"How'd it go?" Scotty asked Mills as they walked side by side.
"How did what go?" she asked him, they had just been talking about the Engineering training that was due for renewal.
"With the Doctor, he can be a little rough round the edges at times…" Scotty laughed to himself but saw that Mills was fidgeting. "Do I need to go clip the lad's ear?" he asked feeling protective.
"No, of course not!" Colleen laughed herself. "It went well, when doesn't it?" she winked.
"Aye, I'm not questioning ya skills I just know what he's like, and you for that matter!" he added knowingly.
"What does that mean?" as they past Officer Passaro she said hi, he looked at her with a hint of recognition, gave her a quick nod and carried on. Scotty saw her eyes darken a little.
"Nothing Lass," Scotty changed his mind as they entered Engineering. Colleen watched all the people snap to attention and start to look busy, smirking she caught Scotty's eye again and winked.
"When the cat's away…" she whispered as she made her way over to her office which was more like a shoebox than an actual room. Sitting behind her desk she let her head loll back and closed her eyes. "I hate space!" she groaned as her door opened.
"Didn't anybody warn you Starfleet operates in space?" McCoy arched his brow and held back a smirk when Colleen went wide-eyed and sat up quickly.
"Uh…" she didn't know what to say. "Well…"
"At ease Lieutenant Commander," McCoy told her as he took the seat opposite her and tossed one leg over the over casually. "Your secret is safe with me," he added. Colleen ran her hands through her hair and smiled, sitting forward she looked at McCoy expectantly. "Just wanted to let you know Medical is happy, for once, with the latest reports. Thanks to you," he added uncharacteristically.
"That's good to hear, how are you finding it?" she asked him.
"A pain in the ass as usual but better, the Nurses seem happier." He answered as he watched her eyes sparkle. She was whip smart he knew it, he could see it in her features.
"Well that's definitely good to hear, I'm glad I could help. Let me know if there is anything else I can do alright?" McCoy nodded and they both fell silent. "What are you thinking about?" she asked him suddenly and McCoy was surprised for a second.
"I was wondering why you hate space," he replied. Colleen pressed her lips together slightly.
"I don't hate space, but I would rather be on Earth." She answered honestly.
"You're preaching to the converted lady!" McCoy said and Colleen couldn't help but grin at his outburst, the way his arms went in the air made her chuckle. "I found myself here totally by accident, well that's not entirely true but…" McCoy continued to tell her how he found himself on the Enterprise and by the time he realised he had told this woman his life story it was too late. "You should have been a therapist," he laughed nervously. He'd let his guide down and he didn't know why, she had just sat there and listened and not passed judgement or commented. He felt uneasy as he shifted his weight in the chair, Colleen just shrugged her shoulders.
"Perhaps," she answered quietly. "Well I'll pop by and check on you in a couple of months to see how you're getting on." McCoy found himself standing, feeling disappointed that he wouldn't be seeing her for a while he hesitated to leave. "Was there something else?" she asked him. "I mean if you have any issues you can always ping me a message…"
"Right, yes, thanks." McCoy said. As he walked towards the door he quickly turned on his heel. "You know Mills, I'm very careful who I speak to you…"
"Your secret is safe with me," she answered his unspoken request. McCoy just nodded and left. "Story of my life," Colleen stared at her closed door and then let her head fall on her desk.
"You have a snapping scapula," Nurse Rushton said as Colleen looked at her strangely. "It's mild but that's what it is," Colleen nodded slowly and then still holding the sheet around her looked to the floor and then back at the Nurse.
"Which is what exactly?" she asked.
"It's where the bones of the shoulder blade or rib cage grate over one another," a gruff voice answered. Turning Colleen saw that McCoy was making his way over, Colleen pulled a face which made him smile.
"That doesn't sound great," she replied as he pointed his finger at her sternly.
"You told me you slept funny!" he admonished her as he came to stand behind her and look at her back. Colleen grinned but jumped when she felt his hand on her shoulder blade. "Sorry, cold hands?" he asked her unaware.
"No, just… no." she muttered.
"Yeah I can see it," he told her as he told the Nurse to leave and he picked up a piece of medical apparatus.
"You can see it?!" Colleen exclaimed. "You mean you can see my shoulder blade is more protruded than the other?" she asked horrified. McCoy ran his hand over her shoulder blade once more.
"I mean I know what I'm looking for, I don't think anybody else would notice and you certainly can't tell through your uniform." Colleen huffed, not entirely happy and regretting coming to sickbay in the first place. If she was being honest it had just got too painful and when that morning she had awoken and couldn't move her arm she knew she had to bite the bullet. "You got a thing against Doctors?" McCoy asked as he started healing Colleen's shoulder.
"Pardon?"
"Why'd you leave it so long?" he went on as Colleen realised she was holding the sheet to her chest with a vice-like grip.
"I didn't want to bother…" she started but McCoy letting out a huff stopped her.
"From the woman who crosses all the T's and dots all the I's!" he exclaimed.
"Do as I say, not as I do?" she said by way of an explanation. McCoy put his machine down and ran his hands over her shoulder blades, Colleen started to think about new policy numbers.
"All done, you're good to go." McCoy walked round to face Colleen and creased his brow in confusion when she kept her eyes to the ground. "Everything alright Mills?" he asked her. She looked at him suddenly and grinned.
"Me? Yeah, great. Thank you Doctor McCoy that does feel much better!"
"I should think so!" he replied. "Well I'll let you get dressed, promise me you won't leave anything untreated next time." He said to her sternly.
"I won't," she replied quietly. "How are the Nurses doing?" she asked him, not wanting him to go and for their conversation to be over. McCoy crossed his arms.
"Still happy," he told her.
"And you?" she asked and he found himself wanting to tell her his life story again. It was just something in those eyes of hers.
"I have a sickbay to run… never have time to get any damned thing done…" he started but stopped when Colleen interrupted.
"You like it busy," she commented. McCoy narrowed his eyes at her. "It's alright Doctor, your secret is safe with me." McCoy smirked, Colleen Mills was clearly somebody who came out of their shell once they felt like they could trust somebody. Much like himself.
McCoy was sat eating lunch with Kirk the following day when he spotted Colleen enter the cafeteria, Kirk, not missing anything turned and spotted what had gained his friend's attention.
"Really?!" he asked as he took a bite of his sandwich. McCoy pulled his focus away from Colleen and onto Kirk who was grinning.
"What Jim?" McCoy tried to act innocently.
"No Bones, seriously! She's a very attractive woman and look, I get it! That whole 'am I in trouble?' vibe…"
"Jim!" McCoy warned but just as he was about to lay into him he heard a commotion coming from the other end of the cafeteria.
"You cost me my promotion!" a very angry looking man said as he stood over a very shocked looking Colleen.
"I beg your pardon?" she replied as she looked around the room and saw that all eyes were on them.
"Your report, I know it was you!" he went on.
"That's enough Ensign!" Colleen answered back, trying to sound authoritative. Inside she was shaking like a leaf. She hated confrontation of any kind but wasn't about to let this man shout and humiliate her in public. She could be quiet at times but she certainly wasn't a pushover.
"I'm surprised you have any friends at all?! You know we're all trying to do a good job out here and all you do is go around and make it difficult for everybody, we're professionals you know! We don't need you looking over our shoulder every five minutes…"
"I think it would be best if we had this discussion elsewhere…" she interrupted.
"Who do you think you are?!" he shouted at her.
"You cost yourself your own promotion by wilfully disregarding policy Ensign, you have nobody to blame but yourself!" Colleen bit back as she pushed her chair out from under her and stood in front of him.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Kirk stood in front of the Ensign who blanched and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Captain," he whispered.
"Get out, now! I'll be speaking to your Superior about this Ensign!" Kirk stared him down until he scurried off. Turning he saw that Colleen was stood behind him, trying her best to keep it together. The sheen of threatening tears in her eyes told him otherwise. "Bones, can you and Lieutenant Commander Mills run over that report that I asked for?" McCoy was at her side in a moment and whisking her away. Kirk looked around at the sea of faces.
"Show's over and the next person who even thinks about confronting a member of my senior staff like that will be thrown in the brig."
As McCoy walked Colleen down the corridor he could see she was visibly shaking, her hands were clenched and her head was down.
"You need a drink," he said under his breath.
"I need a drink," Colleen mumbled about the same time which made McCoy give her a look and with a hand on the small of her back directed her towards the rec room. Steering her towards the stools in front of the bar he made his way round as she fought back the tears.
"Not fun being the bad guy right?" he said as he pulled a bottle from the top shelf. Colleen laughed through her tears and shook her head.
"Bloody children thinking they know everything and deserve the universe…" she said as she looked to the sky in some vein hope of stopping the tears falling down her cheeks.
"They'll thank you one day," he said as he poured two decent measures and pushed one in front of her. Colleen lifted the glass to her mouth.
"They haven't yet," she told him sadly before downing the whole thing. McCoy was impressed, he'd poured the good stuff.
"They will, you good?" he asked as she looked at him sternly.
"Always," she answered instinctively. He knew she was lying.
"You know this isn't a popularity contest?" he commented.
"You think I thought it was?" she said angrily as she pushed her glass towards him. McCoy filled her up again.
"No, but you shouldn't let it get to you." Watching her down another McCoy put the bottle away quickly.
"No, of course!" she answered sarcastically. "I love being mortified in front of an entire cafeteria by some snot nosed Ensign with Daddy issues. I love being stuck on this bloody ship with Alpha… whatever the hell you all are!" Colleen stood and made her way round the bar. Pulling the bottle from the shelf McCoy had put back she poured them both another one. "You know what?" Colleen said as she looked at McCoy, "I'm letting off steam. You better go, I appreciate it I do but I'm being messy and I would prefer not to have an audience." She told him. McCoy looked at her with her wit smart face and puffy red cheeks.
"I don't mind getting messy," he told her with more Southern drawl than she'd ever heard before. Colleen looked at him seriously and then pointed a finger at him.
"Don't tell you I didn't bloody warn ya!"
Colleen downed the now cold coffee and almost choked when it went down the wrong way. Looking around the room she blushed when she noticed one of the other senior staff look at her strangely. Composing herself Colleen looked up when the door opened and McCoy walked in, he didn't even glance her way before making his way round the large table and taking the seat beside her.
"How's the head?" he asked her out of the side of his mouth. Colleen grinned and shifted in her seat.
"Not bad, yours?" she replied before Kirk walked in and all eyes were on him.
"Feels like someone has let off a couple of photon torpedo's in there!" he whispered back and when Colleen barked with laughter, snorted uncontrollably and when the whole room stared at her McCoy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow then hide his smile behind his own coffee cup.
Before McCoy could speak to her Colleen had left the meeting, sitting and staring after her he didn't notice Kirk taking the seat beside him.
"You know what today is?" Kirk asked McCoy. McCoy tore his eyes away from the door and looked at Kirk blankly. "What's going on man?" Kirk asked.
"What's today Jim?" McCoy asked him pretending not to hear his question. Kirk clapped his hands together and there was a sparkle in his eye McCoy didn't like.
"Away mission!" he exclaimed to which McCoy bit his tongue. "I need to get off this ship Bones, so do you by the looks of it." McCoy hummed and then clearing his throat stood up abruptly.
"Just don't go getting yourself killed Jim, or anybody else for that matter." He threw over his shoulder as he left leaving Kirk watching after him.
"Oh, he's got it good." Kirk muttered as he sat back in his chair.
Colleen stood back away from the rest of the team, Kirk was laughing with Spock who wasn't laughing and McCoy was stood speaking with Uhura. Looking around she twisted her boots into the dirt, kneeling she picked some up in her hand and let it roll between her fingers.
"Lieutenant Commander?" Colleen picked up another fistful of dirt and let it fall again. "Lieutenant Commander?" looking up Colleen saw that Uhura was standing above her. Quickly getting to her feet Colleen gave the other woman a smile.
"Everything alright?" she asked as Uhura looked at her tricorder.
"I just wanted you to check over these readings?" Uhura asked as she showed the tricorder to Colleen.
"What are you doing?" she asked the other woman.
"What? What do you mean?" Uhura asked as she creased her brow. Colleen laughed and folded her arms.
"You're cute!" Colleen said knowingly. "Thanks," rubbing Uhura's arm Colleen made her way over to the rest of the team. She did single herself out from others she knew it and Uhura coming over to pretend she needed help reminded her of that. Walking towards the others she saw a flicker in McCoy's eyes that made her thankful she had.
"Mills!" Kirk shouted. "We good to go?" he asked and she nodded. "Great, let's get this show on the road!" Colleen rolled her eyes and McCoy jabbed her ribs, jumping she looked at him shocked.
"You're not rolling your eyes at the Captain are you?" he asked seriously to which she snorted. "You're a snorter? I never knew!" he said quietly.
"And you won't be telling anybody either," she warned.
"Your secret is safe with me," he replied as they set off behind the others.
Making their way behind the others Colleen and McCoy walked in silence, Colleen watched Kirk march ahead and Spock stop to take readings.
"I think we should go that way," Kirk shouted out to everybody.
"Captain, I don't think…"
"Captain, it would be unwise…" Colleen and Spock looked at one another and then to Kirk.
"I have two of you now!" he exclaimed as he threw his arms in the air. "Whatever happened to discovering new worlds and new civilizations?" he asked.
"I'm all for that Captain," Colleen replied. "But if you go that way you're going to end up in quicksand." Kirk lost his smile and glanced at Spock who closed his eyes subtly. Almost like a toddler Kirk stuck out his bottom lip and then carried on in the right direction.
"Party pooper," McCoy said as looked at him.
"You're telling me I should have let him go that way?" she asked amused. "What kind of friend are you?" she asked him and when he leant towards her to whisper she found herself short of air.
"The best kind," he told her with a wink. Colleen watched as everybody did their part, collecting sample, ensuring they were safe, Kirk picking things up he shouldn't have been. Even McCoy seemed to know exactly what to do, she on the other hand knew why she was there but still felt out of place. Being the one who watched everybody else was wearing thin, at least when she was on the ship it didn't feel so… intrusive. She could help, improve processes, guide people in the right direction and support them when they wanted to do better. Here, she was an over looker. Turning away from as if that would change the dynamic Colleen closed her eyes for a moment and took a big, deep breath.
"MILLS!" spinning her eyes searched for McCoy who had shouted out her name. Seeing him stood alone she quickly made her way over.
"What is it?!" she asked scared. "Wait, where is everybody?" they were nowhere in sight. Spock, Uhura and Kirk were gone.
"They just, vanished?" McCoy whispered as he took out his tricorder. "They were here a minute ago, damnit!" Colleen pulled her own tricorder out and started scanning the area.
"Mills to Enterprise," she shouted as she commed the ship. "Mills to Enterprise?" there was no answer. As she looked to McCoy all she could wonder was what the hell had happened to the others.