"Are you waiting for Dr. McCoy?" Dr. M'Benga asked Spock as the Vulcan stood in sickbay.
"Indeed. He said he had data on the organic compounds he found on the planet."
"I think he's on his lunch break right now, should be back soon," M'Benga said. "By the way, I've been meaning to tell you something."
"Yes?" Spock raised an eyebrow.
"You are aware that Nurse Chapel, well, likes you, right?"
"If anything, Dr. M'Benga, I am better than picking up on emotional cues than most humans."
"So are you going to do anything about it? It's not very polite to leave someone hanging."
Spock shook his head. "She has made no direct indication of her desires, and there is insufficient data at present to determine whether a partnership would be a good investment."
"I-" M'Benga paused. "I'm not sure why I was expecting a different answer."
"What are you gentleman talking about?" Bones approached the two of them.
"Nothing important," Spock said.
"The PADDs are in my office, you can go ahead and take a look. I'll meet you in a sec," Bones said. After Spock was out of earshot, he said, "Well?"
"I was asking Mr. Spock if he'd noticed Nurse Chapel's... affections for him."
"I'm sure he has. But he won't do anything about it. That would be require him to be more vulnerable than he's comfortable with right now."
M'Benga was astonished. "You must know him very well!"
"Yes, we're -" Bones, embarrassed, stopped short of calling Spock his friend. "I've worked with him a lot, is all." And he went to his office, leaving M'Benga a little confused.