The Cadet

A Start

Spock POV

" Cadet McLaren?"

I tentatively knocked on the door, reluctant to open in incase she was indecent.

She opened it, her Starfleet robe wrapped around her to conceal her body. " I'm fine. I don't need a medic."

" Dr. McCoy instructed me to attend to that bruise, so I will do that." I said, pushing the door open and entering.

" Do you do everything you're told, Commander?" She asked, her words dripping with sarcasm.

" I'm not insubordinate. I listen when it is logical." I responded, motioning for her to sit on the table. " I'm going to have to ask you to remove your robe, Cadet."

" Careful, sir, I might think you're coming on to me." She said, sliding the robe off to reveal the skimpy boxing uniform beneath it.

" Don't be so crude, Cadet."

" Don't be so creepy, sir."

I ignored her jab, relieving her of the bandage that Dr. McCoy had done during the match. The bruise beneath it was ugly and covered the entire left side if her ribcage. I gently pressed on the aggravated area, feeling the swollen bones. " I suggest a daily dose of a bone regeneration hypo for three days to heal the bone." I said, adding some cooling gel as a replacement for ice. As I bandaged her ribs, I spoke:

" Why didn't you protect yourself better?" I asked.

" My mind was elsewhere." She stated, brushing a few loose curls from her face.

" Seems rather foolish to me." I said, finishing the wrap. " Just like not wrapping your knuckles." I added, taking her wrist gently to inspect her bloodied knuckles. Thankfully, I was wearing nylon gloves, but I could still feel the warmth of her hand in mine.

" I must be a fool then." She said, looking away from me. I studied her for a moment. Her jaw was set, teeth most likely clenched in anger.

" No." I started, covering her knuckles in some ointment to encourage healing. " I think not. "

" Really?" She replied ludicrously. " Because from day one you've insulted my intelligence and made me feel inferior to you in every way."

I was taken aback by her anger, choosing not to look her in the eyes and instead focusing on her hands. Which was considerably worse. Her finger nails were painted deep blue, the fingers that they sat on long and slender, but not frail. Unlike her rough personality, her hands were smooth and clean, save for the bruises and cuts on her knuckles.

" I-"

" Please don't, I'm not in the mood for any more lectures." she said, ripping her hands from mine as soon as I was done applying ointment.

" It was never my intent to make you feel inferior." I replied, watching as she got up and disappeared behind a curtain, I assume to change.

" I really don't care what your intent was, it happened. I just want to finish school and get my degree." She said, poking her head out of the curtain. Her raven hair was now loose, falling in soft waves around her face. " Please just leave me be. I don't want to hear about how horrible I am anymore."

I sat down on the bed and sighed, " Yes, you're just horrendous. Terrible, terrible student." I said.

" Commander, I didn't-"

" You pass all of your classes with flying colors, make sure that the wellbeing of your classmates come before yours, and you often aid Dr. McCoy in not only professional matters but also personal ones. Yes, all the workings of a terrible person" I interrupted, hearing the curtain shuffle behind me.