Alright, I found Star Trek on today and was immediately scanning for Spock/McCoy. I love this pairing! So here goes my second story. I hope you enjoy A Bitter Affair.

"Wake up, Doctor." McCoy sat up abruptly, reaching for the phaser he kept by his side at all times. It wasn't there. His thrashings during his sleep had knocked it dangerously close to their campfire.

His eyes follow the long, slender fingers that pick up the weapon and hand it to him, hilt first.

"My watch already, Spock?" His voice is deep and husky with sleep.

Spock tilts his head to the side thoughtfully.

"As I have mentioned on previous occasions, I do not require sleep every night to function."

"Course not. Did you want to meditate?"

"It would be prudent for us to continue moving," Spock said, gazing up at the dual suns. This planet's daily cycles varied greatly from Earth's and Vulcan's. Two suns meant there was only four hours of total darkness. Moving at any other time could prove to be deadly for the two men.

McCoy stood and kicked dirt onto the last dying embers of their fire. Even during the day, the temperature could drop to 20 below zero - annoying to McCoy, but nearly unbearable for Spock.

In a few minutes, they had packed their meager belongings - one medical tricorder, a single phaser, a blade called Kor'tal from a local village and two stolen pouches containing rations and medical supplies.

"So we begin Day 37," McCoy said with obvious sarcasm. "Maybe we will be so lucky as to not get shot at today. That would be a welcome change." He begins walking and Spock follows.

Spock doesn't point out that it is Night 37 or that they have gone exactly 1.6 days without encountering either the Order or the Bringers. He lost the heart to fight with McCoy on Day 26.

They hike in silence for a few minutes before McCoy speaks. His tone of voice tells Spock that his mood has not improved.

"How far did you say it was to this river?"

"About two kilometers." Spock, with his desert blood, has the innate ability to smell water. Once there, they would finally have a chance to wash and rest.

"Can't wait. I feel disgusting."

Spock has now caught up to the other man and looks him over with a skeptical eye. McCoy's skin and hair are thick with dirt. Neither man had shaved in day and their clothes had certainly seen better times. However, as disgusting as they got, keeping the black earth on them offered far better camouflage than their bright blue tops did.

"I suppose I do not look much better," Spock said, casting an inviting look at McCoy. Days ago, McCoy would have risen to the bait, but it seemed like a lifetime had passed.

37 days. The number echoed in Spock's mind as they trekked in silence. Thirty seven days since they had been captured. Thirty five since they had escaped. Fourteen since the injury. Eleven since they had lost hope.

Somewhere in that span of time, they had lost something else. Spock just didn't yet know what it was.

McCoy froze suddenly and Spock lurched to a halt at his side.

"Is something wrong, Doctor?" He said quietly, knowing that if McCoy had stopped, there must be a good reason.

"There. Hear that?" Spock listened carefully and nodded. A faint, but distinct hum was coming from between the trees through which they had been about to pass.

Stooping, McCoy picked up a rock and hurled it in the direction of the noise. A static charge disintegrated the stone in apparent mid-air.

"A force field. Very astute observation, Doctor," Spock remarked sincerely. McCoy just rolled his eyes and readjusted his medical pack.

"Right by the river too. Bastards."

Spock didn't know if he was referring to the Order or the Bringers, but it didn't matter. They would have to wait a bit longer for water.

"Let's keep moving. Maybe there's a breach somewhere."

Spock nodded and they maneuvered away from the force field and into safer space.

Two hours later, it was Spock who found a hole in the force field big enough for a man to fit through. At this point, the second sun was on its way up, so they marked the spot with a few carefully placed twigs and settled down to camp.

Spock began counting to himself in anticipation of what would come.

First, McCoy turned on one side, then the other. Finally he sat up and hit his hand on his knee in disgust. "I hate this."

"I know."

"Two hours, maybe three. That's all the time we get to move."

"I know." His dark eyes study McCoy's pale face. "At least you are getting time to heal," he begins cautiously.

"Time?" He barked. "All we have is time! I'd like to trade some of this goddamned time for a starship."

Their typical bickering finished, Spock leaned back against a tree. McCoy threw himself on one side, screwing his eyes shut and willing himself to sleep.

Alright, here begins another one. I think it's going to be longer than Beyond Noesis. I have three chapters written so far and no idea how it will end. Anyway, thanks for reading and you know I love reviews!