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seren_ccdTitle: Standing in the Doorway - Chapter Three
Series: Going to Georgia
Ship: Chapel/McCoy
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
seren_ccd
Beta: The amazingfringedweller
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: They are not mine. 'Tis a pity, really. The title is taken from Going to Georgia by the Mountain Goats.
Summary: The furthering tales of the Starship Enterprise and her CMO and Head Nurse. Another ensign falls ill after the visit to the planet.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I hope you enjoy the latest installment. Please let me know what you think!
Chapter One
Chapter Two
"Well, first things first," McCoy said straightening up. "I want everyone who was on the planet to go straight to decontamination and then directly back here to be scanned. If it was something on the planet that caused Simmons' reaction, I want to make sure it's not going to affect the rest of you."
Spock nodded and walked out of McCoy's office, McCoy right behind him.
As the senior officers entered the room, Chapel and the other nurses looked up and awaited instructions.
"I want everyone who was on that planet go through the decontamination unit and then report back here for a thorough scanning," McCoy said. "Leave your equipment in the area indicated and we'll see if we can try to get this figured out."
"Can I have my PADD afterwards?" Simmons asked.
"No," McCoy said ignoring the kid's crushed expression. "Now march, people."
The slight twitch in the corner of Spock's mouth was almost as blatant as an eye roll and McCoy just gave him a smirk as the Vulcan passed him on the way to the decontamination area.
Chapel gave him one of her 'you're being Napoleonic and it's not as cute as you think it is, so stop' looks as she passed and his smirk deepened in response as he followed the procession into the decon unit.
McCoy oversaw the decon process and immediately started an analysis on the trace composites found.
Spock, Patterson and Roberts consented to their scans and one by one, they underwent the usual battery of tests. Simmons was included in this round of tests and, despite his missing memories, was steadily regaining his equilibrium.
Simmons was sent back to his biobed with strict instructions to rest. The others were cleared for duty. Spock headed directly to oversee the re-scanning of the planet, while Patterson headed back to Security. Ensign Roberts was dismissed as well. All were given instructions to report back to sickbay if they felt even the slightest bit unwell.
As the scans were finishing up, McCoy headed back to his office to start a search through the Starfleet's medical database for anything matching Simmons' symptoms.
He was deep into his research and making notes on his PADD when Chapel appeared at his door. He looked up and gestured at the visitor's chair.
"The initial samples of the trace are coming back negative for anything toxic," she said as she took a seat. "And the scans of Commander Spock, Patterson and Roberts showed normal vital signs. Roberts had a slightly elevated BP, but considering he had to watch his friend throw himself into a wall of rock, that's pretty normal."
"Damn," McCoy said rubbing his chin. "We'd better focus on Simmons then. Let's get the neurological scan set up and run that over him."
"Okay." Chapel made a note on her PADD and McCoy forced himself to look away from the way she quirked her lips in concentration as she tapped. He was so busy trying to force himself to look away that he didn't actually look away and therefore was slightly startled when the lips moved.
"What? Sorry. You said something?" he asked blinking and bringing his eyes up to hers which were sparkling shrewdly.
"I asked if you needed me to bring you anything to eat," she said. "We've missed lunch."
"Oh, no," he said. He jerked his chin a little and said, "Still have some stuff from breakfast left. Actually..."
McCoy swivelled in his chair and grabbed a green apple-like fruit found at the last outpost and handed it to her. "Take it. They're pretty good."
She stared at the green fruit in his outstretched hand with a peculiar expression on her face. He frowned. "What? You don't like them?"
"Oh, no. I was just admiring the symbolic imagery," she said relaxing into a little grin. McCoy frowned more and then it hit him.
"Ah, I see." He started to pull his hand back, but she stopped him by sliding her fingers over the fruit, her index finger brushing against his wrist, and taking it out of his hand.
"Thank you," she said saluting him with it. "I'm always on the lookout for more knowledge."
Chapel's eyes closed a little as she held the fruit to her nose and breathed in the oddly pleasing scent from its skin.
McCoy noticed his hand was still outstretched and he quickly pulled it back with a cough. "Yeah, well. At least it wasn't a pomegranate."
Her eyes flew open and she grinned. "Oh, I don't know. Hades probably wasn't all that bad. I think Persephone had it okay most of the time."
"You think?"
"Sure," she said. "I think she probably helped to smooth some of Hades' rough edges."
McCoy leaned back in his chair and said, "He certainly has those."
"He really does," Chapel said.
"Do you think that maybe, after awhile, she wanted to be there?" McCoy asked looking down at his hands. "Maybe even enjoyed herself from time to time? I mean, Hades can be pretty difficult."
"Oh, I think she's pretty content," Chapel said quietly. "And I think she really enjoys smoothing out those rough edges."
McCoy raised his eyes to meet hers and lost himself for a second as the image of pulling her over the desk and into his lap flashed through his mind. He cleared his throat. "I don't suppose you'd like to—"
"Bones, how goes it? Oh--"
McCoy glared at Kirk, who'd just unceremoniously entered his office. Kirk looked both apologetic and amused. "Do I need to come back?"
"No, no, captain," Chapel said as she stood up, her cheeks flushing. "I've got some tests to check on. I'll get the results to you as soon as I can, doctor."
McCoy felt a little helpless as she moved past a grinning Kirk. Chapel paused and then turned and said, "Thank you for the apple." She gave him a small smile and left, letting the door close behind her.
His eyes remained glued to the closed door until Kirk said, "Please tell me you're finally making a move."
McCoy scowled at him. "Shut up, Jim. Now, what do you want?"
*****
Nurse Karen Medina watched as Nurse Chapel exited Dr. McCoy's office with what looked like an apple in her hand and a small smile on her face. Medina shook her head and wondered if it was too late to change her wager in the When Will McCoy Man Up and Ask Chapel Out pool.
The she went back to carefully watching the bio-rhythms Simmons was producing and made a notation on his chart.
"Are you sure I can't have a PADD?" he asked her. "I just want to write a few things down."
"Sorry, no PADD," she said. "Doctor's orders."
The ensign sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "So much information. I've got so much information in my head. It's incredible." The ensign sighed and Medina felt unsettled by the longing in his voice.
The doors to the sickbay slid open and Roberts came inside. Medina smiled at his presence, but her smile quickly faded.
"You were dismissed. Why are you back? Are you feeling okay?" she asked.
"Well, there's a greeting for you," Roberts said with a slight swagger in his step. "I'm fine."
Medina looked sceptical. "Then why are you here?"
"I can't just want to see you?" he asked.
"No," she said as her cheeks flushed slightly.
Roberts grinned. "Fine. I've got a slight headache. No big thing, but you guys were so insistent about coming back for anything, so..."
Medina looked him over and then walked over to grab a tricorder from the table next to Simmons' bed.
"Hey, Mark, did you bring a PADD?" Simmons asked his friend. "I've really got to get this stuff figured out."
"Nope," Roberts told him. "Sorry."
"Okay," Medina said coming to stand in front of the other ensign. "Let's just take a quick look."
She held the tricorder up.
*****
Christine kept her eyes glued to her PADD scanning over the results of Simmons' blood work and not understanding why there were no chemical clues to his illness. It certainly wasn't magic, it had to be chemical. It had to be. She walked from the lab into sickbay and glanced up when she noticed two forms standing near Simmons' bed. She recognized Roberts and Nurse Medina and half smiled at the way the young ensign was obviously trying to flirt with her nurse.
Then Christine caught sight of Medina's face. Her nurse was cringing. And her wrist looked to be in the grasp of Roberts' hand, her hand still limply holding a tricorder. Christine quietly set her PADD down and got herself into Medina's line of sight. Medina flicked her eyes at her.
"You don't understand, Karen," Roberts was saying. "We belong together. We belong together forever. We'll finish our five year mission together and get married. You'll continue to be a nurse and I'll move up the ladder in the geology department. Then I can lead my own expeditions with you at my side! Karen, this is how it works. This is how we work. Don't you see it?"
Christine frowned at the tone of the ensign's voice. It was oddly melodic and excited. His eyes were wide and the corner of his mouth was twitching.
"Mark, you need to let go of me now," Medina said as calmly as she could, only a slight hitch in her breathing betrayed her panic. "Something's wrong."
"No!" Roberts said loudly as he smiled. "Nothing's wrong, Karen. It's absolutely right! I can see it all. Us, together. I can see it!"
Medina was backing up and would soon run out of room. The ensign's grip on her wrist was tightening and small lines of pain were beginning to show on Medina's face. Christine slowly edged her way behind Roberts.
Simmons watched with bewildered eyes from his bed and said, "Uh, Mark? What are you doing?"
"I'm seeing! I'm seeing it all. Karen, we're meant to be together," Roberts said with a smile. He stopped in his steps and shuddered a little. He looked down and then quickly back up to focus on Medina again. "Karen. Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen."
Christine had enough and said firmly, "Ensign, you need to let Nurse Medina go."
Roberts whirled around and brought Medina with him. She was flung directly into Christine and the force sent both women to the floor taking a small table down with them. The tricorder in Medina's hand clattered and slid across the floor.
The noise brought McCoy and Kirk running from his office as well as some other staff.
"What the—" McCoy said.
A fine sheen of sweat had broken out on Roberts' face and his entire body was shuddering. "Karen! Karen, we have a whole future! Karen, I see it. I see it."
Christine held the shaking nurse in her arms and watched as Roberts' eyes rolled back in his head and he began to convulse.
"Mark!" Medina cried out. Both she and Christine were on their feet and caught the ensign as he collapsed to the floor shaking.
"Get a sedative in here!" McCoy called out coming up behind Christine and grabbing hold of Roberts' head. Kirk went to the other side next to Medina. "On three, we get him on the bed. One, two, three!"
They quickly picked the ensign up and placed him of the bed. His hands were clenched and his jaw had tightened. His legs trembled and his head shook shallowly back and forth. A nurse ran up with a hypospray. Kirk moved back to let her through.
"Sedative, doctor!"
McCoy took the 'spray and depressed it into Roberts' neck. Almost immediately, the ensign relaxed and his muscles stopped their frantic spasming. Medina's lower lip trembled and she cradled her wrist.
"Would someone like to tell me just what happened here?" McCoy asked in a low tone.
Christine shared a look with Medina and then she turned to McCoy and said, "I came in from the lab and saw Ensign Roberts advancing on Nurse Medina. He sounded unwell and was holding her wrist. When I approached him, he got excited and then he collapsed."
McCoy nodded and looked at the other nurse. "Nurse," he said gently. "What happened?"
"I don't... I don't know," she said looking down at the young man on the bed. "He came into sickbay with a headache. I mean, he said he had a headache. I started to scan him and he just, sort of, got strange. He started to say all this stuff about our future together. How he could see everything and how we were meant to be."
The nurse bit her lip and held her arm even closer to her body. "He's never sounded like that before. We only went on two dates."
McCoy met Christine's eyes and he nodded. Christine went over to Medina and put an arm around her shoulders. "Let's get that wrist seen to, okay?"
Medina nodded and let Christine lead her away from the bed.
Kirk opened his mouth and McCoy just held up his hand. "I don't know, Jim. Let's get the man awake and talking. If he has any gaps in his memory, then I might, might have something for you."
The captain nodded. McCoy sighed and looked over at Simmons' staring at his friend with wide eyes and then over to Chapel helping the injured nurse.
McCoy sighed again.
*****
The scientist crept into the empty lab. It was after normal hours and he slid into a seat and powered up the computer station.
So many exciting things were happening, if you listened to the ship's gossip. He'd seen for himself the events that had occurred on the planet, but supposedly, even more had happened in the sickbay.
He logged on and after a few moments, he'd carefully pulled up the medical files of the two ensigns.
The scientist sighed as he read the symptoms the two ensigns had displayed and one of the side effects. The lost memories were a little disheartening, but certainly not a deterrent for further experiments.
He smiled.
All in all, not a bad first round.
Chapter Four
Series: Going to Georgia
Ship: Chapel/McCoy
Author:
seren_ccdBeta: The amazing
fringedwellerRating: PG-13
Disclaimer: They are not mine. 'Tis a pity, really. The title is taken from Going to Georgia by the Mountain Goats.
Summary: The furthering tales of the Starship Enterprise and her CMO and Head Nurse. Another ensign falls ill after the visit to the planet.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I hope you enjoy the latest installment. Please let me know what you think!
Chapter One
Chapter Two
"Well, first things first," McCoy said straightening up. "I want everyone who was on the planet to go straight to decontamination and then directly back here to be scanned. If it was something on the planet that caused Simmons' reaction, I want to make sure it's not going to affect the rest of you."
Spock nodded and walked out of McCoy's office, McCoy right behind him.
As the senior officers entered the room, Chapel and the other nurses looked up and awaited instructions.
"I want everyone who was on that planet go through the decontamination unit and then report back here for a thorough scanning," McCoy said. "Leave your equipment in the area indicated and we'll see if we can try to get this figured out."
"Can I have my PADD afterwards?" Simmons asked.
"No," McCoy said ignoring the kid's crushed expression. "Now march, people."
The slight twitch in the corner of Spock's mouth was almost as blatant as an eye roll and McCoy just gave him a smirk as the Vulcan passed him on the way to the decontamination area.
Chapel gave him one of her 'you're being Napoleonic and it's not as cute as you think it is, so stop' looks as she passed and his smirk deepened in response as he followed the procession into the decon unit.
McCoy oversaw the decon process and immediately started an analysis on the trace composites found.
Spock, Patterson and Roberts consented to their scans and one by one, they underwent the usual battery of tests. Simmons was included in this round of tests and, despite his missing memories, was steadily regaining his equilibrium.
Simmons was sent back to his biobed with strict instructions to rest. The others were cleared for duty. Spock headed directly to oversee the re-scanning of the planet, while Patterson headed back to Security. Ensign Roberts was dismissed as well. All were given instructions to report back to sickbay if they felt even the slightest bit unwell.
As the scans were finishing up, McCoy headed back to his office to start a search through the Starfleet's medical database for anything matching Simmons' symptoms.
He was deep into his research and making notes on his PADD when Chapel appeared at his door. He looked up and gestured at the visitor's chair.
"The initial samples of the trace are coming back negative for anything toxic," she said as she took a seat. "And the scans of Commander Spock, Patterson and Roberts showed normal vital signs. Roberts had a slightly elevated BP, but considering he had to watch his friend throw himself into a wall of rock, that's pretty normal."
"Damn," McCoy said rubbing his chin. "We'd better focus on Simmons then. Let's get the neurological scan set up and run that over him."
"Okay." Chapel made a note on her PADD and McCoy forced himself to look away from the way she quirked her lips in concentration as she tapped. He was so busy trying to force himself to look away that he didn't actually look away and therefore was slightly startled when the lips moved.
"What? Sorry. You said something?" he asked blinking and bringing his eyes up to hers which were sparkling shrewdly.
"I asked if you needed me to bring you anything to eat," she said. "We've missed lunch."
"Oh, no," he said. He jerked his chin a little and said, "Still have some stuff from breakfast left. Actually..."
McCoy swivelled in his chair and grabbed a green apple-like fruit found at the last outpost and handed it to her. "Take it. They're pretty good."
She stared at the green fruit in his outstretched hand with a peculiar expression on her face. He frowned. "What? You don't like them?"
"Oh, no. I was just admiring the symbolic imagery," she said relaxing into a little grin. McCoy frowned more and then it hit him.
"Ah, I see." He started to pull his hand back, but she stopped him by sliding her fingers over the fruit, her index finger brushing against his wrist, and taking it out of his hand.
"Thank you," she said saluting him with it. "I'm always on the lookout for more knowledge."
Chapel's eyes closed a little as she held the fruit to her nose and breathed in the oddly pleasing scent from its skin.
McCoy noticed his hand was still outstretched and he quickly pulled it back with a cough. "Yeah, well. At least it wasn't a pomegranate."
Her eyes flew open and she grinned. "Oh, I don't know. Hades probably wasn't all that bad. I think Persephone had it okay most of the time."
"You think?"
"Sure," she said. "I think she probably helped to smooth some of Hades' rough edges."
McCoy leaned back in his chair and said, "He certainly has those."
"He really does," Chapel said.
"Do you think that maybe, after awhile, she wanted to be there?" McCoy asked looking down at his hands. "Maybe even enjoyed herself from time to time? I mean, Hades can be pretty difficult."
"Oh, I think she's pretty content," Chapel said quietly. "And I think she really enjoys smoothing out those rough edges."
McCoy raised his eyes to meet hers and lost himself for a second as the image of pulling her over the desk and into his lap flashed through his mind. He cleared his throat. "I don't suppose you'd like to—"
"Bones, how goes it? Oh--"
McCoy glared at Kirk, who'd just unceremoniously entered his office. Kirk looked both apologetic and amused. "Do I need to come back?"
"No, no, captain," Chapel said as she stood up, her cheeks flushing. "I've got some tests to check on. I'll get the results to you as soon as I can, doctor."
McCoy felt a little helpless as she moved past a grinning Kirk. Chapel paused and then turned and said, "Thank you for the apple." She gave him a small smile and left, letting the door close behind her.
His eyes remained glued to the closed door until Kirk said, "Please tell me you're finally making a move."
McCoy scowled at him. "Shut up, Jim. Now, what do you want?"
*****
Nurse Karen Medina watched as Nurse Chapel exited Dr. McCoy's office with what looked like an apple in her hand and a small smile on her face. Medina shook her head and wondered if it was too late to change her wager in the When Will McCoy Man Up and Ask Chapel Out pool.
The she went back to carefully watching the bio-rhythms Simmons was producing and made a notation on his chart.
"Are you sure I can't have a PADD?" he asked her. "I just want to write a few things down."
"Sorry, no PADD," she said. "Doctor's orders."
The ensign sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "So much information. I've got so much information in my head. It's incredible." The ensign sighed and Medina felt unsettled by the longing in his voice.
The doors to the sickbay slid open and Roberts came inside. Medina smiled at his presence, but her smile quickly faded.
"You were dismissed. Why are you back? Are you feeling okay?" she asked.
"Well, there's a greeting for you," Roberts said with a slight swagger in his step. "I'm fine."
Medina looked sceptical. "Then why are you here?"
"I can't just want to see you?" he asked.
"No," she said as her cheeks flushed slightly.
Roberts grinned. "Fine. I've got a slight headache. No big thing, but you guys were so insistent about coming back for anything, so..."
Medina looked him over and then walked over to grab a tricorder from the table next to Simmons' bed.
"Hey, Mark, did you bring a PADD?" Simmons asked his friend. "I've really got to get this stuff figured out."
"Nope," Roberts told him. "Sorry."
"Okay," Medina said coming to stand in front of the other ensign. "Let's just take a quick look."
She held the tricorder up.
*****
Christine kept her eyes glued to her PADD scanning over the results of Simmons' blood work and not understanding why there were no chemical clues to his illness. It certainly wasn't magic, it had to be chemical. It had to be. She walked from the lab into sickbay and glanced up when she noticed two forms standing near Simmons' bed. She recognized Roberts and Nurse Medina and half smiled at the way the young ensign was obviously trying to flirt with her nurse.
Then Christine caught sight of Medina's face. Her nurse was cringing. And her wrist looked to be in the grasp of Roberts' hand, her hand still limply holding a tricorder. Christine quietly set her PADD down and got herself into Medina's line of sight. Medina flicked her eyes at her.
"You don't understand, Karen," Roberts was saying. "We belong together. We belong together forever. We'll finish our five year mission together and get married. You'll continue to be a nurse and I'll move up the ladder in the geology department. Then I can lead my own expeditions with you at my side! Karen, this is how it works. This is how we work. Don't you see it?"
Christine frowned at the tone of the ensign's voice. It was oddly melodic and excited. His eyes were wide and the corner of his mouth was twitching.
"Mark, you need to let go of me now," Medina said as calmly as she could, only a slight hitch in her breathing betrayed her panic. "Something's wrong."
"No!" Roberts said loudly as he smiled. "Nothing's wrong, Karen. It's absolutely right! I can see it all. Us, together. I can see it!"
Medina was backing up and would soon run out of room. The ensign's grip on her wrist was tightening and small lines of pain were beginning to show on Medina's face. Christine slowly edged her way behind Roberts.
Simmons watched with bewildered eyes from his bed and said, "Uh, Mark? What are you doing?"
"I'm seeing! I'm seeing it all. Karen, we're meant to be together," Roberts said with a smile. He stopped in his steps and shuddered a little. He looked down and then quickly back up to focus on Medina again. "Karen. Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen."
Christine had enough and said firmly, "Ensign, you need to let Nurse Medina go."
Roberts whirled around and brought Medina with him. She was flung directly into Christine and the force sent both women to the floor taking a small table down with them. The tricorder in Medina's hand clattered and slid across the floor.
The noise brought McCoy and Kirk running from his office as well as some other staff.
"What the—" McCoy said.
A fine sheen of sweat had broken out on Roberts' face and his entire body was shuddering. "Karen! Karen, we have a whole future! Karen, I see it. I see it."
Christine held the shaking nurse in her arms and watched as Roberts' eyes rolled back in his head and he began to convulse.
"Mark!" Medina cried out. Both she and Christine were on their feet and caught the ensign as he collapsed to the floor shaking.
"Get a sedative in here!" McCoy called out coming up behind Christine and grabbing hold of Roberts' head. Kirk went to the other side next to Medina. "On three, we get him on the bed. One, two, three!"
They quickly picked the ensign up and placed him of the bed. His hands were clenched and his jaw had tightened. His legs trembled and his head shook shallowly back and forth. A nurse ran up with a hypospray. Kirk moved back to let her through.
"Sedative, doctor!"
McCoy took the 'spray and depressed it into Roberts' neck. Almost immediately, the ensign relaxed and his muscles stopped their frantic spasming. Medina's lower lip trembled and she cradled her wrist.
"Would someone like to tell me just what happened here?" McCoy asked in a low tone.
Christine shared a look with Medina and then she turned to McCoy and said, "I came in from the lab and saw Ensign Roberts advancing on Nurse Medina. He sounded unwell and was holding her wrist. When I approached him, he got excited and then he collapsed."
McCoy nodded and looked at the other nurse. "Nurse," he said gently. "What happened?"
"I don't... I don't know," she said looking down at the young man on the bed. "He came into sickbay with a headache. I mean, he said he had a headache. I started to scan him and he just, sort of, got strange. He started to say all this stuff about our future together. How he could see everything and how we were meant to be."
The nurse bit her lip and held her arm even closer to her body. "He's never sounded like that before. We only went on two dates."
McCoy met Christine's eyes and he nodded. Christine went over to Medina and put an arm around her shoulders. "Let's get that wrist seen to, okay?"
Medina nodded and let Christine lead her away from the bed.
Kirk opened his mouth and McCoy just held up his hand. "I don't know, Jim. Let's get the man awake and talking. If he has any gaps in his memory, then I might, might have something for you."
The captain nodded. McCoy sighed and looked over at Simmons' staring at his friend with wide eyes and then over to Chapel helping the injured nurse.
McCoy sighed again.
*****
The scientist crept into the empty lab. It was after normal hours and he slid into a seat and powered up the computer station.
So many exciting things were happening, if you listened to the ship's gossip. He'd seen for himself the events that had occurred on the planet, but supposedly, even more had happened in the sickbay.
He logged on and after a few moments, he'd carefully pulled up the medical files of the two ensigns.
The scientist sighed as he read the symptoms the two ensigns had displayed and one of the side effects. The lost memories were a little disheartening, but certainly not a deterrent for further experiments.
He smiled.
All in all, not a bad first round.
Chapter Four
