Chapter Text
McCoy sat on the swarm ship breathing heavy. The adrenaline that had been pumping through him had finally given out. Krall was gone, the weapon was gone, he and Spock had saved Jim from being sucked into space and Jim had saved Yorktown.
He had managed to land in the central plaza near where Sulu had landed the Franklin. This time McCoy hadn’t crashed, but the landing had been jarring. Jim had climbed out first and then helped Spock. McCoy had been last and now he was collecting himself.
Jim had been surrounded quickly by all the nearby Starfleet personnel. The crowd was shouting and cheering. A smile slowly crossed McCoy’s face for his friend and for their safety. He was content to sit here out of the way and let Jim and Spock deal with the brass. He grimaced at the thought of the debriefings they were going to have to go through.
There was only one thing McCoy wanted. Well maybe two. He wanted to sleep and rest for about a week and he wanted Scotty next to him. Where was Scotty? And the crew? Were they still on the Franklin or had they been moved into one of the buildings?
McCoy looked over at the Franklin. He had no desire to get up and start looking. But he knew he should. He took a deep breath and was gathering himself to get up when he heard his name across the raucous crowd. He knew that brogue and would know that voice in his sleep.
He turned and saw Scotty pushing through the crowd towards him, Jaylah at his side. McCoy pushed himself down off the ship and began his way towards his husband.
Scotty reached him with a happy noise and wrapped himself tightly against the doctor. McCoy hugged him just as hard. After a moment McCoy loosened his grip and pulled back. He reached over and pulled Jaylah into the embrace as well.
“Dr. Bones!” she exclaimed in surprise.
“You’re part of this family too,” McCoy said back with a big smile. He was surprised at the fierceness with which the woman hugged him back.
“What’d’ya say Len? Time for a drink?” Scotty grinned.
“Good lord, let’s get out of here before they pull us into a meeting,” McCoy laughed. “Got your comm?”
Scotty handed it over. McCoy punched in a message to tell Jim they were headed home.
“Let’s go,” he said, throwing his arms over Scotty and Jaylah’s shoulders. “I want a shower and a meal and then to sleep for a week.”
“Home it is mo gràdh,” Scotty smiled. “You stay with us lass,” he said to Jaylah who had begun to frown, “Len said it, you’re family now. We’ve plenty of room.”
Jaylah nodded while a smile slowly crept across her face. “Family.”
It was a week before the meetings and debriefings finished. McCoy had spent some time between those at the base’s hospital, covering a few shifts and checking over his own crew. The rest of his time, as much of it as he could, he spent with Scotty.
Between them, they had made the plan for a surprise party. Walking with Jim now through the base, McCoy had doubts that Jim would appreciate it. But it was too late for second thoughts. Jim thought McCoy had called him for a drink.
“You didn’t get our time reduced out there?” McCoy asked in astonishment.
“Reduced? We know how to get through the nebula now. Bones, do you know what we could find?” Jim said in a dreamy voice.
McCoy responded dourly with all the bad things he could think of.
“It’s gonna be so awesome,” Jim said.
They closed in on a building and the doors opened for them.
“Where are we going? I thought we were getting a drink?”
“Well, I know you told me to keep it quiet but, uh…” McCoy replied as they walked in the building. He nodded forward.
“Happy birthday!” a loud chorus of voices cried out.
Jim slowly smiled and began to laugh.
“Here ye are Jim,” Scotty said coming forward with a drink in hand.
“Thanks Scotty,” said Jim. “And thanks Bones.” He bumped his shoulder into McCoy’s.
“You’re welcome,” McCoy said, as Scotty slipped a familiar arm around him.
They walked further in and McCoy picked up a glass as well.
“Everyone,” McCoy called loudly, “to James T. Kirk!”
The room toasted the captain.
“To the Enterprise,” Jim responded, “and to absent friends.”
Clinks could be heard through the room as glasses came together.
Later in the evening Jim found McCoy.
“Thank you Bones,” he said quietly. “I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome kid.”
“Come for dinner tomorrow night?” Jim asked. “Scotty too obviously,” he added.
“Sure Jim.”
The next evening McCoy rode the turbolift with Scotty up to Jim’s floor. He felt contentment deep throughout himself. He leaned slightly into Scotty and the other man took his hand.
When the lift opened he was surprised to see Jim and Spock standing outside Jim’s quarters.
“What’s up?” McCoy asked.
“So,” Jim started slowly, “we have something we need to tell you.”
“Ye are together?” Scotty asked. “Most of the ship knows that.”
“What?!” Jim sputtered and turned red. “No we aren’t!”
“Maybe ye should be,” Scotty said with a shrug as if it was obvious. McCoy smothered a laugh.
“What the captain is trying to say,” Spock said, trying not to flush.
“I’ll tell them Spock,” Jim interrupted. “Uh, well, see, you two aren’t… you aren’t actually married.”
“What do you mean Jim?” McCoy asked. He could feel his annoyance rising.
“Starfleet captains can’t do that. That tradition went out when sailing ships went out,” Jim said.
“Then why?” Scotty started.
“I told him too,” said Spock.
“What?” Scotty and McCoy said together.
“I knew how much it would mean to you Leonard. I wasn’t asleep when you thought I was. I was simply resting. As I told you previously, your emotions were projecting. Even when you were trying to keep them under control. When you asked the captain—”
“You melded with him to tell him to say yes,” McCoy finished, remembering how the Vulcan had grabbed Jim’s arm.
“It was not completely a meld…”
“But enough to get me to say yes to you,” Jim finished.
“But why Spock?” Scotty asked. “Ye could have said no, we would have been fine with that.”
“I thought it would do no harm. If we survived we would tell you the truth and you could fix our mistake. If we did not make it, we would have granted you that happiness however briefly.”
McCoy pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I want to be so angry,” he said.
“I agree,” said Scotty, “but ye meant well.”
“Well, now that we’ve told you our mistake, we’d like to make it up to you,” said Jim.
“How?” McCoy asked cautiously.
Jim and Spock stepped aside from the door. Jim keyed in the code. The door swished open.
“Surprise!” a chorus of voices cried.
“What is this?” McCoy asked as they stepped into the room.
“Since I couldn’t actually marry you, we’re throwing you a surprise wedding. Ben is qualified to do it,” said Jim coming in behind them with Spock.
“If that is still what you want of course,” Spock added.
McCoy and Scotty looked around the room at all their closest friends. Sulu and Ben were standing together with Demora by the window. Christine and Uhura were in the kitchen with M’Benga. Chekov was sitting awful close with Jaylah on a couch. Keenser was opposite them in a chair.
McCoy squeezed Scotty’s hand.
“What do you think? Wanna marry me again?” he grinned at the Scotsman.
“Again for the first time? I do,” Scotty laughed.
“Alright,” Jim said excitedly. “Let’s have a wedding!”
The End