Title: Light of the Moon Author: imagined_haven Rating: PG-13 Warnings: major character death, suicide, ghost!

Jim Genre: romance/angst Summary: Leonard doesn't believe the ghost stories on campus. Not until he is confronted with reality and falls in love with a ghost.

It was late on Halloween night when Leonard looked up from the book he was reading to find someone else in the deserted hall where he was studying for an exam he had the next day. He grumbled a bit; hed come to this hall precisely to be left alone, for no one would study in here anymore for fear of the ghost that supposedly lurked within the walls. It was said that a young man had killed himself in the bathroom a long time ago, worried over a test he was convinced he couldnt pass, and that his ghost would approach studiers, leaving those who were having hard times alone and chasing away those who were confident in their knowledge. Len didnt really believe it, though; it completely went against everything hed learned and believed as a scientist. So he was shocked when he saw that the young mans feet were hovering about an inch off the ground; the technology to hover like that wasnt very good yet, and if he was using that then he should be wobbling and making a lot more noise than he was. So, hows the studying going? the young man asked, walking--no, floating--over and looking at his textbook. Len may have been a skeptic, but he was always careful. I have no idea how Im going to pass, he said with a small sigh. The young man made a sympathetic noise and began to move away when an idea struck Len. Hey! As the ghost--for he could no longer call the young man a man--turned back briefly, he held up the book. Do you think you could help me study? I work better when I study with someone else, he lied smoothly. The ghost snorted. And thats why you came here, huh? At Lens raised eyebrow he continued. You know as well as I do no one studies in here unless they really want to be left alone; no one comes here anymore. It was actually getting a little lonely for a while. Well, maybe so, Len conceded. But now Ive seen you, and I have to admit Im curious. So you helping me study is actually me getting a chance to know a little more about you, and theres a fair chance it might actually help. At that the ghost chuckled. Youre honest; I like that. So whatre you studying, anyway? he asked, bending over to read the text on Lens PADD. Xenobiology? Looking to be a doctor? Tryin to be, he said. So, whats your name, anyway? With a laugh, the ghost admitted, Its been a long time since someone asked me that. You can call me Jim. And you... you have em, so Im calling you Bones. Mildly irritated with the nickname, Len asked, And I dont suppose telling you my real namell change your mind? Nope! Jim cheerfully shouted. Now tell me about this alien and, more importantly, whether or not I could fuck it. Jim, youre a ghost.

So?! You cant fuck anything. Shut up! ~*~ Len really wasnt sure what guided his feet to the abandoned hall the next evening, but he found himself opening the door and softly calling, Jim? A joyful cry echoed through the hall. You came back! No ones ever come back, not ever! Soon enough, the ghost flickered into appearance before him. So howd the test go? Oh, horrible, Len said flippantly in keeping with the old legend. Jim chuckled, evidently in a good mood. So you aced it, then. I can tell youre smart; you dont have to lie to me. You came back, so Im not about to chase you out. Len grinned. Just how long has it been since you actually talked to someone, that youre so willing to haunt someone like me? What do you mean, someone like you? Jim asked. Youre the most interesting person Ive seen in the entire century Ive been here! Youre smart, youre funny... Bitter, sarcastic... Len murmured under his breath. But that makes you real, Jim muttered wistfully, looking down at himself. Len decided not to comment on that, not knowing what would be polite to say about reality to a ghost. Youve been here a century, then? So what have you been doing, apart from scaring poor students witless? Jim scraped a translucent foot against the tile of the floor, shamefaced. Not much, he admitted. What?! Len exclaimed. You could do all kinds of things here and never get caught, and yet you do nothing? That just doesnt match up with what I know of you. Well, moving furniture around got boring after the first ten years, and I cant seem to wander freely around campus, Jim defended. When was the last time you tried? Len asked. Oh, I think it was about... twenty-five years ago? Jim said, head cocked thoughtfully to one side. And what happened? Nothing. I just couldnt leave. And do you want to? Len questioned. Jim thought about it for a moment before nodding. This was a beautiful hall, once. Now its been shut down, and theres nothing left here. I want to see if the rest of campus is as beautiful as it once was. Then come with me, Len said, standing and offering a hand to the ghost.

You know I cant actually take that hand, right? Jim asked, looking skeptically at it. I figured as much, he said, but Mama raised me polite. At that Jim smiled, laying an ethereal hand barely over his. A chill ran through his arm at that, though he felt no pressure from the hand. What if it doesnt work? Jim asked, looking almost fearful. Then it doesnt work. But at least we tried, yes? Jim nodded and together they stepped through the door. Len smiled when the ghost looked around in wonder. It worked! It worked, it worked, it really worked! So what do you want to see first? Len asked, gesturing around at the campus. ~*~ It was a week into their arrangement, and Len wanted some answers. All he had to go by were the legends, and he figured those were half true at best. And so when he returned to his dorm room after dark to find Jim sitting at his desk he asked, So what happened, anyway? What do you mean? he asked, looking up. How... Len trailed off before deciding to go for it. How did you die? Jim sighed. You really want to know? Well, I cant see how it could be much worse than the tale of you hanging yourself over grades, Len replied. Jim shook his head. Well, you have half the story. Whats the other half, then? Jim was silent for a moment, then began his tale. It was in the middle of the Eugenics War, he started, pausing as Len winced. I told you it wasnt pretty. Anyhow, in those days, if you werent perfect, you were subject to experimentation and then killed. I... was less than perfect, and it was only a matter of time before I was found. Hiding again wasnt going to work. So you took matters into your own hands, Len summarized. I didnt want to fall into theirs, Jim defended. I figured anything was better than that. Len looked at the saddened ghost still sitting at his desk. This is the point where Id be giving you a hug... if, you know, you had a body. No offense meant. None taken, and thanks. For what? Len asked. I didnt do anything. Jim smiled softly. You listened, and you wanted to know. Thats more than enough for me. ~*~ After a month of exploring the campus by night and hiding his yawns by day Len realized he was falling in love with a ghost. There was just no other explanation for it.

Every morning he woke up early for his first class, quickly struggling through his homework as Jim rested or did whatever the hell the ghostly equivalent of it was. He did most of his studying in the afternoon, when Jim wouldnt dare show himself, just so he would be done enough by evening to carry out yet another adventure with the ghost. He looked forward to their nightly misadventures with an anticipation that just couldnt be healthy, especially since it was directed toward someone who was dead. Len sighed. He shouldve known hed do something this unhealthy; hed had it coming for quite some time. When he returned to his dorm room after class, shutting the blinds and turning off the lights because he knew those were Jims preferences, he noticed the ghost looked particularly despondent. That in and of itself was unusual, since Jim was remarkably hyper despite his age, but he was sitting on Lens bed, clutching one of the sheets in his hand as if it had done him some particular harm. Concerned, Len asked, What is it, Jim? Jim shook his head. You dont want to know; not really. Len sighed, Jim, tell me. Fine! the ghost exploded. I love you! Len raised a single eyebrow. And whys that so depressing? Why wouldnt I want to know? Because how could you possibly love someone who cant even touch you? he asked, reaching a hand through Lens arm. How could you love someone most people dont believe exists? How could you love someone whos already dead? Jim sighed gustily. Forget it, he muttered, a single tear falling from his face but never quite reaching the ground. Jim, Len breathed. I love you, too. Dont say that! the ghost snarled. I know you dont mean it! Doing the only thing he could, Len stood and hugged the ghost as well as he could, looping an arm around his shoulders and the other around his waist and holding them there despite the lack of presence to keep his arms there. But I do. I do mean it. So? Jim asked bitterly. Its not like that changes anything. It does, Jim. It means Ill do anything I can to be with you, whether you see it that way or not. Theres no way, Bones! Im dead, and youre not, and I very much want it to stay that way! Well think of something, Len placated, hoping he would indeed think of something. ~*~ Except there was nothing. The academic year was almost up, and Len was at his wits end. His grades had suffered immensely because of his extensive research on ghosts and the supernatural, and people were starting to question his sanity. People these days just didnt believe in ghosts, and that was that.

Finally believing that Jim was right, Len remembered that there was one thing. Im dead, and youre not. Walking quickly toward the abandoned hall because it was the one place they had never gone back to, Len made sure to make the journey in broad daylight where Jim wouldnt follow. He quickly locked himself in the bathroom and created his plan. The last thing he heard was a scream of No! coming from the ghost he loved. ~*~ Leonard McCoy was buried one evening in the April of 2255. He had been found dead in the bathroom of an abandoned hall on campus with a peaceful smile and a note that read He made me do it. No one was quite sure what to make of the note, and his family and friends attributed his death to stress from his worsening grades. While stories were exchanged about the haunting of the hall hed been found in, no one really believed them. No one saw a transparent being standing right in the moonlight next to the coffin, crying tears that never quite hit the ground. Why? it asked. Why did you have to go to the one place I can never follow you?

ALTERNATE ENDING (after Len says Well think of something.) It had been six months, and Leonard had nearly reached his wits end. Surely there had to be a way, had to be something! Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He had been thinking too generally, and hadnt thought to look up the long-forgotten specifics of what had happened to Jim. After a few hours of searching he ran back to his room. Jim! he whispered, barely remembering to keep his voice down. Whats got you so excited? the ghost asked. You didnt really die! he exclaimed. Um, excuse me? I was there; I would think Id know if I didnt die, came the response. Actually, you wouldnt, Len replied. Youd have lost consciousness first. Anyhow, your parents were incredibly eccentric and they wanted to hide you, and thats where were lucky. How do you figure? Jim looked interested. Well, have you ever heard of cryogenics? Sure, why? Because thats how your bodys been preserved for the last century. ~*~

This is really freaky, I hope you know, Jim muttered as Len thanked the owner of the facility for letting him come here for a research project. Whats so freaky about it? Its just cryogenics, Len said reasonably. Says the one whos not looking at his own body in that tank! Just try getting back into it, all right? Jim looked really nervous all of a sudden. And if it doesnt work? he asked. Len smiled. Then we try something else. But now we know this is here, right? We can try again if it doesnt work out this time. Jim sighed and stepped through the tank with the parting remark, If Im not back in five minutes, wake me up. Len waited those five minutes, and then he waited five extra just to make sure Jim wasnt playing with him, calling the ghosts name at random intervals. When there was no response, Len muttered a word of thanks that he was already a recognized surgeon when it came to humans and that he was just taking courses to become qualified in xenomedicine as well and began the process of waking up the body that hopefully encased the soul of his beloved. ~*~ Len was there when Jim opened his eyes for the first time in a hundred years and spoke his first word with a rough and quiet voice. Bones? Jim, he said happily, running the tip of a single finger down the mans face. Kiss me, the ghost whispered, and Len complied. It wasnt every day, after all, that the love of your life came back to life.