Disclaimer: Star Trek: The Original Series does not belong to me; if anything it belongs to the 23rd century.
Fifteen minutes later, the three men walked into Transporter Room 5, McCoy entering first and immediately stepping onto the transporter platform, none of his usual hesitancy and fear over the idea of having his atoms scattered across space noticeable. Kirk and Spock followed, taking their positions on the pad beside him. The captain directed his sight towards the control panel, the ensign manning the transporter at attention in the presence of the senior officers of the Enterprise.
"Three to beam down to the station."
"Aye, sir."
Without another word the ensign shifted his attention to the panel in front of him and adjusted the settings, pushing the final three controls forward as the sparkling effect of the transporter took hold of the officers, dematerializing them in a field of energy. When they rematerialized on the platform of the station, they quickly stepping down so as not to impede travel on and off the base.
At this hour of the evening Starbase 14 had a steady flow of people wandering the deck, most heading for the restaurants and bars with companions, while others milled about the stalls and specialty shops scattered across the station, purchasing or browsing the items for those that they found interesting.
Kirk set off across the promenade without a word, knowing where he wanted to go and expecting his two friends to follow closely behind him. They didn't disappoint, McCoy at Kirk's heels and Spock close behind as they weaved through the crowds and dodged around the stray inattentive person.
Spock was unsure where the captain planned on taking them, but didn't hesitate to keep up, his eyes on the doctor, watching his movements, while his mind sorted through the facts he did know and possible links as to the cause of Doctor McCoy's new behavior. A picture was forming, but to Spock it was similar to having part of the puzzle complete, but at the same time the rest of the pieces were hidden away with still no idea as to what would be constructed upon completion. Spock was not incredibly worried though. If there was one thing he enjoyed and prided himself on it was the ability to logically sort through a problem and figure out the issue, as well as forming a response that would solve the problem before it became worse. The only thing that did make Spock uncomfortable was the fact that all of the problems seemed to center around McCoy.
The doctor was Spock's friend and though they rarely saw eye to eye, indeed many of their discussions were known throughout the Enterprise, Spock found he disliked the idea of anything happening to him. As he watched McCoy try to keep pace with Kirk through the crowds, Spock was sure of only one thing. Whatever was happening to the doctor had not come from any sickness. Only an outside influence could have caused whatever was afflicting McCoy.
At that moment, Kirk seemed to have reached his destination. In a less cluttered area of the station, he faced the entranceway of what appeared to be a dining establishment. However, at this time in the relative evening the dining was more or less replaced by drinking, which was apparent by the number of humans and other species that drunkenly stumbled out of the place, either alone or with the support of their companions.
As Kirk continued inside with McCoy, part of Spock inwardly frowned at the captain's choice of setting for discussion as he trailed after the two men. He would have assumed Kirk would want to stay sober during the questions with the doctor that Spock knew would take place. It was clear that Kirk's choosing of this location was so that the captain could partake in the alcohol served there.
Inside, the area was dimly lit, the only light being provided by lamps that hung low over darkly colored wooden square tables spread out across the floor. A bar stood in the left corner of the establishment, surrounded by people ordering drinks or laughing as they made conversation with the bartenders and others nearby. Those that sat at the tables were either in groups, where stories and gossip could be overheard being shared, or being used by couples as they chatted and divulged in intimate behavior.
Kirk had already wandered over to a corner table, where he sat down at one of the two non-backed cushioned booths that ran the length of the table. Spock and McCoy soon join him, with McCoy sitting next to Kirk and Spock taking the booth across from the two men. A few minutes after sitting down, a waitress walks purposely to their table and asks what they would like, Kirk giving her one of his charming smiles.
"Scotch for me."
"A water will be fine, ma'am."
Kirk turns to McCoy, a small frown touching the corners of his mouth. Spock simply informs the woman that he will require nothing.
"Water, Bones? I would have thought you'd go for a mint julep. You'd told me it's been weeks since you tasted one."
"Well, you thought wrong, Captain."
Although the doctor's southern drawl was still present, the tone of his voice as he spoke was completely flat. There was none of the amusement or possible irritation that Kirk's statement might have usually drawn out.
The waitress left after taking their orders and McCoy took to looking around the room, his sight occasionally settling on people talking or walking in and out of the area before moving on. Kirk caught Spock's eye and in unspoken agreement they decided that it was time to try and crack the problem that was McCoy. Kirk began as Spock silently listened and paid attention to each word.
"Bones, I think it's time you answered some questions."
McCoy's gaze immediately focused on Kirk, his face still presenting an impassive mask.
"If you want, Captain. I'll answer as best as I can."
"Good, let's start with what happened in Sickbay yesterday."
"I was simply ill. Nurse Chapel wisely sent me to my quarters where I was able to rest. I'm fine now."
Spock joined in the conversation then, noting the doctor's words and wishing to question it further.
"What were you ill from, Doctor?"
"Stress."
"What was its cause?"
At this, McCoy paused, his blank eyes remained staring fixedly at Spock for several moments. In that moment, the waitress decided to turn up with the drinks that had been ordering, setting them down in front of Kirk and McCoy. Kirk, with his attention still trained on McCoy, proceeded to wave her off with his hand when she asked if there was anything else she could do for them, causing her to leave and head for her next table. McCoy lifted his glass of water, staring at it before lifting his eyes to Spock again, answering the question slowly before taking a drink.
"I can't say."
Kirk's expression became confused at McCoy's answer, his hand grabbing his own drink, though not consuming it as he tried to understand what the doctor meant.
"What do you mean? Why can't you say?"
"Because there was more than one cause, Captain. I can't pick just one."
"Please tell them all to us, Doctor."
McCoy answered Spock's request in a manner almost robotic in nature. Both Kirk and Spock listened with serious faces, knowing that in the doctor's list there could be the answer for their friend's current behavior.
"There was the over-working, lack of rest, patients coming into Sickbay for simple things, emotion instability, and having to deal with both of you."
The last reason might have struck Kirk and Spock as a joke if it hadn't seemed so unlikely for McCoy to be making one in his current state. However, one cause did seem to strike both men's attention at the same time, as Kirk's face changed from serious to surprised, both of his eyebrows jumping upward on his forehead, and one of Spock's own lifting higher than the other.
Spock mulled the thought over in his mind. Emotional instability. Of the causes given by McCoy, it was the only irregular one that stood out from the others. He knew that the doctor was capable of handling the other reasons, since they were a common occurrence in his profession and some of it was even brought on by actions the doctor had indulged in himself, namely the over-working and lack of rest. The emotional instability however, was different. In the time that Spock had come to know Doctor McCoy on the Enterprise, he had observed that, though very willing to show an excessive amount of emotion during every aspect of his daily life, the man had never shown any loss of control over those emotions. There had been the occasional burst of misdirected anger, but McCoy's emotions had always served the doctor's purpose. Spock recognized that for McCoy not to have complete control over his emotions, stress as a consequence was almost expected. Spock admitted that he himself would experience some stress if the control over his emotions slipped unwillingly.
The disclosure of emotional instability on McCoy's part also gave new light to past behaviors. Spock remembered the anger and annoyance the doctor had displayed over the last couple of days, which seemed to strike out at anyone it could get to, when normally the doctor would react with cheer and warmth towards everyone around him. Spock also came to the conclusion that the emotional breakdown that Nurse Chapel had witnessed had to have been a result of the doctor losing more control than normal, allowing his emotions more of an opening than they originally would have had.
As Spock looked at McCoy now, he could say he understood a bit more of the cause that had led to him and the captain finding the doctor in his quarters, but the how and why that led to his emotional instability and his current condition still eluded the Vulcan. He decided that the quickest way to find answers was to simply ask.
"Doctor, how long have you been emotionally unstable?"
McCoy looked thoughtful for a moment, staring down at the wooden table. Spock speculated that he was attempting to trace back through his memories for an answer. Kirk picked up his glass and downed some of the liquid within as he leaned his elbows across the surface of the table, concern clearly written on his features as he watched and waited for McCoy to answer.
"I would say about three or so days ago. That's the earliest I can recall something different with my emotions. Yesterday was when I realized what it was."
Spock leaned forward on the table, his fingers interlaced before him as he regarded McCoy.
"You do not appear to be emotional unstable now. What changed?"
"Nothing. I did my best to fix it and it seems to have worked."
A frown appeared on both men at McCoy's words, Kirk's gracing his features more than Spock's did. Both men knew from watching McCoy that whatever he had done to 'fix' his emotions had not resulted in overly positive results. Kirk spoke up first in an attempt to contest the doctor's words.
"I don't think so, Bones. Whatever you've done to yourself, you've changed. You're not the same."
"What do you mean, Captain?"
"Well first off, there's the way you keep addressing me. Since when do you keep calling me captain? I expect that from Spock, but you...you've never been shy about calling me Jim before, Bones. Why start now?"
Spock added to the captain's statement as his thoughts went back to when he and Kirk had walked into McCoy's quarters on the ship.
"You have also referred to me as Commander, Doctor. You have never done so before."
McCoy looked between the two of them. Spock's face wore its normal blankness, though his eyes were intent on the doctor's, while Kirk looked firmly at McCoy, his body language screaming that he expected answers and he wasn't going anywhere until he got them.
"Those are your ranks. Being in Starfleet requires that ranks be respected and acknowledged, especially those of the captain and first officer. I'll admit I have been rather familiar in the past, but being so friendly is a breach of conduct, which I am now trying to correct."
Kirk blinked, momentarily stunned, a sad and hurt look coming across his features. Downing the last of his drink, he stared at the empty glass for a few moments before dragging his gaze back to McCoy.
"Does that mean we're no longer friends, Bones?"
McCoy opened his mouth to reply, but hesitated and closed it again. His eyes shifted between Kirk and Spock as he considered the question. Every moment that passed caused Kirk's body to grow more tense, his hands curling into fists on top of the table. After what seemed like an eternity, McCoy suddenly straightened in his seat, his eyes direct and unblinking as he looked at both Kirk and Spock, who both were practically holding their breaths waiting for an answer.
"You will always be my friends."
All of the tension in Kirk's body left in a rush and he let out a large sigh, smiling brightly at McCoy. Spock also inwardly relaxed, although not letting it show outwardly just how nervous he had been about the doctor's answer.
Suddenly, a large explosion boomed from somewhere and a shudder went through the station. The red alert lights and klaxon began to go off and all three men rose quickly from their seats. Muffled screaming could be heard from outside of the dining area and Kirk let out a half groan, have growl as he took off towards to central area they had been in earlier, Spock and McCoy on his heels.
"Damn. What now?"