Stargazing Advent Calendar 2025 [December 22nd]
Stargazing Advent Calendar 2025 Masterlist
Summary: A complicated relationship, but two idiots in love. One had Christmas plans that didn’t work out, the other is deep in a xenozoology project. One night of stargazing might solve everything.
Pairings/characters: Leonard McCoy x reader (but not really), Montgomery Scott, mention of Jim Kirk and Joanna McCoy
Warnings: Some angst maybe?
Words: 760
For @iguess-theyre-mymess
I nodded. "I remember. The captain forced you to take out shore leave, but it didn't work out."
McCoy sat down on the nearest pouf, and I resisted the urge to both scoot away from him and scoot closer.
"I rarely take the time to really look at the stars too," he said and in the corner of my eye I saw him lean his elbows on his thighs and look through the big window.
"I'm surprised this place was empty," I commented to keep things friendly and casual.
"They started up an old Christmas movie in the mess hall," he explained. "I think most people are there."
I nodded, and we fell silent for a bit. Surprisingly, it wasn't an awkward silence, at least not for me.
"I had over 800 hours saved up," McCoy said after a while. I glanced at him quickly. He was still gazing at the stars. "Jim threatened me with the Medical Integrity Board." He chuckled and shook his head, looking down.
"That's... a lot of hours. You keep telling the crew to take their leave, you need to lead by example." I gave him a half-smile when he looked at me and his lips twitched at the corners too. That was the first time he had smiled in my direction for a long, long time.
"Jim suggested I see Joanna for Christmas. I haven't seen her for... three years now? And just as I was starting to look forward to leaving, the ship I was hitching a ride with didn't make it in time." He looked back out at the stars, I did too. But I could hear the disappointment in his voice.
"I am sorry," I said quietly, and meant it. "I am sure you will get another chance soon. Maybe she can even visit the ship?"
McCoy grunted. "Not a chance! I'm not letting her onto this metal canister hurtling through meteors and debris and alien germs. It's a disaster waiting to happen! Especially with Jim at the top!"
I made a snorting noise, trying not to laugh. "Don't let Kirk hear you say that, Bones!"
"Don't – Please..." I snapped around at the sound of pain in his voice, his eyes were closed and he was shaking his head. "Please, use Leonard. Like you used to." He opened his eyes and his hazel eyes bored into mine. "I can't stand you using that nickname. Considering why I got it. It just... Leonard, please."
My heart raced, but I nodded. I knew very well why he got that nickname, but he had never mentioned it being an issue with me using it before. But as I thought about it, I couldn't remember using before he went hostile. "Leonard," I said to confirm.
We fell into silence again. It was nice being casual with him again. I had missed this more than I realised. Even if we literally were the only people in the room, he still had the ability to make me feel like it was just the two of us.
"I have a lot of hours saved up too," I admitted after a while and I could see the switch on the doctor in him flip on, but before he could say anything about it: "I have plans to take some once I finish up this project I'm working on."
"It's really fascinating, it's –"
The sound of a communicator going off interrupted me. Leonard fished it out from his back pocket and flipped it open. "McCoy here."
"Bones! Scotty here. We're scheduled tae pass another ship headin' for Earth in about an hour. D'you still wannae go?"
"Thought so! I'll let them ken right away."
He looked at me in surprise, but there was excitement in his eyes that I had rarely seen there before.
"See? Told you that you would get another chance soon." I winked at him and shooed him out. "Go go!"
"Merry Christmas!" he said, shot to his feet and was out the door in a few strides.
This was good. I was sad to see him go, because after being nice and civil to each other for just a few minutes, my heart was already ready to hope again. But I was happy for him too. And he deserved shore leave. It was good. This was good.
I scooted over until my back was against the pouf he had sat on and leaned back. Eyes locking onto the view past the windows. "Merry Christmas, Leonard," I whispered to myself.
December 21st | Masterlist | December 23rd