Chapter 2: Tucking the Captain In
Author's Chapter Notes 9/20/09: I have done some minor editing on this chapter. Hope it improves the story. I never know. Constructive and civil reviews are a blessing.
Chapter 2:
Spock, carrying Jim, led McCoy to his quarters. When they entered McCoy immediately noticed how much warmer it was inside than in any other area of the ship. Spock kneeled down on the side of his bed and basically sat Jim on the mattress. Bones took hold of Jim's head, and they both slowly guided Jim to a reclining position, lying on his back.
Spock, turning towards McCoy, noticed him starting to perspire. "My apologies, Doctor. My quarters are kept to Vulcan standard temperature. If you would prefer, I can lower it."
McCoy, mopping his brow with the back of his arm, replied. "I'd appreciate a temp fit for humans, but since Jim is probably suffering from various degrees of shock, it's probably just as well to keep the temperature in your quarters where it is. Hopefully, I won't have to stay long."
McCoy then proceeded to pull off Jim's boots. He took off his socks just to check to be sure that Jim had no cuts or injuries to his feet. When he was satisfied that at least this part of Jim's body was free from harm, he replaced the socks. Then he lifted up Jim's black long sleeve pullover undershirt to check his torso. He was definitely not happy with what he saw. There were bruises in practically every color of the rainbow splotching his skin, indicating that he had suffered these at different times during the last 48 hours. McCoy had not been aware of all the fights Jim was involved in. He wished that he did not have to know now, but the evidence was right in front of his eyes. He shook his head in disbelief at how much trouble his best friend could get himself involved in, but this time he knew Jim had done it all for his crew, and his home planet.
Spock was observing both the doctor and his inventory of Jim's injuries. Some of those injuries he had been responsible for and felt ashamed at his total loss of control when Kirk had verbally assaulted him.
McCoy finally took out his diagnostic device to check further. He always believed in first checking a patient with his own eyes and hands. There were several cracked ribs, some torn muscles, and Jim's hands as well as his handsome face were very much the worse for having made contact with resisting Romulans. But all these assaults against his body would heal completely in just a short amount of time with the help of Jim's talented doctor.
McCoy finally straightened up, pulled a cover over Jim and turned to Spock. "He'll be okay with a lot of rest. He'll be very sore for a few days. But he's healthy as a young 'stallion'. He should bounce back pretty quickly."
McCoy stood back a little and just looked down at Jim. He looked so innocent, so very young and vulnerable while sleeping. McCoy suddenly looked up at Spock, some of his submerged rage surfacing. "Damn it, Spock. What if I hadn't sneaked Jim on board the Enterprise? None of us would have made it back. We very likely would have been destroyed by Nero's ship like the rest of our ships. And then Earth too would have perished. Spock, would you really have wanted to see Jim 'broken', knowing what we do now about what he did to save us? What the two of you did together."
Spock locked his penetrating dark brown eyes with McCoy's shocked baby blues and replied quietly, "No, Doctor, I may have wanted to break his neck, but not his spirit. That was said in the heat of the moment. Your understanding of his nature, that he never quits, is what made it possible for us to save Earth and Captain Pike. I still do not know how he was able to return to the Enterprise from Delta Vega but it was fortuitous that he did, for all of us."
McCoy was thoroughly surprised that Spock would admit this. He smiled indulgently at Spock. "He does have a tendency to piss people off. But that's just part of his charm. And I would never want to change him. He's a very complicated person, Spock. There are many layers to his personality. He is worth getting to know, if you don't wind up killing him in the process."
"Indeed, Doctor. We shall see."
Just then the young hero of the hour began to regain consciousness. He was becoming very agitated, moving restlessly and moaning. His breathing started to pick up and he began to panic. His eyes were still squeezed shut as if he were caught up in a nightmare.
McCoy sat on the side of the bed and was holding onto Jim's shoulders. "Jim, it's alright, everything's okay. You can relax." McCoy started to shake him by the shoulders hoping to break through to Jim.
Finally, Jim opened unseeing eyes, gulping in deep long ragged breaths. "No, no, oh my g-d, no, no. Please, no." He broke McCoy's hold on him, trying to cover his eyes with both his arms at once, as if he was trying to shield himself from something he did not want to see.
McCoy grabbed him again and raised his voice. "Jim, Jim, wake up. Your crew is safe. The Enterprise is safe. Earth is safe." McCoy assumed that Jim's nightmare must be about what had so recently transpired. Jim finally heard. He dropped his arms, and opened his eyes, squinting, as if still not sure he wanted to see. "Bones, it's really over?"
"Yes, Jim." McCoy replied with all the sincerity he could muster to convince Jim. "Yes, it is over and we are almost home." McCoy smiled in reassurance and nodded his head for emphasis.
"Oh G-d Bones, I'm so tired. The voices in my head; make them stop. I just want to sleep."
"I know, Jim. I wish I could give you something, but I shot you full of so many drugs when we boarded the Enterprise, that I'm afraid of any interactions. Maybe if you just close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing, you'll be able to sleep."
But Jim was becoming more agitated. "I want it to all stop now. I don't care. Just give me something." He was really starting to panic. He was now so overtired that there was no way to reason with him. He was just too agitated, as if he had an electric current contributing to his unrest.
Spock was becoming very concerned. His Captain was having a meltdown. He had to help. "Doctor, there is a technique I can use to help the Captain go to sleep."
"Not like what you did to him before you shipped him off to Delta Vega?" McCoy was horrified to think of subjecting Jim to the neck pinch again.
"No. The neck pinch renders someone unconscious. This technique would ease him into a deep sleeping state. I believe you call it REM sleep on Earth."
Meanwhile, Jim was becoming more unglued. McCoy looked down at him. Jim had tears in his eyes. McCoy tried to communicate with him. "Jim, are you in physical pain?"
Jim shook his head no. But as the tears welled up, McCoy knew he needed to be comforted first before being able to sleep. They were such good friends that McCoy understood what was needed. "Oh, Jim" he said gently and opened up his arms. Jim wrapped his arms around Bones' neck, and began to sob. "It's okay, Jim," McCoy quietly repeated over and over again, rocking Jim as he would do to comfort a child. Jim's emotions were clearly overwhelming him.
Spock was shocked to see so much raw emotion and caring displayed in front of his eyes. He could only watch silently, waiting for the moment when McCoy was ready for him to take over and help his Captain go to sleep. Within a few minutes the sobs quieted, and Jim fell back exhausted to the bed. Unfortunately, he was not asleep. McCoy looked at Spock and saw that Spock was waiting for the go ahead. McCoy nodded and leaned down over Jim. "Jim, Spock said he knows a relaxation technique that will help you go to sleep. He promised me its not what he did to you before. Is it alright with you?"
Jim did not open his eyes but he shook his head yes.
Spock leaned in with his right hand and gently touched Jim's forehead. Much to his surprise, Jim did not show any resistance as he entered the first layer of his mind. In fact, it only took about a minute before McCoy noticed that Jim's breathing had relaxed into deeper slower breaths. Shortly after, Spock pulled his hand away slowly. Spock had a rather surprised look on his face. He just looked down at Jim as if trying to make sense of something. McCoy was concerned. "Spock, are you alright?"
Spock suddenly realized that he had a witness to his surprised expression. He schooled his face to a more neutral demeanor and looked at McCoy. "Yes, Doctor. I was just surprised at how quickly the Captain responded to my suggestion. I would have thought he would be more resistant to my ministrations."
McCoy had a feeling there was more to it than that but decided to let it pass. He was just really grateful that Jim was sleeping at last.
"Wow, Spock. I wish you could teach me that technique. I have a feeling it could come in handy with some of my more recalcitrant patients."
"That would be highly unethical, Doctor," Spock stated using his left eyebrow to emphasize the point.
"Relax, Spock. It was just a joke. Seriously, though, thanks for helping Jim. I think he'll be out for quite awhile. I'm going to have someone deliver a nutritional drink for him. When he wakes up, I'd appreciate it if you would get him to drink all of it. I can also have something delivered for you. Anything special that you'd like?"
"Thank you Doctor. I have all my food needs programmed in my quarters."
"Well just make sure you eat something soon. I would prefer not having to worry about both my senior officers right now." Spock was able to recognize that this barb was merely a way for the Doctor to release some of his anxiety over his concern for Jim. He therefore did not respond, except for another lifted eyebrow. It seems McCoy knew how to get under his skin as well as his Captain did.
McCoy prepared to depart after one last look at Jim satisfied him that all was well for now. "Call me if either Jim or you need me. I would prefer to take the call myself." And with a quick nod toward Spock, he left the cabin.