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seren_ccdTitle: And not one throw pillow on the bed
Fandom: Star Trek 2009
Ship: Christine Chapel/Leonard McCoy
Beta: The wonderful![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fringedweller
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,733
Warning: mild language
Disclaimer: They are not mine.
Prompt: Anything based on the song 'Woman Like You' by Lee Brice.
Summary: Leonard McCoy has had it with relationships and so has Christine Chapel. So, they make a pact.
Forsleepygoof8784, as part of the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
mccoy_chapel Fic Exchange. I really hope you like it! ♥
The day Leonard McCoy joined Starfleet coincided with the day he gave up romantic relationships. The way he figured it, he’d already tried and failed at relationships, leaving him a worn-out, washed-up husk of a man, therefore Starfleet had to be a walk in the park by comparison.
Not that he was opposed to having the occasional good night out and being friends with Jim Kirk made it something of a requirement; even if sometimes it made him feel even more washed up and worn out than usual.
Such was the case one evening about three months into Academy. He situated himself off to the side and nursed what happened to be a pretty decent beer and watched as people younger than he dance and laugh and sweet heavens, he was so god damn old.
“Careful, McCoy,” a sweet voice said next to him. “Didn’t your mother tell you if you made that face long enough it’d stick?”
“She did and it has,” he said looking over at the lovely and wonderfully competent Christine Chapel. She grinned at him and propped herself up against the wall next to him. “Uhura drag you away from that microscope of yours?”
She made a face. “She and Gaila ganged up on me. They said that I needed to remember what the world looked like without the aid of a high-magnification lens.” She looked around the club and grimaced. “I want my lens back.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Tell me about it. I don’t know why I even bothered tonight.”
“’Cause saying ‘no’ to Jim Kirk is surprisingly difficult to do?” she offered taking a sip of her electric green drink.
“Those puppy-dog eyes of his should be illegal,” McCoy growled. Christine snickered.
“Imagine the lucrative possibilities if we could somehow replicate their exact color and emotional impact,” she said grinning.
“Oh, now that would be morally reprehensible and not fair to the rest of the world,” he said. He grinned back. “I like it.”
Christine threw her head back and laughed and he took a moment to appreciate the sight of a beautiful woman enjoying herself. It didn’t last long, because when she stopped laughing, she sighed and slumped against the wall, her upper arm absently pressed against his elbow.
“Now that’s a lovesick sound if ever I heard one,” he said turning towards her.
“Funnily enough, that’s what I am,” she said looking up at him. “Love. Sick. As in: sick of love.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve had it, McCoy. Just plain had enough of it.”
“I heard Korby is off on his travels soon,” McCoy said referring to her ex-fiancé.
“He left today,” she said downing more of her drink. “I wish him well.” McCoy gave her a look and she rolled her eyes. “I do, actually. I appreciate the science and the research he’s after. I just don’t appreciate the being left behind because you’re only a nurse, darling and you’re so much better suited to wiping brows and bottoms than pure science.”
“He said that?” McCoy asked incredulously. “Shit. And I thought I sucked at relationships. That takes the prize, Chapel.”
“Yeah,” she said slumping even more. “I should have seen it coming, though. The way he always went on about how science trumped healthcare. Like they don’t influence the other in a myriad of ways, the smug bastard.”
“You’re better off,” he said nudging her arm.
“I know,” she said simply. “I am.” She straightened up a little. “I’m also done with relationships.”
He smirked. “What a coincidence. So am I.”
“Oh?” she said looking at him happily. “Neat! We can be cantankerous health workers shunning happiness together!”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said.
“But…there’s a problem,” she said deflating.
“There always is.”
“I going to miss having sex,” she said matter-of-factly.
McCoy blinked. “You do know that you can still have sex and not have a relationship.”
“Oh, I know,” she said. “I’m just not very good at casual. I’ve tried and well, that’s how I ended up with Roger in the first place.”
“Ah. I see the dilemma.” He frowned, slightly perplexed as to how he ended up talking about this. “Do you have a solution, Nurse Chapel?”
“I do indeed, doctor,” she said lifting her chin. “Vibrators.”
McCoy choked on air while she giggled at him. “Damn it, Chapel.”
“You think I’m just trying to rattle you, but I’m not,” she said still smiling. “Vibrators are the way to go, clearly.”
“Clearly.”
“Well, vibrators and work. A lot of work. Tons of work,” she said. “So much work that I will get my damned medical degree and make a name for myself and discover new treatments and see the universe and basically be incredible and fabulous.”
She tossed her head, stumbling slightly due to her drink.
“That sounds like an excellent plan, Chapel and I am looking forward to observing your progress,” he said.
“Care to join me on my quest for self-fulfillment via non-stop work?” she asked, holding up her nearly empty glass.
“Happily,” he said lifting his beer bottle. “Here’s to no romantic relationships, the dangers of space, exhausting work and--“
“Vibrators,” Christine filled in.
They clinked their glasses together and drained their drinks. Christine plonked her glass down on a nearby table and straightened her shoulders.
“I’m going to go dance now, wanna join me?” she asked.
McCoy shook his head. “I’m good here.”
Christine winked at him and lightly punched his shoulder, then she headed out on the dance floor. McCoy spent a few minutes watching her dance with more enthusiasm than real skill with Uhura and Gaila and then started to chuckle.
The fact was, if he wasn’t so far gone and utterly opposed to any kind of relationship, he’d seriously consider attempting something with her. She was brilliant, funny, kind, organized and beautiful, a lethal combination that McCoy always fell for. But she was also determined to make herself into someone else. Someone not dependent on someone else and hell, he not only respected that, he understood it.
So, there would be no flirting with the lovely Christine Chapel. She’d stated what she wanted from life and he wasn’t about to fall for someone that wasn’t looking for anything.
He shrugged and headed towards the bar for another beer. Besides, who knew? Maybe having a friend like Christine was precisely what he needed.
Because, he knew that what he needed was most certainly not a relationship.
Then the Narada incident happened and everything went to pieces and then back again and somehow, McCoy ended up Chief Medical Officer with Chapel as his Head Nurse and well, it just reinforced the no relationship thing all over again.
But, darn it if it wasn’t a challenge to see her every day and not wonder.
I’d probably eat more drive-thru chicken
McCoy frowned at the report on his PADD and made some notations to bring up at the next staff meeting. His stomach growled and he absently reached for a protein bar in one of his drawers. They tasted like cardboard, but he was too engrossed in his reading to go to the cafeteria.
He had just taken a large bite of the bar when Chapel appeared in his office doorway. She made a face at him.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she said flatly.
He paused mid-chew. “What? What did I do now?”
She glared at him in such a way that basically said, ‘I have to spell it out for you?’
He glared right back thinking, ‘Yes, you do. Darn it.’
With one final narrowing of her eyes, she turned and walked away. McCoy swallowed and shook his head, doing his best to dismiss irascible nurses and their glares.
Ten minutes later, his stomach was still growling and he was deep into analysing the latest batch of data from the microbiology lab and Chapel waltzed in the door carrying a covered plate that smelled incredible.
The rumble that emerged from his stomach should have embarrassed him, but the smells were too good for him to worry.
“What’s this?” he asked as she set it down none-too-gently in front of him.
“It’s food. Proper food,” she said. “In fact, it’s food that I cooked so I know it’s good. You’re never going to make it through those datasets with only a protein bar. Eat.”
“We should really discuss your lack of deference to your superior officer,” he said lifting the cover off the plate and almost groaning at the sight of a thick stew of vegetables and some meat they’d picked up at the last outpost.
“You’re a riot,” Chapel said smirking. “You’re a growing CMO, so eat up. When you’re done we’ll discuss the research project that you’re going to work with me on.”
Chapel was out of his office and he was halfway through his stew before what she said twigged in his brain.
“What research project?”
I’d still be driving that old green Nova
“Look, just humor me, okay?” Chapel said when McCoy finally tracked her down in one of the labs to ask her about the research project.
“Okay,” he said crossing his arms over his chest.
“I need to do this,” she said. “I know it’s a lot of work and it will mean that you have to go on more landing parties, but there’s a lot of merit to this.”
“This wouldn’t also happen to be part of your master plan of distraction?” he asked.
She gave him her patented ‘You are such a moron’ look. “Obviously. Like I said, I need to do this, on multiple levels. Besides, you’re in the same boat as I am. And you need something to sink your teeth into and give you something to do other than moping and grumping about sickbay.”
“I do not mope!” he said knowing full well he couldn’t get away with not being grumpy.
“Fine! Grumping and saving Jim from certain death,” she said rolling her eyes. “Neither of those two pastimes will get you in the journals. This will.”
He had to give her that one.
“Come on, McCoy,” she said grinning at him. “Remember the pact. To focus on work? For me to finish my thesis and get my doctorate? For you to challenge yourself? Honor the pact, McCoy.”
He glanced over her abstract again. “We are entering the Exon quadrant soon. If we started running the simulations now, we’d have something to compare to the real thing.”
“We would,” she said leaning forward, her eyes sparkling and aw, heck. Like there was ever any chance that he’d have said ‘No’. Not to Chapel.
“Well, it beats grumping and moping,” he said gruffly. “I’m in.”
“Yes!” She punched the air and beamed at him. “Thank you, Len.”
“I’m just honouring the pact,” he said smiling at her. “I’m a man of my word, you know.”
Her look softened and the smile she gave him did funny things to his heart. “Oh, I know. That has never been in question.”
He swallowed hard and cleared his throat, handing her PADD back to her. “Yeah, well, send this over to me with your initial hypothesis and we’ll go from there.”
She saluted him and winked. Then she spun around on her lab stool and started tapping away.
McCoy got out of there before he did something he’d regret.
I’d probably never heard of yoga
McCoy entered the lab on level 8 where Chapel and he had set up their samples and experiments. He stopped mid-step because there was Chapel, in a spectacularly fitted pair of shorts and tank-top bent at the waist, legs apart, with one arm gracefully extended to the sky, and the other extended to the floor. He felt his breath just leave him. Simply vanish from his lungs.
She raised her head and smiled. “It’s called yoga.”
“Okay,” he managed.
“Uhura taught me.”
“I believe you.”
“It’s supposed to help my posture, breathing, flexibility, and all around attitude towards the universe,” she said as she slowly moved into another position.
“How’s that working out for you?” he asked, his breath slowly coming back to him, but his eyes hadn’t blinked since he walked in.
“Well, my posture and breathing have improved and I can bend in all sorts of ways,” she said.
“And your attitude towards the universe?’ he asked.
“Eh, well, three out of four ain’t bad,” she said grinning at him. She was still bent at the waist and her arms were stretching out perpendicular to the floor, but she nodded at the lab table. “Sample five is brewing. It’ll take some time, so I figured I’d do this now before starting on the propagation. I can go down to the gym if you want me to-”
“No, no, it’s fine,” he said edging around her. “Will I be disturbing you while I get on with things?”
“Nah,” she said, sinking very slowly to the floor and stretching her legs out in front of her. “I figure if I can do this and manage to keep my calm while you mutter to yourself it means I’ve truly mastered the exercise.”
“Uh huh.” McCoy turned his back to her and attempted to run a diagnostic on his set of samples. It was difficult, (Not hard, he told himself fiercely. Difficult.) because he could hear her breathing in and out slowly as she moved from one position to the other and the images that started to fill his head involved some of those positions but he was also there and they were both wearing a lot less clothing.
The machine in front of him beeped and he jumped. “Damn it,” he muttered. Chapel’s throaty chuckle behind him did nothing to help his libido.
You’re out of the relationship game, man and so is she, he berated himself. So, knock. It. Off. Damn it.
He heard a long, drawn out sigh and unable to help himself he turned around on his stool. His breath vacated the premises once again when he saw the look of pure relaxation and contentment on her face as she stood wonderfully straight, her face lifted towards the ceiling as she cooled down.
His mind whispered, I wonder if she makes that face after a nice --
He turned back around quickly and banged his knee on the lab table. “Son of a bitch!”
Chapel laughed outright. “Maybe you should try this next time,” she said behind him.
“Not a chance, honey,” he said. “I don’t bend that way.”
There was silence behind him and he realized what he called her. He, once again, turned around and really didn’t know what to make of the look on her face. Was it worry? Hesitation? God help him, was she aroused?
It turned out not to matter, because she just grinned and said, “Uhura has a beginners class at 1900, you should come by. You might enjoy it. I’m going to go change. Could you get the diagnostics running for me? I’ll be back in fifteen.”
“Sure,” he said and she was out the door and he was back to his samples and left wondering just what the hell was going on with him.
You know I get sick deep-sea fishin’
The chance to finally get some actual samples for their data-sets arrived when they docked on a small planet deep in the Exon quadrant that was considering joining the Federation. McCoy left Jim and Spock to handle the diplomatic efforts while he and Chapel discussed where they could find the samples they were after with the planet’s science officers.
“The plants that produce the chemical you’re interested in are on the edge of the fields of Admor,” a lady named G’Morae told them. “If you do find them to be useful, would you share your findings with us?”
McCoy nodded. “Of course.”
“We’re not looking to take anything of your planet without permission,” Chapel said reassuringly. “We’ll keep you informed throughout every step of the process. If this is acceptable to you?”
G’Morae paused and then nodded. “I will create a map for you to find the location. It is a good day’s drive from here.”
Chapel smiled up at McCoy. “We’re up to the challenge.”
They took a small hovercraft out to the fields that G’Morae indicated on a map and once there, they slowly made their way through the tall grasses to a ledge of crumbly soil and the collection of mosses and lichens.
“McCoy,” Chapel said quietly as she crouched down, ignoring the crumbling soil beneath her. “Look at them. They aren’t overcrowding the smaller varieties.”
McCoy peered cautiously, trying not to overbalance and pitch over the edge. “I’ll be damned.”
“It’s what I hypothesized,” Chapel said happily grinning at him. “They’re symbiotic. And if they’re symbiotic here, they may be symbiotic on a molecular level and McCoy! This is the missing piece!”
McCoy grinned back at her. “Congratulations, Chapel.”
She laughed and then lunged at him, throwing her arms around his neck. He caught her easily and hugged her back. He breathed in and just couldn’t help himself. “Christine,” he breathed out, pulling her close.
She froze.
He froze.
She lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. McCoy steeled himself.
“You never call me ‘Christine’,” she said softly.
“I know,” he said.
“But you just did.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He sighed. “’Cause I wanted to. ‘Cause I like the sound of it in my head and I couldn’t keep it inside.”
She bit her lip and curled her fingers through his hair just above his neck. “I like hearing you say it.”
“But,” he prompted.
“No buts. I want you to keep saying my name,” she said smiling ruefully. “However, I think I’ve broken the pact.”
“So have I,” he said smiling back at her. The smile faded from his face and he leaned down and she leaned up and naturally, that’s when the side of the ledge fell away from their feet.
Cause honestly I don’t know what I’d do; If I’d never met a woman like you.
“Ouch!”
McCoy winced as he prodded Christine’s left wrist. “Sorry, honey, but I think it’s sprained pretty badly.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said grimacing. “At least it’s not broken.” She frowned at his cheek. “That’s a nasty scrape you’ve got there. We need to get back to the hovercraft.” She got to her feet and looked up. “Somehow.”
McCoy stood up and did his best to ignore the various aches and bruises he accumulated on his descent down the side of the embankment. “Let me see if I can get up there. There’s no way your wrist can manage the climb.”
Christine made a face and stepped away from the sandy embankment. “Off with you then.”
The next two hours were an exercise in frustration as no matter how McCoy tried it, the face of the embankment kept crumbling under him.
“Damn it!” he said as he leaned his back against the sandy wall and tried to get his breath back.
“We can comm them, don’t worry about it,” Christine said handing him her water bottle from her satchel.
“I just wanted to be spared the jokes that will be sure to follow,” he said grimly after drinking some water.
Christine made a face. “I know. But either we comm them or we wait for them to find us.”
“Hell.”
She chuckled and wiped at the dirt on his face. He watched her quietly and grinned when she blushed at his stare.
“When did you decide to break the pact and that I’m actually relationship material?” she asked eventually.
“Round about the time you started talking vibrators.”
Her eyes widened and she smacked his chest lightly. “Len!”
“What? I appreciate a woman who knows how to get the most out of electronic devices,” he said grabbing her hand and holding it flat against his chest. “Not to mention that you’re the most competent nurse I’ve ever met, you aren’t afraid of hard work, your mind is one of the sharpest I’ve known, your legs go on forever, and you smell like a fresh summer breeze.” He winced. “And now you’ve got me all sappy. I’m blaming you for that last one.”
“I take all responsibility for your sappiness,” she said softly, stepping towards him. “You really want to do the relationship thing though?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes. Yes, I do. I know I talked a good game about not wanting a relationship and fact was, I didn’t want one. But, darlin’.” He sighed and cupped her cheek. “I want you.”
Christine gave him a crooked smile. “Oh, heck, Len. The fact is I never hated the idea of a relationship. Sharing my life with someone has always sounded like a wonderful thing to do. I just didn’t want to spend it with someone who didn’t appreciate me. You appreciate me.”
“Of course I do,” he said frowning. “I appreciate the heck out of you. I appreciate you personally, professionally, and any way I can get you.”
“Horizontally?” she offered arching an eyebrow.
“Or vertically,” he said pulling her closer. “I’m not picky.”
Christine grinned and leaned in. The kiss that followed pretty much summed up their relationship to date: a little light flirting, followed by some serious study, culminating in McCoy’s hand resting squarely on Christine’s butt while her uninjured hand fisted the front of his shirt and they had given up on the need for air.
They only broke apart when a dusting of sand fell down around them. McCoy looked up, squinting.
“Afternoon, Bones, Nurse Christine,” Jim said cheerfully as he leaned over the side of the ledge. “Need a hand?”
“Damn it,” McCoy groaned.
“Let the jokes commence,” Christine said wrinkling her nose.
“No jokes, I promise,” Jim said holding up his hand. “You two just won me a bottle of real whiskey from Scotty.”
McCoy glared at him. “Do not tell me there is a pool going about Christine and me.”
“Okay, I won’t,” Jim said still grinning.
“Oh, just hell,” McCoy said.
“It’s okay,” Christine said patting his chest. “Just think of all the making out we’re going to do in your office and the lab.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You still have that vibrator?”
Christine grinned.
Fandom: Star Trek 2009
Ship: Christine Chapel/Leonard McCoy
Beta: The wonderful
fringedwellerRating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,733
Warning: mild language
Disclaimer: They are not mine.
Prompt: Anything based on the song 'Woman Like You' by Lee Brice.
Summary: Leonard McCoy has had it with relationships and so has Christine Chapel. So, they make a pact.
For
sleepygoof8784, as part of the mccoy_chapel Fic Exchange. I really hope you like it! ♥The day Leonard McCoy joined Starfleet coincided with the day he gave up romantic relationships. The way he figured it, he’d already tried and failed at relationships, leaving him a worn-out, washed-up husk of a man, therefore Starfleet had to be a walk in the park by comparison.
Not that he was opposed to having the occasional good night out and being friends with Jim Kirk made it something of a requirement; even if sometimes it made him feel even more washed up and worn out than usual.
Such was the case one evening about three months into Academy. He situated himself off to the side and nursed what happened to be a pretty decent beer and watched as people younger than he dance and laugh and sweet heavens, he was so god damn old.
“Careful, McCoy,” a sweet voice said next to him. “Didn’t your mother tell you if you made that face long enough it’d stick?”
“She did and it has,” he said looking over at the lovely and wonderfully competent Christine Chapel. She grinned at him and propped herself up against the wall next to him. “Uhura drag you away from that microscope of yours?”
She made a face. “She and Gaila ganged up on me. They said that I needed to remember what the world looked like without the aid of a high-magnification lens.” She looked around the club and grimaced. “I want my lens back.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Tell me about it. I don’t know why I even bothered tonight.”
“’Cause saying ‘no’ to Jim Kirk is surprisingly difficult to do?” she offered taking a sip of her electric green drink.
“Those puppy-dog eyes of his should be illegal,” McCoy growled. Christine snickered.
“Imagine the lucrative possibilities if we could somehow replicate their exact color and emotional impact,” she said grinning.
“Oh, now that would be morally reprehensible and not fair to the rest of the world,” he said. He grinned back. “I like it.”
Christine threw her head back and laughed and he took a moment to appreciate the sight of a beautiful woman enjoying herself. It didn’t last long, because when she stopped laughing, she sighed and slumped against the wall, her upper arm absently pressed against his elbow.
“Now that’s a lovesick sound if ever I heard one,” he said turning towards her.
“Funnily enough, that’s what I am,” she said looking up at him. “Love. Sick. As in: sick of love.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve had it, McCoy. Just plain had enough of it.”
“I heard Korby is off on his travels soon,” McCoy said referring to her ex-fiancé.
“He left today,” she said downing more of her drink. “I wish him well.” McCoy gave her a look and she rolled her eyes. “I do, actually. I appreciate the science and the research he’s after. I just don’t appreciate the being left behind because you’re only a nurse, darling and you’re so much better suited to wiping brows and bottoms than pure science.”
“He said that?” McCoy asked incredulously. “Shit. And I thought I sucked at relationships. That takes the prize, Chapel.”
“Yeah,” she said slumping even more. “I should have seen it coming, though. The way he always went on about how science trumped healthcare. Like they don’t influence the other in a myriad of ways, the smug bastard.”
“You’re better off,” he said nudging her arm.
“I know,” she said simply. “I am.” She straightened up a little. “I’m also done with relationships.”
He smirked. “What a coincidence. So am I.”
“Oh?” she said looking at him happily. “Neat! We can be cantankerous health workers shunning happiness together!”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said.
“But…there’s a problem,” she said deflating.
“There always is.”
“I going to miss having sex,” she said matter-of-factly.
McCoy blinked. “You do know that you can still have sex and not have a relationship.”
“Oh, I know,” she said. “I’m just not very good at casual. I’ve tried and well, that’s how I ended up with Roger in the first place.”
“Ah. I see the dilemma.” He frowned, slightly perplexed as to how he ended up talking about this. “Do you have a solution, Nurse Chapel?”
“I do indeed, doctor,” she said lifting her chin. “Vibrators.”
McCoy choked on air while she giggled at him. “Damn it, Chapel.”
“You think I’m just trying to rattle you, but I’m not,” she said still smiling. “Vibrators are the way to go, clearly.”
“Clearly.”
“Well, vibrators and work. A lot of work. Tons of work,” she said. “So much work that I will get my damned medical degree and make a name for myself and discover new treatments and see the universe and basically be incredible and fabulous.”
She tossed her head, stumbling slightly due to her drink.
“That sounds like an excellent plan, Chapel and I am looking forward to observing your progress,” he said.
“Care to join me on my quest for self-fulfillment via non-stop work?” she asked, holding up her nearly empty glass.
“Happily,” he said lifting his beer bottle. “Here’s to no romantic relationships, the dangers of space, exhausting work and--“
“Vibrators,” Christine filled in.
They clinked their glasses together and drained their drinks. Christine plonked her glass down on a nearby table and straightened her shoulders.
“I’m going to go dance now, wanna join me?” she asked.
McCoy shook his head. “I’m good here.”
Christine winked at him and lightly punched his shoulder, then she headed out on the dance floor. McCoy spent a few minutes watching her dance with more enthusiasm than real skill with Uhura and Gaila and then started to chuckle.
The fact was, if he wasn’t so far gone and utterly opposed to any kind of relationship, he’d seriously consider attempting something with her. She was brilliant, funny, kind, organized and beautiful, a lethal combination that McCoy always fell for. But she was also determined to make herself into someone else. Someone not dependent on someone else and hell, he not only respected that, he understood it.
So, there would be no flirting with the lovely Christine Chapel. She’d stated what she wanted from life and he wasn’t about to fall for someone that wasn’t looking for anything.
He shrugged and headed towards the bar for another beer. Besides, who knew? Maybe having a friend like Christine was precisely what he needed.
Because, he knew that what he needed was most certainly not a relationship.
Then the Narada incident happened and everything went to pieces and then back again and somehow, McCoy ended up Chief Medical Officer with Chapel as his Head Nurse and well, it just reinforced the no relationship thing all over again.
But, darn it if it wasn’t a challenge to see her every day and not wonder.
I’d probably eat more drive-thru chicken
McCoy frowned at the report on his PADD and made some notations to bring up at the next staff meeting. His stomach growled and he absently reached for a protein bar in one of his drawers. They tasted like cardboard, but he was too engrossed in his reading to go to the cafeteria.
He had just taken a large bite of the bar when Chapel appeared in his office doorway. She made a face at him.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she said flatly.
He paused mid-chew. “What? What did I do now?”
She glared at him in such a way that basically said, ‘I have to spell it out for you?’
He glared right back thinking, ‘Yes, you do. Darn it.’
With one final narrowing of her eyes, she turned and walked away. McCoy swallowed and shook his head, doing his best to dismiss irascible nurses and their glares.
Ten minutes later, his stomach was still growling and he was deep into analysing the latest batch of data from the microbiology lab and Chapel waltzed in the door carrying a covered plate that smelled incredible.
The rumble that emerged from his stomach should have embarrassed him, but the smells were too good for him to worry.
“What’s this?” he asked as she set it down none-too-gently in front of him.
“It’s food. Proper food,” she said. “In fact, it’s food that I cooked so I know it’s good. You’re never going to make it through those datasets with only a protein bar. Eat.”
“We should really discuss your lack of deference to your superior officer,” he said lifting the cover off the plate and almost groaning at the sight of a thick stew of vegetables and some meat they’d picked up at the last outpost.
“You’re a riot,” Chapel said smirking. “You’re a growing CMO, so eat up. When you’re done we’ll discuss the research project that you’re going to work with me on.”
Chapel was out of his office and he was halfway through his stew before what she said twigged in his brain.
“What research project?”
I’d still be driving that old green Nova
“Look, just humor me, okay?” Chapel said when McCoy finally tracked her down in one of the labs to ask her about the research project.
“Okay,” he said crossing his arms over his chest.
“I need to do this,” she said. “I know it’s a lot of work and it will mean that you have to go on more landing parties, but there’s a lot of merit to this.”
“This wouldn’t also happen to be part of your master plan of distraction?” he asked.
She gave him her patented ‘You are such a moron’ look. “Obviously. Like I said, I need to do this, on multiple levels. Besides, you’re in the same boat as I am. And you need something to sink your teeth into and give you something to do other than moping and grumping about sickbay.”
“I do not mope!” he said knowing full well he couldn’t get away with not being grumpy.
“Fine! Grumping and saving Jim from certain death,” she said rolling her eyes. “Neither of those two pastimes will get you in the journals. This will.”
He had to give her that one.
“Come on, McCoy,” she said grinning at him. “Remember the pact. To focus on work? For me to finish my thesis and get my doctorate? For you to challenge yourself? Honor the pact, McCoy.”
He glanced over her abstract again. “We are entering the Exon quadrant soon. If we started running the simulations now, we’d have something to compare to the real thing.”
“We would,” she said leaning forward, her eyes sparkling and aw, heck. Like there was ever any chance that he’d have said ‘No’. Not to Chapel.
“Well, it beats grumping and moping,” he said gruffly. “I’m in.”
“Yes!” She punched the air and beamed at him. “Thank you, Len.”
“I’m just honouring the pact,” he said smiling at her. “I’m a man of my word, you know.”
Her look softened and the smile she gave him did funny things to his heart. “Oh, I know. That has never been in question.”
He swallowed hard and cleared his throat, handing her PADD back to her. “Yeah, well, send this over to me with your initial hypothesis and we’ll go from there.”
She saluted him and winked. Then she spun around on her lab stool and started tapping away.
McCoy got out of there before he did something he’d regret.
I’d probably never heard of yoga
McCoy entered the lab on level 8 where Chapel and he had set up their samples and experiments. He stopped mid-step because there was Chapel, in a spectacularly fitted pair of shorts and tank-top bent at the waist, legs apart, with one arm gracefully extended to the sky, and the other extended to the floor. He felt his breath just leave him. Simply vanish from his lungs.
She raised her head and smiled. “It’s called yoga.”
“Okay,” he managed.
“Uhura taught me.”
“I believe you.”
“It’s supposed to help my posture, breathing, flexibility, and all around attitude towards the universe,” she said as she slowly moved into another position.
“How’s that working out for you?” he asked, his breath slowly coming back to him, but his eyes hadn’t blinked since he walked in.
“Well, my posture and breathing have improved and I can bend in all sorts of ways,” she said.
“And your attitude towards the universe?’ he asked.
“Eh, well, three out of four ain’t bad,” she said grinning at him. She was still bent at the waist and her arms were stretching out perpendicular to the floor, but she nodded at the lab table. “Sample five is brewing. It’ll take some time, so I figured I’d do this now before starting on the propagation. I can go down to the gym if you want me to-”
“No, no, it’s fine,” he said edging around her. “Will I be disturbing you while I get on with things?”
“Nah,” she said, sinking very slowly to the floor and stretching her legs out in front of her. “I figure if I can do this and manage to keep my calm while you mutter to yourself it means I’ve truly mastered the exercise.”
“Uh huh.” McCoy turned his back to her and attempted to run a diagnostic on his set of samples. It was difficult, (Not hard, he told himself fiercely. Difficult.) because he could hear her breathing in and out slowly as she moved from one position to the other and the images that started to fill his head involved some of those positions but he was also there and they were both wearing a lot less clothing.
The machine in front of him beeped and he jumped. “Damn it,” he muttered. Chapel’s throaty chuckle behind him did nothing to help his libido.
You’re out of the relationship game, man and so is she, he berated himself. So, knock. It. Off. Damn it.
He heard a long, drawn out sigh and unable to help himself he turned around on his stool. His breath vacated the premises once again when he saw the look of pure relaxation and contentment on her face as she stood wonderfully straight, her face lifted towards the ceiling as she cooled down.
His mind whispered, I wonder if she makes that face after a nice --
He turned back around quickly and banged his knee on the lab table. “Son of a bitch!”
Chapel laughed outright. “Maybe you should try this next time,” she said behind him.
“Not a chance, honey,” he said. “I don’t bend that way.”
There was silence behind him and he realized what he called her. He, once again, turned around and really didn’t know what to make of the look on her face. Was it worry? Hesitation? God help him, was she aroused?
It turned out not to matter, because she just grinned and said, “Uhura has a beginners class at 1900, you should come by. You might enjoy it. I’m going to go change. Could you get the diagnostics running for me? I’ll be back in fifteen.”
“Sure,” he said and she was out the door and he was back to his samples and left wondering just what the hell was going on with him.
You know I get sick deep-sea fishin’
The chance to finally get some actual samples for their data-sets arrived when they docked on a small planet deep in the Exon quadrant that was considering joining the Federation. McCoy left Jim and Spock to handle the diplomatic efforts while he and Chapel discussed where they could find the samples they were after with the planet’s science officers.
“The plants that produce the chemical you’re interested in are on the edge of the fields of Admor,” a lady named G’Morae told them. “If you do find them to be useful, would you share your findings with us?”
McCoy nodded. “Of course.”
“We’re not looking to take anything of your planet without permission,” Chapel said reassuringly. “We’ll keep you informed throughout every step of the process. If this is acceptable to you?”
G’Morae paused and then nodded. “I will create a map for you to find the location. It is a good day’s drive from here.”
Chapel smiled up at McCoy. “We’re up to the challenge.”
They took a small hovercraft out to the fields that G’Morae indicated on a map and once there, they slowly made their way through the tall grasses to a ledge of crumbly soil and the collection of mosses and lichens.
“McCoy,” Chapel said quietly as she crouched down, ignoring the crumbling soil beneath her. “Look at them. They aren’t overcrowding the smaller varieties.”
McCoy peered cautiously, trying not to overbalance and pitch over the edge. “I’ll be damned.”
“It’s what I hypothesized,” Chapel said happily grinning at him. “They’re symbiotic. And if they’re symbiotic here, they may be symbiotic on a molecular level and McCoy! This is the missing piece!”
McCoy grinned back at her. “Congratulations, Chapel.”
She laughed and then lunged at him, throwing her arms around his neck. He caught her easily and hugged her back. He breathed in and just couldn’t help himself. “Christine,” he breathed out, pulling her close.
She froze.
He froze.
She lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. McCoy steeled himself.
“You never call me ‘Christine’,” she said softly.
“I know,” he said.
“But you just did.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He sighed. “’Cause I wanted to. ‘Cause I like the sound of it in my head and I couldn’t keep it inside.”
She bit her lip and curled her fingers through his hair just above his neck. “I like hearing you say it.”
“But,” he prompted.
“No buts. I want you to keep saying my name,” she said smiling ruefully. “However, I think I’ve broken the pact.”
“So have I,” he said smiling back at her. The smile faded from his face and he leaned down and she leaned up and naturally, that’s when the side of the ledge fell away from their feet.
Cause honestly I don’t know what I’d do; If I’d never met a woman like you.
“Ouch!”
McCoy winced as he prodded Christine’s left wrist. “Sorry, honey, but I think it’s sprained pretty badly.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said grimacing. “At least it’s not broken.” She frowned at his cheek. “That’s a nasty scrape you’ve got there. We need to get back to the hovercraft.” She got to her feet and looked up. “Somehow.”
McCoy stood up and did his best to ignore the various aches and bruises he accumulated on his descent down the side of the embankment. “Let me see if I can get up there. There’s no way your wrist can manage the climb.”
Christine made a face and stepped away from the sandy embankment. “Off with you then.”
The next two hours were an exercise in frustration as no matter how McCoy tried it, the face of the embankment kept crumbling under him.
“Damn it!” he said as he leaned his back against the sandy wall and tried to get his breath back.
“We can comm them, don’t worry about it,” Christine said handing him her water bottle from her satchel.
“I just wanted to be spared the jokes that will be sure to follow,” he said grimly after drinking some water.
Christine made a face. “I know. But either we comm them or we wait for them to find us.”
“Hell.”
She chuckled and wiped at the dirt on his face. He watched her quietly and grinned when she blushed at his stare.
“When did you decide to break the pact and that I’m actually relationship material?” she asked eventually.
“Round about the time you started talking vibrators.”
Her eyes widened and she smacked his chest lightly. “Len!”
“What? I appreciate a woman who knows how to get the most out of electronic devices,” he said grabbing her hand and holding it flat against his chest. “Not to mention that you’re the most competent nurse I’ve ever met, you aren’t afraid of hard work, your mind is one of the sharpest I’ve known, your legs go on forever, and you smell like a fresh summer breeze.” He winced. “And now you’ve got me all sappy. I’m blaming you for that last one.”
“I take all responsibility for your sappiness,” she said softly, stepping towards him. “You really want to do the relationship thing though?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes. Yes, I do. I know I talked a good game about not wanting a relationship and fact was, I didn’t want one. But, darlin’.” He sighed and cupped her cheek. “I want you.”
Christine gave him a crooked smile. “Oh, heck, Len. The fact is I never hated the idea of a relationship. Sharing my life with someone has always sounded like a wonderful thing to do. I just didn’t want to spend it with someone who didn’t appreciate me. You appreciate me.”
“Of course I do,” he said frowning. “I appreciate the heck out of you. I appreciate you personally, professionally, and any way I can get you.”
“Horizontally?” she offered arching an eyebrow.
“Or vertically,” he said pulling her closer. “I’m not picky.”
Christine grinned and leaned in. The kiss that followed pretty much summed up their relationship to date: a little light flirting, followed by some serious study, culminating in McCoy’s hand resting squarely on Christine’s butt while her uninjured hand fisted the front of his shirt and they had given up on the need for air.
They only broke apart when a dusting of sand fell down around them. McCoy looked up, squinting.
“Afternoon, Bones, Nurse Christine,” Jim said cheerfully as he leaned over the side of the ledge. “Need a hand?”
“Damn it,” McCoy groaned.
“Let the jokes commence,” Christine said wrinkling her nose.
“No jokes, I promise,” Jim said holding up his hand. “You two just won me a bottle of real whiskey from Scotty.”
McCoy glared at him. “Do not tell me there is a pool going about Christine and me.”
“Okay, I won’t,” Jim said still grinning.
“Oh, just hell,” McCoy said.
“It’s okay,” Christine said patting his chest. “Just think of all the making out we’re going to do in your office and the lab.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You still have that vibrator?”
Christine grinned.
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Date: 2014-01-04 08:51 pm (UTC)As always.
You know what I think I love the most about your writing? The way your dialog is wonderfully snappy and snarky, but yet manages to move things forward. My snark always seems to get bogged down on itself, so I really admire the way you keep things moving and still manage to get in the RDA of snark. :)
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