A Little Reminiscing Stardate 2259.274/2255.112

McCoy was taking off his shirt in the bedroom when he heard what Elyse said. "You're a bridge officer Elyse. You're going to be putting yourself in danger. You, Jim, Amara...you need me," he said as he unbuttoned his shirt and moved to sit on the bed. "And we need this mission to succeed. Denoblia is already in the Federation. They have doctors coming from everywhere," he said as her watched her come into the room. If he brought up her almost dying again, he was certain she'd clobber him right then and there so he didn't.

Elyse walked into their bedroom and stood there for a moment. She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "I won't be used as an excuse for you not doing this Leonard. Yes, something bad happened to me, but something bad could happen to me anywhere I go." She sighed and then was quiet for a moment. She walked over and sat on the bed next to him. She took his hand into her own. "I'll go with you. I'm still young...I'll put my career on hold for a while."

"I can't do that...I can't do that to you," he said and half turned and took her hands into his. "You're on the rise Elyse. Your career is moving at a breakneck speed. And I married you. My job is to at least 'try' and protect you, make you happy and to help you grow. I'm a doctor, rank doesn't really matter to me, my work speaks for me," he said. "It's not a sacrifice darlin. "I have a ship that needs me, a beautiful wife that needs me and this," he said as he put her arms on his shoulders. "Is where I want to be. I have never had so much as now," he said as he took her face into his hand. "And I love you more than anything," he whispered then kissed her. Gently at first then he pulled away a moment to look into her eyes. He wanted to win this argument badly.

Elyse looked at him and into his eyes. "I don't want you to turn down this position just because you think I need you. Of course I need you, but I also don't want you to regret not taking this job in a few years, or grow to resent me because of it. I want you to what will make you happy...because I love you."

McCoy kissed her cheek. Elyse had such a big heart he hoped her being married to him, his certain kind of dark humor about the universe, he hoped he didn't change that about her. He grinned. "Right now, watching you get naked, will make me happy," he said as he leaned back onto the bed then gestured for her to begin.