The BLTS Archive- Heart's Adventure
by T'Thrill (TThrill1216@aol.com)

---

This is a story written for the Scotty-Fuh-Q Fest.   Scotty lovers of
the world unite! The Scotty Fuh-Q Fest -
http://geocities.com/scotty_fuh_q_fest/

Acknowledgement: Many heartfelt thanks to my two wonderful betas -
Selek and Marcee.  Without them both, everyting I write would be mere
drivel.

Warning: This story contains adult themes and with explicit m/m sex.
If you are not interested in such things, or are under eighteen years
of age, please find your entertainment elsewhere.

Disclaimer: Copyright April, 2001 by T'Thrill. This story is an
original work of amateur fiction based on the Star Trek universe
created by and solely owned by Paramount, Viacom, and all of its
entities. I make no financial gain from this work of amateur fiction
what so ever.

Archive: ASCEML, COCO_SSD, Scotty Fuh-Q Fest, and BLTS provided that
all  header information is included. Please archive complete text
only. All others please ask first by contacting me. Thanks in advance.

Comments: Feedback is always welcome

---

"Well I'll be a wearing me Grandmother's bloomers!"  The sickbay doors
slid open and the thick Scottish accent hung in the air.

McCoy spun around.  That voice, that wonderful voice, could not be
from  anyone but his oldest friend.  "Scotty!  Well I'll be dammed!  I
didn't know you were serving on this tub!" 

"Aye!  Someone has to keep her together, and it might as well be the
best!"

As they moved swiftly toward each other, McCoy gave the Scotsman an 
appraising look, his smile deepening.  Montgomery Scott was decked out
in a crimson jumpsuit, his tool belt hanging at an angle from his hips
and an unruly wisp of dark hair played across the forehead,
highlighting the smiling brown eyes.

In just a few long strides, Scotty had reached the center of the room
where McCoy stood and, holding out a hand, firmly grasped Leonard's
with his own.  "Of all the people I never thought to see out here, you
were at the top of my list!"

Clutching the warm hand tightly, Leonard looked into the smiling,
welcoming face.  "Well now, I guess if the Enterprise is good enough
for you...then I'm in the right place!"

They released the handshake, and Scotty placed a warm hand on McCoy's 
shoulder. "What are ye doing here, Len?  Last I heard, you said deep
space wasn't meant for man to be messing around with, and we would'nae
be catching you venturing any further than the Io colony."

"Oh, that.  We all have the right to rash statements when we're still
in our youth.   Even I have the right to change my mind, don't I?" 
Leonard gave himself a quick poke in the chest with his thumb.  

"Leonard McCoy changes his mind?  Now I've heard it all!" He chuckled. 
"Have ye been on Io all this time?" 

McCoy's felt a rush of disappointment as the hand dropped from his
shoulder.  "No, I've been moving around a lot these last few years."

"And the family, how are they?  You and Joan had a little girl, if I
remember correctly.  Will they be joining you?"

"I guess you haven't heard.  Joan tossed me out on my ear years ago,
and  Johanna is not a little girl any longer.  She's at the Munich
Academy of  Science, getting her doctorate in surgical nursing. 
Listen, if you've got time to catch up, let's go to my office.  I'm
ready to take a break from unpacking.  I may even be able to scare up
something to drink."

Scotty drew his other arm from behind his back, a bottle of greenish
liquid dangling from his fingers.  "Now I would'nae come to welcome an
old friend onboard empty handed, would I?  That would be inhospitable! 
If you can find a couple of glasses, I will do the honors."  Scotty
cocked his head slightly and McCoy had to laugh at the quick grin and
flick of the eyebrow.  He had known Montgomery back in their Academy
days, but a lot of years had passed since they last kept in touch. 
Life in the service does that to even good friends.  It was nice to
see a friendly face, and be reunited with this likeable man.  In a
sweeping motion, he pointed Scotty toward the entrance to his office
and within moments, had pulled two glasses from a, yet unpacked, box
and sat them on his desk. 

Scotty poured some of the sharply aromatic liquid into each glass, and 
Leonard reached for his.  Holding their glasses up, Scotty said, "To
the  future," and they tossed the fiery concoction down their throats. 

Leonard blew a breath out from between his pursed lips, shook his head
and laughed.  "Isn't this stuff illegal?"

"Ich!  It was a gift, and I'll not be telling from whom!"  They
laughed with the ease of old friends.  "So," Scotty poured more into
each glass and continued, "what has kept you on the move these past
years and where have you been?"

"Ah, too many places to name.  Usually wherever the latest outbreak of
some unknown plague had occurred.  I was tired of getting thrown into
one disaster after another, and when I heard Piper was retiring, I
decided to put in for a ship.  I thought Chris Pike was still the
Captain, but I just met Kirk.  Seems young.  Off the record, Scotty,
what have I gotten myself into?"

Scotty looked around, as if to make sure they were not being
overheard.   "Leonard, the crew on the Enterprise is the finest in the
Fleet.  The  Captain?  Well, he's the youngest captain Starfleet has
ever commissioned, so I hear.  I'll tell you, when Captain Pike
announced he was moving up, and we heard Kirk was his replacement, I
almost put in for transfer myself.  But how could I leave the
Enterprise?  These are my engines, my bairns, and they depend on me
being here.  I could'nae leave them."

McCoy knew Scotty was about to get sidetracked to a discussion about
the  ship.  He wanted to know about Kirk, so he drew the Engineer's
thoughts back to the subject at hand.  "And Kirk?"

"Oh, he reported about a month ago, and what a month it's been!  We
ended up at the galaxy's rim and all hell broke loose.   Captain Kirk
ended up having to kill Lt. Mitchell, someone he had known since his
days at the Academy.  Dr. Denher was killed, we almost lost the ship,
and Dr. Piper decided working under Kirk was more excitement than he
could stand.  He put in for retirement as soon as things settled down. 
But, with Kirk, I have a feeling none of us should get too
comfortable.  He's gonna to keep the pot stirred, that's for sure!"

McCoy looked at his old friend over the rim of the glass.  He tried to 
decipher what Scotty was saying...or better yet, what he wasn't.  "So
what are you telling me, Scotty?  Is he reckless?"

Scotty shook his head and poured each another drink.  "You'd think so
the way I'm telling this.  James Kirk is not reckless.  Fearless is
more like it.  I've nae seen a man so willing to jump into the middle
of a fire, but only if somebody's got'ta.  I don't think he would ask
anyone to do anything he would'nae do himself.  And the crew has
really come to respect his judgment."    "That makes me feel better. 
Sounds like it's going to be an interesting  mission."

"Aye!  That it will be!  Even our Science Officer, Mr. Spock, a Vulcan
who hasn't said ten words since I met him, has come out of his shell. 
Captain Kirk may be young, but I believe he really is one hell of a
commander."  Scotty downed the last of his drink and offered another
round, but Leonard declined.  He was already feeling the slightest
effects of the powerful potion as he stood up. 

"A Vulcan, huh?  I look forward to meeting this Mr. Spock.  Last year,
I  spent a week on Vulcan for a conference, but there were a variety
of  scientists and I didn't have the opportunity to really get to know
any of the Vulcan team.  However, they seemed most hospitable and open
to new ideas."

Scotty shook his head, and looked toward McCoy.  "Len, are ye sure ye
was on Vulcan?  Hospitable?  New ideas?  Well, just keep an open mind
when you meet Mr. Spock.  He may seem a wee bit distant at first."

Leonard laughed.  "I will.  I haven't found a situation yet where a
little good-old southern charm doesn't go a long way."  They had
walked back to the main room, and Leonard looked around at the open
drawers and packing crates.  "I guess I better get back to organizing
sickbay.  I think Dr. Piper must have been left-handed.  Everything is
set up backwards."

"Then I will let you get back to work.  You want to meet for dinner?"

Scotty would never know how grateful McCoy was for this offer.  He was 
already feeling a little lonely out here in the hind-end of space. 
"Sure, I'd like that.  I should be finished up by 1800.  Will that
work for you?"

"That'll be good.  It'll give me time to get beta shift settled in
before we meet.  Do ye know where the officers dining room is
located?"

"Not yet, but I'll find it.  I have to learn my way around the ship
sooner or later."

"Len, if you're anything like you use'ta be, you'll know your way
around the ship within the day.  I remember you being quite a stickler
for details."

"Give me a couple of days, okay?  I'm a lot older now." 

"Don't try to pull that on me.  I know we're the same age!" McCoy
could hear Scotty laughing as the doors to the corridor closed behind
him. 

Leonard turned to the opened box and began to unpack it, and realized
he was smiling.  It felt good to smile, again.  Familiarity was
something he had not had the luxury of in so many years.  He secretly
hoped his days as a roving troubleshooter was over.  He was ready for
some continuity to his life. 

McCoy was deep into the reorganizing of the crew medical disks when he
heard the swish of the sickbay doors in the outer room as they opened
and closed.  He was squatted at the bottom drawer of a large cabinet
and had one hand full with the small, round records, and the other
holding the place where they were to go.  "If someone is looking for
me, I'm in here," he called, not looking up from the bottom drawer. 
As he placed the last of the disks in their place, he heard someone
clear their throat.  He pushed the drawer shut and stood up.  There,
sitting comfortably on the edge of his desk, perched the Captain. 

"Captain Kirk, good to see you."

"Getting settled in?" Kirk sat on the edge of his desk, one leg thrown
over the corner, the other on the floor, his hands folded across his
chest.  It occurred to the doctor that this man was made to sit in
just that spot.  But, McCoy doubted that this man looked out of place
anywhere.  There certainly was a charismatic aura to him.  It was as
if he carried the responsibilities of command as easily as most men
carry a credit chip. 

Realizing he had walked to his chair and sat down facing his Captain,
but had not yet answered him, he said, "Just about there.  Not a whole
lot to do other than a little reorganizing.  Piper ran a clean shop. 
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to get to know him.  From what I see
around here, I would have liked him."

Jim nodded and picked one up of the two glasses that was still on the
desk and wafted it in front of his face.  He raised his eyebrows and
flashed a quick smile.  "Well, I see our Chief Engineer has already
been by to welcome you."

Leonard couldn't help but chuckle.  "Yeah, Commander Scott came by.  I
have known Scotty since we were in the Academy together.  It's been a
while, and I didn't know he was serving on the Enterprise until he
showed up here this morning.  It was good to see him again."

Jim sat the glass down.  "Leave it to Scotty to welcome you onboard
with  Romulan Ale.  He always seems to have a bottle, although God
only knows where he gets it from."

"He always was resourceful."

"So, Bones, you learning your way around?"

Leonard looked up and blinked.  "Bones?  That's a new one."

"Well, you being our Chief Surgeon, I have to assume you're
experienced in all fields.  The GP that was our doctor when I was
growing up referred to himself as a "Sawbones."  He said it meant he
was qualified in just about all areas, including patching up broken
bodies.  You remind me of him, a little."

Leonard laughed.  "And I have the sneakiest notion that you probably
kept the man in business!  Okay, Bones McCoy it is.  I like it!   And,
it fits.  I am, after all, just a country doctor." 

"Call yourself a 'country doctor,' if you like, but remember, I have
seen your resume.  I know you are more than qualified to handle
anything we manage to throw at you."

"Thank you, Captain.  I will have everything ship-shape before the end
of the day."

"Please, I want to have an open relationship with my senior staff. 
Call me Jim.  At least when we are not on the bridge."

"Then, thank you, Jim."  McCoy looked carefully at the man perched on
his desk.  McCoy had decided he liked him immediately, but he had not
anticipated being so comfortable with him.  Someone this young, given
the responsibility for a ship of this size, could be expected to be
overbearing and cocky.  Leonard felt none of this from Kirk.  There
was a feeling of camaraderie that was already forming between them. 
Leonard had no doubt that he and this man were destined to become fast
friends. 

They talked a while longer about the ship and the crew, and all that
he would need to be prepared for.  Basically, he would need to be
ready for anything at a moment's notice.  Jim told him he would be
involved in not only all factors onboard that affected the health of
the crew, but in landing parties and all interaction with any new
species.  Jim made it clear that he would be relying heavily on his
CMO's opinions and suggestions.  By the time Jim left, Leonard was
well aware that his was going to be a much more involved position than
he had anticipated.  His job was going to be expanded far beyond just
the crew.  It felt good to know he was an integral part of the senior
staff.  He knew he had found his home. 

---

Eighteen hundred hours came quicker than he had anticipated and
Leonard only had time for a quick shower before meeting Scotty in the
dining hall. Scotty had been right. After Jim’s visit this afternoon,
he knew he didn’t want to be called to a part of the ship and not know
how to get there. He had pulled the schematics of the ship, and by
dinner, felt he could comfortably find his way around if he needed to.

Scotty was not surprised to find Leonard leaning against the wall
waiting on him when he exited the turbolift. They ordered their dinner
and sat down to eat. The first thing Leonard discovered was that he
decidedly did not like the taste of starship food. He knew his first
duty would be talking to the head of the food preparations staff. Some
of the food was synthesized, and he knew little could be done about
that. But there were prepared dishes that could be fixed so they would
be appetizing as well as healthy. He didn’t want to start his tour of
duty having to worry about the nutritional requirements of the crew
because they were not eating right.

Over the meal, the two men caught up with what each had been doing
these last years. It wasn’t long before the comfort they had felt
together in the past, had returned full force. Scotty watched the man
with the ice-blue eyes across from him, and feelings that he had
suppressed years ago, came swarming back to the surface. It was a
sweet pain that he had forgotten could hurt so much, and yet, at the
same time, feel so wonderful. It was true that at the Academy, he and
Len, and later Joan, had been very close friends. But Len had never
shown any indication that he was willing to take their friendship to
another level. As a matter of fact, Scotty had never seen him show any
interest in another male. And once Joan entered the picture, there was
no doubt in Scotty’s mind that Len and Joan seemed to have the
proverbial ‘match made in heaven.’ After graduation, the three of them
had planned to spend the summer together, but Scotty accepted the
first offer that came along that got him off of Earth quickly. Hanging
around and watching them was much too painful.

Now, by some miracle, Len was seated here with him. He watched the
animated gestures as the man spoke, and when the fingers entwined and
the hands, now showing more creases than he remembered, came to rest
on the table between them, Scotty felt his own hand come up from his
lap in preparation to cover them with his own. But the motion was
abated when their Captain joined them at the table.

"Well…well…Gentlemen! Scotty, I hope you are not teaching my new CMO
any bad habits!" He seated himself at one of the two empty chairs.

"Bad habits, Captain? Now you know that I’m strictly a ‘by the book’
kind of officer! Why in heavens name would ye think I would be passing
along anything that wasn’t on the up and up?"

McCoy watched the ease of the two men as they spoke. But he noticed
that Scotty had flinched slightly when the Captain first came to the
table. Whatever caused that was gone in an instant, and the men were
instantly comfortable in each other’s presence.

Jim chuckled as he responded, "Oh, I don’t know. Anybody that welcomes
the new Doctor onboard with Romulan Ale, I have to be suspicious of."

"Now who would do such a thing, Captain?" Scotty feigned innocently.

"I just wonder, Mr. Scott. I just wonder!"

Jim turned his attention toward Leonard. "Well, Bones, have you
learned your way around the ship, yet?"

"I have a pretty decent idea of where the main corridors lead, just
don’t throw me any curves for a day or two."

"Sorry, Doctor, no promises. Things happen around here rather
quickly."

Leonard felt, more than saw, the man walk up beside him. It was a
heated presence he felt at his elbow. He turned and looked up at one
of the most striking individuals he had ever encountered. Jet-black
hair, rigid stance, upswept eyebrows, pointed ears, and an aura that
screamed ‘no nonsense.’

Jim was the first to speak. "Spock, join us. I don’t think you have
met our new addition to the medical staff. Dr. Leonard McCoy, this is
my First Officer, Mr. Spock. Bones, you and Spock will work closely
together because he also doubles as the ship’s Science Officer."

Spock seated himself and nodded toward McCoy. "Doctor McCoy, the
Captain has informed me of your credentials. It will be interesting to
work with you."

"Mr. Spock, I’m dammed glad to finally meet you! I was telling Mr.
Scott today, that I was on Vulcan for a short time last year. I didn’t
get the chance to see much of the place, mainly just the conference
center. It was in a city called Shalekar. Do you happen to be from
that neck of the woods?"

"Doctor, I believe you are referring to a city in the northwest
quadrant known as Sha le’kur. And, no, Doctor McCoy, I have never had
cause to travel to that particular quadrant. However, I can assure you
that there are no wooded areas to be found in that region of Vulcan."

"Well, however it’s pronounced, yeah! That’s the place! It seemed like
a nice city, what little I got to see of it while I was there."

Spock took another bite of his salad, then with precision, took the
napkin from his lap, wiped each corner of his mouth, refolded the
napkin and replaced it in his lap before responding. "Not having
knowledge of the general layout of the city, I would not presume to
dispute you."

Now, for some inexplicable reason, the demeanor of the man that had
joined them was beginning to get on McCoy’s last nerve. He wasn’t
sure, but he felt like he was being insulted. "So, what part of Vulcan
do you come from, Mr. Spock?"

"My father’s family is from the desert region. The city of Shi’Kahr."

"Is your mother from there, too?"

"My mother was born in the Pacific Basin on Terra, Doctor."

McCoy realized that Jim and Scotty were sitting back watching the
interaction between himself and Mr. Spock. Glancing in their
direction, Leonard could almost swear he saw a glint of amusement in
the Captain’s eye. He turned his attention back to the Vulcan.

"So your mother is Human, Mr. Spock?"

"My mother is native to Terra. However, Doctor, even though I am
genetically half human, I am a Vulcan."

"You make it sound like being half human is something to be ashamed
of. I would think you’d take pride in both facets of your heritage!"
For some reason, Leonard didn’t for the life of him know why, he
wasn’t exactly angered by this man’s attitude, but he was certainly
irritated. This wasn’t the first Vulcan he had ever met, but this was
certainly the most arrogant. Leonard knew his answer was more adamant
than the situation called for, but he wanted to get a rise out of this
man.

"I do not wish to upset you, Doctor. I was not attempting to demean
either of my heritages. I was merely stating the fact that I am a
Vulcan. And pride, Doctor McCoy, is just one of the many emotions that
Vulcan’s find most illogical. You, however, strike me as a man that
allows his emotions to be his undoing."

"Logic? I’ll just bet you think logic is the be-all and end-all to
everything. I’ll tell you this, I’ll take a set of good-old honest
emotions over all the tea in China anytime!"

"I do not understand the significance of comparing emotions with the
primary herbal export of one of Terra’s regions. However, if you are
attempting to state your preference for emotion over logic, then I can
give you numerous examples where emotional responses have caused
injury, death, even the annihilation of whole cultures."

"I’m not saying that anyone can succeed by relying solely on emotions.
But to try to deny the importance they have played in any advanced
society, now that is illogical!"

With some modicum of satisfaction, Leonard knew he had succeeded in
cracking that hard shell when he watched an eyebrow climb nearly
underneath the shiny black hair. Spock folded his napkin and placed it
on his tray, straightened himself in his seat and was obviously
preparing a lengthy response when Jim leaned in and interrupted the
flow of the conversation. "Gentlemen…I don’t believe that this debate
is going to be settled this evening. Let’s continue this at a later
time, shall we?" He looked across to the stoic First Officer. "Chess
this evening, Mr. Spock?"

"That would be agreeable, Captain. Would you care to meet in my
cabin?"

"Sure. Let me do a quick walk through, and I will meet you there in
thirty minutes."

Spock nodded, rose from the chair, picked up his tray and turned
toward Leonard. "Doctor McCoy, I hope I have not offended you. I do
look forward to working with someone with your qualifications."

McCoy smiled at the man. He may be infuriating, but there was no doubt
that there was something about him that Leonard liked. Maybe it was
that he felt that this man was going to be a challenge, to keep him on
his toes, so to speak. Whatever it was, he looked forward to further
interaction with Spock. "Absolutely no offense taken, sir. I have
enjoyed our discussion. I, too, look forward to working with you. And,
I hope to see you again soon."

Spock nodded his understanding. "I am certain we will see each other
often, Doctor. Our cabins are located next to each other. Avoidance
would be impossible."

Leonard rolled his eyes and smiled at the two still left at the table.

As Spock turned to walk away, Jim stood up and leaned over to Leonard.
"I am impressed, Bones. There’s not many that can hold their own with
Spock without losing their temper."

"Well, Jim, I can’t guarantee that I’ll never lose my temper, but the
fact is, I like him."

Spock stopped his advance toward the recycler and turned back to the
table. "Why thank you, Doctor."

McCoy looked like a man just caught in a phaser blast. Jim stood up
and picked up his tray. "Oh, yeah. There is one thing about Vulcan’s,
they have a terrific sense of hearing," he chuckled. He then turned
toward Scotty. "Mr. Scott, I leave our Doctor McCoy in your hands.
Please do not do anything that would prevent him from reporting to
duty on time, okay?"

"Nae, Captain! I don’t know why you can’nae trust me!" Scotty grinned
toward Kirk.

"With our engines, Mr. Scott, I trust you with my life. With our
doctor…well, that is quite a different matter!" Kirk laughed as he
headed for the recycler. They watched him walk out of the dining room.

Scotty turned to Leonard. "So, Len, that is the famous ‘southern
charm’?"

"What? You think I went overboard? That is one man in serious need of
an emotional outburst."

"And the day you accomplish that, Leonard McCoy, I want to be there to
see it!" Scotty laughed and stood up. "So, what do ye want to do this
evening?"

"You tell me, Scotty. Remember, I’m new to a starship. What is there
to do?"

"Well, myself, I usually spend the evening with a good technical
journal. But we have several recreation rooms, the officer’s lounge,
the botanical gardens and a vid theater, just among the main forms of
entertainment. Come on and I’ll give you the tour."

---

An hour later, they were alone in one of the small observation rooms.
Scotty had shown him many of the recreation areas but nothing had held
their attention for very long. Now seated facing the viewing port,
with the lights turned low for optimal observation, they watched as
the ship streaked quickly past the brilliant stars against the black
canvas of space. In this room, they began to speak in hushed tones, as
if not to disturb the peaceful scene displayed before them.

"Jesus, Scotty, what a sight!" Leonard whispered.

"Aye! It is something you forget about after you’ve been out here for
a while. It’s nice to be reminded what it’s all about, sometimes."

"Since Joan and I broke up, I’ve been shipped all over the galaxy. But
I never took the time to really enjoy the view. Thank you for bringing
me here."

Scotty turned slightly in his seat and looked at the profile of the
man sitting just inches away. "Len, do you mind if I ask what happened
between you and Joan? The two of you were always together and seemed
like the perfect couple. I was surprised when you said you had
separated."

McCoy smiled to himself and turned his attention to his companion. He
realized that when Scotty got serious, the heavy Scottish brogue
almost disappeared altogether. The voice of his friend was low and
graveled, and the beautiful sound felt like it was stroking his spine.
"Yeah, we were great friends in school. Best friends. Well, you
remember, the three of us were inseparable. We should have left it at
that. After graduation, after you left, I had the opportunity to do
surgery at the Academy Hospital in Atlanta. There was a large research
center there, and I talked Joan into joining me. I think the problems
started not long after we became intimate, but by that time she was
pregnant."

Scotty interrupted, "You mean that the whole time you were
together…that we were at the Academy…the two of you never…?"

"No, we were friends, that’s all. I never thought of her in that way.
But I was so damned lonely. It was not until she moved to Atlanta that
we started a sexual relationship. When it did happen, it surprised
both of us. She hadn’t considered that our relationship would become
physical, and had never had a contraceptive implant put in. And
wouldn’t you just know, the first night we had sex, she got pregnant.
By that time, I had convinced myself that I was ready for a family,
dog, house, the whole damned dream. I pushed for her to keep the baby
and for us to get married. I really thought that we could work it out.
I wanted a child and wanted be a part of its life. That is the one
thing I’ll never regret. Johanna was my saving grace, the light of my
life. Joan was never happy in Atlanta and became involved in research
that took her away for months at a time to places that she could never
take a baby."

Scotty’s rich voice soothed. "A lot of marriages survive separations
due to work. In the Fleet, it is almost expected."

"It was more than just the separations. When Johanna was twelve, it
had become obvious that she was far more advanced than any of the
local schools had the ability to deal with. She fell in love with a
school in Munich, and decided that was where she wanted to go. It was
at that point that I decided to see what else was out there. There was
a lot that I refused to admit, especially to myself. And, well, I made
a better friend and father than I did a husband. I wasn’t as
supportive of Joan as she wanted me to be. She wanted us to go into
research together, and all I ever wanted was hands-on medicine with
real patients."

"No, I don’t see you in a life of research. So, after Johanna went off
to school you left?"

"Not right away. I moved to several medical centers, and each time
getting placed higher and higher in the administrative end of it. They
had me reorganizing hospitals all over the place. It was a lot of
paper pushing, and I hated it. Joan was working on Io at the research
center and wanted me to join her. It seemed a better choice than what
I was doing, so I moved. And, it was still close enough for Johanna to
join us on breaks from school. But I soon learned that more than paper
shuffling, I hated pure research. Joan couldn’t understand my longing
to get back to hands on medicine."

McCoy stood up and took the couple of steps to the viewport. Then he
turned and propped against the railing, his feet out in front of him.
He wasn’t sure how much to tell Scotty, but, after all, this was his
oldest friend. "I don’t want it to sound like it was her fault. That
was the beginning of the breakdown, but I was the one to finally drive
the nail in the coffin. The kicker was when she walked into my office
late that night and…well…found me with someone else."

"You mean you were…"

"Yeah, I was! But as bad as it was during the break-up, there was
relief, too. We were both glad it had finally come to a head and was
over. By this time, with Johanna away at school, the only thing that
was still holding us together was the odd comfort people find in
monotony. My dad became ill and I returned to Earth to be with him."
Leonard realized he had balled his fists so tight that the nails were
cutting into his palms. He relaxed his hands and rubbed the indentions
with his fingers. "After he died, I knew I couldn’t return to Io. I
put in to reactivate my commission and requested to be sent to any
place doctors were needed the most. I shipped out that same week."

"I’m sorry to hear it, especially about your father. I really liked
him. Some of my best memories are going to the cabin with the two of
you during breaks. And you, have you found what you were looking for?"

Still leaning against the rail, he crossed his arms in front of him
and looked down toward his feet. "I think so. I know I said I got
tired of being shuffled from one disaster to another, but it was real
medicine. Hell, I’ve felt more alive in the last eight years that I
have since…well…since the Academy. And now, being here, it’s like I
have finally found what I’ve been searching for. You, my friend, are a
big part of that. You don’t know how good it is to see you again."
Leonard stopped. What he was feeling was getting dangerously close to
the surface. Deciding to quickly change the direction of the
conversation, he looked up toward Scotty, and asked, "But enough about
me, how about you? You never married, tried a contract, anything like
that?"

Scotty paused for a moment and cleared his voice before he answered.
"Me? Nae! I never found anyone that wanted to put up with a life that
was primarily one of engines and technical journals. I sent some years
going ship to ship before Captain Pike requested me for the
Enterprise. Besides…I never found anyone…not after…it just never
seemed the right time." He stopped as if there was more to add, but
then decided against it. There was a silence between them, and the air
around them seemed to be crackling with static of unspoken thoughts.

From somewhere, Scotty’s voice broke through. "So the new lady, she
didn’t work out?"

"What new lady?"

"Len, you said you were caught with your britches down. When I knew
you, you were never one to have indiscriminate relationships. Hell, I
thought Joan had been your only lover, but now I find out you weren’t
even being intimate with her. I have to assume the lady you were
caught with must’a been something pretty special."

Leonard looked down and said very softly, "Ah…Scotty…that was no lady
I was caught with."

Scotty’s head snapped up and his eyes widened. "But, I thought you
said she caught you with someone. What are you saying?"

Leonard took a deep breath. He was through hiding and if this man was
going to remain a friend, he had the right to know. "Scotty, she
caught me having sex, but not with a female. It was a male, and it was
a very indiscriminate relationship. A one-night stand, you might say.
Just one of many I was having back then, actually. I was trying to
keep up the image she and I had formed, and a big part of me was
screaming that it was wrong. It wasn’t until I had gone back to be
with Dad that I made my decision not to return to Io."

He drew a deep breath. This was the hardest to talk about. It was the
one period during his life that still haunted him. "One night, not
long before he died, when all possibilities had been exhausted, when
we knew the end was near, we had the first real talk we had had since
I was a kid. We were together at the cabin, in front of the fire,
seated on the sofa. He was wrapped in a quilt because by then, he
couldn’t get warm enough. He pulled one of his hands out from
underneath the cover and laid it on top of mine. When I looked over at
him, his eyes, which had become dull from the chemicals that had been
pumped into him, seemed to shine with a light I hadn’t seen in years.
He told me that he wanted two things from me. The first was, when the
time was right, I should end his suffering. I tried to protest, but he
said he didn’t have the strength to argue with me, and I was just to
listen. The second thing he wanted was for me to be happy. He said he
had watched me fight against what I really needed for years. He said
that I would never find happiness as long as I refused to accept who I
am. I thought he was talking about research, and I told him I was
going to explore getting back into medical practice. He stopped me and
said it wasn’t my profession that he was concerned about. He said that
he knew I would be fine at what ever I chose to do. Said he was
talking about my personal life. He told me that he had watched me deny
what…who…I had wanted for much too long. He knew, Scotty. Even before
I had admitted it to myself and started having back-alley affairs, he
knew that I was attracted to men. So, I guess that is my big surprise.
I hope this won’t affect our friendship, but I am through with trying
to hide who I really am."

"Ah, laddie, I wish I had known this way back. I had quite a thing for
you, but you never made any indication that you were interested."

Now it was Leonard’s turn to be surprised. He had had similar thoughts
himself in those days, but had dismissed them. It wasn’t until Scotty
left that he realized how much he loved him. But, even then, he had
not been willing to give up on his desire for a family. That night in
the cabin, his father had told him he knew that Leonard had loved
Montgomery Scott. His dad said that when he and Scotty were together,
it was obvious to everyone except himself. Could it still be true? He
watched the face of the man just inches from him. The dark eyes framed
by the fair skin made a striking impression. There was that errant
lock of dark brown hair that fell across the forehead and Leonard had
to resist brushing his fingers through and smoothing it back. His
thoughts went back to dinner. As he was leaving, Jim had made a
comment about the two of them. What was it? Something about not doing
anything that would keep his CMO from reporting the next morning?
Could he have meant more than Romulan ale? Did his feelings for Scotty
still show so blatantly? Yes, the stirrings that had gnawed at him in
his younger days for the personable Scotsman was still very much
present. "You?" Leonard purred in a low, breathy whisper. "I had no
idea. Obviously, you were much too subtle in your approach."

Scotty was struck by piercing blue eyes that were suddenly becoming
noticeably darker. He had spent many nights in Starfleet Academy
fighting his desire for this man and hoping he would never do anything
to jeopardize their friendship. Until this morning, he had forgotten
about the nights he would imagine this man snuggled against him and
the scenarios he formed in his mind, as he would bring himself to
release. "I will make sure I am much less subtle in the future."

McCoy straightened slightly. "Don’t wait too long," he grinned. Scott
sat riveted to his seat as he watched the man turn away from him and
look out the viewport. A mixture of shock, desire, and realization
held him momentarily paralyzed in the chair. Within a few seconds, he
regained the feeling in his body. Actually, parts of his body were
beginning to come to life that he had ignored for much too long. He
watched the silhouette of the man against the window. He knew the next
step was up to him, and whatever he decided would change his life. If
he stood up and wrapped his arms around Len, he knew he was going to
lose a big part of himself to the man. He would never again be happy
being a loaner. However, if he stayed where he was, and did nothing,
he knew the opportunity to fulfill all of those youthful dreams would
be gone. Not only that, but also that space in his heart that he had
always reserved for this man would remain empty. That, he could not
stand the thought of.

The decision was made. Scotty stood up and stepped to the viewport. He
placed his hands on the rail, capturing Leonard between the railing
and his arms. He pressed himself against Len’s buttocks, allowing him
to feel his erection.

"What took you so long?" Leonard whispered suggestively.

"Well, you got’ta understand that this is quite a surprise," Scotty
breathed into Len’s ear. "You sure a’boot this?" he asked as he
brushed his lips to the rounded ear.

Leonard turned within the small space that Scotty had him trapped in.
He brought his arms up and wrapped them around the strong neck.
"Scotty, I have spent my whole life running from the obvious. Afraid
of what someone would say. I’m through with trying to live the way
others would have me live. Good or bad, it’s time to go with my
instincts. And, my friend, my instincts tell me luck brought us back
together. Let’s see where it takes us." He pressed his groin into the
hardness and let the feel of them together bring him to full arousal.

"Aye!" Scotty breathed. He moved his lips to Leonard’s and for the
first time tasted the mouth he had long desired. The electricity that
seemed to have charged the air around them went nova. Their bodies
pressed tightly together and hands roamed, searched, squeezed, and
kneaded fabric-covered flesh. With sheer will he didn’t know he
possessed, Scotty broke apart from the body in his arms. Knowing that
someone could walk in at any moment, and knowing if they continued he
was going to be unable to stop, Scotty released Leonard and reached
for his hand, leading him toward the door and turbolift. He pressed
the call button and turned to Len. Flushed and breathing heavily, he
was finally able to speak. "Now I’m going to ask you something that I
wanted to ask you twenty years ago. Your place or mine?"

It was the first time Leonard realized he had not seen a cabin
assignment for Scotty on the officer’s deck. "Where is your place?"

"I had them put me down close to Engineering. We can go there, but
it’ll take a few minutes."

"Well, mine is still has some crates that need to be unpacked, but it
is closer."

"Damn the crates!" The turbo doors opened and they both stepped into
the lift.

"Deck three," McCoy commanded.

---

McCoy palmed the lock and they stepped inside. Once in the closed
cabin, Leonard turned to Scotty and this time he brought his hands to
the taller man’s forehead and brushed the lock of hair away from the
dark eyes. He watched as Scotty briefly closed his eyes, almost as if
he were trying to convince himself this was real. "Tell me…tell me
what you are thinking," Leonard whispered.

Scotty drew a sharp breath and opened his eyes and met the face that
had been the object of so many fantasies. "I am not quite believing
you are really here. I had given up that dream years ago."

"I’m here, Scotty, I’m here." He leaned in and brushed his lips
against Scotty’s. The lips parted slightly and Leonard ran the tip of
his tongue along the outline of the opening. He felt the warm breath
against his face as Scotty drew a ragged breath and exhaled. The soft
moistness of the mouth called him and he pressed harder against the
lips, feeling the mouth move against his, closing and opening wider, a
warm tongue now exploring his own mouth. The kisses grew deeper and
stronger and he felt the powerful arms wrap around and pull him close.

There were no more secrets between them. Aroused groins pressed
against each other, the need of each grinding and searching against
the hardness of the other. Breaking their lips apart, gasping for air,
Leonard buried his face in Scotty’s collarbone and inhaled the rich
aroma of the man he could never admit he wanted so many years before.
He quietly cursed himself for not giving into his nature then, but
thanked whatever deity had seen fit to bring them back together.

Leonard felt the large strong hands pull his shirt from his waistband
and plunge beneath the waist of his pants capturing the mounds of his
ass. The muscular hands pulled him up and pressed his trapped organ
against the heated mound. He pulled Scotty’s shirt off and then
quickly discarded his own. He kicked off his boots, as did Scotty, and
pushed them aside. They parted slightly and Leonard looked down at the
obvious erection beneath Scotty’s pants. He reached for the clasp, his
hands shaking slightly from the anticipation of this, and opened the
clasp and lifted the pants and underwear over the erection and pushed
them down. Scotty used his feet to scoot his socks, underwear and
trousers to the side.

In their youthful years together, McCoy had seen Scotty naked on
several occasions. On their summer trips to the mountain cabin, almost
every day they would end up skinny-dipping in the large lake. But
never had he imagined the matured man that was standing before him, as
Scotty was tonight. The face shone with a gentleness that nearly took
his breath away. The broad shoulders framed the muscular chest with
its soft brown fur that highlighted the well-developed muscles as they
rippled just beneath the skin. The waist narrowed and the smooth, flat
stomach led to the beautiful, arched erection. He couldn’t help but
run his fingers up the large, thick penis from root to tip. The heat
of the organ penetrated his fingers and the skin was as smooth as the
finest silk. It reminded McCoy of the corn stalks that used to grow in
the Georgia fields. As a boy, he would sneak into a cornfield late in
the afternoon and pluck the long, thick fruit from the stalks. Then,
as he would peel back the outer leaves, he would marvel at the smooth,
silky feel of the hard, sweet treasure inside, warmed by the
unrelenting July sun. That was what this felt like, a sweet, warm,
silk-covered treasure. "My God, Scotty, you’re beautiful," Len
whispered.

Scotty flushed under the adoring stare. He reached for Leonard and
stripped the rest of the offending clothing from him, tossing the
trousers into the pile of other discarded clothing. Now, for the first
time, he could gaze upon the object of his youthful desires. Leonard
was smaller in stature, but the body was solid and strong. The dark
nipples were slightly camouflaged by the light covering of dark hair
that was sprinkled across the chest. The nipples were drawn tight with
anticipation and desire, and he brought his hands to the muscular
chest and brushed his thumbs across the hard pebbles. This brought a
gasp from Len’s slightly parted lips and a noticeable tremor in the
hard, erect cock that stood proudly away from the flat abdomen and
strapping thighs. His hands slid further down the body and felt the
contour of the perfectly proportioned man. This was a body he could
worship. He fell to his knees and brought his hands down across the
stomach and down to where the thatch of brown hair surrounded the base
of the beautiful organ. Len’s cock was perhaps not as thick as his
own, but like the rest of the man, it was long and perfect. Scotty ran
his tongue up the hard shaft and swirled the tip of his tongue around
the flared head. He felt the cock tremble as he contacted the
sensitive area just beneath the cap, drew back and watched the bead of
moisture form at the tip. Reaching out with his tongue, he collected
the drop and tasted the sweet-saltiness of the nectar. He pulled the
organ into his mouth and ran his hands up the back of the lightly
furred thighs until he found the firm mounds. Kneading the two small,
tight globes, he felt the strength of Len’s hips as they pushed
forward, sinking the hot cock deeper into his mouth.

The sound of hard breaths and soft moans filled the cabin. Leonard
reached for the head of soft, dark hair and ran his fingers through
the thick pelt as he fought for control. Years of one-night stands and
not allowing himself to feel any emotion beyond simple sexual
gratification were giving way to much more. He had called the man
beneath his hands friend, now he was a lover. That realization came
hard. Leonard felt the tongue on him, but the warmth ran much deeper
than his cock. The tight knot of aloneness that comes with the choice
of solitude, and had been so much a part of him that he had not
recognized its presence, was threatening to explode within his chest.
The pain was almost too much to bear. He looked down and saw the warm,
dark eyes look up at him. He pulled himself out of Scotty’s mouth and
went to his knees caressing the open, caring face. There was something
in those eyes that he had not seen in so many years, if ever.
Adoration for him. It seemed too good to be true. He claimed the warm
mouth and the felt the hard ball in his chest as it exploded. He
thought this would tear him apart, but instead he only felt warmth,
like a tingling shower of sparks, that spread to every cell of his
body.

Scotty felt Leonard’s chest heave and felt a gasping sob against his
lips. He felt the transition as desire changed to want, need and, dare
he believe it--love? Scotty knew he loved the man in his arms, but
that was nothing new. He had loved Leonard McCoy since the first day
he saw him walk across the compound in San Francisco. But Leonard had
not been ready. Now he was here, and in his arms. Dreams do come true.
On their knees on Leonard’s floor, lips and bodies pressed together,
Scotty felt his body threaten to spill over with the stimulation. He
stood up and pulled Leonard up to meet him.

Leonard brushed the clothes he had been separating on his bunk into
the floor and pulled Scotty down to the bed with him. The feeling of
having Scotty’s body covering his was delicious. He spread his knees
and let the larger man settle neatly between his thighs. Scotty kissed
him and then pulled his head up and ran his hands through Leonard’s
hair and traced his face. Len used his fingers to caress down Scotty’s
back and across the muscular mounds. His fingers traced the crease and
felt the moistness of heated bodies as he separated the mounds and
traced the path within. "Scotty," Leonard gasped, "I want to feel you
inside of me….God…Scotty…fuck me."

Scotty captured Len tightly within his arms and whispered in Leonard’s
ear, "Yes…I will, later. But now I can’nae wait…." He gasped.
"You…have undone me." With that, he pressed hard against Leonard and
began to throb against him as his seed spurted between them. Scotty
thrust against him again and Leonard began to writhe underneath him as
his lover gave into the hot need for release. Together they ejaculated
in wave after wave of ecstasy. Moans and gasps filled the cabin, and
names, names that had been suppressed all of these years, were called
in the heights of passion as they road the waves to completion.

Ragged breaths were drawn as chests heaved against each other and the
last of the contractions ended. Scotty rose up and looked into the
velvet blue eyes. "Leonard McCoy, I love you" The words were ripped
from his very soul. They had been there waiting to be said for so
long, and now he was not going to hold anything back.

Leonard felt the moisture gather at the edges of his eyes. The space
within him that had been loneliness, was being filled to overflowing
with something else, something he knew he had never before felt, not
like this. "I love you, too. I always have," he whispered. He felt the
warm mouth cover his and the slick fluid between them as Scotty pushed
his arms underneath him and pulled them tight. The kiss grew deeper
and bodies began to press against each other. Organs, which had
softened, became engorged once more.

Scotty released Len and came to a kneeling position between his
thighs. He grasped Len’s erection with one hand, and collected some of
the fluid that had been spilled between them with the other. As he
massaged the hard shaft, he slid his cum-slickened fingers underneath
the weighted scrotum. When his fingers began to explore the crevice,
Scotty heard Leonard’s breaths deepen. When he contacted the puckered
orifice, Leonard pulled his knees up to give Scotty full access.

Scotty slipped one slick finger deep into the tight opening. The
channel contracted around him and then relaxed under his touch. He
turned the finger and pushed up slightly against the nodule behind the
penis and felt the reaction as the organ in his hand pulsated and a
hiss of pleasure escaped from the lips of his lover. He pressed
another finger inside and felt the ring of muscle begin to expand to
accommodate him. Leonard began to push his cock harder into the hand
that had him captured and plunge his hips down on the delicious
invasion inside of him. Len’s moans became more urgent.

"Shhh…," Scotty whispered, settling Leonard down. "We have time," he
soothed. Scotty worked his fingers in and out of the orifice, enjoying
the sight before him. Leonard pulled his knees higher and Scotty
watched as his fingers slipped deep into the man he had loved for so
long. His own urgency claimed him and he felt his cock twitch in
readiness to be encased within this man. He released Len’s organ and
gathered more of the sticky fluid on Leonard’s abdomen and brought it
to the head of his erection and coated the cap and shaft. He pulled
his fingers out of Len’s rectum, placed his hands on the bent calves,
and tilted Len forward just enough to center his cock to the opening.
But instead of plunging in, he pressed his head against the opening
and gently rocked Leonard just enough to push the tip of his cock
inside. He then released the legs and laid back down on Len, gathering
him into his arms and capturing his mouth in soft, sucking kisses.

He felt Len’s need. He rocked against him just enough to let Len feel
him inside. Scotty felt the man in his arms shiver in sexual
anticipation. Slowly, he slipped just a bit more of himself inside.
Muscular legs wrapped around him and try to push him in deeper but
Scotty resisted. He reached between them and began to stroke the hard
organ trapped between them. He could feel the blood as it pumped
through the shaft with each beat of his lover’s heart. He pulled his
cock out of his lovers ass just to where the head was inside the
entrance, his own body threatening to spill over, but he was
determined to take his lover to heights that neither one of them had
ever known.

He felt Leonard’s fingers scrape up his hips his back, and knew he
would have marks in the morning. Good thing his lover was a doctor.

"Oh…GOD…Scotty…fuck me!" Len moaned. "Now!" The moan was more of a
pleading sob.

Scotty felt his lover begin to tremble and he knew neither of them
could hold on much longer. He pushed inside slowly but with
determination until he was completely seated within the hot, tight
chamber. He pulled out and thrust back inside in a quick motion,
angling his hips to stroke the nodule inside. He released his grip on
Len’s cock and once more gathered Len in his arms. With each thrust
into the body, his body screamed for release. Then he felt the shutter
as it ran through the body in his arms and Len starting writhing
beneath him. Scotty reached back between them and grasped the cock
just beneath the head and quickly massaged it. The chamber around his
cock began to contract and he pushed deep inside. Warm semen splashed
between them as Leonard’s release came in hard, throbbing waves.
Scotty rolled his head back and let the contractions carry him over.
His mind and body exploded and he roared with relief as he ejaculated
into the hot, tight chamber.

When they were once again capable of movement, Scotty rolled off and
gathered Len to him. "I better go. I need a shower and if I do not
leave now, someone will surely see me leave in the morning," Scotty
whispered to his lover.

"Don’t go. Shower here and stay with me. That is, if you don’t mind
being seen."

Scotty pulled Leonard on top of him. "I’ll not be caring who knows
about us, if you don’t."

"I told you. I’m through hiding. I love you, and I don’t care who
knows that." Leonard leaned over and kissed Scotty, but the stickiness
between them needed immediate attention. Not willing to part, they
showered and then went back to bed and Scotty fell into a deep, sated
sleep spooned against the one person he had ever dared to love.

McCoy fell asleep with Scotty’s warm breath against his neck. Smiling,
again. They held tight to each other, not wanting to risk waking and
finding it was a dream. Before drifting off, Leonard remembered Spock
telling him that his emotions would be his undoing. Spock was wrong.
The man spooned against him would be his undoing, and he was so ready,
finally, to be undone.

Somewhere in their sleep, claxtons sounded and the signal announcing a
red alert screamed from the wall unit. Up instantly and fumbling for
the clothes they had hastily discarded earlier, they were dressed and
in the corridor within moments. At the same instant, Spock’s cabin
door slid open and Spock rushed into the corridor accompanied by Jim,
who was still tugging at the hem of the gold shirt. Spock keyed the
override and the turbolift doors opened almost immediately. The doors
shut and the lift sped off for the bridge. McCoy dared a glance around
at the group. Scotty, bouncing ever so slightly on his toes, beamed.
Jim was slightly flushed and looked rather caught in a ‘cat that ate
the canary’ sort of way. Len knew he had the same look. But Spock,
looking as immaculate and stoic as he had earlier, looked him square
in the eyes and quickly cocked one eyebrow. It was all Leonard could
do to keep from bursting out laughing. Unemotional Vulcan, indeed! He
was going to have to watch this one! The turbolift doors opened and
with one quick, reassuring glance toward Scotty, they parted to report
to their duty stations. No, this was not going to be a boring time.
The adventure of a lifetime had begun.

---

The End