A/N: I never dreamed what a positive response I would receive to this story. Thank you to everyone who stuck it out with me. A little sex and a lotta love in this chapter.
Three Weeks Later . . .
Jim entered their new apartment following his early morning run. He toed off his shoes and went to the bedroom where he'd left his growling mate sleeping.
The minute he got close to the door, Jim froze. He inhaled deeply and felt himself grow hard. Jim tasted the familiar warm scent of his mate. It was like smooth whiskey and a fine cigar — but now with something else sweet just beneath it … mint. The mint undertone only appeared at one specific time … when Bones was in heat. He growled in appreciation and the mound on the bed shivered in response. Pulling off the rest of his clothes, Jim slid under the comforter behind his mate's curled form, spooning against the feverish heat of the omega's body. He pressed a kiss against Bones' shoulder and tightened his grip when his mate tried to move away.
"J-jim?"
Jim nipped at the shoulder again, rumbling his affirmation in a low growl. Leonard couldn't stop the groan that pushed its way past his lips. Jim smiled. He eased his body to McCoy's a little more snugly. Then he felt it – faint tremors rippling through his mate's body.
Jim frowned. "Bones ... ?"
The body in Jim's arms continued to shake and then Jim realized that his mate was crying. Not just crying – sobbing. Pulling gently on his shoulders, Jim coaxed Leonard into turning over. The omega immediately buried his face against Jim's chest and the alpha felt the pained hitches of breath and the dampness of tears held back too long.
Jim held Bones, running his hands up and down his mate's spine and making soft soothing noises, his own eyes wet and stinging. He kissed the mussed hair and nuzzled it gently.
"It's ok, Bones ... I'm here ... let it out."
By nature, Leonard McCoy carefully hid fear, pain, grief behind a stolid wall of duty and general grouchiness. Trusted friends like the command crew might bear witness to a weak moment when Leonard let something slip, but only Jim had ever seen this McCoy. He felt a surge of tenderness and protectiveness. These moments belonged to Jim and Jim alone ... his omega would never reveal this much of himself to anyone. Uhura's description of McCoy's grief following his death had been typical of his mate – a flare of anguish, then obstinate refusal to display any further weakness. While he hated that he'd been the reason for his mate's pain, Jim felt an irrational sense of pride that Bones had forced his pain down and carried on with his duty. Jim knew his command to the omega had nothing to do with that – it was no surprise that McCoy did not shirk his responsibilities to others even when overwhelmed with a pain too great to bear. That, too, was his nature.
Now, in Jim's strong embrace that comforted but didn't restrain, McCoy released everything he'd pushed into the deepest recesses of his soul – all the aching grief that had been in him since he'd escorted his mate's lifeless body through the Enterprise. All the tears and soft sounds of despair finally escaped him to vibrate against Jim's skin. The alpha accepted it willingly and just held Bones. When it began subside, Leonard looked up at his mate. Jim's eyes shimmered with tears of his own.
"I'm so sorry, Bones," Jim whispered. "I never meant to do this to you."
Leonard sniffed and wiped at his face. He shook his head. "You – you had to d-do it, Jim. I know – god, how I know that. I just - " The tears began falling again and he instinctively took shelter in the crook of Jim's neck but then raised his head again to wail, "You left me! You left me alone!"
Jim pulled McCoy against him tightly, his own tears beginning to slide down his face. "I know ... I know I did. Oh Bones ... I know I did."
It was all either of them could say. Jim couldn't apologize enough because he knew he'd do it again, given the choice. Leonard couldn't berate the man he loved for the act – he knew Jim would always sacrifice himself, would always put himself in danger, would always flirt with death to save those he loved and held dear. In the release of his absolute terror at being left behind, Leonard began to find a semblance of calm. Jim kissed his forehead softly and then his eyelids. The omega relaxed gradually and the tears stopped along with the shaking. The storm past, McCoy's heat was beginning to reassert itself.
Opening his eyes, Leonard looked into the cerulean gaze he loved. It was darkening with arousal and he felt his body beginning to respond – to prepare itself for the alpha holding him. Bones shivered again but not with grief – no, the fire growing in him was burning away the emotional pain and leaving only molten desire behind. He knew that he was shortly not going to care about anything other than having Jim inside him, pounding him into the mattress. He didn't care ... he was safe with Jim. His alpha would take care of him.
In his heat, McCoy was compliant and submissive. The normally independent omega became completely reliant on Jim. He obeyed without question and shuddered in pleasure whenever Jim praised him for anything. It wasn't something that he'd ever enjoyed. Of course Leonard knew the biological reason for his heats – he was a doctor after all. He knew exactly what the brain chemicals were that forced him into the extreme state of need … but knowing the scientific basis for the event didn't quell the deep dislike he had for being so completely out of control. He'd always dealt with his heats sans alpha if possible. Even Jocelyn, who he'd loved so fiercely at one time, had never been able to assuage his embarrassment. He'd been prepared to experience the same thing with Jim regardless of how much he loved the man.
Then came his first heat with Jim and it had been a revelation. It had been different from anything he'd ever known. With Jim, there was no shame. He wasn't left feeling weak and pathetic. Instead, he felt free to let the part of himself show that no one else knew or would ever know. He felt safe. He didn't shy from the desire coded into his very DNA that drove him to let himself be taken by his alpha – instead he gave into it and found lust and need and, above all, love.
"I'm here, Bones. I'm here … and you smell so ... good," Jim said huskily.
Leonard's breathing quickened at the sound of his alpha's voice ... every sense was heightened and his world was narrowing to be Jim and only Jim. Pulling his lover over him, the omega willingly spread his legs for him. Jim growled and looked down into Bones' hazel eyes. Blown wide with lust, Leonard's eyes tracked Jim's every movement. Jim leaned in to close his teeth on the claiming scar on his mate's chest. He did not break skin but enjoyed the resultant moan.
"Yes ... Jim ... yes ... please ..."
They were both past foreplay … Bones' heat was beginning to trigger Jim's alpha rut response. He was feeling his control fading ... all he would want soon would be to fuck the omega until they were both sated. Jim pressed himself against Leonard's entrance and when his omega's body arched upward Jim was lost. He snarled and flipped Bones' on his stomach. His mate immediately presented like a good omega which only drove Jim farther into his lust-driven haze. Leonard pressed back and let out a high-pitched whine when Jim grabbed his hips and drove himself inside to the hilt. He gasped and let his head fall forward as Jim caught the nape of his neck in his teeth.
"Mine," Jim growled.
"...yours ..." Bones whimpered. He trembled. "... please ... alpha ..."
Jim's eyes were electric blue. He pulled McCoy's head back by his hair. Breath hot against his mate's ear, he demanded, "Say it ... who do you belong to?"
Leonard groaned. He was confused. His alpha knew who he belonged to ... he answered anyway because he couldn't do anything else.
"You ... alpha ... only you ... " Bones whimpered.
Jim bit his omega's earlobe, enjoying the faint cry of pain that dissolved rapidly into a moan. He began to piston into his mate's body and snarled when Leonard's muscles clamped down on him. "You feel ... so good ... Bones ... so good ..."
Leonard would have come if Jim hadn't reached around and gripped him hard. He whined, bucking his hips in desperation to reach orgasm.
"Not yet, omega ..." Jim said, his voice low and demanding.
Bones stopped struggling and simply let his body take the punishing pace Jim set. His brain was all white noise except for Jim's voice ... every sound his alpha made triggered Leonard's brain to release more and more of the chemical cocktail that made him want to submit. He had no will of his own, no thoughts, no needs other than that of his mate – he was a good omega.
Finally, the breathing shifted behind him and Jim released Leonard's cock. The omega moved in time with his mate, taking his cues from Jim's movements. All he knew was Jim and Jim was everything. He was alpha and mate and nothing else in the entire universe mattered. They came together with twin cries of release.
Jim continued to move lazily inside Bones, coming down slowly. It wasn't often spoken of, but the alpha drive to rut entailed more than just blind instinct to dominate – Jim's pleasure was driven to unbelievable heights when his body knew that the omega writhing beneath him was being pleased. Every moan, every sigh and whine drove Jim's physiology to reward the alpha with a high unlike any drug. He had to please his omega ... he had to take care of his mate's needs and prove himself a worthy sire of any pups they might have someday. When Bones responded to his touch, Jim thought he might go mad from the flare of ecstasy that erased all thought and reduced him to ash with its fire.
Finally, Jim relaxed and withdrew. He kissed Bones long and slow, tasting every part of his mate's lips and mouth. He pulled back, tugging Leonard's bottom lip out between his teeth. He smiled down at his omega then kissed along his jawline and growled when Bones arched his neck, exposing his throat to Jim. Laving his tongue over the windpipe, Jim thrilled at the feel of the collar's cool metal. He felt McCoy sigh beneath him.
He rolled to one side and pulled Bones against him. They slept.
An omega heat had no definite length. Many variables could affect how long or short it was – since the massive dose of suppressants had worked its way out of McCoy's system, his body apparently decided to make up for even that short denial of nature. The flares came quickly, each on the heels of the previous one. Jim was exhausted but happier than he'd been in a long time. He was the consummate alpha ... he helped his mate bathe and changed the bedding while Leonard soaked in the deep tub. He made sure Bones drank plenty of water and gave him hypos of nutrients to supplement what little food Jim could get the omega to eat. And so it went for three days.
Finally, on the fourth day, Bones had a little reprieve from the driving need of his heat. Jim helped him into the shower and they lazily washed while giving one another hand jobs. Jim finished helping Bones clean up, then he got out, letting the omega stand under the hot water a bit longer. Heats often left McCoy sore and worse than grumpy. Jim changed the sheets again and ordered takeout. He collected the food which he instructed be left in the hall and put it on the kitchen back into the bedroom, he saw Bones lying back on the bed, more than ready for his alpha but in control of his desire. Jim lay down beside his mate and met his eyes, fingertips brushing over the brow that could express so much in a single frown or an arched eyebrow. Leonard smiled back, his eyes starting to cloud with arousal.
Before Bones lost control, Jim met his eyes and whispered, "I want you to be my omega."
Bones frowned in confusion. He already was … wasn't he? Jim chuckled. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Bones' lips. "I died, Bones. You don't belong to me anymore."
Jim smiled as the frown he loved deepened. Leonard surged forward and kissed Jim savagely, wrapping his legs around the alpha. His expression was stern. "Don't give a fuck if you die twelve times over ... I'll never belong to another alpha. Never."
Jim growled his appreciation of the sentiment but pulled back to regard the omega. "Still haven't answered me, Bones ... will you be my omega?"
"Yes," Bones breathed against his mate's lips. "A thousand times, yes."
It wasn't often an omega was double-claimed … by the same alpha at least. But by the next morning, another scar overlapped the first and Bones was fine with that. He was also fine with the new collar Jim locked on his neck the first morning after his heat abated. It was gunmetal gray and thinner than the first. What really moved him and made him turn away to regard the far wall was the matching ring Jim now wore on one hand. The ring that said he belonged to Bones and no one else.
One Year Later . . .
Doctor Leonard McCoy allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips. His mate, striking in his dress grays, was giving the keynote speech at the rechristening of the Enterprise. Bones watched the movement of lips and body with clinical and not-so-clinical interest. Jim hated the descriptive but Leonard couldn't find a word that fit other than beautiful. His mate was handsome and dashing but more than that ... he was beautiful. Here, in his element, he was practically resplendent. Jim Kirk was meant for this world ... meant for the black and all its dangers. Leonard also knew that he was meant to be at Jim's side no matter where his mate led them.
McCoy sat next to fellow omega and Enterprise navigator, Pavel Andreievich Chekov. The young man was fairly beaming as he held his chin high, unconsciously showing off the new collar residing on his neck. Hikaru Sulu sat on Chekov's other side with a pleased smile ghosting his mouth. Leonard rolled his eyes – he hoped he hadn't been quite that sappy about his mating with Jim. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure he'd been just as ridiculous, wearing shirts off-duty that displayed the collar prominently and spiking every time Jim walked into a room. He hadn't been much better the second time around – and Jim wasn't shy about making sure everyone saw his matching ring. Wasn't love just fucking grand?
His alpha's voice shifted and Bones' attention was drawn back to the podium.
Jim spoke firmly and confidently but every word was for his mate alone. He didn't care what any of the brass on the podium with him thought ... he was in love and Bones made him a better captain, a better person.
"There will always be those who mean to do us harm. To stop them, we risk awakening the same evil in ourselves. Our first instinct is to seek revenge when those we love are taken from us," Jim found Bones' eyes in the crowd. "But that's not who we are ... we are here today to rechristen the U.S.S. Enterprise, and to honor those who lost their lives nearly one year ago." Jim took a deep breath before continuing. "When Christopher Pike first gave me his ship, he had me recite the Captain's Oath, words I didn't appreciate at the time. Now I see them as a call to remember who we once were and who we must be again. And those words?" Bones took a deep breath of his own as Jim began the recitation. It never failed to give him chills, nor give him a rush of love and pride toward his mate. "Space ... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship, Enterprise. Her five year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before."
Leonard sighed, staring out at the star field displayed through the view screen. He wondered sometimes at his own sanity for accepting his mate's collar ... especially when that mate was Captain James T. Kirk. The door to the bridge hissed open and Jim stood for a moment, regarding his crew. He glanced over at Doctor Carol Marcus who sat at one of the science officer stations. He smiled broadly.
"Dr. Marcus. I'm glad you could be a part of the family," Jim said.
The beta returned the smile. "It's nice to have a family."
Jim gave her a gentle grin and walked over to his chair. Sulu stood quickly.
"It's hard to get out of it once you've had a taste, isn't that right, Mr. Sulu?" Jim said knowingly.
Sulu smiled. "'Captain' does have a nice ring to it. Chair's all yours, sir."
Sulu resumed his normal position with a warm glance at his mate beside him. He looked over his shoulder at McCoy who returned the look with a nod. Jim pressed the comm button.
"Mr. Scott. How's our core?"
"Purring like a kitten, Captain. She's ready for a long journey."
"Excellent," Jim said. "Spock!"
"Captain," Spock replied coming to stand beside Jim.
"Where shall we go?"
"As a mission of this duration has never been attempted, I defer to your good judgment, Captain." Spock met Jim's eyes and the captain could have sworn he saw amusement before the Vulcan returned to his post.
Zeroing in on the one person he cared most about being with him as they 'set sail' so to speak, Jim found Bones standing off to one side as usual. His mouth twitched in a grin as he took in his mate standing ramrod straight with his arms tightly crossed. Jim walked over and clapped the omega on the shoulders. "Come on, Bones! It's gonna be fun!"
Bones regarded his mate with a fond, slightly annoyed expression. "Five years in space," he growled. "God help me."
"Yes," Jim agreed, one hand brushing over his mate's collar and smiling at the resultant shiver. He met McCoy's eyes. "But it's five years in space with you, Bones ... I couldn't ask for anything more." Walking back to his chair, he easily sat down and took a deep breath.
"Take us out, Mr. Sulu," Jim ordered. He looked over at his mate as the ship went to warp and his smile was blinding when the omega mouthed Buckle up. James T. Kirk was the happiest alpha on the ship.