Come Here Often?

Chapter 4: Call Me Anytime

The rest of the week seemed to drag on, or at least it felt that way to Jessica. She wondered if Leonard felt the same way, or if perhaps she was making too many assumptions on his level of attraction to her based on the fact that he asked her out on a date. Perhaps he was just being nice because of the favor she'd done for him. She could imagine that he might have some hang-ups about starting a relationship based on his ugly divorce, but things had gone so well in the opportunities they'd had to speak, she couldn't help but hope.

It felt strange to hope—after grieving and being convinced that her life was done, especially her romantic life. But Leonard McCoy had changed all that. Something about the man made her feel things she hadn't felt in years—since before David had died.

She chewed at her lip as she lay on her bed flipping through the latest Starfleet News articles. No matter how hard she tried to focus on reading the article on the screen, her thoughts kept going back to Leonard. As she reread the sentence she'd already read two other times, an alert popped up at the top. She had an incoming video call—from Leonard.

"Hello?" She said with a wide smile as Leonard popped up on the screen, leaned back against his own pillows on his bed just as she was. He had one arm above his head, helping pillow his head a little higher.

He smiled back. "Hey there! I didn't disturb you studying or resting, did I?"

"No, not at all. I was just catching up on some news. A rare moment of relaxation in the midst of the constant, perpetual struggle to stay afloat."

"From what I hear, you seem to be doing a pretty good job, if grades are anything to show for it."

She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Have you been snooping around about me, Doctor McCoy?"

He waggled his eyebrows a little. "Just a little innocent research, my dear. Nothing nefarious or creepy, I promise."

She let out a light giggle before continuing their conversation. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call? Did you need something? Everything going okay with your PADD?"

"It's great. I'm on it right now. It hasn't glitched or hiccupped since you set it up. No, I don't need anything... not exactly..." He glanced away and she could sense his nervousness even through the screen. Finally he turned back and gazed at her through the screen. "Other than to see you." She felt her stomach flip and her cheeks warmed at his comment. "I, um... Friday seems to be taking forever to get here."

She released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding as a deep sense of relief washed over her. "I'm so glad to hear you say that. I thought for sure I was being over eager."

He shook his head, but remained quiet, seeming to think through his thoughts and deciding not to say any of them. Instead, he diverted the conversation. "So, how are classes?"

"Good. Hey, we're about to begin studying medical equipment schematics and operations. I might have to pick your brain on a few things, if you don't mind."

"Don't mind at all. For once, I'd love to not feel like the fool in the room when I'm with you."

"You are by no means a fool, Leonard." She had so much admiration for him and the work he does. "You are a doctor, you've already had more education than the great majority of cadets on this campus, and you can fix people. I just fix things."

"Maybe, darlin'—but your hands are magic with those things. You're like the Tech Doctor."

She grinned. "I'll have to remember that one. Maybe it'll stick as a nickname."

"Do you have any nicknames? Jess, maybe?"

She nodded. "Yeah, the few close friends I have around here call me Jess, so did my family when I was growin' up—and David."

"Does it make you uncomfortable for people to call you that since he did?"

She shrugged. "Nah, maybe because my family did for so long. If he had started it, it might be weird."

"My ex-wife called me 'Leo' - I wasn't really fond of it then, and even less since things went south with her."

"Did your family ever have nicknames for you?"

"My mother insisted on calling me Leonard. My father rebelled and used to call me Len, as did my little brother."

"Len—that's kinda cute. How do you feel about it?"

"Much more ambivalent and undecided than about 'Leo'. It sounds kinda nice coming from you."

She blushed, but filed away that bit of information and continued her questions. "What about here—have you picked up any nicknames?"

He groaned. "Oh yes, thanks to Jim."

"Oh? The illustrious Jim Kirk gave you a nickname? And what is it?"

"Bones. He calls me Bones and now so do all our other friends and some of the nurses and Doctors on my shifts at work have even picked up on it."

"Because you're a doctor? Is that why he calls you Bones?"

"No. I wish. But, no. When Jim and I first met it was on the cadet shuttle headed for the Academy. I'm a bit ashamed to say I was drunk and nervous and almost got sick all over him. Anyway, I grumbled about my ex-wife when he asked why I was joining Starfleet if I hated space. I told him she took everything but my bones—"

She grinned in understanding. "And the rest is history."

"Apparently so."

"I'm glad you called, Leonard."

"Yeah... me too."

"You know, you can do this any time. Call me, I mean."

"I don't want to be a bother—"

"Leonard," she said, interrupting.

"Yeah?"

"I mean it. Call me. I know this is new for both of us. But... this week, waiting for Friday, has been torture. Your call has been the best thing to happen since you walked through my door with donuts a few days ago."

"You'll tell me if I get irritating?"

"Yeah, I'll tell ya," she said with a chuckle.

"Alright then. I should get going. Jim's draggin' me to some sushi bar for dinner tonight."

"Oh, good luck with that. I'll see you in a couple days, Len."

He blinked at her use of the nickname, and she saw him visibly swallow. "Yeah, see you Friday, 1800 hours."

"Good night."

"G'night Jess."

Once she was sure the call had ended, she let the PADD plop down in her lap as she leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and smiled. Two more days.