I forget to pray for the angels, and then the angels forget to pray for us - [Kirk, Chapel]

[behnd_blueyes]

On his way back to his their McCoy's room, of course, he had to pass through sickbay. But McCoy was no where to be seen--where was anyone's guess, and while refreshed from his nap, there was a lot on Kirk's mind that he was hoping not to actually address anytime soon. He had his own way of dealing with that, though, and McCoy's presence would

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[mirrored_npc]

Chapel jumped slightly, on edge from M'Benga's earlier appearance. But it was Kirk and Kirk was helping to take care of them.

She turned with a smile that was brittle around the edges. "I've been worse. How are you?"

[behnd_blueyes]

No doubt she had; that much was clear. But she seemed to like him, and part of him wanted to smooth those edges.

"Better," he said honestly. And then paused. "He won't bother you anymore."

[mirrored_npc]

"Thank you. I'm glad to hear it." Security had carried M'Benga past her, unconscious, and she had not stopped them to find out what Bones had done to M'Benga. Maybe Kirk had helped? He'd said he was going to help take care of them.

She glanced around Sickbay - it was empty, which she knew, but it was always better to confirm. "Bones doesn't do that to me."

The comm line had stayed open after she had hailed Bones.

[behnd_blueyes]

He didn't know what she meant at first--he thought she might mean what M'Benga had tried, and depending on what that was, maybe it was the same thing. But there was something about the way she looked at him he couldn't quite fathom. Not quite sly, but knowing, maybe.

"Guess you heard us," he said, no apology in his tone but no gloating. It was a fact, but he didn't know what went on in her mind. Especially as it pertained to McCoy.

[mirrored_npc]

Chapel nodded. "You can tell him if you don't want to do that. He wouldn't make you."

[behnd_blueyes]

Chapel was clearly a capable nurse. But in every other way, her childishness freaked him out. Even as it somehow elicited his sympathy, not to mention his curiosity about this thing McCoy had built. That part was less unknown than it had been, and less threatening than it was when he'd still thought himself helpless and impotent.

"I know," he said gently. "He's not making me."

Not hardly.

[mirrored_npc]

She studied him, looked at his eyes to see if he was lying. Chapel didn't really think Bones would make him if he didn't want to - Bones took care of them - but it was always best to be sure.

"I just thought you should know." Her hands had crept around her middle, fingers twisting the fabric of her uniform at the side seams.

[behnd_blueyes]

He watched her hands, her intent gaze.

"Thank you," he said. Fuck, what had happened to her? It was one thing for him. He'd come through. She hadn't, and yet he couldn't bring himself to just write her off as weak. But she probably wouldn't understand his saying he enjoyed it. "I know he wouldn't make me. Thing is, I'm taking care of him, too. I won't do anything I don't want, okay?"

[mirrored_npc]

Chapel wasn't weak - if she had been weak, Korby would have killed her, or she'd have killed herself at his direction. But being strong didn't always look like being okay, either, and Chapel had an inkling that she was not entirely okay. Bones always made her ask for it to make sure he wasn't making her; she still couldn't imagine actually wanting it. It felt good but she felt so filthy.

She did understand taking care of Bones, though. Maybe that was why Bones thought Kirk was interesting - he could help take care of them but he could take care of Bones, too. Bones needed someone to take care of him that way..

"It's good of you take care of him. I'm not very good at that. But sometimes he lets me help him cut anyway." Helping him that way - she was helping take care of Bones, too. Just in a different way.

[behnd_blueyes]

"I think you do fine," he said. It was anyone's guess, whether she really meant cut or... No. He wasn't going to fool himself she just meant in the normal course of their work here. But neither was he going to dwell on it. "There's lots of ways of helping someone, right? I'm not as good at cutting. You like Bones a lot, don't you?"

[mirrored_npc]

The power of it spoke to her - being able to part flesh from other flesh. Bones had taught her and it always calmed her down. Chapel had considered cutting herself but Bones wouldn't let her.

Kirk, though, looked a bit green at the idea of it. He didn't know how good it felt. Maybe Bones was going to teach him, too. But as he said, some people were better at different things and if he took care of Bones that way then she could take care of helping Bones their own way.

"He takes care of me. He gives me what I need." It wasn't nearly so simple as liking him - which she did, though Bones wasn't an easy man to know. But he had saved her, too.

[behnd_blueyes]

Kirk nodded. He guessed that was what was important--liking wasn't a survival skill, and he'd only been curious. What Chapel needed... well, that he couldn't guess. Nor could he exactly parse what he'd seen of McCoy's methods. But he was inclined to think it gave her some peace, anyway.

"Guess that's true for me, too," he said. He smiled again, gently.

[mirrored_npc]

"I do like you. You're nice. Thank you for helping him the other night."

She'd been embarrassed about it, that he'd seen it, had his mouth at her ear talking about it. But he hadn't tried to touch her otherwise and he'd been so polite.

It was easy to like Kirk.

[behnd_blueyes]

He'd meant, instead, that McCoy had something he needed. But he didn't correct her. And he was surprised she'd brought up the other night--she'd seemed as reluctant and ashamed as she'd been obviously aroused and needy.

Weird to be thanked for something like that, anyway. Sometimes manners were all you had, but they weren't par for the course, here.

"You're welcome," he said. "Glad it helped." There was a pause, as he contemplated whether to say what he was about to. But there was something so vulnerable about her. "You let me know if I can do anything."

[mirrored_npc]

Oh, she couldn't ask him for that. It was okay if he helped Bones but she could barely ask Bones. It was sweet of him to offer though. Her smile was rarely so open.

"There are some things I can do. You should ask me if you need help or if you're hurt. And I have a present for you, the next time I see you."

She could stay up tonight, finish the second sock.

[behnd_blueyes]

Language was twisted for her, a little--he'd meant anything, really, not just that, but maybe the tracks her brain moved in had been narrowly defined.

"I will," he said, though he felt he'd been here enough for the time being. "And that's... that's really nice. Thank you."

He hoped it wasn't a toe, or something, but he recognized the value of being polite where she was concerned.