Sounds Like a Date

Walking to the turbolift, he was heading to the transporter room when something hit him.  The transporters were locked out.  Shit.  How were the Bartokians supposed to...

Duh.  They had transporters.  And since the Arcadia's shields weren't up, they could beam over themselves.

He got off the turbolift at deck five.  The sight awaiting him wasn't pretty.  There was a blue slime all over the floors.  He had heard from someone that Bartokians had a blue gel for blood.  The idea that he was looking at Eve's blood... well, it disturbed him.

That was nothing compared to what awaited him in sickbay.  A nurse was pacing like she was expecting a baby.  A security guard pulled a phaser on him, with an ops officer next to her.  And behind a medical forcefield... Eve.  She looked awful.

Holding up his hands, he said quickly, "CPO Dante McTiese, tactical!  I'm not armed... and I pray I'm not who you are holding that for!"

Ria had looked up when Soltak joined her.  Her dark Betazoid eyes were brimming with tears.  "She isn't going to die... promise me she isn't going to die..."  She could barely even finish her sentence.

When the doors to sickbay opened, everyone (except the very busy EMH) turned.  Ria raised the phaser she had gotten.  The nurse (Layla, Ria thought she said her name was) almost jumped out of her skin.  It wasn't help... but it wasn't Ringo either.

Putting her face into the hand that wasn't holding a phaser, Ria started crying.

Dante turned to the nurse.  "How is she?"

Layla looked at him.  Shaking her head, she said, "I'd be lying through my teeth if I said she was all right.  She is in bad shape... and if we don't get her some help soon... she's done for."