The next twelve hours were quiet mainly because the girl slept all that time, giving them all an opportunity to calm down a little.

McCoy was currently in his quarters, enjoying a glass of bourbon. Jim was there too, claiming that this was his direct responsibility to supervise his CMO's level of intoxication. Of course, the kid drank the precious liquid too, to evaluate the quality of the good stuff, apparently.

"She's got you," the Captain's voice interrupted his grim thoughts about Lee's behavior and his own reaction to it.

"What are you talking about?" McCoy asked, understanding perfectly well what his friend had in mind.

"Lee," Jim clarified, "She totally and completely got you into her little claws. Have you seen yourself? You look at her like you are going to either kill her or fuck her and as you gave the oath to do no harm, it's the latter option. Geez, I haven't seen you that mad since my escape from Starfleet Medical after all this mess with Marcus and Khan."

"It was a shitty thing to do, kid," McCoy replied, desperately hoping that Jim would let the topis change.

"Yes, it was, and I'm sorry, but that's not what I'm talking about. What I mean is that you were freaking out back then because you care about me. And now you're freaking out again because you care about her."

"I'm doing it because she sang the damn songs all the time! My whole staff is frightened out of their wits, and all because she was bored. I think I may actually hate her."

Jim shook his head.

"No, I mean, yes, there, right there. You'd never let this go thus far with any other patient. You usually don't buy any of the bullshit that she managed to feed you. You just growl at your victims and terrify them, so they do what you're telling them to. This whole situation - you created it yourself, just admit it."

Jim had a point. He did agree to her conditions to treat her like she wished. Maybe, if he pushed a little harder... But he didn't want to push, and that was the problem.

"So what are you going to do with her now?" Jim was watching him sympathetically now.

"Well, now when she's got her damn PADD I hope she'll calm down and heal nicely in about a week."

"I mean with your feelings. Are you going to make a move or something?"

McCoy looked away.

"She's my patient, Jim."

"So what?"

"It's against regulations."

"When have we ever cared about regulations? Personally, I think they're too strict."

McCoy sighed.

"She's too young for me, Jim, a decade younger, according to the tests. And who'd ever said she'd want me in turn?"

"So you admit that you want her," his friend concluded with a smirk.

"Go to hell."

Jim chuckled and returned to his drink.

McCoy's PADD suddenly beeped, signaling about a change in Lee's status. The notification stated that the girl was awake now, and he had to stop himself from hurrying to check on her. Damn, was he really into her that hard? He emptied the glass and regarded the rest of the bottle critically. Нe probably shouldn't take another shot, even though the last events could serve as a good excuse for two glasses of the good stuff instead of one.

He hadn't been commed yet, which meant the girl saw the PADD and finally stopped her show. Still, he had to give her the meds personally.

"Have to go?" Jim asked, looking a little bit too innocent.

"Well, the devil is with us again," the Doctor huffed, "I have to give her some hypos."

"So go. I'll stay and finish this if you don't mind."

"Actually, I do."

"Don't you have a patient to check on?"

McCoy made a face and stood.

"I have a devil to fight."

He left Jim to enjoy the drink and strode to sickbay.

It was unusually peaceful and quite there. Thank God, she hadn't come up with some new insanity yet.

She raised her head from the PADD when he entered her room and gave him that radiant smile that was meant only for him.

"Got what you wanted?" he asked, trying to look as mean as possible.

"Hey, Leo," she beamed at him, ignoring his attitude entirely, "Yes, thanks for that. I can finally catch up on everything I've missed. It was so sweet of you to give me the PADD."

He felt his blood boil.

"Sweet?!" he roared, "You drove my whole department crazy! None of us was able to work properly! And I don't want to even talk about your condition because of your little stunts."

She tilted her head, eyeing him curiously with a light smile on her lips. Those damn lips. This damn bright smile.

"You shout too much," the girl stated, "I don't think it's good for you."

She slid out of the bed, approached him, holding his gaze, and stood inches apart, and he was in the bar again, looking at her for the first time and not being allowed to turn away.

"You shouldn't take it all too seriously," she whispered and slowly raised her hand.

The hand reached his face and he froze when the girl started caressing his cheek. She proceeded to his hair, still watching him intently. Hell, she was so damn close, wearing only a robe and nothing underneath it. All he wanted now was just give in, hold her tight and kiss her until she forgot how to breathe. The thought that she probably wanted it too made it almost impossible for him to stand still.

"There," she said softly, "No more yelling," and dropped her hand. He missed her touch immediately.

It wasn't even lust. He just enjoyed her touching him, so much care and tenderness in every move. And did he want to return the favor. All he needed was to make a small step, put her in his arms and kiss her slowly, giving everything he could possibly give.

"Go to bed, girl," he said instead. She was too young for him. Too young, too beautiful and way too crazy. Besides, she would leave soon, so there was no need in losing himself in this hopeless affair.

She obeyed right away, her smile disappeared under a neutral expression. She was clearly disappointed, but it was for the better. They really shouldn't start anything now.

The girl was silent during the whole check-up, looking straight ahead without sparing him a glance. He didn't realize how much joy her smile had brought him, and now, when he was deprived of it, everything seemed bleak and dull. It seemed like one moment he was warm and safe, and the other moment someone yanked him to the freezing desert of Delta-Vega, leaving him with sharp coldness somewhere on the left side of his chest.

"I'm gonna take you back to the common ward," he informed, looking through her vitals one more time. The twelve-hours sleep pushed the exhaustion away a little, but she was still weak. He had to see her all the time, so this private room wouldn't do.

"Okay," was an impassive response.

He transferred her to the common ward and stood in front of her. She looked like a robot, not a hint of emotion in her features, obviously a well-practiced mask. Jim used such a mask too when he wanted to hide raging emotions tearing him apart, usually not pleasant ones. Another thing that his friend and the girl had in common.

"Can I read now?" she interrupted his thoughts and he sighed. It was he who should be mad for all her whims but look at them. Women. Always made the tables turn.

"Yes, girl," he replied, "Just try to rest now and then, okay? Reading may be pretty exhausting too."

She just nodded and took her PADD. He felt dismissed.

This is for the best, he thought to himself. But the coldness inside didn't go away.

Six hours later, in the middle of his shift, she was still reading. McCoy considered taking the device from her and order her to rest, but decided against it. He didn't want another show, not when his staff relaxed a little. God, he was pathetic. When had he ever thought about the patient's opinion about his actions? Only when he'd treated Jim, but Jim was an exception. Well, looked like Lee was an exception too.

He was discussing with his head nurse the arrangements of the monthly check-up of the whole ship crew, so he didn't notice the ensign who'd been there two days ago and witnessed the whole of Lee's performance. So McCoy was surprised when he turned around and saw the smile that he loved so much. The smile wasn't directed at him, though. The girl was talking to the ensign and apparently having fun because he heard her giggles and the ensign's snickering in response. He frowned and approached them.

"And what do you think you're doing here?" McCoy demanded grimly, not even bothering to hide his irritation.

"I came to see Lee," the ensign answered, fidgeting, "To ask if she's okay."

"As you can see, she's fine. Now get lost."

"Am I not allowed to receive visitors, doctor?" Lee asked politely, no trace of annoyance or anger in her voice. But McCoy knew for sure that she was definitely mad at him.

"You are, but only when you are well-rested. And as you've been playing with this thing," the Doctor nodded at her PADD, "for several hours already, you are not well-rested. So cut your little chat and give me the PADD. I'll return it to you after you sleep. And you," he continued, looking at the ensign with his best intimidating expression. Unlike the girl, the kid wasn't immune to it, "you are getting out of my sickbay now."

"Yes, sir," the ensign quickly answered, "I'll come to see you later, Lee."

"See you, Josef," the girl smiled at the kid, and the engineer disappeared.

Her smile faded when she looked at him. Just looked, without any emotion again. He felt an irresistible desire to scream.

"The PADD, please," he extended his hand. For a moment he thought she'd refuse, but she handed the device to him and closed her eyes. He was dismissed again.