Peeping Tom, Shroy Tuvok ~ part iv
 
 
 
Part V ~ the Doctor

"Welcome back, Commander," I smile down at Commander Chakotay as he regains consciousness.  Moments later, he's already halfway out of the bed.  I'm forced to hold him down so that he won't injure himself.

"Where's Kathryn?" he demands.  "I have to see her!"

"Calm down, Commander," I reply calmly.  "The Captain is fine."  Voyager's first officer stops struggling.

"She's alright?" he asks, as if he doesn't dare believe it, his voice still filled with worry.

"She's going to make a full recovery," I assure him.  "You've both cheated death once again:  with a little help from me, of course."  I watch the Commander allow himself to fall back into the biobed, still fatigued after his injuries.

"How is she?" he asks.  "Can I see her?"

"She's still unconscious," I retrieve the nearest medical tricorder, open the familiar device and began scanning him:  "You're free to go, provided that you remain off duty until tomorrow."  Chakotay nods his understanding.  I close the tricorder, watch him as he slowly sits back up:  "You've both had quite a shock, Commander.  I'd recommend that you sleep if at all possible.  And no boxing or hoverball for a few days:  just to be on the safe side."

"Understood," he slides his feet over the edge of the biobed:  "You'll inform me when she wakes up?"

"Of course, Commander," I agree.  I turn to return to my office, but Chakotay stops me:

"Doctor..."  I turn around to face him again, and he walks toward me, a bit unsteady on his feet still, but easily enough.  "Thank you."

I watch Chakotay turn and leave, leaving me wondering what has brought about this turn of events.  The crew rarely thanks me for saving their lives.  Oh well:  might as well enjoy it while I can.  Tomorrow will probably bring me more ungrateful patients.
 
 
 

"Glad to see that you're awake, Captain."  It takes her a moment to focus on my face:  she's still a bit groggy.

"How long?" she manages to get out.

"About twelve hours," I reply.  "You're very lucky:  Voyager arrived just in time."  She nodded solemnly, but didn't seem surprised, at least not outwardly:  who knows what's going on inside her head?  Captain Janeway is an expert at hiding her emotions as she sees fit.

"The Commander?" she asks.

"I've already released him," I close the tricorder.  "He's on his way here as we speak."  I turn to return my tricorder to the instrument tray.  When I turn back, I'm surprised to find that she has already sat up.  "Captain!"  She holds up a hand:

"I'm alright," she replies.

"No you're not!  You're in no condition to be up and about."

"I'd like to go to my quarters, Doctor," she actually slides her legs off the biobed, but is forced to pause, to catch her breath.  She sways, probably dizzy from her efforts.

"Absolutely not, it's out of the question," I reply, arms outstretched, making sure that she doesn't fall headfirst to the floor.  "You need to remain here for rest and observation for at least another sixteen hours."

"I can rest in my quarters," she replies, lifts her head.

"You should listen to him, Captain."  We both turn at Commander Chakotay's voice, neither of us having noticed his arrival.  He solemnly approaches, crossing his arms across the putrid leather vest that he's so fond of wearing off duty.  The color doesn't suit him, and it took me a moment to realize that its brown hue was why he looked so pale.

I turn back to the Captain, who seems to be contemplating her first officer's words.  She turns back to me:

"I'll stay here until 2000 hours, Doctor," she informs me.  "After that, you are to release me..."

"To quarters," I finish for her.  "And you aren't going to be on duty tomorrow, either."

"There's no reason that I can't go on light duty..."

"No, Captain," I insist.  "When I say that you aren't to go on duty, I mean that you aren't going to be on duty.  If you resist, then I will be forced to sedate you.  I'm already risking your health as it is."  She sighs:

"Fine," she finally relents.  "No duty it is."  I nod:

"That's a wise decision, Captain," I note.  "I'll be over here if you need me."  I turn on my heel, ignoring what I've often heard certain crewmembers refer to as the death glare, and resume my work at the console across the room, my back to the two officers.

"You feeling alright?" I can't help but hear the Commander ask the Captain.  I can hear her shifting her weight on the biobed, pulling the blanket back over herself.

"Good enough to know that I don't need to be off duty for another thirty-six hours," she notes sourly.

"Do you want to talk?" Chakotay asks.

"About?"

"About what happened in the shuttle."  There's a long pause:

"Commander," the Captain states evenly.  "As far as I'm concerned, our last conversation never happened."  I can hear the edge in her voice, feel the ice to it that is so frigid that whatever she's talking about, she's just pierced the Commander's heart.  The entire room is suddenly quiet enough for someone to hear a pin drop.  "Now if you'll excuse me," she continues.  "I need to get some rest."

I turn and see her roll over, turning so that her back is to the Commander, and for one long horrible moment the room is silent.  Chakotay turns, and I watch him leave the room without another word.  I think that I know what was said on that shuttle, and I find my mind wandering:  I can see Seven's face before my own when I close my eyes.  I have to wonder if, had it been me and her in that shuttle, if she would have said the same, if she would have denied it when we got back to Voyager.  I think that I know how Chakotay feels.
 
 
 
Peeping Tom, Shroy Tuvok ~ part vi
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