Chapter 3: Bones opens up

Bones took a breath and began speaking "Growing up I had one sister and two brothers, big family. I was the youngest and always the disappointment. One night I had gotten into so much trouble in school my parents were fed up. They admitted I was a mistake, they only wanted three kids, and I was always a source of annoyance for them. That night they sent me upstairs to pack my bag, the next day they sent me off on a train to a boarding school in southern California, I was only seven at the time. I grew up at that boarding school, I have never seen my parents since that night- as a matter of fact that was the last time I ever saw them. I studied biology and medicine there; when I graduated as a senior I hoped to see my parents after all I was graduating with awards and excellent marks. But surprise they never came. So from then on I forgot about them, I was just that disappointing son who was nothing less than a memory now. I went to collage and was then accepted to med school; there I had a professor who encouraged me to go to Starfleet. He said I had all the quality's of a CMO, I was smart, quick on my feet, and had an attitude, he himself was a retired Starfleet CMO. During my time at school I met my would be wife, we were a cute couple at the time. One night at dusk my professor came running up to my dorm, he said there was a planet under attack and due to the large amount of casualties the needed extra medical help NOW. They had asked him to gather his best med students and send them quickly to come help to the best of their abilities. There was 20 of us in all that he had collected, we all sprinted to a waiting shuttle, excited for our first trip into space- we never could have imagined the scene waiting for us in a med bay thousands of miles away. We were all surprised that Starfleet had wanted some random med students not even enrolled in Starfleet, we obviously didn't grasp the gravity of the situation we were about to enter. From the shuttle we were herded into a large star ship, which warped us to the planet under attack, it was hard to think that we had only left an hour ago. A deadly Klingon attack had practically decimated a peaceful federation planet, we didn't have time to stand there gawping at the horrid scene of people and aliens littered all over the floor. Cadet's and CMO's yelled instructions at us as we hurried to aid in patching up humans, I even treated several aliens which were thrust at me- I had no idea what to do I just attempted to stem the bleeding. But one person was given to me who was different from all the rest. He was happy to have gotten a med student rather than a cadet or CMO; he was bloody and broken badly. "He requested specifically for your treatment," a young medical cadet said, looking strangely at me. I talked to him as I worked, but he was slipping, barely holding on. "Are you McCoy?" He whispered. Yes sir, I replied. "I recognized you right away kid, you look just like your father. I grew up with him; he's my best friend. I bet he's proud of you, what a son to have. Please though, I know what my chances are, it's unlikely I'll make it, just please give my regards to your father. I- I just want him to know I really cared about him…." He sputtered. As he finished saying this I didn't have a moment to reply or say anything, Oh Jim, I couldn't save him. I called for help. A CMO came running but he was too far-gone. I couldn't help feeling responsible, if only I had more experience. The rest of the time was like a blur, I clumsily bandaged up victims. I wondered who that man was, a connection to my family and I had failed them again, letting him die.

We arrived back at school the following day, all 20 of us completely shocked by what we had seen. Many people said that day changed us, especially me. I attempted to contact my parents but to no avail, they had moved and there were no records of them anywhere. Jim, I never found them, I could never tell my father that his best friend wanted to know that he loved him as he died. I went on to get married, had a daughter- Jo. But after that day I was never the same, developed a drinking problem, I had this lingering guilt inside me. My relationship decayed, she divorced me and took the whole damn planet, and I could never see my daughter again. After that I enrolled in Starfleet, met you, the rest is history. I've tried to figure out who that man was that entrusted me to carry out his final wish but with no luck, the universe is huge. Years pass, but I never forget Jim, it may seem trivial, and you've experienced much worse, but that man's face still haunts me. Two months ago I received a letter from Starfleet saying they located my father. Or rather his grave. I never knew him, I never told him his dying friends wish. It continues to haunt me. My whole life fell apart the day that dying man gave me his last words." Bones finished speaking shakily. A tear slid down his course face. Kirk remained silent; he wiped the tear off with his finger and whispered, "I'm here Bones" gently into his ear.

They sat in silence together on the beach for a while watching the four suns of that planet set. As a hazy moon replaced the suns Kirk spoke "If you ever need to get something off you chest like that, I'm here. You've helped me through a lot, the relationship goes two ways Leo, and I will listen to you too. Your troubles are not trivial don't be silent about them." "Thanks Jim." "Why don't we grab some dinner and you and I can go to my quarters and we can snuggle," Jim said smiling meekly. "Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor not a snuggle partner," Bones replied a smile creeping up his cheeks. Kirk grinned back picking up his communicator saying "Two to beam up Scotty." "Aye Aye, sir!"

-The End-