As she surveyed the planet Lieutenant Commander Colleen Mills shielded her eyes from the two suns, it was on days like this when she was planet side and she could feel a breeze and the heat and see grass and sand and water that she missed Earth, the one drawback of working for Starfleet was that one had to spend a certain amount of time in space. She'd been trying for years to get a job in San Francisco but hadn't been so lucky, yet. She was always told her skills were needed on the Enterprise or whatever ship she was on at the time, she never really knew what skills they were referring to? She was an all-rounder, technically part of the Engineering function but not an Engineer. Her experience was in assurance, she basically made sure people were doing their jobs the way they were supposed to. Most saw her as a necessary evil, some a hindrance and others an opportunity to improve. Kirk saw her as an annoyance, every time he received one of her reports detailing the number of failings and breaches of procedure he would roll his eyes and not bother reading it, he had to give her some credit though she always tried to let him fix a situation before she reported it to Starfleet but still, what was the big deal?! The rest of the crew didn't mind so much plus it helped she was nice, sort of funny sometimes and had a nice smile. She would remember people's birthdays and the name of their sibling, she would bring a coffee with her when she had a meeting and give it to the other person and she was a great listener. None of which meant much to Colleen herself when she found that for the most part she spent her time on her own. Nice enough for people to like her but unremarkable enough for people to forget her.
"We need to get moving," Kirk told McCoy as he set off down the coastline. McCoy nodded and turned to see the rest of the away team making their way also apart from one.
"Hey!" he shouted out at Colleen who turned and creased her brow in confusion. McCoy recognised her face but couldn't remember her name, "let's go!" he told her quickly before setting off himself. Colleen took a few extra steps and a skip to catch up to the Doctor before steadying her pace, once by his side she focussed on not tripping as the six foot tall Doctor beside her strode on with purpose. They maybe went half a mile before he looked her way, to check she was okay she didn't know. They carried on that way until they reached the rest of the away team and as each one set about on their individual tasks she saw that Kirk was looking at her.
"No problems yet?" he asked her with a tone she didn't appreciate.
"Yet," she replied coolly, not enjoying the situation one bit. She saw that McCoy gave Kirk a look and then turned to her. She hoped she wasn't exposing her displeasure on her face as she nodded curtly once more to Kirk and turned away quickly.
"What's the problem?" she heard McCoy ask Kirk as she took a few steps away, always feeling like she wasn't welcome. She couldn't quite hear what they were saying but as she looked down the coastline she forgot that she was being talked about and focussed on the other away team members doing their jobs.
"Roe!" she shouted out to the Ensign.
"Yes Lieutenant Commander?" the young Ensign answered nervously.
"Great job, let me know how you get on alright and if you need help just ask." She replied as the Ensign went from a grimace to a smile.
"Not a bad view?" turning she was surprised to see McCoy behind her. Looking back she took in the view he was referring to.
"Not bad at all," she answered. And that was it, watching as he strode away Colleen wondered what had urged him to come to her and make the comment.
"Lieutenant Commander Mills, are we good to go further ahead?" Kirk asked the question with more civility and respect than the entire time she had had dealings with him up to now. Making her wonder why he was being so polite Colleen just nodded and then looking at McCoy who was looking at her she thought perhaps that he was the reason for the sudden civility. "Excellent, let's get some samples Bones!" Kirk replied as McCoy nodded and Colleen offered her help. Passing her some vials Colleen started to collect dirt, plants and other bits and pieces from the ground. Picking a flower and popping it in one of the packets Colleen immediately felt strange. A sudden headache and tingling in her fingers made her drop the sample and look at the flower.
"Stop," she rasped as she sat back on her heels. Nobody had heard her. "Stop touching!" she managed to utter slightly loudly than before.
"Mills?" she heard Kirk say as she felt herself fall onto her back and begin to struggle for breath. As she looked up to the sky and grabbed her neck with her hands her view was blocked by the concerned face of McCoy.
"Goddamnit!" she heard him mutter as her vision blurred and faded to black.
Waking up in the sick bay Colleen groaned as she still felt the remnants of the headache she'd suddenly acquired when on the planet. The planet? The sample? Looking around she saw Nurses and Doctors milling around. Letting her line of sight settle on the ceiling she focussed on a small patch of white that looked different from the rest.
"How's the patient?" she heard McCoy ask.
"The patient has a headache," she answered before looking his way. Nodding McCoy administered a hypo spray to Colleen's neck before seemingly reading her vitals. "What happened?" she asked as she watched him look from her to her vitals once again.
"Bad flower," he answered as he watched her comb her brown hair with her fingers and rub her eyes.
"Umhum, thought as much!" Colleen tried to sit up but a strong hand on her forearm stopped her.
"Rest," he instructed.
"I'm good," she argued as she continued to sit up but instantly regretted it as the headache intensified and she felt like a hot poker was in her right eye.
"Yeah right," McCoy commented. "Looks like it," he added as Colleen closed her eyes and grimaced. "You were lucky, a variation of that flower had been found before, and I had an antidote…" his words trailed off as she took a moment to regain her composure.
"Lucky?" she repeated slowly. McCoy took in her countenance, he actually felt bad for her.
"On a scale of alive or dead, yeah I'd say lucky." Colleen couldn't help but laugh which took McCoy by surprise. "You think that's funny?" he couldn't help but ask.
"It wasn't supposed to be?" Colleen replied to which McCoy shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm keeping you here for a few more hours, then you can go to your quarters. You're off work for the next couple of days…"
"No," she interrupted. "I have too much to do and…"
"Doctor's orders I'm afraid, whatever it is it can wait!" With that he walked away leaving Colleen watching after him.
In her quarters Colleen found herself unable to stop working, sat at her desk she reviewed the reports that were due from each function and forwarded anything pertinent to the Captain. When her computer binged almost immediately she creased her brow and read the message from the Captain.
To: Lieutenant Commander Colleen Mills
From: Captain James Kirk
Message: Thanks Lieutenant Commander, will get straight on it. Hope you're feeling better.
Colleen was dumbstruck, she re-read the message a few more times before sitting back and pulling up her legs to hug her knees.
"Well, that's… nice…" she muttered as she pulled herself up and got ready for bed. As she lay on her back and stared at the ceiling she tried to empty her mind, too much time to herself and she started to overthink things, she needed distractions in her life from her overactive internal monologue. It took far too long for her to fall asleep that night, far too long.
McCoy sat beside Kirk in his quarters and took another swig of bourbon. The pair were content to sit in silence from time to time, allowing the other to mutter some little comment about their day or simply focus on the glass in their hand.
"You're unusually quiet Jim," McCoy commented gruffly.
"I am?" Kirk replied as he shifted in his seat.
"You know anything you say will remain between us, doctor patient confidentiality and all that…"
"Bones, I'm not your patient in this situation…" Kirk laughed.
"I'll be the judge of that, spill the beans!" Kirk stared at McCoy hoping he would drop the subject but knowing he wouldn't sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I've treated a crew member unfairly due to my own…"
"Pig headedness?" McCoy quipped.
"Prejudices," Kirk corrected.
"Mills?" McCoy guessed as he took another sip. Kirk raised his brow and then shook his head laughing.
"Am I that transparent?" he asked. McCoy didn't answer and made it clear he was waiting for him to continue. "She's good at her job, always has been. I just find her frustrating, we're in deep space, exploring Bones! If we need to bend the rules slightly to seek out new life and new civilizations…"
"Jim, with all due respect. Bullshit!" McCoy scoffed.
"What?" Kirk asked trying to feign shock.
"You don't like rules, never have. You see her as an interference, you're lucky she's quiet."
"Quiet?"
"Can you imagine if it was me in that positon?" that was enough for Kirk to nod slowly and internally recognise his own failings as a Captain. "She's in a no win situation Jim, you of all people should know how that feels?" Bones sat up and rubbed his hand of his bristled jaw. "With that little nugget of wisdom I shall be on my way," standing McCoy downed his drink and saluted Kirk casually with two fingers to his temple. As he walked back to his own quarters McCoy's only thought was how good his bed was going to feel once he was in it.
Colleen stood at her desk looking at the screens before her, letting her weight shift from one foot to the next she rolled out her neck and blinked a couple of times to refocus on the reports in front of her.
"Kirk to Mills," her comm commanded abruptly. Staring at the button she stalled for a moment before tentatively reaching out and responding.
"Yes Captain?" she asked.
"Can you meet me in the ready room," with that the comm ended. Colleen looked to the other Engineers and personnel that milled around her. None of them took any notice as she left her station and made her way to the bridge. Once there again nobody looked up as she stepped onto the bridge and proceeded to the ready room.
"Lieutenant Commander Mills?" turning Colleen saw Row making their way over. "How are you?" they asked and Colleen smiled.
"I'm much better thank you," she answered courteously. With a quick nod the Ensign went about their business and Colleen carried on.
"Captain Kirk," she greeted as she entered the room and saw that Kirk was sat at the end of the long table.
"Mills, take a seat." Kirk instructed her which she did, pulling at her uniform uncomfortably and crossing then uncrossing her legs. "I'd like to ensure we have no more failures against key protocols," he started which made Colleen raise her brows. "I know I know, call it a change of heart!" he smiled and Colleen relaxed somewhat. "I've been making your life difficult I know, so, what I expect from now on is a detailed report. Come and see me and we'll discuss opportunities for improvement alright?" he looked at her expectantly.
"Alright, Captain." She answered slowly.
"Scotty's told me you pretty much work autonomously, I like that! Keep up the good work Lieutenant Commander and let me know if there is anything you ever need alright?"
"Alright," she answered once more.
"You can tell me what's on your mind Mills," Kirk told her, picking up on the feeling she wasn't being forthcoming with what was on her mind. Colleen shook her head vigorously and tried to stem the blush she feel flooding her cheeks.
"Nothing Sir, nothing!" she answered quietly. "Thank you," she added before beginning to stand and then instantly realising she hadn't been dismissed. Plopping herself down again Kirk laughed.
"No need to be nervous Mills…"
"I'm not nervous," she interrupted.
"Alright, well, you're dismissed." Kirk could tell she wanted to be anywhere other than sat opposite him.
"Yes Sir," she said as she bolted from the seat and swiftly made her way to the door.
"Oh Mills, the CMO has some new policies in from Starfleet Medical, see that they're implemented correctly won't you?" Colleen looked at him blankly. "Is that alright?" he added knowing they had both said 'alright' far too many times.
"Alright," Colleen replied before leaving making Kirk stifle a laugh. As Colleen walked briskly across the bridge she wondered why he had laughed at her as she had left.
McCoy sat at his desk deep in thought, when the door chimed he actively ignored it. When it once again chimed out he gruffly shouted permission for whomever it was to enter.
"What do you want?" he ground out without looking up.
"Doctor McCoy? I'm here to run through the new Starfleet Medical policies with you…"
"What?" McCoy interrupted as he looked up, seeing Mills stood there like a deer in headlights made him close his eyes momentarily in regret. Not voicing his apology he simply told her to take a seat, watching her do so he noticed she took a long deep breath in before looking round his office. Setting a coffee down in front of him he thanked her quietly and creased his brow when it tasted just perfect, half a sugar and just a splash of milk. "Starfleet are at it again are they?" he said as he folded his arms. Colleen chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." She answered with a small smile. "But not to worry, we'll make it as quick and painless as we can."
"I thought that was supposed to be my line?" McCoy replied and Colleen chuckled but said nothing.
"Right, shall we get started and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to interrupt…"
"Straight to the point," McCoy said chuckling and Colleen creased her brow in confusion.
"Do you want to offer me a coffee first?" she asked and for a moment McCoy didn't realise she was joking.
"Straight to the point, I like it!" he added as she looked to her PADD. The remainder of his day was spent sifting through the new and updated policies with Colleen, she was thorough and exact but when they came to one particularly bizarre change to a perfectly good protocol relating to the Nurses and McCoy lost his temper she went quiet and studied her PADD. "It's damned ridiculous…!" he carried on.
"Don't worry about it," she interrupted him as she continued to read.
"What?! I have to worry about it I'm the CMO!" he looked at her angrily.
"No, I mean don't do it." Colleen looked up to his confused face. "I'll build in a risk assessment with the current policy, the wording is off with this and when I audit I'll make sure you're covered alright?" nodding curtly she went back to her PADD. McCoy smirked.
"I didn't know you broke the rules Mills?" he said.
"Not breaking, interpreting." She corrected.
"Bending," McCoy corrected again.
"Interpreting," she countered with a slight grin. "Well, that should do it, I'll update everything and get it sent out to your staff. If you need me to explain anything further I'm happy to…" Colleen stood and groaned a little when her shoulder gave her a little pain. "Thank you for your time Doctor McCoy, I hope that wasn't too painful?" Making her way to the door Colleen rolled her shoulder and shifted her files from one arm to the other.
"No, not at all I appreciate all the help I can get with that nonsense!" He saw her eyes close momentarily. "Not to say that what you do is nonsense…" he quickly added unsure as to why he cared how she felt.
"You wouldn't be the first to say it Doctor," she replied quietly.
"Your shoulder?" he said as the door opened in front of her. Colleen looked at him and saw that he looked concerned, throughout their meeting he had looked barely awake.
"What?" she answered.
"You have pain in your shoulder?" he asked her and she shook her head.
"Not really, must have slept funny. Thank you again Doctor McCoy." Leaving Colleen found it difficult to swallow. He was gruff and completely disinterested in what she did but he did listen to her and when she was explaining the merits of one of the additional policies he had slowly nodded and agreed, giving her a quick grin and finally offering her a coffee. She realised she liked him a little and laughed at herself, how ridiculous!