Delta Story cmwende@compuserve.com FEVER NC-17 Summary: A tale in which sweat, bathtubs and disobeying orders play prominent roles... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kathryn Janeway sat impatiently on the edge of the biobed as the doctor finished his examination of her. During an inspection of the repaired breach in the hull walls of cargo bay 2, a sudden leak from a weakened seam had subjected her to a 42 second exposure of over 100 rems of radiation. Although all Starfleet personnel were routinely vaccinated for possible radiation endangerment, the intense amount indicated a medical follow-up. "Well, Captain, I cannot find any evidence of internal injuries or burns. However, there does appear to be a significant decrease in your white blood cell count, with an equally drastic depression of bone marrow activity. I can give you a stimulant to increase both tissues, but it will take about 24 hours to fully become effective. In the meantime, I would like to keep you here in sickbay, in protective isolation, as a precautionary measure. With such a severe deflation of your immune system, you could be susceptible to infection even by nonpathogenic microorganisms, and..." "Doctor, I cannot remain here -- I have work to do! Why, I should be following through on the investigation of this accident right now. I feel fine; I need to return to duty," was her terse rebuttal. "And what would happen if you became seriously ill? Captain, I must ask you to consider the consequences of such a possibility," the doctor tried to plead in his most sympathetic bedside manner. The stubborn senior officer sighed. She knew that he was right, without even looking at the smug expression on his face. "How about if I promise to stay in my quarters, all by myself, for twenty four hours? You would be the only one to be allowed to enter. I could work there, communicate with people... is this an acceptable alternative?" "All right. But before you return, I am going to ask security to gas sterilize your area. We will beam you from here to there, so that you are not exposed to anything going to your quarters. And all your food and drink must come from the replicator -- no food from Mr. Neelix's kitchen..." She looked at the EMH and with a crooked smile said, "Well, that truly will be a sacrifice!" The doctor's laughter joined hers as he caught on to her joke. "And you are to eat a balanced diet -- more than just coffee and caramel brownies." "I'll be good, doctor. Now, can we get this going?" The doctor filled his hypospray with the marrow stimulant and administered it. As soon as he was finished, Janeway hit her comm badge. "Chakotay..." "Yes, Captain?" "Chakotay, the doctor informs me that the radiation dose I received has depressed my immune system, and it is his wish" ("Order!" came the doctor's voice in the background) --- she turned and glared at the medical officer --- "it is his order that I remain in isolation for 24 hours. I will be in my quarters, abiding by this decision, but I will be available to discuss any problems. In the meantime, you have the bridge." "Understood, Captain. Can I help in any way?" "Just keep everyone happy and all the bad guys at bay. Janeway out." She then alerted security to arrange for the gas sterilization of her living area and then her subsequent transport. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was six hours into Janeway's enforced "imprisonment", as she was thinking about her required absence from her ship and crew. The latter seemed cognizant of the medical need of the situation, and as such, were abiding by the doctor's request of not contacting her. She felt ignored! Couldn't just *one* little problem require her attention? Without the usual constant interruptions, she had whizzed through the daily reports... not that there was anything of great urgency there. She had even logged her report on the incident and Tuvok was now looking into the reason for the leak and its permanent repairs. She sat at her desk, studying the space that had previously seemed spacious -- now it felt like the walls were cloying at her. Once more, she looked at the chronometer: 2140. Time was dragging... Earlier, she had replicated herself what had seemed good at the time: a nice bowl of vegetable stew and warm bread. She looked at the remains of her meal; she had barely picked at it. Now, cold and lifeless and even more unappetizing, she picked up the bowl and utensils and got up to take them to the recycler. As she walked the dozen or so steps, she realized that her legs were weak and she felt very tired. *Must be the low number of WBCs*, she thought. *Maybe I should just give in and go to bed.* She turned to go to her bedroom when her comm buzzed. "Captain..." "Yes, doctor..." "Just checking in to see how my patient is..." "A little tired, doctor; I'm thinking of going to bed..." "Ah.. the replenishment is working. That is to be expected; very good! Now, lots of fluids, too..." "Yes, doctor; good night, doctor..." and she wearily sat down on the edge of her bed. Another buzz. Would this ever end? First, no one calls... now, as I'm trying to get to bed, everyone wants to chat! "Kathryn?" a familiar voice came through softly. A smile crept across her face. "Yes, Chakotay..." "How are you feeling? I hadn't heard anything form you for a couple of hours, and I was concerned..." His voice echoed that concern; her heart felt it. "I'm a bit fatigued, but the doctor says that's to be expected." "I... wish I could be there... to help you..." "It's good just to hear your voice..." "Is there anything that I can do for you?" Her smile became wider. "I certainly could stand a backrub right about now..." She heard a muffled cough from the other end of the communicators. "Wish I could, but the doc would have my hide. Well... er, um... sweet dreams, Kathryn." "You, too, Chakotay." Her smiled remained as she put her comm badge on the table next to her bed. "Computer, lights out." She was asleep almost before the last glimmer faded out of the window. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She awoke with a start... from a dreamless sleep; from a comatose sleep. Her pulse was racing; sweat was forming little streams, running through her hair, down her neck; her body was covered in a sheen of moisture. Her pillow was drenched with perspiration, and yet her teeth were chattering; she was freezing! She grabbed for her robe at the foot of the bed, more for warmth than for modesty. She stood, only to find that her legs were like soft dough; they could barely support her. Her throat was on fire -- water! She needed water... She managed to stumble to the bathroom... she *had* to hold on to something! Her hands were trembling as she pushed a cup under the water dispenser; she spilled some as she lifted the vessel and its contents to her parched lips, adding more wetness to her already soaked nightgown. She inched her way back to the bed... she had to... contact... someone... Her hands hit the badge. "Chakotay..." she whispered into it, before collapsing onto the bed. "Kathryn?" came the sleepy response. "Kathryn?" the voice said louder, with a sudden concern. And, suddenly, he was there, beside her. He had used his override, and entered her quarters... before he realized his error. *Oh, God...* he thought; *what have I done?* He stood over her slumped, motionless form on the bed. He bent down and tenderly picked up her small frame --- God, she was burning up! He placed her more comfortably on the bed, and ran his hand over her face. There was so much perspiration on it that he had to wipe his hand on his robe. He then took the robe and wiped away the remaining moisture. Only then did he realize what he must do next. "Doctor," he said as he hit his comm, "come to the Captain's quarters, now!" "Commander? Where you..." "Just come," was his commanding plea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The doctor appeared within seconds, but it seemed like minutes to Chakotay. And the medical officer was none too happy to see the first officer within the off limit confines of the captain's quarters. However, their ill leader was his first concern. He was immediately scanning her for an update of her condition. As he was performing the task, he brusquely interrogated the silent man standing by his side. "Commander, why did you disobey my orders?" "She called me... I was asleep and came over... I didn't have time to think. I know I was wrong, but it was an instinctive action." "Hmmmm... " responded the doctor, also instinctively. The furrows on his forehead became deeper. "How was she when she called you... when you arrived?" Chakotay recited his findings --- how she sounded weak, plaintive; how she was almost unconscious on the bed... and how she her skin felt like it was on fire. The doctor frowned further, looking at the data in front of him. "Her temperature is 40.2C; our first priority is to get that down. I will give her an anti-inflammatory medication. However, her T-cells are almost non-existent. I feel that there is something else here other than the radiation exposure. Ahhh... her liver enzymes are significantly increased also..." the doctor noted as he continued his medcorder readings. Both men were silent as he proceeded with his examination. Suddenly, he stopped. He looked at the readout display, then turned to Chakotay. His eyes were widened with amazement... and fear. "Chakotay, there is evidence that the Captain has a prion infection... specifically, the Jovian IV prion." Their eyes met and communicated their mutual horror, as they both recalled the devastating plague due to the Jovian IV prion in the late 21st centu...
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