15 Months Later
"Doctor Hatfield, good morning." Greta turned and smiled at Alberto.
"Good Morning Nurse Albara-Vargas."
"Cup of coffee?"
"Only if you're getting yourself one Alberto." He gave her a mock salute and went off to retrieve two brews. Coming back and handing Greta a cup he looked at the PADD on his desk.
"What do we have in store today?" Greta sipped her coffee and leant against one of the beds.
"Crew physicals I'm afraid, and a lot of them."
"Happy times indeed." Greta gave him a tight smile and lightly whacked his arm.
"Come on then Alberto, let's get this show on the road." Sometime later and Greta sat eating her sandwich looking through her communications. One caught her eye immediately, a message from Fleet administration detailing the transfer of old and new crew to the U.S.S. Enterprise. The name stood out to Greta, she had finally got to the point that it wasn't the first thing she thought about when she woke up. She saw his name and signature at the bottom of the message, just seeing it gave her a knot in her stomach. Their paths wouldn't cross though, she appointed a number of other Doctors to manage the transfer. Signing off and sending her reply Greta turned off the PADD, placing it down in front of her she let out a sigh. That was that taken care of.
A few days went by, the report Greta received confirmed the crew transfer for the Enterprise went off without a hitch. When she had been walking to and from HQ she had found herself looking for him, searching him out in the crowds. In the medical wing she kept thinking she had caught a glimpse of him, craning her neck she would stare until the person turned around and she could get a look at their face. It was never him.
It had been a long day, Greta stood from her chair in her office and turned off the lamp on her desk, grabbing her bag she walked down the long corridor past some of the treatment rooms. Pulling the band from her hair she let it fall loose, it needed cutting.
"Doctor Hatfield!" Turning she saw a young Nurse hurry out of one of the treatment rooms and approach her.
"Yes Nurse."
"Doctor Hatfield I'm so sorry, I know you're leaving but I can't find Doctor Thomas."
"He's on call?"
"Yes Doctor but I don't know where he is." The Nurse grimaced.
"Not to worry Nurse, what do you need?" Greta gave her a reassuring smile.
"An Officer came in, pretty banged up if I'm being honest…"
"Alright, let's go and have a look shall we? What's the name?" Greta pushed through the double doors followed by the Nurse.
"Captain Kirk Doctor." Greta stopped in her tracks, in front of her sat Kirk, still in his Gold shirt. Black eye, bloody nose and wearing a grin from ear to ear.
"Greta?" Greta couldn't move, she was fixed to her spot.
"Doctor Hatfield is everything alright?" Greta snapped out of it at the sound of the Nurse's voice.
"Yes of course Nurse thank you. Can you go and check where Doctor Thomas is please." The Nurse nodded and left the room.
"Greta?" Kirk repeated.
"In the flesh Captain Kirk." Greta put on her best professional smile, picking up an instrument she began to scan Kirk. He seemed taken aback, not quite sure how to handle the situation.
"How are you?" Greta couldn't help but laugh.
"Better than you it seems." Kirk chuckled.
"Yeah well, I had some old friends to catch up with, things got a little…"
"Boisterous?"
"Fun?" She picked up a hypo spray and gave him something for the pain. He might not have been feeling it now but she was sure he would be when the alcohol wore off. Kirk rubbed the area on his neck where she had administered the pain killer.
"Is everything alright?" Greta asked, noticing the reaction.
"Yeah, it didn't hurt. I always wondered whether Bones purposely made it hurt like a son of a bitch whenever he gave me one of those, now I know I was right." Greta paled at the mention of his name. Kirk observed Greta's reaction, he took her hand in his. "It's good to see you Greta, it's been too long. You've let your hair grow long." She smiled at him.
"It's good to see you too Jim. Now come on, let's get you fixed up so you can go and cause more mischief shall we?"
He wanted to tell her about Bones, about how from the moment she left he had become a shell of him former self. That for the first few months he was on self-destruct. It had almost come to the point where Kirk was considering relieving him of his duties just so he could take the time to get his head straight. One night, three months after, Bones had finally told him what he had done. Kirk had known that he had never been told the whole truth before, hearing Bones tell him that he had pushed her away to protect her made his heart break for them both. He could see that his friend was wracked with guilt, regretting his decision each and every day. As the months wore on a sense of normalcy returned, but Kirk never saw the light come back to Bones' eyes like it had when Greta had been there.
She wanted to ask about Leonard, she wanted to tell him that from the moment she left she questioned herself each and every day. How she had thrown herself into her work and even now couldn't bring herself to be with anyone else. She couldn't forgive him though, even now. He had thought he knew best, that she wasn't capable of making the decision for herself. He hadn't discussed it with her, hadn't given her the respect she deserved. She had been so angry at him at first, now she only felt sadness. For the missed opportunity.
"Nearly finished Jim." Kirk nodded and thanked her.
"JIM! You're a damned fool you know that! I've been looking everywhere for you! We've been back for less than 72hours and you get yourself into a god damn bar fight!" Kirk looked at Greta, she was frozen. The voice that bellowed behind her was as familiar to her as her own. She couldn't turn around, she didn't dare look. Kirk quickly looked from her to Bones.
"Bones I…"
"I don't want to hear it Jim…let's get the hell out of here…Doctor, have you finished patching him up?" Without turning she closed her scanner and placed it on the table beside her.
"Almost done." Her voice was tight, she continued to busy herself with clearing up the equipment.
"I'll see you outside." With that McCoy turned and left leaving Kirk and Greta alone again.
"Greta I'm sorry." Kirk wasn't sure why he was apologising, he honestly didn't know what else to say.
"Don't be Jim, it was probably better that he didn't realise. Glad to see that he's still his oh so pleasant self." Kirk laughed, relieved that she seemed to be handling the situation well.
"We haven't had you around to keep him in line!" Greta lost her smile and Kirk instantly regretted saying what he had.
"Go on, off with you."
"Thanks."
"When are you back out there?"
"We have a week."
"Well don't get yourself in too much trouble will you?"
"You know me Doctor." Kirk gave her a wink, Greta rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag before going to the door.
"Indeed." All of a sudden the door flung open again and McCoy strode in.
"God damn it Jim! Do I need to be on you like white on rice?"
"Hello Leonard, glad to see you haven't lost any of that Southern charm." McCoy initially turned somewhat irritated by being interrupted. He was fixed to the spot however when he realised who he was stood next to, he couldn't speak, he couldn't think.
There she was, she was stood in front of him looking beautiful and serene and all the things he remembered her being. Kirk was looking between the pair feeling slightly uncomfortable at being present at their meeting after so long but not enough to leave, it was captivating to watch.
"Your hair is longer." Greta looked down at her hair that had fallen around her arms, she haphazardly swept it to one shoulder.
"It is."
"How are you?" Greta could see in McCoy's eyes that there was so much more meaning to his relatively simple question.
"I'm well, you?" She gave him a smile, he had almost forgotten how much he loved her smile. He opened his mouth but he didn't know what to say, he looked at Kirk.
"Uh, I'm going to leave you two alone to catch up, see you later Bones." Kirk gave Greta a wink and slapped McCoy on the arm. McCoy watched him leave and then looked back at Greta.
"Do you want to get a cup of coffee?"
"That would be nice, yes." Greta enjoyed seeing his face lighten at her response, he held the door open for her and she walked past, she took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves.
They walked along the corridor in silence, neither knew what to do or say. As she walked outside the cold wind lifted her hair around her head, McCoy instinctively raised his hand and smoothed her wild tresses, tucking the strands behind her ear. Greta couldn't help but close her eyes and lean into the palm of his hand. It felt warm against her cheek, looking up she saw him staring at her.
"Why did you leave Greta?" McCoy didn't move his hand from her face, using his thumb to stroke her cheek.
"You told me to." Greta answered honestly.
"I didn't tell you to go."
"Leonard, you told me you didn't love me, what was I supposed to do? You expected us to work alongside each other in the Medical Bay as if nothing ever happened?"
"I don't know what I was thinking." Greta put her arm through his and they began to walk along the tree lined avenue.
"Tell me the truth Leonard."
"The truth is I thought I was bad for you, I thought that if I told you I didn't love you and that we couldn't be together I would save you from…"
"From what?"
"Honestly, I don't know." They carried on walking, finally making it to a small coffee shop Greta took a seat while McCoy ordered the coffee. He sat down next to her on a low deep sofa, he kept his head bowed and ran his fingers around the lip of his cup.
"I was so angry at you, you didn't even give me the chance to fight my corner. You made the decision for us both and that wasn't fair Leonard."
"I know that now Greta, I've never regretted anything in my life. I don't regret getting married because it gave me my Daughter but this Greta. I've regretted that moment every day. I ran after you, you know, but I was too late. Every day I'd open a communication up and address it to you, I never managed to send it."
"Why?"
"Because I thought I didn't deserve you and I didn't want to hurt you more." Greta took his hand and intertwined her fingers with his. "Why didn't you comm me?"
"That wasn't my fight Leonard, you made the move." He nodded, rubbing at his eyes as if he suddenly felt incredibly tired. "I've missed you so much Leonard."
"I've missed you too."
"I never stopped loving you." Greta sat still and stared at their hands, not daring to look up.
"I love you too Greta, I always have." He turned her cheek with his finger, she looked up and he was smiling at her. Slowly moving closer he placed his lips ever so gently on top of hers. They didn't move, both savouring the contact after so long. It was sweet and full of adoration. They finished their coffees, making small talk and catching up on the time they had been apart. All the while both their minds were reeling with thoughts of the past, of what the future may hold. Walking outside again McCoy wrapped his arm around Greta.
"What happens now?" McCoy knew the question was coming, if she hadn't of asked he would of done.
"I'm not sure Darlin', I'll tell you one thing I won't make the same mistake, and we need to decide together." Greta hummed in response, they naturally made their way back to Greta's apartment.
Throwing their coats off McCoy sat down in the living room while Greta poured them a drink. Taking the glass from her McCoy allowed the liquor to ripple around the glass. Taking a swig he raised an eyebrow at Greta.
"This is the good stuff, I thought you hated it?" She took a sip herself.
"I learned to like it." He smirked and he rose his glass.
"To you Greta." Greta raised her own glass.
"To me." They both laughed, it was easy and comforting and Greta was slightly unnerved at how quickly she was beginning to forget how atrocious she had been feeling for the last year or so.
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know."
"Do you want to stay here tonight?"
"Yes."
"Oh Leonard, playing hard to get I see." Greta teased him.
"Never with you."
"But with others, tell me, how is Nurse Malcotti?" Greta had a twinkle in her eye, he deserved a bit of ribbing.
"On to bigger and better things, namely Doctor Takahashi."
"You can't deny she has good taste."
"Good morning." McCoy stretched as he walked into the kitchen, the smell of coffee and warm bread had beckoned him from the comfort of Greta's bed. Greta walked over to him and gave him a long tender kiss before handing him a mug of coffee.
"Good morning to you too." He gave her a lazy half asleep smile, feeling the collar of the flannel shirt she was wearing McCoy's brow creased in confusion.
"Is this my lucky shirt?"
"You mean my lucky shirt?"
"You stole it?"
"No, I looked after it for you." He sat at one of the stools at the breakfast bar and watched as she flittered around the kitchen, pulling items from the fridge and burning her fingers on the toast.
"What time do you need to be at work?"
"Another hour or so, I have a research paper to present and then I'm on shift duty for the night." The reality of their situation seemed to settle in.
"How is this going to work Greta?"
"How is what going to work?"
"Us?" Greta sat down next to him and took a bite of her toast.
"Us? I don't know what 'us' is Leonard?" It came out harsher than she expected, she took a breath and started again. "However cliché it may sound I thought you were the one, I fell in love with you. But you broke my heart Leonard, I came back to Earth and started over, and I have a life here now." Leonard looked at her with so much sadness in his eyes Greta couldn't help but feel dreadful. "I still love you Leonard and last night, last night was wonderful but I can't forget what has happened and rightly or wrongly I've got my guard up. I can't let myself be hurt like that again, not by you. Who's to say that it won't happen again? That we get back together and the same feelings come back? There's too many questions unanswered." Leonard sat there in silence, he didn't know what to say.
"It's too late for us isn't it?" he finally looked up at her.
"I don't know, maybe."
Greta knocked on Leonard's door, as it opened she dropped her bag to the floor unable to take the weight on her shoulder any longer.
"Honey I'm home." Greta screwed up her face and stuck out her bottom lip pretending to cry.
"Hard day?"
"Yep."
"Drink?"
"Yep."
"Bath?"
"Yep."
"Are you going to say anything other than 'Yep' Darlin'?"
"Nope." McCoy helped her out of her coat, she unzipped her boots and flung them both off, not bothering to tidy them up. Stripping her uniform off and making her way to the bathroom she couldn't help but sigh when she saw the bath had already been drawn. Slipping in she could feel her muscles instantly relax, dipping her head under the water she pinched her nose and listened to the bubbles pop in her ears. Surfacing she lay her head back and listened to the music coming from the living room. They had spent the last three nights together, neither had broached the subject of their relationship again, it seemed like an insurmountable challenge that both Greta and Leonard didn't want to take on. Living in purgatory was a blissful distraction to what lay ahead. McCoy finished tossing the salad and poured two glasses of wine, it was good having Greta at his place, it had had the unexpected consequence of making him purchase a few home comforts, bringing an end to his Bachelor led lifestyle and interior design concept.
The chime sounded letting McCoy know somebody was at the door, walking towards it McCoy grunted when he saw who it was on the small video screen. Opening the door he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Jim, what the hell are you doing here?"
"That's no way to great a friend Bones!"
"Jim…" Kirk pushed past McCoy and walked into the living room, noticing the food and wine on the counter top he turned and looked at McCoy.
"Bones, you have company?" He couldn't help but grin like the Cheshire cat, the dark cloud above McCoy's head grew larger.
"None of your damn business Jim, now if you'll excuse me…"
Greta pulled on McCoy's lucky shirt and fastened the two middle buttons, she was still damp from the bath but the feeling of her skin drying against the flannel of the shirt and the warmth or the room was comforting. She combed her hair back, leaving it to dry naturally. Her bare feet padded across the floor leaving wet marks on the tiles.
"Leonard, you should have shared the bath with me…Captain!?" Greta stopped in her tracks when she saw Kirk stood in the middle of the living room, instinctively pulling the lapels of the shirt closer together to try and regain a modicum of her modesty, she failed miserably. She looked from Kirk to McCoy back to Kirk again. If McCoy hadn't of thought it possible and witnessing it with his own eyes Kirk's smile grew even larger on seeing Greta.
"Doctor Hatfield, what a pleasant surprise."
"Captain!"
"Please, call me Jim, we're not in uniform now, some of us less so than others it appears." He looked up and down her bare legs appreciatively as he spoke, Kirk was enjoying himself far too much as far as Greta was concerned.
"Jim." There was a very clear warning in McCoy's tone.
"Well, I won't keep you, twos company and all that. It was nice to see you again Greta, Bones, catch you later." With that he gave a salute and turned to leave. Closing the door McCoy turned back to Greta.
"Sorry about that." She couldn't help but smile, walking over to him she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'm not the one who's going to have to endure his joshing for the next few weeks!" McCoy rolled his eyes and let a breath out.
"Come on, let's sit and have something to eat, I'm starving."
McCoy was at the Academy, it was nearly evening and he'd been in meetings and reviews all day. The data gathered from a deep space mission was seemingly never-ending and McCoy had been briefing various Star fleet officials on the consequences of deep space travel to the human body. His head was spinning and all he wanted to do was get the hell out of there and have a drink. On top of all that the impending reality of not seeing Greta again for years effectively brought him to a standstill.
"Doctor McCoy please review the proposed improvements and additional responsibilities that you department will undertake on the next mission." McCoy looked at the man sitting opposite him at the board table.
"Like I don't already have enough to do."
"Do you require further personnel Doctor?"
"Like I require a hole in the head! Now if you don't mind, I need to go see a man about a dog." McCoy watched their faces screw up in confusion. "Unbelievable!"
When he finally made it home Greta was already there curled up on the couch. Not bothering to take his jacket off he sat down and pulled her onto his lap. She tucked herself into his neck and closed her eyes, savouring the moment and trying to burn it into her memory.
"I can stay here."
"No you can't Leonard, you'll never admit it but you love your job. You love Jim and the Enterprise and you'll die inside if you stay here."
"But I'd be with you."
"I couldn't ask you to. That's not enough, we've both learnt that."
"Would you come with me?"
"I don't know? I have a life here Leonard, a good job, friends. I not sure I can leave all this behind. Plus who's to say that we won't find ourselves in exactly the same situation we were in all that time ago? You don't know that you won't feel the same?" McCoy kissed the top of her head.
"I'll wait for you." She looked up at him.
"No you won't and neither should you. I'm not going to ask you to do that." He knew she was right, she was always right.
"So what are we going to do?"
"We're going to enjoy tonight together and tomorrow, we'll say goodbye and carry on."
"I don't know if I can do that."
"Neither do I, but Leonard, what's the alternative?"
McCoy watched Greta sleep until the sun began to come up, he wanted to remember every single facet of her appearance. Her eyelashes, cheekbones, lips. The way a spread of freckles had appeared across her nose from being in the sun again. The arch of her neck and the definition of her collarbone. Which way her hair naturally fell and the slight speckling of silver hairs that bordered her face. As her eyes fluttered and she began to stir he stroked her hair from her forehead. She turned her head focussing on him and he saw the reality of the moment register, the initial beauty and love in her eyes darkened to melancholy and regret.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." A tear slipped from her eye, McCoy caught it with his thumb and wiped it away. He wanted to wipe all her upset away, they stayed in each other's arms for as long as possible.
When they parted they were quiet, everything that needed to be spoken had already been said. She watched him walk away from her, out of her life for a second time. For the last time.
Before he disappeared from view he turned and looked at her. Greta gave him her most perfect smile, she wanted him to remember her being happy.
He blew her a kiss and left.
This is the penultimate chapter folks! Thank you for the Follows, Favourites and Reviews! LLAP :-) XOXO
