InsaneJournal

Chris' first day back on Earth had been spent in a closed door briefing with the admiralty of starfleet command. He'd shown up at 0600 in full dress uniform (which had been provided for him) and they didn't let out until 2300. At which point there had been the obligatory drinks with Komack, Barnett, and Lui. They'd known Chris for years and after the required aspects were done, the meeting had turned into drinks and catching up - filling Chris in on what he'd missed the past five years. It had been a good night, but one of the requirements had been a full medical exam "to Starfleet's satisfaction." Which is why Christopher was sitting on a biobed at 0715 at Starfleet medical in one of those annoying gowns. The nurse had left after getting baseline stats and telling him the doctor would be right in. He wasn't sure if it would be M'Benga or someone new.

The door opened and Christopher looked up, his heart catching in his throat at the sight of the familiar close cropped hair that had gone grey years ago.

"Phil…" The name was spoken barely above a whisper before he regained his composure and putting his admiral face back on.

"Dr. Boyce, this is a pleasant surprise."

"Cut the crap, Chris. What the fuck is going on? You send me a comm from the Enterprise and then HQ confirms its not a hoax - I saw your dead body, Chris."

The next thing he knew Boyce's tricorder was running over him and Phil was taking notes on his PADD. "I hope you've cleared the rest of your day because I am going to put you through every test possible to see if we can figure this out."

Christopher huffed out a sigh. It wasn't how he wanted to spend his day, but he knew he didn't have much of a choice in the matter. HQ had to be satisfied. "What happened to my CMO who used to bring me martinis after a particularly hard mission?"

"That CMO signed off on your death certificate, Chris. And if you want to be fully reinstated as Admiral, then you have to play along, you know that."

Boyce was right and Chris knew that he wouldn't win a battle with him. "I bet you didn't put Ambassador Spock through all this."

"No, but he wasn't dead in our timeline. Stop being a baby, Chris. You and I both know that you used up all nine lives before you were forty. Be glad they're willing to let you stay on the Enterprise at all. You're doing the rehab PT?"

"Mostly. The three day red alert put a cramp in that though."

"The reports didn't specify why you weren't on the bridge, Chris. What happened? I would've thought you'd be sleeping on the bridge of that ship. I know she's a replacement and not the original, but I know how much you loved her. "

Of course Boyce had read the reports. He would have done the same if circumstances were reversed. And Boyce had been on the receiving end of a number of drunken rants about how pike had been forced to give up his ship to Kirk.

"I wasn't scheduled to be on the bridge that morning. Thought I'd have a lazy morning."

"Bull. You have never had a lazy morning in the 35 years I've know you. Except the ones where you were unconscious or in a medical coma. Who is it?"

"Phil…"

"Chris, the only reason you've ever not been doing reports or on the bridge at 0530 is when you're having your brains fucked out. And even then you're likely to complain that you should be working."

"No one you'd know. One of the travelers."

"Oh really?" Boyce asked, smirking knowingly as he continued the exam which made Pike want to smack that smirk off his face.

"What about you old man?" It was an abrupt change of topic but Chris didn't really want to discuss Leia with Phil. It didn't seem right. "Don't tell me you've gone celibate."

Boyce laughed. "Definitely not. Been seeing a civilian named Casey going on two years now."

For a moment, Chris wasn't sure what to say. It had been years since he and Boyce had been together, but after the Narada, when Boyce had overseen his rehab, things had changed it had been different. He'd lost his ship, been promoted, and there were moments when neither of them knew what the prognosis was for him. He owed his life to Boyce on more than one occasion. He hadn't expected Boyce to stay celibate, certainly not after he had died, but it was still a shock. A reminder that things were over between them. No matter how much they loved each other, a relationship between them wasn't a good idea. And they both knew that. But still.

"Civilian, huh? Tired of been in a poly relationship with a ship? I don't blame you. I know it wasn't easy for you."

"It's not just that, Chris. I'm not going back into space. I'm happy enough here at HQ. so I figured it was time to settle down. Especially after…"

"... after I died."

There was a moment of silence. After all, regardless if one was part of science or command, starfleet didn't teach you how to deal with people who came back from the dead.

"There was a lot of rebuilding to do, Chris. It… it was tough. But your boy Kirk, he did you proud. You should have heard him speak at the memorial. I hate to say it, but losing you might have been good for him. He's a fine young man."

"You sound like you're trying to set me up with him."

"Well, he loves that ship as much as you do. The three of you might have a lovely relationship."

"Phil, be serious. He's half my age. I'm not going to be one of those admirals with a young officer on my arm in some desperate attempt to keep me young. Besides, there's-"

"There's what? Or who?"

"It doesn't matter, Phil. I'm not about to start sleeping with Kirk. "

"Suit yourself. But you were much less of a tight ass on the bridge once you started getting some on a regular basis. And don't give me that crap about regs, Chris. You and I both know how heavy the burden of the chair is. The chair you taught Kirk to respect. Now, turn over, I want to have a look at that back."

"Phil, it's fine-"

"I don't tell you how to command the enterprise, don't tell me how to treat you. "

Phil gave Chris a look that left no room for even the most stubborn of captain to disobey. Chris turned over on the biobed, settling on his stomach and tensing slightly, always nervous about people touching his back.

Phil's fingers were gentle on his back though, tracing the scars left from multiple procedures. Gradually the hands moved to the tense muscles of his back and hip. Chris tensed when Phil hit a particularly sore spot.

"Do I even want to know what you were doing? Besides the obvious?"

"Horseback riding on the holodeck."

"Chris."

"Don't you dare 'Chris' me, Phil. It wasn't even my idea, but it was one of the best damned days I've had in a long time. "

"If you're going to be riding then you'll need to do more PT. I'll add the exercises to your file and send them to McCoy as well. Set up a trust in you name - which the ranch is held in. Kept the workers on that way and everything. Nothing's been changed except for maintenance."


"You what…?"

"Chris, it's your home. You couldn't expect me to sell that place, not knowing what it means to you. I meant to decide what to do with it late, but for now, it's still a working ranch. Just as you left it. "

Once again, Christopher was speechless. Which apparently was a sign for Boyce to press down hard on a spot of nerves that had been giving him problems.

"You need to take better care of yourself. If you stayed here on earth, could have you walking without that cane in six months to a year. I know, you won't leave the Enterprise. Or Kirk. Don't worry. I am going to recommend an increased training program to McCoy though. You're alive, Chris, I have no idea how, but I will do everything in my power to make sure you don't die again."

There wasn't much Chris could say to that, but consider what Boyce was doing to him, he satisfied himself with groaning while Boyce tested reflexes and range of motion, not satisfied with the results from the scanners.

"Believe me, Phil, I know I've been given a second chance. I'm not about to throw it away ."

"And you're not about to leave the Enterprise either. I know." There was an awkward silence. After all, the Enterprise had played a part in their breakup, in a manner of speaking. "You should thank Lui, she argued for you to stay aboard with Kirk instead of bringing you back to command or transferring you to section 31."

"They wouldn't-"

"They would. You died a hero, Chris. And the fact that you're alive is a damned complication for half the brass. You know that as well as I do."

"Well, obviously, but I didn't think they would actually go that far."

"As far as Barnett is concerned, the dead should stay dead. Then again, he thought you were in league with Marcus." Without missing a beat, Boyce changed the topic.
"Turn over, McCoy's report mentioned that he had to heal the damage from the attack and I want to check it."

"Don't you trust McCoy?"

"Of course, but you're you, Chris. It doesn't matter if the best doc in the fleet is working on you, I'm going to want to check you over. "

Reluctantly, Chris rolled over, moving the gown to his hips as Boyce surveyed McCoy's handiwork. "He's good. And the hair will grow back in time."

"Are you done, Phil? I feel like a damned lab rat."

"Not even by half. I've got you scheduled for physio and assessments for the rest of the day. Dinner though. I'm serious. I want to meet this person of yours and I want you to meet Casey. "

"We'll see, Phil. There's briefings and meetings, you know how it goes… getting everything in order again considering the circumstances.."

"Bring your lover, bring Kirk, bring whoever you want. But you owe me dinner. At the least."

Pike knew Boyce was right. And that was perhaps the worst part of it all. He owed Boyce more than just a dinner.

"All right. Dinner. But nothing fancy or formal."

"Dinner at the house, then. Oh, and Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"It's damned good to see you alive again."

It was a breach of protocol, to be sure, but he felt Boyce's arms around him and he could smell the aftershave, still the same after all these years. His heart caught in his throat, his brain went through what if scenarios. The temptation was still there. But Boyce had Casey now, and Pike had Leia. Sort of. Not that he knew what he was doing with the general.

"It's good to see you too, Phil."