Thanks for the reviews and reading the story! Sorry it took so long. Here is a chapter!

Chapter 4: Taste and Anger

McCoy had already checked over everything in sickbay. Doctor Diane Galen had arrived to take over, and she yawned pointedly, "McCoy, if you're going to work me like this, I'll be useless within a week."

McCoy snorted, "Right, Galen. Because no one in history has ever worked a double before. How will you survive?"

"Oh, shut up," she shoved him, "Everything look good?"

"Everything is normal. You have a few crewman who are coming in for follow-ups from injuries received on our last mission. And Scotty is supposed to report for a physical examination. The only one who avoids those exams more is the captain. Make sure Scotty doesn't weasel out of it."

She nodded, "Aye, sir. I'll do my best. Though, I think it's fair you let me in on what's going on here. I mean, if I'm gonna be doing your work, I wanna make sure you aren't off sleeping or wasting time."

"Ah ain't slacking off, if that's what your sayin," he replied, and Diane put down her charts. Christine Chapel walked into sickbay, and stopped, watching the two doctors.

"Okay, now I know it's big."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you're a southern doctor," she mimicked his drawl, "but damn if your drawl don't get a might thicker when you're emotional."

"Oh, ha ha. Very amusin', Diane," he rolled his eyes.

"Come on, McCoy. What's got you riled up?"

"Ah just gotta take care of someone," McCoy said, turning to leave, stopping as he saw Christine.

"Whoa!" Diane ran forward and leapt in front of McCoy, "Back up, doc! 'Someone'?!"

"Something," McCoy said.

"Um, no," Diane grinned, rocking from her heels to toes, "No, you definitely said 'someone'. Didn't he, Christine?"

Christine nodded, "You did, Diane. And I, for one, am interested to know more about this someone."

"I think you're both hearing things," McCoy said, attempting to sidestep Diane.

"Not so fast, McCoy," Diane looked at him, "Now, it's not like you to set aside work. You're the worst workaholic I know."

"The captain asked me to see to something for him," McCoy said, vaguely.

"Why you?" asked Diane.

"Does this have anything to do with the being you brought aboard yesterday?" Christine asked excitedly.

McCoy hesitated.

"It does! The captain wants you to stay with her?" Christine raised an eyebrow.

"Does the captain want you to stay with her or do you want to stay with her?" Diane grinned slyly.

"The captain asked me to see that she is comfortable," McCoy said, again trying to sidestep Diane.

"You're worried about her," Christine said, "I've known you for years, McCoy. I know that look in your eye. You're worried about her."

"Look, Chris," McCoy said, "She's had a very hard time adjusting as a humanoid. I promise I'll explain later. I'll even see that she comes down to meet you both. But right now, I need to get back."

Diane nodded, still wearing a smirk, "I expect a full report, McCoy."

"Don't leave out any details," Christine winked.

McCoy rolled his eyes, "Whatever y'all say."

The two women let McCoy pass.

"I don't think he has ever looked like that," Christine said, looking after McCoy.

"I agree, Chris. I can't wait to hear what he has to say about this being," Diane smirked.

McCoy hurried to Deck 4, a tray held in his hands. Nova hadn't eaten since she transformed, and he wouldn't allow her to go without eating. Walking down the deserted corridor, he came to Nova's door, and knocked.

"Enter," she called.

The door slid open. McCoy stepped over the threshold. Nova was standing by the bed, her hand on the wall, back to him.

"Nova, are you alright?" he asked.

She nodded, but did not turn. McCoy set down the tray, his eyes on her. He could practically hear her heart racing, the beats clear inside his mind. McCoy felt her mind brush against his, then pull back. Shakily, he could feel the barriers coming up, and he found himself only vaguely aware of her emotions. He couldn't help but admire her; not even an hour gone by, and she was already practicing the control techniques taught by Spock. She let her hand slide off of the wall, then turned to McCoy. Her eyes were clear and bright blue. The light that usually danced behind them was a steady glow, controlled.

"I am alright, Leonard," said Nova. She sat down next to the food, "What is this?"

"It's food, Nova. You're gonna eat some of it," McCoy sat down opposite her.

"I have no need for-"

"The hell you don't," McCoy growled, "Now, I already let sleep slide, I'm not about t'let ya go without eating. You aren't a glowing entity anymore, Nova. You need to care for your humanoid form. That means eating, sleeping."

She looked at the food, "Alright…What is it?"

"Well…now I wasn't sure what you would like, so I have a Vulcan dish that I have seen Spock eat a fair few times, and I also have you some replicated Georgia-style cookin."

"And you believe I will like this…stuff?" she asked skeptically, an eyebrow raised.

"I honestly don't know what you'll like, darlin'," he said simply, "But I do know that you need to eat, and I'm not leavin until you eat something."

She raised an eyebrow, "What is that?" she pointed at a broth.

"That is Vulcan Plomeek Soup," answered McCoy, "Spock is a fan of it. Now, Vulcans don't eat meat. So, this has no meat in it at all. Us Southerners," he gestured to the other plate, "We like our meat. Biscuits and gravy with a side of scrambled eggs and sausage." He looked at her apologetically, "And you may not even like this. But since you have a few of mine and Spock's traits, I thought maybe you'd fancy things that we like."

"Alright, Leonard," she reached out and picked a little piece from the biscuit, and popped it into her mouth. Slowly, she chewed, and then swallowed. She smiled brightly, "That was pleasant!"

"No one can resist a biscuit. 'Course, they're replicated, no where near as good as homemade. But passable," McCoy grinned delightedly.

Nova reached out and picked up the fork. He watched her dip it into the gravy. She put it in her mouth happily, then froze. She swallowed thickly, shuddered, and grimaced.

"That was not at all…good," she said.

McCoy stifled a laugh, "Ah, well. Not everyone likes gravy."

She narrowed her eyes, "Does it please you to see me like this?"

"If I'm bein honest, yes," he said, grinning.

She huffed, and turned away. McCoy outright laughed.

"Nova, come on," McCoy chuckled, "It's funny. When someone tries something for the first time, and doesn't like it, it's funny. Like, on Earth, we give babies a lemon wedge to suck on. Lemons, being very sour, have a strong taste, and a baby usually doesn't like it. Their faces scrunch up, much like yours did. It's cute."

"Cute?" she asked, "What is 'cute'?"

McCoy cleared his throat, avoiding her eyes, "Well, cute is a term we humans use to describe something…as endearingly appealing."

"And I am cute? Like a baby?"

"No, that's not what I meant," McCoy sighed, "Just…forget it. Just me babblin'."

She looked at him, and smiled, the light in her eyes flickered, "Alright."

Picking up the spoon, she dipped it into the soup, and took a bite. A smile spread across her face and she closed her eyes.

"Mmmm," she sighed.

"You liked it?" asked McCoy.

"You do not?"

"Not particularly," McCoy said, "Personally, I don't find it very flavorful. But if you like it, that's what counts."

She smiled, and continued to eat the soup. McCoy was silently grateful that he didn't pour the gravy over the biscuits, because she reached out, plucked one of the biscuits up from the plate, and dipped it into the soup. He watched the delight spread across her face as she took a bite, and her barriers fell a bit as he felt her contentedness.

She finished every bit of the biscuits and soup, then smiled brightly, "Thank you, Leonard."

"You're welcome, darlin'," he smiled back at her.

She began to retreat behind her barriers again, exercising control.

"Can I ask you a question, Nova?"

"Of course, Leonard. You may ask me anything," she said.

He hesitated, then, "When you control your thoughts and emotions, can you still feel the emotions of those around you?"

"Yes," she said, "To an extent. I still have an idea of what someone is feeling and what they are thinking, but not as clearly as before. I have noticed that physical contact increases my ability to truly feel someone's emotions. If I may?" She raised a hand tentatively. McCoy stared at her. He was curious, he had to admit, but she was progressing so well and so fast. He would hate to ruin that.

"I assure you," she said softly, "I will not harm you."

"Nova, I didn't mean to imply that I felt I was in danger," McCoy said hurriedly, "That's not it. I just don't want to ruin the control you have. Ah know you aren't capable of harming anyone."

"But I am, Leonard," she said, "Spock told me as much. But, while I may be capable of harming others, I am not capable of harming you. It is impossible."

McCoy's eyes widened, "What makes you say that?"

Nova paused and her eyes flickered from brown to blue as she contemplated her answer, "I do not know… I just know that it is true."

All while speaking, her hand stayed up, fingers soft, waiting for him. Slowly, he reached out and brushed his fingertips against hers. Her very essence enveloped his mind, and he felt a brightness and ecstasy that he had never known before. Was that his own emotions or hers?

"You are feeling…content. Happy to be here in this moment. You can feel my emotions, too. It is…more difficult than I thought it would be. I cannot distinguish whether some emotions are yours or mine. But it is not…unpleasant."

Her eyes were closed, and McCoy's eyes never left her face. He could feel her light glowing and fading, wave after wave of her very life force brushing against his own. He felt her surprise, her confusion, her questioning…something.

"You have… a most amazing mind, Leonard," she murmured, "Your passion for life and the need to preserve it are brighter than anything I have ever seen."

He could not respond. She had taken away all of his words. He could feel her vastness, how long she had existed beforehand. It was amazing. It was glorious. It was-

It was too much. McCoy felt his heart racing, and attempted to calm himself, but he kept falling deeper and deeper into her emotions. Into her soul.

"Leonard," she gripped his hand tighter, "Leonard, do not lose yourself…" she shuddered and gasped, "Do not lose yourself within my emotions…draw back…"

McCoy shook his head. How could he draw back? He couldn't remember anything Spock had taught him about mental barriers. Now he felt her fear, and he gasped in a shakey breath.

"Damnit," she growled, and began to erect barriers around her mind slowly, pushing McCoy back. He could feel her easing him back to himself. He felt his mind jerk back, and he began to pull away from her mentally. She sighed softly as his heart rate returned to normal, and his breathing came easier. She drew her hand back. Her mind was reeling from the insight into his emotional state. She did not see any of McCoy's memories, for she only touched the emotion within him. But she felt enough to fill a lifetime. This man was something else entirely, something she had never encountered before. Perhaps that is why she was drawn to him down on the planet.

"Are you alright, Leonard?" she asked.

He nodded, "That was… remarkable."

"It was foolish," she chided him, "I was under the assumption that you were going to allow me to remain in control."

"I…I did," he said, confused.

"You did not," she corrected, "Your mind took over and delved farther into my being than I anticipated. I could feel that you wanted to know more of myself, how I felt, and so your mind pushed forward in an effort to feel everything. But for a human to take on thousands of years worth of emotions is too much. You cannot do that. Spock has told me that he has melded with you in the past, and while, in the meld, the minds become one, with me it is different. I am not to mind meld with anyone. I am not meant to dig into anyone's mind. Your mind is not disciplined enough to keep a force like myself at bay. Imagine a balloon, and you fill it with air. But the air does not stop, it keeps flowing in. Soon, the balloon, no matter how strong, will burst."

She stood up, and crossed the room, "I am aware that you are curious about me, but do not think that I will permit you to put yourself at risk like that."

"Now, you wait just a minute," McCoy stood up, "I didn't mean to do that. It just happened. But I don't regret it one bit. And you won't permit me? Listen here, little lady, you might be thousands of years old, but you are on board the Enterprise, and I am Chief Medical officer. I'll take whatever risks I think are necessary to ensure your well-being, is that clear?"

"That is completely illogical," she said, "You are being unreasonable."

He bristled at the word 'illogical', "And you are being overly cautious. Space exploration, meeting new life, it all comes at a cost. And it's a cost that every Starfleet officer is willing to pay. To discover new worlds, push past the boundaries of what we know, that is living."

"You cannot put yourself at risk like that," she repeated.

"Now who's being 'illogical'? I know that you agree, because I felt the sense of adventure coming from you. So ah don't see what's so different between the risk here and the risk you took down on the planet's surface."

She stiffened, then turned to face him, her arms folded, fire blazing in her eyes, "Remove yourself from my quarters, Doctor McCoy."

"What?" McCoy was taken aback, staring at her.

"Ah said git out!" she shouted, the southern drawl evident.

He glared at her, feeling her anger and hurt, "Fine."

He stalked past her, and left her quarters. Nova glared after him, then her features softened and she felt despair fill her. It wasn't his fault that he didn't understand. After all, she had not fully explained the consequences of her actions on the planet's surface.