McCoy woke with the world's worst damn headache. His neck, his hands, his eyes. They were all subjected to the pounding. He groaned and brought a hand to message his head. Only when he did so, something immediately didn't feel right. For one thing, his hair was longer and smoother. His skin was softer and more sensitive to his touch.

"What the hell?" The words were his but the voice wasn't. It was feminine and somehow very familiar.

"Hey." Another voice called out from the gloom. "Wake up. Open your eyes."

He complied and immediately regretted it. A bright light from the ceiling only intensified the pain. McCoy groaned. "What is that light?"

"Don't you remember, baby?"

"Baby?" His throat went dry. Finally he opened his eyes. A man was leaning over him, his hand on the side of McCoy's face. "What are you doing?"

The man smiled but didn't remove his hand. "I can't believe it worked. Sarah finally got out, and you have taken her place. Who are you?"

His words made McCoy's head spin. Groaning, his gaze went to his hands. They were smaller and daintier. His eyes widened in horror as he realized this was not his body. A scream filled the air as he pushed himself to a sitting position.

The man placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do not be afraid. You're in the body of one of our junior researchers Ensign Sarah McKinley. Who are you?"

"What the hell did I drink? This can't be real." His hands patted his new body, careful to avoid the chest area. He almost smiled when he thought of Jim. This would be heaven for the bastard.

"This is real. Now, please, tell me who you are."

"My name is Doctor Leonard McCoy." He groaned from the pain escalating inside his skull. "I'm the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise."

"My name is Doctor Hansen. Please, Doctor McCoy, have some water."

McCoy's new dainty hand grabbed the offered canteen and drank half the remaining contents. His breath is short, catching in his chest.

"Were you sent here to rescue us? Who else is on your team?"

"There's only two of us."

"Two? Starfleet isn't that understaffed are they?"

"That's all the government would allow down here. Something about their damn sacred caves."

"And they decided to send a senior medical officer? Your captain allowed that?"

"Captain Kirk and Captain Jackson had no choice if they wanted your sorry asses alive. Why did you come down here?"

"Sarah escaped and fled to these caves. We came after her, hoping we could get her out. That's when the cave ins started. All the research team, excluding Sarah and myself, are dead. It would seem that the whole complex was against us, forcing Sarah and me deeper. We were here for a couple of days when Sarah began showing symptoms."

"What symptoms?"

"Headache, dizziness, nausea. Then they all stopped and were replaced by an unquenchable hunger. Who was the other member of your team?"

"Lieutenant Olivia Gellar."

Hansen chuckled again. "A woman. So you know what I'm talking about?"

"She's gotten headaches but no other sym—" He stopped his sentence and grumbled under his breath. "I must be goin' crazy. This cannot be real. I'll wake up and this whole mess will be over."

"Unfortunately, this is very much real. Did you touch the statue of Casara?"

He thought for a moment and nodded.

"Sarah was connected to the one behind you. The two allow a man and a woman to switch bodies for the purpose of 'walking in the other's shoes'."

"But how could this possibly happen? The consciousness cannot be duplicated, let alone transferred."

"That's what we thought too. The civilization that built this place had far superior knowledge and technology. Unfortunately they suffered a plague that nearly wiped their race out. They built this place to stimulate mating behavior in their females. Unfortunately, human women are affected just as strongly."

His thoughts immediately went to Olivia. "You've got to be joking."

"Sarah experienced it first hand. The longer the exposure, the stronger the feelings. She almost died. Release seemed to be the only cure."

"And I suppose you were more than willing to help her out?"

Hansen smiled and shrugged. "I certainly didn't complain. You wouldn't either."

McCoy took the time to look around the room. It was cramped so that only three could be comfortable. To the right was a small doorway. He stood and crawled towards it. The adjoining room was just as small as the first and nearly identical except this one had two statues of the fertility goddess. The doorway straight ahead might have once led to a tunnel or another room, but the giant pile of rocks made it impossible to tell. The ceiling was poked with holes through which light and air from the tunnels above filtered in.

"There's no way out."

"Yeah, thanks Doctor Obvious. Don't think I could have figured that out on my own."

He laughed. "You sound just like Sarah."

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"That's a little far fetched even for you."

Sarah shrugged. "You said you wanted the truth. It's not my fault you lack the intelligence to comprehend it."

"You've lied to everyone to get where you need to be. Why should I be any different?"

"Because Hansen and McCoy will die if we don't hurry." She indicated a point not too far from their location on the map. "They are stuck in an old shrine room where people would consummate their marriage. That is where the substance, we believe it is called Barezden-A, is the strongest."

"Then let's get going." Olivia slung her pack over her shoulder and waited for Sarah to catch up before heading down a side tunnel. The light source illuminated their path about fifty feet ahead. Meanwhile, the air became thinner. Sarah apparently had no trouble breathing while Olivia was rapidly becoming out of breath.

"My body should be re-experiencing the effects soon."

"And you say Hansen is there? McCoy would never—"

"He won't have a choice. My body has its. . .needs. The substance makes it so they can't be ignored."

"Stop talking." They rounded a corner and descended the set of stairs.

"And it'll happen to you."

Olivia burst out laughing. "I doubt it."

"I don't. Being in this body has its advantages. For one thing," she smiled. "I can see the memories this body holds. I can see his thoughts, his feelings."

"Stop it. Leave his mind alone."

"Aren't you the least bit curious if McCoy still likes you even when he cheated on you?"

"That's enough."

"I can tell you he does. He put up one hell of a fight, but I won out. I never lose."

"Shut your mouth or I'll do it for you."

Olivia tried her best to ignore Sarah and pushed on.

"He still likes your legs and that little pout you do when things don't go your way." Olivia knew Sarah was just taunting her, but it was still difficult to push her voice out of her head. As much as she hated the bitch, Sarah was lucky to see the inner workings of that complicated man. She was sure any sane woman would have given anything to be in Sarah's unique position, herself included.

For the next few hours, Olivia tried talking as little as possible. Maybe then she could keep herself from knocking Sarah in the face. It'd probably get her in trouble, but boy would it be worth it. That was when her head began to spin. Her knees buckled and she had to lean against the wall for support.

Sarah was immediately by her side. "What's wrong?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because without you I can't get Hansen out. Now, are you alright?"

"Just dizzy. But I'll be fine," she added just before getting an I-told-you-so look from Sarah.

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Hansen was in the other room, reading up on some of the old scrolls. McCoy had his communicator out, trying to get a signal and failing miserably. Hansen looked up when he heard the fourth set of swear words floating through the air.

"You're not going to get a signal, you know?"

"Forgive me for trying."

"Are you not confident in Lieutenant Gellar's abilities and Sarah's guidance?"

"Just trying to take every precaution."

Frustrated, McCoy tucked away his communicator. That's when he heard it. A muffled argument. One voice feminine and the other masculine. Both were familiar.

"Hansen. I think they may have found us."

"Excellent." The other man came bounding into the room, scratching at his nearly full beard. "Where do you hear them?"

The voices came again. This time they were coming closer, approaching with a great speed.

"Sarah!"

"Lieutenant Gellar!"

"Down here."

Sarah and Olivia walked briskly down the lit hallway. The floor was littered with these holes, which Olivia thought very strange. Sarah explained that there were rooms under there. "We're getting closer," she added.

A few minutes later they were engaged in an argument. Sarah was rolling her eyes when she heard her voice calling out from somewhere up ahead. She held up a hand to Olivia.

"Wait. I hear Hansen and McCoy." They ran down the hall until they found the holes through which the voices had come forth.

"Doctor McCoy." Olivia noticed her tone was filled with a little too much concern and happiness. But she was glad to have finally gotten here. "Are you and Hansen alright?"

"We're holding up. The only other entrance is covered in rubble."

Sarah nodded. "We already tried that exit. The rubble goes on for miles. We're going to have to blow the floor open."

Olivia turned her head. "The holes have loosened the floor's integrity. A couple blasts from the stun setting on my phaser should work. I need you both to get back."

Sarah's eyes flashed with fear. "Are you sure this will work?"

"I'm an engineer."

"How about this? Stand back boys." She walked to the wall and pushed in a jutted out rock. The floor section beneath Olivia started to move. Luckily she had enough time to jump back just as the stone rose and slid to the side. Sarah's body and another man, who Olivia assumed was Hansen, looked up at them.

"Gellar." McCoy shouted. Olivia jumped down and tackled Sarah's body. She didn't care if it wasn't McCoy's body, the way that the arms came around her was distinctly McCoy. Before she could stop herself, a tear emerged from the corner of her eye.

"I'm so glad you're alright."

The hallway then began to shake, sending all four of them to the ground. McCoy had just pushed himself up when he saw the statue starting to fall. As if in slow motion, McCoy watched as the statue fell towards Olivia's small body. He tried to rise but wasn't fast enough. Hansen was faster and was able to push Olivia out of the way only to fall victim to the statue's impaling attack. Bright crimson blood pooled around the point of entry.

"Sarah!" Olivia's voice was small as she watched Hansen take in his final breaths. Sarah joined Olivia's side and followed her gaze to the scene of the accident. Lilac eyes wide open, Sarah dropped to her knees beside Hansen. "What happened?"

"The statue fell. I need my tricorder." Sarah gladly handed over the device. After a few seconds, McCoy shut his eyes and closed the tricorder. "He's dead."

Sarah, with McCoy's eyes, shed a single tear. She placed a hand to Hansen's face, still warm despite his recent transfer to death. The ends of his fingers still twitched with residual motor energy. It gave the illusion of life. Olivia watched with a weak stomach. Feeling the effects of nausea about to overtake her, she ran from the room only to violently release the contents of her stomach at the feet of another statue.

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Olivia watched Sarah, now in her right body, pace the chamber that could have once served as a pray area. The shrine was dismantled, likely worn from the passage of time. When they reached the main pray area, McCoy gave Hansen a proper burial. After settling into this room, another rumble shook the caves. Olivia and Sarah held onto the walls while McCoy missed his grip and fell awkwardly to the floor. Olivia was the first to his side as he cradled an injured wrist. He assured both women he was alright.

"Stay here," he ordered. "I'm going to go check out the area. Something may have collapsed."

Olivia almost protested but silenced the words fighting to escape her mouth. Now she was alone. . .with Sarah. As the minutes passed, the panic faded from her face. Now her downward cast eyes teemed with sadness.

"Why are you so saddened by Hansen's death?"

"Is it too much to believe that I love him?"

Olivia shrugged. "Like you loved Anton, Sebastian, Andrew, George, Mark and Travis?"

"You're forgetting Leonard."

Olivia's smile vanished, replaced by a venomous scowl. "You will never mention that again."

"It still hurts after all this time?" Sarah looked questioningly at Olivia with a false sense of innocence. "Well, mission accomplished I'd say. Though it's been so long, I might as well tell you the truth."

"Truth?"

"Despite what you may remember, I didn't sleep with McCoy. Don't think I didn't want to. He's a doctor. Doctor's always have the most talented hands." She sat and crossed her legs slowly.

Olivia's fists tucked themselves behind her back. "Don't play your mind games with me."

"Olivia. At the Academy, we were rivals. I was young then and foolish. I knew the only way to beat you would be to devastate you. Your relationship with McCoy was no secret. Do you remember that new and experimental memory suppressant drug?"

"Yes."

"I knew the right people and got a hold of some. My first target was Leonard. I faked an injury, so he'd treat me. Got him some water and slipped it right in. Blocks the memory from registering any new experiences for a limited amount of time. All he remembers is starting his shift and then waking up in his dorm where I had walked him."

"You drugged him?"

"And Jim. I lured Kirk to his dorm, not very hard. He always had an eye for me. After all, I was the only one to say no to the infamous James T. Kirk. I knew you would be looking for McCoy at his dorm, so I decided to wait until I saw you. The door opened and a few seconds later I knew you would be within hearing range."

"You screamed out Leo's name when you were screwing Jim. That's low, even for you." She was careful to make it a statement and not a question.

Sarah nodded. "Neither of them remember the incident. Sure enough, along with starting a couple rumors, you were devastated. I managed to pull ahead. Check and mate."

Olivia was absolutely stunned. Her jaw went slack and the pain returned to claim her head. Her right hand massaged the ache at the nape of her neck. "Why the hell are you telling me this now?"

"Hansen changed me. The demons in my past, all the people I've hurt, they haunt me."

"And you think that by telling me the truth, I'm just going to forgive you?"

"I don't expect you ever will. Though, I will say I am jealous of you."

"Why?"

She pushed back a few chunks of blonde hair from her face. "Because I never got to have what you did with Leonard. He still loves you, you know? Nice punch, by the way. I bet he liked it."

Olivia really thought Sarah was going through an honest change until she mentioned the punch. Anger boiled her blood and sent a fist colliding with the woman's face. Sarah stumbled backwards, shock flashing across her face while a hand covered her bleeding nose.

"What did you do that for?"

"Never talk about him like that again. He's not a Jim Kirk! Leo is a good man." Her words came out so hurried and full of passion that Sarah just had to smile. Unlike all her other smiles, the deceit, flirtation and danger were all removed. The only thing left was the sincerity and gratitude that Sarah felt for finally helping someone.

"See," she said. "You don't hate him."

That's when Sarah dropped to the ground. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell sharply into the realm of her unconscious.

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Author's Note: Ok…sorry I've been missing these past couple of days. I lost my focus and couldn't figure out how to continue and wrote these two chapters a couple days ago. The next chapter is actually my favorite. This chapter was being edited while I was watching Watchmen because my family wanted to watch it. WORST MOVIE EVER!!!! I seriously think my IQ dropped 20 points just by watching it…I think it may have affected my writing too. Agree? Disagree? As for reviews, I'm out of tricks…er, I mean offers…to use for bribery so now I'm just going to beg *widens the puppy dog eyes and sticks out lower lip* PLEASE REVIEW!!!! ^_^

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Speaking of reviews, I have some people to thank: PinkTribeChick, thebloodrose, CaffeineKid, Canna, Yayyou, Vulcanvamp (awesome penname, by the way), Steff7, miller330, sunny9847 and Jac Danvers. Another round of applause to my ghost readers out there!!! *claps wildly* You all rock!!!

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-Trekky18

P.S. There's this awesome story I've been wanting to tell you guys about. It's called "The Hyde Complex". I 3 her OC Charlotte (not to be confused with CaffeineKid's Charlie from An Able Storm and When Fates Collide)…