Chapter Four: Preventive measures.
The food area was close to full, a fact Spock had counted on. Otherwise it may have been uncomfortable.
He sat at the table solitary and ignored for the all the sexual games being played around him. Already several Ensigns and Technicians had successfully flirted and obtained company for the night. Why humans spent so much time on the pursuit of physical pleasure was beyond him. In his own estimation the ship would have faired much better with a castrated crew and all the women in medieval chastity belts. Although then, in all odds, Kirk would have made a sport of collecting the keys.
One of the crewmembers to leave early was Lieutenant Uhura. She had centered on her prey and secured him with little maneuvering. As always, she chose a man below her station and he seemed grateful for the attention. The man left early and Uhura watched him leave with hungry eyes. As she spotted the Vulcan, a look of surprise crossed her face and she stood and made her way to where Spock was sitting.
"I've rarely seen you here," she said sitting down, uninvited, at the table. "Embracing your humanity for once?"
The Officer looked at the suggestion with contempt. "Hardly. I am waiting for Chapel to arrive. But it is not for pleasure only business."
The woman laughed. "Oh honey, you have made a huge mistake. To be so smart when it comes to logic and to be so foolish when it comes to matters of emotion…"
Spock raised an eyebrow. "I have estimated that Chapel may get some emotional notion into her head so I took the precaution of asking her here in public."
Uhura shook her head in disbelief. "Do you think that matters? That poor girl would do anything for you and you're playing with her heart. Doesn't matter if it's 'business'. Sulu was here moments ago trying to do a little 'business' with me."
The suggestion that Chapel may get the wrong idea despite the precautions he had taken was extremely irritating to the Vulcan. Yet, as the doors opened and Chapel appeared obviously having spent too much time on her appearance, Spock realized that the Lieutenant was correct in her assumptions.
Uhura smiled. "Good luck," she whispered and left the table.
Christine shot her a jealous look as she walked by but tried to brighten as she approached the table.
"Hello Mr. Spock," she said softly.
"Chapel," Spock said coldly and motioned her to sit where the Lieutenant had just left.
"You don't know how happy …" she began.
"I called you here to talk about McCoy," Spock interrupted his voice holding no warmth and care to whether she was happy to be in his company or not. He felt little regret that she had somehow gotten the wrong idea. He had taken every chance to avoid that possibility and it was not his fault that he had failed.
"Doctor McCoy?' she said surprised as she sat.
"You know our mission," the man continued despite the woman's confusion. "We are to help the Empire in its desire to control and occupy space."
Chapel nodded still somewhat unsure.
"It is my job to not only aid the Captain but insure that the safety of this crew and that our mission remains intact. I cannot do this with an intoxicated physician on board."
Now the woman completely understood what the man was trying to say and that she had misunderstood his intent. "I'm not the Doctor's keeper," she spat out bitterly.
"But you are aware of the rumor spreading concerning McCoy?"
Chapel nodded. "Yes but he isn't here is he?"
"That is beside the point," Spock stated. "It is what he does in the safety of his quarters that concerns me."
Chapel smirked. "If you are so concerned with what McCoy does alone in his quarters why don't you go and find out yourself. Add another rumor to the rest."
There was an undercurrent of something the woman considered to be an insult in her words but he ignored it completely. "If I was there he would not drink in front of me," Spock reasoned.
"Find other things to do to keep yourselves occupied," Chapel said and her voice was filled with hostility borne of hurt and pain. Her face contorted with rare anger and Spock realized that the woman was different from when he had first met her. Her vulnerability was gradually being replaced by distance, cynicism and rage.
"I am merely curious to see if you know if the rumor is correct."
"You spend so much time in one another's face don't you think you would have smelt it?"
"Yes. I have considered this," Spock informed. "His breath is pure. Still he is a Doctor and there heave been many way to cover up the scent."
Christine folded her arms and looked at the Vulcan. "Always an answer?"
Spock looked at her waiting. She sighed. "I think the rumors aren't exactly false. I've seen him a few times…well not in complete control."
"Has he ever made a pass at you?" Spock asked.
Something about the question made Chapel look at the Vulcan sharply. While in another man she would have had some belief that it was asked out of jealousy for her sake, she knew this was not the case and the insults she had thrown at Spock about the Doctor seemed to turn around and wound her instead. "No," the Nurse said. "He's as bad as you in some ways."
She paused and looked at the table, suddenly remorseful. "I say that like I'm upset… But McCoy has been good to me. I don't have to tell you that most men I worked under… Well I worked under literally. Not Doctor McCoy. He's been nothing but good to me and he treats me more like a sister than a sex object."
The words comforted the First Officer. "Will you promise to let me know if it gets out of control?"
Chapel nodded.
Spock stood but the woman placed her hand over the Vulcan's preventing him from leaving. "Why not stay here with me?" she said persuasively. "One night wouldn't hurt would it?"
Spock removed the woman's hand. "That is not the way it works for me."
"Would you mind telling me what works exactly?" she asked desperately.
He looked at her and knew that there was little he could offer her and sympathy was not a way for a true Vulcan.
"Patience," he answered, knowing that even if the Nurse had all the patience a human could find it would still do no good for she wanted his love and she had not managed to lure the affection from him.
Still, she looked more hopeful than sad and he could leave her without blame trying to break through the wall he had built around his human side long ago, and without any need to fight sympathy, which he had no right to feel.
McCoy was awake in his room. An empty bottle lay on his table.
His room was barren. He had little to bring on board. Not a single photograph that would not cause a sting of pain or a memento not tied to regret.
He had brought a rather large selection of ales, brew, beers and anything else that could drown misery when it crept in as he let it more and more often these days.
Lost in a fog, he still managed to hear his door sound. He was going to ignore it but after 15 long minutes of suffering the sound he surrendered.
"Whoever the hell you are I'd love to see where you get your patience from," the Doctor mumbled as he stood.
Pushing a button, the door slid open and revealed Spock.
"Figures," McCoy mumbled.
Spock ignored the slurred word as he did with anything not worthy of his time.
"May I come in?"
McCoy looked to the table and flushed as his eyes rested on the empty bottle. He chose to mask his shame in irritation. "Well of course," McCoy smiled. "But on the condition you let me take that sample tissue I've been asking for for so long."
Spock raised and unimpressed eyebrow and turned to leave.
"I was just joking you awful Vulcan!" McCoy shouted out.
Spock stopped, turned and returned. "I have never been here," the First Officer said as he looked around.
"There's not much to see," McCoy said trying to steady himself.
"Well it matters little," the Vulcan said. "I came to talk to you."
"I presumed as much," the Doctor said. "Why?"
"I heard Kirk's comments to you," the Vulcan stated. "Infact I believe that most of the Bridge heard it."
No sarcastic remark came to McCoy's mind or lips.
"The statement has validity, I can see from your expression."
"What does it matter to you anyway?" McCoy threw the question at the other man.
"It matters to this crew and that is what matters to me," Spock replied.
"Death is as common as a sneeze aboard this ship. No one cares," McCoy rebuffed. "I don't see why you should."
Spock studied the human. "And to gather strength or apathy you've resorted to getting drunk to hide your own care. You are far too sentimental."
The judgment was not unexpected. McCoy had felt that way often himself.
"You can relieve me then," McCoy said. "Or get Kirk too."
"I don't want to do that."
The statement was unexpected.
"Why not?" The Doctor demanded. He felt his heart racing for a moment.
"First you are a good Doctor. The best in the field. Second I do not wish a new one to come on board. I will confess that you are not the first to be interested in… studying me in the name of Science."
It was clear that the Vulcan meant every word and McCoy was flattered in spite of himself.
"You're afraid someone else may push their authority and actually get the proper papers?"
Spock nodded. "Yes. Your sentimentality, though foolish, has protected me. You cannot bring yourself to force your hand."
"Is there a thank you in their somewhere?" McCoy said, his head feeling less fuzzy from the shock of the Vulcan being so open."
"If there is you can take it," the First Officer nodded but remained as cold has ever. "However if you continue to build on the reputation you have for retreating to alcohol as a solution you will not be useful here and we will fail in our mission. No matter how strongly I want to retain my privacy, I can't endanger the mission of the Terran Empire."
The redness returned to the human's face. "What do you plan to do to stop me?" McCoy inquired.
"I am not completely sure," the science Officer said eyeing the physician. "I could use force but I don't think that is the right decision to make."
"Logical of you," McCoy smirked.
"Nevertheless, have little doubt that I will find a way."
McCoy eyed his sparring partner. "Very kind of you caring for my personal safety."
Spock coldly met the other man's gaze. "I care about the mission's safety not yours."
The Vulcan strode out the door.
"Well thanks anyway. Maybe one night I'll take to visiting your quarters unasked," McCoy shouted out.
The Vulcan turned and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. The comment lay between them, awkward for the human who would openly admit to such emotions. McCoy went to reply but the door shut before he could explain himself sealing him off from the other man.