Jim lifted his eyes to survey the academy grounds lit by the first rays of dawn, bleary eyed cadets clutching their first cups of coffee of the day and hurrying to morning classes. Jim held his own cup trying to warm his frozen hands. He took a sip and made a face (replicator made was never as good as the real thing), abandoning the cup on the bench next to him Jim occupied his mind by looking at the grounds again hoping to see a trace of Bones. He said he would meet him on the west corner near the café at 5:30. It was now 5:45.
Observing the area could only distract him for so long; sighing he contained his restless energy and drummed his fingers along his thigh. He let out a soft chuckle. If Bones were here he'd tell him to calm down threatening him with a hypo in the process. But Bones would understand why he was nervous. Starfleet had just given him captaincy of the Enterprise! Jim pulled the rumpled envelope that he had gotten yesterday out of his pocket rereading the letter for the 100th time. Him and bones were going to go out tonight to celebrate and by celebrate he meant get shit faced drunk. He was the captain of the Enterprise! Well he wasn't yet but soon, the ship left the space dock in two weeks for its 5 year deep space exploration.
Jim then felt a frown tug at his lips. You see one of the only reasons they gave him the Enterprise was they were lacking older experienced captains due to the tragedy being called the 'Narada' incident. The Federation was trying hard to rebuild itself after the deaths of many Starfleet employees and the loss of Vulcan a major partner in the Federation by the hands of a manic Romulan called Nero intent on revenge. By the looks of the cadets passing him in groups of twos or threes the Federation wasn't the only ones who were struggling. Jim could clearly see the tiredness and grief evident in their faces. Friends, classmates had died due to a major mistake by the admirals and now they were paying the price. Because of the loss in staff cadets were now teaching beginner classes, anyone with a higher knowledge in technology were fixing PADDS or communicators etc. When Starfleet put on weight the cadets stood in union shouldering it. Maybe that's where Bones was. As a senior medical officer he was sure Bones would have had his hands busy this past two months.
Jim shook his head and ran a hand through his hair pulling himself out of his dark mood. After all Nero had been destroyed. With the help of a certain irritating Vulcan Jim had a big part in that. Those actions were labelled as heroic (something Jim didn't understand all he did was get the shit beaten out of him and have the courage and sense to question Pike). Starfleet slapped at medal on Jim calling him the 'Golden Boy'. He hated being marketed but if his new status had tipped the favour in giving him the Enterprise then he had to be thankful. He would show Starfleet that he would make a great Captain, they would not regret their choice. They thought he was just a reckless womaniser pretty boy. He wasn't just an irresponsible boy; so ok he may have been in a few bar fights and he was never wanting for a partner for the night but he was more than that. He had a genius level IQ for Christ sake. Nothing was going to take away the Enterprise now he had her. He was very possessive about his things. He had worked too hard to get where he was to let it be taken away from him.
Jim tilted his head to the strengthening rays and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Speaking of an irritating Vulcan he had to submit a request for one mister Spock to be his first officer. Jim sighed suppressing a twinge of annoyance. He was probably insane to be doing this. Hell him and Spock couldn't even spend a 10 minutes together without fighting but Spock's elder counterpart whom he had met on Delta Vaga when Spock marooned him (sneaky Vulcan) was pretty confident that Jim and Spock would work well together having a "friendship that defined them both" whatever that means. Jim would just have to trust that and hope that at the very lest they would have a polite but distant relationship.
"Jim get ya head out the clouds!"
Jim was startled out of his musing by Bones snapping his fingers under his nose.
"Damnit man we don't have all day, we might be late and miss the last exam".
"Hey bones! And might I just say you're the one who's late" quirked Jim. Bones just rolled his eyes face suddenly going taunt.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded angrily tipping Jim's face to better see the black and purple shadows on his jaw.
"Naw nothing bones just a couple of hicks talking shit, besides it would take a few more to really leave a mark" Jim grinned knowing it would annoy him.
"God kid one day you'll be the death of me" mumbled Bones hefting up Jim be his arm and guiding him down the pathway.
"Wouldn't want that would we Bones? Then who would take care of me" laughed Jim letting himself be pulled towards the exam building.
"And just think you have 5 years of this in space with me" teased Jim.
"Shut up Jim I have hypos at home with your name on them" Jim smirked but kept quiet knowing Bones would probably keep his word following him into the building.