This was requested by FragmentsOfTime4 (Go check them out) and I was more than happy to write it. Enjoy.
Kirk and Scotty were finally getting to spend some quality time together which they weren't able to do very often when they were off the ship, even on ship it was rare for them to spent much longer than an hour together, due to how much they worked. They both worked long shifts and mainly tried to keep the ship from being destroyed. It was supposed to be a relaxing shore leave, nothing was meant to go wrong. But of course that was never going to happen, it seemed wherever Kirk went, trouble (and danger) seemed to follow him. "Jim, what was that?" Scotty questioned nervously, the pair of them had just heard what Kirk could only describe as a roar coming from the forest they were walking through. "I don't know Scotty." The young Captain whispered, he hoped it wasn't something bad, he really didn't want anything to ruin his shore leave with the Engineer. There was then a loud 'Crack!' followed by the rustling of leaves, Scotty felt his body shiver while Kirk just clenched his fist, ready for whatever was coming their way.
Suddenly something vaulted from the bushes, Kirk and Scotty just stared at it while remaining completely still. It had the body of a lion, the face of a man and the tail of a scorpion. Scotty gulped quietly while Kirk was trying to comprehend what was stood in front of them. "Don't move, maybe it will leave." Kirk whispered, "Wasn't planning on doing anything else Jim." Muttered Scotty as the beast's crimson eyes met his. Kirk really hoped that this thing would just leave, he had no intentions on getting into a fight with it since it was clear who would win. The beast quietly growled as it turned to look at Kirk, but only for a split second before returning to stare at Scotty who was trying his best to stand motionless. With an even louder growl it swiped at Scotty, Kirk wanted to cry out but no words came out of his mouth. It seemed like everything was happening in slow-motion as he watched Scotty collapse onto the ground, a hand clutching his chest where the beast's razor sharp claws had ripped across his flesh. Kirk felt his heart begin to beat slower and slower, this was not how he envisioned his shore leave.
Kirk just watched on as his friend was getting mauled. Scotty's chest had already been slit by the beast's claws but they had also slashed across his arm as the Scotsman was using them to protect his face, bite marks were dotted over the bottom of his left leg since he had been trying to kick the beast off. Kirk's eyes didn't even blink as he watched and listened to his friend cry out. But the crying suddenly stopped, the Captain's heart almost stopped as well, had he just witnessed one of his best friend's deaths? Finally pulling himself together, Kirk reached for his phaser, thankful that he listened to McCoy who insisted he took one with him. Not even bothering to check the setting, Kirk fired. He couldn't care if it was on 'kill' that thing had just attack Scotty so that was a good enough reason for it to die in his eyes. The beast was knocked off balance and once it recovered it darted back into the bushes, but Kirk knew it wasn't truly gone. Phaser still in hand he hurried over to Scotty's side, hoping that he was still alive, he really hoped he was.
"Scotty, can you hear me?" Kirk asked in a worried tone, he hadn't seen the Engineer move since being attacked. Kirk diverted his eyes from Scotty's face to the wound on his chest (it seemed the most life threatening), it didn't appear to be too deep but Kirk couldn't be sure. He wasn't a Doctor. "I wish I brought Bones along!" Kirk thought to himself as he took off his shirt and began to dab away the blood. Just then he heard someone call his name, "Jim?" Kirk instantly looked back to see Scotty's eyes staring back at him, relieved that he was alive. "Hey there pal, don't look down at your chest as I can guaranty you'll pass out." Kirk knew that his friend didn't do well with seeing his own blood and he didn't want him blacking out on him, "What the hell happened?" "You got attacked by a beast, now I need you to sit up so I can wrap my shirt around your chest to stop the bleeding." Scotty nodded slowly. With help from Kirk he was soon sitting up and waiting for Kirk to finish bandaging his wound. He hissed in pain several times as it stung like hell, which Kirk apologized for, he didn't wish to cause him pain.
Kirk was finished relatively quickly, hoping what he had done would be enough. He then heard the faint sound of leaves rustling, "We've got to get going, before that thing comes back." Scotty nodded as he slowly began to get to his feet with help from Kirk, groaning in pain as he went. "You alright to walk?" Questioned Kirk, since he knew that one of his legs was injured, Scotty glanced up at him with one eye closed. "I'll be fine Jim." The Engineer replied as the two of them set off, hoping to get as far away from whatever that thing was as possible. They had only been walking for a short period of time when Scotty heard a growl, his heart skipped a beat. Kirk had heard it too and he didn't like it. "Great, that's all we need. I don't want to see that thing again." "You mean a Manticore." Scotty corrected, Kirk chuckled. "Even when we're in a life threatening situation you still feel the need to correct me don't ya?" Scotty just slowly nodded. Just then his leg gave out as he took a step, thankfully Kirk lunged and caught him before he fell completely.
"Scotty?!" Kirk cried, "I'm alright Jim, I'll live. My legs just a little weak." Scotty replied as he struggled to his feet once more. Kirk wasn't convinced by the Engineers statement, he was looking very pale and blood was starting to bleed through the makeshift bandage Kirk had wrapped. Scotty was also very unsteady on his feet, most likely due to his injured leg and probably shock. "Here, lean on me." Kirk said as he lifted the Scotsman's arm so it was around his neck, Scotty thanked him as they continued on their way, but the growling seemed to follow them. While they walked Kirk was cursing quietly to himself, "All I bloody wanted was to have a peaceful shore leave with Scotty, but NO!" He knew something was probably going to happen, something always happened while he was on shore leave, but one of his best friends being attacked by a beast straight out of a fairy tale (or horror movie in Kirk's eyes) never crossed his mind. But he wasn't really focusing on the Manticore, Kirk was more focused on Scotty, he knew how serious his injuries were and that he needed proper medical care, otherwise…
Kirk didn't want to think about that, but he knew it would happen if he didn't do something. Even though Scotty played down his injuries, Kirk knew how life threatening they were. He had already lost a lot of blood and he was unsure what internal damage had been done, Kirk hated seeing Scotty hurting and being possibly inches from death was killing him inside. Kirk blamed himself, he had been the one who insisted on coming to this planet for shore leave. However yet another problem was added to their ever growing list, they had come to a rock face, one which was quite tall. Kirk sighed loudly, "That's all we dam need!" he walked over to a nearby boulder and sat Scotty gently down to rest, since he knew they would have to climb up the cliff. Kirk was pretty confident that the Manticore wouldn't be able to follow them up there, it appeared too steep for it to climb, but they could… He hoped they could anyway, rock climbing wasn't something he did very often, but Kirk knew he would make it up there with little trouble, but for Scotty it would be a completely different story.
Under normal circumstances Scotty would struggle to climb something like this, since the CEO wasn't the most athletic person. But add on the disadvantage of his current condition, it was going to be even harder. At that moment a deafening roar came from the forest, Kirk quickly pulled Scotty to his feet. "Rest time is over Scotty, now it's time to climb." Scotty simply nodded as his Captain rushed him over to the rock face, Kirk quickly scrambled up to the highest ledge he could reach, somehow cutting his hand in the process but he didn't care. "Grab on Scotty and I'll pull ya up." Kirk yelled as he dangled his arm down, which Scotty grabbed without a second delay. Just as Kirk was heaving the Scotsman up the rock face, the Manticore came charging out from the bushes, clearly it had been stalking them. Kirk quickly yanked Scotty up to the ledge, making the Manticore slam into the rockface. "Thanks Jim…" Gasped Scotty as he glanced back to see the beast pacing in circles, "Don't thank me yet Scotty." Kirk replied as he began to climb once more. "Come on, let's get climbing."
Now without having to worry about the Manticore, Kirk could concentrate on helping Scotty with the dangerous climb. They had already made it more than half way up, with the occasional rest where possible to allow Scotty to catch his breath. It was clear to Kirk that his injuries were starting to affect him more and more, even if the Engineer wouldn't admit it. It had been somewhat easy, that was up until now. They were close to the top and the climb only got more dangerous, Kirk himself had almost fallen several times along with Scotty. The Scotsman's strength was fading fast and he was finding it much harder to climb, even with Kirk's occasional helping hand. Kirk was just above Scotty as they climbed, the Engineer reached up to grab a ledge to pull himself up when his hand slipped and he slid down the rock face. "Scotty!" Kirk cried, thankfully Scotty managed to seize another ledge. "I'm fine Jim." Kirk sighed in relief but his heart didn't stop racing, he really thought that was it. That he would watch as his friend plunged to his death, without being able to do a thing to stop it.
Finally, Kirk reached the top. He rolled onto the ledge and let out a huge sigh of relief, which was short lived when he noticed that Scotty hadn't emerged yet, he was right behind him or so he thought. Swiftly clambering back over to the edge, he glanced down to see the Scotsman struggling immensely. His face was even paler now and blood was starting to drip from his chest (not to mention his other wounds), clearly all the climbing wasn't doing him much good. "Not much further to go Scotty, come on." Kirk cried trying to encourage his friend, but Scotty didn't move. "I can't Jim." The Scotsman muttered, "Hold on pal, I'll get ya." Kirk replied as he laid on his stomach and reached down to grab Scotty's hand. He slowly began to pull his friend up the rock face, Scotty cried out in pain several times. But he finally pulled him up onto the ledge and instantly laid him down on his back. Blood was dripping more rapidly from his wounds and his skin was almost completely white. Kirk quickly called for an emergency beam out before turning his attention back on Scotty, whose eyes were slowly closing.
"Come on Scotty, you've got to stay awake." Kirk stated as he tapped him gently on the cheek to try and keep him conscious, "I'm so sleepy Jim." "I know you are Scotty, but you've got to stay awake, just keep talking." Kirk was trying his best to stop the wound on the Scotsman's chest from bleeding anymore by applying pressure to it. "Don't you dare die on me Scotty!" Kirk muttered to himself as he tried to hold back his tears, if Scotty died he wasn't sure how he would cope. The Engineer was like Kirk's rock, someone he could rant to and rely on in hard times. They were soon beamed back to the ship and Scotty was rushed to sickbay, where he was placed in emergency surgery which lasted almost three whole hours. Kirk didn't move from the chair he had been placed in by McCoy, if Scotty didn't make it he would never forgive himself, ever. Scotty had been there for him through thick and thin since he came aboard the Enterprise, he had saved the ship from being ripped to shreds more times than he could count. If he lost Scotty, Kirk wouldn't just lose a friend he would lose someone he considers family.
Eventually McCoy came out from the OR, Kirk immediately jumped to his feet. "Bones, please tell me he still lives because I swear to god if he ain't I'll…" McCoy placed a hand on the Captain's shoulder. "Jim, Scotty's alive and he'll be just fine. There was no permanent damage, he did lose a lot of blood and he had a punctured lung but he'll live." Kirk felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders, but the guilt still remained. "Can I see him?" McCoy nodded. Kirk didn't need to be told twice as he hurried into the room. Kirk headed straight to the bedside and sat on the edge of the biobed, Scotty was awake and gave him a small smile. "Hey there Jim." "How you feeling Scotty?" Kirk asked, "Sore, but I'll live." It was at that moment when Scotty noticed a tear running down Kirk's cheek, he had never seen the young Captain cry. "Why are you crying Jim? I'm fine." Scotty said as he shuffled closer to Kirk, "I thought I was going to lose you and I just couldn't bare that." Kirk whimpered as more tears began to slowly drip down his face. Scotty still couldn't believe he was seeing him cry.
"I'm sorry Scotty, this is all my fault." Kirk cried, "None of this is your fault Jim, it was just an inconvenience." "But I'm the one who suggested we went to that planet for shore leave, if I had never done that you wouldn't be lying here." Scotty just watched as Kirk was eating himself up about all of this. With his head turned away, Kirk continued. "I never knew how much I was scared to lose you until I almost did, I don't know what I would do without you. You've been by my side through…" Kirk was cut short when he felt a hand rest on his arm. He looked over to see Scotty's hand resting gently on his arm, "It will take more than being a little mauled by a bloody Manticore to kill me off Jim, I am Scottish after all so you're stuck with me for a dam sight longer. Besides, I knew I wouldn't die because I knew you were there with me to keep me alive." Kirk gave a small smile as he wiped his eyes, before he hugged Scotty gently. "I'm glad to hear that Scotty, I don't know where I would find another miracle worker as good as you." Kirk said softly. He had never been more relieved and he hoped he would never have to go through that again. Not ever.