Fic: Life Changed on a Shuttle. (6/?)
Title: Life Changed on a Shuttle (6/?)
Author's Name: pixelmayhem
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Summary: In which there is a meeting with Pike, some fun at the park, and Jim’s accident prone nature rears its head.
Warnings: AU, Language, un-beta'd,
Word count: 5,932
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. I just like to see them all bendy. I promise to return them.
Series Summary: McCoy boards the shuttle with Joanna and they start a not so nuclear family as Jim talks to her while her dad freaks out.
Previous Parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 7 TBA
A/N: Here's the next part guys! Thanks for all the reviews! I'm so glad you're sticking with me and still enjoying. Full note under cut. Just some story bits for clarity. Also LONG post compared to previous ones. Uh-sorry? ;)
READ THIS FIRST: So my recent research has told me conflicting things. Very weird conflicting things. So since it was bizarre information anyway-I decided to change it to what I wanted. So for the scope of this story Admiral Archer is just several years older than Pike and has not been Federation President yet. (Where my sources say that he died at age 133 and that he would have been 146 years old at the time of the movie. SO. Yes. He is another silver fox BAMF. So sayeth I.)
They were eating dinner when Jim’s communicator went off. Jim had just finished convincing Jo that no, he did not need help cutting up his food, no matter how bad his hands were hurt, when he heard the beep.
Looking up at Bones he silently asks if he should take it or let it wait.
“Go ahead. View screen’s in the main room, patch it through.”
“Thanks.” He stands and sets up the call to come in. Pike’s face comes into view with a solemn expression. Jim opens his mouth for a witty quip but Pike beats him to the punch.
“Cadet Kirk,”
Jim hears Bones growl at the sound of Pike’s voice.
“I expect to see you in my office bright and early tomorrow during your lunch break. Do I make myself clear Cadet?”
“Yes Captain, tomorrow at lunch.”
“See that you’re not late.” And with that Pike cuts out the transmission.
“Well that was pleasant.”
“What the hell could he want? Or maybe I should be asking, What the hell did you do now?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” And with that they go back to eating.
------------------------
Jim’s waiting outside of Pike’s office right on time the next day. He’s convinced the flutterings of his stomach are from hunger, since he is missing lunch for this. He’s spent the past few minutes he’s been waiting flirting with the department secretary, Judy. It’s not serious, or leading anywhere on either of their parts, just a pleasant way to pass the time. She’s already informed Pike that Jim is there and Jim’s sure the old man is determined to let him stew for a little while.
Right at exactly 5 minutes after noon, Pike’s door opens. Jim straightens to attention and Pike steps out solemnly and gestures Jim into the room behind him.
Jim strides in and is followed closely by Pike who murmurs for him to take a seat. He tugs at the hem of his uniform shirt which also allows him to dry his palms.
Pike seats himself behind the large oak desk and folds his hands over his lap, staring at Jim.
Jim makes eye contact and breaks the silence. “I confess Captain, I’m unsure why I was called here today. As pleasant as I find your company of course.”
Something flickers in Pike’s eyes. “You’re determined to be a pain in my backside, aren’t you?”
Jim wrinkles his forehead. “Sir?”
“I’ve already been hearing some interesting things about you on campus.”
Jim feels frustration rise like a blush and takes a steadying breath so that his words come out calm and even. “Captain Pike, I understand that you seem to have something you want to get off your chest. Permission to speak freely sir?”
Pike’s eyes flicker again and he gives a nod “Permission granted.”
“If you have something to say, say it, some reason to reprimand me, then do it, but don’t play games with me. It’s hardly effective and frankly sir, it just pisses me off. As far as I know, I have done nothing to warrant disciplinary action and provoke your ire.”
Jim is expecting some sort of rebuke so he is a bit taken aback when Pike starts laughing.
“I’m not sure whether I expected you to take it a little longer before blowing up, or whether I expected you to get mad right away. I didn’t expect you to be so calm about it. You continue to surprise me Kirk.”
Jim closes his gaping mouth. “Likewise sir.”
“So James, you want to know what this is all about then? I’ll tell you. I’ve been getting reports from around campus regarding Cadet James Kirk.”
“Those rumors about me filling the pool with jello are pure fallacy.” Jim quips.
Pike laughs again. “I’m perfectly adept at judging reality and hearsay. But I assume the rumor of you interrupting Instructor Hanold’s class wasn’t just a rumor?”
“I never interrupted his class sir. I asked a pointed question that in no way detracted from the class or his lesson.”
“Well whatever it was that it what you are here to discuss. That and your other attempts to get in other advanced classes. Especially Hand-to-hand.”
“Sir nothing I did was against regulations...”
“You wanted me to cut the crap then it works both ways. I’m not stupid and neither are you.”
Jim sits back, nonplussed “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
Pike quirks the corner of his mouth, “Well isn’t that a leading phrase. You thought you knew what I wanted when you first joined didn’t you? Hopped onto the shuttle and promised me to do it in three years. But now that I’m here complaining about your getting into classes to further that goal, you don’t know how to play it.”
Jim is silent as he rakes his eyes over Pike, assessing.
“Stop giving me that look. What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to impress me. Not that that’ll stop you I’m sure. And next time you need some help getting into classes or dealing with Academy riggamarole in general, let me know first? I have a few tricks up my sleeve I’m sure could be useful. Luckily nothing you did was too bad, hell it established your reputation, that’s for sure. My only concern is your stunt for hand-to-hand.”
“Hey now! There was no stunt, instructor Sung said it had to be a physical evaluation.”
Pike considers him for a moment. “Be that as it may, since he made you assistant instructor you need to set a good example. That includes not acting like a devil may care idiot. Especially if you want to make a good impression on those you’ll be dealing with on the command track. Right now you’ve certainly made an impression, but I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s good.”
Jim can’t help grinning sheepishly and rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah I can see that.”
“Anyway nothing to do about it now except move forward. So I take it you’re serious about the command track then?”
“Yes sir!”
“Alright then, I’ll help you out. I think you should start coming for visits here at least once a month. Speaking of you setting a good example, since your new assistance-ship isn’t paid you might try working here.” He hands Jim a card advertising a ‘bike repair shop. “I seem to remember you had a nice set of wheels.”
“And what’s in all this for you sir?”
Pike gives him a sly smile. “Never stop asking that question. As for what’s in it for me personally? Well, what I said to you in Riverside is true. Starfleet’s command has stagnated. We need fresh blood and fresh thinking. Having cocky son’bitches like you out there might actually save my ass one day. And I’d say that’s a pretty good incentive for me to make sure that you do make it out there.”
“Fair enough. So, uh, what the hell are we supposed to do in these meetings then?” His stomach growls loudly “And can I get something to eat? I’m starving.”
Pike laughs and as he opens his mouth Judy comes in with a tray. Jim can smell hamburgers and fries. “Just in time Judy! You took the words right out of my mouth Kirk. Dig in.”
Jim doesn’t have to be told twice. He winks at Judy and takes the plate she hands him as well as the coke.
“Cheeseburger with the works, and a root beer for Cadet Kirk,” She says with a wink back “And Cheeseburger with the works, green chile included, and a Coke with lime for you Captain Pike.”
Pike thanks her as she hustles out of the room and then raises an eyebrow at Jim. “Root beer?”
Jim laughs. “When you have an immune system like mine you come to appreciate root beer. One time I had a case of bronchitis just shy of pneumonia and, for two weeks, even with antibiotics helping clear things up, I couldn’t taste anything except root beer. Green chile?”
Pike gives a grunt around a mouthful of burger “Had a girlfriend once who practically lived on the stuff. Once you’ve had it on a freshly made cheeseburger you won’t want anything else; also the damn stuffs addicting, literally.”
They finish eating quickly, not talking and instead concentrating on their food. Once they’ve finished Pike addresses Jim again.
“As to what we would do in these meetings? Hell, I’m not sure exactly. Talk about your classes, anything of importance that we think the other needs to be made aware of, get to know each other better. Any seminars, classes or people I think could help you I’ll pass along and maybe I can get your insight into academy life. The thing’s I’m not hearing from so-called Starfleet intelligence. But today? I got nothing. Tell me James…do you play chess?” He gestures to a board set up on a cabinet.
Jim smirks surprised by the question but not enough to let it show. “I’ve been known to play a few games.”
“Good. Up for a game?” Jim nods “Grab the board. I play white.”
They banter throughout the game, with Pike regaling Jim with stories about his father and their antics during their time at the academy.
“You’re shitting me? You did not fill the fire suppressants with purple dye and set off the system during graduation assembly!”
“In our defense it seemed much funnier in our heads at the time.”
Jim responds with stories of his travels.
“So there I was hitching a ride into Paris in nothing but a pair of boxers and I as I’m walking down the road I come across a limo that’s broken down. So I help fix the engine and they give me a ride back into town. It’s only as they drop me off that I realize that it was the President’s limo. I had wondered why the guy was smirking at me like that, but I figured he was just checking me out.”
Pike is laughing doubled over, “The Federation President? That President?”
Jim doesn’t have to fake the surprise he feels when he sees a dog run into Pike’s office. Especially since Pike stops mid sentence.
Pike was in the middle of recounting how George and he had been put on laundry rotation as punishment back in the day and had somehow ‘shrunk’ all the female cadet uniforms.
The dog is followed closely by a man in uniform who stalks over to the cabinets along the far wall. The man yanks open the door and grabs a glass, a bottle of alcohol, and pours himself a healthy dose and downs it in a gulp. The dog has decided it wants to investigate Jim and is in the process of slobbering all over his fingers. His owner, at least Jim suspects that’s who the lush is over there is, slams down his glass and mutters ‘Damn it’
Pike decides to speak. “Having a rough day there Jon?”
“Shut up and let me drink in peace.”
Pike rolls his eyes. “You only want me for my liquor.”
‘Jon’ spins and smirks at Pike. “Well, not only.”
He takes a sip from his glass and uses it to gesture at Jim. “So who’s this?”
“Admiral Jon Archer, meet Cadet James Kirk.”
“Call me Jim sir.”
“So you’re the Cadet who has the Academy buzzing.” Archer walks over and sits in a chair across from Jim and the desk. “You’ve already got quite a reputation. I heard Instructor Thomlin stopped teaching his lab and decided to let you teach it instead.”
Jim barks a laugh “Really?”
Archer smiles and nods “I also heard there was a huge frat party in your dorm the first night and that your roommate found you in the morning, in bed with 3 girls. He’s apparently quite the womanizer.”
He arches his eyebrows at Pike. “Impressive” Pike murmurs with a wicked grin.
“Still, it’s not at the level of the rumors from when you were here, right Chris?”
Jim is enjoying the hell out of this, not even bothering to hide his grin. “Oh is that so?”
“Jon” Pike grumbles a fake warning
“I think my favorite rumor was the one that had you involved in a daisy chain with all of the department heads.”
“Kinky.” Jim says still grinning.
“Like I said, I’m a fairly adept judge of rumors within the Academy. And I wouldn’t speak so gleefully about me Jon. Aren’t you forgetting all those delightful rumors from when you were here? I particularly remember one about some species of…”
Archer starts a bit. Jumping in his seat, “Alright then! We’ve fully established that rumors are just that, rumors.”
Pike isn’t upset at being interrupted. He just sits back with a huge shit-eating grin on his face.
“So you want to tell me what has you barging in here and drinking my liquor like you’re a fish?”
“No.”
“It wouldn’t have to do with that little Andorian number you were seeing?”
Archer smiles indulgently. “You’re crap at fishing for details.”
“I don’t have to fish. I ask the right questions and your face flushes like someone set your chair on fire.”
Archer’s beagle gives a whine from where it has crawled onto the couch and Archer jumps up looking relieved. “Oh looks like Porthos needs to follow nature’s call. Sorry to cut this chat short. Nice to meet you Jim. See you later Chris.” And with that he’s gone.
“Speaking of seeing you later…” Jim says standing
“Smooth. Oh and by the way quit hacking into the computers.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right. Well, I say we have another meeting next month at the same time unless something comes up, in that case I’ll contact you.”
“Sounds good.” Jim says heading out the door. He ducks back in for a moment. “Hey Chris?”
He can see Pike roll his eyes. “Yes Jim?”
“What does Bones have against you?”
There’s a quirked eyebrow, “Bones?”
“Dr. McCoy.”
“Ah,” Pike threads his fingers and leans back in his chair, “I’m afraid that’s for him to tell you.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. See ya around!” He says leaving with a two fingered salute.
---------------------
The next day is the weekend and Jim has decided that the three of them just have to go to the park.
When they leave Jim has a duffle bag for no apparent reason, or so he says after Bones asks. He can tell Bones wants to ask again but stops himself each time he opens his mouth because Jim smirks at him, causing him to shut up and scowl, the words dying prematurely on his tongue.
They walk to a nearby park that’s absolutely perfect for what Jim has in mind for the day.
Jo squeals at the sight of the monster slide and sprints ahead of them to clamber up onto its towering peak. She waves at them when she gets to the top and then plops down to slide down the incline. Reaching the bottom she scrambles to get up to the top again. Jim can see Bones smiling at her exuberance out of the corner of his eye.
“Daddy come slide with me!” She calls when she’s at the top again.
“Can’t Jo-Jo I’m too big.” Bones says not looking apologetic at all.
She rolls her eyes, looking exactly like her father and Jim laughs. “You are not too big. Daaaad. Come slide with me!”
“I don’t know Jo, that slide looks awful tall. You’re a lot braver than I am. I don’t think I can do it.”
Jo giggles. Jim’s smiling from ear to ear as he watches Bones saunter over to the slide.
“Dad! You’re taller than the slide. If you’re scared of the slide you’d be afraid to walk! Now get up here!”
“Bossy little thing aren’t you?” he says, but he grabs the slide’s handles at the top and, bypassing the ladder, heaves himself up in one smooth move, causing his biceps to bulge and his shirt to ride up and tease Jim with a thin strip of skin. He settles in behind Jo and drops a kiss to the top of her head.
“Let’s go!” she squeals and he pushes them off and down. When the reach the bottom Jo hops up and Bones seems to peel himself up. It makes Jim want to lick his lips.
Action is needed he decides. “Hey you two watch this!” He yells while bounding up to the top of the slide and spinning around he slides down it on his back. Too late he realizes that he won’t be able to stop himself from hitting the ground. And he does, with a whump and a plume of dust.
“Ow.” He says staring up at the blue sky.
Jo’s laughing her echoing, bell-like laughter now as her father says “Serves ya right ya yutz!” But he helps Jim up with gentle hands.
Undaunted Jim smiles at them and dusts himself off.
By this time Jo is back at the top of the slide. “Jim come slide with me!” and Jim smiles and crawls up behind her before he fully registers her saying “You too daddy!”
This time both of them start protesting. “That’ll be a little crowded Jo.” “I’m not sure the slide will be able to hold all three of us.”
She just gives them a dirty look and then the look in her eye changes and Bones and Jim exchange an ‘Uh-oh what now’ face just before she pouts.
‘Oh crap.’ Jim thinks. Because damn if that isn’t the cutest look he’s ever seen. He swallows.
Bones tries a half hearted “Now Jo seriously. I don’t wanna break the slide and end up with a broken tail bone.”
Right.
Jim ends up behind Jo with Bones climbing up behind him as he wraps his arms around the two of them. Jim feels a flutter as Bones is pressed up tight behind him, grumbling words puffed into the back of his neck. The flutter turns into a full body throb when Bones grabs the sides of the slide and uses his hips to thrust forward into Jim and set them into motion.
When they reach the bottom and Jim has to brace his legs on the ground to stop them, causing Bones to grind up against him. Jim decides he’s done with the slide for now.
He notices there’s a hill straight ahead perfect for one of the things he wanted to do, as well as a great distraction from the slide and all forms of physical contact. “Hey Jo! Let’s try one of my favorite things to do.”
Pursing her lips she looks from Jim to the slide. “What’s that?”
“Watch!” and with that he sprints to the top of the hill and then proceeds to flop down and roll down the steep incline, spinning faster and faster till he skids at the bottom.
Looking up at her dizzily he shoots a manic grin with bits of grass stuck in his hair.
“Awesome!” she exclaims “Race you to the top!” she says not waiting for him before she’s off.
“Cheater!” he says scrambling to stand and follow her up.
They spend a few minutes climbing and rolling, but it’s not a sustainable activity and soon they are too dizzy to do anything but stare up at the spinning clouds overhead. Bones comes over to lay with them after he’s decided they’ve gotten all the crazy out of their systems. Jim and Jo are panting and giggling as they wait for the world to stop spinning. Well, stop spinning against them. The grass is fresh cut and sweet smelling beneath them and the three of them gaze at the clouds passing overhead while soaking in the sun.
They point out shapes to each other, arguing over some of them good naturedly. Jim actually giggles when Jo says that one of them looks like a cupcake but he doesn’t feel the need to explain why when they ask.
After a while Jim hears Jo’s stomach rumble and he sits up.
“Sounds like someone’s hungry.” Jim sing-songs.
“I don’t wanna go though.” Jo whines
“Good, cause I’ve got it covered.” He says with a smug smile.
Standing he grabs his duffle and starts riffling through it. First he pulls out a blanket.
“We could have used that before we got grass stains all over us.” Drawls Bones.
“No way. Grass stains are part of the park experience. Where’s your sense of fun Bones?”
“I left it in the grass with the ants.” He quips.
Laughing Jim hands the blanket to Bones to set out, and pulls out cups, plates, utensils, and a canister and thermos.
When he pops the canister open he can feel Bones’ surprise like an electric current.
“What the hell is that?”
“Curried chicken salad.”
“You made it?” He says like it’s dripping poison and he hadn’t eaten the dinner Jim made the other night.
It’s Jim’s turn to roll his eyes. “It’s not exactly programmed into most replicators. Not that I couldn’t program it, because as you know, I’m brilliant and more than perfectly capable, but yes. I made it. It’s amazing, you’ll love it. It’s perfect for hot days.”
He serves them all, and Jo, adventurous as ever, digs in. Bones takes his initial bite with trepidation but Jim can tell he likes it because the complaining is at a bare minimum and he serves himself seconds. Jo seems to like it except for the onions which she picks out.
“They’re gross.” She says when he asks.
“One day you’ll like them.” He says with confidence to which she sticks out her tongue.
They eat happily and put away their trash so they can lay on the blanket together. Bones grabs Joanna and yanks her over to start tickling her. Screeching and wiggling to get away she throws herself at Jim.
“Daddy no! Jim do something. Save me!” She begs red-faced.
She realizes her mistake with the evil grin that crosses his face. Within moments Jim has her held in his lap while he tickles her and blows raspberries on her neck.
Throwing herself out of their reach, she sits on a far edge of the blanket and wipes and her neck with her palms. “Gross!”
Bones and Jim share a grin and then throw back their heads and laugh. Disgusted with them she gets up and says “I’m gonna go play on the jungle gym!” before flouncing away.
Bones and Jim sit on the blanket watching her from afar. Jim is starting to drowse a little when he is jolted alert by a commotion.
Across the park a ways 6 men have crowded around an older man who has been sitting on a bench in front of his ‘bike reading a Padd quietly the whole time the three of them have been at the park. Even from this distance Jim can see that it’s not a friendly meeting. Jo can feel the tension and runs back over to throw herself in Bones’ arms, clinging to his neck.
Jim stands quietly not taking his eyes off the scene. Already it’s looking to take a turn towards being ugly.
“Bones take Jo and leave.”
Bones, who had been staring too, starts with a jolt and quickly realizes Jim’s intent. “What? No!” He says grabbing Jim’s arm as he takes a step forward.
“Bones!” Jim’s tone means no nonsense but Bones gives his arm a little shake anyway.
“Damn it Jim you’re still all beat to hell from you fight with Sung.”
“Evalutation.”
“Don’t argue semantics kid! I’m not gonna let you get your face smashed in again.”
“Bones this fight’s gonna happen whether you like it or not and I’m not about to let it be 6 against one.”
“Oh so 6 against 2 is perfectly acceptable?” There’s a wild look in Bones’ eyes.
“No, but it’s still a hell of a lot better.”
“Then make it 3 against 6.”
Jim gapes for a second before replying furiously “What? No! Anyway you gonna let Jo see this? Get yourselves out of here. I promise I’ll call you when it’s over.”
Bones looked like he was gonna argue some more but the thought of Jo seeing the fight seems to convince him. “Damn it Jim. I doubt you’ll be able to talk when it’s over, let alone call. And why the hell aren’t we calling the cops?”
Jo has her head buried in Bones’ neck and she gives a whimper.
“That’s a good idea Bones, they’ll never get here in time but go ahead. You take Jo and go call the cops. Don’t worry Jo it’ll be alright.”
Jim doesn’t wait to see if Bones complies but instead strips off his jacket and stalks over to the group, intent screaming from his stride.
He reaches them quickly, “There a problem here fellas?”
“Fuck off and mind your own business.” One of them snarls.
“Afraid I can’t do that. You see I have a problem with math, in my book 1 and 6 equals blood bath and I like my odds more even.” He grins at his own pun.
The guy they’re focused on is standing encircled by them away from the bench. He doesn’t look upset, merely amused. He’s got a stance that’s meant to look at ease but to Jim’s trained eye screams ‘professional’ and Jim can’t help but think that maybe this fight will be more even than he thought. None of the idiots surrounding the guy even have a hint of training.
Apparently none of the lugs have a sense of humor, or a lick of sense because they immediately switch their attention from their target to Jim.
“You got a death wish that’s fine with us.” “Shouldn’t mess around with things that you have nothing to do with.” They state like a chorus.
Two of them lunge at him and as Jim ducks and turns to bring his fist smashing into a face he sees their original target connecting his own wicked hook.
As it turns out there is a patrol nearby and they are able to break it up pretty quickly. Only a few punches are even thrown, and the only ones that connect are those Jim and the older guy throw.
Jim sees Bones and Jo hurrying back over to check on him.
Jim finds out that the guy he’s come over to help is also the owner of the place Pike recommended him for.
He clasps Jim on the shoulder before holding out his hand in greeting. “Thanks for your help kid. I’m Nathaniel Kicks. Most folks call me Stitch.”
Jim can’t help it, he starts laughing. “As in owner of Kicks’ bike shop?”
The man smiles not phased, “Right, ya heard of it then?”
Jim doesn’t reply to that, just takes the hand he’s offered and shakes it. “Jim Kirk.”
Stitch starts laughing too. “Pike’s pain in the ass. He said you were a trouble magnet.”
“Hey now! Who’s the one who was surrounded here?”
“And who’s the idiot who jumped into the fray?”
“Idiot’s right! Damn it Jim.” Bones yells as he reaches the two of them. He scans Jim visually looking for new bruises, Jo balanced on his hip.
“I’m fine Bones. Not even a scratch.”
“Humph.” Bones says, but he relaxes fractionally.
Stitch is smiling at both of them now. They give him quizzical looks.
“What?” Jim finally asks, breaking.
“Oh nothing. Anyway, Pike was right, you’re a heap of trouble. There’s a job waiting for you if you’d like it. I’m not exactly a regular 9 to 5’er so just drop by when you need the creds or you feel like it. I’m sure I can find something for you to work on.”
“If Pike was right about me being trouble why would you bother?” Jim asks amused
Stitch winks at him, “Some people like trouble. Like I said, drop by whenever you feel like it.”
Jim’s confused but he doesn’t let it bother him. “Alright. I just might take you up on that.”
“I look forward to it.” He says and clasping both Jim and Bones on the arm he squeezes. “See you fellas later.”
They stare at him as he mounts his bike and rides off. Bones is the first to shake off his stupor.
He glares at Jim but there’s a fondness behind the look. “You really are trouble.”
Jim smirks. “You love it. I’m damn precious.”
Bones guffaws. Much to Jim’s and Joanna’s amusement.
----------------------------
The rest of the weekend passes by uneventfully and soon Academy life is back in full swing. Jim and Bones go to classes. Bones puts in long hours at medical and Jim stops in at Kicks where he tinkers on various projects. Jo goes to daycare and is having a great time learning as much as she can so she can surprise Jim and her father with strange things thrown into conversations. Jim loves the hell out of it.
Jim does a pretty good job of staying out of medical for a while, but as has become his motto. Nothing is ever quiet for long. And when the dam breaks Jim naturally would be in the middle of it.
It all starts in Jim’s only lab class. Some recruit had been more concerned with anything but following proper procedure. It all blows up in the worst possible way, literally. The chemical fire that starts is noxious and spreads quickly. Jim doesn’t know how the idiot did it but he manages to cut off half the class, including Jim, from the safe exits. It’s only with some quick thinking that Jim is able to devise a way to get small groups of students out safely.
As soon as everyone is out of the building safely everyone is whisked off to medical to get checked out.
Jim’s asks for Bones when it’s his turn to be seen. The intern looking him over bitches at him for it saying that there aren’t enough doctors for people to pick and choose. She is checking him over and everything is going fine, Jim’s his usual self, witty and charming. He flirts with her causing her to roll her eyes at him. He’s having fun, until she insists on giving him a hypo to prevent any complications incase he’s happened to inhale any of the chemical they’d been working with in the lab.
“Don’t give me that.” He says pushing the hand with the hypo away.
She rolls her eyes at him. “Don’t be a baby. You need this to prevent any problems from inhaling anything in the fire.”
“I can’t have that. I’m allergic to it.”
“There’s nothing on it in your file. If you were allergic a note would have been made. Stop being stubborn. We have a lot of people to see and I can’t be spending all of my time on you. I know your reputation but I expected you to have more concern for your fellow cadets.” She raised her arm towards his neck again.
Again he pushes her away. “Not everything get’s noted in medical files. Trust me when I say that I am allergic to it. Find something else or let me go.”
“There is nothing else. This is the last thing I have to do before I can sign off on you being free to go. I don’t appreciate your behavior. Just let me do this!” She says getting impatient.
“I’m not going to let you give me something I know that I am allergic to!” He protests his voice rising in his frustration with her stupidity.
She’s getting angry now. “Cadet Kirk this is no longer amusing. I know you like attention but this is out of hand. Reports say you were nearest the fire when it broke out and that you were exposed the longest. Your risk of complications is too high for me to neglect giving you this.”
“I don’t care what your reports say! I’m perfectly aware of my own health complications and I’m telling you…”
As Jim is yelling Bones comes around the triage area curtain. Jim is momentarily distracted and the attending takes the opportunity to inject him with the hypo she’d been holding.
Bones sees Jim heads over while Jim is sputtering his protest. She gives Jim a smug look.
Bones strides up and slaps his arm. “Might’ve known you’d be here. How’re you doing kid?”
Jim tries to respond but already his voice has stopped cooperating and he can hear a wheeze in his breathing.
“Oh, Dr. McCoy!” She jumps at the chance to show off. “He’s fine sir. He was just protesting a hypo claiming he’s allergic, but I know his reputation and there’s no note of it in his file so I administered it as required.” She waits for praise like a well trained puppy.
But Bones isn’t paying attention to her. Instead he’s staring into Jim’s eyes as Jim sways towards him.
“Jim?” he calls, concern threaded through his tone.
That’s the last thing Jim hears as his vision is blacks out.
…
…
When he comes to a few minutes later he can hear Bones clearly chewing out the intern. Loudly.
Jim can feel the antihistamines coursing through his system. He’s at once tired and jittery. Like his skin has been filled with bees and they’re pissed, buzzing just below the surface. He sits up only to become overwhelmed by a wave of nausea and he groans, covering his mouth with his hand.
Then Bones is there grasping his elbow. “Come on kid let’s get you home.”
“Bones” he moans “gonna be sick.”
Bones gets something for him to be sick in, in just the nick of time.
“Damn fool intern.” Bones mutters easing Jim back.
Jim passes out again.
…
When Jim comes to the second time, it takes him a moment to realize that he’s on Bones’ couch.
“Bwah-huh?” he croaks
A cup with a straw fills his vision and he sips obediently.
“Wondering how you got here?” Bones asks.
Jim nods carefully, the nausea hovering in the background.
“You made it easy on me since I’m apparently your primary physician and your primary contact.”
“Why here?” Jim tries croaking out. “Why not…dorm…room?”
Jim can tell it’s late and that some time has passed since he was last awake. Jo comes padding out of her room rubbing at her eyes as Bones responds.
“I know you kid. There’s no way you’d take care of yourself and rest like you need to if left to your own devices. I was getting off shift, and since they were the reason you need watching in the first place I figure you’re better off here anyway. Besides after that ‘incident’ at the park I realized I’d need a full med kit on hand for all the shi-scrapes you’re likely to get into. I’ve got more than enough stuff here to take care of you and any complications that arise.”
Jo has reached the couch and she crawls up on him in her pajamas and snuggles down to fall back asleep. Bones smiles at the two of them. The expression on his face tugs as something in Jim’s chest, even as he’s already falling asleep in response to the warm body attached to him.
“Get some rest Jim.” Bones murmurs quietly “I’ll take care of you.”
Bonus recipe
Curried Chicken Salad:
Boiled chicken cut into bite size pieces
Seedless red grapes, halved
Peanuts
Onions
Mayonnaise to coat (I prefer salad dressing though)
Curry powder to taste.
Part 5 | Part 7 TBA