hi all! I know this chapter is short but I am trying! So sorry for the long wait and I apologize for my lack of skill in writing...ahem...adult scenes. Please please please review! It inspires me to get this story finished and move onto year 3 and the movie! I hope it's ok!

tishbing

Chapter Eight

McCoy looked up from his microscope in frustration. The virus was a tricky bastard. The few samples that the Farragut had weren't fresh. It was difficult to replicate and test it on living sample tissue and cells and the Axanar people had yet to identify patient 0. The CMO had practically cornered him when he came on board, excited at his expertise in disease treatment and diagnostic abilities.

In between screening the new passengers for their boarding check-ups, multiple engineering accidents and vaccinations, McCoy and Dr. Suder were the primary research team. Sample cells from tribbles were used to test the ability to produce white cells and see the virus's development but they were hard to come by due to their instability. More invasive testing would have to wait until they reached the planet.

McCoy ran series after series of the replications from samples of the virus, then sequenced the DNA to calculate the rate of mutation and set to identify key alleles for proteins for the development of a vaccine. It was a tough puzzle. Almost enough to distract him from Jim but not quite.

"Coffee?"

McCoy turned, feeling how stiff his back and neck had become from staring into the screen for answers that weren't coming fast enough. The CMO, Suder, raised a cup from his side of the containment glass and beckoned McCoy over.

The warmth from the coffee helped him to relax. "Thanks."

Dr. Suder seemed to be an interesting man. Mid-fifties, thinning gray hair and a calm demeanor perfect for a family doctor but his eyes were dark, almost black. They seemed to sparkle at any new mystery and that unnerved McCoy.

"Betazoid."

"Hmm?"

The older man smiled. "If you were wondering. I'm from Betazed. I did a stint with the Federation relief programs to aid non-federation worlds then liked what I did so much I decided to continue with Starfleet."

McCoy felt a prickle of unease at the thought of a fully telepathic being in such close proximity. Suder laughed and clapped McCoy in the shoulder. "I'm not reading your thoughts, Leonard. Don't worry about that."

Laughing nervously, he was thankful when his computer signaled his first round of results were ready. Both doctors scowled at the results, identical expressions of confusion.

"Is this the first sequence of the virus? It doesn't seem particularly virulent for the Axanar people?"

Suder's eyebrows came together. "That's what I was thinking." He pointed to the first row. "Symptoms included muscle aches, joint pain, fever and a rash usually resolving itself in a day or two. Only patients with other co-morbities had fatalities."

McCoy nodded in agreement, flicking the screen to the intermediate samples. "Similar results here. Only slightly more virulent." Another flick. "It's when we get to the latest set that there's a difference."

Turning to the CMO, he could see that Suder was just as puzzled. "How long did the report say incubation time was?"

"Two weeks. Starting with the same symptoms but ending up with heaematemesis, esophageal spasm, bronchioconstriction, tachycardia and a fever, then shock sets in and death."

It was a nasty virus. The survival rate was less than five percent. Most recently the southern cities had an outbreak, mostly in school aged children. "Jesus."

Something wasn't adding up. The numbers were off. "Doctor, how advanced would you say the medical technology is on Axanar?"

"Not very. The planet, only recently, came out from Klingon rule. Klingons believed in only the strong surviving so medical research and care went by the wayside. I'd say they're about two hundred years behind us in that aspect. The people are still very nervous about outside influence. It took a decade for them to accept and implement a vaccine program developed by the Federation."

Pulling up the three main samples, Mccoy placed them side by side. "Look at this. The first sequence looks very different from the third. They're only 88% alike."

"Which suggests they're not related."

"Even taking into account the rate of mutation and a two week incubation period the probability that this virus become so virulent and mutated this much is insignificant. This had to have been introduced somehow." McCoy's fists clenched, a sick wave of anger and disbelief washed over him. "It's too perfect to be natural."

Suder stumbled into the stool next to the table, his face paling. "Oh God. The first wave..." A shaky hand pointed at the first sequence.

McCoy finished his sentence. "It was a probe. A test to see if distribution was successful and it's virulence so that a new virus could be engineered to take advantage of these in the most profitable way."

Suder's pallor turned an alarming shade of green as he continued.

"It could have also been used to cover their tracks. To make the most recent strain appear more natural, like a progression from the first set so that the finger of suspicion remains pointed at the virus rather than outside involvement."

Suder took a deep breath, bracing himself. "We need to find a vaccine and fast. These people are still suspicious of outsiders and when they find out that this virus was engineered and set on them, they may suspect us considering we're trying to broker the deal of dilithium and tritanium manufacturing."

"I've got some promising proteins but we're going to need to infect some cells to map it's replication cycle and see what cytokines it stimulates."

Suder moved down to the end of the research station. "While you do that, I'll work on re-running the tests that the Axanar medical team did. There has to be a way to determine how this virus is transmitted. The water tests came out negative but for so many to be affected it has to be something large. I'm going to stratify the results of those infected. Maybe age groups instead of geography."

They had been working for two hours when a voice interrupted them.

"Doctor Suder?"

McCoy looked up in curiosity as well, watching the exchange between the red-headed nurse and his superior.

"Everyone has had their exams except for the Vulcan ambassadorial aid, Mr. Velek. He's refusing. I can't even get him to come down to the medical bay, sir. His excuse is that he is well and he submitted his exam notes from a vulcan healer he saw last week."

McCoy grit his teeth. Didn't people realize that in confined spaces, like a starship, simple colds could turn into pandemics if they weren't caught soon enough?

Suder was hesitant in his reply, most likely in the same opinion as he was but shipboard regulations and cultural politics clashed in this situation. "We'll...hold off on it for now. Right now we've got more pressing matters."

"Yes, doctor."

"And McCollum? We'll need some live cells from the tribbles in xeno to test the virus, if you would?"

"Yes, doctor."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was another six hours before he was kicked out of the lab by the nursing staff after he fell asleep on the table, dropping his notes. It was easier to work than to deal with what lay back in their quarters. Jim had taken to sleeping on the couch since they had gotten on board and oftentimes only spoke to him when Ella was in the room, preferring to do as he did and work.

Glancing at the chrono, he sighed. He missed putting his daughter to bed again. Depressing the access code, he went in. The main area was dark but Jim wasn't in her spot on the couch. The blankets were ruffled but she wasn't there.

Muffled curses were coming from the main bedroom and...a man's voice. Was Jim cheating on him? It felt like a lead weight had dropped into his stomach. First Joce...then Jim. He quietly moved to the door, warring with himself as to whether to barge in or listen for more evidence. He decided to listen. Even though it was muffled, he could hear enough.

"Need I remind you the consequences of failure?"

"You're all heart. I told you I can't do it any faster. I can't risk anyone finding out."

McCoy pressed closer, wondering what was happening when he stepped on Ella's keyboard, loud pinging caused him to stumble and curse. The door flew open, Jim's face popped out, eyes wide in fear.

"Leonard? What are you doing back so early?"

The formal use of his name stung. He stood up, moving back as an older blond man in a crewman's jumpsuit followed carrying a toolbox.

"Well, Miss Kirk, I was able to fix that lighting issue. If you need anything else, just let me know."

McCoy glared at him as he left and turned back to Jim. She'd fully healed by now but right now she looked small and scared. He noticed that she was wearing his old U Miss t-shirt, the stretched collar hanging off one slim shoulder with very short shorts, long legs shifting nervously.

He crossed his arms, not letting her baby blues distract him. "I think it's time to talk. I sincerely doubt that that man was really a crewman."

Jim's eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape route but he was between her and the door. There was nowhere to run.

Her silence and fidgeting was starting to grate on him. It was as much of a confession of something that he needed. "If you don't talk to me, I'm gonna hunt down that crewman and demand answers from him. I might even involve security as I punch the living daylights out of him. Was he threatening you?"

Jim moved forward, pleading. "Bones, please, this doesn't involve you."

"The hell it doesn't! What is going on?" The tips of Jim's ears flushed, her eyes moving up and slightly to the left.

"Don't you dare lie to me." He snapped. Enough was enough.

He moved to the couch, ushering Jim before him so she wouldn't retreat. Her leg jiggled and she ran her fingers through her hair in a nervous gesture before letting out a deep breath in a whoosh. McCoy propped an ankle on his knee, leaning back expectantly.

"It started on the training sim..."

McCoy listened to Jim's tale, some of the more gruesome details she clearly omitted but the important facts were there. The reason for her distance, the rush to be on the Farragut, the secrecy...it was disgusting. The mere thought that there was a section 31 made McCoy feel ashamed to be a part of Starfleet.

"Dammit, Jim. Why on earth would you have agreed to this, and I use this term loosely, man's demands?"

Jim's face twisted, pain and shame warring. "Because he told me about what you did to your father...and that it was illegal. He said he could have your license revoked, station you so far away from Ella that you'd never see her...maybe go to prison. All sorts of bad things. I couldn't let that happen." Tears were spilling over her cheeks but she wasn't sobbing, it was like the secret was being extracted through those tears, a poison being leeched. "I couldn't let you lose Ella. She means so much to you. She brought you back to life after Joanna's death."

His heart twisted. "Oh, Jim. You idiot." He reached over and pulled her to him, her head settling on his chest. He could smell her sweet shampoo and a faint undertone of engine grease that was from her time spent in engineering. Her body shook with suppressed sobs as she tried to hold it in. McCoy pressed a kiss to her head, holding her tighter. "You should have told me."

A hiccup. "I couldn't risk you getting hurt."

Using a finger under Jim's chin, he tilted her face up to his. He could see every worry, every pain, and the intense pressure on every line of her face. Her breath caught as he moved lower, pressing his lips to hers. Her mouth opened in a surprised gasp and he took advantage, licking into her mouth, deepening the kiss. She twisted in his arms, straddling his legs as their kiss grew more heated and desperate.

One hand wove through her long hair, cradling her skull while his other moved under his shirt on her, touching the soft skin underneath. The need for air took over and he pulled back reluctantly, resting his forehead against hers. "You do know that's my shirt."

"You want it back?" She laughed and leaned back pulling off the offending material to reveal pale, smooth skin. "I think it looks better on me."

"I think it looks better on the floor." He groaned.

McCoy felt all his blood head south at the sight. He ran his hands along her sides, trembling as Jim twisted her hips, grinding against his erection. His hands shook as he caressed her breasts. It had been so long.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."