The seconds were ticking away. Christine could feel herself weakening as her heart continued to pump the blood out of her gaping wound. They wouldn't be able to stop it in time. "Len," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He heard her anyway. He always did. "Hang in there, darlin'."
She tried to smile. Even he couldn't pretend this wasn't happening. Her hand trailed along his cheek. "Kiss me."
Forever afterward, Leonard McCoy would deny that he was crying, but as he held his love in his arms and kissed her for the last time, his tears wet both their cheeks.