Disclaimer: Not mine

Seeing Clearly Now

Watching the stars passing by at an inconceivable speed it occurred to Maggie Zacher-Hagen that life was precious. It was also terrifying, exhilarating and from time to time solitary. The ship was a remarkable piece of innovative technology, its skeleton a succession of colossal structural pillars. Its veins an unparalleled labyrinth of electrical engineering, its organs consisting of titanic accommodations encasing apparatus that powered and sustained life. At the very centre, the heart, the very thing keeping it alive and at the top the brain in which every decision was made. Interpreting an inorganic entity, the ship as a creature itself was warranted as it was just as much part of the life force as every individual creature that resided in it.

It was a point of pride to those that served upon the U.S.S. Enterprise, it certainly was to Maggie. She had studied hard at the Academy ensuring she had positioned herself top of the class in most of her chosen focuses. There was no lineage that had dictated her vocation, it had purely been an egoistic choice, never the less her family were proud and that had, surprisingly meant a lot to her.

She had found herself a member of the Bridge crew, quickly securing the position of Navigator. Being responsible for projecting the course of a starship was no small part. Determining the ship's position, velocity and direction took talent. Using the navigational sensors to determine situation, speeds and trajectories of other objects was an incessant occupation. Hours and hours could go by with neither a deviation nor obstruction to their journey, this allowed Maggie to contemplate other thoughts. Would she go and have a work out after shift? Would she finish that paper she had been writing? Would she catch up with the audio-visual communications she had received from friends? In those seemingly unending lengths of time where nothing much happened she was grateful she could detach and entertain herself with her internal musings and making sure she was keeping an eye on what was going on around her. Or so she thought.

"Lieutenant?" Nothing.

"Lieutenant Zacher-Hagen…!" Maggie could swear she'd heard something, looking down at her console she noted that all was in order. A firm hand on her shoulder caused her to turn around to identify the assailant.

"Captain?" She queried.

"Where were you Lieutenant?" Kirk asked. It dawned on Maggie that she must not have been as successful as usual at multitasking.

"My apologies Captain, can you repeat your order." He smiled at her then, a knowing smile that Maggie didn't enjoy.

"There was no order Lieutenant, just an observation." First Officer Spock made his way to the foreground. Great, just what she needed.

"Are you unwell Lieutenant?" Arching an eyebrow as ever Maggie could swear the Vulcan was being sarcastic if she didn't know better.

"No Commander."

"Perhaps it would be wise for you to visit Sickbay…"

"That won't be necessary Sir I assure you…" Maggie almost cut him off. The Captain tapped his comms badge.

"Bones, I'm sending down Lieutenant Zacher-Hagen, give her a once over will you." Maggie opened her mouth to object, firstly at having to go to Sickbay and secondly at the blatant impertinent comment. "No arguments Lieutenant that was an order." She rose from her chair, indicating to one of the other Officers to take over her station. Giving the Captain one last glare she left the bridge.

"It is not like Lieutenant Zacher-Hagen to lose her concentration at the task in hand." Spock observed.

"We all have our moments Spock, well, apart from you of course. Anyway, it'll make Bones' day..." With that the Captain took his place in the Captain's chair. Spock knew better than to further question the Captain, having become adept at recognising the situations where the Captain's penchant for theatrics was at play.

"What brings you to my neck of the woods?" Bones characteristically dolled up as he saw Maggie pop herself up on one of the beds. Maggie could feel her eyes inadvertently roll into the back of her head.

"Captain's orders." Is all she offered up.

"What seems to be the problem?" He was already scanning her with a medical device.

"Nothing as far as I'm aware. Kick the tyres, look under the hood. You know the drill." She smiled, he returned it.

"Apart from slightly high blood pressure there doesn't seem to be much to report." Bones picked up another medical device and placed it in front of her eyes, he looked puzzled.

"What is it Doc?" Maggie noted the ever so slight change in the Doctor's demeanour. McCoy noted that Maggie could pick up on his ever so slight change in demeanour, he wasn't sure if he found it unsettling or comforting.

"When did you last have your eyes checked?"

"Not sure, why?"

"You seem to have some weak focusing power."

"Weak?"

"That's what I said Lieutenant…" He began to pick up a hypospray. Maggie raised her hand to protest.

"Wait! What are you doing?"

"I'm going to correct your eyesight." She still had her hand raised in front of her, he gave her the look of are you really going to question me on this? She lowered her hand and he administered the hypospray. "You should notice a difference in your eyesight in a minute." He picked up the PADD a nurse had placed next to Maggie when she had first come in, typing something or other. Maggie didn't feel right, she couldn't put her finger on it. As McCoy reviewed her medical file Maggie lifted her hand in front of her eyes. "Better already?" McCoy asked.

"If by better you mean worse, then yes. I can't see." Maggie's vision had reduced to little more that shades of grey and black, barely being able to distinguish between McCoy and anything else. Plus, she was finding it difficult to breath. She tried to get to her feet in the panic that swept over her, she felt two strong hands on her shoulders keeping her put. The weight on her chest was increasing. "I...can't...breathe..." She was being lowered to the bed. "McCoy...what...the...fu..." The darkness took over her, the last thing she heard was McCoy shouting her name.

Maggie felt like she'd gone ten rounds with a Klingon. Slowly opening her eyes she immediately felt a sense of relief at the fact that she could focus on her surroundings. Pulling herself up and resting on her elbows she noted the lights in the Med bay were dimmed. For her comfort perhaps. The sensor board above her head began the bleep, alerting whomever to the fact that she was awake. Turning to try to decipher the readings Maggie missed McCoy all but sprinting from his office. Slowing his pace and stealing himself he approached Maggie's bed.

"You're awake."

"No thanks to you." She replied turning to face him. The look of guilt that instantly appeared on the Doctor's face almost made Maggie feel guilty for her glib remark, almost. "What did you do?" She asked.

"I didn't do anything, you went into anaphylactic shock."

"I was allergic? To what?"

"Retinax V."

"Oh, I see." The pun wasn't lost on either of them.

"If your eyesight continues to deteriorate we'll have to come up with another form of treatment." Bones told her in no uncertain terms.

"I'll leave that in your capable hands Doctor." With that she smiled and gave a mock salute.

"I'll let you rest." He turned to leave but stopped himself, placing his hand on her forearm he let and a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry." He looked at her.

"Don't be." He knew she wasn't the type to hold a grudge. After a few hours of observation Maggie was crawling out of her skin, McCoy grudgingly discharged her.

"See you around Killer." She laughed, he watched her leave, perhaps observing her a moment longer that he ought to.

Maggie was in her quarters, her shift pattern had changed rotation which meant she hadn't been on the Bridge for the last two weeks. Sat with her feet curled under her she squinted at the PADD in front of her.

"This is ridiculous!" She threw the offending item on the table in front of her and began to change out of her uniform. A sound resonated out alerting her to somebody being at her door. Quickly pulling on her night shirt she opened the entryway.

"Leonard?"

"Maggie" He nodded. For a moment Maggie wasn't sure what to do, she wasn't aware the Doctor made house calls.

"Please, come in." She moved slightly to the left to allow him in, the top of her head only making its way to middle of his torso. He surveyed the room quickly then his gaze landed on her. He noticed her brunette hair was down, falling in large curls around her shoulders and the top of her arms.

"What can I do for you Doctor?" For a moment neither spoke, or moved. Slowly, Bones twisted his forearm allowing Maggie to see that he had something in his hand.

"For you." Is all he volunteered. Maggie took the small oblong box from his hand and ran hers over it. It was old, made from a material she wasn't use to. "It's leather." He remarked as if reading her thoughts. She opened it slowly revealing a pair of silver spectacles. She glanced up at his face, the faintest hint of a smile was evident at the corners of his mouth. She took the glasses and placed the box on the table. Slowly she placed them over her blue eyes, she regarded the room around her, taking in the difference to her vision.

"Better?" He asked.

"Much, thank you." Maggie was about to say something else but was cut off when the Doctor's hand slowly raised and ever so carefully touched her chin. Moving her head from side to side he studied the apparatus. She was taken aback.

"My, what beautiful eyes you have." He whispered.

"All the better for seeing you with." She smirked. Gradually, still holding her chin he bent his torso forward towards her until their faces were aligned. "I thought boys didn't like girls who wore glasses?" He could feel her breath on his lips.

"I always did have a thing for the studious type." He gave her his million watt grin then and she returned it with her own. Closing the space between them he kissed her, it was exhilarating and oddly au fait. A moment later Maggie removed the specs, letting them swing between her fingers. Well now, she thought to herself. I guess I owe Commander Spock and Captain Kirk a thank you.

My two previous stories were intense and heavy so I felt the need to write something light. That's not to say that this might not end up on the angsty side of things but you never know. I hope you enjoyed this! It would be very much appreciated if you'd let me know your thoughts (good and bad) by reviewing. LLAP XXX