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"Ouch."
Captain Pike reached up to rub the side of his neck, he felt his skin begin to tremble and morph into a different shape an instant later.
Nurse Christine Chapel popped the hypospray back into its case, smirking. "I can offer a band-aid or a lollipop if that would help, Captain."
Pike appraised the Enterprises' new nurse again, the humorous glimmer from behind the platinum blonde hair reminded him of a certain XO. Chapel wasn't apprehensive of him in the slightest, his respect for her rose another notch.
"That won't be necessary this time." Chris felt the sudden urge to roll his neck and stretch his jaw. It was an odd feeling, having one's genome scrambled. "When I next stub my toe I'll know where to come looking for lollipops."
Chapel's beam faded as she watched her solution at work, Pike's face rippled until it started to resemble his human features. "If it gets too uncomfortable-"
"It's fine Christine." He interrupted, cutting off the Nurse's self-recrimination before it truly started. Her work was still very new and the last thing she needed was a whiny Captain dampening her spirits.
One of his charming grins later, dimples and all, and her frown disappeared completely. Chapel checked his vitals and progress before checking his treatment off in the system; she was flying onto the next patient before Pike could thank her.
Chris caught his reflection on the monitor and paused, it was comforting to see his own eyes staring back. Suddenly the reflection distorted, growing disfigured and burnt. The image transported him back to that indescribable agony, feeling like his flesh was melting - forever.
Nearby chatter snapped him out of the moment and the horrifying reminder vanished. He cleared his throat, shook the moment away and retreated from the treatment area. If he stayed much longer Chapel would find a way to turn him into one of her lab rats.
Pike went to leave sickbay, knowing that things planetside were fragile at best, but something made him turn right - towards where his XO was currently going through dermal regeneration for her gunshot wound. Chris was getting sick of second-guessing every decision, he needed stability, he needed grounding.
Chris nodded at the other occupants of sickbay, his eyes scanning for a familiar figure. He found her in the corner, propped up in bed with her nose in a datapad. Typical Una.
"I'm pretty sure a hole in the leg earns you a few hours off work." He began light, his mood lifting when she looked his way, her gaze warming at seeing his actual face again. "I could have a word with the Captain if he's giving you grief."
Una smothered the growing smile at her lips and her eyes flicked back down to her pad. Number One would never let her guard down fully in a public place such as this, even coming up against his endless wit.
"He's got enough on his plate, what with breaking General order 1 and showing off his ship's big guns to an entire planet."
Chris barked a laugh, pulled up a nearby chair and settled in next to Una's side. Straight to the heart of the matter as always. It was a good thing that Pike was a stellar talker, he dipped away from the dangerous territory in favour of more solid ground.
"How's the leg?"
Una acknowledged the sidestep with a knowing smirk but she didn't push, that was a far too predictable route. "You know, the usual. Doc's working his magic and the hole will soon be no more."
Pike eyed the datapad in his XO's hands, she was still working away even now. "You know, I could order you to actually rest for a few hours."
Una didn't even lift her eyes from the pad. "You could, but I have a lot of work to catch up on."
"Still." Pike pushed.
Number One finally lowered the pad and looked him right in the eye, her gaze devastating and piercing. "Of course, I could just say. 'Screw orders.'"
Pike winced, the blow expected but still catching him off guard all the same. Not his finest moment, they were supposed to be a better team than that.
"Sorry."
Number One studied him silently for a few moments before nodding, accepting his apology and the sincerity. "I'd appreciate a little heads up next time Chris, keeping you from getting court-martialed is going to take a lot of favours."
"That's not your probl-"
"Of course it's my problem." Una interrupted hotly. "You're my friend."
She flicked her eyes around the immediate area, realising her voice was starting to carry. "We have each other's backs, always."
Chris gulped heavily, what had he done to earn this incredible woman's loyalty? And now he'd put her in a difficult position, the last thing he wanted to do.
He eventually managed to find his voice. "I don't deserve you."
"True."
Una's smile returned, the one she tried very hard to hide but never quite succeeded around him. Her eyes crinkled at the corners despite her efforts. Chris felt lighter than he had in months, he'd missed her council, her support.
"Why did you risk it, risk everything for them? You know there are rules for a reason."
Pike heard the gentle rebuke in her tone, along with the uncertainty. She often styled her own command after his, this was something she couldn't just blindly accept. It was understandable, given the situation.
"I know what you're asking One, but I don't think I can give you the answers you're looking for."
He'd been second-guessing his decisions for months but this one, breaking general order 1, he didn't second-guess. He would make the same choice again, although he had to admit the method was rather lacking. Una deserved more than a curt 'bugger off back to the ship'.
"The rules and everything Star fleet has drummed into me pointed me in one direction but I just couldn't leave like that. It wasn't right."
That was the crux of everything and the reason why Chris wasn't questioning revealing the Enterprise to the people down below. His sense of right and wrong had never failed him, his body yes, his mind and emotions sure, but never that. He had felt it so deeply down in that lift. It had been Star fleet's fault that the Kileans had this weapon in the first place, his fault. They couldn't just walk away from that. Someone had to take responsibility for creating a planet killer, he had to own up to their mistakes and try to correct them.
Una still looked unsure, she had her head tilted to the side and had her bottom lip between her teeth. "You couldn't live with it so you changed their future?"
"I saw a mistake, one that we caused, and decided to correct it rather than take the easy path." Chris corrected, it wasn't about what he could live with. That was selfish.
Una mulled over his words but the crease in her forehead didn't abate, she rubbed the back of her neck as she tried to understand what lesson could be derived from his actions. Pike could see that she wasn't convinced but that uncertainty didn't last long. Even if she didn't understand his decision-making her inner conflict was over. The furrow in her brow vanished and the fierce gleam returned. "Well, we'll just have to make sure the admiralty sees it that way too."
Pike grinned devilishly, he felt sorry for anyone who got caught in Una's way. She was ruthless.
Speaking of danger, Chris spotted Nurse Chapel a few beds away and she in turn spotted him. The young nurse tapped her fingers against her box of toys and wiggled her eyebrows, intent clear. If he risked staying in her domain much longer then there would be a price to pay.
Una noticed his change in demeanour and how he was acting rather like a spooked horse. She spotted Nurse Chapel and chuckled. "I like the new nurse."
"Mmmm," Pike replied, non-committal. "I think you two would get along."
He ignored Number One's snort and got up from the chair at her bedside, unwilling to push his luck any longer. Besides, he had some people to check up on.
His determined expression gave him away, Una narrowed her eyes at him as he skirted around the bed towards the exit. "Off to break some more rules?"
"Me? Never." Chris replied easily, clearly he'd already telegraphed where he planned to go. "I'm just going to correct some mistakes, try to do some good for a change."
"And what if they won't listen?"
"Then that's their choice, but I won't let them make it without all the facts."
Una blew out a long-suffering sigh. Her disapproval was never voiced though. Instead, the first officer fell back into her familiar role, accepting her Captain's risky decisions and supporting him how she could. "Good luck, and be careful."
There was no mistake that Una had once again telegraphed his plans, nor had there really been any doubt. She was the best for a reason.
"I'll see you on the bridge later."
And with that he left sickbay, giving Nurse Chapel a wide berth as he passed her. Christine chuckled but let him go without comment. Pike headed down the corridor towards the turbo lift, the burden on his shoulders lighter with each step. Stopping in on Number One had been the right call, it was time he stopped second-guessing himself and time to fall back on his instincts. They wouldn't fail him.
As the Captain rode the turbo-lift to the bridge he couldn't help but notice his reflection on the panels, his own face stared back - free from pain and torment. He was finally starting to feel like himself again.