Star Trek is property of its respective owners. I only own Mallory.

In the end, Leonard McCoy made good on his threat and redecorated the floor with the contents of his stomach. Mal had immediately flown from her seat to bother the captain for the Dramamine that was kept in the cockpit's medical kit and then spent the rest of the trip worrying over him. He should have told her to knock it off, but truth be told he didn't mind. It was nice to have someone taking care of him for a change. Besides, every time Mal leaned in to check on him she flooded the air with the faint scent of apples.

It definitely could have been worse.

"No temperature." Satisfied, Mal removed her hand from Leo's forehead. "But maybe no more booze until we land, huh? Otherwise we'll be pouring you out the shuttle." He mumbled something noncommittal and Mal rolled her eyes. "McCoy..."

"It's just motion sickness, dammit. I'm fine."

"Sit down, Mal!" Commander Gibbs' voice could be heard from her seat up front. Mal obeyed, with an easy shrug. She and Jim chatted ceaselessly, doing their best to comfort and distract their luckless, new friend.

Maybe not so luckless, since a certain bullying commander slipped in the mess on her way out and had to de-board covered regurgitation.

"I suggest none of us takes interspecies ethics with that woman," Mal said making a face. She reclaimed her duffle and left the shuttle hanger with Jim and Leo, the three of them sticking out like dirty pennies amid the never ending sea of Reds. With a stretch and the popping of vertebra, Mal tugged her cap off and shoved it into her jacket, finally awarding her two companions an unimpeded look at who they'd been chatting up since take off.

Dibs, Jim thought immediately.

Mal's eyes were the same icy blue as his, wide and mischievous in her pale face. There was a weak scattering of freckles over her nose, making her look like she was eighteen instead of the twenty-four year old she claimed to be. Her lips were turned up into a lazy smile as she casually tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. Leo was busy looking around, trying to makes sense of the campus. He vaguely registered that Mal was a pretty little thing with big eyes and a careless smile, but he was immune. "How do you know what she teaches?" he asked.

"You knew Uhura, too," Jim said distractedly. He was taking in the scenery and gaining some appreciative looks from the female cadets crossing the quad. "Pike even wished you luck before he got off the shuttle. How do you know everyone?"

Mal shrugged. "I grew up here."

"In San Francisco?" Jim asked. She shed her leather jacket and Leo snorted when he caught sight of the MSU t-shirt she was wearing underneath.

"At the Academy. Mom's a diplomat and spends most of her time off planet. Dad's been a recruiter forever. My sisters and I grew up right here on campus when we weren't home in Mojave. I love me some California." Mal stretched in the sunlight and smiled.

"So says the bulldog," Leo grumbled.

Jim looked confused but Mal threw back her head and laughed. "Bulldog?"

Mal pointed to her shirt. "Mississippi State. My alma mater. Got a problem with it, cowboy?" she said, her smile challenging.

Leo said two words that had her chanting Hotty Toddy at him. "Ole Miss."

"Guess we're rivals, McCoy." Mal looked up at him, her smile faltering a bit. "Are you sure you're ok?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Like he was planning on croaking just to irritate her. "You're color still isn't great."

Leo gave her a scowl. "My color is fine. And I know what I'm talking about, since I'm the doctor, not you." Mal chuckled, but checked the pulse just inside his wrist with practiced fingers.

"You're elevated," she muttered.

You have no idea, Leo had to shake the errant thought out of his head.

"Doctor!"

A commander was coming toward them purposefully. He was young, his dark eyes brooding as he approached. "How the hell did they find me so fast?" Leo mused aloud, straightening himself up and trying to look like he hadn't just tried to forcibly expel the lining of his stomach.

"I doubt he's looking for you." Mal's expression darkened considerably as she stood at attention, annoyance clear on her face. "Commander Price." She greeted in absolute monotone.

"Doctor Parker," Price barked her name with barely concealed hostility. "You're supposed to be in the infirmary to assist with the new recruit physicals, are you not?"

"Yes, sir." Again, there was no intonation to her answer, only steely restraint.

"Then I suggest you get there."

McCoy eyed the girl. Doctor Parker? He hadn't seen that coming. Usually the pretty girls weren't the brightest. His ex-wife had taught him that. Manipulative and greedy, yes, but not smart.

Price wasn't finished with Mal. "May I also remind you that you need to report in uniform?"

"Does wearing jeans somehow impede my ability to read a tricorder?" Mal demanded.

Commander Price stepped closer. "Listen, Cadet. I don't give a shit who your father is. You're enlisted, now, which means I don't have to put up with your mouth anymore. I can throw you in lockdown for insubordination. Change, Parker. Now."

Mal's dark expression changed. Her politely indifferent mask melted into a wicked grin. "Yes, sir." She tore open her duffle, pulled out her Reds, and with one flourishing gesture… Mal shed her t-shirt.

Jim let out a cheer of encouragement at the sight of a black lace. "Go, Parker!"

"Dammit, woman, put your clothes back on!" Leo's voice cracked.

Mal grinned at him and went for the button on her jeans. She was starting to attract attention, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Commander Price. "You're a pain in the ass, Parker."

"Then we have something in common, don't we… Sir."

Price snarled but turned on his heel and shoved his way out of the crowd that had started to form amid laughter and applause. Mal took a bow and pulled her red sweater down over her head. "Show's over people. Scatter!"

"That was awesome, Mal." Jim handed her the discarded t-shirt. "I swear, getting on that shuttle was the best idea ever."

Mal laughed and punched his arm lightly. "I hope you enjoyed that, Jim, because that is the last time you get to see my goodies."

It took Leo a moment to regain the ability to form a coherent sentence. "What the hell was that?" he demanded at last.

"Anatomy, cowboy," Mal said with a devilish wink. "That was anatomy." She sighed and slung her duffle over her shoulder. "I'd better get to the infirmary. They could probably use some extra hands, McCoy, if you don't mind getting thrown into the mix right away."

Jim looked a bit put out. "What about me?"

"Swing by after you're settled." Mal started to jog away. "You coming, cowboy?" She looked back at Leo, expectantly.

"For the love of God, Bones, a hot doctor chick just asked you to come. If you don't follow her this second I'm pretty sure I will," Jim muttered, a huge grin on his face.

Leo glowered but headed slowly after the girl. "Shut up, Jim."