A shuttle soars across space towards Iyan 4. Both moons are visible in the distance. The Enterprise is in the background between the moons, stationary.

"6 minutes to landing, Doctor." Sulu's face is visible against the reflection of the viewscreen as he pilots the shuttle. He turns in his chair, a sympathetic gaze on his face. "I can circle around once more if you like…"

McCoy is sitting in the back of a shuttle, buckled in, watching a fully recovered Iggy preen himself in a small enclosure. He is dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a green plaid shirt. McCoy reaches through the cage to pat Iggy on the head. Iggy affectionately chirps and nuzzles his hand. "No, we're good, Sulu. But thanks anyway."

"Okay. Just let me know when you're ready to come back." The shuttle descends into the atmosphere over the green planet.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

McCoy walks down the ramp of the shuttle, Iggy following close behind him. They are in the same clearing the research team had occupied upon first visiting Iyan 4. Large trees surround them on all sides. The door shuts behind them and the shuttle flies off. McCoy waves at Sulu, shading his eyes from the sun with his hand. He looks down and sees Iggy ducking his head under his wing. McCoy chuckles. "Learned that from me, did you? C'mon, Iggy." He hikes up an incline and Iggy flies behind him, not too far from his head.

McCoy steps over a fallen log and climbs up onto a boulder, grabs a handhold and pulls himself up onto a narrow outcropping. The sky is golden once again, with no clouds. A vast gorge opens up hundreds of feet below him. There is a waterfall cascading down the hillside to his right. He looks down briefly. The corners of his mouth go white. He gulps. "I didn't think it would be so…high." He takes a step backwards and his foot slips on a loose rock. "Whoa!" He struggles to keep his balance, waving his arms around. Just as he is about to pitch over the side of the cliff, Iggy appears, reaches out and grabs his shirt with his talons, dropping him gently on the rock.

Chirp! McCoy lifts his hand to his forehead, still seated, his legs bent upwards. "Phew….that was a close one." He looks over at Iggy. "You saved my life. I guess now we're even, huh?" Iggy nods his head up and down. McCoy puts his arm around the bird. "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you understood me."

Iggy flutters away from McCoy a short distance. Perched atop a rock, he begins to sing. McCoy listens in wonder. Several notes rising and falling echoing off the rocks.

McCoy thinks to himself "I've never heard anything that beautiful before…"

Iggy finishes his song and stretches his wings. He looks at McCoy and makes a mournful chirp! McCoy closes his eyes, a single tear falling from one. "I know, buddy, I know. It's time for you to go off on your own. You don't…you don't need me anymore." He wipes the tear away. "Man, I hate goodbyes…" He sniffles and wipes his nose. "You take care of yourself now, okay? Maybe have a little family of your own? I…I'm going to miss you something awful."

Iggy chirps twice, spreads his wings and takes off into the canyon, flying away into the golden sky. McCoy watches him for as long as he can, and then when the bird is nothing more than a speck in the sky, he turns and heads back the way he came.

Drawing in a deep breath of air, he pauses under a tree and takes out his comm. "McCoy to Enterprise. Ready to come back now."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

McCoy is sitting at his office desk, twirling a single blue feather between his finger and thumb, a sad expression on his face.

Personal Log, Leonard McCoy, Stardate (insert date here): If Jim ever reads this (and I have the sneaking suspicion he will) I'll just say this; I take it back. (Wanting to kill you, I mean.) He didn't know it at the time, but Iggy was a gift – allowed me to have closure, unlike with some of the people I've lost. But really, he isn't lost at all…

McCoy looks upwards, imagining Iggy flying, perched in a tree, and sharing a nest with a female and eggs. He smiles a little, and places the feather on his desk.

He's living the life he was meant to have, all along. And maybe I am, too.

The door chimes. McCoy raises his head. "Computer, save entry. Enter."

Meredith comes in carrying a tablet. "Doctor?" He hands it to McCoy, who accepts the device. He glances briefly at the feather before returning his gaze to McCoy's face.

"What's this?" McCoy asks, skimming the words.

"My final report on Iggy's rehabilitation, awaiting your input." He smiles slightly and points to the screen. "The highlighted section should be of particular interest to you."

McCoy's gaze rests on the screen. It reads;

Suggested taxonomic identification for species: Igniyanospiza Leonardi (after Leonard McCoy)

"It won't be official until I can file the report, but I wanted you to be the first to know." Meredith scratches the back of his neck.

McCoy smiles, putting the tablet down and folding his hands. "I'm touched, Burt. Never thought I'd ever have something named after me. Oh, maybe a deadly pathogen or a poisonous plant, but, this…it means a lot to me. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Doctor." Meredith leaves the room. McCoy leans back in his chair, lost in thought.

His comm chirps and he answers it. "McCoy."

"Doctor, I have the results of those biopsies you requested."

"Okay, I'll be there in a flash, Parker." He pushes his chair away, standing and heading for the door. For the first time we see a framed image on his desk corner. It is of him with a very young Iggy perched on his shoulder. "Maybe I am, too…"

****If Avirra ever reads this, see what I did? Only 75 words but this Bones thinks Kirk will snoop on his logs too. :)****