Recap:

Brittany going against the wishes of her mother and ex-fiancé, she decides to embark to Starfleet Academy on Earth to finish her research.

Six Months Later:

Brittany had arrived at Starfleet Academy six months ago and since then she had made no friends. She still attempted to hide her ears amongst the human she worked with until one day; she forgot. She rarely forgot to do anything; for that was not the Vulcan way. But, she had been requested to visit with her superiors. They had requested to see her, because they wished to offer her a job. They were impressed with her initiative and her research. They offered to have her become a certified medical officer in one year. She was made aware that this was a greatly accelerated pace as most medical officers and she was guaranteed to be made Chief Medical Officer of a starship in less than two. She gladly accepted the additional training and certifications. She was after all unsure how Vulcan would welcome her back...and also concerned about her mother.

She arrived to one of the required courses for her Starfleet certification. The course was a lab and she was paired with a human man. He seemed alright, but she was uncertain if he would remark about her ears. They were ordered for the course to create an artificial knee joint for both a male and female human. Brittany had great proficient at this skill, but her counterpart she was unsure. She noticed as she was working on her joints that her partner kept staring at her. She at first tried to ignore her, but after an hour she felt as if she should say something. When she finally looked over to her partner, she was surprised to see that he was done and by the looks of it for a while now. Perhaps he has been finished for a while, is that why he has been staring?

Man: I couldn't help but noticed...your ears-

Brittany: Yes, what about them? I have you seen staring for quite some time. Have you been calculating and formulating a derogatory comment?

Brittany could feel herself getting worked up, but she attempted to suppress the feelings.

Man: No, not at all. I have not teased girls about their ears since I was five, ma'am. And even then, it was merely a way for me to show my love for them.

Brittany was a bit confused, but she dare not show it. She turned her head from her work and looked at him.

Brittany: Then what?

Man: I was merely going to remark that Vulcan ears must prove to be superior to our human ears. The way they look even proves to be more elegant.

Brittany was somewhat surprised at the mans words. Was he complimenting me? Or my ears? Or my genetics?

Brittany: I see.

Man: And to that point, I must ask. If I am not too forward, are you half Vulcan and half Human?

Brittany: [shocked, but never letting it show] Yes. How could you-

Man: Your eyes. They are too expressive to be Vulcan. Not that expressive is a bad thing, I meant only to tell you who I could tell. But, where are my manners? My name is Dr. Leonard McCoy, but everyone calls me Bones.

Brittany: [raising her eyebrow] Bones? Is this a medical joke that I am not privy too?

McCoy: Oh, no. It's a nickname I gave myself after I divorced my wife. You see, she took everything and so all I had left was my bones. That's how I got the name,

Brittany: Why Bones? Why not Skin? Limbs? Or would not be better suited to say Brains? Seeing as you are of a profession that requires Brains.

McCoy: Hmm. Is this the Vulcan Logic, I have heard so much about?

Brittany: Yes.

McCoy: I see. Well, I guess you could just say to human Bones is a more acceptable nickname that the ones you presented.

Brittany: Ah. I can understand that. Thank you for clarifying.

McCoy: I see you are still working on your joints. Did you need some help?

Brittany: Vulcans rarely need help. And yes, I am still working on the joints, but I have already complete my male human and female human ones. And, I have finished a male Vulcan joint and just about to finish a female Vulcan joint.

McCoy: Wow.

Brittany. Indeed.

There was a bit of pause and McCoy or Bones continued to look at Brittany. As Brittany was finishing her joints and clearing her station.

Brittany: Still admiring my ears?

McCoy: No, I was wondering if on Vulcan it was impolite not to introduce yourself after a stranger has made an introduction?

Brittany felt a pang of discomfort. He is right. I don't socialize often and so I am rusty on my social etiquette.

Brittany: You are correct. As a...what is the correct term...a half-breed, I find that neither humans nor Vulcans tend to socialize with me and so I am unaccustomed to having to make my name known.

McCoy: Well, I don't know who you have met, but you are clearly hanging out with the wrong people.

Brittany: Perhaps. Anyhow, my name is Brittany T'Martilina. I have four medical degrees and am proficient to be a medical doctor to humans, Vulcan, Romulans, and Orions. My medical degrees are specialization in the heart, brain, blood, and urgent.

McCoy: Urgent?

Brittany: Yes, I have trained in the dark, in the desert, in the snow, and other environment performing surgeries of low and high complexities with little or no tools on various species.

McCoy: Wow. You truly put the rest of us to shame.

Brittany: That was not my objective in undertaking these specializations

McCoy: I know. I was only joking. Jeez, you need to lighten up a bit.

Brittany gave him somewhat of a quizzical look, but he understood that she did not understand him

McCoy: Well, let me tell you what. The least I can do you for- on behalf of humankind- is take you out tonight as an apology for our behavior.

Brittany: Take me out?

McCoy: Yes, you know like get something to eat, drink, meet some of my friends.

Brittany: I see. What time?

McCoy: How about now? This lab is almost over and the place I am thinking about is just a short walk.

Brittany: I don't have any money. I would have to go ba-

McCoy: No worries, I'll cover your food and drinks. Wait, you Vulcans don't have like four stomachs- do you? [half laughing and half nervous]

Brittany: No. Only Two. [she says with an attempted smile]

McCoy: Wow. You should really do that more.

Brittany: What? [Brittany asked almost alarmed]

McCoy: Smile. [he said smiling]

Brittany: Oh.

McCoy: Well, come on. I want you to meet my good friend Jim.

Brittany was unsure what was going to happen after they left the lab. She had never had a friend before. She had never had anyone compliment her on her ears or her smile. Bones was sure peculiar, but nice. It was so foreign to Brittany that she was not sure if she should trust him completely.