A McCoy/Sadara pairing was requested. I took this one down earlier because I didn't really have any ideas for furthering it, but I'm going to try again.

If Commander Spock was honest with himself (and most Vulcans were), he would be forced to admit that sickbay was his least favorite area of the Enterprise. He avoided the domain of Dr. Leonard McCoy whenever possible, but it was logical to waste little time reporting there if his presence was required.

The Enterprise had just taken on a group of new officers being transferred over from the Lexington; and all of them, save for one, had reported to him after exiting Dr. McCoy's chamber of horrors and requisite physicals. The tall, raven black haired Vulcan first officer was quite interested to discover if there was an issue requiring his attention or if his errant new charge had been snared in the perilous journey of one of the good southern doctor's tall tales.

Entering sickbay, he caught sight of Nurse Christine Chapel taking advantage of the quiet sickbay to inventory medical supplies. She looked up at him with sky blue eyes and fought back the almost involuntary smile at his presence. Spock stiffened uncomfortably. He knew of her feelings for him just as everyone else aboard did. He truly hadn't the foggiest idea of how best to deal with her affection for him.

Mercifully though, she contained herself with quiet dignity and professionalism. She had a pretty good idea why he'd wandered all the way down to sickbay and tilted her head toward Dr. McCoy's office.

"He discovered the unicorn of Vulcans and hasn't let her have a moment's peace since," she grinned, but bothered the flagship's first officer no more and returned to her work.

The intelligent nurse's unique choice of words drew a raised eyebrow from Spock and he made his way across the room to the CMO's office. His acute Vulcan hearing picked up a couple of quiet voices; one obviously belonging to the irascible physician. His southern accent was at full strength, something that almost always only occurred when he wished to charm an attractive woman.

In the background, Spock registered the hissing open and closing of sickbay's doors along with the soft sound of approaching footsteps that he recognized as Captain Kirk's. Kirk remained quiet for a moment, curious about what had Spock stopped outside McCoy's office and eavesdropping. After a moment, Kirk grinned.

"We should rescue the poor girl."

"Indeed," Spock nodded and he tapped on the slightly open door before pushing it open further and entering the small room.

"Oh is it that time already?" McCoy made a show of checking the chronometer even though he wasn't the least bit sorry he'd held the pretty young lieutenant up from reporting to Spock.

Kirk came in behind Spock with an enormous grin on his face. McCoy could be such a wiseass sometimes and never with more fervor than when he was attempting to ruffle Spock's feathers.

"Captain Kirk. Commander Spock." Lieutenant Sadara Lochlan inclined her head respectfully at her commanding officers; and stepped further to the right to allow them more room inside the increasingly cramped quarters of the CMO's office.

"Lieutenant," Spock acknowledged. He studied her for a long moment. Her posture was relaxed, though confident and poised. She was of average height for a Vulcan female, though she wasn't as thin as most, likely owing to a diet of more human foods. Spock didn't find her particularly stunning, though it was obvious his two human friends did. Despite his upbringing on Vulcan where brunettes were the rule rather than the exception, he found himself quite drawn to the more docile, thin, sunshine blondes. It was Kirk and McCoy who preferred the assertive and brilliant brunettes. Edith Keeler had been one such idealistic, brown haired beauty who had given the Enterprise some stiff competition for Kirk's heart. McCoy's giddiness though stemmed largely from the fact that he'd finally found a Vulcan, well half Vulcan, who displayed some emotion. That she was female was simply icing on the cake.

Commodore Bob Wesley had nothing but positive things to say about her, though he had warned the Vulcan science officer that Sadara, also a Vulcan/Human hybrid, embraced much more of her human heritage. Spock appreciated the "head's up," though he was more concerned with her work performance. As long as she was competent, he believed he could overlook any unattractive displays of emotion from her.

"As she will be working under your supervision and seeing as how you are quite content to monopolize her time and mine in doing so, Dr. McCoy, I shall allow you the honor of getting Lt. Lochlan settled in." Spock handed over a datapadd with her room assignment and other instructions.

Dr. McCoy took it without hesitation, though his bright blue eyes lit up with surprise. "Why I'd be delighted to, Mr. Spock."

Spock inclined his head. "If you'll excuse me."

Kirk stepped aside, somewhat surprised at how easily and quickly Spock had relinquished that particular duty, but he said nothing to his friend's retreating back. Still smirking a little, he turned back to face Dr. McCoy who was still sitting there with that cat that ate the canary grin.

Both grins faded when they noticed how confused Sadara looked.

"I was afraid of that," she said quietly.

"What's that?" McCoy asked, curious.

Sadara shrugged, not quite knowing how to explain it. "It would be interesting to talk to him. We're both Vulcan/Human hybrids raised completely opposite, but it sure didn't seem like he was interested in talking to me. I don't particularly wish to make him uncomfortable with my human tendencies, but I'm not going to restrain myself because of it either."

"He'll come around," Kirk said. "Just give him some time."

"Besides we need to you settled in. Comin' little darlin'?" The thick, southern drawl was making a return appearance as the thin doctor rose from his chair.

Finally, a reluctant smile broke through the concern on the young woman's face. "Sure, let's go."

The handsome captain led the way out of sickbay, but turned the opposite direction from where McCoy would be taking Sadara to show her to her assigned quarters. "Behave, Bones. She's working for you."

"Oh hush, Jim."

W^^^W^^^W

It had been a few weeks since Lt. Sadara Lochlan had come aboard the Enterprise. She had settled in easily enough, particularly on duty in sickbay. Though versed in space psychology, Dr. Leonard McCoy was primarily a physician and it was a welcome change to have an actual, honest to goodness, practicing psychologist on board. Starfleet Command really needed to pull its collective head out of its hindquarters and place a psychologist on all Starfleet vessels. Unfortunately, fighting the stigmas surrounding crewmembers requiring psychological assistance was still an uphill battle with many of the decision makers. For reasons unknown to the old country doctor, many still felt that it was a sign of weakness to admit to any mental or emotional issues, even after a traumatic episode.

Such mentalities frustrated Dr. McCoy to no end. Still, Starfleet did employ the work of psychologists and psychiatrists, typically during screening processes for Starfleet Academy or certain sensitive positions. Those sorts of things concerned the bright blue eyed human less than the lack of adequate mental health care these officers received after traumas.

He'd still managed to talk the powers that be at Starfleet Medical to at least let him take a psychologist for a test drive aboard ship and see if anyone bothered to use Lochlan's counseling abilities to their benefit.

The psychological evaluations were being incorporated into the annual physicals as a way for Dr. McCoy to kill two birds with one stone and also for the crew to become acquainted with Sadara. With Sadara tackling the psych evals, the annual physicals moved along more quickly and efficiently, something that pleased the Enterprise's CMO greatly. Every once in a while he would pause to observe the interactions between the Vulcan/Human hybrid and the other crewmembers. The reactions to her had been mostly positive, though some appeared confused and curious. It wasn't everyday (or ever) that most people got to interact with an emotionally expressive Vulcan. And she wasn't bothering to cover up her ears with her hair, which both impressed and amused the good doctor. She had joked that covering up her ears would have been pointless unless she was willing to do the same to her eyebrows and McCoy had conceded the point.

The crew of over 400 was mostly comprised of Humans, though there was a sprinkling of members of other races aboard. Having trained in exopsychology, Sadara was prepared to adjust her evaluations accordingly.

She was just finishing up with Lt. Hikaru Sulu when Dr. McCoy sent Commander Spock over to her. Lt. Sulu was the first to catch the cold, stern look Spock shot them. Sadara had bent her head to make some final notes in the enthusiastic lieutenant's chart as she continued that she hadn't a green thumb to save her life.

"I can talk to humans. Plants, not so much," she joked in that self deprecating way she sometimes had.

Sulu grinned and hopped off the biobed before Spock's stare could evolve into a full on glower.

"I'd better get out of your hair; you've got more company. See ya around, shrink."

The young psychologist turned to the Enterprise's first officer and simply gestured to the biobed without a word. As a Vulcan he would appreciate the absence of small talk and as a psychologist she was required to be mindful of the cultural needs and values of others. Dr. McCoy had promised her at least a small office as soon as they could get one cleaned out or find some other available space. At this point, all the CMO could really do was find her a more secluded part of sickbay for this sort of thing.

The dark brown haired lieutenant shifted gears quickly into Vulcan psychology and moved swiftly through the required inquiries. Spock's gaze was fixated on a point on the wall somewhere to the left and above Sadara's head. The Vulcan/Human male cooperated with the psych eval as required, but it was painfully obvious that he saw little point to her task and possibly even took some offense to her presence.

Offense is an emotion, she reminded herself. I'm probably reading too much into it.

It annoyed her though that he couldn't even be bothered to look her in the eye, but she remained steadfast in her professionalism. Out of her peripheral vision she caught Dr. McCoy watching the proceedings with concern and curiosity from across the room. Nurse Chapel gave her a sympathetic look, then turned back to charting the vitals on her current patient.

Spock looked down, watching as Sadara scribbled her notes. He'd tired of her pointless prying into his mental state. He was a Vulcan and Vulcans resolved their difficulties with logic and meditation, not useless discussion.

"Are you quite through?"

Sadara debated the wisdom of some ill advised, yet entertaining sarcasm and decided to go for it anyway.

"No, I'm enjoying your company so much I thought I'd continue a while longer."

In the background, McCoy snickered earning him a withering look from his favorite verbal sparring partner. She apparently had a mouth on her that McCoy thought he could along with. She'd have to be careful though. To some extent, McCoy was able to get away with it because he had some actual authority backing him up; and he and Spock had a unique relationship, that while occasionally volatile, gave him some immunity Sadara might not get from Spock.

Spock's right eyebrow lifted at Sadara, but he finally made her eye contact with her. Her large, dark blue eyes were making it perfectly clear to him that she wasn't going to be disrespected by him or anyone else.

"I'm a Vulcan/Human hybrid just like you are. I just happened to be raised in more human traditions. If my emotionalism offends you so much that you find it difficult to even look at me, I suggest you do the logical thing and accept that I am who I am. Meditate, play chess, whatever you have to do to stomach it because I won't be browbeaten into becoming something I'm not."

Wordlessly, Spock hopped off the biobed and his eyes held a cold, but slightly surprised look, and he exited sickbay without another word.

After the doors swished shut behind him, Sadara turned toward a deathly silent and staring group of Starfleet officers. She pointed to the door Spock had just exited out of.

"I don't care what his rank is; I'm not standing for that. Of all people in the universe to ostracize, he picks the other Vulcan/Human hybrid…Unbelievable… "

"Amen," was McCoy's comment on the matter.

W^^^W^^^W