When All Else Fails (From Bad to Worse)

[luvntrek]

Nyota reported to the bridge hoping that a new day would bring new results in her quest to be with Leonard McCoy.

Mr. Spock nodded and raised an eyebrow as their eyes met when she walked on the bridge. She returned the nod and proceeded to go about her duties.

The captain walked onto the bridge about and hour later and instead of walking to the captain's chair he walked directly to her station.

"Lieutenant, I'd like a word with you please" he said, is voice crisp. He stared down at her, his face serious.

Nyota was immediately filled with dread. What now?

"Yes sir." she said standing and following him. He led her to a small conference room and beckoned her to sit. He sat across from her and stared at her a moment before he spoke. Nyota felt her stomach flutter wondering what was wrong.

"Lieutenant, I understand that there was an altercation in your quarters last evening." His mouth was in a thin line and Nyota could tell that he was not pleased.

"Yes sir" she replied her throat suddenly dry.

"Have you reported this incident?" he asked leaning back in the chair.

Damn! Damn! Damn!

"No sir." she looked at the table to avoid his eyes.

"Why is that? You know that Starfleet regulations clearly state that any type of violent physical altercation must be reported and investigated. It does not matter if it occurred in the privacy of your quarters!"

How did the captain find out so quickly? It just happened last night?

"Sir, it just happened. I haven't had sufficient time-"

"You know regulations, Lieutenant! Regulations clearly state that anyone witnessing an altercation are to report this type of behavior immediately after it occurs unless there were extenuating circumstances that prevented it. If that is the case, then you have twenty four hours to file a report. What were those extenuating circumstances that preventing you from reporting it immediately, Lieutenant?"

He leaned forward on the desk looking at her and continued when she did not reply.

Nyota's mouth was dry. What could she say? She had hoped that the whole mess would go away on its own. She had not even considered reporting it to the captain.

"Frankly lieutenant, I'm a bit surprised by all of this. You are certainly behaving out of character here lately. Perhaps you still have not recovered from your previous trauma. I have a good mind to ask Dr. McCoy to check you over again!" He stared at her waiting for some sort of a response.

"With all due respect sir, I am fine" Nyota said letting out a deep breath. "The altercation was not my doing! I don't see why you are holding me responsible for it. Why am I the one expected to file the report?"

"It happened in your quarters, lieutenant! I am dealing with those parties involved. I only found out because I came in contact with Sulu in the medical bay last night when he came to see McCoy about that shiner he received! He didn't want to tell me, but he had no choice once I gave the order! I looked for you to file the required report and I failed to find one as of this morning." His eyes narrowed as he stared at her when she did not deny it.

"I can only assume that you did not find it necessary to follow regulations."

"But sir-"

"And then to find out that this was due to men fighting over you! Really, Uhura! I didn't peg you to be the type of woman who gets off on that sort of thing! Sulu gave me the whole sorid story."

"But sir-"

"I understand that Masters is also involved! I'll be talking to her also.
I expect my officers to behave with the utmost integrity and dignity at all times! Since you chose not to report the incident, you are just as guilty as the others."

He stood up and Nyota bit back her excuses as he looked at her, his face hard and grim. He straightened his tunic watching her.

"I expect a full report, Uhura. You will file it, and you will give details behind the reason for this altercation. Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?"

Nyota couldn't believe what was happening. "Yes sir" she said weakly.

"Very well then. I will see you back on the bridge." Kirk said and turned and walked out of the conference room leaving her sitting there.

***********************************

Leonard McCoy shook his head after witnessing the captain grill Sulu about the black eye he received. Truth be told, it was his fault that Sulu ended up in the medical bay.

He saw him heading for the lift as if he was in a hurry. His shirt was torn and the black eye was quite noticeable. He had detained him and had insisted that he return with him to the Medical Bay.
He wasn't expecting Jim to show up and when he did, he knew that he would push Sulu for the truth.

Hell, he wasn't going to report it himself. People got into fights. It was their own personal business unless someone actually got hurt. Sulu didn't want to talk about it and since he was the one who had the black eye, McCoy didn't push. Normally Jim didn't either unless it was necessary.

He was surprised when he ordered Sulu to tell what happened and Sulu would only say that the fight had occurred in Nyota Uhura's quarters. The captain was surprised and asked who had hit him. Sulu refused to tell him. The captain was livid and then asked Sulu who else was there with Uhura and he told him Charlene Masters. The captain had then confined Sulu to his quarters for a week.

"I can't understand it, Bones. That woman has been drawing trouble like flies to a pile of shit. What in the world is going on?"

Bones had just grinned. "Maybe you're not the object of her affections, Jim since there were men in her quarters fighting over her."

That statement had stuck in the captain's craw and he vowed to get to the bottom of it whether Sulu was talking or not.

"She'd better file a report about the incident!" Jim had said fuming.

"Now Jim" Bones had said "It was just a little fight. You don't expect anyone to file a report. That's just procedure."

"Oh yes I do, Bones." he said "Something's going on and I'm going to get to the bottom of it even if I have to use regulations to do it!"

He then turned and walked out of the Medical Bay.

McCoy laughed wondering what was going to happen next.

He didn't have to wait long.

McCoy ran into Charlene Masters later as he was about to go to the bridge.

"Doctor" she said nodding and smiling.

"I gather that you haven't run into the captain or else you wouldn't be smiling so sweetly." McCoy drawled.

Charlene ran her eyes over him as he stood there and leaned against the wall of the lift with his arms crossed. She could see why Nyota was love struck over the doctor. He did have gorgeous blue eyes and that southern drawl was sexy.

"No I haven't seen the captain, doctor."

"Well I guess I'd better warn you. He's on the warpath about that fight that happened in Uhura's quarters last night. Sulu wasn't giving up too much information and has been confined to quarters. He did however tell the captain that you were there."

Charlene gasped. "That pig! I should have known he'd squeal! It wasn't that bad of a fight, why is the captain so upset?"

McCoy's eyes danced. "I think he's a little upset that he may not be the man who is the object of your friend's affection."

Charlene looked at him. "You mean you all don't know...Sulu didn't tell you?"

"Nope. Care to enlighten me?" McCoy said crossing his arms.

"Uh...I'd better not. I'm leaving that to Nyota" she said as the doors opened on the bridge.

She glanced over and saw that Nyota was not at her station and the captain's chair was empty.

"This does not look good" she whispered to McCoy.

"I daresay that Jim's probably grilling her as we speak." he replied.

"Well I'm not going to wait around to get mine. He'll have to summon me!" Charlene said getting back on the lift.

"Chicken" McCoy accused laughing.

"You betcha!" Charlene said as the doors closed.

McCoy decided to go over to Spock.

"Where's the captain, Spock" he said looking around.

"Obviously he's not here, doctor." Spock replied dryly.

Just then the doors opened and the captain walked onto the bridge. McCoy could tell that he was not in a good mood. He followed him to the captain's chair.

"So Jim, I see Uhura's not at her station."

The captain did not look up from the PADD he was holding. "She'll be along shortly."

"I suppose you found out what happened." Bones said with his hands behind his back bouncing on his toes.

Jim looked up. "I told her that she must file a complete report on the matter."

"I see" Bones responded.

"Bones, you think that I'm taking this too far? I know that look."

Bones looked around and then bent down. "You're the captain. You have every right to demand her to follow Starfleet regulations. However, I think you now realize that you most likely are not the object of her affections and perhaps that's upsetting you a bit."

"I am not upset." Jim protested. "I just want to get the bottom of this. In fact, I think you should give her another evaluation and I want a complete report, Doctor McCoy."

Bones stared at him a moment surprised. "Jim, she's perfectly fine."

"Obviously not! This behavior of hers lately is abnormal. Check her out again, that's an order doctor!"

Bones stared at him a moment. "Yes sir." He then turned and left the bridge.

He sent a message to Uhura and asked her to report to the Medical Bay immediately. McCoy decided to talk to her in the privacy of his office.

It was not long before he saw her come in and he greeted her and led her to his private office where they would not be overheard.

"Look Uhura, the captain has ordered me to check you out again. Frankly, I think it's a waste of time." He grinned at her beckoning her to a seat. "Why don't we both save each other some time and you tell me what's really going on. Frankly I find it all entertaining myself. There never seems to be a dull moment lately concerning you and your escapades."

Nyota was totally irritated. This man...this handsome blue eyed, hairy and sexy looking man was mocking her. He had no idea that in truth, he was the cause of all of this. Well...partly his fault! She had tried to give him hints for months that she was interested. He was totally obtuse!
Somehow the hints bounced off of him and onto Sulu, Riley, the captain and god knows who else and now he was standing here making fun of her. She couldn't take it anymore.

Her mother had told her once that when all else fails, when you make every effort to be polite and people still didn't get the hints you were throwing out, the only thing to do is to be blunt and direct. All else had failed and failed miserably. She immediately threw caution to the wind.

"Look Doctor Leonard McCoy!" The blue eyes got larger when she said his whole name. She did not allow herself to get distracted by that fact. "You want to know what's going on? Fine! I'll tell you the god honest truth."

She stared at his amused face and took a deep breath. "The truth is that I am hopelessly attracted to a man who apparently doesn't know a come on from a cup of coffee! Somehow all these other men, Sulu, Riley, the captain and who knows who else thinks it's them!"

She stood up and perched herself on the edge of the desk and faced him as he stood before her.
"The fact is doctor, that obviously Sulu was right. You'd rather nurse a bottle of bourbon than make love to a woman, because if you were even slightly interested you'd know that you're the one!"

Before he could answer she pushed him against the wall grabbing the collar of his uniform, bringing her face close to his.

"I've been lusting after you for months! I guess I've been wasting my time with hints because you are just that dense, so now I'm throwing it out here now being as direct as I can."

"Me? I can't believe-"

"Shut up and listen!" she said knowing that her words alone could get her thrown in the brig if he chose to do so, but she just didn't care anymore.

"I think you are so sexy with your big blue eyes and hairy arms and sexy southern voice, damn you!
Just you calling me darling makes me wet and I want to rip your clothes off and have you for lunch and dinner!"

She backed up. "So there you have it doctor! Now you have a very good day because I have been ordered by the captain to fill out a complete report on last nights altercation where Sulu seemed to believe that he's the only man on this ship who knows how to make a woman satisfied even though I have no desire to find out. It was my hope that I could tell him that he's sadly mistaken, but I guess I'll never know!"

She then turned and hurried out of his office and was not surprised when she did not hear him call out to her or try and stop her quick departure.

Click to view