Spock snapped her mouth shut, breaking off another keening wail. One hand jabbed Kirk on the shoulder. Collapsed on the colorful coverlets, the captain depicted abject misery, blonde hair flung in all directions, watery eyes crimson with salty secretions. Spock poked at her again, the motion stabbing her own chest with pity.
The question came from what seemed so small a place in Kirk's throat, it could hardly emerge. "Am I the captain now?"
"Yeah," Spock inclined her head briefly, smirked, added, "I mean, affirmative, Captain." A touch of humor for the Vulcan. Her Vulcan, missing. Didn't dwell on that; couldn't dwell on that for long. She shook herself, turning and stretching her tired muscles as the insistent intercom whistle echoed once more in the captain's quarters.
"Sickbay to Captain Kirk." That voice really was familiar . . . but out of place? Spock twisted around rouse Kirk a third time, jumping when she found the captain already upright behind her.
"Janelle?"
The captain stood, padded over to the blinking light on the wall, flicking the comm-switch. "Kirk here," she replied, her tone calm, authoritative. Spock blinked, eyebrows crooked, bemused.
"Captain, there seems to be a problem with Dr. McCoy. I think you'd better get down here."
Janelle inhaled once, twice, threw her shoulders back, nodded to the air, then answered. "I'm on my way. Kirk out." Captain Kirk flipped the switch to close the comm-link, heading for the door. "Let's go, Mr. Spock."
"Wait, Captain!" Spock lunged up off the bed after her, the title spilling from her lips, involuntary and unnoticed. "It's Bones," she said. The captain paused by the opening door, wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Bones," Spock repeated with more emphasis, expressing her meaning with a lifted brow. Kirk's forehead with comprehension. Then it crinkled more emphatically with worry.
"You don't think . . ."
"It's probably . . ."
"Caitlin!"
They ran even faster this time.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING IT IS SO MANY SHADES OF WONDERFUL BUT I SURE AM CRYING A LOT.
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