Chapter10
McCoy was running toward the shuttle bay. He wished he had asked for those paramedics before storming out of the bridge. Whoever was in that pod, if still alive, would definitely need medical attention.
Gordon's voice could be heard in every corner of the ship, shouting for battle station. But McCoy was all doctor now, the only thing he could think of, was his patient.
When he came to a stop in front of the shuttle bay doors, medical kit ready in his sweaty hands, the compression process was almost complete. He hurried toward the damaged and blackened pod and forced its doors open.
Somehow he wasn't entirely surprised when he saw the occupant. He sighed in relief as he scanned Kirk. He was alive but he was in a bad shape. Other than his bloody left leg, his breathing also seemed disturbed. His short gasps had an unmistakable wheezing sound. Kirk was unconscious but his quick scan showed he was stable. For now.
The doctor opened his med kit and started working on the damaged knee. Not much he could do now, the bones were completely shattered and dislocated. His bloodshot eyes were burning again. He couldn't curse him like he always did when Kirk was injured. This time it had been too close. He had almost believed him to be dead.
He looked at his friend's pale face from where he was kneeling, and then had to look down again before he would lose himself to his warring emotions.
The damage to the knee was extensive. He tried to fix the ruined knee as best as he could under the circumstance, but it needed surgery. He tore at the blood soaked fabric around it and bandaged the wound to immobilize it so he could get him to med bay.
He was almost done when Kirk moaned and stirred. McCoy took Kirk's shoulders in his shaky hands, "Jim! You're with me?" "Spock?" Kirk whispered, eyes still close.
Any other time, McCoy would have been annoyed for being called 'Spock', but now, he only swallowed against the lump in his throat and called louder, relief flooded him as he got response. "Jim? Open your eyes. Look at me. Come on."
Kirk focused sluggishly on the doctor's blue eyes, "Bones? Where…?" McCoy shot him with a painkiller and tri-ox. His wince faded somewhat. "We are in the Statder. I have to get you to sick bay. Your lung needs immediate treatment…" Kirk was in control of himself now and cut the doctor off, "Where is Spock?" McCoy swallowed with effort. "Spock? Jim, he's gone…" "No… he's alive… He got me out… He is still in there!"
Kirk tried to get out of the chair but he was deathly weak and only managed to lean dangerously forward. The doctor caught his shoulders. "Jim, stay still. I'm gonna call for those paramedics so we can get you to that blasted med bay of theirs." "Not right now, Bones… " Kirk wheezed inaudibly. "I have to go to the bridge. I …" he was becoming breathless. His pallor was getting bluefish on his lips. McCoy shot him with another dose of tri-ox. Knowing that this only helped for a Short time and only marginally So.
"No Jim. You're in no condition to march around. Not this time." But Kirk wasn't listening. He was badly short of breath. He couldn't argue any more, but he could still make his point. He tried to stand again, and this time with only a sway, he somehow stood up, or rather leaned completely on his friend. And McCoy saw no choice but to support him.
'He never listens. I should have kept him sedated until we reached the star base.' McCoy thought angrily. He saw no other choice but to help him get out of the pod.
Now that they were in the corridors, the captain saw the red alert flashes. He turned on his good foot to look at the doctor. "What's going on?" "Heard something about Klingons… "
Kirk pushed himself toward the lift. Although McCoy was supporting most of his weight, his foot was screaming with pain. Nonetheless, he staggered on.
'This changes everything,' Kirk thought, his head was buzzing annoyingly. 'If their backups are this close, then the Statder is in danger too.'
Kirk tried to push his pains aside. McCoy's painkiller and his work on his knee had done wonder, but he was still weak and dangerously unsteady. He had to get to the bridge while he had time.
His ship was going to explode. And Spock, alive, was still aboard her. And if the Klingons reached them, Statder had no chance against the odds.