Author's Note: I just saw the new Star Trek movie and I got to say I really liked it. Here's what might have happened before Jim went back to space.
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Jim waited until he felt the effects of the transporter wore off before he moved. He was tired and wanted to get away. The Enterprise had docked for repairs and he had decided to disappear for the next few days. Scotty had gotten the coordinates for him and he had used a transporter to move from place to place.
Iowa was always his home, and he returned to it every now and then when he needed something to bring him back down to earth. This time he was returning because he needed to get away from his crew. He decided going home was the only choice so he snuck out.
He was careful as he walked around Iowa City. It was snowy and slick. It was always like this when winter set in. He was used to it but then again he really liked the snow. It made him feel as if he were a normal person instead of a captain of a starship.
He walked through the city until he got to the one apartment building he knew he would be welcome. He didn't have many friends, but the ones he did have always welcomed him with open arms. He walked into one of the biggest apartment buildings and took the elevator to the eighth floor.
After he stepped off the elevator, all of his emotions took over. He leaned against the wall and tried to get control of himself. It was getting harder and harder for him to control all of his emotions. He stumbled down the hall until he got to the right door. He beat against it until it opened. The woman on the other side stared up at him with curiosity then realization set in.
"Collin," he gasped as a flood of tears washed over him.
Collin pulled him into the apartment and locked the door. Jim dropped his bag and grabbed her when she turned around. She was the only one he could turn to because he knew she wasn't going to turn him in to Starfleet as being gone. He knew that she was part of the Starfleet but she worked independently from them on many things.
Jim's legs gave out and they sank to the floor. He couldn't stop the tears that found their way down his cheeks. Here he could cry all he wanted. Here he could be incoherent and stupid. Here he could just grieve.
Collin unfolded her legs so they didn't fall asleep as she held the crying captain. Carefully she peeled layer after layer off him until he was just in his jeans and t-shirt. She tossed his boots over her shoulder in the direction of the door, all the while he was clinging to her.
Several hours later they were crashed on the couch with the lights off. Jim had finally decided the floor was making his butt go to sleep and got on the couch. Collin went to the kitchen to make something to drink and when she returned, he was on his back with his eyes covered with one of his arms. She lifted his head and sat under him. He laid there with his head in her lap as she ran her fingers through his hair.
Jim fell asleep a little after midnight. He spent the better part of nine hours staring at the ceiling or some odd spot on the floor. Collin got up and grabbed a pillow from her bed and an extra blanket. Carefully she placed the pillow under his head and covered him with the blanket. She had only seen Jim like this one other time, and she knew he was going to have a rough night. She settled in the chair with a book and a cup of coffee.
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Leonard McCoy prowled the hallways of the Enterprise. The crew was on mandatory shore leave until they could get the ship repaired. Admiral Marcus had blown holes in the hull before Khan had killed him. Then Khan had tried to finish what the admiral had started. Spock had blown Khan up in space, or so they thought. He had managed to get his ship into Earth's orbit and tried to blow up San Francisco.
The Enterprise had been falling right behind him. Jim had stopped that by poisoning himself with radiation when he went into the warp core and shoved the relays back into place. He had killed himself. Somehow Khan had survived his fall and Spock had gone after him to make him pay for all the pain and suffering he had caused. He was about to kill him when he found out that the man's blood could be used to save the captain.
Jim had been in the hospital for two weeks as the transfusions took effect. He had woken up as badly as he always did. Spock had been right there when he came to. They had talked about everything and nothing at the same time. Then Spock dropped a bombshell. Starfleet wanted Jim to give Admiral Pike's eulogy. Jim shut down after that.
He had done as they asked, but there was still some time before he had to go back to his ship. Everyone was working hard to get the ship back in order, including Jim, but McCoy could tell it was taking its toll on the young man. Pike had fought hard for Jim and it had cost him his life. Jim was never going to forget that.
When he had gotten up that morning, McCoy was determined to get Jim to talk to him. He went to his apartment and rang the little chime five times to no avail. He then went to the shipyard to see if he was annoying the engineers about his baby. The engineers told him they hadn't seen him all day. That was unusual for the captain. He usually was very picky about the repairs of his ship.
His next stop was Spock's apartment. The Vulcan hadn't seen him since the memorial service. That made McCoy nervous. Jim usually told him where he was going. He knew the country doctor tended to worry about him too much. They were family to each other.
McCoy went back to his apartment in the medical facility and tried to remember what he knew about Jim's past. Jim never really talked much about it but he knew there were a few people Jim called on when he was really suffering. McCoy thought long and hard before a memory popped into his mind. He packed a bag and grabbed his coat. He was going to Iowa.
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It was nearing five in the afternoon when there was a knock on the front door. Collin peered into her bedroom to see if it had bothered Jim. The captain was still passed out in her bed. She had been right. He had had a fitful night. He had woken up eight times screaming. Jim didn't scream but he had during the night. She had been there each time. Finally she had moved him to her room where he had fallen asleep against her. She had to go to work but had called in saying she was sick.
She was making dinner when someone pounded on her door. She walked from her kitchen to get the door. The doctor was there with a bag in hand. She remembered him from when Jim sent messages to her. He was a good friend on Jim's, one she owed so much to.
She stepped back and allowed him in. When the man tilted his head in question, she pointed down the hallway to the open door. He followed her finger, sighed, and then followed her into the kitchen. There he took her hand.
"Leonard McCoy," he said.
"Collin Simpson," she replied. "Would you like some coffee and something to eat?"
"That would be lovely." He stripped off his coat then toed off his boots. He was even nice enough to take them to the front door so they could dry. He came back and sank into the chair. "How is he?"
Collin poured two cups of coffee then made two plates of eggs, bacon, and toast. She set them down in front of them and sat down. She shook her head in response to his question.
"Not good, I'm afraid. He stayed up half the night. Sleep has never come easy to him when he's grieving over someone he lost," she said.
"So he told you?"
She nodded as she watched him eat. "Yeah, he told me the details. I'd heard about it on the news and I figured he'd be here sooner or later. They televised the memorial service."
McCoy nodded as he swallowed the mouthful he had. "He takes these things too personally."
"What do you expect? He grew up an unwanted child. He's suffered so much. When he finds someone he trusts and respects, he latches on to them with every part of his being. Losing Pike tore at him. I'm surprised it didn't tear him apart."
"You know a lot about him."
"We went to school together. He was my tutor in math."
"He must trust you enough if he suddenly shows up here."
Collin smiled. "McCoy, I have no family. My parents were killed in a shuttle accident when I was two. I was raised in a group home. I understand where he's coming from."
"He trusts you." She nodded. "How long will he sleep?"
"The rest of the day and maybe some through the night. I'm not expecting it though."
"Hey, Bones." They looked over at the door to the kitchen.
"See?" Collin asked.
"What are you doing here?" Jim asked as he made his way into the kitchen. He reached for the coffee pot but Collin smacked his leg. "What?"
"No coffee. You won't sleep tonight," she said.
"I won't sleep anyway." She raised an eyebrow at him until he backed down. He reached for a glass in the cabinet and poured himself some juice. He sat down with them and stole a piece of bacon from Collin. "What are you doing here, Bones?"
"You just disappeared from San Francisco. I wanted to make sure you were okay," the doctor replied as he slapped his friend's hand away from his plate.
"As you can see, I'm fine."
Collin snorted as she stood and made him a plate. "You're not fine."
"Shut up, Col."
"She's just trying to help you," McCoy replied.
"How did you find me?"
"There're only a couple places you go to in Iowa when you get upset, Jim. I just narrowed it down. I have to say Collin is a nice woman. It's good to know you have someone who can deal with your blind rages."
"Shut up, Bones."
McCoy smiled up at Collin as she picked up her plate and mug to take them to the sink. He finished his meal and walked over to her. Bumping her out of the way, he took over washing the dishes. She shook her head at him and went to do something in the other room. Jim was silent as he finished off his dinner. He handed McCoy his plate and cup then went back to Collin's room where he shut the door.
"He'll do that until you tell him not to or you get him to talk," Collin said as she brought the garbage from the living room into the kitchen.
"When will he return?" McCoy asked.
"When he gets hungry." She took the garbage to the shoot then grabbed an extra bag. "When do you ship back out?"
"In two days, but I can't give him command until I know he's been cleared."
"Do you know what I do?"McCoy shook his head as he began drying dishes. Collin pulled something off her wall and showed it to him.
"You're a psychologist?"
She nodded. "Yep, and I've been reassigned to the Enterprise to help evaluate the crew. I'll be shipping out with you."
"So you'll be keeping up with Jim?"
"Someone has to. You'll be keeping up with the rest of the crew. I think I can help a little bit."
"Will you need an office all your own?"
"No, I can work from my quarters. Don't worry. I won't move you anywhere."
McCoy smiled once again. He really liked this woman. He understood why Jim got along with her.
"Collin, do you know a woman named Alanna?" he asked.
"Yeah, I do. Alanna and Jim bar hopped together. I was too busy going to school and joining Starfleet when I got out of high school." Collin looked at him as she took her dishes from him and put them up. "What about her?"
"She's working on the Enterprise as a botanist."
"Cool. I'm glad she did something with her life as well."
They finished cleaning up the kitchen. Then Collin put on her coat and went to the store. She said they were going to need more groceries if they were going to stay in her tiny apartment together. McCoy didn't argue with her because it gave him time to look around. He was a nosy man so he justified himself.
