Chapter Text
McCoy had followed Jim to the bridge when they had called to say the ship was coming up on Yorktown. He’d made his surprise at the sight of the space station known and now was standing at the back of the bridge with Scotty.
“Don’t worry mo gràdh,” Scotty tried to reassure him. “I promise it’s completely safe. I’ve looked through the plans myself and they are impressive.”
Scotty squeezed his hand. It made the ring on his finger dig in slightly, but he was used to that after all the months of wearing it. He was still in awe sometimes that Scotty had said yes. He squeezed back to acknowledge Scotty’s words.
McCoy had no doubts when it came to Scotty’s engineering prowess and genius. If Scotty said it was safe, it was safe. Even if it still made him uneasy to look at. He’d try to save any more judgement for once they were docked and could walk around the mind bending streets themselves.
He found himself holding his breath as the Enterprise entered the station’s airlock. Scotty smiled at him and slipped an arm around his waist. McCoy smiled gratefully back.
“Thanks leannan,” he said for only Scotty to hear. They didn’t often make shows of affection on duty and very rarely on the bridge. But Scotty always knew what McCoy needed, most times before McCoy even knew himself.
The warmth of the arm around him made McCoy feel grounded again. He sometimes couldn’t wait for the day they got back to Earth. They had been making small plans and decisions since they had each proposed at the same time. But Earth was their biggest decision. Both wanted the opportunity to share their day with their families at home and their Enterprise family.
“What do you want to do first Len?” Scotty asked as they made their way off the Enterprise.
McCoy shrugged. “Whatever you’d like. You researched it more than me.”
“Well, we could go eat, then find our quarters? Settle in and explore around tomorrow?”
“That is fine with me,” McCoy said, taking Scotty’s hand as they made their way through the crowd outside of the ‘fleet docking bay.
Scotty joined McCoy at the window of their quarters. They were being put up in the officers tower. Their rooms overlooked a central plaza with a pond in the middle.
“It’s a magnificent achievement,” Scotty said in a hushed voice.
McCoy put an arm around Scotty and pulled him close.
“It makes my stomach turn if I look too long,” McCoy replied.
Scotty leaned his head onto McCoy’s shoulder.
“Still though…”
“Yes, it’s impressive,” McCoy conceded. He’d admit it to his fiancé but no one else.
“Two whole weeks love!” Scotty said happily.
McCoy didn’t answer. He leaned his head onto Scotty’s and let out a content noise.
“I love our Lady, but a break is well deserved. For her and us,” the engineer said.
They stood a few more minutes in silence.
“Come on love, let’s get to bed,” Scotty suggested.
He took McCoy’s hand and pulled him in the direction of the bedroom.
The general comm to return to the ship came while they were walking through an exhibit on the design and working of the space station. Scotty had argued he could go see it by himself knowing it would bore McCoy, but McCoy had argued back that with Scotty it might be fun.
Both of their comms went off at the same time. McCoy gave Scotty a confused look as they pulled them out.
“What could he possibly want?” McCoy muttered.
“It’s a general all call,” Scotty responded. “It went out to everyone on the ship.”
“We’re on leave,” McCoy complained.
“On ship in an hour,” Scotty read the message aloud. “Guess it’s back to get uniforms first.”
McCoy could hear the trace of disappointment in the Scotsman’s voice. The CEO had been very excited to see the exhibit and to be pulled away after so short a time… McCoy would bring him back to it. He made that promise within himself.
McCoy watched as Scotty unbuttoned his shirt enough to pull over his head. He grinned.
“How much time do we have?” he asked with a wink.
Scotty laughed warmly.
“Not enough for all I’d want to do to you.”
McCoy moved closer and wrapped arms around the Scotsman.
“They’d never leave without the two people who keep everything together…” he trailed off and pressed his lips to Scotty’s.
“But Keenser and Christine are probably already onboard,” Scotty laughed when they broke apart.
McCoy rolled his eyes at his love and moved to continue getting his own uniform on.
“What do you suppose is going on?” Scotty asked as they walked together through the Enterprise’s halls.
“Don’t know,” McCoy replied. “I sent Jim a message asking, but he must be busy.” McCoy shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”
They reached the spot where they would have to go their separate ways to their departments. Scotty stretched up to place a quick peck on McCoy. McCoy responded by squeezing Scotty’s hand.
“See you soon leannan,” McCoy said.
“Mo gràdh!” Scotty called back over his shoulder as he began to walk away.
McCoy continued on to medbay. He walked in to see many slightly upset faces. No one had expected to be called back so soon from leave. McCoy sympathized; he felt the same.
“Any word Chris?” he quietly asked his head nurse.
“No,” she answered with a huff. He knew it wasn’t directed at him.
The ship gave a small lurch as the docking arms retracted.
“Well if everything is settled here, then I’m gonna go up and find out why I’m not sitting in a bar with a drink right now.”
Christine gave a brief smile and turned back to her work.
There was a strange alien woman on the bridge when McCoy reached it. Perhaps she had something to do with why they had all been called back on their first day of leave. McCoy had no time to ask before Jim began to make a ship wide announcement.
A ship in trouble, in a nebula. The woman was from the lost ship then. McCoy studied her briefly, wondering where her home planet may be. He was shaken from his thoughts, literally, as the ship began to pass into the nebula. He reached a hand out to steady himself on the captain’s chair.
The moments were tense until finally Chekov called that it was thinning out.
“This is Altamid,” the alien woman said as a planet came into view. The words were delayed a moment as the translator at her collar caught up.
McCoy’s neck began to prickle. He listened as Spock called out the planet’s attributes. Why he suddenly felt dread he couldn’t say. This was a rescue mission, wasn’t it? Should be straightforward. He glanced over at Jim. What was he thinking? Nothing was ever straightforward with James T. Kirk.
A shape began to move through the viewport. It undulated as Jim asked for it to be magnified. Uhura broke the silence next with words of a signal, and then that they were being jammed.
Jim swung to look at the alien woman.
“What is this?” he demanded.
A frightened look crossed her face, and that settled McCoy’s dread more firmly in his gut.
“Sir…”
Jim turned back to the viewport in time to see the undulating shape break apart.
“Shields up! Red alert!”
The words were barely out of his mouth when the bridge was drenched in red light.
McCoy took a deep breath, and the dread climbed up his chest. Jim gave the command to fire. Moments later Chekov reported it was ineffective.
“Shields are gone!” Sulu cried out.
“Warp us out of here!” Jim said.
McCoy heard Sulu engage the drive and nothing happened. Explosions could be heard ringing around the ship.
“Why are we still here?” Jim demanded.
“I can’t engage the warp drive!” Sulu replied.
“Scotty I need warp now!” Jim called into his chair intercom.
McCoy grew tense at the panic in his fiancé’s voice.
“I cannae sir! The nacelles… they’ve—”
There was a pause and McCoy held his breath.