Internal IM/USS Enterprise/ SD 2258.362 1900/Priority: Urgent
Kirk, J: Bones?
McCoy, L: Is bright red blood spurting from any part of your body?
Kirk, J: ???
McCoy, L: Seriously. If this is a medical emergency, hang up and dial nine-one-one. Otherwise leave me the fuck alone.
Kirk, J: So you're saying you don't want to go out for drinks tonight?
McCoy, L: I'm in the middle of an experiment, dammit.
Kirk, J: I'll be there in ten minutes.
Jim strode through the doorway. McCoy stared at him, the Petri dish and pipette he was holding frozen in midair.
"How the hell did you get in here? This is a secured-access facility. And how the hell did you even find me?"
Kirk grinned at him. "It's always a little extra challenging, isn't it, when you leave your comm unit locater off?" He winked. "Course, it helps to have connections in personnel." He lingered at the edge of the table, his attention caught by a piece of equipment. "Hey, what's this?"
"Protein analyzer. Stop breathing on it," McCoy growled, but not with his usual ferocity.
Kirk took in the two day's worth of stubble, the shadows under his eyes, the pinched look that told him McCoy had probably forgotten or refused to eat. He sighed.
"Bones, you've been holed up in here for five days now. You missed the Christmas party, and let me tell you, Chapel didn't look too happy about that. Hope you weren't planning on playing Santa Baby anytime soon."
McCoy groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. "What do you want, Jim?" He sounded weary, resigned, and Kirk felt a flash of satisfaction.
"You're coming with me," he declared. "There's this bar in the Marina district, supposed to be pretty classy. And I've never been there before, so we should be okay." He stepped back and looked the doctor over with a critical eye. "At least you're not in uniform, and you've got that scruffy look down pretty good, but you really need to loosen up, you know. Here—" he reached over to muss McCoy's hair—"that's better. Got your leather jacket here?"
McCoy slapped his hands away. "One hour. You understand?" He tapped the monitor on the wall with more force than was necessary. It beeped, in protest, Kirk thought.
"Three."
"Two. Not a minute more." He paused, one arm in his jacket, and Kirk saw something flash across his face.
"What are you doing down here, anyway? I thought you and whatsherface had something hot planned for this week."
Kirk held his hands up in a what-can-I-say gesture. "Guess I was just too much for her."
McCoy snorted and keyed in a security code as the door slid shut behind them. "Yeah, she must've been overwhelmed by your modesty." He gave Kirk a narrow glance. "Look, I know you have an agenda—don't act all innocent, Jim, I'm your friend and your doctor, so yes, you're that transparent—so why don't you just cut the shit and get it out in the open already?"
"See, that's what I like about you, Bones. So thoughtful and patient, and you really know how to draw someone out— "
"Fuck you." But McCoy's face reddened and Kirk turned away to hide his smile.
"Okay. Since whatsherface dumped me, and I know your love life is, shall we say, precarious—hey, it goes both ways, man, you think I'm transparent?—so I thought we could drown our sorrows together. Let's forget about Chapel for tonight, though. You can tell me all about what's going on with the ex, how her life has fallen apart without you, gloat about how miserable she is. Or you hope she is."
McCoy brightened a little as they reached the lift. "Well, you know, I just heard something about her from an old friend. She's being sued in small claims court."
Kirk's eyebrow went up, and McCoy frowned.
"That Vulcan's wearing off on you."
Kirk ignored him. "Sued? What for?"
McCoy looked glum. "I dunno. Probably assault with a deadly weapon. As in, her tongue."
Internal IM/USS Enterprise/ SD 2258.362 2200/Priority: Urgent
Kirk, J: Uhura?
Uhura, N: What? I'm off duty. Kind of in the middle of something.
Kirk, J: Sorry. Tell him I said hi. Hey, good work on the research. What was the name of that party thing?
Uhura, N: The Annual Atlanta Area Junior League Gala. Talk to Blanche Decatur.
Kirk, J: Thx.
Uhura, N: IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE
SFvirtualmail /origUSSEntNCC1701/rec Earth, NA/Personal/Encrypt: YES/Priority: HIGH/SFComm protocol: NO/vid: NO/Receipt: YES/1Z450UG698KL
FROM: Kirk, James T. Captain, USS Enterprise
SENT: SD 2258.363 0400
TO: Decatur, Blanche
SUBJECT: Charitable donation
Dear Ms. Decatur:
I am interested in making a sizable donation to your organization in the next few days. I would also like to discuss a small personal favor. May I contact you via vidcomm at 8:00 a.m. local time?
Sincerely,
Captain James T. Kirk, USS Enterprise
AOM/origEarth, NA, ATLGA/recEarth, NA, ATLGA /Personal/Encrypt: YES/Priority: URGENT/vid: NO/Receipt: YES/DC9076U
FROM: Decatur, Blanche
SENT: December 29, 2258 8:54 p.m.
TO: McCoy, Jocelyn
SUBJECT: Invitation to Annual Gala
Ms. Jocelyn McCoy:
The Atlanta Area Junior League
request the pleasure of your company
at the 97th Annual New Year's Eve Gala
to be held at the Centennial Plaza
on the evening of December the thirty-first
at ten o'clock
for the benefit of
The Atlanta Children's Hospital
(Lyn: The Board has discussed your situation and has unanimously agreed to reinstate your membership in the League and drop the pending civil suit. We will put this unfortunate event behind us. Please do bring a HUMAN, ADULT companion to the Gala if you desire. And no pets this time, Lyn. Not even if it fits in your purse. I look forward to seeing you there--I know you wouldn't miss this for the world.)
Warmest regards,
Blanche
AOM/origEarth, NA, ATLGA/recUSSEnterpriseNCC1701 /Personal/Encrypt: YES/Priority: URGENT/vid: NO/Receipt: YES/DC9749S
FROM: Decatur, Blanche
SENT: December 29, 2258 11:27 p.m.
TO: Kirk, James T.
SUBJECT: Thank you
Dearest Captain Kirk:
On behalf of the Atlanta Area Junior League, please accept my warmest thanks for your generous donation to the League's Charitable Foundation. The little matter of Ms. McCoy has been resolved per your request. Again, thank you, and have a wonderful New Year.
Your official receipt indicating the donation's tax-free status will be mailed to your San Francisco address. If you are ever in the area, please do feel free to drop by and visit.
Cordially,
Ms. Blanche Decatur