Kirk suddenly apparrated by McCoy's side, "Good afternoon!"

McCoy was walking down the corridor headed toward the bar.

"What brin's ya here?" McCoy asked.

"Nothing important," Kirk said, causally. "Rumors say you broke up with Spock."

"Yep," McCoy said.

"Bones, you broke my first officer," Kirk said. "Fix it."

"He is perfectly fine," McCoy said. "last time I saw him, his ass was up your eyes and his eyes was to the console."

Kirk sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"He is a Vulcan," Kirk said. "He's never going to admit that he is upset."

"Let Spock deal with it on his own way, we shouldn't force him to be emotional," McCoy said. "and you would make a excellent form of comfort for a Vulcan. You can comfort anyone, Jim, face it."

"He is not my ex-boyfriend," Kirk said.

"I did what I could," McCoy said.

"Take him back," Kirk said.

"Kid," McCoy said. "remember how I was when I first met ya?"

"Uh huh," Kirk grew a fond expression then turned his head to see a glare on the doctor's face.

"Imagine what it'll be like if he left me," McCoy said. "it'll be a lot worse."

"Don't be a pessimist," Kirk said. "Spock would never leave you. If he did, it would be against his will."

"You know who would be a better boyfriend with Spock?" McCoy asked.

"You would be," Kirk said.

"No, Jim, that will be ya," McCoy came to a stop facing the man. "ya and Spock share heart eyes. ALL. THE. TIME. And there is no personal space between ya."

"What?" Kirk said, appearing to be perplexed. "I do that with everyone."

"Don't kid with me," McCoy said. "everyone else has personal space except for Spock and ya."

"Just because my other counterpart was in a relationship with the Ambassador doesn't mean it'll happen here," Kirk said.

"Is that a dare?" McCoy asked, raising his eyebrows back at the man. "because I happen to remember who made my head nurse and your communications officer get into a relationship."

"I am not daring you," Kirk said. "I did it once, I can do it again," McCoy said.

"No, Bones, no," Kirk said.

"All I want is my best friends to get back together and Spock to be Spock again."

"He isn't different," McCoy said. "are ya humanizing him when he's barely showin' emotions?"

"I can tell," Kirk said. "it is in his work performance."

"I will think about it," McCoy said, then swept by the man.

"You better!" Kirk called back.

==============================================================

McCoy's fist landed on the hard, wooden surface.

I am an idiot, McCoy thought.

A tear slid down the side of his face.

So many unsaid words. His last words to Spock couldn't have been, "Ya bein' an asshole."

There were things that the doctor had yet to tell Spock. Perhaps he knew.

His recollection of earlier returned.