ST:FIC: Days of Our Youth 11

Chapter Eleven

            They were just a day away from Earth and Kirk was starting to get antsy. He knew for a fact that he was going to get chided for hanging up on Komack. Not to mention the fact that he had sort of declared war with the entire Romulan Empire. That certainly couldn't look good on his record. Hopefully the council would understand that he was acting rashly.

            But then, he was a captain and he shouldn't act in such a manner.


            Oh dear lord, he was going to get put on the chopping block for this. Star Fleet had been looking for any excuse to pull him out of captaincy and back into ensign position. This would be the perfect excuse.


            So, it was with a twisting stomach that Kirk found himself sitting in his captain's chair, possibly for the last time, staring at the viewing screen in dead silence. Around him the bridge crew seemed to be sharing in his nerves. Sulu was hunched over his controls like he might lose them, Chekov was staring ahead looking pale and Uhura was glaring full force at her translating screen, looking very much like she wanted to bite something.


            Spock was down with Bones getting his daily exam. Vaguely Kirk wondered what they did down there. Spock never told him and he never asked Bones. The Doctor always seemed confident whenever Kirk visited that everything was a-okay and Spock was still 'normal'. Well, as normal as a twelve year old Vulcan could be.


            It was with a rather shocked expression that Kirk answered a hail from Sick Bay.


                        "Kirk here," he said, tapping the conn lightly.


                        "Jim? It's Bones," McCoy's voice sounded. Kirk frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in slightly concern.


                        "Yea, I got that. What's up Bones?"


            There was silence for a moment then McCoy responded, "I need you to get down here."


            Kirk's eyes widened then narrowed. "Why?"


                        "Just get down here. It's good news," McCoy said, sounding exasperated. Kirk's entire being relaxed. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding and he nodded, even though he knew McCoy couldn't see it.


                        "Alright. Be there in a minute. Kirk out," he said. His hand shook slightly as he tapped the conn again. "Sulu, you've got the conn," he commanded as he pulled himself out of his chair. Sulu looked hugely pleased. He smiled and nodded.


                        "Aye, Captain," he said, looking at the ceiling as if thanking whatever god he prayed to.

            

            A little over a minute later, Kirk stepped into Sick Bay. His nerves had returned and he looked around Sick Bay quickly before he called to Bones.


                        "Back here," McCoy responded, from the same room as before.


            Swallowing his nerves, Kirk strode confidently to the back room. This time Nurse Chapel didn't come out to meet him. Taking that as a good sign he stepped into the room. Nearly all his nerves disappeared, again, when he spotted Spock. The tiny Vulcan was sitting up glowering at McCoy with all the force the adult Spock had. The glower disappeared once he spotted Kirk, however, and was replaced with something softer, something Kirk couldn't name.


                        "Hey, Bones. Not torturing him are you?" He asked, smoothly.


            Bones snorted and turned around. "Hardly," he said with the eye roll that only Doctor McCoy could do so perfectly.


                        "What did ya call me down for?" Kirk asked, sounding much more relaxed than he felt. He glanced at Spock but the Vulcan wasn't giving him any answers. Leaning against the door frame he waited for answer.


                        "I know how to fix the Vulcan," Bones said looking smug. Behind him Spock arched an eyebrow, clearly not happy to be referred to as 'the Vulcan'. Kirk's eyes widened for the second time that day. He pushed himself off of the wall and stepped over to Bones.


                        "How?" He breathed.


            Bones' smugness only seemed to grow. "I figured out the problem," he said, not telling Kirk how he was going to fix this at all. Kirk's expression was still incredulous but a flash of irritation went through him. Why couldn't McCoy just tell him how the problem was going to be fixed?


            Deciding to humor the good doctor he asked, "And what was the problem?"


                        "Hormonal deficiency," Bones promptly supplied.


            Kirk looked confused.


                        "What?" He said slowly.


            Bones rolled his eyes and repeated himself.


                        "I got that," Kirk snapped. "But why are you now just figuring this out?" He asked, a little irritated that Bones hadn't gotten this sooner.


                        "Simple. I was looking at his charts the wrong way," Bones said with a shrug. He, clearly, didn't think he had done anything wrong, but the glare Kirk was giving him said otherwise. Lifting his hands he shook his head. "Don't give me that look. You wouldn't have caught it either."


            Kirk crossed his arms, knowing McCoy was right. "Okay and how did you figure this out?"


                        "Well, when I told you he was perfectly normal I wasn't wrong," McCoy started. "He was perfectly normal, for a twelve year old. But as the days progressed his body started to show signs of wear and tear that could only appear in a twenty five year old. And I-"


                        "Whoa, wait. Spock is 25?" Kirk interrupted. McCoy frowned, miffed that he had been stopped in the middle.


                        "Yes, Jim. You don't know your First Officer's age?" He asked, smirking.


            Kirk shrugged, looking mystified. "Never asked," he said. Then fell silent. "Please continue," he said, annoyed that McCoy was giving him a superior look.


            McCoy continued to look superior for a moment then he nodded and continued. "Right, so, as I was saying; his bones, internal organs and brain functions were all showing the signs of a 25 year old but his hormonal levels were still at that of a twelve year olds. So, yesterday I injected a tiny amount of hormones into his system, just to test. And I-"


                        "You injected him with hormones without telling me?" Kirk interrupted again.


            A rather angry look crossed McCoy's face. "If I had told you, you would have stopped me. And, besides, even if it didn't work he would be fine. Maybe a little more wired than usual but otherwise fine. Now stop interrupting me or I'll never fix him!" McCoy snapped.


            Behind him, Spock sent Kirk a pleading look. He most certainly didn't want to be stuck like this forever.


            Kirk clenched his jaw but nodded.


            With a huff, McCoy continued, "So! He is now at the level of a thirteen year old. Checking back on his records for the past week I discovered that, since he lost half his age, his hormones went a little haywire, which is partly why it was so hard to pinpoint." Finally finished explaining, McCoy crossed his arms and glared at Kirk, as if daring him to disagree.


            After a moment Kirk unstuck his tongue, "Great." Slowly he smiled. "I knew you could do it, Bones," he said, giving the doctor's arm a swift punch.


            Shaking his head, McCoy smirked, "Yea, yea. Whatever."


                        "So," Kirk started, dropped his hands onto his hips. "How are we gonna fix this?" He asked. McCoy arched an eyebrow at him.


                        "We? Oh, no. I think you mean me," he said and Kirk laughed. Lightening up, McCoy finally answered the initial question. "We're going to inject him with about twelve years of hormones."


            Behind McCoy, Spock's eyes widened to considerable size and he seemed to shrink away from the doctor. His hands tightened around his shirt and he looked at Kirk with a look begging for help. Kirk caught the look and smiled, not that it helped Spock at all.


                        "Won't that hurt?" He asked, concern gracing his features.


            McCoy shrugged. "Possibly," he said. Spock's eyes widened even more and his knuckles were now white. "But, it'll hurt him more to stay at this age," he explained, narrowing his eyes at the Captain. "Don't you stop me. I'm gonna do it. Whether the damned Vulcan likes it or not."


            Said Vulcan frowned and he arched an eyebrow. "I'm right here, you know," he said stiffly.


            McCoy blinked and looked over his shoulder like he had forgotten that Spock was, indeed, there. He smirked. "Good, so you know the plan," he said.


            The good doctor got the Vulcan equivalent of an eye roll.


            Looking back at Kirk, McCoy crossed his arms. "It's going to take a lot out of him. Obviously forcing someone to grow twelve years in the space of a few years is exhausting. But, I can get it done in four hours and he'll be nice and adult like for when we get to Star Fleet," he said.


            Kirk grimaced and his nerves returned. Turning away he rested a hand on his stomach. "Don't mention that," he mumbled.


                        "Nerves? I got a hypospray that could help," McCoy said, not even batting an eyelash.


            The very idea of hypospray only made his stomach clench, so, Kirk shook his head, looking green. "No thanks," he said, shaking his head. Looking at Spock he frowned again. "When can you get it done?" He asked, focusing on McCoy again.


                        "Today. It's still early, so he should be done by dinner," McCoy answered, crossing his arms again and fixing Spock with a very hard look. "Although, I don't think he'll want to eat anything. Probably just sleep," he said, looking back at Kirk.


            Kirk nodded. "You can proceed." Spock grimaced very, very slightly. Kirk smiled encouragingly at him but was given a rather displeased look instead. "Tell me when he's done," Kirk said.


            McCoy rolled his eyes for the fourth time that day. "Like I wouldn't inform you," he snipped. "Now go on, get out of here. I've got a Vulcan to age," he said, waving his hands at Kirk, shooing him out of Sick Bay.


            Just before he left he caught the slightly sick look on Spock's face. For once Kirk felt just a little worried about leaving the Vulcan with McCoy. But then, he had to get back to work and McCoy was one of the best doctors in the entire fleet.


            So, he swallowed his nerves and went back to the bridge, rather happy to know that he could inform the bridge crew that Spock was going to be just fine.