Carissa didn't know if she was called for so many away missions because Spock wanted her to see how to organize one although he rarely did that and only more or less gave her the lead for the science party once they were down. Just that this mission included scheduled contact with the natives. Another ship had 'accidentally' made contact with them because the natives had sent a satellite into space and Starfleet members were discovered by said satellite and just invited to the planet. Apparently, the same situation had occurred this time and their technology had improved so that they could make out their ship at warp and send them a message to that distance to invite them to the planet. But as she heard when they were getting ready to beam down, they would first spend a few hours examining the planet. Carissa gave a nod and once they were down, she told all the scientists where they had to go, before she started her own scans. Almost half an hour later, her comm beeped.

"Carissa, you're gonna want to see that" Gino informed her

"What? Where are you?" he described her the way to a cave that was about five hundred meters away and she went there. She marveled at the inscriptions in the stone and scanned them. They didn't seem old and she wondered if maybe that was an old mine. After all most of the people on the planet here were miners and some of them even lived in the mines. She planned to show the writings to the communications lab to learn what they'd say. She entered and there were even more inscriptions so she scanned them too. After she went round the corner, there was a long stair down which she took. Unfortunately, by the end of it, she was in complete darkness, so she used the tricorder as a small light source. But she still didn't see much and therefore was feeling her way along the walls. There seemed to be like an entrance and then one long corridor. A part of her felt queasy and she wished she hadn't told Spock that she could do this alone. "Hello?" she called for the others "Where are you?" no answer. So she gulped and started walking along the corridor. After a few steps, she decided to have a look around and instantly wished she hadn't. This wasn't a cave. It seemed to be a tomb or better said catacomb. Like petrified, she stopped and felt her teeth starting to chatter. There were some kind of coves in both walls and held bodies. Well, not just bodies. Mummies. The one thing she feared most in this universe. She felt that she was shaking and swallowed, unsure what to do. She just wanted to run out of this cave.

"Carissa? Is that you?" she flinched at the voice and didn't dare to look around

"Y-yes" she croaked

"Wicked, isn't it? Just walk along that corridor, take the stairs and then go right. We're there"

"O-okay" she didn't know why she listened. She only looked at the floor, with occasional, short glances to the walls to make sure none of the bodies dared to move. She knew it was stupid and more than illogical to believe they would wake up and want to harm her but her phobia told her that this was very likely to happen. A part of her didn't even dare to breathe, in fear she would be heard. Finally, she had reached the end of the corridor and when she went right, the catacombs seemed to be over, at least for a while. But that didn't calm her in the slightest "H-hello?" she asked timidly, only to feel how she was grabbed a second later. She screamed at the top of her lungs in shock, trying to slap her attacker.

"Woah, easy there. Just me" Gino said

"Gino" she breathed and looked at him

"You alright?"

"I…. yes" she lied.

"Okay. Follow me" he had a torch and led her to the right, where they were approached by two geologists.

"What's wrong? Why did she scream?"

"Must've scared her" Gino chuckled but Carissa didn't find it funny. She hated that they now were in another corridor with new of these…. bodies and what she hated even more was the fact that the geologists and Gino had a torch so that she could see the object of her fear much better this time. A part of her couldn't look away although she knew she'd regret it if the picture of them was etched into her memory.

"Are you alright? You look pale"

"No, I'm fine… just the shock" Carissa insisted not wanting them to know about her fear

"What did you do, Gino?"

"Not much. Only touched her"

"Yeah whatever…" the female geologist dismissed it

"What did you find?" Carissa asked, hoping it would distract herself

"What do you think?" she spread her arms a bit "This of course. That is so amazing"

"Uh yeah" she agreed, searching for a way to leave as quickly as she could

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Of course"

"Or are you afraid?" the male geologist wanted to know "I mean some of them look quite scary"

"No" she muttered and looked down. But she jumped when something touched her shoulder and she shrieked again

"Not scared my ass" Gino muttered "What's your problem? They're all dead"

"Yeah. It's not like they're gonna get up and walk towards you like zombies" unfortunately the Ensign also demonstrated it

"No wait, I think that one's been moving…" Carissa's head shot in the direction "Ah no wait, he's dead too" she felt tears in her eyes

"Come on let's go" Gino said gently pushing Carissa forward but she was like frozen to the spot "Hey look, as we said, they're all dead. They can't do us anything"

"And if not, well I don't even know how we'd fight them. Are they even able to feel pain? What do you think, how would a mummy fight?"

"Maybe they'll just fall apart if you touch them" the female said and went to one of the bodies, touching it's face "Oh wow, the texture feels weird. Almost dry but not like stone" to Carissa's dismay now everyone except her was touching one of the bodies.

"Stop that, please"

"They're dead, it can't upset them. Do you even hear your-…" she stopped and screamed

"What is wrong" Gino asked while Carissa had taken a step back and was trembling

"It moved. I felt it"

"Let's leave, please" Carissa insisted

"Now come on, don't be a baby. This is amazing"

"But I've got so much to do outside. B-besides, I'm leading that mission. And I-I order you to stop messing in here. If you can't behave you need to leave"

"Ah come on, just because you shit your pants you don't have to ruin our fun too. I'm sure our new friends want us to stay" the geologist leaned down "how was that? Please don't leave, we could have so much fun? Okay" again someone had found it funny to scare Carissa from behind

"Boo, I'm a mummy and I've come to eat your brains"

"That's a zombie"

"We don't know what a mummy wants. Maybe it's just her body because theirs is… dry"

"You know what, Carissa? For the first time I think Commander Spock would be more fun than you"

"Yeah. At least he wouldn't be scared shitless"

"He too wouldn't like you touching them"

"Like I said, what's supposed to happen, they're dead and… oh shit" she had somehow managed to rip of one of the mummies arms "Oops. I didn't want that, Mr mummy"

"What did you do?" Carissa screamed

"Come on, chill. He won't ever know"

"What if the living don't like it?"

"They'll never know…"

"Could have fallen off by itself" Gino said and went to inspect the arm as did the second geologist. He even took the arm and came towards Carissa with it

"No" she insisted, feeling her mouth go dry. She didn't want that thing to touch her

"Just touch it"

"Why? L-leave me alone" they laughed

"Poor Carissa is afraid of some dead mummies"

"That's not funny. Please stop" she felt tears running down her cheek and before she knew it, she was running towards where she thought the exit was. A part of her was considering to turn off her tricorder as a lightsource that she didn't have to see them anymore. On the other hand, she somehow believed that they were scared of light and would leave her alone as long as it wasn't completely dark. Once she was in the middle of the first corridor she also did so and was running in the dark. On the stairs she regretted that because she collided with something and with a scream she stumbled back and lost her footing. She felt how her arm and waist was being taken hold of "No" she screamed "Let me go"

"Lieutenant" it was Spock. She let out a long sob and dug her fingers into his arm, breathing his name "What has happened? Are you in danger?"

"I-I… out" she breathed "out please" luckily, he complied and started leading her outside, while she was clinging to him. Just outside the catacomb he stopped but she shook her head "leave. I want to get further away" when he made no move she tried to break free from his grip and run away but then he seemed to notice and led her away from the cave. Again he wanted to know what she had but she only flung herself around his neck and started crying. Now also the Captain approached them

"What the fuck is going on?" he tried to hand Spock a tricorder. "here, don't drop it again" drop? Her husband had dropped something? "Hey, Lieutenant, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost" of course that didn't make it better.

"I believe she is currently under shock"

"What? Were you attacked?"

"I do not think so. Can you tell me what has occurred?"

"I-I…. remember our conversation why I call myself Mommy? I-it were catacombs"

"I understand" he replied

"You understand what? What happened in the cave?" to her dismay also the other three scientists now came out of the cave, the geologist still carrying the arm with her "Are you alright, Carissa, you don't seem well. And what have you got there?" he asked the geologist with the mummy's arm.

"Oh uh… that's nothing" she tried to hide it behind her back "Carr, are you alright?" she only dug her face deeper into Spock's chest, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

"What's going?" Jim wanted to know

"I have no idea. We were in the catacombs and mocked Carissa a bit about the mummies and she totally lost it"

"Ensign Olivier, I am certain you have been aware that the Lieutenant has felt afraid. Might I inquire why you did not cease to make comments, seeing as they have clearly upset her?"

"Well uh… you know, we didn't know it was that bad. We just wanted to make her laugh"

"I doubt she would have found it a laughing matter and I fail to understand how her condition could be a source of amusement"

"We weren't laughing at her or so. We tried to help her"

"Somehow I have the impression that this is at odds with the truth or that you definitely failed. I shall repeat the Captain's question, how did you acquire the item in your hand?"

"Uh well…. It lay around"

"You ripped it off" Carissa shrieked "You made him angry"

"Oh come on, really? He's dead. Dead. Dead. dead. Which means he won't even know"

"While he might not be concerned it could anger his living relatives that you mutilated the body"

"Let's just hide it and pretend and it didn't happen"

"That would be unethical. I would have believed you are able to consider the consequences of your deeds"

"Look, I didn't want it to happen, I just touched it and it fell off"

"That seems impossible"

"Okay but it was an accident. You tell the natives that if you want to inform them"

"No Ensign, seeing that it is your fallacy it would only be appropriate if you apologized for the incident and offer your assistance to redeem yourself" he continued that he would report this to Starfleet as well and also mention that they had deemed it necessary to make fun of Carissa because she was afraid. At the time, her only fear was that she would be forced to do something against her phobia if Starfleet heard of it. After all it could anger the natives that one of the bodies had been mutilated which would not have happened if she had not been such a baby. That made her cry again and felt how Spock gently caressed her head.

"What do we do about her?" Jim asked "Shall I call Bones?"

"Lieutenant" Spock said "Do you agree to this proposition?"

"Dunno… I just want to get away from here and get distracted… maybe that helps"

"Very well. In case you do not feel better, I shall request that you are brought back to the ship" she gave a nod and didn't dare to say that she just wanted to stay with him. Because it was quite okay as long as she knew that she wasn't alone.

-oO0Oo-

Luckily, she felt much better half an hour later, when they were supposed to meet the natives. She was also glad that no one mentioned her outburst anymore and also not what the geologist had done. The only thing that was mentioned was when Jim and the First Officer asked if she really was okay or if they could do something. She declined but refused to let go of Spock, who didn't seem to mind holding her hand. Since he was in charge, Jim accompanied Jenna when she had to admit what she had done to one of the mummies and to Carissa's surprise and relief, they didn't seem too bothered. Of course they had apparently reprimanded her for just touching the bodies but according to the geologist, they didn't seem too mad. That made Carissa feel hope because maybe it meant that no one would ask her to try and treat her phobia. But when they were led into the mines, where they were invited to dinner with the natives and were allowed to sleep, she felt queasy again because she didn't want to go down in another 'hole' on that planet. Luckily, Jim seemed to sense that she was not feeling well and asked the natives if they also had their dead people somewhere in the mine, which didn't seem to be the case, unless of course someone had died within the last few hours. After he got the reply, the Captain winked at Carissa, who could only smile a bit.

Yet the whole situation was not under control as much as she had believed because she could eat almost nothing during dinner and just sat there, holding her husband's arm while she stared at her full plate. When the others were done, the natives told them to go and retreat to the rooms they were assigned to get some rest and offered Carissa to take her plate with her. Under other circumstances she would have appreciated the gesture more but a part of her was still glad, maybe she could eat a few bites in the night. Because she doubted she'd be able to sleep.

"Are you certain you wish to remain on the planet? I could request to have you beamed back onto the ship"

"No. I-I want to stay with you. I'd be alone on the ship. I might not be able to sleep but at least you'll be here and I can focus on that and feel better" she pecked his lips and snuggled closer to him

"Very well" he carefully stroked her cheek "You may wake me any time if you would like me to comfort you"

"That's sweet. But I don't want to bother you"

"Carissa, you could never bother me. I value your wellbeing above my own" she smiled

"Okay. Then you might want to reconsider sleeping because I'll wake up as sure as hell" he gave a nod and leaned over, to distinguish the light, but she grabbed his arm "No. Light calms me in such nights. I need to see the room is empty"

"I understand" she removed her trousers and then settled back on the bed, almost yanking her husband down to the mattress with her so that she could place her head on his chest. He stroked her hair and massaged her scalp, which she acknowledged with a satisfied hum and dug her fingers into his sleeve

"D'you think Erik will miss us?"

"I am certain he will notice our absence and inquire as to our location and request that we either return or he is allowed to spend the resting hours with us"

"Yeah, probably. Somehow it feels mean to leave him alone"

"He is not alone"

"I know, not really. But still… we should be there. What if something happens and the ship has to leave and we're stuck here without Erik for ages?"

"I hold the view that they would let us return back to the Enterprise in case we had to leave in advance"

"Okay true" she let out a yawn "Sleep well" she mumbled

"I suppose it would be adequate if I stay awake until you are asleep if it calms you"

"I couldn't ask this of you"

"There is no reason to ask me for this, seeing that I have just made the proposition" she chuckled

"No" she said "You don't need to stay away on purpose. In fact, I also enjoy watching you when you sleep. That's fascinating and calming" he raised an eyebrow

"As you wish" she smiled and kissed him again before she snuggled back onto his chest and draped the blanked, which felt more like a plastic foil, over them.

"Night"

"That is not quite correct, seeing this planet does not truly have a day and night cycle due to the three suns and the fact that the planet Prokath C83TI does not spin" she chuckled

"You know, if you recite such facts in the night, or well the eternal day, it kind of sounds like a documentation. Feels like when I was younger and was in bed while Mum and Dad were downstairs, watching a documentation about something. At times I would get out of my room and sneak to the stairs to listen to them. In fact, one of these narrators had a similar voice like you. But don't worry, I like yours way more" she chuckled "But for that reason I kind of always could connect your voice to my childhood in the lecture, which was probably why I didn't hate you like most others did. That doesn't mean I understood what you said. You just were there, talking and talking and I thought to myself how it was possible to know that much. Over the years I've come to learn that you know even more than I initially thought but not everything"

"I doubt that there is no being that possesses knowledge of everything"

"Did you just deny the existence of God?" she chuckled

"Not of a God specific just an all-knowing being"

"As which God is often described"

"May I inquire your opinion on this matter?"

"Good question. I don't really believe in religion…. I mean I can understand that people used it as a way to describe how the Earth was created and all before science was a thing. And uh, well, since that part of the bible definitely isn't true, I doubt the rest is. I can't say about the all-knowing being however. I mean, if he existed then probably in some kind of other reality or universe. I mean, some people say he lives in space above earth. But uh yeah, I think someone'd have found him by now if he was there. I somehow believe that for the people in Middle Ages God was something to explain everything that they couldn't explain or couldn't believe it happened. So it was just easy to blame or praise someone else"

"A fascinating thought" she grinned

"You know, I kind of have the theory that those kids were a bit like Erik and be like 'what tis?' when he sees something that interests him. But these people didn't have parents like us so they invented stuff like God. Also I mean, Christianity isn't even the oldest religion…. So if there was a real God, I kind of believe that most people on earth would have believed in the same one…. I don't know about Jesus though… I mean he could have existed… but I doubt he was actually planning to found Christianity. I mean… the inscription on his cross literally read 'Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews'. Part of me doesn't even get how that could have given a new religion. Maybe he really existed and his mother claimed 'No, no I'm a virgin. God have him to me' and that stuff. And maybe this Jesus was just a wacko and a con trickster who just pretended to have done all these wonders. Maybe because his mother had been called a liar and he wanted to prove that he is indeed a son of God"

"Carissa, what you have said could be considered to be blaspheming and could have gotten you burned as a witch in the Middle Ages"

"Yeah, probably. But we don't live in the Middle Ages, do we? People in the Middle Ages believed a lot of weird stuff. Earth is the center of the universe and the solar system? Earth has the only intelligent live? We both know better" she chuckled and kissed him again "And I'm glad these people were wrong" she placed her head back on his chest "Night. No, Day" she mumbled, suddenly feeling tired.

-oO0Oo-

And of course it would have been too good to believe that she'd be allowed to sleep well that night. She woke up with a scream after having dreamed that the one mummy that was missing it's arm had come here to get revenge and choke her to death. She shot up and looked around the room to make sure everything was alright and that no one else as here. She looked down to Spock, letting out a breath that she hadn't woken him. Then again it seemed weird because usually he was the one to shake her awake when she had a nightmare. With a sigh she settled down onto his chest again and dug her fingers into his shirt

"I'm glad I didn't wake you" she mumbled and placed a hand over his heart. When her stomach growled she looked to the nightstand where her food stood, considering if she should just get herself a midnight snack. Deciding it couldn't hurt, she grabbed the plate and started to try the different things. Some tasted very good while other stuff was something her tastebuds wanted to spit out. Suddenly, she heard a clang from one of the corridors and she let out a shriek. Only a second later she realized that she had dropped her plate. On Spock. "Oh my God I'm so so-…." She froze when she realized he hadn't woken up "Spock?" she asked, gently shaking his shoulder. Nothing. So, she shook him harder, calling for him again but he still didn't move. Fighting back tears and panic, she checked his pulse, breathing and heartbeat which seemed fine before placing a hand on the side of his face, hoping she could at try to reach him mentally "Are you okay?" she asked but of course got no response of any kind. "Shit" she muttered and took her tricorder from the nightstand, not caring it was not for medical examinations in the first place. But before she could properly scan her husband something else rose her interest. The CO2 saturation of the place was quite high. Dangerously high. Having absolutely no idea what to do, she looked around. If she should call for help? Maybe the natives were in danger too? Then she saw Spock's comm on the floor next to him and trying not to leave the bed, she took it and called the Captain. Nothing. Knowing that no one else had a communicator with them, she contacted the Enterprise.

"Is something wrong, Lieutenant?"

"I-I think so. There's at least 6% CO2 in the air and Spock doesn't wake up. But he's alive. I think there's been an accident in the mine. Can you send down a team to help evacuate the natives? The Captain also doesn't respond"

"Hang on a minute" the call was paused and she clung to the device while her other hand squeezed her husband's "Lieutenant?"

"Yes" she breathed, glad they were back

"It appears that no natives are in the mine right now. They all left it. It's only the landing party. Except for you all others seem to be asleep"

"I don't think Spock is just sleeping. Beam us up, now. All of us"

"Stand by, getting ready for transport" she gave a nod and made an agreeing sound. About a minute later, she found herself on the transporter platform. Also the rest of the landing party was in the room, being examined by nurses. Two approached Carissa and one scanned herself while the other one took care of Spock. The man behind the transporter console came towards them.

"Are they alright?"

"Nothing we couldn't take care of. Everyone except for her is unconscious though, we should find out why. Let's get them to Medbay" one of the doctors contacted the Medbay and shortly after, they were on their way. When they arrived and wanted to treat Carissa, she almost shooed them away.

"I'm fine. I'm more worried about the others" yet they finished some scans and declared her healthy and fine but advised her to take it easy for the next 48 hours or so because she still had gotten a high dose of the gas. The door swooshed open and the Acting Captain of Beta shift entered, nodding at the nurses before asking Carissa for a short briefing on what had happened on the planet. She let out the whole issue with the catacombs and just mentioned they'd been down there before meeting the natives.

"We should contact them in the morning to ask if they are alright. It's good they managed to get out of the mines by themselves"

"They could have just woken us too" she muttered "I mean, did they forget about us or not care? Besides, shouldn't there be an alarm that goes off in such a case? Why didn't I hear anything? Also, why am I not unconscious like the others?"

"Good question. Have they been somewhere where you haven't? Or done something you didn't?"

"Well no, we were together most of the times. At least I was with someone at almost every time. But maybe I was like so lucky and wasn't at one place long enough…" she tried to recount what places she had been to and who had been with her. "And well, after dinner we went to our respective rooms. But I can't tell you if Spock or I have fallen asleep first, maybe that has an influence?"

"I somehow don't think so. The unconsciousness seems to have nothing to do with the gas"

"Then how did it happen?"

"When you were at dinner… did they consume something, you didn't?"

"Well technically, I did not eat at all. I mean, I ate something a little before I called you" two nurses exchanged a glance and then scanned her again

"If we consider this, she too shows some readings the others do. Just not as strong. It is likely, that she too will fall unconscious, depending on the amount she ate. Is there still food left?"

"Uh yeah it's scattered on the bed. I dropped the plate"

"Good" the Acting Captain contacted the bridge and ordered to send two people in protection suits down in the mine. One of the nurses had the job to find two or three biologists that would have a look at the food. When Carissa offered to help, she was only told to relax.

"The only way I feel I can relax is when I know if the others are in danger"

"They are not. In fact, they should wake up in the course of the next hour. I think that all of you can be dismissed in the morning. One of the people asked if she wanted to get changed into a hospital gown but she refused

"But uh, you might want to put on something" only now she realized that she wasn't wearing trousers.

"Oh" she draped the blanket over her legs "That works too for now. I'll just ask someone to get me something for in the morning when I can leave. "Thanks for telling me though"

-oO0Oo-

She had no idea when she had fallen asleep again, but she was certain she had been asleep because she couldn't remember that Spock had joined her in the bed and pulled her against his chest. She smiled because it told her that he was fine. Not much later, she felt also her husband stir

"Sorry I woke you"

"There is no reason to apologize. It is good that you have woken up" he replied, carefully touching her face

"I was unconscious, huh?"

"Yes, you were"

"And when have you woken up?"

"3.2 hours ago, which has been approximately 30 minutes after you have fallen unconscious according to one of the nurses"

"Hey, are you awake?" Jim whispered

"Yeah"

"Glad to hear that. Care to tell me what happened? All they told me was that we could be lucky to be alive and we'd be dead if it had not been for you"

"Long story" she mumbled, feeling tired and snuggled closer to her husband, feeling relieved when she realized that she finally was away from the planet and the object of her fear. "Did everyone wake up?"

"Yes. But the other three are asleep now"

"No I'm not" the male geologist piped up

"Perhaps it would be fortunate if we postponed the discussion to the morning and tried to get some more sleep" Spock said. Carissa didn't need to be told twice and she buried her face in his chest with a sigh.

"I'm glad you're okay. I was so worried when you didn't wake up"

"I am able to imagine that"

"Thanks for joining me here though, in the bed"

"You do not need to thank me, I was aware you would prefer not to wake up alone after the incidents of yesterday"

"Oi" she heard Jim "You said we'd better sleep. So sleep" Carissa snickered

"Suppose he's right. Night, Spock" she felt him run his fingertips over the side of her face

"Rest well, k'diwa"

-oO0Oo-

She almost couldn't eat breakfast in peace because all other people of the landing party wanted to know what had happened and how she had saved them. She decided to give them just a brief information

"Apparently, their food contains stuff that made us all fall unconscious, well you at least because I didn't eat something back then. We don't know what exactly happened but I woke up and there was a high concentration of CO2 in the air, maybe because there had been an accident or so… so I called the ship and they beamed us up"

"And why did you just whip out the tricorder upon waking up? Did you need to check there was no mummy in your room?" the geologist snickered.

"Ensign I suppose I have made it quite clear yesterday that you are to refrain from further making jokes about this topic" Carissa frowned because she couldn't remember when he had done that. Maybe when he had accompanied her to apologize for the mutilation?

"Come on, Sir, it was just a little joke"

"I am aware of that, yet I do not wish that it upsets Carissa"

"Why should it? Because she's afraid of mummies?"

"It is up to her to decide whether or not she wishes to let you know about the circumstances"

"Well, it's pretty obvious"

"Can you please cut it?" Jim asked "That's not the topic at discussion here. I'd rather know if the natives that were in the mine are okay"

"They're okay. They seem to have noticed the damage early enough and left. I suppose, they left us because they considered we were unconscious and found it was better to just save themselves"

"Anyways, I'll just contact them today to make sure they're okay. I hope they do feel guilty about deciding to let us die"

"What assholes" Gino muttered "Just leaving us back, knowing we'd probably die"

"We didn't" Carissa said

"And that only because you woke up from a nightmare or what? Don't try to tell me your stupid fear saved us all"

"But at appears this is the case" Spock explained. After all she had not eaten because the incidents in the catacombs had unsettled her. Luckily, he didn't add that it probably was what had made her freak out in the night when she had woken up. Although, he didn't know that, he only knew that she had taken a tricorder and noticed the CO2.

-oO0Oo-

Although they were excused from work for today, Carissa went to the lab and was relieved when she saw that Erik was already here and ran towards her to hug her

"I'm fine" she assured him "And also sa-sa is fine"

"Sa-sa?"

"No, you can't go and see him right now. In a few hours" she kissed the top of his head

"What happened?"

"On the planet, you mean?"

"Yeah"

"Long story. I don't want to talk about it" but her colleagues did hear about most of it once Gino came as well. A part of her felt embarrassed when he just told them how she was afraid of mummies and that the others also mentioned how ridiculous that was. She felt tears in her eyes that she tried to bite back. For the following minutes she wasn't able to focus on her work but then she saw how something was placed on her workstation. It was Erik's plushie. She found him standing next to her chair, worry in his eyes. He awkwardly patted her side, what made her smile.

"Cuddle" he said, pointing at the stuffed animal and she pressed it against her chest gingerly. "No sad, Ma-ma"

"Thanks, sweetheart" she mumbled and he only wrapped his arms around her, at least as far as they reached. "What have I done to deserve you or your father?" she mumbled to herself. About an hour later, the comm in the room went off and Jarrell answered it

"Cass, Gino, you're required to go to the Commander's office. Right now" they exchanged a look and she swallowed. She had an idea what this was about. On their way, they also met the two geologists from the mission yesterday underway

"What do you think he could want?"

"What do I know?" when they entered the office, she could tell that something bothered him. But no one dared to say a word.

"Upon contacting the Pheotusians it has been discovered that the increase of CO2 has been no accident but rather an attempt to end all our lives"

"You're saying they're trying to kill us?"

"Precisely"

"Why would those assholes do that? What have we done to anger them?"

"I suppose you can answer that question for yourself, Ensign Lee" he glared at the geologist

"Because of the incident with the mummy's arm?"

"Not solely. They do not appreciate it if people openly display positive emotions in their catacombs. It is a place to mourn the dead, after all"

"What positive emotion are you referring to?"

"Laughing"

"Why would we laugh… oh" they glanced at Carissa and she looked down, feeling like this was all her fault.

"And now? What are we gonna do?"

"They have agreed to drop the matter if the people in question officially apologize to the politics and that we destroy all footage of any kind that has been recorded in the halls of their dead"

"You mean delete the photos and videos of the mummies?"

"Indeed" somehow, Carissa had no problem with that and she had to bite back a grin. Spock added that since it was their fault he expected them to contact the planet's government themselves and agree for a time to come down, apologize officially and delete the footage and all of that within the next 24 hours.

"And how do we even contact them?" Gino asked, whereupon he was handed a communicator

"Its frequencies are already adjusted that you may reach the government" he gave a nod "You are dismissed. Except for Lieutenant Wiley" she gulped and the others threw a glance at her before they left. "Take a seat" she nodded and plopped down in the chair

"I'm in trouble, right?"

"What made you conclude this?"

"Well…. It's basically my fault they laughed and touched… you know what"

"We cannot say whether or not they would have not done so as well had you not joined them" she looked down.

"Then let me guess… like you once said, when the fear impacts my work, you'll have to do something against it, right? That is what you're trying to tell me"

"Not quite. Upon reporting to Starfleet Command, they have requested you to write a report about the incidents in the catacombs as well as your deeds upon waking up in the night" she felt her mouth go dry. Remember and write down what had happened in the catacombs?

"Okay" she choked out "But a question, Sir… such a report has to be objective. But I was highly emotional when I was in the catacombs"

"I am aware. Attempt to describe it in the most objective way possible and you might want to consider to not mention all of your feelings"

"Are you suggesting to… downplay my phobia?"

"I suppose this is what you would be more comfortable with?"

"Uh yes but this is an official report for Starfleet"

"Lieutenant, solely because I know, as your husband, you are suffering from a phobia does not mean you are required to mention it in the report. As your superior, I officially do not possess knowledge about your condition and while I am obliged to inquire you about the incidents in the catacombs to find out more, you have every right to refuse telling me about the phobia, as long as you admit that you are indeed afraid of the bodies" she blinked in surprise

"You mean you didn't tell Starfleet that it all happened because a phobia?"

"No since it would not be just, considering, the only way I have come to know about it is because we share a personal relationship. In case you also do not officially inform me about the phobia, I will not mention it to anyone" this surprised her even more.

"But wouldn't that be lying? After all you do know the truth"

"I do but if I told Starfleet I would break my promise I gave you at the time you have privately informed me about the matter"

"I-I don't know what to say…. Thank you" she smiled "In that case I'd be glad if Starfleet only knows that I'm afraid of… well. So in this version Gino just startled me and I freaked out after that" he gave a nod.

"Very well. Please note that Starfleet Command might request you to try and overcome your fear anyways. However, I promise to ask them to reconsider this, seeing it was what has finally saved our lives"

"But it still got us in the mess in the first place"

"As I have stated previously, we cannot say whether or not the other three scientists would not have laughed in the catacombs or touched the bodies in case you had not been with them. I suggest I do not need to tell you that none of us would be here had this happened?"

"No" she smiled "Can I… 'unofficially' say something?" he raised an eyebrow and she didn't wait "it's somehow funny, because people always say that a phobia isn't something that you have because you want to protect your life, like during instances where fear has had a good reason that you could preserve your life, but this time my phobia actually saved my life. And the lives of five others"

"It is indeed curious. However, I advise you not to mention your phobia if you do not wish for Starfleet to know about it" she grinned

"Okay" she almost leaned closer to kiss him but instead, she leaned back "So to sum it up, I need to write a report, correct? Or is there something else I need to know?"

"Indeed"

"Indeed what? Just the report or that there is something else?"

"I was referring to both the report and the other instance I should inform you about"

"Oh. And that is?"

"When you are down on the planet to apologize, they might also wish to talk to the person in charge alone. In case that happens, I ask you to involve me as well and let me converse with them"

"But you put me in charge"

"I am aware, Lieutenant. Yet this does not change the fact that I still am your superior and a higher ranking officer, for which reason the ultimate responsibility for the incidents resides with me"

"But you did nothing wrong, you weren't even involved in the incidents in the catacombs"

"As a matter of fact I am, since I entered them as well in the end" she gave a nod

"Why did you? I mean… did you come to search us or see how we were doing?"

"No" he said "I do not know if it is wise to discuss this now, seeing that the reason for my decision was not entirely professional"

"So basically, you came because I, Carissa, was down there? Because you knew I was afraid"

"That is correct"

"But how did you know this?"

"Have you forgotten about the bond we share? Each time you are experiencing strong emotions and think of me, you subconsciously share said emotions with me"

"Really? So that's why Jim said you dropped your tricorder. But then why don't I ever feel you?"

"In contrast to you, I am able to control when I project my emotions or thoughts to you or not. I might add that we had better discuss this in private if you wish to"

"Of course! I mean does that mean we could basically have conversations inside our heads while we're apart?"

"It would require a lot of discipline and concentration but yes, it is possible"

"And why did we never do it?"

"Lieutenant, please remember this is an official meeting. I shall answer all your questions once your shift is over and the both of us are off duty" she gave a nod

"Of course, sorry Sir"

"Before you leave, the Captain has told me that he wishes to talk to you after the end of your shift, privately"

"Okay" she gave a nod "Oh and before I forget it… Erik's asking how you're doing and when you come to see him" he raised an eyebrow

"Please assure him that I am unharmed and am looking forward to seeing him after 1600 hours when I have finished work" she gave a nod.

"Good. I'll tell him you're fine and happy to see him after work" she giggled.