[communications] [sickbay - open]

[rn_chapel]

After receiving a message from Dr. McCoy, Tina went straight to sickbay to hold down the fort until her CMO was able to get his act together. Unfortunately, that meant that she had to change her plans regarding one particular patient.

She sent a message as soon as she arrived.

Private to Spock (mirroredspockSomething came up, and I can't come to you to do

Comments

[dctr_mccoy]

Bones looked down at her hand on his and frowned, feeling himself shake a bit. He'd just learned all about other versions of himself, all over the universe - and not all of them were good people... This Spock's Leonard was evil, 'a sadist' she's said, memories of him enough to make Tina physically ill.

It could never be you... - but really? How could she be so sure when at the moment he didn't know who the fuck he was anymore.

"Tina," Bones started, putting a hand on top of hers and squeezing lightly. "I don't -" his eyes closed, then opened up, staring back at her, looking just...lost. "I don't know anything anymore."

[rn_chapel]

Later, she would wonder what fresh hell McCoy had been wading through since the last time she'd seen him just the day before, but just then Tina was completely preoccupied with everything she'd been picking up from Spock, trying to sort it, understand it and, most of all, get it out of her immediate thoughts.

She tugged McCoy closer and levered herself up just enough that she could lean into him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder, her arm around his waist in a loose approximation of a hug. She could wonder about why she kept doing that later, too, but she needed the reassurance of physical contact too much to worry about it just yet.

"You can trust me on this one," she said. "Fuck. I really mean it. He..." She shuddered. "I don't even know how to say it. Tortures people. Takes them apart. He enjoys it."

Oh, good. Now she was crying.

[dctr_mccoy]

Bones allowed himself to be pulled into her arms and held, putting his head on top of hers automatically, his eyes looking at the wall behind her.

Then she was crying... "Shhh," he said, trying to comfort her. He hadn't been much comfort to Joanna, still broken from all she had been through, but this, maybe this he could do and not fail.

He swayed as he held her, just a little, like a slow dance. "Stop that cryin' Chapel," he whispered in her hair, "or you're gonna have me bawlin' here like a baby right next to you."

[rn_chapel]

"That would be so embarrassing." Tina's voice was muffled against his chest, but was still audible. "I'd hate to put you in that position."

She laughed - tinged with only a little hysteria - and pulled back to wipe at her face.

"Sorry. I'm having a little trouble getting a hold of myself, here."

[dctr_mccoy]

Bones reached over for one of the towels that Spock had brought her and wiped her face. "It' alright, Tina. It's been... " He chuckled a little, not sure whether to laugh or cry with her. "It's been a fucked up couple of days, hasn't it?"

And she didn't know the half of it. "C'mon," he told her, putting an arm around her, careful to miss the vomit. "I gotta get out of here, so lemme walk you to your room."

[rn_chapel]

"Yeah," Tina said, cautiously standing up. "Thanks."

[dctr_mccoy]

Bones led her toward the door, stopping off in his office to get the comm device he's come in for, and walked her out. Once in the hallway, he spoke again. "So, you and that Spock," he began, giving her a sideways look. "What was going on there?"

[rn_chapel]

"Pretty much what he said. He came in for a scan, and then stayed to talk. I was surprised, because I knew that he's afraid of..."

She had to stop and take a few deep, shuddering breaths.

"He's bored, and lonely I think." She frowned. "Like all our displaced people, except that nobody hates the others."

[dctr_mccoy]

"Must be strange, being in a whole new world," he replied, not thinking of Spock but of Joanna and John. "Pretty nice of you to look out for him like that." Getting to her door, he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "But he careful. They're not like us."

[rn_chapel]

"They never had a chance to be," Tina said. "I can't judge him for that, for being a product of his world. It's not right."

She looked up at McCoy, miserably. "He said that I wouldn't survive long there. And he's right. I think I'd kill myself, if someone didn't beat me to it. I wouldn't be able to stand that much pain."

[dctr_mccoy]

"You're a lot stronger than you think," he told her, not totally answering her, but he didn't think anything could really beat her. "And you put up with me, which could drive a weaker person over the edge," he added, giving her a tired smile. "You're tough, kid, and he probably sees that, respects that. Flattering, in a twisted, fucked-up sort of way."

He took a deep breath, hand on mouth again as he yawned. "Gotta run, okay?"

[rn_chapel]

"Yeah. Thanks." Tina offered him a half-hearted smile. "And sorry for throwing up and crying all over you and stuff."

[dctr_mccoy]

"Anytime, Tina," he told her with a sad smile, touching her shoulder and heading down the hall to the one place he knew he could sit and think.