"Don't be such an infant," Bones told her as he injected a hypo into her neck.
Jamie squirmed in the bio-bed, she really didn't like hospitals and she really didn't like doctors, present company excluded. "I'm fine, Bones."
He looked at her, "Oh, really? When did you get a medical degree? The last time I checked, I'm the doctor and you're the idiot who tried to fight some seven foot creature alone in the dark. I swear you are the dumbest genius I've ever met." Jamie smirked; she knew he wasn't mad at her, just worried.
"He was hurting Gaila, what else was I supposed to do?" she asked. "How is she?"
He glared at her, "No permanent damage, we're pretty sure that you saved her life. She's in the room next door, woke up 'bout an hour ago. She's worried about you, they all are." Bones filled her in on what happened after she lost consciousness. Braxim had called the 911 and scared the guy off, then he called the others. When they got there, Braxim was kneeling between Jamie and Gaila, making sure they were both still breathing. San Francisco police talked to the Xannon but they were handing the investigation over to Starfleet, they were going to want to talk to both cadets.
"Don't do that to me again, Jim." Jamie looked at him, right now, he wasn't the cantankerous southerner that she knew, he looked like he was terrified.
"Hey, look at me," his hazel eyes met her blue, "It's not the first time someone tried to choke me. I'm fine, Bones." She reached over, took his hand and gently tugged until he stepped closer to the bed, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead on his chest, "I'm ok, I promise. Sorry about your birthday."
"I'll live." Eventually, he wrapped his arms around her and let out a breath, "You scared the shit outta me, darlin'."
She looked up at him, "Wasn't my intent, trust me. I heard him hurting Gaila and I just reacted. Didn't know you cared so much."
Bones nodded, then he stopped and looked at her neck, "What is that?" She was about to ask when he grabbed a swab and swiped it over a small area above her collarbone; it came away black. Bones put it in a samples container and ran the tricorder over her again. "It's inconclusive. I have no idea why. I should probably scan Gaila again too." Jamie nodded; Bones was unstoppable when he went into his doctor mode. He kissed her forehead, "I'll be back. Get some sleep." She nodded and did as her doctor ordered.
Jamie woke up a few hours later to find Bones sleeping in the chair next to her bed, she laid there and watched the rise and fall of his chest and smiled at the way his features relaxed when he slept; he looked years younger. "You know it's creepy to watch someone sleep, right?"
Her eyes flickered to his, "I should've taken a holo. Prove to your mama that you actually sleep."
Bones smiled, "She'd love that. How you feelin'?"
"I'm fine. Can't go home, can I?" she asked even though she knew he's say no.
Bones shook his head, "We're running tests on that stuff I found on your neck, it was on Gaila too." Whatever it was, they got it from the thing that tried to choke them. Jamie couldn't remember what it was, she couldn't remember much of anything; apparently neither could Gaila. "They're going to put you in the same room in a few hours." Jamie nodded in understanding; whatever was going on it was better to have them together, at least they won't be alone all day.
"He's so hot. You really haven't slept with him?" Gaila asked after they got the two women settled in a double room and Bones checked on them.
She looked at the Orion, "No, I haven't."
Gaila raised an eyebrow at her, "But Jamie... Why not?"
Jamie thought about it, "The easy answer is that he doesn't see me that way. The more difficult answer is that he deserves so much better than me and I don't want to be in the way when he finds it."
Jamie wasn't expecting her green friend to laugh, "He loves you. And if I had to guess, I think he might feel like he's the one who isn't good enough for you." Jamie couldn't help but laugh, Bones was one of the best people she knew; hell, he's a way better person than she ever was.
Jamie was going to reply to Gaila but there was a knock on the door. They looked up to find Mitchell, Kelso, Glorak, Braxim and Uhura. Their friends sat with them joking around and updating them on the world outside the hospital. Braxim kept apologizing, "Brax, stop. It's not your fault. I knew what I was doing when I tried to help Gaila and I knew you weren't far behind me. Stop blaming yourself, you're the one who saved our asses." He looked around the room and was met with smiles and nods.
Kelso spoke up, "If it makes you feel better, we could just blame Mitch, it's more fun that way." Everyone but Gary laughed at that.
Eventually, the nurse kicked them out. The guys all said their goodbyes, Kelso gave Jamie a hug and Gary gave her a quick kiss before they left the room, promising to return if they aren't out of the hospital soon. Uhura stayed for another few minutes, on her way out, she turned and looked at Jamie.
"Thanks for… you know," the linguist said to her.
Jamie nodded and smiled, "Anytime."
She didn't remember falling asleep but it was Bones that woke her and Gaila up, they were both having nightmares that turned out to be eerily similar; dark, foggy, alone and something getting into their eyes and lungs, making it hard to see and breathe. Bones checked them both out and looked at each of their necks, another doctor ran into the room, "It's gone, isn't it?"
Jamie and Gaila looked at each other as Bones nodded, "How'd you know?" The other doctor explained that the samples they took were trying to get out of the quantum containment chamber.
"You want to fill us in docs?" Jamie asked. Bones explained that the substance he found was out of their systems, completely gone.
Gaila looked at him, "Where did it go?"
Both doctors shrugged and the doctor they didn't know sighed, "Home, maybe."
The next morning Uhura stopped by with news that she was helping with the investigation, the creature said something to Braxim and it was recorded. Lieutenant Commander Spock recommended her to the Commandant of Cadets as the best choice to figure out what it was. Gaila teased her the whole time, "I think he likes you, and you like him."
Uhura rolled her eyes, "He doesn't like me, he's Vulcan."
Jamie laughed, "Half, his mom is human." They both looked at her so she continued, "Went to school on Vulcan, I met his mom, Lady Amanda. She's nice. Spock's dad is the Ambassador to Earth; apparently, the lieutenant commander takes after him. I never met him, but maybe he does like you, I mean you're one of the smartest people I know and Vulcans value intellect." Gaila smirked.
Uhura blushed and stood up, "I gotta go but I'll be back later." She gave them both a hug and then left the room.
Bones entered as she left, "Making people uncomfortable again ladies?"
"Just Ny... she'll get over it," Gaila told him.