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The Andorian colony planet Thirvar VIII wasn’t where he had expected to be assigned for shore leave, but Doctor McCoy wasn’t going to pass up a day on solid ground. The USS Enterprise had just finished transporting a group of diplomats to some conference or another. Thankfully, it was one of the rare trips without any medical troubles, so he had happily let Jim take care of all the careful charm and the diplomatic details (and the dress uniform) while he ran tests with Chapel in sickbay. But it would be good to spend some time with the stars above him, rather than around him. Despite his chosen career, he liked that view a bit better.
He didn't like to leave his lab unattended for too long, just in case something happened, but the crew was split into sections, and so McCoy left sickbay in the capable hands of Nurse Thomas and took the turbolift to the transporter room. His childhood hadn't had much snow and ice, so when he met with much of the senior staff to beam down, McCoy was bundled in a knit hat and puffy coat his aunt Kathleen had given him when he was sent on the Enterprise. Unfortunately one of the casualties of a recent infestation of time-travelling space moths had wreaked havoc on his old faithful uniform scarf from his academy days, so he had grudgingly replicated another. He knew the replicated one was technically the same, but it just wasn't worn in the same old familiar way, didn't feel the same. He earmarked this for a potential future spar with Spock.
Chekov had taken a semester at the Thirvarian Navigational & Astrometric College when he was a cadet, and had lobbied excitedly for a town beside a frozen lake in the mountains just south of Andoria's equator. Jim's eyes had mischievously twinkled as he had approved the plan, and now was lugging a large bag into the transporter room.
"Now what are you planning this time, Captain?" asked Uhura, looking snug in a deep green wide-legged jumpsuit and a patterned honey-yellow scarf. Spock's eyes darted to the mysterious luggage, but he simply raised an eyebrow in his usual fashion.
"Oh, you'll see, Lieutenant," Jim replied as they got into position on the transporter pad. "Spock, no off-duty attire?"
"I am simply in my duty uniform should the need arise. Algae-based xenylon can withstand very low temperatures, and the hat from our trip to the past will keep my head at an agreeable heat."
"Simply. Well, beam us down, Mr. Kyle."
Jim, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, and Arex materialized right near the edge of Lake Thalisar, next to the town of Abnaer. Though Chekov had assured them that the planet wasn't near as cold as the Andorian homeworld (and that it was considered the hot spring capital of the Empire), McCoy felt a brief chill before he could wrap his scarf more closely and tug his ears down, and a brief sting of envy for Scotty, Sulu, Dr. Mulhall, and Christine, who had elected to beam right to the fireside with traditional Andorian teas (and brandies). But McCoy wanted to see what Jim had planned, and anyways it had been forever since he'd been in the snow (of his own volition).
Jim, however, had looked bright and rosy as his breath turned cloudy. He was dressed surprisingly light for the weather, in red flannel with warm black pants and a light wool coat. As if an old-time Saint Nicholas, he opened the top of the bag with a bit of fanfare and flourished out a pair of Human ice-skates, and then pulled out four more pairs and a set of three Edosian parallel-skates for Arex. McCoy smiled a bit at Kirk's consideration, because he had been careful to match the shoes to their winter clothes; white for Chekov, yellow for Uhura, green for Arex, olive grey for McCoy, and uniform blue for Spock; each set had a little Starfleet insignia on the side. Jim's were the only one in a different style, white with a light blue toe box.
"Back in Iowa, when I was a little kid, the pond would freeze over every winter. Sam and I would skate on it every day we could. Figured it'd make a good shore leave activity on this frozen-over place!"
"I know this ice skating; it was inwented in Russia," interjected Chekov, with a slight grin. "My mother would take me as well, when I was young."
"This is exciting! I've only ever skated in a rec room," said Uhura, tying her scarf more securely. Arex murmured in agreement.
"An interesting activity, Captain," mused Mr. Spock.
"A vote of confidence, Mr. Spock," Kirk said jovially.
Jim found a nearby (peculiarly blue) log to put their skates on. "The captain's log," he joked.
Though Spock's face looked serene as ever, McCoy could tell that this son of a desert planet was shivering under his duty uniform and l. Clearly, so did the captain, because soon Spock found himself with a light woolen jacket around his shoulders.
"Captain, this is unnecessary."
"Wouldn't it be illogical to let my first officer freeze?"
Spock accepted the jacket with a grave nod. "As long as your own health is not at risk."
"No problem, Spock." He finished tying on his skates. "Now let's get out on that ice, crew!"
Though he wobbled over to the pond, it was clear that Chekov had practiced in childhood, as he made a speedy and smooth circumnavigation, bending close to the ice, to a round of applause.
"Bravo, Mr. Chekov!" exclaimed Jim. Chekov made a dramatic bow, and then walked over to the Captain's Log to help Arex and Uhura up. They wobbled through the soft-packed snow, and the doctor in him was glad to see that there were tharswood railings for them to hold onto on the ice. McCoy made sure his communicator and medkit were in the pockets of his jacket.
A more sentimental addition to his jacket was his old camera. It was temperamental; maybe even crotchety. But there was something solid and tangible and imperfect about it that the holo-imagers he used in his work just didn't come near to. And anyways, it reminded him of his daughter. She used to call him a museum piece for putting up photograph-albums, but now he was glad he'd done it. He kept a box of them in his quarters on the ship.
McCoy hadn't skated much back in Georgia, but one month when Joanna was eight she had suddenly decided her future was on the ice, and so off to the ice-rink they had gone. Bones felt a pang of nostalgia, remembering her enthusiasm, her stubbornness after many falls, her insistence to wear one little hat with ducks on it every time, the way she shrieked joyously when they finally were able to push off the wall, the way they tried to dance and fell over. They commed as much as they could, in the face of dust clouds, giant space worms, and time travel, but it had been too long since he had seen her face-to-face. His little girl all grown up, so like him.
"Bones? You coming?"
McCoy raised his head and cracked a little smile. "Sure, captain."
He wasn't light on his feet, but he didn't fall over either, so Bones counted skating as a skill. But Jim seemed to take to the ice like he was born in it, racing with Chekov and helping Arex and Uhura stay stable on their skates. There was a cloud of winter joy floating in all of their clouds of breath and laughter. But this was matched only by the wintry solitude of Spock, still sitting down.
"What is it, Commander, afraid of the cold?" asked McCoy.
"Not at all, Doctor. I simply mean to observe the proper manner before I attempt the exercise myself," replied Spock.
"Oh come on, Mr. Spock, you'll get the hang of it. It's easier to learn on your feet," said Uhura.
Kirk walked back over to the side of the frozen lake. "Oh, Spock. Where's that Vulcan cheer? Here, I'll help you to the ice." He flashed a smile.
Spock looked like he was going to make an independent remark, but he stood up and gingerly put his hand on Kirk's arm to stabilize himself. "Thank you, Captain."
He'd never say it, because he wanted to see what would happen with Spock on the ice, but Bones thought to himself that they looked like the couple in an antique snowglobe. Well, a very odd snowglobe.
Spock moved a bit unsteadily as he reached the ice. Probably trying to ease his awkward demeanor, Jim let him lean on the fence.
"Now here, I know you've been watching us. Rest for a moment, and push yourself off, Spock."
Spock did his curt little nod, and then attempted to start. He moved on momentum for a few moments, but soon found himself cattywampus and cold with Kirk's jacket askew and his hat falling off.
McCoy couldn't help snorting a bit at the sight of Spock trying to maintain his dignity sprawled on the ice, but quicker to react was the Captain. "SPOCK!" Kirk was already kneeling next to Spock on the ice. McCoy went over and scanned Spock.
"Physically, you'll be all right. Emotionally, who knows."
"Doctor, emotions are not a factor in this scenario."
Sure. Spock was controlling it well, but Bones could notice the tips of his ears were colouring.
"Here, Spock. Let me help," murmured Kirk, offering his hand.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Spock daintily laid his hand in Kirk's, and got back up on his feet.
Satisfied on the medical front, Bones realized that he should probably back away; for all he quarreled with Spock, he was enough of a gentleman not to embarass him further. He went over to Chekov, Uhura, and Arex, who had just noticed the accident.
"He'll be fine. In my medical opinion, the only thing bruised is that stubborn Vulcan pride," said McCoy, pocketing his tricorder and repositioning his scarf.
"Good to know, Doctor," replied Arex. He wobbled a bit, still not quite used to the parallel-skates, but his third arm and leg looked like they were helping with his balance.
"And the keptin?" asked Chekov.
"Oh, he's all right, all right. You know how the two of them are." Arex, Chekov, and Uhura shared a knowing glance.
The crew got going again, in a cozy little group; Chekov gallantly offered to twirl each of them around. Despite the occasional (or frequent) slip, they were getting comfortable enough on the ice to have a good time. The sun through the trees created dazzling dappled patterns on the ice, shifting in the light breeze. McCoy got out his camera to capture them as best he could.
"Doctor! An old fashioned photograph!" cried Chekov, and it took McCoy a moment to figure out that it was a request. Chekov, with a flourish, gathered up Uhura and Arex.
"Now only if I could get this blasted delay to work," grumbled McCoy as he balanced the camera on a fencepost.
After a few wrong flashes, he managed to get a nice picture of the four of them for his album and to show to Joanna. McCoy hoped that she wasn't too busy for a call from her dear old dad once they got back to the ship.
Having seen the gathering, Kirk and Spock made their way back over; Kirk's eyes sparkling, Spock steadying himself on Kirk's arm. As they got closer, Spock corrected his posture and tried to skate on unsupported with his usual dignity. However, he again was accosted by that fate of most first-time skaters, the undignified warble-and-sprawl manoeuver. But before he could make it all the way down, Kirk took hold of his hand and stabilized him again.
"My appreciation, Captain," Spock managed.
"I'll always be there to catch you," replied Kirk, with a flash of his charming smile, as dazzling as the sun on the ice.
Bones didn't count himself a mind reader, but he could tell. Spock was having trouble staying reserved.