Bones went back to his apartment to shower and change, it had been a long night spent triaging and treating all the casualites. All CMO's were across campus at a seminar and witnessed the attack, so by sheer luck all Starfleets most experienced medical doctors were on scene quickly and working to avoid an increasing death toll. After arriving it did not take him long to realise there were capatins and first officers in dress uniform scattered everywhere – which meant Jim was here somewhere!

He worked his way through the wounded as he searched, and prayed, for that familiar face. He was attending to a first officer with critical injuries when he caught a glimpse of his friend about 20m away, Bones could have collapsed with relief to see Jim up and walking but he couldn't go to him while he was currently using his fingers to clamp a leg artery. Seeing him alive would have to be enough for now while he got back to focusing on the task at hand. He would have to wait to check on Jim.

It had taken 4hrs to triage, and transport all of the wounded to various medical centers and hospitals. A few of the CMO's had scrubbed in at one hospital or another to help get everyone treated quickly. Bones had been keeping a close eye on the casualty list and checking hospital lists for any sign of the name Jim Kirk – knowing the kid was a trouble magnet he would no doubt be injured, but until he could find him, he couldn't know if he was right. Removing his soiled scrub top after performing an ex-lap at 2am on a cadet with shrapnel in his abdomen Dr McCoy collapsed onto the couch in the doctors lounge unaware that he was already falling asleep.

He was woken by a nurse at 6am when a call from command came through for him. He was too tired to care how they found him, they must have tried a few other hospitals first because the person on the other end of the vid screen looked just as pissed as McCoy was. After being chastised for not having his communicator on him, and Bones telling him where he could shove it, he was informed of his order to report to the ship yard dock at 07:00 for departure at 08:00. That gave him 1 hour to get to his apartment on campus, get cleaned up, pack and report for duty. Needless to say he was NOT happy. At least he didn't have to go hunting for Jim, he now knew where he could find him, and he could finally get a good look at the kid, he already knew he wouldn't be in a good way, not after being in an explosion and losing the man that was the closest thing he had to a father.

Normally he would be chastising himself for being fool enough to accept another mission in space under the crazy Captain Kirk, but Admiral Pike was his friend and so was Kirk, and he would go to hell and back with the kid if it meant avenging Pike and being there to stop the kid from doing something stupid and getting himself hurt – which is what happens when Kirk gets upset, he goes looking for trouble and trouble usually finds him.

Opening the door to his apartment he was short on time so he dumped his stuff at the door and made a bee-line for the bathroom. He emerged 20 minutes later wearing a clean uniform and his duffle packed. He was about to leave when he decided to grab some apples from the table, after all he hadn't eaten in hours and who knew how long it would be before he got the chance to eat again. It was then that he saw the note, he picked it up immediately recognizing Kirks writing. He was about to open it when he got a comm from command requesting him to report to the docks at once. He placed the letter in his bag to read later.

To be continued..

THE LETTER:

Bones,
I finally put it all together, but nothing really lasts forever
I had to make a choice that was not mine, I had to say goodbye for the last time
I lived my whole life in a suitcase, never really stayed in one place
Maybe that's the way it should be
You know I've lived my life like a gypsy

I left the spare key on the table
Never really thought I'd be able to say that I have a friend that I can visit on the weekend,
But ive stuffed everything up
I lost my whole life and a dear friend
I've said it so many times that I would change my ways but never mind
God knows I tried!

Call me a sinner, call me a saint, I'll still love you the same
Call me your favorite, Call me the worst
Tell me our friendship is over, I just don't want to hurt you Bones
Its all that I can say right now so I'll be on my way

I'll always keep you inside
You healed my heart and my life
- Jim