Three
"Remind me again why I agreed to go through with this plan?"
"Because you wanted to be a good friend and go with me."
"Right… and when has that ever gotten me anywhere?"
"You're still alive, aren't you?"
Emily smirked in amusement as McCoy threw her an incredulous look before passing the bottle of bourbon back. She took a grateful swig before handing it back, knowing full-well she was in for a long night. It only took a couple of days for them to pack everything and head for Riverside, Iowa. McCoy practically jumped at the opportunity when she explained to him what her next assignment was. She suddenly found herself wondering if Director Fury had known this would happen. She wouldn't have been surprised if that were the case. Fury always seemed to play a large role in whatever choices were made, whether it was suggestive or forced.
She hadn't missed the fact that his demeanor seemed to change when she helped him pack. Despite how shitty he felt after being released from prison and brought back home, he seemed a little happier having familiar company over. They'd argued relentlessly over sleeping arrangements before their move to Riverside.
McCoy hadn't been happy knowing that she was sleeping on the floor, which admittedly wasn't the most comfortable place in the world. But years of training taught her to get used to whatever accommodations she was given. She'd literally slept under a bridge at one point during a mission, albeit she hadn't gotten much sleep that night after keeping one eye open throughout the night.
Things didn't get much better when they finally arrived at the motel just a day before the recruitment shuttle was scheduled to leave. Only one queen-sized bed was placed at the center of the shabby looking room along with a bathroom that didn't look as if it had been cleaned for days. About the only consolation she had was that the shower looked clean. The toilet was a whole different story, though she had seen worse.
McCoy wasn't thrilled with the idea of sharing a bed. Emily would never admit out loud how much it hurt to see his reaction or to hear him argue over sleeping arrangements once more. She knew better than to bring up what left her feeling uncomfortable. Thankfully though he seemed to change quickly when drinks were involved.
Not that she wasn't surprised by that notion. After ordering a bottle of bourbon from the replicator and making sure the blinds were closed for safety protocol, they quickly broke into the bottle. McCoy had already downed half of the bottle before passing it to her, telling her how stressed he was.
"I'm still trying to figure out how I'm gonna get past these next few years," he muttered as they sat side-by-side on the bed. It was too early to sleep. Though if Emily was being honest with herself, she was terrified of suffering from another nightmare. "Lord knows what I'm gonna be doing with myself once we get there."
"You've already got your MD and your PHD," she pointed out with a knowing look. "My guess is they'll assign you as a senior medical officer and have you take some alien anatomy classes."
His nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought of having to take such classes. Even he knew the importance of knowing as much as one could about every species that worked on Starships. While he was aware of that truth, that didn't stop him from wishing there were other ways around it. It wasn't until shifting that Emily found herself relaxing into him.
He was far more comfortable than she wanted to admit out loud. The familiar scent of alcohol and anesthetics was something she had gotten used to over the years of getting to know him and the rest of his family. And as she began allowing herself the luxury of feeling his warmth wrap around her, his arm suddenly held her closer.
For a moment, neither of them said a thing as his lips tenderly brushed along her shoulder. She knew what he was doing to her. A small part of her desperately wanted to push him off and pretend nothing had ever happened between them. Yet the latter part of her brain was slowly but surely giving in to the euphoria that took over.
She could feel his hand rubbing circles along her back, slow and purposeful. As she slowly but surely gave into the sensations leaving her skin fluttering, McCoy paused for a brief moment. She grimaced when she felt his confusion upon feeling something other than familiar skin.
"Is this latex?" he asked after reluctantly pulling away.
Emily grimaced once more as she felt accusing eyes bore through her. She had been hoping to avoid telling him about the suit. After Tony designed it to hide all of the scars, she modified it as best as she could to make it feel like real skin. But there was only so much one could do with that kind of technology. It would never replace real skin or the feeling of real skin to someone who knew her the way McCoy did. She swallowed hard and looked down at her lap, suddenly aware of the rising tension when she tried looking for any excuse under the sun.
"I'm surprised it's taken you this long to figure it out," she said dryly. She grabbed the bottle of bourbon sitting on the floor and took a long, almost painful swig. She could feel his gaze boring through her, sending another painful reminder that he didn't know her nearly as well as he first thought. She'd already felt self-conscious after waking up in the ICU. Things hadn't gotten much better when she was released. The suit itself had become a second skin to her after she was released from the ICU. She hadn't wanted him or anyone else to see just how badly scarred she was. "Tony was the one who designed it… a couple of friends helped modify it."
McCoy frowned and gave her a thoughtful look. Despite being half-drunk and suffering from his own self-induced panic attack earlier, she knew he was scrutinizing her every move. And the thought of what he would say upon seeing her scars sent a shiver of unease through her. The last thing she wanted or needed was for him to tell her how terrible they looked.
"I've known you long enough to know that ain't your real skin," he quipped after giving it some thought. "What are you tryin' to hide."
For a moment, Emily was tempted to continue arguing with him over the notion of admitting the truth. She wouldn't have to worry so much if they weren't taking the possibility of working together. She was also well aware of where this was headed. Part of her desperately wanted to keep him from figuring it out. But another part of her knew that he would find out sooner or later.
"You tend to hide your scars when people start asking questions about them," she finally sighed. McCoy's eyes narrowed when he realized what she was implying. "I've always felt a little more self-conscious of what people think about me."
Most of that was because of the way she had been raised prior to Coulson adopting her. She knew most people didn't care one way or the other. But that didn't stop her from worrying about what people would say if they saw the real her. When she first started her training at the agency, everyone judged her based on the scars covering her shoulders and back. Those scars came from when she was aboard the Kelvin; back then she had been on the bridge when flames erupted from the consoles surrounding her. Between that and the severe sunburn she'd suffered from afterwards, she wasn't sure what was worse.
McCoy just stared at her with an expression that was impossible to read. She wasn't sure if he was feeling guilty or angry over the fact that she felt so insecure. Either way, she hadn't been looking forward to this conversation.
"Darlin', I was there before you woke up." Emily blinked a few times when he gave her a knowing look. "I saw what those assholes did to you. And I know for a damn fact that it doesn't change who you are just because your body may look different."
It took a few seconds for her to register what he was implying. Her heart nearly swelled with joy when she realized what he was saying. He didn't care what she looked like. But the moment she thought of that, her heart sank as she realized she'd killed the men responsible for inflicting said injuries. She knew he wouldn't be singing the same tune if he knew what she'd done during their time apart. She swallowed hard and tried to push away those uneasy thoughts.
"Would you still say that if you knew how bad they were?" she asked warily.
"Why not show me?"
Those challenging words left a lingering effect on her. She couldn't help but wonder where he was getting at with them when he took hold of her hand, pulling them to their feet. Emily watched him warily when he led the way towards the bathroom. And all at once, her mind seemed to register what he had in mind. Her heart began racing for a whole different reason when they reached the shower. The feeling of McCoy's lips trailing along her skin left a lingering fire burning deep within.
"Leonard…" She let out a shallow breath as she caught the endearing look that followed.
"If you want me to stop, just say the words," he reassured her.
Emily couldn't help but wonder at the fact that he was being so patient. Had it been anyone else – and she'd dealt with men like that before – they would have taken advantage of her without a second thought. McCoy was one of the few men she knew who cared enough to act like a gentleman, even at a time like this.
It had been far too long since she last had sex with someone who actually cared about her. While a small part of her knew that she would likely regret taking things this far, another part of her decided to throw caution to the wind in that moment. Besides, it wasn't as if she and McCoy weren't above breaking the rules.
"You're already this far ahead," she quipped after seeing the tent forming in his pants. She almost smirked when she saw the flush that followed. It had been far too long since they were together like this. She knew it wasn't just from their earlier talk. Instinct had quickly kicked in, along with the longing sense of familiarity. "Relax, cowboy. I'm not going to stop you now."
If he wasn't grinning before, he was now upon hearing those words. He wasted no time in starting the water, waiting until it was warm enough to climb in. In the meantime, she carefully pried off the suit. Emily swallowed hard as she slowly but surely pulled it off, revealing scars that few people had seen. McCoy's face softened the moment she stripped down to nothing but her undergarments, though those were quickly tossed to the side as well.
Something deep within stirred the moment he saw those scars. She was taken aback when he suddenly closed the distance between them. The feeling of his warm breath combining with the steam from the shower was almost too much for her. Her legs nearly gave out when he provided what little support he could.
"You're still as beautiful as the day we met."
Her heart practically melted upon hearing those words. He was barely given a chance to react when she suddenly captured his lips with hers, ignoring the fact that he'd stiffened in surprise. McCoy easily gave into the kiss, allowing the familiar electrical sparks to fuel the fire slowly building within. She made quick work of his shirt and pants, refusing to back down from the challenge. The moment his cock was released was when she almost smirked in amusement.
"I've missed this," she admitted when he led the way into the shower.
Warm water fell around them, causing entirely new sensations to spread through her. She could already feel his hands exploring her exposed chest. It only took her a few seconds to register that he was tracing out her scars, almost as if to map them out. Each distinctive groove and mark left him wishing he'd done more before she was taken. It was another reminder that he hadn't been there to protect her, and it was another reminder that he wouldn't allow anything like this to happen again.
"I've missed you," McCoy replied huskily.
She couldn't hide the guilty smile that followed when he held her against the wall. She knew she was in a vulnerable position, but at the moment, she didn't care. Seeing the hungry look written across his face was enough of a reminder that it had been too long since their last connection. Emily took him by surprise by capturing his lips once more, this time with heated passion.
McCoy gratefully accepted, relishing the way their tongues fought for dominance. Hearing his groan of anticipation was all the more satisfying, especially when she felt his cock twitch between her thigh. He didn't waste time in plunging his tongue further into her mouth, exploring her in every way possible.
She knew she wasn't going to last much longer when his free hand reached between her already moist entrance. Her breathing nearly hitched when his fingers traced along her walls. She was already wet from the shower and their earlier activities. The way his fingers were carefully caressing her didn't help.
Her own fingers dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in the process. At that point, a little pain wasn't even on her mind. McCoy quickly replaced his fingers with his cock, which slid easily into her entrance. She had to bite back a cry of pleasure as he slid all the way into her, fitting her with ease.
"Fucking hell you're tight," he groaned as pleasure bubbled within him.
She merely groaned in response, unable to formulate words at that point. She wanted nothing more than to get lost within the sensations as pleasure built like a dam waiting to burst. McCoy was relentless when it came to pushing her to her limits. She made feeble attempts at keeping quiet, though the feeling of his lips brushing along her sensitive skin was almost too much to bear. She let out a quiet whimper as she finally gave in, burying her face into the crook of his neck. Hearing his groans was all the more satisfying, because she knew he was feeling an equal amount of pleasure that he provided for her.
"I know, darlin'," he cooed while continuing his teasing.
Emily nearly rolled her eyes when he kissed her passionately, still pounding away in her. But she knew it was his way of making sure she was satisfied with what they were doing. She would never admit out loud if she was in pain or needed to stop. She was never one to back down from a challenge, and McCoy knew that it was in her nature.
She finally let out an embarrassing moan when she reached her climax. The sensation was almost too much for her, nearly leaving her breathless. McCoy held her against the wall to keep her from collapsing, though it wasn't as if either of them had the room to do so. She was suddenly thankful for the warm water rolling down her back in that moment. A combination of the water and his pounding helped regain her senses at a faster rate.
"Leonard!"
She bit the bottom of her lip to keep herself from crying out any further when he gave her a few more rough pounds before reaching his own climax. He let out an embarrassing groan of his own as they stood there, neither wanting to move for a few seconds. Emily leaned forward into his chest, relishing the way his muscles rippled beneath her. For just a few brief seconds, she could appreciate the connection they had in that moment.
"You're still as amazing as the day I met you," he finally breathed out.
Emily drew in a sharp breath as she nuzzled him affectionately. She realized with a start that she'd desperately missed this type of affection. Even when she had been with all the men she'd slept with over the years, it was never the same. There was something about McCoy that drove her up the walls, though she would never admit that out loud.
"Keep talking like that and you'll have to carry me to the bed," she murmured tiredly. McCoy just smirked in amusement at her retort. It wasn't until meeting his lopsided grin that she found herself swimming within those hazel eyes of his. "I don't think either of us are going to last the year if this is all it takes for me to give in."
She added the last part with a gesture between themselves. McCoy rose an eyebrow as he reached for the soap, not bothering to mention the real reason they'd gotten into the shower in the first place. Admittedly, it was the first time she'd had sex with anyone in the sonic shower. And the sensations it provided was wonderful.
"No, we probably won't," he agreed fullheartedly with her. "Though I'd be a damn fool if I wasn't admitting how long I've been waiting for this moment."
She desperately wanted to remind him that none of this would have happened had he waited for her. Emily knew in the back of her mind that she was also partly to blame for what happened between them. She closed her eyes for a brief moment as she allowed the water to clean her body of the mess they'd made. McCoy was wisely careful around her this time, knowing full-well that he was already on thin ice. Though she would never admit out loud the fact that his hands felt wonderful against her back, even if it was through a bar of soap.
"You know Papa is never going to approve of this," she remarked dryly. McCoy stiffened the moment she brought up Coulson. "He's still pissed with what happened between us."
"I know…" McCoy fell silent for a brief moment when they finally turned the water off, neither in any hurry to face the consequences of leaving it on for so long. "I know I've got my work cut out for the next few years. I broke his trust."
Her heart sank upon hearing those words. She glanced at McCoy self-consciously when he reached for a fresh pair of boxers to change into. Emily chewed the bottom of her lip as a fresh wave of guilt and doubt swept over her. She couldn't help but wonder if this was just another one-night stand. Like the others she'd dealt with, it usually ended in miserable failure. The problem was, she didn't want this night to end in miserable failure. McCoy had always been more than just a good friend of hers… that had never changed.
"It isn't just Papa's trust you have to regain," she said quietly. McCoy threw her a look of surprise. He was ready to argue when she held a hand up, cutting him off abruptly. "I'm not just talking about Clint or Natasha either… I'll always be grateful that we have this connection, but I don't know if I can open myself up the way I used to."
McCoy's face fell the moment he realized what she was implying. He'd ruined the bond they once had when they were seeing each other. And he knew in that moment that he had his work cut out for him. He let out a sigh and suddenly took hold of her hands, giving them a light squeeze as he kissed them.
"I'm not gonna push you into anything you're not comfortable with," he reminded her. Emily's brow shot up as she gave him an incredulous look before gesturing to the shower they just left. "You're the one who said you're fine with it."
He crossed his arms in an attempt to defend himself, though he knew it was a losing battle as she rolled her eyes. She merely smirked and closed the distance between them, ignoring the fact that she was still undressed. The way her body seemed to move so skillfully and with ease was enough for the blood to come rushing back to his head.
"I'm not going to deny myself a little guilty pleasure here and there," she quipped with a hum of amusement. McCoy drew in a sharp breath as her fingers reached his neck, carefully pricking at his skin every few seconds. "Believe me, this isn't the first time in years that I've had sex."
The smirk written across her face never vanished when McCoy's face morphed into a scowl. He knew it was foolish to think she wouldn't throw herself into the world. But it stung a little to know that another man had had his way with her. Yet, there was still a small spark of triumph that surged through him when another thought crossed his mind.
"I doubt any of 'em got to see the real you," he pointed out.
Her smile never faded as her mischievous eyes met his, "I've reserved that for one person only."
She added the last part with a wink before leading the way back into the bedroom. McCoy wasted no time in following her, the scowl never leaving his face as he did so. She quickly changed into her own night shirt, knowing full-well they had a long day ahead of them tomorrow. She was already exhausted from a day of packing and getting ready for the shuttle that would be leaving the following morning, and she knew McCoy was likely going to suffer from a hangover the following morning.
"You're a pain in the ass, Coulson," he grumbled after reaching her.
"And yet somehow you've put up with me for all this time," she quipped with a laugh.
McCoy didn't give her the chance to continue teasing him. Instead, he captured her lips with his. He didn't miss the fact that she'd given herself fully to him, throwing caution to the wind once again. And in that moment, he knew that he'd made the right choice in following her to Starfleet, regardless of what anyone else said.
.
.
There was something about an early morning that Emily found herself appreciating. As the sunlight began filtering through the curtains that covered the windows, she turned to look at McCoy's sleeping form beside her. Emily couldn't hide the sheepish grin that followed when she noticed that he was snoring away. Or that his chest had been pressed against her back for most of the night.
She realized with a start that she desperately missed mornings like these. Waking up to someone who was willing to put up with her and not use her for the wrong reasons was oddly satisfying. Though she would never admit that out loud to him.
Emily let out a quiet sigh and kissed his bare chest, smirking in amusement when she felt him stir. She knew he would likely be suffering from a hangover. They'd had a lot to drink the other evening, and the telltale signs of bourbon was still evident on his breath. She finally leaned forward, feathering kisses along his chest until he finally snapped his eyes open.
"Good morning, sunshine," she greeted him cheerfully once she was sure that he was awake. Laughter bubbled within her chest at the scowl of annoyance that followed. "Now come on, where's the usual cheer early this morning? We do have a shuttle to catch."
She added the last part with a cheeky grin as she knelt down and kissed him once more. Her expression never wavered when McCoy let out a groan of annoyance and tried to hide his face. It wasn't until feeling his hands reach her stomach that she abruptly stopped her attacks. She glowered when she realized what he was trying to do.
"Payback's a real bitch," he quipped without missing a beat. She just rolled her eyes in amusement and chose to ignore his last comment. "Do we really have to leave for that blasted recruitment shuttle?"
Emily glanced at McCoy self-consciously when she noticed he was rubbing his head. Partly from exhaustion and more than likely from the hangover. She frowned as she wondered once again whether or not this was a good idea after all. McCoy had his whole life planned for him. But the arrest had also ruined any chances he had of getting a job in the medical field… at least in Georgia.
"You always have a choice, Leonard," she reassured him as she climbed out of the bed and gathered her clothing from the other night. "I'm not forcing you to go with me."
She grabbed the suit that was tailored just for her. When she started putting it on, she could feel McCoy's eyes bore through her as the suit hid the scars once more. She knew he wasn't happy with the idea of her wearing the skin-tight suit. But at the end of the day, she didn't want people judging her based on what she looked like. She supposed it was better that way. The less questions people asked, the better off she and everyone else were.
Fortunately he didn't argue with the notion. Neither of them said a word as they got ready for the morning. Emily could feel the tension rolling off of McCoy in waves as they left the room that morning. She glanced at him warily as she wondered why he was putting himself through this. He didn't like the idea of going anywhere near a ship or even a shuttle. But his resolve had pulled through.
They walked side-by-side to the shipyard in silence. Emily's mind was churning with renewed anxiety as she thought of everything that could go wrong.
Director Fury chose you for a reason, she mentally scolded herself. Stop acting like a baby and get over it.
It didn't help that McCoy refused to speak within the time it took them to reach the shuttle. Emily grimaced as she glanced at him once again. Not for the first time, she found herself wondering if he regretted his choice in following her. It wasn't as if he had anything to gain from doing so, other than a sexual partner. Though if that was the case, then he would have found some way of convincing her to stay with him, rather than go off on her mission as planned.
She tried pushing the uneasy thoughts aside when she reached the shuttle. It was bad enough she had been assigned to this mission. The last thing she wanted was to be responsible for someone else being dragged along. She was ready to say something to McCoy when she realized he'd already slipped away. She nearly rolled her eyes at the realization, though she wasn't entirely surprised.
With a sigh of frustration, she made her way to whatever available seats were left. Though her frustration only got worse when she saw there were two empty seats available. One was beside a young looking blond who bore a striking resemblance to a late Captain Kirk. Emily drew in a sharp breath when she realized he must have been Kirk's son.
Their appearance was so similar that she had to do a double-take to make sure they weren't the same person. Still, that didn't stop her from taking a seat further away from him. She could already feel those curious blue eyes watching her as she strapped herself in with ease. Those blue eyes were so much like his mothers.
She was suddenly aware of the fact that it had been twenty years since she last saw Winona Kirk. Emily often found herself wondering what became of the woman and her son. It was obvious that Kirk had set himself above Starfleet. She couldn't help but guess that he wasn't here by choice either, judging from the outfit he was wearing and the bruises covering his face.
"I've never seen you around before." Emily nearly rolled her eyes when Kirk spoke in a voice smooth as honey. He was watching her every move, as if trying to memorize her appearance. "So I take it this is your first time anywhere near Starfleet?"
"I prefer leaving the men who try hitting on me in suspense," she said dryly.
Kirk rose a dubious eyebrow while the woman sitting behind them let out a bark of laughter.
"And here I thought Uhura was the only woman with a heart of steel," he rolled his eyes in amusement.
"Not every woman is going to keel over the moment you bat your eyelashes, Kirk," the woman from the back cut in. It didn't take Emily long to guess that this woman was Uhura. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see that Uhura was a beautiful woman, with dark skin and elegantly kept hair. The moment their eyes met was when she saw amusement sweeping across Uhura's eyes. "Don't let what he says get to you – he's just a typical farm town hick."
By now, Emily was struggling not to laugh as Kirk let out an inaudible sound of complaint.
"Your words wound me, Uhura," he complained mockingly.
He was about to say something else when a scuffle sounded from behind them. Emily peered over her shoulder in time to see a security guard facing McCoy. She rose an eyebrow in surprise when she realized he must have tried hiding in the bathroom. Though his hiding place had been found quickly by one of the security guards, and from the looks of it, said guard wasn't having any of it. She held back a sigh of frustration when she guessed where this was going.
"I don't need a doctor! Dammit, I am a doctor!" he shouted back, flailing his arms frantically as if to prove a point.
She smirked in amusement as she tried to avoid being caught under those piercing eyes. She knew McCoy well enough to know that when he was really anxious, he had a tendency to use arm movements and hand gestures to make a point. This was no different, and as she watched him, she could see that his anxiety was getting worse and worse.
"You need to take a seat," the woman fired back, clearly unmoved by his pleads.
"I had one!" he protested, "in the bathroom with no windows!"
"Sir, for your own safety, sit down, or else I'll make you sit down!"
The woman wasn't backing down, even though he was clearly taller and could probably bulldoze her down for the door if he wanted to. Emily held back a sigh and shook her head at the sight, knowing she would never hear the end of it when this was over. Eventually, McCoy's panicked eyes landed on her when he realized she'd already taken a seat.
She knew she would never hear the end of his rant when this was said and done. But the sooner they were all situated and in their seats, the better off everyone was. One glance was all it took for his shoulders to sag in defeat.
"Come on, Leonard," she sighed in exasperation. "I'll hold your hand if that makes you feel better."
McCoy just glared at her when he realized what she was implying. But he didn't bother arguing at that point. He let out a huff of frustration and gave the security guard a final glare before sitting between Kirk and herself.
"You're a pain in the ass, Coulson," he grumbled under his breath.
"And yet somehow, you've still put up with me for all these years," she said cheekily while helping him strap in.
Kirk was watching the pair incredulously when he realized that they already knew each other. The moment she took hold of his hand and gave it a light squeeze was when McCoy visibly relaxed. Though it wasn't much to go by, it was better than nothing.
"Are you two a couple?" Kirk asked after watching them for a few seconds.
"Yes." "No."
Emily shared a look with McCoy, feeling her heart race a little faster than it should have. Kirk just grinned in amusement upon hearing their response in unison. She let out a sigh as she leaned further into the seat, though she hadn't released his hand when she noticed he seemed to calm down a little. She wasn't in any hurry to explain that they had been together for a few years before it all went to hell. Somehow, she had a feeling that would just make the situation even more awkward than it already was. As it was, a few curious bystanders were watching their interactions.
"It's complicated," she explained before McCoy could make a bigger mess out of things.
Before Kirk could ask more questions, the shuttle suddenly shook and roared to life. McCoy swore under his breath, flinching as he gripped her hand a little tighter.
"Christ, this thing is gonna be the death of me!" he complained.
"Leonard, relax," she reassured him with a knowing look. "It's just preparing the engines to take off."
"These things are pretty safe as far as I'm concerned," Kirk put in helpfully.
"Oh, don't pander me, kid," McCoy rolled his eyes as he reached for his flask. "One tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirty seconds. A solar flare might pop up and cook us in our seats. And wait 'til you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian Shingles. See if you're still so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding. Space is a danger after darkness and silence."
She almost snorted in amusement at his vivid description of every known disaster. She knew he was only fueling his own panic at this point. Trying to soothe him now was out of the question. Still, she held onto his free hand as he took a sip from the flask of whiskey, hoping to calm his already frayed nerves.
"I hate to break it to ya, but Starfleet kind of operates in space," Kirk said knowingly.
"Yeah, well, I've got nowhere else to go." His free hand was still trembling as he struggled to open the top, "The ex-wife took over the whole Goddamn planet in a divorce. All I've got left are my bones."
She held back a sigh at the mention of Pamela. The moment he said that was when Kirk's eyes widened in surprise. He looked between McCoy and Emily, as if piecing two and two together. She knew what was on his mind – he was questioning whether or not she was the ex-wife in question.
As if I'd ever let anything like that happened, she argued silently.
She knew if she could get away with it, she would have throttled Pamela for treating McCoy the way she did. But Pamela had enough power and money to hire a good lawyer if she tried anything. For now, she could only fantasize anything happening to the shrewd woman who tore her friend apart.
"Jim Kirk," Kirk finally introduced himself when McCoy offered the flask.
"McCoy. Leonard McCoy," McCoy returned the gesture a little more gruffly.
Emily just rose an eyebrow when he handed her the flask without hesitation. As she took the flask gratefully, she ignored the shrewd look Kirk was giving her. She knew he was curious as to who she really was, but giving away her first name seemed like the end of a long-winded game. Though she had a feeling he would find out sooner or later.
"Emily Coulson," she finally introduced herself.
Kirk stared at her as if she'd grown wings. She knew he probably had a dozen questions to ask, but as the shuttle finally took off, McCoy intervened by throwing up into his shoes. Emily almost laughed at the sight, especially when Kirk reeled back in disbelief. They were in for a long haul if this kept up. Emily just hoped that she could survive the next few hours, otherwise she wasn't looking forward to the trip that loomed ahead.