Woo'd by Aretha
Leonard McCoy liked being grumpy. Grumpy was his nature. Grumpy kept people at bay and on the defensive. He liked that because it worked....well it worked sometimes with some people.
Jim just grinned. He was immune to his prickly personality, but that was because he was Jim and he was a little on the demented side himself.
Then there was Nyota Uhura. She was his friend. They had become even closer since the hobgoblin had exited stage left like Snagglepuss. McCoy thought Spock was a fool for giving her up so easily. Hell, did that pointy eared Romeo think that he was the only one who could repopulate New Vulcan?
Nyota had seen it coming. She had said so herself. She came to visit him more often in the Medical Bay and made it her personal project to try to get him out of his consistently grumpy mood. He was not amused.
"Why don't you have a girlfriend, Len?" she asked him over lunch one day. "There's plenty of girls that would love a chance with you."
He rolled his eyes. "If they come my way, I have a hypo with their name on it. I don't have time for their games. Women are complicated and too much trouble. No thank you."
Nyota tried to look offended. "Well excuse me, Doctor!"
He grinned at her. She loved his grin, when he allowed himself to give one. "I wasn't talking about you, darling. You're different. You're not trying to seduce me. I like that."
Nyota wasn't sure that he was giving her a compliment, but she let it be.
"What's wrong with a little seduction?" she replied. "It might do you some good. You could end up in a better mood."
He stood up with his tray in his hand. "I don't think so."
He walked off and left her sitting there. She continued to eat her lunch.
Leonard was really a softie. She knew that sex with him would be a commitment and he didn't want a commitment. It was hard for her to believe that he and the captain were so close. They were as different as night and day.
***
McCoy walked back into the Medical Bay. Things were quiet for once. He thought about what Nyota had said.
A relationship was the last thing he wanted right now. He liked his life nice and uncomplicated even though it was boring at times. He didn't want to admit it to Nyota, but he did miss being with the opposite sex. Damn! Why couldn't he be more like Jim...then again who wanted to be like Jim? He shook his head for even entertaining the thought.
Jim had confessed to him during several of his highly intoxicating drinking sessions, that he wanted a permanent relationship with some nice girl. Of course by the time he had recovered he didn't remember a thing and denied it looking in McCoy's face telling him that he must have been the one that was drunk and that he must have imagined it. McCoy had long ago decided that Jim was just a tortured soul who didn't know what he really wanted besides the Enterprise.
He looked up from his computer to see the captain walk into the Medical Bay. Speak of the devil himself!
"What can I do for you, Jim?" he asked leaning back in his chair.
Jim walked over to his desk and plopped down in a nearby seat.
"Bones my friend, I am on an errand of mercy." He looked at him grinning impishly.
"An errand of mercy, huh. Right. You left the bridge to come down here on an errand of mercy for me?" Bones stood up. "I'm just fine. I don't need saving."
Jim looked offended. "Bones, you cut me to the quick! Here. I was told to give this to you and you are to not open it until you return to your quarters."
Bones eyed the box suspiciously.
"Who gave it to you?" He did not touch it but looked from it to Jim.
"I can't tell you that." Jim said grinning "I owe the person a big favor so now I'm doing this as payback. All I can say is that I am sure that you will like it."
"Well you can have it then." Bones replied pushing the box back towards Jim.
"Uh-uh. No way." He stood up shaking his head. "My duty is done here. I'll see you later."
He walked out of the Medical Bay whistling. McCoy looked at the box. Things must be dull all over for Jim to come down here running errands for some mysterious person.
He took the box and sat it aside.
McCoy worked several more hours before his shift was over. He looked at the box and picked it up and headed to his quarters.
He arrived and sat the box on his bed and looked at it.
Oh well he might as well play along. Jim was always pulling pranks!
He opened the box and found a small square message disc. His curiosity was peaked and he stuck it in his computer.
He was surprised to hear it start off with a song from Aretha Franklin. How did they know that he like vintage twentieth century earth music?
"Daydreaming and I'm thinking of you....daydreaming and I'm thinking of you. Daydreaming and I'm thinking of you..."
McCoy listened to the song and wondered who could have sent it to him.
He looked inside the box and found a mini message padd. He picked it up and read it.
"I'm always daydreaming and thinking of you."
McCoy raised an eyebrow. Whoever it was had good taste in music. He took the disc out of the computer. Jim must be playing a joke on him.
He left his quarters and headed to the bridge.
He found Jim in the captain's chair and stood next to him without speaking.
Jim looked up at him grinning. "So did you like your present?"
"Is this some sort of a joke, Jim?" Bones looked at him his hands crossed across his chest.
"What do you mean?"
"Where did the box come from?" Bones asked looking at him.
"Can't tell you." Jim said.
"Obviously it was from a female."
"Oh really? Why do you think that?" Jim said turning the chair around facing him.
"God, Jim. I hope it wasn't a man!" Bones snapped.
Jim snickered. "Ah, Bones. Yes, it was a woman. A very beautiful woman."
"Look Jim" he said "We're not in high school. Tell her thanks but no thanks. I'm not the least bit interested even though I do like Aretha Franklin!"
Jim stared at him and snickered some more irritating Bones all the more.
"I'm just the messenger." he said to Bones' back as he left the bridge in a huff.
Several days passed and Jim returned to the Medical Bay again with another box.
"Don't tell me." Bones said as he sat the box down. "Another gift from the unnamed female admirer? Didn't you give her my message?"
"No I did not. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, Bones. So here's your next installment."
Jim really could get on his nerves when he wanted to.
"Don't you have anything better to do than to be the Head Errand Boy of the Enterprise?" Bones snapped.
"I would only do this for you, Bones. Look at it as a privilege! Special delivery via the Captain himself!" Jim said trying to keep a straight face.
Bones picked up the box. "I think you are actually enjoying torturing me. You are supposed to be my friend!"
"I am your friend Bones. As Captain I know what's best for you. Now take the gift. That's an order!"
He chuckled to himself and walked out of the Medical Bay.
Bones stared at the box for a moment and then sat it aside.
When he left the Medical Bay with the box he ran into Nyota.
"I was coming to see if you'd like to go and grab something to eat." she said
"I'm glad I caught you."
Bones smiled at her. "Yeah, well I was going back to my quarters to open up my second mysterious gift." He held the box up.
"Oh really?" she replied. "Who's it from?"
"That's the mystery. Jim is in cahoots with someone and he's having the time of his life being errand boy for some woman who has good taste in music. Come on! You can see what I'm talking about!"
They continued on to his quarters and McCoy walked over to his computer and opened the box. Inside was another small disc. He held it up for Nyota to see.
"The last one had Aretha Franklin on it. Let's see what this one says."
He popped it into the computer and the music began to play.
"...Say a little prayer for you...The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup, I say a little prayer for you..."
McCoy listened for a few minutes.
"That's sweet" Nyota said grinning "Don't you like Aretha?"
"Someone has a lot of time on their hands." he replied. He looked in the box and found another small message padd.
"Together is how it must be, to live without you will only mean heartbreak for me. Please answer my prayer, say you want me too." Bones read.
He looked at Nyota. "This is a joke, right?"
"Sounds serious. Apparently you've affected some woman with your animal magnetism." she said laughing.
"Come on let's eat. You're going to help me figure out who this is."
For several days Bones did not receive any more messages. A part of him was disappointed even though he would not admit it to anyone out loud. Maybe his lack of interest had scared her off.
He went to the bridge to see Jim.
"I haven't seen you lately" he said making conversation.
Jim looked at him. "Are you asking if I've had any more messages to deliver" he asked.
"No, I was just making conversation. I gather that you let the unknown party know that I'm not interested." Bones said standing beside him with his hands behind his back.
"No. I've done no such thing." Jim turned to him. "In fact. I was going to give this to you later, but since you came up here looking for it, here it is."
Bones started to protest. "I'm not looking for anything, Jim."
"Sure, Bones." he said handing him another package.
Bones took the package and walked off the bridge.
He opened it in the turbo lift. He did not wait until he got to his quarters.
There was no disc inside, however there was another small message padd.
" I would like to see you face to face. I am sure you would like to meet me also. Please meet me on Deck 7, Conference room C1 at 2200 hours tonight."
Bones raised an eyebrow. So now the elusive admirer wanted to meet him face to face! Well good. His curiosity was getting the best of him. He could not imagine who it could be and the fact that Jim would participate in their little game floored him.
He tried to concentrate on his work for the rest of his shift but found it hard. When his shift was over, he returned to his quarters to get ready. After all, he wanted to shower and change and be presentable when he confronted whoever she was.
Finally as 2200 hours approached, he took the turbo lift to Deck 7. He got off and looked around. The hall was suspiciously quiet. He didn't see anyone. He walked up to the Conference room and the door opened. The room was dark and the door closed behind him.
"Lights, fifty percent." he said. Nothing happened. The room remained dark.
McCoy silently cursed. What in the world was wrong?
As he was about to turn to go back out, he heard music.
"Who's in here?" he asked.
Aretha began to sing,
"Ain't no way for me to love you...if you won't let me.
"Very funny. Now would you mind turning on the lights. This joke has gone on long enough, Jim" McCoy said. He walked to the door, but it didn't open.
"Damn!"
"Sit down" the computer voice said. McCoy complied feeling around for the chair, not knowing what else to do.
"Alright, I've been in the dark all along, and now you got me here in the dark. Show yourself or let me out of here." McCoy said getting irritated.
Aretha continued to sing.
"I know a woman's duty is to love and have a man.... and that's the way it was planned...oh, but how can I, how can I give you all the things I can, if you're tying both of my hands...
"Lights forty percent." the computer voice said.
McCoy rubbed his eyes trying to adjust from the darkness and saw Nyota sitting in front of the computer console.
"Hi, Len" she said grinning.
"Is this some sort of joke, Nyota. You and Jim must be having a great time laughing at my expense."
She looked at him. "Do you see me laughing?"
He stared at her a moment. "What's with Aretha? What's with Jim dropping of the mysterious packages? What's this all about if it's not some sort of perverse prank?"
"What do you think it's about, Len? I thought Aretha made things quite clear."
He stood up. "Look, Aretha hasn't shed much light on what you and Jim are up to so why don't you elaborate! Did she run off scared? Who is she? Why did she send you here if she exists at all?"
"Oh she exists alright." Nyota said getting up and walking over to him.
"Who is she?" he asked crossing his arms.
"You're unbelievable Leonard McCoy!" she said laughing. "It should be obvious by now who she is."
He stood there staring at her confused.
"What do you mean?"
"God, Leonard! It's me! I sent you those packages!" she replied.
"You? Why would you do that?" he asked.
It was her time to look confused.
"I can't believe you, Leonard. I sent you those packages, because I'm the woman who wants to be with you."
His eyes grew big. "You're joking."
"Why do you think I'm joking?" She put her arms around him.
"Is this a rebound or something?" he asked.
"What?" she said looking offended. "You think you're some sort of booby prize?"
"Well am I?" he said pulling away from her.
She sat back down. "I thought you knew me better than that. It's not like that at all. We've grown closer. It's been almost a year since Spock and I have parted ways. You and I have spent a lot of time together...don't you think it's a natural progression in our relationship?"
He was quiet a moment.
"I don't know Ny. I mean...I don't want to mess things up. We have a great friendship...I may not be the best boyfriend. After all, I'm grouchy and-"
"Sexy and handsome." she finished for him.
"You think I'm sexy?" he asked grinning.
"Oh, yeah. Kiss me and I'll confirm it." she said putting her arms around him.
He pulled her into his arms kissing her.
"You're pretty damn sexy yourself." he replied "Are you sure I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and find out this is all some sort of dream?"
"I'm sure."
"Are you sure you want to take a chance with me?" His face was serious.
"I'm sure. Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself? I'm sure I want to be with you. We can take our time, you know." She reached up and rubbed his face.
He looked at her. "How in the world did you get Jim to play along?"
She laughed. "That was easy. Remember last month's poker game? He owed me credits. I just decided that there was another way he could repay his debt to me."
Bones pulled her into his arms again. "Remind me never to play poker with you!"
She laughed and gave him another kiss.
"I can't believe that you used Aretha to chase me down! How did you know that I like her music?"
"Jim!" they both said at the same time.
Nyota laughed. "It worked didn't it? I got your attention."
"That you did!" McCoy replied kissing her again and leading her out of the conference room.
***