A/N: See previous chapters for all the other info. I'm going to be starting chapters with Jim and Lyndsey's Playlist I came up with. Sometimes they have something to do with it, sometimes not. It's them, and you'll get an idea of who they are to each other if you pay attention. Enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter Five:

Confusion and Commitments

"I got that girl from overseas

now she's my Miss America

now can I be her soldier please?

I'm fighting for this girl

On the battlefield of love

Don't it look like baby cupid

Sending arrows from above

Don't you ever leave the side of me

Indefinitely not probably

And honestly I'm down like the economy."

-"Down" by Jay Sean

2 years later….

Two years had gone by so quickly, and now they were third years. One more year, and it would be ship bound for them. Lyndsey didn't want to leave Leonard and Jim so quickly. She'd just gotten to know Bones, and Jim was still her best friend. Over two years, Bones had become Lyndsey's other closest confidant, and they were always paired together for labs in their medical classes. They worked flawlessly together, a flowing team of two. Bones was smart, but Lyndsey was rational.

They were walking out of their medical class, discussing andorian physiology when Jim caught up to them, coming from Command Logistics. He was grinning like a fool. "Bones, Lynds!" He said, almost too outgoing for Lyndsey's taste, squirming in between them and loping an arm around Bones' shoulder and Lyndsey's waist. "What do you want Jim? I promise I will not be helping you out of Astrophysics one oh one again. I have enough work for my technical medicine class as it is." Lyndsey said, her light blue eyes hard, staring at Jim's electric blue eyes.

"They're so beautiful." She thought, then mentally smacked herself. Did she just think that James Tiberius Kirk's eyes were beautiful? She shook her head, letting her new red fringe shake down over her right eye. James was her best friend, no way could she be falling for him. Len had already offered to buy her a drink during their last class. It was a Wednesday night, and despite the fact that there were two more days left till weekend and possibly weekend training, she wanted to go out.

Jim looked taken aback. "Why would I ask you to do that, Lynds? No, that's not the idea…Hello Ladies." He turned, checking out two girls that passed by. Lyndsey could feel a slight jealousy ringing in her ears. He then spoke again. "I'm taking the test again." Leonard looked at him like he'd grown three heads and just insisted on eating his liver. "You can't be serious." He said incredulously. Lyndsey looked at Jim. "Really? You've got to be joking. Didn't you learn the last times around?"

Jim shrugged. "I don't believe in no-win scenarios. Also, I want you both there."

Bones growled. "I've got better things to do than watch you embarrass yourself for the third time. Jim, I'm busy!"

"It hasn't bothered you that no one's beaten that test?"

"Jim it's the Kobayashi Maru. No one passes the test, and no one goes back for seconds, let alone thirds."

Lyndsey took the opportunity while they were talking to analyze the obvious differences she'd begun to see in the two of them. Jim was hard headed. He'd always been stubborn. If someone told him he couldn't do something, he'd prove that he could and prove it so many times over. He was a player, that's for sure. She knew about his current girlfriend, if you could even call it that. Gaila was an Orion, and was in Jim and Lyndsey's Astrophysics class. The woman was smart, and Lyndsey and her got along pretty well. She often heard the ringing in her ears when Gaila talked about Jim or asked her about him, but she'd always dismissed it. Jim always had his hair unkempt. That was almost a Jim trademark. The hair, eyes, and the swagger; that was who he was, the playboy farm boy.

Leonard McCoy was almost polar opposite. He was stubborn, yes. He also had many other traits that made him who he was. He was gruff and sarcastic, but Lyndsey had found that there was a tenderness underneath the rough exterior. The anger and sarcasm had only become a defense mechanism after his divorce. Lyndsey had told him straight out that she wasn't going to be abandoning him any time soon, and with that, she had another friend. They began to speak more often and she had learned to love him for his faults. His southern drawl always was more obvious around her, surrounding her with a warm feeling. She loved his drawl, and she was almost embarrassed to admit it. Did other girls love accents and drawls as much as she did?

She spoke after a minute, realizing both men were looking at her. "Um, I'll be there Jim. You're my best friend, I'll fall with you, idiot child." She said with a chuckle. Bones chuckled as well, leaving a shiver down Lyndsey's spine. Jim slapped Len's shoulder. "I gotta study." He then proceeded to walk away. She shook her head. "Jim Kirk. How much will it take for you to realize your stupidity?"

Bones said something low, but she didn't bother asking. She knew almost exactly what it was along the lines of. He sighed. "Well, I think we both are going to need a drink. Want to go now? I did promise you a drink." She nodded, looping an arm through his. "Let's go doctor." He nodded as they headed toward a bar. "'Course Darlin'."

She felt a rush of heat to her cheeks. Darn him and his drawl!

They had a nice conversation on the way to the bar, and on arriving, both ordered a bourbon. She let down her red hair and sighed, the other immediately noticing. "Long day?" He asked. She nodded. "Longer than I would've liked, and Jim being an idiot makes it no better."

He smiled. "Darlin', sometimes I wonder how ya'll even able to deal with that kid. You got some patience in that little body of yours." Lyndsey laughed brightly. "Comes when you have three idiot older brothers." She looked at Leonard. "Can I ask you something Len?" He took a sip of bourbon and nodded. "You know you can ask me anythin'." She watched his face, hoping not to offend him. "Can you tell me about your life before Starfleet? I…understand if you don't want to, but I'd like to know."

He sighed. Lyndsey would've asked about it sometime. The girl was inquisitive, he could give her that. He looked at the red head sitting next to him, her bright blue eyes curious. Those eyes…the eyes he could fall into. What was he doing! He'd told himself he'd never fall in love again. Why fall in love when it could end up just like his relationship with Jocelyn and now why was Lyndsey suddenly the brightest star in the whole universe now? "Look darlin'. I don't know if it's one of the stories you wanna hear, but I'll tell ya 'cause I trust ya. I was married to a woman named Jocelyn, and we had a kid. I loved that woman. One day I came home and found her tangled in the sheets with some douchebag." He downed the rest of the bourbon and called for another. "She filed for divorce, and got my daughter. She got everything. When I left, all I had was the clothes on my back, my bones, and a flask of bourbon."

She chuckled at the memory. "That was the day Jim and I met you." He nodded. "Now it's my turn darlin'. Why the medical field? Your dad was a starship captain, your mother a science officer, and your three brothers are all security chiefs."

She laughed. "It was all Jim's fault really. I was considering tactical until fourteen. Jim always got into fights and I was the one to stitch him up. I learned how to do it real well, and I realized I loved it. I stitched Jim up until we were seventeen. He figured out how to do it on his own by then. I knew what I was doing by then though." She ran a hand through her red hair, and Leonard's eyes followed the movement. Downing the glass, she grinned. "Jim and I used to be the only kids around our circle of friends who could hold their liquor. Well, until I was eighteen. I got stone drunk." She sighed as Leonard laughed. "I bet that was an interesting thing to see."

"Jim wasn't there. I was alone my entire senior year. Burned the pictures so I wouldn't have to relive the memories again. Then I cut my hair and redid my entire appearance."

Bones analyzed the girl in front of him. The twenty three year old woman looked completely at ease with herself, but from what she was implying, she'd been a completely different person before nineteen. Why would anyone think anything wrong of her? After two years, he still didn't think he deserved the level of forgiveness Lyndsey had in her to give. He'd sworn at her and pushed her away before, but she was still there when he regretted every word he'd said, and was there for a good drink. She had such a beautiful personality, and he could see what his friend could see in her. Lyndsey was one of those one in a million true blue friends who you could count on, and she was so beautiful. Her red hair framed her face, glowing under the bar lights and her blue eyes shimmered with happiness. To anyone else, she looked like a tired cadet who'd had a long day. To him, Lyndsey looked like a beautiful fallen angel.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he had pressed his lips to hers.

Lyndsey was thrown for a loop. She'd just been thinking about what it would be like to kiss him and suddenly, she was kissing him like she'd been in love with him her whole life. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? She relaxed into the embrace, bringing her hand up to rest on the back of his neck. He smelled like alcohol, cologne, and spices. It was a completely unique smell, and she let herself drown in the feel of his calloused hand on her cheek, the feel of his lips moving against hers, and the smell.

He'd always wondered what it'd be like to kiss her, and now he knew. Lyndsey was gentle, making sure not to overstep boundaries. He caressed her cheek as he kissed her, breathing in the soft feminine scent that was Lyndsey. Flowers, spices, and prairie wind wafted off her. She was the type of girl you wanted to take home to meet your parents and have her learn your mother's old family recipes. She was the girl that after dinner, you'd sit on the porch and hold her, just to listen to her breath and watch the sunset.

The moment his lips left hers, she missed the contact. She opened her eyes and blue eyes met Bones' hazel. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You're beautiful Lyndsey."

She was confused. She loved James, he'd been there almost her entire life. He was the best for her, he knew her inside and out. She loved Leonard McCoy though, too. The man was like, her soul mate. Was that was it was called? She'd spent so much time with Len the last two years and only half of that time with Jim. Who did you pick in the scheme of things, what's best for you or what you need? Your best friend or your soul mate?

A/N: Oh boy. Leonard and Lyndsey 's friendship is changing. How the next chapter is, that's up to you. Team Bones or Team Kirk?

No Flames, thank you. Criticism goes to the PM. Please feedback, I'd love that. I'll actually be able to write another chapter if I have feedback.

-Rachel