I own nothing of Star Trek or any other series that might pop up. This is an AU

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Sent: 2261-720

Subject: Houston we have a problem…

To think the month had started out so great. We managed to have the annual 4th of July picnic, though a few days late as we ran into some Romulans on the actual holiday. Managed to caused some very nice laser marks to the ship, which took hours to repair. Sadly Scotty and I couldn't implement our strategy for winning again this year as Kirk and Spock set new rules. Spoil sports.

We had to stop for repairs at Andoria as it was the closest planet with a Starbase. Once repairs got completed the captain allowed us some shore leave. While very kind this turned out to be the worst decision. The Andorians have a festival that they celebrate to promote long life in their culture. At least that's the basic translation. What it really consists of is a party to match males and females in an effort to breed and perpetuate the species. In essence they are married that night under the influence of 'special' drugs that supposedly help them chose the perfect mate.

I can sense you're probably already guessing where this is going, but don't jump to conclusions just yet.

Somehow they decided a few of us should join in the party/mating ritual. Only they didn't exactly tell us the details. Instead five of us happened to get corralled with the main group of 'singles' looking to hook up and were led to the temple and locked in with them. Next thing I know goblets of juice are passed around. I tried to decline, but they were very persistent and one managed to get it down my throat while another held me.

Don't ask me why they forced it, only that I think a few had been 'reluctant' in the past and they thought that once I 'got over' my nerves everything would work out fine. Well the elixir worked quite well as I don't exactly remember that night. I do however remember walking up, naked, next to a man.

Here's the kicker. Out of every male that was 'released' into the temple for the females to find and possibly choose as a mate, I found one from the Enterprise. The other's weren't quite so lucky or unlucky as the case may be. Now who is the lucky husband? Why none other than Doctor Leonard McCoy.

I know, how is that possible with him being married to Kirk? Well according to the Andorians, as long as the current marriage is a same sex union it is not illegal for one or even both to take on a member of the opposite sex as a partner since it will help with procreation.

Obviously the first thing we did when we realized what had happened, aside from dressing at a speed that could create a record, was to go to the magistrate and annul the 'union'. However, according to Andorian laws, which Starfleet fully upholds and endorses, we can't get divorced. We tried appealing to Starfleet command. They thought it was a great idea, as having some of the smartest people in Starfleet procreate would undoubtedly lead to smart future generations. I won't lie, I felt rather sick at that point.

Kirk was livid, and McCoy too. From the looks I keep getting everyone appears to think I caused this mess. Let's forget about the other three who ended up with Andorian mates. No they focused on the fact that medicines don't usually affect me and as such I couldn't have been under the influence of the elixir. Therefore I purposely chose McCoy so I could have him to myself. Funny, I remember getting turned into a child by a strange drink on another planet but no one else does. And it's not like I knew what the blasted ritual was about.

I'm staying as far away from them both as possible, though some of the looks I keep getting, even from my 'friends' hurt more than I can say.

What's worse, the elixir has done something to me. I keep feeling pains, mostly in my stomach, the longer I'm away from McCoy. I've tried every technique I've ever learned to ignore the pain, but it gets worse as time goes on.

I sent a missive to the Andorian minister in hopes of getting more information about it. Apparently the elixir stays in the system for a while acting as an aphrodisiac of sorts. Basically it helps the newly bonded couple to have sex more often. To ignore it brings pain. As you know I haven't allowed anyone near me before or after that night. I don't think McCoy is having the same issue.

In a further effort to stem the damage I asked Scotty to switch me to delta shift. So now I'm working graveyard. At least Scotty seems to have my back. He tried to talk me out of it, since he would miss my company, but in the end I convinced him it would work the best for all involved.

So I've been at it for a week and a half. It was hard at first, adjusting to the new schedule but nothing I can't handle. Actually it works well. Scotty leaves me a list of things he couldn't finish during the day and I complete them on my shift and vice versa. The ship is running great.

Now if only I could say the same about me. I mean I know I have C24, and heal quickly and medicines generally don't affect me, aside from actually making me sick. Still, how did I become the bad guy in this? I didn't want to ruin Kirk and McCoy's marriage. I didn't want to marry either of them. Sure, I thought McCoy was hot and held an attraction for him, doesn't mean I planned on doing anything!

Sigh. I guess I'll hold out and see what happens. If it doesn't get any better it may require…other options.

Don't get mad at them, they are reacting like most people would. I just wish I didn't become the proverbial punching bag. Hopefully in my next email I'll have better news for you.

Take care of yourself. Don't get killed.

Love,

Lexi

I'm keeping my last name no matter what!

Alexis Grimm, now McCoy technically, sent the email off to her grandfather and headed down to engineering. Since she started the Delta shift she rarely ever saw anyone from Alpha, except for Scotty who would meet with her every morning right before his shift started. Still most of their conversations remained on a professional level. Not that she blamed him or anyone else who started avoiding her. No one wanted to get on the bad side of the captain at the moment, and befriending her would do just that.

At least the people on the shift she worked with seemed to not care. They did what she told them to do and they treated her fairly. Considering she out ranked them it didn't surprise her. One of the other engineers on her shift, Ensign Bali Hashimi, had also found himself married, though to a young Andorian woman who had no problems leaving home to live with him on the ship. The other two, a man and woman, had chosen to transfer to the Starfleet bases on Andoria to be with their new families.

Lexi supposed it didn't hurt that she actually took time to train and teach the men and women on her shift different tricks of the trade that one only got from experience. Not that it took much time. The night shift had less than half the people they normally would have on the day shift. It made for a very quiet night. It also helped in keeping her pain a secret. No one noticed if she found a small hiding hole to sit for a minute and catch her breath or try to work through the spasms that shook her frame.

In fact that was what she was currently doing. A rather strong wave of pain had hit her and she barely made it to her favorite hide away before her knees gave out. Kneeling on the floor, arms barely holding her up, she fought to breath deeply and push the pain back. Another wave passed through her bringing nausea with it. Unable to stop herself she coughed dislodging the thick liquid in her throat. Looking down at the hand she had used to stifle the cough she stared in disbelief at the familiar red covering it.

"Lt. Grimm," Ensign Hashimi's voice startled her out of her daze. Looking up she found the young man looking at her in worry. His eyes grew wide when he saw the blood. "I'll call sick bay!"

"Stop," she choked out. "Don't call them. I'm fine."

"Fine? Excuse me ma'am but you are far from fine," he turned back to her, incredulous. "That's blood you just coughed up!"

"I am aware of that Ensign," she snapped. Wiping the offending mess on her black pants, which effectively hid the stain she made her way to her feet. "It's nothing I can't handle. Just go back to your post."

"Ma'am, this isn't normal," he argued, not letting up. "This is because of the ceremony on Andoria isn't it?" Sometimes Lexi disliked that everyone on the blasted ship had such high IQs. "You've disappeared a few times then come back. I know you've been in pain, I can see it around your eyes…but if you're coughing up blood too…"

"Look, Hashimi," she sighed, rubbing her eyes to ease the tension. "I appreciate your concern. Yes I have been in pain, no this is the first time I have coughed up blood, however I've dealt with worse and I will deal with this," he started to speak and she cut him off. "Without anyone else knowing. I'll make it an order if I have to."

"Aye aye ma'am. But if it gets worse will you at least go see Doctor House? He works the Delta shift too."

A compromise, but one she could live with. "Yeah that's fine. I might have to see him for sleeping aids anyway." She visibly stabled herself. "Back to work ensign."

Lexi watched him return to his station praying he would not say anything to anyone about the whole mess. Sighing deeply she once more forced the pain back and went on about her business.