I do not own nor profit from Star Trek or Gene Roddenberrys works

A/N: I appreciate the reviews I've received on this story, shout out to Hope of the Darkness who has been following this story. I appreciate your reviews and support. this is all mind-to-site writing for me, so if things get a little jumbled, I apologize.

The next evening, Leonard showed up at Addys door. He wore blue jeans, a button up and an open blazer, leaning against her doorjamb.

"You look gorgeous tonight Leonard." Addy sighed, looking him over. She herself wore a light form fitting tunic with bootleg jeans, and short leather jacket. Her hair was down in gentle curls, and her makeup was light, just enough to accentuate her features, the way that Leonard liked it. He offered her his arm.

"And you, my dear, are stunning tonight." He purred, as she took his arm. When they stepped outside, she shivered in the cool air. "Cold are you?" He asked, pulling her in closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked.

"So, where are we going?" She looked up to him, as they walked in stride.

"Well, I was thinking the Waterbar." He smiled. "Well, at least thats what the reservations say." He cocked an eyebrow as they walked.

"Thats... really?" She had heard about the Waterbar... and the expensive bill that it normally came with. That and the higher class vibe that one felt stepping in there. She suddenly felt under dressed. "If I would have known thats where we were going, I would have worn something a little nicer." She looked nervous. Of course, fancy digs were never her type of restaurant. She would have been happy at some small barbecue stand where there were regulars, and everybody had a favorite menu number.

"Don't worry doll. It doesn't matter, you are beautiful to me, and thats all that matters, right?" He leaned down, kissing her forehead. It settled Adelaides nerves, as they walked. She laughed heartily as Leonard was telling her jokes, and playfully bantering with her. She nearly had tears running down her face as he kept her entertained.

At dinner, they had many eyes on them. They seemed to be the happiest couple there, the way they were so engaged in one another, their conversation never stopped. They were comfortable, as if they were the only ones in the restaurant. Addy sipped her wine, and smiled. She was lost in this man before her, and had no idea how she allowed herself to fall for him so easily.

"Want to go dance?" Leonard asked as they were getting ready to leave.

"You? Leonard McCoy? Dance?! I never thought I'd live to see the day." She was slightly tipsy, imagining Len dancing. The thought was amusing.

"Sure, why not? I think it would be fun. Besides, we need to work off dinner a little bit before we get back home." He kissed her cheek as they left the restaurant.

When they got to the club, they found they were not alone. Uhura and Spock were there with a few other crew members she did not recognize. It seemed to be like a big group date.

"Adelaide!" Uhura waved them over. "Oh my, you look so lovely!" She beamed. Leonard appeared from behind Addy. It was Spock who first noticed that they were holding hands. Leonard knew this, watching Spock arch an eyebrow, looking at their laced fingers.

"And, how long has this been going on Doctor?" Spock asked as Leonard slid into a seat next to him.

"Um, a little while." Leonard looked around uneasy. Uhura and Addy went to the bathroom to powder their noses, or do whatever pack animal mentality activities women did at the club. That is what Leonard always thought of, a pack of wolves flooding the bathroom to powder their noses, pee, and redo their lipstick.

"Do you realize what this means?" Spock looked ahead, trying to avoid eye contact.

Leonard groaned, not wanting to hear him cite regulation. "I'm sure you are going to tell me? Whiskey, please, double on the rocks." He nodded to the server who was taking his drink order. "Oh, and a red wine, the best you have." He added.

"It means you are going to have to figure out what this will mean between you and the Captain." Spock looked over, catching Leonards confused gaze.

"So you aren't going to go on about how she is a nurse under my charge?" He was puzzled.

"Though it would seem wrong Doctor, one has to remember she was actually the First Officer on the Farragut, before its untimely demise. A relationship between you two would not be discouraged by rank. It may, however, be discouraged by the captain." He said, taking a drink from his glass.

"Yeah, well, we have already talked about how we tell Jim." He sighed. The server arrived a few minutes later with his whiskey and a bottle of wine with two glasses. Adelaide came back sitting next to her man.

"Oh, sweetie, you got me wine." She smiled. It was the only alcohol she really drank. "Oh my, Syrah, oh, I love it." She smiled, swirling the red liquid around the glass, savoring the scent. "You know me too well, I'm beginning to fear." She giggled. She leaned in and kissed his neck.

"Wait, are you two..." It was finally dawning on Uhura that their behavior was a bit too intimate for friends or coworkers.

"Yes, Nyota, we are dating." She giggled.

"What? When?" She shook her head, excited.

"Well, not long after the Romulan incident, actually." She smiled.

"So, that's the mysterious boyfriend." Jim stepped from behind Addy, nodding his head. His voice was flat.

"Jim." She looked into his wet eyes.

"Jim, look, it wasn't-" Leonard began.

"Yeah, you know what Bones, I don't think I really want to talk here." He looked around, swallowing before walking away.

Adelaide jumped up, going after him, followed by Nyota, Leonard and Spock. They were already down the street talking, or yelling, when they caught up to them.

"Adelaide, you led me on!" He yelled, holding his hands out in anger. "Here I am, acting like an idiot, trying to get back with you, and yet, you are here fucking one of my best friends!" He cried. In the fresh air, the alcohol reeked off of his body, his eyes clearly glazed.

"Wait, so, you can have sex with any woman you want, but when I finally find someone that makes me happy, I can't be with them? Jim, do you know how hypocritical that is?! I mean, I can look at nearly half the women on this base, and know you've slept with them." She laughed angrily.

"But Bones is my FRIEND! Of ALL the men you could have fucked on this base, you chose HIM?!" His voice cracked. "My GOD Addy, couldn't you have found someone else?! ANYBODY else!"

"Jim, stop it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but honestly, who I am with is none of your concern. I don't ask who you are sleeping with. Of course, it changes so frequently it wouldn't really matter anyways now would it. Besides, I am not just fucking Leonard. That's what you do on a one night stand, you should know that well Jim. We have been happily in a relationship."

"Are you happy Addy? Are you really?" He glowered angrily.

"Yes, Jim, I am! For the first time in a long time, I am happy!" She spoke quietly.

"You are so unbelievable. Disgusting, that's what you are Addy. To make me think I had a chance while your'e getting your rocks off with Bones. You know, I'm glad I left your ass, Addy. You were never even worth it, I don't know why I even LET myself care about you for so long." He was speaking false words from deep within his anger.

"Hey, Jim, you need to chill." Leonard stepped up. "You can be angry, but dammit Jim, I'm not going to let you disrespect a woman like that." He bristled.

"Oh, please, Bones. She isn't a woman. She's a friend stealing whore. You are even worse. I told you everything, EVERYTHING! You knew how much I cared about her, and yet you swoop in like a vulture and snatch her up! You know what, just, leave me the fuck alone. Everybody." He waved his hands in surrender and left the group.

Nyota didn't understand what was going on, but Spock understood everything. "It would be best for you to let him go for now. I will check on him tonight, but let him sleep off his intoxication. I suggest you two go enjoy the rest of your night." Spock turned to them. Nyota reached in and hugged Addy.

Adelaide was tearing up, angry and embarrassed. Leonard gave her a quick kiss, wiping her first tear away. "Let's just try to enjoy the rest of our night tonight, alright hun? I love you." He whispered against her forehead.

"Love you too Len." She sniffed, wiping her cheeks.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow, alright? But I want to just spend time with you." He held her there on the street, wanting to make her feel better.

"Can we go home?" She looked up with large eyes, making him melt like chocolate in a hot oven. He nodded, and took her back to his place. She had hardly been to his place since Jim was likely to show up to his place unannounced. But it was unlikely he would be coming around that night.

Leonard pulled her in close, as they talked quietly and intimately with one another in bed. Leonards hand gently rubbed her arm and side, making her feel more and more relaxed. Eventually she lulled into a deep slumber, laying into his chest. Leonard was uneasy though, not knowing what he was going to say to Jim the next day. Sleep wasn't easy to come by for him that night, but at least he was able to take comfort in Addy being there with him.

Leonard had coffee ready for her, as she shuffled into his living room in just one of his tank tops and her panties. "Morning sunshine." He smiled, as Addy ran her fingers through her bed hair.

"Hey." She croaked, still groggy. "Awww, thank you babes." She rested her head sleepily on his chest. "Wanna come back to bed and cuddle?" She tempted him.

"Ha, I wish. But, unfortunately, Jim called about 20 minutes ago. He wants to meet up. Just me and him." He shook his head, wishing he didn't have to do this when Addy moaned her protest, holding him tighter.

"Babe, we need to try and clear this up. Alright?" He sighed, holding her. "You and Nyota are going to the gym today, right?" He asked, looking at the clock.

"Yeah, I'm going." She sighed.

"Good, then, you two go, do what you ladies do, I'll go meet Jim." He rubbed the small of her back. "In fact, here, take my card, go do a little bit of shopping, maybe pick up something for dinner? I'll even cook for you tonight." He reached into his wallet, giving her his card.

"Are you sure babe? I mean, I can buy my own things." She blushed, not knowing how to feel about this sudden splurge. She had never had a man who spoiled her like this. She and Jim didn't have a lot of extra money when they were together. She tried dating a couple of guys, but they wanted sex to fast, it turned her off after the second date.

"I'm positive. Go treat yourself. Get your hair done, nails, I don't know, whatever you want. I just want you to feel better, and Spock has said that Nyota is a firm believer in Retail Therapy when she is stressed." Leonard shook his head.

"Yeah, but, Len-"

"No buts, doctors orders. You need retail therapy. Do I need to write you a prescription for it?" He raised an eyebrow, challenging her.

"Alright, sounds good." She stepped back, taking a drink of her coffee. "Oh my, I need to have you make coffee more often." She sighed, savoring the flavor. "That tastes amazing. Jeez Len, you are holding out on me. You can cook and you make amazing coffee, what else aren't you telling me?" She laughed. He gave her a playful spank as she turned to go get dressed.

When she was ready, she gave him a gentle kiss and left back to her place to get her gym clothes. Leonard left to Jims place, anxious.

"Come in." Jim said lowly, letting Leonard into his place. Spock was there, standing by the window, not paying attention to them. Leonard figured he was probably there for a neutral party.

Both men faced one another in the living room. Jims face was full of emotion, but he couldn't decide which one was stronger at that moment.

"What the HELL were you thinking?!" Jim finally broke.

"Jim, it wasn't intentional." Bones put his hands on his hips. "When we were on the Enterprise, she opened up to me, a lot. She just seemed comfortable, and so we talked a lot. We just carried that on when we got back to Earth, and things just, progressed from there." He tried explaining.

"But Bones, you knew this whole time how much I love her! And yet you still went after her."

"She came after me."

"AND YOU LET HER! YOU ALLOWED IT!" He was livid, but hurt.

"Jim, dammit man, what do you want me to do? I've watched you go through women like water, and finally, I find one woman Jim, ONE woman, that I like, and who likes me! ONE! Can't I have that?" He plead.

"No! Not her! Anybody but HER." Jim paced angrily.

"Jim, She isn't yours, and she hasn't been yours since you left her! Jim, just let her be happy! You just called her a whore who wasn't even worth it naught but what, 12 hours ago? And you expect her to want to run back into your arms?!" Bones stepped back. That set Jim off.

He lunged at Bones, tackling him, before getting up far enough to punch him in the jaw. "All that crap about let her be happy, and to let her go. It's because she was with YOU!" He cried, his anger boiling over. Spock was trying to pull him off, before he could do too much more damage. "FUUUUCK!" Jim screamed out.

Bones clambered to his feet. "You know what Jim, you asked me to make sure she was happy. Well, she is happy. What does it matter if its with me or with someone else. At least its with someone you know will treat her right, not some lowlife who will abuse her." He spat, tasting the blood on his lip. "You know, you definitely alluded that you were less of a culprit in the breakup than she was when you gave me your version of the breakup."

Jim sighed. "I didn't want to admit to being the asshole that I was. But it doesn't mean that I don't want her back." Jim gritted.

"Well, you know what, you can try to get her back, but so far your attempts have failed, haven't they? You know, if you love her so damn much Jim, just stop. Stop all this, tearing open old wounds, let her heal, let her move on." Leonard yelled.

Spocks comm went off, summoning him to the Admirals office. "I have been summoned at headquarters. Doctor, perhaps you would like to walk with me." He looked up at Leonard.

"Nah, I was just going. I've got other things to do today." He growled, leaving Jims apartment quickly.

He waited at his place for Addy to come over. When she came in, and set the groceries down, he began telling her what transpired. She was upset, naturally, but, was happy that Leonard wasn't too terribly hurt. His jaw was a little bruised, and his lip was split, which made him wince when he kissed her too vigorously, but otherwise, he was fine. Shaken perhaps, but fine.

Adelaide and Leonard enjoyed their time on planet as best they could. Their relationship was well known on base, no more hiding, no more secrecy. As the weather got warmer, they spent more time outdoors, whether they were jogging, swimming, laying in the sun, or playing some other sports with other crewmen. At least on their off days, they were out. During the work days, they would try to catch lunch together. Most days they missed one anothers lunches, since his schedule was far more erratic than hers.

Jim would constantly see them together around base in the evening, laughing and smiling when they went to the bar, or when they went dancing. Spock and Nyota were careful not to speak of them around Jim, and made sure to spend time with Jim as much or more than they did with Addy and Len. Jim seemed to need them more right now, not having his faithful doctor to turn to. But Jim was not so alone as they thought.

He doubled his efforts at keeping a warm bed. Every night, a woman graced his sheets. He was more aggressive in bed as well, working out his anger and his lust on their poor broken bodies. He didn't even let them stick around until morning sometimes. Just as soon as his climax hit, he was handing them their belongings.

He had become more introverted, trying not to be out more than he had to be, but long enough to find something to indulge in. The sun was bright that particular day as Jim briskly made his way to the dining hall. His hunger had drawn him out finally. Of course, he took in the sights, as the women off duty enjoyed the heat in very little clothing. Short shorts, bikini tops, halter tops, bare skin everywhere it seemed. It was that laugh in the distance that made him snap to reality.

Leonard and Addy were sitting at a table with some of the other survivors from the Farragut. It looked like Leonard was trying to feed Addy, but she was moving back, laughing lively. Leonards expression as she wiped sauce on his cheek actually garnered a small smile from Jim. Their laughter taunted him, but it was, in a twisted way, relief. Bones words resounded in his ears, as Jim shook his head and continued inside to eat.

"Five year mission, that's deep space Spock!" He slapped the mans chest in excitement. Spock was not so sure that this was why they had been summoned by Admiral Pike, but there was no swaying the Captains excitement. He was just as excited and devoted to being a captain, as he was to finding women.

"Captain, are you sure this is why we have been called?" Spock stood with his hands behind his back as they entered the lift.

"What else could it be Spock? There is no reason to call us otherwise." He grinned wildly. A mission to deep space would mean getting away from his problems. He would reassign Bones and Addy. If anything, he could at least reassign Addy, and just avoid Bones. It would be difficult, but, he could try.

"Come in, Kirk, Spock." Admiral Pike closed the door behind them. They stood before his desk as the Admiral sat down.

"Nibiru..." He drew out, "listed as uneventful." He flipped through a file.

"Correct sir."

"Then can you tell me why a civilization who has barely invented the wheel has seen a starship rising out of their ocean?!" Pike threw the file down on his desk.

"You filed a report?" He turned to Spock. He was not expecting his first officer to make a report about their mission to Nibiru. He was distressed, he knew this could end in severe reprimand, not exactly what he needed on his plate at the moment.

By the end of the meeting, Jim was stripped of his captaincy, and ordered back to the Academy. It was the most devastating thing he had ever felt. Not even losing Addy was this painful. The Enterprise was the only thing he had left. It was his pride and joy, to be Captain at such a young age. He was in a daze, walking slowly through the hall towards the lift. He didn't even realize that Bones and Addy were standing, talking to Spock.

"Captain?" Spock lifted his brow, concerned.

"I'm not... I'm." He stammered, swallowed and tried again. "I'm not captain anymore. They took her away." He said, hollow and distant. He didn't even look up, as he just slowly continued. He needed a drink. He needed a few drinks.

"Admiral." Addy walked into Admiral Pikes office unannounced.

"Commander, you could have knocked."

"I could have."

"What can I do for you?" The admiral sat back.

"Addy, what are you dong?" Leonard stepped in behind her.

"Admiral, did they take the Enterprise from Jim?" She stared into his eyes.

"That isn't your concern, but, yes." He nodded.

"Who is going to take over the ship?" She asked.

"I am."

"Then sir, I implore you, don't send Jim back to the Academy. He is brilliant, Admiral. Please, can you give him time to learn as your first officer?" She sat down, leaning forward over his desk.

"Why? I heard that you two had quite a spat a few weeks ago." He looked her over.

"Yes, we did. But Admiral, Jim is a young captain. He is going to make mistakes. He isn't a bad captain, he just needs to learn what he can and cannot be doing." She sighed.

"But why are YOU coming to bat for him after the fight you had is what I'm asking." He gave ab expectant gaze.

"Because Leonard and I know him best outside of Spock. Jim won't stop trying to get the Enterprise back. That is his baby, and that may well the only thing he really has left." She sighed, hanging her head. She began to muster up her best pitiful tears. "Jim doesn't know what he has, until it's gone, that is his biggest folly, and now that the Enterprise is gone from his grasp, he will realize how to respect the chair. He is unorthodox as a Captain, but, isn't that one of the qualities you liked about him?" She began to pout a little more.

"Commander... I hate you sometimes." He gave a slight grin. "I'll see what I can do."

"Oh, thank you so much Admiral, you won't regret it, I promise." She smiled, dismissing herself.

When she and Leonard got to the lift, he grabbed her hand, turning her to face him.

"Okay, just, bear with me, but, what the hell just happened?" He put a head to his temple.

"Len, come on, you know how much that ship means to Jim." She sighed.

"Yeah, but, after what he said and did, you want to help him?" He shook his head.

"Len, I don't want to spend my life holding grudges. I hold no ill will towards him. I'm happy, and nothing can bring me down, but, now Jim needs something to look forward to. I mean, it won't be his captaincy back, but it's a start, right?"

"Yeah, but, I mean, jeez."

"Sweetie, it's just who I am." She sighed. "I just want to help." She began to pout a little again, knowing that Leonard of all men couldn't resist her sad eyes.

"Addy, I know." He pulled her in, before stepping onto the lift. "What am I going to do with you?" He shook his head.

Jim was sulking at the bar, drinking whiskey on the rocks. His life was crumbing around him, and he didn't know how much more he could take before he just threw it all away. His friend and his ex together, his ship was gone, and it was slim pickings for women that night.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention as he turned to meet the gaze of a pretty brunette. She was definitely dressed to get attention, and with Jim, she had it. He looked down at his glass and turned back to talk to her, but was interrupted by Admiral Pike taking a seat.

"Perfect timing, Admiral." He winced, taking another shot.

"Yeah, well, I figured I'd come by and tell you in person." He said, ordering a beer. "They gave her back to me. The Enterprise." He nodded.

"Well, congratulations." Jim said wryly.

"They've granted me to have you as first officer."

"What about Spock?"

"He's been reassigned."

"Can I ask you a favor then, sir?"

"What's that Jim?"

"Doctor McCoy, and Commander Myers, well, I've had a falling out with them. I would ask that they both be reassigned." He swallowed.

"No deal."

"Sir, I don't think I can work with them. It's, complicated."

"Well, whatever it is, get over it. They're the ones that talked me into bringing you on as first officer. Commander Myers can make a very persuasive argument when she wants. So, I brought it up to the board, and they agreed." He took a swig from his bottle.

"What?" Jim was trying to digest his words.

"Yeah. After the meeting, she stormed into my office and argued that you should stay, and be mentored as first officer instead of going back to Academy. Adelaide and Leonard. She said that once you've lost the Enterprise, you'll stop at nothing to get it back, so, I'm giving you a chance to try and earn her back." He put down his money and left.

Jim looked down at his empty glass, with a half melted ice cube in it, and sighed. He pulled out his comm, and punched in the numbers.

"Hey, Bones. I need to talk to you." He sighed.

"Babe, Jim is coming over, you might want to get dressed." He bent down and kissed Addys calf as it was propped up against the railing of his balcony. They had been enjoying dessert in the fresh air.

"Awwww, Len. Clothes are supposed to come off by this time of night, not go on." She purred.

"You are one bad kitty, but don't think I won't take those clothes back off when he leaves." He growled. She was in a short pink nightie, and slippers in the warm air. The last shreds of light were dimming in the far sky, and the stars were beginning to glitter overhead.

She came back out in a pair of stretch pants, and a thin short sleeved tee. "Is there anything you can wear that makes you look terrible?" Leonard voiced shaking his head.

"Well, I could try a potato sack next time." She grinned.

"Nah, wouldn't work darlin, I'd rip that sack to shreds to get to you." He kissed her shoulder, swaying to a song that neither one of them could hear, before a doorbell interrupted them.

Leonard answered, and stepped aside to let Jim in. Addy was washing the dishes from their meal in the kitchen.

"What can I do for you, Jim?" Leonard was still a bit leery about Jim, still hurt by his words towards Addy.

"Look, I um. I heard what you guys did, with the Admiral." He spoke modestly. "I, I appreciate it."

"Nothin' to it Jim, you are still a friend to me and Addy, and we will still care about ya." Leonard looked towards the kitchen.

"I know I was a real dick, and, we are going to be working together, so I want to try and make things easier." Jim stepped towards the door. He was halfway out when he stopped. "I'm, glad that she found you Bones. She really does deserve a better man." He left it at that, leaving.

Bones nodded, watching him walk down the hall, and disappear into the lift.

"Um, that was awkward." Adelaide bit her lip, stepping into the living room. Bones was still standing at the door in thought.

"Yeah... Yeah it was." He nodded. Bones took his lovely woman into his arms, and sighed, happy that to some degree, it seemed he had the blessing of his friend.

Jim went back to the bar he was at, hoping that the saucy brunette was still there. He was in more than luck to find that she was there, and willing. After some oral temptation at the club, leaving trace kisses across her neck. He could barely keep his hands off of her as he led her back to his place. The woman had slid down under the sheets, taking his length into her mouth. Jim had felt it all before, this woman was nothing new or different or special about this woman, but he realized now, that women were just an addiction to him. They had grown from a crutch, to an addiction, and Addy, now, was the one woman he couldn't seem to get. Well, her and Nyota, but then again he wasn't interested in getting into a fight with Spock.

He placed his hands behind his head, letting his body enjoy whatever pleasure he would derive from this session, a weight having been lifted off of his heart and his shoulders.