He heard the hum of the engines first. At night, when everything was completely still, and everyone in his part of the ship was asleep during gamma shift, Leonard would listen to the engines humming through the walls as the Enterprise drifted through space. It was a sound that he was so used to that he barely realized it was there anymore. It was only when he was alone in his bed, deep in thought, that he could hear the low tones of the motors so many decks below - like the pulse of a great beast. It was because of this sound that he knew he was in his quarters and not in Sickbay where the insistent beeps of the biobed would have drowned it out.

Whoever had found him should have brought him to Sickbay. He had been crumpled in a pile on the floor covered in blood and whatever idiot found him thought it would be okay to just stick him back in his bed and be on their way. He had to admit that he felt much better. He was no longer drunk, but there was a slight burning in his chest from the vomit. The dull ache in his arm was expected, but he didn't feel any blood, so he imagined someone must have cleaned him up. But to take medical duties onto themselves? "Damn, stupid, irresponsible-"

"Doctor?"

Leonard's mouth snapped shut at the sound of his title. There was someone else in the room with him. That voice. Words like lead that dropped to the pit of his stomach and made his head spin in the same way chocolate mousse was delicious but too much to handle. He could almost taste the bittersweet logic in the air. With some difficulty he opened his eyes to see a pale, almost glowing figure sitting at the foot of his bed.

"Spock."

His voice was crackling and his attempts to sit up were failing him immensely. What in God's name was that damn elf doing here? Leonard could feel the anger boiling up inside of him. He didn't want to be seen like this. He didn't want Spock to be the one to see him bloody, drunk, and depressed on the floor of his quarters, pathetic and disgusting. He allowed his eyes, blood-shot red contrasting the blue pools, to drop to the darkness of the floor.

"I received your call and came as requested," Spock continued, remaining as calm and collected as he would have if they were chatting over coffee. "You were in need of medical assistance and I assumed you would have been reluctant to go to Sickbay." Leonard's eyes shot up to meet Spock's. As he opened his mouth to snap at the other man about the safety hazards of his actions, Spock continued. "I assume, Doctor, that you would have been embarrassed. You would, of course, have called Sickbay in the first place if you had wished to be there." Leonard blinked at him. He didn't remember calling anyone let alone specifically avoiding Sickbay. But Spock was right. He wasn't sure he could handle it if he had woken up to a disgruntled Chapel and a puppy-dog-eyed Jim while the rest of the medical staff doted on him.

Leonard looked down at his arm, which was wrapped neatly in bandages. The blood was gone from his hands and his plain black undershirt seemed to be clean and dry which meant Spock had changed his clothing at some point. He groaned loudly and was met with a curiously perked eyebrow.

"You fixed me up," he drawled, the slight pounding in his head getting louder by the second. "Why…why did you do that?" After a few moments of silence, Leonard brought his eyes to Spock's face again. The Vulcan remained unblinking, his reaction never leaving its original, serene expression, but Leonard could feel the tension in the room. Guilt began to eat away at his insides. Something told him Spock was not particularly happy about having to come to his rescue. "You're mad at me?" he whispered.

"I do not get angry, Doctor," Spock replied, matter-of-factly. He stood, causing the bed to shift. Leonard's eyes followed as the Science Officer came to stand by his side. Though Spock remained ever calm, the closer proximity was terrifying and the Doctor tried once more to shift away from him. "However," he continued, his silk voice making Leonard flinch, "This destructive behavior cannot be tolerated. It is a danger to both you and the crew. If there were a medical emergency-"

"If there were a medical emergency M'Benga would be able to take care of it. I'm allowed to drink on my time off."

Spock waited an eerily long time before responding. This gave Leonard plenty of time to regret opening his mouth. He was the Chief Medical Officer. His main concern was the health and safety of every member of the Enterprise crew, not getting trashed during Gamma shift.

"And what of your health, Doctor?"

Leonard sighed. He didn't want to answer. He didn't want to say that he didn't give a shit about his own safety, that he'd be perfectly fine if he slowly disintegrated in a painful blaze of alcohol and fire. But with those stern brown eyes tracing his every feature, he had to say something. "I am fine." Weak.

"You are not fine. You are ill." Leonard perked an eyebrow now. Was it possible that there was just a little bit of emotion behind that statement? If he had been feeling his normal self, he would have poked fun at Spock for saying such a thing, but at that moment he felt as though it was the only thing he could hang on to. Even if Spock wasn't worried about him, pretending he was could at least help ease the pain. But, as seemed to be the trend with the good Doctor, the denial escaped his lips before he could even think about them.

"Look, Spock, all I did was drink too much. Sorry I bothered you. I can handle myself." As the words left him, he knew he was in for a scolding. And the illusion of concern was difficult to maintain when Spock's coolness was seeping through every body movement and word he expelled.

"This episode was not a bout of irresponsible drinking, Doctor," the Vulcan said in such a professional tone that Leonard actually growled in frustration. "You injured yourself as a result of psychological and physical neglect. If you continu-"

"Alright! Alright!" Leonard waved his hands in the air, ignoring the pain that shot through his left arm. "You don't have to lecture me on how to take care of myself. I'm a doctor, damn it, I know how to stay healthy." He crossed his arms over his chest and glared up at his superior officer.

Spock fell silent for a moment before folding his hands behind his back and saying. "I do not believe you do." He then turned on his heel and marched toward the door. Leonard stared intently at his bed sheets for desperate fear of his eyes wandering places they were not meant to go. Guilt and anger had his face turned a bright red, but he didn't have the energy to fight. Not yet.

He heard the door slide open and then silence. Curiosity got the better of him and he looked up to see Spock standing in the doorway, his eyes definitely softer than before. Leonard felt his face blush a deep read and he shrunk back into his pillow. He opened his mouth to say something, but, for once, could think of nothing to say.

"Think of Jim," Spock said, his voice cracking slightly. And after a moment more of blues eyes locked on brown, the Vulcan spun around and exited the room.