Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews! I never realized before how much they inspire you since this is my first time actually writing my own fanfic! I'll definitely make a habit of reviewing for other people more often! Also, I guess I didn't mention before but flames are welcome.

Oh yeah, and I've been reminded that Kirk and McCoy (and basically all the other cadets of their year) only went to the academy for three years in this universe, not four, so I'll fix that as soon as I can. Thank you so much! I really appreciate the reminders and input because nobody's perfect but I do aspire to correct my mistakes.

Sorry about the horrible punctuation. I've never been very good at that delicate art!

Again, I own nothing of this wonderful world nor any of these awesome characters.

Chapter Two

Jim woke up slowly to the hum of sickbay and groaned softly. He hated being in sickbay. Not only did it mean that something was wrong with him (Jim avoided annual physicals like the plague) but there was always the threat of . . .

"Jim!"

Bones. Damn it, now what? Jim cautiously peered around seeking an escape route.

"Oh no you don't" his stern doctor reprimanded "you're not escaping my sickbay as easily as you do Starfleet Medical.

Jim threw a meaningful glance at Bones and whined "but Bones it's not nice to make things difficult for your patients! Isn't there some oath you take not to screw up your patient's mental state or something?"

McCoy raised an eyebrow, nonplussed.

"Yes" he replied slowly "but given the mental state you've been in since we first met, I think I'll take my chances that I won't do any more damage."

"But my head hurts" Jim complained childishly "don't you have something to, you know, help me. This is a sickbay isn't it?" Jim looked around "It sure looks like one."

McCoy sighed. He had wanted Jim to suffer a little bit; a headache wouldn't kill the man and besides, it wasn't like Jim hadn't brought the pain upon himself drinking unknown alcoholic substances when he should have been in sickbay recovering from the last few days.

Nevertheless Bones was a doctor at heart, first and foremost and to see anyone suffering, even if that person was whining like some spoiled child, brought out a strong protective instinct in the southern man.

Without saying anything to Jim, McCoy crossed the room, grabbed a hypo and made his way back over to his friend's bed.

"Uh . . . Bones? What are you . . .ACH!!!! Why do you do that?!" Jim rubbed the side of his neck soothingly.

"Don't be such an infant Jim! You're lucky I didn't make you suffer that God damned hangover that you created."

"Nuh uh" Jim protested "it was that blue shit that you had in your fucking room that did it! What was that anyway?" Jim asked scathingly.

"I don't know" Bones admitted, running a medical scanner over his best friend's body, evaluating his overall physical health (God knows Bones has tried and failed a million time to fix his friend's mental state to no avail).

"You don't know?!" Jim yelped. "You mean that shit could have been poison? It could have fucking killed me? Why the hell did you have poison in your room anyway?" Jim asked suspiciously.

Bones rolled his eyes. "It wasn't poison Jim! I don't think Scotty's that tough so stop accusing me! Anyway, I don't recall inviting you into my quarters to drink whatever the hell I had in my room and then proceed to die on my mother fucking bed!"

McCoy's voice was breaking significantly by the end of his speech but his eyes were on fire with rage.

Jim suddenly found the floor a very interesting subject to study.

The two friends sat in silence for a long time before Jim mumbled into his chest "'M sorry Bones. Didn't mean to make you scared."

Bones looked down at his friend helplessly. What could he say to that? Jim had scared Bones; he'd terrified the living shit out of the older man, was still scaring him. But Jim just looked so broken and lost like a little puppy. Bones sighed. The same little puppy he'd picked up three years ago with the same hurt underneath. Back then the Jim had been angry at the world and had recklessly broken every rule there was out of fear, just as the metaphorical stray puppy might bite someone who got too close.

McCoy was beginning to think that he'd never get through Jim's brick barrier, that he'd have to be content with half of who Jim was forever (which, face it, was more than enough). And now this.

Damn it but Bones was too old for this, always had been.

Instead of telling Jim that everything was all right, that he was forgiven, that it wasn't his fault, Bones just pated his friend's shoulder and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Just try to take better care of yourself alright kid?" Bones attempted to lighten the mood but the seriousness in his statement escaped the notice of neither man.

"Yeah, alright." Jim agreed hesitantly.

The two cadets-turned-officers fell into a companionable silence until another figure entered the room.

"Captain. It is . . . mentally refreshing to see that you are well again." Spock greeted.

Jim nodded. "Yeah Spock, I'm . . . HEY! You knocked me out! What the hell Spock? I thought we were passed blatant hatred?" Jim accused.

Spock feigned ignorance. "I'm sure I have no knowledge as to what you are referring to Captain. I do not experience hatred and, during the time in question, I merely acted as logic dictated. You needed medication and as you seemed unwilling to oblige . . ." Spock trailed off, uncertain how best to defend himself from his captain.

Jim continued to eye the first officer skeptically.

"No harm, no foul I guess" Kirk agreed carefully "But, as your way of making it up to me you have to get me out of this sickbay!"

"Mr. Spock, you'd better not you green- blooded hobgoblin!" McCoy protested. "Jim needs rest and besides that . . ." McCoy went on to list several medical reasons why Kirk should absolutely not be released from sickbay just yet.

Spock glanced at McCoy and saw the doctor's withering glare. Then he glanced to the captain and saw his pleading glance.

"I believe I will return to my post on the bridge gentlemen. Unless you require further assistance of me?" Spock asked the question just as the doors to the sickbay hissed shut.

"Damn it Spock!" Jim yelled after him "I'm going to kill you!"

In the corridor the young science officer raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating."

A/N: Hey guys! I know this chapters significantly shorter than the last one but I spent a few days on the first chapter (thinking it was going to be a one-shot) but that obviously didn't work out so my chapters are probably going to be shorter now. I hope that's ok! Anyway, I figure speed of updating was more important that length. Thanks again!