"Nurse Chapel has been nervous around me ever since the encounter with the Platonians," Spock said to McCoy in sickbay. McCoy was reading some patient records on his PADD.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Bones said, not looking up from his PADD. "Our encounter with those bastards was pretty stressful for everyone."
"Perhaps I should be more clear," Spock said. "I am asking for advice on how to reassure her."
The doctor, surprised, looked up at Spock. "You're asking me for help? Well, I dunno," he said. "Maybe she didn't know that you knew that she, well..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Listen, Spock, I don't think you really need my advice. I think you already know what to say. You just need the courage to say it. Trust me, you aren't going to hurt her feelings or make things worse."
Later that day, Spock approached Chapel in sickbay, startling her. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, almost dropping a tray of hypos. "I didn't see you there, Mr. Spock."
"It's quite alright," the Vulcan said. He grabbed the nurse lightly by the shoulder. "I wanted to apologize," he said, measuring out each word carefully, "for the way the Platonians treated you. That was unfair, and cruel."
"Oh, you don't have to apologize, Spock," Chapel said. She leaned a little into his touch. "It wasn't your fault."
Spock couldn't recall if he'd ever been this close to Nurse Chapel voluntarily. He was gripped by a sudden urge to kiss her – the right way, this time.
But instead, he let go of her. "That does not change the fact that I am sorry it happened," Spock said.
The nurse seemed more relaxed now. She smiled and said, "You're so thoughtful. You must have been so worried about me."
Spock said nothing but wouldn't meet her eye.
Chapel reached out and gently patted him on the shoulder. "I'll be okay. Promise. You should worry about yourself for once. After all, surely that was unpleasant for you, too."
Spock opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. "I should return to the bridge," he said. And off he went.
McCoy joined her a few moments later. "I just saw Spock leave," he said, adding, "I think he was blushing!"
"Oh, you leave him alone," Chapel said.
McCoy snorted. The nurse really did bring something special out in Spock, that was for sure.
