A/N: Today, April 23, is considered Shakespeare's birthday!!! Happy dance! In case you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of his! So I just had to add this tribute to him to the Red Number Days series!! Hope you enjoy!


"Hey Bones," Jim said as he sat at his table, the Doctor already there sipping his coffee and scowling at his eggs.

"What do you have to be so cheerful about, sunshine?" Bones responded.

"You know what today is?" Jim asked, completely undeterred by Bones slightly-worse-than-usual grumpiness.

"I have absolutely no idea. If you can't keep the days straight, you're better off asking your hobgoblin First Officer," Bones said, shoving aside his plate of mostly untouched food.

"It's Shakespeare's birthday," Jim announced happily. "Well, it's the day they think he was born."

"Do tell," McCoy said in complete disinterest.

"Yep. The church records say he was baptized on April 26 so they take that to mean he was born 3 days earlier. Today."

"And you care about someone who lived more than eight hundred years ago why?"

"You have no poetry, Bones. None. Shakespeare is the dude. The man. Do you know how many words he made up to use in his plays and sonnets?" Jim asked, really warming up to his subject.

"I couldn't imagine why I would care," the Doctor said.

Jim shook his head sadly at his best friend, drinking more of his coffee. "Why are you so chipper this morning?"

"Oh, it's morning? I hadn't noticed. Since I haven't been to sleep yet," Bones said with another frown, one of accusation as though McCoy's sleepless night was Jim's fault.

"The miserable hath no other medicine but only hope," Jim responded with a smile.

"I don't need medicine or hope. All I need is for you to stop any more Klingons from firing on your ship. Then I can sleep."

"Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway, / Meeting the check of such another day; / And since this business so fair is done, / Let us not leave till all our own be won," Jim said, a little too dramatically for the Doctor's taste.

"Keep it up and I swear I'll find hypos to give you for diseases that ain't even been invented yet."

"I hate ingratitude more in man/ Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, / Or any taint of vice."

"This isn't ingratitude, you infant," McCoy growled at him. He was relieved when Spock came up with his breakfast, hoping it would stop Jim from being a walking Bartlett's stuck in Shakespeare's section. Those hopes proved to be in vain when Jim invited Spock to join them.

"Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table," Jim said with a smile up at Spock.

"As You Like It, act 2, scene 7," Spock responded much to Jim's delight.

"Oh Lord. Not you too," McCoy said in utter dismay.

"Indeed. Today is the traditional commemoration of the possible birthday of William Shakespeare," Spock said.

"So I've heard," Bones said, frowning at them in turn. "You two are quite the pair."

"Pair of what, Doctor?" Spock asked way too seriously.

Bones just groaned and lay his head down on his crossed arms.

"I dote on his very absence, and I wish them a fair departure," Jim whispered to Spock loud enough for Bones to hear.

"I heard that," McCoy said, not bothering to lift his head. "One day very soon you'll need me. And I'll take great pleasure in reminding you how you prefer my absence. Let's see how far your encyclopedic knowledge of Shakespeare goes when you're bleeding. He won't save your sorry ass."

"When he shall die / Take him and cut him in little stars / And he will make the face of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in love with night / And pay no worship to the garish sun," was Jim's response, Spock nodding approval.

"Shut up," McCoy said into his arms. "The people are like water and the ruler a boat. Water can support a boat or overturn it."

Jim laughed and clapped Bones on the shoulder. "I knew you weren't so unlearned that you didn't know some Shakespeare. Although I think I would prefer you didn't know the ones about mutiny."

"I live to serve," Bones claimed, finally lifting his head. "I'm going to bed. Please don't do anything stupid. Please let me sleep for 8 solid hours."

"Aye aye sir," Jim agreed. He watched McCoy walk away before turning his full attention to Spock who was watching the Captain with an intent gaze. "What?"

"I apologize, sir," Spock said, looking down at his food before looking back up to meet Jim's eyes.

"It's not like I mind. I guess I'm wondering what you are thinking. Or if I have broccoli stuck in my teeth," Jim admitted with a laugh.

"No broccoli," Spock assured him. "It is somewhat unusual for anyone to have so many passages of Shakespeare memorized."

Jim shrugged at that, eating more of his omelet. "I guess it's a hobby."

"Did you perform in your youth?"

"No," Jim said. "I can't really say why it sticks in my brain the way it does. Except for the sheer beauty of it."

Spock nodded at that, eating from his plate. "Engineering has nearly completed the repairs."

"Good. I'll go down after I finish eating."

"Then you will follow the Doctor's example and also go to bed?" Spock asked.

"Yes, I promise," Jim agreed. "Are you going to finally get some sleep?"

"I will when Alpha shift is completed."

Jim shook his head at Spock. "No. You've been awake for almost 36 hours too. Go to bed when you leave here."

"Are you certain, sir? I am capable of fulfilling my duty shift."

"I know you are, Spock. But we all need to sleep after the last three days. We aren't going to encounter any more rogue Klingons. And the Bridge will alert us if they need us."

"Very well," Spock agreed, looking tired now that he had permission. "I will go to my quarters."

"Good. Sleep after you meditate."

Spock nodded at that, drinking more of his water. "You can be certain that I will."

"Good. Unless you need me right now, I'm going to go to Engineering to check in with Scotty."

"I have nothing further to report, sir," Spock said, making Jim laugh lightly.

"Alright. Maybe I'll see you at dinner, if we wake up in time."

"Very good," Spock said, watching him walk away, chatting with all those he encountered before disappearing through the doors. Spock allowed himself a very tiny, very uncharacteristic sigh. "Every man has business and desire, / Such as it is." With that, Spock too left the Officers' Mess to return to his quarters.