"Jim," Leonard said, taking the man by the shoulder. "Ya not goin' to scare the livin' shit out of a old man."

Jim turned toward Leonard.

"There is something familiar about Cartwright," Jim said.

"And I am apparently admiral of medicine," Leonard said, sarcastically.

"No," Jim said.

"He looks like no one we met in the academy," Leonard said. "I am pretty sure he doesn't come from Riverside."

"He wanted to speak with Spock," Jim said. "and you should have seen the look on his face when he first saw me."

"So?' Leonard asked, raising a small eyebrow. "Everyone likes to speak with him. Includin' ya."

"That's different," Jim said. "I am his boyfriend."

"Three months into it ya probably goin' to become his husband," Leonard said.

"No," Jim said. "we are taking it slow."

"That's news," Leonard said. "how long?"

"A year," Jim said. "if it doesn't work it then it doesn't work out."

"Who says it is not goin' to work out?" Leonard asked.

"T'Pau," Jim said.

"Listen, infant," Leonard said. "It will work out. Because if Spock dump's ya," a dark expression grew on his face. "I am goin' to kill him."

"I am going to make sure you don't," Jim said. "hell, I might become a Librarian afterwards."

"Ya don't do well earth bound," Leonard said. "I had to drag your ass out of several bars."

"I was a cadet," Jim said.

"What makes ya think ya can resist goin' down the path you were originally goin'?" Leonard said, watching a glowing expression growing on Jim's face. "What 'chya smilin' about, Ensign?"

"You," Jim said.

"Right," Leonard said, as it occurred to him. "I would make sure ya didn't make a mistake to regret."

"It would be hard for me to make a mistake with you on my ass," Jim said.

Jim was right.

Leonard would follow the younger man where-ever he went.

Possibly throw away a promising career for the sake of making sure a friend stayed alive. He was more of a friend. But a ex-boyfriend. Someone he still loved deeply. After making sure Kirk was capable of not going to a bar, Leonard would leave to be a doctor and find his friend one year later as a single dad. Jim never had a consistent father figure. Someone who molded him into who he was today without as much of a reckless background and problems with law enforcement. Leonard let go of the man's shoulders. Jim was getting his act together day by day serving on the ship. Leonard watched the man go off down the corridor. Leonard turned away then made his path down toward the rec room.