Rescued

James Kirk was bored. Bored beyond imagination. Monumentally and tragically bored…

"I got the point, Jim. In fact I got it about a half hour ago when you first dragged your sorry self down here." McCoy sighed and looked up from the desk where half a dozen PADDs containing medical journals were scattered around a personal data consol. He had been trying to conduct research for a paper on comparative biological reactions in humanoids to the Kamaraazite flu vaccine.

It was proving increasingly difficult to do so with Kirk wandering around his dorm room playing with his possessions and whining about having nothing to do.

"Have ya thought about, I dunno, studying perhaps? That is what you're here for, you know."

"Naw, it's too nice out for that."

McCoy glanced past where Jim was now perched on his bunk at the window. It was a bright sunny day, with the occasional puff of cloud floating past the window. He could see the edge of the Golden Gate gleaming in the distance and briefly thought about heading down to the shore.

Unfortunately this paper was due in a week and thanks to the waste of the previous weekend's study time, courtesy of said currently bored cadet, he was now scrambling to get the work done. It didn't help that all of his professors had decided to load them down with work the entire week and now he was trying to play catch up.

"You're not wrong about that. So why don't you get the hell outta here and go do something."

"No fair to leave you cooped up in here on a day like this. Why don't we go down to the park? We could rent a couple of scooters." He was back to pacing the small room, here and there picking up an object and fiddling with it.

Orion Park was located on the grounds of Star Fleet Academy and on a day such as today, would most likely be filled with cadets enjoying the sun. There was an amusement center located at one end of the park, and it was possible to rent scooters and small boats for use on the various ponds sprinkled around the property.

It sounded like a damn good idea. Too bad he wasn't leaving his room until he had a solid start on this paper.

"Look Jim, as much as I want to, some of us actually have to study. Not all us can just glance at a book and declare ourselves experts on the subject."

McCoy aimed a mild glare at the cadet as he drifted back towards the bed. The younger man had grabbed a spare anabolic protoplaser from McCoy's desk on his way past and was tossing it idly from hand to hand.

He now stopped mid stride and turned to appeal to McCoy's sympathetic side.

"C'mon Bones. All you've done this week is study. Don't you think it's time for a break?"

The hope filled look Jim sent his way was met with a blank stare. The younger man ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Anyway, I can't go back to my room right now. Hannigan brought the beast over again, and it'll be hours before it'll be safe enough to go back. Actually I think she's spending the night."

McCoy grimaced. Somehow Jim's roommate had managed to find the most obnoxious girl in town and in a drunken stupor brought her back to their room a couple of months prior. The following morning, Hannigan had been quick to realize his mistake but unfortunately he had also managed to find the most insane girl around. His several attempts to tell her that he wasn't interested anymore had been completely ignored and she insisted on making regular weekend visits.

There were several pools going as to when the kid would grow a set and end it for good. McCoy himself had money on it lasting a least a year. He knew needy and crazy when he saw it.

Jim had been making it a habit to crash on McCoy's floor on the occasional evenings she would spend the night. His own roommate was somewhat sympathetic to the whole situation and wouldn't bitch…much. He had put money on Hannigan being single again within the month; a somewhat unrealistic hope that the doctor figured was based more on a desire to not have a third room mate than anything actually approaching reality.

McCoy had seen his fair share of determined women and this one practically defined the word.

"I'll let Topher know you'll be crashing here tonight." Jim nodded his thanks and resumed tossing the medical device in the air.

"While I do sympathize with your plight, you do remember why I'm still working on this paper instead of enjoying the weekend, don't you?"

An almost believable expression of confusion settled on Jim's face. Almost.

"You know, can't say as I do. Although, I do think you should really be a little more responsible with your time, Bones. If you ever hope to make Chief Medical Officer, you're probably gonna want to work on that."

McCoy grabbed one of the PADDs from his desk and chucked it in Jim's direction. The younger man ducked and scrambled out of throwing range, smirking. The PADD landed unharmed on the pillow.

"Okay, okay. Point taken." Jim paused as he looked out the window again then changed tactics.

"There's a bonfire at The Bridge tonight. Think you could tear yourself away from this exciting endeavor for some actual fun at some point? It really is too nice to be stuck inside."

McCoy sighed and considered. If he really worked at it, he could probably get a good chunk of work done in the next couple of hours. And the thought of sitting around with people in an environment other than a study group sounded really good. Throw in some cold beer and it sounded even better.

Lately he'd been starting to feel like an old man in comparison to the hordes of youngsters running around campus. He spent more time studying than many of the new recruits and aside from excursions to the local bars with Jim, he didn't do much socializing.

Just one of the drawbacks to starting a new career later in life he supposed.

And damn it, but Jim had done it again. If he continued to be distracted this consistently, he'd be lucky to graduate.

"I suppose I could manage it, BUT" it was a warning glare that he shot at the other man this time, " you gotta get out now so I can work on this for the next couple of hours. And I'm warning you, if this doesn't get done in time, you're writing it for me. It ought to be easy for ya seeing as how you know everything."

A smile spread over Jim's face. "Excellent. I'll come back and get you in a couple of hours." He tossed the protoplaser back to McCoy as he headed for the door. "And I'll even bring the booze."

McCoy snorted. "Not if it's that Bud Classic crap you love so much, you won't."

The only response he got was an extended single digit that followed its owner out the door.

* * * * *

Later that evening and several bottles of Arcanis lager later, McCoy was sitting a short distance from the bonfire itself and staring up at the stars. The waves in the bay were lapping gently against the shore and reflected the leaping flames emanating from behind him. A light breeze was coming up off the water from farther down the shore and carried with it the sound of chatter and bursts of laughter from the main group. The clear skies of the afternoon had carried over to the evening and the stars were winking against an indigo background. Scattered up and down the shore were couples and small groups comprised of cadets and locals that had been invited to join them as they wandered by the festivities.

He sensed a presence to his right and looked up to see Jim with an easy grin stretched across his face and another lager extended towards him.

The doctor returned the smile and accepted the beer while Jim settled Indian style on the sand next to him and focused his gaze skyward.

Taking a pull from the bottle, McCoy decided that some things were more important than research papers and having a good friend for the first time since leaving Georgia was certainly one of them.

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AN: Another Kirk/McCoy friendship fic. These guys just keep popping up. :o)

Thanks to my sis for going over this for me. As always, I tinkered afterwards and all mistakes are my own. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading!