Chapter 11: Stunned faces

Leah returned to the hospital the next morning and started her shift as usual. She noticed some nurses and doctors suddenly stop talking or whispering when she walked by. It was obviously about Jim and her. But although she was wearing the ring either they didn't notice or didn't dare to ask her about it.

Around lunch time Leah was standing with PADD at the nurse's counter and updating some files when Captain Christopher Pike and Doctor Philipp Boyce came around the corner.

"Ah, Doctor McCoy", Pike greeted her. "How's Kirk?"

"And how are you? Well again today?" Boyce added and winked.

"He's almost fully healed now, Sir", she answered. "And I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

Pike smiled knowingly about her supposed sick day. Then he noticed something sparkle at her hand. His lips parted in surprise. He looked at Leah, then at Boyce, then at Leah again. Boyce also saw the ring.

"Yes?" Leah tilted her head and couldn't hide a little smirk, still holding the PADD up and thereby displaying the piece of jewelry.

"You..." Boyce cleared his throat. "You seem to have had an interesting weekend."

"Ask if you have a question", she retorted dryly and added a polite "Sir".

Boyce laughed. "Okay. Point taken. So, Leah, is this an engagement ring, by any chance?"

She kept holding the PADD with her right hand and raised her left hand drawing even more attention to the ring. "Maybe." She grinned.

"Definitely", the voice of Jim Kirk sounded.

Pike and Boyce turned around in surprise. Slowly Jim Kirk walked over to them and stepped next to Leah, sliding an arm around her waist.

"You've got good taste, Kirk", Boyce remarked. "In women and in jewelry."

Leah put the PADD on the counter and crossed her arms while Jim still had a hand on her waist. "So, you must be wondering who won the bet."

Pike and Boyce stared at her.

Jim grinned and reveled in seeing them completely shocked and startled. Again. "Yes, we know about that", he added.

Leah laughed. "And yes, we're engaged for real now."

Smiles spread over the faces of Boyce and Pike.

"Congratulation", Pike simply said.

Boyce chuckled. "Heaven help us all."

Leah raised an eyebrow. "Says the man who won the bet."

Boyce's expression showed surprise again. "Really?"

"Really", Leah and Jim said in unison.

Then Jim looked to the captain. "You might wanna keep your schedule for October and November light, Captain Pike. There's no exact date yet, but we want you to officiate."

Pike stared at them, then glanced at Boyce. "Phil, I am hallucinating?"

Boyce laughed. Leah and Jim did too.

Pike smiled warmly. "It would be an honor."

In the meanwhile the medical personal had gathered in a polite distance from the four. The nurses and doctors could only hear bits and pieces, but one thing was unmistakably clear on display: Jim sliding his free hand into Leah's neck and pulling her into a kiss. And something sparkly at the left hand.

The spectators erupted in cheers and some whistles.

Half an hour later a picture of the kiss was circulating the com system of Starfleet Medical and Starfleet Academy. The news spread like a wildfire: James T. Kirk was officially off the market and engaged to Leah H. McCoy.

Author's note: This is it :) The end. I hope you enjoyed this fic. Thanks for reading and the comments :) By the way - I realized somewhere along chapter 4 or 5 that I ignored/forgot Bones beeing divorced. But I decided against working it in. So, in this AU the doctor simply wasn't married before.