A New Season: Ch 18 (Still Another Away Mission)

8/10/2259
Surface of Boleen II
Southern section of the continent

L'Naym took a deep breath as she gazed up at the large trees. A lot had happened over the past several days.

After Jim had admonished her she had abided by his and Dr. McCoy's restrictions and had spent the next few days resting in her quarters, only leaving for brief visits to the Mess, the arboretum or the lounge. She never once uttered a word of complaint about the grounding, but nobody was fooled, everyone knew that she was eagerly anticipating being fully up and about.

She learned, to her amusement, that she had actually caused Dr. McCoy far less hassle than the other patients. Rodriguez in particular was driving the good doctor to distraction with his constant requests/demands to be discharged. Williams, a woman of action who hated to be still and had a temper was causing a lot of fireworks as well.

She had also quickly found, to her delight, that even though she was restricted from visiting others there weren't many restrictions to people visiting her. The crew had been instructed to let her and her lifemate rest undisturbed when in their quarters but whenever they were out crewmembers would come up to her greet them and welcome them back and there had been frequent hugs.

"You love to give other's joy, Shylea," Jim had told her. "Sometimes letting other people do for you can give them joy as well."

Two days later on the 6th, the rest of the team had been discharged from Sickbay. She had restricted herself to merely calling them by comm to congratulate them and to give them a hug, (or a respectful nod in D'Lor's case) if she saw them in the Mess or Hallway.

On the 8th, when she and her lifemate were permitted to return to light duty, she didn't think she'd ever been so happy to put on her uniform again. She had found herself, ironically, to be the only member of her Department on duty. The Saratoga was a small ship and so each scientific Department had less members than other ships. The Ecology/Botany Department was one of the smaller ones. Its other members: Rodriguez and Richards, were still on medical leave and McCoy had forbidden either of them to set one foot in the labs until they were fully cleared.

"We both know that if you go in there you'd just start working round the clock again."

"But Doctor, there's so much work to be done!"

"I rest my case!"

So that left L'Naym as the ranking officer as it were.

For the four hours she was permitted to work she had carefully tended the plants in the arboretum and botanic bay. She had been helped by several of the ship's children, who were overjoyed to have her back. When Jim had briefly come in during break to check on her, Connor had an announcement for him.

"Since everyone else is sick that means that Shylea is Acting Head of the Botany Department! That makes her a Senior Officer!"

Jim had smiled warmly. "Then I'd say that the Department is in great hands."

"So if you or Commander Thelin hold a meeting of the Department heads, you have to invite Shylea!" Connor had said imperiously.

She had blushed and as she resumed work she had thought once again how every member of the caravan was vital. She had also had the children put together bouquets and leave them outside the quarters of her fellow team members with hand written 'get well soon' notes.

You said that I couldn't go on any flower runs, Jim, she had thought wryly. You never said that I couldn't ask someone else to do it!

Today the rest of the team had been cleared for light duty.

"Four hours only!" McCoy had said sternly. "If I catch any of you in those labs after than that I'm going to have Hatcher drag you back to Sick Bay and you can spend the rest of your recovery time here in restraints for a week!

She and Tuskaro however had been fully cleared and while the others where still confined to the ship, she had requested to be allowed to accompany a team to the surface. Her request had been granted and she and her lifemate had beamed down after donning protective gear. She wasn't surprised that Jim had included himself in the party.

Commander Rodriguez had been, as Humans were fond of saying, 'chomping at the bit' to get back down to the surface and chaffing under his restriction to light duty. He had been pouring over the data gathered on the toxin spewing plants and when he was informed L'Naym was being allowed to the surface, he'd instructed her to gather as much data as possible.

As she gazed at the large trees that had nearly killed her, her lifemate and other members of her crew she reviewed the thoughts and emotions running through her. Caution definitely. And wary respect. Not fear though. They were simply plants with a distinct defense mechanism. Her previous team had been endangered because they hadn't known the danger. Now they did.

"Ignorance can lead to death. Through experience one gains knowledge. Knowledge can save life."

An ancient saying on Nlia. True then and true now. By coming here they had added to the knowledge of both Starfleet and the Federation. By coming back they would continue to do that. Her greatest joy was to give others joy. Close behind that was to give others aid. To give aid and thus enhance their lives.

She glanced at her lifemate who returned her gaze and through their Bond she sensed that his thoughts were the same.

They then looked at their Captain/Soul Brother who was also gazing at them.

"Are you guys, ok?" he asked softly.

"We're fine, Captain," Alyen answered softly. And it was true.

As the team set to work L'Naym found herself noting that even though the trees were capable of spewing a potentially deadly toxin. They were also beautiful, like so much else about the planet.

Danger and beauty. Death and life. There was never one without the other.

Like her lifemate, her Soul Brother and her crew, she was ready to face both.