A/N: Don't kick up a fuss, Bones is another two shot I have in mind when writing other story, been fiddle with them.
I don't own characters.
Don't kick up a fuss, Bones
Chapter 1
Doctor McCoy looked critically at teams in front of him, his eyes only check Jim's first before could lay eyes on the rest. It caused Jim to groan.
"Stop looking at me like I'm a patient. And it's an order."
"Fine, captain," McCoy answered, and looked at rest. Jim did not looked surprised of sudden change, with respect heading to Jim using the word captain more than his nickname.
It was cold war between two best friends, they weren't telling anyone of it, but they able to gather and draw conclusion. McCoy had been criticized for speak out of line in one colony, and in result involving argument into risking sever ties of treaty, afterwards he changed. Jim felt uncomfortable, had a feeling his best friend enjoy looking that way of his expression. He don't mind, had been pranked at for sitting on weird fake cushion as second layer which nearly caused laughter in Bridge. It was naughty prank McCoy got him responsible for fake fart and Jim had to throw it away disgustedly. Later they are in agreement of cold war since he started it.
"All is fine?"
"Absolutely, doctor," Jim emphasized dramatically with a smile.
He tried not to wince each step taken down on the floor. Thankfully no one pick up hint, his face looked neutral, with poker look which earned himself Spock's confused stare.
"Captain?" Spock asked, greeted him with question addressing to him but Jim intercepted in before Spock could launch speech of his sheepish expression.
"I was tired. The rest of crew are tired as well, after long day off Enterprise."
"It isn't I intend to-"
"Spock, if I am in pain, it's the exhaustion, I want to sleep off, you're dismissed to Bridge."
Spock looked defeated when receiving order from Jim but still remained wary, continued on. "Be well rested, I'll wait for you in next shift." He walked away with reluctance.
McCoy was thinking to speak up but Jim was faster, delegating the next task. "Doctor, you're also but it's MedBay you heading."
"Yes captain." Jim heard lifeless tone in McCoy's voice and it send pangs in his heart. He missed old banter they used to share in past, now they turned formal he don't quite like until one day he hoped they revert normal. When that day will come? Jim thought.
As team headed to any different directions Jim headed to quarters, when realizing he was alone, then started to leap down towards it with repetitive "damn it" all the way without bumping any one miraculously to see him hopping in pain.
How it happened was earlier time when he was in planet taking out the shoe because of sore foot to soothe in fountain his feet waded in, it was the moment when he stepped out awkwardly having his heel accidentally hit on fountain's brick as pain shot in through his brain sending signal, he had been pursing lips grimly, and strangely to Spock seeing him chanaged expression for his liking. Jim immediately knew it was cut he has. Bearing with pain for an hour, Jim was professional not to reveal he was in pain walking with great deal he muster with long dull look for Ambassador's conclusion he was a serious captain. He did raise a bit suspicion to Spock, but he did not figure, straightaway. It was impressive that they were pleased and impressed of he handle seriousness, until now he leaping to quarters, like child.
He stopped cursing when reaching it, when entering, he don't bothered change out clothes. Jim then slumped on bed, slept straightaway.
Next hour he start tossing around restlessly with sweat, waking up soo, as opening his eyes then started sitting up. He usually get caught by Bones but now was alone, felt warm as suspected it was fever. His fingers felt moist of fever when feel being burn by stove.
"Crap. At this time I did not had thermometer. I guess PADD can, if I monitor myself..." Jim murmured. He grabbed PADD and figured."99.9F Okay. I'm logically sick with a low grade fever. Gah, I sound like Spock."
After monitoring, he tossed aside PADD; Jim looked at ceiling miserably, knowing fever was going to head high soon. Looking at the bed sheet, the end was speckled with dots of blood he know it leaking out of shoe. He got himself up, slowly and painfully, starting pulling out the left shoe in grimace, feeling warm and sticky, as it was bad, deep, and waiting to be removed. He then realized it was bad infection.
His mind ask him to fight, not to scream, when shoe released. He was sure his face look like ghost but could feel slight flush around cheeks, of illness.
The door was knocked. Familiar voice was heard. Jim immediately believe game is over. "Jim! I'm going to invite myself in, if not open it!"
He braced for worst. Bones came in. Jim predict Bones was going to fuss over soon and prediction turn true.
"How the hell your feet end up injured?" demanded Bones, looked horrified at small hideous sight from bird's eye point of view. Eyes turned wide at it.
"You didn't groan cos you're hiding from us!" Southern accent thickening. "Did you hop all the way here?"
"Yeah, there is no other solution, but to hop here, like cute bunny."
"Woah, there is no surprise here, you give yourself compliment here and I don't know how to make comment of it, Jim," McCoy suddenly turn sad. "Cold war's over. Get up, Jim, I'm taking you to MedBay. Don't ever think to override with your orders as you're my patient."
He couldn't help emphasize but looked exasperated to see, smiling Jim looking up, goofy. He glared back, as it was effective when Jim just whined.
"Stop looking at me like that as if I'm your ground, to drill hole."
"That was stupid figure of speech," McCoy looked deadpanned and it was not his first time, both make Jim laughed.
"C'mon Jim. Do your thing. Hop with all what you have."
"God sakes Bones when I said bunny it's another figure of speech! Damn it just hurl me up Bones I don't want to sound like you any more at this moment we're still best friend! Damn it Bones! Get me up or I consider kick your butt with. I'm feisty enough to talk back banter, gawd, I miss you Bones! Fire in the whole!"
Silence followed.
"Well said, Jim."
