It is the worst of times.
Every year, he has to do the routine check-ups for the crew. It's standard procedure and Bones has never had a problem with it, really, except this year they decided to add STD testing due to too many on-ship romances. So now he gets to spend his month reading test tubes of skin samples or slides for cervical cancer, injecting penicillin into people's asses and being glared at by Spock for examining his girlfriend.
Bones is professional and efficient and everyone is very surprised and impressed by how un-embarrassing he makes the whole thing. It's still awkward though, when Scotty gets nervous and starts cracking bad doctor jokes, and he still almost gets put in the Vulcan hand grip by Spock when he kindly refuses to let him in to the Med Lab while he's examining Uhura.
That examination, by the way, is completely boring. He prods, he pokes and measures. It's simple.
Well, it's simple until she opens her mouth.
"I think Kirk's been avoiding you."
He glances up from the needle he's filling for her RGN vaccination with a start. Fuck. He knows those eyes. She knows.
She gives him a small smile and raises her eyebrows.
"You know, there might be a reason he won't come in for his checkup. And it's definitely not because he…he knows. You would know if he knew about…that. You shouldn't be afraid of…knowing….that he knows. I think. God. Sorry. I'm making no sense. What I mean to express to you is that I think he might return your feeli-…"
He shoves her vaccine into her arm (not forcefully. He is a good doctor) and she breaks off with a small cry.
"Now, will you please stand on that scale for me, Lieutenant Uhura?"
She stares at him, and he holds her eyes. She knows, but that doesn't give her the right to talk about it, and she should know that. It's his secret, damnit.
Silently, she bows her head and steps onto the scale, respecting his choice.
When she walks out somber and quiet from his examining booth, Spock threatens to report him.
He laughs and turns away. He always has bigger things to worry about.
(This is when Vulcan Grip #2 almost occurs)
AN: I know they are hideously short and irritating and are never updated, but will you review? for me? I'd love it. And would post more.