Wow, two posts within 24 hours! This is relatively unheard of from me... :)
Plug time: Have you read FuzzyDeath's 'Relapse'? It's the third in the series behind 'Rewritten' and 'Remean'. They are the awesomesauce. (Yeah, I used it - I'm holding that word ransom until I get my cloning farm back!!)
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. I know that may come as a shock to some, but it's not true, the rumors are false. I do however own Charlie, Heradee, Neil and Lucy. Possibly a few more too.
The chapter title is a song of the same name by Feeder. Love them. It's pretty laidback too, I was listening to it for the second half of this chapter.
Here goes!
Whenever something went wrong in one of her classes Charlie would end up in the gym. There, she could hit the bags and kick until her legs ached, her arms felt numb and her aggression had melted enough for her to face the rest of the world because chances were, as soon as she got back to her dorm something else would crop up and rile her fury up again.
Today was like no other – an argument with one of her instructors had fired her up beyond belief and she stalked through campus glaring at anyone who so much as glanced her way, her mind whirring angrily over her argument as she headed back towards her dorm to get her gym clothes. Crossing the tree lined lawns she kept her head dipped low as to avoid seeing anyone and getting caught up in a conversation with anyone who was lurking around the dorm buildings. Glancing across the gardens she could see two figures standing by the door to the PADD lab, one of them she knew well – a male figure, stooping down to kiss a female figure whose arms wrapped languidly around said guys neck. Bones. And that... cow (she couldn't think of anything else that she wouldn't scream across the grounds) Kellaway. Seeing them making out under the concrete entrance was exactly what she needed to top her day off, clenching her fists and stalking even quicker towards her room.
"Hey! Uhura stopped by – What's the matter?" Heradee asked, still recovering from her "incident" two nights ago and looking worried when her roommate stormed into their dorm and threw her bag down harder than necessary, pulling her boots off and throwing them violently across the room too.
"Shitty, heinous day. Going to the gym. Where the hell are my sneakers?!" Charlotte yelled, changing furiously and retrieving her trainers from under her bed, storming from the room in the same incensed whirlwind that she'd entered with.
The gym had a few Cadets scattered throughout including Gaila who waved merrily from a treadmill over the other side of the large room. She started working out, taking out her frustrations of the day on anything that allowed her to, ignoring the ache that built up in her shoulders, the cramping that was building in her calves and the fact that her ass felt like someone was incessantly kicking it. A few times she caught herself muttering under her breath and then got even more furious with herself for acting like such a fool. When the treadmill wouldn't yell back at her or the weights wouldn't hit back she moved into the combat training room, looking for blood.
This was her arena. Hers and Gaila's actually, most of their business was based off taking bets on the fighting that went on behind those closed doors. The safety switched off and Cadets took to each other to either prove their strength, worth, all of the above or simply to kick someone's ass. Most Cadets by their third or fourth years felt like they knew everything that the Academy could teach them so staying on terra firma caused pent up frustrations, power trips that couldn't be set free and of course – competition. She walked in and surveyed the scene before selecting an actual punching bag to use first – she couldn't sink her fists into anything holographic. She'd only fought once in the underground fight club and that was in her first year – she'd won, she still didn't know how, but it was pretty much her rite of passage to be able to take on the betting. Gaila too had fought, a few more times and so far, the girl had won some and lost some – depending which way the betting was going, of course. The first time she'd dropped the fight they'd cashed in hugely, the time after that everyone had betted that she'd lose again so when her opponent was taken out in a few mere blows, they'd hit pay dirt for the second time. Now whenever the Orion girl stepped into the ring no one had any clue if she was "in the zone" and going to perform – therefore the two girls controlled the betting easily. A couple of people were using the holo-simulators and as she wrapped a bandage across her knuckles and swung the heavy bag in front of her to get started, it was almost soothing to her, this was exactly what she'd needed, exactly what she'd come to the gym for – to hit something. To feel it shift slightly under her fists, to feel the power in her shoulder through to her knuckles, feel her kicks to the bag as though her legs were steel beams, to take out her day on something physical.
She had no idea when the combat room had gotten so full but snapping out of her trance she looked around to see Cadets everywhere – the room could house up to 70 spectators and two in a small "ring", roughly 50 people if everyone was working out and it was clearly nearing capacity. Gaila was flitting about, talking slyly into guys' ears as they trained and gossiping in the girls', she caught Charlie's eyes and nodded faintly which was a clear signal that they were going to be running it and cashing in again that night. This was fine by Charlie – if her instructor was stupid enough to believe that the Zeon government needed to switch to a communistic society to survive then he was more than deluded. Yes, she was still mad about her argument earlier in class but if said instructor was going to be a douche then she was going to screw the system in her own meagre way and run something illegal right under their noses. A few glances around the room again told her that the crowd that was there was the usual crowd, the usual betting crowd and as two guys wrapped their hands, suddenly, there was a crowd forming a perimeter which created the fight ring and everyone's workouts forgotten. She and Gaila took bets as the two guys duked it out, then another set and then another, the crowd staying similar in size and only changing a few faces over after each round. Most didn't want to miss the action but a few left either for class or to lick their wounds.
"Perils of business!" Charlie called after holding out her palm for one Cadet pay up, smiling to herself and handing the cash straight to Gaila, thanking her lucky stars that her "associate" was a Math whiz and kept track who owed what and who was yet to claim what. Uhura had shown up and shaken her head in disdain at her friends' sham business dealings when two female Cadets got up to fight, putting their helmets on so that the safety was on and no one could get hurt, only pride could get wounded which was usually more painful. The two girls fought admirably and as she assessed the crowd, Charlie saw a face that made her blood boil – Lucy Kellaway. The other girl saw Charlie the same time that Charlie saw her and scowled, clear that their hatred was mutual. Kellaway had been a thorn in her side for some time now, namely in her Xenomanagement class, now the fact that she was dating Bones made Charlie's blood boil. He was free to date whoever he wanted (and did) but Lucy... ugh. As Gaila's voice sang through the air, the two girls stared each other down.
"Who's next?"
"I'll go." Kellaway stepped forward, still glaring at Charlie who smirked dryly.
"So will I." She stepped into the ring and licked her lips with a wicked smile, feeling as though her day just got a little better.
Uhura had seen the glares being exchanged between Charlie and Lucy before either stepped up to the plate and started to protest, knowing that most of the fights weren't anything but a bunch of Cadets wanting to use their training on something other than a holographic Klingon, but this? This was two girls fighting it out over a Doctor who didn't even know that the underground fight club existed. It was personal and both girls looked like they wanted blood. Both girls stretched their arms slightly as Gaila took the wagers, the two fighters re-wrapping the bandages that were wrapped tightly around their hands as not to leave traces of blows on their skin and neither making a move to put their helmets on which meant that the computer had no way of triggering the safety mechanism should their blows get too hard. Which looked likely.
"Charlie, think about this." Uhura called, Kellaway was in her combat training class last year and had been a top student. In saying that, Charlie wasn't opposed to throwing a punch if push came to shove (and shove didn't work) but... this wasn't right. Her friend ignored her pleas and stared the other girl down, pushing her braid off her shoulder with a wry smile.
"Safety off." Neither girl flinched at her call as a cheer rose from the crowd, Gaila furiously taking bets that doubled as soon as the command override was done by a Lieutenant who was grounded from space for a misdemeanour, no one was sure what.
"Loose morals?" Uhura questioned quietly as the two girls took fight stance, she felt sick to her stomach. This was why she liked Vulcans. Their emotions never got in the way of anything (sometimes to her disdain) and situations like this were simply avoided. As far as she knew.
A Cadet from engineering (who Charlie had dated for a month or so in her first year) was playing the role of referee and called the fight to start, the cheers and catcalls starting immediately from the crowd. Out of the corner of her eye Charlie could see Gaila rubbing her forehead which meant that they'd bankroll if she won – a scratch on the chin meant they'd be better off if she lost. Ah. So she was the underdog? Like she cared about pay dirt at the moment, she wanted blood more than cash. People seriously underestimated how much a furious Charlie Houston needed to hit something – the fact that it was Kellaway was an absolute bonus.
They circled each other for a moment before Kellaway went for the first hit which was ducked but then – it was on.
The two girls swung, blocked and ducked, wrestled and fought for a good few minutes, a sequence that their combat instructors would have been proud of. It was when they were on the floor after falling that Lucy grabbed Charlie's wrist and ripped it backwards with both of her hands over her knee – the loud popping sound could be heard by all and was followed by a loud yelp from the victim. Pain shot up her arm and Charlie was about to admit defeat, Lucy scrambling to stand before the count was up but stumbling, but not before Charlie drew her leg back and kicked the girl. She hit her with full force in the cheek and felt something move beneath her foot as the Kellaway fell backwards, sprawled across the mats.
Painfully, gasping for breath and trying to ignore the searing pain in her wrist and hand, Charlie pulled herself to a standing position and prayed that the referee started the count now – Kellaway was bleeding from the nose and was still sprawled across the floor, gasping for breath and looking beat. Like a voice from above, the count rang out and Charlie was declared the winner, raising her good arm in victory as Uhura ran over, one of the Medical Cadets examining both girls.
"Oh my god, I heard your wrist crack – are you okay?" Uhura breathed, Charlie nodded and felt a genuine smile cross her lips for the first time that day.
"I'm great!"
"Safety stays on! You can still get injured person to person but at least the computer restricts the force of the blow partner to partner, okay?" The medical Cadet yelled, holding a towel to Kellaway's nose. The computer in the combat lab could sense when a hit was going to be too hard and automatically dropped a force field in between anyone who was fighting in a vicious manner. Charlie merely nodded at the doc and smiled over at Gaila who was doling out winnings to those that had bet on her side, Uhura examined Charlies wrist that she was cradling and sighed heavily.
"You should go to the infirmary. Safety off? Really Charlie... I know that you and Lucy aren't the best of friends but would it have killed you to keep the safety on?"
"I seized my opportunity Uhura. It's not illegal."
"It is if you get caught by Starfleet Command!" Her friend hissed quietly as the Doc walked over and took one look at Charlie's hand, flinching.
"I can't fix that here. Get to the infirmary – I can fix Kellaway up here as long as you didn't push bone into her vein. Go." The tone of his voice left very little room for argument so she left, passing Gaila on the way with a sly grin. He was hers. She had never said it aloud, she had never thought it through but damn it, of all the men in the world, Leonard McCoy, to other women, had her name branded on his ass. And if that troll Kellaway couldn't comprehend it then, well, she was going to have to be taught a lesson. And what kind of a lesson was better than one that the object of the class didn't know about?
Medical bay was littered with different officers and Cadets with different ailments as well as nurses strutting around in their pristine white uniforms when Charlie walked in, glancing around for the familiar face. She wasn't even sure if he was on duty and realistically it didn't matter, she stepped further into the Bay as a nurse walked over to her.
"Come with me," She ordered immediately, seeing how the girl was cradling her hand, Charlie followed her to a bio bed and sat on the edge when the nurse indicated that she should, feeling utterly hideous in her training gear – a short top that bared her midriff and baggy shorts, her hair pulled back into a braid with some spilling out from exertion.
"How did this happen, Cadet...?" The nurse was brusque as she inspected Charlie's hand, taking it from where the girl had it cradled and pressing on a finger, sending a stabbing pain shooting up the patient's arm.
"Ouch! I was in the gym and... Ow!" She hissed when the nurse pressed again, Charlie jerked her hand away instinctively and ignored the harsh look the nurse gave her.
"Yes, it's definitely broken. I'll get the Doctor."
"I could have told you that." Her tone was just as harsh as the nurse turned on her heel and stalked off, Charlie glared at her retreating back as the woman disappeared into another room, Charlie knew from her visits to Bones that it was a surgical room and she concentrated on taking deep breaths as the pain hit her in waves stemming from her (clearly broken) hand. A moment later Bones stepped out of the Medical Storage room and saw Charlie and crossed the bay in a few long, quick strides and reaching her before the other Doctor did who was on his way over did but turned back around and left, the nurse scurrying to McCoy's side.
"Charlie? What happened?" He asked, his brow still furrowed as he reached for her hand carefully, she winced.
"Gym."
"Your outfit gave that away, how did you break your hand, genius?" He replied with a small smile, cradling her hand so softly with one of his, his free hand brushing over hers lighter than a feather, checking for anything that shouldn't be there. Idly, she wondered if he touched all of his patients this softly and the thought killed her.
"Oh, just landed funny is all." She smiled back, waving the incident off with her free hand as the nurse looked up to the tall Doctor, her eyes betraying her interest that wasn't professional.
"I've already assessed the injury Doctor - it's a definite break."
"Thank you Captain Obvious." Charlie snapped, pressing her lips together in shock at hearing her own voice. The nurse scowled but Bones chuckled at his friend, keeping her hand in his.
"Yes, it is. Get me a tri corder." He spoke as though he was talking to a small child as the woman was sent off; Charlie glared at her back for the second time that day.
"Her bedside manner is atrocious."
"Want to tell me how you fell?" He replied, taking the tri corder when it was handed to him and scanning her entire arm, watching her push some hair out of her face with her good hand.
"Well, I was at a height and I plummeted to the ground. That's usually what a fall is. This time I fell on my wrist. And it hurts." She added, he rolled his eyes annoyedly and scanned her wrist again before letting it go and noticing how she cradled it straight away in a sign of the pain that she was feeling.
"Stop being a smart arse. Back in a moment." He told her, getting the equipment he needed to fix her and trying not to let his mind process how incredible she looked in her training gear... hot, sweaty... he shook his head and loaded up a hypo spray for her, walking back over with his equipment and signalling nurse over.
"Upload these readings into her file. Now." He told her, handing over the tricorder as the girl nodded and batted her eyelashes at him, he ignored the exasperated sigh from his patient.
"I'm surprised she manages to get any work done around here." She muttered and Bones grinned inwardly, raising his eyes to her when he thought he had his smirk under control.
"Jealous?"
"I blame the pain. Can you fix me straight away?" She asked and he cast an eye over the Bay, looking back to her.
"I have healing hands Charlie, you'll be fine." His eyes dancing as she let him take her wrist again, his thumb rested lightly on her pressure point, "I need you to wriggle your fingers a little." She did as she was told, wincing as it hurt but he felt the tendons dance under the skin, small and delicate just like her wrist.
"Have you been busy today?" She asked, making general conversation as he set about fixing the bones in her wrist and hand, wanting to know exactly what she'd been doing when she'd fallen or hurt it (there was no way that she would have broken it like this if she'd simply tripped – she didn't weigh enough), her question pulling him from his thoughts.
"Sort of. I've got an exam tomorrow that I've been studying for in between patients so that's taken most of my day. What about you? Exiled from any lectures today?" He asked, her being asked to leave Archers' lecture yesterday had made conversation across campus and normally he didn't pay mind to gossip but it had to do with Charlie so he was immediately interested. At his question her cheeks pinked up and she grimaced, brushing more hair that had escaped its style out of her face.
"Almost, but not today... but it's still early. You heard about that?"
"I think everyone did. Charlie, really, you need to keep your temper in check." He scolded her softly, not really believing his own words because when her temper flared he found her more irresistible than ever.
"That's rich coming from you."
"I'm not the one who yells at lecturers and tutors from across the classroom."
"I'm not the one who called his Xenopathology professor a worthless blip on the humanitarian radar." She reminded him, both smiling as he pulled a face.
"He needed to know. But Admiral Archer? Just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get booted."
"They won't boot me. Relax, okay? I've had a stressful couple of days and now karma's kicking my ass. Isn't that punishment enough?" She asked tiredly, he held up the hypo spray.
"No, but this is. Neck please." He ordered and she tipped her head to the side, brushing her braid aside with her free hand and winced, rubbing at the stinging spot when he administered the injection, glaring up at him.
"You like those things way too much, has anyone ever told you?"
"Aside from you and Jim? A few people, actually. What can I say? I like pain." He joked as he hooked her wrist up to what looked like a bigger tricorder, scanning her again and slowly, her wrist and hand became workable.
"Fixed yet?" She asked after a moment and he rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"Not yet. Want to tell me what you fell from?"
"Does it matter from a Doctors perspective?"
"No, but it matters from a friends."
"I tripped over my feet."
"Your weight wouldn't hurt your hand like that. You're not heavy enough."
"I'm heavier than I look. I ate two stacks of pancakes for breakfast today."
"That means nothing. Plus, you wouldn't bruise if you'd fallen. You hit something. What?"
"The floor. I hit the floor." She maintained and he was slightly stung that she wouldn't confide in him but let it pass, if she didn't want to tell him there was more than likely a good reason. Although the look in her eyes told him that it might not have been as good as he thought and he was about to push her further when the nurse appeared at his side.
"Doctor, can you come and take a look at this? A Cadet has come in with facial injuries and Doctor Meknes is busy at the moment." She told him and he nodded, seeing Charlie stiffen.
"I'll be there in a moment. Move your fingers Charlie." He ordered and she did as she was told, sure that the Cadet with the injuries was Kellaway, fervently glad that Bones was going to let her go before he dealt with the second Cadet - mainly because he'd be able to put two and two together regardless of whether Kellaway shut her trap and didn't say anything. Her fingers moved without any pain and he pulled the machine off her wrist, watching as she flexed it for a moment.
"No pain. Thanks Doc, you're not half bad at this. Am I free to go?" She asked with false brightness, he nodded and inspected her wrist once more, eyes narrowed.
"Sure. Don't use it strenuously for the next few hours; avoid the gym for at least a day or so, okay? I'll see you for dinner." He watched as she slid off the bio bed and quickly looked over her body – long legs that were toned and clad in baggy shorts ending mid thigh and old trainers, and a top that left very little to the imagination, short and exposing a torso that made him bite his tongue to stop from groaning aloud. Her hair was falling out but she didn't notice, reaching up and pressing a kiss to his cheek in thanks before hurrying out of Medical, if it hadn't have drawn attention she would have ran out. Bones sighed and turned back to the rest of the bay, seeing the nurse hovering over someone else, more than likely his Cadet with the facial injuries. As he walked over he saw that it was another Cadet in gym wear and his curiosity piqued, leaning forward to see that it was Lucy, in her workout clothes and bleeding quite profusely from the face.
"I've given her a painkiller, Doctor." The nurse told him and slowly, the pieces started to form in his mind although he couldn't piece it together completely just yet.
"Get me 10mg of Diazepam please. Lucy, what happened?" He asked, the girl pressing a towel to her nose and her eyes watering, she didn't move at the sound of his voice or his presence.
"Fell."
"In the gym?"
"Yeah." Fell, his ass – this girls' nose was almost on her cheekbone and be damned if Charlie had fallen, there was something the girls weren't telling him and by god, he was furious. Knowing the wicked streak that Charlie had in her told him that Lucy was the innocent party and even he couldn't take it out on the second Cadet, she was in pain and clearly in dire need of medical attention. Besides, he was a doctor not a detective.
Not asking any more questions about how she got her injury but fixing her up diligently, the girl looking sheepish when she was patched up. He was used to fixing broken noses after Jim's numerous bar fights, this one was no different to any others that he'd sustained. Lucy didn't say anything and that was good, because as he worked he could feel fury at whatever the hell was going on reeling through his veins.
"Thanks. It doesn't hurt now." She told him awkwardlyy when he stepped back finally; she reached up and touched the tip of her nose as though to make sure it was still there.
"You should be fine, just make sure you keep your face clear for a few days, okay? Do you have any combat training that you need to be excused from?" Combat training was how the girls could have hurt themselves although he didn't know why they wouldn't say so. Besides, wasn't the safety usually on in hand to hand combat?
"No, no. I'm fine. Thank you, really. Are we still on for Friday night?" She asked and he just nodded, she squeezed his hand and left the bay, almost as quickly as Charlie had.
******
Dinner that night was fairly normal for the crew except for the silence from Bones, the curiosity that something had clearly happened in the gym that Charlie wasn't telling him.
"Anything interesting happen to you girls today?" Jim asked conversationally and when the four girls exchanged a glance, it sealed McCoy's convictions.
"Aside from Charlie breaking her wrist?" Gaila asked when Heradee turned bright red, the girl couldn't lie and the other three knew that, glaring darkly at her as she emptied her glass of water and standing to get another as Jim looked taken aback, picking up Charlie's hand.
"What? You okay Tex?" He examined her wrist like he was looking for some form of mark, Charlie pulled her hand back.
"I'm fine. What are you looking for? Counting my fingers?" She joked and he looked to Bones who had continued to eat through the exchange.
"Did you know about this?"
"I treated her."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kirk demanded, receiving a dark glare from his best friend and sighing, turning back to Charlie. "How did you do it?" He asked and that got Bones' attention, he looked to the blonde girl who was buttering a roll.
"Yeah Charlie, how did you break your wrist and one of the bones in your hand?"
"I told you. I fell. I was in the gym and I tripped over my feet and stacked it." She shrugged, Bones watched her face for any traces of lie but she hid it well. He glanced to Gaila and Uhura who also held it well, rolling his eyes. Damn women, too damn cunning.
"It was quite funny actually. One minute she was running over to me, the next she was sprawled in the floor." Gaila smiled and the two other girls shared a chuckle as Heradee sat down.
"Were you there, Heradee?" Bones asked and felt Charlie's eyes glare at him and without looking at her he knew that they would be a stormy grey, the way they got when she was furious. Well, if he had to patch up two girls with suss stories like hers and Lucy's with the lamest of excuses, he was going to make her suffer. Heradee smiled and shook her head, stabbing at something on her plate.
"No, I wasn't. I wish I was, apparently the whole thing was quite funny." Damn, they'd already gotten to her, typical women. They were too good at lying and were the most conniving creatures that could roam the galaxy.
"The gym must have been quite a bloody place today – just after you left Charlie, I had to patch up Lucy for an injury that she sustained down there." He hedged again, it was going to be his last attempt but seeing how her eyes narrowed at her plate, he felt a small victory. Something had happened.
"Really? What happened to her?" Even Jim noticed that her voice was intentionally light and that all four girls were suddenly interested in their plates. Plus he knew Tex, she would always ask how a person was... although Bones was sort of dating Lucy and Tex and Bones were whatever the hell they were... pieces started to form a puzzle in Jim's mind and he sat back, exchanging a glance with Bones.
"She fell too, apparently."
"Too bad Starfleet doesn't hold classes in klutz, we could tutor," She replied loftily, looking over to Neil with a sweet smile, "Neil? Can you pass the salt please?" Bones and Jim exchanged another glance that neither believed the stories being peddled but let it go for the time being, Bones shot a dark glare to Charlie once more before returning to his food, Jim smiled.
"Why do I get the feeling you ladies are some version of Starfleet mafia?" He joked and Heradee dropped her fork, looking to the other three girls with wide eyes and a grin.
"That's what we should nickname ourselves! With all of the dodgy things we do – "
"Heradee." Gaila cut her off sharply as Charlie glared at her, Uhura held up her palms.
"I don't know half of the stunts that you three pull and I don't want to know." She told her friends, Gaila bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
"In that case, I wouldn't look under your bed for a few days." She giggled as the rest of the people at the table exchanged a glance, Charlie ignored everything and kept her focus on her plate, chewing on a mouthful of carrots, Bones watched her for a moment before smirking. Dear god, the girl was a Starfleet mafia kingpin.
Authors Note:
Sorry it was so long but I couldn't split it. It would be too short otherwise and I'd more than likely get distracted by something shiny and forget to post.
I should also point out that I know nada about medical terminologies, I'm still mastering the whole 'no knives in the toaster' thing. I tried to ask one of the Doctors at my (old) work and he told me that if I walked in on any more of the players getting their massages, he knew three ways to dislocate my knees with his thumb and pinky fingers. So basically, its all crap, don't try it at home and the only phrase that I know is 'stat'. :)
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has reviewed: FuzzyDeath, Trekky17, -Halceeon-, Steff7, thebloodrose, J-awesomeness, Millenia-the-wings-of-valmar, LunarEclispe, Hidden Relevance and RachyDoodle, - you guys make me want to post so much faster!
And again, over the past 24 hours to FuzzyDeath, Trekky17, J-awesomeness and Fett012000 for your PM's. They kill me. Seriously, I refresh my inbox like an idiot. And hear songs of hamsters in my head and imagine poor Squirrels with bald tails being treated by Spock in a lab coat. :)
... It's a meeting of the minds ... C'n'C ...
Xx
