A/N: Ok, I lied. One more for the road…
Chapter 8- A Gift
There was a buzz of excitement in the air even though it was the crack of dawn. Shore leave was officially over and everyone once more filed onto the newly refitted and repaired Enterprise. I for one was glad to have an assigned place to stay, it was late and Uhura had not returned from wherever so I ended up on the floor of Pavel's room. It was strangely not as awkward as I thought it would be. All of my belongings were just as I had left them in my quarters when I got there. We still had about a half hour before launch, so I quickly threw everything back into the white box that Spock had brought and sought him out. The computer told me he was in his quarters, so I followed the instructions given and of course got lost. I had never before been to his floor, but after a few more consultations with the computer managed to find his room just as he was walking out.
"Spock!" I called relieved to see him.
He turned to me, but didn't seem to question me looking for him. "Doctor." He greeted with a nod.
"I wanted to find you before we took off to ask if you think Starfleet would have any use for my stuff." He looked at the box and then to me with only a hint of confusion in his eyes. "I don't need it anymore." I explained. "In fact, I was going to just incinerate it all if they couldn't use it."
He took the box from me and looked through it. "Doctor, these were your personal belongings. I do not understand why you wish to dispose of them."
"I can't really explain it all to you, Spock. I just would rather it not be on the ship with me." I answered.
He looked back down to the box and quietly said, "I believe the Starfleet antiquities museum may desire to preserve your contribution." He pulled out my lab coat and refolded it neatly before placing it back in. "Doctor," he called as I walked away, "I believe you may have included this in error."
I looked back to see him holding up my wedding band, the circle of grey metal strangely complimented his skin tone. "That was no accident," I told him with a smile, "that goes with it. I can't be married to a ghost anymore."
He rotated the ring while he studied it before gently placing it back in the box. "If you are certain of your decision, Doctor, I will send it to the museum before we launch." I thanked him and made my way to deck 5.
I immediately made coffee from the replicator and was drawn by the sounds of arguing. I followed the hushed, angry tones to see McCoy and Jim by his office. McCoy did not look happy at all. "Damn it, Jim! You pigeonholed me into a fucking broom closet to begin with and now this?!"
"Bones, I really didn't have a lot of leeway here." Jim sighed. "It was this or taking out space from the sickbay and you are always bitching about how you don't have enough room for all the people I send your way." Jim noticed McCoy's eyes boring holes into me and he turned to look too. "Hey!" He greeted with his lopsided smile. "Come see your new office!"
"Goddamn it, Jim! It is my fucking office!" McCoy growled.
"Actually, it belongs to the both of you now," he corrected, "and I do not want any pissing contests over it. The two of you just have to play nice, do I make myself clear?" He looked to McCoy and I awaiting an answer. I shrugged, it was really no big deal to me. I had my own office at the hospital, but I had shared space with others before.
McCoy obviously hadn't. "I am so tired of your bullshit! If we were not on duty, I would so fucking lay you out right here." He said to Jim said pointing at the floor to mark the spot.
"But…?" Jim asked in a hopeful voice.
"Fuck you, Jim." He replied turning away from him while he could still control his rage. Jim looked at me and shrugged with a smile. He obviously thought McCoy would get over it and he didn't seem to take him too seriously. Great for him, he could just saunter back up to the bridge but I had to work with him the rest of the day.
After he left, I cautiously approached the door to the office to see McCoy at his desk, which had now been pushed closer to the door, with his head in his hands. In the far corner, a smaller desk equipped with a flat panel monitor had been positioned facing the wall. I assumed that one was mine and I took a seat. McCoy didn't make any effort to move, so I rifled through the drawers and found a PADD. I had seen people with these and they appeared to be ultra modern Blackberries. They seemed to do everything, but I didn't know how to use one. I poked at random buttons, but it didn't seem to be doing anything. I had never seen anyone speak to theirs…
"I can't fucking believe this." McCoy moaned to his desk. "First I get married off against my will like it was some goddamn joke and if that wasn't the be all fucking end all, now you are taking over my personal space."
I looked over at him and replied, "Need I remind you that we are not, repeat NOT married." He didn't move and I narrowed my eyes at him as I felt a mean streak come on. "Am I really that bad a person to you?" I asked feigning hurt.
He looked up and seemed surprised. "No. I…I didn't mean it like that." He stammered.
"So then you wouldn't mind being married to me?" I inquired with a devilish smirk.
His eyes hardened when he realized what I was doing. "Goddamn it! That is why I can't make sense of you women! You take my words and twist them around. Women are so fucking evil, all of you."
I raised my eyebrows while I continued to fiddle with the PADD. "It was a simple question, McCoy. All you have to do is answer it."
"Bullshit!" He exclaimed "It was not a simple question! No matter what I say I am fucked! Why do you do that shit?" He seemed exasperated yet somehow desperate and I thought it was hilarious.
"Because it is easy and you are so funny when you are angry." I laughed.
He squinted at me and sighed. "Typical. Women are the ninjas of mind fucking and you are their queen."
"You have no idea." I smiled. "All women are born knowing how to do it on some level, but with my training…" I trailed off and whistled. "But I never use my powers for evil. However, feel free to bow to me whenever the mood strikes." He laughed in spite of himself and I had achieved my goal of lightning the mood enough to hopefully get through the day.
"Velcome back ladies and gentlemen." Chekov's voice rang from the speaker. "Ve vill be ready for launch in 5 minutes to continue our mission of locating and making contact vith other worlds. Please make any last minute arrangements and report to stations."
"Well, we are at ours." McCoy said digging through his drawers. "Here." He said tossing something to me. A small glass specimen jar rested in my hands. I turned it and watched what looked like yellow sand tumble and fall before looking back at McCoy. "I was going to give it to you later, but since you will be more or less living here…" He grumbled.
"Where did you get this?" I asked still puzzled.
"At the beach in Chicago." He said somewhat embarrassed. "These missions can go on for some time and we never really know when we will see Earth again. Now you never have to feel so far from home."
I continued to turn the jar and a warm smile spread across my face at the thought of holding a piece of home in my hands. "Thank you, McCoy. This was a very thoughtful and welcome gift." I said. He looked elsewhere and grumbled something, completely unable to gracefully accept a compliment. "I will put it right here where I can see it." I stated setting on top of the desk by the monitor.
McCoy spent most of the morning showing me how to use the PADD as well as entering notations in patient files using the computer. I was paying attention, but I couldn't help but steal small glances at the jar on my desk. Every time I looked at the golden contents, a warm burst of happiness bloomed in my heart. It was the last thing I had expected from McCoy.