Chapter Text
Jim entered the med bay with the purpose of bothering Bones into drinks later when his path is disrupted when he hears shouting in one of the offshoot rooms. Goal temporarily diverted, Jim steers to the room with shouting. He steps into the room to find a hilarious sight. A nurse is standing near the door, hands up in a plaintive gesture as a pillow hits the wall next to her. On the bed standing as close to the wall is the man found on the ancient Earth ship. And he’s yelling.
“Where is Rocky? What did you do to him? Rocky!” His voice is hoarse and he keeps pausing to take deep inhales.
“Mr. Grace, It’s good to see you moving. How are you feeling?” Jim cuts in smoothly and subtly dismisses the nurse.
Grace looks at him and his eyebrows furrow. “How do you know my name?”
“Your friend Rocky told us. He’s ok, by the way. He told us he required a sleep cycle about two hours ago and is sleeping in the next room over. Would you like to see him?” Jim pacifies carefully.
Grace’s eyes flick to the side of Jim’s face, thinking hard before refocusing on Jim. “Yes. I want to see him.”
“Ok, let's go see him. Do you want help climbing off the bed?” Jim steps closer and offers his hand.
Grace tries to climb down himself but Jim catches the faint tremble in his legs. Jim keeps his hand up and Grace takes it very begrudgingly. His grip is weak and Jim feels the small shakes in his hand. Grace's feet shuffle a bit but get caught in the bedsheet. He suddenly trips forward and Jim moves fast, catching the frail man before he faceplants off the bed. He pulls Grace close to his chest and wraps his arms around Grace tightly. Grace is bent at the knee and his entire body weight is pushed onto Jim’s chest. Jim notices that his left knee is bent at a slightly strange angle as he holds Grace close. The other man freezes in his arms and looks up at him, glasses practically falling off his nose. Jim pulls him completely off the bed so he was standing. He frees a hand to push Grace’s glasses up his nose while supporting his body weight.
“Careful. You'd think for someone named Grace you'd have a bit more.” Jim jokes as he adjusts to support Grace better.
“Ryland. My first name is Ryland.” Gra-Ryland says between heaving breaths.
Jim nods. “Ryland. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jim Kirk. Let's get you to Rocky before I ask some questions.”
Together the two hobble together out of the private room and to the next one over. Jim feels the relieved sigh that comes from Ryland as he lays eyes on Rocky. The Eridian is folded up like a cat on the bio-bed, still in his clear ball. Jim guides Ryland to a nearby chair and helps him sit down.
“He wanted to be in your room but the room was too small for the nurses to get around him smoothly. You also had a few scares so we needed to optimize the space. And we would've put you in the main area but Bones said it would've startled you more because it's vastly different from what you're used to. We explained it all to Rocky who conceded to the next room over to you.” Jim feels like he's rambling but Ryland is nodding softly so he isn't too worried.
“Bones?” Ryland asks without turning his head away from Rocky.
“My chief surgeon. He's been heading your care. I'm sure you'll meet him here in a little bit.” Jim sits down on the floor next to Rylands chair.
Ryland sits in silence for a moment as he stares absently at his friend. “Where are we?”
“The starship USS Enterprise. We're traveling through deep space. It's uncharted out here and we're on an exploration mission.”
“When are we?” His voice is sullen and Jim wishes he could fix it.
Jim inhales deeply. “The 23rd century.”
Ryland doesn't react. Jim studies his face and sees it in his eyes that he's calculating. Reworking his world view.
“Can you tell us what happened from your perspective?” Jim asks softly.
“We were traveling to Erid. Our ship was driving on it’s own and alerted us of an anomaly in our path. By the time we made it to the cockpit, it was too late. We were caught in its gravity and Mary doesn’t have the power to pull away. I had enough time to apologize to Rocky. He has- had a mate on Erid and I couldn’t get him home. Anyway I had enough time to apologize before I passed out.” Ryland’s face was passive but Jim suspected there was more under the surface.
“You passed through a wormhole. We saw your ship come out of it and attempted contact. When we couldn’t get a hold of anyone on board, I took a few men in a shuttle and we boarded your ship. That’s where Rocky found us and guided us to you. We brought you both to the Enterprise and you’ve been asleep for nearly two days.” Jim speaks softly to fill in the gaps.
“Will we be going to Earth anytime soon?”
“The Enterprise? No. But if you want to go back to Earth I can arrange transportation for you-”
“No. I don’t want to go back. I don’t have anything for me there.” Ryland cuts in quick.
Jim is mildly startled by the outburst, venom clear in his voice. Jim wants to ask for the reason for the hatred for Earth. But Jim figures it’s something personal so he doesn’t ask.
“Well I have a few options for you. We can find you a developing Starfleet colony. There’s a few who are technologically at the same point of 21st century Earth so you’d be able to blend in. Or-” Jim trails off.
Ryland looks at him and his head tilts slightly. “Or?”
Jim looks up at him with a thinking look and a small smile. “Or I could make you a part of the crew. You’ll be spending some time on bedrest from your severe malnutrition and your knee. From what Rocky tells us, you’re highly intelligent. Something tells me you can catch up quickly.”
Ryland considers for a moment before a cocky grin slides onto his face. “I like a challenge.”
Jim reaches up and pats Ryland’s arm. “I figured you would.”
— — — —
Ryland sighed and set the PADD down on his lap to rub his eyes. Trying to learn two full centuries worth of history and scientific discovery as fast as possible is no easy feat. It has been six days of him being awake in a parallel dimension. Eight days since their arrival. And Ryland was feeling weirdly ok with it all. Yeah it was a huge adjustment but Ryland knew he didn’t have much left going for him. They had sent the beetles both ways. Four to Earth and four to Erid. Both planets would recover. Rocky was having a bit more of a harder time with the changed universes but he didn’t say much to Ryland about it. No one’s sure what caused the anomaly that brought them here so there's no way to attempt sending him back.
Ryland had already re-coded his translator for Rocky into a program that can be downloaded onto any dataPADD. It was a challenge for his rudimentary coding skills but after a young Russian boy by the name Pavel gave him a crash course on modern coding, he was able to figure it out.
That was another thing Ryland was baffled by. The eradication of mobile devices like in his original time. Somewhere in history, Earth backed off making everything mobile and touchscreen and separating devices. He was given a communicator that functioned more like a satellite flip phone. And the old man in Ryland liked the return to simpler technology. It was all pretty intuitive to him despite him being far behind the technology curve.
He had been moved to the open area of the Med Bay after his talk with Captain Kirk. Said it was easier for monitoring but Ryland knew it was so he could acclimate to the ship and the people on it. Don't want the ancient alien to see someone and say something crazy or rude. So Ryland took the time to observe the comings and goings of the ship.
The Med Bay stayed pretty empty. Perks of advanced medical technology he supposes. Engineers were the most common. They usually came in with burns or mild cuts. The nurses would treat them effectively with a cream or shot of some kind before they were sent on their way.
The captain also hung around a lot. Usually not injured but to bother the head medical officer. Leonard McCoy was a grumpy and stern man who would see every patient if you let him. Ryland admired the man's unending empathy. He was usually around the Med Bay in some capacity, either in his office or seeing a patient. Or being followed around by the captain.
Which is what is happening right now.
“Bones, I'm fine. I don't know who told you-”
“Scotty said he watched you shoulder check a wall, apologized to it, then did it again. Now as much as I like insultin’ your intelligence I know you ain't that stupid on the regular. So which is it? No sleep or no nutrition?” Dr. McCoy’s southern accent rang through the air as he crossed his arms pointedly.
The captain huffed like a pouting child and Ryland felt like he was back in the classroom. “I was busy.”
Dr. McCoy shook his head before walking to one of the cabinets along a wall. He pulled out a small bag of things before handing it off to Kirk.
“Go eat. Then take a nap. Before I tell the hobgoblin you're not taking care of yourself.” Kirk groaned at the threat.
“Don't even. I can't take another over protective lecture.” Kirk grumbled a bit before taking the bag and walking out of the Med Bay with his feet dragging.
Dr. McCoy sighed before looking up and spotting Ryland. He walked over to Ryland’s bed, taking a quick look at the readings before looking at Ryland.
“How’re you feeling?” His voice was low and comforting and Ryland couldn't stop how he naturally relaxed with him.
“Feeling ok. Still really weak but there's nothing you can do about that.”
“Uh huh. And how's the knee?” Dr. McCoy raised an eyebrow at him.
“Well it's…fine.” Ryland replied tentatively. The deep painful ache was always present so it didn't mean all that much.
Dr. McCoy rolled his eyes before walking away for a moment before returning. He hands a pill to Ryland with a small cup of water.
“That is a painkiller. Won't make you drowsy or anything but it'll help with the ache. It's also not an opiate so you'd have to try really hard to get addicted.” Dr. McCoy explains before grabbing a chair from nearby and sits next to Ryland.
Ryland stares down at the pill apprehensively. They've given him no reason not to trust them. But Ryland also trusted Stratt and look where that got him. Dr. McCoy seems to pick up on his anxiety and gets up and comes back with a second pill.
“I need to take one too. We can swap and take it together.” He holds his hand out with the same pill in it.
Ryland doesn't have the strength to pretend that the idea is helpful so he silently switches the pills before swallowing it quickly with the water. Dr. McCoy swallows his dry.
“Why do you take it?” Ryland asks tentatively.
“I'm hypermobile. My knees hurt at the moment. I do what I can to mitigate but that doesn't always work.” The doctor explains easily.
Ryland nods thoughtfully. “No cure for that in the future?”
“Probably somewhere for someone. But Terran bodies are weird as hell, even to the rest of the galaxy.” He huffs a bit of a laugh.
They sit in silence for a bit as the medicine kicks in and Ryland silently marvels as his knees stops aching and he can relax the whole leg under the blanket.
Dr. McCoy notices and clears his throat. “I have a few things I wanna talk to you regarding long term care.”
Ryland frowns a bit before nodding for him to continue.
“Regarding the malnutrition, you've been getting nutrients intravenously which had been helping. But if you want, I can set up a health plan that includes slowly introducing solid food back. I'm sure I don't need to explain to you that having you just go back to eating your nutritional requirements will be disastrous on your body. So you'd have to follow the plan to a T. We could continue intravenous nutrition. Or you can try what's essentially baby formula until you reach a point where your body will accept solid food without throwing a fit.” His words are careful as he explains Rylands options.
Ryland thinks over what to do. His stomach rolls at the thought of intravenous nutrition. He wants all needles and the likes away from him. But the idea of eating solid food doesn't sound appealing either. Which leaves one option.
“The baby formula? I don't think I can eat anything solid yet and I- I can't do needles. Or anything like it.”
Dr. McCoy nods. “We can do that. I’ll get that formulated for you today before my shift is done. I have one other thing I need to discuss with you before I can discharge you into your new crew quarters.”
“I'll get my own quarters?” Ryland questions.
“Yeah of course. Once you're ready, Jim’ll have you take some assessments and do a little physical training before you are officially added to the crew roster but you're part of the crew now. Welcome to the Enterprise.” Dr. McCoy smiles a bit.
“What about Rocky?”
“Oh he's already ran through his assessments. He's down in engineering being trained by our head engineer. And we've got a room that can house the both of you just fine.” Ryland relaxed again at the reassurance.
“Okay. That sounds good. I don't think I'd be able to sleep without him nearby.”
“I figured. But the other thing I wanna talk to you about has to do with your knee,” Ryland clammed up as the doctor spoke. “The damage is not insignificant. Unfortunately it's too far healed for the regenerators to fix. The only way I could do anything is by going in surgically to re-break it-”
“NO! NO I WONT DO IT!” Rylands sheer scream pierced the quiet air of the Med Bay.
Dr. McCoy startled back a bit before reschooling his features. He held his hands up placatingly. “Ok, ok we don't have to-”
“Y-you can't. You can't put me back under! I won't let you send me away again!” Ryland panted, losing control of his breathing.
Dr. McCoy frowned slightly. “We won't send you away. You're safe here.”
Ryland showed no sign of hearing him. “You can't do it again. I'll run away! I'll be faster this time. I won't let you stop me this time!”
Dr. McCoy scanned the panicking man for a moment before firmly grabbing his hands. “Ryland, look at me.”
Ryland, startled and blinking hard, did as he was asked and looked at the doctor.
“You're safe here. On the Enterprise. I won't let anyone put you under. You can sleep and wake up any time you want to.” His words broker no argument and Ryland inhales shakily.
“Promise?” His voice is painfully small and it frustrates Ryland to no end.
“I promise, darlin’. You’re safe here.”
Rylands cheeks flush at the pet name. “Thank you.”
Dr. McCoy nods before letting go of his hands. “I'll get you a cane then for your knee. It'll help keep you steady and take some strain off of it. I'll also get you your own supply of painkillers with instructions.”
Ryland nods and wonders if maybe this is what a family is like.