Chapter 2

If McCoy didn't know better he would think that Spock was agitated. He had observed Spock come in and out of Sickbay over the past three days barely acknowledging the staff, seeking no medical attention.

"Spock, can I help you?" McCoy was positioned behind his desk watching Spock's movements.

"Nurse Chapel had some books delivered to my quarters, I wished to discuss them with her prior to her delivering them to Vulcan, are you aware of her current location?" Spock responded in an efficient manner, clearly not wishing to engage in unnecessary pleasantries.

"Oh yes, the books – she mentioned them to me a few weeks ago" McCoy leaned further back into his chair, slowly raising his feet to rest upon the desk.

Spock raised an eyebrow to show, McCoy believed, his level of disapproval at the relaxed manner in which the CMO presented himself.

"I believe she is very interested in having them removed from her life", he started, wondering if Spock could read between the lines.

"Yes, she had mentioned that to me as well, however there are some which she may choose to keep after I discuss with her their significance".

"Hmmmmm…." McCoy continued "perhaps she does not care for their significance, or perhaps what makes them significant is only relevant to you, and no longer to her"

Spock stood for moment, seeming to consider McCoy's words. He was sure that the Doctor was trying to allude to some other topic of conversation other than the discarded books.

"Spock, I'm just going to say it – be careful"

"Of what exactly Doctor, should I be careful?" he had no wish to be drawn into this particular conversation, though the Doctor seemed intent of pursuing a particular line of discussion.

"Of Christine, of course –look, I wasn't going to say anything, but there is something going on at the moment. She seems to have settled down, found some sort of way of getting on with things. Then all of a sudden you are hovering around the Sickbay, offering to assess books for her, offering to assess them in her quarters. Now far be it for me to jump to conclusions, but … well…" McCoy rubbed his chin in thought as to how best to present his views "one might say that her lack of interest has sparked yours"

Spock looked decidedly uncomfortable

"Doctor I do not hover" he responded.

"Fine, you hang around with no clear purpose"

McCoy sat back in his chair, waiting for the onslaught of logical denial to his comments. And he waited, and waited.

Spock stood in silence his response was, to say the least, surprising.

" I am unsure of this current situation", he answered, thoughtfully. This was not a conversation he wished to have with McCoy, regardless of their friendship. Jim would be more appropriate, though he had not raised any concern and Spock had not wished to initiate discussion on a topic he himself was unsure of.

"So you agree," McCoy, continued, "that there is a situation"

"I agree that there are a set of circumstances, which involve Nurse Chapel. Circumstances that were unforeseen. These circumstances do not affect the functioning of the crew or my own work performance. The matter will be managed in a manner that causes least amount of impact upon the functioning of the ship"

McCoy sat staring directly at Spock, a broad grin erupting over his face.

"You like her" his smile extended to almost the length of his face "and you don't know how to tell her. But why … why wait until she is almost over you…why not do something about it ages ago"

"I have not stated that I like Nurse Chapel in the way that you imply, it is enough to say that circumstances have changed"

"Yeah they sure have, in the form of a 25 year old Ensign who seems to think the sun shines out of her, an incredibly fit 25 year old who basically spends hours with her in various states of undress in very sweaty situations"

Spock again raised an eyebrow and returned to his original question. "Do you know where Nurse Chapel is?"

"I certainly do – I believe she is currently in a circumstantial situation with a certain Ensign in the gym"

Spock left without making further responses to McCoy, barely acknowledging Kirk as he strolled through the doors of Sickbay.

"What's with Spock?" Jim asked as he watched his First Officer stride down the corridor

"Pull up a chair Jimbo", McCoy offered as he poured himself a whiskey "we are in for one hell of a ride"

Kirk took the seat offered and settled in for a long discussion with the good doctor

Spock strode into the gym, McCoy's words echoing in his head. Of course he could not be irritated by McCoy's comments, irritation was by far too human an emotion, however his calmness had been disturbed.

Open laughter stopped his reflection as he turned his head to identify the source. Nurse Chapel was in a makeshift ring with Ensign Carter, who – it appeared had decided that training shirtless would be a more effective method of transferring knowledge on technique. She had obviously been practicing for some time, as her body had a glow of perspiration. He stood and watched as she held a water container to quench her thirst, Carter making attempts to take it from her in what appeared to be an ongoing game. She made moves to dodge him resulting in the Ensign grabbing her about the waist. Both laughed again with an ease that had Spock thinking he had interrupted an intimate moment.

McCoy's words again came to his mind "be careful of Christine…" He had to admit, as he observed her unrestrained responses to the young officer that in his interactions with the Nurse she had never presented with such spontaneity, such openness of self.

Spock lowered his eyes from the scene before him, and turned to leave. McCoy had no right to comment on his intentions, though in this matter his non-solicited remarks may have held merit.

A scream split his thoughts in two as he spun upon the sudden confusion within the gym.

A young female officer had fallen, landing on an upturned metal rod. His brief assessment of the scene indicated that the officer's side had been speared. She must have attempted to move, as the wound, even from the distance of where he stood, looked open and bloody.

Spock made his way towards the fallen officer, but not before Christine had arrived at her side – quickly moving to assess and treat her where possible.

Spock leaned over Christine's shoulder "It appears an artery has been severed" he offered as means of diagnosis.

"Spock, you're not a medic just back off I can manage this, call sickbay immediately and grab me some towels NOW!"

She looked up at him as he stood over her.

"Look charge me with insubordination AFTER I have saved this kid's life ok?"

Without responding to her directly he moved to call for emergency medical response, as well as directing those about him to grab towels to assist Christine.

The blood was pooling near the crewmember's body, seeping deeper into the mat.

"God dam it, have to stop the blood, where are the towels?" Christine yelled at the small group of onlookers forming a semi circle around the scene. When none were handed to her she quickly pulled her top from her body to form a bandage to staunch the flow of blood. This left her exposed to the bloody mess before her, her skin and clothes becoming soaked as she continued to apply pressure to the wound.

Spock had seen her respond to medical situations before, though never one quite as raw as this. In the absence of the correct medical equipment, Nurse Chapel was responding by instinct, with whatever was in her reach to save the patient. She moved swiftly, with an authority he had not appreciated previously.

The young woman coughed, her eyes opened briefly, panic filling them. "I don't want to die," she pleaded.

"No one dies today," Christine growled, grabbing at the woman's hand whilst still holding the bandage in place. "We've called for help".

If no one dies today, Spock thought, it would be due to sheer human will, not logical but so blatantly clear from his observations. He noted the whiteness of Christine's knuckles holding the officer's hand. Skin made whiter in comparison to the deep red which now covered the ground. Christine was holding onto the officer with skill and hope, encouraging the girl to breath one single breath after another.

He also heard her speak to the patient, calm but defiant to Death that sat still on the shoulder of the injured officer. He watched Christine wipe her forehead, check her pulse and control the crowd. He watched Christine transform from a meek creature in the shadows to a competent and capable being standing in full light.

Medical staff from Sickbay arrived within minutes to the gym – quickly providing pain relief and more appropriate bandaging. Christine stood, still holding the hand of the girl "You will need surgery, but you will be ok", Christine smiled.

"Will you come with me, be there, I think I need you there" she almost begged.

"I'll follow you, its ok" Christine watched her be taken from the gym, she breathed deeply, folding her arms across her body.

She had almost forgotten the top she has used to help save the officer's life, suddenly feeling very naked in only her sports bra and gym shorts. She turned to grab a discarded towel lying on the floor nearby when suddenly her shoulders were wrapped in a warm jacket, completely covering her.

"Thanks Matt", she responded not immediately turning around.

"I believe the Ensign is currently in the bathroom, he left soon after the accident. I have concluded the sight of blood makes him feel unwell"

"Spock!" surprise lifted her voice slightly "I thought you had gone"

"Given the situation I had thought I may have been necessary, however on reflection it appears that I was not. You seem very capable of managing crisis situations"

"Certain situations", she clarified "I hold my own when it's a medical matter, but am useless at other things", her voice then lowered "I am sorry I yelled at you"

"Given the need for immediate attention to your patient, it was not an unwarranted action. There will be no reprimand or report to the Captain."

She smiled warmly, pulling the jacket closer around her.

"Thank goodness, I have no wish to spend the next few days in the brig", she shivered slightly.

"Have you been harmed in any way?" He asked

"Just the adrenalin leaving my body. Mmm I need to get cleaned up and head down to Sickbay, I promised Thompson I would be there when she came out of her surgery"

"I believe the patient will require rest, as do you" he made moves to usher Christine from the gym towards her quarters.

"No Mr. Spock, I made a promise and I follow through. Besides it's the little things that make a good nurse, the hand holding, the brow wiping, the soup making"

Oh God, she could have hit herself in the head for that comment.

He made no response. Christine convinced herself it had gone unheard.

She raised her hand wiping sweat from her forehead, the blood from the officer had splattered onto her face, and subsequently been smeared across her cheeks.

Spock held his palm to the side of her face wiping his thumb down her cheek to remove some of residue.

A feeling of safety washed over her, almost like she knew she was protected – but protected from what, by whom? Her eyes closed briefly to clear her mind and the feeling had gone.

Christine moved to follow the officer being stretchered out from the gym, then paused returning to Spock.

"Mr. Spock", she began

He started to reiterate that his actions where part of his duties "As First Officer it is …."

"Mr. Spock" she stated again, this time raising her hand to within inches of his mouth to stop him continuing "I wish to say thank you for your concern"

His eyes locked with hers and for the briefest moment it was as if a wall of silence had been created to isolate the two from the busy crowd.

Without reacting Spock uttered only one word

"Understood"