Disclaimer: SSDD

Warnings: None really for this chapter I don't think. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Mostly it's just cute – I hope.

Author's note: I decided to post this one too – because it's short and because I don't know whether or not I'll have a chance to post it tomorrow (which is really later today, since it's 2 a.m.)

Just wanted to see how you like it so far really.

Let me know.

Destiny's Child

Chapter 2

In Which Sickbay is Not Home

Jim sat on one of the beds in the med bay, his knees once again pulled up to his chest. Christine Chapel sat on the side of the bed trying to coax him into eating more of the vegetable soufflé she had replicated for him. It had been a dish he had liked before, but he'd immediately pronounced it as 'icky' and wouldn't even try a bite of it.

On the other side of sickbay McCoy sat in his office with Spock going over the numerous scans and tests he'd performed on Jim in the last hour. He had plenty of data to work with, but wasn't coming up with any answers.

"The only thing I can really tell you is that his body temperature is slightly low and his brain scans showed a couple of minor anomalies. Other than that there's not a damn thing wrong with him. No brain damage, no major changes in brain chemistry, all of his memory centers are intact. In short, there's no real reason at all for him to be behaving this way.

It does seem that although the scans show no memory loss, he isn't able to retrieve all of his past memories. He remembers the high points, he knows who you and I are, but he didn't remember Christine. He remembers his Mom and seems to have vivid clarity of details from when he was really young, around 4 or 5 years of age, but he doesn't seem to remember details of recent events. I can't be sure of any of this though because his cooperation is inconsistent at best.

He'll answer some questions but not all of them. I get a lot of shrugs and 'I don't knows' which doesn't tell me anything. He could know the answer to the question and just not want to tell me. Bottom line is until and unless he tells us what happened, we aren't going to know and I'm not going to know how to fix it."

"What are the anomalies on the brain scans that you spoke of, and do you have any idea as to whether or not this condition is permanent or temporary?" Spock inquired after taking in all that the doctor had to say.

"Well there's a difference in the patterns of brain activity between the last scans I took, which were right after he got that concussion a month ago, and now. This is the normal scan." He said holding up a scan to show Spock what he was talking about. "These highlighted areas here show his normal brain activity. This is the latest one. As you can see the only real difference is that there seems to be a bit more activity here, in these areas here that regulate the learning and development and speech centers. You usually see higher levels in these areas in young children.

Also there's a small dark spot here, in a normally unused section of the human brain, and as you can see, there seems to be a small amount of activity in that area as well. However, I don't know what the anomaly is, or what the indicated level of activity, as minute as it is, means. I'm an old country doctor, not neurology specialist. I'll send it off to a few specialists and see if they can tell us anything.

As for whether or not the condition is permanent or temporary, I'm afraid only time will tell. I wish I had better answers for you Spock, but I don't. For the time being, I'm going to have to pull rank as CMO and officially declare him unable to attend to his duties due to a medical condition. I'll fill out the paperwork but this immediately advances you to the temporary rank of acting Captain, until his condition improves, or we can figure out what to do about it."

"Understood, I believe that is the best course of action given the circumstances."

"Commander, I'm sorry to interrupt but the Captain is asking for you, and I can't get him to eat anything." Christine said from the CMO's office doorway.

Spock shot McCoy a raised eyebrow that could have meant anything from annoyance to incomprehension to 'help, what do I do?'. The good doctor seemed to comprehend the simple look however.

"What do you want me to do? He wants you not me. I'm mean, remember? He obviously remembers hyposprays, and me being the inflicter. You're just gonna have to deal with him for a little while until he warms back up to me. Meanwhile I've got to inform Starfleet of what's going on and make some kind of ship wide announcement about his condition."

The Vulcan sighed resolutely and rose to follow Nurse Chapel out into the main room. Before he left he thought of something prudent that the doctor should include in his address to the crew.

"Doctor, you may want to inform the crew not to approach the Captain until he is more comfortable with his surroundings. Perhaps you can tell them he is suffering from some degree of memory loss for the time being, without expanding on his condition. While on the way here from the transporter room I picked up a barrage of emotion from him telepathically, most of which was marked by high levels of apprehension, fear, and discomfort with his surroundings. He seems especially wary of the crew members in the hallways."

"Well that's explainable I guess. This is definitely some kind of regression and not brain damage. He seems to be operating and fluctuating on an emotional level somewhere between a preschooler and maybe that of a 7 or 8 year old at most. If he doesn't remember most of the crew, they're strangers to him. Little kids aren't allowed to talk to strangers Spock."

"I see." Spock simply replied and then headed out to see what the Captain required.

"Jim, Nurse Chapel informs me that you will not eat the food she has acquired for you. It is a dish that you have enjoyed in the past."

"It's yucky."

"Did you try it?"

"No way, it's got shrooms and peppers and kindsa yuck. It's scusting. I'm still hungry. And I'm cold, and I don't wanna be here no more. I wanna go home. Can we go home now?"

"You are home Jim. You live here on the Enterprise. Where do you think home is?" Spock inquired in effort to see just how much information Jim would part with.

"I dunno. I know Mom don't live in Iowa all the time no more, and I don't live wif her no more, on account I got big. Spock? I'm not big no more, but I am big. I don't like it. It's weird." His face contorted and he scowled and stuck out his bottom lip. When he looked back up at Spock there were tears in his eyes once again. "I'm tired and I'm hungry and I'm cold and I don't wanna be here no more. I wanna go home!" He wailed.

Spock could no longer resist the urge to comfort his friend. He sat next to Jim on the biobed and placed a hand reassuringly on Jim's knee.

"Jim you are among friends here on the Enterprise. I assure you that you are quite safe. We can get you something else to eat and Nurse Chapel will get you a blanket. Then you can rest. I have some duties I must attend to, but once they are finished I can return here and escort you to your quarters. Perhaps you would be more comfortable there."

"Yeah there, wif you, that's okay for home. Home is NOT sickbay, and I don't wanna stay in here wif mean old Bones."

"He will not give you any injections."

"Says you. He waits till you're not lookin'."

"I do not." McCoy protested, walking across the room towards Jim's bed.

"Do too." Jim said sticking his tongue out at Bones, before turning back to Spock. "Pwease don't leave me in here wif him. He's tricky."

"I'm afraid I must, but I will return shortly. Could you not consider trusting Dr. McCoy just a little? He is your very good friend Jim."

"I know." Jim said dejectedly, looking up at Bones with guilt and anxiety. "I might like him again if he's nice and don't stick me."

"I won't. I promise. Now what's this I hear about you not eating your dinner?" McCoy asked with uncharacteristic tenderness that was obviously the voice of learned Father who'd had his share of consoling and reassuring a small child.

"He says it is disgusting." Spock supplied.

"What would you rather have?" Bones inquired.

"Chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese."

"Okay. If I get that for you will you eat it?"

"Uh huh. Can I have grape soda?"

"Milk or water is better for you."

Jim scowled and then looked out of his lashes up at the CMO with a big puppy dog pout. McCoy heaved a big sigh before he relented. Those big blue eyes all tinged with innocence made saying no nearly impossible.

"If I let you have a little bit of grape soda, will you like me again?" Bones asked. In response Jim shot him a big smile and nodded profusely.

"I trust you will be fine to look after him for a while doctor?" Spock inquired before turning to leave.

"Yeah, I can handle it for a bit."

"But don't forget you promised to come back soon." Jim reminded him. Spock nodded his agreement before leaving.