McCoy was sitting at his desk slowly working his way through his paper work, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." He called. The door slid opened to reveal Scotty standing there, his hands behind his back. "What have you got?"

Scotty stepped over and revealed what he had been hiding, "What the hell is that?" McCoy asked.

Sat in the Scotsman's hand was a small blue plushie of an octopus with a smiling face, "It's an octopus." Answered Scotty.

"I can see that Scotty, why have you got it?" Scotty placed the plushie down on the desk, "I got it for you Leonard."

McCoy just stared, "But why?" That's all he wanted to know. "So we can tell what mood ya in Doc."

Now McCoy was even more confused, "What the hell are you talking about? How can a plush do that?"

Gently picking the toy back up, Scotty suddenly turned it inside-out to reveal a very angry looking red octopus.

"See? When ya in a good mood, you turn it blue and when ya mad, you turn it red." Scotty explained, McCoy just blinked.

Who invented this? That was one of the many questions which McCoy was currently thinking.

The other being, where did Scotty get it? But McCoy knew the answer to that, he must have gotten it on his last shore leave.

"Thanks Scotty… I think." Muttered McCoy as he watched Scotty place his new gift back on the desk.

"You're welcome Leonard. Best be off, before Lexie thinks I've forgotten about our dinner plans. See ya."

Before McCoy could say anything Scotty had left, leaving his gift which was staring at McCoy with its seemingly glowing eyes.

In a very strange and annoying way, McCoy found the tiny plush to be very adorable.

He reached over and picked it up, wow it was so soft. "You are very cute." McCoy chuckled, until he realised what he was doing.

"I'm sitting here talking to a stuffed toy." He thought as he placed the plush back on his desk, facing the door.

McCoy shook his head before continuing with his paperwork, "Wonder if this will actually work." He thought.

However it seemed he would only have to wait a short time to see.

The next day, McCoy wasn't in the best of moods and at some point had turned the octopus inside-out.

Scotty was going to see McCoy for one of their normal chats, but when he saw the angry eyes of the plush. He just walked away.

On his way out of Sick Bay Scotty bumped into Kirk, "You off to see the Doc Jim?"

Kirk nodded, "I am, why you ask?" Scotty gave him a nervous smile. "Recommend coming back later, he ain't in a good mood."

"Did he tell you that?" "No his octopus told me." Scotty's answer completely confused his young Captain.

"What?" Asked Scotty, "Have you been drinking?" Kirk asked sternly. "Jim! You know I don't drink on duty, so no I ain't."

Kirk should have seen that reply coming, "So to what octopus are you… Actually, never mind I'll go ask Bones myself."

Scotty smiled childishly, "Suit yaself Jim, don't say I didn't warn you." Kirk rolled his eyes and headed in to Sick Bay.

While Scotty simply waited in the hall, he wanted to see how this went. "This should be fun."

And judging by the angry yelling that was coming from the room, it wasn't going very well.

Soon after Kirk swiftly walked out into the hall, his face was a picture. "He's really in a grumpy mood ain't he." Stated Kirk.

"I did warn you Jim, did you see the octopus?" Scotty asked, "I did, it look just as angry as Bones." Replied Kirk.

"Who got him that? Since I know he wouldn't have got it himself." Scotty smiled, "I did Jim, handy little thing ain't it?"

Scotty patted Kirk on the shoulder, "Next time Jim, if the octopus is red just walk away. If its blue, carry on."

Kirk couldn't believe it, finally he was able to tell if it was safe to talk to his best friend, without getting a hypo to the neck.

"Sometimes Scotty, I think you're too much of a genius for your own good." Scotty chuckled.

"I'll take that as a compliment Jim. Come on, lets give the Doc some time. Hopefully soon, he'll be in a better mood."

Turned out that Scotty's gift was the best thing anyone had ever given McCoy, since it prevented many shouting matches.

So whenever anyone needed to talk to McCoy, they always checked the octopus which sat on a small table next to his office.