Alyen and L'Naym's Quarters
5:15 PM

As soon as his shift was over, Kirk headed toward the quarters of his Soul Siblings. They immediately invited
him in and the three of them settled on the couch. He always loved the times he spent with them, but right
now he had a concern.

"I thought Bones told you both to take it easy while you were off duty," he told L'Naym in a stern voice.
"As I understand it, you've either been visiting or giving flowers to every single person on this ship."

"Not every person," L'Naym teased. "Just the ones who helped find a treatment and the ones who visited us
while we were ill."

"Which is practically everyone!"

When the Nlians had been discharged they had returned to their quarters. Alyen tired from his illness and
treatments had gone to bed. L'Naym however had had other ideas.

In the months since her arrival, the sweet-natured, gregarious botanist, had become the unofficial morale booster
of the Saratoga. And a substantial amount of the crew had visited her while she and her lifemate were stricken.
As soon as her lifemate fell asleep she had set out to thank every one of them. Those off duty had been given
personal thanks and flowers. Those on duty would return to find flowers and a note outside their quarters.

"Dr. McCoy said that you weren't to do anything strenous," Kirk reminded her.

"It wasn't strenuous it was a joy. Jim..." L'Naym grew serious. "Remember what happened after Trisha? I told
you that what happened had reminded me of how fragile life is, of how it lasts from one breath to the next.
How precious each person is and how important every single moment with them is."

She paused. "This has only reminded me even more. It's important to tell people know that you appreciate them
and the things that they do for you. And it's important that you do it while you're still around to do so and while
they're still around for you to tell them."

Kirk sighed. He knew his Soul Sister and knew that her greatest joy was to give others joy. But he also knew
his duty, both as her older brother and Commanding Officer, to ensure that she stayed healthy so that she
could continue to give others joy.

"You're right, Shylea. But your body's been through a lot and going down to the arboretum and then traipsing
all over this ship with loads of flowers is not going to help it heal. I know that you love to give others joy.
But you need to take things slow for awhile so that you can continue to give others joy for as long as possible.
You can visit and give flowers all you want... after you're fully cleared for duty. But until then you're to take it easy.
And until then no more visiting or flower giving."

His blue eyes met hers. It was definitely the Captain speaking now. "That's an order, Crewman."

Her eyes lowered in submission. "Yes, Captain."

He immediately softened. "Good. Because if I find out that one of my crewmembers is not only disobeying
the CMO's orders but my orders as well, I'm going to have to put her on report."

She smiled faintly. "Noted, sir."

He turned to Alyen. "And you, Medic. You're to make certain that she rests and doesn't go on any more visiting
or flower giving runs until after she's fully cleared." He raised an eyebrow. "Or I'll have to put you on report
for negligence."

"Understood, Captain."

"Now on to another matter. I understand you two are still eager to go back to that planet?"

Alyen nodded. "What happened on that world was a big storm, but it's not stopping us. The accident happened
because there was something about that world that we didn't know. Now we do. Commander Rodriguez is right;
with every new place we visit comes the possibilities of new solutions and treatments."

"When I first saw that world, I thought it was beautiful," L'Naym said. "Despite what happened I still think
it's beautiful and I still want to see more of it."

She held out her hand. "Jim. I want to share a memory with you."

Flashback
7/10/2259
Rychla

L'Naym moved carefully over the ground. The exo-suits she and the rest of the away team had to wear were
bulky and uncomfortable, but necessary.

The Captain had been right to be cautious. The mist that shrouded the planet was a vital component to
the atmosphere and everything on the planet, from plants to animals, depended on it to survive.
Foreign air could contaminate it.

There was another reason for extreme caution. The mist had a bio-mutagenic effect. If any foreign lifeforms
breathed it, it altered their genome. Planets could be terra-formed, the atmosphere here could cause strangers
to be 'bio-formed'; they'd be able to breathe the atmosphere but they would be unable to survive off- planet.

Fortunately the effect was cumulative; the lifeform would have to breathe it for a lengthy period, a week or so.
But the Captain wasn't taking any chances with his crew. All planetary away-missions had to wear full protective
suits and couldn't remain down there for more than a few hours.

As she walked on a planet surrounded by an atmosphere that could permanently alter her life if something
were to go wrong and she breathed it, she wondered briefly why she wasn't more worried.

She looked around. They were currently surrounded by vast treelike structures that both absorbed and expelled
the strange misty atmosphere. As they did so they gave off a steady florescent glow and the gasses they
expelled gave off a shimmery glow as well. Added to the surrounding mist it was beautiful.

It was dangerous but beautiful. Just like the deserts of Nlia were dangerous but beautiful. And the danger didn't
negate the need in coming. By coming to this world they were adding to both their knowledge and the knowledge
of the Federation. And who knew how good that might do in the future?

She wasn't afraid for another reason.

She looked around at the rest of the team. Petty Officer Ktar specialized in the study of atmospheres.
He was very meticulous and loved a challenge.

Commander Belzoni had forgotten more about biochemistry then she would ever know and never stopped looking
for solutions.

Crewman Patrick Hunter from Security was no nonsense and very quick to disprove, but determined and tireless.

If something where to go wrong she knew she could rely on all of them. And on the entire crew.

And then of course there was her Captain.

She had learned that most Starfleet Captains seldom went on away missions, usually putting their First Officer
in charge. Jim, however, prided himself on accompanying practically every away mission.

She smiled as her gaze fell on him. He sensed her looking at him and smiled as well, silently conveying, 'I'm here.'

She and the others were part of his herd and he would die to protect them.

*End Flashback*

Alyen and L'Naym's Quarters

"That's why I'm not afraid, Jim," L'Naym whispered as her hand fell away. "I have my lifemate, the crew and you."

Alyen held out his hand. "I want to share something with you too, Jim."