Sickbay was busy when McCoy arrived early to begin his shift. Sanchez and two night shift nurses had patients on two biobeds. McCoy started in to help, but Sanchez stopped him at the door.

"Thanks, Doctor McCoy, but it's all right. Just a minor mishap in engineering, nothing serious. I have orders from Doctor M'Benga that you are not to begin until he clears you for duty." Sanchez leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I think Geoff is miffed because you didn't come back for a check and treatment last night. He'll be here in a few minutes."

"I think he has forgotten just who is chief here," McCoy grumbled, but without heat. He knew protocol as well as anyone. "Fine. I'll be in my office unless you need me."

He opened his computer to find three flagged items. One was the amended schedule he had requested from Chapel just two days earlier, although it felt like it was much longer in the past The others were the concert announcement and the toxicology report on the defkato, which he had already studied in some detail, but he found himself looking over it again, frowning. He was still there when M'Benga stuck his head around the door.

"Good morning, Leonard."

"Mmmhh?" McCoy looked up. "Oh. Morning, Geoff."

"Give me a few minutes to get the biobeds emptied and I'll put you on the scanner."

He was still buried in the report when M'Benga came to get him. "Is this the entire defkato tox screen? How many panels were run? Are there any still outstanding?"

"Full panel plus A and B on isolated components. All the results should be in the report." He stopped and looked at McCoy closely. "Is there a problem? You're not having new symptoms, are you?"

"No, no." McCoy chewed at his bottom lip. "I can't shake the feeling we're missing something. I'd love to get Vartheb in here for an examination, but I understand he refused." He leaned back from the screen. "Do we have more of the substance? I want to run some additional tests."

"Yes, we should have some left. You can run your tests after I run mine. Come on."

McCoy followed M'Benga into the treatment room and took the first biobed. "What happened in engineering?"

"Essentially horseplay," M'Benga replied. "Sprained wrist and bruised ribs. They're both all right, or they will be until Scott finds out." He passed a scanner over McCoy's chest and studied the readings. "How do you feel? Your lungs look good this morning, but you're dry. You're still a little hoarse. Is your throat sore now?"

"Very little. I feel pretty good. I'll drink water today."

"See that you do. Well, I guess we're done. Are you ready to get back to work? I'm clearing you for duty, Doctor McCoy." He stepped back as McCoy slid down from the biobed.

"Thanks, Geoff. Go take the morning off."

"You have a fairly busy schedule this morning. I'll relieve you after lunch to free you for the concert preparation. It's creating quite a buzz. People are excited."

"Well, it's been a while since we've had a real shore leave or any kind of diversion. These youngsters have too much pent up energy. Combine that with some boredom and the regular twist of danger thrown in for good measure and we see hijinks like those this morning. Every crew member should be putting in some extra gym time while the ship is on light duty at Aminta. Or an intra-ship basketball tournament. Maybe a talent show isn't a bad idea. Cooking lessons. Ball room dancing. Hell, I don't know, whatever tones the body and expands and soothes the mind." He paused. "I have often thought that deep space ships should have a formal recreation department for the mental health aspect if no other reason. I know holodeck technology is advancing but practicality is still some way in the future."

"You should make a presentation to the brass. After we finish our five year mission, your words will be golden and they'll have to listen."

McCoy stared, not sure if he was being kidded or not. M'Benga laughed and clapped him on the back on the way out.