Fic: An Ancient Muse
Title: An Ancient Muse
Author: miss_m_cricket
Artist: scatter_muse
Main Pairing: Jim Kirk/Leonard McCoy
Other Pairings: Spock/Nyota Uhura, Scotty/Chapel
Notes: Fantasy/Historical/Magical StarTrek AU
Rating: PG-13
For: Originally for trekreversebang
Summary: In a world full of magic and mystery, Jim Kirk is determined to explore the unknown and bring back amazing artifacts as he does. Leonard McCoy just follows along because someone has to keep him, and everything else, in one piece.
A/N 1: Thank you to the unbelievably incredible scatter_muse for her beautiful artworks found HERE!. And for being so understanding about technical difficulties.
A/N 2: Also a big thank you to mysterysquid who has listened to every painful step along the way. Cheers mate!
Part 1
The tunnel was carved into the shifting sands by great slabs of stone, huge blocks which sheered the sides and the arching roof above their heads. The air was stale, flecks of dust glittering in the flickering lights of the torches several of the men carried. Everyone was silent; something in the air seemed to stop the words even before they reached their lips. The only sounds were those of their boots, clicking softly at intervals as they met stone not carpeted by golden sand.
Leonard McCoy hung back towards the rear of the party. It was where Jim had assigned him on all of their trips, somewhere safe where he wouldn’t get into any trouble. But still nearby in case a member of the party needed his healing magic. Jim himself was up near the front, ready in case of any nasty surprises. And knowing the Egyptians, McCoy was inclined to believe there would be a number of those in this long buried tomb.
Sure enough it was only a few minutes later that the silence was broken by a shocked scream. A scream which was cut off suddenly, and horribly. The entire group froze and then Jim’s voice came from the front, resignation in his tone.
“Bones.”
Slowly Leonard made his way through the engineers and up beside his best friend who stood at the edge of a hole in the pathway floor. Down at the bottom of the hole lay a crumpled figure wearing the red scarf belts the engineers were fond of bedecking themselves with. The fall itself wouldn’t have been enough to kill him, McCoy noted with detachment, except that the bottom had been filled in with sharp stakes, viciously pointed.
“Dead Jim.” He proclaimed quietly, placing a hand on his best friends shoulder. “Maybe we should let the Engineers do a sweep of this place before you go treasure hunting yeah?” he knew even as he said the words that Jim Kirk would do no such thing, and the look he levelled at the Doctor only confirmed this.
“Let them clear out the booby traps with their lives? Why Bones I never knew you valued human life so little.”
“You know that’s not it Jim.” McCoy growled lowly, gripping Jim’s arm insistently, “They have specialised equipment for this type of thing. It just takes time.”
“The one thing we don’t have.” Jim murmured with a sigh, shrugging McCoy’s hand off his arm, “The investors won’t stand by without results for long. You know that Bones.”
And Leonard sighed because he did know. And when Jim moved to make a way to cross the sharp drop he didn’t stop him. He just moved back down the line of the column and waited until the order came to continue on down the passageway, engineers looking nervously around as they went.
“Damn fool investors,” he muttered to himself grumpily, “What do they know really.”
~*~
When he had attended University in England, he had expected to complete his studies, get his medical doctorate and return to his homeland as quickly as possible. The only reason he had made the long journey across the sea in the first place was because he had wanted to make something of himself.
And to get away from her.
He had arrived by train to the station at which the students could catch horse-cabs up to the colleges of the university, still feeling a little queasy from the long ship ride from the Americas, and grumpy because it was grey and drizzling rain down on him. Standing under a large stone archway, waiting for a cab, he looked up at the sound of bright cheerful whistling.
Sauntering down the stairs from the old platform was a young man with golden hair, darkened by the rain coming down, and bright, bright blue eyes, one of which was ringed with painful looking bruising. Other than that he was wearing a battered jacket and a cocky grin as he made his way right over to McCoy.
Leonard made his mind right there that this man was trouble and he would ignore him.
“Hello!” Trouble said in a voice much too bright for the miserable weather around them, “Didn’t think anyone else would be getting here this late. Heading up to the University then are you?”
“Yes.” Leonard grunted, trying to shift away from the chatty Trouble.
“Awesome.” Trouble lounged against the wet stone of the archway and grinned at McCoy in a way that could only be described as infectious. Despite himself Leonard felt his lips quirk up slightly in return, “We can get a cab up together. I’m Kirk by the way, Jim Kirk.”
“McCoy. Leonard McCoy.”
“Not from round here are you? Not with that accent.”
“Nah I come across the sea. America.”
“Yeah? Fantastic, I’d love to travel. Didja get here by boat or dragon?”
“Don’t be daft,” McCoy snorted, rolling his eyes, “As if I would have enough for dragonback. I came in one of those death tubs people call boats.”
Kirk glanced at him, eyebrow slightly quirked and a grin spreading over his slightly chapped lips.
“Let me guess.” He said, nudging Leonard companionably, “You didn’t much like it?”
“You fall overboard in the middle of the crossing and ain’t no one gonna hear you scream. And you just try and relax when men are gettin’ legs blown off or dyin’ from scurvy.” Leonard grumbled, unable to stop himself from starting off his rant on the dangers of seafaring, “The Sea is disease and danger wrapped in wetness and salt.”
Silence.
“We are so going to get along,” Kirk grinned as the horses came trotting up to them through the rain, “You just wait and see.”
And they had.
Leonard had never known just how Kirk had managed to organise for the two of them to share a room. Nor did he much care since Jim was much less annoying than some of the other idiots hanging around. Not that he told him that.
Man had a big enough ego as it was.
Somehow the pair of them had become inseparable during their time at University together; Leonard studying his medicine and Jim deciding to specialise in archaeology. It seemed an odd choice for the bright and charismatic young man, until the week before graduation he asked Leonard to join his archaeological expedition to the shores of Italy as chief medical officer.
“Treasure hunting Jim? Really?”
“Don’t look at me like that Bones;” Bones was Jim’s nickname for Leonard, a jab at his profession, “It’ll be great. You’ll see.”
Leonard hadn’t enjoyed the boat ride, but the actual expedition had been fun, until Jim had gotten tired of scratching in Italian stone and had set out with Leonard, his chief Engineer; a man named Olsen, and the rest of his team, for Egypt. He had a whiff of something, an ancient relic or a tomb and had refused to leave for the last few months, and now finally he had found the passageway.
He couldn’t blame Jim for being excited, he couldn’t. But he did blame him for being a reckless ass, and not letting some of the engineers spells take a look into the place before blundering in. Still that was why Leonard was here; to patch him up if something went wrong.
He refused to even think about the possibility of Jim being too injured for him to fix.
~*~
By the time they reached the central burial chambers everyone’s nerves were completely frayed.
They had lost close to ten men, with one being blinded by acid fired into his eyes. Leonard had been prepared to return to the outside world of sunlight with his patient but Jim had caught his arm and tilted his head towards the ongoing tunnel.
‘I want you here with me,’ were the unspoken words and Leonard had found himself nodding before he even thought about it.
And so they had pressed on.
Jim pushed open the ancient stone door, the old sandstone grating against the sandy floor. Behind him an engineer lifted his hand, his small magical gift providing an unwavering white light to illuminate the tomb. Everywhere glittered gold and blue lapis lazuli, a feast to the eyes gathered at the doorway.
“Cor...” one of the red-belted engineers breathed, eyes wide, “Lookit all that...”
Slowly Jim entered the chamber and nodded to Olsen, “Start cataloguing everything in here. Bones and I are going to look in the next few rooms.” The red shirted man nodded and started barking orders which sent the men spreading out throughout the room. Jim nodded to Leonard and the two of them made their way across the worn stone to the passageway and stairs beyond.
“You know they’ll take some of the small trinkets don’t you Jim?”
“Of course.” His best friend replied as they climbed the small flight of stairs, “Hazard pay. Do you mind shedding some light Bones?”
The doctor rolled his eyes and raised his hand, bronze light gathering at his palm to slowly light up the inner chamber. “I’m a Doctor, Jim, not a damn lamp. You think the headpiece will be in here?”
“No...” Jim’s voice was distant as he wandered across the room to run his fingers over the wall inscriptions, “This is the ante-chamber. The headpiece will be just beyond here if I can just...”
Leonard sat down; this could take a while.
~*~
An hour or two later Jim sat down beside him, huffing slightly.
“There’s got to be a trick to it...”
“So you’ve been sayin’.” Leonard gave his friend a pointed look, “Maybe the trick is magical.”
“...Possibly.” Jim was grudging to admit it, and Leonard didn’t push. He knew Jim hated being un-Gifted, knew that the young man found magic fascinating but also potentially dangerous. How can you trust something you do not understand?
They sat in silence for long moments, both of them staring up at the passage doorway, both of them puzzling over the inscriptions.
“Got it.” And Jim was up in a flash, his quick hands brushing away clinging sand to a protrusion, “Just got to open this and...”
“Jim...” but it was too late. Jim had pried the ancient cask open and shoved his hand inside. His face contorted with pain and he hissed out a breath but slowly the door opened. Carefully he withdrew his hand, which had been ripped to shreds by something ghastly.
Leonard scowled.
Jim tried to ignore it and tried to press on.
He found himself pinned to the wall and Leonard’s large firm hand holding his wrist as he bent his head and lowered his other hand over it. The light went out as Leonard re-directed his Gift into his best friend, but the outline of the doctor was visible with soft glowing copper light. Bit by bit he could see the light moving over his hand, leaving behind healed tendons, undamaged muscle and smooth unblemished skin.
“What would I do without you Bones?” He murmured softly and grinned as Leonard scowled at him once more.
“I think I make you more reckless ‘cause you think I can heal everything.”
“You can heal anything Bones.”
“Dammit Jim, no I can’t...”
“Never mind that now...c’mon Bones. Time to collect our prize.”
~*~
The headdress was beautiful, as Jim had known it would be. Leonard couldn’t help but feel proud as his best friend presented the amazing treasure to the Museum and received their accolades.
However if he had thought that would be the end of it all, he was very much mistaken.
Three months had passed since they had all returned to England and it had been two and a half since Leonard had really seen Jim. The other man had been involved in interviews and meetings and presentations, and Leonard, who was an intensely private person, had fled the bright lights of the city and had headed up into the country.
There he had taken over the manor home that had belonged in his mother’s family for generations upon generations. Although they had moved to the Americas, although no one had been back, the land was still the family’s and Leonard took his place as the master of the home and village nearby.
Often he missed Jim, but tried to put it from his mind, burying himself inside the massive library to read over spells and mystical places.
It was there, months later, that Jim found him.
~*~
“You ever heard of Glantane Bones?”
The two of them were sitting in the sitting room, Jim looking quite handsome all clean and dressed in the latest fashion. Both of them were playing noble, sipping on tea even though neither of them was particularly fond of the beverage.
“Yeah. Supposedly the centre of the magical world That Glantane?”
“The very one.”
“Why?”
Jim looked at him, blue eyes bright and Leonard groaned.
“No Jim, no. We just got back.”
“I want to go to it. It’s the most magical place known to man, c’mon Bones, think of the treasures, think of all that magic, think of all the things you’ll see.”
“Think how many men I’ll see die?”
“You are so morbid Bones. I believe there is a doorway there. A passage into a realm unknown to anyone. It’ll be the biggest find ever.”
“It’s the truth Jim! Maybe it’s never been found because it’s not supposed to be found!”
“I need you there with me Bones.” Jim leaned forward, face earnest, blue eyes fixed on Leonard’s hazel-green, “Please...come with me...”
How could he say no to that?
~*~
He should have said no.
Of course he hadn’t realised this, truly realised it until they had left England far behind and had landed in the south of Ireland. The boat ride had been unpleasant, not as bad as his crossing from New York to England had been, but bad enough. He had been one of the first to tumble down off the side of the ship, and might have kissed the sand when he got out. He later denied it to a grinning Jim, and instead claimed that he had tripped.
Jim of course just laughed, and told everyone they met the story, which made Leonard scowl even more.
It was very different travelling through Ireland than it had been travelling through Egypt. Egypt was all sand dunes, blazing sun and scrub, Ireland was lush grass, drizzling rain and boggy roads. But Jim seemed unperturbed by all the mud and the slow progress.
He had more time with this expedition, the investors were confident in Jim’s abilities now and had been soothed by the great treasure trove the young man had brought home the last time. It meant he was less inclined to bristle at people giving suggestions, and more likely to let Leonard treat any of the injuries he managed to accumulate.
“What is with you and getting into trouble?” he grumbled at his friend one such occurrence, bandaging the other mans hand.
“Trouble and I get along just fine Bones.” Jim replied, clearly bored, the fingers of his other hand drumming against the wood of the moving caravan.
“One day you are going to lose a limb and I’m going to remind you of that.”
“The ladies love a war wound...”
“Oh for...”
~*~
Arriving in Millstreet the nearest town to the ancient stones, Jim didn’t let Leonard get settled but instead dragged them both out, dressed in good clothes, to the local establishment. There they met two men, historians, and venerated ones at that.
Christopher Pike was a dapper gentleman, with a pair of kindly dark blue eyes and dressed in clean clothing suitable for a professor out and about. He had been a Professor at the University that Leonard and Jim had attended and had been someone who had taken a keen interest in Jim’s progress.
According to the general gossip, which Leonard had tried not to listen to, Pike had worked with Jim’s father who was a war hero. It made sense Leonard supposed, but he didn’t know any details. It would have been intolerably rude to question Jim, who had a habit of clamming up whenever his past or family was discussed.
The other man was only known as Spock. He too had attended the University, a year or so ahead of Jim and Leonard, and had been one of the establishments’ grand successes. An expert in classical history and mythology Spock had become highly prominent in his field, despite a certain disadvantage.
His ears were delicately pointed.
For centuries it had been well known that pointed ears and thick black hair was a sign of ‘Faerie’ blood. Spock had both. Coupled with a strong magical Gift and a noble pedigree it made many people very uncomfortable around him. This wasn’t the reason however that Leonard and Jim generally avoided him. Jim disliked the man because they had engaged in ideological debates back at the University.
Leonard just enjoyed winding him up as much as possible.
So it was a surprise that Spock was there with Pike, sitting impassively, eyebrow slightly raised, dressed in impeccably clean clothes of fine make that made him look even more of a tight-arse than he was.
If that was possible, Leonard amended to himself with a quiet internal smirk.
“Gentlemen.” Jim greeted the two, giving Pike a warm handshake and Spock a cool nod, “Thank you so much for joining us.”
“It’s a pleasure Jim.” Pike said, leaning forward across the table as Jim and Leonard sat, “I heard about your success with the Headdress, tell me was it...” and the two were off in an animated discussion about the discovery of almost a year before.
It left Spock and Leonard looking at each other.
“I trust you are well Doctor McCoy?”
“Goin’ strong Spock thanks.” Leonard slipped back into a strong Southern drawl, enjoying the twitch it elicited from Spock’s eyebrow. He loved tweaking Spock’s uptight British sensibilities.
“I am...delighted to hear it.”
“How are you? Last I heard you were writing about stopping slave trading?”
“Indeed, the cessation of the slave trade is of great interest to me. I find it a most barbaric custom and I have been working on logical arguments to propose before the appropriate authorities. I believe you have been travelling with Mr Kirk, Doctor?”
“You got it.” Another twitch of eyebrow from Spock and Leonard grinned internally. It was such a perverse pleasure to wind the man up.
“Bones,” Jim had rejoined the conversation at large and Leonard turned to look at his best friend, “Pike has done a bit of gathering while he’s been here waiting for us to arrive with the heavy cavalry. He says the locals are full of stories about the mystical powers of the stones.”
“I’ve also discovered that most of them have a healthy respect for those with magical talents.” Pike contributed, ignoring Jim’s scowl, “It means you and Spock will most likely be our primary contact with them then. The Engineers Gifts are too weak, and Jim and I are Giftless.” Jim scowled even darker and Leonard was sure he could see a faint trace of a smirk around Spock’s lips, “You aren’t to coerce them Mr Spock, people around magical centres like these tend to be very sensitive to magic worked upon them.” Spock inclined his head.
“This may take some time, as this is a very old secret.” Jim’s face brightened at the thought and he nudged Leonard, “But it’ll all come good right Bones?”
“Sure Jim.” Leonard sighed, trying to ignore the nagging feeling burning in his gut, “I’m sure it will.”
~*~
Leonard had expected Jim to hire a local translator, someone well versed in Gaelic and English and be able to work accordingly. Of course when you expected anything from Jim Kirk you often ended up choking on the bourbon in your glass.
He knew this from experience.
But it didn’t stop him choking when Jim cheerfully introduced him to the newest member of his travelling circus. All the translators Leonard had ever met had been male, balding, pale skinned and sweaty but this one was young, female, dark skinned and beautiful. She introduced herself politely as Uhura.
“She’s something isn’t she?” Jim said, giving Leonard a lascivious wink when the woman had gone off to meet other members of the party, “Of course if my investors were here they would have a minor coronary but who cares.”
“Can she speak Gaelic?” Was all Leonard was concerned about, and learning that she did he had no further issues with the young woman joining them.
~*~
Time passed.
In between his work and research Jim half seriously pursued the lovely Uhura, and to Leonard’s delight, failed at every turn. The African beauty seemed impervious to Jim’s charms, instead treating them as amusements rather than the courtly gestures he intended. It constantly annoyed the young expedition leader that she wouldn’t even deign to tell him her first name.
Leonard chose not to inform him that Uhura had shared it with him within a fortnight of meeting.
Indeed he and Nyota had become quite close, the woman being blessed with an above average intelligence and a voracious appetite for learning. She watched him at work, asked sensible questions and once she had become proficient she aided him whenever he became overwhelmed. She taught him the basics of her native tongue of Swahili and Gaelic and although he struggled with it, she seemed genuinely pleased when he managed even the simplest of phrases.
He was also aware of a growing attachment between the usually cold Spock and Nyota.
“I find her...fascinating.” was all Spock would admit when Leonard approached him, and Nyota just flushed faintly and changed the topic hurriedly.
Looking back Leonard remembered it as a happy time.
Sadly it didn’t last.
Part 2
Author: miss_m_cricket
Artist: scatter_muse
Main Pairing: Jim Kirk/Leonard McCoy
Other Pairings: Spock/Nyota Uhura, Scotty/Chapel
Notes: Fantasy/Historical/Magical StarTrek AU
Rating: PG-13
For: Originally for trekreversebang
Summary: In a world full of magic and mystery, Jim Kirk is determined to explore the unknown and bring back amazing artifacts as he does. Leonard McCoy just follows along because someone has to keep him, and everything else, in one piece.
A/N 1: Thank you to the unbelievably incredible scatter_muse for her beautiful artworks found HERE!. And for being so understanding about technical difficulties.
A/N 2: Also a big thank you to mysterysquid who has listened to every painful step along the way. Cheers mate!
Part 1
The tunnel was carved into the shifting sands by great slabs of stone, huge blocks which sheered the sides and the arching roof above their heads. The air was stale, flecks of dust glittering in the flickering lights of the torches several of the men carried. Everyone was silent; something in the air seemed to stop the words even before they reached their lips. The only sounds were those of their boots, clicking softly at intervals as they met stone not carpeted by golden sand.
Leonard McCoy hung back towards the rear of the party. It was where Jim had assigned him on all of their trips, somewhere safe where he wouldn’t get into any trouble. But still nearby in case a member of the party needed his healing magic. Jim himself was up near the front, ready in case of any nasty surprises. And knowing the Egyptians, McCoy was inclined to believe there would be a number of those in this long buried tomb.
Sure enough it was only a few minutes later that the silence was broken by a shocked scream. A scream which was cut off suddenly, and horribly. The entire group froze and then Jim’s voice came from the front, resignation in his tone.
“Bones.”
Slowly Leonard made his way through the engineers and up beside his best friend who stood at the edge of a hole in the pathway floor. Down at the bottom of the hole lay a crumpled figure wearing the red scarf belts the engineers were fond of bedecking themselves with. The fall itself wouldn’t have been enough to kill him, McCoy noted with detachment, except that the bottom had been filled in with sharp stakes, viciously pointed.
“Dead Jim.” He proclaimed quietly, placing a hand on his best friends shoulder. “Maybe we should let the Engineers do a sweep of this place before you go treasure hunting yeah?” he knew even as he said the words that Jim Kirk would do no such thing, and the look he levelled at the Doctor only confirmed this.
“Let them clear out the booby traps with their lives? Why Bones I never knew you valued human life so little.”
“You know that’s not it Jim.” McCoy growled lowly, gripping Jim’s arm insistently, “They have specialised equipment for this type of thing. It just takes time.”
“The one thing we don’t have.” Jim murmured with a sigh, shrugging McCoy’s hand off his arm, “The investors won’t stand by without results for long. You know that Bones.”
And Leonard sighed because he did know. And when Jim moved to make a way to cross the sharp drop he didn’t stop him. He just moved back down the line of the column and waited until the order came to continue on down the passageway, engineers looking nervously around as they went.
“Damn fool investors,” he muttered to himself grumpily, “What do they know really.”
~*~
When he had attended University in England, he had expected to complete his studies, get his medical doctorate and return to his homeland as quickly as possible. The only reason he had made the long journey across the sea in the first place was because he had wanted to make something of himself.
And to get away from her.
He had arrived by train to the station at which the students could catch horse-cabs up to the colleges of the university, still feeling a little queasy from the long ship ride from the Americas, and grumpy because it was grey and drizzling rain down on him. Standing under a large stone archway, waiting for a cab, he looked up at the sound of bright cheerful whistling.
Sauntering down the stairs from the old platform was a young man with golden hair, darkened by the rain coming down, and bright, bright blue eyes, one of which was ringed with painful looking bruising. Other than that he was wearing a battered jacket and a cocky grin as he made his way right over to McCoy.
Leonard made his mind right there that this man was trouble and he would ignore him.
“Hello!” Trouble said in a voice much too bright for the miserable weather around them, “Didn’t think anyone else would be getting here this late. Heading up to the University then are you?”
“Yes.” Leonard grunted, trying to shift away from the chatty Trouble.
“Awesome.” Trouble lounged against the wet stone of the archway and grinned at McCoy in a way that could only be described as infectious. Despite himself Leonard felt his lips quirk up slightly in return, “We can get a cab up together. I’m Kirk by the way, Jim Kirk.”
“McCoy. Leonard McCoy.”
“Not from round here are you? Not with that accent.”
“Nah I come across the sea. America.”
“Yeah? Fantastic, I’d love to travel. Didja get here by boat or dragon?”
“Don’t be daft,” McCoy snorted, rolling his eyes, “As if I would have enough for dragonback. I came in one of those death tubs people call boats.”
Kirk glanced at him, eyebrow slightly quirked and a grin spreading over his slightly chapped lips.
“Let me guess.” He said, nudging Leonard companionably, “You didn’t much like it?”
“You fall overboard in the middle of the crossing and ain’t no one gonna hear you scream. And you just try and relax when men are gettin’ legs blown off or dyin’ from scurvy.” Leonard grumbled, unable to stop himself from starting off his rant on the dangers of seafaring, “The Sea is disease and danger wrapped in wetness and salt.”
Silence.
“We are so going to get along,” Kirk grinned as the horses came trotting up to them through the rain, “You just wait and see.”
And they had.
Leonard had never known just how Kirk had managed to organise for the two of them to share a room. Nor did he much care since Jim was much less annoying than some of the other idiots hanging around. Not that he told him that.
Man had a big enough ego as it was.
Somehow the pair of them had become inseparable during their time at University together; Leonard studying his medicine and Jim deciding to specialise in archaeology. It seemed an odd choice for the bright and charismatic young man, until the week before graduation he asked Leonard to join his archaeological expedition to the shores of Italy as chief medical officer.
“Treasure hunting Jim? Really?”
“Don’t look at me like that Bones;” Bones was Jim’s nickname for Leonard, a jab at his profession, “It’ll be great. You’ll see.”
Leonard hadn’t enjoyed the boat ride, but the actual expedition had been fun, until Jim had gotten tired of scratching in Italian stone and had set out with Leonard, his chief Engineer; a man named Olsen, and the rest of his team, for Egypt. He had a whiff of something, an ancient relic or a tomb and had refused to leave for the last few months, and now finally he had found the passageway.
He couldn’t blame Jim for being excited, he couldn’t. But he did blame him for being a reckless ass, and not letting some of the engineers spells take a look into the place before blundering in. Still that was why Leonard was here; to patch him up if something went wrong.
He refused to even think about the possibility of Jim being too injured for him to fix.
~*~
By the time they reached the central burial chambers everyone’s nerves were completely frayed.
They had lost close to ten men, with one being blinded by acid fired into his eyes. Leonard had been prepared to return to the outside world of sunlight with his patient but Jim had caught his arm and tilted his head towards the ongoing tunnel.
‘I want you here with me,’ were the unspoken words and Leonard had found himself nodding before he even thought about it.
And so they had pressed on.
Jim pushed open the ancient stone door, the old sandstone grating against the sandy floor. Behind him an engineer lifted his hand, his small magical gift providing an unwavering white light to illuminate the tomb. Everywhere glittered gold and blue lapis lazuli, a feast to the eyes gathered at the doorway.
“Cor...” one of the red-belted engineers breathed, eyes wide, “Lookit all that...”
Slowly Jim entered the chamber and nodded to Olsen, “Start cataloguing everything in here. Bones and I are going to look in the next few rooms.” The red shirted man nodded and started barking orders which sent the men spreading out throughout the room. Jim nodded to Leonard and the two of them made their way across the worn stone to the passageway and stairs beyond.
“You know they’ll take some of the small trinkets don’t you Jim?”
“Of course.” His best friend replied as they climbed the small flight of stairs, “Hazard pay. Do you mind shedding some light Bones?”
The doctor rolled his eyes and raised his hand, bronze light gathering at his palm to slowly light up the inner chamber. “I’m a Doctor, Jim, not a damn lamp. You think the headpiece will be in here?”
“No...” Jim’s voice was distant as he wandered across the room to run his fingers over the wall inscriptions, “This is the ante-chamber. The headpiece will be just beyond here if I can just...”
Leonard sat down; this could take a while.
~*~
An hour or two later Jim sat down beside him, huffing slightly.
“There’s got to be a trick to it...”
“So you’ve been sayin’.” Leonard gave his friend a pointed look, “Maybe the trick is magical.”
“...Possibly.” Jim was grudging to admit it, and Leonard didn’t push. He knew Jim hated being un-Gifted, knew that the young man found magic fascinating but also potentially dangerous. How can you trust something you do not understand?
They sat in silence for long moments, both of them staring up at the passage doorway, both of them puzzling over the inscriptions.
“Got it.” And Jim was up in a flash, his quick hands brushing away clinging sand to a protrusion, “Just got to open this and...”
“Jim...” but it was too late. Jim had pried the ancient cask open and shoved his hand inside. His face contorted with pain and he hissed out a breath but slowly the door opened. Carefully he withdrew his hand, which had been ripped to shreds by something ghastly.
Leonard scowled.
Jim tried to ignore it and tried to press on.
He found himself pinned to the wall and Leonard’s large firm hand holding his wrist as he bent his head and lowered his other hand over it. The light went out as Leonard re-directed his Gift into his best friend, but the outline of the doctor was visible with soft glowing copper light. Bit by bit he could see the light moving over his hand, leaving behind healed tendons, undamaged muscle and smooth unblemished skin.
“What would I do without you Bones?” He murmured softly and grinned as Leonard scowled at him once more.
“I think I make you more reckless ‘cause you think I can heal everything.”
“You can heal anything Bones.”
“Dammit Jim, no I can’t...”
“Never mind that now...c’mon Bones. Time to collect our prize.”
~*~
The headdress was beautiful, as Jim had known it would be. Leonard couldn’t help but feel proud as his best friend presented the amazing treasure to the Museum and received their accolades.
However if he had thought that would be the end of it all, he was very much mistaken.
Three months had passed since they had all returned to England and it had been two and a half since Leonard had really seen Jim. The other man had been involved in interviews and meetings and presentations, and Leonard, who was an intensely private person, had fled the bright lights of the city and had headed up into the country.
There he had taken over the manor home that had belonged in his mother’s family for generations upon generations. Although they had moved to the Americas, although no one had been back, the land was still the family’s and Leonard took his place as the master of the home and village nearby.
Often he missed Jim, but tried to put it from his mind, burying himself inside the massive library to read over spells and mystical places.
It was there, months later, that Jim found him.
~*~
“You ever heard of Glantane Bones?”
The two of them were sitting in the sitting room, Jim looking quite handsome all clean and dressed in the latest fashion. Both of them were playing noble, sipping on tea even though neither of them was particularly fond of the beverage.
“Yeah. Supposedly the centre of the magical world That Glantane?”
“The very one.”
“Why?”
Jim looked at him, blue eyes bright and Leonard groaned.
“No Jim, no. We just got back.”
“I want to go to it. It’s the most magical place known to man, c’mon Bones, think of the treasures, think of all that magic, think of all the things you’ll see.”
“Think how many men I’ll see die?”
“You are so morbid Bones. I believe there is a doorway there. A passage into a realm unknown to anyone. It’ll be the biggest find ever.”
“It’s the truth Jim! Maybe it’s never been found because it’s not supposed to be found!”
“I need you there with me Bones.” Jim leaned forward, face earnest, blue eyes fixed on Leonard’s hazel-green, “Please...come with me...”
How could he say no to that?
~*~
He should have said no.
Of course he hadn’t realised this, truly realised it until they had left England far behind and had landed in the south of Ireland. The boat ride had been unpleasant, not as bad as his crossing from New York to England had been, but bad enough. He had been one of the first to tumble down off the side of the ship, and might have kissed the sand when he got out. He later denied it to a grinning Jim, and instead claimed that he had tripped.
Jim of course just laughed, and told everyone they met the story, which made Leonard scowl even more.
It was very different travelling through Ireland than it had been travelling through Egypt. Egypt was all sand dunes, blazing sun and scrub, Ireland was lush grass, drizzling rain and boggy roads. But Jim seemed unperturbed by all the mud and the slow progress.
He had more time with this expedition, the investors were confident in Jim’s abilities now and had been soothed by the great treasure trove the young man had brought home the last time. It meant he was less inclined to bristle at people giving suggestions, and more likely to let Leonard treat any of the injuries he managed to accumulate.
“What is with you and getting into trouble?” he grumbled at his friend one such occurrence, bandaging the other mans hand.
“Trouble and I get along just fine Bones.” Jim replied, clearly bored, the fingers of his other hand drumming against the wood of the moving caravan.
“One day you are going to lose a limb and I’m going to remind you of that.”
“The ladies love a war wound...”
“Oh for...”
~*~
Arriving in Millstreet the nearest town to the ancient stones, Jim didn’t let Leonard get settled but instead dragged them both out, dressed in good clothes, to the local establishment. There they met two men, historians, and venerated ones at that.
Christopher Pike was a dapper gentleman, with a pair of kindly dark blue eyes and dressed in clean clothing suitable for a professor out and about. He had been a Professor at the University that Leonard and Jim had attended and had been someone who had taken a keen interest in Jim’s progress.
According to the general gossip, which Leonard had tried not to listen to, Pike had worked with Jim’s father who was a war hero. It made sense Leonard supposed, but he didn’t know any details. It would have been intolerably rude to question Jim, who had a habit of clamming up whenever his past or family was discussed.
The other man was only known as Spock. He too had attended the University, a year or so ahead of Jim and Leonard, and had been one of the establishments’ grand successes. An expert in classical history and mythology Spock had become highly prominent in his field, despite a certain disadvantage.
His ears were delicately pointed.
For centuries it had been well known that pointed ears and thick black hair was a sign of ‘Faerie’ blood. Spock had both. Coupled with a strong magical Gift and a noble pedigree it made many people very uncomfortable around him. This wasn’t the reason however that Leonard and Jim generally avoided him. Jim disliked the man because they had engaged in ideological debates back at the University.
Leonard just enjoyed winding him up as much as possible.
So it was a surprise that Spock was there with Pike, sitting impassively, eyebrow slightly raised, dressed in impeccably clean clothes of fine make that made him look even more of a tight-arse than he was.
If that was possible, Leonard amended to himself with a quiet internal smirk.
“Gentlemen.” Jim greeted the two, giving Pike a warm handshake and Spock a cool nod, “Thank you so much for joining us.”
“It’s a pleasure Jim.” Pike said, leaning forward across the table as Jim and Leonard sat, “I heard about your success with the Headdress, tell me was it...” and the two were off in an animated discussion about the discovery of almost a year before.
It left Spock and Leonard looking at each other.
“I trust you are well Doctor McCoy?”
“Goin’ strong Spock thanks.” Leonard slipped back into a strong Southern drawl, enjoying the twitch it elicited from Spock’s eyebrow. He loved tweaking Spock’s uptight British sensibilities.
“I am...delighted to hear it.”
“How are you? Last I heard you were writing about stopping slave trading?”
“Indeed, the cessation of the slave trade is of great interest to me. I find it a most barbaric custom and I have been working on logical arguments to propose before the appropriate authorities. I believe you have been travelling with Mr Kirk, Doctor?”
“You got it.” Another twitch of eyebrow from Spock and Leonard grinned internally. It was such a perverse pleasure to wind the man up.
“Bones,” Jim had rejoined the conversation at large and Leonard turned to look at his best friend, “Pike has done a bit of gathering while he’s been here waiting for us to arrive with the heavy cavalry. He says the locals are full of stories about the mystical powers of the stones.”
“I’ve also discovered that most of them have a healthy respect for those with magical talents.” Pike contributed, ignoring Jim’s scowl, “It means you and Spock will most likely be our primary contact with them then. The Engineers Gifts are too weak, and Jim and I are Giftless.” Jim scowled even darker and Leonard was sure he could see a faint trace of a smirk around Spock’s lips, “You aren’t to coerce them Mr Spock, people around magical centres like these tend to be very sensitive to magic worked upon them.” Spock inclined his head.
“This may take some time, as this is a very old secret.” Jim’s face brightened at the thought and he nudged Leonard, “But it’ll all come good right Bones?”
“Sure Jim.” Leonard sighed, trying to ignore the nagging feeling burning in his gut, “I’m sure it will.”
~*~
Leonard had expected Jim to hire a local translator, someone well versed in Gaelic and English and be able to work accordingly. Of course when you expected anything from Jim Kirk you often ended up choking on the bourbon in your glass.
He knew this from experience.
But it didn’t stop him choking when Jim cheerfully introduced him to the newest member of his travelling circus. All the translators Leonard had ever met had been male, balding, pale skinned and sweaty but this one was young, female, dark skinned and beautiful. She introduced herself politely as Uhura.
“She’s something isn’t she?” Jim said, giving Leonard a lascivious wink when the woman had gone off to meet other members of the party, “Of course if my investors were here they would have a minor coronary but who cares.”
“Can she speak Gaelic?” Was all Leonard was concerned about, and learning that she did he had no further issues with the young woman joining them.
~*~
Time passed.
In between his work and research Jim half seriously pursued the lovely Uhura, and to Leonard’s delight, failed at every turn. The African beauty seemed impervious to Jim’s charms, instead treating them as amusements rather than the courtly gestures he intended. It constantly annoyed the young expedition leader that she wouldn’t even deign to tell him her first name.
Leonard chose not to inform him that Uhura had shared it with him within a fortnight of meeting.
Indeed he and Nyota had become quite close, the woman being blessed with an above average intelligence and a voracious appetite for learning. She watched him at work, asked sensible questions and once she had become proficient she aided him whenever he became overwhelmed. She taught him the basics of her native tongue of Swahili and Gaelic and although he struggled with it, she seemed genuinely pleased when he managed even the simplest of phrases.
He was also aware of a growing attachment between the usually cold Spock and Nyota.
“I find her...fascinating.” was all Spock would admit when Leonard approached him, and Nyota just flushed faintly and changed the topic hurriedly.
Looking back Leonard remembered it as a happy time.
Sadly it didn’t last.
Part 2