I was inspired by elaine 451's Three Days and Four Nights ... What would happen if McCoy had met someone on the Enterprise's maiden voyage? I'm totally in love with Karl Urban. I don't own any of these characters. *reverent bow to Gene Roddenberry and J.J. Abrams*
She knew she shouldn't stare but she couldn't help it. The man was so cranky, she had to smother laughing. The more she watched him in class or around campus, the more intrigued she became. He had a soft spot for his patients, but he seemed downright uncomfortable with people.
Cadet Sarah Randolph had never spoken to him, but then again, why would she have reason to? Sure they sat near each other at the Academy, but she couldn't muster enough courage to introduce herself.
The good doctor was at least 15 years her senior and preferred the company of a bottle or that wily womanizer named Jim Kirk.
So when Sarah was assigned to the Enterprise, she couldn't believe it. She would be crossing his path for sure. After all, the ship's chaplain often worked closely with the ship's medical staff.
Sarah noted the commotion and made her way toward the bridge to see if she could be of assistance. Captain Christopher Pike was exiting the bridge with Commander Spock and fellow Cadet Kirk in tow.
She sensed all was not well and quickly said a prayer as she stepped onto the bridge. Before long, all hell broke loose.
Dr. Leonard McCoy was not happy.
Not that he was much happy these days anyway, but they were in a pickle and he knew Jim was involved. He always was.
The ship was under attack and entire units were being rushed to Medical Bay. There was trauma as far as the eye could see. It was all he could do not to curse; they were short-staffed and losing ground.
He wiped his forehead and tried to put the electrical fires out as nurses rushed around to aid in triage. Suddenly a young dark-haired beauty with bright green eyes appeared in front of him.
"Sir, tell me what I can do, where I can help," she said.
McCoy tried to place her; he was sure he'd seen her before. He tried not to growl at her in frustration as his comm buzzed.
Acting Captain Spock informed him he was the new Chief Medical Officer.
"Tell me something I don't know," he tartly replied and resumed watching the cadet whom he had waved into the sea of injuries. The situation was bad every way he turned.
Sarah did her best to comfort any and all patients she could. Some were going to fine while others teetered close to death.
She held hands, soothed foreheads, covered the dead and watered dry mouths. She tirelessly moved from person to person without a thought to the passing hours. She barely looked up as she tried to give her undivided attention to each crewmember.
This is what she was called to do and this was her passion.
As they managed to treat everyone who came through, McCoy finally retired to what was left of the CMO's office. He leaned against the counter, his head in his hands.
This was one of the roughest situations he'd ever been in. Even as a medical resident in Georgia, he'd never seen so much blood, this much loss. An entire planet was gone and its remaining inhabitants were his MedBay in a state of shock.
Could he keep doing this? Was he really prepared for space battle? Why did he let Jim talk him into staying in Starfleet?
Sarah said her final prayer over the last of the Vulcan elders and made her way to McCoy's office, or at least what was left of it.
She smiled at the nurses as she passed, thanking them for all they had done, patting the shoulders of crewmembers that refused to leave the sides of wounded friends.
McCoy was hunkered in the corner of the office, his head down. Sarah gently tapped on the doorframe so as to not startle him.
He looked up. The cadet, who obviously had a way with people, was still here.
"What?" McCoy said gruffly, instantly regretting his harsh tone. She wasn't the cause of these problems. She had tried to be a part of the solution.
She merely smiled at him.
Sarah knew McCoy had to be exhausted so she took no offense to his manner.
"Sir, if you don't need me anymore, I'm going to return to my quarters," she said.
McCoy opened his mouth to respond, but his brain was so fried, he couldn't think of anything to say. He knew he should apologize, but instead nodded.
She quietly said goodbye and exited MedBay.
McCoy made his way to the bridge. Spock and Jim began a heated argument about which direction they should go. The next thing he witnessed was Spock felling Jim with a Vulcan sleeper hold and jetting him from the ship.
Incensed that things had gone from bad to worse, McCoy left the bridge only to be called back by the green-blooded hobgoblin. They exchanged words before McCoy stalked off.