FIC: "Passing the Time"
Title: Passing the Time
Author: orphica
Pairing: Spock/McCoy
Rating: PG
Summary: Spock and McCoy are trapped in shuttle. I think you can guess how well they get along. Originally written for the st_respect prompt 2, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."
Word Count: 1000
Beta: Much thanks to mizzykitty
Spock had never believed in existential beings or gods; however, if there were anything in the universe that might force him to consider the possibility, it would be the fact that for the third time in a five year mission, he was trapped in a stranded shuttle with Doctor McCoy. It was illogical, but Spock could not help but wonder if an existential intervention was the cause of such a statistical anomaly. Out of the entire Enterprise crew, the mathematical likelihood that this would occur three times with exactly the same person was one point two percent.
To make matters even more maddening, on this occurrence, they were alone.
And Doctor McCoy was singing.
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
It's not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."
"Is there a purpose to this?" Spock asked, suppressing his irritation at the sound.
"It's to pass the time, Spock. I suppose Vulcans don't sing, though."
"On the contrary, doctor, we have quite a musical culture. I simply do not believe that your current vocalizations can be classified as singing."
The doctor scowled at him. "It so happens that lots of people have complimented me on my voice before, so there's no accounting for taste flowing in that green blood of yours."
Spock drew in a breath and tried to keep his visage blank. Even with his effort, he felt his eyebrows rise. He did not know what it was about this human that made him so often display obvious facial expressions.
"Regardless of our differences in musical opinion, I would appreciate if you would cease your..." Spock hesitated, not wanting to validate the noise with a specific term, "... singing."
Yet, McCoy still continued:
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."
"Doctor, it is my understanding that in human culture, a request made in a polite manner is typically granted."
McCoy just shrugged and his vocal cords began to produce more sound.
"Wonder this time where she's gone,
Wonder if she's gone to stay."
Spock narrowed his eyes. He was rapidly losing control over his patience. He raised his voice over McCoy's, "If you do not desist...." He left his threat open ended, as he was not altogether sure exactly what he would do.
"You'll what, Spock?" There was a clear challenge in the doctor's eyes.
There were many things he desired to do and could do, but most would break Starfleet regulations.
He eyed the doctor, who was clearly waiting for a reply. Spock refused, however, to argue the matter further. McCoy was, like himself, sitting on the floor. However, he was sprawled out in a casual manner, which indicated that he was not actively engaged in attempts to determine a solution to their dilemma. "I believe our time would be best spent if we ascertain a way to repair our shuttle."
"Singing helps."
Spock cocked his head. "In what way does your self-ascribed singing assist in determining what has caused our shuttle to lose power?"
"The human brain gets sudden strokes of genius when it's idle or doing something it doesn't have to think about too much. It's scientifically proven."
"Be that as it may, it is detrimental to my concentration and as I have more experience with shuttle technology, it is my concentration that is most important."
McCoy snorted at that. "You always were so humble, Spock. Look, it's pretty obvious that even you can't MacGyver us out of this. We sent a signal to the Enterprise, she's gonna pick us up in a few hours at most, and we have plenty of life support until then, so why don't you and your pointy ears just relax for a change?"
Spock was unaware of the specific origin and meaning of the use of the name MacGyver as a verb, but the context was plain enough. "It will be easier to relax if you are not causing significant discomfort to said ears."
"Dammit, Spock, if you're so much better at music and everything ever, why don't you sing something then? I don't even care if it's in Vulcan."
He furrowed his brow. "I do not understand your insistence on singing at this time."
"Because it's something to do!" McCoy exploded, shouting loudly. "It passes the time and keeps my mind off the fact that we're floating helplessly in the middle of space!"
Spock was taken aback by the sudden burst of strong emotion and did not know what to say except, "I do not wish to sing."
McCoy just glared at him, the anger visible on his face. "Then I'm gonna and if you don't like it, you can nerve pinch me and face the consequences later."
"That would be an inappropriate use of my telepathic abilities, in addition to breaking regulation. It would be considered an unnecessary assault upon a fellow Starfleet officer."
The doctor crossed his arms and began again:
"Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone,
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone, only darkness everyday."
Spock, to borrow a human idiom, lost it. He sprang to his feet, crossed the short distance (four point six meters) to the doctor's position and grabbed him by the shoulders.
Then he kissed him.
The noise of the song blissfully died as Spock's mouth muffled the last words. Their lips locked together and another, different form of bliss began to spread down his spine. Through their skin to skin contact, Spock felt a wave of shock, pleasure and disbelief emanate from McCoy.
"What the hell was that?" McCoy's eyes were wide and pupils dilated, but there was no longer anger in them. He had not yet pushed him away.
"A method of, as you would say, 'shutting you up' which also does not break regulation."
A slow grin suddenly spread over the doctor's thoughtful face. "Well, it will pass the time, won't it?" he drawled.
And then Spock found himself kissed in return.
Author: orphica
Pairing: Spock/McCoy
Rating: PG
Summary: Spock and McCoy are trapped in shuttle. I think you can guess how well they get along. Originally written for the st_respect prompt 2, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."
Word Count: 1000
Beta: Much thanks to mizzykitty
Spock had never believed in existential beings or gods; however, if there were anything in the universe that might force him to consider the possibility, it would be the fact that for the third time in a five year mission, he was trapped in a stranded shuttle with Doctor McCoy. It was illogical, but Spock could not help but wonder if an existential intervention was the cause of such a statistical anomaly. Out of the entire Enterprise crew, the mathematical likelihood that this would occur three times with exactly the same person was one point two percent.
To make matters even more maddening, on this occurrence, they were alone.
And Doctor McCoy was singing.
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
It's not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."
"Is there a purpose to this?" Spock asked, suppressing his irritation at the sound.
"It's to pass the time, Spock. I suppose Vulcans don't sing, though."
"On the contrary, doctor, we have quite a musical culture. I simply do not believe that your current vocalizations can be classified as singing."
The doctor scowled at him. "It so happens that lots of people have complimented me on my voice before, so there's no accounting for taste flowing in that green blood of yours."
Spock drew in a breath and tried to keep his visage blank. Even with his effort, he felt his eyebrows rise. He did not know what it was about this human that made him so often display obvious facial expressions.
"Regardless of our differences in musical opinion, I would appreciate if you would cease your..." Spock hesitated, not wanting to validate the noise with a specific term, "... singing."
Yet, McCoy still continued:
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."
"Doctor, it is my understanding that in human culture, a request made in a polite manner is typically granted."
McCoy just shrugged and his vocal cords began to produce more sound.
"Wonder this time where she's gone,
Wonder if she's gone to stay."
Spock narrowed his eyes. He was rapidly losing control over his patience. He raised his voice over McCoy's, "If you do not desist...." He left his threat open ended, as he was not altogether sure exactly what he would do.
"You'll what, Spock?" There was a clear challenge in the doctor's eyes.
There were many things he desired to do and could do, but most would break Starfleet regulations.
He eyed the doctor, who was clearly waiting for a reply. Spock refused, however, to argue the matter further. McCoy was, like himself, sitting on the floor. However, he was sprawled out in a casual manner, which indicated that he was not actively engaged in attempts to determine a solution to their dilemma. "I believe our time would be best spent if we ascertain a way to repair our shuttle."
"Singing helps."
Spock cocked his head. "In what way does your self-ascribed singing assist in determining what has caused our shuttle to lose power?"
"The human brain gets sudden strokes of genius when it's idle or doing something it doesn't have to think about too much. It's scientifically proven."
"Be that as it may, it is detrimental to my concentration and as I have more experience with shuttle technology, it is my concentration that is most important."
McCoy snorted at that. "You always were so humble, Spock. Look, it's pretty obvious that even you can't MacGyver us out of this. We sent a signal to the Enterprise, she's gonna pick us up in a few hours at most, and we have plenty of life support until then, so why don't you and your pointy ears just relax for a change?"
Spock was unaware of the specific origin and meaning of the use of the name MacGyver as a verb, but the context was plain enough. "It will be easier to relax if you are not causing significant discomfort to said ears."
"Dammit, Spock, if you're so much better at music and everything ever, why don't you sing something then? I don't even care if it's in Vulcan."
He furrowed his brow. "I do not understand your insistence on singing at this time."
"Because it's something to do!" McCoy exploded, shouting loudly. "It passes the time and keeps my mind off the fact that we're floating helplessly in the middle of space!"
Spock was taken aback by the sudden burst of strong emotion and did not know what to say except, "I do not wish to sing."
McCoy just glared at him, the anger visible on his face. "Then I'm gonna and if you don't like it, you can nerve pinch me and face the consequences later."
"That would be an inappropriate use of my telepathic abilities, in addition to breaking regulation. It would be considered an unnecessary assault upon a fellow Starfleet officer."
The doctor crossed his arms and began again:
"Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone,
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone, only darkness everyday."
Spock, to borrow a human idiom, lost it. He sprang to his feet, crossed the short distance (four point six meters) to the doctor's position and grabbed him by the shoulders.
Then he kissed him.
The noise of the song blissfully died as Spock's mouth muffled the last words. Their lips locked together and another, different form of bliss began to spread down his spine. Through their skin to skin contact, Spock felt a wave of shock, pleasure and disbelief emanate from McCoy.
"What the hell was that?" McCoy's eyes were wide and pupils dilated, but there was no longer anger in them. He had not yet pushed him away.
"A method of, as you would say, 'shutting you up' which also does not break regulation."
A slow grin suddenly spread over the doctor's thoughtful face. "Well, it will pass the time, won't it?" he drawled.
And then Spock found himself kissed in return.