4Title: A Series of Laughs – 4
Author: klmeri
Fandom: Star Trek TOS
Characters: Spock, McCoy
Summary: Drabble fill for trek_crackbingo prompt: invisibility.
Previous Fills: 1 | 2 | 3
Warning: Apparently I fail at making this particular prompt humorous. I blame it on my brain’s rebellious nature. Ye be warned.
“Hello, Doctor.”
Leonard jumps, startled, and bangs his knee on the edge of his desk. Clutching his throbbing kneecap, the doctor settles for swearing so soundly that his Momma would have tanned his hide had she been alive and in the vicinity. (God rest her sweet soul.)
“Doctor,” repeats the disembodied voice.
“Damn it, Spock! What have I told you about sneaking up on me like that? Lord spare us, you were already too good at Vulcan stalking when you were visible. Now it’s just plain creepy.”
The ensuing silence means that the Vulcan is offended. McCoy drags his desk chair back into place and sits down.
“Mr. Spock,” sighs the doctor. “What brings you to Sickbay?”
“I find that… I am troubled.”
McCoy bites back a sarcastic remark. Instead he picks up one of the scattered PADD pens on his desk and twiddles it between his fingers. “You’re invisible. Anyone—even a Vulcan—is bound to find this troubling.”
Spock is quiet again.
Leonard tries to draw him out a little. “How’s everyone on the Bridge coping?”
“Work performance remains within an acceptable tolerance.”
“I’m not accusing people of not doing their jobs, Mr. Spock,” the doctor says gently. “I meant their reactions… and treatment of you. I imagine it’s hard to talk to a colleague when you can’t see him.”
“You do not display distress at this conversation, Doctor McCoy.”
He shrugs. “I know you are there but it’s easier to pretend you are standing behind me. Otherwise, I’ll wonder where you might be. It’s distracting, to say the least.” He tries another tactic. “What about Jim?”
“The Captain is well.”
Vulcans might not take the time to lie but they certainly find it useful to side-step or misconstrue tough questions. Perhaps Ambassador Sarek’s diplomatic talent has passed down to his son.
“Then there is no awkwardness between the two of you, Commander?”
“Negative.”
The slight hesitation in that one word gives McCoy more insight than all the other lengthy phrases Spock can string together.
He leans back in a comfortable slouch, prepared to wait out Vulcan stubbornness. “When I was up there earlier,” the man drawls slowly, “every time you reported to the Captain, Jim might have answered you, Spock, but he certainly didn’t look at you while he did so. That doesn’t bother you?”
Ah. Blessed silence.
“It’s alright, you know. I’m amazed at how well you have acclimated to your condition. Were I in your shoes, I’d be clear up the wall in fright. Imagine… not being able to see your own reflection in the mirror!”
“The experience is manageable.”
Meaning Spock isn’t as collected about this invisibility bit as one would guess from his voice. Considering that the Vulcan’s voice is all people have these days to locate the First Officer, that isn’t much to go by. Luckily, McCoy has had a little training in his psych-courses with interpreting inflection and vocal tone of a patient.
Spock would be offended again if he knew that McCoy thought of him as a patient. Quite frankly, there has to be a logical reason for Spock to have come to Leonard for company. And it’s not for Leonard McCoy’s view on life.
“Well, you are doing an admiral job of pretending to be normal.” Time to call in the big guns. “However…” He lets the rest of the statement trail off.
Spock takes the bait. “Please proceed, Doctor McCoy.”
“However, I know for a fact that you aren’t sleeping well—”
“Vulcans require intermittent rest.”
“—because I’ve been hearing reports of ghosts haunting the corridors at night.” He pauses. “And we both know it’s not a ghost, don’t we, Spock?”
“I fail to understand the relevancy of my nocturnal habits in this discussion.”
“You’re upset. You have every right to be. In fact, I’d be damn worried if you weren’t!”
A silence settles again over the CMO’s office.
Finally McCoy asks, “What’s the status with your labs?”
“There are several unknown parameters which require definition before the completion of testing.”
That doesn’t sound good. Spock’s lab technicians must be as befuddled as McCoy’s medical staff. He can take readings from Spock, but it’s difficult to arrange for the proper tests during the Vulcan’s semi-annual physical examination, let alone when McCoy can’t even tell if he’s waving his tricorder in the right direction. That had been a experience Leonard hopes to never repeat.
He tries to sound cheerful. “Well, I’m sure those brainiac science officers of yours will have you fixed up in no time.”
“Two weeks, three days, and fourteen point nine hours,” drifts the voice from the vicinity of Doctor McCoy’s shelving unit. Leonard works hard not to look in that direction. His gaze remains straight ahead.
“That how long it’s been?”
“Precisely, Doctor.”
“I’m sorry, Spock,” he says heavily. “I truly am.”
“As am I.”
After a moment, struggling to think of a way to comfort the Vulcan, the doctor calls, “Spock?”
No answer.
Because his office door is always open and Spock is invisible, the Vulcan can easily slip out. McCoy clears his throat. “Spock?”
The First Officer has vanished as quietly as he appeared. Leonard purses his lips once, looks at his desk of monthly inventory reports and slowly goes back to work. It takes two hours for his unease to blossom into nagging worry.
He knows that the more Spock isolates himself because of the invisibility and its discomfiture, the easier it will be for people to forget that he exists. Then, Lord forbid, the Vulcan might just become a ghost after all.
Leonard makes a call to the Captain.
“Kirk here.”
“Jim, stop by the bay after your shift, will you?”
“Bones?”
“We’ve got a situation to discuss.”
There is a short pause before the Captain answers. “After shift. Kirk out.”
Oh yes, Spock needs more than just a team of scientists working on his cure. He needs the support of his friends. Kirk and McCoy will have to do until they can figure out how to involve the rest of the Enterprise crew. And then, perhaps, the doctor won’t have to worry about the their Vulcan First Officer’s increasing estrangement.
The ordeal is bizarre, its outcome grim. He fervently hopes today’s slim hope becomes tomorrow’s certainty. The ship simply wouldn’t be the same without a certain, curiosity-piqued hobgoblin.
Related Posts:
- A Series of Laughs – 9 – from February 9, 2011
- A Series of Laughs – 8 – from January 16, 2011
- A Series of Laughs – 7 – from December 11, 2010
- A Series of Laughs – 6 – from December 10, 2010
- A Series of Laughs – 5 – from December 8, 2010
This started off as slightly comedic then became sad and grim. I like it. I really hope they find a cure. The way this ended I kind of envision the cure being more philosophical. Meaning that he turned invisible because he felt invisible and the only way to turn him back is for others to “see” him.
Oh, poor Spock! Love that McCoy was one of the few that was dealing with his condition best. I will believe that they find a cure, because there’s nothing those boys can’t do!
Sad fill is sad! But oddly enough it’s my favourite in the series so far :-) I hope you decide to write a sequel to this sometime.
Fascinating premise, I like what you’ve done with this.