Cooper who has just returned from a long and drawn out away mission that wasn't hard in the sense that it was dangerous but it was just. It was long and tiring. and Cooper has never been the most social sort and his battery is at an all time low and he is just tired
he happens to catch a glance of McCoy as they're both coming off duty and McCoy hadn't gotten any reports of any injuries or anything, but he knows Cooper and he knows it's been a long mission, so he figures he might as well go over. McCoy's figuring he'll just usher them off to a meal and bed
what happens instead is that Cooper's technically off duty now and that means that he is absolutely done with all his big responsibilities. He turns the corner, sees McCoy, and it's just instant tears. Cooper's not even blubbering, he's just standing there with this absolutely pathetic face and tears spilling down his cheeks and McCoy just slides right into action with a "S'alright, you poor thing," and ushers Cooper away like he had intended, though not for the reason he had expected
and by the time they get back to the quarters that Cooper shares with Ward, Coop is full on sniffles, hiccups, clinging, and just an absolute pitiful baby. McCoy steps away for a second and its like Cooper's been abandoned planetside instead of having his Mama a literal step away. McCoy's cooing and soothing the entire time, just a constant soft murmur of reassurance and sweet things because his poor baby. his poor baby.
and Cooper for once has absolutely no protest for McCoy changing him, not even when McCoy moves for the changing supplies (cautiously and with plenty of chances for Cooper to stop him) and gets him all comfy and secure in a sleep diap + his fav feetie jams. honestly, Cooper could absolutely do with a bath, but a quick wipe down with a damp rag will have to do because one look at Cooper and there's just no way the poor baby can manage a bath right now.
and he's just tired and fussy and keeps whining and hiccuping out tired little sobs as McCoy settles on the bed with him. He's glad he had the foresight to make a bottle before they laid down because there is no way on Earth Cooper's gonna let him get up to make one now. and so McCoy is just sitting up, Cooper curled up against him and he is finally, finally settling as McCoy feeds him
and all the while, McCoy's still talking all soft and sweet to Cooper to keep him settled, coax him to finish the bottle. and Cooper still fusses a bit, still whines and shifts because he's just such an overtired little baby, but McCoy settles and soothes him back down each time with a soft "Mama's got you, baby, "shhh, baby, yer alright" and more until the bottle's as finished as it's gonna be and Cooper's finally closing his sleepy little eyes. and McCoy stays there for a while because Cooper shifts and whines whenever he tries to get up, but honestly? he doesn't mind. he doesn't often get to have his baby so soft and settled without all those defenses up
