Riker sat in the captain's chair on the bridge. The view screen was off, not that there was anything to look at. In a delta slip stream, one couldn't even see the stars passing by. Riker sat simply staring.
He wasn't looking forward to returning to Earth. There were going to be some tough questions, and he was going to have to answer for his actions. He knew when he made the decision Starfleet Command would call him in for questioning, but it didn't matter. Her life was at stake and he needed to do something.
"Doctor to Captain Riker," his communicator beeped.
He touched the badge on his chest, "Go ahead Doctor."
"Our patient is awake," The Doctor announced.
"I thought you said he was dead," Riker said, confused.
"What I told you, Captain," The Doctor replied, clearly irritated, "was that I don't know what he is. But I do know that right now, he is awake. I also have some other more…disturbing information."
Riker stood. "Hold on Doctor, I'm on my way," he said, walking to the turbo lift. He touched the badge on his chest, closing the channel.
The sickbay doors slid open and Riker strode purposefully in. He looked to bio-bed four to see the 'dead' man sitting up in bed.
"Hello mate," he said, "You must be tippy-top 'round here. Can you see bout getting' me my clothes back. The jacket I had was especially close to my heart."
He spoke in a definite English accent. He looked very well considering that, only this morning, they found him strapped to a bed.
"Captain," The Doctor called from in his office.
Riker walked past the threshold of what was officially considered the Doctor's office. The Doctor was sitting at his desk looking at a display on his desk monitor.
"How's our patient, Doctor?" He asked.
"I'm not sure," he said, finally looking up, "He seems to be okay, but still dead."
"Dead?" Riker's brow furrowed, "How can he be dead and okay."
The Doctor leaned back in his chair and indicated the dead man through the window.
"As you can see, he's up and speaking. But his heart isn't beating. He has brain activity, but his body temperature is still the same as the room. Some of my instruments tell me he is deceased, others tell me he's as healthy as a horse."
"Do you have any theories?"
"I have one," he said, turning the monitor, "but you're not going to like it."
Riker looked at the monitor, and then looked incredulously at the Doctor.
"You think he's a vampire?"
"I could have told you blokes that if you'd have asked," the patient called from the other room.
"Why don't we start with your name?" Riker asked.
He, Worf, and the Doctor all stood around bio-bed 4.
"Because I don't want to start with my name. Why don't we start with yours?"
Riker let out a frustrated breath. "Fine, my name William T. Riker. I'm the captain. This is my first officer, Commander Worf, and this is the Doctor."
The patient shrugged, "Right, well I'm Spike. Nice to me meet you, Captain William T. Riker. Now, where the bloody hell am I?"
The Doctor put a hand to Spike's shoulder, "Please try to remain calm. You're safe here. This is the Starship Enterprise. We found you…"
"Hang on," Spike interrupted, "Did you say 'Starship'?"
Riker was about to answer when the com beeped.
"Lieutenant Torik to Captain Riker."
Riker touched the badge on his chest, "Go ahead, Lieutenant."
"Sir, just wanted to inform you that we've reached the Terren System. We'll be approaching Earth shortly."