riverviewlogs | [Open] Apple a day... you get what I mean.

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[Open] Apple a day... you get what I mean.

who: Dr. Leonard McCoy and Possibly you? (Open)
what: Catch him sleeping after work, or for lunch, or come up with your own idea to run into the doctor.
when: Either during or after the Butterfly Effect event. Just let me know when so I can adjust accordingly.
where: Riverview General/Anywhere he can get food/Your choice
warnings: Definitely ONE NSFW thread going on in here and bad language?

I. After Work
Working in a hospital is always a strange feeling to him now. Ever since he took that position as Chief Medical Officer that Jim offered him, his view of medical care had changed intensely. Now it felt even stranger in a lot of ways. The technology wasn’t the same. Not that it was the dark ages, but it certainly isn’t what he’s used to.

Which was why he didn’t leave immediately from his shift end. He sat with manuals on the medical technology and different available medicines spread out over the table so he could read. He pretty much took over a quieter break room, intent on staying out of the way and getting some work done. Between reviewing charts of patients and the books. It felt a whole lot like he was back in medical school again.

At some point though, he likely should’ve made a pot of coffee because he soon started to feel his eyelids get heavier. Right along with the feeling of heaviness that came with that impending feeling of falling asleep. He refused to give up just yet, though.

Which is likely why his head finally made contact with the book as he was out like a light.

II. Lunch Break

He forgot his lunch. Somewhere in the rush to get his shit together that morning, he left the apartment without his food. Which meant he had to make a run out to scrounge up something to eat. Something he just hated to do. It meant less healthy choices and more exercise later to make up for it. Not that he was against exercise. Just workin’ in a damn hospital also made it harder to keep a normal schedule as it was.

So there he was, standin’ on a sidewalk tryin’ to decide where he should go to find the lesser evil of fast food. Nothin’ seemed all that promisin’ however.

III. Wildcard! Start what you want with him.

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She sucks in a sharp breath. An entire planet, gone. How could that happen? Certainly, the Romulans had no love for the Vulcans but even that seems extreme for them. And Spock... she thinks back to Sarek and she cannot even begin to imagine the pain Spock would feel in that moment.

"I guess so," she finally says, letting out a long sigh.

He took a deep steady breath at that, before letting it out in a sigh. "Sorry, that's a weighted revelation and all... I just, don't trust the future no more than I can throw it since then." Cause honestly, he can't stop thinkin' about how Jim had to grow up without his dad and just how much that scarred him for so many years.

Not that he'd trade any aspect of Jim for all the world. "Gotta feelin' things wouldn't change much for me no how." Cept maybe he wouldn't have met Jim so soon. But he doesn't want to even think about that or weigh the positives or negatives of it. "Look... I know Jim knows more about all that than I do... but I'd appreciate you not pokin' at him about it. That whole... scenario? Took more from him than anyone has a right to take from a good person. If you don't mind..."

"No, no! Of course not!" She frankly looks a little horrified at the idea. "Even besides it being a violation of all sorts of rules, I'm sure, I... know what it's like to lose people, to lose a home." Her parents, neighbors, Jack, Walker... too many people to name, not to mention the colony on Arvada.

His expression shifted to something more sympathetic. His eyes only lingered on her a second before he looked back down at the table surface for just a moment. Without a word, he pushed to his feet and moved to dig out things to make some coffee for the both of them. Or rather, have it available if she wanted some. He could use the boost right about then.

"We did a good job not askin' for more information than we absolutely needed." Too bad they got the information about Khan so late in the game. His hands gripped the counter after turning the pot on a little tighter than necessary before giving her a small vague smile. "Thanks for understanding. Sorry if I brought up old hurts in the process." That really wasn't something he intended to do. "Would you like some coffee when it's done, Dr. Crusher?"

Her gaze falls to his hands, noting the way he holds onto the edge of the counter. No, she definitely won't ask for more details, not when whatever happened still weighs so heavily on them. She looks back up at his face and gives him a small, reassuring smile. "Thank you, that would be lovely."

As for the hurts well... as he said, they're old ones. Nothing she hasn't dealt with already.

He's never been good at the game of coverin' things up. Sometimes he knew he read like an open book. But he didn't want to drag the both of them down here and now. "'Course, glad to be of service." He smiled a little more genuinely before pulling out cups to make the coffee when it's ready. "Any particular way you take your coffee?"

Sighing softly, he rolled his shoulders to try and shake some of the sleep off. "Things have been real crazy 'round here lately. Figured stayin' here to catch up on things was better than headin' back to the apartment right away. Didn't mean to fall asleep. How 'bout you? Still on shift or hangin' back for a reason as well?"

That's all right. She liked that openness of expression about his counterpart and she's glad to see it in him too. "Just a little bit of cream, please."

"I... am not quite ready to go back," she admits. "I haven't had a communal bunk since... god, I don't know, before Wesley was born. So over twenty years.

It's an adjustment."

"Sure thing." When the coffee is done, he pours them both a cup and adds cream to one with a stirring straw before moving back to the table. Sliding hers in front of her, he sat across from her and curled his fingers around the cup lightly.

"Yeah, those first few nights in communal were somethin' else. Couldn't escape work either. Some people here make me feel like I need to be on medical alert all the time." And on top of the fact that he liked his privacy.

"You've got a kid? Must be hard to be away then... I can sort of relate. I miss my girl, but she lives with the ex, so I'm sure it must be harder for you."

Watching him over the rim of the cup, she sips her coffee. It's certainly not the best coffee she's ever, but neither is it the worst. And, perhaps most importantly, it reminds her of home. There's comfort to be found in its warm, familiar smell.

Her brow furrows slightly at the mention of his daughter and she shakes her head. "Being separated from your child... that's always hard, no matter the circumstance." Hesitantly, she ventures to lay a gentle hand on his forearm. "What's her name?"

"True. Thought being separated by the black was bad enough. Then this. Used to talk to her at least once a week and now I don't even have that." It's upsetting. More than he wanted to admit. Especially when he's suddenly allowed to bring her to the forefront of his mind and all the horror of dealing with a Jim the same age as her...

"Joanna. Call her Jo." He answered quietly, his fingers sliding over the rim of his cup gently. "How 'bout your kid?"

Beverly's smile is sympathetic and sad. She doesn't have to guess much at what he's feeling because she feels it too. "Wes is at Starfleet Academy now. We used to talk all the time and now..."

Now there was the Kolvoord Starburst and Joshua Albert and she never knew what was going on in Wesley's head anymore, which made being here all the worse.

"Already left the nest, huh? That's gotta be hard. It's crazy how much they change when space is between ya and them." He should know. Jo seemed to not only grow every time he saw her, but her likes and dislikes shifted all the time till it left him a little disoriented.

Leaning back in his chair, he let out a soft sigh. "I actually don't mind this place so much. I just... really want to hear her voice again. You know? Not be a dead beat dad that disappears from her life." Other than that, he can't actually complain about this place...

"I doubt she thinks you're a deadbeat." Sad truth is, fleet kids are used to disappearing adults. Maybe too used to it, sometimes. "But I know what you mean. If there was some way to communicate through the portal...."

But then, if that were possible, she'd already be out of here.

"Maybe not now." Kids likely didn't think in those terms when they're young. More like when she's older and just... The thought just made him sigh and shift to rub his eyes with one hand. "Other than her... there's not much else back home other than ma..."

And honestly, he knew well he'd follow Jim anywhere. Even here. Joanna is really his only draw back there. "Bet you've got a lot back home though, huh?"

She thinks of Wesley first of course, struggling with the Academy, his letters becoming less and less frequent, but there's Jean-Luc too - god knows what's happening to him on Kesprytt. And Nana and Deanna and Alyssa and... really the list goes on. Not to mention her career.

Looking down into her coffee, she runs a thumb around the rim of her mug. Everything, is the answer. Everything to go back to and nothing to keep her here. "I do. They said I can go back but..." She sighs. "It's not clear how long it will take."

Nodding, he hesitated a moment before finally reaching out to lightly put his hand over hers on the coffee pot. His eyes are softer now, less of that edge and cynicism that tended to cling to his features. Leonard's smile is soft as he caught her gaze while offering softly. "But not impossible right? So best not be loosin' hope. You'll get back there to everything you miss before you know it."

Pulling his hand away, he didn't want to encroach upon her space for too long. "And well, if you need any help or someone to talk to till that time comes, promise you I'll always have a listenin' ear to offer, alright?"

It's not an encroachment at all. In fact, she finds the gesture to be comforting and is a little disappointed when he moves his hand away. But of course, this is lopsided, isn't it? She's completely brand new to him but for her, he's already someone she trusts.

"Thank you. It's... I'm glad to have other people from Starfleet. And another parent."

"As am I... just... nice to know someone knows how it feels, I guess. Not that I wish this on anyone else." At least for him, he thought it a better deal in some ways. He wanted to be here with Jim. He didn't think she could say the same. The doctor just hoped that maybe she'd either find her way home, or someone she loved found her.

Either would be good. "I should head home soon though. Unless you need anything?" After all, he didn't like leaving Jim to his own devices for too terribly long.

"No, no, I'm good." Jim's probably wondering where he is. "I'm glad we got to meet." Again. Eventually she will get around to telling him that she knows him already, or at least another version of him, but... Not today. She doesn't want to break the mood or hold him up any longer than necessary.

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[Open] Apple a day... you get what I mean.

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