An act of faith.

Watching the science officer consider his question, Leonard leaned back in his seat as well. He hadn’t intended to divert Spock’s question and answer session, but he’s kinda glad he did. He found himself learning more about his companion than he’d ever thought to in the past. That Spock could feel inferior to anyone, even himself, was an interesting revelation…

“heh, yeah… those are all some pretty human emotions, Spock. Though you make them sound much more altruistic than the average human would..” Bones replied, propping a booted heel up on the edge of his chair, half perched on the cushion.

“Y’don’t feel like you have to compete with this other version of yerself, d’you? It’s like you said, the alternate future has made y’both two very different people.” …or at least a little different, Bones internally amended. He shook his head, “..Yer not ever gonna be just like Spock Prime, even when you do reach his age. You’ll be yer own man……er, Vulcan.”

McCoy pursed his lips in thought, his eyes trained on Spock. “…and neither of you were t’blame for what happened to yer planet. That was the work of a madman, beyond yer ability to control. Feeling responsibility for something that no one could have prevented is…. it’s  human thing t’do, too.” 

He examined Bones' question thoughtfully. "Do I feel I must compete with him? No," he answered almost immediately. "To compete with myself would be illogical. In fact, for two identical versions of the same person to exist in one timeline would be highly illogical and redundant, a conclusion I have only just now discovered. It simply seems as though he fulfills... idealistic conditions. I would not wish to be in his place," he added quickly. "It is a complicated matter."

“Spock, I… I think that might be the nicest thing ye’ever said t’me…” Even with the jibe about his linguistic choices and his bad attitude. Clearing his throat abruptly, Leonard glanced away in effort to mask the tinge of warmth in his cheeks. “…Yeah… Well. Thank you. That actually.. somehow I feel a little better. I guess it means more, coming from you.” 

Why was that? Was it because he knew the Vulcan wouldn’t lie about his opinion to salvage Bones’s feelings? Spock’s honesty could be brutal, but it was also refreshing. 

And maybe he was right. Bones could spend a lifetime beating himself up about his failed marriage, but what would be the point? Didn’t he have a brighter future now than he’d had spinnin’ his wheels in Georgia?  Even with his fear of space travel, Leonard had somehow obtained a…hell, it was a damned good position aboard the best starship in the fleet. That was something more than he’d ever expected of himself… 

Darting his gaze back to Spock, the doctor tried to scowl, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward instead. “…I usually hate it when yer right, y’know… but this time, it’s not so bad…”

Spock paused for a very long time, fingers steepled as he leaned over the PADD the doctor had returned to him. "I would not say I worry," he began, then paused again. "You felt as though you had failed, moreso in the alternate timeline than in this one. I expect that my own personal view is perhaps more subjective than I should permit, but in comparing myself to the alternate, I feel as though I am inferior in composition. It appears as though he has successfully united the two halves of his self, both Human and Vulcan. As I am sure you are aware, I still struggle with this concept. It is a unique position, now more than ever with so few Vulcans left. I cannot help but feel that the destruction of Vulcan was our fault - it is harder to make a clear division between myself and him unless I examine myself in detail, which reveals faults I do not wish to face... I think this is part of being Human, is it not?"

Divorced, with one daughter named Joanna. And somehow this other Bones had screwed up so badly that sole custody was granted to Jocelyn. Christ. 

Glancing up at Spock, Leonard grumbled begrudgingly, “….Jocelyn and I divorced because she was cheatin’ on me… If we’d had a kid, I’d have fought her for ‘em. What’s this Bones’s excuse?”

The Klingon’s eyes widened, and smirked something akin to satanic, if Jim were to believe in hell. “Alas, the Vulcan has decided to cooperate. As I said, Vulcan, we are more than willing to die to get this formula.” Then, he told an underling to haul Spock off, take hm to their labs, or whatever equivalent.

“Y’can’t just tell a guy he’s got a daughter and then expect him to dismiss it. Goddammit, man, I think I have a right to know!” Gripping the shoulder of Spock’s uniform, Bones transferred his intense gaze to the officer’s face, “…’ysaid her name was Joanna? That he had her while he was still married to Jocelyn? We both married Jocelyn Darnell, right??”

And divorced her, it sounded like. Leonard’s lips thinned into a hard line, “…he had a little girl, and he still joined Starfleet? He still left Earth? What…” The doctor paused, inhaling sharply through his nose, “…Did he ever see her again? Did he see her grow up?” 

Jim’s whole body was tense from the switch of who they were aiming at. And, just to fuck with him (he was almost sure), they switched back again, however, some sort of knife underneath his neck.

"I cannot supply you with the super-beings," he added. "They were placed back into stasis and moved to a secure, undisclosed location." He paused. He didn't want to say they were of absolutely no use to the Klingons, even though they weren't, because that would likely result in getting them killed. 

Picking up his pace, the doctor absorbed Uhura’s commentary regarding the life on this planet. Familiarity with visitors was… good. But Bones didn’t want to assume too much. Doing so had gotten him in plenty of hot water in the past, he was eager not to repeat the mistake. “Well, even if they recognize us as being Angels of Mercy, I think I’ll let you speak first, Lieutenant.” It’s not really a joke, but the Doctor shot Nyota a grin all the same. 

He added to Spock’s questions with his own thoughts, commenting, “The symptoms  the distress call listed fit the profile of half a dozen strains of Mothern Bite Fever, but that virus originates in an insect species found only on Gonal IV. I’ve never heard of it branching out to other planets…” Leonard shook his head, huffing a bit as he dodged around some unstable ground. “I’ll be able to determine the bacteria at work more conclusively when we get to a patient. Whatever word these people have for the illness may not match with our database.”