If there was an award for avoiding Vulcans, Leonard was pretty sure he could win that with no problem. Not only was he motivated to avoid the man, he also had his excuses. By means of excuses, he had work where he occupied himself in his office even after there wasn't even anymore work to be done. Then when it was too boring for him to even sit at his desk without slamming his head against it, he'd slip back to his quarters to retire for the night. But then Jim always had to come and mess with his peaceful life.

"Jim, if you're here to ask about your goddamn baby again, you're gonna get it." Leonard said as soon as Jim walked into his quarters. They had agreed to hang out, but Leonard had the creeping suspicion that the captain was up to something. Like always.

"What, I can't hang out with you anymore?" Jim acted appalled as he sat next to Leonard on the couch. He grabbed a drink of the bourbon that had been laid out, and took a drink of it. "Man, ever since you guys made the baby, we haven't really been hanging out much."

"Spock did it, not me." Leonard grimaced and leaned back against the couch. He almost shivered in his t-shirt, reasoning that the Enterprise was always so cold. Jim snorted.

"Right, you had no part in that at all." Jim smiled and took another drink. Leonard opened his mouth to retort, but was interrupted. "Anyway, let's play chess or something."

"Jim, I ain't Spock. I don't get too much enjoyment over putting things on little squares." Leonard said and grabbed himself some bourbon. "How 'bout a movie?" Jim nodded, and Leonard set them up with some classic choices. As per Jim's request, they started watching Mission Impossible. He couldn't get over the weird feeling that Benji looked a lot like Scotty, though. Maybe they were related somehow.

They had a good old time, until eventually the movie was over, and things were awkwardly silent. Jim started bouncing his leg up and down, so Leonard knew something had to be up. As if reading his mind, Jim said casually, "So there's poker tonight. We should go."

"Poker? Go?" Leonard scoffed. He hasn't played poker in quite a while. "Sure." Jim looked relieved. Which kind of worried Leonard more, but he ignored it.

After all, there was nothing to worry about. All their friends would be there. Spock wouldn't be there, since he didn't appreciate gambling like humans did. Which wasn't really surprising, since even Leonard could see the illogic in it. He'd lost all his money enough times to know that it was a bad idea to play.

But it sure was fun as hell.

When they got to the room where they usually met to play poker, Leonard stopped in his tracks when he met eyes with Spock. He wasn't supposed to be here! He almost turned and ran, but Spock's almost menacing look made him stop. Jim smirked and sat down at the table, the only empty seat being next to Spock. He wanted to punch Jim in his goddamn smug face. He sat down next to the Vulcan, and the rest of the table greeted him warmly.

"Nice to see you again, McCoy." Sulu said, dealing out the cards and giving Leonard and Jim some chips. "Work keeping you from us, or do you just not like us anymore?" Of course the man had the audacity to look hurt. Leonard almost sighed.

"Yeah, I've mainly just been trying to avoid you, Sulu." Leonard grumbled, but Sulu just laughed and everyone went on playing. It was just him, Jim, Spock, Sulu and Uhura. Scotty was usually there, but Leonard knew that Engineering had a minor explosion due to a miscommunication with some ensigns. If he had even a nickel for all the Engineering mishaps he'd have to deal with, he'd be a rich man.

Looking down at his cards, he saw that he had the makings of a pretty good hand. He looked to see Spock playing too. Which really wasn't fair, since he'd be the best at bluffing. Why would he even play in the first place? He felt like all of this was happening just to piss him off. Maybe God really did hate him for killing his da-

Spock jabbed an elbow into his side, almost making him wince. The Vulcan seemed a lot more aggressive than usual, and Leonard almost feared for his life. That is, when he realized that he had a royal flush going on. He schooled his face as he felt the immense joy inside of him. He raised the bid, earning a few glances. A royal flush so early on in the game?! Maybe his night wouldn't be so bad!

At the end, when all had folded except for Leonard and Uhura, the tension was high. They lowered their cards, Leonard with the royal flush and Uhura with a full house. Uhura smiled at him and leaned back in her chair. "I was close, but no cigar. Nice hand, Leonard." Leonard nodded at her and smiled. He took the big pool of chips that had accumulated, feeling quite triumphant. Yes, this is exactly what he needed to get back on his feet.

The game went on for another hour or so, everybody winning some games- even Spock won quite a few. It had to be his straight face. In any case, it was nice to be with the rest of his friends again, gathered in one place. Just being around them lifted his spirits a little bit.

All things came to an end, though, and they all departed. Spock, for reasons Leonard was quite apprehensive to think about, followed he and Jim. The Vulcan walked quietly behind the two, which probably freaked Leonard out more. He was just feeling so goddamn paranoid. For once, he thanked god for Jim's rambling.

"I mean, all I want is a little shore leave on a little planet with plenty of people there willing to have a little fun. Honestly, man, I'm just a little lonely." Jim mumbled, staring off into the distance as they walked. Leonard rolled his eyes. Damn horny bastard. He really needed to grow up. "I guess I'm just not cut out for this whole abstinence thing. Maybe I need a... a friend. Hey, Uhura's single now, right? I could just-"

"Jim." Leonard said, not realizing that he was going to. Spock must've tried real hard not to intervene by now. Leonard was fine that he was the one who ended up saying it, though. "That's enough." Jim was about to be offended, but Leonard rushed to the door to his quarters and opened it. He sighed, knowing that he was going to have to face the music sooner or later. "Goodnight, Jim." He said, and didn't close the door behind him.

Spock walked in and shut the door, leaving Jim and the outside world behind. Leonard took a deep breath and faced him, standing a meter or two away. "Look-"

"You have been avoiding me." Spock demanded, completely interrupting Leonard. He glared at the Vulcan. "We had agreed on a daily twenty minute period where we-"

"I was afraid, Spock, okay?" Leonard said, resisting the urge to pour himself some nice cold Romulan Ale. His heart started thumping in his chest, and he felt like he was going to throw up. He laughed at himself and sat down on the couch. He felt like he was going crazy. Spock stood there, looking stern still. When all was silent, Leonard scowled at him and said, "I was afraid that you'd make a move on me." At that, Spock's features softened.

"I suppose that fear is not too... irrational." Spock admitted. For once in the Vulcan's life, he looked visibly defeated. Leonard almost felt bad for the guy. "While I will not deny that my feelings for you are quite consuming, I had not planned to act upon them without your upmost consent." Spock said, and Leonard let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. While they were being all honest, he might as well ask...

"And uh, not like it matters much, but I wanted to know something." Leonard said, wiping his moist hands on his pants. "You dated Uhura, but now you're interested in me. So I was wondering if you... what your..." Leonard was at a loss at how to ask, since he'd never really HAD to ask someone this before. With Jim, it was as obvious as the naked quarterback escaping their room right before Leonard walked in.

"Long ago, a policy was established among Vulcan- it was simply 'Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.' Under that policy, all relationships and lifestyles were to be tolerated. While it was not quite evolutionarily beneficial, the inevitability of homosexual tendencies among the minority became somewhat accepted in Vulcan culture. However..." Spock stopped, and Leonard swallowed hard. "My father will not be delighted." Leonard processed the information. Homosexual tendencies, huh? That made it sound like a phase, even though he knew that's not what Spock meant.

"So it's quite common?" Leonard guessed, and Spock looked pretty uncomfortable, for a Vulcan.

"... No." Spock said, looking away. "A homosexual bond has not been known of in my lifetime. Nor my father's, as far as I am aware." Leonard immediately felt himself go soft, despite himself. Here was a half-Vulcan, not accepted anywhere, who was now bonded with a man. How he could be any more diverse, Leonard had no clue.

Spock was silent, and Leonard just stared at him. His doctor's eyes spotted the man's fatigue, the tiny cut on his hand which he probably got from working in the science lab, but most of all, his posture. He seemed so open to him. The last time he had been like that was... That Night. It all seemed very odd, honestly. Leonard looked into the Vulcan's brown eyes and he felt fourteen again- his heart fluttering, face heating up, feeling warm, feeling... happy? He glared at the Vulcan, who was simply staring back at him.

Leonard cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well. I won't avoid you anymore. Glad we got things cleared up. So uh," he scratched the back of his neck. He was really, really uncomfortable now. What was he doing?! "We can just continue our daily lives tomorrow, with our usual twenty minute thing." Spock nodded to him. "So, goodnight, then." Leonard said, nodding back.

"Goodnight, Leonard." Spock replied, and exited the room. Leonard breathed out. Something was very, very wrong with him.

He didn't like Spock. Did he? He cared about him, he couldn't deny that. But... could he really, actually be with him in a romantic way? He almost cringed at the thought of Spock being all lovey dovey with him. But then again, he was a Vulcan. For once that could be taken to his benefit. He wouldn't think that a Vulcan could be very sappy with their relationships. They were much too cold.

Leonard laid down on his bed and tried to sleep. He had a lot to think about.