"Care to join me and Scotty for a drink?" Kirk asked, sticking his head in the CMO's office.

He didn't really expect Bones to join them, the doctor rarely did these days, but kept asking him anyway. An answer, any answer, would have been nice, though.

It had been two months since Hope had left for the Lexington. Two months of McCoy doing nothing but work and worry. And snap at people who tried to get him to have some fun, or at least socialise again. Two months without telling Kirk anything about what had happened between him and Hope during their shore leave. Or if anything had happened at all.

Ironically, the person Bones seemed to spend most of his time outside of sickbay with, was Spock. Because the Vulcan did not urge him to engage in any recreational activities, but was prepared to join and support him in his research. The two of them spent hours in the lab together, and Kirk suspected strongly, that Spock was not doing this entirely out of genuine interest, but because, in his way, he was being a really good friend.

All this studying and researching might further the doctor's career, no doubt, but it certainly did nothing for his personal well-being. And while Kirk could understand that it was still hard for Bones to attend gigs of Uhura's band, or watch Chekov dance with anyone other than Hope, McCoy couldn't go on hiding behind his work forever.

Apart from that, the captain wanted his friend back. His caring, witty, sarcastic, irritable but fun friend. Grumpy and permanently complaining? Definitely. But not seriously depressed like this.

No longer able to just stand by and watch, Kirk heaved a long-suffering sigh and plonked himself down in the chair opposite McCoy's desk.

"I miss her too, you know!"

"Who?" the doctor asked absentmindedly, barely looking up from his reading.

"Oh don't give me that, Bones. You know who!" Kirk exclaimed exasperatedly.

This had to stop. Now.

"So far, I've respected your wish to shut yourself away. I've given you time. But it's enough now. We need to talk."

"All right, Jim, keep your hair on," McCoy muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair and looking challengingly at the captain.

Kirk thought about where to start, how to put it, then simply asked, "Do you love her?"

"More than I love my own life," the doctor answered quietly, meeting the captain's gaze squarely. "And don't even start on your I've always known it lecture."

"I wasn't going to, Bones," Kirk said softly. "Did you get it together on shore leave?"

"Only just the day before... you know," McCoy sighed, then looked miserably at his friend. "I tried so hard to fight it, Jim. Dissuade her from even thinking about a relationship with me."

"Why would you do that?" Kirk exclaimed, taken aback.

"How can you even ask? See where it got us!"

"Where?"

"Just look!" McCoy started gesticulating wildly, and the captain could only guess what exactly he meant, although definitely getting his drift. "I should have been stronger, I should never have given in!"

"Why?" Kirk persisted.

"Oh Jim, stop it, you're doing my head in!" McCoy huffed, but then the words started pouring out.

"Can't you see? We'd only just got together. We'd spent this incredible night together. It was out of this world, I tell you. I've never experienced anything like it, never felt like this before. Dammit, Jim, I've loved her from the moment I met her. But you know that, of course," he chuckled morosely.

"That day we were on top of the world. I've never been this happy before, never felt so comfortable in my own skin, never so at peace with the universe and my life. It was like I'd finally found my place in the world. And I could tell that she felt pretty much the same. Until you came."

The doctor visibly deflated.

"She was so brave, Jim. Tried to put on her happy face. For me. Said how this was what she'd worked so hard for, how you'd made her dream come true. And then she broke down. Cried until she had no tears left. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy. And safe," he added softly. "Letting her go that evening was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

Kirk took a few moments to let it all sink in, then asked, "Are you two still in touch?"

"Of course, we exchange messages at least once a week."

"So, she still loves you."

"I guess so."

McCoy shrugged his shoulders.

"You guess so?"

Kirk was flabbergasted.

"Well, she's been putting on her brave face ever since we parted, mostly telling funny stories about her new assignment and crew mates. She doesn't want me to worry about her."

"And who could blame her?" the captain mumbled, taking in the haggard look on his friend's face and trying to stay patient. "Does she tell you that she misses you?"

"Every time."

"So?"

"Uh, I don't know, Jim. Maybe I just wish she'd move on."

"Bones, you're a difficult man to understand."

"Well, it was too good to be true, wasn't it? And I want her to be happy, not pining for an old man, who's lightyears away and can't give her what she needs. Maybe it was for the best."

The doctor's eyes were hard.

"You don't mean that, Bones!" Kirk protested, even though it was perfectly clear that he did.

"Oh, I don't know what I mean, anymore, Jim," McCoy backpedalled, all the fight gone out of him.

"Would you like her to return to the Enterprise?" the captain wanted to know.

"Of course, I'd like that! What kind of question is that, anyway?"

Kirk was happy to see the doctor perk up a little.

"Even if she had, in fact, moved on, as you call it?" Kirk asked carefully.

"Even then," McCoy said without a moment's hesitation. "I could live with that, if only I'd have her near again. To know how she is. To be there for her. To make sure she's well and safe. That'd be all I'd ever ask for."

Kirk's heart went out to his friend at hearing the longing in his voice, and he knew what he had to do.

"You really do love her, Bones," he said gently, as he made to leave the doctor's office. "I've never seen you like this before. What you two have is special. Don't throw it away!"

Epilogue

"Dakunia, I took this girl aboard the Fleet's flagship for a training flight without putting up a fight. So now, that she's one of the Fleet's most promising officers, I want her back on my ship ASAP! Six months altogether, no more! You owe me."

"Right, Kirk, I'll see what I can do. But then you'll owe me. Big time."

"Fair's fair. I always pay my debts."

Kirk switched his screen off with a satisfied grin. He'd have this great officer back, and his best friend would finally be smiling again. Win-win.

A/N:

Thank you all so much for reading this far! 🙏

And don't worry! (In case you did. 😀) This is not the end. For all of you, who are not yet fed up with Hope and McCoy's story, there's going to be a sequel called 'Another Life'.

However, I'm going to take a little break from posting now. (Let's see how long I can stay away! 😅) Probably until after Christmas, since there's still so much to do, and I promised myself to catch up on some leftover business and private matters before starting on the sequel. (Which is almost finished, by the way, but still has some 'holes' to fill, some loose ends to tie up, and definitely needs to be 'rearranged' into chronological order to really make sense… ✍️ 😊)

I'm not quite sure how it works, but I guess if you subscribe to me as an author, you'll be notified as soon as I post again.

In the meantime, 🎅🎄 a Merry Christmas 🎄🎅 to all who celebrate it! 🖖