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AFTER THE CREDITS—The Immunity Syndrome (Special Ed.)
Author: Ster Julie
Characters:
McCoy, Spock, Kirk (S?Mc)
Genre: Angst, Drama
Rating: PG
Part 1/1
(A/N: I "tweaked" this story just a bit
so just for this site.
Enjoy!)
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Spock was finally asleep. He had been reluctant to even come down to
sickbay
after returning to the ship half-dead, but Doctor McCoy's
pleas, cajoles and threats brooked no argument. Spock had put
life
support to bare minimum in order to have enough energy to study the
giant space amoeba. Once again the Vulcan had
put his own life on
the line to save the crew, and now his body was paying for it.
McCoy swore fiercely under his
breath as scanned Spock's readings
while the Vulcan floated in the pressure
chamber.
"Oxygen saturation levels
still only at sixty percent," the doctor
fumed. He checked the gauges again on the pressure chamber. "I can't
raise
the pressure any higher, you pig-headed Vulcan," he muttered
as he increased the oxygen levels in the chamber yet again.
"Why is
it every time somebody's injured on a landing party, it's got to be
you that gets the worst of it? Why must
you volunteer for every
dangerous assignment? You -know- I have a hard time patching you
back together!"
McCoy
placed his hands against the glass and let go of his pent-up
frustrations and fears, knowing the booth to be soundproof.
"One of
these days, Spock," he yelled, "one of these days I'm not going to
be able to put you back together. Do you
have a death wish or
something? Don't you care about the rest of us, about those
who . . . love . . . you?"
Tears
started to cloud McCoy's vision. "No one knows your twisted
insides better than me, Spock," the doctor continued. "What's
going
to happen when I'm not there to patch your skinny green ass back
together? How am I going to face Jim and say,
'I couldn't save him
this time. I couldn't save Spock'? What do I tell you parents?"
Sobs began to rock McCoy's
slight frame. "Do you know how many times
I've kept watch over you just like this and prayed, 'Oh, God, don't
take,
don't take him'?" The doctor threw himself at the glass and
beat his fists upon it. "Stop trying to throw your life away!"
he
cried. "If you don't value it -I- certainly do!"
McCoy lowered his head to his hands for a long moment. As the
doctor
quieted, he felt something, another presence in the room.
"Does Spock know how much you love him, Bones?"
Kirk asked quietly
from the doorway.
Embarrassed, McCoy dashed the tears from his cheeks.
"I don't see how
he couldn't," the doctor replied shakily. //Not
that I'd breathe one damn word to -you!-// "I use so many terms of
endearment
with Spock, he'd be either a fool or deaf not to know.
And with ears like those..."
Kirk smiled. McCoy turned on
the captain.
"I go through the same thing when you're injured," he said, pointing
an accusing finger Kirk's way.
//Well, maybe not -exactly- the same,
but I'm not tellin' -you- that!// "The two of you will be the death
of me yet!"
Kirk
saw movement past the doctor's shoulder. "Bones, I think
someone is awake." McCoy spun toward the window. Spock was reaching
out
a hand to him as he floated in the tank, pressing his fingers to
the glass.
"Oh, I didn't mean to wake you up,"
McCoy gently apologized over the
intercom as he matched his fingers to Spock's.
Spock shook his head and replied,
"You didn't wake me. How much
longer?"
McCoy checked the readout and smiled a crooked smile.
"Your oxygen
saturation level is up to 87 and climbing," McCoy
replied with a smile. "Your nitrogen level is nearly normal. It
won't
be long now. Try to get some more sleep." Spock nodded tiredly
and closed his eyes.
McCoy turned and saw Kirk smirking
at him. The doctor waved a
threatening finger at the captain.
"Say ONE word, Jim, and I'll give you the –works-
on your next
physical," McCoy threatened, "-manually,- with -cold- instruments."
Kirk blanched.
"Who, -me-
Doctor?" he demurred.
-FIN-
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