A/N: So I'm not exactly one full chap in advance like i wanted to be, but I really wanted to update so I'm breaking my rule. Cure my lack of will power. I also apologize for promising that romance would ensue after chapter two and it still hasn't... haha I just realized that the story would end up too much like quick fix, which is not what I want it to be, and your theories will be confirmed soon enough :) I like hearing them! It's really interesting. Thanks for the reviews so far.

~FOR FUN~ in chapter's four and five I have hidden two non Star Trek related easter eggs referring to two great films. Whoever can point them out in a review (aka quote it and say what film they're from) will receive my eternal love :) EXCEPT FOR NOLETA. You are NOT allowed to guess on my review. Just tell me in person. lol

I ONLY OWN THE PLOT. THE CHARACTERS, IDEAS, TERMINOLOGY, LAYOUT OF THE ENTERPRISE, ETC BELONG TO THE BRILLIANT CREATORS OF STAR TREK, FROM GENE RODDENBERRY TO J.J. ABRAMS. THIS APPLIES TO THIS CHAPTER AND ALL THE CHAPTERS THAT FOLLOW IN MY FIC. I THANK THEM FOR THEIR BRILLIANCE AND INSPIRATION.

4. Hit and Run

Doctor McCoy stepped out of the turbolift and onto the bridge. As much as he hated to admit it, Spock had the bridge crew organized at their posts, and everything seemed to be in perfect order. He had done a good job keeping everyone in order over the past two hours, and McCoy was sure that he would be able to take command and run everything smoothly until their Captain felt fully recovered. He studied the bridge crew working at their posts, keeping the enterprise on course, until Spock called for his attention. He walked over to the Vulcan standing next to the Captain's chair.

"What, Spock, are you not going to sit in it?" Bones prodded as he tossed his head in the direction of the chair. "That's what it's there for."

"I do not believe that I have the authority to sit in the Captain's chair, under the circumstance that I am not the captain of this ship, Doctor." Spock stated bluntly before continuing. "That is the very matter for which I have called you to the bridge, if you did not already assume so. How is our Captain?" he asked.

"He woke up about five minutes before you called me up. His vitals are all normal, but a combined effect of heavy drinking and lack of oxygen has left him with a pretty harsh headache." McCoy informed the First Officer. "He also seems to be suffering from some light sensitivity and opening his eyes causes him discomfort." he threw in.

"No doubt also due to his extensive intake of alcohol and oxygen deprivation." Spock chimed in.

"The worst possible hangover you could ever imagine having to experience." Bones joked.

"I'm sorry, Doctor, but I am unable to sympathize due to the fact that, although Vulcans and Humans do share a similar physiology, the after effects of excessive alcohol intake that you refer to as 'a hangover' is very different between our species." he informed the Doctor. McCoy cursed under his breath.

"Do tell."

"Doctor McCoy, I'd like to inform you that although the use of sarcasm is nonexistent in Vulcan culture, we are very aware of its use." he scolded. "Now, because you were so interested…" Bones rolled his eyes, unable to believe that a Vulcan was about to give him a lesson in biology. That was unacceptable. "… the side-effects of a Vulcan 'hangover' consist of a feeling of nausea along with joint pain."

"Thanks for letting me know." the Doctor grumbled. Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Is there anything else of importance that I should know about our Captain?" he asked.

"Nothing you don't already know…" Bones said with a tone that Spock wasn't sure whether to interpret it as frustration or worry. He had to admit that out of the many humans he had become closely acquainted with, this doctor was particularly hard to read.

"Then you are dismissed. Thank you Doctor. I only request that you keep me updated on his condition until he has fully recovered."

McCoy nodded and turned to leave the bridge when he noticed Chekov staring at him, his worried eyes exposing each and every one of his thoughts. He went over to the ensign and put a hand on his shoulder.

"How is he, docter?" Chekov asked.

"He just woke up, and he should be back on duty before we arrive. Don't worry Pavel." he soothed the best he knew how. Damnit, I'm no good at this. Bones thought. "If you want you can pay him a visit later."

Chekov tightened his lips, unable to hide his worry, and nodded quickly. McCoy's words were just beginning to calm him until Nurse Chapel's anxious voice rang through the bridge.

"Doctor McCoy, I need your assistance in the sickbay. There's a slight problem."

At her words, the entire bridge crew looked at the Doctor questioningly, and he bolted for the turbolift without hesitation.

Kirk kept his eyes off of Christine, and turned his head awkwardly to the side in order to avoid doing so. She obviously triggered an unfamiliar, and what Kirk considered to be horrifying, response in him. His head spun, his heart raced, and he didn't seem able to keep any air in his lungs. He cursed under his breath, realizing that there were only a few hours left until they arrived and he had to be well by then or else Bones would not discharge him, no matter how much he whined. Either way, the Captain wanted to be cured of whatever it was that he had. Through his spinning thoughts he heard the sickbay doors slide open.

"Nurse Chapel, what the hell happened?" he heard his friend say gruffly. Kirk looked up to find him standing next to the nurse and tried to smile, but it came out more as a wince. McCoy rushed over.

"Jesus, Jim, you're sweating like a pig." he muttered as he waved his medical tricorder around him. "Your heart rate is too high for a man who's been lying down all day…"

"Bones, I feel fine." Kirk said as convincingly as he could through gritted teeth. His eyes felt fine, and his headache was gone, but this suffocated feeling put him at a huge disadvantage when it came to lying to his friend. "Just give me a sedative or something to calm me down."

The Doctor looked as his friend begrudgingly and weighed his options, before sighing a little too dramatically as he always did. Kirk would usually give him lip for it, but right now his mind was racing towards nothing it seemed, and his thoughts drowned out his friends expression of frustration.

"Well I don't see what else I can do, and we need you well for when we arrive." McCoy thought the process out loud. "Nurse, get a weak sedative for the Captain please."

He felt Kirk's hand contract strongly around his wrist as he placed his request to Christine. McCoy looked down at his friend with a warning expression.

"Not her. I don't want her to touch me, Bones. You give me the hypospray." he whispered urgently.

"Damnit, Jim, this is no time for your sexist ideas. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she can't inject a damn hypospray!" he whispered harshly back. Kirk slapped his forehead with his palm.

"No, no, it's not that. Could you just give it to me, Bones?" he begged. "…Please?" he threw in after a slight hesitation. He noticed how his friends angry expression softened at the "the word" and made a mental note to use it more often.

Nurse Chapel approached the side of the bed, more than ready to inject the hypospray, but Doctor McCoy took it from her.

"Thank you." he muttered. She glared at him, confused.

He decided to act oblivious to her quiet demand for an explanation and injected his friend with the sedative.

"Ow! I'm sure there's a better way for you to administer a hypospray, Bones. Seriously… do you look for excuses to hurt me?" Kirk said through clenched teeth, his eyebrows furrowed due to the stinging in his neck. He looked up at his friend almost pitifully, a hand rubbing the left side of his neck.

"Only every minute of my life." he replied sarcastically. "Besides, you asked for it." he added with a childishly accusing tone.

Nurse Chapel watched them, bewildered by their conversation. She had never imagined that she would ever hear a captain and his chief medical officer conversing so casually while on duty, but then again, from what she had heard about her Captain, rules were not his forte. Neither was protocol. She shrugged it off. This was her first time interacting with James T. Kirk, and she had already labeled him as strange. Yes, it was quite possible that the cause for his behaviour was his current ailment, whatever exactly it was, but for now she figured that she would avoid any unnecessary interaction with him.

He sure doesn't live up to his reputation as suave. She thought. At first she laughed inwardly, wondering why so many women swooned at a simple glance, but the more she pondered it, the more self-conscious she became. James Kirk wasn't famous for being picky when it came to women, but he did have some sort of standard. Was she not good enough to deserve as little as a cocky smile from him? Christine was usually very aware that men were attracted to her, but it wasn't usually of any importance to her. She didn't want to bother with courtships at the moment, so why was she worrying over the opinion of one guy? She reminded herself that whatever he had had affected him mentally, but that still wasn't enough to calm her nerves. She shook the thought.

"Nurse Chapel!"

The Doctor's voice shook her from her trance.

"Are you done frowning at the wall?" he asked. She didn't take his tone offensively. She had been so deeply concerned about herself that she didn't notice that Kirk was now standing next to McCoy, getting ready to leave the sickbay.

"I'm sorry, Doctor." she said in a rush. He nodded, and then turned to Kirk.

"Alright, Jim, you're good to go back to the bridge."

"Thanks, Bones." he said, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder.

"Now pay attention…" Bones spoke to him as if he were speaking to a child. Nurse Chapel saw Kirk roll his eyes, probably to counteract the patronizing tone. "… the sedative should wear off in about two hours. You let me know if you start to get these symptoms after that and I'll gave you another hypospray."

Kirk stood in the entrance of the sickbay, then turned on his heel and bowed rather dramatically.

"As you wish." he said with a grin. Then he headed back to the bridge, feeling better than ever. Bones shook his head.

"What is it, Doctor McCoy?" Christine asked curiously.

"We should probably pay a few visits to the bridge over the next few hours." he said thoughtfully. Christine nodded before once again busying herself with some medical supplies.

A/N: Review please :) Hope you enjoyed, lemme know if I'm doing well.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Captain?"

"I told you to call me Jim." he replied in a stern voice.

"Regretfully, I must decline your offer while on duty, Captain."