Author's notes: We'll see how long these daily updates go but as of right now the writing is going quick.
Disclaimer: Obviously I do not own nor have had any input in this series that started a cultural movement. I'm just a huge fan that got inspiration from another artist.
The world was dark as Serena walked around, her eyes scanning the area. She felt uncomfortable in the darkness and then a phaser went off above her head and she suddenly wished for the darkness. The world became chaos as she was in the middle of the battlefield again this time there were no rocks for her to hide behind. Spears and phasers fired at her and she tried to dodge them. She was afraid and she was running. She didn't know what to do or who to call out for help. Just as she was starting to really panic strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her back into safety. The firm arms made her body turn to fire at the touch. She shivered when they set her down behind cover. As her head turned her eyes fell on her savior, First Officer Spock.
When Serena woke from her dream she looked at her arms where the phantom Spock's arm had touched. Had it felt like that in real life or was that just her imagination? When she thought about it more she realized Spock had never touched her before, nor had he touched others. In fact he seemed to make sure that he was well enough away to not incur any physical contact. Her mind wondered why that was when she noticed the time. Mentally groaning she plopped down on the bed. She hadn't even slept for an hour. She had been going nonstop for days and as a doctor she knew it was bad. Tonight she had decided to force herself asleep but she just couldn't stay down.
Serena tried sleeping for another hour but with sleep alluring her she got up and went to the work out floor instead. A full hour had passed as she worked out, worked until her body was fatigued. By then it was almost time for work. Sighing she took a shower and made her way to Sickbay. Sickbay was quiet today so it was a lot of research work. She didn't mind research; she just wanted something a little more intriguing. McCoy was watching her carefully throughout the day and Serena didn't miss it. He knew something was wrong with her, a doctor's sixth sense, but she wasn't giving up the secret. She wanted to sleep without hyposprays. Then again there was also a part of her who didn't want to sleep. There was too much to do, the culture in the science lab was needing extra attention at this stage as were a few other experiments and she just couldn't get enough hours in with work on top of it.
The minutes ticked by slowly but McCoy didn't have to tell her twice when her hours were up, she was gone in a heartbeat. The labs awaited her. Spock wasn't there which was probably a good thing considering her dream. All she wanted to do was bury herself in science, and bury herself she did. When Spock did come in 3 hours later she didn't even notice.
"Good evening Lieutenant Moss." Spock said jolting her out of her work. Spock paused mid step at her action. "I apologize if I startled you." Serena set her work down so she could look at Spock. "No I'm sorry I was just really into the work that I didn't notice you come in. What are you working on today?" Spock continued his movement through the room which took him behind her and around the table. "I was going to check up on experiments A-K and then check a few slides. I have a theory that I've seen subject G's growth before." Spock said as he sat down with the slides. Serena's green eyes watched as Spock's long nimble fingers swiftly went through the slides. She suppressed a shiver which just made her want to hit herself. "I really need to rest, I'm going delusional…" she thought to herself as she went back to work.
As they usually did, both Spock and Serena worked in silence, only speaking when they either found something interesting or had a question for the other. While Serena didn't have as big of a bank of knowledge on compounds and molecules her ties with the medical field helped her find solutions that Spock often missed. Over the time they had known each other both frequently double checked their hypothesis with the other when they were in the lab together.
It was well into the night when Serene felt the first onslaught of her overworked body. Instead of stopping she just pushed through it, she was now in the middle of an experiment and she couldn't stop now. It was when her vision started to blur that Spock noticed and finally spoke up. "Are you alright Serena?" Spock asked. A part of her wanted to say 'That's the first time you called me by my first name' but when she stood she realized what she had done. "B-bad mixture….poisonous compounds…." She was able to get out before the world decided to spin like a top and almost black out. A firm arm caught her before she hit the ground and yanked her into a hard line. It wasn't until her vision came back that she realized that hard line was the hard line of Spock's body. One arm was wrapped around her, holding her up while the other was tilting her head up so he could look into her eyes and feel her forehead. "You seem to have a fever; this is more than just bad mixing." Spock said his brows furrowing. She had a fever? She felt like her whole body was on fire and it was only the body parts that were touching him. His firm body pressed into her soft curves made her just want to melt. 'Geez I really am sick…" she thought to herself. She was losing control over her own mind.
Something flashed over his eyes, something like he was struggling to control himself but he regained composure and picked her up. "You need to go to Sickbay." Spock explained before she could ask as he carried her out of the lab. "I...can walk." Serena said meekly, a poor excuse for an argument and one that Spock simply ignored. Resting her head on his chest she closed her eyes, feeling like the energy was being sapped out of her body. At least all the energy but the heat radiating from Spock. She heard his heart beat and listened to its fast thumps as he continued to carry her to Sickbay. Before she knew it she was lying on a Sickbay bed with McCoy over her. "I knew it." He said, "I knew you were overworking yourself Serena. How many times do I have to tell you to take a break?" McCoy said disappointment and frustration seeping from the words. "I'm…sorry." Was all she could say. She had no excuse. She knew she had been pushing herself too hard and now it had messed with her experiments. McCoy didn't let her go that easy, while he got a hypospray ready to knock her out he got onto her the whole way.
When McCoy walked off knowing she would pass out soon Spock stepped forward. She hadn't known he was still there. "Do not worry, I will clean up the lab and watch you experiments, just rest so that you can get better." She felt relieved that Spock was there to help and he knew the only thing she would be worrying about. "Thank you...and I'm sorry." Before he could respond she fell asleep, the anesthetics finally kicking in.
Serena had slept a full day thanks to the anesthetics and she slept another half a day when she got back to her room. Each time she woke up there was a PADD next to her bed with detailed descriptions of her experiments. The precise measurements and step by step status reports could only be Spock. Even at her room there was a PADD waiting for her under her door. Serena wanted to hug Spock for everything he did. While she was still off duty and slightly banned from both Sickbay and the science labs, thanks to Dr. McCoy, she decided to do some research. She wanted to know what she could get Spock as a thank you for what he was doing but she stumbled on some very interesting information on Vulcans. Her mind blanked when she read one particular statement. Spock was a touch telepath.
That was why he stayed clear of people, that was why he had never touched her before. And just what in the world had he felt when she was drugged up on lack of sleep? In the privacy of her room the blush could not be hidden as she buried herself under her blankets. When she read on she saw that touch telepaths could put up barriers of sorts so that they didn't read everyone's mind each time they touched them. When she thought of how Spock was being kind to her now she concluded that Spock had done the same and nothing was gained when he carried her to Sickbay.