Vaccine

(Narrators POV)

"Dammit Spock! How can you stand there and tell me that World War I was caused by human emotions?" McCoy shouted after the pointy eared science officer known as Spock. Once again the two were caught up in yet another argument. At the moment the feuding men were walking through the halls of the Enterprise, heading for the break room.

"Doctor, every war or battle on Earth, or any other planet for that matter, was caused or stimulated by emotions." Spock stated plainly.

"Except for Vulcan, right?" McCoy countered.

"Exactly."

Bones rounded on the Vulcan, stopping him, and pointed a finger in his face.

"If you are going to stand there and preach to me that all wars are due to emotions, then Vulcan can be no different! At one point Vulcan must have had an emotional war, which disproves your-." "Doctor." Spock said, cutting off the good Doctor, for a question had just occurred to him. "Why do you insist on arguing with me constantly?"

This caught McCoy off guard. He froze as he prodded his mind for an answer, but could not find one.

Spock stayed where he was, waiting for an answer because truly, he wished to know why.

Dr. McCoy inwardly shook his head, regaining his composure, when he realized he was staring blankly at Spock.

He blinked once and crossed his arms. "I have my reasons and I don't have to tell you ya green-blooded hobgoblin!"

Spock's inner self sighed and became disappointed, while his outward appearance didn't change. He had really wanted to know the answer.

The two men continued on to the break room in silence, McCoy still trying to find an answer.

But there was none.

(McCoy's POV)

"Nurse, go to bed, doctors orders." I said calmly, in a good mood for once. It was late on the Enterprise and everyone was either asleep or on shore leave on the planet the ship was orbiting currently. I was standing in the Medical Bay working on a vaccination for a sickness an ensign had picked up on Rigel VI, and urging Nurse Chapel to leave me and get her rest. I could obviously see the bags under Chapel's eyes, they were clear as an Andorians' antenna.

"But Doctor, what if you need my help?" The Nurse asked tiredly. I smiled. "If I think I'll need your help then I'll stop and we can work on it again in the morning. But for now I want you to go to sleep. Effective immediately."

Christine finally caved and left the Medical Bay sluggishly.

I turned back to my work, still smiling. Tonight was a rare night. Completely silent and peaceful, leaving me to get wrapped up in the work that I love.

I held up the experimental vaccine, which was held in a syringe, and tapped the glass, letting the air bubbles rise to the top where I released them. I emptied the liquid into a hypo spray and studied it.

It'll need to be tested.

My eyebrows pressed together and I frowned. I should have run the formula through the computer before liquefying it. What was I thinking?

From the other room came a moan. I poked my head in to check on the sick ensign. He stirred in his sleep, whimpering. The disease had lowered his red blood cell count greatly and he didn't have much longer.

I walked back to my desk and looked at the untested vaccine. I need to heal my patient...I need to test this vaccine. I picked up the hypo.

If it works all I'll get is Polycythemia, which I have a cure for. If it doesn't work...who knows what will happen.