Fic: Hiding Little Drops of Red (8/8)
Fandom: Star Trek: Reboot (Into Darkness)
Rating: PG
Pairings: Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Summary: McCoy discovers he has xenopolycythemia and decides not to inform his two lovers. He's a doctor, he's not supposed to tell them about things he can't fix.
Hiding Little Drops of Red
For the first week of recovery McCoy spent most of it asleep. The second week he spent resting in his quarters. He knew getting released so quickly had been Jim and Spock’s doing. Unlike them McCoy always tried to be on his best behaviour when he was under care in sickbay, set the good example and all that. Sure he may have double checked all his readings and complained about the fruit cup Nurse Meyer gave him for lunch one day, but other than that he was a model patient.
He was a model patient when he went back for his follow up exam too, and as he sat on the bio-bed with a clean bill of health staring back at him from the PADD he started thinking. Thinking about the life he had assumed was over that was suddenly open to him again and realized that he really needed to talk to Jim and Spock.
***
When Jim and Spock came into their quarters after their shift they found McCoy setting out utensils on the small table where the computer normally sat.
“What is this?” Jim asked as sat down and looked at bowl of green leaves in front of him.
“Just eat the damn salad, Jim, or you don’t get the main course.”
Jim pouted, but ate the salad anyway, while complaining that there wasn’t enough dressing until the yeoman came to drop off the main course and collect the dishes.
“Thank you, Yeoman Rand.”
She nodded. “Also, Captain, I finished cataloguing the crew evaluations I’ll just leave the work here for you to finish signing off on shall I?"
Jim groaned.
“You’re welcome, sir.” She smiled then and left the room.
Wanting to avoid thinking about paperwork Jim dove into his dinner.
“You know this really is delicious.”
“Well it better be I made it.”
Jim gaped at McCoy. “You cooked this?!”
“You shouldn’t be doing any strenuous activities,” Spock said sternly.
McCoy shrugged. “I knew you two were busy and I wanted to do something nice…and also I want to discuss something.”
Spock put down his fork.
“Was there something wrong with the tests, Leonard?”
“No, no, the tests were fine. Everything looks great and that’s why I wanted to talk to you guys.”
“What’s up, Bones?”
McCoy sat quietly for a moment taking the time to gather his nerves.
“I know before all of this that you two were talking about assignments after this mission and now that I have that kind of future ahead of me too I wanted to say that I don’t want to take another assignment out in space. You wanted to keep everyone together and I know this throws a wrench into your plans so if you want to break it off now I-”
“Why is break up with us your go to option for everything, Bones?”
“What?”
“First you decided to break up with us rather then tell us you were sick, and now you want to drop this just because our plans aren’t in line with yours, why?”
McCoy slammed his against the table. “Because you two are a team dammit! Command wants you and will do anything to keep you. Me I’m just a doctor I can be replaced. Christine is more than capable of taking over as CMO.”
At that announcement Jim got up from his chair went over to McCoy and hugged him.
“You’re not just a doctor, Bones, you’re our doctor.”
Spock got up and joined them.
“Indeed, Leonard, you have provided me with exceptional care over the years despite my…irritating Vulcan numbers as you so often describe them.”
“And you’re the one who always keeps my corn-fed allergic self in one piece.”
McCoy rolled his eyes. “Christine, helps too you know.”
“Yeah, but you always show how much you love me by yelling at me about it afterwards.”
Leaving dinner for the moment Jim and Spock moved McCoy into the middle of the room and sat him down on the couch.
“What do you wish to do, Leonard, may I ask, if you won’t take re-assignment?”
McCoy looked at his hands, twisting his fingers together nervously.
“Joanna’s birthday is a month after we’re supposed to dock. She’ll be twelve, old enough to challenge the custody arrangements made when Jocelyn and I divorced. I don’t know if she’ll want to, but I want to be close just in case. I don’t know what I’ll do actually. Maybe work at Starfleet Medical, or do lectures, or take really early retirement. I just want to be able to stay on Earth for her.”
Spock nodded. “I see.”
Jim smiled.
“Well Scotty thinks the refit will take at least a year so we have lots of time to plan everything.”
McCoy stared at Jim. “We?”
“Of course, Leonard, if you wish to remain on Earth we will stay with you. There are ample positions at the Academy and with my experiences on this mission I could make an excellent curriculum for incoming cadets.”
Jim nodded. “Besides maybe it’s time I spent less time in space. If little Jo Jo wants to be with you then Starfleet is going to need a poster boy to help develop a family program for starships.”
McCoy couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“But-but, Jim, this is your life.”
Jim looked at McCoy his face serious and his lips set in a firm line.
“No, Bones, you and Spock are my life. Yes, I love the Enterprise and being her captain is the best job in the universe, but if you two weren’t here to share it all with me it would be empty.”
“You are important to us, Leonard, far more than where we work and we want you to know that.”
“I do know that and I feel the same way about you two. That’s why I want to make sure you two aren’t sacrificing everything that’s important just for me.”
“There is nothing we would not do for you.”
“And there’s nothing ‘just’ about you. I need you, Bones, you and Spock are like my right and left hands I’d be lost without you. You aren’t less than him.”
“Indeed, Leonard. We have our share of differences, but I feel that makes us stronger as a result. You challenge me, you test me, and I love you all the more for that.”
McCoy thought back to his time in limbo or whatever weird headspace that had been and realized the other McCoy had been right they did need him.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Thank you, Bones.”
“Me? What for?”
Jim only hugged him harder, but Spock managed to speak.
“You fought against your disease and won, Leonard, and we as so very grateful.”
McCoy nodded and held his lovers close knowing now that whatever the future held for them they were going to face it together.
The End
Rating: PG
Pairings: Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Summary: McCoy discovers he has xenopolycythemia and decides not to inform his two lovers. He's a doctor, he's not supposed to tell them about things he can't fix.
Hiding Little Drops of Red
For the first week of recovery McCoy spent most of it asleep. The second week he spent resting in his quarters. He knew getting released so quickly had been Jim and Spock’s doing. Unlike them McCoy always tried to be on his best behaviour when he was under care in sickbay, set the good example and all that. Sure he may have double checked all his readings and complained about the fruit cup Nurse Meyer gave him for lunch one day, but other than that he was a model patient.
He was a model patient when he went back for his follow up exam too, and as he sat on the bio-bed with a clean bill of health staring back at him from the PADD he started thinking. Thinking about the life he had assumed was over that was suddenly open to him again and realized that he really needed to talk to Jim and Spock.
***
When Jim and Spock came into their quarters after their shift they found McCoy setting out utensils on the small table where the computer normally sat.
“What is this?” Jim asked as sat down and looked at bowl of green leaves in front of him.
“Just eat the damn salad, Jim, or you don’t get the main course.”
Jim pouted, but ate the salad anyway, while complaining that there wasn’t enough dressing until the yeoman came to drop off the main course and collect the dishes.
“Thank you, Yeoman Rand.”
She nodded. “Also, Captain, I finished cataloguing the crew evaluations I’ll just leave the work here for you to finish signing off on shall I?"
Jim groaned.
“You’re welcome, sir.” She smiled then and left the room.
Wanting to avoid thinking about paperwork Jim dove into his dinner.
“You know this really is delicious.”
“Well it better be I made it.”
Jim gaped at McCoy. “You cooked this?!”
“You shouldn’t be doing any strenuous activities,” Spock said sternly.
McCoy shrugged. “I knew you two were busy and I wanted to do something nice…and also I want to discuss something.”
Spock put down his fork.
“Was there something wrong with the tests, Leonard?”
“No, no, the tests were fine. Everything looks great and that’s why I wanted to talk to you guys.”
“What’s up, Bones?”
McCoy sat quietly for a moment taking the time to gather his nerves.
“I know before all of this that you two were talking about assignments after this mission and now that I have that kind of future ahead of me too I wanted to say that I don’t want to take another assignment out in space. You wanted to keep everyone together and I know this throws a wrench into your plans so if you want to break it off now I-”
“Why is break up with us your go to option for everything, Bones?”
“What?”
“First you decided to break up with us rather then tell us you were sick, and now you want to drop this just because our plans aren’t in line with yours, why?”
McCoy slammed his against the table. “Because you two are a team dammit! Command wants you and will do anything to keep you. Me I’m just a doctor I can be replaced. Christine is more than capable of taking over as CMO.”
At that announcement Jim got up from his chair went over to McCoy and hugged him.
“You’re not just a doctor, Bones, you’re our doctor.”
Spock got up and joined them.
“Indeed, Leonard, you have provided me with exceptional care over the years despite my…irritating Vulcan numbers as you so often describe them.”
“And you’re the one who always keeps my corn-fed allergic self in one piece.”
McCoy rolled his eyes. “Christine, helps too you know.”
“Yeah, but you always show how much you love me by yelling at me about it afterwards.”
Leaving dinner for the moment Jim and Spock moved McCoy into the middle of the room and sat him down on the couch.
“What do you wish to do, Leonard, may I ask, if you won’t take re-assignment?”
McCoy looked at his hands, twisting his fingers together nervously.
“Joanna’s birthday is a month after we’re supposed to dock. She’ll be twelve, old enough to challenge the custody arrangements made when Jocelyn and I divorced. I don’t know if she’ll want to, but I want to be close just in case. I don’t know what I’ll do actually. Maybe work at Starfleet Medical, or do lectures, or take really early retirement. I just want to be able to stay on Earth for her.”
Spock nodded. “I see.”
Jim smiled.
“Well Scotty thinks the refit will take at least a year so we have lots of time to plan everything.”
McCoy stared at Jim. “We?”
“Of course, Leonard, if you wish to remain on Earth we will stay with you. There are ample positions at the Academy and with my experiences on this mission I could make an excellent curriculum for incoming cadets.”
Jim nodded. “Besides maybe it’s time I spent less time in space. If little Jo Jo wants to be with you then Starfleet is going to need a poster boy to help develop a family program for starships.”
McCoy couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“But-but, Jim, this is your life.”
Jim looked at McCoy his face serious and his lips set in a firm line.
“No, Bones, you and Spock are my life. Yes, I love the Enterprise and being her captain is the best job in the universe, but if you two weren’t here to share it all with me it would be empty.”
“You are important to us, Leonard, far more than where we work and we want you to know that.”
“I do know that and I feel the same way about you two. That’s why I want to make sure you two aren’t sacrificing everything that’s important just for me.”
“There is nothing we would not do for you.”
“And there’s nothing ‘just’ about you. I need you, Bones, you and Spock are like my right and left hands I’d be lost without you. You aren’t less than him.”
“Indeed, Leonard. We have our share of differences, but I feel that makes us stronger as a result. You challenge me, you test me, and I love you all the more for that.”
McCoy thought back to his time in limbo or whatever weird headspace that had been and realized the other McCoy had been right they did need him.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Thank you, Bones.”
“Me? What for?”
Jim only hugged him harder, but Spock managed to speak.
“You fought against your disease and won, Leonard, and we as so very grateful.”
McCoy nodded and held his lovers close knowing now that whatever the future held for them they were going to face it together.
The End