It was a quiet voyage for the starship known as the USS Enterprise. Two years into the five year trek of Federation quests and yet completion happened in the blink of an eye for each one, often leaving the crew restless between them. One such restless crew member was their very own Captain Kirk, who had taken it upon himself to become the ultimate wingman and was currently playing matchmaker amongst the crewmembers. His newfound target just so happened to be the freshly recruited Doctor Elyssa Valerius, who was quite the experienced woman in the medical field and Doctor McCoy's right hand in the sickbay. Kirk had noticed a certain half Vulcan had his attention on her from the moment they were introduced and formulated plan after plan to try and make a relationship between the two happen...yet progress was slow. The two barely spent time together as she was mostly preoccupied in the lab and Spock was stationed on the bridge but Kirk was determined.

"So, Spock, I heard that Bones has plans to take dear Doctor Val out to dinner tonight. Thoughts?" Kirk swivelled round in his chair to face Spock, who kept a neutral face. "I believe he is incorrect on that plan, Captain, there is no time for such things when there are files to sort and paperwork to fill out. I have seen the work to be done firsthand when I visited earlier today-" "Why were you down in sickbay, Spock? You're not ill are you?" "Not at all, captain. I was just dropping off some sustenance to Doctor Valerius, I did not see her present at the canteen this morning or at lunch time." Kirk raised an eyebrow, a small smirk on his face at the concern Spock held for her. "You know, Spock, if you're so worried that she's not eating enough, why don't you take her to dinner? Chat about science, medicine, whatever, just make conversation and have a nice time? You might even enjoy yourself." "...I shall take your advice, Jim. Thank you." Spock stood, tugging down his shirt to smooth it out before leaving the bridge.

~

"And that should do it, Nurse." Elyssa stepped back from the table which was covered in samples. "Now we wait for the results, shouldn't take long- oh, the time! Sorry Chapel, I hadn't realised it was already 1800, your shift is over. Have a good evening and see you tomorrow!" She waved goodbye to the blonde haired nurse, glancing over at the teeming pile of paperwork that hid Doctor McCoy behind it. "Doctor, you should go too, we can cover that in the morning. Being tired won't help the situation." "I suppose you're right, though same to you. In fact, why don't we both-" 

"Doctor McCoy, Doctor Valerius." Spock entered the sickbay, interrupting whatever Bones was about to ask. "The captain has conveyed his wishes for the paperwork from sickbay to be compiled tonight, before 2300 so that he may upload it to the Federation database tomorrow with the rest of the logs." McCoy cursed and sat back down, rubbing his face. "Fine, fine. Doctor, make a start on-" "Doctor Valerius is to attend dinner with me, the captain is concerned about her lack of nourishment." Spock informed him, arms behind his back in his usual stoic pose, though his eyes held a glimmer of something that a human would call smugness. Elyssa raised an eyebrow at the fact the captain would say such a thing but to question it would be stupid...and it was true. Work had been overruling eating, sleeping and any shore leave. Bones grumbled under his breath but nodded. "Go ahead then, go on." "Thank you Doctor." Spock exited the sickbay, Elyssa trailing after him.

"Did the captain really say that about me?" She frowned, thinking there was an issue. "Not in those words, it's just something we noticed." Spock tried to assure her. "We? You think I'm not eating enough either?" "...Yes. For your health, you shouldn't skip meals." They arrived in the canteen, Elyssa seating herself at a table in the corner. Spock followed suit and sat himself opposite her. "So basically this is to make sure I eat something, right? I am a doctor, Commander, I know what's good for me and what isn't." She practically pouted, arms folded. "I am aware of your profession, Doctor, however you have been known to neglect necessary regimes such as sleeping and eating in favour of your work. Even Doctor McCoy has made the occasional comment...I believe his phrase was 'run herself into the ground' when he was talking to the captain last." Spock stood. "Now, what shall you be having this evening?" "...whatever you have. I'm not that hungry." She shrugged, moving a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. She didn't catch the way Spock watched the action, the tips of his ears burning a light green as he nodded and made his way to the replicator.

Upon his return, he set down two bowls of plomeek soup. "I apologise if it is bland to you, we Vulcans have it so." "I've never tried it and sometimes bland is all you need. Thank you, Commander." He sat down again and picked up a spoon. "You may call me Spock when we are off hours, Doctor." "Then you may call me Elyssa. It's only fair." She smiled at him, picking up her own spoon and trying the soup. True to his word, it was bland, but in a comforting sort of way. "This is nice, Spock. You didn't have to go out of your way to make sure I ate tonight though, I'm sure you're busy in your free time." "I wanted to. Consider it looking out for a friend." He finished his soup, setting the spoon down. She raised an eyebrow, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands. "We're friends? I always thought you didn't like me, considering how little we see of each other and you always have an excuse to leave my company whenever I am on the bridge." He opened his mouth and then closed it, thinking of a response. Eventually he spoke again.

"I do not dislike you, Elyssa. I simply wanted to not impose on you whilst you were working. I understand that we are both busy and in separate areas, yet when our paths cross it is...sufficient." He nodded, eyes darting down to where a small dab of soup was in the corner of her mouth. She licked her lips to remove it once she caught on to what he was staring at, the blush returning to his ears. "Spock, it's not imposing. I feel like I hardly know you sometimes and at other times..." "You do not consider us friends?" "I do, just not as close as we could be I suppose. The friendship you have with the captain and doctor, that's close." He nodded once more, finding logic in her statement. "Then perhaps you would wish to become closer in that respect?" She stared down at her bowl, a rosy blush of her own forming on her cheeks. "Perhaps."

Elyssa stood, taking the bowls away and turning to Spock. "I should go and help Doctor McCoy but thank you for this. I had a nice time." She smiled softly and bid him goodnight before heading back to the sickbay, not getting far before Spock caught up with her. "May I offer my assistance? Three is objectively quicker than two and I am a science officer." "How...logical of you, Mr Spock, and kind. Thank you for the offer, I wouldn't say no." The two entered the sickbay, finding Bones asleep at his desk with half the paperwork complete. Elyssa went over to the storage cupboard, pulling out a blanket and settling it on the sleeping doctor. Spock quirked an eyebrow at the gesture. "He sometimes falls asleep here, that's why I keep a blanket in here." She quietly explained, taking a seat opposite the desk and pulling a stack towards her. He sat beside her, copying her actions. Whilst they worked, soft conversation of pathogens and structures on a molecular level flowed between them and Elyssa found herself liking the half Vulcan even more. Sure she liked him as a friend but as more than? It was something she dared not believe could be plausible to him, let alone possible for her. 

~

"It is now 0100 hours, Elyssa. I suggest we retire to our quarters, the work here is done." Spock whispered as to not wake Bones. Elyssa nodded tiredly, carefully standing up. "You're right..." He hesitantly offered his arm to her. "I will escort you to your quarters, lest you trip and fall on the way due to your fatigue." "Such a gentleman." She mumbled, taking hold of his arm and together they walked down the halls of the ship, silence the only companion to them. Spock halted outside of her quarters, reluctantly letting her go. "Here we are, please mind the door and any objects you may bump into." "I'm only tired, Spock, it's not like I'm drunk." She giggled a little, shaking her head. "If you're that worried about me why not just spend the night with me? Keep an eye on me?" She peered up at him, noting the dark green flush on his ears and cheeks. "If you aren't comfortable with that, I understand-" "I will join you for tonight simply for your safety." He interjected. Elyssa giggled again and opened the door with her key, allowing him to enter first before going in, the door sliding shut behind her.

"Your quarters are...quaint." He murmured, looking around at all the trinkets and baubles on the shelves, a bookcase filled with both medical encyclopedias and fantasy novels in the corner of the room which caught his eye. She hummed in approval, sitting on her bed and patting the space next to her. "I don't bite, Spock. Come sit." Spock slowly sat beside her, hands firmly in his lap. "Like I said, you don't have to stay if it makes you uncomfortable." She assured him, turning off the main lights and switching on a side light by the bed. The soft glow of said light just seemed to make the moment more intimate as they sat in silence until he broke it. "I...fear I have not been honest with you, Elyssa. I do not wish for closeness in friendship with you." 

Hurt and confusion filled her mind as she faced away from him. "Oh...I'm sorry you feel that way." "You misunderstand." He frowned, trying to remedy the situation caused. She shook her head. "Clearly I have. Leave, Commander. Please." The coldness of his title used was not lost on Spock and he realised his choice of words for a confession could have been used better...but she wouldn't listen to anything he had to say in that moment and he understood why. "Very well. Goodnight, Doctor." He left the room, leaving her alone and in that moment both of them were hurting. Elyssa laid down, feeling a few tears slip and breathed shakily. "I guess he really was just cold hearted."

~

"Spock? What are you visiting me at this hour for?" Jim groaned, opening the door to find Spock outside of it. The man in question looked on the verge of an emotional response but barely kept it in. "I did something quite wrong, Jim...and I need advice. Please." "Shit, okay, come on in." He moved out of the way, letting Spock enter before pulling on a shirt and sitting with him. "What's happened?" "I...I may have destroyed the friendship I had with Miss Elyssa. My poor choice of phrase led her to believe I was severing our friendship and she cast me out of her quarters." "Hold on, you went in her room? From having dinner, right?" "Yes. After the dinner, we went to sickbay and completed the work for Doctor McCoy. I offered to escort her to her quarters since she was quite fatigued and she accepted...we arrived and she asked if I would stay with her. I said yes and so we went inside-" "Did you do anything physical?" Jim interrupted, curious. Spock shook his head. "No, though I deduced from the atmosphere she wanted to. I thought I should confess...affections...towards her before anything but I ended up telling her I wished to not have a close friendship. She did not let me finish explaining for that is the only thing she heard. That is why I am here." He looked down at his hands. "I do not know what to do, Jim."

Kirk put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm gonna help you with this, Spock. I promise. Leave it to me, I'll make sure the good doctor knows of your true intentions and clear up this mishap. In fact, I reckon Bones can help in this scheme of mine- he doesn't really fancy her, I told you that so you'd take her to dinner yourself. He just played along." Spock looked at him incredulously but said nothing so Jim continued. "Give me a couple of days. We arrive at one of the newly chartered systems of the federation soon, I'm sure there's bound to be a couple of planets that require both medical and science investigation for...which means you'd both be working together. There's your chance for reconciliation." "...Thank you, Jim. You're a true friend." "Don't mention it, Spock. Now go get some sleep, you're gonna need it."