Title: "Aegri Somnia"

Author: tprillahfiction (2008)

please see chapter one for header/warnings/disclaimer

AEGRI SOMNIA (Chapter 4)

Spock and McCoy found themselves materialized back on the planet in apparently the exact shelter that they had left. The rain was still pummeling furiously outside and they could hear the patter on the shelter. 'No better than where we were before but at least we're safe, for now,' McCoy thought.

McCoy pushed the Vulcan to a lying position on the ground. He picked up his metallic blanket and wrapped it around Spock. Spock was freezing but desperately trying to minimize his shivering.

"Stop Spock, I know you're cold. Stop trying to fight it. Here put these on. If they fit." McCoy hesitated, then pulled off his own blue uniform shirt stained with all manner of fluids, leaving his black undershirt on, and then stripped off his boots and trousers, leaving on his thermal underwear and socks.

"I cannot take your uniform," Spock's voice was getting weaker.

"For Godsakes, Spock, don't fight me on this! Okay? Can you just not argue with me for once?"

The Vulcan nodded assent. McCoy pulled the uniform top over Spock's head and upon realizing the fastening had broken, left it alone and pulled the black trousers over the ailing science officer's hips and closed them. Spock merely leaned back and tried to concentrate on breathing with as much dignity he could muster.

Thankfully the medi-kit was still lying in the dirt. McCoy dug out another small medi-scanner from the bag and ran it over his patient and muttered to himself: "Fluid still resting in the lung sacks... blood gas, adequate to low...no brain damage...no broken bones." McCoy moved over to behind Spock, pulled him up to resting on all fours and thrust his arms around Spock's diaphragm, forcing up more foul liquid the Vulcan had ingested. After this, Spock promptly lost conciousness. The doctor gently laid him down, pulled out the hypo loaded with tri-ox and shot Spock with it.

Hours passed before Spock came to, and McCoy sat watching him till he awoke; the concern showing on his lined face.

"I bet it hurts to breathe," said McCoy gently.

Spock nodded. It felt like fire when he took in breath.

McCoy interpreted his scanner. "Abrasion in lungs...leukocytosis. Guess what Spock, you picked up a bit of fast moving gram negative bacteria back there; seems to be an alien derivative of Streptococcus pneumoniae. I'm not surprised with that nasty shit you were swimming around in when I found you. You still have more fluid in your lungs which I can't get out. It looks like...dammit... one lung sac has already become infected and is quickly spreading to the other."

An eyebrow was raised in response. "Streptococcus Pneumoniae? Fascinating. I thought that I was inoculated against Earth-style bacteria."

"I said an alien derivative of it! Where ever the hell we just were, was probably full of nasty alien bacteria just waiting for little old us. Plus your damned Vulcan hide can't deal with this type of crappy weather for long. I know my human hide is getting mighty sick of it. Seriously, you know how deadly double Pneumonia is if you don't get treatment."

McCoy pulled a hypo out of his medi-kit and popped on an ampoule of Dexalin. "This will only help you breathe and sooth your lungs a bit. I'm not carrying any compound antibiotics with me. We need to get you back to the ship."

After the Dexalin shot with a bit more Tri-ox thrown in for good measure by the doctor, Spock found that he was indeed better able to breathe, but still unable to sit up. "Doctor, what happened to me?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

"I have no information; please elucidiate."

"Well, you disappeared in a transporter beam; I went after you, and found you suspended in a tube. We were in some type of alien ship or something. I think. I don't really know. It was disgusting."

"Even for you?" asked Spock.

"Even for me."

Spock cocked a disbelieving eye at the doctor. "Are you certain that is what happened? I do not remember."

McCoy rolled his eyes. "No, I'm making it up, Spock." At Spock's sharp look he said, "Of course I'm certain."

"Did you find anything out about this alien ship?"

"Look Spock. I'm just assuming it was an alien ship. I don't know what the hell it was. I just know that it smelt bad and I was doing my damnedest to figure out how to get us out of there."

"Who were the inhabitants?"

"I DON'T KNOW, Spock!" McCoy snapped. "All I know is that there was nobody around to stop me when I was looking for you. But somebody must of transported you into that tube. I don't think you crawled into there by yourself. I didn't have time to do any goddamn studies, okay? Lay off."

"Fascinating," said Spock, as he shifted his weight. "Have you your communicator? I appear to have lost mine."

"No, Spock. I lost mine too. And my phaser, and tri-corder." McCoy knew that Spock was itching to investigate the situation, but was just as helpless as he.

"Then we wait till we appear on the planet wide bio-scan."

"Who knows where the Enterprise might be."

"Indeed."

"Spock, I have a-"

Spock immediately started off on another round of coughing. As the coughing became more and more severe, McCoy inched forward to Spock's head and held it up as the Vulcan became nauseated and gasped. He pushed the Vulcan to lay back against the wall and patiently waited till the wave passed. Unwrapping the blanket from around Spock's legs, he pulled it up to the Vulcan's shoulders, and then sat down heavily across from him.

"Share the blanket with me," invited the science officer.

"Alright, Spock." The doctor moved to underneath the blanket next to the Vulcan. "Feeling any better?"

"Somewhat."

"Good," McCoy said as he huddled closer. He stared into space for a long while, then said. "Doesn't this upset you; being forced to cuddle with me?" he chuckled slightly.

Spock shook his head. "I do not mind your touch. You slept next to me last night with no ill effects. You are my doctor; you touch me more often than anyone else in the crew. I have become used to you."

McCoy laughed. "Used to little old me? Ah Spock. How sweet." At the raised eyebrow the doctor commented: "Cuddling with a stranger would upset you then."

"Being upset, in the way you are indicating, is a human emotion; however the sensation would be uncomfortable, yes."

"Oh. But can't you-"

"Yes, under normal circumstances, I block out others thoughts and emotions using the Vulcan mind rules."

"Under normal circumstances...?" asked McCoy. "But this isn't a normal circumstance; you're ill. So... you can read my thoughts?"

"Well, as you know, I am a touch telepath; so only if I am touching you. Yes, Doctor, I can tell what you are thinking." At McCoy's shocked look he said: "I am trying not to do so. However, even as you move away from me, at this moment in close quarters I cannot shield your emotions."

"Sorry..."

"Do not apologize. You normally have remarkable emotional control for a human. You express mostly humor and anger to mask certain others such as despair, sadness or even... tenderness. I am able to feel your underlying emotions rather strongly."

McCoy smiled and moved himself away further away from the Vulcan. "Okay, Spock, tell me. What am I feeling right now? Tell me everything."

"You have expressed fascination about what I have just told you. And, you are concerned about my welfare."

McCoy was smug. "Oh well, that's a brilliant deduction. Watson!"

"That is not all, Doctor."

"Oh, what else?"

"Besides the obvious surface feelings; there is something deeper. You have deep seated emotional feelings of attachment for- No..." Spock trailed off, as he considered it. "It is love. From what I understand the emotion to be. You are in love... with someone. You try to hide it though, as you are not comfortable with it."

McCoy started nearly out of his skin. "I don't see how that is any of your-"

"You asked, Doctor."

"Oh, yeah...So. Do you know who it is?"

Spock hesitated. "No, I do not. There is more. Additionally, you have been suffering terrible nightmares as of late."

"That's nothing new Spock. In my line of work you see a lot of crap that gives you nightmares."

"This is different. You have been having recurring nightmares about this planet. You haven't been able to sleep well for some time. You are frightened."

"I don't think I want to have this conversation any more. Good night."

"Good night, Doctor."

As McCoy drifted off into an exhausted sleep the dream returned. "You will be assimilated..."

"No...!"

"Your nightmare?" the Vulcan queried in the dark.

"No...it's nothing...Spock. I'm okay."

"Doctor, avoidance of the issue is not logical. It would be beneficial to divulge the information—"

"No Spock! I said it was nothing!" McCoy said, a little too harshly. At the silence, McCoy said, "I'm just having a little trouble sleeping is all."

Spock didn't have the heart to tell McCoy that since they were nearly touching, he knew he was being lied to. He laid his head back and listened to the Doctor's increased heartbeat next to him.

...end of chapter 4...