I don't own Star Trek, any of the canon characters, nor do I make any profit from these writings. However, a little emotional support in the form of a king review would be most helpful, my friends!
A Little Help From Your Friends
After spending most of a day off of them, Nyota's feet were much less swollen. On their last visit, T'Sela had given her a few lessons in Vulcan cuisine, so Nyota decided to make breakfast for the family. With a new baby in the house, T'Sela could probably use all the help she could get.
Nyota put the kettle on for tea and filled the heavy porridge pot with enough water for four generous servings. Sarek and Spock were out in the garden cutting away the brush. The rainy season was past due and all that dry vegetation was a fire hazard. They would be hungry when they came in. Nyota sliced some strawberries and bananas, two of Spock's favorites.
T'Sela came to the kitchen carrying little T'Shana, grateful that the morning meal had been taken care of. T'Shana has not slept well, a side effect of her immunizations. Her mother administered a dose of the medication Healer T'Mena had left. Then she sat in the rocking chair with the little one. Nyota came and placed a cup of tea on the table beside them.
"Thank you, my daughter. Your assistance is much appreciated."
Bones was thoroughly annoyed with Jim. He gave him another hypo spray to the neck, not bothering to put it on a gentle setting. He wanted it to hurt a bit, hoping his message would sink in.
"What were you thinking? At least Scotty had the presence of mind to bring me back samples of everything. You've got two new food allergies, fire fruit and birkeen herbs. Birkeen herbs are a staple of Vulcan cuisine, so you're gonna have to be extra careful. You're probably also allergic to something in the environment, maybe pollen or dust. That's why you woke up in the night not breathing so well."
"So I'm done camping?"
"Well, yeah, unless you have a death wish. Find something else to do. Visit the Cultural Institute Museum, tour the new University, or go play with the orphans. Just stay out of trouble and don't try any new foods!"
Bones handed Jim a bottle of pills.
"Take one of these every four hours. Now go away. I wanna get back to my shore leave."
The doctor nearly pushed Jim out the door of Sickbay and into the corridor.
"Thanks for your help, Bones!"
"Just try not to need it again!"
Sarek and Spock finished cutting the last of the brush and bundled it up. The Public Works Department would be sending vehicles and workers around to pick it up. The rains were late in coming this year, so the risk of fire was high. Two years previously, there had been a massive fire on the hillside above the local inn. No lives had been lost, but the flames had come very close to residential areas. No one wanted a repeat of such a disaster.
Father and son washed up and sat down for breakfast.
"Spock, thank you for your assistance. That task would have taken me all day on my own. It must be repeated at your grandmother's cottage. Tauril is in good health for his age, but clearing brush might be bit overwhelming for him. Perhaps you would consider going there with me later."
"Certainly, Father. I have no plan other than meeting with Healer T'Mena when she calls on Nyota later.
Healer T'Mena had been called away to New Sura'Kahr. Her old friend Healer Sertok had unexpectedly become "indisposed," a euphemism for Pon Farr. T'Mena would have to deliver his lectures to the student healers and nurses. Fortunately for T'Mena, both her daughter T'Pela and her son-in-law Tasol were also healers. They would cover her patients and allow the older healer a few days' break from her normal routine.
T'Pela also enjoyed driving her mother's new hovercar. Perhaps she could talk Tasol into purchasing one. It would be most helpful when he was called out in the middle of the night to deliver a baby or in a few months when T'Pela's own pregnancy was more advanced. She and Tasol already had a small daughter. Now a son was on the way.
The house calls had been routine this morning, a few babies with colic and an elderly male in his last days of life. T'Pela gave him pain relievers and advised his family that the end was near. They accepted this news with grace. Their father had lived 239 years, an honorable and productive member of Vulcan society. They thanked the young healer for her assistance.
There was one more stop to make, the home of Sarek and T'Sela. However, the patient was far from routine. She was a Human, a Starfleet officer from Terra, and the bondmate of T'Pela's childhood friend Spock. She was also nearly seven months pregnant with a hybrid child. T'Pela reviewed her mother's notes and the records that had been sent by the doctor aboard the starship.
Bones was having a little trouble following the lecture, even with the universal translator. When he became involved with T'Ameela, he began using the interactive Vulcan language course that Spock had developed. He was progressing well, but not yet to the point where he understood technical jargon.
However, T'Ameela had invited him to sit in on her classes this day, and it sure beat hanging around the inn waiting for her. The lecturer was a substitute, a healer from another settlement. Her topic was dust-borne diseases encountered on the new home world.
Bones also vaguely aware of the whispers going on around him. Vulcans knew Human hearing was not as sensitive as their own, but sometimes they assumed that meant Humans were deaf! Most of what he heard was fairly harmless.
"Who is the Human?"
"That is T'Ameela's Terran healer. He has come to visit for a few days."
"Do you think they will become bonded?"
"That would be most illogical."
Bones tried not to laugh and to concentrate on the lecture. T'Mena was saying something about wind-blown fungal spores and severe allergic reactions. It reminded him of what Jim had experienced. The Healer spoke a few more minutes before her time was up. Bones was frustrated by the gaps in his understanding.
T'Ameela had an anatomy lab next, not the best setting for a guest. Bones bid her farewell, promising to meet her for lunch later. Healer T'Mena was still standing at the front of the lecture hall. Perhaps she would be willing to discuss that fungal infection in more detail with him. He made haste to intercept her before she left, hoping his very basic knowledge of Vulcan vocabulary would not embarrass him nor offend her.
"Healer T'Mena, I am Dr. Leonard McCoy, a Starfleet officer on leave visiting your world for a few days. I sat in on your lecture because I have a friend who is a student here. I have some questions about the fungal infection you spoke of. The symptoms sound similar to those of a patient I treated just this morning."
"I am pleased to meet you, Dr. McCoy. I would be quite willing to discuss the information with you further. However, in return I should like to review the paper you wrote on the fertility issues encountered among the Vedans. It was most fascinating. Perhaps we might take tea together in the cafe. I would also like to consult on Nyota Uhura's case with you, as I am the healer for the S'chn T'gai family."
"I would find such a discussion most helpful, as well. Thank you."
T'Pela rang the door chime at Sarek's home and was admitted by T'Sela, who led her into the family room. T'Pela then explained that she was covering her mother's patients as the healer had been called away to cover for another healer.
"I hope that you will not find this objectionable, Miss Uhura. I have actually wished to meet you for some time. Spock and I were playmates as children and used to keep in touch before the Genocide. I am pleased than he has found contentment in his career and personal life."
"Thank you, T'Pela. Please call me Nyota. I've wanted to meet you, too. Spock has mentioned you several times and I'm always happy to meet anyone who knew him as a child."
T'Pela checked Nyota's feet, pleased that the swelling was less than what her mother had described the previous day. There was a very slight increase in the young woman's liver function tests, but they were still within the normal range. T'Pela explained this to Nyota and told her that this should be monitored daily, however there was no reason for her to be concerned yet.
The two young women sat on the patio and chatted for a while. T'Pela shared a story of how she and Spock had once covered every available centimeter of pavement on the Vulcan Embassy compound with sidewalk chalk art. Both their families had been staying in San Francisco at the time. T'Pela had been two and half, Spock three years of age. They had been inseparable that summer.
T'Pela emptied the sand from her sandals before rising to leave. The dry dust had blown into everything. She noticed the comfortable looking sneakers that Nyota wore.
"Nyota, may I ask where you acquired your footwear? I also am expecting a child, and usually make my house calls on foot. I could use some shoes with a bit more support."
"Certainly. I got these at Hammond's on Starbase 7, but they also sell online. These are very comfortable, with a gel insole that conforms to my foot."
"Thank you. That will be a great help to me."
Little Krysta was an angel, giving Jack and Lewis no difficulty at all as they traveled home with her. Since they already had a "Princess" at home, "Angel" became the child's nickname. There was a five hour layover at Starbase 7 before they could catch the next transport to San Francisco, so they decided to take Krysta shopping at Nebula Galactic. She had been given lots of toys aboard the ship but only a minimal wardrobe.
They soon discovered that Krysta's favorite color was purple and that she loved teddy bears and shoes as much as Sonrisa.
Jack and Lewis may have gone a bit crazy with their shopping, having to have a little help when it came time to load their luggage. Fortunately, their sweet little daughter charmed the baggage attendants. Krysta could not be persuaded to check the giant purple panda Jack had bought her, so Lewis wedged it under the seat until the pilot had left orbit.
It took Sarek and Spock about four hours to clear the brush from both T'Pau and Tauril's yards. During that time, Nyota visited with the children and showed the older couple how to use the interactive Vulcan course she and Spock had developed for the other Romulan speaking refugees. She also downloaded a copy of the Basic Romulan course for the adults and upgraded T'Pau's universal translator.
T'Pau served the family a simple but nourishing lunch of fruit and salads. Senar was adapting more quickly to using eating utensils than Saavik. This made sense, as she was older and accustomed to fighting for her share of food.
After the meal, Nyota took the children to their room for a time of coloring and stories. Spock used this opportunity to tell his grandparents everything he knew about the two children's lives before their rescue. Spock related the circumstances of their rescue, medical treatment, and how the bond between them had formed.
Tauril was most impressed with his "new" grandchildren and their shipmates.
"Spock, would it be possible for me to meet Dr. McCoy and Captain Kirk? I should like to know my Terran "grandson" and thank the doctor for all he has done for the children."
"I will see what can be done, Grandfather. I know both have plans for their leave, but perhaps they can spare us some time."
It was late afternoon when Sarek, Spock, and Nyota left T'Pau's cottage and walked home. They saw lightening and heard thunder off in the distance, in the direction of the mountains. Hopefully the rains would soon arrive to soak the ground and end the threat of fire.
As they passed the Cultural Institute Museum, they saw Jim Kirk leaving the building. His face and hands were still a bit swollen from his adventures of the previous night and his breathing somewhat labored.
Jim told them what had happened to him on his ruined camping trip and turned to walk to the beam down point. Spock and Sarek could hear the sounds of fluid in Jim's chest. He was in obvious need of medical attention.
"Jim, I think that is unwise for you to leave in your present condition. We need to get you out of the heat and dust as soon as possible. Come home with us and I will contact Dr. McCoy. It is but a short distance from here."
Jim realized Spock wasn't going to take no for an answer. By the time the four of them had walked the three blocks to Sarek's house, Jim was leaning rather heavily on Spock, who practically carried him through the door.
Spock deposited Jim in an arm chair and called Bones while Sarek fetched some water.
Bones listened carefully while Spock described the symptoms to him. It had to be what T'Mena told him about, luk grahziv, literally "dust fungus", the spores so fine that they could not be seen with the naked eye. There were three anti-fungal agents that would cure the infection. Jim, of course, was allergic to two of them. The third was in short supply and would have to be synthesized in the ship's bio lab.
"Okay, Spock, I need you to keep Jim quiet. I'm gonna beam down with the meds that I have and get the lab kids to making more. Jim's gonna have to stay put, we can't risk any exposure to the outside air and more fungus until the infection is under control. I know it's risky, but I'm gonna have Scotty set me down on your daddy's patio. I'll contact you right before I beam down, so you can make sure the way is clear."
"Understood, Doctor."
Twenty minutes later, Bones was in Sarek's family room giving Jim a hypo spray. He had brought Jim's duffel, still packed from his camping trip, but decontaminated by the transporter operator. Bones gave Jim and Spock's whole family a long list of instructions for the Captain's care and prepared to leave. As he did so, a call came in from T'Ameela.
"Leonard, do not return to the inn tonight. We are being evacuated. Heat lightening struck the brush in the mountains and has started a fire. The university is threatened."