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Una looked into the isolation chamber. Inside, the captain’s chest heaved as he struggled weakly against the straps binding his limbs to the biobed. “Are you sure the restraints are necessary?”
“He’s already tried to get out of bed twice,” Joseph explained, looking equally unhappy about the situation. “He’s too disoriented to understand what’s going on and he thinks we’re trying to hurt him.”
“And you can’t give him anything to make him more comfortable?”
Joseph shook his head. “There’s nothing that’s safe to mix with his antibiotics and antipyretics. I’ve checked every painkiller and sedative we have.”
A sharp cry had them both cringing. “How much longer?”
“From the literature I’ve seen, I’d estimate he has another twelve hours before the worst of it’s over. Maybe a day.”
Una closed her eyes for just a second. “There has to be something you can do.”
“I would ask Spock to meld with him, but I can’t guarantee that he won’t be infected given his hybrid physiology,” the doctor said. “I can’t ask him to take that risk.”
Una nodded. “We both know he would.”
“Actually,” Joseph said thoughtfully. “I can’t let Spock in to see him, but you’re immune. You can sit with him, if you want.”
~
Chris flinched as the door opened. “It’s okay,” Una murmured as she slowly approached the biobed. “It’s just me. Una.”
“No,” Chris begged. Una’s heart twisted in her chest, knowing that he was probably expecting another painful hypospray. “Please.”
“I’m not going to hurt you.” Una reached out to caress Chris’ cheek, fighting the urge to recoil when she felt the heat radiating off his skin. “I’m here,” she soothed. “You’re safe.”
“Stop,” he whimpered, twisting away from Una’s touch. “Please, make it stop.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “You’re going to be okay.”