"Wait, they're sending a what?"

"Psychological evaluator," McCoy repeated.

"For what?" Elle asked.

"To evaluate your mental health after spending the last year and a half, almost two years, on a starship," McCoy said calmly.

Elle bit her lip. "Is this because of the documentary thing?" She cringed. "Or the Zetar?" She was sleeping fine. She was.

"No," McCoy said. "This was already planned, when we first agreed to take charge of you. Star Fleet, and Federation Child Services, was going to be monitoring the situation."

Elle made a face. "Are they sending someone trained in traumatized adolescent psychology or are they sending some desk jockey with a checklist?"

McCoy stared at her for a second and then started to laugh. "Does it make a difference?" he asked.

"It does, yes," Elle said. "A trained evaluator will realize that I'm fine and a desk jockey will just see Chief Giotto's list of potential rescue plans for me and send me back to Earth." She couldn't quite hide the tremble in her voice.

McCoy leaned over and put an arm around her shoulders. "It's going to be all right, darlin," he said.

She pressed her face against his soft blue scrubs. "What if they send me away, Bones?"

"I don't know," he said, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "We'll fight them tooth and nail for you, you know that, and if does mean some changes, well, you've got seven sets of grandparents, plus eight thousand Vulcan clan members, who would love to help you. I'm sure T'Pau would be thrilled to boss around the Federation Council a little more."

Elle let out a wet chuckle. "True," she said, and felt a little better. She toook a step back and rubbed at her eyes with her sleeve. "I am, normal, right Bones? To a normal person?"

"What is normal?" he asked.

Elle groaned. "Bones, come on."

"No, I'm serious," he said. "You wanna talk about traumatized adolescents, let's talk about it. Give me your analysis."

She dropped onto his office couch and kicked her feet up on one end of it.

He sat down in his desk chair and waited patiently.

Elle sat up and took her feet off the couch. "Fine." She chewed on her lip, her teeth catching on a dry spot. I need another chapstick. She refocused. "What was the question?"

"Elle."

"I don't know. Someone who can like, do stuff, and has friends, and stuff."

"Then you're very normal," Bones assured her.

"Bones! I'm serious!"

"So am I," he replied. "You certainly 'do stuff'. You're self-disciplined, you learn in your classes, you help Scotty and his department, you help in this department. You have friends on this ship. You also have a healthy amount of 'stuff' that you call your own in your quarers. Therefore, by your own measurements, you are normal."

"Oh."

He gave her a smile. "You don't need to worry about it, I promise. The evaluator who's coming is actually a friend of mine, and has been made aware of most of your special circumstances."

"Not the foreknowledge?"

"No, not the foreknowledge. But everything else, yes."

She fidgeted. "Oh. When are they coming?"

"Two days. We'll be at starbase five, they'll be with us for a week, and then we'll drop them at starbase six."

"A week?"

"They're also evaluating the rest of us, Elle, as your primary guardians."

"Oh." She bit her lip again. "Can I go?"

"Yes." He reached into a drawer, handed her a sealed tube of chapstick. "Here, though."

She took it with a sheepish grin. "Thanks, Bones."

He gave her a gentle smile. "It's going to be okay, I promise."

-/\-

That night, Elle couldn't sleep. She didn't want anyone to say she was 'coping poorly', so she stuffed her pride into a little box and marched herself down to sickbay.

Bones took one look at her and started apologizing. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you about the upcoming visit-"

Ele sighed. "It's fine, Bone. I just, I have a test tomorrow so I need to sleep."

He gave her a sleeping pill and a cup of hot chocolate and another hug. "If you still can't sleep, I know that Spock's going to be in life sciences contemplating mold spores so you can go find him, all right?"

Elle acknowledged him with a raise of her mug. "Thanks."

She went to go sit with Spock and contemplate mold spores. Nasty little things.

By the time they got to the starbase, Elle was reasonably composed. Kirk, Spock, and Bones had all seperately reassured her that it was going to be fine. She trusted their assessment.

-/\-

Dr. Mackenzie Elspeth was a person transplanted directly from an episode of Ms. Marple, with two layers of soft, patterned cardigans, actual spectacles on an actual string 'round her neck, and pinstriped trousers. She greeted Captain Kirk with a firm handshake and a "Hello, dear."

Elle liked her instantly.

Dr. Elspeth turned to Dr. McCoy and they hugged. "Len, it's good to see you," Dr. Elspeth said, beaming at him.

"You too," Bones said, smiling just as wide. "Kenz, this is Elle Wilcott." He gestured Elle forward.

Elle blushed hotly and stuck out her hand. "Hi," she said.

There was an awkward silence, until Kirk stepped forward and said, "So, doctor, what can you tell us about pre-Star Fleet Bones? I hear he was quite the man about town..." he escorted her out.

"Jim!" Bones hurried after them.

Elle looked up at the ceiling, silently praying for strength (studiously ignoring Chief Kyle's snickering), and followed the grownups out.

They dropped Dr. Elspeth's luggage in her guest quarters and Dr. Elspeth turned to Elle. "So, my dear, two questions. Would you like to talk now or do you need more time to get used to me? And where would you like to talk?"

Elle blinked. "Um, in Bones, I mean Dr. McCoy's office, if that's okay?"

"That's perfectly fine," Dr. Elspeth said. "I can't wait to see if he still has little plastic skeletons hidden all over the office."

"I haven't done that in years," McCoy grumbled. "You're going to be bad for my image, Kenzie."

Elle couldn't stifle a laugh. "You have tiny skeletons hidden in your office?"

"No, I do not."

Dr. Elspeth winked at her. "I bet you a chocolate sundae that he does."

McCoy sighed loudly and irritatedly, which meant somewhere on one of his shelves among arcane medical tools he did indeed have a tiny plastic skeleton.

Elle grinned. "I mean, we can talk now."

"Excellent. You lead the way, my dear, I have no sense of direction on these floating cities."

Elle led the doctor to the turbolift, Kirk and Bones on her heels.

They went to sickbay. The closer they got to Bones' office, the more nervous Elle got. She paused outside the door. "Can, uh, can Bones stay?" she asked, her cheeks heating up.

Dr. Elspeth smiled gently. "For our first chats, I'm afraid not. But he and Captain Kirk are welcome to hover right outside the door if they would like."

"Okay." Elle shot a look at the captain, who gave her a reassuring smile. "Okay," Elle repeated, and followed Elspeth into the office.

"Kick a man out of his own office," Bones grumbled as the door slid shut.

Elle laughed and wandered over to his shelves to start looking for the plastic skeletons.

Dr. Elspeth sat on the far end of the sofa and smiled at the pictures on Bones' desk. "Have you met Joanna McCoy, Elle?" she asked, and took out a PADD to start taking notes.

Elle smiled. "Yeah, we had dinner with her when we were on Earth the last time."

"Do you miss Earth?" Dr. Elspeth asked.

Elle paused. "Which one?"

"Either. Both."

She shrugged, her focus on the old bandaid tin in front of her. "Kind of. I like the fresh air, but, I've only been to this Earth twice, and my home Earth, not really?"

Dr. Elspeth made a note. "Do you feel at home here on the Enterprise?"

Elle smiled. "Yeah. I love this ship."

"I'm glad to hear it." Dr. Elspeth made another note. "Do you miss your parents?"

Elle almost knocked over Bones' medical certificates. "Of course I do," she whispered, her chest flaring with the ache of grief. "I miss them a lot. Not as much as before, but a lot."

"I'm sorry," Dr. Elspeth said. "They'd be happy to know you're safe and happy, here."

"I know," Elle said, and was able to smile at the doctor. "Bones told me."

Elspeth smiled back. "Is he your primary caretaker?"

Elle shrugged. "I feel like they kind of go even-stevens."

Elspeth patted the other end of the couch. "Why don't you come sit and tell me about them? I'd like to hear it in your own words."

Elle sat gingerly on the couch cushion, crossed her legs, uncrossed her legs, crossed her ankles, and pulled at her sleeve with her opposite hand. "All of them?"

"The senior officers are your primary guardians," Dr. Elspeth said, "how about we start with those?"

"Okay." Elle fidgeted with her sleeve. "So, Captain Kirk, we read books together. He's in charge of my literature and philosophy classes. When he's busy doing captainly things, I have them with someone else, though we always talk about that section later."

"Is he busy a lot?" Dr. Elspeth asked.

Elle bristled. "He is the captain of a starship, doctor."

"I know, and I'm not implying anything, dear. I just want to know."

Elle glared suspiciously. "No, he isn't busy a lot. Well, he is, but he makes time for our reading time. And if it's unavoidable, he always knows which crewman to send me to that's read the book already."

"Good, I'm glad," Dr. Elspeth said simply. "Do you and the captain have anything else in common?"

Elle picked at a loose thread. "Waffles," she said. "And strawberry cheesecake, when Bones isn't looking. But we do lots of things together. He and Spock taught me to play chess. And with missions, or whatever questions I have, he always answers me. I've read so much philosophy on this ship. Between him and Bones I'm starting to get into psychology."

Dr. Elspeth grinned. "Bones. Is that Dr. McCoy's nickname?"

"Yeah," Elle said. "The captain calls him that. Like Sawbones, the old ship's surgeons?" She grinned. "Only we get to call him that, or else he rants at you. It's hilarious. One of the ensigns in maintenance got a cut on his leg, so he was on the good painkillers, and he asked him 'when can I go, doctor Bones?" She cackled. "You should've seen his face."

"I'll have to try it," Dr. Elspeth said, smirking. "You don't get upset when Dr. McCoy rants or hollers? I've heard he and Commander Spock have rather explosive encounters."

Elle laughed. "Explosive," she mocked. "Of course not. Bones only rants at people he cares about. And people doing dumb stuff without proper safety gear, but he loves those ensigns, too, so," she shrugged.

The doctor laughed. "Dr. McCoy has a warm heart under all that Southern gruff," she said.

Elle smiled. "Yeah, he does. Whenever I need to talk, he's always got time for me."

"I'm glad." Dr. Elspeth made another note. "And Commander Spock?"

Elle's smile widened. "He's the best."

"Is he?" Dr. Elspeth asked. "How so?"

Elle fidgeted with her sleeve, trying to think of a way to explain without making it seem like he was blatantly emotional.

"Elle?" the doctor prompted.

"He just is," Elle said. "Science lessons are always fun, and if they're not fun then they're cool. He taught me to meditate, to help with my insomnia. And he taught me how to do the nerve-pinch. He basically adopted me, you know. His clan, on Vulcan."

"I did know that," Dr. Elspeth said. "I think we were all very surprised."

"Why?" Elle asked. "Vulcans value children very highly. Lots of families adopt children."

"True," Dr. Elspeth said. "I wouldn't think that a Vulcan science officer would be your favorite person, though. Vulcans are not a tactile species."

Elle frowned. "He doesn't have to be tactile to show me that he cares. I get hugs from the captain, or Bones, or Lt. Uhura, or all my other crewmates, when I want one. And if I really, really do need a hug, he lets me."

"Has he ever told you that he cares for you?" the doctor asked.

Elle jumped off the sofa and clasped her hands tightly, trying not to be rude. "He doesn't have to tell me! He basically adopted me! He rearranged his entire schedule to be able to teach my science lessons! He sits on my couch and does paperwork when I have nightmares so that I can sleep! And for your information, yes, he has told me."

Dr. Elspeth raised her hands in surrender. "All right. I'm sorry for asking that. I was worried that you might be finding the difference between Vulcan and human emotional expressions difficult."

"Vulcans are my favorite beings, they aren't difficult," Elle replied hotly.

Dr. Elspeth tilted her head. "Is it because you find Vulcan ways easier to adopt?"

"They're logical, when not taken to extremes," Elle said. "And I'm a teenager, and I've had a lot of things happen, I have a lot of emotion going on."

The doctor nodded slowly. "You're very self-aware."

Elle eyed her warily. "That's part of what Bones and Spock are teaching me. You have to identify the emotion to work with it."

"Good," Dr. Elspeth said simply. "You're quick to defend your guardians-"

"Family," Elle interrupted. "They're family."

Dr. Elspeth smiled. "I'm glad you've found a family."

"Me too," Elle said, not moving from her spot near the shelves.

"Elle, let's take a minute, shall we? I asked you the wrong questions, and I apologize."

Elle fidgeted. "Why are you really here?" she asked. "Bones heard you were coming, he didn't ask for you. And no one on the Enterprise requested this evaluation, they would've told me."

Dr. Elspeth sighed and put down the PADD. "You're right. Star Fleet Command asked for this evaluation for several reasons. One, you are the first civilian stationed longer than three months on the Enterprise and you are technically due for this evaluation for research purposes. Star Fleet is thinking of putting civilians on starships, at least for long missions. Two, you are a minor with very strange circumstances. And lastly," the doctor grimaced. "There are some in Star Fleet who think that you would be better off on Earth."

"Why?" Elle asked.

Dr. Elspeth held out her hands again. "I know about your foreknowledge."

Elle sat abruptly on the edge of the coffee table, her knees going weak. "How?"

"I knew your file was incomplete and I pestered the admiral who gave me this assignment until he gave me clearance," Dr. Elspeth replied bluntly. "This is the first time anything like this has ever happened, and it makes your status doubly unique."

Elle bit her lip. "I don't want to go to Earth. I want to stay on the Enterprise."

"I know," Dr. Elspeth said. "I read your complete file, and I knew that you already loved this ship and this crew, and that you are better off here than anywhere on Earth. But I also have my duties to complete, and my objective assessment to give, which means I'm going to have to ask you stupid questions like 'how do you know Spock cares for you', or 'are your guardians providing consistent education and discipline'. And I'm going to ask Captain Kirk, and Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy, and everyone on this ship all the questions I can, to show that you are where you need to be, and that civilians on ships are worth the risk, even if that civilian isn't a fountain of knowledge." She met Elle's gaze. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Elle nodded slowly. "I understand."

"Thank you. I know my presence here is frightening, but I don't want to take you from your home anymore than you want to leave." Dr. Elspeth gave a little wink. "And between me and you, I haven't seen Dr. McCoy look this happy in a long time, so Star Fleet can nag all they want, you're not going anywhere."

Elle relaxed, not fully, but enough so the awful tightness in the pit of her stomach went away. "He's such a dad," she agreed tentatively, and stood up to break the tension. She poked at the fake plant on the shelf and a little plastic skeleton fell out. She started to laugh.