Hi Fanfictioners! I haven't heard any plot ideas from you guys so I guess so far it's ok. I hope so! Reviews are always well received.

Tishbing

Chapter Nine

McCoy could feel the tension in the air. Not a soul said a word as they sped towards the neutral zone. He could see Spock standing ramrod straight, brow slightly furled. Kirk sitting on the edge of his chair leaning forward as if he could will the ship forward faster. Relations with the Romulan Empire had been fraught with complications since Nero. This was just another incident proving how bad things were. It had been an hour since they had received the distress signal. The USS Reliant had come under attack. A Romulan warbird had come out of nowhere and attacked without warning.

"Cap'n! I dunno how much more she can take! The engines are starting to overheat!"

Chief engineer Scott's voice rang out from the intercom breaking the silence.

"Not much farther Scotty. We have to get there!" Kirk snapped back.

Leonard knew he had to prepare sickbay for incoming. He was just hoping it would be survivors and not bodies.

He could feel the ship shudder under his feet as he ran the distance across the medical bay. It was a hive of activity. All staff had been called on duty. Dr. M'Benga prepping the surgical bays while his team of nurses set up triage and stocked up supplies to be within easy reach.

They waited. This was always the worst part. The calm before the storm. He could see Parker and Baker trembling and his head nurse Chapel still as a statue, lips thin and pale. Before they knew it the doors burst open as staff ran in. Stretcher after stretcher, some patients were being carried by Enterprise staff.

They descended on the injured McCoy and M'Benga and Chapel shouting out orders. Chapel moved like a machine from one to the next. Liz following kit in hand with stickers. Coded for the wounded. Black for dead, red for critical, orange severe, yellow for minor and green for uninjured. Liz saw so many red. Her heart hammered but the sight of the medical team working so seamlessly gave her strength.

"Parker! I need you in surgery! Now!"

Her head jerked up seeing Dr. McCoy leaning out of bay one. She quickly dropped the deep tissue regenerator thankful this patient could now be upgraded to yellow and ran to the bay. She moved next to the doctor and moved her hands and forearms under the sterilizer quickly gloving up. The young woman on the table had a perforated diaphragm, her intestines spilling into her chest. With her on one side and him on the other she handed tool after tool to the doctor anticipating his moves. Any time there was a pause she suctioned, added another bag of blood and added meds to the IV. Normally, there would be two doctors, and a team of nurses but today it was just them. After this girl's belly and chest was finally closed the techs rushed in moving her out and rushed in another and then another and another. Hour after hour they labored.

Suddenly, the patients stopped. It was silent. Her body wound up like a spring she immediately tore off her scrub jacket and ran out to see where else she could help. The sight stilled her. The room was a mess and the floor covered with wounded small trails between each patient but it was finally calm. Her mind changed tactics. She was moving to start to check over the patients again when an arm snaked around her middle startling her.

"Hold on. Take a break." She flipped around eyes bright with tiredness.

"I'm fine. I just need to..."

"What? Collapse on me? While we were in surgery three shifts have passed. The other nurses have each taken a shift off. Even M'Benga took a shift off while Christine watched. It's our turn."

"I feel fine."

"Let's get a drink."

Taking a deep breath she simply turned and started to walk again to grab charts. McCoy grabbed her shoulder spinning her around.

"Dammit woman! It's covered." She could feel her anger rising. She cared for Dr. McCoy but she didn't need his mollycoddling.

"I said I'm fine. I don't need..."

"Don't make me make it an order. You're supposed to still be on light duty and frankly, you look like hell."

She looked at his face seeing tired lines around his eyes, his face flushed with exhaustion and a five o'clock shadow. His shoulders were slightly slumped but his eyes were bright. Not with tiredness but with determination. She wasn't gonna win this one.

"And you look so much better." She smiled.

"You're buying though." His smile was amazing. It was rare she had seen it. He quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her out of the sickbay.

Leonard guided Liz towards his quarters. He had a moment's hesitation in the lift feeling nervous but realized it was a good idea to get away from the sickbay. Anyway, his partner Jabilo had taken over his office working. He hoped Liz would be ok with it. He enjoyed working with her today even though their tasks had been grim. It was like they were one mind. She had handed him the instruments as he moved his hands to obtain them, almost always before asking for them.

He steered her out of the lift once they reached his level. He could feel how tense her small shoulders were. He tightened his grip to reassure her. Feeling her take a deep breath helped him know that it was ok. They quickly arrived at his quarters. He keyed in his code. She did pause momentarily but did step in.

He quickly pulled out a bottle of brandy and two snifters pouring a good amount in both. He slowly walked over to the couch holding both glasses and sat down. He could see Liz still standing in the doorway looking unsure. He rolled his eyes.

"I'm not gonna bite ya! It's just one drink between friends after a long day."

She smiled and visibly relaxed. He had to admit, the new uniform on her looked good. She seemed more sure of herself and he was glad to see her flop next to him. She took the glass he offered and sipped grimacing as it hit her throat.

"How do you stand this stuff?"

"It grows on you."

"Like you?"

He couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah. Like me."

She tilted the glass back downing the rest and closed her eyes shuddering. Her small frame shaking like a leaf. Leonard knew another would be welcomed so he quickly downed his and went to refill. His hands fumbled as he opened the bottle and he had to focus hard. He wasn't sure why. He turned around smiling when he saw her head slumped on the cushions. Her breathing was slow. Her legs folded under her. Her hair had come loose and it framed her face, the curls so soft against her cheeks. Elizabeth's face was relaxed in peaceful slumber.

He took a quick shot from the glass in his left and dumped the other. He had been hoping she'd have held out a little longer. He hadn't really had a chance to spend real time with her, at least as a friend. He slowly walked over and pulled off her boots. She was easy to lift and he carried her to his bed settling the blankets over her. He couldn't help but brush her hair carefully off her face. Leaning down he gently pressed a kiss to her forehead smelling apples. He wasn't sure how she had managed to still smell so sweet after more than 24 hours of brutal work.

Leonard tore his eyes off her and grabbed the spare sheets to lie down on the couch. It was the right thing to do. Spock was right. She was fascinating.

AN: sorry this chapter is a little short. I'm kind of struggling for ideas. btw- anyone seen the new Star Trek teaser trailer? The Japanese one has an extra part to it. Awesome!