(Untitled)

[notabricklayer]

Thanksgiving has sailed on by, tragically (or not) without the turkeys Charlie gifted to the mess hall. Those had disappeared along with the boy, and McCoy feels it's more than a fair price to pay. It's near Christmas-time back on Earth, and the mood on the Enterprise couldn't be grumpier. Between teenagers on their first multi-year cruise

Comments

[agtninetynine]

Something about the uniform looks all too familiar.

Therefore, he shouldn't be surprised by a woman in a white trenchcoat casually glancing his way, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in her hand.

[agtninetynine]

"He does seem to be able to deal with the stresses of his position," she admits, nodding quickly. However, there's still a good deal of information he hasn't told her about Starfleet - mostly for her own security, but also because they haven't known each other for that long. On the other hand, he's been trying to be more honest and upfront with her, which she can appreciate.

Her brain fills in the words of the acronym he offers, though it takes her a minute or two.

"He did say you were very good at your job," she adds.

[notabricklayer]

"Well, Jim isn't a very good liar." Which is utter and complete bull, by the way, but it never hurts to paint a lady's fellow in a good light. "Fantastic at keeping me in the dark about how he's doing, but hopeless and lying."

[agtninetynine]

"Who said anything about lying?"

She shrugs innocently.

"He doesn't say a lot about work-related things."

[notabricklayer]

"Well, why would he when he'd have better things to talk about?" McCoy grins, disarmingly. "Priorities has never been one of his problems."

[agtninetynine]

"I may be inclined to agree with you," she says, lifting her mug in an impromptu form of toasting.

[notabricklayer]

He mirrors the move, sipping the gorgeous stuff his fellow Southerners have made.
"Now, if only telling me the truth about what's bothering him was also not one of his problems. Then I'd be just as pleased as punch."

He pauses for a beat, two beats...

"But that's not your problem of course, my dear."

[agtninetynine]

"Oh?"

She looks intrigued by his thought process.

"And what is my problem?"

[notabricklayer]

"Ah now, I wouldn't know that. You just don't need the worries of an old country doctor on top of it." McCoy replies, laying the charm on thick.

[agtninetynine]

"Just a country doctor?"

Somehow she gets the feeling he's seriously downplaying.

[notabricklayer]

"Just a good, old-fashioned, country doctor." McCoy replies, letting his Georgia drawl strengthen. "I even do house calls."

[agtninetynine]

"That's very generous of you."

She idly taps her fingernails against the mug with a soft tinkling sound.

[notabricklayer]

"Oh, my granddaddy would be awfully disappointed if I didn't keep up the family tradition." McCoy demurs, "Besides, it's harder for patients to run away in their own quarters."

Like, for instance, Jim Kirk!

[agtninetynine]

"Do you often have patients who refuse medical help, Dr. McCoy?" she asks.

Bar suddenly refills her mug.