Bye bye Mr Hook"
By: Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.24 0800

Teilani yawned althought she slept reasonably well she was tired. today was the big day, reattaching the arm. It was still in sickbay and no matter how stress full the day was going to be her first priority was coffee.

" Computer, coffee Jamaican blend, double strong double sweet. "

Taking the mug from the replicator she closed her eyes while taking a sip. Before her minds eye she could already visualize the attachement. Quickly finishing her coffe she went to work.

On a tray close to biobed one she placed micorsutures, dermalregerator, her trusted tricorder, neuro stimulator and several hyposprays. Making sure that all the equipement was sanitized and ready Teilani went to Sceince lab one.

There still lying in its own little nutrience gel lay Commander Wrights arm. The last readings indicated that all the nerves, muscles, vains were ready. Carefully she picked up the container and carried it towards sickbay.

In the mean time one of the nurses had entered and started to prepare herself to assist Teilani. The first option was to prepare the limp for reattachment.

"Gilly," Teilani said. " Make sure that we are not disturbed this morning. All appointments must be handled by the EMH."

" Yes Doctor," Gilly answered.

Preparation of the limps was a painstaking job but eventually all the necessary was done and it was now waiting for Commander Wright. Teilani sat up straight and stretched. She felt a little pop in her back as the vertibrae re-aligned themselfs.

Wright, dressed in casual clothing entered sickbay. It was finally time for him to be reunited with his arm and he looked forwards to getting this over with. "Good morning Doctor."

"Goodmorning Sir," Teilani said with a smile. " Are you ready?"

Wright hopped up onto the bio bed, "You have no idea how ready I am for this."

" It is quit normal if you feel a bit nervous but don't worry Sir, you will be in good hands." she said with a small chuckle. " If you want you can look at your arm right here." she pointed towards the table.

Wright did not feel particularly nervous; just eager. "I would rather not look at it until it is a part of me Doctor." Wright smiled.

"Very well then, before I wisk you off to lala -land Sir, any last requests?"

Wright thought about it, "Ah, yes, no tattoos doctor. Just the arm." Wright smiled at her.

Teilani took the hypospray and pressed it against Wright's neck. " Sweet dreams Commander," she said softly.

Wright relaxed and looked at the doctor; slowly her image began to blur until it was gone.

Teilani gently placed a cover over Wrights body only exposing his arm with the hook still attached to it. She undid the straps and handed the hook to one of the nurses.

"Doc, you want me to recycle this?"

"No, Teilani said. "Just wrap it in some gift paper. Try to replicate purple and yellow polka dots."

The nurse nodded and walked away. "Alright Commander, here we go you going to be fine.

Teilani sterilized her hands and the stomp and firmly gripped the laser scalpel. "Computer start clock. Operation on Commander John Wright right arm, reattachment." a small beep confirmed her request.

Slowly Teilani started to prepare his stump carefully she exposed the various nerves, muscles, vains. Slowly the minutes creeped by and finally after 1 hour Teilani was ready to attach the newly grown arm.

Gillain, one of her nurses had made sure that the neurons in the arm were activated and according to the diagnostic the limp was alive. She had also been able to get Teilani some coffee.

After a small break Teilani went back to her job, using the micro sutures to re-attach the muscles, the bonegenerator to attach the bones together, keeping an ever watchfull eye on the console displaying Wrights vital signs. Judging from his rapid eyemovements, it seemed that he was dreaming.

***

"John," said a female voice, "Wake up."

Wright felt a shove. He opened his eyes and looked into the face of T'Pril. This was not possible, "T'Pril," said Wright, "How... You're..." Wright gulped, "I'm--"

"You're not dead," said T'Pril, "I just thought we could chat while you were relaxed. Your human mind is always so full of emotion; it is hard to get you to listen."

Wright scanned the room, he was still in sickbay, however, there was no one else around. "You left before your work was done with me," replied Wright with a smile.

"That is a pity," she said.

"I have missed you T'Pril," admitted Wright.

"Indeed, it has been a long time my husband," she said, moving closer to him, "I notice that you have not found another mate."

Gently, Wright reached out to her and stroked her face, "When you died, you took the part of me that desired that with you."

"That is most Illogical," she said, "You seek to blame this on my death."

"Not blame," corrected Wright, "You were *the* love of my life, I do not desire to share that kind of love with anyone else."

"If our situations were reversed, I would have moved on," she admitted coldly.

Wright smiled at her bluntness, "Yes, but you are a cold hearted Vulcan," he teased, "I am an emotional human.

The corners of her mouth twitched slightly as she fought to hid her smile, "You have not changed," she did smile slightly, "You always fell back on that illogical argument."

Wright's lips pressed against hers; it was a kiss he had longed for since her death. She took a step back, "I must leave soon, your operation is nearing its completion," she paused, "I do love you my husband."

Wright nodded, "and I you my wife."

T'Pril held up her right hand in traditional Vulcan fashion, "Peace and long life."

Wright returned her gesture but did not respond, because he did not see the logic of telling a dead woman to live long and prosper. Wright watched as the form of T'Pril, his beloved wife slowly faded away.

***

Patiently Teilani continued her work. She felt like an ancient watchmaker, fiddling with the small tools and parts of the trade. Finally she sighed and streched and flexed her muscles. The arm was attached it was now a matter of time to see if the bloodflow as well and the nerve impulses reached the fingertips. Teilani placed a new vial in the hypospray, which contained a anticlodding agent as well as some penicilline, and pressed it against Wrights neck.

She pressed the skin on the arm and saw it bounce back pink, she smiled it ment that the bloodflow was alright. She used the neurostimulator to increase the firing of the neurons. There was no reaction. She tried it gain. Nothing.

"Darned," she muttered. "Gillian, increase the input with 12%. Teilani used the stimulator again. And yes there was a small twitching of the fingers. She sighed what a relief.

She looked at Wright's face and to her surprise she saw a tear appear in his right eye. His eyes moved rapidly. Teilani checked the diagnostics from the reading it appears that the Commander was indeed dreaming.

She lay a cold hand on his forehead. "Sssht it's alright Sir, the surgery went fine." she whispered. Teilani was not sure if he would hear her but atleast it made her feel good.

She quietly brushed away the tear from his eyes and continued working on his arm, after having used the dermal regenerator there was only a small scar visable. Teilani brushed her hair behind her ears. Small beeps on the diagnostic console told her that the arm was fully operational.

She smiled. "Gillian, the sedation will be over soon, let the Commander sleep.

***

Time 1300 hrs

After Teilani had finished and cleanup the surgical equipment she had made sure that Wright was comfortable. But it was now time to wake him up.

"Commander, open your eyes." she said softly. "The surgery is over."

Wright opened his eyes, his vision blurred, grogily, he said, "T'Pril?"

"No Commander, its just me." Teilani said softly as she looked at him.

Wright looked at Dane, "Hi Doc, are you done?"

"I am sorry, you were dreaming."

"Yeah."

"Are you alright, you were crying," Teilani asked softly so that nobody overheard. Why she asked she did not know, she had already found out that the commander was a very private person and would certainly not speak about his dreams to her.

"It was just a dream," said Wright, "A good one."

" I am glad but now look at your arm Commander," she said. "Would you please try to make a fist?"

Wright made a fist. His fingers did as his brain told them to. It still felt a little weak, which was understandable, "Look good Doctor."

Teilani walked over to a small cupboard and took out a little box. "Take these for 2 days, twice a day. Also I want you to do some weightlifting in the gym, to build up the muscle tone in your arm."

Wright smiled, "You bet doc." Wright still felt tired, he would follow the doctors orders but he decided he would take a little nap first.

Teilani walked back and placed the box besides Wright. She took his arm again and slightly pressed the muscles. Then she nodded, pretty pleased about her own handy work.

"Well Sir, there is nothing I can do anymore so there is no reason for me to keep you here any longer." she said softly. " Your free to go."

"Thank you Doctor," The arm looks as good as new."

Teilani smiled slightly. "Just doin' my job Sir, just doin my job."