Pairing: TOS! Leonard McCoy x Reader
Prompt #200: "He loves you, you know. He's just afraid of admitting it"
Summary: (Y/N) is the head of security, a position that puts them in a lot of danger almost all the time. Leonard can't stand to see them hurt because he secretly is in love with them. After an argument a certain head nurse intervenes.
"Damn it (Y/N)! Why is it that when someone comes back injured from an away mission it's always you?" Leonard scolded as two of your fellow security officers carried you between their shoulders.
They gently set you down on a bio bed and stood there for a moment. "At ease Jacobs, Dylan. I'll be back soon." You said to them and then they nodded, gave a quick salute and left you to the good Doctor.
"Like hell you will, You're going to be on at least two days of bed rest after I patch you up. Ya didn't answer my question either." Leonard grumbled as he went to grab a med kit and bandages.
You groaned half out of annoyance for Leonard's mother hen behavior, half out of pain. "First off, isn't two days a bit harsh for a small wound like this? And second off, look Doc it's my job to protect the Landing party at all costs. You've known me since the Academy Len… you know danger just has a habit of following me" you answered trying to hold in just how much pain you were in.
Leonard scowled up at you as he pushed the fabric of your torn red uniform to the side. He then began to sterilize the not so little gash that took purchase on the lower side of your abdomen. "This ain't just a 'little wound' (Y/N), this gash is half the size of your abdomen! How you're still alive still boggles my mind!" He snapped.
You let out a hiss of pain and bit your lip so you wouldn't cry out. "Yeah well I was only doing my job!" You retorted not looking at him.
"I know you are, but one day if you aren't careful this job of yours is going to make you end up dead!" Leonard bit back, his voice beginning to raise in volume.
This began to hit hard with you. Leonard had been one of your first friends in Starfleet. On your first day at the academy he was your lunch partner. He had always been supportive of you and the job you did. Now it seemed like you were just a disappointment to him.
"Yeah? So what? Rather my life then someone important like the Captain" You answered dryly.
This caused Leonard to pause for a moment. His blue eyes became cold and they bore into your wound like the creature who's claw tore into you. You could tell he was truly angry. You looked at him confused. What you had said had become a truth you had faced when at the academy training in security detail. The priority was always the Captain and untrained crew.
Leonard grew silent for the rest of the time he was patching you up. It kind of scared you, but at the same time you were kind of thankful. At least you wouldn't say something you would truly regret later. After he was done he let out a deep breath. "Alright Lieutenant (Y/L/N) you're finished here. If I catch you working then you'll be confined to a room in here" Leonard said, his tone dripping still with the anger from a few minutes ago.
"Thanks Doc" you said quietly and then you trudged out of sickbay.
"What was that all about Leonard?" A familiar female voice asked from behind him. He turned around to see none other then his head nurse, Christine Chapel.
"I don't know Christine. They make me so irritated sometimes" Leonard answered trying to brush off the subject. He then went to put away the med kit. "How much did you see of that anyways?" He asked glancing over at her again.
"Enough to know that this conversation happened for more than just the reason of you following your medical oath," She answered dryly.
"I don't know what you're talking about Chapel" Leonard answered dryly, leaning against a bio bed.
"Uh huh, sure you don't. Just so you know you're one of those important people they were talking about," Christine replied and then went back into his office to get his PADD for him.
"They really think they aren't that important do they?" Leonard asked taking the device from his nurse and glancing at it.
"It's a hero complex Leonard, some people would rather put themselves in harms way to protect those they love. It reminds me of a certain grumpy coworker of mine," Christine explained. Her words caused Leonard to raise an eyebrow.
"What? I don't have a hero complex!" Leonard snapped indignantly.
"Says the man who has to be chased out of his own sickbay because he doesn't remember to eat or go to bed" Christine chided him earning a sigh of defeat.
"Ok fine, maybe sometimes I do have a small one…" Leonard muttered looking down at his PADD and trying to focus.
"You know what they say right?" Christine asked earning Leonard's attention again.
"We fall in love with people because we see parts of ourselves in them. Those parts may not always be good, but when we see them it reminds us that we aren't alone", Christine said giving her boss an empathetic look.
After a few minutes of silence, she put her PADD away. "Alright I'm going to dinner Len, see ya in an hour" Christine replied heading towards the door.
"Alright Christine, enjoy" Leonard called to her and then he stretched and headed to his office.
You were in rec room 6 after being cooped up in your room since the argument earlier. His words still echoed in your mind. You tried to reason with yourself, he was only saying that because he was your friend and he cared about you right?
You were nursing a glass of Saurian Brandy when you caught sight of Nurse Chapel coming into the rec room. You cringed a little because you knew she was Leonard's head Lackey.
Your heart jumped as she came over to you. "Good evening (Y/N) how are you?" She asked you and then she sat down across from you.
"That depends, you gonna tell Leonard that I'm here?" You asked giving her a slightly playful look.
"Nah, your secret is safe with me" Christine chuckled playing along with you. She then stretched out a little before beginning to speak again. "He loves you, you know. He's just afraid of admitting it."
This caused you to look at the nurse with a very surprised and confused look. "What? Who are you talking about?" You asked taking a sip of your drink.
"You know exactly who I'm talking about," She answered with a knowing look in her eyes.
"Yeah? Well he has a funny way of showing it Christine," You said flatly and glanced at her again.
"I know he can be harsh, but he's built up some walls. He gets like that because he's afraid of losing you. Just trust me on this," Christine said softly.
You spent a good part of the night having drinks and talking with Christine. Later on Nyota joined you and the three of you played a round or two of Fizzbin. At twenty-three hundred hours you finally decided to call it a night. The conversation that you had with Christine earlier was still on your mind.
As you went entered your quarters and laid down for the night, your thoughts began to roam to some of the many times when you had gotten hurt. Leonard was always there to patch you up and make you feel better.
Even when you didn't have physical wounds to write home about, he would be there to heal internal wounds and hear you rant. He was damn good at making you smile and maybe you liked seeing him smile more then you would openly admit.
You decided that when it was safe for you to return to duty again you would go and talk to him. Hopefully you wouldn't have to get hurt to do so. You closed your eyes and let out a tired sigh. You just hoped that Christine was right.
