Hello, readers! I've been terrible with this story, but I've recently had a burst of inspiration (I suppose we can thank the worldwide lockdown situation for that, bittersweet as it is) and have been loving the characters again. Expect more regular chapters, and please drop me a line and let me know if we still have some 2009 film fans out there!

Special thanks to faultyfairytale, LiaLoveFood, NaginiFay, LeggoMyMeggo92, AllyCatt12, and cup of thought with cinnamon, my 2020 reviewers who have gotten me back into writing this story. Here's to you!

Also, PSA: the scene everyone has been BEGGING for is... soon :)

Twenty Nine

The next time the Enterprise passed through a group of habitable planetoids, Jim decided it was the perfect time to practice some defence simulations on the ground. When he pitched the idea at the senior staff meeting, he got exactly the kind of reactions he had expected.

"I see the merit in your suggestion, Captain, but we need to send investigative missions down to the planet surfaces and collect samples for analysis," said Spock evenly. "I do not think I can spare the number of Science officers you would need to make a sufficient number of groups for a simulation activity alongside it."

"If we send people down in groups of two, we can do it without changing the shift rota," said Jim, ignoring McCoy's glare. "It'll be good for the ensigns to get training outside of a simulation chamber, and we can get in on the action too. Considering the way Tori pinned you to the ground last week, Sulu, I'm worried about your skills."

"Damn woman's good at everything," muttered Sulu. "It isn't my fault."

"I think it sounds interesting," said Uhura, ignoring Spock's minute turn of head in her direction, as if to ask why she wasn't taking his side. "We can orbit around the planetoid easily after we do a few test runs to make sure we still have contact with personnel on the ground. Science officers can go down first. Security's already determined there are no active life-forms."

"Aye, it might give me time to do a few upgrades that aren't possible when we're in warp," added Scotty. "And you can have all the engineers you want, captain. Some of 'em could use a good roughing up, I think."

Jim grinned, knowing that once half the bridge crew were on his side, the rest would follow. McCoy still looked annoyed, but grudgingly agreed to schedule physicals for the rest of the week to get ensigns and senior officers ready. Spock was already typing out a memo on his PADD to inform the Science deck of their plans, and Sulu and Uhura were planning ways to organise teams so that everyone could get the most out of the experience. Leaving them to it, Jim returned to the Bridge, only to find Homer standing by his chair looking nervous.

"Looking for Mr. Spock, Lieutenant?" greeted Jim.

"Yes, sir," Homer nodded. Amusedly, Jim wondered why the man always looked so anxious; his workload was nothing compared to Spock's, but then again he didn't have the advantage of Vulcan genes to keep him calm. Victoria would have been better at his job, but since she flinched away from even the suggestion of taking on more work, that wasn't a hypothesis he could test.

"Well, he'll be out in a minute," Jim sat down and pulled his console towards him, quickly looking through his schedule for the day. "If you're in a hurry, Mr. Chekov can take you in to the briefing room."

"It's no hurry, sir, we've just had some more cataloguing problems," said Homer. "I can wait."

Jim frowned. "What, like Cortez's injury last week?"

"Yes, sir. The ensigns are struggling with the directions they've been given," Homer gestured to his PADD helplessly. "They don't have enough training to handle materials that don't come with a handbook. It's down to me and Dr. Woodville now. She's just taken two more to sickbay."

Jim nodded, making sure to look nonchalant at the mention of Victoria's alias. "Keep me posted. Commander Spock has the final say, but maybe we need a few extra training sessions for them. I'm sure you can handle that, if necessary."

Homer nodded. Spock entered the Bridge and Homer hurried towards him, and Jim indicated for McCoy to come his way before the CMO could stomp off towards medbay. Leonard looked annoyed, but not thunderous; Jim considered that a win.

"Can we get physicals scheduled in time, Bones?" he asked. "I want to focus on command-track ensigns, they need the practice."

"I'll look at the personnel files and get the first fifty sorted in the next couple of days," said McCoy grudgingly. "We'll have to pull a double shift, y'know."

"I know how much you like overworking yourself to death, so that's fine," said Jim cheerily. "I'll walk you to sickbay, I hear you have a few new guests."

McCoy frowned, but didn't argue. They talked idly in the turbolift – Jim asked about his family and promised to come visit the next time they were on Earth, frowning in concern when Joanna's unhappiness with boarding school was brought up again. He watched McCoy closely as they talked; even though he was answering all his questions normally, the CMO seemed tired and preoccupied, almost as though he didn't want Jim to follow him down to his office. He hadn't even asked who the unexpected guests were in his sickbay, and how Jim knew they were there. That was the oddest thing of all, since McCoy never gave up an opportunity to grumble about how Jim was going to get them all killed one day.

Sickbay was crowded when they reached the doors, and McCoy was immediately accosted by two nurses who looked frazzled, shoving PADDs at him and talking a mile a minute. Leaving him to it, Jim searched the throng of people and found a face that, though familiar, was definitely out of place in sickbay.

"Dr. Woodville," he greeted, coming to stand next to her. Victoria looked up from her PADD suspiciously, but quickly schooled her features when she realised there were probably four people listening in on their conversation.

"Hello, Captain," she said politely. "What brings you here?"

"I was walking with Dr. McCoy," he gestured to the CMO, who clearly hadn't seen Victoria yet and was arguing with M'Benga across the room. Jim saw Victoria's eyes linger on his friend for half a second longer than they normally would have before snapping back to his face again. "Lieutenant Homer mentioned you'd had another accident on the Science Deck, so I thought I'd come see what the problem was."

"Yes. The ensigns are having difficulty following Commander Spock's instructions."

"Mr. Spock isn't known for being vague."

"He wasn't, not at all. The commander's instructions were perfectly clear, they always are. They're just idiots," she rolled her eyes, and then looked chagrined. "Although I shouldn't say that, I suppose."

Jim tried not to grin. "No need to apologise, Dr. Woodville. Mr. Spock will be glad to hear you think he's so capable."

"I doubt the commander needs my approval, captain."

"You'd be surprised. He's more human than you think."

Victoria gave him a side-long glance that was full of questions. "What does that mean, Jim?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"You should give him a chance, talk to him about something Science-y," Jim shrugged innocently. "You two would really get along if you stopped wanting to tear each other's heads off every few minutes."

"Is that the secret to your friendship with the commander, sir?"

"I'm the captain, Dr. Woodville. You could argue I ordered him to be my friend."

"Touché," Victoria smiled and returned to her PADD. McCoy had dismissed four of the six injured ensigns, so there were less people eavesdropping now, which meant they could talk a little more freely. "How was your meeting?"

"Excellent. We're going to run some training exercises on the habitable planetoids in the next few days. I'm sure Spock will fill you in, he wanted some samples collected before we assign groups."

"I have a meeting with him later, I'm sure he will," Victoria nodded. "Are you going to be going down?"

"No, I figured I'd save you the task of saving me this time," he grinned, and Victoria's lips twitched. "It's more for ensigns, but senior officers are welcome to volunteer as well. Sulu and Uhura have already said they'd be interested. And between you and me," he added in a low voice. "I'm thinking of sending Bones and Spock down too."

Victoria raised her eyebrows. "You're going to cause a riot, Jim. Leonard will not want to go."

"Of course he won't," Jim smirked. "But Spock will see the logic in it. And Bones is all bark, no bite. He'll complain to high hell, but he'll do it. You never know when the CMO will need to fight off a few aliens to save a life or two, after all. Plus, it impresses the ladies. Unless you don't need any more impressing?"

"Did you skip all of your diplomacy training at the academy?"

Jim smirked. "How's your wrist, by the way?"

Victoria frowned at the abrupt change in subject. "It's fine, it was just a sprain."

"So, Bones fixed you up?"

"He did his job, yes."

"And nothing else?"

"If there had been anything else, I really wouldn't choose to tell you now."

"I'm just asking," Jim shrugged innocently. "You two seem awfully close. He practically jumps up to walk you back to your quarters every time he sees you."

"So do you, Jim."

"Yeah, but I don't have a chance with you."

"And he does?"

"What the hell are you two talkin' about?" demanded McCoy, suddenly appearing next to them. Victoria smiled at him in greeting, and he nodded back; Jim noticed that she didn't seem to mind that he didn't smile at her, or even talk directly to her. She simply returned to whatever she was doing on her PADD, and McCoy continued to address Jim. "I never agreed to go along with your simulation idea, Jim."

"Aw, Bones, don't make me order you," Jim rolled his eyes. "It'll be a piece of cake. I'll give you your favourite crew-mate as well."

Leonard narrowed his eyes. "What're you plannin', Jim?"

"I don't think you want to know," interrupted Victoria, giving Jim a warning look that said this was not the time to piss off the CMO. "Dr. McCoy, can I have my science officers back now?"

"Afraid not," said McCoy, and Victoria groaned. "Only one of 'em can go back to work; I've taken three off-shift for the rest of the day, but those two dumbasses need to stay here till I'm satisfied they won't lose an eye," he jerked his head towards the only two occupied beds, where nurses were still monitoring vitals. "What the hell are you categorising up there anyway? Cortez was bad enough last week."

"I'd explain if I had time, doctor, but if I can't have all of them back I need to go," Victoria sighed. "Wish me luck, I have to tell Homer we're short-staffed now and explain to Commander Spock why the hell they're so incompetent."

"I'll walk you," said Jim immediately. "Bones, physicals? Soon?"

"Tomorrow," nodded McCoy. "See you both later."

Victoria waved and headed for the door, and Jim threw his friend a pointed look that he ignored before following her. He caught up with her just as she entered the turbolift, and she held the door open so he could join her. Once they were alone, Victoria pinched his arm.

"Ow!" Jim winced and rubbed his arm. "What did I do?"

"First you want me to get with McCoy, now you want me to be friends with Spock!" Victoria glared at him accusingly. "What's your game, Kirk?"

"There's no game!" said Jim defensively. "Why do people always think I have an agenda?"

"Because the cute and dumb façade only works with people who don't actually know you," snapped Victoria. "You could tutor me in quantum mechanics when you were twelve, Jim. You're too smart for this, you know I shouldn't be around too many people. So what's your plan? McCoy can get another, normal girl, and Spock does not want any more human friends. They don't need me!"

"Of course they don't, but you do," Jim groaned. "Tori, Bones likes you. And Spock could probably learn to tolerate you, which is as close to friendship as you're going to get with him!"

"James Tiberius Kirk, if you say one more word for the rest of our trip, I will broadcast your baby pictures over every frequency in the Federation and personally hold screenings of your bath-time from ages three to seven until this mission is complete."

Jim opened his mouth, no doubt to argue, but something in Victoria's expression made him pause. She looked serious, but she also looked tired, and kind of sad, and that made him feel guilty. Guilty, because he did know why she was hesitant, he just didn't think it was as important as she did; but that didn't mean he could ignore her wishes. So, he mimed zipping his mouth and nodded, causing her to break out into a smile and squeeze his hand.

The turbolift stopped at the Science deck, and they both made their way through the lab to the end of the hallway, where the door to Spock's office was closed. As the doors slid open, Spock looked up from his desk but didn't seem surprised to see Jim there.

"Have a seat, Dr. Woodville," he said, not bothering with pleasantries. When Jim continued to stand in the corner silently as Victoria sat down, Spock looked confused. "Captain, do you need something?"

Jim merely grinned and held up a finger to his lips, miming being quiet. Victoria sighed. "My apologies, Commander," she said. "Captain, please tell the Commander whatever it is you came here to stay, and then leave."

"I'd like to sit in," declared Jim, taking a seat next to Victoria and smirking at Spock. "Problem, Mr. Spock?"

"It is not against regulation for you to attend this meeting, therefore I have no problem, Captain. However, I do not think you will find it particularly interesting."

"I'll be the judge of that. Continue, please."

"Very well," Spock nodded, then turned away from Jim and proceeded to ignore him completely, giving Victoria his full attention. "Did you receive my memo, Dr. Woodville?"

"Aye, sir."

"I have a few suggestions to improve efficiency of our sample-gathering mission for the next few days to ensure there is no loss of time when we begin the Captain's suggested simulations," said Spock. "I have assigned the task to you."

Victoria frowned. "I'm confused. What task? And I thought this was Homer's job?"

"Lieutenant Homer is not as qualified as you when it comes to planet-side sample gathering. It is only logical to have you involved in this mission, instead of him."

"Commander, I –"

"I have obeyed your wishes to remain inconspicuous when it comes to research and away missions on two different occasions, doctor," said Spock, interrupting her without hesitation. "On one of those occasions, I myself was injured and the Captain nearly lost his life. On the other occasion, Lieutenant Homer was unaware of the approaching ion storm, but you were. You see why I think it would be more efficient if you were involved from the beginning, rather than at the last-minute."

Victoria bit her lip, noting the way Jim leaned back in his seat from the corner of her eye. His face was blank, and for once she couldn't read his expression; had he put Spock up to this, or had the Commander come to this conclusion on his own? It was unlikely Jim could have talked him into giving Victoria a more prominent role on the ship so soon, but she wouldn't put it past him.

Unable to think of any argument that both Spock and Jim would listen to, Victoria sighed. "Your logic, as always, is sound, Commander. I'll do it."

Spock didn't thank her. "I will send you the research materials by this evening. I am leading an away mission to the planet tomorrow. Please make sure you join us."

An away mission and a simulation? Victoria frowned. "I – very well, Commander."

Spock gave her a look that was almost quizzical. "If you have a suggestion, doctor, I would prefer to hear it now."

Victoria hesitated, but grew a little in confidence when Jim also turned to look at her curiously. "I don't think two different trips to the planet are necessary."

"Oh?" Spock raised an eyebrow. "Continue."

She opened her PADD and pulled up the initial sweep of the planet, offering the datasets to him. "Security has already determined there are no active life-forms on the planet, and the vegetation is dense but not overtly dangerous. We're down some of our best officers because they haven't been able to catalogue existing samples from previous missions properly, so we wouldn't have our best people on the away mission anyway."

"So we'd be wasting time and sending down people with inadequate training if the away mission happened tomorrow," said Jim. He nodded thoughtfully. "There's no guarantee they would get what we need, in that case. It could be risky."

"I have an idea to counter the risk," said Victoria. "We used to run similar simulations on abandoned planets during my last assignment. But we were always short on time, and couldn't always run a data-gathering mission and a simulation before having to move on. So we'd attach portable data-gathering sensors to officers going planet-side for the simulation and monitor their bodies' reactions to the atmosphere, environment, and be able to gain samples from the sensors much more accurately than we would from ill-qualified officers going down. It's more efficient, Commander."

"A portable data-gathering sensor," repeated Spock slowly. "You reworked tricorders for the purpose, I assume?"

Victoria nodded. "I still have the designs on my PADD. Engineering could probably work up a model for us by today and we can test it out before attaching it to your officers who are going down for a simulation. They wouldn't even have to do anything except make sure it doesn't fall off."

Spock looked at her evenly for a few seconds, and Victoria began to feel a little uncomfortable. Without breaking eye contact, Spock flicked open his comm. "Spock to Dr. McCoy."

"McCoy here."

"Could you come to my office at your earliest convenience, doctor? We are in need of your assistance."

"If your damn Science officers weren't taking up half my sickbay right now, Spock, I'd be at lunch."

Spock raised an eyebrow as Jim snorted and Victoria bit her lip to avoid smiling. "I apologise for their inefficiency, doctor. We will remedy the situation as soon as possible."

"See that you do," grumbled McCoy. "I'll be up in five. McCoy out."

"Acknowledged," said Spock, and shut off his comm. "I would like the doctor's opinion on your suggestion, but I am inclined to believe it is possible."

"And efficient," added Jim.

"Quite," nodded Spock. "As you can see, Dr. Woodville, my initial assessment was correct."

Victoria tried not to smile again. "Commander, I believe you are being gratuitous. That too, towards yourself."

"I am merely stating a fact, doctor."

"And the fact is that Tori's a genius," said Jim. He sounded smug. "I'm almost jealous I opted out of going down myself."

"I'm not," Victoria rolled her eyes. "You're a magnet for trouble, and I don't need another headache."

"I agree," said Spock, and Jim's eyes widened. "You do not need the training other officers do, Captain."

"Neither do you, but you're going," pointed out Jim.

"Are you?" Victoria's eyes pricked up. "That's a good idea, actually. It would be good to attach the sensor to you, to see how Vulcan biology compares with the readings we get from other species. Oh, that's so interesting!" her eyes lit up with excitement. "Commander, there's strides being made in non-Terran species' biological responses to alien planets. The Federation's prioritised human responses for too long, this is just the kind of data we need!"

"Indeed, I believe there is a push for such information. Have you read Dr. T'Chain's recent paper on the subject, doctor?" asked Spock curiously.

"The one that cited you?" Victoria smirked. "Twice. I graduated with T'Chain."

Spock blinked. "Fascinating."

Jim snorted. "Nerds."

"Be quiet, Jim. Commander, I insist you agree to carry a sensor," said Victoria firmly. "In fact, I'll make a list of officers that I want it on and send it to you once I get into the ship's personnel records."

"Dr. McCoy will be able to help with that," nodded Spock. "In fact, if I am not mistaken –" the door chirped, and slid open to reveal Dr. McCoy. "Ah, yes. Come in, doctor."

Leonard narrowed his eyes as he stepped in and saw who else was in the room. "Didn't I just see you two in sickbay?" he asked, frowning at Jim and Victoria.

"We're touring the ship to see who else we can annoy," said Jim, while Victoria merely smiled. "Scotty's next."

McCoy ignored him and sank into the chair on Victoria's other side, giving Spock an expectant look. "Well? If this is about your officers, I ain't sendin' them back till you promise me I won't see any of them again until I ask for them."

"On the contrary," said Spock, and gestured to Victoria. "Dr. Woodville will explain."

Victoria blinked. "I will?"

"It is your assignment."

"Oh, right," Victoria shook her head, took her PADD back from where it was lying right in the middle of Spock's desk, and handed it to McCoy. "Basically…" she ran through her idea, Spock's suggestion, and what she needed, and by the end Leonard was staring at her blankly. "What?" she asked self-consciously. "It's a good idea."

"It is. You've been on shift for sixteen hours and your brain is still working at Vulcan-level?" he shook his head slowly. "Incredible."

"How do you know I've been –"

"If you can assist, doctor," said Spock, interrupting Victoria's question. "Please do so. I would like a prototype by tomorrow."

"Easily done," said Victoria.

"I hate you all," snapped McCoy. "I ain't going planet-side."

"You are," said Jim, and his tone was the no-nonsense Captain's tone that Victoria had never heard. It made her smile, and McCoy scowl. "In fact, you and Spock are going together. It'd be unfair to assign a senior officer to go down with a rookie ensign anyway. Uhura and Sulu already teamed up together, so it's just you two left."

"Then we can use Dr. McCoy as our human specimen," said Victoria, addressing Jim. McCoy turned to glare at her, but it was significantly less ferocious than the looks he'd been throwing the other two men, and Victoria ignored him. "At least these two will know what they're doing compared to the rest."

"I can prepare the rota tomorrow," said Spock, already turning on a PADD and scanning through it. "We should be ready to beam down to the planet in two days, Captain. Is that sufficient time, doctor?"

"Absolutely," said Victoria, the same time as McCoy demanded, "Is anyone even listening to me?"

"I am," assured Victoria, patting his arm. "You can complain all you want on our way to sickbay. I need personnel records, and their physicals given priority. Permission to escort out Dr. McCoy before he blows an artery, Commander, Captain?"

"Granted," grinned Jim, while Spock merely nodded. Victoria ushered out McCoy, who was muttering about overworking Science officers and childish captains while she smiled and nodded sympathetically. As the door shut behind them, Jim turned to give Spock a pointed look. "So."

"Yes?" Spock didn't look up from his PADD.

"Remember when we first arrived on the ship?"

"That is a rhetorical question," said Spock, still not looking up. "I have a perfect memory, Captain."

"It is," Jim nodded. "So, you remember? Bones threw a fit when we asked him to give Tori her meds?"

"His objections were logical, but overruled by your orders."

"Exactly. And you said something about their compatibility," Jim smirked. "Bones and Tori's, that is. What did you say exactly?"

Spock looked like he wanted to sigh. "I said their chances of being happy together are at less than thirty percent. However, if we were not in the situation we are in now, they would possibly be higher," Spock finally put down his PADD and fixed Jim with a questioning stare. "Why do you ask?"

Jim shrugged. "Seems to me their chances are pretty high even under the current circumstances. Thanks to you, of course."

"I have not encouraged any romantic relationship between them, Captain."

"You haven't?" Jim snorted. "Spock, come on. It's just me. You put Tori in charge of this mission and you're practically forcing her to work with Bones on it. On Earth, they call that match-making."

"We are not on Earth, Captain."

"Figure of speech," Jim waved away the technicality. "Just admit it. You're pushing them together, aren't you?"

"I cannot admit to something I am not doing. It is only logical that they work together," said Spock. "Dr. Woodville is an exobiologist and Dr. McCoy is one of the few medical professionals on this ship who can treat every member of the crew no matter what species they are. For the current mission it is, as the humans say, a match made in heaven."

Jim grinned. "So, you're saying they're compatible."

"Scientifically, yes."

"And otherwise?"

"I would need more data, Captain."

"Right," still smiling, Jim stood up. "Well, I'll let you get on with your day. Just one more thing, before I go. Food for thought, as the humans say?"

This time, Spock did sigh. "Yes?"

"When I was at the Academy, a certain instructor and a certain cadet were also working together. I believe the cadet was chosen to be a TA for his Advanced Morphology class out of hundreds because of her proficiency in pretty much every known Federation language, and then some." Jim grinned when Spock's eyebrow shot up, almost involuntarily. "Remember how that ended, Spock?"

Spock was quiet for five seconds before responding, "It has not ended, Captain."

Jim laughed. "Exactly."

!

"Who's next?"

"I can't believe I agreed to this."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Hey, you get to work with me for the next three days. You should be doing cartwheels."

"I'll get on that," grunted Leonard. "We've been here six hours."

"Your shift ends in two."

"Yours doesn't."

"You don't have to stay here just because I'm a workaholic," pointed out Victoria. "We can pick this up again tomorrow. Spock gave us until then anyway."

"Nah, I want the list ready so I can send out the memos tonight," Leonard shook his head. "Plus, I ain't leavin' you to do it all yourself."

"You don't trust me?"

"More like you'd get me fired with that brain of yours. Spock'll realise he doesn't need me around anymore."

Victoria laughed. "I'm smart, but I'm no doctor. Steadiest hands in the galaxy, wasn't it?"

Leonard snorted. "Jim tell you that story?"

"Gleefully. If it helps, I would've found that charming."

"I'll make sure I try that line on you sometime."

"I expect more of an effort if you're going to be trying lines on me, Leonard," said Victoria lightly. "No recycled ones, please."

"Noted," Leonard was smiling now, definitely less grumpy, and Victoria smiled back. "Now, mind if I ask a question?"

She sighed. "The last time you said that, I had an escape route. This isn't fair."

"Maybe that's the point," he put the PADD down and fixed her with a look that immediately made Victoria look away. She was grateful for the desk between them, because if he had been any closer, she was sure he would've nudged her face up with his fingers, forcing her to look at him. And him touching her right now really wouldn't help. "Have you always had this much energy?"

"Yes," she answered immediately, because it was a question she heard often, and one she had always had an answer to. "When I'm working, I don't have to think."

"Think about what?" he pressed.

Victoria blinked. "Oh, I don't know. Just… think. It's just something people say."

Leonard snorted. "I'm gonna be honest, darlin', I'm really curious to know what kind of doctors you've had in the past."

"They've all been fine," defended Victoria. "Of course, none of them were quite so charming –"

"Don't try to change the subject now."

"– but they did what they were supposed to do," she finished. "I'm alive, aren't I?"

"That you are," he agreed. "'Course, you know there's more to life than just livin'."

"This coming from the man who only leaves sickbay when Jim locks him out of his computer."

"That was once," he snapped. "And don't think I forgot, you and me are gonna have a talk soon."

"Why, have you finally found the perfect pick-up line?"

Leonard shook his head, and the way his lips twitched told Victoria he wanted to smile, but wasn't going to let himself. "Fine. Later," he gave her a pointed look, then passed her another PADD. "Andorian, Engineering. I'll schedule him for tomorrow."

"That's twenty-six now," said Victoria, adding the PADD to the pile on the chair next to her. "You going to be able to manage? We can't all have my logic-defying energy."

Leonard waved away her concern. "S'long as I get my coffee, I'll be fine."

"Speaking of caffeine," Victoria raised her arms above her head, relishing in the stretch of her muscles. Dropping her arms and letting out a groan, she began searching for her shoes on the floor. "I'm going to get some. Do you want any?"

"Thanks," he smiled, and she was momentarily distracted before realising she still hadn't found her shoes. "Replicator's outside."

"Be right back," stuffing her feet into her shoes – she had worn heels again – she left her lab coat on the back of her chair and wandered out of the CMO's office. Nurse Riley was getting a glass of water from the replicator, and smiled when she saw Victoria.

"How's it going?" she greeted.

"Great," Victoria smiled back. "Though, I think Dr. McCoy regrets the day I stepped onto this ship."

"Dr. McCoy regrets the day he met the Captain," said Nurse Riley, and Victoria laughed. "I heard you're both working on some fancy assignment from Commander Spock?" she asked, sipping her water. "Enjoying it?"

"Kind of," Victoria shrugged and inputted the specifications for her coffee. "We've been trying to figure out suitable candidates to carry sensors onto the planetoid, for training exercises. Dr. McCoy's the only one who can make sure we don't accidentally kill whoever we send down there."

"Sounds interesting. That's his sixth cup today," added Nurse Riley, when Victoria reached for the two mugs.

She winced. "That is really not healthy."

Nurse Riley sighed, inputting another code and handed Victoria the replicated apple the machine just produced. "Think you can get him to eat this?"

"Doubtful," said Victoria, but took the apple anyway. "I'll see you later."

Nurse Riley waved goodbye and Victoria headed back to the office, carefully balancing the fruit and mugs in her hands. Leonard didn't look up when she entered, so she dropped the apple onto his PADD, causing him to jerk back in surprise.

"Your Head Nurse asked me to make sure you eat that," she said. "Don't embarrass me now."

"Damn woman treats me like a child," he grumbled, reaching for the coffee. Victoria raised her eyebrows and held it out of his reach, already sipping her own. His eyes narrowed. "That ain't funny."

"It wasn't meant to be. And this is nothing. Our CMO used to monitor what we ate in the mess hall and show up with all sorts of weird food combinations if he didn't see us eat properly three days in a row," Victoria rolled her eyes at the memory. "At least no one here does that." Leonard nodded slowly, suddenly busying himself with his PADD. Victoria narrowed her eyes. "Leonard."

"Hmm?" he didn't look up.

"If you've been monitoring what I've been eating –"

"I'll eat half if you eat the other half," he interrupted. Victoria leaned back in her seat and huffed, and he smiled. "C'mon, darlin'. It's just three days. Consider this a cartwheel."

Victoria glared. "You better not tell her. She controls my hypos."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Here," he pushed the apple towards her. "I ain't makin' you eat my leftovers."

Victoria wanted to laugh, or argue, and point out that his manners were completely antiquated. She wanted to get up and go replicate another apple, so he'd eat more than just half and she wouldn't have to cover for him with his Head Nurse. She also thought about how she shouldn't even be here in the first place, sitting with her feet tucked under her opposite the CMO's desk, occasionally peering over his shoulder at PADDs and smiling at him when he half-heartedly complained about his work, all the while adding more to his already overflowing plate because he didn't want to overwork any of his other colleagues. She should never have let herself get this close to Leonard McCoy, because she enjoyed his company more than anyone else's on the ship, and it was clear he didn't have a problem with having her around either. And she really shouldn't encourage a friendship that bordered on flirtatious, making butterflies erupt in her stomach with every word he said in that damn accent of his.

"Fine," she heard herself say, and reached for the apple just as he did, no doubt to hand it to her. Their fingers brushed, and it was electric, just like every other time he touched her bare skin. Victoria turned red and quickly took a bite, busying herself with chewing and avoiding his eye. Swallowing, she caught him watching her and raised her eyebrows, ignoring the blush on her cheeks. "Half."

"Half," he agreed. He was smirking.

This was a mistake.

But she still smiled back.