Chapter Sixteen

The next morning, after sleeping in until nearly nine o' clock, Carol, Gaila, Nyota, and Gael went their own ways to prepare for the day.

"Until next time," Gaila playfully saluted over her shoulder as she headed back to her room. "Keep it real, chicas!" She turned around and walked backwards. "Great planning session, comrades! I think we'll just about be ready to strike next time!" she shouted for the benefit of the two male ensigns passing down the hallway. Their eyes grew wide as they took in four mischievously grinning females. Gaila winked at her "comrades" and cheerfully rounded the corner out of sight.

"Thanks fer havin' me last night," Gael smiled. "I had fun."

"Good," Nyota replied. "We expect to see you next month. It'll be in Carol's room."

"And we'd better see you before then," Carol said, hugging Gael. "Pop into the labs sometime, Commander Spock and I would love to show you round."

"I will," Gael answered, hugging Carol. "Thanks fer last night," she whispered, knowing that the woman would know what she was talking about.

"Any time, love," Carol whispered back.

Gael hugged Nyota good-bye then headed to her room. Due to a cloud contented sleepiness engulfing her (she was never awake before her morning cup of Irish Breakfast tea), she had not changed back into her clothes, meaning she was meandering down the halls in her pale science blue Starfleet pajamas. To her embarrassment, Jim and Spock passed her in the hall.

"Didn't think you were one to bum around in you jammies all day," Jim chuckled as he watched her face turn red when she recognized them.

"I'm no', Capt-I mean, Jim," she mumble, looking down at her bare feet. She knew she must be a sight; bare feet, wild bed-head, and sleepy eyes. "I was at Nyota's fer a girls' nigh'."

"Ah, yes, Nyota informed me that she would be inviting you to join her and the others that participate in the sacred female ritual of a 'sleep over'," Spock said. "Did you enjoy the experience? Nyota was most excited when you agreed to attend."

Gael giggled. Sacred ritual indeed. "Aye, Commander, I did," she answered. "We watched a few movies, ate ice cream, and Gaila painted mae nails." She raised her hand to show that her nails were now bright blue with silver Starfleet symbols on them.

"Hmm, fascinating."

Jim shook his head. "Well, we have to get to the bridge. See ya at lunch?"

"Aye, Captain!" She snapped off a mock-salute.

"Later, Gael!" Jim laughed as he reciprocated the salute and led Spock to the turbo lift at the end of the hall.

Gael ran the rest of the way back to her room and changed into a pair of dark jeans and a chocolate brown v-neck sweater. Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she decided to go down to Engineering to find Mr. Scott.

After half an hour of wandering, she finally found her destination.

"Mister Scotty? Ye down here?" she called. A passing ensign heard her.

"He's up on level 2, Miss, making inspections," he said.

"Alright. Thank ye, sir," she replied. It took her another thirty minutes to find her way up to the second level and find him amid the tangle of catwalks and narrow passage ways.

"Miss Gael, lass, what are ye doin' down here?" He asked, spotting her wandering across a catwalk.

"Lookin' fer ye," she said with a smile. "I was hopin' tae get a tour, but if ye are too busy..."

"Well, I have a ton of inspections tae do today," he began.

"Oh."

"But I donnae see why ye couldnae tag along wi' us, if ye like."

"Really? I can come with ye?"

Scotty grinned at her enthusiasm. "Aye, come along, lass. There much tae see down here."

They spent the entire morning and well into the afternoon down there; Scotty making inspections and explaining how different part functioned, Gael following close behind him and soaking up everything he said. They stopped off in his office for a late lunch of sandwiches, before Scotty returned to making his rounds. He left Gael in office engrossed in a beginner's engineering text book, which she sat there and read for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.

"Gael, lass, what are ye still doin' here?" he asked when got off his shift and found her still in his office.

"Wha' time is it?" she asked.

"Nearly seven o' clock!" he answered. "Yer rather late fer supper, lass; auld Doc McCoy is likely frantic o'er ye by now!"

Just then, Scotty's communicator beeped. "Scotty here."

"Scotty, have you seen Gael?" McCoy's voice held barely concealed panic. "We've been seachin' for hours."

"Doctor," Scotty began, but McCoy plowed on.

"Nobody's seen her since this mornin'-"

"Doctor-"

"And, as far as we know, she didn't go to the mess for lunch; she was supposed to meet Jim, and nobody saw her at dinner either and...and...

"Leonard!" Gael shouted into the comm, effectively silencing the doctor.

"As I was tryin' tae tell ye, Doctor McCoy," Scotty said calmly. "Gael's been down here with me all day. Took her 'round with me on inspections till lunch, then she got caught up in a basic engineering text I loaned her. I was jus' bringin' her up now."

"She better be comin' back up here!" McCoy fumed. "Does that girl have any idea what she's put us through? We've been worried sick-"

"You've been worried sick, Bones," Kirk's voice came over the communicator. "I told you she was just fine, and I was right. She's been having a grand ol' time with Scotty, it sounds like."

"A grand ol' time, my foot!" McCoy countered. "She doesn't know anything about ships or engines or modern mechanics! Gael, you better-"

It sounded like Kirk and McCoy wrestled over their communicator, and, presumably, Kirk won. "Gael, I highly recommend you get up to Sickbay before Bones goes on another rampage. Kirk out."

Gael eyes went wide. "Another? Why would he be so upset?"

"That's Doctor McCoy fer ye; gettin' all hot and blustery is how he reacts tae these things. Shoulda seen him the day I broke mae hand working on the warp drive and didnae go tae Sickbay till after mae shift was o'er." Scotty took her hand and quickly led her to the turbo lift, calling out for the Sickbay level. All too soon the doors opened.

"Come along, lass," he said when she hesitated to leave the safety of the lift. He half dragged her all the way down the hall to Sickbay, only to have the doors swish open and expel a rather red-faced, angry-looking Southern doctor.

"I'm tired of waitin', Jim! Where is that girl so I can wring her pretty lil' Irish neck? If Scotty's tryin' ta hide her, I'll pin his Scottish hide ta the wall too!"

"Now, Bones-"

No, Jim-"

"Please, do not be threatening Miss Gael, Doctor!" Pavel, who was trailing behind Jim and McCoy, piped up. "Ve all are used to eet, but she will not be understanding eet."

Gael gulped, and McCoy suddenly caught sight of her. "You!" He tore down the hallway to her, Scotty scurrying out of the doctor's way. McCoy threw his arms around her, tightly holding her to his chest for a long moment before sharply pulling away, gripping her upper arms tightly, to begin his ranting again. "Do you have any idea what you've put us through?" McCoy's eyes expertly flicked up and down her body, checking for injuries as he spoke. "We've been lookin' for ya for over four hours, Missy! Four hours! Ya weren't answerin' ya comm, ya didn't call to tell us where you were-"

Gael guilty felt her pockets; no communicator. She must have lost it somewhere.

"-Nothin'! And here we are, responsible for ya, and no idea what happened to ya! Ya could have been lost, or hurt, or...or...stuck somewhere for all we knew!"

Gael just stared up at him. She had never seen this side of Leonard before. She had never known him to to be angry; it kind of scared her. Suddenly, she could not hear his words; she just knew that he was shouting at hear, he suddenly seemed just like all of the other doctors who yelled at her. All she could do was whisper "I'm sorry." Suddenly, he was crushing her to his chest again. Bewildered, she turned her head to look at Jim, who just stood there with his arms crossed.

McCoy was a mess at the moment; remnants of fear, panic, and frustration lingered with the immense sense of relief and rush of affection for Gael that welled up in him. He was not sure if he was shouting or crying or laughing at the moment. He kinda felt like doing all three, but he was probably shouting. Shouting and blustering was his fallback to hide just how shook up or relieved he was, just how much he really cared. He was so worked up, he did not notice Gael's face grow pale. What he did notice was the single tear that ran down her face as she barely whispered out an apology. His fear, worry and frustration suddenly disappeared, and he pulled her back in to a tight hug, one hand gently cradling her head. He could feel the tears threatening to make themselves own in his own eyes as he rocked her back and forth. "Darlin'..." he began shakily. "Gael, please...I know I'm way over reactin' here...but, please...don't do this again," he whispered in her ear. "Don't think my poor ol' heart could take it." He felt her slowly nod, then pull away.

"I think I'll go back to mae room, now, Doctor," she whispered, not looking at him.

"Now, Gael Darlin'-"

"Good night, sir," she murmured and slipped off down the hall.

"Gael?"

"Bones,...I-I think you scared her," Jim said.

"I told you she vould not be understanding," Pavel commented in dismay. He pushed pasted the adults and took off after her. He caught up to her before she reached the end of the corridor. He offered his hand. Slowly, she reached out and took it, letting him lead her around the corner to the turbo lift.

McCoy stared at her retreating form in shock. It felt like a gaping hole had been suddenly ripped in his chest. He turned and went back to Sickbay without a word.

"Bones? Bones!"

"Doctor McCoy?"

Scotty and Kirk follow him into Sickbay and watched as McCoy practically collapsed on the nearest biobed, burying his face in his hands.

McCoy felt his world crashing to halt. Oh gosh, I've scared her. She had seemed to so well in adjusting these last few days, he had forgotten she was still so fragile. Oh heavens, she's scared of me now. He had just been so darn worried because he cared so dang much about her. What have I done?

Yeah, this is kind of a sad one...Poor McCoy...Poor Gael...

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