Hi!
This is intended, for now, to be a one-shot. I may continue this later on, but I just wanted to capture the father/daughter relationship between Bones and Joanna. I'm sure I'll get plenty of ideas for more chapter, so watch this space : )
Please review and let me know what you think, I'd love to hear your views!
Enjoy!
Onwards...
'The sooner I get off this ship, the better' groused the Doctor. With a small duffle bag by his side and his dark blue jacket on over his tunic, Bones was ready to leave space far behind him.
'Come on, Bones; you'll miss it really.' Jim smirked, leaning over to pat his husband on the shoulder. They were stood on the exit shaft, ready for the doors to open and to smell that sweet Earth air.
'Nope' Bones shook his head defiantly. 'Not one bit. I plan on not even looking up at the sky for the foreseeable future.'
Jim smiled. Each time they docked, he and Bones took it in turns to pick the destination where they'd stay, as neither of them had a permanent home on Earth anymore; Bones picked Georgia last time, Jim San Francisco the time before that; Jim was being very tight lipped about what was happening this Shore Leave.
'Where are you planning on spending Shore Leave, Doctor?' asked Spock politely; he was holding Uhura's bag as well as his own; she was looking out the window, smiling with silent excitement.
'Not sure yet, Spock' Bones answered. He shot Jim a look.
'A Magical Mystery Tour' Jim offered, fiddling with his Communicator. He smiled and looked up. The doors were finally opening.
Jim strode forwards, Spock next with Bones and Uhura not far behind.
There was a melee of pushing and confusion as everyone rushed forwards, eager to see their loved ones, the crowd a mix of yellow, blue and red shirts.
'Daddy….Daddy!' A shout filled the air around them.
Uhura sidled up to Jim and Bones, Spock close next to her. 'Some fathers in for a treat' she smiled.
The young girl's voice cried out again. 'Daddy! Where are you Daddy?'
Jim nearly walked into the back of Bones as the Doctor suddenly stopped. 'Whoa, put on some lights, will ya?' he laughed.
'…can't be,' breathed Bones, turning a full 360, causing a slight obstruction.
'Doctor, are you well?' enquired Spock.
Before he could answer, the girl shouted again. 'Daddy! Daddy?!'
Bones looked back down the gangway, where the crowd was slowly clearing, the stragglers moving out the way as a small girl with brown eyes, brown hair tied up in two pigtails and who was wearing a blue sparkly dress ran up in between them all.
Jim glanced at Bones, whose face had lit up. 'Annie!' he cried, striding forwards.
'Daddy!' screamed the girl happily, running full pelt towards her father.
Bones crashed to his knees in front of her, pulling his daughter into a close bear hug, laughing as the girl tucked her head into his neck.
'I missed you Daddy!' she cried, tears flowing.
'I missed you too, sweetpea.' Mumbled Bones, his own eyes wet. He chuckled as Joanna hugged him again. Neither wanted to let go.
Jim's heart swelled as he watched this scene. Uhura had dissolved into tears next to him and even Spock was smiling slightly.
'That would be the Doctors…'
'Daughter, yeah.' Jim nodded. 'That's Joanna.' It had taken some serious string pulling with the Admiralty, but Jim had managed it; a whole two weeks of just him, Bones and Joanna.
'Fascinating.' Spock watched the scene. Bones had stood up by now, Joanna latched to him with her legs around his waist and arms around his neck, face on his shoulder.
Jim strode forwards, smiling. He put his hand on his partners back and Joanna looked up.
'Uncle Jim!' she shouted, scrambling for her Dad to let her down. She crashed into Jim and hugged him round the middle. He bent down to give her a proper hug, hand cradling the back of her head.
'Hey, Kiddo' grinned Jim, glancing up at Bones, who was wiping his eyes. 'Been good?'
'Uh hu!' she nodded seriously. 'Mom said I could only come if I cleaned the stables out every day and kept my room tidy.'
Bones smirked. 'Is your mother here?' he asked.
Joanna looked up at him, eyes confused. 'Not anymore. She and Clay dropped me off with my stuff.'
Now Bones looked confused. 'Dropped you off…what do you-' he trailed off when he caught sight of Jim grinning at him.
'Happy Shore Leave, Bones.' He held out his arms and smiled as Bones enveloped him in a close hug.
'Thank you' Bones breathed into his ear, kissing his jaw. 'Just…thanks'
Jim laughed, wiping his eyes as they parted. He coughed and looked around him, 'Well?' he asked, picking up his and Joanna's bags. 'What are we all doing just standing around? Shore Leave started five minutes ago already!' And he led the way out of the Terminal.
Bones chuckled, picking up his own bag, Joanna fitting her small hand into his.
This was going to be their best Shore Leave yet.
