Not all who wander are lost [Starbase 11]

[genius_level]

Making the diversion to Starbase 11 had been easy. Jim had read the report Bones had shown him, and when he spoke with M’Benga the morning after, it was clear the doctor was in full agreement - this was the best option. That it was the only option was also clear, but none of them were voicing that thought yet. After a brief conference with Command

Comments

[cso_spock]

The people who worked in Starfleet were so accepting, Loki decided. When he had been asked for a report, he said his results were inconclusive, and they had taken the excuse. No one asked for an ID as he walked from the scout ship to the temporary base residences, and through little lies and his usual trickery he found a room with large windows and a good view of the dock. From here, he could decide at his leisure which ship he wanted - and he saw it at once: big, bright, and gleaming, the Enterprise Spock had talked about.

He took some time to research the other people they had talked about, too, including this James Kirk - Jim, as Spock had called him when the night had run late. If the Enterprise was here, then so must be her captain. Loki took a shower and changed into a new, crisp uniform before stepping out to find the man. The computer had told Loki where to find him

[genius_level]

He was caught up in his thoughts (mostly brooding), but Jim glanced up sharply when he saw that figure reflected in the window. "Spock." Eyebrows raised in surprise, Jim motioned for him to sit. "I wasn't notified you would be meeting us here."

Jim studied him closely as he moved to sit down. Even before his sudden departure on Starfleet business, he had seen little of Spock for days. They had been on opposing shifts, or Jim had been in Sickbay with Bones. And then... nothing. Just a brief note, mostly business as he put his contingency plan into action before leaving. "How did it go?"

[cso_spock]

Loki took a seat, actively remembering things about how Spock had moved in those days and trying to implement them here. He couldn't sit so close; his legs couldn't be spread so wide; he had to keep his face perfectly calm. "The mission went well," he said, folding his hands together, "but it was quite uneventful. I would have rather been completing my own work."

There was something about Jim's eyes that startled him with a chill that sunk into his stomach. They were so blue, so reminiscent of someone else he knew, that Loki cast his gaze away, glancing over Jim's form once (to size him up) and then looking out towards the window.

[genius_level]

Head tilted, Jim studied him curiously. Something was a little... off. From the sound of it the mission had been a waste of time, or at least Spock thought so. "You'll be pleased to know your department is running smoothly. Yeoman Hayashi has things well in hand, and Lieutenant Commander Collins has returned to light duty, so she's taken on some of the load as well."

He took a long pull of the beer, aware of Spock's scrutiny, but when he looked up the other man was facing the window. Just for a moment Jim thought he saw something not unlike shock on Spock's face, but in the blink of an eye it was gone.

[dctr_mccoy]

Leonard spent longer with the physicians on the starbase than he had originally planned. They seemed to ask a lot of redundant questions, and while he understood their rationale, and had even done the same himself with his patients, it still wasn't anyway he wanted to spend an afternoon

[genius_level]

Their assigned quarters were just on the other side of the medical wing, so Jim took the shortcut through the department in case Bones might not yet be finished. He didn't find him on the way through, though, and continued to their rooms, lost in thought over that strange conversation with Spock.

He kicked off his boots as soon as he was in the door, glad to be nearing the end of a very long day. But Jim still felt anxious and unsettled, not knowing what the outcome of Bones' examination had been. The door to the other room was ajar, though, and he padded over to the bedroom in his socks, worried when he saw Bones lying fully clothed on the bed. Jim crept over and crawled up onto the bed next to him, resting his hand at the small of Bones' back.

[dctr_mccoy]

The lights blinked automatically as the door opened. Leonard felt the bed dip when Jim rolled over and lay down next to him. Leonard didn't move, but his arm reached around Jim's waist and pulled him closer.

Turning his head toward Jim, he cracked an eye and sighed deeply.

[genius_level]

Fuck. It must have gone badly. Jim wriggled, maneuvering them until he was lying on his back with Bones resting his head on his shoulder. He rubbed slow circles over Bones' back, soothing the tension he felt beneath his hands.

As worried as he was, Jim didn't speak. He just held Bones close, nuzzling against his hair and letting him decompress, feeling helpless that he couldn't fix what was wrong.