McCoy's escort of Uhura ended at the turbolift that would take her to the Bridge. He had a different appointment to keep and only another ten minutes to go before he would be late for it. Kirk never appreciated being kept waiting.

The door to the Captain's quarters opened practically the second he requested entry. Before he could do much more than step through the door, a familiar pair of green hands had grabbed hold of his right arm and drug him further in. The door hadn't even shut fully before Gaila was fussing and starting to strip him.

"I don't believe you! Jim told me what happened! A fight to the death with a Vulcan? And you claim to be the one around here with common sense?"

Lounging on the bed, Kirk just enjoyed the show as Gaila had McCoy fully stripped in a remarkably short amount of time and began a full body search, detailing every scrape, cut, scratch and bruise. When McCoy caught Kirk's eye, his expression said 'you had to go and tell her before I could make use the dermal regenerator in here?' as plainly as if he'd said it out loud. Kirk's only reaction was to start laughing.

Seeing Kirk wasn't going to be any help, McCoy tried calming the excitable Orion woman down himself.

"I'm fine, Gaila - really. Only tired and a bit sore. Any way, it's all over. No sense thinking about things that might have happened that didn't happen. Important part is that me and Spock are both back."

Backing off only enough to view all of him at once, Gaila gave him a look verging on disbelief. Then she stepped close and took his head in her hands, kissing him firmly before finally releasing him so he could catch his breath.

"I'll be the judge of how fine you are. I want to make sure everything is in working order."

By this point in their relationship, McCoy knew better than to argue. Every time he or Kirk (or both) had what Gaila considered to be a close call, she requested - nay, demanded - a round of energetic intercourse to assure herself that they were all right. Kirk stayed where he was, out of her way.

The pair were right in the middle of her examination when a request for entry came at Kirk's door. Smirking to himself as he noted that neither of them had even noticed, Kirk authorized entry.

Spock had grown accustomed to expect any number of oddities when he visited the Captain in his quarters. However, from the way the Vulcan stopped short as soon as he entered the door, it was quite obvious that Spock hadn't been expecting the sight of Gaila and McCoy in flagrante delicto. He made his way around the oblivious pair, noting to himself on the way that he had severely misjudged the doctor's flexibility.

Shifting his position on the bed to make room, Kirk patted the spot beside him and, after a moment of indecision, Spock joined him and sat down. McCoy still hadn't noticed the addition to the room, but Gaila gave Spock a cheerful wave before returning her attention to the business at hand. Kirk's eyes were now mainly on Spock. He had never seen Spock to the point of speechless before.

"So, what did you want to talk about, Spock?"

This was Spock's first encounter with Orion pheromones in a closed space. It took Spock another minute to calm his reaction and avert his gaze from the couple. Looking back at the highly amused Kirk, he was finally able to answer his question.

"I had a question for the doctor."

"So why come here?"

"You ordered him to report to your quarters and I have never known the doctor to go against your orders, therefore this is where I expected him to be."

Kirk chuckled to himself.

"A logical assumption, Spock. Gaila! Give Bones a break - Spock here wants to talk to him."

Huffing, Gaila unwound from McCoy before squirming between Kirk and Spock to drape around Kirk. Spock's obvious distraction made McCoy wonder if the aftereffects of pon farr were still influencing the Vulcan.

"You wanted to speak with me, Spock?"

Centering himself to ignore the activity next to him, Spock turned his focus onto McCoy.

"I was curious regarding your plans for the woman."

"Oh, T'Pring? I plan to make use of her to do some detailed studies of Vulcan anatomy. Beyond that, I don't have any plans for her. You can make use of her whenever you like, of course."

It was very apparent that was not something Spock had expected to hear and McCoy chuckled.

"One? I'm not exactly lacking for sex and two? Even if I were, she's not my type. Attitude reminds me too much of my ex. So you can have her as often and as long as you want. Only two things I ask is that you leave those gloves on her and that any damages are repairable."

After another moment of thought, McCoy amended that.

"Once I finish my anatomy mapping, I won't even care about the damage. I can learn plenty from an autopsy too."

Spock seemed lost for the moment in contemplation and McCoy took the opportunity to pull his pants back on before looking around for where Gaila had tossed his shirt. By the time he had that pulled back on, Spock's eyes were on him again.

"I fail to see what benefit you receive from this arrangement, Doctor."

"Things aren't always about equal transactions, Spock. What I learn from T'Pring might come in handy down the road because I might figure out how to fix something you get broke on one of our missions. Ask Uhura about honeycombs. Speaking of which, she's agreed to keeping interactions between the two of you non-violent. The next step is up to you. In fact, a lot of next steps are up to you."

Finally spotting his boots, McCoy pulled them on while calling out.

"Me and Spock are going to take a walk, Jim. I'll be back in a bit."

Whatever Kirk's answer was from behind Gaila sounded vaguely agreeable, so McCoy chose to take it as permission and led the way out with Spock following close behind. He continued to set a brisk pace, not pausing or stopping to talk until they reached their own little domain - the science labs. All it took was for McCoy to enter and look over the techs as he allowed a dangerous smile to slowly form. The area cleared out in record time. Once the last of the lab technicians was gone, Spock followed McCoy inside, automatically locking the door behind them. McCoy's smile faded into one that was less threatening as he picked a place to sit.

"Tell me, Spock, what was the real reason you hitched yourself to Pike? It was to get on this ship, wasn't it?"

For his part, Spock chose to remain standing for the moment, hands moving to clasp behind his back.

"I believe you are already aware of that fact, Doctor. What is the purpose of this talk?"

"Because it's my belief that you're putting entirely too much thought into some things."

That got the expected raised eyebrow.

"I do not believe it to be possible to give any matter too much thought."

"Well then, you would be wrong. I wouldn't worry about that though. First time for everything or so they say."

"I will not concede to being in the wrong when I do not know the subject matter in question."

"Ah - I need to spell things out then? Fine, fine. You see, I have a pretty good idea of some of the things running circles in that brain of yours."

Both Spock's tone and gaze grew icy at that.

"Truly, Doctor? Then do enlighten me as to what I am thinking."

McCoy laughed at the implied threat as if Spock had made a joke before settling back down, but the smile remained in place.

"Not saying it's all you're thinking about, but one thing is that you aren't so sure about is me learning more about how Vulcans are put together than I already know. And I already know more than you're comfortable with. Which leads to you not liking a human owning a Vulcan gal. Even a Vulcan gal that you gave to me, because I figure that was more a move to insult her than to give me a present. How am I doing so far?"

"I will admit that you have touched on several points that have been in my thoughts. Continue."

"Before I do, one question. You respect T'Pau, don't you? Only one of your Elders that had the nerve to stand up to the Emperor to his face instead of grumbling behind his back."

"I have not kept my admiration for her a secret."

"She knows me. She knows what I do. You think for one second that she didn't know what I plan to do with T'Pring? Yet according to Nyota, her name is the one on the paperwork making me T'Pring's owner. No conditions. I'm taking Nyota's word on that, of course. I know a word here and there, but not enough to translate a legal document."

"Considering her linguistic skills, I am certain that she translated it correctly. What you say is also true which would imply that T'Pau desires you to gain more in-depth knowledge of Vulcans. Does she trust Vulcan healers so little?"

"She does where you're concerned. There aren't as many healers - hell, not as many anything among the Vulcans as there used to be. Even before that whole fiasco at the Arena, T'Pau had heard rumblings about wasting good genetic stock on you. You really think any of them would be all torn up if you didn't survive a medical procedure?"

"I would be lying to myself if I thought that might be the case. Your point?"

"My point? I acknowledge that Jim needs you. I need Jim, therefore it's in my best interest to keep you alive and well. You just have to acknowledge that you need the two of us as much as we do you."

Moving slowly, Spock finally took a seat and steepled his fingers in concentration, fingertips touching the bottom of his goatee. McCoy didn't comment, fidget or show any other sign of impatience as he sat and waited. He didn't have to wait very long before Spock began to speak in slow, measured tones.

"I need James because he is the reason I can maintain my position and rank within the Empire. Even if a Vulcan healer were willing to come onboard, the council of Elders would never allow it due to the shortage, therefore, I need your skills in case of accident, illness or injury. However, it occurs to me in this equation that should anything happen to the Captain, it would eliminate your need for me."

"Consider it extra incentive to keep Jim breathing."

"Indeed."

Another minute was spent in contemplation before Spock spoke again.

"I will not have need for T'Pring's services often. She will eventually attempt to cause disruptions."

"Oh, little doubt. That's one little filly that's far from broken, but hell - I've got a stasis tube or two gathering dust. No reason we can't stick her on a shelf and take her down when she's needed."

"No reason at all."

Spock rose again and moved over to McCoy. For once, he was the one that shocked the doctor into speechlessness by extending his hand. McCoy rose as well before grasping it firmly in return. They shook once before releasing and Spock's hands returned to their position behind his back.

"Perhaps now would be the best opportunity to inform T'Pring of her new status."

Grinning, McCoy clasped his own hands behind his back and moved for the door, waiting for Spock to unlock it.

"Know what the best part of this is going to be, Spock?"

"I cannot even begin to fathom what you would consider that to be, Leonard."

"One day, there might be a situation where one of those Vulcan snobs gets hurt and I'm their best shot at survival. And I'll go ahead and make you this promise. Unless Jim orders otherwise, it will be your call whether I help them or not."

As they began to walk through the corridors side by side, Spock had the odd feeling that even though he was in deep space, for the first time in his life, his feet were on solid ground.