Authors note: WOW! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and a big thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to leave a lovely review. It makes me happy to check my inbox and see that people are enjoying my story :)

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Bones was mad. He wasn't surprised when Jim had failed to show up to sickbay after returning from the planet. It was hard enough to get Jim anywhere near the place when we was the walking wounded, so of course it was too much to expect him to show up out of a matter of mere protocol. But Bones felt this niggling in his gut that something wasn't right. He was a man of science, he didn't rely on gut feelings, at least he didn't before he met Jim Kirk. Now he has learnt not to ignore anything remotely related to his captain. So when his friend was an hour late for his scheduled check-in with sickbay Bones went looking for his patient.

Arriving at the bridge he was expecting to see Jim with that smart-arse grin of his and was preparing for a rant, but when he noticed the distinct lack of Jims presence the knot in his stomach tightened. "Where is the arrogant little sod?" he asked to no one in particular, attempting to hide his unfounded concern.

"Might I enquire to whom you are referring?" Spock looked at him with that cocked eyebrow of his, "Jim!, he was due to check into sickbay after he returned from the planet. Could've fooled me, but I thought the captain was bound to follow protocol…" Bones said the last part under his breath knowing full well the Vulcan could hear but others couldn't. Before he could say any more Spock interrupted him "The captain is currently off-duty, perhaps you should try his quarters" Spock was obviously not going to entertain the doctors presence on the bridge any longer so McCoy made his way to the turbo lift to go to Kirks quarters. The Vulcan was still unsure how to respond to McCoy's way of speaking about his friend, the captain. McCoy knew that if he wanted to Spock could charge him for speaking disrespectfully about the captain, but while Spock didn't understand the relationship that McCoy and Kirk have, he knew it that under all of the banter and fake aggression that it was one of respect and admiration.

He was already standing outside of Kirks door when he came out of his little daydream. He needed to call it a night, he had been off duty for the last hour himself but had busied himself with paperwork while he waited for the captain to check into sickbay. Pressing the buzzer to the captains quarters his concern doubled when there was no response. Using his medical override code to unlock the door he was momentarily stunned at what he saw. Kirk was curled up in a ball on the floor between his desk and his bed, the chair and a data padd were also laying haphazard on the floor telling him that Jim had collapsed while sitting at his desk. A second later he was sprinting to his friends side.

"Jim! Jim, can your hear me?" trying to roll Kirk onto his back so he could see what was wrong he could now see Kirks eyes were screwed shut with pain that creased his forehead like a klingon. He also noticed the heat that was beginning to radiate off his shaking body. Kirk was unresponsive except for the groan he let out when Bones tried to roll him, but he was curled into himself with such force that Bones couldn't manipulate him to get a better look.

Desperate to find out what was wrong with his friend McCoy did what any good doctor would do to an unresponsive patient – he rubbed his knuckles deeply into Jims spine to make it hurt more than Jims current pain to shock his brain into being alert momentary. It worked. He got a glimpse of those unearthly blue eyes. They were glazed and unfocused but Jim managed to look up and say "Bones?.." before he lost the fight and collapsed into McCoys arms. For a second Bones thought that Kirk was completely unconscious but as a shiver went through Jims body he curled in on himself and began to pant again.

Sitting on the floor on his knees with Jim curled in a ball across his lap Bones cursed as he realised he had dropped his medical bag containing his medical scanner and communicator just out of arms reach. "Jim, I'm gonna have to move you, I'm sorry" he said as he tried to wriggle his legs into a better position to lever himself as he reached over to grab the strap of his bag. Overstretching himself he managed to grab it first try, barely moving Jim from his current position on top of his lap. Opening up the scanner he began to move it over Kirks body to collect the data he needed.

"Bones?.."

"Yeah Kid I'm here! Talk to me, can you tell me what's wrong?" Bones was shifting his gaze from Jim to the scanner and back again

"Ate sumfin'. Gah…it was…" was all he managed before his eyes rolled and all of the colour drained from his face. Bones didn't even flinch as his friend vomited limply.

"I get the idea kid. You just shut up and let me do the rest huh! McCoy to Medical…"

I know, I know, I'm nasty. But I had to leave you something to nibble on while I write the next chapter. More Kirk!Whump and Bones!Caring to come :)

It may take a few days for the next chapter to appear, I am in the middle of training for my new job and my first year of uni so free time is a bit of a luxury at the moment. But never fear, my love for fanfic is greater than my love for online training so I won't leave you hanging too long.