Denial as a Saving Grace
Jim heard the corridor doors hiss open behind him – and how he can hear it amidst all the blaring alarms completely escapes him – and felt his gut clench. He knew before he tore his gaze away from the nightmare unfolding on the screen before him who it would be.
"You're supposed to be in the last shuttle with the others. I can barely afford the power to beam you there within the ship, but I will if I have to. That is a direct order, Lieutenant."
"Screw you, Jim. And you can feel free to testify I said so at my court marshal, assuming we live long enough to have one." Bones clung to console nearest to him as the Enterprise shuddered alarmingly beneath them before settling once again. "If you stay, then I stay."
The ship lurched beneath them as Jim attempted a rolling maneuver and he would swear that he heard the engines whine and groan, despite their location many decks below. It worked though - they managed to break free of the tractor beam for several moments. Jim checked the sensor readings and mentally cheered when he saw that three more shuttles had safely launched from the shuttle bay and flown clear of the ship before it was caught up again.
He turned part of his attention back to his CMO.
"No, Bones. There are injured people who need you, and the crew will need all of the ranking officers available to keep them calm."
"There are other doctors, Jim. I'm not giving up here. If there is any way to get us out of this mess, we'll find it together."
Jim pressed his lips together in frustration and decided to try another tactic: honesty. "I need you to get off the ship, Bones. I can't do this with you here." Jim heard his voice, filled with more emotion than he'd intended. I might be able to go down with the ship, but I can't do it if it means taking you with me.
"And I won't tolerate running away with my damn tail between my legs and leaving you here to fight alone."
The shuttles and escape pods were finally out of firing range of the enemy ship - all save the one waiting in the hold for its doctor. Jim set the Enterprise to full power – or what was left of it – to fight the pull of the beam.
Jim allowed himself the time to stand and face his friend. Bones' face was set and stubborn and Jim knew what that meant.
Jim closed his eyes for a moment and pressed both hands down onto the console in front of him. He took a long breath before looking up and once again meeting Bones' eyes. He grinned slightly, though it wasn't a happy expression, and offered his right hand to his friend. "To the end?"
Bones nodded. "To the end." He grasped Jim's hand and let himself be pulled into a brief hug, then stiffened as he felt pressure and a sting against the side of his neck. He jerked back, a sense of dread filling him, and saw the hypospray in Jim's left hand. Bones looked down, his vision swimming slightly, and noted the open emergency medical kit underneath the console where Jim had been working.
"Jim, no, damnit…" He felt his words begin to slur and his legs didn't feel as if they could hold him vertical any longer. He slumped and was caught in Jim's arms. Bones felt Jim press a swift kiss to his temple before settling him on the floor, cushioning Bones' head in his hand.
"I'm sorry, Bones. I'm so sorry."
And then the world dissolved in glittering light.