Captain's Log 10 - Sound the Bugle Now

[universal_charm]

Who: Jim Kirk + You
Broadcast: Yes; everyone
Action: The Tourist
When: Now

VIDEO

_{[ When Kirk's face appears on the screen, there is a weariness to him. Had his eyes been red rimmed one might have thought he had been crying. Maybe he had and he just hid it well. His shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and there was no joy in his eyes, or a smile hiding in the corner of his lips. In fact, for a few solid heartbeats he says nothing, just looks into the camera as if waiting for someone to stop him from what he is about to say. ]}

For all those that knew him, Leonard McCoy has been returned home.

He will be sorely missed.

<sub>[ Kirk looks like he wants to say more. Knows he should say more. Captains needed to say more and be strong for everyone else, that was what they did, but he couldn't. Not this time. It was to much this time.

So he just takes a breath and reaches up, shutting off the feet. ]</sub>

THE TOURIST

_{[ His message sent out, after exhausting all possible reason for him to be elsewhere and unreachable, Kirk slumped in the chair he sat in, resting his forehead against his clasped hands. For a long moment his room is quiet, almost deathly so - ]}

DAMN IT!

_{[ The shout, followed by the sharp crash of glass shattering against a wall, the wet slop of liquid hitting the floor. Then silence. ]}

Comments

[universal_charm]

Do you think we will? That we can go back and laugh at this?

Privately, of course, because I'm sure if we tell the brass they'll never let us near a ship again.

[candothat]

I'm not certain that even Commander Spock would be willing to let either of us back on the bridge without a thorough psychiatric evaluation if we told him.

[A solemn pause.]

No. I don't think that we will remember. The three times I have been home, I forgot about these places while I was there.

[universal_charm]

No, you're right about that. But... I mean would he be wrong about that? All of this is kind of insane when you step back and think about actually telling someone.

_{[ He rubbed his face and groaned. ]}

Maybe that's for the best...

[candothat]

[Agreeably:] This is entirely insane.

But I wouldn't want to forget any of it, not even the parts of it that have hurt the most.

[universal_charm]

_{[ He looked to him and he smiled softly at him, his eyes warm with brotherly affection. ]}

Sometimes it really strikes me how much you've matured, since our first adventure...

[candothat]

[Kirk doesn't know the half of it. That first time they all came together on the Enterprise was at least six years ago now--maybe as many as eight, depending on whether or not his suspicions about time in Marina are correct. So, so much has happened, both at home and away from it.

But the Enterprise still is home and her crew is still family.]

I hope that you will remember that. [He reaches out to touch Jim's shoulder again.] I know that you will still try to protect me, but also let me protect you sometimes.

[universal_charm]

_{[ He snorted, but did not push the other's touch away, his mouth curling in a tiny smile. ]}

Okay, that's a bit to mature. I don't think I'm ready for that from you yet.

_{[ But he laid his hand on Chekov's all the same and gave a squeeze, grateful for his presence. ]}