Summary:

Valerie Maynard still recalled the first time she met Leonard McCoy-she'd found humor in his snarky remarks to Jim Kirk about his divorce as they traveled on the Cadet Shuttle. She secretly had a crush on him from afar, though never speaking to him, at the Academy. Now she's been assigned to the Enterprise and finally gets a real introduction to McCoy. Can the connection they both feel withstand her suddenly memory loss after an away mission accident?

Notes:

I'm quite nervous as this is the first time I've posted in quite some time, and it's my first Star Trek fic! (You'll find my Doctor Who and Doctor Strange fic if you check out my other works-and I just realized I guess I have a thing for Doctor's! lol) I skipped over a bit of time in the story, but I wanted to get to the 'good parts'. I hope you enjoy. Leave me some feedback and kudos!

(P.S. These characters, other than the original ones, aren't mine, but boy wouldn't it be fun if they were!)

Chapter 1: How it all started...

Valerie Maynard supposed her journey with Leonard McCoy had begun with those first words she clearly heard from his mouth. "Yeah. Well, I got nowhere else to go, the ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce. All I got left is my bones."

She knew he'd been speaking before that, but she had been ignoring his argument, and then he was having a private, if not loud, conversation with another new recruit. For some reason, though, her attention had focused in on them when he spoke those words.

She didn't mean to snort-laugh so loudly, but something about his comment struck her funny—he heard her and looked across the aisle at her with a raised eyebrow. She raised her hands up in a placating gesture. "Sorry, sorry."

They were the first, and only words she'd said to Leonard McCoy on that flight, and during their entire Academy career. She'd seen him hanging around with Jim Kirk, the recruit he'd been talking to, quite frequently, but since she was on the engineering track while he was on Medical and Kirk in Command, they hadn't actually ran into each other to have the opportunity to speak. She found him attractive, and from what she'd seen of his grumpy personality, she found it endearing. Something which her friends who were in the medical program thought was bonkers, as they'd spent time with the man and found him frustratingly pessimistic.

In the rush after the initial incursion with Nero, Val had been posted on a different ship. But when her ship was irreparably damaged, she had been reassigned to the Enterprise. It wasn't till days after receiving her orders that she realized she'd inevitably be faced with Leonard McCoy again.

She had been sitting in her quarters at Starfleet headquarters where she'd been temporarily assigned till her new orders came in. A chime at the computer station on her desk alerted her to an incoming video call. She went over and smiled when she saw who the call was from. She tapped a button to accept the incoming transmission.

"Nyota! What's up, girl!"

"I called as soon as I could! Did you get your orders?" Her best friend from academy piped up excitedly.

Valerie smirked and shrugged. "Maybe," she drawled out.

"Val! Don't mess with me? Did you or did you not get your orders? They were supposed to come through days ago!"

This time, she grinned and nodded excitedly. "I did! I'm on the Enterprise!"

"Yes! I knew it! You were one of the best engineers in your class! It's about time they got you on the best ship!"

"As soon as you make it back to Earth, I'm to report to Commander Scott."

Uhura grinned and leaned into towards the screen, as if someone could hear her even though she was in her quarters. "And eventually you're going to have to report to sickbay and receive a full and thorough examination by Doctor McCoy." She waggled her eyebrows.

Valerie rolled her eyes, but the blush that rose in her cheek instantaneously revealed her true thoughts on the matter. "Nyota! Stop it! You know he won't remember me, and besides, it's been ages, who's to say I still have a crush on him?"

"Maybe the red in your cheeks? Or the way you won't look me in the eye?"

"Okay, listen—I won't deny that I'm intrigued. That I look forward to finally actually meeting the Doctor, and maybe getting to know him. Maybe we'll become friends. But I'm not pushing my luck hoping for anything more. Besides, he probably has someone he's interested in on the ship already."

"He doesn't," Uhura shook her head.

"How do you know?"

"Because it's my job to know! I may or may not have asked a couple of the nurses and they say he's too busy with work and trying to keep Jim in line to have a love interest."

"I can see how those two things would lead to a pretty full schedule."

"He'll learn to make time for other things once he meets you and sees how amazing you are, Val."

Valerie gave her best friend a sweet smile. "Thanks Ny, but like I said, I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm just so excited to be able to serve on the Enterprise. When will you guys be coming back around to Earth?"

"We're headed back that way now, in fact! We just finished this insane mission—it was supposed to be a run of the mill observation of a planet—but nothing is ever run-of-the-mill with the Enterprise, especially not with Jim Kirk in command. He, Bones, and Spock all three about got themselves killed. But they're all safe, thankfully."

"And, how is your favorite Vulcan doing?"

Uhura smiled and even with her dark skin, Valerie caught glimpse of her own blushing. "He's fine. I'm glad he's alive. But—I just wish he wouldn't be so willing to die. It's… it's a long story. I'm so happy you're going to be on board the Enterprise. I have great friends here, but not my Val."

"I'm excited about it too, Ny. So it sounds like I'll be seeing you soon, then?"

"Very soon! Much love, Val. Uhura out."

The screen went black and Valerie sat back to think about what adventures might await her.