Lexie was currently cramped inside one of the service hatches in Engineering, not due to work, but because she was hiding.

She hadn't been feeling too well over the last few days, so chose to go and see McCoy that morning.

He told her it was just a mild cold, one which she would get over after a couple of days of rest.

Which Lexie didn't want to do, she hated taking any time away from her work. Besides, it was just a cold. No big deal.

McCoy had told her to return to her quarters and he said that he would come by later on to check on her.

So he was bound to come looking for her, when he discovered she wasn't following orders.

Somehow Lexie had convince Scotty to let her work, despite him knowing full well that she wasn't well.

Scotty hated seeing her unwell, he could have just ordered her to return to bed, but he knew she wouldn't listen.

Lexie was stubborn sometimes, very stubborn. Scotty kinda blamed himself for that, since the young Engineer looked up to him.

Suddenly a voice echoed around the deck, one Scotty knew very well and it didn't sound too happy. "SCOTTY!"

The Scotsman turned to see a very angry McCoy walking towards him, hypo in hand. Keenser had seen him too and had bolted.

"The wee mans got the right idea." Scotty thought to himself as he stared at the ships Chief Medical Officer.

Scotty gulped quietly before speaking, "Hello McCoy, what brings you down here?" Despite knowing the reason already.

McCoy stormed right up to the Scotsman, anger burning brightly in his eyes. "I'll ask this once Scotty, where's Lexie?"

Scotty felt his hands get sweaty, McCoy really did scare him when he was angry. "Answer Scotty… Now!"

"She's down by service hatch 24c." The Scotsman blurted out, he didn't really want to get a hypo jabbed into his neck.

McCoy quickly stormed off, yelling out Lexie's name which echoed around the deck.

Lexie heard the Doctor's angry yelling, but she didn't worry about him finding her.

Since she knew that McCoy would come looking for her, she had told Scotty the wrong hatch number so she could stay hidden.

She was actually in service hatch 25c, so three down from the one McCoy was marching towards. A brilliant plan…

Or so Lexie thought. She had her hand pressed against her nose to stop herself from snivelling.

Which in turn meant she could only breathe through her mouth, which wasn't exactly quiet.

Suddenly Lexie felt a sneeze coming on, not the best time for that to be happening.

She tried to hold it in, but in the end she sneezed loudly. As a result she tumbled out of the hatch, right into someone's arms.

Lexie shook her head lightly before she noticed who had caught her. It was McCoy and he didn't look happy.

"Nice try kid, but you'll have to try better than that if you're gonna hide from me. I've been dealing with Jim for years."

"How did you find me?" She asked, "You're not very stealthy when you've got a cold, I could hear you from a mile away."

Lexie huffed in annoyance as she was dragged to her feet, "I told you to go and rest." McCoy growled.

"I am resting." Lexie replied. Which seemed to be the wrong choice of words.

McCoy glared at her, "Working is not resting! Now get your sorry little ass back to sick bay, before I carry you there!"

Lexie just stood there for a moment, computing her chances of escape. She really didn't want to go with McCoy.

Suddenly she made a run for it, but she didn't get very far since McCoy leapt at her, tackling her to the ground.

"I've seen that a million times Lex, you can't fool me." McCoy sniggered as he picked the Engineer up.

He jabbed her in the neck with his hypo before throwing her over his shoulder gently. At least this way she would go with him.

They walked past Scotty on their way out of Engineering, McCoy yelled something over to him.

"I want you in sick bay in an hour, I'm going to teach you why you don't help sick officers hide."

Scotty just nodded as he watched McCoy walk out, with an annoyed looking Lexie over his shoulder.

Lexie was fine after a few days rest, which she did under protest. Mainly since McCoy had warned her that he would sedate her if she didn't listen.