a_mused | no (wo)man is an island - for bitcheslovehypos

"Appropriate being none?" Jane knew she'd be walking out there covered in a layer so thick she looked even paler than normal, but it always paid to be blindly optimistic around Bones. It got her distracted enough she forgot, temporarily what the real problem was. "You know the last time I put some on I broke out in hives, right?"

“There has to be ONE damn sunscreen you don’t have issues with,” she told Jane. “We’re just going to keep trying until we find it.” She would just have to make sure she had the necessary hypos on hand. Just in case.

"Wouldn't it be easier just to heal a burn?"

Jane regrets this line of conversation. No matter how animated Bones sounds. How many times will Bones get to jab a hypo to her neck? The numbers make her shiver.

Bones huffs a tired laugh.

“No.”

Besides, she knows them, knows her crew. They always seem to find some kind of trouble on shore leave, or it finds them, and it would be better if Jane wasn’t as red as a damn lobster during it.

"I don't think you're giving it a fair amount of thought."

Jane grins against her pillow. She could stand to hear more of that laughter.

"What's more relaxing than ignoring me?"

“I gave it plenty of thought. We’re going the prevention route.” Jane would thank her later. Probably.

“Like that’s possible, Jane,” she retorts, stifling another yawn with her hand. “But I could do it just as easily preventing you from getting the damn sunburn in the first place.”

"Sure, Bones." Jane's grin softens. She isn't the only one impossible to ignore. Jane can't even remember the last time she hadn't been worrying about Bones. "Try and go back to sleep. We'll be checking in again in a few hours."

“Try is the operative word. Beginning to think the only reason I’m down here is because they’re a bunch of incompetent bastards who can’t do anything for themselves.” Yeah, she really hates this planet and everyone on it. Except her patients. They can’t help it the folks in charge are morons. “I’m sleeping for at least forty eight hours when I get back to the ship. Think you can keep yourself out of trouble for that long?” She’s teasing... mostly, and it’s filling her voice. Then she’s swallowing another yawn and a softly muttered ‘damn it’. Hopefully she can catch a bit more sleep before another wave of patients is brought in.

“Talk to you soon, Jane.”

No. The only reason she was still down there was because her heart was too damn big. Jane shook her head and clutched the comm a little too tight.

"Night, Bones."

Five hours was a fairly short period of time all things considered but the time stretched forever in Jane's opinion.

And then it passed. She had been back on duty for an hour with no sleep. Might be why she swore everyone was staring at her. But when hour six passed and they hadn't heard from security or Bones, Jane knew they were watching her.

"Enterprise to Hendroff, report."

Silence ticked by in tense seconds without answer.

"Enterprise ti Lt. Hendroff. Can you hear us?"

Jane shot a look at Spock and Uhura in turn, both who shook their heads. No interference.

Shit.

"Enterprise to Doctor McCoy, status report." Her voice was tight and pinched. "McCoy, can you hear us?"

Everything had gone straight to hell. Len had somehow managed to fall back asleep after saying goodbye to Jane... only to be woken what seemed like a painfully short time later by explosions and one of the locals who had volunteered to be their aide for this... visit violently shaking her shoulder.

Apparently the state of upheaval that the planet was in had reached fever pitch about ten minutes ago. And her first thought had been her patients, and getting them out. Getting them somewhere safe. The only problem was that there wasn’t anywhere safe to take them. So she’d spent much of her time making sure they were in as good a shape as she could get them.

It had taken the rebellion almost no time at all to show up on their damn doorstep. And, like most idiots with weapons, they were more than a little bit violent. Lt Hendroff was sporting one hell of a shiner, and Len herself had a split lip and could feel a spectacular bruise forming on her cheekbone. But they’d managed to keep the injuries limited to the two of them. Which, she figured, was something. The only question was whether or not she would be able to keep them limited to her as time went on.

When Jane’s voice finally came over the comm., Len exhaled slowly. She’d noticed that they’d missed their check-in. She gave the leader of the merry band of rebels currently keeping an eye on them a glare.

“You might want to let me answer that. Captain Kirk tends to get testy when members of her crew don’t check in on time. She has a thing about promptness.” Which was a load of bullshit, but her patients being put in danger always put her in a bad mood. And mouthing off was a good way to keep their attention on her and off her patients. The leader glowered right back, and she met his eyes steadily until he finally gave a nod and tossed her the comm..

“I can hear you, Captain. And so can our new ’friends’.” Besides the sarcasm dripping off the words ‘friends’, the most telling part of those sentences was her use of Jane’s rank.

No. Jane sits rigid in her chair. She can feel the stunned expressions on her crews faces as they all take in what was just said.

But Jane can't even let herself imagine the implications. She can't let her control slip long enough to try to picture what could have happened or how badly Bones might be hurt.

Everyone thinks Jane is the most reckless mouthy member of their crew, the one most prone to getting her ass handed to her, they forget exactly who their CMO is.

She breathes out sharp and fast before answering.

"Making friends without me, Dr. McCoy? I'm hurt. I'm sure they wouldn't mind talking to me, seeing how they're such good friends of yours."

Len’s mind is racing. Her primary concern is twofold; Lt. Hendroff and her patients, and getting them out of there in one piece. The rebellion, the ruling body, they can all go hang themselves for all she cares. Her focus is more immediate, and contained within the building. That’s all that matters to her. Their captors have no problem using violence. They’ve made THAT perfectly clear.

She’s got her work cut out for her.

“You know me, Captain. I’m a people person.” She gives them an unamused smile. “Not sure you’d like them, though. They’re a bunch of morons. Not one brain cell to rub together among the - ” Her insulting diatribe is cut off by the swift punch the rebel leader hauls off and swings at her face and pain explodes in her head. But never let it be said that Len McCoy can’t take a hit. His blow staggers her, but she remains standing. She huffs a pained laugh, hand clenching into a fist. She tastes blood, can feel the blood trickling down her cheek, and she’s fairly certain he cracked something on top of making that bruise that’s forming a damn sight worse, but she’s all right.

It’ll take a lot more than that to shut her up. “I think that’s a yes. He’d love to speak to you.”

Jane wasn't the only one rearing back when that slap echoed across the Bridge. She raised a hand without looking because if Spock took her eyes off that screen monitoring Bones location, they could very well lose her and that wasn't even a possibility Jane was willing to entertain. Kidnapping a Starfleet officer was a serious offense. Harming a member of Jane's crew was worse. She drummed her fingers on her armrest and choked down her anger.

"I thought he would. Seeing how he's just that friendly."

“Oh yeah. He’s a real peach.” Len winced as the gash on her cheek pulled. Not that it was that noticeable through the throbbing that was her cheekbone and face right now. It was just a cherry on a shit sundae. She wasn’t concussed, she was fairly certain, but it was possible she was and her bell was just too rung for her to notice yet.

I hate this goddamn planet.

The bastard who punched her ripped the comm. out of her hand, and she let him. She needed to choose her battles, and she let that one go. She had more important shit to worry about. Like trying to figure out how she was going to get them all out of this friggin’ mess.

He tries that shit again, he won't have hands. Jane wants to claw out the bastards eyeballs for even looking at Bones sideways. And they haven't even started negotiating.

"Kidnapping and assaulting Starfleet officers is a crime against the Federation," Jane idly states. She doesn't know who they're dealing with. Which faction of this goddamn messy revolution she's talking to, and she's finding it really hard to give a damn when the asshole starts rambling at her in a thick guttural tone that the translator is having one hell of a time parsing.

By the time the translator starts picking up more than every other word, Jane's done listening. "You want to be respected? Then release them."

Len will apologise to Jane later, but she has every intention of being the most infuriating pain in the ass she can manage to these bastards. She figures if she keeps their attention on her, they’ll leave Hendroff and her patients alone. Until she can get them better protected.

Jane’s going to hate her for this.

She isn’t surprised when the dumb ass refuses Jane’s terms. But it doesn’t stop her from speaking up. “Are you out of your friggin’ mind? You’re not earning any goddamn brownie points by being stupid.” Apparently he really didn’t appreciate all the insults to his intelligence, because he nods to two of his men and one’s grabbing her arms while the other drives a punch into her ribcage.

Somehow she manages to swallow the grunt of pain, but the pain still sends her sagging into the grip of the man holding her arms, and she silently adds a couple broken ribs and more bruises to her catalogue of injuries. She gives a soft, breathless laugh. “Boy, you’re damn touchy about your intelligence, aren’t you. Maybe you should try ACTING like it.”

Yeah, Jane’s going to be pissed.

“I’m the only one you need. Let Hendroff go, as a show of good faith. Leave the patients alone. Keep me.” Once the others were taken care of... then she could worry about herself.

"Captain, we are receiving minor interference from the planet."

Jane glanced at Spock whose head was bent over her console as she spoke.

"It does not appear to be related to the faction holding Dr. McCoy in its custody."

"Fantastic." Jane rubs her face. She wants her crew out of there. She wanted them out yesterday. This was how they lost lives. "Government?"

"It is a possibility."

Jane twisted in her seat and frowned. "Care to be clearer, Commander?"

"Negative. It is coming from an unpopulated location."

Well wasn't that wonderful? "Let me know if it gets any worse."

She swings the chair around and launches to her feet. She paces a few steps and then turns, punching the comm with her thumb, coming to an abrupt decision that flew in the face of every regulation in the book.

"You've got demands. I'm listening."

WHAT??

Goddamn it, Jane. She’s breaking every regulation in the damn book. And she didn’t want the captain digging a bigger hole than she could get out of. She’s clenching her jaw, swallowing every diatribe she’s ACHING to throw at Jane. “Captain.” That’s all she allows herself.

Don’t do this. Not for me.

She turns her attention back to their captor, making one more last ditch effort to try and get at least Hendroff to safety. “Listen to me, damn it.. Let them go. It’ll earn you a whole hell of a lot of brownie points with the Federation.” Not with Jane, though. No... she’s more likely to shoot ‘em than anything else. Once this is all over. She doesn’t care if Jane hears. She’s going to figure out her plans sooner or later.

It might as well be now. “Let Hendroff return to the ship. Leave the patients alone. The captain is listening to your demands. Make a show of good faith.” Come on, you stupid bastard. Don’t be a damn fool for once in your miserable life.

Len, come on. Trust her a little. Jane settles her hands on her hips and bows her head, breathing out a rough sigh. She gets what Bones is doing. She does. That doesn't mean she needs to like it.

The demands when they come weren't even shocking. Weapons, legitimacy, the chance to hold a private meeting with the planets leadership, oh and the threat that everyone will end up dead if they're not fulfilled. Jane rubs the back of her neck, easing none of the tension winding tighter in her shoulders.

"Show of good faith. Release Dr. McCoy's patients into our care and we'll set up a call with the council."

She DOES. She trusts Jane with her life. But she’s the only thing standing directly between a whole lot of men with weapons and her patients. She trusts Jane to get them out of there, but she will do anything she needs to protect her patients until she does.

And that includes making herself a target, and trying to make herself the lone hostage.

She watches the man in charge contemplate Jane’s offer. She’s not sure he’s smart enough to realise that NOT taking the opportunity that the captain is offering him would be in his best interests. Choking down another disparaging comment about his intelligence hurts, but she manages it. If it gets her patients out of there... she will swallow her derision.

It’s with surprise that she watches him nod decisively. His demanding that Captain Kirk will call the council, NOW, isn’t a surprise. But he agrees. For the time being. She doesn’t breathe a sigh of relief, though. There’s still time for him to change his mind, and even if he doesn’t, that leaves Hendroff. But she can handle that.

Leaving Hendroff down there was the point. Jane nods imperceptibly and watches Chekov fly from her chair to get to the transporter room. They needed their best at the controls because Jane still wasn't sure what they were dealing with.

She pages medical, insists on quarantine procedures, and then drops her head in her hands.

"Uhuro, get in touch with the planets leader. We don't want any unnecessary fights." She stops and shakes her head, swinging in her hair to face her first officer who has been observing her with a deliberately neutral expression that Jane only now realized was shrewd.

"Spock, take the conn. I...am seriously emotionally compromised." Jane gets to her feet and rubs a hand over the back of her neck. "She's all yours. I'll be in my quarters."

She swept one last look around the Bridge and the stunned, sympathetic expressions facing her. She could not fail them. She knew when to back down from a mission she was too close to.

Edited 2014-03-25 02:58 (UTC)

That might be the point to Jane, but Len was going to do her damndest to get the lieutenant safely OFF the planet as quickly as possible. It wasn’t that she considered herself more expendable, but she considered it part of her duties as chief medical officer to do what she could to protect her crew. Even if it meant putting herself in danger to do so.

Christ, it was actually a relief to hear the sound of the transporters for once, and she breathed a little easier once her patients were out of harm’s way. One damn problem solved. The next... probably wasn’t going to be so easy.

Her head hurt like hell; there was no doubt that there was some kind of fracture or break going on, but she wouldn’t know for certain until she could run a couple of tests. Her ribs weren’t doing much better, but she was doing a damn fine job of hiding both. She didn’t feel like letting these bastards know just how much she was injured.

Or Jane, once she was back on the damn ship.

Edited 2014-03-26 09:59 (UTC)

Jane didn't even make it on to the lift before being stopped. Spock stepped in beside her right as the doors began to close. "Captain."

"Spock, I thought I left you the ship."

Spock inclined her head, which, hey, at least Jane wasn't going crazy and Spock was more or less abandoning her post. "I believe you are making a mistake."

"And why is that?" Jane asks.

"We currently have the exact locations of Dr. McCoy and Lt. Hendroff." Spock paused and assessed Jane in silence. Jane, who moments ago felt the weight of everyone on this ships judgement crushing her. "They are being transported onto the ship on my command."

"Spock, I could kiss you." Or hug her. Yeah. Hugging is happening. Jane isn't even going to apologize. Not even when Spock stiffens in Jane's arms.

"Unnecessary, Captain. I am merely doing what you would have done had you remained on the Bridge."

"But I didn't," Jane said, releasing Spock and clapping her gamely on the shoulder.

Spock arched a brow. "Which is why I elected to inform you in person."

"You're a good friend, Spock."

And before Spock could give that statement enough thought to formulate a response, Jane was out the door running. Tearing through the halls to the transporter room like someone had lit fire to her ass.

Bones was coming home.

She was coming home.

“Where is your captain,” the rebel leader shouted, leaning into Len’s face. Now that her patients were safe, she was relaxed. She could keep Lt Hendroff out of harm’s way, and not have to worry about them on top of it.

“I don’t know!” she retorted. “It takes time to organize what you want, you impatient bastard. Give her time to work!”

“I don’t have time for this!”

“MAKE TIME!” she hollered, finally losing her patience. And her temper. “She’s a goddamn miracle worker sometimes, but you don’t get to make demands and then get all bitchy when it takes time to get those demands in order.” She’d had enough of these goddamn idiots. “So sit down, shut up, and WAIT.”

Her diatribe earned her another blow, and she went sprawling. Lt. Hendroff looked angry enough to spit tacks, but Len shook her head, stopping any possible action the lieutenant might have taken. She didn’t need Hendroff getting hurt in a misplaced attempt to defend her. Spitting out blood, she heard the sound of transporters again.

Well I’ll be damned.

"Please. Please. Please." Jane gripped the transporter panel, breathing harshly through her nose. Poor Chekov looked like she might throw up beside her as she watched the screen as the transporter locked on its targets. "Come on, Bones."

no (wo)man is an island - for bitcheslovehypos

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