"Captain, permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted." Kirk saluted and watched as she walked away. Returning to his chair, he sat and instructed the Lieutenant in front of him to engage warp drive. Their journey was beginning, a smile snuck onto his face. He had a good crew, a good ship. He moved his hands a little, feeling the smooth metal and leather under his touch. This was home.

"Nurse Chapel, where the hell are the rosters?" Christine rolled her eyes and turned to face McCoy.

"On your desk Doctor."

"The hell they are!" He gave her a disapproving look and stormed into his office. Sitting at his desk he contemplated pouring himself a drink, it was too early even for him. Picking up a PADD he began sifting through the briefings and mandates from Star fleet. Additional Nurses and Doctors had been added to the team, plus a number of scientific, exploration and research personnel.

"Great, I'm sure none of them have the sense God gave a billy goat!" He looked at the time and realised he was late for the Senior Officer briefing on the Bridge. Downing his cold coffee he rose from his chair not before opening the small drawer in his desk, picking up the digital picture display he kept in there and looking at a picture of his daughter. Swiping he paused again when a picture of Greta came up. He'd forgotten it was on there and it took him aback somewhat. Closing it quickly and throwing it back he made his way out the Medical Bay and to the Bridge.

Passing some new crew members in the corridor McCoy felt decidedly old, they looked like they were still wet behind the ears! He strode past two fledgling Ensigns, who promptly straightened their backs and acknowledged him, McCoy noticed the look of terror in their faces he had obviously elicited and couldn't help but smile. Kirk was half way through a sentence when the door slid open and in walked McCoy.

"Ah Bones, good of you to make it."

"Save it Jim, I'm a busy man! Make this quick!" Kirk watched as McCoy took the closest chair to him and without even looking around the room sat, crossed his arms across his chest and glared at him.

"As I was saying, we have a good crew and with the additions that have been made I'm confident that we will accomplish even more. On a personal note I'd like to welcome back Doctor Hatfield, she will be heading up our Xeno-development Research team as well as functioning in the Medical Bay and I'm sure you will all join me in welcoming her back into the fold." Greta sat at the far end of the table, her hearing had become muffled since McCoy had walked in and sat down without noticing she was there. Realising the Captain was staring at her she snapped to attention and smiled.

"It's good to be back Captain." She dared to glance at McCoy, he was stood up. She hadn't noticed him stand. He was staring at her, in turn everybody was staring at him.

"You're here?" She barely heard him his voice was so low, she nodded in response. Kirk cleared his throat.

"Alright everybody dismissed." Neither Greta nor McCoy moved or spoke until everybody had left the room.

"You're here." He repeated, she nodded again. "What are you doing here?"

"Well Leonard I thought the Captain explained the reason, you should really pay more attention in these briefings…"

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Making a joke when you're nervous."

"I do not!"

"Yes you do!"

"Do not!"

"Damn it Woman! How old are you?"

"Leonard."

"What!?"

"Stop arguing with me." He opened his mouth again but stopped. Walking round to where she was still sat he placed his hands on her cheeks, pulling her up she stood in front of him. He kissed her, it was full of reckless abandonment, powerful and full of passion.

"I love you Leonard." She whispered to him, resting her forehead against his.

"I love you too Greta."

"Did I make the right decision? Me being here?" McCoy could only nod. "Good."

"Thank you." Greta was confused.

"For what Leonard?"

"For everything, for everything Greta. I never fully appreciated until this moment how much you've done for me, been there for me. How much I need you." She kissed him again.

"I'm here, that's the past. Let's look to the future Leonard. Now come on, off with you. Haven't you got work to be doing?"

"You're a damned tyrant Hatfield!" There was no pretend anger in his voice, just relief and love.

"Don't you forget it McCoy!"

3 Months Later

"Hatfield, get over here now!"

"I heard you the first time McCoy!" Greta hurried over and stood next to McCoy.

"I'm fine!" Kirk's eyesight was narrowing and he'd broken out into a cold sweat.

"I'll be the judge of that Jim! Now sit down, before you fall down!" Kirk watched as Bones used every contraption and device available to him, muttering under his breath and checking with Greta the results of his scans. Greta handed him instruments without McCoy having to ask, over time they'd fallen into a synergetic way of working. Greta wiped the hair from Kirk's brow, giving his shoulder a squeeze in reassurance. Loading a hypo spray McCoy lifted his hand to administer the treatment, seeing Kirk wince in anticipation Greta took the hypo spray from him without a word and gave a quick wink to Kirk.

Where Bones was all sharp angles and rapid actions Greta was soft strokes and fluid ballet. They made a good team, no in fact, they made an excellent team.

"Jim, we need to get you back to the ship." Bones was looking around them, his eyes darting into the heavy growth that flanked their position. Whoever had been chasing them, they couldn't be far away.

"No need to state the obvious Bones, we can't leave yet, we need to wait for Spock and Sulu." McCoy let out an irritated growl, Greta placed a hand on McCoy's.

"Doctor McCoy, you take the Captain back to the ship via the shuttle. I'll wait for the Commander and the Lieutenant and we'll make our way to a clearing for transport." McCoy nodded, beginning to pack up his medical kit. Kirk tried to get up again, his throat was closing up.

"Doctor I don't think it would be a good idea to leave you…"

"Jim, quit it. You know she's right, you need to be back on the ship sharpish!" Kirk looked at Greta forebodingly, she gave him a heartening grin. Helping him to his feet McCoy wrapped an arm around Kirk's middle and began making his way back to the shuttle. She watched McCoy turn around and look at her, he mouthed the words 'be careful', she smiled and soundlessly worded back 'I will'.

A rustle from her left brought her focus back onto her surroundings, ducking slightly she starting making her way to the location where she believed Spock and Sulu to be. They'd split up when the Captain had become sick, Spock and Sulu were to continue with the mission and position and discharge the ecological expansion device. Using her tricorder she carefully made her way through the woodland, she heard the identifiable low whistling of the planet's inhabitants behind her. Pulling herself against a tree she tried to slow her breathing, the populace had very poor eyesight and relied on their hearing to navigate the terrain. She watched as four men walked past her, not daring to move she kept her eyes fixed on their location until they were nearly out of her sight. Taking an anxious step away from the tree Greta spotted in her peripheral vision Spock and Sulu appearing to her left. Greta immediately held her hand up, using tactical hand signals effective in close range engagement she instructed them to stop and not speak. She was effectively piggy in the middle, she indicated to Spock what was ahead of them and that they needed to fall back. Nodding he placed a firm hand on Sulu's armand little by little they began to step away, the whistling stopped and an unnatural silence fell upon them. Greta turned her head to see that the men had turned in their direction, she kept perfectly still. The air going in and out of her lungs sounded like crashing waves on a pebble shore in her ears. They had changed their course again and were coming towards her, which Greta knew wasn't an uncommon behaviour pattern given their use of sound propagation to navigate. She could however distinguish the difference between a simple turn in direction and an awareness of a hostile presence, they had lifted their long harpoon like weapons. Sulu saw the alteration in behaviour too, he and Spock were far enough away but Greta, she was too close.

"RUN DOCTOR!" Sulu shouted at her, gaping in disbelief she pivoted ninety degrees and ran full tilt, leaves and branches whipping into her. The whistling intensified in both volume and octave behind her letting her know they were still on her tail. Tearing into the clearing she could see Spock and Sulu ahead of her.

"Five hundred metres due east! Keep going!" She shouted, there was no more air in her lungs, the muscles in her legs were beginning to spasm. She dared to look behind her, their long legs allowed them to traverse the uneven ground better than she could, they were gaining fast. Sulu and Spock stopped at the point Greta had indicated, Sulu opened a comm to the Enterprise.

"Enterprise, beam us up!"

"Doctor Hatfield isn't stationary!?"

"JUST DO IT SCOTTY!" Sulu shouted back.

The world disappeared around the three of them, as the coloured lights whirled round Greta she saw the poison tipped arrowheads fly past within an inch of her head.

Spock and Sulu stood on the transporter pad and heaved a heavy sigh of relief. The moment was short-lived however as they observed in astonishment Greta appearing and given the speed at which she had been running on the planet when she was transported went careering from the transporter pad, effectively leaping over the step and hurtling into the wall.

"Doctor Hatfield!" Sulu rushed to her when he heard a stomach churning crunch that sounded out from Greta's shoulder and the roar of agony that came from her throat.

"Doctor Hatfield, are you alright?" Greta looked up at Spock and couldn't help but let out a number of expletives under her breath. McCoy and Kirk swiftly entered the transporter room, McCoy immediately knelt down beside Greta and started assessing her injuries. McCoy moved her slightly but it only resulted in Greta swearing more from the pain.

"Pardon me Doctor, I did not hear you." Spock dipped his head.

"Watch it McCoy!" Greta grabbed McCoy's arm and stared at him in a way that would instil fear in the bravest of men.

"Don't worry about it Spock." McCoy couldn't help but smirk at Greta's language, she was the only person he knew who could give him a run for his money. Slowly standing Greta held her arm which hung limply, looking at McCoy she grimaced.

"You better pump me full of painkillers before you put this back in and I mean the good stuff. I don't want to feel my little toes!"

"Alright Darlin'."

"Don't 'Darlin'' me!"

"Thanks for getting us out of their Doctor." Sulu shouted over to her.

"Yeah yeah, whatever." McCoy helped Greta make her way to the Med Bay, Kirk following behind.

"I see you're better Captain!" She threw over her shoulder, Kirk could hear the vexation in her voice.

"Uh yeah Doctor, just a few allergies that cropped up." Kirk responded bashfully, Greta just grunted in response.

Slowly laying back on one of the beds McCoy loaded a hypo spray, Greta noted the name of the medication and the dosage, Kirk didn't quite catch what she said to McCoy but he did catch Bones paling quite considerably, reloading the hypo spray and quickly giving Greta the shot. Walking away McCoy muttered as he passed by Kirk.

"She's a damn tyrant."

"I heard that McCoy!" She shouted from where she lay, McCoy turned round in shock and eyed her suspiciously.

"The hell you did!" Greta gave him a wink and let her head loll back, the full effect of the sedative beginning to take effect.

6 Months Later

McCoy and Greta sat at the bar, taking a sip of her drink she closed her eyes and took a moment to concentrate on her breathing.

"How is it that we can have months of quiet, of nothing happening and then weeks of attacks, viruses and ridiculous injuries?" McCoy scoffed as he watched her open her eyes and look at him.

"That's what keeps this interesting!"

"Interesting!? Interesting is the book I've been reading on microscopic bacteria Leonard, this, this is something else."

"You don't enjoy it?" He sneered, knowing full well what her answer would be.

"Of course I enjoy it, I love it. I just wouldn't say no to a bit of calm and steady routine."

"Bullshit! You love it!" Greta grinned at him and downed her drink.

"Right, I'm off, I have the early shift for the next week so I need to get my beauty sleep." The main door slid open and Kirk walked in.

"Bones! Doctor Hatfield how are we all?" Greta stood up and began walking towards him. "You're not leaving on my account are you Doctor?" Greta squeezed his arm as she went past.

"No no Captain, I was leaving anyway. You two better not stay up all night, I don't know which one is the bad influence out of the two of you?" Both Kirk and McCoy simultaneously pointed at the other. "That's what I thought, good night Gentleman." They both watched her leave, McCoy poured Kirk a drink as he sat down.

"Cheers Jim." McCoy raised his glass.

"Cheers Bones."

"Alright Lieutenant, try and keep the area dry for the next week or so alright, now, off with you." Greta finished up with her patient and then began to clear away the medical apparatus she'd been using. She rested against one of the beds for a moment, smoothing down her hair and uniform. Looking around she watched as the crew all carried out their chores, tending to patients and chatting amongst themselves. A smile crept onto her lips, thinking back to her first posting on board the Enterprise it was only now that she could remember it with fondness, the signs of what lay ahead had been there amidst the unhappy times but it wasn't until now with hindsight that she could see them clearly.

The central access door slid open and Greta watched as McCoy walked in for the beginning of his shift, he nodded to the Nurses curtly and immediately began to complain that something or other wasn't in the correct place. She couldn't help but laugh, he really was a grumpy bastard at times. Turning he spotted her watching him, he raised an eyebrow in exasperation at her but she could see the twinkle in his eye. She occasionally wondered if he put it on for her amusement, or, as was more likely, his own. He finished chastising the Nurses and made his way over to her.

"Something funny Hatfield?"

"No McCoy, not at all." She gave his ribs a nudge with her elbow.

The lights above them went out and they were plunged into darkness, for a split second they were completely blind, Greta began to panic when she held her hand up in front of her face and couldn't see a thing. A moment later and they could both feel the very unsettling sensation of the floor underneath them quickly begin to tilt.

"Leonard!?" Greta grabbed onto the bed she had been leaning on and McCoy quickly did the same.

"Grab onto something!" McCoy shouted, not being able to see anything he could only hear as anything not bolted down began to slide across the room. "Greta?" He daren't let go of the bed, their bodies all but horizontal now to the floor.

"I'm here!" Her voice was closer than he initially realised, feeling her breath on his cheek. He could hear the strain in her voice as she held on to the side of the bed. The red emergency lights kicked in and he could finally see the chaos surrounding them. Turning his head and looking the other way he watched in astonishment as a Nurse slid by him, thankfully landing on something soft, namely another Nurse. Looking down he could now see that the entire Medical Bay was at a180 degree angle, his and Greta's legs dangling beneath them.

"It must be at least a 12 metre drop!" Greta squeezed her eyes shut, she couldn't look anymore.

"Whatever you do don't let go." If Greta didn't have to concentrate so much on her grip she would have hit him for a comment so mindless.

"Thanks for stating the bleeding obvious!" She couldn't help the acerbic response. McCoy began pulling himself up so he was balancing on the opposite side of the bed. Once secure he grabbed Greta's wrists and instructed her to pull herself up also. She managed to get one of her legs over the side but McCoy's grasp was slipping, her fingers couldn't hold on any longer and her breath got caught in her throat when one side of her body swung free. "Leonard!" His eyes were filled with terror, he stretched out his arm as far as he could, with all of her rapidly waning strength Greta reached for his hand. Their fingertips touched but she couldn't quite get a grasp. "Leonard, I can't reach!"

"Greta look at me! Look at me NOW!" She titled her head and looked at his face, time seemed to slow down. She took some deep breaths and closed her eyes. "I've got you Greta! Keep going! Come on!" With one last push she swung her body towards him, their hands met and McCoy held on with everything he had. He pulled her up as she finally made it to the side of the bed, McCoy kept her in his arms.

The ship began to right itself again, when it was very nearly horizontal McCoy dropped off the side of the bed with a thud, Greta landing on top of him still in his arms. They didn't move, each catching their breath and trying not to think about what could have happened if either of them had fallen the length of the Medical Bay. Greta pulled herself up slightly and looked at McCoy, she leant down again and gave him a long ardent kiss. The lights flickered from warning red to the usual bright white, ship wide communications began to flood in thick and fast. Greta pulled away and stroked his cheek.

"What was that for?" McCoy asked.

"For saving my life." She replied simply.

"Anytime Darlin'." It was McCoy's turn to kiss her. Christine came into view above them, straightening her uniform and clearing her throat to get their attention. They pulled away from each other and looked at her.

"Chapel, are you alright?" McCoy pulled himself up and held out a hand to Greta.

"I'm fine Doctor, we're all fine, surprisingly. What happened?"

"Damned if I know!" Christine nodded and then turned and began instructing the Nurses to clear up the mess that had been made. McCoy watched as Greta ran her hands over her hair and tunic, looking around and surveying the damage she turned back to him.

"Shall we get that coffee now?" Greta took his hand in hers and gave him a smile as if nothing had happened, hecouldn't help but smile back.

"Sounds like a good plan Hatfield."

"Well get to it McCoy, it's your turn." She kissed him again hastily and walked off in the other direction leaving him watching her, marvelling at how, after everything they'd been through, after very nearly losing her so many times he finally found himself fortunate enough to have her in his life.

"I love you." She stopped and considered him stood there, in the middle of the Medical Bay surrounded by their colleagues and the words he had just spoken. She couldn't help but be stunned and equally filled with pride at the very public display of affection, she mouthed the words back to him and blew him a kiss.

Behind that smile of hers was a story many people would never understand, he knew her inside and out. She knew him better than he knew himself.

They had managed to change the course of history, rewritten the future and turned a farce into a chance for happiness. Leonard McCoy knew in his heart that they hadn't met by accident, their paths had meant to cross. The universe had granted him a soul mate, a reflection of himself. A kindred spirit, and no matter where they found themselves or how far away they might be from each other, even if they were in different dimensions, they would always find one another. It was destiny, it was love.

The End

There you have it, I hope you enjoyed reading this story! I really enjoyed writing it and I'll be forever thankful for the kind words you took the time to leave in your reviews. LLAP :-) XOXO