Disclaimer: See chapter 1

I have purposefully skipped over any parts that we in the movie. This one has a little rougher dialogue, but Bones is mad and when Southern gentlemen get mad they have the vocabulary of a sailor, so it's actually quite clean considering.

The plot bunny's cousin, the Wrap-it-up Weasel came to visit me to day

Thank you for everyone who has visited the story!

Spock did not show up for the Ceremony, and McCoy was pissed for two reasons, well technically three. One, he should have been there to watch Jim awarded his Captain stripes. Why? Well, he was the First Officer when Jim had saved the whole damn planet. Two, Pike was there. McCoy had worked day and night literally to ensure that man was alive, and not just alive but well on his way to being 100% again. And third, because McCoy had asked him to come. He had opened himself up, swallowed his pride and asked the green-blooded hobgoblin, son of Pan himself to come and bare witness with the rest of the crew. To be honest, that probably is what stung the most for the older man. It was a simple act of extending friendship that had been thrown back in his face. It stung like of son of a bitch.

Currently, McCoy was stuck beside the glowing Jim Kirk as the reporters, fans and Command watched him head towards the shuttle craft. They were lavishing attention on him like he was the King of England, and of course the little farm boy was soaking it all up. Had McCoy not been in a bad mood before, that disgusting display of Kirk-fever would have definitely done it for him. They had rolled out the freakin' red carpet, literally, for the crew to walk to the Galileo. It was disgusting, and yet in the back of McCoy's mind he couldn't help but think that if Spock had been there he would have had the whole crowd, crew and Jim under control. But of course the little shit had skipped out on them.

Sulu and Chekov manned the shuttle and had them back onboard the Enterprise before McCoy even had time to realize they had lifted off. Jim was talking ninety-to-nothing about some girl he had spent the night with, and how many more women were willing to wait for his next shore leave. It was a front. McCoy had known Jim long enough to see through his façade. He was trying not to think about Spock, just as much as McCoy was, and boy were they both failing miserably. Some how it just didn't seem right that there was only two of them, not three.

As soon as the shuttle landed and the two men filed out the air lock, McCoy turned to face his newly commissioned Captain. "Well, Jim, you've done it. The Enterprise is yours." He smiled, honestly happy for the younger man, and patted him on the back.

Returning a smile that didn't reach his eyes, Jim nodded. "Yup." He took a deep breath. "Well, Chief Medical Officer, will you be on the bridge when we leave space dock?" There was the tiniest plea in his mid-western twang.

Smirking, McCoy rolled his eyes. "Of course, I have to make sure that you don't break the ship before we get out of the solar system." He chuckled and turned to take his leave.

Finding his way to the newly repaired Med Bay was easier than McCoy thought it would be. The ship was already home. Each turn, whether he had navigated them before or not, felt like further slipping into an old glove. Most of the faces he had seen before, but this time they weren't covered in cuts, blood or machinery grease. There was now a light in those once dull eyes, the pain of loss was still there but the thrill of the new adventure burned bright.

Med Bay was as sterile, white and bright as it had been before the attack. Chapel was already directing the nurses. She was efficient but soft-spoken, hard working but not over-bearing, she knew what she was doing but didn't flaunt it. She was exactly what McCoy needed. "Chapel, are we prepared for take off?" He accepted the PADD she was already handing him.

Nodding, but keeping her eyes trained to the new nursing staff hurrying away from the CMO, Chapel responded. "All staff is accounted for, Med Bay is full stocked." She flashed him a quick smile before assisting a young orderly with stocking a supply cabinet for the whole supply of bed pans crashed down on top of him.

Glancing down at the PADD, McCoy scribbled his name and turned to his office. He had been in his cadet reds too long, they needed to come off. The press conference had left them with very little time before they were due to ship out. He had enough time to change before he was needed on the bridge. Busy was just how McCoy preferred to be, it kept his mind clear of other things.

As he was tugging his boots back on, someone knocked on his office door. "Enter." He hoped it was not some new nurse trying to earn brownie points early on, he was not that kind of boss. Instead, when McCoy turned to face his guest, he saw a young man in his blue tunic with an impassive look on his face. For a moment, he could not say anything, but finally he found his voice. "Spock." Once again the Vulcan's name on his lips was like a prayer.

Inclining his head towards the human, Spock took a step closer. "I have come first to speak with you. It is customary for those of close acquaintance to thank each other when one has done something to significantly improve the station of the other." He paused. "I want to thank you for continuing to urge me to continue my service in Star Fleet." His brown eyes were watching the human before him intently.

McCoy's hazel eyes grew large. "So that means you are staying with us?" He took a tentative step forward.

Nodding, a hint of a smile ghosted across Spock's face. "I believe this is where I will be of the most use." He chose his words carefully.

Narrowing his eyes, McCoy stepped even closer to the taller man. "I'm glad you are here, but if you tell anyone how I came and begged you to come with us, your annual physicals will be fresh out of the Dark Ages. You have twice as many pain receptors as a human, and I know everyone's location. I am a doctor, not some Camp Enterprise recruiter." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Raising an eyebrow, Spock looked down at the older man. "I have no intention of explaining to anyone how an emotional human lead me to make my decision." He also folded his arms over his chest.

They each stood like that, stares locked for several seconds before McCoy rolled his eyes. "Jim wants me on the bridge. I can expect you to follow, right?" There was not the least amount of hope in his voice, at all.

Spock nodded, and they both departed from his office. Spock turned to the left, he would have to check in with the Quarter Master and McCoy turned to the right, heading towards the turbo lift. They were seeking new life and new civilizations, bolding going where no man had gone before. Both following the brightest star in the night's sky, Jim Kirk, each would protect him and keep him from harm. They were all family, the only family they had left.

A/N: Thanks for reading

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