Olivia blew a stray hair from her face and whacked the bug-infested air in front of her. She trudged through the swampy water, which was now swishing about her hips. While she struggled, the two alien guides seemed to effortlessly glide through the muck a good ten feet ahead.

"Can't you slow down?" Either they didn't hear or ignored McCoy. His hands clenched into fists at the sound of a low chuckle ahead of him. "What's so funny?"

"Didn't say anything." She rolled her eyes. Of all the ways she had to spend her years out in space. Hell, her and McCoy had been shot off to different ends of the universe. And now, when she was on a mission that in and of itself was crazy, she had to deal with this infuriating man!! Infuriating and impossible!!

McCoy grumbled as he tried to keep his balance on the uneven surface below. Their guides of course had no problem advancing quickly. His mouth turned down into a scowl. The rest of the journey was tedious with only the sounds of the swamp to break the tense silence between them. McCoy tried to keep his mind preoccupied but found that his thoughts went back to Lieutenant Gellar. Why the hell couldn't he remember that one night? His memory covered his normal shift in sickbay but then went blank with a whole lot of nothing. Nothing, that was, until waking up the following morning in his bed with only a sheet to keep him decent. McCoy scowled, why the hell couldn't he remember?

As much as he tried, the darkness wouldn't lift its veil of trickery. Goddamnit! Of course Olivia's swaying hips didn't make coherent thoughts any easier. After a few more minutes of having to painfully endure the sight, McCoy stepped up his pace to match hers. He caught the glint of warning in her eye but pretended to ignore it.

The two alien guides brought them to a clearing. Olivia silently thanked her lucky stars they had finally arrived. According to the map, they'd need to follow an intricate system of caves and chambers until they reached the central temple chamber. It was the only place suitable for life. The research team would likely be there, waiting for them. By Olivia's estimates, her and McCoy should be able to reach the area in two days with another two days to search the complex and the surrounding area. Neither she nor McCoy took the news well. That meant a possible six days of being stuck together.

Captain Jackson to Lieutenant Gellar.

The alien guides looked questioningly down at her communicator. She unhooked it from her side and indicated the device. "I need to talk with my captain. Can I get some privacy?"

The guides nodded, bowed, and moved to the opposite end of the clearing. McCoy followed them while keeping an eye on Olivia who now began to pace back and forth. He remembered when she used to pace when something was really annoying her. A part of him wondered what was wrong but then the other, more sensible half reminded him that the enigma that was the female mind was damn impossible to comprehend. Anyone who claimed otherwise was a liar.

Olivia found a rock that she could sit on and tucked her feet under her legs. "Yes, sir?"

Why are you whispering?

Olivia blinked back surprise. Had she been whispering? She cleared her throat and tried the greeting again. "Must have been trouble with the connection. Sir, I thought the Council forbade communication with us."

They allowed us one final message be sent to you and Doctor McCoy. Captain Kirk is speaking with him as we speak.

She sneaked a peak from the corner of her eye and noticed McCoy too had his communicator out. His normal scowl was set into his face as he talked to Kirk, something that made her frown in concern.

I'm sorry you have to do this.

"Sir. Please, spare me the dramatics. This isn't quite like the Nero incident. We're just getting a research team. In and out in six days. Nothing to worry about."

All the same. Good luck, Lieutenant.

"Thank you, sir. Gellar out." Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the rock. Her position was quite uncomfortable but it was far preferable to being nearly half way buried in swamp muck.

The female guide, Azura, approached Olivia with a spark of curiosity in her oval black eyes. "Are you ready to proceed?"

"Doctor McCoy?"

"Ready whenever you are."

Olivia sighed and pushed herself off the rock. A strong cloud of the horrendous odor burned her nostrils. However, she kept a stoic face so as to not further the insult done to these people. Apparently they found the smell appealing. Another five minutes and they had reached the entrance of a cave. Its wide entrance reminded Olivia of Earth caves. They opened wide like the maw of a great beast waiting to swallow its victims whole.

"This is where we leave you. Follow the map." The male guide was already out of sight before either Olivia or McCoy could say anything. Azura strode up to Olivia, placed a kiss on her cheek and whispered "Do not be afraid" into her ear. The question died on her lips. One moment Azura was there and the next was gone with only the soft whir of the leaves to indicate her passing.

They stood there for a moment in silence before a hand on her shoulder ripped Olivia from her thoughts. Unfortunately, this also put her off balance. So when she tried to take a step away, the edge of a rock sent her off balance. Before she could stop herself, Olivia fell backwards, her mouth and eyes recoiling shut. The sludge was warmer than she thought but no less gross. A pair of hands gripped her by the arms and pulled her to the surface.

"Are you ok?" Olivia watched his hazel eyes search hers, concern barely held behind the indifference he tried to show. She bit her lip and nearly gagged on the taste of the swamp on her lips.

"Yeah," she muttered. Her hand wiped away the gunk stinging her nose and eyes. "But I can stand by myself."

"Of course you can." Olivia was no stranger to McCoy's sarcasm. At one point she used to find that attractive. Olivia did her best to hide the scowl as she turned back to the cave entrance. She sighed and picked up one of her kits that had fallen into the water. Brushing off swamp debris, she made a mental note to dry the ropes before using them. McCoy went first into the cave with Olivia carefully observing the map. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread crawling all over her skin.

Do not be afraid Azura had assured her. Of course Olivia wasn't afraid but she couldn't help but wonder what it was she was supposed to be afraid of.

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2047

The red neon numbers on her standard regulation watch illuminated the shadows on Olivia's face. This planet's rotation was a lot like Earth's. It would be nighttime on the surface. She squeezed down into one of the larger chamber indicated on the map.

"Yes," she exclaimed with a smile on her face. "This will do nicely."

McCoy came in behind her, slightly out of breath. "You have a twisted sense of humor."

Olivia shrugged off her pack. "Last I remember, you were in much better shape. Why did the Council pick you, I wonder?"

His pack joined hers on the ground. "Hell if I know."

She narrowed her eyes but decided to drop the subject. Still wet from their morning hike, she bent down to snatch some extra pants. Whoever designed the female uniforms should be shot and live so he could be shot again. Honestly, how was Olivia supposed to climb down through these passages without worrying about her exposed legs? In the ten hours they'd been climbing, her legs were torn to hell. McCoy had stopped them several times to "keep an eye of her injuries".

"Turn around."

McCoy sighed, wiping his face with the edge of his shirt. "Come on," his voice was nearly breathless. Her narrowed eyes shot a warning glare that made McCoy throw up his hands in defeat. "Women," he grumbled.

Olivia pulled on the new uniform with relief. It was a little big but Hallon was the closest to her size at such short notice. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and secured it. "I'm done."

She sat next to the lantern they'd brought, crossing her legs and rolling out the map in front of her. Without looking Olivia knew McCoy had sat next to her. A soft rumpling made Olivia wince. Starfleet survival rations weren't the greatest thing in the world. They'd make you survive but it wouldn't be pleasant. She bit into the bar and nearly gagged.

"What is this, dirt flavor?"

"Pretty damn close."

They both laughed. She turned to meet his gaze before the heat flaring on her neck became too awkward. Her eyes traveled to the map where her hands were smoothing the wrinkles out. Her fingers traced a path from the top left down about six inches and to the right three.

"If my translation of this language is correct, then we should be here."

"Will we get there in time?"

"We'll have to pick up the pace a little but yes, I think we'll make it."

"Then you should get the second watch."

"I'm not tired."

He rolled his eyes. "And I'm the Queen of England."

Olivia fought hard to suppress the giggles in her throat. A yawn came out instead, earning her raised eyebrow. "Your sarcasm is giving me a headache."

"Stop trying to change the subject. You need rest. That's an order, Olivia."

"It's Lieutenant Gellar." She crossed her arms over her chest, never taking her eyes off the annoyed looking doctor.

"It's still an order, Lieutenant."

Olivia stretched and yawned again. She was tired and could use the rest, but she hated being ordered around like some child. He's a doctor, Liv. He probably knows what's best for your health. She sighed and stretched out on the hard ground. He was a danger to her mental health. Opening her eyes, Olivia turned with a scowl forming on her face. "I think you're enjoying this ordering around a little too much. I don't remember you being so happy." The sarcasm was so thick in the air it could be cut with a knife.

"Shut up."

"Bu—" He placed a finger to her lips. Olivia's eyes widened before snapping back into their normal, stoic expression.

"Ssshhh."

She grumbled but eventually complied, pulling out a thin blanket from their supplies. It was lucky nights here were so warm. Otherwise, they'd probably have to lie next to each other to keep warm. Olivia laughed in her mind, imagining how well that scenario would play out. She'd probably end up punching him again. Five minutes go by and still she can't sleep. Yet, she didn't dare rise because McCoy would probably yell at her for not getting rest. Ugh…men.

McCoy listened to Olivia tossing and turning until she finally fell into a calmer breathing pattern. He allowed his eyes to wander over to her and found himself tempted to smile. There was once a time when he woke up next to her with a smile. Now, for an incident that he still couldn't remember, she refused to trust him. Closing his eyes, McCoy knew he had to distract himself somehow otherwise he'd go insane. His medical journals provided an excellent diversion, for the moment anyway.

A couple hours into this needlessly complicated report he heard Olivia shivering. He sighed, those blankets were effectively useless. McCoy slipped his climbing jacket off and laid it across Olivia's sleeping form. Immediately the shivers stopped and her face slipped back into one of tranquility.

While Olivia slept, several voices floated into her brain.

Good luck Captain Jackson had said.

Little did she know how afraid she'd become and how much luck she would need.

It all began the following morning with what she thought was a simple headache…

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Author's Note: YAY!!! Another update!!! I really should be packing but writing for you guys is so much better, don't you think? So sorry this update didn't come sooner, but fanfiction was acting really weird. First it didn't let me log in and then it wouldn't let me post anything. Gggrrrrr....oh well at least it's working now.

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So I want to thank the peeps who have reviewed!! CaffeineKid, Lady Valadhiel, thebloodrose, Steff7, The Psycho Pyro and LaFemmeQuiRit

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-Trekky17