A/N: Set after "Operation: Annihilate!" Thank you, everyone, for those wonderful reviews! They keep me going :)

Fear

A good amount of psychology was practices on the ship, mostly by people who weren't even qualified. They may not have a degree, but Dr. McCoy reckoned they had plenty of experience considering the number of stressful situations they all ran into. Besides, he knew the curative power of a listening ear and words of encouragement as well as any medicine.

That being said, he himself had put coaxing to good use. Within the normal crew complement, he didn't have many opportunities to practice it, but on occasion a guest or other visitor would come aboard with a host of background issues he would have to learn and adjust to.

This was especially true with Peter Kirk.

McCoy had already prepared himself for the fallout of losing one's parents and large-scale decimation of one's home planet when he approached Peter, but not recent events do not cover everything in someone's psychological makeup.

Since the boy had been unconscious when they purged the Denevan parasites from his body, this was really McCoy's first formal meeting with the boy. Jim had gone ahead and spoken with him about everything that had happened, and McCoy had waited a couple days to give the two of them some time to process before swooping in with his logistical check-up.

"Now, Peter, a standard physical takes about 15 minutes, in and out, and is totally noninvasive. It's to check and see how if there are any lingering effects of those parasites - of which I don't expect to see any - and to get a reading of your general health. That sound okay?"

The boy nodded, but rubbed his shoulders uneasily. McCoy glanced at Kirk, who got the message.

"Everyone on the crew's had a physical done by Dr. McCoy, myself included. It'll be over before you know it."

He seemed to relax.

True to his word, the scans were quick and painless. Jim stayed by his nephew's side the whole time. McCoy examined the readings on a computer terminal.

"He's a little low on certain levels, mostly vitamin D," McCoy murmured to Jim. "I can clear that up with one hypo and he'll be good to go till the next Starbase."

"You're the doctor," Jim replied.

They rose and McCoy fiddled with his hypo. Peter's eyes flashed with fear as he approached.

McCoy held up his hands, one with the hypo, palms out. "Peter, this is a standard supplement. Your vitamin D and a couple other nutritional levels are low. One shot of this would set them right."

"I don't like shots!" Peter suddenly blurted. He eyed the hypo distrustfully.

Kirk and McCoy glanced at each other. "That's okay," McCoy said gently. "They can be unpleasant business. What don't you like about them?"

"They hurt."

McCoy ran through possibilities in his head. He'd have to double-check Peter's file, but he figured an early experience with a blood transfusion, or something else invasive was probably responsible for this. McCoy quickly switched out the liquids in the hypo.

"Well, this isn't a regular shot, Peter. In fact, it doesn't even break the skin. Captain, if I may?"

"Sure, Bones." Kirk rolled up his sleeve and presented his forearm. McCoy pressed the hypo to it as Peter watched.

"Voila!" he said. "Not a mark."

Kirk held his arm out to Peter, who traced over the spot McCoy had utilized. "It didn't hurt?" he asked his uncle.

"Not one bit. There's some pressure, but it kind of tickles, actually."

Peter glanced back at McCoy, who smiled encouragingly.

"How many do I have to take?"

"Just one," McCoy reassured. "Then you're good to go for the rest of your stay."

They watched as Peter turned the pros and cons over in his head some more before finally holding out his arm, biting his lip, and turning away.

Quickly, McCoy pressed the refilled hypo against his skin and delivered its contents. It was over in a few seconds.

"That's it?" Peter asked.

"That's it, all done," McCoy replied. He set his tools down. "I'll let Captain Kirk walk you to your quarters."

"Thanks, Bones," Kirk paused for a moment before following Peter out of Sickbay. "What exactly did you shoot me up with?" he murmured.

"Just saline, Jim." He winked. "And maybe a compound to help regulate that appetite of yours."

Kirk put a hand on his stomach. "You're awfully deft with that thing."

McCoy picked up the offending hypo and twirled it. "Have to be on a ship where nobody wants one. Thanks for helping out."

Kirk's smile softened. "Thanks for helping Peter."

McCoy returned it, though he knew full and well his work wasn't over yet. "You're welcome."