It was that time of the month again. The med bay doors slid open and you reached for your tablet. "Good morning, Captain."

Kaneda was used to the routine by now. "Morning, Stitch."

Without waiting for instruction, he hopped onto the examination table and rolled up his sleeve.

You smiled as you wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm. "Corazon's oxygen levels have stabilized." You glanced up at him. "She's actually listening."

A smile tugged at his lips. "She complains every week."

"Good." You slipped your stethoscope into your ears and listened to his heartbeat. "That means she's following instructions."

As you entered the readings into his chart, Kaneda folded his arms. "And the others?"

You tied a tourniquet around his arm with practiced ease. "If you were anyone else, I'd tell you that was confidential."

"But I'm not."

"No," you agreed, sliding the needle into his vein. "You're not." You swapped the collection tube. "Harvey's finally sleeping better. That ridiculous 'space music' he found seems to be helping." Another tube clicked into place. "Capa's blood chemistry is back to normal now that he's stopped doing all his work on top of the payload." Once the last sample was collected, you withdrew the needle and pressed a gauze pad against the inside of his elbow before securing it with a bandage. "Trey's actually using the Earth Room."

"Good." Kaneda sounded genuinely pleased.

"His cortisol levels agree." You tapped his knee with the reflex hammer. His leg kicked on cue.

"And the others?" he asked. "Cassie? Searle?" A knowing grin spread across his face. "Mace?"

You rolled your eyes as you recorded the last of his results. "Cassie is almost as healthy as you."

"Hm." He inclined his head.

"Searle is spending entirely too much time in Observation."

"And James?" He teased.

A sigh escaped before you could stop it. "James is as stubborn as ever." You shrugged. "Nothing new to report."

Kaneda chuckled as he slid off the table. "I'll tell Searle to spend some of his downtime somewhere that isn't Observation. Mace I can't help you with."

"I've accepted that one patient is always going to keep me on my toes."

Kaneda smiled. "Fair enough." He had nearly reached the door when he stopped. "Oh."

You looked up from your tablet.

Turning back to you he frowned. "Cassie has been skipping meals."

Your fingers were already moving, adding a note to her chart. "I'll talk to her."

"Thank you, Stitch." He dipped his head once.

"You have a good day too, Captain."

The doors slid shut behind him, and a moment later the tablet chimed with your next appointment.

Corazon came through still grumbling about her mandatory time away from the oxygen garden. Harvey lingered after his appointment, chatting long enough that you finally had to shoo him out so your schedule did not fall behind.

When Searle arrived, you looked up from your tablet and patted the examination table. "Come on, Doctor. Let's see what your body has to say."

A smile tugged at his lips as he climbed onto the table and rolled up his sleeve.

As you wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm, he studied you for a moment. "The crew seems…lighter."

You listened to his heartbeat before answering. "They're settling in."

"And you?"

You smiled to yourself as you slipped the stethoscope from your ears. "I finally stopped having to remind people where Medical is."

A quiet laugh escaped him. "Progress."

You moved on to the rest of the examination, checking his reflexes before making a few notes on his chart. "I'll take it."

Searle watched you for another moment, the thoughtful expression never quite leaving his face. He did not need to say he was pleased to see you becoming part of the crew instead of remaining quietly apart from it.

After lunch Trey wandered in, quiet as always, though noticeably more relaxed than he had been a month ago.

Capa followed, smiling as he climbed onto the examination table. "I think Corazon is mad at me."

You looked up from your tablet. "Why?"

"Because you told me to spend more time in the oxygen garden…" He shrugged helplessly. "…and told her to spend less."

A laugh escaped you. "I fail to see how that's your fault."

He looked at you. "I've tried explaining that."

"And?"

He sighed dramatically. "It didn't help."

"It rarely does." You continued with your exam.

Cassie wandered into Medical already talking. "Stitch, I know Kaneda's worried about me skipping meals, but honestly…" She climbed onto the examination table without being asked. "…I just hate it when Harvey's on kitchen duty."

You laughed as you wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm. "You still have to eat, Cass."

She wrinkled her nose. "He's an awful cook."

"Then help him."

She groaned. "Then he'll think I like him."

You shook your head, unable to hide your grin. "Right. And you only have eyes for Capa. Silly me for trying to help."

Her cheeks immediately flushed crimson. "I do not!"

Your eyebrows climbed toward your hairline. "Sure you don't."

"Oh, hush."

Still smiling, you tied the tourniquet around her arm and drew a blood sample.

As you swapped the collection tube, Cassie watched you with a decidedly mischievous expression. "We're all taking bets on whether Mace will be late again."

You snorted. "James is always late."

She chuckled. "You didn't even deny knowing who I meant."

You paused just long enough to realize she had caught you. "…There are only nine people on this ship."

"Mhm." Cassie's grin only widened. "I've got an apple that says he makes it on time tonight."

You glanced over her blood work before handing the tablet back. "You just lost an apple."

Her eyes narrowed at you. "You sound awfully confident."

"I'm a doctor." You shrugged. "Pattern recognition."

Cassie laughed as she hopped off the table. "You're no fun."

Shrugging you smirked. "You'll thank me when you still have your apple."

She pointed at you as she backed toward the door. "If he shows up on time, I'm collecting."

"I'll be happy to pay."

Cassie disappeared into the corridor still laughing, leaving Medical quiet once more.

Hours passed before your last patient finally arrived. After the first month, you had started scheduling James as late in the day as possible. He was almost always late anyway. Today was no exception.

The doors whispered open and James hurried inside, climbing onto the examination table before he was fully through the room. "Sorry, Doc. I had—"

Smirking, you finished the excuse for him. "…repairs. I'm aware, James."

As you turned toward him, your smile disappeared. There was blood soaking through the sleeve of his uniform. Your eyes narrowed.

James followed your gaze and immediately found the opposite wall fascinating.

Without a word, you stepped closer, rolled up his sleeve, and carefully peeled away the makeshift bandage. The gash beneath stretched three or four inches along his upper arm, deeper than you would have liked. You frowned. "Icarus."

The ship's familiar voice answered immediately. "Yes, Stitch?"

You tapped your foot. "Why wasn't I informed James had been injured?"

There was the slightest pause, almost as though the computer knew it had been caught. "Engineer Mace requested I not notify you."

Very slowly, you lifted your eyes to James. He continued studying the wall with great interest. You let out a long breath before crossing to the supply cabinet for a sterilization tray and suture kit. "James."

He sighed. "I know."

"No," you replied, pulling on a pair of gloves. "You don't."

You tossed the bloodstained bandage into the waste bin before looking back at him. "How long ago?"

James glanced toward the ceiling, already aware you were not going to appreciate the answer. "…Three hours."

"Three hours?"

He gave a small nod.

You pinched the bridge of your nose before exhaling slowly. "Shirt off. I'm not stitching you back together just so you can rip it open taking it off later."

Without arguing, James carefully pulled his shirt over his head, wincing as he lifted the injured arm.

Before focusing on the laceration, you gave him a quick once-over. The usual collection of burns, scrapes, and healing cuts decorated his hands and forearms. Nothing new. Nothing unexpected. Returning your attention to the wound, you thoroughly irrigated it, flushing away the grime and tiny metal filings that had settled inside before preparing your sutures.

As always, James watched everything you did with quiet fascination. "I had to reach an electrical panel," he offered.

"Mmhmm." The sarcasm was clear.

He continued. "It was behind three others."

"Mmhmm." You were not having it.

He hesitated before trying one last time. "And I wanted to make it here on time."

Your hands stopped midway through the second stitch. Slowly, you looked up at him. "You skipped treatment…" You let the sentence hang for a beat before finishing, "…to avoid being late for treatment?"

The realization crossed his face almost immediately. "…Yes." It sounded more like a question than an answer.

With a sigh, you resumed stitching. "Next time—"

"I know."

You pulled the next stitch just a little tighter than necessary before meeting his eyes. "You clearly don't."

James wisely decided not to argue.

Another stitch disappeared beneath your careful hands. "Next time you come see me immediately."

"It wasn't that bad," he mumbled.

"It wasn't." Another stitch. "But if it had become infected…" Another. "…I might have had to take the arm."

James froze, his eyes snapping to yours.

You continued stitching as though discussing the weather. "And where would humanity be with an engineer who only had one arm?"

A sheepish smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I suppose that would complicate maintenance."

"It would make my paperwork unbearable."

That earned a genuine laugh.

You smiled despite yourself but kept your attention on tying off the tenth and final stitch. After applying fresh dressing and making certain it was secure, your hands lingered for just a moment. "You don't have to earn permission to be my patient."

When he looked at you, you met his eyes evenly. "You already are."

For a moment he simply looked back. Then he nodded. A small smile returned to his face. "Does this mean I lose self-bandaging privileges?"

You leveled a look at him. "For at least a month."

"I was afraid you were going to say forever."

Wrapping the blood pressure cuff around his arm, you pulled it snug. "Don't push your luck, James."

As you listened to his heart, he watched you thoughtfully. "You know…"

"Hm?"

"Harvey calls me Mace."

"I'm aware." You slipped the needle into the vein at the crook of his elbow and began filling the first collection tube.

He kept on. "Kaneda calls me Mace."

"Okay?" You glanced up at him then back down to the needle.

"Searle calls me Mace."

You switched tubes without looking up. "Do you have a point, James?"

A grin spread slowly across his face. "There it is."

You looked at him, puzzled. "What?"

His grin only grew. "You did it again."

Your brows drew together in confusion. "Did what?"

"You called me James."

Heat crept up the back of your neck. With a sharp exhale, you withdrew the needle and covered the puncture site with a bandage. You carried the vials to the analyzer, giving yourself a moment to think. "I suppose I did."

James watched you load the samples into the machine. "Any particular reason?"

You glanced over your shoulder and shrugged. "It's your name." The analyzer hummed quietly between you. "So I use it."

His smile softened. "I don't mind."

You turned back to your tablet and reviewed the first results as they appeared. "Good." Looking up, you offered him a small smile. "I'd hate to relearn six months of habit."

James laughed again, warmer this time, and you found yourself smiling right back before either of you realized you were doing it.

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Everflower

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Passionate Ocean

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Maden Gaming