[locked to notaphysicst] The Little Princess

[rightawaydoctor]

One of the many things Christine was proud of was how smoothly she managed to keep the med bay running no matter the situation. They could be attacked by Klingon war birds, the ship rocking back and forth, and her ability to collect herself under pressure and use a sharp, commanding tone would keep her nurses at their stations

Comments

[notaphysicst]

Yeah, it was all Leonard's fault, but at the moment, he wanted to get away. Put distance between them. He felt it was for the best at the moment, to get his goddamn head straight and make sure he was going to keep this professional. He'd send Chapel her orders - because she was Chapel again, not Christine - through the PADDs before shift, and use his time to make sure he came in to as little contact as possible with her.

The only upside to this was that he was getting his work done with a fierce concentration as he kept mainly in his office during shift, and kept to his quarters with a bottle to his lips afterwards. He didn't do much social interaction since their return from shore leave. With the work load low and his nervousness high, Leonard was returning from a brief meeting with Jim about some planet-side mission and moved through the Medbay like a man on a mission, trying to get to his office before someone stopped him.

But of course, that wasn't going to happen as Nurse Hall came over, holding out a PADD. "I need you to sign this sir, since Nurse Chapel is busy doing the inventory like you--"
"Here," He cut her off as he used the stylus she'd been holding to scribble his signature onto the screen. "There."

[rightawaydoctor]

The inventory hadn't taken as long as she thought it would and, moving out into the main area of the med bay, she spotted McCoy. This avoidance had to stop. How could the med bay operate properly if the CMO and Head Nurse weren't speaking to each other?

Straightening her uniform and her back, Christine marched forward until she was at his elbow.

"Sir, I need to speak with you in your office."

[notaphysicst]

About to turn away from Nurse Hall and head back to his office, he straightened up when Nurse Chapel appeared at his elbow. Her face was stern and if he didn't know any better, he'd guess she was angry at him.

Scowling slightly at her, but noting the eyes from the rest of his staff on them, he couldn't help but agree. "...Fine." He almost mumbled, shifting his shoulders and heading into his office.

[rightawaydoctor]

She followed close at his heels. There were two avenues she could take here. She could either try to be nice and understanding, or she could explode and start yelling. Well, no need to bring out the big guns unless he was going to be an ass about things. She'd start with niceness.

Once the door had shut behind her, she took a calming breath.

"Sir, I couldn't help but notice that our professional relationship has suffered since we returned from shore leave."

[notaphysicst]

Leonard moved behind his desk and had a seat, clearing it of some medical journals he'd been meaning to read and a couple of personal PADDs. He leaned back in his chair, straightening his shirt and trying to look as professional as he did before shore leave happened. It was a little easier now that he had had a few days without her around, or popping up where he wasn't expecting her.

"I've no idea what you're talkin' 'bout, Nurse Chapel." He answered soundly, crossing his arms over his chest.

[rightawaydoctor]

"I think you do," she countered, trying to keep her anger at bay. What was it about him that made her want to argue?

"You won't talk to me anymore. All my orders are given via PADD message. It wasn't that way before shore leave."

[notaphysicst]

He felt like he was caught as she accused him of not talking to her, using technology to give orders rather than by mouth - which was his usual preferred method. Leonard thought for a quick moment, trying to think of what might be an acceptable excuse. Maybe it'd get her out of his office faster as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Figured this would be faster, givin' orders out before I even get to Sick bay so things are in good working order by the time I get here."

As soon as he said it, Leonard knew he was caught, knew she'd see right through that excuse. She wasn't stupid for god's sake, otherwise she wouldn't be his damn Head Nurse.

[rightawaydoctor]

She tilted her head to the side and gave him a look. "Oh, come on. You hate technology and don't use it unless you absolutely have to. You give orders in person."

What kind of idiot did he take her for?

[notaphysicst]

He knew she wasn't an idiot damnit. Leonard just didn't feel like explaining himself when he didn't have to, especially to his Head Nurse. Face falling into that angry scowl that he usually gets when he's on the losing side of an argument with Spock, the CMO got to his feet, glaring at her.

"Y'don' like how I'm decidin' to run my Sick bay Chapel, that ain' my problem." He snapped, pointing at her. "Last I checked, I was in charge, not you. If I decide I wanna try a different way of givin' orders, y'go with it. I noticed it ain' screwin' up how things are run around here."

[rightawaydoctor]

There went her plan for niceness. Time to unleash the wronged woman routine. "Don't you point your finger at me like I'm some naughty child! You know exactly what this is about and the running of the med bay's gonna suffer if you don't get the stick out of your ass and deal with it!"

[notaphysicst]

"Don't you dare take that tone with me, Chapel!" He snapped at her, feeling his adrenaline. "You may be my Head Nurse, but---"

There was a chime, which interrupted Leonard mid-yelling. Mashing the button, he was still glaring at her as he answered. "McCoy here." He pretty much spat.

"Well someone sounds like a ray of sunshine today." It was the Captain and Leonard groaned out of frustration and agitation. "Hey, I did tell you I needed you to come with me planetside, right? Gotta have a medical person with me."

"I got something up here. Chapel can take my place." His tone was completely serious as he looked from her to the intercom. There was heavy tension in the air as Jim paused.

"Whelp, that's okay. I'm sure she needs some experience planet side, too. Send her down to the transporter room when you guys are ready. Make sure she's geared and all that. Jim out!"

Leonard straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest as he took a breath to try and calm down just a little. "Get a medkit, make sure its stocked before y'go to the transporter room."

[rightawaydoctor]

She couldn't believe it. McCoy had just foisted her off on Kirk, because he couldn't even deal with the problem in front of his face. The nerve!

"This isn't over," she practically growled, then spun on her heel and headed out the door, wishing that it was one of those that she could slam behind her.

Getting a spare med kit, she checked its contents and, satisfied that it had everything she might need, stormed out of medical.

[notaphysicst]

He kept his glare hard as she growled that their argument wasn't over, not by a long shot. Leonard squared his shoulders as she stormed out and he flopped down into his chair once more. He could picture her storming through Medbay, gathering a medkit and making sure it was packed well.

He'd really screwed this all up. Leaning forward to support his head with his hands, elbows on the desk top. She had been right - of course - because his cowardice had completely messed up their professional relationship and how they worked together.

"Goddamnit..." He grumbled under his breath.

[rightawaydoctor]

Christine stepped into the transporter room, trying to hide her fury. Kirk waved her over and discussed the plan with the team. Soon they were beaming down to the planet, and she should have had her attention focused to what was around her, but she was too upset and angry with McCoy to fully pay attention to what was going on.

Things with the locals went well, but they spoke broken Federation Standard and it was difficult understanding them. Plus the planet was incredibly humid and that made Christine irritable. She asked a local for water and after furrowing her brow at her, trying to understand what she wanted, his face finally lit up and he went to fetch her some. A moment later he returned with a wooden bowl filled with water, or so she thought, and she drank it down to ease the parched feeling.

A few minutes later, Kirk contacted the ship. "Scotty," he began, sounding bewildered. "Have Bones meet us in the transporter room immediately. After you call him, beam us up."

[notaphysicst]

Leonard sat there in his office, barking at any nurse that tried to interrupt him. He thought about what Christine said, how things had gone during shore leave, and then he found himself wishing he had a drink.

Bones was still stewing in his own anger when he got the call from Scotty, asking for him in the transporter room. A trickle of dread shocked most of the anger away as he thought of what might've happened on the planet. Scrambling to his feet and racing out of Medical with a nurse assistant close at his heels, he headed into the transporter room.

Scotty informed him that the Captain sounded alright, a little surprised at something, so that helped calm Bones' nerves for a few moments till he realized that Chapel had been down there, too. His heart hammered a little in his chest as he thought about the argument, and hoped to God she hadn't gotten hurt on the planet's surface.

[rightawaydoctor]

The away team was beamed aboard. There was Spock, a security ensign, someone from the bio labs, and Kirk, who was holding something against his hip with one arm and a pair of boots in the other hand. He looked rather shell shocked, but on seeing Bones, he carefully stepped down off the pad.

"Bones," he began slowly, "Don't flip out, don't yell, but... this," He dipped his head toward a blond head resting against his shoulder. "Is Christine Chapel."

On hearing her name, the head turned to look around. Who Kirk said was Christine looked like a little girl, no more than three or four years old, with platinum blond hair and bright, blue eyes. Those big eyes finally noticed McCoy and, thinking he looked like a mean old man, she gasped and buried her head against Kirk's shoulder. She liked Jim. He had a nice smile.