Mr. Spock was on his way to the mess hall when he met Dr. McCoy going in the same direction.
"Hello, Spock" said McCoy.
"Good day, Doctor" he replied. The doctor did seem in a good mood, which Spock thought was rather unusual. McCoy was, after all, well known as the ultimate grumbler. This made him curious.
"Doctor, I hope you would not mind if I would ask you why you are in such a good mood?"
McCoy stopped dead in his tracks and turned to stand directly in front of Spock.
"For your information, Spock, even you with your countless attempts to destroy my good nature, will not succeed today"
Spock raised an eyebrow. This was certainly going to be interesting. He couldn't help but feel some curiousity. "Doctor, I never attempted to do any harm to your good nature. I always believed that you were quite able of doing that on your own".
Now Spock noticed a hint of angry glitter pass over McCoy's eyes, but to the Doctor's credit, he really did manage to control himself. "Doctor, I am forced to admit that you have peaked my curiousity"
McCoy looked at Spock mischievously, as they began walking again. "Well Spock, if you really want to know, I have received a transmission from Joanna and she will be meeting me on Starbase 13 next month. She's been stationed there for a period of half a year as a training nurse".
Understanding dawned on Spock. He had met Joanna McCoy once and she was a lovely, intelligent lady. He always contemplated at how such an open-minded person could be Dr. McCoy's child. He decided, though, that this would not be the appropriate time to bring that subject up.
"I am genuinely pleased to hear this, Doctor..." and before he could manage to complete his sentence McCoy butted in "Oh, can't you for once step out of that Vulcan hide of yours and get a little bit more excited?" he said in an exasperated voice.
Spock raised his eyebrow for the second time "Doctor, haven't I just said so?"
"Hrummmph" grumbled McCoy, and strode over to the food dispenser.
McCoy was chewing on an unidentified piece of food, staring at Spock's empty plate. "I can't believe that you ate so fast" he said.
Spock looked at McCoy, but said nothing.
"Are you sure you ate enough?" McCoy asked.
"Doctor, I can assure you that I had the adequate amount of nutritional ingredients suitable for my diet" Spock replied patiently.
"Well, I'm the doctor and *I* will be the judge of that" he replied.
Spock opened his mouth to explain the issue to the doctor, when he suddenly felt the same wave of rage that hit him before, but this time it was far worse. A sick nauseous feeling crept up his abdomen, and he was barely holding the tears in his eyes.
McCoy had raised his head from his plate when Spock had not responded to his last comment, and was astonished to find the horrified stare of the Vulcan's face.
"Spock!"
"SPOCK!"
The crewpersons present in the room turned to stare at them. Spock was still locked in some odd trance, and McCoy had begun to shake him.
Spock tried to fight the agony his mind was going through. He felt the anger burrow into him. All his mind control skills were needed for him to be able to still stay conscious, but he was feeling that his shield was weakening and the angry assault did not cease.
Suddenly, it was all over, and he became aware of McCoy slapping his face to and fro. Instinctively he raised his hand and gripped the doctor's hand firmly. "Doctor, that is no longer be necessary. I am quite all right now".
McCoy, his face full of distress, faced Spock and couldn't help himself "Don't you dare do that thing to me again"
Spock opened his mouth, about to respond, but McCoy had no time for nonsense. "Come on, you're going with me to sickbay" and he pulled his hand out of the Vulcan's grip. He wanted to yank Spock by his pointy ear and drag him to sickbay. Only out of consideration for the Vulcan's sensitivity to being touched did he manage to restrain himself.
"What are you all staring at" he yelled at the gathering crowd of crewpersons, who could not ignore the desperate cries of the doctor. "Show's over. Now you all just go about your business, and I'll go about mine!"
He got up, but Spock was still sitting. "What's going on Spock?! I know you're not deaf. I told you to come with me to sickbay. That is an order from your CMO. Now step on it!"
Although Spock knew that it was almost pointless to argue with McCoy when he got to that state, he could not see the rational reason for which he had to go to sickbay.
"Doctor, there is no point in me following you to sickbay. I can assure you that I am perfectly well, and you will find nothing wrong with me if you will scan my body"
McCoy did not budge. "Well, if you don't mind me reminding you of the fact that *I* am the doctor around here, and *I* want to examine you for my own personal purposes. Now if you wouldn't mind indulging *my* curiousity for a change, and follow me to sickbay" and he gestured with his hand in the direction of the exit.
Spock was ready to heave a sigh, but refrained from doing so. It would serve no logical purpose. He rose from his seat and followed the rather satisfied McCoy out of the mess hall.
McCoy was glancing at Spock who didn't utter a word all the way to sickbay Well, maybe that's for the better he thought. When the arrived, he pointed towards the nearest diagnostic bed, and told Spock to go and lie down. Christine Chapel peered out of his office door.
"Dr. McCoy, is there something wrong? Can I help you with anything?" Then she looked at the direction of the diagnostic beds and saw who was lying on the first one. Her heart skipped a beat.
McCoy read the expression on her face as she noted Spock's presence. He decided to leave her out of this for the time being. It was bad enough having a Vulcan reacting emotionally, but combine that with a neurotic nurse and you might as well go space happy. "No nurse. I think I can manage quite all right on my own. I'll call you if I'll need any help".
Reluctantly, Christine Chapel slid back into the room. The doctor truly felt sorry for her.
Spock felt the doctor's scrutiny all over him. He gazed at the diagnostic bed's readout above him. everything was perfectly normal, just as he had suspected, but he had to admit to himself that it was good to have this machine confirm it. McCoy had poked him with various instruments, only to discover that the Vulcan was absolutely right. But he had been with him and had seen his reaction to _something_.
"Doctor, if you wouldn't mind. I would like to return to duty"
McCoy was feeling rather tired from this whole affair. It was hard for him to admit it to the Vulcan, but he would not be able to live if something horrible happened to that pointy-eared friend of his.
"Spock, I hate to admit it but you were right, but, I suspect you know more about this than you're telling"
Now it was Spock's turn to admit that the doctor was right, but how could he explain his suspicions without hurting Leela Gray?
"Doctor, I would appreciate it if you did not pry into this matter any further"
McCoy was beginning to get furious "Spock! if your life is in danger I would like to know!" He yelled at him. Then he heard the sound of something dropping. Turning around he saw nurse Chapel picking up a book from the floor. She was biting her hand. I can't deal with her now McCoy thought.
The Vulcan sat up and got off the bed. "Doctor, I will investigate this matter further and will get back to you. Now, I am late for duty, if you will excuse me" and he was out of the sickbay doors.
McCoy thought of going after him, then decided to leave him for the time being. There was nothing physically wrong with him, so it was out of his territory. He sighed, and went to comfort Christine Chapel.