "Thanks. I know we planned on a visit to the bridge, but—I'd really just like to go back to my quarters. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is. You've been through a lot. You should rest."

"Will you walk me back? I'm sure you need to get back to work."

"You are my only patient for the next few days, darlin'. Doctor M'Benga and I worked out schedules so that I can focus on helping you recover."

She blushed a little and smiled. "That's—that's really nice of you, and him. Thank you, Leonard."

"C'mon, let's get you back to your room."

A little while later, Valerie lay curled up on one end of the couch in her quarters, a light blanket over her, as she took a nap. Leonard McCoy sat at the other end, PADD in hand, looking into any bit of research he could find on amnesia and how to resolve the memory loss. He heard a particularly deep sigh from beside him and looked over to see Valerie blink her eyes open and lift her own PADD up from where it had been laying beside her to read a little more of her log entries.

"You don't have to do that, you know. If you need a break, you should take it. Let your mind rest."

She sighed. "It's the only thing I feel confidant that I can do right now. Besides, I just found an answer to a question I had."

"Oh, what's that?"

"I was wondering how I came to have that flask sitting up on the shelf."

Bones looked to where she had pointed and his eyebrow raised. "I could have told you that."

She smirked. "Yes, but why do I think your answer might have been tainted with a hint of bitterness?"

He sighed. "You won it, fair and square."

"I don't even know if I know how to play poker now." She gazed at him a moment before speaking again. "Do you want it back?"

He shook his head. "Nah. I sort of like knowing you have it. If the end of the world comes around and I need that last drop of my prized Whiskey—I'd like to think I'll be with you anyway when that day comes."

She blushed and smiled, chuckling a little. "That was both really dark, and really sweet. I'll take it." She went back to her reading till a few minutes later his communicator chimed. He growled, but pulled it out anyway. "McCoy here."

"Bones, it's Jim. If you have some time with your current project, Spock and I have an idea we'd like to run past you. Can you come to the bridge?"

He looked over at Valerie and she shrugged, so he spoke into the communicator. "I'll be there soon."

After snapping the communicator shut, he turned back to her and she had an eyebrow raised. "Your current project?"

"Jim's insensitive way at trying to maintain privacy regarding your situation."

"Well, if that's the case, I'll let it pass. I appreciate his discretion."

"Do you want to come? If it's about you, you deserve to be there."

"No, I think I'm going to stay in. I trust you."

He smiled. "I'll come back as soon as I can and let you know how things went."

She nodded and was surprised when he stood, stepped over, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Pleasantly surprised, but surprised. "Enjoy your rest," he said as he hurried out of her quarters.

An hour later the door chime sounded and she pulled herself up off the couch to approach. Standing on the other side was a rather grumpy looking doctor she'd grown increasingly fond of, and none other than the Chief Science and First Officer, Commander Spock.

"Leonard, Commander—what can I do for you?"

"Spock here thinks he has a possible solution for your amnesia."

She frowned at Leonard's obvious dislike of whatever this solution was, but stepped aside and motioned for the two to come in. "You don't seem too thrilled by whatever this idea is."

"That's because I don't like the idea of the green-blooded—"

"Doctor McCoy, I have assured you that the probability of damage to the Lieutenant's mind is insignificant, and when that probably is compared to the possibility of healing her mind and recovering her memories—it is a worth risk."

"Damn it, you green-blooded, pointy-eared—" McCoy let out a growl. "ANY probability—any possibility of damage, is too great a chance."

"Excuse me, gentlemen—but if you'd mind calming down long enough for me to hear whatever this option is, perhaps I could make the decision for myself."

"I am perfectly calm, Lieutenant, I—" Spock began, but stopped when he saw the glare Valerie was shooting him. "I will stop speaking until you are prepared for me to explain the solution which I have presented to Doctor McCoy."

Leonard sighed and turned to face her. "I brought him here because I knew you'd want to hear. Because you deserve to hear any possible solution. But I don't have to like it."

"I know, Leonard," she said as she rested a gentle hand on his arm. "Thank you for bringing him here anyway." Since both men were now quiet, she motioned towards the sitting area. "Well then, gentlemen, let's have a seat." Valerie moved to sit where she had been on one side of the couch, and Leonard returned to 'his' spot on the other side. Spock sat in one of two single chairs across from the couch. Once everyone was settled in, Valerie nodded towards Spock. "Go ahead, Commander. I'm listening."

"I propose the use of a Vulcan mind-meld to assist you in recovering your memories."

"Has such a thing ever been done before?"

"No, and it's damn dangerous, and—" Leonard started in.

"Leonard!" Valerie spoke over him. "Please, let me hear what Spock has to say."

"Sorry," he grumbled and slumped back into the chair, thoroughly chastised.

"To my knowledge a mind-meld has never been used for such purposes. However, I believe that the link between our minds might enable me to assist in determining if the memories are lost, or just somehow locked away, in your mind. If not a solution, it might at least provide further answers."

"Have you performed very many mind-melds, Commander?"

"I have enough qualified experience to safely perform the task, if that is what you are asking, Lieutenant."

"It is. And, has that been with other Vulcans, or with humans as well?"

"Both."

She nodded. "Have you ever experienced adverse side effects?"

"The most extreme of side-effects I have experienced are transference of emotions. Because, in essence, I will experience your memories alongside you, there is a possibility that I will feel what you felt in that time."

Bones let a gruff chuckle escape. "You? Feel?"

"Bones," Valerie growled.

"Doctor McCoy, as I have many times explained to you, and you have seen for yourself, I am not incapable of feeling, both because of my half-human side, and as a Vulcan. Vulcans are not incapable of feeling, we simply refuse to."

Valerie took a deep breath and looked between the two men for a moment, then turned back to Spock. "Commander, would you mind giving me a few moments alone with Doctor McCoy to discuss your generous offer of assistance?"

"Of course, Lieutenant. I will wait outside for your decision."

She stood and walked him to the door. Once he was outside, she turned back and looked at Leonard, still sitting, and quite definitely pouting, on the couch.

"You're going to do it, aren't you?" he grumbled, pouting even harder., even going so far as to cross his arms over his chest.

She approached, a soft look on her face, and knelt in front of him, placing her hands on his knees. "Leonard, I wish I could remember why you are so skeptical of Spock. But I have to believe that as First Officer, Science Officer, and a man of such intelligence and careful decision making, that he would not suggest this if he didn't honestly feel like it had a chance."

Leonard sighed and leaned forward, their faces inches apart from each other. "I know. And—I respect the man, I really do. But—" He sighed again. "Maybe I'm too emotionally compromised myself to make a good decision about this."

"Well, it's not yours to make, darlin'" She said, imitating his accent. That gained a small smirk at the side of his mouth. She raised her hand slowly and rested it on his cheek. "But it means so much to me that you're so concerned for my safety."

His head tilted forward and rested against hers. "I feel like I've only just found you, Val. I can't lose you."

"I'm too stubborn to die, Doctor McCoy," she said with a grin.

It wasn't lost on him that he'd heard those words from Jim about her just days before when she was rushed into Sickbay. He gazed into her eyes, his eyes lowering to her lips for only a brief second before going back to her eyes again. They were so close.

"Leonard?"

"Hmm?"

"Kiss me."

His lips crashed into hers almost before she had finished the simple two word statement. Their kiss was brief, but it sealed a promise between them that no matter what happened, the connection between them had made it through everything she'd been through already—it would remain no matter what.

"Will you stay with me when he does the mind meld?"

"Are you kidding me? I'm not letting that pointy-eared hobgoblin get anywhere near you if I'm not by your side."

Valerie rolled her eyes. "You know, for someone you respect, you certainly don't call him very nice names." She stood and walked back to the doorway, opening it and motioning for Spock to come back in. "Commander Spock, I have decided to consent to your mind-meld. However, I would like for Doctor McCoy to stay and monitor our progress in case anything unexpected occurs."

When McCoy spoke, it was obvious he was doing his best to be congenial. "Can I at least request that we do this in sickbay so that I can use our equipment to monitor your vitals?"

"I am fine with that—Commander?"

Spock looked between McCoy and Maynard for a moment before nodding. "Very well."