A/N: well, you all voted. (by all i mean two) no smut. i really didn't wanna disturb the cuteness anyway. lol! new chappie! enjoy!

Chapter 14: Rendezvous

"Alright, Lieutenant," McCoy said, giving a hypo to Sulu as he sat on one of the beds. "Just don't itch at your neck too much and that rash should go away."

"Thanks, Doc," he replied, lifting a hand to itch at a red rash at the collar of his black undershirt, but McCoy shoved his hand away. "I don't know where I could have picked this up from."

"You picked it up from the planet flora and fauna," Kristine explained, heading toward the two with a tablet to show him. "One of the plants is like poison ivy on Earth." She pulled Sulu's hand down when he lifted it to scratch his neck again and asked, "Were you around anything like this?"

She held up the tablet with a picture on it of a strange plant for Sulu to see and he only shrugged.

"I don't know, maybe," he replied, and McCoy pulled his hand down when he attempted to scratch his neck yet again. "To tell you the truth, I wasn't exactly paying attention to the plant-life."

"Well, it's a good thing I did my research on it, isn't it, Doctor?" Kristine smirked, triumphantly as she turned to head back to the computer.

"Alright, alright," McCoy muttered. "You were right. What do you want? A gold star?" Kristine gave a giggle as Sulu lifted his hand to his neck again and McCoy gripped his wrist to shove it to his side, warning, "You try to scratch your neck one more time, I'll put you in restraints."

"But it itches, Doc!" Sulu nearly whined, lifting his other hand, but Kristine suddenly appeared next to him to pull it down.

"Here," she smiled, sweetly as she lifted her hand to his neck to slather a cream over his skin.

"What are you doing?" McCoy frowned, watching her as Sulu pulled his collar away to allow her to spread the cream all over the rash.

"It's a home remedy," Kristine told him. "It'll work with the hypo to get rid of it and it'll soothe the itching."

"Thank God!" Sulu sighed in relief.

"All done," Kristine smiled again and spun the lid of the container she was holding closed. "Now you can work without having to scratch at your neck."

"Thanks, Miss Deveraux," Sulu smiled, jumping off the bed. "I can feel it working already."

"Alright, get back to work," McCoy ordered.

"But, we're docked," Sulu replied as Kristine gave a small giggle.

"Well…get outta here anyway," McCoy replied, waving him toward the lift. "Who wants to spend free time in Sick Bay?"

"You," Kristine and Sulu blurted at the same time then grinned at each other and high-fived.

"Very funny," McCoy scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'll just go have dinner by myself then."

"Oh, don't be such a baby," Kristine scolded as he walked around them toward the lift and she turned to follow him. "Wait up!"

The two walked into the lift as Sulu waved good bye, heading out the doors leading to the hall. The lift doors shut and Kristine leaned on McCoy's arm with a tired sigh as it moved toward the deck with the Mess Hall.

"So…" McCoy trailed off, making Kristine move her head to look at him but still leaned against him as he continued, "Where am I sleeping tonight?"

Kristine stood tall and swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum as her cheeks flared up.

"W-Well," she sputtered, twiddling her fingers. "I-I guess that's up to you."

"You sure?" he wondered, looking at her as she looked up at him again.

"It doesn't really matter to me," she smiled sweetly, turning to slip her arms around him, her cheek on his chest. "I just wanna be with you."

"Can't imagine why," McCoy smirked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to hug her closer. "I'm a grouchy, cynical old man."

"You're not that old," she argued and he raised a brow at her, making her giggle. "You always look funny when you make that face."

"You always thought my face was funny," he muttered as the lift stopped, the doors opening and they slid away from each other but walked into the hall hand in hand.

"At least you make me laugh," she grinned, cutely and he rolled his eyes at her but couldn't help smirking.

"Kristine!"

The two doctors stopped and looked behind them, not letting their hands part as Tatiana ran toward them nearly dragging Pavel behind her.

"Whoa, where's the fire?" Kristine chuckled when the two teens reached them.

"No fire," Tatiana grinned, throwing her arms around Kristine for a tight hug, from which she came out gasping for air. "Thank you so much for that phrase you taught me."

"You're welcome," Kristine smiled as McCoy patted her back to get her breathe and she playfully swatted him away.

"Oh, so it was you, sestra," Chekov smirked as Tatiana slid one of her hands into his, the four turning to walk toward the Mess Hall.

"I just taught her how to say it," Kristine shrugged innocently, also holding McCoy's hand. "The words came from her heart, I'm sure."

"They most certainly did," Tatiana grinned to Chekov before looking at Kristine and McCoy to say, "Do you think I could hang out in Sick Bay with you guys after dinner? I have a…medical question."

"Go ahead and ask, Ana," Kristine smiled.

"It's kind of…personal though," the blonde replied, and Kristine could tell by the way she'd emphasized the word personal what she meant.

"Alright," Kristine nodded, making McCoy shoot a wide-eyed gaze at her. "You can come with us, if Pavel doesn't mind letting you go for a while?"

"I do mind," he muttered. "But I suppose I have no choice."

"I'll just be a moment," Tatiana assured him with a sweet smile as they all entered the Mess Hall and McCoy pulled Kristine aside for a moment, making her frown at him.

"What about our…thing we were gonna do later?" he whispered as they all got their food, not wanting the younger couple to hear, and if they happened to, not wanting to know what they were talking about.

Kristine felt her face flare up as she glanced to her two best friends before turning back to him and murmuring, "That's not until much later. It's about her secret. I can't put off my best friend for…that."

"Sure you can," McCoy shot back as they all headed toward a table with their food. "I'd drop Jim in a heart beat to be with you."

"That's because you're a guy," she retorted as they all sat, Kristine and McCoy on one side, Tatiana and Chekov across from them. "Guys think about…that almost all the time."

"Think about what?" Tatiana suddenly asked, and the two doctors jumped with a start, making her frown.

"Wrestling," McCoy blurted making Kristine look at him with wide eyes, trying to hide her smirk but letting out a small snicker before she turned to her food. It wasn't a very good lie, but it would have to do.

"Really?" Tatiana smirked, obviously not buying it.

"I don't think about wrestling all the time," Chekov piped up.

"That's because you are seventeen," McCoy replied. "Trust me, you'll get there."

Kristine and Tatiana couldn't help bursting into laughter, making Chekov frown at them and McCoy grumbled a curse under his breath.

"What is so funny?" Chekov frowned and Tatiana grinned as she hugged one of his, setting her chin on his shoulder.

"I love that you're so innocent," she murmured as he looked down at her, his face stained red as he swallowed.

"I-I don't understand," he murmured.

"I know," Tatiana grinned. "And I'm glad of that."

"Get a room," McCoy muttered, earning a sideways kick in the shin from Kristine under the table as they all ate and he groaned in pain.

"Well, that was exhausting," Kirk suddenly sighed, plopping next to McCoy with a tray of food. "I hate it when Spock makes me give the report."

"Isn't that your job, Jim?" McCoy wondered with a frown at the captain as he leaned over to rub the spot Kristine had hit him on his leg.

"Yeah, but I still hate it," Kirk muttered.

"Captain?" Kristine called from around McCoy, drawing both of their attentions. "I want to thank you for rescuing Tatiana and myself. I really owe you one, Sir."

"Me too," Tatiana smiled, but still held on to Chekov's arm as she started at her food.

"Well, that's part of my job," Kirk smirked, charmingly. "No thanks required. You two are important to this ship and also important to…certain people in present company. What's the saying? 'Leave no man behind.'"

"Or in this case, woman," Kristine smiled, sweetly.

"Exactly," Kirk grinned through a bite of food.

"What are our new orders, Captain?" Chekov wondered.

"Pack mule mission, Mr. Chekov," Kirk replied, good-naturedly. "We'll be taking some supplies to New Vulcan, maybe make up for our shore leave there."

"That should be interesting," Kristine smiled, chancing to slide a hand onto McCoy's knee next to her. He glanced at her but didn't move or say anything.

"Commander Spock should enjoy that," Tatiana chimed in.

"Yeah, if the pointy-eared workaholic would ever take a break!" Kirk snickered. "I don't think he ever even sleeps."

"That's impossible, Jim," McCoy replied. "He of all people knows that everyone needs sleep."

"Whatever," Kirk muttered, picking at his food. "Anyway, we won't be leaving until oh eight hundred in the morning, so I expect everyone to get a good night's sleep to be in tip-top shape tomorrow."

"Oh, Jim!"

They all jumped at the high, sing-song call and turned to look at the beautiful, young yeoman heading toward him with a huge grin on her face.

"I can't wait till tonight, Captain," she smiled, slyly at him as she leaned toward him, stroking his arm from shoulder to elbow slowly.

"Me either, Miss Lars," he smirked, taking the hand she'd stroked his arm with and placing it on his chest. "I'm so anxious, my heart's racing."

The yeoman giggled and pulled her hand away as she turned to head out of the Mess Hall and he watched her before turning to his food, but felt he was being stared at. He looked up and around the table at all the eyes on him and he shrugged.

"It's good to be the captain," he smirked, standing and taking his empty tray with him as he stood and put it away to head out of the Mess Hall.

"Tip-top shape my ass," McCoy muttered, shaking his head as he turned back to his food. "He thinks he's some kind of cowboy."

"A space cowboy," Kristine mumbled with a smile and the others at the table snickered, hearing her.

"I have to get back to the bridge," Chekov announced, but didn't get up.

He turned to Tatiana and leaned toward her ear to whisper to her and when he pulled away she nodded with a slight blush and smiled as he lifted a hand and kissed the back of it. She stared at him as he stood and walked out of the Mess Hall then turned back to her food only to be met with Kristine staring at her with a smirk.

"What?" the blonde blurted.

"Oh, nothing," Kristine sang. "You're just blushing, is all."

Tatiana's eyes widened before she placed her hands on her cheeks then she turned back to her food and mumbled, "Shut up."

"What was it you wanted to talk to us about?" McCoy wondered, gladly changing the subject.

"I don't wanna talk about it here," Tatiana whispered, leaning over the table to do so. "When we're all in Sick Bay, I'll tell you about it."

"So, what was it Pavel just told you that made you blush," Kristine smirked as McCoy turned back to his food.

"None of your business, Kris!" Tatiana squeaked, her cheeks flaring up again. "It was nothing in Russian, so I don't need you to translate anything, otherwise I'd tell you."

"Oh, come on," Kristine smirked, leaning toward her over her empty tray. "I'm gonna find out eventually."

"Alright, let's go," McCoy cut in, wiping his mouth as he grabbed his empty tray and Kristine's, and noticing Tatiana's was empty as well.

"But---"

"Leave the girl alone, Kris," he interrupted her, softly as the blonde stood to put her tray away. "What if it was you?"

Kristine huffed with a nod, knowing he was right and said nothing as she stood to walk with Tatiana toward the door, McCoy trailing behind them after putting the trays away.

"I'm sorry," Kristine murmured, slipping her arm through the blonde's. "I'll try not to pry anymore."

Tatiana only smiled, patting one of her hands as they walked down the hall toward the lift. Once in Sick Bay, Tatiana looked around to make sure no one was around as she hurried out of the lift, Kristine and McCoy trailing behind her.

"Ana, what're doing?" Kristine chuckled before the blonde hurried back toward them, meeting them in the middle of the room.

"I'm not gonna sugar coat it, I'm just gonna ask you straight out," she blurted, making Kristine's frown deepened as McCoy only waited, crossing his arms over his chest. "Do either of you perform cosmetic surgeries?"

"Depends on the surgery," McCoy replied. "What would we be operating on?"

"My ears," Tatiana blurted, making Kristine's eyes shoot wide, but McCoy remained expressionless.

"Your what?!"

"Rounding them out?" McCoy guessed, making Kristine shoot her wide-eyed stare at him. "Making them look more…human."

"You're not seriously considering this, are you?!" Kristine asked in disbelief, but it seemed she was out of this conversation.

"Yes," Tatiana nodded, making Kristine look at her again. "I don't wanna keep worrying about whether or not people think I'm a spy just because I'm half Romulan. I wanna choose who knows about my genes. But I'm human more than anything."

McCoy smirked and placed a hand on her shoulder with a nod as Kristine glanced between them, still wide-eyed in disbelief.

"I'll do it."

"What?!"

"Thank you, Sir," Tatiana grinned and shook his hand fiercely before turning to Kristine who still stared at her as McCoy mouthed 'Ow,' shaking the pain out of his hand from her strength. "Kris, try to understand where I'm coming from."

"I do," she nodded, in shock. "At least I think I do. But, Ana, do you know what you're doing? I mean, you're gonna have Leo cutting on your ears."

"I'm gonna be sedated, Kristine," Tatiana chuckled, taking her friend's hands into hers and patting them. "I know what I'm doing. Trust me."

Kristine sighed and nodded, before Tatiana pulled her into a tight hug, almost choking her before she pulled away.

"As long as you're…happy," Kristine smiled through a gasp for air.

"I will be once I get rid of these things," Tatiana grinned, gesturing to the points of her ears.

"Have you told Pavel?" Kristine wondered and Tatiana shook her head.

"I was planning to tonight," she explained. "You know him better than I do. How do you think he'll take it?"

Kristine smiled at her friend's worry and thought for a moment before saying, "I'm sure he'll understand. I can assure you he won't overreact. He really cares about you. He's already accepted you for everything else, so I wouldn't worry too much about this."

"Ok," the blonde sighed in relief. "You telling me that really helps."

"You want this done as soon as possible, right?" McCoy jumped in, touching Tatiana's shoulder and she turned to him with a nod. "Alright, then, I wanna take some x-rays and explain everything I'm gonna do right now if that's alright."

"That's fine," Tatiana nodded as the three headed toward on of the beds. "I have a little time. Can you operate after launch tomorrow?"

"Sure," McCoy nodded.

"And I don't want anyone to know about this," she insisted. "So just put me on sick leave for however long this'll take and I'll stay hidden, ok?"

"Alright," McCoy nodded again. "I'll just tell the captain you caught something on that planet. You'll have to be here for at least a couple of days. No one will know what it was for, I promise."

"Sit up here on the bed, Ana," Kristine entreated, the x-ray machine in hand.

One hour later...

"Well, this was an eventful day," McCoy noticed, leaning back on his desk to cross his arms over his chest as Kristine walked toward him.

"Certainly was," she sighed, leaning back on the desk next to him and they looked at each other with a warm smile each. "I certainly didn't see Tatiana 's request coming."

"I did," McCoy replied and she frowned up at him in wonder and skepticism.

"How?" she couldn't help but ask.

"I have one word for you, Freckles," he smirked, standing and turning to stand in front of her, his hands on the desk on either side of her. "Spock."

"That's a name," she retorted, not moving. "But I'll bite. What do you mean by that?"

"Spock tries to be completely Vulcan," he explained. "If there was some way to surgically remove all his human parts, he'd want it done."

"You could give him a lobotomy," Kristine smirked.

"Very funny," McCoy muttered. "My point is, Tatiana wants to be human without anything to remind her of her Romulan genes. Anything physical anyway."

"Wow," Kristine breathed through a smile, lifting her hands and placing them on his chest to slide them around his neck. "Maybe you should've gone into psychiatry. You seem to know a little about people's feelings and thoughts."

"Maybe I'm just a mind reader," McCoy smirked back as he stood, pulling Kristine against him with his hands at her waist, her arms still around his neck.

"We could test that theory," she murmured, still smiling. "What am I thinking right now?"

"Same thing I'm thinking," he murmured, leaning toward her face.

"And what's that?" she wondered.

He stopped just short of her lips to reply, "Kiss me."

Before she could respond, he pressed his lips to hers, making her moan in approval as he pulled her closer, slipping his tongue into her mouth and making her moan again. Their tongues battled for control for a moment before they pulled away for breath and McCoy started trailing kisses over her jaw and neck.

"This may sound cliché, but I'll ask anyway," he murmured between kisses. "Your quarters or mine?"

"Where's yours?" she asked, breathlessly as she pulled him closer, her fingers running through his hair.

"This deck," he replied, trailing back up to her mouth.

"Yours then," she answered before he captured her mouth again.

This time there wasn't time for a battle before he pulled away, taking her hand in his and leading her toward the doors leading out of Sick Bay and into the hall. She was grateful they didn't run into anyone on their way to his quarters where he stopped at the door long enough to key in his pass code, never letting go of her hand until they stepped in and the door shut behind them.

"Lights," he called and the room lit up to reveal Kristine standing next to the bed as he leaned back on the door, catching his breath from their march. They stared at each other for a moment before he stepped toward her, ordering, "Low lights."

The lights grew dim and Kristine glanced around, feeling her heart pounding in her chest as she swallowed and watched him come closer.

"You're sure?" he murmured, lifting a hand to her cheek to stroke it softly. "You can still back out. I won't blame you."

"Yes you will," she smirked, playfully as she placed her hands on his chest, her smirk growing when she felt his heart pounding as hard as hers was. "I…I don't wanna be afraid anymore." She looked him in the eye and smiled, "I don't wanna feel like I can't have what I want because of what happened. I'm not gonna let it get to me anymore."

McCoy smiled warmly as he stroked a stray strand of hair from her face and slid his other arm slowly around her waist to pull her closer, gently.

"I love you," he murmured, leaning toward her for a kiss.

"I love you, too," she grinned, slipping her arms around his neck as he lowered them onto the bed before enveloping her in a passionate kiss.

A/N: i had planned on that for a while, i just couldn't figure out how to put in Tatiana wanting to chop her ears off. lol! you all are probably very mad at me, aren't you? oh well. and boy that Kirk is just a play boy, isn't he? lol! i know in Star Trek TOS he's in love with Yeoman Rand, or somethin like that, but she hasn't been introduced in the AU, so i'm leavin it out. reviews?