SO, I HEARD THIS SONG ON THE RADIO AND WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE THIS.
TO BE HONEST, I KINDA FEEL LIKE I WENT ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH THIS CHAPTER, ESPECIALLY INCLUDING THE TIE-IN TO MY OTHER STAR TREK STORY, 'Well Oiled Romance- -er, ship', BUT HOPE YOU ALL LIKE REGARDLESS!
IT ALSO GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I DO NOT OWN 'HARD TO LOVE' BY LEE BRICE. I DO REALLY LIKE THE SONGS, THOUGH. NOW, TO THE REVIEWS!
Hollarious969: Thanks for noticing! ;P I use Karl's filmography for inspiration on other potential AUs I can do. Glad you like it! And yes, Dredd is coming up! ...Soon as I buy and watch it to get a better feel for Dredd's character. I've actually started the story, though, so hang tight!
Me and Not You 1001: Glad you liked it! Religion is one of the main themes in Priest, if you ask me, and so it definitely played a role in the story. My OC, Elizabeth, is religious herself, but also notices the hypocrisy and corruption in the Church, as does Black Hat/Luke.
GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!
~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER
It was a semester til our graduation from the Academy and we are loving it- -even Leo, though he acts like he hates it. Somehow, Jim, Leo, and I all got the same dorm. We all chipped in to pay for it (Jim didn't have a lot to add, sadly) and it suited us, strangely enough, after we'd established routines and rules.
For instance, tonight was date night for Bones (Jim started it!) and I. Jim had taken little convincing, but we were firm.
Now, I was unlocking the door and stepping inside our dorm, to find music playing over our speaker system. Usually, that meant Jim was in. But that wasn't the case, so...why was there music playing?
I must admit, it was a lovely, simple guitar tune. Suddenly, I am being pulled into a swaying wedding dance. I grin up at Bones and open my mouth to say something as we sway, but then he sings! Let me say this; my man can sing!
"I am insensitive. I have a tendency to pay more attention to the things that I need." I roll my eyes as we continue swaying, a little faster than normal, but it was enjoyable regardless. "Sometimes I drink too much, sometimes I test your trust. Sometimes I don't know why you stay with me." I frown as he spins me. He's acting kinda weird...he doesn't serenade me at all.
"Bones, you don't have a disloyal bone in your body." I protest. He just kisses my forehead and continues singing.
"I'm hard to love, hard to love. No, I don't make it easy. I'm hard to love, hard to love, and you say that you need me. Well, I don't deserve it, but I love that you love me, girl." I suddenly laugh as he dips me and I kiss him soundly.
"I've never found it hard to love you, Leonard. Where's this coming from?" I ask. He sighs as we stand and sway again.
"Just been thinking a lot lately, and...it's made me realize some things." He then continues singing. "I am a short fuse, I am a wrecking ball, crashing into your heart like I do." I scoff.
"Now that's- -" He puts a gentle finger to my mouth, singing like nothing interrupted him. I note that his hands are strong, insisting I stay, but they tremble slightly as if afraid to hold me too close.
"You're like a Sunday morning; full of grace and full of Jesus, and I wish that I could be more like you."
"Now, hold on!" I protest. This was glorifying me, setting me on a pedestal, and I didn't want that. He merely keeps singing.
"I'm hard to love, hard to love, no, I don't make it easy. I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood. I'm hard to love, hard to love, and you say that you need me."
"I do!" I assure him. I didn't really like where this was going. "Bones, really, this- -" Once more, he cuts me off.
"Girl, you've given me a million second chances, and I don't ever want to take you for granted!"
"You don't!" I protest, drawing away in confusion. "This is starting to scare me." I add, hand on Bones' shoulder. "What's wrong?" The song plays on, and I notice Bones has tears in his eyes. Knowing Bones, it meant something big was going on with him. He never cries.
"I just...this is the anniversary of...Johanna." He mumbles. I pale. Why hadn't I remembered?!
"Bones, I should've remembered! I am so sorry!" I squeak, hands over my mouth. Bones is suddenly peeling my hands back and kissing me.
"Darlin', I didn't draw attention to it on purpose." He then sighs. "But then I heard this song, and it hit me; I've been such an insensitive jerk!" I blink.
"Leonard, what are you talking about?"
"I know your brother and his wife were sent to Delta Vega, haven't been heard from since." My stomach drops. How could he know about that?
"Leo, how'd- -"
"Yer dad told me when we went to that graduation party for your cousin." I groan.
"I don't really like to broadcast that…" I mumble. Bones takes my hand.
"Your Pa didn't go into detail." He replies. I sigh. It was a bit of an obvious request for information, and I knew I couldn't avoid talking about it forever. May as well get it over with.
"Well, my brother is a truly gifted engineer. Really, he is. And Eavan was born to be a nurse. Or a doctor. Whichever. Then Monty started working on a theory about subspace travel, convinced that Starfleet was not using beaming to its full potential. His equation didn't work, though, when they tested it on Admiral Archer's prized beagle." Leonard grimaces.
"Yeah, that would get them a big ol' slap on the wrist. I am so sorry, Winnie." I sigh.
"Nothing I can do about it, really." I shrug. "All I can do is sit here missing them." He draws me to him and I squeeze him tightly.
"Darlin', I feel certain you'll see them again. Delta Vega's comm systems are just extremely unreliable because of the weather there." I sniffle.
"Yeah, and apparently it also means no one can go get them, either. Really, though, I know those jerks are just letting my siblings rot there for a beagle!" I then sigh, deflating. "The worst part is that I have no connections into the Admiralty, except Captain Pike, and he hasn't had any luck getting to talk to them. And that means I can't talk to the higher-ups, which means I'll not be seeing those two for a long time." I then force myself to pull it together and get this date back on less depressing topics. "I really appreciate this. Thank you." I tell him genuinely and hug him tightly. He smiles, but doesn't resist. I then pull him in for a kiss to show him just what he meant to me. Eventually, though neither of us could tell you how long it was, we had to break apart. I see then that he has taken something out of his pocket. He just takes my hand, slipping on a braided band and medium sized facet-cut emerald with another quick kiss. I blink.
"Oh, Bones, it's...it's amazing! I love it!" I squeak. This was beyond anything I could dream of! He'd finally proposed! I knew why he was reluctant, but it grew harder to remember when almost three years had gone by and still not even a hint of marriage talks.
Now...we were engaged!
"...You're not mad?" He asks. I wave aside his worried look.
"Hun, how could I be mad?! This is amazing!" I retort happily, eyeing the ring. "We could head down to the court tomorrow and sign the licenses, have a party later?" I ask. Bones laughs.
"Sure. Don't want another huge wedding, anyway." I blink. Right. This wasn't Bones' first wedding.
=#=#=#=#=
It's been confirmed; James Tiberius Kirk is the world's biggest drama queen.
"But...why?" He moans for the twentieth time. "Why not go the whole nine yards with this thing?!" I scrub my face with my hands.
"For the twentieth time, Jim, because it's what Leonard and I want. Isn't that enough?" He crosses his arms, pouting.
"Not without an explanation, it's not."
"Too bad." Comes the voice of my savior, Leonard McCoy, arm already around my waist. "It's our wedding and it's what's happening. You and both our parents are the witnesses." Jim groans.
"Well, can I at least give a speech or something?"
Bones exhales slowly. "...Fine. We'll go out to eat afterwards as a celebration." He concedes. "But you must be sober." Jim laughs.
"Can do!"
"Jim, we're serious! Our parents are coming!" I press. He claps my shoulder.
"Relax, Winnie. I'll be on my best behaviour. Scout's honor." I scoff.
"You never were a Scout!" I retort. He shrugs.
"Whatever."
=#=#=#=#=
It was finally the big day. The sun was shining, it was a half-day to celebrate some alien holiday or something, and I was getting married! What could go wrong?
Enter Jim Kirk. "I'm taking the test again." I halt mid-stride.
"What?!" I growl. "Come on, Jim!" I protest, resuming my pace after him. He was smiling and turning to admire a pair of female cadets.
"Hel-lo, ladies." He greets flirtatiously. Bones halts him with a hand gripping Jim's upper arm, spinning his friend around with a glare.
"Jim, seriously?!" He growls. "We're getting married!" He growls. "We've got better things to do the morning after the wedding than watch you embarrass yourself for a third time!" Jim wriggles his eyebrows.
"You mean better things to do to each other." I flush and smack him upside the head.
"That's entirely beside the point!" I snap. "We're getting married and need a break from your shenanigans for a day or two!" Jim shrugs.
"At least I'm going to the celebration sober." I roll my eyes up then close them.
"Jim...that's so not a justification."
"Listen, guys," Jim says in that stubborn, 'I can do what I want and no one can stop me' voice, "doesn't it bother you that no one's passed the test?" I scoff.
"No. It's the entire point of the test to begin with!" I reply.
"JIm, it's the Kobayashi Maru!" Bones adds waspishly. "No one passes the test, and no one goes back for seconds, let alone thirds!" I grimace. Now the Kobayashi Maru was just more enticing for Jim. Sure enough, Jim just slaps Leo's shoulder.
"I gotta study." I frown, but Leo beats me to voicing our synced thoughts.
"Study, my ass."
=#=#=#=#=
I smooth down the cadet uniform I was still wearing for the millionth time while we were waiting to be seen by the judge.
"Winnie, calm down." Bones says soothingly, hand on my thigh. I nod. "It's only signing documents and reciting the usual wedding vows. Easy." I smile.
"I love you so much." I tell him, wrapping my arm around his and holding his hand. He leans his head against mine and chuckles.
"I love you, too, Rowena." I then smile as a thought occurs to me.
"You gotta admit; Rowena McCoy has a better ring to it than Rowena Scott." He laughs.
"That it does."
"Leonard McCoy and Rowena Scott?" Came the voice of the judge. We stand.
"Here." Leonard calls. The judge nods.
"I'm Judge Howard O'Bryan. I understand you two wish to get married?" I nod.
"Yessir." He smiles.
"Good. Everyone's gathered in the room already, so if you'll just follow me, we'll get started."
=#=#=#=#=
"So...now what?" I ask timidly when we arrive back at the dorm. Bones just takes my hand.
"Now...I show you what you mean to me." I blush deeper than scarlet and follow his lead, heart hammering as we enter the bedroom. Leo then takes his shirt off as I fumble with the buttons on mine. "Here. Let me." Bones whispers and I flush, but let him. From there, it's all a pleasantly warm and loving blur until I fall asleep at some point.
=#=#=#=#=
The next morning, I wake to a lonely bed and the smell of bacon and coffee. I smile and sit up, wincing when I discovered that I was incredibly sore in a specific area. I force myself to work through it, not regretting it at all. In fact, I embrace it, because it was the most amazing experience I've ever felt. Ever. Coming into the kitchen/main area, I grin when I find my husband making eggs and humming to himself. It's the song we danced to when he proposed, 'Hard to Love'. I start singing along and the way he jumps made the walk out here well worth it. I laugh and sit at the table as he recovers.
"I wasn't expecting you up so soon." He muses, smirking. I smirk back.
"I'm resilient."
"I know." He replies, kissing my forehead. "So...I was going to serve you breakfast in bed, but since you came to me, I'll get to eat with you." He says with a grin, setting a plate down in front of me. I beam at him and draw him in for a kiss.
"I love you, Dr. McCoy."
"I love you more, Dr.. McCoy." He replies. He then sighs and steps back to sit in the seat next to me, where his own plate waited. "Now, unfortunately, thanks to that bone-headed best friend of ours, we gotta eat quick and report to the simulation." I roll my eyes.
"Ah, yes. The Kobayashi Maru. How delightful." I drawl, then smile at Bones' amused look before we dig in.
=#=#=#=#=
"I did it!" JIm cheers afterwards, smirking cockily. I roll my eyes.
"Jim, you and I both know cheating doesn't count as beating the test." I retort, deadpanning at him.
"Yes, it does. I completed the mission."
"By altering the source code!" I snap. "Jim, that is so wrong! You're going to get in so much trouble!" I warn severely, poking his chest. Jim just slaps my shoulder.
"Take it easy. You're just crabby cus I interrupted your love-making." I blush, but stalk furiously after him.
"James Tiberius Kirk, so help me, I'm gonna kill you!" I screech, Bones taking off after me as I race toward my best friend to wring that arrogant, cocky neck.
=#=#=#=#=
"Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council that you violated the Ethical Code of Conduct pursuit to Regulation 17.3 of the Starfleet Code." I give Jim a 'told you so' look when he glances our way as he came to stand behind a podium before the Council. "Is there anything you care to say before we begin, sir?" Admiral Barnett asks. Jim takes only a second to think of something, smug little turd.
"Yes. I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly." He replies. Adm. Barnett nods to a gentleman from the row of grey uniforms along the stairs. "Step forward, please." As the man obeys, I note the Vulcan ears. Of course a Vulcan was the one that figured it out.
"This is Commander Spock. He's one of our most distinguished graduates. He's programmed the Kobayashi Maru for the last four years." I gulp. Jim was in deep now. Barnett motions Spock to speak. "Commander?"
"Cadet Kirk, you somehow managed to install and activate a subroutine in the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test." Spock reports
"Your point being?" I face-palm. Jim, you idiot.
"In academic vernacular, you cheated." The Admiral replies. Jim looks momentarily lost for words, then licks his lips.
"Let me ask you something" here, he gives a little scoff, "I think we all know the answer to; the test itself is a cheat, isn't it?" I roll my eyes. He'd have to do better than that, by far. "You programmed it to be unwinnable."
Spock nods. "You're argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario." He points out. Jim smirks and nods.
"I don't believe in no-win scenarios." Spock almost scowls.
"Then not only did you violate the rules, you also failed to understand the principal lesson." He replies evenly, eyes only slightly narrowed.
"Please, enlighten me." Jim snarks.
"You, of all people, should know Cadet Kirk; a Captain cannot cheat death." I gasp in shock. That was a low blow, Commander Spock! Murmurs and whispers ring around the room as Jim's jaws sets angrily and he bows his head, swallowing hard.
"I, of all people?" He asks. I pinch the bridge of my nose; that was the wrong thing to say, Jim.
Spock nods. "Your father, Lieutenant George Kirk, assumed command of his vessel shortly before being killed in action, did he not?" Jim's eyes are the only thing that betrays his emotions. Grief, outrage, anger...guilt. Not that he displays them outwardly.
"I don't think you like the fact that I beat your test." He snaps.
"Furthermore, you have failed to divine the purpose of the test." Spock retorts.
"Enlighten me again." Jim growls through gritted teeth.
"The purpose is to experience fear. Fear in the face of certain death. To accept that fear and to maintain control of one's self and one's crew. This is a quality expected in every Starfleet Captain." I grimace. Poor Jim, being reminded of his father and being lambasted by an unfeeling Vulcan. Ouch.
Before Jim can think of a reply, an ensign walks in and delivers a PADD to the head councilman. The ensign is dismissed and the PADD read.
"We've received a distress call from Vulcan. With our primary fleet engaged in the Lorentian System, I hereby order all Cadets to report to Hangar 1 immediately."
"What?" I breath. "No way…"
"Dismissed." Admiral Barnett orders and I stand automatically.
Crap. I go with Bones to stand by Jim, and we watch Spock disappear in the crowd.
"Who was that pointy-eared bastard?" Jim asks. Bones frowns.
"I don't know, but I like him." I sigh.
"He used a cheap tactic on Kirk, being up his dad like that. I almost went down there to give him a piece of my mind." I retort, then deflate. "Come on. We gotta report to Hangar 1."