2258 – September 4th Somewhere in Georgia 1656 Hours
Leonard groaned and covered his face with his hand. He didn't want to be back on Earth, though his heart still lived there. He didn't want to deal with 'The Bitch', Jocelyn. He didn't want to have to deal with the guilt of losing two patients AND his P.A. in the Klingon/ Pirate debacle… He did want, however, to drink himself into a stupor. Unfortunately, he couldn't.
He stared out the window of the transport shuttle. How he hated those things, damned death traps, even the ones like the one he rode on, the ones that didn't leave Earth's atmosphere. But it was necessary. It was too long of a drive to get from San Francisco to Georgia, and he was finally allowed to see his little girl, Joanna.
She was the only thing he loved, the only thing in the universe that he loved enough to deal with 'The Bitch', her mother. The only thing he loved enough to brave 'The Bitch's' new man, a surgeon who made millions, apparently. While he hardly made ends meat. At least he could see Joanna, and maybe a few old friends, like Josh and Laurie. He wondered absently, bitterly, if they had gotten married yet… if they were even still together…
He took a swig of his flask as the shuttle set down, he needed the liquid courage to face what he'd come to face… He gripped the small bag he'd shoved his few decent clothes into and the wrapped package of Joanna's birthday and Christmas gift. He hoped she liked it… He wasn't really all that good with kids and he had been so cruelly denied the opportunity and the right to know his baby. It wasn't much… but it was all he could give her.
The step off the transport shuttle was one of the most difficult he had ever had to make. But he took it and looked around. There was no one waiting for him that he knew… Typical. So he hitched his bag a little higher and strode into the crowd to wait. As it thinned he realized that, most defiantly, no one was coming. Muttering vicious curses he found a phone and called 'The Bitch's' personal communicator.
He had typed the code into the pad but just as his hand hovered over the send he hesitated. Fuck calling ahead. She knew he was coming. He was going to catch a God damned cab.
2258 – September 4th Riverside, Iowa 1923 Hours
Livie was many things, a Physician's Assistant, a healer, a little sister, her brother's caregiver and babysitter, her mother's angel. But the sad fact was, also, that she was damaged goods. Every one in Riverside, Iowa knew about little Sammie Livie Kirk. Everyone had known how her step-daddy would beat her when she was little, about how, when she was in her teens, she struggled to even be in the same room as a male other than her brother. Things had changed, she had changed, but to them she was always trash.
She hadn't coped as well as Jim had, that she knew, but in the end, with lots of therapy, she was about as well off as her twin. Sure, neither of them were normal, neither of them could be considered totally healthy individuals, but they were good people, SHE was a good person. And she was going to be damned if she let close-minded, redneck, cousin-fucking hicks bully her.
Livie took a sip of her Bud Classic. She preferred sweeter things, cocktails, the Slushomix, but a beer bottle was many things. It stopped people from attempting to spike her drink, because it came to her with a closed top, it had a low alcohol percentage so she could have a few of them, and it seconded as a weapon if need be. She hoped that there wouldn't be a need, but she was always prepared.
Jim was supposed to be arriving shortly. He had a week of shore leave because his ship got totaled in an issue with Klingons. Sounded like her brother, that was for sure. If there was a tiny chance of it all going to hell in a hand basket, then it would, guaranteed, as long as Jimmy was involved. But she loved him dearly, and he loved her just as much. They were all they'd had, as kids. Because an absent mother and an abusive step-father didn't really count as a support system or family.
She glanced at the old style watch on her wrist. He was late, as usual. She took a long sip of her beer. He'd damn well better hurry up. Their mother would go to bed at 9:30 sharp in the evenings and it was an hours walk to the house because the buses closed down at 6 pm, she didn't have a car, and she imagined he didn't either.
The door banged open and the warm wind tore through the room. She heard growls from the surrounding bar patrons, some gasps of shock and excitement (mostly from little old ladies), and a few swoons. Oh yea, Jim was back.
Liv looked up and found herself staring into eyes exactly like her own, their Daddy's eyes. She left the bottle of the bar and leapt into Jim's arms, smiling. He tightened them around her, pressing his forehead to hers. "I missed you Livie." He growled at her.
She didn't need to be a psychologist and doctor to know he was hurt, both physically and emotionally. She could hear it in the voice she knew as well as her own. "I missed you too Jimmy." She murmured, pressing a kiss to his scruffy cheek.
Jim set her down the nine inches so her feet settled back on the ground and turned to the bartender. "Two more Bud Classics." He ordered like he was used to being listened to.
Liv laughed, shoving her twin slightly. "Be nice Jimmy. Here you're just a farm boy, not a Captain."
He smiled indulgently at her. "You have no idea how great that sounds." But behind the smile Liv saw something that worried her, something she identified because it was in her eyes all the time too, whenever she looked in the mirror. Jim was haunted, hurting, and lonely.
She slid her arm around his waist and leaned into his chest like they had as kids. She couldn't say anything to make things right, there was nothing she could say until she got the whole story from him. But she knew from experience that being with someone helped. His arm slid around her shoulder and tightened until it was almost painful. Yea… he needed her. And she needed him… they'd been apart too long.
2558 – September 4th Oxford, Mississippi 1745 Hours
The house looked exactly the same to Leonard as he stepped from the cab and looked up at it. It was beautiful, the classical Southern Mansion. It had been through tons of renovations, but when he'd bought it he'd been given the paperwork proving it had originally been built in the 1840's. He loved it then, currently he just hated it and everything it stood for.
He walked up the wooden steps onto the large, wrap around porch. The second to top step creaked and groaned under his weight. It needed replacing or it would eventually break. Clearly the Bitch wasn't looking after his home well and her man was useless. What sort of man didn't take pride in the state of his home? He reached the door and knocked.
The door opened and Leonard fought a frown. The man standing on the other side of the screen was shorter than his 6'1" and much thinner than himself… And much younger, Len guessed he was maybe 25, Jim's age. His pale golden hair was curly and his eyes green, making him look, to Leonard, like an overgrown Golden Retriever puppy.
The man frowned very slightly. "Can I help you?" His accent was clearly north Eastern and he was dressed as crisply as Len would expect him to be, pressed white button down, perfect dark grey slacks, gold cuff links…
"I'm Leonard McCoy." Leonard growled, "I'm here to see my daughter."
The man's frown deepened. "Jocelyn!" He called into the house. "Leonard is here."
"Tell him to get lost!" Len heard The Bitch call from deeper in the house, above the laughter of children.
But there was a familiar laugh that haunted his dreams and the sound of little feet hitting the hardwood floors. "DADDY!" Screamed the familiar voice. Joanna rounded the corner and came into his view, running full kilt toward the door. Please Lord, he begged, let her mean me and not this KID!
The stranger spun and offered his arms to Joanna but his little girl brushed past his out stretched arms and threw open the screen door. "Daddy! Daddy! DADDY!" Joanna cried as she leapt into his arms. Len dropped his bag and wrapped his arms around his beautiful red-headed daughter.
"Hey darlin'." He greeted her softly. "I missed you baby girl."
Joanna laughed, her arms tight around his neck. "I missed you too Daddy! I missed you SOOOOO much!" Her arms relaxed and she wriggled in his hold, forcing him to set her back down. She smiled a beautiful, toothy grin up at him. She was missing one of her top incisors. She grabbed his hand and pulled. "Come on Daddy! Come ON! It's my party!"
He laughed, feeling light hearted for a moment. His baby wanted him there… she still loved him. "You don't mind getting' my bag, do ya friend?" He asked the strange man who was raising his daughter as they passed.
Joanna was so HAPPY her Daddy was finally home! She liked Nick well enough, he was nice and bought her toys and pretty dresses, but he wasn't her Daddy. And she didn't love him like she loved her Daddy. Her Daddy wasn't around all the time, in fact usually he was at school and work, but it didn't matter.
Her Daddy was always with her, because she always wore the present he gave her just before Mommy made him leave, the locket with a picture of him and her. And at night she slept with the teddy bear her Daddy sent her for Christmas the year before. She loved her Daddy more because even though he didn't give her lots of pretty things, because when he was home he spent time with her.
When her Daddy was there he did everything with her. They rode horsies, played games, made lemonade, drove around in Daddy's classic car… Nick never did those things with Joanna. And to Joanna, those were the things that really mattered.
Her Daddy's hand was big and it covered hers totally, and he was strong. She was pulling him, but she knew he was letting her, because he was so strong she couldn't make him do anything… No one could. Because to Joanna's seven year old mind, her Daddy was a superhero, her hero, and could take on the world…
Her Mommy stood in the Kitchen as Joanna dragged her Daddy in. Mommy glared at Daddy and looked at Joanna with a pinched look. Mommy wasn't happy. But Joanna didn't care. Daddy was home. Daddy was braving the only person who could beat him, her Mommy, all for her.
Joanna heard her Daddy say softly, "Hello Jocelyn," as they passed her Mommy. Mommy said nothing back. Daddy didn't seem to care though, because he didn't stop and Joanna led her Daddy out into the backyard, where all her friends were.
Leonard was grateful that none of his crewmates were present at the party. He would never have felt comfortable enough to play with his daughter in front of them. He was not a nice or even pleasant man, however with his daughter he tried. He loved Joanna and as such gave her everything he could, his whole self.
As such he could be found with a football in his arms, running slowly toward the 'end zone'. Ten kids raced after him, jumping on him in an attempt to make him trip. Two already hung from his shoulders, laughing as he kept going despite their weight. He couldn't remember the last time he was so HAPPY. He was even smiling…
"HA!" He heard Joanna yell as she leapt onto his back, the force of her making him stumble slightly. He knew they couldn't stop him so he let them have him, he dropped to his knees with a mock-grunt of pain and effort.
"Alright, alright, you got me." He said just before a forth kid hit him from behind and forced him to fall forward.
"DOG PILE!" A little girl, he didn't know her name, yelled. Suddenly he was inundated with laughing, smiling little bodies jumping on him. He knew he'd ache a little the next day, but really he didn't care.
And, had any of the Enterprise crew been there to see, they'd be awed to find that their cantankerous, rough, rude CMO was smiling a very natural, handsome smile that lit up his grey eyes and made him seem younger. Had they been there they would have wondered what an ass God must be, to rip such a loving, good man from the family that clearly made him happy. Sadly there was no one there who cared about Leonard who would notice.
But the man who did notice was shocked. As he understood it Leonard was a terrible father, a terrible man, and worse, a terrible doctor. As Nick watched the man who he had replaced he wondered if perhaps his new wife was influenced by her anger and bitterness, and the man who he'd stolen a life from was really a decent, loving sort of man. It gave Nick a lot to think about as he called that it was present and cake time.
Leonard smiled slightly at his baby girl. Sitting in a massive circle of her friends and presents, she reminded him frighteningly of Jim. His daughter had been uncomfortable in big groups as the center of attention when he'd left, three and a half years before. Now she had the vivacious nature he saw in his best friend and Captain. It unnerved, but pleased, him a little.
Gifts were slowly passed to Joanna, cards opened and read aloud, paper ripped off in a fit of excited giggles. As he watched the gifts be unwrapped his mild unease at the nature of his gift grew and grew. When he'd left his daughter was far from a girly girl, she was a Daddy's girl, but all the gifts from her friends were pink, frilly, or fluffy.
Joanna hugged one of her friends as he eyed the newest gift… Good GOD who bought fluffy pink stuffed dogs? Dogs weren't pink! Mind, he believed that the only real dog was a big dog, so perhaps owners dyed their little rat dogs pink. Leonard wouldn't know.
Eventually it was his turn to give his little girl her gift. He handed her the decent sized purple and blue bag and fought a flush of embarrassment. Would his gift measure up? Probably not… Joanna pulled the tissue paper out of the bag and lifted out the first box. A Star Fleet regulation Play Pretend Medical Kit (He'd had Scotty's help in making it himself because he couldn't buy one, apparently little kids didn't want to be doctors anymore). But Joanna squealed louder than she had all evening and threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.
"Now I can be just like you!" She said loud enough to make him wince.
Leonard chuckled at the slightly shocked looks of parents and the awed looks of the assembled children. "I wouldn't say that, darlin'. Hopefully you'll have a better bedside manner than me." A few of the parents, patients from his old practice, chuckled, smiling indulgently.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Joanna chanted hugging him tighter each time she repeated the words.
Leonard patted her back gently. "The bag isn't empty yet sugah." Joanna squealed and raced to the bag, releasing him instantly. She pulled out the second gift with her free hand. And then promptly began bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet like a loon.
"Yay! Yay! Yay! Does it work Daddy?! Does it really work?!" She asked excitedly.
"What is it?" The new step dad, Nick, asked Leonard, looking at him as opposed to the clearly overly-hyper child.
Leonard smiled smugly, feeling more than a little pride at knowing his daughter so well. "A regulation Star Fleet issue Medical Tricorder." He glanced at the bubbly red-headed girl, still clearly overjoyed. "And yes, it really works, but it has no power unit right now. So you can play with it now and when you get older, if you keep it nice, I'll get you the special issue power unit."
Eventually things got back on track and cake was served. Leonard watched Joanna when a hand clapped him on the back. He glanced to his side and saw 'Nick'. He fought a frown.
But the strange man smiled slightly. "That kiddo really loves you." He commented conversationally.
Leonard nodded, not quite sure where the shorted kid was going. "Yea, I suppose she does."
"Where are you stayin' tonight?" The man asked, turning his eyes to look at Jocelyn, who was dishing out cake to the attending parents.
"Motel just by the shuttle port. I'll be out of your hair tonight, no worries, and gone tomorrow morning." Len growled, feeling the usual anger at being kept from his baby, his home…
The blonde shook his head. "No, no. You're gonna stay here, in the spare room." Len shot a surprised look at the blonde, who smiled slightly. "I'll handle Jocelyn. Joanna loves you, she missed you, and clearly your not the bastard I was told you were. Stay the night, tuck your little girl in, read her a story, make her breakfast in the morning."
Leonard bit back his bitter, knee-jerk response and considered the kid. He SEEMED honestly sincere, which was really good of him, but also really naïve. "Thank you but no. You have no idea what problems it'll cause in your marriage."
The blonde man scowled slightly. "She lied to me, I think I can choose to let you stay here, given that I'm the one who works and pays the bills." He patted Leonard's back again. "I insist."
Leonard didn't offer him a smile but he nodded in thanks. "That's good of you, Nick. I suppose I'll have to agree." Nick wandered off and Leonard turned his eyes back to Joanna. He smiled slightly, watching her laugh. Twelve more hours with his kid? He sure wasn't about to pass that up.
AN: Hello my Doves! Here is the first chapter of "What A Doctor Needs"! I hope you liked it and it wasn't too dark. It will lighten up eventually but not quite yet. Leonard is a dark fellow for the most part. And Liv is little better, bright and happy and funny on the outside but broken and hurt underneath, just like Jim…
ANY WHO! Reviews = previews! Show me the love!