This story takes place in the late movie era, and I imagine Doctor Christine Chapel as having rejoined the crew at that point.
(Un)Lucky Leisure Time
First Contact was never exactly easy. There were the civilisations that did not want to enter negotiations at all, there were the ones who were downright violent and unaccommodating and, among many other positive outcomes, there were the surprising and friendly ones.
The inhabitants of the small planet with one moon belonged to that last category and had greeted the visitors from another small blue planet with enthusiasm. They called themselves the Strimpatjans and had been capable of deep space travel for 100 years already, but preferred to live in a rather nature-abiding habitat, with only a few big cities on the planet. The landing party of the Enterprise had met the council of the planet in one of those cities. The negotiations were pleasant and quick. The Strimpatjans did not yet want to decide if they wanted to enter the Federation but were happy to welcome other Federation citizens.
Because of those efficient negotiations, the team consisting of Jim, Bones, Spock, and Christine had finished early. The head of the council had proposed to introduce them to one last part of their culture.
The Enterprise wasn't to be expected for another two days and the landing party had been happy to spend that time in a small dwelling, designed to honour the nature and relax body and mind. The dwelling consisted of a cave-like structure, some 200 meters from the ocean where white cliffs abruptly descended, with a broad stone staircase built into the rock, leading to a secluded beach. The dwelling itself was a natural cave in a hill, equipped with tasteful furniture made from granite and dark wood.
Shortly before they arrived at their dwelling, the leader of the Strimpatjans had issued a warning about a group of outlaws who had just now brought forward some threats against the government, but were expected to be caught in due time.
The moment they had bid goodbye to the Strimpatjans and entered their cave, McCoy slumped down on one enormous plush sofa in the living room. "All right, Jimboy, what are we gonna do today?"
"Well, what do you want to do, Bones?"
"I dunno Jim, maybe just rest for today. We could visit the beach tomorrow, explore the seaside a bit."
As it was already getting dark outside and the negotiations had left all of them slightly tired, they agreed on getting a good night's sleep first.
When Christine was awakened by Leonard's loud snoring, the Captain and Spock seemed to be on their feet already, sitting in the kitchen and sipping tea.
Christine had to chuckle softly while helping herself, as the domestic familiarness and calmness of the situation struck her. Jim and Spock were sitting there silently, having acknowledged her arrival with a friendly nod, completely relaxed in each other's and her presence.
"We have planned on leaving for the seaside in a matter of minutes, as soon as the doctor is awake. We thought it unwise to wake him by force," Spock explained.
Christine nodded her understanding and five minutes later, McCoy tapped into the kitchen, smiling groggily at them.
"I jus' need a coffee and then I'll be my normal, cheery self again and we can go."
"Forgive me the protesting doctor, but 'cheery' is seldom a word I would use to describe you," Spock smirked.
McCoy only snorted, being too tired to argue.
Several minutes later they left for the beach and as they arrived there, Jim was adamant about swimming. He and Leonard settled for a relatively small lagoon on the right side of the beach, while Spock stayed near the steps and examined the various forms of shells lying there, accompanied by Christine who gathered some of the biggest and most colourful.
"Have you ever collected shells before, Mr Spock?"
"I have not. There are comparatively little beaches with shells on Vulcan," he answered while studying a particularly large, oyster-like shell.
"Will you have a look at that, Jim? The hobgoblin and Chris can finally get along without running away from each other or just being awkward," Bones remarked.
Jim looked up, having just prepared to dive for some stones. "Hm, yes, it doesn't seem awkward at all, although I haven't seen such a display since our five-year mission. They've changed, Bones. We all have."
" 'Cause they have. I just realised. It's nice."
"Spock would say 'You have a talent for stating the obvious, Doctor',"Jim smirked.
"No need to insult me, Jim," Bones snorted.
Jim only laughed and dived away from McCoy's glare.
The Doctor did some strokes in the sparkling, warm water and waited for Jim to get up again.
As soon as he had emerged he said, "I think we should get out of here when we want to avoid the falling tide."
McCoy nodded in agreement and they both left the water and began to dry themselves with their towels and put their uniforms back on in silence.
As Leonard had just pushed his head through the hemline of the pullover he saw something.
"Look, Jim, there's a boat."
A small boat with a group of people was just coming around the edge of the cliff that hugged the beach from the other side. They did not seem to expect people here, because at the sight of Spock and Christine one of them motioned hastily to row back and thrust his hand into his pocket, pulling something out.
"Spock! Look out!" Jim shouted.
Spock had realised the danger the same moment as Jim, having been too distracted to notice the boat before. He leapt to Christine's side at the water's edge instantly, pulling her half behind him, just as the person in the boat threw the thing they had just pulled out.
The sharp edge of the blades blinked in the sun as the star-shaped weapon darted through the air, embedding itself into Spock's lower right side before he had any time to duck. A sharp pain jolted through his body as he fell backwards, being caught by Christine just before his head could hit the ground.
"Spock, no!"
Jim and Leonard ran, seeing their friend fall, just as the boat vanished again. Those must undoubtedly have been those rebels they were warned about.
Leonard pushed the opened uniform jacket away as he kneeled at Spock's side, jamming the hypospray with the only painkiller they had into his arm just as Christine had pulled it out of the emergency medkit. The white turtle-neck pullover had already acquired a dark green colour that spread slowly upwards from the weapon sticking out of Spock's body.
"I have to pull it out, Spock. Do you hear me?"
Spock only nodded, breathing heavily.
Without an additional warning, McCoy pulled at the hilt of the weapon.
Spock hissed in agony as the blades slipped out again and Christine quickly sterilized the wound and closed it as good as they could with only a small medkit. As they applied the pressure bandage, Spock had begun to breathe more evenly.
"You're lucky, it's not that deep or a bit to your left," McCoy said. "I wasn't able to fully close it but now it's only a nasty scratch."
"Nasty indeed," Spock whispered, shivering.
"All right, we got to get you out of your wet clothes," McCoy said with a weary look at the green-white pullover. "But not here. Jim, can you carry him to our cave?"
"All right, Spock," Jim smiled while patting Spock's shoulder reassuringly. "Put your arms around my neck, if you can."
Spock wrapped his arms limply around Jim's neck, as the Captain gathered him gently in his arms, and let his head fall heavily on his shoulder.
Spock sighed as they reached the dwelling and he was gently settled on the sofa.
"The pain will subside, Spock," Leonard said. "But we don't have quite enough painkillers right now. So you better sleep."
Spock nodded weakly, already closing his eyes as the Doctor and Jim left the room, after shoving Spock's wet things into the cleaning unit, and joined Christine in the kitchen.
"You all right?" Leonard asked his fellow doctor.
Christine nodded and smiled weakly while sipping her tea.
"Bones, is it safe for him to sleep with this much blood loss?"
McCoy grunted at Jim reassuringly.
"Well, not absolutely. We should have an eye on him while he sleeps, but as he's not losing blood anymore and I have no means here to accelerate the natural process of increasing it, sleep's the best cure for him. As for now."
It was indeed a nasty situation. The Enterprise was still too far away to establish contact and their medical supplies were minimal. To crown it all, Spock had begun to shiver in his sleep and McCoy was sure that he was harbouring a fever, albeit a light one.
The three of them had settled themselves on big seating cushions around the table in the living room to keep an eye on their friend. Jim had found a warm, woollen blanket to make Spock more comfortable, but the shivering hadn't stopped fully. As Jim looked up from the book he was reading, he met the eyes of the two others.
McCoy nodded at him. "Gonna wake him."
He stood up and moved to Spock's side, the others next to him. "Spock, wake up!"
Spock shivered violently and ripped his eyes open, staring uncomprehendingly at McCoy. "I'll have a look at your wound, Spock. Can you others try to light a fire in the fireplace?"
As Jim moved to set up a cosy fire, McCoy gently pulled the blanket down, revealing Spock's naked torso. Leonard pulled the bandage off, at which Spock hissed displeased.
He was now looking at the doctor relatively calmly. The wound had stayed closed, but heavy bruising had appeared around the slash and the wound itself seemed slightly inflamed. There was no immediate danger anymore but McCoy could see that it caused Spock discomfort. With the help of Christine, McCoy put the now dry and clean pullover along with the uniform trousers back on Spock, just as Jim had accomplished his task. He walked the short distance back to Spock and smiled at him.
"Jim," Spock said in a very tired and strained voice and raised his hand unknowingly toward Jim's looming figure.
His friend grabbed his hand firmly and pulled him up until he could pick him up and carry him to the armchair in front of the fireplace, much to Spock's protest.
"Oh, please…"
"Can't be helped, Spock. You aren't allowed to walk yet or the wound could be reopened." The doctor sounded almost cheerful at Spock's innocent discomfort.
When Spock was comfortably seated in the armchair, the backrest slightly lowered, McCoy lay the blanket back on his legs and tucked him in. Spock didn't look as pained anymore but he still seemed weak from the blood loss and the whole ordeal since he was uncharacteristically pale and seemed tired.
With Spock's consent, the doctor gave him a sleep-inducing drug and soon, Spock was asleep, breathing peacefully, without any shivers. For some time, Leonard, Jim, and Christine just sat there, watching him sleep. It was a rare sight, as Spock was generally awoken by staring at him. It was only in these moments, when he was hurt, that someone saw him sleeping for a longer time. As always, his hair was immaculately tidy, apart from one strand that had somehow worked itself over his pointy ear. McCoy gently pushed it behind his ear at which Spock jerked minutely and Jim chuckled softly.
As Christine yawned softly behind him, McCoy realised that he could use some rest, even if Jim seemed quite alert.
"I could use a midday nap for once," he said to Christine, whose "Yes, indeed." was accompanied by another stifled yawn.
"He looks so thin," Jim remarked, sitting in a chair opposite Spock.
Huddled up in the armchair and grasping the blanket with his hands, Spock looked strangely young and vulnerable, but peaceful all the same.
"Well, Jim, he is thin," McCoy said while smiling at Spock. "In contrast to other people in this room, who could use a diet."
Jim grunted affronted as Bones grinned at him mischievously.
Christine chuckled and murmured "Hope, you don't mean me, I saw chocolate pudding in the refrigerating unit," while she was stretching herself on the sofa, preparing for a nap.
When Christine had closed her eyes, smiling peacefully, Leonard stood aimlessly next to Jim, unable to decide on a place for a nap. Eventually, he slumped down on one of the cushions, sunk in and simply fell asleep half seated, his thankfully soft snores soon filling the room.
Jim didn't sleep, spending his time continuing his book, instinctively watching over his friends.
After a time, he felt hungry and, supposing his friends would feel the same upon waking, moved to the cooking place to prepare some light lunch. After a short time, Christine joined him, opening the fridge and pondering the pudding.
"You aren't planning on snacking before a proper meal, are you?"
Jim grinned at her.
"Oh no, not at all," she replied, closing the fridge and plucking one of the many indigenous snacks from the plate that Jim was preparing.
"How's Spock?"
"Oh, good I think. He awoke and Leonard's with him."
Back in the living room, the two unlikely friends were spending some unusually peaceful minutes together, Spock still subconsciously clutching the blanket.
McCoy hoped that the Enterprise would arrive on time or, even better, earlier. Spock was stable but he would be even better, almost fully healed again, if the doctor had access to the ship's medical powers. Even a doctor could do only as much, without equipment.
But before he could even begin to worry anew, the beeping sound of Jim's communicator alerted him.
And so, the rather speedy arrival of Enterprise was greeted with relief from all the officers.
Under protest from Spock, McCoy bothered him to lie down on a gurney after beam-up and wheeled him to sickbay, efficiently closing the wound fully, after administering a light painkiller again.
As now, at last, all was done that could have been done, McCoy sent Spock to his cabin, silently thanking the Vulcan's strong stamina.
He promised, or rather threatened, to look in later to convince himself that Spock was resting.