Where the West Begins
29. Jolene
Jim had led them to a restaurant and it was a happy group that sat around the table. McCoy was settled between Scotty and Chekov. The meal was good, but it wasn’t anything like Christine and Uhura’s cooking.
“How do you think it’s going at home?” Sulu asked.
“I’m sure Jaylah is handling everything capably with Keenser’s help,” said Spock.
“Of course she is!” Chekov said emphatically.
McCoy kept a smile off his face, but shared a quick glance with Sulu.
“It’s nice to have an evening in such a place once in a while,” Scotty said, bumping his knee against McCoy’s under the table.
“Lots of fancy ladies to look at,” Jim grinned.
“Look all you want kid, we know where your heart is,” McCoy said with a raise of his eyebrow.
Scotty and Sulu chuckled, while a hint of color climbed Spock’s face. While Jim had admitted to McCoy that he and Spock were together, neither had said anything to the rest of the ranch crew, though everyone assumed as much.
As Jim took care of the bill, everyone made ready to leave, standing up and pushing in chairs. Listening to Scotty joke with Sulu, McCoy’s blood turned to ice as a voice behind him spoke.
“Lenny?”
He stopped breathing, rooted to the spot, not wanting to turn around and face the past.
A hand touched his arm. Delicate fingers covered in a pale pink lace glove.
“Lenny?” The voice was sweet and light, but McCoy knew the poison it could hold.
With his heart pounding loudly in his ears he turned.
“I thought that was you!” A bright face, trying too hard to be youthful was standing in front of him.
McCoy couldn’t find any words. He had never wanted to see that face or hear that voice ever again.
“What are you doing out here Lenny?”
“Jocelyn?” he finally managed. Beside him he sensed Scotty stiffen.
“You’re a long way from home,” Jocelyn said, still smiling at him.
“So- so are you,” McCoy bit out, trying his hardest to be polite and not yell at the woman who had reached into his chest and ripped out his heart.
“Clay and I are moving to California,” Jocelyn replied, just a hint of a defiant look in her eye. “He’s taken a spot with one of the biggest firms out there.”
“That so?” McCoy couldn’t help himself and began to scan the room for the man who had supposedly been his good friend. In a far corner a man raised a hand. McCoy gave a curt nod back.
“You’re the last person I expected to see out here,” Jocelyn continued, looking McCoy up and down. Her nose scrunched a small bit.
“Same,” McCoy said, holding back from snapping the word.
“We’re all set,” Jim said behind McCoy. “Let’s get going? Oh.”
“It’s fine kid, I’ll be a minute,” McCoy said over his shoulder.
“Ok,” Jim said slowly.
“Leonard?” Scotty said tentatively next to him.
“It’s alright Monty,” McCoy told him, not taking his eyes from Jocelyn. He couldn’t help but note she was as fashionable as she always was, but somehow now it was in a showy way, as if she wanted everyone to notice her. When McCoy had fallen in love with her she had been the prettiest girl in town because she had seemed unaware of her beauty.
“Still a doctor Lenny?” Jocelyn asked.
“Yes, some.”
“Oh.”
“What?” McCoy demanded.
“You aren’t much dressed like you used to be.” Jocelyn raised an eyebrow and even though she was shorter than him by quite a bit, he knew she was looking down at him.
“Well, my patients aren’t big time crooks anymore who call themselves lawyers. I don’t have to be all gussied up.”
Jocelyn’s smile stayed on her face, but McCoy could see how it had become a scowl.
“I do honest work that I’m proud of,” he continued before she could say anymore. He straightened and squared his shoulders. “Tell Clay hello. Enjoy California, I’ll be glad to never see you again.”
He turned to begin walking away.
“What a mistake you were,” Jocelyn called at his back. “I married him the second you signed the papers and he’s done more than you ever will.”
McCoy’s hands curled into fists, but he forced himself to keep walking. He would not take her bait and turn around. Outside the restaurant, Scotty was waiting for him.
“The others headed back to camp,” Scotty said quietly as he fell in step next to McCoy.
McCoy gave a grunt as a response, still too angry with his thoughts roiling.
“If ye want to talk…” Scotty trailed off. He didn’t say anymore, just walked beside McCoy.
Somehow, McCoy found that soothing. Scotty didn’t expect anything from him, just offered himself if McCoy needed. Jocelyn had always wanted him to tell her everything, and he had shut himself down to simple answers. But Scotty…
McCoy looked over at the man beside, face lit by the lights of the city. His anger began to melt away. Here was someone who appreciated him for who he actually was.
“Thanks,” he whispered.
“Of course mo ghràdh.”
9 notes
·
View notes