#♡ ���˖° → You’ll be my sunny day & I’ll be your shade tree [ Linda || Oceansfirst ]

[thefleetsfinest]

✧˖° → @oceansfirst

It had been one HELL of a surgery, and an EXCRUCIATING long one at that. Leonard's entire spine, and absolutely EVERY joint he had were aching but that didn't stop him from slipping up behind Linda (who had just been INNOCENTLY scrubbing down her hands, minding her business even.) and wrapping his still damp arms around her waist. Leonard's head dipping down (despite his spine's disapproval) and pressing the a kiss to the base of Linda's NECK.

Leonard LINGERED there, his eyes slipping closed as he could feel the STEADY & STRONG beat of her pulse under his lips. There wasn't any need to fill the silence with words, instead content to just HOLD her close in his arms. She fit so PERFECTLY right there pressed against his chest, wrapped up in his arms, it was as if he had been made to HOLD her close.

[thefleetsfinest]

✧˖° → @oceansfirst

"How ya feelin' Lin? " He had been watching her the ENTIRE time she had been unconscious, from the MOMENT they had beamed her aboard the ship he had been at her side, monitoring and seeing to ALL of her medical care himself. Of course he didn't want to think TOO DEEPLY into all of the why he needed to be the one to do it.

Leonard knew himself all TOO WELL to know that when he got insistent about a person's care when they got sick or injured to this degree.. that meant they were someone IMPORTANT to him, and he knew EXACTLY how and why she was.. but, right now his main concern was making sure SHE WAS OKAY.

God he needed a drink..

"Ya gave everyone a REAL scare there, I thought for sure they were gonna have to claw Clint off the guy."

If he closed his eyes he can still remember all the BLOOD that covered her and Clint who had been the one who had CARRIED her and handed her off to Leonard in the transporter room. They had shared a look, one of PANIC and REASSURANCE mixed together in a silent conversation that they have only ever been able to have.

But she was STABLE..

Without even fully realizing he had done it, his free hand reached out.. finding hers and giving it the GENTLEST of squeezes.

[thefleetsfinest]

what's your type, doc?

"Why on earth ya ASKIN' ensign? Did the Captain put you up to it?" He wouldn't put it passed Jim.. or BARTON for that matter. Though he didn't really see a reason as to why he couldn't just ENTERTAIN the question, Leonard knew better than most that if he didn't just answer the question now then they would just find more CREATIVE and AGGRESSIVELY more annoying ways to try and get an answer out of him.

"Well if I'm honest, I like someone who has CONFIDENCE." It was a simple enough start, BASIC even. That didn't make it any less true though, it was just something that really did GRAB Leonard's attention. "Someone who doesn't mind a little sarcastic humor, not to mention someone who is willing to stand their ground." There were more SPECIFIC details he could go into, but he wasn't about to underestimate the ship's ability to GOSSIP.

Long brunette hair, DARK EYES..not to mention a FIERY WIT unlike anything he had ever seen came to mind. Hell he would even go as far as to say an EXACT name if only in his head.. but he wouldn't, and he definitely wasn't about to say any of it OUTLOUD.

"And if they have a cute smile and don't mind dancin' around our shared quarters from time to time? Well that would be just..Something else..." He is lost in a day dream now, his hands still tirelessly WORKING. There was always so much to be done and so little time..

★ → @oceansfirst & @danversiism

[thefleetsfinest]

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋: 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑)

May I present a FASHIONABLE southern gentleman.

Tagged by: @darehearts, but also just @oceansfirst

[thefleetsfinest]

He doesn't bother trying to tell her that there wasn't ANY point in worrying about the mission that she had ORIGINALLY been on, and that she should be FOCUSING instead on herself. "Yeah Jim and Spock have the whole thing UNDER CONTROL, and I'm sure by the time you are back on yer feet the whole thing will be ALL SETTLED."

Leonard notices that she keeps ONE HAND still firmly placed in his own. The continued contact was doing wonders to calm him down and it really did feel like he was able to actually THINK CLEARLY for the first time since she was BEAMED aboard the ship. Again with her worrying about him getting rest even though she was the one in the MEDICAL BED.

"Oh what you don't think that's my plan? Yer gonna scoot over and the two of us are gonna get some real BEAUTY SLEEP right here." Jokes were always his go to when it came to people he cared about, it was EASIER this way, made the whole thing more MANAGEABLE.

Though the longer he looked at her, the more he couldn't SHAKE AWAY the underlining CAUSE of all of the stress and worry. Deep down Leonard knew that he was reaching a BREAKING POINT with his ability to deny that he was in love with her, not to mention any reason he had to NOT tell her how he felt was all but DISAPPEARING after watching her get uncomfortably too close to dying.

Memories of Jim's cold dead body sitting on his exam table flash through his mind..

Though he QUICKLY shook them away, focusing back on LINDA. "Oh Lin.. what am I gonna do with ya?" the question falls from his lips soft and gentle, it had been more for himself than her anyways. He had been staring down at their hands when he said it, trying to decide if he was going to let a MOMENT slip by.

The decision was made in SECONDS..

Leonard took her hand that he had been HOLDING in his own and carefully brought it up to his lips. Carefully he kissed each and every knuckle, only resting on each one for a few SECONDS at a time. "If you are gonna go making a habit of giving me heart attacks.. well there is something you ought to know.." his voice was soft, only loud enough to be heard by heard in the QUIET of the medbay. (He was relieved that everyone else was BUSY with the mission.)

He finally DARED a glance up, green eyes meeting green eyes. "I love ya Lin.. and I'm talking more than just a best friend, I'm talking I wanna spend the rest of my life with you by my side sort of way.. and I know romance ain't something you are looking for.. and all I have is my word and I don't expect ya to return my feelings or anything like that.. but..I just.. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something were to happen to you and I never told you..so.." He didn't really know how to END this conversation, and he knew that he was DANGEROUSLY close to babbling.

He forced a breath of air out, before shaking his head a bit. "No need to say anything now.. I just.. like I said needed to say it, and I would of waited ta get ya down to the floor but.. well with your injuries, it's better if ya stay up in bed and I just didn't want to wait." It sounded lame and he knew it, (He could practically hear Clint making fun of him for it all.) but there was no going back now.

"I'll leave ya alone for a little while.." he moved to get up, his hands moving to let go of her hand and get up from the edge of the bed he had at some point PERCHED himself at.

That was the understatement, calling today as one hell of a bad day. A quiet protest despite her own answer, some vagueness that today had been a really bad day. BLOOD ⸻ a lot of blood and her first instinct had ben to say that it had been someone else's but she's back aboard the Enterprise looking at Leonard Mccoy, and what a sight he was in.

Worried lines, every part of his face that could worry. He was a book left open, with the page left in big text that she couldn't miss, he was concerned and she wonders if he's even trying to school that expression. It calls to question what state she had been in, there's a dullness to her side and abdomen, a pieced together memory with haze that the blood wasn't her patient's her own.

Why would she have been bleeding ⸻ SHHH SSHHHH, her lip purse together tightly and does quiet her thought, her worry about the rest of the away team as well as the SOMEONE SHE HAD BEEN HELPING. His voice bears a stressed tone, feelings that she doesn't think she is just wanting to hear. It's not unknown to her that they care for each other to great degrees; their friendship one of the most cherished things and that, at least, is known to be mutual.

have you told them lately? ⸺ WHAT? ⸺ that you love them? ⸺ ACTUALLY I HAVEN'T TOLD HIM

Handlin' the person you were lookin' after ⸻ That's not right, is it? Things are starting to come to her, and she can't actually remember a single reading during her exam. There should be stats, something coming up unless she really had suffered a massive enough trauma that she's experiencing dissociative amnesia but that doesn't feel right. Her hand squeezes against Leonard's, grasping as Linda pushes herself to process.

ONLY YOU CAN APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING HURT ⸻ There is some relief that she watches release, slacking of his shoulders and she breathes herself. Reaching with her other hand, to grasp his hand already in her other. Stroking her thumb over his knuckles, and she keeps up with just breathing; trying to soothe his worries more than her own. ❝ I am so sorry for scaring you. ❞ She adds once more, looking up to his eyes and trying to offer a smile. SEE, SHE WAS OKAY NOW.

what was his name? ⸺ LEONARD MCCOY ⸺ i will make sure someone apologizes to him

OH, it's coming together to her now. The conversation she had been having with the man, in the room, and the two women knew what was going to happen. Linda start to recall the compulsion to set down the instruments used for examination. ❝ The Captain and Commander, uh, they figured it out right? ⸺ I, uh, I don't think there actually was a patient, it was all just a ruse, we all were- I was the distraction, and, uh, they had suggestive or telepathic capa ⸺ ❞ She trails off, not to worry him with trying to stress herself out of the details.

It was her blood, no one had been hurt until she had been hurt first. Linda nods her head, and they both know that she could rest in quarters. Only one hand releases from holding his, the other staying firmly grasped Leonard's, so she can press her fingers to her abdomen. Apply pressure and feel through the gown, there's a soft wince but she was sure that Leonard did everything that needed to be done to repair what memory now serves as multiple stab wound; cold, sharp, it was metal but what and that's where the the pieces were being worked out; the compulsion sensation to forget what happened to her.

SO I CAN MAKE SURE ⸻ ❝ Okay, and you'll be sure to try to rest some tonight at least? ❞ He seemed really concerned this whole ordeal, and it's more than him being a doctor that stood out past most; he's her friend and she won't argue with him about her getting additional care or monitoring, if it soothes his worry.

[thefleetsfinest]

✧˖° → Verse Timeline

♡ ✧˖° → You’ll be my sunny day & I’ll be your shade tree ♡ ✧˖° → Single Ship Verse with @oceansfirst

★ → June 7, 2223: Leonard Horatio McCoy was born to Dr. David McCoy and Mrs. Eleanora McCoy

★ → August 2230: Seven year old Leonard falls out of a tree and breaks his arm, which was splintered and later repaired by his father.

★ → August 2237: Started High School at the age of fourteen.

★ → May 9, 2240: Met Jocelyn Darnell when she pulled him into a dance at a high school party.

★ → September 2241: Started undergrad at University of Mississippi, while still keeping his relationship with Jocelyn.

★ → May 2245: Graduated Undergrad.

★ → September: 2245: Started Medical School at University of Mississippi

★ → April 2249: Jocelyn became pregnant.

★ → May 2249: Graduated from Medical School.

★ → March 25, 2250: Joanna McCoy was born.

★ → June 15, 2250: Leonard and Jocelyn got married in a small ceremony.

★ → October 10, 2252: Leonard’s father, David McCoy passes away.

★ → November 2253: Jocelyn filed for divorce.

★ → February 2255: The divorce finalized giving Jocelyn their Georgian home, and primary custody of Joanna. Though Leonard was awarded visitation rights.

★ → May 2255: Leonard enrolls in Starfleet and meets Jim Kirk on the shuttle at the shipyard. ★ → Leonard meets Clint, Nyota, Carol, & Peter during his years in the academy and becomes quick and close friends with all of them. ★ → Carol and Clint in particular become like siblings to him and he is very protective of them. ★ → By his third year in the academy after many wild and sometimes stupidly reckless nights, and a certain incident that will not be talked about, Clint and Leonard agree to go sober together. ★ → It's one hell of a struggle at first, but eventually the two manage to make it stick. Leonard with his once daily drink allowed in order to help cope with his phobia, and Clint who can't even have a drop.

★ → Year 2258: Leonard became Chief Medical Officer on the Enterprise when his superior died during Nero’s Attack. ★ → Following the death of Nero, Jim was made Captain. ★ → In needing to make sure they have a fully staffed ship, Dr. Linda Carter was transferred to the enterprise, and they hit it off right away.

★ → Year 2259: The Enterprise is sent to apprehend the fugitive Khan. ★ → Leonard relapses after Kirk’s almost death and Linda is the one to find him, and she helps him get back on his feet. ★ → It is during this that he realizes just how much he has fallen for Linda over the last year. ★ → Before they leave for their five year mission Leonard takes some time off and invites Clint, Linda, and Peter to the farm for a couple of weeks so he can get some Jojo time in and and to introduce his family to Linda.

★ → Year 2260: The Enterprise begins their five year mission into unknown parts of space.

★ → Year 2261: Linda gets critically injured while on a mission, and it's after she is on the mend he realizes just how much he loves her and finally confesses his feelings, and the two start officially dating.

★ → Year 2263: He talks Donna into bringing Jojo out to Yorktown so he can spend more time with her. (He had plans to talk to her about a few important things like her thoughts on Linda and a possible proposal.) ★ → Once arriving at Yorktown he barely gets an hour of family time in before the ship and it's crew is ordered out on a mission in which the ship ends up crashing after being attacked, though despite all odds What was left of the crew managed to get off the planet and stop the attack on Yorktown. ★ → Leonard puts engagement thoughts on howls giving it a few months after the hell that is loosing their ship, and going home to talk and make amends with Jocelyn. ★ → While Leonard is visiting home Jojo managed to convince her mom and dad to let her go up into space on the enterprise so she can be with her dad when it’s done being built. ( She attends school with any other kids whose parents are also crew members abroad the enterprise.) ★ → Leonard proposes a month before they got back up on the new ship. Somewhere important to them because he is sappy.

★ → Year 2264: They get married, with all their friends and family there to witness it. (Jim is the officiant because he is Jim.) ★ → At an Undetermined time after Linda and Leonard have a baby boy together.

[thefleetsfinest]

❝ I am positive that there is something in our oaths about administrating unwarranted sedative, but I won't say anything if you won't. ❞ It's said with a touch of teasing in her tone. Dr. Carter's got no intentions of saying anything about that. Lord knows she's had to handle difficult patients, a few specifics come to mind, before her assignment to the enterprise. She took her oaths upmost seriously but she was also a person who understood desperate means call for drastic measures; but she has watched with veiled amusement over the dynamics between the captain and chief medical officer.

"Well that depends ENTIRELY on your DEFINITION of unwarranted." He was probably a little more serious than he SHOULD be about the whole thing. Though if anyone outside of the ship ever ASKED him about it he would have absolutely no idea what they were talking about.

"Do you know just last week he tried to tell me he DIDN'T need a medical exam while I was STARING right at his gaping gash on his arm!" Nope! No! He wasn't going to get worked up about it again, his BLOOD PRESSURE was already through the roof from the previous days events, he still hasn't gone to bed. ( There was too much paperwork to be done. ) Not to mention he was entirely sure his MIGRAINE was coming back any minute now with whatever JACKASS injury he had gotten during the fire fight because he couldn't just WAIT TILL AFTER the dust has settled to SPRINT down to engineering to check on his boyfriend.

"Here's hoping they refrain from breaking the ship for at least a week, but word around the ship is that Clint has a BUR in his SADDLE about some GUEST so.. It's not looking likely."

[thefleetsfinest]

This was a terrible idea, why had she let herself be talked into this again? "You get out there! Go on some dates!" and "Okay, one date didn't didn't work out and you had to call the fire department, try again." She made a friend than, and sure they had been a young reptilian patient in the end, and maybe she should have argued to Stephen that he was her friend, and her two associates that now spent most of their days in the clinic were her friends as well.

Miracles really, and not small ones. Leonard's been amazing, a great help in a lot of things and he along with Luna had made the clinic more lively. Not that it wasn't with some their frequent patients (Spider-man and Hawkeye were a chatty bunch).

Yet she would try again when even Jane had encouraged Stephen's sentiments. It's a different date, and she really already hates the internet and online dating. Why couldn't she meet some sweet Southern doctor with passion in his light eyes and a sense of humor like Leonard's and they hit it off the old fashioned way?

Why's it gotta be dating profiles these days?

Technically today's date is not a doctor, and it's a brunch which she has no clue if that's odd for a date or not. It was a nice day, so being out or eating on a patio might be nice for a date setting, daytime romantic.

Linda had opened up the clinic with Leonard, and after two appointments seen to; she's ducking away to get dressed. When she returns to the lobby, it definitely feels weird not to be in her nursing uniform or scrubs.

A light-colored sundress put on in place and she's let her hair down than pulled a few strands back for a half up but mostly down. ❝ How do I look? ⸻ Not too much for a brunch, right? Should I have brought a sun hat? Sitting on a patio could be nice, but hats aren't date appropriate, yeah? ❞

She's maybe stalling a little because she really doesn't know what to do with getting out, and was maybe trying to more so that Stephen would stop worrying over her. For a guy, who really screwed up with her, he's became a good friend.

❝ I owe you, can't thank you enough for handling more things here and well, letting me dip out this afternoon. ❞

It was just a normal work day for Leonard, nothing special or out of the ordinary. ( Outside of Linda's date. Which he definitely isn't grumpy about, why would he be grumpy? It's none of his business who she dates, even if he did think apps were just about the DUMBEST way to find someone to settle down with.) There had been the SMALLEST of selfish thoughts of finding some reason he couldn't cover the clinic while she went out, but in the end.. he couldn't bring himself to disappoint her.

So there he was, finding himself FIDDLING with the files, finding every which way to PROLONG the entire task of putting them back in their respective secure spots. ( Mostly adding his little notes from the important, slowly written so it was at least MOSTLY readable. ) when she had finally come back FRESHLY CHANGED, and looking like something out of a MAGAGINE.

For the BRIEFEST of moments, Leonard stood just STOOD THERE staring at her, taking in every last detail. Everything from the way her dark hair waved and curled, to the flow of her sundress, the color of her cheeks all the way down her just how GOOD her legs looked.

What was he suppose to be answering again?

"You look down right STUNNIN'" It was the first thing he managed to blurt out of his mouth, and it was the HONEST truth. "I don't know nothin' about fashion so you are barkin' up the wrong tree about the hat... though I think you look perfect just the way yer are."

Was he still talking?

"Don't sweat it, It's not like I wasn't gonna be here anyways and besides.. at least one of us should try to have a social life." and you deserve to be happy.. "and let's face it I'm a lost cause a this point." a bit of a laugh followed as he clicked at his pen a few times. FIDGETING.

"This feller truly is Lucky to be taking you out on a nice afternoon like today, be a shame for ya to not be out on some nice patio somewhere." He has got to stop and he knows it. So he manages a deep breath, the pen put away. She had places to be.. a SOMEONE ELSE waiting for her.

god he needed a drink.

"Go on get going, yer gonna be late if you keep letting me prattle on."

[thefleetsfinest]

❛   so . . . Linda, huh ? she's pretty.   ❜

"What about Dr. Carter?" Oh he knew EXACTLY what Carol was trying to IMPLY, and he was going to pretend to be BLISSFULLY UNAWARE instead. UNLIKE her little slip-up, his lips were SEALED and what he TRULY thought about Linda would be just for him to know.

...probably Clint. (Perks of being Leonard's AA friend, it came with take to the grave secrets and a burning in yer throat that never went away.)

"...Don't you have a Captain to be HARASSIN' " Okay, maybe his poker face wasn't as good as he wanted it to be, but that was only because he could have SWORN he saw her come into the medbay out of the corner of his eye and the LAST thing he needed was her overhearing this conversation.

★ → @danversiism, but also @oceansfirst

[thefleetsfinest]

❛ you want me to make you some coffee? ❜ one more linda

It had been a long day, and honestly the last thing he probably needed was a cup of coffee.. but there was still so much work to be done and they were the only two who could get it done. ( Okay, maybe that bit isn't entirely true, but that was what he was going to go with if they were asked. Not that anyone would be. )

"Only if it ain't any trouble Darlin', I'd hate to see you go out of yer way for little ol' me." He glanced up from the mountain of paperwork that he was attempting to bring SOME sense of organization to in the clinic. Leonard had made it a bit of a life mission to get the entire clinic's files organized and secured in a safe and easy to access location, which wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do considering most of their clients had secret identities or aliments they don't need everyone knowing.

Leonard stretched back in the rolling chair a bit, his arms reaching out towards the ceiling as far as they would absolutely go. ( A groan definitely escaping in the process, but what did you want from the guy? He was getting a tad older.) It was definitely time for a break, and his back was determined to make sure he knew.

"You sure I can't WOO you into calling it an early night and get a hot bath in while I finish up here?" He knew it was a long shot, the two of them had always been a 'Do it together or not at all' kind of couple, but he couldn't help but worry about her needing to get off her feet a little more now that she was decently in her second trimester.

[thefleetsfinest]

kiss ;)

"Fancy meetin' you here.." Leonard moves in close, his arms wrapping around her waist. He keeps them right there for a moment, their faces SO CLOSE yet barely brushing. If he was entirely honest, he could stay just like that.. just letting his eyes slip close and enjoying the feeling of having her so CLOSE.

But Leonard was a gentleman and she had been ever so kind in her request, and who was he to refuse?

His head dipping down just enough so his nose lightly brushed up the side of Linda's, just gently nudging her face up to get JUST the right angle. Without a moment of hesitation more, he captured her lips up in a kiss. His arms pulling her in, closing what few inches were still left between them.

★ → @oceansfirst

[thefleetsfinest]

"Do you think he is AWARE that doing JACKASS shit is gonna get him landed here? and that WE also don't want to be WRANGLIN' his ass still for a 2 minute procedure?" Yes he knew Clint was literally two feet from them holding his INJURED hand away from them as if the two HADN'T held him down before.

★ → @oceansfirst

[thefleetsfinest]

"One HELL of a bad day I'll say..." Leonard was PATIENT as she slowly regained consciousness and got her BEARINGS. Green eyes would flicker between her own, and the monitors above her head. (SHE WAS FINE, but he couldn't stop himself from double & triple checking.) All the while he was never really able to get the WORRIED look off his face, it was the exact OPPOSITE of professional, but he couldn't really bring himself to care much.

But this was Lin..

He wasn't even remotely surprised that she managed to start FRETTIN' over others before even beginning to really think about HERSELF. ( It was one of the reasons he loved her.) "Shhh Shhhh.. Everyone is okay, and they are HANDLIN' the person you were lookin' after." He really did try to keep his own FEELINGS out of his voice, but someone had gotten DANGEROUSLY close to taking someone who mattered a whole hell of a lot away from him.

A deep breath..

"Only you can apologize for getting hurt.." he chuckled softly, some of the tension releasing just a little from his shoulders. SHE WAS OKAY. Leonard instinctively squeezed the and he had still been holding, just taking a moment to BREATHE for the first time in what felt like DAYS. ( It had only been a couple hours, but what was Dr. McCoy if not a little dramatic? )

"Yes.. it was, but we got ya all patched up, but I still wanna keep ya here overnight anyways so i can make sure it all HEALS right. " He knew damn well that she could just as easily rest in her quarters, but he couldn't really stop himself from being a LITTLE selfish and wanting to keep her close, he NEEDED to really make sure that she was in fact okay.

@thefleetsfinest

Linda had not initially been part of the away team, she had not been needed at the start of her mornings. It would not be until later in the day while she's worked from her top of priority, gotten to research work that she would be summoned.

On any other day involved would normally see Leonard being beamed down to the planet much to the Chief's grumblings. It had nothing to do with her own capability as she had been front lines and a field physician on her previous assignment. That had everything to do with the Captain's profound trust and respect for the Chief.

Contact with a people, with a civilization, had been made and it had been going well; than a few hours later the Captain had contacted the Bridge that they were offering aid, which than followed with Medical being informed that aid was needed from one of their doctor. . . . with stipulation. The culture had beliefs and law, they needed a lady doctor. Based on the fact, Linda had volunteered and was transported on planet to meet with the Captain and the First Officer.

She understood what she was there to do, what she had to keep in mind and she had told the Captain to worry not and as a doctor one of the thing most important things she needed to have was respect. That had been all been well and fine. Linda had met with the people here's doctors, offered her assistance and was brought in on a private matter.

That was when the day start to unravel, to not make as much sense or maybe her memory ⸻ what the Captain, the entire away team had stumbled into was a civilization under politic unrest and divide thinly masked and aggravated by contact that was invited.

Linda had been the unfortunate victim, the outsider doctor in the room and she had just been trying to help ⸻ that is where her memory fails. That often means trauma, shock, adrenaline; her mind working in ways to protect her. Panic had ensued, a situation that the crew of the Enterprise was not prepared for.

It could not be recalled entirely, but there was pain and blood ⸺ her patient's? She. . . . She had been trying to protect someone ⸺ so the blood ended up being her own. Attacked or a blast ⸺ something with and by what and who? ⸻ Linda starts to stir.

Awakening from unconsciousness brought on by blood loss and. . . . she knows the reasons as to why that could happen. It matters not at the present moment as her eyes are open. Greens meet Leonard, first thing that she sees even before she sees the room. A jolt, startled, as she's not where she last remembers she was.

A hand over hers, the lightest of squeeze and it helps her find focus. Heart rate is up, breathing heavy in momentarily panic. Her lip quivers before she can speak ⸻ CLINT? That's right, he had been a part of this away team and he had. . . . was there, saved her, in the panic and chaos? Thank God for Clint. What else ⸺ it didn't matter she was back on the ship in medical.

HOW YA FEELIN' LIN ⸻ He called her LIN, he's started doing that and Linda's never done nickname before. Does he realize he does that? She likes it. ⸺ REAL SCARE. She was scared too, what was she thinking but it. . . . no other option, the patient.

He called her LIN, and he's right there by her side, she was not alone. How long had he been there? It wasn't just shock making her heart race now. ❝ Le ⸺ Leonard, I, uh, mhn. ❞ She takes a breath, than tries to calm herself down. This was going down as one of the days she could go without. ❝ ⸻ like I had a really bad day, Len. ❞ Just to try it out, he did it with hers and if there was something that should be known about anything about their friendship; she'd go match for match with him.

Linda turns her hand, and lightly grasps at his hand in return. There's a over a dozen questions she has, which she doubts he would have all the answers. ❝ Everyone else, are they okay, and ⸺ and there was someone I was helping, is he? ❞ Start with that, get through the confusion and the residual panic.

❝ I'm sorry. ❞ She didn't mean to scare anyone, but than no one foresaw this. Well, maybe, someone had thought that outsiders like the crew of the Enterprise simply being here might further upset a tense situation. ❝ It was my blood, wasn't it? ❞ a pieced together thought. Least of all she had wanted to worry him.