oOo
Timing, Uhura mused, was everything. She made sure to time her appearance in Sickbay with the start of Chapel's duty shift, and made damn sure the blonde heard enough of her "private" conversation with Dr. McCoy that the other woman remained, frozen with shock, just outside the door to the doctor's office. The two of them ignored her, playing out their charade as if they had no idea Chapel was hovering just out of sight, taking in every word.
"I just never realized how powerful Vulcans are," had been the tantalizing line Uhura had opened with. She hoped her voice held just the right mix of embarrassment and lingering wonder. She silently thanked Kirk for leaving her a visible reminder of their night together that she could now use to her advantage.
"I didn't realize you two were involved," McCoy commented, right on cue. "I didn't know Spock had it in him. That's a nasty bruise, Lieutenant." He applied a hypospray to the side of her neck.
"It wasn't something either of us planned," Uhura replied, straining to hear any sounds from outside McCoy's office. Was that a harsh intake of breath, quickly stifled? She hid a smirk as she continued, "It just...happened. I don't know what I'm going to say to Christine. She's my friend, and I feel as if I've betrayed her."
"It's an unfortunate situation," McCoy agreed gravely. "I won't say anything, but eventually you're going to have to. Because she is your friend, and even if Spock never let her get as close to him as you did, her feelings are still involved." There, that was definitely the sound of a stifled sob, the shuffle of feet moving clumsily away. The charade had worked. Uhura smiled at McCoy, then hastily stood and moved toward the door.
"Christine!" The other woman stiffened, then turned reluctantly to see what appeared to be a mortified Nyota Uhura and Leonard McCoy confronting her from the door of his office. "I didn't know you were here!" They exchanged guilty looks.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I was just going to ask Dr. McCoy for something..." her voice trailed off. "I have to--to go, just for a little while, Doctor..." Without waiting for permission, she rushed out the door.
Uhura smiled and turned to McCoy. "There you go. Bow and all."
McCoy grinned. "I think the little lady could use a real friend right about now. One that has no intentions of sleeping with her would-be boyfriend. I'll catch you later." He hurried after Chapel, leaving a triumphant Uhura to herself.