Chapter Text
Scotty
He looked up at the judge. The man, Pike was his name if he recalled correctly, looked very calm and friendly.
“Mr. Scott?”
Scotty turned around to face his lawyer before he sat down.
“Can you tell us what this man did to you?”
The engineer glanced over at Khan who was looking straight at him, sending shivers through his body. He was just so scared.
Could he tell? He didn’t know. His heart was racing, in a bad way, tears were forming in his eyes.
“I, uhm…”
“See that, your honor? He can’t even tell what happened? Why should his words be true?”
Scotty winced at the sound of the voice of Khan’s lawyer. He had stood up from his seat, glaring at the Scotsman.
“Mr. Marcus, do I have to remind you that Mr. Scott is the victim of several years of domestic violence according to the charge? I am quite certain that it takes time to find words.”
Scotty looked up at the judge. Was he defending him? It was a strange feeling. Up until now, no one but Leonard or Jim had ever defended him.
“Did he hurt you, Mr. Scott?”
Scotty’s eyes wandered back to Mr. Spock. And he slowly nodded. Yes… Khan had hurt him. For years and years. He just hadn’t seen it.
“And is it true that he locked you up at home? That he threatened to take away your job if you didn’t work properly?”
Once again Scotty nodded and tears started to fall. And then… he started talking.
“When I met Khan seven years ago… I liked him. I liked him very much. But… my family didn’t. We lost contact because I tried to be on Khan’s side. Even back then he sometimes slapped me. I… I thought it was righteous. I hadn’t cleaned the house properly, the food had been burned… I felt like he was right to punish me for it.”
“So you admit that it was right, Mr. Scott? Then how can it be that you are saying my client did something wrong?”
“Mr. Marcus, you have time to ask your questions when Mr. Spock is finished.”
Scotty was insecure but when he looked at Leonard he saw the man giving him a nod, a sign to continue.
“It… it wasn’t right, was it? I… I couldn’t tell anymore at some point. I… It happened again and again. When we moved to the States it had been alright at first. But… then it worsened again. It became a regular thing. And… I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to cause Khan any trouble, after all… I loved him. At least that’s what I thought.”
Scotty finished his talk when he saw Mr. Spock handing an envelope to the judge.
“Hey, what is this? Why don’t you show it to us all, Mr. Spock?”
Spock turned around to look at Marcus.
“These are images of the marks and bruises found on Mr. Scott’s body. I am sure that my client does not wish for all people to see it.”
Scotty looked at the judge. The man was eyeing the photos, trying to hide his disgust. Apparently he didn’t like what he saw.
“Go on, Mr. Spock.”
“Your honor, you see the pictures right in front of you. You see what this man did to Mr. Scott. Seven years. Seven years of abuse. Seven years of pain. It would only be logical to convict Mr. Singh guilty as charged.”
Mr. Spock moved back to his seat but Scotty stayed where he was.
“Do you have any questions for Mr. Scott, Mr. Marcus?”
The other man got up and walked over to Scotty. Instantly the engineer’s eyes moved over to Jim and Leonard. They gave him comforting smiles.
“Mr. Scott. I have talked to some people that have asked you about your bruises. What did you tell them?”
Scotty swallowed, his mouth was dry.
“That I… I fell down the stairs.”
“So you lied to them? Or was it maybe just that? Maybe you are just very clumsy and delusional?”
Scotty slowly shook his head, panic gripping his heart. This man… why was he saying this? Of course… he was on Khan’s side.
“Can all of these bruises be caused by falling down some stairs?” Judge Pike asked and Mr. Spock advised him to take a look at a doctor’s document.
“The doctor says that the possibility of the bruises being caused by falling downstairs are less than 9.16 percent,” Spock explained.
“Doctor… now that is a great cue. Is it true that you had an affair with a certain man sitting here in this room?”
Scotty shifted in his seat. An affair? No, no that wasn’t true!
“It… no, I… it was only a kiss. I… I meant to tell Khan the truth about it.”
That wasn’t a lie. He had wanted to.
“Then why didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell him that you fell in love with another man? That you betrayed him?”
Scotty felt tears running down his cheeks.
“No, no! That’s not true. I didn’t betray him. I… I wanted to tell him, but… I was scared. Scared that… that he may kill me.”
“Then why did you stay with him? Why didn’t you leave him the first time he hit you? If he ever did so…”
Scotty closed his eyes, his headaches coming back. This was all too much. But he had to go through it. Right here, right now.
“I… I…”
He opened his eyes to look at Khan, he knew that he had to tell him in person.
“I loved ye, Khan. I really did love you years ago. And… I forgave you the first time you hit me. Eventually I even believed it when ye said that it was my fault. But… when I met Leonard I came to realize that it wasn’t right. What happened in our relationship was wrong. And I really wanted to tell you… but ye dinnae give me a chance to do so. I… I’m sorry that it ended up like this. But ye’re not the man I fell in love with anymore. And I’m scared of what ye have become.”
“Alright, I think I’ve heard and seen enough.”
Scotty looked up at the judge. What would he say?
McCoy
McCoy didn’t know where he’d be without Jim next to him, to keep him grounded. The urge to jump up and yell at Khan’s lawyer was overwhelming. McCoy knew it was his job to try to disprove Scotty, but it still hurt to watch. He tried to keep his face schooled in support for if Scotty looked at him. He kept an encouraging smile and nodded for him to continue. He could see the tears beginning to shine and he wished Scotty didn’t have to go through this.
A fire suddenly began to burn in the pit of McCoy’s stomach as Mr. Marcus accused Scotty of an affair. How dare he. Scotty had told him quietly one night at Jim’s how he had found out during the car chase that Khan was having one.
He startled slightly as Jim grabbed his arm.
“Breath.”
McCoy realized he’d been holding his and let it out. For Scotty. He had to be strong for Scotty. The engineer had closed his eyes on the stand. McCoy could only hope. When Scotty opened them he looked right at Khan, and spoke to him. Yes! He was so proud. Scotty appeared to find his confidence to stand up to the man who had done so much evil to him.
“Alright, I think I’ve heard and seen enough.”
McCoy’s eyes jerked back to the judge. Could he…? Was it really going to be over this quick? He glanced at Jim, who had a determined grin on his face.
“I want a brief recess to deliberate. Back here in fifteen gentlemen,” said Pike, as he picked up his gavel.
The judge exited the courtroom. Scotty slowly walked back over to the table and sat heavily. This was taking its toll on him. McCoy wanted to reach over and pull him close and hold him tight. Let him know it was alright and it would be done soon. Reassure him this was the right thing, and that he’d be there with him the whole way. But he couldn’t. Not yet. Not with an accusation of an affair thrown at Scotty.
“Hey, Spock!” Jim leaned forward and hissed the words quietly.
“Yes Mr. Kirk?” the lawyer said turning to face Jim.
“What do you think? Good chances huh?”
“Mr. Kirk. I would rather not speculate at this time.”
“I think he likes me,” Jim whispered back to McCoy.
McCoy was about to get frustrated with Jim’s antics, when he noticed it had brought a faint smile to Scotty’s face. The man was still pale, though his eyes were clear again. Mr. Spock had handed him a handkerchief when he sat.
He reached out a tentative hand and laid it on Scotty’s shoulder. He gave a squeeze and pulled his hand back.
“You’re doing good,” he whispered.
“Thank you Leonard,” Scotty replied.
There was the thrill again. Lord, he wished it was over and they could finally stop following Mr. Spock’s recommendation. He wanted to gather the other man in his arms and crush him to his chest and never let him go.
The time passed incredibly slowly as they waited for Judge Pike to return. The tension was palpable with Khan sitting in the room. Finally the judge returned.
“All rise.”
“I have reviewed the provided materials and the testimony and made my ruling. I find Mr. Khan Singh guilty.”
McCoy wanted to jump up and down. The burden felt lifted from his heart. He wanted to grab Scotty and dance around the room with him. He wanted to press kisses all over his face. But he stood still. He could see Jim’s face light up next to him. He looked at Scotty’s back. The Scotsman hadn’t moved a muscle.
“Since you’re already facing prison time Mr. Singh, my sentence seems incidental, but it’s three added years on top of what you’re already serving. And you will pay Mr. Scott’s legal fees in lieu of any other fine.”
McCoy could see Mr. Marcus looked very unhappy. He didn’t look like someone accustomed to losing.
“Mr. Spock, Mr. Marcus, thank you. Court is adjourned.” Pike hit his gavel again and stood to leave.
Scotty still hadn’t moved. Mr. Spock was speaking quietly to him and shook his hand. He nodded at McCoy and Jim as he gathered his things and left the courtroom.
Khan had been led out by his police escort and Mr. Marcus had followed.
“Scotty…” McCoy said, reaching his hand out for the man’s shoulder again.
Scotty turned at the touch, and his eyes were wet with tears again.
“I’ll meet you outside,” Jim muttered as he quickly left.
“It’s over.”
“Yes,” McCoy said. He didn’t know what else to say.
He was caught off guard when Scotty lunged at him and pressed a deep, passionate kiss against him. For a moment he resisted and then melted into Scotty.
“We should celebrate,” said Jim when they finally joined him in the lobby, arms around each other.
“Come over. I’ll make dinner and I’ve got a bottle of expensive bourbon my granddad gave me that’s been waiting for a special occasion,” said McCoy.
“Sounds good,” Jim laughed.
They made their way to the parking lot.
Scotty
It was over. It was really over. He still couldn’t believe it. Khan would be in prison for many years, which meant he couldn’t hurt Scotty anymore.
Still, the Scotsman knew that the glare his ex-boyfriend had given him when the guards had escorted him out of the room, would haunt him in his worst nightmares.
All of this would take years to cope with. But Scotty knew that he wasn’t facing it alone. There were people at his side, protecting him, comforting him.
And the most important person was standing right behind him.
Since Scotty knew that their time of being separated was ending now, he couldn’t help but jump at Leonard, hugging him and pressing a kiss onto his lips. At first the doctor seemed taken aback but it was only the first moment of surprise until he gave in and kissed him back.
This was it. This was the moment he had been waiting for so long. And Scotty would never let go of Leonard again.
They eventually left the courthouse and together Jim and Scotty drove over to Leonard’s house. On their way they passed Khan’s old house and Scotty couldn’t help but shiver.
All the bad memories washed over him for a moment. The pain, the tears, the fear.
But it would never happen again. Khan couldn’t touch him anymore. He would pay for the things he had done. To Scotty, to Leonard, to all the people his company had sold meds to.
“It’s alright, Scotty. You’ll be fine.”
He turned his head to the side and looked at Jim who was smiling brightly.
“Thanks Jimbo. Thanks for everything ye did for me.”
He squeezed the other man’s shoulder but the cafe owner just waved it off.
“No big deal. Actually, I have to thank you.”
Now Scotty was confused. Why would Jim thank him? He had done nothing anyone could be grateful for.
“For what?”
This time Kirk was smiling to himself.
“You make my best friend a better person. I know that Bones doesn’t want to admit it but… he deserves love. He deserves you. You make him happy.”
Scotty was touched by those words. Was that really true? Did he make Leonard happier than he had been? The first time he had seen the doctor he seemed like a grumpy annoyed man, but the moment he had seen Scotty… everything had changed. Their hearts had opened.
But before Scotty could start to cry again, Jim added yet another aspect why he was thankful.
“And I wouldn’t have met that hot police officer. I mean, I still don’t know her first name, but-“
“Nyota. Nyota Uhura.”
Jim’s mouth opened wide as he stared at Scotty.
“How do you-“
Scotty chuckled softly. Even though he felt bad for the answer.
“I met her again. She is… Mr. Spock’s girlfriend. Sorry, laddie.”
For a moment Jim seemed shock but then the fire in his eyes returned.
“May be a reason, but-“
“Not an obstacle, yeah,” Scotty finished Jim’s sentence and they both laughed.
“Well then… let’s get going to your new future.”
They got out of the parked car and over to Leonard’s front door.
Yeah… this was his new life. And he didn’t know yet how it’d turn out. But he was ready for it. Ready for a new start. With Leonard.
McCoy
McCoy was nervous, standing in his kitchen. He had come straight home and gotten dinner going. Jim and Scotty had stopped at Jim’s to change from their court suits.
Now that he and Scotty could be together if they wanted he didn’t know what to do. He found himself aimlessly walking about the house. Were they starting from the very beginning? They had kissed quite passionately at the courthouse. They had been getting to know each other better while they hung out with friends. But how should he greet him when the Scotsman arrived at his home?
He felt his anxiety rise as he heard the car doors outside. Somehow he made it to the front door and opened it as Jim raised his hand to knock.
“Good timing Bones,” Jim laughed and breezed past him.
And there was Scotty. The man he had wanted since the first time he’d seen him. Scotty smiled and all of McCoy’s nerves vanished.
“Hi,” he said, as he drew Scotty close and kissed him quickly.
McCoy closed the door, then put an arm around Scotty’s waist and pulled him after Jim, who had headed straight for the kitchen.
Jim had picked up the bourbon bottle from the counter.
“Wow Bones, your granddad has good taste,” Jim said in amazement. “I’m not saying I stole a bottle once, but this is perfect for celebrating.”
“Well pour it already kid,” McCoy said, motioning to the three glasses he already had on the counter.
Soon they were all holding a glass.
“To Scotty,” said Jim, holding up his glass.
“To Scotty,” McCoy agreed.
“No, no,” Scotty flushed. “To both of you for helping me open my eyes.”
The glasses were bumped together, and appreciative noises soon filled the room.
“Oh lad, that is good.”
“Mmmmm.”
Dinner was a happy event as Jim regaled them with stories of his past. McCoy couldn’t help himself from staring at Scotty from time to time. The man was lighter than McCoy had ever seen him. A weight around his neck had been taken away. He no longer had to worry.
“I’ll clean up!” Jim offered. “Go relax you two,” he said and pushed them towards the living room.
A touch of McCoy’s nerves came back as he sat next to Scotty on the couch. They were shoulder to shoulder. Peace washed through him at the contact.
“I don’t think I can ever thank you enough Leonard,” Scotty said softly.
McCoy reached over and twined their fingers together.
“Don’t worry about it,” he answered.
The electricity he had felt at his first touch on Scotty’s arm months ago flew through his fingers and up his arm. He sighed happily and settled in close to Scotty.
So happy and content were they together, that it took much longer than it probably should have for them to realize there were no longer dish noises coming from the kitchen.
“What happened to Jim?” Scotty asked.
“I’ll go see,” McCoy said, reluctantly pulling himself off the couch and away from Scotty.
The kitchen was empty when he got there and there was a note on the counter. He picked it up.
‘Have fun you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Stay safe. Jim.’
Next to the ‘stay safe’ Jim had drawn an arrow and left a small foil covered packet.
“Dammit Jim!”
“What’s wrong?” Scotty asked coming into the kitchen.
McCoy’s face heated and he swiped Jim’s note and gift into a drawer quickly.
“Nothing. He snuck out and left us.”
“Oh. But he’s my ride.”
McCoy walked over to Scotty.
“I can take you. Or… or you,… you can stay if you want.” More heat rose across McCoy’s face.
“Oh,” Scotty said with wide eyes.
“We can do this as fast or slow as you like, it’s up to you Scotty. I’ll follow what you want.”
“I… I think I’d like to stay. If you’ll have me,” Scotty said shyly.
“You can stay as long as you like,” McCoy said, and he closed the distance between them.
McCoy pulled Scotty to his chest like he had wanted to at the courthouse; like he had wanted to for so long. He ran one hand up the back of Scotty’s head and placed his other on Scotty’s cheek.
“You can stay forever,” he breathed before kissing Scotty again with all the love he could.
The End