Hi everyone! I hope this story is going in a direction that you, as the readers enjoy. As always, reviews and ideas are greatly appreciated. I love hearing from you. It really makes my day! So, here goes chapter 10!

Chapter 10

James Kirk was tired. He had spent the night helping Scotty in engineering to help boost life support and had then been working on the USS Reliant. To try and get her to work under her own power otherwise it was going to be a long time before they reached star base 12. He'd known his friend Bones had been pulling miracles out of his...well, since they had arrived. It was already morning and he was sure that his friend had been unceremoniously kicked out of sickbay and was probably in his quarters about now so he thought he'd drop by for a visit. He'd wanted to find out about the status of the survivors from the Reliant anyway.

He quickly made his way down the corridor despite his fatigue. Pulling up to the door he pressed the button to chime him. Nothing, so he tried again. A frown pulled at his features. He knew McCoy didn't start shift until 0800 hours. He poked at the pad keying on his override authorization code feeling a slight twinge of panic. He was quickly admitted to his friend's quarters. He stepped in waiting or his eyes to adjust to the darkness and he could see that his place was a mess.

"Geeze Bones. And you get onto me?"

He could make out rumpled sheets on the couch and glasses on the counter and a lump in the bed. He thought he should let his friend rest but he did want to see him. A wicked grin came to his face and he moved over to the bed stealthily. He gently placed himself on the edge of the bed close to where his legs would be. The lump didn't even move. He whispered out "Computer, lights."

He slapped at the figures legs and loudly declared.

"Goooood Morning Bones!"

However, when he turned his head he didn't see the familiar scowl of his friend. He saw a rather shocked and pale face of Crewman Parker. Her hair sticking everywhere including up and her mouth was in an almost comical O shape.

"Oh, shit!"

He didn't know if he had said it or Liz but he started tumbling off the edge of the bed as the sheets were pulled. His shock mirroring Liz's. He landed flat on his back falling off the bed and only saw a blue and black blur streak past and out of the room. He stayed there for a minute and started laughing. Jim knew Bones was a gentleman before all things and Liz had been dressed in the bed. However, he was gonna have a little fun with this one.

He quickly made his way to to the sickbay and his grin faded when he saw the state of it. He was glad only half of the crew of the Reliant had been injured. He could only see about 70 people though. Sighing, he knew why. He walked over to Christine Chapel who was administering some medication to a young woman on the ground. Her long legs bent gracefully and her long blonde hair pulled up loosely with random curls falling down showing she had been on shift for a while.

He did love looking at the nurses. He shook his head. And walked over to her giving her one of his sincere smiles.

"Lieutenant Chapel?"

He waited for her to acknowledge him. When he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, he almost laughed as she did a double take to confirm who he was.

"Captain. What can I do for you." He features softened when she finally processed who was bugging her but her gestures were anything but. She had stood pulling out her scanner and was proceeding to check him over. Incredulity washed over him. The medical staff just didn't trust him any more.

"I'm not hurt! I swear. I'm just here to see Dr. McCoy. God, you guys sure know how to greet me, huh?"

Her eyebrows pulled down in a mirror image of his best friend. He put his hands up in what he hoped was a placating gesture of surrender.

"Experience has taught us how to greet you, sir."

"There's just no trust any more."

"He's in his office." She jerked her thumb behind her and stomped off while he put on his best shit eating grin and sauntered over to the office.

"Hiya Bones."

He could see that he was tired. His face was pale as he slowly looked up but he was glad to see him smiling back. Although it was strained. He knew that Bones had taken every death personally even though there was only do much one man could do. He decided to help him think of something else for a little bit.

"You know what? I had an interesting morning."

His smile grew wider.

"I was hoping to find you resting in your quarters. I knew the nurses usually kick you out and when you are barred from here, you go there."

He paused for dramatic flair and was rewarded by McCoy slowly turning red.

"I wanted to check on you. I know that it'd been hard on medical and engineering. I went in and I thought I was waking you. Do you know what I found?"

McCoy shifted in his chair uneasily and Kirk walked around to stand next to him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He slapped him on the back, his grin if possible got even wider.

"Bones, you sly dog you! You know what I found. Liz. In your bed."

He sputtered incoherently for a moment. His face a deep red.

"I would have thought it was a bit cliché. You know, doctors and nurses."

He waggled his eyebrows enjoying his friend floundering.

"Dammit Jim! I'm a doctor not a Casanova!"

He threw back his head laughing.

"I know. She was surprisingly clothed and surprised to find herself there in the first place."

"Poor girl. She must be horrified." McCoy rubbed his face and looked up.

Jim took on a more serious tone.

"Sorry man. I was coming to check on you. She ran out hat door so fast all I saw was a blue blur."

McCoy groaned in response.

"You like her."

It was a simple statement but it elicited an amusing response. He watched his friend turn red again and look away. His mouth gaping like he was a fish out of water. He knew Bones didn't really know what to say.

"She just fell asleep is all. I didn't have the heart to wake her. 36 hours working. 18 of those in surgery. I care about all my nurses. She's just a valued colleague."

"You're a bad liar Bones."

"She's just a friend."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"Dammit Jim! What'd you want anyway?"

He turned serious again knowing he'd messed with the doctor enough. It always put him in a good mood because though McCoy didn't outwardly show it his posture had relaxed. The blush in his cheeks had shown Jim what he had already figured out.

"I came to check on you and see how the survivors were doing. We've almost restored impulse power to the Reliant. Their medical bay was relatively undamaged so they can start taking care of their own soon. Now that life support is back up to full capacity their CMO is wanting his people back. He'll be over soon now that his set of patients are stable."

McCoy nodded.

"The Reliant is looking good enough to be able to take care of their own soon and they're maybe a day away from star base 12 once we restore impulse. Once life support was established we found the rest of the crew in the cargo bays unharmed. Dr. Thomson will be over in an hour or two to debrief you and handle the transfer."

"Thanks Jim. I'm glad it worked out. You figure out what happened?"

Kirk leaned forward feeling anger and frustration over the situation. It had been a stupid reason for a fight and he just didn't get it.

"Yeah. The Reliant had sent out a probe to get more detailed astronomical readings when it had malfunctioned spiraling into the neutral zone. Apparently, the Romulans had been watching them and saw this as an invasion into their territory. They wouldn't accept hails or any form of explanation and took it upon themselves to retaliate. I don't think they counted on the crew putting up much of a fight. Once they heard we were on our way they must have decided it wasn't worth the trouble. It would have been two against one and they left."

"I just don't get it. We've had peace with them for years. The federation knows Nero was acting alone and so does the Romulan Empire. We want to keep he peace and they say thy do too but then something like this happens."

McCoy shook his head in disbelief. Jim sighed and stood up.

"Yeah. I know. The Reliant, if all goes according to Scotty should be able to leave under impulse within about 6 hours."

He quickly changed tact. He didn't want to leave his friend on such a depressing note.

"Hey, Bones?"

"Yeah?"

"I think you should go get a coffee with Crewman Parker. She looked a little flustered this morning."

He grinned feeling happy when he saw his friend scowl but he swore he could see a smile behind it. He knew he was thinking hard when his response was slow.

"Uh, Maybe she could help me with the transfer list. She did help in surgery with most of them."

"Uh huh. I'll catch you later."

He waved over his shoulder and could hear his friend scrambling to grab PADDs to meet Liz. If Bones wanted to lie to himself and use an excuse he'd let him. For now.

Liz had never been so horrified in her life. She'd run the distance to her quarters in her rumpled uniform carrying her boots. She didn't even pause to put them on when she had vacated Dr. McCoy's quarters leaving behind a similarly stunned Kirk floundering on the floor. A few crew members had seen her rushing through the corridors but had thankfully only given her quizzical looks.

She finally reached her quarters and leaned against the door taking a deep breath hoping to slow her heart rate. She could feel the heat in her face remembering the surprised look in Captain Kirk's face when she had woken up in McCoy's bed. It had been nice until that moment. For some reason she had felt safe. She could still smell his aftershave and soap. It was a clean, sweet smell. Normally, guy's room had a bad odor but his was nice. It was comforting and had the effect of calming her down. She could feel a smile tugging on her lips as she took a deep breath letting it wash over her. Feeling herself calm down she went to get ready for the day. She grabbed a coffee from her personal replicator and headed for the shower.

Finally ready she looked at the computer schedule and saw that her name had been taken off clinic duty. Furious indignation threatened to take over. She saw she was on administration today. She wondered if he had thought she wasn't up to it. That maybe since she had accidentally fallen asleep that he was weak. That had to have been why she had been tucked into bed like a damn child. Not as a sweet gesture but like that of a parent tucking in a child that had stayed up past bed time.

She felt so ashamed. Heat flared on her cheeks in embarrassment. How could she have thought anything else. She sat stewing for a minute before realizing she had to grab breakfast to make it back on time for her shift. Though it was only paperwork she still wanted to do it right. She stood up straightening her shirt and was walking out the door when she slammed into the man she had been thinking about so intently.

"Doctor! I'm so sorry." She stumbled backwards damning herself for feeling her face start to heat up.

"Is there something I could do for you?" She could see him shifting his stance looking uncomfortable. Her head tilted while she had been waiting.

"I..uh...was hoping you could help me out with these files. We're hoping to start transferring the Reliant personnel back to their ship soon."

She saw him run a hand through his hair and indicate a handful of PADDs in his other hand. He looked so unsure and nervous she almost let herself crack.

"Over breakfast. Maybe?"

"Of course."

He grinned and indicated the way. As she walked she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

They had been about halfway through the stack when she couldn't help but ask.

"Why did you take me off rotation?"

He faltered under her steely gaze.

"Is it because I passed out last night? You think I can't handle it?"

He couldn't meet her eyes and he fiddled with his stylus for a moment before looking back at her. Brows drawn and his jaw set. She matched his look.

"Christ woman! Anyone would have had the same reaction. You're not weak. You were amazing yesterday."

He reached out and grabbed her hands. She couldn't pull away. His voice was gruff but sweet.

"Thanks. I enjoy working with you. You're a great friend."

She could swear she saw him flinch when she had said friend but it had to have been her imagination. He patted her hands one final time and picked up the PADDs to continue their work.

"Dr. McCoy?"

He grunted in acknowledgement. She felt him close off but she wasn't really sure why. He had made his view of her perfectly clear.

"Thanks for last night."

"Anytime."