Boyce (philboyce) wrote in saveatlantisic, @ 2018-12-10 13:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | #npc, *kori, *sarah 2, christopher pike |
log: christopher pike & philip boyce
Christopher was in disbelief when he saw the text. As he made his way to intake, he could feel the blood pounding in his ears. Phil. But which Phil? Phil from when Chris was a hotshot cadet, Phil from when they served together and were practically married, Phil from the breakup, or the Phil who had been his doctor after the Narada, when all the years faded away and beneath the pain and heartache they were still good friends - and proof that sometimes love wasn't enough to save a relationship.
The white hair was a familiar sight and Chris felt himself relaxing. With any luck, this would be okay. "Boyce, I think we need to get you a new chrono because you're late as usual, Doc." This whole thing, the fact that he was in a place calling itself Atlantis and not on Earth, at Starfleet Command like he was used to, reminded him of why he had stopped serving on a starship in the first place. He wanted the stability and familiarity of what he knew, not - whatever the hell this was. He turned at the voice, at his name, and worked to keep his face as impassive as he could. "Pike," he said, arching an eyebrow. "Not everyone runs on the same time as you do." But he couldn't help but smile there at the end, give Pike a nod. "Are you here to brief me?" “Not exactly,” Chris answered, not sure whether to hug the doctor or not. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Why don’t we go for a walk and I can fill you in?” Boyce looked around for a moment before returning his gaze to Pike. "Good idea," he said. "Lead the way. Is there - besides you, will I know anyone else here in Atlantis? I haven't taken the time to read through everything I was given yet." Chris led the way out of intake, hand running nervously through his hair. He could take Phil to his office, they’d have privacy there, but an office seemed so impersonal. Instead he led the way outside, wanting the fresh air. So you can run away if things get awkward, his brain added. “A handful. Kirk and McCoy and Chapel..” he said, hesitating over Christine’s name. “What’s the last thing you remember, Phil? Timelines are a bit wonky here.” "Doctor McCoy and I managed to bring Kirk back to life," he said after a moment. Phil glanced at Pike and then away again. If only had had been able to do the same for Chris. Different situations, he knew, but it still hurt, was still one of his major regrets. Not that it would have been possible. He was a doctor, not a miracle worker. Chris knew the timeline well enough, knew Phil well enough, to know that look. “It’s alright, Phil. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, we always knew I wasn’t going to die in my sleep at 95. I had thirty good years in the fleet. That’s plenty.” There was no need to tell Phil that he remembered those last moments. The regrets, the things left unsaid. “I have a kid,” he said abruptly changing the topic. "Never thought you'd live to see 95, but I at least thought -" But the words stopped as Pike continued on with words Boyce definitely didn't expect to hear. "You have a what, now?" “I hit 50, more than enough…” Chris said with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood. Sure, he'd wanted more time on the Enterprise and in the fleet, but he'd lived a full life - and escaped death more than once. Hell, he'd probably exhausted his nine lives and then some. Chris scratched the back of his neck. “A daughter. And another on the way. Christine was pregnant when I died..” He didn't know if Phil had known he'd been involved with Christine during his rehab. Phil stopped walking, suddenly, and turned to face Pike. There were too many thoughts racing through his mind at once. "You were sleeping with Nurse Chapel," he said, the words relatively objective, almost as though he was reading from a patient's file. Years of practice taught him how to do that. "During your rehab." Ah, there was the bit of personal seeping into his words. "Chris -" He cut himself off, shook his head. "I - guess I should say congratulations here then," he continued. "So - congratulations." Chris stopped, grateful for the bracing winter breeze as he ran his hand through his hair. “Phil.. it.. I… I was a mess. You know that. I’d lost my ship and we weren’t sure if I’d ever walk again.. I’d broken under torture…” something he still blamed himself for in his nightmares. “Maybe it shouldn’t have happened the way it did, but she saved me, Phil. Just like you saved my sorry ass multiple times.” He didn’t mean just medically, though without a doubt Phil was the reason he had lived as long as he did. Phil has brought him back from the brink of depression and despair several times. It was difficult to command a starship and not internalize the trauma one witnessed (or the repercussions of one's decisions). Boyce held up a hand. "I won't judge," he said, and he meant it. Even if internally he was screaming. He could separate that part of him out, probably one of his more infuriating personality traits. "You said Nurse Chapel is here. I'm assuming your daughter is too?" Meaning: you're not alone here, Chris, right? “Yeah. Christine showed up with her in tow and gave me quite a surprise. I had no idea if I even could after the Narada.” They started walking again, Chris wanting the motion although he wasn’t sure where he was leading them. “She’s six now. Except, well, Atlantis is strange so now there’s a 22 year old version of her here as well. And Christine’s pregnant and due in January. Her name’s Lauren. She’s curious and smart and gets into everything and is stubborn as a mule.” And he loved her more than life itself. Somehow, she was something completely good in his life, wiping out his regrets and mistakes. “You’ll love her, I’m sure.” That was an awful lot of information to take in all at once, especially on a personal and not a medical level, and Phil nodded a few times as he listened to Chris talk. When he looked at him, he could see the emotion, the love, on his face as he spoke of Lauren. It warmed him, and he smiled. "I'm sure I will love her," he said. A beat and he continued. "I'm not clear on the technology available here in Atlantis," he said, "but I assume Nurse Chapel - Christine - is receiving the best medical and pre-natal care that's offered?" If anything, he could offer to help with that. “She is,” Chris said, relaxing slightly. Medicine was for Phil what starships were for Chris. “McCoy’s overseeing her care. Atlantis brought me back from death’s door and even healed the nerve damage from the Narada. Except for the grey hair, I feel like I’m twenty-five again.” Which was both a good thing and a bad thing. “I’m sure McCoy will make sure you have full access to medical while you’re here so you don’t get bored and I mean, the stables keep me from going stir crazy.” Not entirely, but close. “Flying horses - Pegasus - so a bit of a transition, but a horse is a horse at the end of the day.” He looked up to realize he was leading Phil towards the stables in question. “I suppose it’s karmic, really, to be saved from death to live grounded on earth.” "All sounds too good to be true," Phil murmured, more to himself than anything else. He ran a hand back through his hair and took a deep breath. "I don't want to keep you from whatever you should be doing right now, Chris," he said. "I should probably get settled in or - something. Find something useful to do." “I’ll even let you run a full physical on me if that would help,” Chris said with a smile - which was a turnaround from his habit of avoiding medical whenever possible. “And you can stay with me and Christine. We have extra rooms.” A beat before he realized maybe inviting his ex to stay with him and his wife wasn’t the best idea. “Unless you’d be more comfortable elsewhere.” He stopped and put a hand on Phil’s shoulder. “Phil, it’s been over a fucking year since I’ve seen you. There’s nothing else I should be doing right now.” It might help, but that was for another day. "It would probably be better if I stayed at the hotel," Phil said diplomatically. "But I'd love to come by and see Christine and meet Lauren." He reached up to touch Chris's hand, give it a squeeze. "Well, then by all means, show me around Atlantis." Chris nodded, jaw twitching ever so slightly, the only sign of what was going on inside him. But this was neither the time nor the place. And it probably never would be. He had his best friend here. That was enough. A moment of vulnerability flickered in Chris’ eyes before the mask of the admiral was back, all smiles and diplomacy. “Let’s start with flying horses then, if you don’t mind getting some shit in your boots.” |