You open the old time novel, where the heart is gone, and the hero would be me

Part 4

The USS Montgomery Scott flew into space headed in the general direction at top warp factor. It had been four hours since the unexpected life returned to McCoy. Some members of the McCoy clan were house in their individual quarters. Being assured that, "He will die after Spock gets back" was even more of a shock than McCoy suddenly getting the ability to live again. Elizabeth watched the man walk around in his admiral outfit fiddling at the collar every once in awhile. He paced the length of the ship not bothering to take the turbo lift. Lewis wasn't concerned but he was entirely concerned in dealing with this sheerly impossible event. Humans were not capable of getting a second wind on their death bed. Everyone agreed that it was almost as though he had been powered by spite.

"Doctor McCoy," Elizabeth said.

McCoy stopped in the hallway, across from Klingon science officers.

"Yes?" McCoy turned his way toward her.

"I am confused. . . You should be dead," Elizabeth said. "everyone is just in shock."

McCoy snickered.

"Figured so," McCoy said. He patted on the wall. "Scotty would be thrilled to bits if he knew a Constitution class was named after him."

"I bet he would," Elizabeth said. "What makes you so sure you'll find him?"

"He left a part of me in here," McCoy said. "I can find him easier than a bunch of star fleet time travel agents," McCoy tapped on the side of his head. "Ya know. The wrath of khan, the search for Spock, and the voyage home. . ." he briefly smiled at a passing memory. "It feels like it were a passin' dream."

"Memories tend to become that way," Elizabeth said.

"A fantasy," McCoy said. "like one of those early 21st century romantic films. Where I spent my golden years."

"It was romantic the way you told it," Elizabeth said, reminding him.

"Those three months we spent there. . ." McCoy said, leaning against the wall with a small smile.

"They were memorable," Elizabeth said.

"They were," McCoy said. "I have to repay him because he got Jim back on his feet." He nodded, as though certain, about it. "After Spock's first death . . . "

McCoy briefly closed his eyes painfully at the memory of Kirk manning the bridge alone. After Saavik had been assigned to a vessel around Genesis. She wasn't there to see her adoptive father's reaction at the empty chair. His hands lingering on the science station. The look in Kirk's eyes read that he was done. There was no career left for him in space. Go home and return to his duties, alone, teaching cadets. Everyone was emotional. Every time Kirk looked at the Vulcan after fal-tor-pan was like a little of his soul coming back. Every wide smile at the Vulcan's confused demeanor. Every time Spock looked at Kirk and McCoy, precisely.

"What do you mean by first death?" Elizabeth asked. "Do you mean that he has died many times?"

"Frankly, I served with them on the USS Enterprise A," McCoy said. "He died three times on my watch."

"But. . . that's . . how. . ." Elizabeth was at a loss for words.

"Vulcans are stubborn creatures. Don't want to die. Stubborn on dyin'," McCoy said, nostalgically. "Sarek and Amanda contacted me the third time and requested I stop giving them grief." McCoy laughed, wiping off a tear from along side his eye.

"How?" Elizabeth said.

McCoy winked.

"I'm a miracle worker," McCoy said. "Miracle workers don't tell their secrets."

"If you say so," Elizabeth said.

"Excuse me," McCoy said. "I have a sick bay to check out."

McCoy turned away then resumed his path down the hall notably lacking a walking stick in his hand.

"Odd. ." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow noticing the aged admiral was walking fine. His recovery from the brink of death was remarkable. She only wondered how long it would last.