Kirk's door buzzed. He sat up in the dark and instinctively reached for the light. "Come," he said, throwing off his covers and pulling on his pants.

"Captain?" Lexxi's voice came from the doorway.

Kirk snatched his shirt from the back of a chair as he made his way to the outer chamber of his quarters. "Lieutenant?"

Lexxi blushed slightly as Kirk pulled the shirt on. "Lexxi."

"Jim." Kirk ran a hand through his hair.

"Captain." Lexxi watched Kirk glance at the mirror and smiled.

Kirk held his arms up in surrender and asked, "Are you all right?"

Lexxi looked at her toes. "I'm fine. It's just…I'm leaving in the morning."

"Where are we going?" Kirk teased.

"Not we, Captain, me. To Earth."

"Tomorrow?" There was a hint of panic in Kirk's voice.

"Yes."

Kirk held out his hands palms up. "I thought we were going to finish our shore leave."

Lexxi looked up into Kirk's eyes. "You are going with Mr. Spock."

Laughing, Kirk took Lexxi's hands in his. "That was just to get him down there for a change. Besides, it's a whole week and four days!"

"My ship leaves in the morning," Lexxi whispered, pulling her hands away. "I thought we covered this."

"We did. Why tomorrow/"

"That's when the ship leaves."

""Lexxi, the Enterprise can take you to Earth!"

Lexxi's frustration surpassed Kirk's. "Don't be so difficult, Captain, you've already risked enough for me!" She took a deep breath. "You have your mission."

"That's right. You're absolutely right. But…"

"Please," Lexxi pleaded, taking a step back, "don't do this to me. Please." She turned to walk away. "I'm leaving in the morning.

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." McCoy smiled at Lexxi and stifled a yawn. "I was planning on coming in early anyway. I have a lot of paperwork to finish."

"I'm still sorry. You're not getting your paperwork done."

"Yeah, well, who wants to do paperwork anyway? What can I do for you, my dear?" The doctor motioned for Lexxi to step further into the room and then followed her to an examination table. She pulled herself up to sit on it.

"Check me over. Maybe give me a painkiller for the road."

"For the road?" McCoy sighed. "You're still in pain?"

"Yes, doctor." Lexxi studied her toes.

"A concerned frown settled on McCoy's face as he asked, "Where?"

"Wherever it shouldn't." Lexxi sighed.

The doctor lifted the back of the blue uniform tunic Lexxi was still wearing. His frown deepened. "What did I tell you about this?"

"I was making an impression."

"An impression," McCoy repeated. "I'll bandage it if you promise to take this off."

"I promise." Lexxi sighed again as the doctor set to work. She smiled as he slipped her shirt over her head. "This is rather uncomfortable."

McCoy grinned as he wrapped the bandages around Lexxi's torso. "For me or for you?"

"That depends."

"Come on now. Where else does it hurt, little girl?"

"My shoulder." Lexxi faked a whine.

"I thought so. That's a nasty place for a slice."

Lexxi watched McCoy gently trace the line with his fingers and said, "It's better than my throat."

"That's right. It's healing nicely, but bound to be sore for a while as deep as it is. I could give you good old-fashioned morphine. Wait, you prefer heroin."

"I'm allergic to heroin."

"But you…"

"Without immediate medical attention, it's deadly."

"Then I…"

"You've saved my life twice, Doctor."

"I thought it was the interaction."

"It wasn't. Alcohol has no effect on me."

"Wow. I know some people I'd recommend that for."

"Yourself?"

Once more, silence fell and tension filled the room. McCoy turned away and came back with two pills and a glass of water. "Aspirin," he stated, "morphine might knock you out."

Lexxi slid off the table and took them from him. "Aspirin?"

"You have to be prepared."

"I have to go." Lexxi threw her head back, swallowed the pills, and downed the water. She started walking towards the door.

McCoy followed. "I hope those work for you."

"Me too."

"Where are you going?"

"Away." And the sickbay doors swooshed behind her.