Jim stopped outside the dean’s office door to stare in surprise at the name appearing there.

Leonard McCoy

Jim tapped on the glass.

“Come in.”

Behind the desk was a man somewhere in his late forties, a full, though trimmed beard, dark hair and hazel eyes gazing back at him.

“What happened to Halloway?”

“Guess he departed.”

A strange way of putting it, Jim thought, as he moved farther into the office.

“You’re Leonard McCoy?”

“That’s right. Have a seat, Jim.”

He did and frowned afterward. “Do I…do I know you?”

For some reason that caused McCoy to lean forward, almost eagerly. “Do you think you know me?”

“I…” Jim tried to drum up something from somewhere within his consciousness but nothing came. He shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

McCoy leaned back in his chair, somehow seeming disappointed at Jim’s response. Weird.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Mm. As the, uh, new dean, I thought I should introduce myself.”

“I see, Mr. McCoy.”

“Doctor.”

“What?”

“Doctor McCoy.”

“Don’t pander to me, kid. One tiny crack in the hull, and our blood boils in thirteen seconds.”

Jim shook his head and rubbed his hand over his eyes.

“You okay?” McCoy asked.

“Not sure. Feeling kind of queasy.”

McCoy nodded. “You have any more courses to teach today?”

Did he? What day was it even? October. But October…what.

“Jim?”

“Sorry. I don’t think I have any more today.”

“Then go on home. Do you think you can drive or should I get someone to take you?”

“No. I think I can make it.” He stood up and that’s when he realized McCoy was getting up too and walking with him to the door of the office which suddenly seemed really far away when it should be only a few feet.

He really was losing it.

Jim put his hand on the handle of the door and turned to look back at McCoy into to see he was holding a very big, wicked looking needle.

Jim backed up quickly hitting the glass door. “Hey, hey!”

“Take it easy, Jim.”

Jim opened the door and ran out of the office.

“Jim! Wait!”

Jim kept running, passing students who attempted to all out to him.

“Professor Kirk!”

He had just made it to the parking lot, his heart racing, ran he ran into something so solid and unmoving he fell to the ground.

Just before his vison winked out he saw a beanie.