After seeing so many quotes, excerpts, and posts about this book floating around my dashboard for ages, my curiosity completely took over. Since tracking down older Star Trek books over here isn't the easiest task, I had to order a copy straight from the US — and it’s finally here!
I've listened to a few Star Trek audiobooks before, but I'm so excited to actually sit down with the physical book this time, dive into McCoy’s 💙storyline, and read all those quoted moments in their full context.
Time to grab a cup of tea, curl up, and start reading! 📖
Guess who’s back? It’s us! @thesconesyard and me! And we present to you the third story of our ongoing series “Odds & Favors”. Have fun!
All’s Fair
Part 1
McCoy
Consciousness came back to Leonard Scott-McCoy slowly. A light breeze ruffled through his hair as fingers softly trailed across his chest. A slow smile spread on his face. Without opening his eyes, he knew where he was, his favorite place- well, one of his favorite places- his own hidden forest grove on the palace grounds of the planet Georgiares II.
The fingers on his chest belonged to his husband, Montgomery Scott-McCoy, who had been reading before McCoy had dozed off. He wondered if Scotty had fallen asleep too, or if he had just continued to sit quietly. The warm summer air, the soft breeze, and Scotty’s accent had all combined into the perfect sleeping potion.
“I know ye’re awake love, I saw ye smile,” Scotty chuckled.
McCoy blinked his eyes open and looked up. He had rested his head on Scotty’s lap while he’d been reading.
“Couldn’t be a better sight to wake up to,” he grinned, before reaching up and pulling Scotty towards him for a kiss.
“Aye, but we’ll never finish the book if ye keep falling asleep,” Scotty laughed when he pulled back.
“Sorry you’re so soothing.” McCoy stretched then sat up. He sighed. “This has been so nice, I wish it was longer.”
“Summer?” Scotty asked.
McCoy nodded. From troublesome instructors to the almost deaths of their siblings— McCoy tried not to shiver as he thought of Scotty’s own brush with death— their first year at Starfleet had certainly been filled with ups and downs.
But for all those hard and fearful moments there had been many good and joyous ones as well. They had made new friends and learned so much in their respective fields. McCoy could now fly a shuttle. It still frightened him, but not like it had used to scare him.
“I know mo ghràdh, it’s been great. But getting back and seeing everyone and learning will be good too.”
In the morning they would fly to Earth again. They had spent the beginning of the summer there and then returned to Georgiares in time to spend their first wedding anniversary where they had married. They would be heading back to Scotland for a few days, before heading to San Francisco to start their second year as Starfleet cadets.
“I know,” McCoy agreed. “It will.” He looked up at the trees and the sky. The shadows were beginning to lengthen. “I guess we should head back if we want to clean up before dinner.” He grinned at Scotty. There may have been one other reason he had so easily slipped off to sleep…
Scotty’s face flushed pink. “At least it’s private out here, unlike some other places ye try, ye mad man.”
“You love it,” McCoy kept grinning.
Scotty gave his shoulder a shove and stood up to begin collecting the few things they had brought to the grove.
McCoy and Scotty entered the dining room hand in hand.
“Enjoy your afternoon?” Leah McCoy asked. Her mouth was pulled up in a smirk. McCoy glared at his sister as he and Scotty sat, before smiling brightly.
“Of course we did Lee, would you like the full details?”
“Gross,” Leah replied. Beside her, Robbie Scott’s eyes widened and he made a face. Scotty’s younger brother still blushed the most easily of the four.
“What did you do?” McCoy asked his sister and she took Robbie’s hand.
“Worked,” Leah shrugged.
“Hey guys!” Jim Kirk called as he and Spock entered the room.
Jim had an open invitation from Francine Scott to spend his summer- any of his free time really- in Scotland, and had taken her up on that, following McCoy and Scotty as they traveled. Spock, of course, had followed as well, though he and Jim had returned to Georgiares sooner than McCoy and Scotty.
Close behind Spock and Jim, the adults began to enter. King David and Queen Eleanor. Spock’s parents, Amanda and Sarek, who was head of palace security. And the ever present Dr. Boyce, former teacher of McCoy and current advisor to the king.
“It’s still so hard to see you go,” Eleanor said to McCoy after everyone had been greeted and the meal began. “But I will admit it is easier than last summer.”
The queen’s eyes were shining, but no tears fell.
“It’s probably weirder when I am here now,” McCoy said.
Leah rolled her eyes. “Shut up Lenny, you still don’t get it.”
“Oh you children,” Eleanor said fondly. “They never really do grow up do they?” she said to the other adults.
“Mother!” McCoy and Leah protested at the same time, causing a laugh from everyone else.
Part 2
Scotty
“Are you looking forward to your next year at the academy?” David looked at all of the cadets at the table. They had just started to dine, but it was always nicer to eat and conversate.
“Aye. It’s gonna be amazing! I’ll finally get to fly a shuttle!” Scotty was beaming with excitement and joy. They all had received messages about their new schedules in the morning. “Unfortunately Flores will nae be my instructor, but I bet it’ll still be great.”
Lt. Flores had been Leonard’s instructor and advisor during their first year at Starfleet Academy. He had taken good care of the prince, supporting him in every way he could. Once he got to know about Leonard’s fear of flying, he had done everything in his power to take it from the young man.
Leonard smiled at his husband’s enthusiasm, before he himself answered his father’s question.
“And I’m finally free from flight classes. Plus, I have way more medical courses this semester. So many interesting topics. I can’t wait to learn about psychology.”
“Oh?” Jim raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t know you were interested in that kind of stuff.”
Scotty exchanged a quick glance with Leonard. They both knew very well how the prince’s interest in the human mind had been sparked. And it wasn’t a very pleasant reason. During their last semester Mabel, a cadet crazy in love with Jim, had taken both Scotty and Jim hostage. Her obsession was the reason Leonard had taken a closer look at books and papers about psychology. But, of course, they wouldn’t admit that to their blond friend.
So Leonard just shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah, well, as a good doctor I have to know about a lot of stuff. And maybe that way I’ll learn to cure my aviophobia all by myself.”
Even though the regular therapy sessions with the academy’s psychologist Dr. Cuthbert had helped Leonard quite a lot already, he still wasn’t completely free of his anxiety. But Scotty was sure that the next year would change that.
“Ye’ll do amazing in every medical feel, mo ghràdh.”
Scotty gently squeezed his husband’s hand and leaned over to kiss him.
“Ugh, these lovebirds. It’s always the same with them,” Leah groaned, playfully, while rolling her eyes. “Jim, Spock. What are you looking forward to the most?”
“I am most curious about the course about xenogeology, your highness. It might turn out to be quite helpful for me as the future science officer I intend to be.”
Jim snorted.
“Oh, come on, Spock. That sounds so boring,” he protested, ignoring the stern look Sarek gave him and spoke on. “I, for my part, look forward to the mission training in the simulator. It’s gonna be so awesome! Getting to see other worlds and ships.”
David chuckled softly.
“I can see that you all have different opinions on what you’ll enjoy most. But I’m quite certain that you will all have a great time.”
“We will, Father. We will.”
Later that evening, when they were lying in bed, Leonard let out a heavy sigh. In the darkness of their room, Scotty couldn’t really make out any features, but he could guess that trouble was written over his loved one’s face.
“What is it, mo ghràdh?”
“It’s just… I’ll miss home. As much as I love Earth, Georgiares is where I grew up. And spending time here always makes me feel nostalgic.”
“Oh, Len.”
Slowly, Scotty moved a bit so he could wrap one arm around Leonard and pull him closer.
“Ye have great memories of this place, just like I have of Aberdeen, but I promise ye that we’ll make many good memories in San Francisco too this school year. We’ll make it a home.”
“I know, leannan. I know. After all, anywhere you are is home.”
And if Leonard were to be honest with himself, that was the hardest part: letting go of control. Because then Spock would discover more of his inner demons, seeing exactly what kind of person he truly was—which perhaps wasn't the smartest thing when the Vulcan didn't wish to be more human... but perhaps he simply wanted Leonard to understand himself.
