A/N: Thanks for the review(s)! I appreciate them.
Disclaimer: The Great Bird of the Galaxy owns everything.
Kirk leaned back in his chair with a smug little smile, staring down his opponent with the outward appearance of a man in possession of perfect confidence in his own abilities. Inwardly, however, he was in turmoil, having just made a glaring, potentially fatal, error in strategy. All he could do now was hope that his opponent wouldn't notice--and take advantage of--his gaffe.
The doors to the rec room swished open at that moment, allowing Christine Chapel to enter. Even though Kirk's attention was focused on the situation in front of him, there was still a part of his mind that was perfectly aware of what was going on around him, from the poker game across the room (which Ensign Daniels was winning, and Kirk had to wonder if any of them knew she kept an ace up her sleeve) to Lt. Uhura's graceful melodies behind him. While his opponent considered his next move, that same part of his mind brought to his attention the fact that Christine was supposed to be on duty in Sickbay. Only a medical problem would draw her away from her post, but Kirk was not alarmed. He trusted his people enough to let them do their jobs.
He turned his thoughts back to his own dilemma, and held his breath as his adversary picked up a bishop and paused for an eloquent moment, before setting it back down in the space where Kirk's knight had just been.
"Check," Spock said.
"Damn," Kirk breathed, the confident façade falling away. Spock only raised an eyebrow, silently expressing his belief that Kirk should have known his first officer better than to have thought that Spock would not have taken note of his captain's blatant mistake.
A shadow fell over the two officers and their game, and Kirk looked up to see Christine standing in front of them, close enough to get their attention, but not close enough to intrude on their privacy. He smiled up at her.
"Ah, Miss Chapel! Perfect timing!" He flashed a quick, sidelong glance across the table, and his tone took on a touch of wry humor. "Isn't Spock due for a physical right about . . .." He trailed off as he noticed her somber demeanor. "What's wrong?"
"It's Dr. McCoy--" she began.
Kirk felt a fear grip his middle and he immediately rose, his game forgotten. He looked over to find that Spock had done the same. He was about to dash down to Sickbay, but Christine held up a hand to forestall them.
"He's not in any danger . . . yet," she added dubiously.
"What do you mean, 'yet'?" Kirk asked.
"Have you seen him recently?" she asked instead of answering.
Kirk shook his head. "We've been so busy with that ion storm that I haven't been down to Sickbay in a couple days." He glanced over to his first officer.
"Nor have I," Spock replied. "What is the trouble, Miss Chapel?"
Christine's tone clearly bespoke her frustration. "I don't know exactly. He won't talk to me, and he's been very irritable for the past two days."
Kirk felt the tension in his muscles relax the tiniest bit, and he hazarded a smile. "That doesn't sound so unusual."
"Indeed," Spock said blandly.
"That's not all," Christine said, her voice instinctively lowering. "A few moments ago, Ensign Galven came in with a sprained ankle. Dr. McCoy was about to give him a hypo of cordrazine. If I hadn't been passing by and noticed--" She paused, clearly uncomfortable with what she was about to say. "Galven would be dead, Captain."
Kirk smile faded and a sinking feeling came over him. He looked to Spock. "It's not like Bones to make that kind of mistake," Kirk said quietly. Spock didn't reply, but his expression, as disturbed as Kirk had ever seen it, spoke volumes.
"He practically threw me out of his office a few moments ago," Christine told them. "I don't want to start a panic, but I thought you should know. Maybe you can find out what's wrong."
"Thank you, Miss Chapel. You did the right thing," Kirk replied. He stepped away from the table, and he and Spock briskly strode out of the rec room without another word.