#one bourbon one scotch one temporal anomaly

[thesconesyard]

Self promo #11

I didn’t forget these, I just fell asleep the last few nights and forgot.

Ok, number eleven, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly.

The whole story idea came from a single line of dialogue: TOS!McCoy meeting AOS!McCoy and saying “You haven’t married’em yet?!”

An alternate bit I thought up for their meeting was:

AOS!McCoy: Who’s this skinny old grandpa think he is?

TOS!McCoy: I’m you, you beefed up idiot!

Either way, this story has struggled with its own bout of writer’s block. I’ve really enjoyed exploring McCoy and his thoughts a bit more in this one and I will finish it (at some point.)

[thesconesyard]

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 6

“So,” McCoy got out slowly, “you’re me?”

“Yup,” said the older man.

McCoy stepped back to the bedside, studying the man’s face.

“You can’t be. I don’t have blue eyes.”

The older McCoy stuck his arm out.

“Eyes change. Test my blood. I promise I’m you.”

McCoy nodded and looked at Christine. She moved quickly and returned with a hypo to draw blood. McCoy took it and pressed it carefully to the older man’s arm. He looked at the vial when he finished, before handing it back to Christine.

“Run that now, quick as you can Chris. I want answers,” McCoy said. “If you’re me,” he turned back to the man as Christine left the room, “why’s your ring on the wrong finger?”

The older McCoy grabbed McCoy’s hand.

“Oh. You haven’t married’em yet?” he asked.

McCoy’s eyebrows furrowed. Kirk let out a loud guffaw. McCoy saw Spock raise an eyebrow. Scotty’s mouth opened in surprise and shut.

“Married who? Jocelyn? That’s long done,” McCoy answered.

The older man laughed. “No, not Jocelyn. You’re gonna get remarried.”

Kirk laughed harder. “You do know this is Mr. Grumpy himself, right?”

“Shut up Jim!”

“Doctor McCoy,” Spock said.

“Yes?” Both McCoy’s answered at the same time.

“Oh,” said Kirk, “that’s going to be confusing.”

“Just call me Leo,” the older man said.

“Leo then,” said Spock. “Should you be giving away details of your future to yourself?”

Leo shook his head and chuckled. “Spocks never change. I probably shouldn’t, but I’m old and don’t give a damn.”

“Sir—”

“I didn’t say who he’s gonna marry did I? And I don’t plan on telling him. He can figure that out for himself, just like I did.”

The medbay doors opened then, and Keenser walked in with a PADD. Leo’s eyes followed the small alien as he made his way to Scotty’s side.

“Now who’s this? We didn’t have one like him on our Enterprise.”

“That’s lieutenant Keenser,” Kirk said. “He’s Roylan.”

“Nice to meet ya,” Leo called to Keenser.

Keenser nodded, and handed the PADD to Scotty. The chief engineer scanned through it.

“Excuse me Captain,” Scotty said. “We’ll be heading back for a better look through the doctor’s- I mean, Leo’s ship.” Scotty looked at the man on the biobed again before leading Keenser out.

“Doesn’t look anything like my Scotty,” Leo muttered, watching Scotty and Keenser leave.

[thesconesyard]

The bit you’ve been waiting for… who is the mystery man on the mystery ship…

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 5

A short time later the medbay doors opened and Kirk walked in, flanked by Spock and Scotty. Spock wore his normal, neutral face, but Scotty looked shaken and Kirk had the look he had when preparing for a dangerous mission.

“What’d you find?” McCoy asked.

Scotty shook his head, but didn’t answer.

“I’d rather talk to him first,” Kirk said, a strange light coming into his eyes. “Can we wake him?”

McCoy turned the neuro scanner off and handed it to Christine. Gently he shook the man’s shoulder. The man mumbled again and his eyes began to flutter.

“Doctor,” Kirk called.

McCoy looked up, but Kirk motioned to the man on the bed. McCoy glanced at Scotty and Spock again. Scotty’s face was still pale and Spock still gave nothing away. McCoy looked back at his patient to find blue eyes staring at him.

“Welcome to the Enterprise,” Kirk said. “I’m Captain James Kir—”

“Jim!” the man cried out, and struggled to sit up.

“Whoa there,” McCoy said, grabbing the man’s shoulder. “Take it easy. You had a head injury; I’ve just finished healing it.”

“Who are you?”

“Dr. McCoy, CMO of the Enterprise,” McCoy answered.

The man on the bed gave him a wide eyed stare. Slowly his gaze went back to Kirk.

“You’re Jim,” he said slowly, “but not quite…”

For a third time the prickly feeling stood out on McCoy’s neck.

“Spock, you never change,” the man continued.

“Fascinating,” the Vulcan said.

“Christine?” the man asked, now looking at the nurse.

Christine slowly nodded, unsure what was going on.

“Beautiful as ever sweetheart,” the man smiled. He looked over at Scotty, and frowned.

“I don’t know you.”

“Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, sir,” Scotty managed to get out.

The man’s eyes went wide again. “You’re not…” the rest of his words faded away.

“Now maybe you could tell us who you are,” McCoy said. “You seem to know all of us.”

“Bones,” Kirk said.

McCoy frowned at the look the captain gave him. The man on the bed chuckled and that turned everyone’s eyes back to him.

“I’m you,” the man said to McCoy. “I’m Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, former CMO of the Enterprise.”

McCoy took a step backwards in surprise. The shaken look on Scotty’s face… they must have discovered who the man was on his ship…

“Now wait a damn minute,” McCoy said, his face turning angry. “What kind of stunt is this?” He turned his glare on Kirk.

Kirk put his hands up trying to disarm McCoy’s anger.

“No stunt Bones.”

“I assure you Doctor,” Spock began, “his ship has the same technology we experienced in Ambassador Selek’s ship.”

McCoy stared at Spock. He knew that Selek was the name chosen by the older Spock who had joined them during the Narada incident. The Spock from a different timeline and universe.

“No,” he managed. “Scotty?”

“Aye Doc. I’ve seen the plans from the Ambassador’s ship. The engines are a match.”

The man on the bed was staring intensely at Scotty. Scotty shifted on his feet nervously.

[thesconesyard]

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 11

The mess hall was noisy as McCoy entered it the next morning. He grabbed a tray from the replicator and made for the senior officers table near the back. Sulu and Chekov were already eating when McCoy joined them.

“How is it Doctor?” Sulu asked as McCoy sat.

McCoy raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“Having another version of yourself onboard?”

“Does he look just like you?” Chekov asked, eager eyes widening.

“No,” McCoy said. “He’s older. There’s some differences. And it’s more than a bit strange,” he answered Sulu.

“I couldn’t imagine another me onboard,” Sulu said.

“But there is another you out there,” Chekov insisted. “In the universe where the other doctor comes from.”

Sulu frowned. “Well I hope the other me stays there.”

McCoy let out a laugh. “I think you’ll get that wish. Leo said his Sulu is a captain.”

“Good for me,” Sulu grinned.

“Is that him?” Chekov asked excitedly, pointing behind McCoy.

McCoy looked over his shoulder and saw Kirk walking towards them with Leo. He turned back to his breakfast and nodded.

“And here’s more of my bridge crew you haven’t met yet,” Kirk said as they reached the table.

“Hikaru Sulu,” Leo smiled. “I’ve missed that smile.”

“This is Dr. McCoy,” Kirk said.

“Call me Leo.”

“Hello Leo,” Sulu replied.

“And who’s this young man?” Leo asked, looking at Chekov.

So Chekov looks different in Leo’s universe, McCoy thought.

“Pavel Andreivich Chekov,” Chekov answered firmly, but smiling.

McCoy saw Leo blink in surprise. What had he expected Chekov to look like?

“I should have known,” Leo chuckled. “Who else would have been here with Sulu?”

“What’s yours like?” McCoy asked. Leo had sat down next to him, Kirk on his other side. He glanced down and saw Leo had the same meal as him.

“A real whiz kid. A wunderkind some would say.”

“That’s Pavel,” Kirk said.

Chekov looked down at his food, cheeks blushing.

“In looks, he’s rounder in the face and has very dark, straight hair. Not a fair mop like this young lad.”

“Why do you suppose some of us look nearly the same and some so different?” McCoy asked.

“I’m sure there’s a reason, but lord knows if I could figure it out,” Leo said. “Spock would be the one to ask that.”

“I’ll be talking with the Admiral this morning,” Kirk said. “I sent in a briefing last night.”

McCoy heard Leo mutter under his breath something about ‘damn admirals.’

“I’m sure he’ll be interested in you,” Kirk continued. “After all, Pike is one of the few who knows who Ambassador Selek really is.”

Leo sucked in a breath. “Pike? Christopher Pike?”

“Yes. You know him as well?”

“Yes,” Leo answered slowly.

“Great,” said Kirk.

“Sir? We’ll see you on the bridge,” Sulu said. He stood as did Chekov.

“Have you seen Uhura or Scotty?” Kirk asked.

“Mister Scott left when we sat down,” Chekov answered.

“Did he eat?” McCoy asked, looking up. The chief engineer was notorious for skipping and forgetting meals.

“I believe so Doc,” Sulu said. “We didn’t see Uhura though.”

“Alright. Well, we’ll see you soon,” Kirk said.

“I used to have to go down to engineering and drag Mon— Scotty up to the mess hall. Or I’d have to take meals down to him. You’ve got the same problem?” Leo asked.

McCoy and Kirk nodded together.

[thesconesyard]

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 10

Scotty blew out a loud breath as the door slid shut and looked at McCoy.

“How are ye doing with this? I can’t imagine how weird it must feel.” He picked up the bottle and topped off both of their glasses.

McCoy thanked Scotty with a nod and took a sip from his glass.

“It’s…” McCoy leaned back into the couch and tilted his head up. “It’s very strange. The ways we’re the same… but the differences are big. The first thing he asked was where my pictures of Joanna were.”

McCoy was silent for a few moments. Scotty watched him, but didn’t speak.

“Could I have had a kid? I…” McCoy’s face began to warm. “I did dream of having one when Jocelyn and I were together. It’s probably best we didn’t with how things turned out, but Leo made it work. Could I have made it work?” He turned his head to look at Scotty. “Do… do you think he’s got a picture of her with him?”

“Ye could ask.”

McCoy let his head fall back again.

“Ye’d have made a great dad Len.”

“He wouldn’t say who he married. Is it someone I know now, or is it someone I’m going to meet?”

“Did he say anything about it?” Scotty asked.

“He said it was a good friendship that he hadn’t realized was right in front of him, and it was really love.” McCoy sat up straight again suddenly. “I- I think it’s a man.”

Scotty raised a brow. “Is that a problem Len?”

“No, of course not,” McCoy shook his head. “Just, did you pick up on that too? When Leo said he left because ‘with him gone there wasn’t much to go on for?’”

Scotty nodded slowly. “I thought he meant one of his friends, ye know, Jim or Spock, or what have you, but I suppose that makes sense.”

McCoy took a large drink from his glass. “I don’t think he’ll tell me even if I ask point blank.”

“It’d take the magic of it away if he told you,” Scotty smiled. “He discovered it, I’m sure ye can too.”

“Thanks Scotty,” McCoy said and looked over at his friend again. He noticed Scotty’s heightened color and glanced down at the drink in the engineer’s hand. Had he refilled his glass again without McCoy noticing? It would explain Scotty’s flush. McCoy brushed the thought aside.

“Do you think Spock felt weirded out when he met the other Spock?”

“Do ye think he feels anything?” Scotty chuckled. “I’m sure he did,” he said more seriously. “I’m feeling a wee bit strange knowing there was another me out there somewhere, and I don’t even have to meet him.”

McCoy let out a laugh. Scotty always seemed to know what to say to cheer him up. He had another sip from his drink.

“What else did you learn about his ship?” McCoy asked.

McCoy lay in bed staring at the ceiling, thoughts running wild again about Leo. Scotty had stayed quite a while, keeping McCoy laughing and pushing those thoughts away. But now, alone again in his quarters, McCoy couldn’t help but wonder about the differences in his and Leo’s lives. What else did the older man have that McCoy had missed out on?

“Joanna,” he whispered. It was a pretty name. He wondered who had picked it, Leo or Jocelyn. Joanna McCoy. What was her middle name? McCoy would have to ask.

His thoughts wandered to Leo’s spouse. Who was he? Was he a he? Would Leo at least tell McCoy that? A more relevant thought crossed his mind; how old had Leo been when he’d realized his love? Was McCoy coming up on it, or had he missed that opportunity as well?

He rolled onto his side with a sigh, his arm under the pillow, hoping that he hadn’t missed out on another chance at love.

[thesconesyard]

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 9

The door opened to reveal Scotty.

“Hey Doc, got your message… oh,” Scotty said as he noticed McCoy wasn’t alone. “I can come a different time…”

“It’s fine, come in,” McCoy said. He stood to get another glass.

“Uh, hello again,” Scotty greeted Leo. He walked into the room and took a seat on the couch down from McCoy. “We’ve just been going over the engines of your ship and they are just remarkable, just absolutely…”

McCoy chuckled as Scotty went off into a string of Gaelic. He poured a glass and handed it over to the engineer.

“Oh whoops,” Scotty blushed. “Sorry. I forget sometimes. Len’s picked up a bit of Gaelic from my drunken rambles.”

Leo was watching Scotty, and shook himself slightly before he finally answered. “It’s alright. I’ve picked up a bit too, the same way.”

Scotty beamed. “Perhaps ye can fill us in some more on how they work.”

Leo shook his head. “No, no. I can fly them, I don’t understand them. That’s Mon— Scotty’s business.”

Scotty took a sip and nodded. “Aye, the doc isn’t very mechanical minded here either.”

McCoy was studying the older version of himself. He hadn’t noticed so much in medbay, but Leo couldn’t seem to help himself watching Scotty.

“What’s your Scotty like?” he couldn’t help asking. Leo looked over at him sharply. “You knew Jim and Spock and Christine, but you didn’t recognize Scotty.”

“Oh aye,” Scotty grinned. “He’s a good Scotsman I hope, right?”

Leo took another drink before he answered. “Yes. He was the most brilliant man on the Enterprise. Even more than Spock, really. His hair was very dark like yours Leonard, and his eyes were a warm brown. Always ready to make someone smile with a light hearted comment.” Leo let a fond smile cross his face again.

McCoy and Scotty shared a worried look.

“Was?” Scotty asked tentatively.

Leo’s eyes focused on Scotty again. “They’re gone. Jim went on a mission and disappeared. Spock too, but I guess he ended up here. Mont— Scotty was about to retire but was asked to help with one last mission. The shuttle he was on crashed.” Leo closed his eyes. “The transmissions failed and they never found them.”

Silence fell on the men. Leo’s eyes had closed and his mouth had the firm set of someone trying to hold back a cry.

“I’m sorry,” McCoy said quietly after a moment.

Leo opened his eyes and refocused on the two men on the couch.

“There’s good too,” he said. “Christine got promoted and became CMO on a ship. Uhura’s still out there putting everyone in their place. Sulu’s a captain and Chekov is right on his heels.”

“Have you seen them yet?” Scotty asked. “Uhura and Sulu and Chekov? Are they the same as yours?”

“I haven’t. I had a long chat with Jim and Spock, then I found my way here.”

“Why are you here?” McCoy asked. “Sorry, I mean in our universe. Why did you come here?”

“Did you mean to? Or was it an accident? And what happened to yer ship?” Scotty jumped in.

Leo ruminated over his glass for a few moments before taking a sip.

“I wanted to get away. There was an inkling of an idea where Spock may have gone, but no certainty at all about Jim. Joanna’s got her own life; friends and career. She doesn’t need me the way I need her anymore.” Leo looked over at Scotty. “Jo is my daughter.”

Scotty nodded and took a glance at McCoy.

“With him gone it didn’t feel like there was much to go on for anymore. So when it was decided someone should try to see where Spock had gone, I volunteered.”

McCoy’s eyebrow twitched. He didn’t want to interrupt Leo’s story, but his curiosity was piqued about who the man meant was gone. And that he felt there was nothing to go on for; did Leo mean one of his friends who had disappeared, or did he mean— McCoy took a sharp breath— had Leo meant his mystery spouse?

“We knew the coordinates Spock had headed for, all I had to do was fly. I guess it’s a wormhole of sorts and it spat me out here, but not without first depositing me near some asteroids.”

“A hit then?” Scotty asked.

“A couple,” Leo answered him. “Banged me around good, must have been when I hit my head, and then y’all found me.”

Leo emptied his glass down his throat in one drink. “I’ve probably told you boys more than enough to give Spock a heart attack.” He set the glass on the table. He stood. “I’ll get out of your hair for now. It’s been a long couple of days. Leonard, thanks for the drink.”

McCoy broke from his thoughts and looked up. “Yeah, of course,” he got out. There were so many more things he wanted to know.

“We can talk more later. I’m sure you’re full to bursting wanting to know more about me...”

McCoy nodded.

“…cause I sure want to know more about you.” Leo turned to look at Scotty. “It’s so strange. You sound just like him, but your face is different. I wonder why that is…”

Scotty smiled warmly. “Says the man claiming to be the good doctor, with those blue eyes looking out.”

Leo laughed. “Quick as always. Goodnight boys.”

“Do ye need any help finding your quarters?”

“Where did Jim put you?” McCoy asked.

“One of the diplomatic guest quarters,” Leo said. “And I can make my way there, thanks. Your ship’s a bit shinier than mine ever was, but she’s still the Enterprise.” With that, Leo exited the room.

[thesconesyard]

And cause I just posted that dumb idea I had from the creation of this tale, have some

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 8

McCoy had settled into his quarters after dinner with a book in his hand and his feet up. A tumbler of bourbon was within reach and an empty glass ready if someone were to join him. Somehow he had managed to push everything about Leo to the side of his mind for the moment.

When the door chimed he set the book aside and called for whoever was there to come in. He dropped his feet to the floor and was reaching to pour another glass when he looked over his shoulder.

“Hey Sco…” the greeting died on his lips. It wasn’t the chief engineer at his door.

“I don’t mean to intrude,” Leo said from the doorway. He glanced at McCoy reaching for the bottle and the empty glass. “Were you expecting someone? I can go…”

“I—” the words were straining to get out of McCoy’s throat. He wanted to talk to this counterpart of his, he just hadn’t expected it so soon. “Come… come in.”

“If you’re sure,” Leo said.

McCoy managed a nod. Leo stepped into the room, glancing at the quarters.

“A drink?” McCoy got out.

“Please,” Leo said over his shoulder. He was looking around McCoy’s quarters with interest. “No pictures of Joanna? Or you keep’em in there?” He nodded off to the sleeping area.

McCoy frowned as he set the bottle back down. “Who’s Joanna?”

Leo turned to face him and his brows furrowed.

“Our daughter.”

Now McCoy’s eyes went wide and pang went through his chest. He could have had a daughter? Slowly his head shook at Leo.

“We… we didn’t…”

“Oh.”

Leo sat down in the chair across from McCoy and took the glass handed to him. Silence fell between the two men as they looked at each other. McCoy couldn’t slow the pounding in his chest. He could have had a child. What else did this other version of him have that he was missing?

“I, uh, guess I didn’t mean to start us off like that,” Leo finally said.

“What’s she like?” McCoy asked suddenly. “Your daughter?”

Leo took a sip from his glass and smiled fondly.

“She’s always been the sweetest thing. Same brown hair as us, but she has Jocelyn’s eyes. Smart as a whip and clever. Always taking care of everyone she could.” Leo snorted out a laugh. “The number of broken bird wings that child mended… She’s a nurse now, and a damn fine one at that.”

McCoy could picture her. A sweet little girl who grew into a bright young woman. He blinked away a feeling of tears. His heart felt it had been robbed.

“When Dad passed, she was there to comfort me the whole way through.”

McCoy looked up sharply. Of course Leo’s father would have passed. The man was much older than McCoy.

“Oh hell, Spock’ll probably frown me into the next galaxy for telling you these things, but I don’t care,” Leo said and took another sip from his glass.

“Our Spock maybe, but the ambassador passed a few things to Jim and Spock. He was a lot less uptight than our Spock.”

Leo chuckled. “I noticed. My Spock was like that when he was younger too. I think age mellowed him, but he’d never admit it. Jim helped too. Say, are your Jim and Spock…”

McCoy laughed. “No, but lord help the rest of us put up with them. Scotty says we should just shove them in a closet until they figure it out and I’m starting to think it might be the only solution.”

Leo’s brow quirked at that. “They’ll get there, don’t worry. What about you son? Sweet on anyone?”

McCoy choked on the sip he was taking. He coughed to clear his airway. He stared across at Leo’s amused face when he finally caught his breath.

“Should I take that as a yes?” Leo raised an eyebrow.

“You gonna tell me who you’re married to?” McCoy countered.

“I probably shouldn’t,” Leo chuckled. “Might ruin all the mystery and romance.”

“I haven’t believed in romance since Jocelyn divorced me,” McCoy frowned.

“Oh you will again. Trust me. When you aren’t looking for it, you’ll realize it’s been right in front of you the whole time.”

“That so?” McCoy raised his brow. “That how it happened for you?”

Leo nodded. “One day I realized what I thought was good friendship was really love, and, well…” Leo held up his hand with the ring.

Jealousy touched lightly on McCoy’s heart, but hope rose with it. Would he find someone again and be happy like his counterpart?

The door chimed again.

“I can go,” Leo started.

“Come in,” McCoy called. “Stay,” he said to Leo, “it’s fine.”

[thesconesyard]

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 7

“How is he Bones?” Kirk asked. “Up to being debriefed?”

McCoy forced himself to focus back on the captain. Leo’s revelation that he was also McCoy and that he’d be married again someday had left his head spinning.

“I’d like the results on the blood test as confirmation first,” he told Kirk, “but the head injury is healed and there appears to be nothing else worth noting.”

“Your eyes are the wrong color, but they’re still Jim’s eyes,” Leo said after studying Kirk’s face. “Your hair is lighter as well. It suits you.”

“You look like I remember,” Kirk smiled. Mirth filled his eyes at the sudden confusion on Leo’s face. “The ambassador melded with me when we first met. I saw glimpses from your universe in his memories.”

“Ambassador?” Leo asked, obviously thinking. “Spock?!” he exclaimed. “Spock ended up here?”

“We have lots to talk about,” Kirk smiled. “If the doctor will release you…”

“Yes, he’s free to leave,” McCoy answered in a distracted voice.

“Care to join us, Bones?” Kirk called over his shoulder as he led Spock and Leo from medbay.

McCoy shook his head.

“We can compare notes later,” Leo grinned at him. “Doctor to doctor.”

With that they left. McCoy watched the door close behind them before he made his way to his office and sat heavily.

He was staring blankly at the wall in front of him when Christine walked in with a PADD.

“The results Leo,” she said, handing it over.

McCoy startled. “Don’t call me that!” He saw Christine’s eyebrow raise at him. “At least right now, please. Until this is all sorted out.”

Christine nodded sympathetically. She sat in front of the desk. “He’s you. It all checks out. His results are there next to your own from Starfleet’s records.”

McCoy scanned over the PADD.

“Are you alright?” Christine asked softly. “I can’t imagine how weird it must feel.”

“Don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet Chris,” McCoy said.

“Who is it you're going to marry?” Christine smirked.

McCoy looked up sharply.

“Is it me?” Christine said in an overly sweet voice. McCoy heard all his head nurse’s sarcasm.

McCoy made a rude hand gesture at her to Christine’s delight. She laughed.

“Is there even anyone you’re interested in?”

McCoy felt his face beginning to warm.

“No,” he answered her firmly.

“Ooo! A lie! Maybe Leo will tell me who it is,” Christine continued to laugh.

“Maybe he’ll tell me,” McCoy said. He could see what Christine was trying to do, distract him from the strangeness of the situation. He definitely appreciated her effort.

Christine stood. “I’ll let you look it over. I’m here if you need me.”

McCoy nodded and turned back to look at the data in front of him. Everything was a match. He blinked a few times and let out a sigh. Even though he knew it was entirely possible— Jim had met Spock from another universe after all— it was beyond strange to have it happen to himself. How had Spock felt when he met the older version of himself?

He huffed. Spock would never tell him. Trying to get details of feelings out of the Vulcan would be near impossible. Though, Spock had been becoming less uptight as they continued on their mission. Jim’s influence perhaps. They had been working closer and closer as a command team.

McCoy set the PADD on the desk. This was all becoming too much. He rubbed a hand over his face. A glance at the clock told him his shift was nearly over. What he could really use was a good meal and a stiff drink.

Shoving aside the PADD Christine had brought in, McCoy pulled his own closer and tapped out a quick message. Standing, he walked around the desk and left the office. Geoff was talking to Christine and he waved at both as he left medbay.

Down the corridors to the mess hall, he hoped Scotty would get his message and join him for a drink later. He needed a distraction to let his mind absorb everything and Scotty would likely be brimming over with everything they were learning from Leo’s ship. McCoy smiled briefly at the thought of Scotty’s enthusiasm.

[thesconesyard]

Feeling drinky, here’s some bourbon.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 4

“Who’s this?” Christine Chapel asked. She met McCoy and the two nurses outside the door to medbay.

“Don’t know yet,” McCoy answered.

He pushed open one of the double doors as Christine opened the other. The nurses pushed the gurney in and made for a biobed. Working together the four medics got the unconscious man off the gurney and on a bed.

McCoy stepped back to watch the readings adjust to the man’s body. He frowned.

“Head injury?” Christine asked.

“I’m thinking so,” McCoy said. He turned to sterilize his hands.

“Are we sure we don’t know who he is?”

McCoy looked over his shoulder at the head nurse. She was giving the man a funny look.

“Why?” he asked, collecting a neuro scanner.

“I don’t know,” Christine shook her head. “There’s something about him that’s… I don’t know.”

“Scotty said the same thing.” McCoy placed the neuro scanner next to the man’s head. “The ship we brought in is of no make he or Keenser recognized.”

“That’s why we’re on alert?”

“Guess so. They were still looking over the ship when we brought him up. I expect they’ll let us know if they find out anything about who he is.”

They were quiet as he looked at the neuro readings and set the machine to repair the damage.

“Anything on him? ID?” McCoy asked.

“I didn’t want to jostle him while you were setting up,” Christine said. “Clothing is pretty standard, nothing unusual.”

McCoy hid a grin. Of course Christine would pay attention to those details.

“Huh.”

“What?” McCoy looked over to where Christine was examining the man’s hand.

“He’s got a ring on. It… it kinda looks like yours.” Christine reached across for McCoy’s hand. “Yeah,” she said slowly, “they’re nearly identical…”

“That’s weird,” McCoy said as Christine released his hand. His neck began to prickle and he rubbed a hand across it.

Across the room the wall comm called him.

“McCoy here,” he said as he depressed the button.

“Has he come around yet?” Kirk asked.

McCoy looked at Christine. Something in the way the captain asked… the prickly feeling on his neck came back.

“No. I’ve got the neuro on him, healing that damage. When that’s done I’ll try rousing him.”

“We’ll be up hopefully before you do.”

“Did you find something?” McCoy couldn’t help asking.

“Yes,” Kirk replied cryptically. “We’ll be there soon.”

“What did they find?” Christine asked.

“Who knows.” McCoy’s eyebrows went up. He returned to the neuro scanner. Everything was progressing as it should. In the bed the man shifted slightly. “I thought he mumbled Jim’s name earlier,” he quietly admitted to his head nurse.

[thesconesyard]

Tagged by @dilfoez

rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs

Ok, so in order looking at my docs list:

1. Underneath the Western Sky

(🤦🏻‍♀️ I will start getting this up to date as soon as I’m home and unpacked and rested)

2. Agatha

3. Wherever You Are, I Am

4. Ruby Fontana

5. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

6. aao verse

7. Pictures of You

Dang that looks like a lot when written out like that

Look, it’s 1:15 in the morning, I’ve been packing for the last forty minutes, trying to make every stupid thing we bought try to fit in suitcases, and have to be back up in six hours. I have no idea which of my regular lovelies have already done this, so if you see it and wanna do it, do it

[thesconesyard]

Drunk.

Make a poll?

No, not drunk, pleasantly buzzed. Better description.

Also bored. Brain no-thinky for writeys.

Ok. So. When the brain functions again, which story shoulds try to write more on? Not including AAO, cause it always gets written.

[thesconesyard]

Hiy~ =)

So, I'd like to send you a ⭐free pass to rant⭐. Also... I'm going to admit that I haven't read anything of only yours. Although your stories were recommended to me (I think we can guess by whom?), it fell onto the list of things I truly meant to do but never found time for.

But I remember hearing some wonderful things about your "Prompt-ly Yours" series, so I'd like to ask you about that one~ 🌈🌠

Not me looking around like mad, all “omg! Someone’s asking! Act normal! Act NORMAL!”

Ok, ok, ok.

I’ll do the Prompt-ly Yours, then a free for all. (Oh no, I can already feel myself getting ready for a ramble…)

So Prompt-ly Yours was my return to writing and my return to fan fiction. And mostly importantly, the first story in forever (possibly ever!) that actually had an ending. I’d been dancing around with the idea of McCoy and Scotty in a story, but never quite hit on what until I saw a list of sentences prompts and really the first five or six on the list felt like they told a story on their own. Then it became a challenge to myself to write something coherent and use all 100(!) sentence prompts on the list.

And I managed it! And it made sense! And, most of all, coming back to writing made me happy!!

Ok, so little things about it. Dr. Barrolds is named for a joke between hubs and I, in hopes he would read it that far and get a laugh (he didn’t.) One of my favorite moments in the story is probably when they tell each other they love each other the first time. Another fave is the last scene when Scotty ruins the moment interrupting McCoy, but was about to do the same thing. And, poor Chekov, but when he and Sulu get an earful and have to share breakfast with Scones the next morning. Chekov’s extreme reluctance to look at them, McCoy and Sulu’s joint embarrassment and Scotty’s total nonchalance kill me every time.

And free pass!

Boaty McBoatstory was a placeholder name that stuck. It also contains another joke for hubs that he’s never read.

A Home with a Hearth was originally going to be a stand alone, and then as I began thinking and plotting out Wherever You Are, I Am, I realized it fit as part of the Prompt-verse and I’m honestly looking forward to when I get to where it fits in.

I was super nervous when I wrote Forgiveness, and it wasn’t honestly going to be a smut when I started it! But then one thing led to another and well 🤷🏻‍♀️ Would I write another? Maybe. If people were interested but I don’t know if I could do as good a job. I kind of prefer bringing the stories right up to the moment and letting the reader picture what happens.

Cor Lapideum is probably a lot cheesy, but I gave it all my sweetness.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly is entirely because I wanted aos McCoy to be surprised by tos McCoy saying the line “you’ve haven’t married’em yet?”

A lot of my stories circle around one dumb idea lol.

Prior to writing Scones stories, an old high school friend and I (in hs) wrote a pair of back to back tales where we walked through some kind of portal and ended up in Star Wars (she wrote it. She was Luke and I was Han. Genderbent too.) The second story sent us to Lord of the Rings as Frodo (me) and Aragorn (her.) Mark Hamill made an appearance stealing our gray portal home. The series was supposed to continue into the Thrawn trilogy and the Hobbit, but we got lazy. (And busy! Jobs and school!)

My next big fandom story (don’t laugh!) was Monty Python adjacent about a girl who somehow goes back in time to 1968 and gets a job at the BBC for a mad genius writer. The characters were all original, but based of the different pythons. Russell Andrews and Ruby Fontana, my dearest, beloved OCs.

Ok…. I probably wrote waaaay more than necessary. Whoops. Anyone wants to know more feel free to ask. Maybe someday I might even post some Ruby Fontana if anyone’s interested (It’s cool if not.)

Thank you for the ask @l0vel3ss-l1nds3y 💙❤️❤️💙❤️💙

[thesconesyard]

4,15

Yay! More asks! More talking about my writing!!

4. How many WIPs do you have right now?

6 currently. Against All Odds. Wherever You Are, I Am. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly. Pictures of You. A little something currently titled ‘Pegg-verse.’ And another just called ‘AAO-verse.’

15. How do you come up with titles for your fics/chapters?

They come to me in a dream and I forget them in another dream? Occasionally I think of a title idea first and a story follows. Just something that sounds good. I had Wherever You Are, I Am rattling around the ol’ brain for quite a while before I knew which story was going to belong to it.

Most time titles relate to something in the story. I do give them a good think before deciding on something. Ensnared because Chekov was trapped, Forgiveness because well, Scotty said he’d make it up to McCoy, Prompt-ly Yours was a dumb play on words because I was writing from a prompt list. Boaty McBoatstory was a placeholder that became the title.

I forced myself to finally come up with a title for One Bourbon…, because it’s placeholder was ‘Double Bones’ and I really didn’t want that to become the title. And it describes the story: McCoy (the bourbon), Prime!McCoy (the temporal anomaly.)

[thesconesyard]

Ok, ok, ok, I can’t wait anymore. Here’s a bit of a preview of a new story I’ve been working on alongside the other two. I didn’t mean to start it, but that’s writing baby! This is I guess kind of the prologue, since as it goes further it becomes more of a McCoy pov (as do most of my stories by myself.) Alright, so here goes:

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 1

“Sir,” Pavel Chekov called over his shoulder to his captain. “There’s a strange reading…”

Captain James T. Kirk strode over to the navigator’s station from where he had been sitting in his command chair.

“Here sir,” Chekov said. He pointed to the console in front of himself.

Kirk leaned down as Hikaru Sulu next to Chekov looked over.

“Spock,” said the captain. “It looks like a ship, but no signature I’ve seen before.”

“Please send the scan to my console, ensign,” Spock said.

“Nothing on visual yet sir,” Sulu stated, looking to the forward view screen.

“Frequencies open Captain,” Uhura said behind everyone.

“Good lieutenant,” Kirk said. He turned back to his command chair.

“Sensors indicate it is a ship Captain,” said Spock. “Though of a make unknown to the Federation.”

Kirk pushed a button on the arm of his chair. “Unknown ship, this is Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise.” He paused. “Unknown ship, please respond.” He turned to look at Uhura.

The communications lieutenant shrugged. “No response Captain.”

“Spock…”

“Scans indicate at least one life form on board.”

“There sir!” Sulu was pointing at the view screen.

A bright speck could be seen moving against the black of space.

“Alter course for it,” Kirk commanded. “Yellow alert until we know more. Uhura, keep hailing.”

“Aye sir!” both Sulu and Uhura called.

“Spock, what else do the sensors show?” asked Kirk as he moved toward the science officer’s station.

“Scanners are receiving more now sir.”

The bridge was silent, except for Uhura continuing to call the unknown ship.

“What a strange design…” Chekov murmured as the ship grew larger on the view screen.

“Computer, do you recognize the design on that ship?” Kirk asked.

“Working. No such design appears in any database.”

“Humanoid lifeform. Readings indicate life…”

“Perhaps they’ve been injured,” said Kirk, pondering. “Can we make out a name?”

“No sir,” said Sulu.

“Still no response Captain,” said Uhura.

“Is it in range for the tractor beam yet?” asked Kirk.

“A moment Captain,” Sulu responded.

Kirk moved back to his chair and flicked a switch.

“Mr. Scott, Dr. McCoy please meet me in the docking bay.”

Two responses greeted him and he flicked the channel closed again.

“Close enough sir,” said Sulu.

“Good. Grab it and let’s see what’s going on. Mr. Spock. Mr. Sulu, you have the helm.”

Kirk strode to the turbolift and Spock followed.

[thesconesyard]

I struggled to write anything today. (Probs cause vacation is over and back to work tomorrow), so here’s a little more Bourbon, before I forget in the press of work. Gonna go attempt to write now.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 3

“Where’s the hatch?” he heard Kirk ask.

“Here,” Scotty said. He had walked to the far side of the ship. The others joined him as he opened a panel and began to poke inside. “There we are,” he said as the hatch opened.

Quietly the three men followed the Captain through the door.

“There,” Spock said, and pointed forward.

They could all see a man slumped over the controls at the front. McCoy slid past the others and quickly pulled out his tricorder.

“He’s alive,” he finally said. “Unconscious, most likely a head injury.”

“Let’s get him to medbay,” Kirk said.

McCoy pulled out his comm and made a quick call.

“Gurney is on its way. Don’t touch him until I get more help,” McCoy instructed. He turned back to his tricorder as Kirk and Spock moved off towards the back of the ship.

“He’s got a familiar look to him,” Scotty said to McCoy.

McCoy looked up from the tricorder readings. Scotty was right. There was something about the unconscious man, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

“His vitals are all good. Very good for a man his age,” McCoy said.

“Who do ye suppose he is and where did he come from?”

“No idea,” McCoy said.

“Hey Scotty! You’ll want to see this!” Kirk called.

“Excuse me Doc,” Scotty smiled.

McCoy smiled back. He hoped it wasn’t a mistake leaving him alone with the unconscious man. He turned again to the readings on the tricorder.

McCoy startled when the man mumbled something. He looked up but the man was still out. He could have sworn the man said ‘Jim.’

He was still staring when he jumped again as a new voice broke his thoughts.

“Dr. McCoy?”

McCoy looked over to see two of his nurses with the gurney. Another glance at the tricorder and he put it away.

“He’s unconscious. Let’s get him on the gurney.”

Within moments they had the man carefully laid out. Now that McCoy could see his face fully the familiarness was even more apparent. He gave his head a light shake.

“Wait for me at the lift,” McCoy directed his nurses, then he followed the sound of voices to where the other three men were.

“I’m taking him to medbay,” McCoy interrupted.

“Alright Bones, keep me updated,” said Kirk.

[thesconesyard]

Hell, I didn’t get any writing done tonight even though I wanted to, so here’s some story instead:

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Temporal Anomaly

Part 2

McCoy reached the docking bay first. He looked around in surprise. He had farther to come than Scotty, yet he had beaten the man. Probably distracted by some console or other. McCoy let out an amused huff.

He looked around and wondered what was going on. They were still on a yellow alert and he’d been called to the docking bay. He heard the hiss of a door and turned to see Scotty finally walking in followed by Keenser. McCoy couldn’t help but smile. The chief engineer always had an upbeat air about him even in the most dire circumstances.

“Hello Doc!” Scotty greeted him. “You know what’s going on?”

“Hey Scotty. Keenser. No idea. You?”

“Same Doc, same. Captain should be here soon I imagine.” Scotty looked around the docking bay.

A noise turned their attention to the front of the large room where the doors were opening.

“Aye. We must have caught something,” Scotty said, with an interested look in his eye.

Keenser had wandered to the tractor beam control panel.

“What is it lad?” Scotty called over.

McCoy heard Keenser grunt something, but honestly had no idea what the small alien had said. He turned to look at Scotty.

“Wee man says it’s a ship,” Scotty explained.

“What kind of ship?” McCoy frowned.

He followed Scotty towards the panel. He noticed Scotty begin to frown as well as he flipped through screens.

“No idea Doc. Never seen anything like it. Nothing in records either.”

The door hissed again and McCoy looked over to see Kirk and Spock entering.

“What’s going on Jim?” he asked.

“Scanners picked up a ship. Unknown make. No response to hails. One lifeform reading,” Kirk said.

“Humanoid,” Spock added.

“Huh,” said Scotty.

McCoy looked over and saw the interested twinkle in the engineer’s eye. They all turned to look as the mystery ship finally began to enter the bay.

It was not a large ship. No bigger than one of the Enterprise’s shuttles, but one end was blackened. McCoy’s eyebrow rose. Had the ship been in a battle? Or had something else happened to it? Scotty and Keenser would have a much better idea than him.

In minutes the ship was inside the bay and resting on the floor. The bay doors slid closed.

Scotty and Keenser were working away on the control panel.

“Interior’s fine Captain,” Scotty said. “Same air as us. Engines appear to be in working order, though I have no reference for that,” Scotty said the last part under his breath.

“Well, let’s find out who’s in there,” said Kirk.

“Shouldn’t we have a security team?” McCoy asked. “In case…”

Kirk waved him off. McCoy rolled his eyes and looked over at Scotty. The Scotsman gave him a sympathetic shrug.

“Stay over here,” Scotty told Keenser. “Come on Doc,” Scotty smiled at him. “I’ll protect ye from anything bad that might come out.”

McCoy couldn’t help but chuckle. Scotty did always seem to put him at ease in these situations.