Clandestine

"I don't believe I understand the allure," Spock said, as he was shoved into a supply closet on Deck 11.

"Be quiet or you'll kill the mood," Nyota responded while pressing him against the high shelves and her soft lips to his.

"Nyota," Spock said, with an admonishing tone. "This is not appropriate. We are bo-"

Her lips moved from his cheek to his neck, a spot she knew he could not ignore. She nipped, the sucked his pulse point, garner the physical reaction she desired. Taking a breath, she said: "You weren't about to say 'on duty', were you?"

"It is an inescapable fact," he answered, a deepness in his voice previously not there.

"There are other duties that need to be addressed," Nyota breathed taking hold of the hem of this uniform shirt and tugging it upward.

"I am intimately aware of your passion and spontaneity, Nyota," Spock replied, short of breath. "But this is a side of you I have not seen before."

She stopped her ministrations to look him sternly in the eyes. "Don't over analyze and don't make me explain. If I don't get some reciprocation soon, you'll be standing here alone with no shirt or pants."

Spock's hands rose and took hold of the hem of her skirt and pulled upward.

Foretelling

"I love her, Bones," Kirk said matter of fact as he, McCoy, and Spock materialized on the jungle planet.

"Good for you, Jim," McCoy responded, dully.

"I mean it," Kirk reassured. "My days of sowing oats are over."

"Sowing oats, Captain?" Spock inquired still looking intently at his tricorder.

"He thinks he done mating with woman with a pulse," McCoy replied, quickly.

"It wasn't anything with a pulse," Kirk corrected. "I have standards."

"Gentlemen, the main manufacturing facility is .5 kilometers east of here," Spock said, reminding them of their mission."

Kirk started walking and the other officers fell in step with him. "Jim, don't make me bring up the Undari cadet whom you specifically said 'need-"

"-A glaring exception!" Kirk cut him off, keeping the damaging tale at bay. "Did it ever happen again?"

"Well, there was the brunette waitress who-"

"Okay! Okay! The point is: that's all over now. Christine is the only woman for me."

"Great," McCoy added, stoically. "You've gone from insufferable gigolo to lovesick puppy."

"He has matured," Spock commented.

"That' s not what I meant, Spock," McCoy said. "But I don't expect either of you to get it."

Kirk looked to Spock, who remained characteristically straight faced. "That's right, Spock. We wouldn't understand. Being a grumpy divorcee who really needs to get…"

"Shut it, Jim! I'm doing fine without a woman. I don't have time for one anyway. Too busy."

"Here we are," Spock said.

"Time to go to work," Kirk added.

"Let's get it over with," McCoy sighed.

Secondary

"I don't understand why you are bringing this too me, Captain," Sulu said, bewildered. "Wouldn't Lt. Uhura be a better judge?"

"Listen, Hikaru," Kirk said conspiratorially. "I need another guy opinion. Is it ok that I call you Hikaru?"

"Sure, Captain," Sulu replied, still trying to make sense of the encounter.

"I decided to buy Christine a gift. Spock won't understand its nurturing appeal. Bones will find the sound it makes annoying. Scotty gave me the idea. And, well, Chekov is just a kid."

Kirk brought a small box from behind his back and presented it to Sulu. Sulu took it and immediately noticed that whatever was inside the box was moving. A muffled sound escaped from within.

Sulu eyed Kirk warily. "Is this a joke, Captain? Is some large spring activated snake going to jump out at me?"

Kirk smiled encouragingly. "Your caution is noted, Lt. But no, this is a genuine gift for nurse Chapel. Just open the box."

Sulu carefully lifted the navy blue lid from the square box. Before he even looked inside, he heard the chirp. It was a pleasant sound so he removed the lid completely.

"What do you think?" Kirk asked.

Sulu's eyes went wide with recognition. "Captain, this creature must be taken to the nearest airlock and ejected into deep space."

Kirk knitted his brow in consternation. "What? This little ball of fluff is nothing but cute and cuddly."

"Captain, it's a Tribble and it is a dangerous creature to have on board a starship. Don't you recall Admiral Johns lecture on how they disable The Constitution?"

"Must have been asleep," Kirk replied, petting the chirping Tribble. "Admiral Johns had that effect."

"If you give that thing to Christine, she'll like it, but we'll all pay a heavier price. I suggest a database search before giving it to her. Tribbles and The Constitution. Fascinating cautionary tail, Sir."

Transparency

Jim Kirk was uncomfortable and he didn't like it. The reason for his discomfort was on his way to Kirk's ready room. On any other occasion, it would be a pleasure to have Bones come to his office, but today, Jim had hard questions for his friend and CFO.

When Bones entered, he wouldn't look Jim in the eye. He looked overworked, tired, haggard, and a host of similar words.

"What is it, Jim?" McCoy growled. "I'm busy. Out of the blue summons to the Captain's office are a waste of my time."

Bones finally looked up. His eyes were sunken and hard. His shoulders were slumped but his stance was defiant.

"I wouldn't have called you, if it weren't important," Kirk replied, coolly.

"What's so important, Captain?" McCoy said adding a sarcastic edge to the last word.

Kirk, who had sitting on the front edge of his desk, stood. "What's going on with you, Bones? You're even moodier than normal."

"Is this really why you called me here, Jim? Some kind of pep talk? How long have you know me? For the most part, I'm not a happy guy."

"I know you've had some struggles, but you're attitude has changed for the worse in the last week or so. I was sure you'd be happy for Christine and me, but it seems to irritate you more than when I made you my wingman."

McCoy grimaced. "I really don't have time for this!" he declared and turned to leave.

"Doctor McCoy!" Kirk exclaimed, hardening his voice. "Stop right there. This is about more than you and me. I have had reports from at least a couple of different sources, that your bedside manner has gone from tame to tense; even hostile in some cases. Why are you raising your voice to crewman and scaring your nurses with aggravated tirades.

McCoy was nodding his head as he look at the floor.

"You have something to add, Doctor?"

"Damn straight I do," McCoy barked. "Now that you're dating one of my nurses, you have your owner little informant in Sickbay. Everything I do is going to get reported. Right?"

"Christine is concerned, Bones," Kirk said sympathetically. "Thing-"

"A Ha! I knew it! A God Damned spy! McCoy growled.

Kirk grabbed McCoy's shoulders and shook him. McCoy's arms came up from below breaking Kirk's grip. "Talk to me, Bones. Don't lock me out!"

"Keep your hands off me, Jim," he said, glaring coldly at his friend. "If you want to stay friends, you better steer clear of me for a while."

With that, McCoy left the office.

Kirk stood, silently, arms crossed, in the center of the room.

Habitual

Personal Log of Chief Medical Officer Leonard McCoy:

I hated losing my cool with the Captain. It made look bad and probably hurt the kid's feelings. I'm just sick and tired of being miserable and yet all the love and happiness around this place is driving me equally up a wall. I mean, damn, Spock and Jim both have girls and I'm sittin' her twiddling- Ah never mind.

I also didn't mean to say Christine Chapel was the Captain's spy in sickbay. I don't know where my head was; has been. Of all the people on this ship that need counseling, I considered myself at the bottom of the list. Perhaps that was a miscalculation.

Where is a ship's counselor when you need one?