whooo I actually got this done tonight! Anyway, I really hope some of you decide to continue reading this story...
I'll delete the AN after a while, but since I'm uploading this chapter so soon after posting the AN, I figured it would have been pointless to post it separately as opposed to just adding it to this, and I'm too lazy to copy and paste, I'm just going to leave it up for now.
Anyway, I know this isn't the great chapter I wish I could write for making you all wait so long, but I guess it's got some important info on it :D
Disclaimer: I own none of this... however, my dad just bought me the new Star Trek movie so I own that!! just not the rights to it :D
Please review when you're done reading this. Reviews make me happy!
McCoy looked up from the PADD just in time to watch the family as they walked out of sight. He quickly followed them but did not interfere with the nurse's tour. He kept his eyes on the daughter, Rachel, as she observed everything around her. She seemed to carry an air of constant curiosity as she looked through every open door and even waved at some of the people she met along the tour. Wondering more about the girl, he took a quick glance at the PADD again.
Name: Rachel Elise Kirk
Sex: Female
Age: 17.8 Earth Years
Home: Riverside, Iowa, Earth, Sol System
Parents: Cmdr. George S. Kirk Sr. (52.4) & Winona M. Kirk (50.7)
Siblings: George S. Kirk Jr. (26.5) & James T. Kirk (20.0)
Occupation: Student at Starfleet Academy
McCoy sensed a pair of eyes watching him and looked up to see Rachel staring at him curiously from across the hallway before her father placed a hand on her shoulder to bring her back to the tour. McCoy smirked to himself as he skimmed the rest of the listed information on the PADD and hurried along to follow the Kirk family, being careful to stay a considerable distance away.
When the tour finally ended which was slightly later than it should have been since Rachel asked to see every room open to the patients, the nurse showed Rachel to her room and her family brought her luggage in.
"Oh, it looks so nice in here," Mrs. Kirk commented, obviously feigning excitement. Her fake cheerfulness didn't surprise McCoy. Most mothers disliked having their children in hospitals, especially when the child was in extended stay.
"I like the deep blue and ivory scheme," Rachel agreed as she sat on the soft bed. "It's nicer than my dorm room, anyway," she grinned. The girl kicked off her yellow sandals and brought her legs up so she was sitting cross-legged on the bed.
McCoy knocked lightly on the door frame, startling Mrs. Kirk.
"I'm sorry," McCoy smiled at the woman, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"I wasn't expecting you to come so soon," she laughed somewhat nervously. "You're the doctor, right?"
"Yes," McCoy nodded. "My name is Dr. Leonard McCoy and I'm assuming you're Rachel?" McCoy turned to the girl on the bed who nodded.
"It's nice to meet you, Dr. McCoy," Rachel replied and shook McCoy's hand. McCoy shook hands with the rest of her family as well.
"How long are you staying in town?" McCoy asked the Kirk family (excluding Rachel), trying to sound conversational.
"I don't think we've quite decided yet," Mr. Kirk replied but his daughter disagreed.
"They're staying for the day and leaving tomorrow," Rachel told the doctor. She turned to her family. "You really shouldn't be away from the farm too long and you all being here won't help me get better." Mr. Kirk sighed but gave in, knowing his daughter was right.
"Alright, well then I think we'll do a few quick tests and save the longer ones for tomorrow so you have time to spend with your family," McCoy told his patient. He took a few things out of his medical kit. "I'll need a blood sample first."
Though Rachel clearly didn't like the old fashioned needle McCoy used, the doctor eventually got a small amount of blood to test in the lab.
"And I hope you drank a lot of fluids today because now I'm going to need a urine sample," McCoy said as he handed Rachel an empty cup. Rachel caught her brothers snickering and gave them a look most women give when men are immature. "I believe your bathroom is through that door. Luckily, you won't have to share it with anyone while you're here." Rachel grinned, causing McCoy to smile in response. The girl had a contagious smile.
"Finally! No messy boys to deal with," she laughed and stuck her tongue out at her brothers.
The rest of McCoy's tests were finished quickly and McCoy was able to leave the family in peace. He sent the tests off to be examined and sat down on a couch in the faculty lounge. He pulled out the PADD with Rachel's records once again and read through the summary of her school records and medical past.
Rachel's life, though not completely ordinary, was normal for a girl with the opportunities she was presented with. She had skipped a grade early into her educational career and was hard-working student, not unusual for a Starfleet Commander's daughter, with no disciplinary records from her school.
She had gone to a psychologist approximately six years ago (her records didn't mention why, which McCoy found curious) but otherwise, as far as he could tell from her records, she had been perfectly healthy until about a three months ago when she began to fall ill for no apparent reason.
Her sicknesses didn't last for very long after she was given antibiotics, a few days at the most, but the doctors still couldn't understand why she was contracting and recovering from the illnesses at such a rapid pace. The antibiotics the doctors had been giving her worked until the bacteria became resistant to most of the medicines which was about a week ago.
Her previous doctor's records showed no evidence of her case being brought on by anything recent and her healthy past gave no clues as to if this was something she had acquired a long time ago and was only just now appearing. McCoy searched some records of any medicines or vaccinations Rachel had received throughout her life and found only one oddity.
About six years ago, Rachel had been given several vaccinations that most children wouldn't receive unless preparing to be exposed to a hostile environment.
McCoy leaned back into the soft couch and turned off the PADD, wondering why an eleven year old girl would receive vaccinations she didn't need.
