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CHAPTER FIVE

Earth date, mid July 2268 – USS Enterprise, Medical Wing

It had been a quiet day in sickbay, the kind of day McCoy enjoyed. He and his team had spent the shift dealing with fractures, burns, torn ligaments, sprains or giving out contraception shots to the crew and other medical advice. Some of his Earth based peers might consider all this boring but it gave the doctor a chance to catch up on his medical journals, do some research or take a little lunch break with the Ancient Ones; Mr Jack and Daniels. Plus as invigorating as saving lives and doing major surgery might be, he preferred to know his colleagues were out of danger and not lying on his table being put back together.

The door to his office swished open as a tall, sandy haired figure entered. "Fancy a game of pool, Bones?"

McCoy looked up from his PADD. The latest article in 'Xeno- Medicine Today' no longer holding his attention.

"Hey, Jim, what's up? No hot date with Carol tonight?" He grinned at this friend, happy that at last those two had sorted out their relationship drama over the years.

"Actually we're still on, she challenged me to a game of pool. Males v Females. I just need a partner, and what better partner than a pool shark like yourself."

"Flattery, will get you everywhere, Captain. Haven't played for months but yeah, I'm game. Lead the way."

The two friends left the Medical wing, and headed for the rec room. "You're in charge, Greet" McCoy called out.

Lt. Greet responded as any sensible Tellarite would.

"About time, Commander."

McCoy laughed to himself knowing the crew would be aghast to know Dr Greet was on call for beta shift. The Tellarite physician's bedside manner was as charming as a Tellarite could be, he made McCoy look soft.

Recreation lounge

Most of the crew were human, so Enterprise operated on a 24 hour Sol time system, according to the chronometer it was 7pm in the evening. Beta shift were on duty, the night watch team were still asleep and some of the alpha team partied in the rec room. The only beings who did not need to worry about a regular sleep pattern were the Denobulans, which made them the liveliest bunch on the ship. All five of them. It was a good thing they were all married to each other, it made watching a poker game taking place with all them highly entertaining. How could you bluff partners that you share a bed with, McCoy could never quite figure that out. And how big was that bed? Maybe he should scrub that image out of his head. Now a bunch of Deltans in bed, that would be sexual poetry in motion. He scanned the room to see if Lt Darwin was around, didn't want her reading his fantasies without his permission. The idea of telepathy still made him uncomfortable, despite experiencing its positive uses over the years from a certain Vulcan. Now where were Spock and Uhura, hiding in their quarters having a logical, romantic rendezvous, he suspected. When a Vulcan was getting more sex than himself then something was definitely wrong.

Now Len stop musing and go join the game, he was the best pool player on the ship, ok best human pool player. Spock and his Vulcan brains played like it was a math's test. He usually won. Marcus was already at the pool table, long slim body leaned over doing a practise session. Beauty, blonde and brains, a deadly combination for some. McCoy was more a 'gentlemen prefer redheads' kind of guy. He took the glass that Kirk offered him and picked up his cue stick.

"Hello McCoy, glad you could join us. Get ready for a sound beating." Marcus raised her head, her warm face lit up with a grin. The first time he heard that voice it sent the blood in his body rushing in a southerly direction. He had a little crush on her in the early days, but once Kirk made his claim he backed off. Bros before hoes and all that, not that she fell in the latter category, far from it.

Kirk slid his hand gently down her back, the only outward sign of affection that they were more than friends. Despite his reputation over the years, the Captain knew how to be discreet. Everyone was aware they were a couple and were glad to see their Commanding officer settled. The reckless boy from the Khan/Marcus affair was long gone, since then it was a man the crew gladly followed.

"Don't be fooled by my Southern charms, Marcus." McCoy cracked his knuckles getting ready for battle.

"I'm not worried about that, Len. I have a secret weapon," Marcus walked up to Kirk, took his drink from his hand and started to taste.

"Bring it on, Carol." Kirk chimed in, his eye alight with glee, waiting for the fun to begin.

"Not 'it'…her'. Here she comes."

Kirk and McCoy head's turned in the direction she looked. Oh shit, McCoy responded as an officer from the Communications team walked towards them.

"Greetings Captain, Doctor Marcus, Doctor McCoy." Lt T'Shira nodded to each one as she spoke. Her shift had just ended, she would rather be in the lab dealing with one of her projects but Dr Marcus challenge to her earlier to take part in a Terran geometric game roused her curiosity.

"No need for formalities, Lieutenant. We're off duty, its just Len, Carol and Jim."

It would take a while for T'Shira to accept such informality amongst officers, even when off duty. She had only been on the ship three months, two weeks and four days. The Enterprise operated a lot differently from a Vulcan ship. A lot differently.

"In that case Carol, I am prepared as you say, to apply pressure to our opponents' posterior and defeat them." This was informal talk right?

The three humans looked at each other in shock at her words. Carol was the first to burst out laughing.

"Did she just say, what I think she said, Jim?" McCoy asked.

"Forgive me sirs. Have I caused offense?" T'Shira enquired, perhaps she had broken some cultural taboo or something?

"Not at all T'Shira, you're so right, we are going to whip their butts. Let the game begin!" Marcus crowed. By this time some of the crew were starting to crowd around their pool table.

Once McCoy recovered from such unVulcan like words, coming out of such a pretty Vulcan mouth he got himself ready.

Whip our butts, huh, well let's see whose butt will be whipped after tonight. And she had such a nice butt as well. Now he was fantasising about pretty, red headed Vulcan officers.

Damn, he really needed to get laid.

Author's Notes

Dear readers, so sorry for the long delay. I did miss this story but real life got in the way and damaged my muse. Thanks for your patience. I am slowing getting back into this story.

Feel free to leave a review, I welcome them.