Simple Logic


				*Simple Logic*

Title: Simple Logic Author: T'Bitch (kiwisama@yahoo.com) Word Count: 599 Series: TOS Rating: G for implied NOTHING Summary: a brief story inspired by some of the things I've been reading lately. An outsider talks a little about life on the Enterprise. Author's notes: Nora is, for those of you keeping count, half Betazoid and half Vulcan. An interesting combination. Personally I find it plausible only because I think Betazoids will probably sleep with anything that moves. Well maybe not anything, but most things. Even Riker. But if you want to talk about someone with a messed up home life, I think Nora's your girl. Very emotional mother, very conservative logical father. I don't know if she'll come back later or not. I've grown kind of fond of her by now though. cheers, T'Bitch And do let me know if you like it, because I feel sort of stupid about it right now. *** I knew before anyone else, with the exception of the parties involved, of course. Perhaps I should introduce myself. My name is Nora and I am a doctor on board the starship Enterprise. The Enterprise, like all federation vessels, runs three eight-hour shifts. I generally work gamma shift, from midnight until eight in the morning, although at the point in time I am referring to M'Benga was on a leave of absence so Dr. McCoy and I were splitting beta shift between us. Twelve hour shifts aren't as bad as they sound, really. Most of it is just sitting around, waiting for something to happen. Although when it does happen, look out. The story goes like this: I arrived for my shift at eight in the evening and bid goodnight to Doctor McCoy. There were a few patients in sickbay at the time, so I made rounds and checked on them. Around nine-thirty I sat down to do some paperwork and check my messages. Most of them were insignificant - an electronic journal I subscribe to, a letter from my brother. And a message from the computer stating that Lieutenant-Commander Spock had been transferred to my service under the authorization of McCoy. Strange. As chief medical officer, McCoy prided himself on taking care of the officers and taking good care indeed. Even being part Vulcan myself, I couldn't match him for intuition when it came to diagnosing the second-in-command. And while Spock and I maintained a certain respectful friendship and I knew he held my medical talents in some esteem, he had never seemed to express dissatisfaction with the care he received from the other doctor, nor asked me to check him over. In fact, I reflected, McCoy was about the only person who could convince Spock to come in for his checkups. Curious. I made a note to ask about it. Then the red alert went off and I was distracted for a while. Around seven in the morning I shooed the captain out and sat down to catch my breath. Dr. McCoy waltzed in at eight exactly, cheerful, bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed. "Busy night, Nora? You look tired." "You could say that. The work is never done." "Too true." He laughed to himself and took his coffee into his office. A moment later I remembered my question. "Dr. McCoy?" He looked up at me as I leaned against the doorframe. "Why has Mr. Spock been moved to my service?" "Has he been?" "Under your authorization." "Do tell." McCoy looked innocent, which meant he knew exactly what I was talking about. I sighed loudly. "I believe he and I discussed it and we decided he would be better off under your care." It took me a moment to decide what my next line should be. "Flatterer. You two had some sort of major fight, didn't you. He won't come anywhere near you, I bet." "For someone who's part Betazoid you're not very perceptive," he chuckled to himself. "Get some sleep." Then I knew for certain what was going on. Before I went to bed I messaged Sulu and put in my bet. Months later when it all broke, they asked me how I knew. I just smiled and said I couldn't tell them. But really- One thing you learn in med school is that it is not a good idea to take care of people who you're really close to. It makes it very easy to lose your objectivity and make a mistake, and mistakes in medicine aren't good. That's why Spock wound up on my service. Simple logic.