Ahku IX

The water was warm as it sprayed down on Bones' naked body. He sighed. After the argument and Spock's sudden love confession, he felt the terrible need for a shower. After being so close to Spock, he felt very hot and very aroused. 'What the hell was Spock thinking, making such a confession as that to me?' Bones snorted. "Some Vulcan intellect if he can't tell real feelings from implanted feelings because of some stupid flower." The doctor leaned against his shower wall. "Of course I like him. He's my friend." Bones muttered. The doctor blinked, a thoughtful look crossing his mind. 'Well... of course he's my friend. That’s a given.' The doctor thought. 'Even though we argue a lot, we still take care of and protect each other. We both care deeply about Jim.' Sighing, he shut the water off and grabbed a towel to dry himself off with. After dressing, he walked into his room to comb his hair quickly and then left to go to his office. He'd rejected Spock; for the time being at least. Stepping onto the lift, he leaned against the wall. "... I doubt Spock is going to give up very easily." He muttered.

As Spock sat at his station and stared at his screen, he felt dejected and depressed. He didn't let it show though. He put on a mask of calm and collective. As he thought about McCoy's response to his love confession, he decided he would show the good doctor that they belonged together. Holding back a smile and a sigh, he continued working so as to not worry the Captain.
Kirk stared at Spock worriedly. The Vulcan had entered the Bridge so quietly; he hadn't even noticed Spock until minutes after he had sat down. Raising a brow, he remembered he'd told Spock to go help Bones come up with a cure. "Mr. Spock?"
Spock turned in his seat and looked at Jim. "Yes, Captain?"
"How's the cure coming along?"
Spock stared at him a moment, as if contemplating his answer. "Ah... The doctor and I..." Spock paused, swallowing some.
"Bones and you.... what?"
"We... had a... argument." The Vulcan said slowly.
The captain sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Over what, Mr. Spock?"
Spock swallowed again, averting his eyes momentarily before looking back at his friend. "Over the... effects of the pollen."
Kirk narrowed his eyes some. "Spock... you're stuttering. Is something the matter?"
'I don't know if I would be able to tell Jim of my feelings for Doctor McCoy.' Spock thought. "Captain, may we speak somewhere privately later tonight?"
Captain Kirk blinked slightly in surprise. "Certainly, Spock. We can talk over chess."
Spock nodded in relieve and consent. "Thank you, Captain." He said and turned his seat back to his station. Not happy with his friend's response, Kirk stood up and announced that he was going to go to medical bay to check on any sick crew members. Spock's head jerked up. 'Medical bay? Why would the captain be going there?' He thought and turned to ask his question, but Kirk was already on the lift. 'Not good.'

Bones sat at his desk working on a report for a sick patient, although the report was black. Spock's sudden confession of love was taking up his mind; and Bones didn't like it when he couldn't work. If one thing was on his mind all day, it drove him crazy. The doctor closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He was starting to get a headache. The door to medical bay opened and McCoy heard very familiar footsteps. He groaned. 'Damn it Spock. Can't you leave me alone for an hour at least?' He thought when the door to his office opened. "Spock, I really don't want to talk to you right now." He said.
"I'm glad I'm not Spock then."
Bones looked up. "Ah... Captain. Forgive me. I thought you were-"
"Spock I know." The captain raised an eyebrow and walked further into the room, hands behind his back. "I know you two argue a lot, but I don't think I've ever heard of you telling Spock that you don't want to talk to him. As far as I can see, you two rather enjoy your frequent bantering."
Bones leaned back in his seat, dropping his pen. "We don't banter! We... discuss intelligent... matters." The doctor said slowly.
"Uh huh. And Scotty sees them as lovers’ quarrels." Kirk grinned as McCoy blushed and went silent. "Leonard... I'm rather worried about Mr. Spock." Kirk said suddenly as he looked at McCoy's framed degrees and awards.
"And why would that be, Jim?"
"He's been acting... strange... as of late. You don't think this lust pollen is having a negative effect on his Vulcan blood do you?" The captain turned to the doctor; his eyes shining with worry and hope that his first officer was not in any kind of danger.
McCoy sighed and stood, picking up the file. "I assure you Captain; I was worried as well and conducted a few tests on Spock. I can guarantee that the lust pollen, as you called it, is not having a negative effect."
"That's good."
"But I do understand your reasoning that our Vulcan friend has been acting odd. Everyone is." McCoy muttered and walked around his desk to the filing cabinet. He opened it up and fingered through tabs until he found the one he needed and slipped the file in. "You seem to be one of the only ones not being effected, Jim."
"And why am I not being effected, Doctor?"
"Do you have someone you like?" He saw a thoughtful look cross Jim's face before the captain uttered a negative. "Well, there's your answer."
Jim blinked and tilted his head curiously. "Does that mean Spock and yourself have people you like?"
McCoy blushed. "Apparently." He looked to the side slightly angrily.
"Heavens... Spock has a crush on someone?"
"I know. I was surprised myself."
"Do you know who it is?"
The doctor stood still a moment before walking over to his desk and leaning against the edge. "... Jim..."
Kirk knew the tone in Leonard's voice and immediately became alert. "What is it, Leonard?" He whispered and walked over to his friend.
McCoy rubbed his hands together nervously. "Can I ask you something that has nothing to do with Spock and myself?"
The captain raised an eyebrow. "Was I worried for no reason?" He asked.
"J-Just hear me out, please."
"Alright." Jim said and sat next to Leonard. "I'm listening."
"Alright... well... h-have you... ever had someone you've known a long time... suddenly confess their love to you?" McCoy asked.
Kirk blinked and stared at McCoy for a moment in thought. "Once or twice I think. Why? Has one of your nurses done that?"
"No! Heavens no!" Bones exclaimed. He sighed. "I think Spock is letting the pollen get to him."
Kirk looked at Bones suspiciously. "Why do you say that?"
"Well... Jim... I'm going to tell you something... but... don't let Spock know I told you this."
The captain folded his hands over his lap to show that he was willing to continue listening. "Alright. I won't tell him."
"Okay... you know how a few hours ago, Spock and I were conducting tests on the flowers he brought onto the ship from Ahku IX, and while we were working, the pollen began to take effect, right?" Jim nodded his affirmation. "Well... while we were conducting the tests... Spock began to act strange."
"Strange how?"
"He kept staring at me like I was his prey!" McCoy yelled and stood up. "H-He would occasionally touch me, like on the arm or the hand! I think he even brushes against my butt once!" Kirk tried not to chuckle. "And-and then, he would start to stand closer to me than usual!" The doctor began to pace. "And that’s when I noticed!"
"... Noticed what?"
"I felt hot!"
"... Hot? Hot how?"
"You know... hot! F-From the inside."
"As in... sexually hot?"
McCoy blushed and covered his face. "Yes. And it was only around Spock."
"How do you know it was only around Spock?"
"Well... I had to take a break at one point. I began to over-heat so I stepped outside for a few minutes. As soon as I was apart from him, I felt more relaxed and cool. So, after I felt better, I went back into the lab and as soon as my eyes met Spock's that heat came back full force."
"Fascinating." Kirk muttered and cleared his throat when McCoy glared at him.
The doctor stopped pacing and began rubbing his temples. "When you called me for pain medication for your headache, did you realize how long I took to answer." The captain nodded with a hint of annoyance to his facial expression. "Well... Spock and I were having a make out session."
The captain's eyes widened. "Y-You and... and Spock were making out?!"
"Yes. It happened so suddenly. One minute we were arguing about how the plants create offspring, and the next he's kissing me! I tried to force him off, but I was pinned to the table and suddenly I was kissing back." Leonard sighed and leaned against the desk again. "After you called, I sent Spock up to you to report and I had hoped he would stay up there so I could calm down, but then he came back to the lab. He tried kissing me again, but I was able to fend him off; and then we got into this argument and out of nowhere, that damn Vulcan confesses his love to me! And he's convinced that I love him too!"
Kirk pursed his lips in amusement and surprise. "... Wow." He muttered.
"I don't know what to do Jim!" McCoy groaned, hiding his face. "If it had been one of my nurses, it would be a hell of a whole easier to handle... but Spock... and a male Vulcan no less!"
"Well... what'd you tell him?"
"Of course I told him that he was out of his mind!"
Kirk raised an eyebrow. "Well... I'm sure that helped his self-esteem."
McCoy blushed ashamed. "Well... I also told him that he's under the effect of the pollen."
"Mm hmm."
"Jim..." The doctor whispered. "Look at where I'm coming from here. I'm divorced, I've got a daughter, and not to mention I'm a human male. Don't you think Spock deserves a woman at the least to give him a child?"
Jim smiled. "No offense, Leonard, but I don't think its up to you to decide what Spock deserves. If Spock loves you, that's how Spock feels." The captain stood up. "If you ask me Bones, I think you should give Spock a chance."
Bones blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah! After all... I think you and Spock would make a cute couple!"
"JAMES T. KIRK!" Bones yelled, blushing a hot red.
The captain laughed and dodged a punch thrown at his arm. "Come on, Bones. Think about it. You only feel hot when you're around Spock, you feel Spock deserves better than you, and even though you two argue a lot, you still worry about each other when one or the other is hurt or missing. He gets under your skin with everything he says and does, but you argue with him even though he's right, so that he'll look at you and hear your voice only." Jim smiled. "Its rather cute actually. Kind of like the boy who has a crush on the girl, so he bullies her all the time."
Bones stared at his friend in disbelief. "So you agree with Spock that I love him?!"
Kirk sighed and put a hand on Bones' shoulder. "I think you love him and care a lot about him, Leonard." McCoy sighed. He stood and stepped around Kirk to go to the door to his office. Kirk followed him out. "Just give him a chance, Bones. It may be the best choice you make."
"You really think so?"
Jim smiled and nodded. "Give it some thought, but don't take too long thinking about it. I don't think Spock will wait very long for you before he makes another move. We both know he can be pretty aggressive."
The doctor snorted. "Tch. Yeah, I know."
The captain smirked and patted McCoy's shoulder before leaving. The doctor watched his Captain leave and he let out a heavy sigh. Reaching a hand up, he scratched at his neck, tilting his head back and grunting when he felt a pop. That felt good, the doctor thought and walked out of his office. Maybe he would give Spock a chance. Thoughts about Spock circled the doctor's mind as he went to check on current patients. Staring down at a scanner that showed a high fever, he figured maybe he would have a private dinner with Spock. One of the nurses stared at Bones as he wrote a quick prescription for the patient and moved onto the next. She looked at another nurse and they shared a questioning gaze with each other.
'Spock's a vegetarian.' McCoy thought while staring at another scanner. 'Maybe I could make a nice garden salad with spaghetti and tomato sauce. Does Spock even like Italian food?' His brows furrowed in thought. 'Or maybe we should just have a nice relaxing evening of snacks and wine. I can make a delicious fruit salad.' He moved onto the next patient, handing the scanner to the nurse next to him. She took the scanner.
"Doctor?"
"Hn?"
"Are you feeling alright?"
McCoy turned to her. "Do you know if Spock likes Italian foods?"
The nurse blinked. "I know he's a vegetarian." She muttered softly. "Why do you ask?"
McCoy shook his head. "No reason. Just... curious." He muttered in return and walked to the next biobed. He picked up a scanner and scanned the patient. 'I wonder if Spock has ever tried chocolate with fruit. Would he like it? Does he even like chocolate?' The doctor pursed his lips as he made his decision. 'Alright! May as well go ahead and ask!' He turned to his nurse and told her what to do before leaving sick bay. The nurse stared after him surprised.