I owe a big thanks to HeartofFyrwinde, who beta-ed this chapter for me.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Sickbay was much more subdued as McCoy performed Gael's morning check up. She kept her head down, and the light teasing that had developed over the last few days was gone.
"You wanna talk about last night, Darlin'?" He asked after he put his PADD chart away. She looked up from her sock-covered feet and shook her head. Sliding off the bed, she stood and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her face in his chest. Her silent message of just hold me was loud and clear. It was a strong testament to her trust in him that she would be seeking comfort in him, a man, after all she went through. "Aw, shucks, Darlin'," he whispered, and held her tightly. Somehow, during the last week, this young woman had endeared herself to him so much. When she told him the subject of her nightmares, it had taken every ounce of his self-control to not punch a hole in the wall or something. The rage...the need to protect her...was so strong, it kind of scared him. He did not understand it, but he did know one thing; he would protect Gael from anything that tried to hurt her from then on out.
At lunch time, McCoy performed Gael's final check up. Suddenly, his comm chirped. "Doctor McCoy," he answered, flipping the device open.
"Hey Bones, you think Gael would up for company today at lunch?" Kirk asked on the other end. "I mean, with last night's...um...incident...we, you know, weren't sure if she...uh...would or wouldn't be opposed to eating with us fellas."
Gael could not help but give a smile when she heard him. They were all so good and understanding. McCoy looked at her and she nodded. He grinned wryly.
"Well, why don't you boys come down and ask her yourself?" he said. "I'm just finishing up her last check."
"You mean you are releasing her?"
"Yes, Jim, I'm releasing her," he rolled his eyes at the hopeful tone in Kirk's voice. "She seems to be taking to the vaccines well."
"Yes! Did you hear that, guys?" Kirk whooped. "Tell Gael that Chekov, Sulu, and I will there in minute."
Gael leaned forward and spoke into the device. "I'm waitin' on ye, lads."
"Yes, ma'am! Kirk out."
McCoy and Gael shared a look before bursting into chuckles, the darkness of the night before momentarily forgotten.
Kirk, Sulu, and Chekov made it down to Sickbay in record time.
"Geez, maybe I oughta tell you kids she's down here waiting for you when I need to do a physical exam." McCoy smirked at their expectant faces. "She's grabbing her things from the ward."
Just then, she walked into the main exam area wearing a fawn-colored tunic and the khakis and carrying what looked like small grey suitcase in her hand.
Pavel took a hesitant step forward. "How are you doing, Gael?"
She took a deep breath, knowing what he was referring to. "Been better, lad." Pavel opened his arms, and Gael, dropping her case, immediately walked into them, holding tightly to his uniform.
"Ve are here for you," he whispered to her.
"I know; thanks" she mumbled into his shoulder, before releasing him and hugging Sulu and Kirk, who had picked up her case.
"Come on, let's get outta here before Bones finds a reason to make you stay," Kirk said, throwing his free arm around Gael as they left.
In the mess hall, they helped Gael go through the line, pointing out various alien dishes she was unfamiliar with. Finding a quiet corner near the back, they grabbed a table and sat down. Soon, they were approached by Carol Marcus.
"May I join you all?" She asked, smiling brightly.
Kirk immediately stood and gave her his seat by Gael. "Dr. Marcus! Um, yeah, of course...the more the merrier," he answered, pulling up a new chair form a near-by table.
Carol offered her hand to Gael. "Dr. Carol Marcus, science officer,"
"Me name's Gael," the Irish girl replied with a shy smile.
"Have you settled into your new quarters yet?
"Nay, have nae seen them yea," Gael said. "Doctor McCoy jus' released me afore lunch."
"Well, if you need any help, just let me know. I can tell you first hand that these men know nothing about making quarters homey."
"Hey, I've seen all of us guys quarters," Kirk defended. "I think they're fine."
Carol rolled her eyes. "My point exactly." Gael grinned.
"Aw, come on, Carol, my quarters aren't that bad."
"Your office looks more lived in," she answered with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I do things in my office. I sleep in my room."
"It shows," she shook her head. "So, if you want help with anything, Gael, Nyota and I are at your disposal. That includes time away from all these boys."
"Thank ye," Gael smiled. "I jus' might be takin' ye up on the offer. They are insufferable sometimes, this lot." She teasingly added. "Especially one named Jim." She winked at Kirk.
"Hey!"
"Believe me, darling, I know," Carol answered with an exaggerated eye roll and mischievous grin of her own.
"Ve are not zat bad, surely," Pavel cheekily said. "Ze keptin, of couse, but Karu and I, surely not."
"Yeah, Gael, we can't be that bad." Sulu added.
"Wait, who's th' captain?" Gael asked.
"That would be the one named Jim," Kirk answered with a smirk.
"Ye...ye are...th' ship's captain?" Gael grew huge and round.
"Yeah, who did you think he was?" Sulu said.
Kirk's grin widened. "The insufferable Captain James Tiberius Kirk, at your service."
"Sir...I...I..." Gael blushed as dark red as Uhura's uniform.
"Was making a joke and teasing me. Good work, Miss Gael," he winked.
"I'm sorry, sir, I-"
"Apology accepted, though unnecessary," Kirk dismissed her embarrassed words. "You were teasing. I like teasing, so you'd better keep up the good work, Miss Gael. Captain's orders."
Gael smiled and had to stifle a giggle. "Aye, sir."
"Very good," Kirk smiled widely. "Now, I suggest we finish up so we can show our guest to her quarters."
When they were finished eating, Carol excused herself with the promise of seeing them all at dinner. Pavel grabbed Gael's case and Kirk led the way to the crew quarters.
He led them down several hallways before stopping at a door. "Okay, this one is your's, Gael," he said, pushing the button to open the door. "There is a keypad lock, so you can program a code to get in for security's sake."
The room was small, but still nearly twice as big as the cell she remembered being in before. There was a bed in one corner, covered in a grey Starfleet issued blanket. Nearby was a small, silver, metal desk, and across the room stood a wardrobe for her clothes. Above the desk was a small round window showing the passing stars.
"Well, watcha think?" Kirk asked.
Gael took it all in by turning a slow circle. "I luv it!" She smiled.
"Excellent, because Bones is just across the hall," Kirk grinned at her enthusiasm. "He wanted to be close in case you get sick or something-said something about how you might be ill worse because of being for 2073-"
"2073?" Gael asked, as Pavel set her case on the bed. "Wha' think I'm from 2073?"
"That's when the ship you were on was from," Sulu answered.
"Sixty years," she breathed, dropping down onto the bed. "They had me frozen for sixty year afore they sent me out tae space..."
"Vot are you talking about?"
"I ne'er saw th' year 2073," she explained. "Th' las' year I saw afore they froze me was 2016." The three men looked at her with stunned faces. "I twas born in...in...I mus' have been born 'n 1995 or so."
"So that's why you said no one had this kind of space travel," Sulu mused.
"Aye," she nodded. "In 2016, the farthest man had yet gone was tae th' moon, an' for tha' they used a rocket-ship."
"Wow...okay...Sulu, Chekov, help her unpack, then show her to the bridge. I need to go have a talk with Bones."
Sorry if this one seemed a little choppy, but a lot is starting to happen, so bear with us here on the Enterprise. ;) Hope you all enjoyed.