Title: Overboard (remix) 2/6

Author: RogueAngel

Rating: PG-13

Characters/pairings: Jim/Bones, with appearances of Spock, Gary Mitchell, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov and Winona. Passing mentions of Rand, Chapel, Uhura, and Riley.

Word count: 34,000+ (I just can't write short fics!)

Chapter 2

James sat alone on the top deck enjoying the cooling evening air. Of course, it was early June in Georgia, so it wasn't that cool, but the breeze from the slow moving boat was nice and kept the bugs away. They'd left the dock at The Ass End of Nowhere not more than ten minutes ago, the doctor still unconscious, but starting to stir. He felt slightly bad for how the doc was going to feel when he woke up, but pushed it out of his mind. The man's bedside manner had sucked and there was no way he was going to pay for all the extras he had added on. He was a Kirk. He was used to people trying to take his money and he wasn't going to let some grouchy, backwoods doctor take advantage of him.

Spock hadn't wanted to leave Nowhere Ville until morning, but Jim had insisted. Manny could follow the sounding scans and at a couple knots per hour they'd make some progress back to the main lake and hopefully figure out where Mandy's – Candy's? – whoever's cousin or sister or neighbor was waiting to be picked up. It was all a waste of time, James thought with a sigh, but what else could he do? He'd promised Gary a summer of sailing and he'd picked Georgia of all places. Maybe in a few weeks he could talk Gary into trading in this motor boat for one of the Kirk yachts and they could cruise around the Gulf instead.

Sitting up from where he had stretched out, he wrapped his elbows around his knees, his head still tilted back so he could see the stars.

"You signing off for the night, Spock?" he asked over his shoulder to his ever silent butler/majordomo. The Vulcan hadn't made a sound, but James always knew when he was nearby. He'd been working for James, or rather for James' mother, since James was fourteen years old, after all. If you didn't count his mother, who had actually given birth to him, Spock was the person who had known him the longest.

"Yes, sir."

James waited as the Vulcan continued to stand behind him, not moving to go to his cabin. There wasn't much that the staid Vulcan didn't know about James and vice versa, and James always knew when Spock had something to say to him, even without him saying anything.

Sighing, James turned his head. "Go ahead, you might as well tell me whatever it is that you want to tell me."

"There is nothing I wish to tell you, sir, except to wish you a good night," the Vulcan replied.

James snorted. It always came down to semantics with Spock. "Fine, then ask whatever you want to ask."

This time, Spock paused thoughtfully, his arms clasped behind his back and his tilted slightly as he met James' eyes. "I simply wished to enquire if you are enjoying your vacation, sir."

Well, that was to the point, as usual, James thought sardonically. Turning to face the front of the boat, James shrugged. "Not really, but you already knew that."

"Indeed," Spock admitted. "I had assumed, after your declaration to your mother that this trip would be of a more…intimate nature."

"Oh, it's been intimate all right," James laughed humorlessly. Barely a week into their vacation Gary had met and invited Mallory and her friends on board. James had been okay with it at first. After all, over the course of their relationship there'd been more than the occasional female partner thrown into the mix for the fun of it. He liked women, after all. He liked them a lot. But this time it just wasn't working for him.

"Those are not the intimacies to which I was referring," Spock told him frankly.

"I know," James replied in frustration. "I just…" he trailed off helplessly. He just felt that at twenty-six he was outgrowing the need to party with and shag everyone who offered themselves to him. He had thought that maybe there was something between him and Gary and that some time together, just the two of them, might be just the thing to take their relationship to the next level, like he had intimated to his mother.

Quick fucks in empty boardrooms and James' office had been exciting, and there was no denying that he and Gary had great chemistry, in and out of the bedroom, but James was beginning to want more. He wasn't sure what exactly that more was, but he had thought that maybe what was between him and Gary transcended a typical fuck.

"Might I make an observation, sir?" Spock inquired when James didn't say anything, only continued to stare out into the darkness of the river.

"Sure."

"Some things cannot be forced," he offered. "And those things that you really want, come much quicker when you are not searching so hard for them."

"Am I that transparent?" James asked in annoyance.

"No," Spock told him. "I believe the majority of the people who know you believe the persona that you have built up. But I have known you longer. It will happen James. I believe that."

"Like you and Nyota?" James taunted, only because he was feeling sorry for himself and he wasn't exactly fond of getting advice from his emotionally constipated Vulcan butler, especially when he knew the bastard was right.

There was no sound from behind him, but James was sure that Spock had stiffened even more so than usual.

"I have no comment on the matter," Spock told him, his voice proper, but James could hear his sudden displeasure. "I will now retire for the evening."

Nyota Uhura was his mother's housekeeper and personal secretary. She and Spock had been circling each other for years, and while James had never caught them being anything but professional towards each other, there was definitely an odd vibe whenever they were in a room together.

"Hey, Spock," James called out to the retreating butler. "I promise, when I finally settle down I will do whatever I can to steal Uhura from my mother," he offered with a conciliatory smile.

Spock turned and bowed slightly. "Good evening, sir," he intoned before turning once again moving towards his berth on the lower deck.

"Good night, Spock," Jim said softly.

A deep throated laugh followed by a falsetto giggle drifted through the heavy air. James sighed and stood up. He'd been bitchy after dinner, demanding that he be given space, which was tough to do on a boat this size. Dinner had been beef Wellington, fresh asparagus and new baby potatoes served in the actual dining area rather than on plates taken to any part of the boat. Unfortunately, he'd been the only one sober enough to enjoy it and while he had dressed for dinner, albeit causally, no one else had. Gary had deigned to button up his shirt, but the girls had remained in their bikinis, sipping on cocktails and laughing uproariously as they picked at what was a truly excellent meal.

Gary had sensed his rising temper and herded the girls to one of the cabins, suggesting that they watch a vid. Then he'd taken James up top, given him a brief shoulder massage, reminded him that this was what they had planned, and then told him to join them when he found his good humor again, before going below. James hadn't known whether to be stunned or livid, so instead he had stretched out and stared at the sky.

Finally ready to go downstairs and see what Gary was up to, James hadn't even made it two steps before he felt his personal PADD vibrate in his pocket.

"What now?" he muttered under his breath. He'd given strict instructions to his secretary, Riley, that he wasn't to be disturbed unless it was a dire emergency. He'd been checking the business sites on his PADD, so he knew that there was nothing he needed to worry about. "Ah, hell," he swore when he saw who the caller was.

Returning to the bow of the boat and sitting down heavily, his head resting on one hand, he answered the call. "Hello Mother, and how are you this fine evening?" he asked unctuously.

"Do not use that tone with me James," his mother told him firmly. "I won't stand for it."

"Fine," James replied, with a smirk. "How's it hanging, Winona?" He heard her huffing laugh and almost smiled. His relationship with his mother was an odd one. They had never been close, but as he entered his twenties and began to take his place in Kirk Enterprises and show promise, they had become better acquaintances and found that they could work together well enough. He treated her more like a benevolent boss and she treated him like a prized protégé. It was when she tried to be his mother that they had problems.

"You are impossible and I really shouldn't encourage such behavior," she told him sternly, though he could tell that she was trying not to smile.

"It's all part of my charm," James told her easily.

"I imagine it is," she said dryly, "but I didn't call to discuss your peculiar brand of charm this evening."

James held back a sigh. It was going to be one of those conversations. Sitting back he dropped his head against the railing, looking up at the stars once more. "Then why did you call, Winona?"

"James, this is a personal conversation," she said, a slight pout in her tone. She'd never been much of a mother while he was growing up, but she'd tried occasionally. It just never lasted very long and James had learned to be wary of those times. They never boded well for him. "I wish you wouldn't call me that."

"Fine, mom," Jim said sarcastically. "How would you like to interfere with my life this evening?"

She tutted, but ignored his comment. "I simply wanted to know how you're doing and if your little vacation is going as planned," she told him primly.

"I'm sure that's what you wanted to know," Jim replied sarcastically. After the rather spectacular end to their last conversation, Jim was sure that his current happiness with his vacation plans was not part of her agenda.

"Honestly James, I'm your mother," she said, like she had to remind him of that fact. "I worry about you. After what you said before you left New York, you can't blame me for wondering."

James just shook his head. "I'm fine. Georgia's hot and humid and the lake is surprisingly cold."

"And how's Gary?" she finally asked when he didn't say anything more.

"He's fine," James told her, trying to keep his temper in check. "He's down below. You want me to go get him so you two can have a chat?"

His mother tutted at him again. "Really, James. Do stop baiting me."

"It's not like I don't know how you feel about him, Mother," James said.

"What?" she asked innocently. "He's a brilliant marketer. Extremely creative and charismatic. He appears to be an excellent employee."

"An excellent employee," James repeated, shaking his head, "but not son-in-law material, huh?"

"James," Winona warned.

"Mother," he parroted.

She heaved a put upon sigh. "All right, do you really want to know how I feel about Gary?"

James gave a snort. As if she was ever afraid to tell him how she felt about anything. "By all means," he replied acerbically.

"He has a brilliant mind for marketing; genius even," she began. "And on a business level you and he seem to be a perfect match. With his ability to gauge the public mind and your business acumen, you're a force to be reckoned with. The two of you could take Kirk Enterprises farther than I've ever dreamed. But with him behind you, as an advisor, a member of the board, maybe, not as your…your…"

"Partner?" Jim filled in for her.

"Exactly," she agreed. "He's not what you need in a partner or a spouse. He's not what I want for you."

"What you want for me?" James said caustically. "What about what I want for me?" he demanded.

"James, honey, you don't even know what you really…"

"I am not a child," James snapped.

"I know," Winona said soothingly, in the voice she had often used in his childhood. It only made his hackles rise. "But you know that sometimes people only see you for your name, for what you stand to inherit. Gary was barely with the company a month before he was sniffing around you. Don't make the same mistake you did with Carol. There's no need to rush things."

James laughed bitterly. Of course she would bring up Carol. "I can pretty much guarantee you that Gary's not pregnant, Mother," he told her.

"Well, of course he's not," she snapped back. "But that doesn't mean he's not playing the same game she was. Tell me James, has Gary ever even been in a relationship with a man before you? How often does he suggest bringing other partners to your bed? Someone who's willing to share…"

"I am not discussing my sex life with you, Mother," James said angrily, mad that she had actually hit too close to the mark with her questions, "unless you want me to remind you about your track record when it comes to picking partners. Frank was a real winner. And Charles wasn't much better."

"Don't you talk to me like that, young man!" she snapped shrilly. "I know I will never be able to apologize enough for the mistakes I made when you were a child, but at least I didn't marry them."

James shook his head, closing his eyes as he did his best to reign in his temper. "This conversation is over."

"James," she tried again, her voice softer than he'd ever heard. "Love can't be forced. You can work at it with someone, but it has to come naturally first and I just think you're forcing…"

"Good night, Mother," James interrupted her, ending the call. "Damn it!" he swore as he threw his PADD angrily onto the deck of the boat. That was not what he needed to hear. He'd been having enough problems with the way things were going with Gary, but to hear it from both his mother and Spock in the space of ten minutes was not fair.

Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind like Spock had taught him. He and Gary had something together. He'd felt it. Things were just a bit…undefined at the moment. He'd allowed others to enter their bedroom, so to speak. He'd just have to draw the line. If Gary wanted something more with him, then he'd be fine with it just being the two of them. After all, he'd never been with one of the women without James being there too.

Things were fine, James told himself. He nodded to Manny as he passed him on the deck and descended into the interior of the boat to his – their – bedroom. Things were going to be just fine, once he and Gary talked. He was sure of it.

"Oh, hell no," James said as soon as he opened the door to his room. Seeing Gary laying out on their bed with two girls – Molly and Candace, he guessed, they really were interchangeable in his mind – one of them mouthing his cock through his swim trunks and the other doing her best to wrap her tongue around his tonsils, was like a punch to the gut. In that split second he realized he'd been fooling himself all along.

"James my boy!" Gary grinned over at him, his eyes heavy lidded with alcohol and maybe something more. "Come join us."

"I don't think so," James replied coolly, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the door frame. "Out," he ordered the two girls.

The one who was playing tonsil hockey pouted at him. "But James…"

"Yeah, but James," Gary cajoled. "Come on man, we got two hot girls who will do anything we ask and the night is young."

James didn't know why he was surprised by the feeling of disappointment, but he was. His hope that tonight would be just them, him and Gary, was not just dashed, but utterly shattered. Apparently Gary had other ideas, and was more than willing to entertain others without James being present. He probably had all along, James admitted. He was suddenly angry with himself for letting this go on for as long as he had.

"No thanks," he smirked disdainfully, rallying and making sure his face didn't show how devastated he really felt. "I don't feel like having my cock rot off anytime soon, since one of your hot girls apparently brought a STI on board with her. I'm not interested in any more hyposprays."

"Yeah, but the doc fixed it. It's all good. He was pretty hot, too," Gary leered. "Almost as hot as Mandy and Molly, here." He reached out and patted each of them on the head like they were well-behaved pets.

"Gary, I'd like to speak with you now, up top," James said in his boardroom voice, not brooking any argument. Turning away, he stalked down the hallway and through the kitchen, hearing Gary reassure the girls that he'd be 'right back, once I get him sorted.' The girls' giggling response had James seeing red. When had things gone so wrong?

"Manny, moor the boat, leave the lights on and go down below, we'll stay here tonight," James ordered as he passed the other man at the controls. "And try not to startle Spock again," he added with an attempt at humor. "Remember he probably has his ear buds in, listening to that mediation crap he likes. I don't want another incident of you being accidently knocked out because he wasn't expecting you."

"Yez zir," Manny immediately replied, a sheepish look on his face. He was quick and efficient shutting down the boat, passing Gary on the stairwell as the other made his inebriated way up.

"What the hell is your problem, Kirk?" Gary opened the argument before James could say anything. "You've been in a pissy mood all week. What's got your panties in a twist?"

"My problem?" James asked, his voice low, knowing it was going to carry in the still air and not wanting the other occupants of the boat to overhear them. He went over to the radio and turned on the music, turning the volume down only slightly before turning back to Gary. "What's my problem? You are. And this trip is. Jesus, Gary, this was supposed to be a boat trip with just us, remember? Two guys on a boat, lots of alcohol, fishing; doing whatever the hell we wanted for a couple months."

Gary nodded. "Yeah, I remember. And that's exactly what we're doing, ain't it?"

"With four half naked women," James said in exasperation. "That's not exactly just you and me."

Lurching over to the cooler, Gary pulled out a bottle beer and popped the top. "Eh," he waved dismissively. "What's a guy's boat trip without a little pussy? You like pussy, don't you, Kirk? Always seemed to me you did."

"Yeah, I like pussy," James replied caustically. "When I know it and I can trust it. Who the hell are these girls?"

"Are you still going on about what the doc said?" Gary asked, stumbling back over to stand close enough to James that he could feel the other man's body heat and smell the miasma of alcohol and sweat hovering around him. "So you had a little STI, no biggie, it's fixed."

James ground his teeth. "That's not the point Gary. Who are they? How did they so conveniently show up at our first stop? And why the hell did you want to come to Georgia of all places?" He threw up his arms in frustration. "We could be cruising the Gulf, the two of us, pulling into any port we wanted to, rather than trolling through these backwater lakes and rivers."

"Jealous?" Gary asked with a smirk.

"Who are they?" James repeated stonily.

Gary sized him up blearily, still sober enough to know when James wasn't going to give up. He shrugged. "Mallory's an old friend from college. Candy, too. Molly and Mandy are friends of theirs who like to have a good time."

"Old girlfriends?" James couldn't help asking.

Gary looked at him speculatively. "Jealous?" he asked again, his eyebrow raised as he lifted his beer and took a long pull.

James pursed his lips, but didn't say anything, which was enough for Gary.

"Jesus, you are," he laughed. "Man, it's been all cock, all ass for months, don't tell me you don't miss a little pussy now and then. You said you were bi, after all."

"I am, but that has nothing to do with it," James said stiffly. He was angry, but he didn't know who he was most angry with, himself or Gary. He'd really let himself be led by the nose on this one. Not even Carol had fucked him over this harshly. He didn't even want to think about what he'd said to his mother about Gary possibly being 'the one' for him. He'd said it before about Carol, but at least he'd had a reason since she'd just told him she was pregnant. He'd wanted to show that he was committed to her and the baby; hell, he'd yearned for the commitment. Fat lot of good it did him when it became apparent that the baby wasn't even his.

Now, he was doing the same thing with Gary; wanting something that wasn't really there to begin with. Sure, they were good in bed together, and they were amazing business partners, bouncing ideas off each other like a tennis match at Wimbledon. But that didn't make a relationship; not a real one. A lesson James should have learned when he was twenty.

All those months of talking and fucking and dreaming together, and it had apparently meant nothing to Gary. What had his therapist said? He had a sublimated desire for permanence because of the way he had romanticized his parent's relationship, letting himself believe that the reason his mother was the way she was, was because she had loved his father too much and was forever mourning his loss. He may act like a cut throat businessman, but in truth he was just a needy fuck who latched on to people in the hope of something more.

He'd let Carol drag him around for a few weeks after he'd discovered her deception, but not this time. He was James T. Kirk, heir of Kirk Enterprises, and he was not going to be played any longer.

"This is over, Gary," James said.

Gary looked at him curiously. "What? The trip?"

"The trip," James nodded. "Our friendship, or relationship, or whatever you want to call it. It's all over. I'll let you keep your position at Kirk Enterprises," he added offhandedly, "if you agree to part amicably."

"Now, wait," Gary stumbled over to him, a look of panic in his eyes. "James my boy, let's…"

"Don't call me that," James said stiffly.

"Fine, James, but you've got it all wrong," Gary told him, reaching for James' arm. "The girls and everything, they were for you. You said you were bi and I didn't want you to get tired of me and…"

"Just stop it, Gary," James said in disgust, stepping away from him. "I have to admit, you were good," he added bitterly. "I almost…I thought we could…" he closed his eyes and shook his head. "I hate it when Mother is right," he whispered to himself.

"But she's not, James," Gary lunged at him. "She's not. We're good together. We're awesome. We can take Kirk Enterprises across the galaxy. Open up new worlds and new markets."

"No we can't," James told him, grappling to try to get Gary to release him. "I can, though. And I will. Alone."

That stunned Gary enough to make him pause, his face morphing into a mask of anger. "No you don't you little shit. I did not take it up the ass for over a year for you to…" wildly, he began to pace the deck, running his hands through his hair. "I'm so close. I almost have it. I'm not going to let you do this. Not now," he muttered to himself.

James felt a pit open up in his stomach. It had never meant anything to Gary. He was just a means to an end. What exactly that end was, James was going to find out soon enough, but until then he'd let Gary think he could keep his position. "Then I guess you should have played your hand a little better, huh, Gary?" he taunted bitterly. "Should have taken it up the ass for another couple weeks, left the girls out of it. As it is, tomorrow you and your friends are going to be dropped off at the next decent-sized town. I'll make sure you have enough money to get home. And you will never speak to me unless it is in an official capacity, do you understand me?"

"James," Gary whined, his eyes shiny. "Please," he reached out a hand in supplication.

"It's over Gary," James told him once more before he turned around and started to make his way back into the boat.

"The hell it is," Gary growled. Before James could react, Gary bashed him over the head with his beer bottled, catching him as he crumpled. "This is not how it ends. I say when it ends, damn it!" Dragging James' dead weight, Gary gripped his wrists and dropped him over the side, before hurrying to the controls and starting the boat's engines. He didn't even look back as it slowly moved downstream.

"Spock, my man!" Gary said cheerfully as he emerged from the master cabin, sniffing eagerly at the breakfast Manny was cooking. "Have you seen James? The jerk left me hanging last night."

"I have not seen Mr. Kirk this morning," Spock said stiffly, pausing as he was setting the table, he looked over at Gary. "I assumed he was in his cabin…with you."

"Nope, haven't seen him since last night. We had a couple drinks up top." Sitting at the table, he reached for the scrambled eggs. He stopped, spoon in the air as if an idea had just occurred to him. "Holy shit, he did it!"

"Did what, might I ask?" Spock intoned.

Gary just shook his head in wonder. "He was all hot over that doctor fellow yesterday. Kept on going on and on about his eyes and his hands. I said if he was that interested he should just go back and bang the guy. I guess he took my advice. Ain't that a laugh," Gary chuckled as he put down the eggs and reached for some bacon. "You're sure you haven't seen him?"

"Positive."

"Well, he must have done it then."

"We are approximately five point two miles downstream from Teaksville. How exactly was he planning to find this doctor again?"

Gary paused, chewing slowly. "Well, that's a good question. I imagine he swam for it. We were only about ten feet from shore last night, after all. He always was one for the dramatic, especially when he's drunk."

"I see," Spock commented, his eyes never leaving Gary. "Then it is best that we head back to Teaksville and wait for him."

Waving his fork, Gary shook his head dismissively. "I doubt that's what he wants. I think it will take more than one go around with that doctor, if you know what I mean," he grinned wolfishly.

"Indeed."

"And besides, we've got to go meet Amber at that one town…Uh, Cumming, that's it," he laughed. "Awesome name for a town, if you ask me. James will contact us when he wants to be picked up, or meet us somewhere. He's done it before Spock. Remember that time in Madrid? The bastard ended up all the way in Athens because he followed a piece of ass. Didn't see him for six weeks, at least."

"That is correct," Spock conceded, though his head was now cocked slightly as he continued to watch Gary eat. "He did, in fact, tell us he would be leaving, though. And he did contact us periodically."

"I'm sure he will this time too," Gary agreed. "First the fucker's got to hike into Hicksville. Five point two miles, you say? That's going to be tough barefoot. Luckily he's going to see a doctor." Gary laughed some more, slamming his hand on the table. "I guess I'm in charge now, right Spock?"

One of Spock's eyebrows rose to his hairline before he nodded slightly. "Indeed, Mr. Mitchell."

"Excellent!" Gary declared. "Set a course for Cumming, Mr. Spock," he laughed again. "We got a lot of partying to do in the mean time."

"Of course, sir," Spock bowed, before turning and going down to his cabin near the engines.

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