There are fine lines between love and hate.
...
As far as Bones can tell, Carol Marcus has set out to make his life a living hell. He doesn't mean this jokingly, but since the aftermath of Khan, the ship had been spruced up and repaired by Scotty and Carol has been just hell for him to deal with. He'd made one comment about her being pretty. One, inconsequential comment during a terse, dangerous, and heated moment. She'd made a mountain out of a molehill. Since then, she'd made endless, flirtatious comments in passing- it felt like being in high school again, which in itself was ridiculous enough. She was blonde, fit, and pretty, like any head cheerleader, and just as rude to him.
She'd visit him in the med bay, with fire in her eyes and packing something new to say to him. The first few times, he'd tried to be as cordial as he could, but the bantering couldn't remain one sided.
Five years in space. Five years, he'll have to deal with this. Her walking in, and walking away with her head high, while he was left standing alone, unsettled by her attitude. Chapel had been there a number of times, only to shrug and say that it wasn't any worse than what he delt out himself.
Bones thought he was going to do something rash about it all. He'd spoken to Jim about it, more than once, and it was well known about the ship that they didn't get along very well. Jim had told him that they just really needed to get this sexual tension out of the way.
Which is why Bones was furious about the notice he'd gotten about their next mission.
"Jim, what the hell is this?" Bones asked as he was exiting the elevator onto the bridge. Jim had the nerve to look and act innocent.
"What's what, Bones?"
"Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not an idiot! This mission says I have to prepare to leave for two weeks on Alpha III to check in on their bases? We aren't a command vessel, we're an exploration ship."
"Oh, I know. But I'm getting pressure from above my head on this one, Bones," Jim stood up and began walking over to the elevator,"but don't worry, you won't be going alone."
"Jim, what do you mean?"
Bones followed him into the elevator, and Jim waited for the door to close.
"Who else is going? Jim!"
The door opened again, and Bones stared at the woman standing at the entrance of the elevator.
"No." Bones groaned.
"Jim, just the person I wanted to speak to." She paused and looked over at Bones's horrified expression. "What's the matter, doctor? Captain got your tongue?"
His face pinched as he turned to face Jim again. Jim was smirking and shaking his head.
Jim moved and clasped him hands over both Bones and Carol's shoulders, and smiled.
"Have fun you two!" He said eagerly, before departing.
Carol looked over at Bones, who had a look of such displeasure, she almost took glee in it.
"That was unusual, even for Jim. But I've still got to talk to him about this Alpha III mission. Do you know anything about it?" She wasn't entirely sure why she was even talking to Bones about it, but judging by the message, Carol guessed few people had heard about it. The surge of eliteness and pride was petty and childish, she knew, but holding even a small bit over Bones was enjoyable.
Though, Bones smirked at her, which was unnerving.
"I don't know much about it, but I guess we'll find out together."
This time, Bones walked away, leaving Carol unsettled.
A/N: Alpha III is a federation planet that I googled. Sounded fitting for my intents and purposes.