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Episode Synopsis
Only a few hours after the recent murder mystery, another mystery is brought to life after a Security team go down to Deck Thirteen.

Written
In between 2nd April and 9th August 2005

Episode Based In
July 2372 (early season 3)

Deck Two:
James and Jessie walked out of the Mess Hall, holding hands.

"Oh god. Everyone saw, Tom's going to know and'll make fun of us forever," Jessie stuttered.

James smiled, "just keep walking, don't look back."

"He didn't in fact die and no one told me, right?" Jessie said.

"No, maybe next time," James said. They stepped into the turbolift. "So, what's it like living with Danny again?"

"Don't ask, I just wish I chose somewhere else," Jessie replied. "For now it's better than my room."

"Look Jess, I know it's a little..." James said.

Jessie interrupted him, "no don't, as far as I'm concerned it didn't happen."

"But it..." James muttered.

"I'm sorry but I don't want to talk about it again," Jessie said. "I get enough comments and grief from Danny and Ian, I don't want any from you."

"What have they been saying?" James asked. He keyed in something on the panel, the turbolift went into motion.

"Danny thought I was crazy. Ian he thought, I don't think he thinks very highly of you right now," Jessie replied. "Now he probably thinks even less of me."

"Jess, since when do you care about what other people think?" James questioned.

Jessie shrugged, "I know I shouldn't, but it's our friends. I doubt either of them will be ok with it."

"Maybe they'll get over it, someday," James said.

"I hope so," Jessie said with a sigh. The turbolift stopped, the door opened. They both stepped out. She slipped an arm around his, "you'd think that I'd be the maddest, you know. I thought they'd be..."

"Yeah well, Danny's always been protective of you, so has Ian in his own way," James said. "I expected it, but I didn't expect you to come near me, ever."

Jessie smiled, "then you obviously don't know me as well as you think you do."

"Obviously not, it was the best birthday present I'd ever get," James said. "Well a day early but hey, it's still good."

"But I got you a present, that wasn't it. What should I do with it?" Jessie asked, smiling sweetly at him.

"Jess, I thought you'd know by now, you don't have to get me anything," James replied. They both walked into Danny's quarters.

Jessie walked around to stand in front of him, she developed a pout on her face. "But I want to, you know, your birthday's important to me. You always get me something."

"Yeah but you celebrate your birthdays, I don't celebrate mine," James said.

"Can't I at least celebrate it?" Jessie asked, she placed a hand across his cheek. "It's the day you were born, and that's important to me."

"I'll tell you what," James said with a smile on his face. He put his arms around her, "I'll get you a present, and we can do something."

Jessie shook her head with a smirk on her face, "I don't believe you sometimes. I already got you something."

"You're probably the only one," James said. "At least I'm one of the few people who don't have to worry about surprise parties."

"What makes you so sure of that? Don't give me ideas," Jessie said. She put one arm around his neck, with her other hand she fiddled with the jacket he had on.

"Ok, well at least I know not to expect one this year," James muttered.

"Yes, it's back on now," Jessie said. She smiled, "kidding, don't worry."

"Now I'm worried," James said.

"Don't be, if I planned anything on my own, I'd screw it up," Jessie said. She kissed him on the cheek. "You're still getting your presents. I just hope you like them."

"You say that every year, and I've liked every one you gave me," James said.

Jessie raised her eyebrow, "yeah right. Remember your eleventh?"

"You know me, I tend to block out some of my birthdays," James replied. "Help me out."

"Keep it forgotten, it was very bad. But you pretended to like it anyway," Jessie said.

"Oh you noticed," James said.

"Yeah, you're not very good at lying, most of the time," Jessie said.

"I'll remember that," James said. "I'd better go anyway, it's late and after today..."

"Yeah, you must be really worn out after your little fight. Let me guess, sleep till noon?" Jessie said.

"I wish. No doubt the doc will hunt me down though, he wanted me to stay in Sickbay over night," James said. "If he asks you, you didn't see me."

"Right," Jessie said. "Thank you for walking me here. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." She kissed him again on the cheek.

"Yeah, I'll pick you up if you want," James said.

"That'd be nice, at least then I'll see you in the morning," Jessie said.

"That's the plan, night," James said as he headed for the door.

"Good night," Jessie said with a smile.

James stepped out of the room. He stopped outside the door, he cringed and held his head. "Damn," he groaned as he continued down the corridor.

Meanwhile
The Security Office:
A team with three guys and a girl walked into the room. Tuvok was standing nearby the desk.

"Team Ten reporting in," one of the guy's said.

"Everything's normal, as usual. Seriously sir, what's the deal with this deck?" the girl questioned.

"We are not exactly sure yet," Tuvok replied.

"Oh great," one guy said.

"There's rumours sir, that our attackers today were living there," the girl said.

"Indeed, but we are not sure how or where," Tuvok said. "We need Team One to take over from tomorrow."

"Understood," the third guy said. All of the guys headed out.

"Do you have somebody that's working on this? It doesn't make anyone feel better about what happened," the girl said.

"Team One will start the investigation," Tuvok said.

"Sid will be happy," the girl said. "Good night sir." She walked out.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow, "yes he will."

The next day
The Bridge:
"What's that noise?" Chakotay asked. He glanced over at the temporary Tactical, which was Jessie's old station. The crewman there just shrugged.

Tom glanced back, "maybe that's the noise Janeway makes when she gets hyper, alone."

Chakotay shook his head. He glanced over at the crewmembers who were fixing the hole in the wall separating the Ready Room and bridge. And of course the Tactical station was getting a little repair job too. "Boys, is that noise coming from you?"

"No sir," one crewmember replied. He quickly had a peep through the hole, "Janeway's crying."

"Yep, she'd only be doing that if she was high. I was right, pay up," Tom said.

"We didn't make a bet," Chakotay muttered.

Tom stared at him blankly, "what? Oh crap, it's been too long a night."

Harry looked concerned, "I wonder why the Captain is upset."

"She probably dropped a cup again," Tom said.

Chakotay shook his head, "we don't know what happened with her and Frenit. I'll go and check on her, you guys keep the speculation to yourselves." He headed towards the Ready Room door, then pressed the door chime. He waited a while before trying again.

"The hole's still man sized sir," one of the repair guys said.

Tom sniggered, "well James size." He turned pale before glancing around, "he's not here right?"

Harry developed a smirk on his face. "No, typical of your luck huh?"

"Uh no it's not, he's usually around when I insult him," Tom replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Exactly. He's not around this time, and the last time we saw him he was so beaten up, he collapsed. You might have stood a chance," Harry said.

Chakotay shook his head, "if she doesn't want me there, I won't just walk in."

"No, I think you're good," the guy said.

Chakotay frowned, "ookay." He headed over to the hole. "Captain, can I come in?"

Kathryn glanced over from her sofa, actually looking normal for once. "Yes, I said you could. You obviously didn't hear me."

"You said she was crying," Chakotay whispered to the repair guy.

He shrugged, "she was the first time I looked, she must have noticed."

Chakotay sighed, "fine." He carefully stepped through the hole. He took a quick glance at the broken table and glass, then glanced at Kathryn. She smiled as she got up. "I just thought I'd check up on you, you know after what happened."

Kathryn walked over, "oh that was nothing, we're Starfleet after all."

"I doubt Starfleet deal with vamps," Chakotay said.

"Lets talk somewhere more private," Kathryn said quietly. She walked through the usually unused door, the one next to the gaping hole. Chakotay started to follow her but he bumped into her as she walked back in. "I forgot my flask." He just rolled his eyes.

The doors closed behind him, "so, what's up?"

Kathryn turned around, "did you see what that lousy vampire did to my Ready Room?"

"I think everyone on the bridge at the time saw it," Chakotay uneasily replied.

"Oh and the guy who peeped in my office is demoted to cleaner," Kathryn grumbled.

Chakotay smiled nervously, "so why were you upset then?"

"I wasn't, I was groaning into my hands," Kathryn muttered, eyes shifting from side to side nervously. "Ok fine, my cups were all broken, and a coffee jar."

"Oh right," Chakotay sighed.

"Call me coffee obsessed or shallow all you want mister. I needed a proper cup for stress reasons after yesterday. I mean you saw what else that stupid vampire did," Kathryn grumbled.

"You mean to James?" Chakotay questioned.

Kathryn shrugged, "well yeah, he's had to stay overnight to recover."

"Actually the Doctor called me this morning, he complained that he walked out more or less straight away," Chakotay said. He smiled, "so he must be ok right?"

"No, he's just stubborn. It was hard enough getting him to go to a local doctor when he was young," Kathryn muttered.

"I wonder where he gets that from," Chakotay said with a smirk.

Danny's Quarters:
"So what do you think? Goldish or this light brown colour?" Danny questioned, as she showed off some eye shadow.

Ian climbed off the sofa and walked over, "gold. Look Dan, it's only work."

"I know, I shouldn't have to make an effort," Danny said. "You never know who'll we meet today."

Ian shook his head, "what, some alien dude with warts? Nice."

Danny pulled a face, "no, eew."

"Well I'd better go, I've got an assignment to finish," Ian said.

"Uh huh," Danny said, she opened the eye shadow container. "Good luck with it."

"Thanks," Ian said. He kissed her on the forehead, and turned to leave.

"See you at lunch then," Danny said. He walked out of the room. Danny sighed as she headed towards the bathroom. The door chime stopped her, instead she headed over to the door. "Come in."

James walked in, he stopped right in front of the door. "Hi um, is Jessie up yet?"

"Oh yeah, she hogged the bathroom for twenty minutes earlier," Danny replied as she headed over to the sofa.

"Just twenty minutes? Is she sick?" James asked.

Danny stared at him with wide eyes, "ookay, how long is she usually in there?"

"Well normal morning stuff, half an hour. That and a shower, forty five minutes. Bath instead, two hours," James replied. Danny raised an eyebrow. "Don't say anything dirty, don't you dare. I don't check what she's doing, she mentioned it."

"Uh huh," Danny muttered. "She has been acting differently lately, haven't you noticed?"

"Kind of, um..." James replied as he put a hand over his forehead. "It's since New Earth, she's..."

Danny frowned, "are you all right?"

"Yeah, just a headache. Doc said I should have stayed overnight, but I didn't," James replied. He moved his hand away with a frown, "what was I saying?"

"Um, Jess has been different since New Earth," Danny said.

"Oh yeah, I thought she told you. At least I think it's because of that," James said.

Danny shrugged, "no not exactly. Yeah she's been a bit different since, but it's recently. So what happened?"

"Well practise relationship turned into the proper one. I thought Jess told you," James replied.

"Oh, about time you admitted that it was one. It was such a lame excuse if you ask me," Danny muttered as she walked towards the bathroom.

"What do you mean, excuse?" James asked.

Danny glanced back, "it isn't rocket science. If you guys decided to admit, or sorry upgrade your relationship to real then you should know already." She stepped through the door.

James leaned against the wall, he put a hand over his forehead again.

"This is where somebody like the doc would say 'I told you to stay in Sickbay'," Jessie said as she entered the room.

James quickly lowered his hand, "what?"

Jessie shook her head, "let me guess. Doc was actually still treating you when you decided to leave."

"It's only a little headache, no need to go to red alert," James said.

Jessie pouted, "I'm sorry, I don't know how bad you were after the fight. I just..."

James sighed, he headed towards her, "sorry, I didn't mean to sound all snappy."

"Well um," Jessie said as she glanced around. "Did Danny go?"

"No, bathroom," James replied. "Are you ready?"

Jessie shrugged, "as ready as I'll ever be to go to work." They both headed towards the main door.

The Bridge:
Chakotay stepped out of the turbolift. Tom glanced back at him briefly. "So how is our mighty captain?"

"She wasn't crying so don't worry," Chakotay muttered.

"So we've got no shortage of coffee then," Tom sniggered.

"Funny," Chakotay groaned. "She's not just about coffee, you know."

The other turbolift door opened, Kathryn stepped out. "Chakotay, can you get our new cleaner to gather up the granules from the broken jar. Can't let it go to waste."

Chakotay closed his eyes while Tom glanced back at him smirking. "No problem," Chakotay said. He headed over to the Tactical station.

Meanwhile:
James and Jessie were standing inside a turbolift. The doors opened. Jessie pressed a button on the side panel, the doors shut again. "Well this is my stop." She stepped closer to kiss him on the cheek.

"Maybe see you at dinner?" James said.

Jessie smiled, "sure."

"I'll pick you up here then," James said. He leaned in closer to kiss her on the cheek too, she moved a little so he'd get the lips. "So glad you closed the door, I didn't do a distraction."

"Didn't stop you the last time in the Mess," Jessie said with a grin. She pressed the button the panel, the doors opened. "See you later." She walked out into the bridge.

The doors closed again on their own. James cringed as he placed both hands on the side of his face. "Damn," he groaned as he sat down slowly.

In: "Tuvok to all Security personnel, report to Cargo Bay One."

James lifted his head and sighed, "ugh great."

Cargo Bay One:
Tuvok stood nearby the doors while all of the Security guys and girls were standing in front, and facing him.

"It must be that time of the uh... day of the fortnight," Thompson said with a shrug.

"What? What's this all about?" Sid questioned.

"Every fortnight a new team gets sent to patrol Deck Thirteen, for a fortnight," Thompson replied. "It's swap over time, fingers crossed." Foster nodded his head in agreement.

"Oh yeah, let's hope we get our turn today," Sid said.

Tuvok started pacing back and forth, "Team One will take over Deck Thirteen duty from today."

"Oh yeah," Sid giggled.

"Team leaders should collect their schedule PADDs from me, and get right back to work," Tuvok said. A few members of the group headed towards him, he started handing out PADDs.

Sid rubbed his hands together in glee, "this should be a fun two weeks."

"Everyone but Mr Taylor and Collie are dismissed," Tuvok said. Everyone but James and Sid headed out of the bay.

"What's up?" James asked.

"You two are swapping jobs for two weeks," Tuvok replied.

Sid's eyes widened, "but I wanna go to thirteen."

James sighed, "why can't you get someone else to replace him?"

"After yesterdays incident, I believe you are the best person to be down there," Tuvok replied.

James raised an eyebrow just briefly, he cringed a little. "Great," he muttered.

"You had better join Thompson and Foster in weapons locker four. Every team member on that deck must be armed with a level three rifle," Tuvok said.

"All right," James sighed. He walked out of the bay. Sid pouted his lips before following him.

"Mr Collie," Tuvok said. "I need to run through everything with you about the office work."

Sid sighed, "ok, no fair."

The Bridge:
"Sooo," Danny said to her console-mate, as she turned her chair around. "Have you got something to tell me?"

Jessie glanced at her with her eyes narrowed, "really not. I already explained."

"No, are you two all 'get a roomy' with or without being uncomfortable, or is it too awkward to do anything?" Danny asked.

"As usual that's none of your business," Jessie replied.

"Well James doesn't think so. He told me you two had finally admitted to each other that you're really dating. You know, instead of all that crap about practising," Danny said.

"Danny, I've got some advice for you," Jessie said. "Get a life."

Weapons Locker Four:
Thompson took a rifle from the wall, he rested it on one arm and started aiming it around the room. Foster meanwhile was fiddling with the controls on his.

"Change of plans boys," James said as he walked over to them. "I'm with you losers for two weeks."

"Losers. We're not the ones who try to rape our girlfriends," Thompson said. He glanced at Foster with a frown, "ok he is, he doesn't even have one."

James looked uncomfortable as he looked away. "Ok, rifle me."

Foster walked over to Thompson's side, he passed him a glare before taking another rifle off the wall. Thompson gave him a glare back, "fine, take the rapist's side." He stormed off.

Foster held out the second rifle, "it's ok, I made sure he didn't tell anyone. Try to ignore him, he obviously wanted an excuse to insult you."

"It's ok, I was expecting it," James said.

"I'm sure he'll change his style in a day or so," Foster said.

"Ohno, I doubt that," James muttered. He reached out to get the rifle. "He's finally got something worth insulting ab..." he said as he got a hold of it. His eyes widened, he gasped then dropped the rifle on the floor.

"Woah, are you..." Foster stuttered.

James swallowed hard, "I don't know." He knelt down to pick the rifle back up, shaking a little. He stood back up eyeing it.

"We'd better go anyway. I just hope it's quiet like the last time we were there," Foster said as he headed away.

"Yeah," James quietly said.

Later
Deck Thirteen:
James, Thompson and Foster were walking down a corridor. Thompson was walking ahead, the others were walking behind him.

"Looks like there's no vampires so far. Maybe we should leave him here just in case, and we can go and skive," Thompson said, glancing back at Foster.

"Sounds like a plan, sort of," Foster said.

Thompson stopped, "great, why don't we stick around here." He dumped his rifle onto the ground.

Foster lowered his own, "sure thing."

James rolled his eyes, "why don't we look around the whole deck first."

"Do what you like," Thompson muttered. He started smirking, "I hope for your sake Jessie said that."

"Thompson, leave it," Foster said.

James shook his head, "it's ok." He glanced at Thompson, "I'd advice for the rest of the day, you keep your mouth shut."

"You're a psycho, always remember that," Thompson grumbled. "If you want to cover the whole deck, go ahead. We'll be here."

"All right," James muttered. He started to walk passed him, Thompson moved slightly so he was more in his way. He groaned as he pushed him lightly out of the way, and continued on. He stopped when he was about two metres away.

"And you're an ass, we're a great team," Foster said. He turned around and walked back the way they came.

"Jeez what's the matter with you. You know he deserves it," Thompson grumbled. He turned to look in James' direction, "haven't you got somewhere else to be?"

James slowly turned back around as Thompson glanced over at Foster. He failed to notice him come back over to him.

Foster was about to turn the corner, "I need a new team, god." He jumped at the sound of something hitting the wall. He glanced back around, his eyes widened, "oh woah oh, no no."

"See psycho," Thompson muttered. He was now against the wall, James was holding him there. He grabbed him by the throat, then threw him against the opposite wall.

Foster quickly stepped forward to pick up the rifle he dropped. "Ok, no more fights," he said as he raised it. James stared at the rifle, then up at Foster's face. He stepped forward slowly, Foster purposely fired the phaser at the floor nearby. "Don't. Just calm down."

James eyed the rifle again, he kicked it out of his hands and continued towards him. Foster backed off slowly, but James just walked straight passed him. Foster rushed over to Thompson, who was unconscious. He glanced back at James who had just stopped.

"What?" he said quietly. He turned back around slowly, with wide eyes and a look of shock on his face. "What just..."

Foster looked confused, "you just attacked us."

James cringed again, this time he just put one hand on the side of his head. He dropped the rifle he had, and turned back around. He ran off down the corridor.

"Great, thirteen hasn't changed," Foster muttered to himself. He heard Thompson groan as he started to wake up. "Hey, are you ok?" All he got for a reply was a small groan. "Told you to just leave it."

The Bridge:
"Well?" Kathryn said as Chakotay made his way over to her.

He sat down in his chair, "most of the jar is safely in a new one."

Kathryn rested in her chair, "oh good." She stared at him intently.

He frowned, "what? Oh." He brought out a jar and handed it to her.

She brought it to her chest. "Oh thank god. I won't ever let a vampire hurt you again, I swear."

Chakotay stared at her with wide eyes, "thank god coffee can't date."

Jessie walked passed the two, glancing at Kathryn briefly, "god, get a room will you."

"Hey, we weren't," Chakotay grumbled.

Jessie stopped nearby the turbolift near opps, "no, I was talking about Janeway and the coffee."

"I would, but it has a hole in it," Kathryn said. She pulled a face and glanced back at her, "er I mean, you can talk missy."

"Yes Jess, go get a room," Danny giggled from the helm.

"Uh ookay," Jessie muttered. She glanced in the direction of the turbolift, "come on air, let's get a room. We can't let our secret relationship come out now."

Kathryn gasped, "what, an affair? This is going straight in your file and I'm so going to tell everyone." She got up and headed for the Ready Room.

Chakotay tried to keep a straight face as he stood back up, "looks like just looking at coffee makes her go now."

"Mmm hmm," Jessie said. She sighed, "so why is there a hole in the wall anyway? There better be a good reason for me having to share a console with Danny most of the day."

"If the rumours are correct, that was a result of James trying to be heroic," Danny replied. "It was only Janeway anyway, not worth it."

Jessie's eyes widened a little, "please tell me somebody else went through it, not him."

"I would, but that would be lying," Chakotay sheepishly said. "Oh and just because Janeway is nearly always far gone, doesn't mean she was not worth saving. I would have done it myself."

"Yeah, but you're sleeping with her," Danny said. "What's James' excuse?"

Chakotay glared at her, "I'm not, and second of all..."

Jessie rolled her eyes, "so he went flying through a wall, what else happened? I didn't think it was that bad."

"Dunno, I was skiving at the time," Danny muttered.

"Jessie don't worry, the Doctor treated him and well if it helps, he did sort of win," Chakotay said. Jessie put one hand on her hip and changed her stare to a glare. "Um, I didn't see the whole thing. Both of them were pretty battered, they just kept throwing punches and stuff. He was already looking pretty bad when he arrived on the bridge."

"Sort of win?" Jessie muttered.

"Um, what was his name? Oh yes Frenit, he and one other beamed to a hidden ship," Chakotay said.

"Oh right, he had a hell of a fight with Frenit? That's just great. He got seriously beaten up just to save Janeway, and he didn't kill him," Jessie said. "Yes, that was worth it."

Chakotay groaned, "Jessie, you really should calm down. It was worth it, if he hadn't of turned up god knows what would have happened to Janeway. Plus once he had finished with her, he would have went to other people."

Kathryn stepped out of the Ready Room. "You're not really cheating, cos if you are I'm telling James."

Jessie groaned, "oh my god. Tell the whole bridge why don't you."

"You slutty little bitch, how could you," Kathryn grumbled. She stormed back into the Ready Room.

"Ok, I worded that wrong," Jessie said.

Chakotay shook his head, "I'll handle it, just promise me you won't give him a hard time for this." He headed towards the Ready Room.

Danny moved away from the helm as another guy came over, "yeah, there's plenty of people onboard who can do that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jessie asked.

Danny walked over to join her, "well you know."

"No I don't," Jessie said.

"Mostly everybody onboard knows that he attacked you. Not many know how though," Danny said.

"Well everybody better keep their mouths shut or they'll lose something. If they haven't got one, hair will be ripped out instead," Jessie muttered.

Danny frowned, "uh Jess, I wouldn't. Remember, they'd only do so for your sake."

"Then it's only fair that I sort it out," Jessie said, smiling in a fake sweet way.

"You're still protective of him after what he did? You're not in the slightest bit mad, or weird around him?" Danny questioned.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Jessie replied.

Danny shook her head, "sorry Jess but this isn't like you."

"What are you talking about?" Jessie asked.

"No offense but you've gotten, how can I put it? A little soft," Danny replied.

"Uh no I haven't," Jessie said.

"You have, ask anyone. For a few months now you've been letting James get away with everything. You've got to admit, he's been upsetting you a lot lately," Danny said.

"Oh god, not this again," Jessie groaned. She beckoned her head towards the Conference Room, then she headed towards it. Danny sighed and she followed. As soon as they walked in Jessie turned around to face her again. "Twice is not a lot, and technically both were not even his fault."

"Give me a break Jessie, it's..." Danny said.

"Ok, shush, it's my turn to talk here," Jessie snapped. "Or should I say moan and stick my nose in my business. I'm really sick of these conversations where you and Ian accuse me of being soft, or just crazy. I'm very aware that he did something wrong, and it's not like we've gotten straight back to the way we are. I'm still living with you for one thing."

"It's still a little fast," Danny muttered.

"My god, where have you been for the last twelve, nearly thirteen years? Huh?" Jessie said. "Every time James and I fought, we'd make up very quickly. How is this any different than any of the other fights?"

"Well that's easy, nothing he did in those was as bad as what he did this week," Danny replied.

"Fine, I'll give you that, but you're forgetting something. I was never mad at him, and not long afterwards I was wanting to see him again. That's probably a good thing considering that he's the type that'll beat himself up over something small, let alone something as big as this," Jessie said.

"I guess that's true, he still would despite... It still doesn't change the fact that..." Danny said.

"Despite? Despite what exactly?" Jessie asked, folding her arms.

"Look Jess, the only reason I'm not 100% with you on this, is that I'm worried about your safety," Danny replied. "You saw what happened with Tom because of that chip thing in his head. I ignored that and his recent I'm better than everyone attitude mainly cos I didn't think he would hurt you. And of course what did he do? Now I'm worried he's going to lose his temper some time, and then you'll be wishing you had listened to me."

"Oh my god," Jessie groaned. "One drunken mistake and listen to what his so called best friends are saying. It's really a good thing that I care about him or he wouldn't have many friends left."

"Oh come on Jessie, it's not like that. He has changed recently. Ian's right, finding out that he's a Slayer changed him," Danny said.

Jessie smiled and shook her head, "I can't believe I'm hearing this."

"Don't get me wrong Jess, I do still like the guy, when he's his usual self," Danny said.

"Do you realise how hard it probably was for him, finding out that he's one of few people in the galaxy that has to risk their own asses to fight vamps, and probably other things? Or find out that he'll probably be killed in a fight before he was thirty? Or that he has to keep the amount of people he loves to a minimum because some idiots couldn't be assed to find him and train him?" Jessie grumbled. "And I bet actually being stabbed to death a month or so ago, beaten to a bloody pulp yesterday or being in a coma for two months wasn't fun for him either."

Danny closed her eyes and gently shook her head, "Jess, I..."

Jessie stepped closer to her, "you don't do you? You just think that it's some gift that he's strong, athletic etc... It's not, he sees it as a curse, and I don't blame him. I bet you didn't know that nearly every night he'd have nightmares about dying or not being able to save other people from that. Of course you don't."

"Cos he doesn't tell us," Danny muttered.

"I wonder why," Jessie said coldly. "You have some nerve to call yourself his friend. You're too quick to judge and turn against him. And you say he's changed ever since finding out he's a Slayer, and don't even think about what you're saying. Maybe next time you keep your comments to yourself, or maybe even think before opening your mouth." She walked out of the room.

Danny sighed before turning around to follow her.

"Chakotay, if James comes by tell him I'm not hungry, and that Danny's a bitch. He'll know what it means," Jessie muttered as she stepped into the turbolift.

Chakotay frowned, "how, I don't." He glanced over at Danny. "Do you?" She just sighed again, looking uncomfortable.

Sickbay:
The Doctor was working on his computer in the office, happily singing along to some opera tune. Kes walked in but stayed by the doorway, "Doctor?" He didn't hear her. "Doctor!"

He glanced at her briefly, he pressed a button on the computer. The music stopped. "What is it?"

"It's my lunch break," she said.

"Oh that's fine," the Doctor said.

Kes nodded, "when I get back, can you turn it down a little?"

"The music isn't that loud," the Doctor said.

"Yeah but your singing is," Kes said with a shrug. She turned to leave.

The Doctor frowned, he got back to work. He heard the main door opening again, and the sound of footsteps coming closer. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency," he said.

"I was hoping you'd tell me," James said.

The Doctor looked up at him, "you have a nerve coming back so soon. I told you to stay overnight."

"I probably should have yeah, but I spent two months in here once," James said. "Never again."

The Doctor sighed as he climbed out of his chair. "I see. Now what are the symptoms?"

"Really painful headaches, loss of concentration," James replied. "I touched a rifle and I freaked."

"Freaked?" the Doctor said with a raised eyebrow.

James shrugged, "I dunno, it just gave me the creeps. I don't know why."

The Doctor frowned, "hmm, that's weird. I'll get a tricorder." He walked around him then headed for the medical tray.

"That's not even the worst part," James said. He turned around, "I was with Thompson and Foster on Deck Thirteen patrol, and I spaced out. One second I was walking down the corridor, the next I was going the other way and Thompson was hurt. Foster said I attacked him."

The Doctor made his way back over to him, holding a tricorder. "How come I wasn't called by Foster or Thompson then? Are you sure?"

"I don't know, maybe I just stunned him with the rifle," James replied. "Though I didn't have it afterwards. I must have dropped it."

"You did hit your head quite hard yesterday, that would explain your headaches and possibly your loss of concentration," the Doctor said as he opened the tricorder. "I don't understand the other symptoms though." He raised the tricorder and started scanning. He failed to notice him twitching and glancing away from it. "Hmm." He finally noticed, "please hold still."

"Ok there's the hmm, you found something so..." James muttered.

The Doctor stopped scanning with a frown on his face, he seemed a little calmer as a result. He slowly started to scan again. "I haven't, that's what the hmm is about."

"Well it's not going to suddenly find something," James muttered, still fidgeting. He knocked the tricorder out of his hands. The Doctor knelt down to pick it back up. "Oh, sorry. I don't know why I..."

"It's all right," the Doctor said as he straightened up. "I know you'd probably not like it but can you lie down on the biobed, we'll use the scanner there." He walked over to the medical tray to put down the tricorder. As he did so James reluctantly sat down on the nearest biobed. "Your concussion must have been worse than I thought, I'm sure I treated it though."

James lay down on the biobed as the Doctor made his way back over. He fiddled with the station on the foot of the bed. "Maybe you gave me the wrong drugs," James said.

The Doctor shook his head, "I'd never make that mistake. I'll begin the scan."

"I was kidding, I know bad joke," James muttered. The scanner thing moved over him. He grew uncomfortable again. The Doctor didn't notice as he worked at the little station.

"Hmm, interesting," the Doctor said to himself.

"Ok ok, whatever. Hurry it up," James stuttered as he put a hand on the scanner.

The Doctor frowned, "what's the matter?" He glanced down at the station, it started beeping.

James closed his eyes tightly, another hand grabbed a hold of the scanner. His breathing started to go slow and heavy, "switch it off."

"What? I haven't finished yet," the Doctor said. He glanced back up at him.

"Just get it off!" he snapped back.

"All right, stay calm," the Doctor said. He continued working at the station.

James tightened his grip on the scanner, it broke apart and then it opened up on it's own. He quickly climbed off the biobed. "Ok, no more scans and I won't hurt you."

"You can't," the Doctor said. He walked closer to him, "try to stay calm."

"Just, no more scans ok," James stuttered.

"Ok no more," the Doctor said as he slowly reached out to get a hypospray. James moved forward to knock the whole medical tray over. The Doctor quickly got a hold of his arm to stop him getting away, but a little push ended that. "James stop it, I'm only trying to help you."

"Bull, you just think I'm a thing, a science experiment," James snapped as he backed away from him. He started shaking a little, he cringed and moved his left hand up to his forehead. "What are you doing to me?"

The Doctor walked over to him slowly, "I'm trying to help you, remember."

"No, you just want to stick needles and stuff into me, you're just..." James stuttered. He noticed the Doctor coming closer, so he quickly went into the office. "Stay the hell away from me!"

"I don't want to hurt you ok. You came in here cos you were sick," the Doctor said calmly.

"I wasn't until you came along," James muttered. He closed his eyes tightly, this time both hands went up to his head. "Son of a bitch, what did you do!" he yelled as he picked up the computer on the desk. He threw it at the glass divider, it smashed on impact.

"Computer, level ten forcefield around my office," the Doctor said.

"Aknowledged," the computer responded.

The Doctor closed his eyes, "fill the air inside the forcefields with sedatives." He tapped his commbadge, "Sickbay to Janeway, you'd better get down here."

In: "On my way."

He watched as James very slowly got weaker, and calmer. After about ten minutes or so he collapsed. The Doctor walked over to the main station in the middle of the room, "good god, that was enough to take down a few elephants." He shook his head as he walked over to the biobed, then eyed the station. "I don't understand, what's wrong?" he said to himself.

**** TO BE CONTINUED ****

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