A/N: Warning: really bad science coming up. I'm not a chemist, okay? If you are, I'm sorry for completely botching reality.
Chapter 13: Alleviation
The laboratory was silent as they worked. Spock stood before the computer, studying the breakdown of the chemical composition...he had never seen anything like it. There were so many unknown components...but they had to try. He concentrated with his whole mind on this task.
McCoy stood two meters away from him, looking at a readout. His brow was furrowed as he muttered to himself.
"Damn Kathosian...bastard...I swear, if she..."
"Doctor, you are distracting me." Spock said, his tone uncharacteristically annoyed.
"Spock, we've been working for six hours. We haven't made any progress."
"I am currently waiting for the computer to finish breaking down the chemical. Once that is done, all we need to do is locate the particular element that is causing Nyota's reaction."
"Yeah...and then somehow create a counter-agent." McCoy said. He sighed, tossing his readouts onto the counter. "I don't want to discourage you, Spock. But...this isn't looking too good."
"You have a propensity for thinking negatively when the occasion does not call for it, Dr. McCoy. In the amount of time we have known one another, you have always managed to salvage the situation."
"Don't you think it would be logical, considering the odds, to have some doubts about this?" McCoy asked.
"I do have doubts, Doctor. I will not acknowledge them at this time." Spock replied, still looking hard at the computer screen before him. "As Nyota would say...we must retain hope."
McCoy didn't say anything about this entirely un-Spock-like comment, but it made him pity the Vulcan even more. Even he could cling to something so illogical as hope at a time like this...
Spock's determination gave McCoy renewed hope. If a Vulcan could hope, so could he. He picked up the readouts again, perusing the complex chemical equations. There had to be some way to locate the toxin and counteract it before it was too late...but time was running out.
After another half hour, McCoy left to check on Uhura. Her vitals were still abnormal, and slowly deteriorating, despite the hypos. McCoy guessed that she didn't have much time left...he didn't plan to tell Spock, but when he returned from the exam, Spock inquired about it. As her husband, he had every right to know.
"Has her condition worsened?" he asked, still not taking his eyes off of the screen before him.
"Some." McCoy replied, and hesitated before continuing. "Spock...if we don't get an antidote ready in four hours..."
There was no need for him to continue. Spock nodded once, and leaned closer to the computer.
Four hours...it was not much time. But Spock couldn't bear the thought of standing idly by and letting her die. He knew there was a way...he just had to find it.
The laboratory was entirely silent while they continued to work. The computer finally finished breaking down the chemical equation, and both Spock and McCoy sat at a counter to look through the readouts...looking for just one thing...
They found it at the same time. Spock's eyebrow shot up, and McCoy's eyes widened. They looked up at each other.
"It looks like a distant cousin of Amatoxin." McCoy said.
"Terran Amatoxin takes several days. It slowly shuts down the liver and kidneys...however, the victim usually remains conscious." Spock replied.
"I said it was a distant cousin. Use those pointed ears, Spock." McCoy retorted. "It has a few similarities to Amatoxin, is what I'm trying to say. Which will make our job a little easier."
They wasted no time in starting to form an equation for an antidote. One hour passed...then two...
"I think we finally have it." McCoy said, stepping away from the counter. Before him sat a beaker full of red liquid. He and Spock both stared at it for a moment. This could very well be what saved Nyota...or sped up her death.
"You should administer it immediately, Doctor." Spock replied, reaching for the hypo resting beside the beaker and preparing to fill it. McCoy reached out and plucked the hypo from his fingers.
"We can't! We need to test it on something first! Even if it doesn't work against the poison, I want to make sure it isn't dangerous by itself!"
"And who do you suggest we try it on?" Spock asked coolly. "There is only enough for one dose. Doctor, if the antidote is incorrect, we will not have time to reevaluate our results. As Nyota is dying, it is only logical to give this to her now. If there is something wrong with it, she will have died anyway. I am fully prepared to take the risk...I am eighty-one percent sure that this antidote will work."
They had a brief staring contest. After several tense seconds, McCoy sighed and lowered his eyes. "You're her husband...you make the decision."
Spock took the hypo back and filled it. He stared at the red liquid swirling inside it, until McCoy took it from him.
"Come on, Spock." he said quietly, placing a hand on Spock's shoulder. Usually, Spock would not allow this...but right now, he barely noticed it.
He followed the doctor out into sickbay. It was nearly deserted now...except for two nurses in the far corner, the only occupant lay on a biobed. Spock took his seat next to Nyota, noting that her normally-vibrant skin had a gray tinge to it. He slipped his hand into hers, as he had earlier, and McCoy leaned over the bed, injecting the untested antidote into her neck.
"Now all we can do is wait." McCoy said. He glanced at the two nurses in the corner, who were watching Spock closely- they could clearly see him holding Nyota's hand. "I'll set up the privacy curtains." he added, and moved to do so. Soon Spock was alone with his ashayam- or at least as alone as he could be.
He shifted the chair even closer to the bed, now holding her hand in both of his. If she awoke...no, when she awoke...he was determined to be there for her. He raised her cold hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
He watched her vitals. They did not drop- which meant that the antidote had presented no immediate dangers. But they weren't rising, either...
Spock was only vaguely aware when McCoy returned. He stood at the foot of the bed, also watching the screen, arms folded. Several minutes passed before he spoke.
"You know, Spock...I guess I don't know you as well as I thought I did." he said quietly. Spock glanced at him, but McCoy was still staring at the screen.
"Likewise, Dr. McCoy." Spock replied. There was another brief silence. "Doctor...even if it does not work...I must thank you. You have saved Nyota's life before, and have put forth all of your efforts to save her again. I am grateful."
McCoy looked at Spock, eyebrows rising high on his forehead. "Spock, you put forth more effort than anybody...both on Scorpius, and on Kathosia- and even now. I know I once said I don't understand why Uhura would choose you...but now I know. There's more to you than logic and precise calculations."
Spock looked back at Nyota's still form. Sometime in the last several hours, one of the nurses had changed her out of the golden dress and into a standard hospital gown. He reached over to smooth her hair away from her face.
"She always knew that. That is why..." he paused. He had almost admitted his love for Nyota to Dr. McCoy...although it must have been obvious, he didn't want to say the words to someone other than her.
"Look." McCoy said, pointing at the screen. Spock looked up at it, and his breath caught in his throat. Nyota's temperature was evening out, the functionality of her organs returning to normal...
"It worked." McCoy said, a grin spreading across his face for a moment. Then it slowly faded. "Now...we wait for her to wake up. It may be a few hours."
Spock bowed his head. McCoy didn't need to say anything further. Now that he knew Nyota would live...the question was...would she remember him?
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McCoy had drawn up a chair on the other side of the bed. Spock still held Nyota's hand in both of his, not caring that it was a display of affection. They did not speak, they did not look at one another. The only sounds in the otherwise empty medical bay were the soft beeps of her monitor.
An hour into their silent vigil, Kirk joined them. He didn't speak a word as he drew a chair up, sitting at the foot of the bed. Nyota was now surrounded by them- Spock on her right, McCoy on her left, and Kirk straight ahead. She would not wake up alone.
Spock knew he could attempt to access the link to check the state of her mind...but he was afraid to. The last thing he wanted was to again encounter that darkness, that impenetrable fog. He was not at all sure that he would be able to handle it. It would be easier to wait until she was awake...
He noted that she no longer looked gray. He could even see the very faint tint of pink under the light brown skin. He watched her closed eyes, willing them to open...yet dreading that inevitable moment at the same time. He felt queasy...what if she didn't remember anything, and still believed herself to love the Koshaak? What would he do then? Would either of them ever recover? The same questions whirled through his mind, over and over again...
He squeezed her hand gently, closing his own eyes. The anticipation, the dread, was almost too much for him. But he had to withstand it...for her.
Another hour passed in silence after Kirk's arrival. Finally...Nyota's eyelids twitched. All three men immediately leaned forward in their seats, holding their breath. Her eyelids fluttered open, and her dark brown eyes looked dazed. She looked around at each of the men watching her, her gaze falling on Spock last, and remaining there for several long seconds. Spock met the eyes he knew so well, hoping....hoping...
She turned her head to look at McCoy. "Is waking up in sickbay going to be a common occurrence every time I go on away missions?" she asked. Three breaths were audibly exhaled in relief. Kirk and McCoy grinned, and Spock squeezed Nyota's hand gently. She squeezed back, and looked over at him, a small smile curving those full lips. He desired to kiss her, but didn't want to do so in front of the others.
"What happened?" she asked. Spock looked up and met Kirk's gaze briefly.
"What do you remember, Nyota?" Spock asked, looking back down at her. She frowned slightly, biting her bottom lip as she struggled to remember.
"We'd just had dinner at the Koshaak's palace. And I was taken to his chambers...I remember him asking me to stay with him on Kathosia...and that's it. The rest is just...blank." Nyota replied. "Why? Spock, what happened? How long ago was that?"
"That was approximately eleven hours ago, Nyota." Spock replied. "The Koshaak drugged you to make you stay. We had to...rescue you."
"You rescued me?" Nyota was smiling again, the sparkle returning to her eyes as she looked at him.
"The captain and Dr. McCoy assisted me." Spock replied.
"Don't be modest, Spock- you did most of the work." Kirk said with a smile.
"Well, what happened to the Koshaak?" Nyota asked. Kirk's smile faltered, although she did not see it, and Spock's eyes slid away from hers, to stare at their interlaced fingers. No one answered her question. After a tense silence, it seemed that she had her answer. She took in a deep breath and changed the subject.
"How long do I have to be in medical, Bones?" she asked McCoy.
"I want to keep you for observation. The drug the Koshaak gave you contained an amount of a certain chemical that, while not toxic to Kathosians, is obviously deadly to us. Spock and I had to mix up an antidote for it. So needless to say...you've been poisoned. I'm keeping you for at least a full twenty-four hours."
"Well, that's better than three days." Nyota said with a shrug. "And I don't remember anything that happened, so I suppose I won't be traumatized."
"You will not be alone this time." Spock said so quietly that only she could hear. Her smiled widened, showing a glimmer of pearly-white teeth.
"I know." she replied. For the first time in hours, Spock reached across the link...she accepted him, and he entered the familiar mind. She was sending him love and gratitude, but he could also sense her exhaustion and weakness.
"Maybe we should leave these two alone now, Jim." McCoy said, noticing the look the couple was exchanging. Their eyes were riveted on each other's. He didn't think they even realized they were not alone.
The two left, and Spock was finally alone with her. He leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers, drawing away before kissing her again...he continued to plant little kisses on her lips, making her laugh.
"K'diwa, what are you doing?" she asked, raking her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. He felt her amusement.
"I almost lost you." Spock replied, leaning his forehead against hers. Her smile faded away.
"What do you mean? Was I that close to dying?" she asked, and he felt her concern...not for herself, but for him.
"You came very close." Spock replied, pulling away to look at her face. He decided that he would wait until she asked to show her everything that had happened...because he knew she would, eventually.
"So you rescued me. And then helped Dr. McCoy make an antidote. You're my hero, Mr. Spock." she smiled as she said this, and pulled him in for another kiss. As she did, her arm pressed against a certain spot on his abdomen, and he sucked in a sharp breath, drawing away. Her brow furrowed as she lifted his shirt...revealing several large, dark green bruises. She ran her cool fingers over them. "Looks like you've been in quite a fight." she said quietly. She rested her hand against his heart and looked up at him.
"I was." Spock replied, and leaned forward to kiss her again, her lips supple as they moved under his. He breathed in her scent, so grateful for the fact that she remembered him...and didn't remember what had transpired the night before. She was still his.
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He did not leave her bedside for longer than five minutes at a time. Kirk had excused him from his duties- actually, he had insisted that Spock stay in sickbay- which left him with more than enough time.
"Well, would you prefer to be on the bridge right now?" Nyota asked. She was sitting up, eating ice cream out of a bowl that rested on her lap. Although not part of her recommended diet, she had insisted that Spock get her some from the rec area. He had gotten several peculiar looks for walking around with ice cream, but he had not been able to resist her.
"I am where I should be." Spock replied, evading the question neatly. Although he loved Nyota very much, and did want to be here, he thought it illogical to be present when she clearly did not need him for anything other than ice cream runs. He would, at least, be of use on the bridge. They had left Kathosia far behind now, and would arrive in the Rigel system in a week.
She set the empty bowl to the side, and settled back onto her pillow. He could tell by the glint in her eye that she was about to ask him something. He braced himself.
"Why do you think the Koshaak wanted me so badly he was willing to drug me into staying?" she asked, her eyes not leaving his. Spock clasped his hands together before him.
"I have a theory." Spock replied.
"Well, what is it? Because ninety-nine percent of the time, your theories are correct." Nyota said. Spock rose an eyebrow, which she smirked at.
"I believe the correct percentage is eighty-four." Spock replied. "And my theory is that the Koshaak wanted you for two reasons."
"And?" Nyota turned onto her side, propping her head on her hand, watching him expectantly.
"The first...he somehow knew about us, and as we already know, he disliked Vulcans. Apparently because a Vulcan diplomat failed to adequately compliment his ancestor's art collection. He saw you as a challenge, because he knew you belonged to a Vulcan. Perhaps he did it only to spite me."
Nyota nodded her head slowly. "Sounds perfectly logical to me. What's the second reason?"
"The Koshaak was looking for a mate. He was obviously spoiled and would take nothing less than the best. He was charmed by your beauty, and like all men who always get their way, he was determined to make you his. When you refused to yield, he resorted to more forceful means."
They were silent for a while, contemplating his words. Then Nyota spoke again.
"Spock...what exactly happened? I know you're holding something back." Nyota said. Spock stood from the chair, and sat on the edge of the bed. She moved over to make room for him, and he adjusted himself so that he sat against the pillows with his arms around her.
"What he gave you was no ordinary drug." Spock replied. "Shall I show you what happened?"
She took his hand and pressed his fingers against her temples.
"Yes, Spock. Show me." she said.
He did. He showed her everything. And when it was over, he pulled out of the meld to find that she was crying softly against him.
"So much pain." she murmured against him. Spock immediately regretted showing everything to her, and she felt it over the link. "I'm not crying because I regret seeing all this, Spock. I'm crying because you couldn't when you were hurting the most. I'm crying because you had to see me like that, had to hear me say those things. I'm crying because you killed for me, and that is the biggest sacrifice you could ever make. I'm crying for your pain, not mine."
Spock closed his eyes and stroked her hair. Soon, her tears were gone and they sat in silence, arms around each other. She was burrowed against his chest.
"I'm glad I don't remember any of it." she said after awhile. "The only reminder I have is that dress." she moved her head in the direction of the golden dress that still lay folded on top of a nearby table. "I'd like to destroy it." she added. Spock placed a finger under her chin, turning her face up to his.
"If you would like...once you are sufficiently recovered, you could wear it one last time...and I could assist you in destroying it."
She stared at him in disbelief for a second, and then she smiled...soon she was chuckling.
"You know what? That's not a bad idea. There's no better way to destroy an article of clothing." she said with grin.
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It was three days later...and they were in Kirk's quarters- Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Nyota had been invited, but she had turned them down- she was working with Remaja again.
"Does she still not remember anything?" McCoy asked Spock, looking down into his brandy.
"No, Doctor. She does not." Spock replied. "That is for the best, I believe." There was a short silence.
"Spock, I heard that you requested two weeks' leave for New Vulcan. And Uhura just did, too." Kirk said. Spock met his stare.
"That is correct." he replied. "We have unfinished business there in regards to our marriage."
"Well, permission for your shore leave should come through tomorrow- I sent in a recommendation." Kirk said. "So we'll be able to drop you off on New Vulcan on our way to Rigel."
"Thank you, Captain." Spock replied. Kirk sighed.
"It's Jim, Spock. Call me Jim." he said, exasperated. McCoy smirked.
"Good luck getting through that thick Vulcan skull, Jim." McCoy said. Spock rose an eyebrow...he had found that after the events on Kathosia, he did not mind McCoy's 'teasing' so much. Nyota was correct- it was a form of expression in male friendships. He had found McCoy to be trustworthy...and although his friendship with him was drastically different from the one he shared with Kirk, it was still a friendship.
"What will you do on New Vulcan, Spock?" Kirk asked, ignoring McCoy.
"We will complete the marriage rituals that we did not observe when we married." Spock replied.
"What do you mean? You eloped?" McCoy asked, still smirking.
"Yes, Doctor- as a matter of fact, we did. We must now make amends." Spock replied.
"Let's hope you don't run into any trouble on New Vulcan. The two of you deserve a break." Kirk said.
"Wait a minute- you actually eloped?" McCoy asked, gesturing for Kirk to be quiet. "Doesn't that mean you acted illogically?"
Thankfully, at that moment, Spock felt Nyota through the link. She was done working for the day, and she was in his quarters, waiting for him....wearing the golden dress. Spock stood.
"Captain, I must go. I have business elsewhere." he said, trying to ignore the images Nyota was now sending him. Kirk and McCoy exchanged amused smiles.
"I think the wife just called him." McCoy said. "I remember what that's like. What did you do to get into trouble, Spock?"
"I assure you, she is not angry- or anything of the kind. I will see you on the bridge tomorrow, Jim." Spock said, and left.
"If she's not angry, I don't even want to imagine why he's in such a hurry to leave." he heard McCoy say after the door slid closed behind him. Spock suppressed a smirk as he walked down the corridor...heading down two halls to his own quarters. He keyed in his access code and entered- to find Nyota lying on her side on his bed, smiling seductively.
"That was quite unnecessary." Spock said, even as he took off his boots, not taking his eyes off of her.
"Maybe not, but it sure made you hurry up." Nyota said, grinning. "Come here, my adun."
He obeyed, resting his hands on her waist, kissing her. Her tongue flicked out to lick his bottom lip teasingly. She pulled him onto the bed, on top of her, and he growled, low, in her ear before biting her ear lobe. His hands found the front of her gown...Nyota heard a ripping sound, and smiled as she felt cool air on her body.
An hour later, they lay together in a tangle of limbs, still breathing heavily. Strips of gold fabric littered the bed and floor...they had effectively destroyed the Kathosian dress. Nyota propped herself up on an elbow and grinned down at Spock.
"And we still have our honeymoon on New Vulcan to look forward to." she remarked. Spock pulled her back down to him.
"Until then, there is still tonight." he said in a low voice, and kissed her.
A/N: Whoo! They really did a number on that dress ;) I knew I had to end the chapter on a happy note...but there will be angst-free chapters ahead!