Disclaimer: Still don't own Star Trek: The Original Series; it really is such a shame.
Author's note: Thanks so much for the reviews so far. I'm glad everyone seems to be loving this as much as I love writing it. I love hearing from you guys. :D
At 0945 the next morning, Kirk could be found sitting in his command chair on the bridge of the Enterprise, gazing out the view screen at the stars that flashed past as a result of being at warp speed. The sounds of buttons being pressed and switches flipped, along with the underlying musical tones of sensors and other machinery, all combined with the underlying roar of the warp engines as they hurled the graceful ship through space and ever closer to their destination. Having decided to nudge the speed of the ship up to warp six after the previous day's events, the Enterprise would be arriving at Starbase 14 in just under seven hours. Kirk would normally be looking forward to the upcoming shore leave that the base would offer, if his mind wasn't currently being occupied by the recent news he had received.
He had arrived on the bridge about fifteen minutes ago, immediately heading for his chair and sitting down. He had requested the regular status update from navigation and helm, receiving the simple answers of heading and the estimated arrival time. Uhura and Spock were at their stations, with the only other common members of the bridge crew, Sulu and Chekov, not yet due to arrive on shift until another three hours so that Sulu could handle the docking procedures. All was relatively quiet and as a result Yeoman Rand took full advantage of it to hand Kirk some reports to sign and check.
The reports were just crew and shore leave rotations for once they reached the base. Kirk quickly skimmed them over before signing them off. Reaching the last report, he found that it did not require a signature, which was odd to find in his daily paperwork. Kirk started to skim over this one as well, but stopped and read it back over carefully. A small frown graced his features and he handed the reports back to the yeoman with a thank you.
Now, Kirk rose from his seat and walked over to Spock's station, standing beside the Vulcan as the man turned to face the approaching captain. Kirk knew that Spock had not seen the report that he had read, since it was not official paperwork, but merely more of a notice that had been sent to the captain for more personal means. Meeting Spock's inquiring look, Kirk dropped his voice to a low whisper to keep their conversation private and proceeded to fill him in.
"I've just received a note from Nurse Chapel, Spock. In not so many words, it seems that she had to kick Bones out of Sickbay yesterday."
Spock's eyebrow lifted a bit on his forehead.
"Captain, I do not see how this behavior is in anyway unusual or worthy of special note. The doctor has shown on numerous occasions that he has a tendency to overwork himself while in Sickbay. Nurse Chapel has had to order him to his quarters before."
"Normally I would agree with you, Spock. However, Nurse Chapel's note stated that he was sent to his quarters because he suffered an...emotional breakdown."
He said the last two words in a tone akin to disbelief and both of Spock's eyebrows rose at Kirk's words.
"Fascinating. Was there a cause for this behavior?"
Kirk crossed both of his arms across his chest.
"That's just it, Spock. Nurse Chapel said it was caused by stress and too many long hours spent in Sickbay. No matter how I look at it, that just doesn't sound like the Bones I know. The overworking himself I can see, but not the part about it leading to an emotional breakdown."
"I must agree, Captain. The doctor has experience with demanding circumstances, both on the Enterprise and away from it over the years of his service and there has currently been no stressful events that have taken place for the past several weeks. Therefore it is illogical, based on past behavior and actions, for the doctor to succumb to a breakdown for the reasons given by Nurse Chapel."
Kirk was silent for a moment, his eyes wandering over Spock's science station as he thought about what Spock had said. After a few minutes, he met Spock's gaze again.
"Has his behavior seemed off at all recently?"
Spock thought back over the last several days, recalling any and all encounters with the doctor and reviewing his behavior.
"The doctor has exhibited an increase in his display of anger and a subsequent decrease in patience when interacting with others."
"I noticed that too. I'd swear he was just suffering from stress if you weren't right. When I think about it, there's been no real cause for him to be under any kind of stress at all. It's been very civil recently."
Kirk frowned at the floor in thought.
There has to be something wrong to make Bones act like this.
An idea suddenly coming to him, Kirk turned back to Spock, who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts as well.
"Could he be sick?"
Spock considered the question. It wasn't unusual for the doctor to dismiss his own health when focused on the health of others. In fact, such behavior had occurred far too many times during the Enterprise's missions for Spock's liking. For a man completely devoted to saving lives whenever he could, the doctor was often very negligent when it came to taking care of himself. As such, Spock could easily see McCoy hiding the fact that he was sick from both him and the captain. In fact, there was further proof that the doctor was not at optimal health as Spock thought back to the last time he'd seen McCoy in person, which had been at the Galley during the previous day. At that time, the doctor had remarked about suffering from headaches...
"It is a viable possibility, Captain, given Doctor McCoy's recent affliction."
Kirk looked at Spock in confusion for a minute before understanding flickered in his eyes.
"The headaches..."
Spock nodded his head in agreement.
"If the doctor is feeling ill, the headaches he has been suffering from could be a result of said illness. However, without more information on what Doctor McCoy has, it is difficult to ascertain for certain if that hypothesis is accurate."
"In that case, as soon as we reach Starbase 14 we'll just have to go and visit the good doctor ourselves and make him tell us what's wrong."
Feeling better now that they had a plan and some idea of what was wrong with McCoy, Kirk walked back to his captain's chair and sat down. With the Starbase still a few hours away, Kirk spent the time thinking about how he and Spock were going to confront Bones about whatever was bothering him. If he was sick, then Kirk would try to help him get over it in any way he could.
Exactly seven hours later, the Enterprise was docked at Starbase 14 and already letting off groups of crewmen for shore leave. The Starbase itself was well equipped with entertainment for the eager Enterprise crew. Shops, bars, and specialty restaurants that catered to different alien palates could be found around almost every turn. As a result of being one of the further bases from the heart of the Federation, Starbase 14 played host to many alien races around the quadrant; with Orion, Andorian, and the occasional Tellarite ship traversing the space daily.
Although Kirk had planned on going straight to McCoy's quarters once the Enterprise had docked, he instead found himself having to accompany Ambassador Poletsig to the transporter room. If he was honest with himself, Kirk would have to admit to having actually forgotten about the Ambassador even being on his ship. The captain had not really seen the man since leaving Covillis II. During the time traveling to the Starbase, Mark Poletsig had rarely, if ever, come out of his quarters.
Now, walking quietly towards the transporter room with the man, Kirk couldn't help but notice that the Ambassador seemed nervous. He was wringing his hands as if he didn't know what he wanted to do with them and even though the temperature was moderate on the ship, the Ambassador was sporting a slight sheen of sweat on his brow.
I wonder if he hit a snag in that treaty agreement of his...
As they walked into the transporter room, Kirk felt slightly curious over what was making the Ambassador seem so agitated. These thoughts were soon forgotten as the two men said good-bye, Kirk wishing the Ambassador good luck on settling the treaty with the Covilli, to which the Ambassador thanked him and gave a some-what forced looking smile, and then the captain had him safely beamed down to the base.
His urge to go check in on McCoy renewed, Kirk quickly made his way out of the transporter room and towards the nearest turbo lift.
On Deck 5, Kirk met up with Spock, who was standing to the side in the corridor and in front of the turbo lift that Kirk had just stepped out of. Not even questioning how Spock knew where he would be coming from, Kirk set off down the hallway and towards McCoy's room, Spock falling into step beside him.
"Is he still in his quarters?"
"Affirmative, Captain. The computer reports that the doctor has not left his room since mid-afternoon of yesterday. The time coincides with around the time that Nurse Chapel was said to order Doctor McCoy out of Sickbay and allowing for the estimated time it would have taken the doctor to reach his quarters."
Kirk wasn't sure what to make of that. For one thing, it was good for Kirk and Spock, since they didn't have to go hunting around the ship or the Starbase looking for McCoy. On the other hand, for McCoy to actually obey orders after almost twenty-four hours and not leave his room once during that time was enough to make Kirk concerned.
Perhaps Bones really was sick?
The two men finally made it to McCoy's door and stopped, waiting for the sensor to pick up their signatures and alert the occupant inside. They heard muffled voice say 'Come' from inside and the doors slide open.
Stepping inside they found McCoy standing in the middle of his room, sliding his blue science uniform over his head and overtop his black undershirt. Straightening it out, he nodded his head towards both men in greeting.
"Captain. Commander Spock."
Kirk blinked in surprise.
Why was he being so formal?
He brushed the thought away for now, more concerned as to how McCoy was doing. Before he could say anything though, Spock beat him to it.
"Doctor, are you well?"
McCoy's face wore a bland expression as he folded his hands behind his back, similar to the position Spock frequently used.
"Yes , Mister Spock. I have rested through the night and am now ready to return to my duties as ship's doctor."
"Whoa, now wait a minute, Bones. Can you tell us what happened? Nurse Chapel said you had a breakdown in Sickbay."
McCoy turned his gaze to Kirk. He noticed that the doctor's blue eyes, normally full of warmth and expression, looked flat and dull.
I don't care what he says, he's definitely not over whatever it is he has.
"Nurse Chapel would be correct, however it has now passed. I am completely healthy."
Kirk didn't buy it.
"Well even if you say so, Bones, I'm still going to have to keep you out of Sickbay until Nurse Chapel clears you. As a matter of fact, I believe she banned you from stepping into Sickbay until after shore leave was finished."
Kirk was bluffing and was waiting for McCoy to call him on it. Instead, McCoy surprised him.
"Very well, Captain. I assume you both will be joining me on the Starbase?"
Spock jumped in to respond before Kirk could.
"Indeed, Doctor. We shall follow you to the transporter room."
With a nod of acceptance McCoy stepped between Kirk and Spock and walked through the doors that slid open. Following behind him, Kirk turned to Spock, a slightly bewildered expression on his face.
"Spock, why's McCoy acting this way? I can't believe that a simple illness is causing this."
Spock didn't respond immediately, simply watching McCoy in front of them as they walked. When he did respond, his baritone voice had a hushed quality to it.
"Without further observations I cannot say for certain, Jim. We will have to be patient and keep an eye on the doctor for now."
The fact that Spock had called him Jim did not escape Kirk. If anything it showed him how concerned for McCoy the Vulcan was, which only served to make Kirk's own worries grow.