Chapter 2

Disclaimers: I own none of this.

"So, how was your shore-leave Spock? I'll bet it wasn't half as fun as mine, in fact I'll bet you a drink that you went to some sort of mouldy old lecture."

Dr McCoy greeted amicably.

"In fact Doctor it would not even be a gamble, since I believe that you were present at the same lecture I was. I am glad to hear that your sudden lapse in memory did not impair your excursions to the nearest drinking facilities"

McCoy glared

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Spock quirked an eyebrow,

"I merely commented on your assertion that you had had a good time and noting that your shore-leaves inevitably involve heavy usage of alcohol, I deduced that..."

"Good lord Spock, you'd take all the fun out of a ham sandwich."

McCoy interrupted.

"Doctor I fail to see why my logical answer to your question should necessitate any kind of comparison with sandwiches, ham or otherwise."

"Never mind talking about blasted sandwiches, where is he?"

McCoy interrupted.

"Doctor if I knew the exact whereabouts of the captain I would not be spending my time sitting in a bar with you."

"Why you green-blooded talking robot, its not my fault you haven't been programmed to have fun and to appreciate fine company."

McCoy smirked. After only 10 minutes of the good doctors company, Spock took matters into his own hands and opened up his communicator

"Spock to enterprise"

"Enterprise here sir, what can I do for you"?

Came the response of Ensign Jackson.

"I simply wish to ascertain the whereabouts of Captain Kirk, Ensign."

"He's in his quarters sir, what you like to be put through?"

"Indeed Ensign."

"Let me talk to him"

McCoy interrupted grabbing the communicator, Spock let a small sigh escape and relinquished his hold.

"As you wish Doctor."

"I'll bet he's forgotten you, not that that would be hard. After all, boring is as boring does."

Captain Kirk was in the middle of a report and had forgotten about both of them. Initially he tried to beg off, stating overwork, but after lots of cajoling by McCoy and the assertion that Spock was in danger of being killed in a freak accident involving forks if he was left alone with him, Kirk decided to have an hour off, if only to save Spock from McCoy. Kirk grinned to himself; at least he would be able to get Spock's input into some of these reports. He'd really missed him these last couple of weeks, in fact he'd missed all his bridge crew. Thinking about it, Kirk realized that what he'd actually missed was people, talking to admirals was about the only social interaction he'd been involved in since the ship had arrived for upgrades and shore leave several weeks ago. Scowling at the thought he walked around a corner straight into a running Ensign Chekov.

"Oomph!"

"I'm sorry sir"

Chekov said, clearly terrified of an irate Captain. Chekov had been nominally in charge of the Enterprise on her refit, since Scotty and Kirk were far too busy and pretty much everyone else had gone on shore leave. Kirk scowled.

"Is there a red alert that I wasn't told about?"

Kirk asked

"No sir, I'm sorry sir, I'm late for my shift."

Chekov straightened himself up

"Well shouldn't you get going then?"

Kirk asked amused. He had frequently wondered about Chekov over the last few weeks, he seemed to have more accidents then anyone he knew, and he always seemed to be rushing somewhere. Which was strange as being in dry dock meant that there wasn't actually much to do around the ship except in engineering.

"Yes sir, sorry"

Chekov repeated. Why do I always have to make a fool of myself in front of the Captain, he thought. He must think I'm an idiot, I doubt he considers me Enterprise material at all anymore. I'm a failure, he thought morosely.

Chekov dealt with and forgotten, Kirk eventually made his way to the bar that Bones and Spock were frequenting. He quickly found his officers, as the pub was very nearly empty.

"Hello Bones, Spock. How was shore leave?"

Spock and McCoy stopped their discussion to grin at him, or at least one of them did, the other merely looked relieved.

"Jim"

"Captain"

They acknowledged simultaneously.

"I take it the Jim Kirk world didn't experience any shore leave"

Commented McCoy on seeing the bags under his eyes. Kirk groaned.

"You have no idea!"

Spock looked concerned

"You haven't been on shore leave?"

He enquired.

"It's been awful Spock I've been snowed under with these reports and paperwork, every time I finish something I get another three or four new reports to work on, I've barely been off the ship. Most of them aren't even important."

"I am sorry to hear that you did not have a restful break Captain."

"He means that he thinks you look like shit too."

Inserted McCoy snidely.

Several hours and pints later a relaxed Kirk was just about caught up on his friends' news and had pretty much forgotten about his work only to hear his communicator go off.

"Sir, sorry to bother you, but admiral Westwood is asking about a report on cargo storage?"

Said Ensign Chekov. Kirk swore softly, he'd not even started it.

"Erm, tell him I'll get it to him in a couple of hours, Ensign and would you organize a beam-up in a few minutes?"

"Yes Sir. Chekov out."

Was the reply. Kirk briefly looked amused at being dismissed. He looked at his friends

"Fancy writing a report on grain storage anyone?" He asked.