Leonard surveyed the items on the bed with open dismay. He'd joined Starfleet with very little left to his name and though he'd accumulated some personal items, texts, commendations over time, the small piles on the bed didn't add up to much more than he'd started with. The items on the bed represented the things he actually gave a damn about: a few photos of friends, Joanna's most recent drawing of her idea of "hero Daddy" complete with spiky hair, a bound-paper anatomy text that Jim had given him to commemorate his third year as CMO of the Enterprise, and other similar, small items.
His uniforms and certificates had already been sent on ahead of him to the space station he would shortly have to call home for at least the next two years while he waited for old Carpenter to retire from the post on Earth that Leonard hoped to apply for when the time came. He didn't really need anything else.
Except.
Well, it didn't matter anymore, did it? He'd waited and hoped and been patient for damn near seven years now all for nothing.
Not nothing, perhaps; he'd had some adventures that resulted in excellent stories to share over a drink in the-
Well, he was sure space stations had adequate recreational facilities as well, and probably better stocked than a starship anyways. He'd be finding out soon, no doubt. Time to move on and stop getting bogged down – packing two smallish bags with his belongings shouldn't take him thirty minutes of emotional upheaval, after all.
Leonard was just reaching for the carrysack when the door chimed and opened without his assent to admit Jim.
Damn it all.
But Jim looked different. Gone was the familiar swagger and cocky grin that seemed to accompany most of his visits to Bones when he was looking for a good time. The one-time deal that seemed to expand and surprise both of them over the years as it reoccurred time and time again. In place of that swagger and pride was the calm, serious man that Leonard knew Jim could be, when it really mattered.
"I don't want you to go, Bones." Jim's gaze was level upon his own. "Don't take the reassignment. Stay on the Enterprise, stay with your friends, your team." Jim paused a moment, took a breath.
"Stay with me."