Stardate 2261.06

Alone in his ready room, Kirk scowled at the screen. He had been expecting the Enterprise to be released to continue their primary mission of exploration, but no. A routine physical check on a pair of archeologists. Of course, the physical check was just a ruse really. The primary purpose of the visit was to make sure that things of value weren't being hidden from the Imperial Treasury. Still, of all the things to waste the time of his -

The rant cut off as the names of the two people they were going to check on - Professor Robert Crater and his wife, Nancy. Those names sounded familiar and he was associating them with McCoy. Leaving the orders on the screen, Kirk pulled out his personal PADD. He kept notes and records on everyone and he had begun his file on McCoy that fateful day on the shuttle from Iowa.

It took some searching, but the information had come from one of the rare times that McCoy reached the right stage of drunk to become chatty. Nancy Crater, formerly Nancy Ashton - now that he was looking at his notes, he could recall the conversation from back in their Academy days.

2256

It had been a particularly trying week and the two of them were in their favorite bar - the one McCoy had declared in their first week to have character. By now, the staff knew them, knew what they drank, knew what they preferred to eat and best of all, knew they didn't like to be bothered unduly. If their server kept food on the table and drinks in their glasses, the tips left behind were excellent enough that everyone in the establishment made an effort to keep them happy.

For once, it was McCoy and not Kirk whose glass was needing attending most often. After his third bourbon, McCoy began to grumble about wishing he still had access to some of his grandfather's papers - and yes, actual papers. They were among the many things that his ex-wife kept that she had no desire or use for, but had taken in the divorce simply so that he couldn't have them.

Contemplating the alcohol in his own glass, Kirk finally asked the question that he'd been wondering about.

"You know, Bones, whenever you say anything about your ex, it's always a complaint about something she took or kept or destroyed. You've never said anything about missing her or being jealous over her lovers. I know you've possibly killed a few of them, but that seemed more a case of annoying her than jealousy."

Snorting, Bones took a long draw from bourbon number four.

"Why would I be jealous, Jim? I never loved the woman. My father arranged it, remember? I was dumb enough to agree to go along and I admit she had an impressive body, but that was just hormones talking."

Intrigued by that, Kirk pushed a bit.

"Are you sure it was lust and not love?"

"Positive. I'd been in love. Whole other ballgame, Jim."

His possessive streak flared up, but Kirk had remained calm. McCoy had used the past tense after all.

"Who was she? Or was it a he?"

Giving Kirk an exasperated look, McCoy seemed to debate for a moment before deciding to tell.

"Her name was Nancy Ashton. She was a California gal that ended up as one of my neighbors back when we were both about ten years old. At first, we hung out together because there really weren't many kids our age in the neighborhood. We got older, things got more serious to the point where I was ready to propose to her when it was time for us to head to college."

Taking the rest of the fourth drink down, McCoy remained silent until the empty glass was removed and replaced with a full one.

"Nancy seemed to know my intentions and made me promise not to ask anything serious until we were at least settled in school. She was something, Jim. Brain, body, face - the whole package."

"So what happened?"

"Guy named Professor Crater happened. I didn't like him from day one, but maybe that's just my memory doing that since I know now what he'd end up doing. He was older, rich and about to head out into the black on a series of archeological digs. Before I knew what was happening, Nancy had dropped out of school, married him and was gone. Left me a letter talking about opportunities and seeing sights no-one else had seen. Never said a word about loving him, so I don't think she did. Maybe that was wishful thinking on my part."

Kirk pretended to be taking his time with chewing his sandwich, but he was thinking over the woman's abrupt departure.

"That wasn't too long before you got married yourself, was it?"

"No, it wasn't. Guess that was one reason I didn't fight my father much over the arranged marriage with the Wicked Witch. Marrying for love was out, so why not marry for position? Not that I gave a damn about social position, but my father did. Not that it worked out, of course."

Stardate 2261.06

A call for him to come to the Bridge brought Kirk out of his thoughts. As he sent the coordinates to the helm before closing the orders, Kirk mused that the timing of Nancy's sudden departure coming shortly before the arranged marriage had always seemed a bit too convenient. Little doubt the senior Doctor McCoy had a hand in the sorry mess, but considering his McCoy had already seen his father into the grave, no real need to dwell on that.

Stepping onto the Bridge and heading for the Captain's chair was a sensation Kirk didn't believe he would ever grow tired of.

"Mister Chekov, have you laid in a course for the coordinates I sent you?"

"Aye, Captain. Course is calculated and awaiting your orders, sir."

"In that case, Mister Sulu, take us out. Warp five. I don't plan on us spending our entire time out playing nanny."

"Aye, sir - warp factor five."

Settling back in his chair to attend to the PADDs being held by one of the yeomen, Kirk decided the trip wouldn't be a total waste. He'd always wanted a look at this Nancy from McCoy's past. He briefly debated informing McCoy over the intercom, but decided he really wanted to see the reaction to Nancy's name.

With a slight smile, Kirk decided he would be calling McCoy to his quarters after the end of their shifts. It was always fun when he got the chance to catch his CMO off-guard.