InsaneJournal

Who: Leonard McCoy and Big McIntosh
When: Thursday night, Dec 13th
Where: A bar
What: Big Mac and McCoy talk, and drink, and avoid a barfight.
Rating: PG
Status: Complete!


Now, truth to tell, Big Macintosh was not a regular drinker. He’d never gotten into the habit, really. But a few drinks, now and then, that was something he’d do. And he had an advantage over most. He drank a little bit, here and there, since he was a child. Apple wine and apple cider, and apple beer, mostly, but still.

Tonight, here at the bar, he sampled some of the tap beers, looking for something worth nursing for the evening. It was fun, sometimes, to throw back a few, and to just be around people when he didn’t have to talk.

Big Mac was not all that fond of talking. He knew most people talked for a lot of silly reasons, and he had no patience for it, really. So he nursed his beer, and glanced around, towering over his fellow drinkers.

When McCoy drank, he drank hard and bitter. At least, most of the time. Tonight he was in the bar, watching the game on the huge television up above the bartender’s head. He wasn’t even sure what game it was, or what sport, really. He was angry with the ex, nervous about his daughter’s upcoming visit, and dropping back shots of whiskey and peanuts.
.
Big Mac would’ve been hard pressed not to notice the hard drinking man. Many drank hard, but this man had an intensity, and Big Mac cocked his head to the side and peered at him. Weird. “Drinking angry whiskey?”

“All whiskey is angry whiskey,” Bones responded, turning to glance at the man. He gave a little start. “Big fella, aren’t ya?” He said, chuckling. “Get this man a shot.” He said to the bartender. “What are you, seven feet?”

Big Mac laughed and nodded, shrugging. “So people say. I’m me sized though, so I’m not sure I could be any other size at all.” He nodded, simple words for simple answers. The man’s order made Big Mac grin. “Why thank ya. And about that, yeah. Depends on who’s doing the measurin’.”

“Have a seat.” McCoy said, patting the stool next to his own. “What brings you out on a night like this, Big Fella?” He asked, almost playfully. He got a bit playful after the first few drinks, then downright somber after the next few.

Big Mac rose, and moved to the seat offered, figuring it was only polite-like. He nodded. “thank you kindly.” He Pondered, then shrugged. “Drinks, and just seeing the sights. new to town.”

“How new is new?” McCoy asked, glad for a little company. And not the judgemental kind. Something about this kindly, southern stranger made McCoy feel comfortable. Odd sensation, but he went with it.

Big Mac smiled. He liked people, mostly. “Been here about three weeks, really, but just settlin’ in still.” He canted his head to the side. “This your homeland?”

“No, I’m a transplant.” McCoy said, giving the bartender a nod as he brought over some new drinks and set them down in front of the pair. “Mississippi by way of Boston. Two very different accents, I assure you.”

“I reckon. I come from the east by the south myself. Apple farming. Never saw a reason to cross country until the economy and my sister changed it.” he nodded and raised the drink, before sipping it.

“I could tell by the accent.” McCoy said. “Your sister?” He asked, lifting his glass. He sipped while the other responded.

“AJ. She handles some work for the family out here, and keeps asking if she can open a shop out here.”

He paused, then smiled. “I was thinking yes.”

“A shop? Apple shop?” McCoy asked. He could hardly believe that he was sitting next to a man who owned an apple orchard, apple business. He was sitting next to a farmer. It might have been the first time since he lived in the South that he was so close to someone who tended the soil. “I think California needs more of those.” He added. Of course, there was a lot of farming in California, but not as much that McCoy was close to in his place in Irvine.

Big Mac nodded. “I reckon it does. Might expand the family business to here. Get an orchard running better, sell some goods. People need good fruit. Not this... science stuff. Sure ‘n’ it’s good for helping sometimes, but some stuff should be done by hand.”

And that really was more talking that Big Mac did., most days. he went back to drinking.

McCoy was interested in the large, Southern man. Others might have assumed him slow, or a bit of a hick. McCoy knew better. Still waters run deep. He nodded. “I agree.” His methods in medicine were similar. He much preferred to let the human body heal on its own whenever he could.

Big Mac nodded, smiling a little. “Why’d you end up out here?”

“I had to get away from the awful weather on the East Coast. Not to mention the jn-laws.” McCoy said, lifting his glass for a sip and smirking into it. “Besides, the job prospects were good at the time, and the pay raise even better.”

“Good reasons.” Big Mac sipped and hmmed. He heard two men arguing behind them, and the fight coming closer. When there was a rush, and shifting feet, Big Mac calmly reached out and shoved McCoy one way as he dove the other, even as two bodies slammed into the bar, fists flying.

And knocked over Big Mac’s and McCoy’s drinks. Big Mac rolled to his feet, eyed the situation and sighed.

McCoy’s shoulder got bumped, his drink spilled all over the bar, and he turned, angrily. “Neanderthals.” He said, sounding incredibly grumpy. “I think that’s my cue to leave.”

Big Mac nodded. And shouldered his way through what was becoming, rapidly, a bar fight. “Time to go. Not interested in fighting.” He caught a swing of a fist and gently lofted the person onto the table behind him, making it look effortless.

He made a path, temporarily, out of the bar, and sighed again. “So much for peaceful drinks.”

McCoy was impressed with Big Mac’s handling of the situation. He followed the massive man out, thankful to have a Sasquatch on his side. A kind one, at that. He stepped out into the crisp night air and gave a little sigh, his breath billowing in front of him in a little white cloud. “Probably a sign from the powers that be that it’s time to call it a night.”

Big Mac nodded, then grinned a little. “Until the next time. Walk Safe.” Big Mac nodded again and eyed the sky, then grinned. It’d be a nice night to walk home.

"Good night," McCoy said, then turned up his collar and wandered off in the other direction.

FIn!