Star Trek: TOS / Leonard McCoy / Mutual Understanding
Title: Understanding
Author: Cyloran
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
Character: McCoy, Kirk, Spock
Prompt: 14. Damage
Rating: FRT
Words: 408
Disclaimer: Not mine but I can dream; property of the Great Bird of the Galaxy.
Author's Notes: A missing scene from The Empath.
Table: Here
It wasn't as if the Vians had erased the last 48 hours with a wave of their magic wand. If only! While it was true that McCoy's remaining physical injuries had been mended and healed almost instantaneously, the trauma of their torments and the choices he'd been forced to make were still sharply painful. To save Jim and Spock from the Vians' cruel experiments, he'd been forced to trick them. McCoy didn't regret his actions; only that betrayal had been his only recourse. After this, would they ever be able to completely trust him again?
If not, could he really blame them?
Weary in body and mind, McCoy pushed himself from the pallet onto his feet. He took a tentative step forward and wobbled.
Kirk instantly reached out and placed a steadying hand on his elbow. "Bones?"
"I'm fine." He offered a reassuring smile. "Just need to find my land legs again."
Nodding his understanding, Kirk let his hand drop to his side and reached for his communicator instead.
"Wait." McCoy licked his lips, feeling suddenly awkward. "Before we go back, I just wanted to say that . . . well . . ." He took a deep breath then blew it out. "I’m sorry."
"Sorry?" Kirk frowned. "For what?"
"You trusted me." He nodded at the medikit in Spock's hands. "And I took advantage of that trust."
"Dr. McCoy, am I to understand that you're apologizing for slipping your Captain a mickey?"
"Well, yes, I suppose that I am." McCoy almost smiled. When put that way, it did sound a bit ludicrous.
"I see." Kirk turned to his First Officer. "Mr. Spock. Given the circumstances, what is your logical assessment of the doctor's actions?"
Spock quirked an eyebrow at the question and gave it a moment's serious consideration. "That they were clearly calculated and expertly executed, Captain."
"Would you say that it was the sort of strategy a Vulcan might have used?"
"Indeed." Spock looked slightly bemused. "I fail to understand why I didn't think of it first."
McCoy groaned. "I knew it. I just knew it. This has to be another one of those Vians' illusions."
"Oh? Why is that?" asked Kirk innocently, already anticipating the answer.
"Because I could have sworn I just heard Spock compliment me."
"I wouldn't concern yourself overmuch, Doctor," said the first officer stiffly. "It isn't likely to happen again."
Music to my ears, thought Kirk with relief as he flipped open his communicator and signaled them home.
Author: Cyloran
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
Character: McCoy, Kirk, Spock
Prompt: 14. Damage
Rating: FRT
Words: 408
Disclaimer: Not mine but I can dream; property of the Great Bird of the Galaxy.
Author's Notes: A missing scene from The Empath.
Table: Here
It wasn't as if the Vians had erased the last 48 hours with a wave of their magic wand. If only! While it was true that McCoy's remaining physical injuries had been mended and healed almost instantaneously, the trauma of their torments and the choices he'd been forced to make were still sharply painful. To save Jim and Spock from the Vians' cruel experiments, he'd been forced to trick them. McCoy didn't regret his actions; only that betrayal had been his only recourse. After this, would they ever be able to completely trust him again?
If not, could he really blame them?
Weary in body and mind, McCoy pushed himself from the pallet onto his feet. He took a tentative step forward and wobbled.
Kirk instantly reached out and placed a steadying hand on his elbow. "Bones?"
"I'm fine." He offered a reassuring smile. "Just need to find my land legs again."
Nodding his understanding, Kirk let his hand drop to his side and reached for his communicator instead.
"Wait." McCoy licked his lips, feeling suddenly awkward. "Before we go back, I just wanted to say that . . . well . . ." He took a deep breath then blew it out. "I’m sorry."
"Sorry?" Kirk frowned. "For what?"
"You trusted me." He nodded at the medikit in Spock's hands. "And I took advantage of that trust."
"Dr. McCoy, am I to understand that you're apologizing for slipping your Captain a mickey?"
"Well, yes, I suppose that I am." McCoy almost smiled. When put that way, it did sound a bit ludicrous.
"I see." Kirk turned to his First Officer. "Mr. Spock. Given the circumstances, what is your logical assessment of the doctor's actions?"
Spock quirked an eyebrow at the question and gave it a moment's serious consideration. "That they were clearly calculated and expertly executed, Captain."
"Would you say that it was the sort of strategy a Vulcan might have used?"
"Indeed." Spock looked slightly bemused. "I fail to understand why I didn't think of it first."
McCoy groaned. "I knew it. I just knew it. This has to be another one of those Vians' illusions."
"Oh? Why is that?" asked Kirk innocently, already anticipating the answer.
"Because I could have sworn I just heard Spock compliment me."
"I wouldn't concern yourself overmuch, Doctor," said the first officer stiffly. "It isn't likely to happen again."
Music to my ears, thought Kirk with relief as he flipped open his communicator and signaled them home.