Disclaimer: Paramount owns them, not me.
A/N: Updated, more detail and also fixed Christine's POV
Chapter 8: Burning Questions
I awoke and felt good. For the first time in days, as to how many days, Ihad once again lost count. I gently turned my head and noted that Spock was still asleep. My Beautiful Vulcan, if only you would accept my love. I suddenly got an idea and acted on it. In one fluid almost natural motion I kissed his soft hair, knowing the chance to do so may never come again.
~~ooOoo~
I awake suddenly, unsure as to why. I look to my right and see Christine – she has a very guilty look on her face. I find myself curious as to what she has done to warrant such a look. However I currently do not have time the time to ask her. I stand up and start gathering our stuff.
"Hold on a minute Spock, let me check your chest." She steps towards me with her tricorder and scans me. After a momentary glance at her tricorder she starts to remove my shirt.
"This will only be a minute Spock; I just need to see how they are healing." She has removed my shirt and gently runs her hand against the wounds. I find her cool hands oddly soothing. Once again I am bombarded with illogical thoughts, thoughts of what it would be like to fully connect to this beautiful woman, both mentally and physically. With some difficulty I suppress the emotions and desires.
"They're healing nicely Spock." She hands me back my shirt and starts to gather up her supply. "I hate that we have to return to the ship in this condition, I haven't showered in days. Exactly how many days have we been here?"
"I estimate that it has been seven days." I decide against telling her that the probability of finding Jim and McCoy is getting to be very slim. I dislike the idea of upsetting her. She has finished packing and turns towards me with her backpack on and her medical bag at her waist.
"Shall we go?"
"You seem rather impatient to start. If we were to leave this moment I would be neglecting my medical duties to you."
"Okay, here you go Doctor." she hands me her tricorder and gives me a smile. I quickly examine her with the machine, she is healing quite nicely. Her leg is splinted and she should be able to walk quite easily with my assistance.
"Your bones have made admirable progress in there mending, I believe we both can safely travel." I put on my back pack and extend my arm for her to lean on.
~~ooOoo~~
We have been walking for approximately half an hour, and once again my tricorder is showing no progress towards our goal. I am taking into the account that the nurse and I are walking at a far slower rate than we were before our injuries however we should have gained some ground by this time.
"Christine, we have a dilemma. We have covered approximately one kilometer in the past half hour, however according to my readings we have not gained a foot on the Hulinas settlement."
"Just like when we were heading for the other party of Hulinas. Spock, what would cause that? I didn't think the Hulinas were very advanced, and only something advanced could fool our tricorder."
"The same thought has occurred to me. I do believe that the Hulinas do not posses the knowledge to fool us in this manner. Most likely a superior race has helped them out. The question is why? What do they gain in tricking us in this matter? For that matter have they also done the same to the Captain and Doctor? Or are the Hulinas even aware of what has occurred. I believe we have far more questions than answers." Christine remains quite, starring ahead lost in her thoughts, and I begin to contemplate my own. The question I am most focused on at the moment is that of why. What could they gain from there deception? Christine could have been fatally injured by the beast, and suffered a good deal from the after effects of the attack. I began to feel the same intense anger I felt at the Platonians when they nearly made me kill Jim. An anger so intense it threatens to overwhelm me.
"Spock." I turn my attention from my thoughts to Christine; she has stopped and is staring at me. She appears to be fighting tears.
"Are you all right? Do you require rest?" I motion towards a rock, and now that I see said rock I am positive we have been here before. We are definitely be kept here.
"No Spock, I'm fine. I want to ask you something."
Does she think I would mind? "Of course you may."
"Are you mad they trapped you here?" This is an unexpected question; I pause for a moment and consider my answer.
"Anger is an emotion, and as you are well aware, I am a Vulcan. However I am also half human as I am so often reminded, and at the moment I do believe my human half is ticked." Not very logical but I highly doubt logic is what she wanted to hear.
"Are you mad they trapped me with you?" So that is what she has been thinking.
"Christine, I have rather enjoyed your company. My anger is directed solely at the beings that trapped us and injured you. "
"Oh Spock!" She then burst into tears and leans into my chest, perhaps I have given the wrong response.
"Christine I am sorry if I insulted you..." I was cut of by her.
"Spock, you haven't insulted me! I'm not crying because I was sad. I'm crying from worry and relief and, and, Oh Spock, its all just overwhelming." She leans her head back into my chest and sighs. Why would they want her? McCoy's knowledge surpasses her in all medical fields. By human standards there are prettier girls on the ship. She has no political influence. There is no logical reason they would want her. There for they must want me, and have trapped her because she was with me. I have political connections; I am also highly intelligent and know most of Starfleet's security secrets. I would make a valuable hostage. What should I do to help protect her from what are captors intend for us. First we need to stop verbally communicating. I must meld with Christine, a full meld so we can talk mentally. I move my hand to her PSI points and from the meld.
//Christine//
// Spock?//
// I believe it would be wise to cease communicating verbally. if we truly are trapped then we should stop supply our captors with our plans.//
//That's a good idea Spock.//
//I am going to hold your hand. It is not necessary to maintain contact for a partial meld but if we wish to communicate we will need to touch.//
//Okay Spock. Where are we going to head?//
//I believe it would be best to continue on the course we were on. We should at least pretend to be trying to reach the captain and McCoy.// we started walking in the direction we had been heading. It was about four o'clock. Soon the weather would start to get dangerously cold again.
//Spock?//
//Yes Christine? //
//How much can you tell from this meld? //
//There is no need to worry Christine. I can only hear what thoughts you send my way. I am aware of what you are feeling but I am not able to influence it in any way. //
//Well, that's nice to know, I doubt you would approve of some of my thoughts at the moment. Honestly when I get my hands on who ever has trapped us here they are going to be sorry! //
I sensed a lot of annoyance coming from Christine, she was quite mad. I also sensed that she was enjoying holding my hand. So, she does still love me, at the very least she likes me.
