Carol clears her throat. "So, about that C-section..."
"Mmmhmm." McCoy absently taps an icon on the screen. "I think I can fit you in for...how's tomorrow at 3 o'clock sound?"
Carol laughs. "Not me, silly. The Gorn. You know. The one you were telling me about when we were dissecting that torpedo. Remember?"
McCoy clenches his jaw. "Remember? I've been trying to forget ever since." He sips his coffee, setting the mug down harder than necessary.
Carol winces. "Nightmares, am I right?" She places her hand over his and squeezes. "I know all about that." Her index finger traces the rim of the coffee mug absently. "What are they like? Teeth, and blood, and screaming..."
McCoy snatches the mug away and drains it. He sets the mug down, wiping his mouth with the end of his sleeve.
"It's all right. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Carol pivots on her heel and heads for the exit.
"Wait." McCoy's voice cracks. He swallows.
Carol pauses.
"That's-that's not what I was tryin' to forget."
Carol turns around slowly and nods her head, waiting for him to continue.
McCoy rubs the back of his neck. "It wasn't very professional of me. I...I'm not usually such a shameless flirt."
"I just...well, when I'm...afraid, it can go one of two ways: either I bite your head off, or I-"
"-try to woo me with your Southern charm?" Carol grins.
McCoy shrugs. "Well, actually I was going to say, I tell really bad jokes, but yeah, I like your version better."
Carol purses her lips. "If this is your way of asking for forgiveness, Leonard, you needn't worry. "
McCoy looks up. "You mean it worked?"
Carol laughs. "I mean, there's nothing to forgive. It was a stressful situation. We all cope differently.A bit of advice, though," Carol adds, turning to leave, "the next time you try to charm a lady, you might want to pick something besides a childbirth story."
McCoy picks up the tablet and makes a check mark with his finger. "Duly noted."
She hesitates.
McCoy sets down the tablet and studies her. "Something else I can do for you?"
"Actually, yes." Carol brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "Was it really octuplets?"
"Mmm-hmm." McCoy nods, inviting her to sit. "Did I mention the bad breath?"
"Mmmhmm." McCoy absently taps an icon on the screen. "I think I can fit you in for...how's tomorrow at 3 o'clock sound?"
Carol laughs. "Not me, silly. The Gorn. You know. The one you were telling me about when we were dissecting that torpedo. Remember?"
McCoy clenches his jaw. "Remember? I've been trying to forget ever since." He sips his coffee, setting the mug down harder than necessary.
Carol winces. "Nightmares, am I right?" She places her hand over his and squeezes. "I know all about that." Her index finger traces the rim of the coffee mug absently. "What are they like? Teeth, and blood, and screaming..."
McCoy snatches the mug away and drains it. He sets the mug down, wiping his mouth with the end of his sleeve.
"It's all right. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Carol pivots on her heel and heads for the exit.
"Wait." McCoy's voice cracks. He swallows.
Carol pauses.
"That's-that's not what I was tryin' to forget."
Carol turns around slowly and nods her head, waiting for him to continue.
McCoy rubs the back of his neck. "It wasn't very professional of me. I...I'm not usually such a shameless flirt."
"I just...well, when I'm...afraid, it can go one of two ways: either I bite your head off, or I-"
"-try to woo me with your Southern charm?" Carol grins.
McCoy shrugs. "Well, actually I was going to say, I tell really bad jokes, but yeah, I like your version better."
Carol purses her lips. "If this is your way of asking for forgiveness, Leonard, you needn't worry. "
McCoy looks up. "You mean it worked?"
Carol laughs. "I mean, there's nothing to forgive. It was a stressful situation. We all cope differently.A bit of advice, though," Carol adds, turning to leave, "the next time you try to charm a lady, you might want to pick something besides a childbirth story."
McCoy picks up the tablet and makes a check mark with his finger. "Duly noted."
She hesitates.
McCoy sets down the tablet and studies her. "Something else I can do for you?"
"Actually, yes." Carol brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "Was it really octuplets?"
"Mmm-hmm." McCoy nods, inviting her to sit. "Did I mention the bad breath?"
