A/N: Thank you all for your comments so far. It really is motivating. I wish you all a happy new year :D
Bones sat in the academy library studying for his Andorian language class. Bones spoke no language except Standard; it was expected that cadets at least have a rudimentary understanding of one foreign language.
He flipped the pages of the enormous dictionary he had managed to find in the library. The PADD took too long to load each word; Bones preferred the old fashioned way of doing things. He found the verb he was looking for and tried to put it in the correct sentence structure. It was exceedingly difficult.
Bones almost jumped out of his skin when Jim slapped his hands over the dictionary.
"Study time over!" Jim exclaimed. "Bar time!"
Bones shoved Jim's hands off the dictionary and continued to read it. He heard Jim huff in annoyance and realised, the kid wasn't going to go without him.
"Look Jim, I'm busy! We can't all be geniuses like you, you know!" Bones lowered his voice due to the glares of the librarian. "And the last time I had a drink with you, we had to attend a very scary disciplinary hearing! We were so piss drunk; I don't even remember who caught us dammit! Nearly the whole night's gone from my brain- that didn't win us many points with the board you know!"
Jim crossed his arms over his chest and walked around the table. He crouched down in front of Bones.
"Bones, that was two months ago. Would you just get over it already? We didn't get expelled, just a reprimand- it's all good! Now," Jim suddenly changed the tone of his voice. "There is a stunningly beautiful woman who is going to be at this bar tonight by the name of Uhura. She's been shrugging me off for a while. But I intend to sweep her off her feet tonight!"
Bones snorted. He doubted Jim would have much luck.
"Jim," Bones started. Jim looked up like an expectant puppy dog, eyes gleaming with excitement. "No."
Jim stood up and lightly smacked Bones' head. He then proceeded to exit the library.
"Have fun!" Bones called after him, smirking slightly.
Bones continued to study in the library for a couple of hours. He finally worked out his sentences in Andorian and then moved onto his Xenobiology study. He flicked open his text book and read aloud very softly to himself.
"Cardassians: External Features. Cardassians possess light grey skin with two large neck ridges joining to the crown of the head. They also possess a ridge on their forehead which is in the shape of an inverted tear-drop..."
Bones stopped reading as he felt his eyelids begin to droop. Cardassian physiology was not the most fascinating thing in the universe and he had been studying for quite a few hours. Plus, he felt the warning signs of a headache. He decided to call it a night and go back to the apartment. Jim would not be back yet; he could have some relax time.
As he crossed the courtyard on the way to the dorms, he spotted Hikaru Sulu, their neighbour in room 119. He shared his apartment with a mere 14 year old boy, Pavel Chekov, but they seemed to get along fine. Bones and Hikaru had the occasional chat in the hallways.
Hikaru was sitting on a bench simply looking into the night sky. The boy wasn't around which was unusual; Pavel tended to cling to Hikaru.
"Good evening Mr. Sulu!" Bones called nodding his head. Hikaru raised his hand to give a small wave.
"You turning in for the night Leo?" Hikaru asked standing up to walk closer to Bones.
"Uh, yeah. Had enough of staring at Cardassians." Bones drawled. Hikaru laughed and then nervously clasped his hands together, starting to wring them. He gave Bones a small smirk.
"Okay Hikaru. Out with it." Bones said seriously, raising his eyebrows to the younger man. He didn't need much convincing.
"Jim's got a girl in the apartment. Pavel and I got out before we heard something we could never un-hear." Hikaru said in between small bouts of laughter. "Pavel was horrified at the concept. He went over to his chess club meeting."
Bones groaned and slapped his hand to his forehead. Jim could be such an idiot. Where was he going to sleep for the night? He didn't feel like playing Peeping Tom tonight.
"Well, I can't stay up with you all night out here Hikaru. I have a shift at the academy hospital tomorrow. I really need my shut eye. I think I'll wear ear plugs and sleep on the couch or wherever they are not..." Bones grizzled. "Maybe bleach my eyes if I see anything."
Hikaru laughed heartily and nodded his head. He stuck out his hand for a handshake and Bones accepted firmly.
"Good luck!" Hikaru called as Bones walked towards A block. Bones simply rolled his eyes.
Before Bones could even enter the code into the door, he heard some noises that really advocated for the idea of ear plugs. As the door slid open, he slapped a hand over his eyes and fumbled away from Jim and whoever he was making out with on the couch. He heard them break apart. A familiar female voice rang out.
"Leonard!?"
Leonard's hand instantly fell from his face and his jaw dropped. He blinked a couple of times in shock.
"Jocelyn?"
Jim instantly flew of the couch and put his hands up in a kind of surrender. His face was flushed red and his lips were slightly swollen.
"Oh, no, no, no. Bones, is this the Jocelyn?" Jim exclaimed, his thoughts in a whirl of panic. It was Bones' ex-wife, but Jim didn't think his friend would be happy about it regardless.
Bones clenched his fists together and took some very deep breaths. This was not the situation he expected to come home to. His ex's shirt was partly unbuttoned and her hair was sticking up at odd angles. Bones looked to Jim and gave him a menacing glare.
"Jim," Bones said as evenly as possible. "Get out of the apartment."
Jim quickly nodded, running a hand through his hair to flatten it down and grabbing a jacket. He almost ran out of the apartment. Jocelyn frowned at Bones.
"I didn't know this was your accommodation." She stated simply.
Bones nodded and sat next to her on the couch.
"Jim can be very seductive when he wants to be." Bones explained. "He told me he was going after a certain woman tonight... Looks like that didn't work. Congratulations on being picked up by a man 6 years your junior!"
Jocelyn looked slightly taken aback. She placed her head in her hands.
"But he told me-"
"He'll say anything if it means sex. Don't worry; I'll deal with him later."
Jocelyn sighed. Her soft brown hair masked part of her face. Bones resisted the urge to brush it back and place a kiss on her cheek like he used to.
"I didn't come all the way out here to prey on your roommate, Leonard. We need to finalise our custody arrangement for Joanna." She stated with the familiar bite she often put into her words. "I want sole custody."
Bones could feel another headache coming on. This was not a good day.
