Chapter Seven: Dr King
At a knock on the door, everyone froze. "You…don't suppose…it's the double…?" Miss Gayle whispered.
Bashir and Sisko looked at each other and as one moved to station themselves one on either side of the door, weapons in hand.
The person outside knocked again, and this time called out. "Cathy? Are you all right?"
Miss Gayle relaxed. "It's Martin," she said, hurrying to open the door.
"How's the patient?" Steed questioned lightly as Dr King stepped into the room and Miss Gayle shut the door behind him.
Dr King crossed his arms. "First tell me why I should believe it wasn't you I saw shoot him," he said coldly.
"I told you, I have a double," Steed reminded him. "And do you think I'm crazy enough to call you to give the admiral first aid if I was the one who planned to shoot him?"
"Maybe you are," Dr King said in the same flat tone. "Schizophrenia…split personality…your 'good side' could have been subconsciously aware of what your 'double' was planning, and called me hoping to prevent the outcome."
"He's not schizophrenic," Bashir said firmly, not bothering to argue the details and precise definitions of mental illness that wouldn't be understood for several more decades.
Dr King raised an eyebrow. "No? Then tell me why no one ever sees Steed and this 'double' together."
"You would have if you had looked up just before the admiral was shot," Bashir told him. "I didn't actually see the double, but I can swear Steed was on the balcony with me when the shot was fired."
"You'll forgive me if I doubt the word of a complete stranger?" Dr King said sardonically.
"Martin, I haven't seen them together, either," Miss Gayle told him, "but I have seen them both. The double isn't Steed; his voice is off."
"I've heard that alternate personalities can speak in quite different voices," Dr King said skeptically.
"And Steed came in right after the double went out," Miss Gayle whispered, her doubts aroused again.
"But I've seen the double," Steed pointed out.
Dr King shrugged. "I'm not a psychiatrist, so I wouldn't know for sure, but it seems to me a schizophrenic could hallucinate his other personality…assuming he's not just lying about seeing him."
"Mm," Bashir murmured.
"A hallucination couldn't have beaten me up within an inch of my life," Steed objected.
"That was a lot closer than an inch," Bashir muttered.
"Excuse me, but just who are you?" Dr King questioned.
"Oh, sorry," Steed murmured. "Dr Martin King; Dr Julian Bashir."
Bashir extended his hand, and Dr King shook it with obvious lack of enthusiasm.*
"And this is Captain Benjamin Sisko," Steed added.
Dr King merely nodded in his direction.
"How's the admiral?" Bashir asked quietly.
Dr King relaxed slightly, sensing in Bashir's face and voice the same concern for human life he felt himself. "Critical but stable," he answered, speaking only to Bashir. "But I still haven't heard a satisfactory explanation of what happened."
Steed looked at Sisko, his eyebrows raised in question.
Sisko sighed. "Oh, why not bring one more person into it?" he asked wearily. "As long as you're sure you can trust him, Steed."
"Absolutely." Turning to Dr King, Steed told him everything that had happened so far.
"You're all crazy," Dr King muttered. "And I suppose you two don't have any more proof you're from the twenty-fourth century than Steed does that he's not his own double?"
In answer, Bashir knelt and retrieved something from his bag. "Dermal regenerator," he said quietly, handing it to Dr King.
Dr King turned it skeptically. "And I'm supposed to take your word for it?"
Bashir grimaced. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask for a demonstration," he admitted, opening his other hand to reveal one of the scalpels he had kept from the bag's original contents. Holding his left hand where Dr King could plainly see it, he made a deft cut across the palm. As the blood welled up, he held out his hand wordlessly for the regenerator. Switching it on, in moments he had reduced the cut to a faint pink line. "Satisfied?"
"I suppose I have to be," Dr King admitted as Bashir put the tools away. He looked toward Miss Gayle. "Sure you're all right, Cathy?"
She smiled. "My ankle's a little sore, but I'm fine."
"And you shouldn't be standing on it so long," Bashir scolded mildly.
"Why don't we all sit down?" Steed suggested. "Care for a drink, Doctor?"
"Brandy," Dr King replied as Bashir answered in the negative.
"Captain?"
"No, thanks; I'm on duty."
Steed shrugged and handed Dr King his drink. "One for you, my dear?"
"Yes, please," Miss Gayle replied.
Bashir caught the narrowing of Dr King's eyes at the friendly intimacy, and knew suddenly that neither he nor Dr King had anything to worry about. Steed wasn't especially interested in either Jadzia or Miss Gayle; he was just inclined to be a flirt.
"So how bad is it, Doctor?" Steed asked, sitting down with his own drink after getting one for Miss Gayle.
"He has a bullet lodged in his brain," Dr King said quietly, after a slight pause to determine which doctor Steed was addressing.
"Where, exactly?" Bashir questioned.
Dr King lightly tapped his own forehead above his right eye. "Right frontal lobe."
"Memory, judgment, behavior…" Bashir murmured, considering what was controlled by that part of the brain. "And the bullet entered slightly to the left; it must have left damage in its path…" He shook his head.
"It's a miracle he's still alive," Dr King agreed somberly. "Sir Charles Ellery is coming tomorrow to operate."
"The famous neurosurgeon?" Miss Gayle questioned.
"Yes. But even with him taking over the case, there isn't much hope."
"No…not unless I operate," Bashir murmured.
Dr King raised his eyebrows. "You're a neurosurgeon?"
"I've done neurosurgery," Bashir corrected.
"And an excellent job of it," Steed said, lightly tapping his knuckles on his skull.
"Look, Julian," Sisko said slowly, "I know you're a good surgeon, but restricted to twentieth-century tools, do you really have that much of an edge over a twentieth-century doctor?"
Bashir eyed him steadily. "Yes," he said quietly. "Knowledge of the brain has come a long way even before the invention of my equipment…and I could have an ace or two up my sleeve." He avoided looking at Steed, willing the man not to ask if he had a deeper reason for his self-confidence.
"All right. But we can't just pass you off as this Sir Charles."
Dr King squinted at Bashir. "Actually…maybe we can," he said slowly. "I've seen pictures of him, and you have the same basic facial structure. With some makeup to age you and a false beard and mustache, you might be able to get away with it."
Bashir turned toward Sisko. "Captain?" he asked almost pleadingly.
Sisko sighed. "I suppose we have no choice," he admitted. "If killing Admiral Westlake is how the double intends to change history, then we need to do everything we can to keep him alive."
* Illustration for this scene can be found on my DeviantArt account
Next chapter coming next week!
I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know! (Note that the spelling of some Avengers characters' names has been changed intentionally.)
Please note that I have internet access only once a week, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. If you have questions regarding my Deep Space Nine or Avengers alternate histories, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie