It was morning again, and the sickbay was completely devoid of life aside from the staff of Nurse Chapel and Dr. Bones, with the lone addition of T'Pax, who was there for her morning medications.

"Hey, T'Pax, what's that on your ear?" Chapel noticed, looking closely at a dark green brush of color on the rim.

T'Pax touched the area in question, and then remembered. "Oh, it's simply a bruise." she said dismissively. She knew what it was, and she was secretly hoping no one would notice, but that was doomed from the start.

Chapel accepted this, knowing that T'Pax did partake in MMA and boxing, and walked to another area of the sickbay. For a second, the counselor thought she'd get away with it.

"That's not just a bruise, is it?" Bones said in a low voice, so Chapel didn't overhear. "I know a hickey when I see one." he said the last part in her ear, knowing that she definitely did not want to have the blonde hear about it. "T'Paaaax...?" he almost growled.

She closed her eyes. Did she have to say? Did she have to tell him? Vulcans don't lie, they don't lie and neither do you. Bones can be trusted, can't he? Doctor/patient confidentiality. Then she remembered just who he loved to taunt more than her. No, he probably couldn't handle the truth...

"T'Pax." he sat next to her and put an arm around her. "I have been your friend for a few years now. I'm disappointed that you aren't going to tell me." When he saw that his bit of compassion didn't convince her, he went for the logic. "As your doctor I need to know the people who you are romantically involved with. Now, spit it out."

Copernica covered her face with her hands and sighed. "I can't believe I'm going to tell you." she mumbled. "I can't believe I'm going to be so stupid as to tell you." She took a deep breath, trying to bring herself to it. "You have to promise not to change anything about how you act towards either of us." she said, still not looking at him.

"I give you my solemn word." he said, holding up his right hand with an excited smile.

"You have to swear it on your license as a doctor and your honor as a man that and that you will not tell A SOUL unless clearly necessary."

"I do so freely and happily." McCoy's excitement was mounting, he really wanted to know just who had captivated her heart.

She sighed again, and whispered in Bones' ear; "Spock."

The grin on his face was wider than ever before. He jumped up, did a few arm pumps, shouting "I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEEEEW IIIIT! AHAHAAAAA I KNEEEW IT!"

T'Pax was just trying not to slit his throat at this point. "Bones!" she said in an exasperated whisper. The last thing she wanted right now was attention, and screaming people generally attract it….

He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, I just always suspected you two." he put his arm around her again. Much to her chagrin, he was still chuckling a little.

"I still wonder why most people don't, actually."

Bones looked at her. "It's the height difference." he decided, noting that she was about five feet and Spock about six; it was a little...unusual.

Then again, they are both unusual people.