By Tempest

August 1, 2003

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(Setting: Onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, transporter room. Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura are preparing to beam down)

Spock: There is a great possibility of an ion storm entering this area while you are on the planet's surface.

Kirk: Acknowledged, Spock, we'll be sure to be careful, won't we Scotty?

Scotty: (Giving Kirk a fond look as he steps beside him on the transporter chamber) Aye, Captain, of course.

Kirk: (Smiling) Go ahead, Spock, we all know you want to.

McCoy: (Stepping over to Spock and patting him on the shoulder) I'll be careful, Spock, just worry about the ship. Jim and Scotty will kill you if their child gets hurt.

Spock: Child, Doctor?

McCoy: (Sighing good-naturedly) The Enterprise, Spock.

Spock: Attempt to not injure the transporter, Doctor.

(Setting: Onboard the I.S.S. Enterprise, in sickbay, McCoy is trying to blend in. He sees two of his orderlies torturing a patient with an agonizer)

McCoy: What do you two think you're doing?

Orderly #1: (Looking up) Standard sickbay procedure, Doctor.

McCoy: (Masking horror in his voice) What?

Orderly #2: (Scoffing) Come on, Doc, stop playing around. If you want half the profits on this bet, just say the word.

McCoy: (Forcing himself to smile) Very good, orderly, you're learning my game. Put the credits in my office.

Orderly #1: Sure thing, Doc. Just make sure Marlena doesn't overhear, or we'll all be in a mess of trouble. (Laughing)

McCoy: (Heartlessly chuckling) This is *my* department, thus we do things my way. (He turns and goes into his office)

(Setting: Onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, the Empire crew is trying to gather information and Spock flags McCoy down in the corridor)

Spock: Doctor, please halt.

McCoy: (Stopping but not turning around) What is it, Spock?

Spock: You did not call my communicator to let me know that you had returned from the mission, nor did you tell me earlier that you planned to return to duty after the mission.

McCoy: (Snidely) You're not my keeper.

Spock: (Taken aback, only slightly) I have never claimed to be. You simply ignored standard procedure.

McCoy: It's not within your rights as First Officer to keep tabs on me.

Spock: (Walking around to face McCoy) It has been our way for years.

McCoy: (Slightly surprised) What happened to your face?

Spock: (Raising his eyebrow) My face?

McCoy: (Recovering quickly) Never mind. (Smiling tightly) I'm just tired, I guess. I'll remember to call you next time.

Spock: That is all I ask. (Leaning over to kiss McCoy quickly)

McCoy: (Pulling back in shock) What that Hell was that?

Spock: (Beginning to realize something is amiss) Forgive me, it seems I, too, am tired. (He turns away and heads for the bridge)

(Setting: Onboard the I.S.S. Enterprise, in Engineering, Scotty and McCoy are working on the transporters) 

Scotty: Len, hand me the micro-optic drill.

McCoy: (Looking up) Hmm?

Scotty: The micro-optic drill, Len. You're not on your game.

McCoy: (Handing over the tool) Not surprising, considering the fact I'm worried.

Scotty: (Going back to his work) You think I'm not?

McCoy: It's not the same.

Scotty: What do you mean?

McCoy: At least Jim's here with us.

Scotty: (Turning around to look at him) That's what's bothering you?

McCoy: What else?

Scotty: We're working to get us back to our universe right now, Len.

McCoy: I just hope he can get them back here.

Scotty: (Smiling) Think that you and your counterpart could tire him out?

(Setting: Onboard the I.S.S. Enterprise, Captain's Quarters, Marlena is massaging Kirk's shoulders)

Marlena: Tell me what you're thinking.

Kirk: Defense, Marlena. I have enough to think about without needing to share it with others.

Marlena: (Expecting something of that nature) I'll change the subject then. You know, how much Sulu wants to get Uhura as his woman?

Kirk: (Sighing) Yes, I've noticed.

Marlena: He won't manage that.

Kirk: What makes you so sure of that?

Marlena: Aside from that hideous scar of his? I think she's already Scott's woman.

Kirk: (Closing his eyes and making a noise of irritation as he moves out of her hands) That's quite enough, Marlena.

Marlena: What's wrong?

Kirk: Nothing, I'll be on the bridge. (He leaves)

(Setting, I.S.S. Enterprise, Sickbay, after the meld between the Mirror Spock and McCoy has ended)

Spock: You love him. Fool, as though you really believe he would stay with somebody like you after your mission ends.

McCoy: (Shaking his head no, speech alluding him at present)

Spock: You are simply a tool for his convenience. Eventually, he will realize his duty to his family and take a Vulcan wife. It is inevitable. What could he ever want with a weak, human male? (Grabbing McCoy's arm to lead him to the transporter room)

McCoy: (Shaking his head again, mouthing the words "no")

Spock: He can no more love you than I could. (Making a scoffing sound similar almost to laughter as they leave)

(Setting: Onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, the crew has just come back aboard)

Kirk: (Noticing Spock looking at McCoy curiously) Well, gentleman, I think we should all get back to duty. Come on. (Kirk, Scotty, Uhura, and Kyle, after a moment, leave)

Spock: (Moving closer to McCoy, examining his pale color and the thin sheen of sweat on the doctor's face) Who hurt you?

McCoy: (Shaking his head "no")

Spock: (Wrapping an arm around him to pull him close) Leonard, tell me. Who hurt you?

McCoy: (Closing his eyes, not answering the question)

Spock: (Very concerned) Leonard? Say something.

McCoy: (Quietly) I'm not a toy, am I, Spock?

Spock: (Surprised) No, Leonard. (Pulling him closer) Why would you think that?

McCoy: Your...counterpart.

Spock: (Whispering something that sounds very much like a Vulcan swear, as the full effect of what happened to McCoy dawns on him) We will get you to Vulcan to consult a Healer, Leonard. But first you must rest. (He leads him out of the room into sickbay)

(Setting: U.S.S. Enterprise, after the end of the duty shift where Marlena has appeared)

Spock: Captain, may I talk to you for a minute?

Kirk: Sure, Spock, what's on your mind?

Spock: I need you to verify a leave of absence for Dr. McCoy and me.

Kirk: (raising his eyebrow) Spock, it's not...you know, again, is it?

Spock: No, it is not that. Leonard is in need of medical attention. Something...happened to him in the other universe.

Kirk: (sighing) Yeah, I know, Scotty told me what McCoy was like when he came out of sickbay. If you think it will help, the leave's yours.

Spock: Thank you, Captain.

Kirk: Spock, I don't mean to pry, but your counterpart and you were really similar in a lot of ways.

Spock: The philosophies of the two universes prevent me from doing something along those lines, Captain. The pirate, as you say, does not exist in the waters of the Federation.