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[ There's a very tense look on her face. ]

Do you know what happened?

[With good reason really. It was one of her government's assets that was currently sleeping off a massive head injury in the medical bay.]

There's an investigation, but I don't think anyone wants to jump to conclusions. He could have fallen during the ion storm. [like she did, but with far worse results.] Or-

[He doesn't want to say that it could have been an intentional attack. Not everyone was a fan of the idea of cozying up to the Alliance right now. Some people thought they didn't know enough about this group of other space exploring humans, didn't see eye to eye with the way things were run. But surely that wasn't enough to hurt a man over? At least, McCoy wouldn't think so.]

[ That being said, Inara knows how the Alliance works. She knows their sneakiness and she knows that after the Miranda disaster, they're clawing at the bottom of an endless barrel. Would they stoop to a war to rally what people they could in order to gain support?

Maybe. ]

What's your opinion, Leonard? [ Her voice quiets. ] I keep hearing your name attached.

Well. The thing is.. as Chief Medical Officer, it would normally be my job to assist with any investigations on board the ship. [He looks down at his plate, pushing around the dinner absently. Not that there was anything wrong with the food. Except that the looming questions had put him off any kind of appetite.]

But it's been decided that I'm too involved with the persons of interest in this case. So I'm only in charge of the ambassador's health. Commander Spock and one of your security personnel will be looking into everything else.

[ Inara's plate is equally untouched as his. She makes no pretense to be interested in it, either. ]

Too involved?

Engaged in personal relations was the term that was tossed around. [He sighs and looks back up. It was true, technically. McCoy wasn't going to deny the second that Inara stepped on his ship, he'd only had eyes for her. Some people thought that made him blind to the political intricacies of the mission.]

They don't want me discussing any sensitive information with you, I assume.

[ Ah. Well -- that made sense. And yes...it was true. She smiles tightly at him. ]

You mean, like we are right now?

This isn't nothing but dinner conversation. [He smiles a little grimly in return.]

Besides which, you have a right to know what happened. I'd like to think I can tell the difference between state secrets and consideration, but they don't want to take that chance.

[He's not going to regret it too much. It just galled him that he couldn't help with something on his own ship.]

[ Grim dinner conversation. She nods though, and pushes her plate away in favor of resting her hands on the table and leaning forward. ]

Considering I am one of the ambassadors, you're right. I know as much as you, though. [ Which troubles her. She'd never had any problem finding out information before now. This bothers her, and it's clearly got her agitated and on edge. ]

[McCoy isn't quite ready to throw in the towel on dinner, though he probably won't eat any more, he continues to toy his fork through it with one hand. The other falls on the table and slides over to her elbow, fingertips touching the elegant fabric of her sleeve.]

I'm sure that you're in the same camp as I am. Not entirely trusted by either side. [Oh, his crew knew him better than that, but it was the politicians that were running his good name down right now.]

I guess we'll be in limbo until they discover how it happened.

[ She moves her arm just so in order to rest against him. ]

Likely. It...surprises me, to be perfectly honest. [ Even if it shouldn't. ] I dislike being in the dark about things.

[ And she's sure that she's not the only one. ]

What does your Captain thin?

No, I can't say that I much enjoy the feeling either. [McCoy hasn't gotten used to being out of the loop on anything. Ever since he agreed to squirrel his life away on Starfleet, it seemed that he'd been in the middle of one big crisis or another. Perhaps, like so many others, he'd simply gotten addicted to the rush that came with such adventures.]

Jim is pissed that I'm blacklisted, but he's doing a fair job of choking it down. I'm actually a little proud of him for that.

[ She doesn't bother to suppress her smile. ]

He seems like the sort that would have trouble with that kind of thing.

Kid has grown up a lot in the past couple of years. [McCoy is fond of his Captain, whether he likes to admit it or not.]

...I hope you don't regret coming on this mission now?

No.

[ The answer is immediate and without hesitation. ]

I don't regret it at all. [ That doesn't mean she isn't going to worry. ]

[That wins a real smile out of him.]

Good. [Wiggling his fingers against her elbow, McCoy is able to find the will to eat a little more of dinner now. Actually, it's not that bad.]