Chapter four – Don't Leave Me

"Well, how about Data? He is fully functional. Besides, he helped her settle in."

"Excuse my interrupting, sir, but Poppy does not yet consider me a person. It may take some extra time for her to relate to an android. I don't metabolize, sir."

"Fine, I'll go talk to Riker. He's a ladies man." Picard got up, but McCoy motioned for him to stop.

"I'm pulling your leg, Picard. The problem is not that I am a flock member and the answer is not to have someone become more intimate than me. The problem is that she only has one flock member at the moment and that she believes this only person has left the Enterprise. That is why she wants to leave."

"I believe I have a suggestion for a simple solution, sir."

"Yes, Data, go ahead."

"That the branch Admiral stays a while, sir. At least until after the party. And we should inform her that he is still here before she does anything rash."

Picard nodded in agreement and suggested that they should all go to the laboratory. On they way there, McCoy was delayed by a need for a bathroom visit, and Data waited outside to escort him. Picard reached laboratory six before them. It was empty except for Poppy. Most of the machines were switched off but the desktop semisolid laser analyser was running. From the small device a hair-thin yellow light beam shone straight up and was caught by a detector shaped like a cocktail umbrella. Poppy was leaning both elbows against the bench and was moving a stylus back and forth through the light for no apparent purpose. The machine buzzed every time the stylus crossed the beam and spoke. "Bzz. Sample not semi-solid. Bzz. Sample not semi-solid. Bzz." Now she noticed Picard and switched off the analyser.

"Hello, captain. Those are captain insignia, right? I was only . . ." She stopped in mid-sentence and threw the stylus down on the bench. "Fine, I understand. I see it in your posture. I've gone and broken some unwritten rule again, right? What was it this time? I did ask permission to kiss and I did do it in private, so it must be something else." Picard realised that Data had been perfectly right. She was not in a good mood and sniffers were supposed to have a very even temperament. He sat down on a lab stool and attempted a fatherly approach.

"We can talk about that later. First I would like to ask you how you are getting on here."

"So-so."

"Do you feel left out? Or let me put it like this, do you feel like part of the crew?"

"Not yet, I suppose. Could I go down to the planet once more before we take off? There is someone I want to say goodbye to and oooooooh I get it!" Poppy's eyes widened and she let out a bunch of what Picard assumed were native bad language. "I can't believe I messed it up so quickly! I'm sorry captain, I'm so sorry. I won't migrate, I promise, it's just instinct. I'm sure I can resist it."

Picard wasn't so sure of that, and by the look on Poppy's miserable face she wasn't so sure either. The door opened and Data escorted McCoy in. Poppy's face changed rapidly to a wide smile that showed her protruding lower canines.

"Didn't you leave?"

"No. Apparently I have to stay for the party. But I'm warning you that there had better not be any 'Twister'."

–***–

"So who are you? I never asked you."

"I am branch Admiral Leonard Horatio McCoy."

"So can I call you Branch?"

"No."

"Why not? I know it's your title really, but it would fit so well. Lily, Poppy, Branch. A new tradition."

"I'm sure you would like something new, but please stick to Leonard."

–***–

The party was going well and the games had given way to dancing. McCoy felt tired and took the opportunity to leave without being noticed. It had been a long day. The music faded slowly behind him as he walked to his temporary quarters. He had been assigned one of the high-ranking guest cabins. That was one of the few good things about being an admiral. It was comfortable and quiet. But not for long. McCoy had only had time to hang up his cardigan when he heard someone at the door. It was no surprise to him that it was Poppy, and he smiled slightly as he let her in.

"Did you think you could sneak away?

"I thought maybe I could. You seemed to have a good time with the others."

"Leonard, I don't want you to leave me."

"That's very sweet of you, Poppy, but you see . . ."

"I want to leave YOU."

"That was a lot less sweet."

"Oh, you know what I mean. The males back home are stationary and territorial, the women migrate. I'll fight my urge to go after you as hard as I can, but it will be a lot easier for me if you can appear to stay put."

"I see. That makes sense, I suppose. Well, you can leave me now, if you want." McCoy sat down on the edge of the bed. Poppy came up close to him.

"I didn't say I want to leave right now." She sat down in his lap, like she had done that first time he met her. Ran her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. She whispered in his ear. "Can I stay the night?" He was about to say no. No, I'm too old. Much too old for anything like that. Probably just a couple of years left to live for this old coot. Maybe just one year . . . His own reasoning changed his mind completely. Just one year? God damn it, get moving, you imbecile! Do you think you'll get a better chance later? Instead of answering in words, he took the liberty of pulling down the zipper of her jumpsuit, and slipped his hands in to circle her waist under the fabric.

–***–

McCoy woke up from the slight sounds of Poppy dressing. He didn't sleep very soundly these days.

"So you're leaving now, little lady?"

"Yes. See you someday. Aren't you getting out of bed?"

"No, no, no, I'll sleep in. You go now, scoot!" Poppy gave him one last kiss and walked out of his quarters. He smiled and waved at her. As soon as the door closed, his smile disappeared to make way for a pained grimace. He reached for the intercom.

"Calling sickbay, this is branch Admiral McCoy."

"Medical officer Beverly Crusher here, Admiral."

"Send someone to pick me up on a stabilising stretcher, I've got two fractured femurs."

"I'm deploying personnel immediately!" Dr Crusher gave orders and spoke to McCoy again. "What has happened?"

"Is this going on my medical record?"

"Why yes, all incidents do, Admiral."

"In that case, I fell out of bed. Twice. Once on each side."

–***–

THE END.

Cover art by KalleJ, a link to his blog can be found on my profile page.