merlin_beards requested this, I hope you liked it!

You sniffed and wiped at a stray tear as you stared at the empty seat across from you. You picked at your food but didn't feel like eating. You knew that being the CMO's wife would mean late nights a few missed plans but you didn't think that those "few" would turn into a common occurrence. The patience that you prided yourself in having was wearing thin and that was worrying you. You and Leonard had always been good at communication and expressing personal feelings to each other, that is, until recently. Work for the both of you has been quite busy and tiresome but coming home to your husband always made you feel better.

But once he started coming home later and later you got annoyed. He would come home after you have gone to bed or even as you are getting ready for your early morning shift. You tried to talk to him, to see if there was something going on that you could help him with but he would grunt, kiss your forehead and go to bed. As you sat at the table, staring at his cold food,  you made up your mind. If he isn't going to talk to you or make an effort to make time for the both of you again, then might as well do as you pleased. Two can play at this game.

Leonard McCoy rubbed his face as he sat at his desk in sick bay. It wasn't until thirty minutes earlier that he remembered about your dinner plans. you were making his favorite home cooked meal and here he was working on things that really could wait until tomorrow. But, if he was being honest with himself, he already hated the fact he had missed you so much already that he couldn't bring himself to see you, let alone talk to you. He felt terrible and didn't know the first thing about making it up to you. So he did what any man would do when he knows he had made his wife upset; avoid the wrath. Probably not the wisest thing but at least he was alive. Yet deep down he missed you and hated himself for avoiding you. Perhaps it would be wise to at least see you and try apologizing.

If Jim can sleep with three different women in a week and still have the balls to have them over again, then Bones can talk to his wife who he so desperately loved.

The doctor stood and collected his things but then thought it be unwise to apologize to you with work in his hands. So with a deep breath, he left his dark office and walk what felt like miles to your shared apartment. He stood outside the door and ran his hand through his hair. He hoped you would banish him to the couch for at least a week. Hopefully.

He opened the door and opened his mouth to call out for you but his voice died in his throat. All the lights were off save for a small lamp that lit a personal PADD laying on a side table. Glancing around, he walked up to the PADD and picked it up. His heart hammered as he read the single line you wrote for him.

"Leftovers are in the fridge."

Leonard blinked. Did you leave? He dropped the PADD on the couch and looked around flipping on lights and calling your name.

"(Y/n)? Please, (Y/n) I didn't mean to-" he paused when the door opened.

You walked through the door to your apartment but paused when you saw Leonard running his hands through his hair and calling your name. You almost gave in and decided to stay but you looked away from him, saying nothing as you came to grab your bathroom things you accidentally forgot. You tried to ignore his steps behind you as he followed you.

"(Y/n) you can't be serious. You're leaving me? All because I missed dinner?"

You continued to ignore him, pushing past him once you grabbed what you needed. You almost answered him but you kept to your resolve. Uhura was waiting for you with a bowl of ice cream and a promised back massage.

Leonard reached out and took your arm a bit roughly. You turned to him with angry eyes and he stepped back his hands up.

"I'm sorry but we need to talk. There are worst things that a missed meal."

At that, your blood boiled. "Oh yes like I haven't been ignored, going to bed alone for over a week, not feeling important or loved. But thank goodness nothing like that has happened."

"It's not like you have been the ideal wife."

"Maybe that's because you haven't given me many chances to show you!"

"Then why didn't you say anything if I have been annoying you so much?"

You stepped up to him and pointed at his chest. "I have tried but a woman can only take being grunted at, emotionlessly kissed and left alone so many times before she feels there is no use in trying anymore. Goodnight McCoy, you won't have to worry about me bothering you any longer."

You didn't give him time to answer and you turned and stomped out. He watched you go and his heart dropped. You wiped tears from your cheeks as you stepped into Uhura's room. She came over and held you as you cried. Leonard sat heavily on the couch and placed his face in his hands. The two of you slept restlessly that night away from each other with the other's words echoing in your minds.

Leonard let out a breath as he swallowed a lump in his throat. He could have just been honest with you from the beginning.

You sniffed as you hugged a pillow to your chest, trying to stay quiet as your friend slept next to you. You felt good getting out your anger but you hated that you even felt like telling him those things.

The two of you kept your distance thinking that the other wanted the space when really you both yearned to run into the other's arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four days later

Kirk rolled his eyes as he saw you step onto the bridge to have some documents signed. You ignored your husband as he stood next to Kirk, looking all grumpy and stoic, if not more so than normal. Kirk signed the document and looked up at you, sing you a kind smile.

"And how are you, Mr. McCoy." He made sure to emphasize your last name.

You internally winced and bit the inside of your cheek to keep yourself from looking at the man beside your Captain. "I am doing well. Really well actually."

Kirk nodded, his mind working fast. "Good. Good. And are you still up for the away team tomorrow."

You gave him an odd look but nodded. "Yes sir, just as we talked about this morning."

Kirk smirked. "Great! I am going to need your skills in case we run into complications. Spock says it will be on the more dangerous side when it comes to away missions."

Bones shifted next to him and Kirk coughed to hide the smile growing on his lips. You nodded, clasping your hands in front of you. "Just as you said. This morning."

Kirk shifted in his seat and shrugged. "Good. Great. Just wanted to clarify. See you in a couple of hours. That is if you are still available."

You nodded to him, shaking your head slightly in confusion. But you left, proud of yourself for not giving in to the temptation to look at the angry doctor. Though you couldn't get the captain's words out of your head. You always found him to be a bit odd.

Bones bit his nails absentmindedly and Kirk couldn't stop smiling. The blond captain turned to his grumpy friend and elbowed his side.

"So. How's my favorite doctor."

Bones grumbled. "About to land you in sickbay for a few days. And I don't care if it get's me thrown out."

Kirk turned back to the front and chuckled. "But that wife of yours," he whistled but then turned his head back to his friend, raising a brow, "she is your wife, right?"

Bones growled, glaring down at him. But his lack of answer made Kirk frown. He stood and clapped a hand on the blue shirt's shoulder. "Come on man, you are seriously going to let her walk out on you because you are a stubborn old fart?" Kirk shook his head. "And I thought I had issues."

Bones shrugged him off. "It's not that simple. We are just a couple taking a break."

Suddenly Kirk watched as his friend shed his scowl and it was replaced with worry lines and sorrow filled eyes. Without a second thought, Jim gently urged his friend to walk out into the hall where he nodded for him to go on. Bones rubbed his face and looked away as he felt tears prick behind his eyes. Jim waited patiently for him to collect himself.

With a sigh Bones continued. "I was working over time and sometimes for no reason. I love her, don't get me wrong but I am starting to have...doubts."

Jim chuckled. "Who would have thought I would be giving the southern gentelman relationship advice."

Bones chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself."

Jim smiled then cleared his throat. "Now, you may not like this but I need to know every little detail about what happened for he to help you."

Bones rolled his eyes but let out a sigh. "Fine. But I'm only telling you because I have no one better to tell."

Jim bumped his shoulder with a smirk. "Course you don't. So, how bad did you screw up?"

Leonard relented the events that happened to cause you to leave him. Honestly, he didn't blame you but he had wished you had talked to him first, despite his stupid time management.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were about to report to the debriefing room when you got a message on your PADD that Kirk changed the away team meeting to one of the ambassador council suits. You shrugged and checked your gear, satisfied with what you saw. The Captain was acting really strange but at least it helped you keep your mind off of...other things.

You passed through the suit doors and your mouth dropped. The room was dimly lit by various sized candles. Your stomach grumbled at the smell of freshly cooked food filling your nostrils. You looked around and your breath hitched as your eyes widened. Leonard sat at the end of a small table for two, all dressed to the nines. The list time you remembered seeing him dressed so nice was on your wedding day just over two years ago. You didn't move as you watched him stand and walk up to you, a shy smile pulling at his lips.

Leonard took your hand and cleared his throat. He missed you. He missed seeing you. He missed holding you. Kissing you. He let out a breath as you let him reach up and lighlty stroke your cheek. You closed your eyes and leaned into his touch that you missed just as much as he did. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to yours and closed his eyes.

"I am so sorry sweetheart. I am so sorry."

Your heart leapt at his touch and his voice. His voice. YOu had no idea how much you missed it and the way it made you feel when he spoke to you so sweetly. You opened your eyes and looked at him as he kept his eyes shut and you smiled. Gently you moved a hand up his chest and pressed the back of his neck as you leaned up on your toes, closing the distance between you.

You almost moaned as his lips pressed to yours and his hands moved to wrap around you. He smiled against your lips as he picked you up and held you against him. You pulled away to catch your breath, kissing his nose lightly. Leonard smiled and put you down lightly, taking both of your hands in his.

He looked at you beseechingly and nodded to the food-filled table behind him. "Would you do me the honor of trying again? Please."

You searched his face and found the sincerity you had wished to see all those times he had walked in late before. You nodded, tears pricking your eyes.

"Yes. I'd like that."

Leonard smiled wide as he extended his arm for you to take and lead you to the table. The Enterprise could be under attack and he wouldn't care. He has his wife back and you are willing to try again and that's all that mattered to him.