Fic: Slipping
Title: Slipping
Author: bana05
Characters/Pairings: (S/U)/M
Rating: PG
Warnings: Saccharine
Summary: McCoy needs time alone after his unforeseen and unappreciated genuine reenactment of Spartacus, but he doesn't mind this particular company.
A/N: This occurs after Green Thumb and features references to A New Frontier. Fic is based off TOS: Bread and Circuses, particularly this scene. Per usual, Star Trek still doesn't belong to me. I hope you enjoy and please forgive errors! For a list of fic go here.
~~~~
Apparently, McCoy hadn’t been the only one with the idea to go to the observation deck. His time on 892 IV had him irritated, more snappish than usual, and uncomfortably contemplative. So he’d come up here for perspective, and in return found a star that burned more brightly to him than all the ones in the universe.
“Hi, there, darlin’.”
Uhura spun around and smiled, waving him over to her. He didn’t hesitate, breathing in her scent as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She spoke up a few moments later.
“You three just can’t go planetside without trying to get yourselves killed, can you?”
McCoy chuckled and moaned in relief. “That’s why I’m always going down there, you know. Jim always has to flirt with near-death experiences; not a successful mission if he doesn’t.”
Uhura laughed into his chest, her breath warm through his tunic. Instinctively, he held her tighter and closed his eyes.
“It’s amazing,” she said when her giggles ceased. “I was just up here thinking…religion, spirituality. My bibi is spiritual. She still goes to church, sings in the choir. I used to go with her.”
McCoy smiled and looked down at the top of her head. “That’s intriguing. My grandmother went to church, too, and took me with her.” Uhura pulled back and looked at him with wide eyes. “I sang on the choir.”
“Really?!” she asked, her smile blooming on her face, she then humorously glared at him. “We’re definitely getting you to sing in the rec room for sure!”
McCoy shook his head. “Oh, no. I love you dearly, Nyota, but I flat out refuse!”
She laughed once more and kissed his jaw. “I’ll get you to say yes one of these days.”
That day might be today. He couldn’t help closing his eyes as she tucked her head in the crook of his neck, her arm wrapping behind him about his waist again. It was only here, sitting with Uhura and looking out into space, that he could admit something within his heart of hearts.
He hadn’t only been referring to Jim in that jail cell.
Kirk had been a convenient smokescreen, one that was very true, yet not the true full story. Deep in his heart, McCoy knew Spock hadn’t just meant their captain, either, especially considering the way the Vulcan’s eyes had bored into him, dangerously and with an ancient challenge. But McCoy wasn’t stupid enough to call Spock out on that, not after the man had just saved his life.
“You know, I listened to the transmissions,” Uhura said, curling her body upon the bench and snuggling into him. “The fights. I remember watching holos of old gladiator fights in secondary school. As big as this galaxy is, in many ways, it’s still so tiny, so condensed.” Her hand rested above his beating heart. “I find that fascinating.”
“Okay, we’re getting you away from the Vulcan ASAP!” McCoy cracked.
Uhura laughed once more. “Don’t even! You know you love him as much as I do.”
He eyed her. “Not in the same way…”
She smiled. “You still love him.”
“Humph.”
Uhura rested her chin on his shoulder and hugged his arm against her chest. “You love me.”
“You’re easy to love. A pleasure to love. An honor,” he said immediately, then sighed and shook his head. “And not mine.”
Her smile faded and her hand palmed his cheek. “I love you, Leonard.”
He turned his head and kissed the heel of her palm. “You also love a very possessive Vulcan who feels far more than I give him credit for feeling most days.” He sighed again. “I can’t compete with that, no matter how hard I try.”
“Don’t ever think I don’t have space in my heart for you, Leonard. You are so dear to me. Besides Hikaru, you were one of the first to even talk to me.”
“As the Chief Medical Officer on the ship, that’s usually how it goes,” McCoy deadpanned.
Uhura sucked her teeth and popped his hip. “You know what I mean. I treasure you, Len. You always look out for me. Even before Spock.”
McCoy huffed, arching an eyebrow. “I don’t think that means he didn’t want to.”
Uhura frowned, obviously surprised by that surmise. “Really?”
He couldn’t help drifting his knuckles along her cheek. “He was always very aware of you, Nyota. When you first came on the bridge, he could barely keep his eyes off you.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re lying!”
McCoy laughed and hugged her. “I’m not, and I’m sure he’d try to deny it, saying he was just making sure you were up to the task at hand; but he didn’t watch Chekov like a hawk when he joined the bridge, did he?”
Uhura arched an eyebrow. “Actually, he did.”
McCoy snorted. “That’s because Chekov was watching you like a hawk.”
Uhura hid her face in McCoy’s shoulder. “Oh, my goodness!”
“You know he walked right into a bulkhead one time from staring at you.”
“Oh, no!”
McCoy didn’t tell her it had been Spock who’d escorted the ensign to sickbay, or that it had been Spock who’d warned Chekov to mind his own steps instead of those that would never lead to his direction. Throughout the speech, Spock had had his hands behind his back and his expression had been no more readable than any other time he’d given orders. But McCoy had known the first officer long enough to recognize the unspoken caveat beneath. And even though Chekov had been new, the Russian had sensed it as well, blushing furiously and mumbling apologies and pleas to be dismissed when McCoy had deemed him fit enough. McCoy had been so stunned by Spock’s harshness he’d let the Vulcan leave without a word. Even now, Spock still had little patience for the young lad. The same way he’d had little patience for Riley…
Or anyone who looked at Uhura with more than a little lust in his eye.
“I wonder why he lets me get away with it,” he murmured.
“Get away with what?” Uhura asked.
McCoy started, her voice startling him from his thoughts. “Spock,” he clarified absently, and then the man in question appeared on the observation deck. He didn’t move toward them, placing his hands behind his back, but his eyes bored into McCoy’s once more. Uhura turned to look over her shoulder. Spock’s eyes met hers and softened before fixating back on him. McCoy swallowed thickly and began to pull back, but Uhura faced him again, her hand on his cheek again. Spock blinked once, dropped his shoulders minutely, and left the observation deck.
“I hate it when he looks at me like that,” McCoy said, almost a good five minutes after Spock left. “I thought for sure he’d telepathically turn my mind to gruel.”
Uhura laughed, bringing his forehead down to hers. McCoy closed his eyes and reveled in her nearness, unable to help himself.
“He wouldn’t do that to you,” she said confidently.
McCoy grunted. “You didn’t see the way he looked at me.”
Her hand smoothed along his jaw. “I did see. It’s obvious to anyone he loves you too.”
The grunt turned into a guffaw and he rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure!”
“I’m serious!” she said, framing his face. “Think about it. You say he goes crazy when others look at me. But do you notice that when I am with you or with the captain, he isn’t? He trusts you two with his life. And if he can trust you with his, that means he would trust you with mine.”
McCoy couldn’t even scowl, the earnestness in her tone preventing him from dismissing her claim. The fervid emotion in her eyes compelled him to kiss her lips gently, chastely, and she returned it the same. When they broke apart, she hugged him close to her heart. It was then McCoy realized something else.
There, in that jail cell, he and Spock hadn’t only meant Jim and Nyota, either.
Author: bana05
Characters/Pairings: (S/U)/M
Rating: PG
Warnings: Saccharine
Summary: McCoy needs time alone after his unforeseen and unappreciated genuine reenactment of Spartacus, but he doesn't mind this particular company.
A/N: This occurs after Green Thumb and features references to A New Frontier. Fic is based off TOS: Bread and Circuses, particularly this scene. Per usual, Star Trek still doesn't belong to me. I hope you enjoy and please forgive errors! For a list of fic go here.
~~~~
Apparently, McCoy hadn’t been the only one with the idea to go to the observation deck. His time on 892 IV had him irritated, more snappish than usual, and uncomfortably contemplative. So he’d come up here for perspective, and in return found a star that burned more brightly to him than all the ones in the universe.
“Hi, there, darlin’.”
Uhura spun around and smiled, waving him over to her. He didn’t hesitate, breathing in her scent as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She spoke up a few moments later.
“You three just can’t go planetside without trying to get yourselves killed, can you?”
McCoy chuckled and moaned in relief. “That’s why I’m always going down there, you know. Jim always has to flirt with near-death experiences; not a successful mission if he doesn’t.”
Uhura laughed into his chest, her breath warm through his tunic. Instinctively, he held her tighter and closed his eyes.
“It’s amazing,” she said when her giggles ceased. “I was just up here thinking…religion, spirituality. My bibi is spiritual. She still goes to church, sings in the choir. I used to go with her.”
McCoy smiled and looked down at the top of her head. “That’s intriguing. My grandmother went to church, too, and took me with her.” Uhura pulled back and looked at him with wide eyes. “I sang on the choir.”
“Really?!” she asked, her smile blooming on her face, she then humorously glared at him. “We’re definitely getting you to sing in the rec room for sure!”
McCoy shook his head. “Oh, no. I love you dearly, Nyota, but I flat out refuse!”
She laughed once more and kissed his jaw. “I’ll get you to say yes one of these days.”
That day might be today. He couldn’t help closing his eyes as she tucked her head in the crook of his neck, her arm wrapping behind him about his waist again. It was only here, sitting with Uhura and looking out into space, that he could admit something within his heart of hearts.
He hadn’t only been referring to Jim in that jail cell.
Kirk had been a convenient smokescreen, one that was very true, yet not the true full story. Deep in his heart, McCoy knew Spock hadn’t just meant their captain, either, especially considering the way the Vulcan’s eyes had bored into him, dangerously and with an ancient challenge. But McCoy wasn’t stupid enough to call Spock out on that, not after the man had just saved his life.
“You know, I listened to the transmissions,” Uhura said, curling her body upon the bench and snuggling into him. “The fights. I remember watching holos of old gladiator fights in secondary school. As big as this galaxy is, in many ways, it’s still so tiny, so condensed.” Her hand rested above his beating heart. “I find that fascinating.”
“Okay, we’re getting you away from the Vulcan ASAP!” McCoy cracked.
Uhura laughed once more. “Don’t even! You know you love him as much as I do.”
He eyed her. “Not in the same way…”
She smiled. “You still love him.”
“Humph.”
Uhura rested her chin on his shoulder and hugged his arm against her chest. “You love me.”
“You’re easy to love. A pleasure to love. An honor,” he said immediately, then sighed and shook his head. “And not mine.”
Her smile faded and her hand palmed his cheek. “I love you, Leonard.”
He turned his head and kissed the heel of her palm. “You also love a very possessive Vulcan who feels far more than I give him credit for feeling most days.” He sighed again. “I can’t compete with that, no matter how hard I try.”
“Don’t ever think I don’t have space in my heart for you, Leonard. You are so dear to me. Besides Hikaru, you were one of the first to even talk to me.”
“As the Chief Medical Officer on the ship, that’s usually how it goes,” McCoy deadpanned.
Uhura sucked her teeth and popped his hip. “You know what I mean. I treasure you, Len. You always look out for me. Even before Spock.”
McCoy huffed, arching an eyebrow. “I don’t think that means he didn’t want to.”
Uhura frowned, obviously surprised by that surmise. “Really?”
He couldn’t help drifting his knuckles along her cheek. “He was always very aware of you, Nyota. When you first came on the bridge, he could barely keep his eyes off you.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re lying!”
McCoy laughed and hugged her. “I’m not, and I’m sure he’d try to deny it, saying he was just making sure you were up to the task at hand; but he didn’t watch Chekov like a hawk when he joined the bridge, did he?”
Uhura arched an eyebrow. “Actually, he did.”
McCoy snorted. “That’s because Chekov was watching you like a hawk.”
Uhura hid her face in McCoy’s shoulder. “Oh, my goodness!”
“You know he walked right into a bulkhead one time from staring at you.”
“Oh, no!”
McCoy didn’t tell her it had been Spock who’d escorted the ensign to sickbay, or that it had been Spock who’d warned Chekov to mind his own steps instead of those that would never lead to his direction. Throughout the speech, Spock had had his hands behind his back and his expression had been no more readable than any other time he’d given orders. But McCoy had known the first officer long enough to recognize the unspoken caveat beneath. And even though Chekov had been new, the Russian had sensed it as well, blushing furiously and mumbling apologies and pleas to be dismissed when McCoy had deemed him fit enough. McCoy had been so stunned by Spock’s harshness he’d let the Vulcan leave without a word. Even now, Spock still had little patience for the young lad. The same way he’d had little patience for Riley…
Or anyone who looked at Uhura with more than a little lust in his eye.
“I wonder why he lets me get away with it,” he murmured.
“Get away with what?” Uhura asked.
McCoy started, her voice startling him from his thoughts. “Spock,” he clarified absently, and then the man in question appeared on the observation deck. He didn’t move toward them, placing his hands behind his back, but his eyes bored into McCoy’s once more. Uhura turned to look over her shoulder. Spock’s eyes met hers and softened before fixating back on him. McCoy swallowed thickly and began to pull back, but Uhura faced him again, her hand on his cheek again. Spock blinked once, dropped his shoulders minutely, and left the observation deck.
“I hate it when he looks at me like that,” McCoy said, almost a good five minutes after Spock left. “I thought for sure he’d telepathically turn my mind to gruel.”
Uhura laughed, bringing his forehead down to hers. McCoy closed his eyes and reveled in her nearness, unable to help himself.
“He wouldn’t do that to you,” she said confidently.
McCoy grunted. “You didn’t see the way he looked at me.”
Her hand smoothed along his jaw. “I did see. It’s obvious to anyone he loves you too.”
The grunt turned into a guffaw and he rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure!”
“I’m serious!” she said, framing his face. “Think about it. You say he goes crazy when others look at me. But do you notice that when I am with you or with the captain, he isn’t? He trusts you two with his life. And if he can trust you with his, that means he would trust you with mine.”
McCoy couldn’t even scowl, the earnestness in her tone preventing him from dismissing her claim. The fervid emotion in her eyes compelled him to kiss her lips gently, chastely, and she returned it the same. When they broke apart, she hugged him close to her heart. It was then McCoy realized something else.
There, in that jail cell, he and Spock hadn’t only meant Jim and Nyota, either.