Who: Jim and McCoy When: Recently (circa August 24) Where: Jim’s place What: McCoy needs a drink Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete
Jim wasted no time in plunking a big old drink down in front of McCoy. “Mint Julep. Unless you want something harder. I can do harder.”
A throw back to his far, far gone roots. McCoy accepted the drink, lifted it for a cheers, and then drained it. Excepting the ice and mint, of course.
Jim just thought it might be comforting. What with the knocking someone up thing. He sat down and clapped his hand on Bones’s shoulder. “You old dog you. Aren’t I supposed to be the one with the scares?”
“You are supposed to be the only one with the scares.” McCoy said, giving a gentle shake of his head and a chuckle. “Or were. I suppose someone had to take up the yolk now you’ve been taking out of the dating pool.”
He grinned at his friend. “How serious is this, on a scale of warp breaches?”
McCoy sighed, leaning back in his chair. “No idea. Completely unknown.”
“What are you going to do? If she really is knocked up?”
“See previous answer.” McCoy responded. He didn’t like that train of thought. There were too many variables, too many choices they’d have to make together. He couldn’t decide any of it on his own, and that was strange for the doctor.
“You can’t do anything until you know for sure, and even then.” Jim pointed at his friend. “even then you need to think about what this woman means to you. No matter what happens with this.”
“She’s great. She’s a wonderful woman. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s beautiful, she’s got a good job and a good head on her shoulders.” McCoy responded. “I like being with her. I’ve just fucked up too many relationships in the past, and I still don’t know how.”
“For starters if you keep talking like that you’re only going to screw this one up.” Jim shook his head. “Think positive.”
“Positive. Right. Like, positive how?” He asked, cocking his head to the side. “Sunshine and rainbows? Happily ever after? I thought that way once. It led to an incredibly unhappy marriage, a very messy divorce, and nearly cost me my daughter.”
“Are you happier with her than you ever were with your Ex?” He raised his eyebrows.
“I’d be happier with a paper bag with a face drawn on it in crayon than I was with the ex.” McCoy said, bitterly. “But yes. Lizzie is far superior to her in every way.”
“That’s better than nothing, and your ex was less than nothing,” he replied. He had a particular dislike for that woman, that rivaled McCoy’s in some ways. No one hurt his friends and got away with it.
“I wish I was more excited about the possibility.” McCoy said. “I just consider it to be terrifying. You’re the one who should be starting a family. I’m too old to have an infant.” Again. Diapers. Shit. That was a bad phase.
“You’re never too old to have a baby. So you going to do right by her?” He couldn’t help but tease his friend. It was too easy.
“Bite. your. tongue.” McCoy said. He didn’t think he’d ever get married again. Even though he loved Elizabeth, and if she was having his child, he’d want to move in with her, raise the baby together. But getting married? He just knew he’d seriously fuck things up if that happened. “And get me another. Only stronger.” He held out the empty glass to his friend.
“Yes sir.” Jim got McCoy a drink that was more alcohol than flavoring, and planted it on the table in front of him. “How is she handling this?”
“She’s a strong woman.” McCoy said, then gave a gentle “thanks” as he lifted the glass to gulp from it. “She’s terrified. But she’s not showing it as much as I am.” He added, lifting the glass in a silent toast.
“Something tells me you shouldn’t let this one go. But what do I know? I’ve only slept with several sets of twins.”
McCoy was sipping once more, and coughed into the glass. It was a laugh, and a choke, all rolled into one.
“And a triplet.” His grin only grew wider.
McCoy’s chuckle grew a bit louder and he cleared his throat. “Exactly how does that make you an expert on not letting women go? Or are you just showing off?”
“Just showing off. But what I mean is..I met this wonderful woman, who could pull me away from all that. Sure it might all go down hill.” He smiled at his friend. “But the ride to the end is worth it.”
It sure might go down hill. It had with McCoy’s first (and only) marriage. The one that ended with him having to fight to see his daughter. Was the ride to the end worth it? Joanna was. For sure. There was nothing better in this world than spending time with his daughter. And now maybe he was going to have another? The thought was suddenly exciting rather than terrifying.
“You know? I think you’re onto something there.”
“Life is just a roller coaster of pain and joy, Bones. Sometimes you get both at once, but you have to keep living and you have to let yourself enjoy life. It’s only human.” He winked.
“Damn. When did you get to be so… zen?” McCoy said, then gulped down another swallow from his glass.
“When I got married.” Jim poured McCoy one more.
McCoy snorted. “Lucky you. Doesn’t work that way for the rest of us.”
“You want to know the truth?” Jim poured himself one. “Every day I expect something to happen.”
“Something?” McCoy asked, setting the glass back down. “Something like what?”
“I don’t know. Her to leave me. To realize what kind of man I am and decide she can do better.”
“Yeah, if I was you, I’d have that fear, too.” McCoy said. It was almost hard to tell if he was being sarcastic.
Jim gave his friend a look. “Every other relationship I’ve had ended with the woman chased off or taking off. The ones I wanted to last, anyway.”
McCoy was frowning, though he knew it was true. ”I have a feeling Hermione’s not going anywhere, Jim. And she knows the kind of man you are.”
“I know. But it’s irrational. And you understand that, don’t you? It’s irrational.”
“I understand.” McCoy said, nodding. “Just don’t let your irrational fear make you do something stupid.”
“The same to you, Bones.” He pointed.
McCoy opened his mouth to argue, but really couldn’t. His face gave one of those I suppose you’re right expressions, and he nodded. “Good point.”
“Of course it’s a good point,” Jim replied. “I’m the Captain!”