One small box.
Captain James is seated in the command chair since two hours now.
He has received new orders from Starfleet and the ship gets ready to leave for a new destination.
Around him, on the bridge, Lt Sulu and Ensign Chekov are at the helm. Lt Uhura is at her communication console and Commander Spock who has left the scientific console is at his right side. And …One minute! Where is Dr McCoy?
James T. Kirk sighs…
These last three weeks, McCoy's behavior has been really disturbing. At the beginning and for no reason, he shouted to everyone, his colleagues as his patients…Well, to tell the truth, this was not so unusual. But gradually, he became distant, silent, and sorrowful. He lost all concern for the current mission even when they found a new civilization with advanced knowledge in medicine!
His last meal with him was ten days ago. He asked him why he was so preoccupied but McCoy only sighed and with a sign of his hand and a fake smile, he dismissed the question. However, Jim repeated the question four days later and McCoy's sole answer was another question.
"Jim? Do you think that I am too old?"
"Um…That depends what you intend to do!"
Since that day, Leonard is pretending to be occupied by the crew's physicals. He spends his day in Sickbay, between his office and the examination room.
"Captain? …Captain Kirk?"
"Um? Mr. Sulu?" He asked, back to the present.
"I think Mr. Sulu is waiting for your order, Sir."
"Oh! Yes …At warp factor two!"
"Yes, Sir!"
One hour later, in the deep silent of the space, Kirk is hearing a conversation between the Asian and the Russian.
"…and then, I admitted having put on a lot of weight lately…Do you remember how he reacted the last time he saw me eating two slices of that chocolate cake…"
"Sure! He was furious. I remember he threatened to give you only lettuce for two months!"
"…and he lectured me about cardiovascular risks for hours!" The Russian added.
"Wow…Poor Pavel, I imagine that he made you cry again!"
"No…You're wrong! In fact, he remained calm. He only said that it had to happen one day!"
"And that's all?"
"…No shout, no threat, nothing! He only sighed and …Truly, I think he was not listening…He seemed to be somewhere else…"
James Kirk understands that the two guys are speaking of McCoy. The Russian had an appointment with him this morning…
McCoy ,not reacting to Chekov's confession?!
Jim is astonished. One glance at Spock and he knows he's also worried.
"Mr. Spock! You have the commands…I'll be in Sickbay." Jim stands up and leaves. This time, he must obtain answers.
In his office, Dr McCoy is sitting at his desk, one drink untouched in front of him, and one hand supporting his chin. He sighs, his eyes on a picture of him holding his baby daughter…This picture has been taken 23 years ago.
A knock at his door interrupts his thoughts.
"Come in!" He says.
"Hi, Bones. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
"Bones! Don 't lie to me. I know that you're not fine. Please, tell me what's happening. Did you receive bad news from home? …From Jo?"
"Jim …"McCoy sighs. "I did not know you were a telepath like our dear Vulcan friend!"
McCoy stands up and approaches the shelf in front of him. A small white box is placed next to Jo's Picture. Leonard hesitates then takes it in both his hands and gives it to Jim who looks at his friend with worry.
Two hours later, in the briefing room, Captain Kirk is listening his First Officer speaking about their next destination. A class M planet covered by water at 92 percent! All his officers of the alpha shift are present: Spock, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, the young Russian Chekov… and Bones.
"Thank you Mr. Spock, for your presentation. And now, I would like you to listen to Doctor McCoy…Bones, it is your turn!"
"Well…Thank you, Jim. I…I am sorry. I really have to apologize for my behavior. I was not myself these last weeks…" He sighs. "And I owe you an explanation."
Around the table, they are all silent, but their eyes are speaking for them, they are still his friends. Some smiles appear on their faces to reassure him.
"You can tell them, Bones…They will understand." Jim says.
"Yes, Jim… Gentlemen and Miss Uhura, in a few weeks, I will take a leave…"
Some of his friends are holding their breath.
"Because of that…"He adds while showing the small box hidden in his hands under the table. "Please, Lt Uhura, could you open it?"
Nyota Uhura gets up and takes the small box, her hands are shaking. She slowly opens it and then…
"Oh! …Leonard …That's …That's wonderful!" She says with tears streaming down her face. Straight away, the others get up and surround her, looking at the content of the small box.
Then, it was an explosion of joy! Uhura embraces Bones who blushes like a teenager…Chekov and Sulu are laughing. Jim joins the chief-engineer who congratulates Bones already smiling. Eventually they clasp all his hand in cacophony.
Jim is happy. As for his friend, tears are trying to find their way from a corner of his eyes.
Suddenly, one hand takes him by an elbow.
Spock is looking at Jim, with an impassive face but like often, his eyes betray him. The Vulcan raises an interrogative eyebrow while getting out the content of the box in his hand.
"Jim! Can you explain to me how two small white bootees can produce a so high emotional reaction? What is the reason behind this?"
Jim laughs.
"Spock!" Doctor McCoy calls. He has heard the Vulcan's questions.
"Spock…Ahem…the box was sent by my daughter three weeks ago. In this way she tells me that she's pregnant …and that I will be soon a grandfather…"
"Oh …if it is so… Congratulations Doctor McCoy!" Spock says with a small smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Spock."
"May I ask you one question?"
"Of course you may." McCoy happily says.
"Is it quite common to announce a pregnancy in this manner?"
"Well, this is quite common in my family!" He chuckles.
"Oh …This is an old tradition in so many families! And in a few weeks," Uhura explains with a warm smile, "Leonard will receive another box."
"And this time, the bootees will be pink or blue!" Scotty added!
"Oh my, I forgot it…"Bones sighs while all his friends laugh at him.
"Pink or blue?" The Vulcan asks.
"Yes. Pink if it's a girl. Blue if it's a boy…"
"That's illogical…"
They all laugh again.
Later that evening…
McCoy is surprised to find his Vulcan friend standing at his office's door.
"May I enter, Doctor?"
"Yes Spock, sit down, please!"
"Doctor, I wanted to ask you something this afternoon but not in front of everyone …"
"It's OK, Spock. You can ask me everything."
"Well, on Vulcan, a birth is a great event…of course we don't express ourselves like Humans do…"
"That's logical." McCoy grins.
"So, may I ask you why you reacted so badly?"
McCoy sighs and looks down, uneasy.
"I beg your pardon. It is a private affair. I should not ask…"
"No, Spock. Don't be sorry. Like I already said, I owe you an explanation. You know, when I opened the box, my heart has missed a beat! I understand now why my father shouted on me when…Anyway, I must admit that I have overreacted to the news. Spock, you probably don't know that I was married at 21 and that I was a father at 22! I was so young."
"I know you're 45 years old. And your daughter is 23. So, you should not be surprised to be grandfather at a young age…In fact, if we expected that your own daughter would give birth at the same age than you, I estimate the probability to be…"
"Spock! Please, don't give me statistics!" McCoy says, smiling sadly at his friend.
"You misunderstand…I am not afraid to be a young grandfather. I …I fears that my daughter repeat my mistake. Let me explain. My wife was 22 years old, like me. She had to stop his studies when she was 6 months pregnant. And she only went back to school when Johanna was 2 years old. Meanwhile, I was a student in medicine the day, and a Medical examiner's assistant the night. Did you know that we used to recreate crime scenes using interns? You understand now why I am as good surgeon!" McCoy laughs and regains his seriousness. "I spent my time between the hospital, the School of Medicine, my apartment, and the Coroner's office. I had a family to be fed and a rent to be paid! My wife was complaining about my absences and my daughter …well. I was married at 21 and I was divorced at 28!"
"Your parents did not help you?"
"Nope! …They …They disagreed with my choice to marry Jocelyn…Ahem…But that's another story…"
"Doctor, I'm sorry. I didn't know…"
"It's OK. I'm fine now."
"Doctor McCoy. I'm sure that your daughter will be fine. Because what I heard of her is that she is a lot like you: brave, determined, and hardworking. I can't believe your daughter will give up her studies easily."
"Oh I know, I know, she told me already. Did I tell you that she is beginning her first semester in surgery class?"
"I'm sure she will become as good doctor than his father…"
"Is it an intuition?" McCoy grins.
"The odds that…"
"Thank you, Spock…Oh and as I said to the others," he said menacingly, "Don't call me Grandpa, granddaddy or another nickname! I promise you to spend the most painful examination of your life if you do so!"
"I will do as you wish, Doctor McCoy."
The End… (Or the beginning?)
Haloa : Sorry for fault or grammatical mistakes. English is not my language. Please, tell me what you think about it :)