For several evenings after the Abrbonians departed, Leonard stuck to hanging out in his own quarters when off duty. The best plan of action was inaction as he absorbed the mostly subtle changes to his world. Not that a woman coming back from the dead wasn't a big change, but the overall impact on the day-to-day workings of life on the Enterprise was minor. The bigger change was the reunion of Spock and Nyota Uhura, though he tried to think of it as a continuation of the relationship as no one else was aware there had ever been a break up.
Leonard acting more hermit-like than usual did not escape the notice of his best friend and Captain. It had been too much to hope that it would escape Jim's notice considering that the Enterprise was between assignments and little was happening on the ship. Also, most of the crew was staying healthy and out of harm's way, removing any reason Leonard had to hover in his office till as late as possible. He had no out when cornered and commandeered for an evening meal and socializing with his friends. Before the recent changes in reality, Leonard would not object to such an invitation. However, such evenings now would involve spending time with the one person he didn't want to face.
Leonard leaned against the wall with his forehead on his arm, staring at the controls to Jim's quarters, trying to decide whether he wanted to announce his arrival or not. The decision was taken away from him, however, when the door suddenly slid open and he caught a glimpse of his friend's smug grin. It would seem spending time with Spock had honed Jim's own sixth sense.
"Hey, Bones, was starting to think I was going to have to send out a search party or you. Or turn a request into an order," Jim offered as a greeting, while ushering his friend inside. "As you can see, food is here, as are Spock and Nyota. All that was missing was you."
Leonard's eyebrows shot up as he listened to Jim. Nyota was here as well? Was this something new? Leonard gave his head a little shake as he headed towards the small dining table that had been set up in the Captain's quarters for the occasion. 'Obviously it was new,' Leonard chastised himself, 'but was it new or something that the Abrbonians had planted in the history they created?' He should have demanded background documentation from Te'Bora and Ge'Ha because he found himself with no idea of how to react. This wasn't the first time this had happened since the delegation had left, but it could definitely be the most awkward. It would not be easy to dismiss any discrepancies if he misspoke as he should have been more than aware of who attended these little get-togethers in this altered time. Opting to simply nod to the couple seated at the table, he walked over and took the only seat where nothing set out had been used, assuming it was his place. Nyota was sitting in his usual spot.
Jim followed Leonard to the table, filling in the silence with a short explanation of what he had missed. "We're just chatting about some of the new policies being put in place on New Vulcan as they attempt to rebuild."
"New policies?" Leonard parroted as he wracked his brains for information relating to New Vulcan. He took a few bites from the food sitting in front of him. Jim had ordered his favourite from the mess hall.
"You know, the ones regarding rebuilding the Vulcan species," the Captain continued as he apprised his friend of the ongoing dinner conversation. He had his hands interlaced in front of him, showing poor manners as he'd placed his elbows on the table.
"They are xenophobic, if you ask me," Nyota huffed, her disapproval showing through the stiff way she was seated.
"Oh, those policies," Leonard said with some relief. Those he knew about as they had been reported during the Abrbonian visit and weren't related in any way to the recent tampering of New Vulcan history. "The whole actively discouraging Vulcans from bonding with non-Vulcans thing. Yeah, that makes sense. After all, they are left with very small numbers and are trying to rebuild."
"Really?" Nyota glared at the doctor seated across from her, skewering an innocent olive with her fork as she spoke.
"Yes," Leonard reiterated. "From a genetic perspective, they want to rebuild the Vulcan race, not a Vulcan-like race, and, with such a small population, they do need pretty much everyone to contribute to that goal. It's not like they are making Vulcans who currently have non-Vulcan spouses get divorced or anything." Leonard paused and turned to Spock. "They aren't, are they? I didn't miss that part, right?"
"My parents' bond is still considered valid. The laws do not require them to separate," Spock responded with a slight nod of the head before returning his attention to his meal. And with that comment, it was also confirmed that Amanda, Spock's mother, was, indeed, alive.
"But they could require Sarek to provide 'genetic material' under the current laws," Nyota informed the table.
"Beats trying to force him to leave his wife to mate with a female Vulcan solely for procreation," Leonard stated, giving a little shrug. "Though I can more than understand how it might be stressful for Spock's parents, his father having to cough up semen."
"A Vulcan male would ejaculate not cough up semen." Spock's voice sounded too prim given the words he was speaking. Leonard shot him a wry look, but let the comment slide.
Jim, on the other hand, let his mouth get a little ahead of the filters in his brain and joked, "Depends on what he was doing right before he coughed."
All heads snapped in the Captain's direction as the words he spoke sunk in. With a sheepish grin, he continued. "I guess that's not the best thing to say when discussing parents, huh?"
"I believe that a conversation incorporating the sexual conduct of one's parents is inappropriate without the added suggestion that one's father may have performed fellatio," Spock stated in a matter of fact tone, though all three of his dinner companions were able to detect a hint of embarrassment.
"True enough," Jim admitted, then once again apologized for his comment. "Not that I meant to imply anything of the sort about Sarek."
"I am sure you did not," Spock conceded.
"How about we change the topic and get Bones here to spill the beans about his night with the Abrbonian twins?" Jim shot his friend a leer and a wink.
Nyota jumped in on the teasing, smiling at Leonard and Jim before saying suggestively, "But that isn't really a change of subject now, is it? Just a change of players."
Leonard snorted. "Contrary to the gossip and any comments from our fine Captain, nothing happened."
"So you keep claiming," Jim snickered. Pointing accusingly at his friend, he said, "But you're probably just being all gentlemanlike and simply refusing to kiss and tell. Those two were completely into you."
"Whether they were into me or not means nothing," Leonard objected. "I'm too old for that one night stand shit."
"I thought you were only five or six years older than these two?" Nyota laughed as she waved her hand between Spock and Jim. "That hardly constitutes old."
"Though illogical given the average life span of a human, Doctor McCoy does consistently refer to himself as old," Spock observed. "And the Captain encourages this odd behaviour by referring to him as an old man."
"I like to think of it as retaliation after he constantly called me 'kid' when we were at the Academy," Jim replied with a little bob of his head. "Plus, he complains like an old man."
"You're thinking chronological age, where as I am thinking in more psychological terms. The last ten years felt more like twenty," Leonard reasoned. Then he snapped, "And, I'm older than any one of you. Now how about we change the topic again." He was getting more than a little irritated at being the focus of attention.
Turning towards Jim, Leonard added in a cross tone, his deteriorating mood putting him on roll, "And, you! Give me my bourbon back. You borrowed it because No'Tatop wanted to try it and you didn't return it. Or did you drink it all on me?"
No'Tatop was the head of the Abrbonian group that had been on board of the Enterprise and, somehow, he and the Captain had gotten on to the topic of Terran alcoholic beverages. The Abrbonian had expressed an interest in sampling several different types that Jim had brought up. Leonard had no objection to sharing his beloved bourbon with one so curious.
Jim was the one to roll his eyes this time as he got up to fetch the bottle of alcohol he had forgotten to return to his friend. "No, I didn't drink you precious Booker's. You told me I wasn't allowed to have any, and I did actually follow your instructions, stingy though they may have been. Didn't your mother ever teach you about sharing?"
"I did share," Leonard pointed out. "Just with No'Tatop, not you. You just gulp the damn stuff down."
"Oh, you should never do that," Nyota stated with a shake of her head as the Captain placed the bottle in front of Leonard. "You are supposed to sip and savour a fine bourbon like Booker's."
"Listen to your Communications Officer. She clearly knows what she's talking about," Leonard ordered Jim. If the consequences of his actions weren't so raw, he would have made a little joke about Nyota being the perfect woman, but, instead, he just opened the bottle to pour himself a glass. That action didn't go as expected, though, as Leonard turned pale and almost knocked the bottle over in his rush to screw the top back on.
"Are you not feeling well?" Spock asked, taking in the suddenly ashen face of the man seated next to him.
Jim looked at the bottle of bourbon and then back at his friend, concerned about the reaction he had just witnessed. "It's not like the stuff can go bad, so what the hell was that?"
"That" Leonard groaned. He wondered if this was some twisted Abrbonian idea of a gift. "That was me getting nauseated by the mere smell of my favourite beverage, that's what that was."
"Seriously? I never heard of someone developing a sudden reaction to alcohol," Jim replied, casting quick glances at Nyota and Spock, both of whom shook their heads, indicating that they had not either.
"Dammit," Leonard swore before sniping, "What I need is a drink to deal with not being able to have a drink."
"Maybe it's just the bourbon," Nyota suggested.
"Yeah, I was going to have a beer tonight, anyway, so let's see what happens with that," Jim added, jumping on the idea and running with it. He went and got the bottle of ale in question, opened it and brought it back to the table. Leonard once again blanched as the alcoholic beverage got within smelling distance, causing the Captain to quip, "Well, it's definitely not just bourbon then."
Still feeling a little queasy, Leonard muttered, "I think I need to lie down for a while. If you would excuse me, I'm going to call it an early night."
As Leonard stood up, a little shaky on his feet, his friends looked on with concern. Jim reached over to offer a steadying hand and stated, "I'm going to walk you back to your quarters, Bones. Make sure you actually get there."
Leonard wasn't going to refuse the offer. He wasn't actually sure he would make it back to his room on his own either. Before the two of them set out, however, he placed his hand on Nyota's shoulder and said with a small smile, "You realize that the whole Vulcan-Human hybrid thing with your boyfriend works in your favour. Genetically speaking, Spock isn't a full-blooded Vulcan, no matter how much he looks and acts like one and, therefore, shouldn't be affected."
He felt he had to say something. Since he had given up his chance with the Vulcan in order for Spock to be happy, he was going to make damn sure the man was happy. As the Abrbonians had seen fit to include a reunion with his former girlfriend then that included Leonard offering comfort to help the two over a potential stumbling block.
Nyota gave a little nod of acknowledgment as she watched Jim cautiously escort the still unsteady doctor out the door.
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