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Pre ST TOS—Captain Pike Enterprise Timeline:
Doctor Boyce sat in the main Rec Room, observing the off duty crew with a professional eye. He was waiting Spock to arrive to continue his weekly tutoring in human interpersonal relations. Boyce smiled at the thought, these meetings were strategically informal with the doctor carefully avoiding revealing that these sessions were planned by both himself and Pike. The Vulcan was unaware he was being systematically instructed on how to be integrated in the human crew of the Enterprise.
He spotted his young Vulcan friend in the doorway, searching the rec room. Boyce lifted a hand, and Spock immediately started toward him. Watching the purposeful, somewhat hasty stride, in direct contrast to his usual methodical pace, the doctor wondered what new human behavior he would need to explain this time.
"Here we go again," he muttered under his breath. Pike felt these sessions were helping with Spock learning to lead his Science department, but sometimes it was wearing on the aging doctor.
Before Spock could say anything, Boyce asked, "What did you say this time?"
Without answering, Spock deliberately sat in the chair across from Boyce, tilting his head with an amused glint in his eye. A good sign, he was growing more comfortable with teasing.
"Good day to you, Doctor. Have you not instructed me to begin conversations less directly?"
With a rueful glance aimed at the bulkhead, Boyce started again. "Good evening, Mr. Spock. It's good to see you. Now, answer my question. What did you say this time?"
Spock's eyebrows drew downward, his face darkening. "Why would a statement of fact be the impetus for tears in a female humans?"
"And the statement of fact was?" Boyce prompted.
"I merely inquired of Yeoman Perez if she had contacted the engineer regarding the malfunctioning recycler in her quarters. She started crying suddenly and left her station."
Reading between the lines, Boyce pursed his lips, "Nooo, what else did you say?"
Spock's eyebrows rose higher and then did a downward plunge. His expression told Boyce that the Vulcan was totally perplexed. "It was the last thing I said before her emotional display."
"Before that. What prompted you to ask about her recycler?"
Spock continued, "I noted her uniform was too tight and--"
"You told her that?" Boyce interrupted. He dropped his head, fighting a grin. Sometimes it felt like they were starting all over again at square one. "Spock, I believe we had a discussion before about weight and humans."
Without comprehension, Spock nodded, "Yes, on Stardate 2139.7, you explained specifically the human female is very sensitive to comments about weight not within the specific guidelines. What does this have to do with a malfunctioning recycler?"
"You're making an assumption. It is not the recycler, Yeoman Perez has put on a few pounds and has already spoken to me about it. Having her superior officer make a negative comment about her appearance would naturally upset her."
"I made a statement of fact, not a negative comment." Spock shook his head, "I am discovering humans are prone to take these statements as negative despite the fact they are not presented in this fashion. I am beginning to form a theory that your society prefers to lie to one another. With the rare exception of Captain Pike and you, I must sensor my words in methods which restrict my ability to communicate with much success with a crewmember. If I were human, I would be most frustrated."
"It is frustrating even for us humans. The older we are the less we take offense at such statements. Perez is only twenty-one. She looks up to you and respects you. She would interpret your statement as to saying she's overweight. It hurt her feelings."
Spock digested this, and Boyce was pleased with his next question. "How do I rectify the situation?"
"Ask to see her privately and apologize for upsetting her. Then explain that on your world, appearance and size does not have the same meaning as it does for humans. Find something positive to say about her and end the meeting by asking her for her assistance in the future when you inadvertently say something which may offend a crewmember."
Slowly the brows smoothed back into place. Spock nodded, "I shall attempt to accomplish this immediately." He stood abruptly and then paused, "Thank you for your assistance, Doctor."
Boyce watched him leave, the steps now efficient and unhurried. He leaned his head back against the bulkhead, feeling tired. Retirement was overdue for him but Pike had requested he remain through this mission. Even though, he knew he did not have the stamina to continue at the pace needed for a CMO of a starship, Boyce still liked being here and knew he was making a contribution. And he was worried about Spock managing aboard an almost totally human crew in the future. The boy was learning but to place a logical being in the midst of irrational, emotional humans was, in his opinion, inhumane. Repeated conversations with HQ did little to ease his fears. It was a mutual decision on both parties, Starfleet and Spock.
The intercom cut through his thoughts, they were paging him to return to sickbay stat. Heaving up out of the chair, he wearily headed for sickbay.
The attack when it came was sudden and severe. One moment, Lieutenant Spock was sitting at a table in the base commissary with the Enterprise's CMO and the next, Boyce lay on the ground, ashen faced and gasping for air.
Now, he waited in the base medical facility for the report he would take to Captain Pike. The ship was scheduled to leave in twenty-three point two minutes and due to the urgent need of supplies on Kepler 452. They could not delay their departure for one man.
Finally the surgery doors opened and a slender, dark haired man plowed out the door, pulling off a blood stained gown. Spock repressed a frown at the red stains, alarmed at the amount and the fact the medical person seemingly had no regard for decontaminant procedures. Returning his gaze to the door, the Vulcan prepared to wait for the surgeon.
The staff member threw the gown on a chair without regard for further contamination, and ran his hands through his hair. He stopped to study the empty waiting room, his eyes acknowledging Spock's presence but not stopping there. "Chon! I thought you said someone was here from the Enterprise. Where?"
A nurse appeared, looking crisp and clean in her uniform, in sharp contrast to the rumpled civilian dress of the man. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of Spock. "Leonard, this is Lieutenant Spock of the Enterprise. I thought you knew."
She nodded once at Spock, then retrieving the soiled gown from the chair, the nurse disappeared back into the surgery suite.
The dark haired man twisted his head around, staring at Spock in disbelief. Glancing once at the surgery suite, his eyes narrowed briefly before returning to study Spock.
As the silence between them lengthened, Spock ventured, "I urgently need a report for Captain Pike from Doctor McCoy. We now have twenty-one point four minutes before the Enterprise must--"
"And I specifically requested someone from the Enterprise who knows Boyce. I don't want him waking up to a room full of strangers. Or an ice-cold Vulcan for god's sake. Who in their right mind would send a Vulcan to visit a critically ill human?"
Spock lifted an eyebrow at the non-sequitur information. "You have not understood. I am here to ascertain his condition for the captain and if he can return before our scheduled departure. Please direct me to Doctor McCoy."
"Look, this isn't a computer we're talking about." The blue eyes had darkened as the man jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the surgery suite. "I have a man in there who came so close to dying that I had to open the jaws of death to snatch him back. I don't give a damn about your schedules or your reports. I want someone to be there for this man when he wakes up. Just good ole common decency and human kindness."
"Open the jaws--" Spock repeated. He was not sure this man was fully competent. He did not appear to have the ability to respond appropriately to a simple request. Before he could make another attempt, the man gestured toward him.
"Come on. If you're all I got, then I guess you'll have to do." He turned, heading back into surgery.
Spock did not move. "I must speak with Doctor McCoy."
There was an expelled explosion of air before faded blue eyes met his evenly. "I am Doctor McCoy. Now get a move on." The man disappeared through the doors, leaving Spock behind.
Spock turned quickly, following McCoy with alacrity. This rumpled, illogical being was in charge of Boyce's life and care? Reviewing the conversation, Spock attempted to glean information to report to Pike but quickly discarded the thought. His time sense told him only nineteen minutes remained before departure.
McCoy led him into an Intensive Care Unit where Boyce lay, pale and motionless, surrounded by equipment and tubes. The surgeon paused briefly to study the monitor above Boyce's head and then reached out a hand to take the man's pulse manually.
Puzzled, Spock asked, "What purpose is served in this action? The cardiac perfusion monitor provides complete information regarding his heart function."
The blue eyes angled around to glare at him. "Look, I won't tell you how to do your job if you don't tell me how to do mine. Now, go on the other side and take his hand. Talk to him. He'll be waking up soon and I want him to know you're here."
Spock backed up a step at the request, his hands automatically going behind his back As a touch-telepath, following McCoy's orders could result in a possible invasion of Boyce's thoughts due to his unconscious state. He decided to try to obtain the report one last time. "Doctor McCoy, I am not here to serve in the capacity of a medical staff member. I was sent to obtain a report regarding Doctor Boyce's status. What is his prognosis?"
There was a barely audible groan from the patient on the bed. Spock glanced once at the Enterprise CMO and then patiently waited for McCoy's reply. Seventeen minutes were left.
McCoy patted the arm once, leaning over to speak into Boyce's ear. Then he straightened and marched over to Spock, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him back outside the ICU. Once outside, he poked Spock in the chest, "Listen here, you poor excuse for a humanoid. That man in there has been through hell and back. He needs to hear a friendly voice. One he knows. But, in Starfleet Brass wisdom, I got you so you’re what I have to work with. You're going to go in there and talk to Boyce. Tell him he's going to be all right. And you're going to miss him and he needs to recover quickly to come back to the Enterprise. Tell him you--"
"Doctor McCoy, I most assuredly will not lie to Doctor Boyce when you have not informed me of his potential for recovery. Please do so now."
McCoy gave another sigh, glancing back at the ICU doors. He shrugged, "The heart's in bad shape. I'm following his wishes regarding no cloning or transplant. Even if he makes it through the next few days, he'll never come back to active duty status. But, right now Lieutenant, he doesn't need to hear that. He needs something to pull him back, something which gives him a purpose to live. I think the key is his concern for his crew on the Enterprise. So I'm asking one more time, please, if you have any ounce of a heart, go back in there and tell him you'll miss him and he needs to get well and come back to your ship."
"I have exactly thirteen point three minutes to report in to my station." Spock took a step toward the exit.
"Lieutenant, I'm giving you a direct order. Your ship will not leave without you."
Spock studied the doctor for a moment. "There is no logic to your request, nor does your order supersede the orders of Captain Pike. Time is of the essence. Doctor Boyce's recovery is not dependent on me but rather on your skill as a surgeon and physician. The fact you feel it is necessary to have me lie to your patient is of grave concern and I am disquieted this may be a reflection on your capabilities as his physician. However, if I am interpreting your comments correctly, the doctor is not stable enough to be moved, and it would not be prudent to attempt to move him to the Enterprise. I will report to Captain Pike."
As he exited the medical facility, the Vulcan's sensitive ears picked up McCoy's whisper, "You ice cold bastard."
Without a backward glance, he returned to the Enterprise. He carefully edited his comments for his report to Pike, not stating his misgivings regarding McCoy's ability as Boyce's doctor.
Still, his concern drove him to research McCoy's background. The resulting information the computer provided was enlightening. It appeared the doctor bordered on the edge of brilliance. In his intensive studies of Earth history, Spock was well aware of the mystery surrounding the development of human prodigies in which brilliance and insanity seemed to go hand in hand.
Despite the fact his resume indicated McCoy was possibly the best surgeon available in Starfleet to care for Boyce, Spock was still . . . troubled. He had no choice but to leave Doctor Boyce’s care in the potentially unstable physician’s hands.
For a brief moment, he regretted not taking the opportunity to hold Boyce’s hand as McCoy had requested. The now former Enterprise CMO had been much more than commanding officer, he had become a friend and mentor.
Spock returned to his station, focusing on the display. But momentarily, his mind supplied the image of Boyce with the temperamental McCoy leaning over to whisper in his ear. Obviously the doctor was dedicated to his profession. He allowed a sigh, illogically grateful Doctor Boyce would have someone who cared for him since he was far away from friends or family.