"Damn check-up days. Make a man want to just shoot out into space with out a breathing apparatus," Dr. McCoy grumbled irritably.

"Zurely ze are-ent zat bad doctore," Chekov beamed out from where he was sitting.

"Sure, till its four o'clock in the afternoon and all of engineering realizes they've forgotten about it and then they come rushing in, all expecting to have an appointment at the same time," the Doctor grumbled.

"Surely you can't think that badly of us engineers, some of us try at least," a new, distinctly female, voice said from next to them.

"Well, if they were as punctual as you Cadet Underwood then I wouldn't have to be so harsh," McCoy responded, turning to the Cadet.

Cadet Madeline Underwood was one of the few engineers he could rely on not getting herself into random accidents. She was young and fresh out of the academy. Personally, he wondered why she wasted her time on engineering. It seemed she knew how to deal with some small, medical emergencies, and upon asking would only reply, "I had four rough, younger brothers, what else was I supposed to do?"

"I wouldn't be too harsh on them Sir, they can only try to do what they know best, and that isn't medical safety," Madeline smiled back.

"Let's just get this over with Cadet," McCoy sighed, grabbing a hypospray.

"I am telling you Spock, it is illogical for me to be getting more of those things stuck in my neck, and I still have bruises from last month! I think you would understand that out of all people!"

"Sir it is logical to do this. It would be illogical to not get it and be out of commission for an extended period of time."

"But I'm fine now, and right now I have a ship to run! Let me promise you something, if I feel the least bit sick anytime soon, I'll whip down here and get one of those stick thingies jabbed into my neck by Bones, okay?"

"And it wouldn't do a damn thing Jim, these are for before you get sick, not after," Bones called out to him, focusing on Madeline's neck, and injecting her with the latest vaccine.

"But I know you have something for me afterwards Bones and that's what counts," Jim called over his shoulder, turning to the lifts doors.

"Commander Spock," Bones, giving him a look.

"Understood Doctor McCoy," Spock responded, grabbing his Captain in a vice like grip and marching him over to the table Madeline was sitting on.

"If you would Cadet," he hinted, and she jumped off the table.

"Ah! Aha! A sane person! Please my beautiful darling, tell them what they're doing is completely irrational and could be considered mutiny?"

"According to code 143, the chief medical officers' orders over-ride the Captain's in certain cases. I'm sorry sir, but anything I try to do will be thwarted," Madeline answered back a serious face, but joking eyes.

"All right then Cadet, you are going on my list of not so favorite people, right after these two," he warned.

"Sir, how could I fight off two strong, buff men? I am simply a wimpy engineer. I really can't do anything," she teased back.

"Well then I'll have to-FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! COULD YOU STICK IT IN HARDER BONES!" he thundered at his friend.

"Yeah, I could. Want me to have another go?" Bones asked sarcastically.

"Oh no you don't. I'm outta here. Good luck Cadet…?"
"Underwood, Cadet Madeline Underwood."

"Have I met you before?" James asked, pointing a lazy finger at her.

"Yes we had a class together and were partners for the final project."

"Oh crap, this doesn't sound good. Let me guess, you pulled all the weight?"

"More or less. I had a friend who was willing to help but it was pretty tough, especially on the day we were supposed to present."

"What did I do?"
"Showed up with a massive hangover," she answered lightly as if answering the question of 'what's two plus two?'

"I apologize for that, and probably all the times I tried to hit on you during said project."

Madeline began walking towards the door. "I figured it would happen."

"Why is that?" he asked trying to keep up conversation.

She pressed the button and the door opened to lift. She stepped inside and turned around.

"Because that's what James T. Kirk did." She replied with a shrug of her shoulders as the doors closed. As soon as they did, she let out a whoosh of air before sliding down the wall to sit on the floor of the lift. Since when did she have the confidence to have flirtatious banter with the youngest and undoubtedly the hottest captain in Starfleet?

"God, please don't let him be interested in me!"