Chapter 1: A Run in… Literally
After a particularly rough mission the crew of the Enterprise was finally getting a much needed shore leave. Of course the captain insisted that the crew heard to the bar to begin relaxation. Most of the crew went along crowding the bar. Most of the officers and ensign Chekov spotted a booth and ordered table service. In a few minutes everyone began settling into a liquor induced calm. Conversation flowed freely as others, besides the crew were drawn to the captain's charismatic stories.
Soon following the fifth story everyone began to slowly trickle out of the bar to get some well deserved sleep in their own beds, well… for the most part. Bones lost sight of his captain and roommate as Jim inevitably hooked up with a beaut from the bar and inevitably wouldn't return to their quarters. As he continued to walk mindlessly and a little buzzed from the bar he didn't notice the petite brunette in front of him and accidentally knocked her off her feet.
"Oof!"
"I'm sorry ma'am, didn't mean to bump you there." Bones drawled as he tipped his head and offered the woman his hand to help her to her feet without really seeing her.
"You always were the 'southern gentleman' weren't you Leonard?" the smooth familiar voice of the woman caused Bones to freeze. Oh he knew that voice, he knew it very well.
"Noelle? What? How? When?"
"Aww, calm down there cowboy, I'm here because I was asked to teach a few xeno-linguistics courses here at the academy, Uncle Chris gave me a call not too long ago and it pays a fair bit better than my old job."
"You teach here?" He croaked out.
"Yes McCoy. I relocated from Sacramento to the city. I hear you're quite the fine doctor now, working as the CMO on the Enterprise. I remember when I could barely get you on a plane to meet my folks."
"Well if you heard that much then you must have heard why I came here then."
"Oh yes, Phinny called me to let me in on the news. I really am sorry Len, and I know we may not have ended on the best of terms, but I can't believe that she would cheat on you. I mean, don't you have a little girl?"
"Well paternity tests say the baby is the result of Jocelyn being a chronic cheater."
"Oh…" she hadn't expected that, "Uhmm sorry Len, but I have to get going."
"Right. Sure. Hey can we get a drink sometime? Catch up maybe?"
" I… suppose it couldn't hurt" she said slowly, " you can look me up on the Starfleet Directory, I'm listed."