Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsswing.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.net!prodigy.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!newsread.com!newsstand.newsread.com!POSTED.monger.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: "Julianna" MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW2U: Angels of the Epidemic 3/5 [PG], U, Ch, et al Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 336 Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 13:55:07 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: monger.newsread.com 1104069307 209.198.142.218 (Sun, 26 Dec 2004 08:55:07 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 08:55:07 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:86263 X-Received-Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 05:55:28 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Title: ANGELS OF THE EPIDEMIC--Chapter 3: Fevered Angel Author: Ster Julie Rating: PG Genre: Drama, a bit of humor,=20 shaken, not stirred Characters: Chapel, Uhura, & co. Part: 3/5 DISCLAIMER: Don't own Trek. Wish I did. It may own ME, however. Spock awakened to the soft shurring of curtains being drawn around=20 the next bed. Whoever his new neighbor was was whimpering in pain.=20=20 There had been no new outbreaks after he fell ill, Spock had been=20 told. Was this a new illness or just another case of Hot Tub Fever? "Chris," came McCoy's voice from behind the screen, "just you rest.=20=20 We'll take good care of you."=20=20 Chris? Could Dr. McCoy mean Nurse Chapel? Spock thought. She had=20 worked many long hours in caring for the crew. It seemed unfair to=20 Spock that she should be stricken now. And how had she gotten the disease? It was Nurse Chapel that had=20 initiated the quarantine and followed all the protocols for=20 contagion, including the ban on using water from the ship's plumbing=20 system. Was there another way for this disease to spread, and was=20 the crew still in danger? The Vulcan had many questions. "Doctor McCoy?" Spock called. "Not now, Spock," came the voice from behind the curtain. "I'm busy=20 with a patient." "I know," Spock replied through the curtain. "I also know that you=20 are still short-staffed. May I be of assistance?" There was a pause, then the curtain was shushed back.=20=20 "That's=85 That's kind of you, Spock," McCoy said as he snapped off=20 the protective gloves. "I really need to take a look at this=20 culture. Chris seems to have another new strain of the disease."=20=20 Spock looked at Nurse Chapel. She was lying face down with only a=20 sheet covering her. Angry red blisters lined the spaces between her=20 fingers and toes and covered the back of her knees and neck. There=20 were also red splotches trailing under her arms and along the sides=20 of her breasts. "What do you need me to do?" Spock asked quietly as he took the=20 gloves that McCoy was handing him. "First put these on," the doctor began. "Now, I've already taken=20 care of her front and her, uh, private areas." *Damn, I'm=20 blushing,* McCoy thought. "I need you to bathe her back, her arms=20 and her legs, then put that salve on the red areas." Spock picked up the tube McCoy indicated. "Do I apply this in a thick coat or thin?" Spock asked as the doctor=20 changed the cool cloth on Christine's forehead. "Do I just apply it=20 or rub it in?" McCoy looked at Spock as if he had grown a third=20 head. "Doctor," Spock said in exasperation, "I do not remember the=20 particulars of my own illness or it's treatment. I wish to do this=20 correctly, for Nurse Chapel's benefit." McCoy's gaze softened. "Wash her down in sections, dry her off, then apply a thin coat with=20 the swabs," McCoy explained patiently. "Rubbing the medicine in=20 would be beneficial, but if it seems to cause her discomfort, don't=20 rub." The doctor picked up the culture he had taken earlier and=20 turned to leave. "Say," he declared as he turned back. "How are=20 you feeling today, Spock? Any better?" "I am still somewhat fatigued," Spock replied, nodding, "but much=20 better than yesterday." "Good. I'll be in Lab 1 if you need anything," McCoy said on his=20 way out the door.=20=20 Pathetic whimpering drew Spock's gaze back from the door where McCoy=20 had just exited to the suffering woman on the diagnostic bed. He=20 looked at the paraphernalia surrounding the nurse, the gloves in his=20 hand, and the creamy whiteness of her skin, marred by the angry=20 splotches of the disease. He cleared his suddenly constricted=20 throat to shake himself from his reverie, donned the gloves and=20 began to work. Spock's first order of business was to strengthen his mental=20 shields. He would not invade Christine's privacy by entering her=20 mind without permission. This only took a few seconds, and Spock=20 had accomplished this task before he had the washcloth wrung out. Gently, Spock lifted Christine's hair from the back of her neck and=20 bathed her gently there. He patted the area dry and applied a thin=20 coat of the ointment. Spock noticed a large welt behind her right=20 earlobe and he took extra care there, reminding himself to check her=20 left ear when he was finished. Next he bathed one arm, then the other. He looked at her hands with=20 dismay. These hands, the ones that had soothed so many sick=20 crewmembers, including himself, were bubbled with blisters, swollen=20 and angry looking. Spock worked tenderly on those hands, those=20 healing hands. Spock moved up to her elbows. They were not as bad as her hands,=20 but they were not unaffected and needed salve as well. Christine's=20 armpits needed extra care. Each sported several large, weeping=20 welts.=20=20 Christine vocalized again.=20 "Forgive me if I am hurting you, Nurse Chapel," Spock said,=20 wondering if she had moaned in relief or in pain. Mercifully, Christine's back seemed unaffected. Spock wiped her=20 down and dried her carefully. He could feel her fever through his=20 gloves and was reminded that he should change the cool compress on=20 the nurse's forehead. Spock moved the sheet that covered Christine and quickly inspected=20 her top of her buttocks. McCoy had said that he had taken care of=20 her 'front and her private areas," but Spock wondered if that=20 included the good nurse's backside. The welts that trailed between=20 her glutes did not seem to have any ointment on them. Spock sighed=20 and plowed ahead. He wanted to do a thorough job, so he bathed,=20 dried, and anointed this area as well. He concentrated on the job=20 at hand, mentally scolding himself for noticing the curve of her=20 hips or the softness of her skin. The thought that she had done the=20 same for him with detachment and professionalism shamed him into=20 trying harder to do the same for her. But the image of her lying there was going to haunt his dreams, he=20 just knew. Spock continued his work down Christine's thighs and calves,=20 spreading extra ointment on the back of her knees. Moving to the=20 foot of her bed, Spock bathed Christine's feet, gently spreading her=20 toes to treat the livid blisters there. Remembering the blister=20 behind her right ear, Spock moved to the head of the bed. Cradling=20 Christine's head gently, Spock turned it to the left so he could=20 treat her other ear. Once finished, he once again replaced the cool=20 compress on the nurse's head. Spock unfolded the sheet covering=20 Christine's hips and covered her legs, then her back. He removed=20 the protective gloves, gathered up the supplies McCoy had left him=20 and placed them on a counter. Returning to her side, Spock delicately touched the silk of=20 Christine's hair. "Nurse Chapel?" he began. "This is Spock. I am in the next bed.=20=20 If you need anything or anyone, call out and I will hear you." He=20 stroked her hair again. "Rest now." Pulling the drapes closed=20 around Christine's bed, Spock returned, exhausted, to his own. Uhura tiptoed into the ward, not wanting to awaken the two patients=20 there. She peeked through a split in the curtain and saw her friend=20 Christine.=20=20 "Poor angel!" she breathed. "Do you not mean 'fallen angel'?" Spock said wearily as he sat up in=20 bed. Uhura was confused. "'Fallen angel' has a totally different connotation, Mr. Spock," she=20 replied. "Forgive me if I take poetic license," he replied. Spock knew very=20 well that a fallen angel was a devil. "Miss Chapel was an angel of=20 comfort to all of us that took sick last week, and she has fallen in=20 the line of duty. Hence, Fallen Angel." Uhura opened her mouth to argue further, but hen she saw a teasing=20 twinkle in Spock's eye. She pursed her lips in a mock scowl. "Well, _someone_ here is feeling better," Uhura said. Turning back=20 to her friend, she asked, "How long has Christine been here?" Spock=20 turned his gaze to the privacy curtain. "She was brought in three hours ago," he answered. Uhura was=20 puzzled. "Has Doctor McCoy tried the serum on her?" she asked. "I believe that he is still running tests, both on Miss Chapel's=20 illness and on the formula," Spock replied.=20 Christine stirred at the sound of the voices around her. "Spockie?" she called in a small voice. Both of the Vulcan's=20 eyebrows shot into his hairline. Uhura tried in vain to smother a=20 giggle. "Spockie?" Christine called again. Spock rose from his=20 bed, drew aside the curtain and moved to the nurse's side. "This is Spock," he responded. "Did you bring your bear?" she asked in a child-like voice. "My bear?" Spock echoed. "Spockie!" Christine replied, perturbed. "You _know_ I come over=20 your house every day and play with you and your bear! How could you=20 forget?" Spock looked over to Uhura and shrugged. He had no idea=20 what Christine was going on about.=20=20 Uhura stepped forward and put her hand softly on Christine's head. "Chrissy," she began. "It's Ny. You got sick, Angel. We're going=20 to take good care of you and get you all better." Christine lifted=20 her head and turned fever-bright eyes on Uhura. "Ny-Ny?" she breathed.=20=20 "Yes, Sugar," Uhura smiled. Christine continued to sit up in bed,=20 her face darkening in anger. "You stay away from Spockie," she threatened, ignoring the sheet as=20 it slipped down her bare form. "Spockie is _my_ friend. He lets me=20 come over to his house and play wif his bear!" Spock pulled his gaze away from the nurse, retreating quickly behind=20 the curtain. "Chrissy," Uhura gasped as Nurse Chapel grabbed a handful of her=20 hair. "Chrissy, ow, let go of my hair. You're sick, honey, and you=20 need to go back to bed." "He's _my_ friend," Christine hissed. "Spock, help me!" Uhura cried. "Is Miss Chapel covered?" Spock asked reticently. Uhura grabbed an=20 end of the sheet and threw it haphazardly over Christine's shoulder. "Ow!" she replied. "Yes! C'mon, Spock! Give me a hand!" Spock moved the curtain aside and was rewarded with a full view of=20 Christine's nude, rash-splattered body. Uhura's attempt to cover=20 the nurse had failed. Stooping down, keeping strict custody of his=20 eyes, Spock grabbed the sheet from the floor and threw it around=20 Christine as he enfolded her in his arms. "Please release Lieutenant Uhura, Miss Chapel," he said gently into=20 her ear. Christine complied immediately, giving Spock a broad, fevered smile=20 in return. "Spockie!" she exclaimed happily, throwing her arms around the=20 Vulcan's shoulders. "You came to play!" Christine hugged Spock=20 briefly, then released him and started to cast her gaze around=20 sickbay. "Where's 'Chaya?" she asked as she clapped her hands and=20 called, "Here, boy!" followed by three short whistles.=20=20 Spock was hard pressed to keep Christine's body covered as she=20 continued to move, searching for the imagined sehlat. As he tried=20 to coax Christine back into bed, Uhura ran to the closest intercom=20 and paged Dr. McCoy. Meanwhile, Spock continued to return Christine to her bed. Christine's playful child-like nature changed quickly into something=20 more sultry. She seemed to realize that she was quite naked under=20 the sheet, and that Spock was bending over her bed. "Hey, Sailor!" she purred. "Weren't you my bathboy?" Spock blushed=20 despite his attempt at control. "You came over to play," Christine=20 continued, "so let's play." She pulled on Spock's uniform, trying=20 to pull him atop her, but stopped as a hypo hissed against her=20 shoulder. At the sudden release of Christine's hands, Spock went=20 flying backwards, his momentum finally stopped by Uhura. "Easy there," Uhura breathed as she held onto the Vulcan. "I've got=20 you."=20=20 Spock recovered quickly and extricated himself from the=20 communication officer's hands. Two sets of women's hands on him=20 today. Ah, yes. His dreams would indeed be vivid tonight.=20 McCoy loaded two more hypos and emptied them into Christine. Uhura=20 looked on hopefully. "Is that the cure, Doctor?" she asked. McCoy didn't answer until=20 Christine's temperature began to fall. The doctor grinned one of=20 his famous lopsided grins. "Seems so," he responded.=20=20 Spock sat heavily on his assigned bed. McCoy mistook his actions=20 for relapse, but Spock knew that they were just the reaction of=20 someone who had successfully completed a struggled for his honor. A=20 medical scanner passed over Spock a few times, and McCoy grunted at=20 the display.=20=20 "This shows you're fine, Spock," the doctor reported, "so go home.=20=20 Stop taking up valuable space here." Spock merely tossed his gaze=20 around the near-empty sickbay and raised an eyebrow in response. Spock stood, straightened out his uniform, and moved toward the=20 door. He stopped as he passed Nurse Chapel's bed and gave her one=20 last look. Christine's blonde hair had fanned out on the pillow when the hypo=20 took effect, giving her an illusion of a halo. Gone was the=20 sultry, "fallen angel" look on her face. It was replaced by a look=20 of relaxed innocence. The blisters were already fading as her=20 temperature continued its drop to more normal levels.=20=20 Spock was pleased that this hard-working angel of mercy would no=20 longer suffer the indignities of delirium, or the pain of blisters=20 and welts in so many delicate areas, the itching, the sensitivity to=20 light, or the mortification of relying on someone else to handle=20 your most basic needs. As Spock left her side and exited Sickbay,=20 he made a decision. Spock would see to it personally that word of these "Vuhrangees" and=20 their sinister plots of extortion and biological warfare would be=20 made known to all Federation of Planets member worlds, and as many=20 fringe worlds as possible. The message would include the symptoms=20 of the disease and the chemical formula for the cure. Spock then=20 made a second decision with a twinkle in his eye. He would not meditate away his reactions to the events of the past=20 few hours. Spock would allow himself to entertain whatever dreams=20 may come. END PART 3/5 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: