.:.:.:.:.
Jim's first action upon settling in the Captain's chair was to comm. the medbay and request a status update. A very familiar voice replaced that of the nurse he'd been speaking with in seconds, "Jim, you'd better have a damn good reason to not be sitting on one of the beds down here." Jim almost sighed but managed to refrain when he caught a few pairs of curious eyes glancing his way.
"Hello to you, too, Bones. You wanna give me that status update I requested?" The man grumbled but offered up the information willingly enough, "We're crowded, but most everyone's stable. It hasn't been easy but even Pike is holding out. You do not want to know what sort of shit I had to pull out of his brain." Jim winced a little at the thought but couldn't help grinning – Bones always came through for him.
"Thanks, Bones." There was the distinct sound of an impatiently tapping foot and Jim's grin widened but he held up his end of the unspoken agreement to trade updates, "I'm not down there at this moment because I just woke up from a nice four hour nap, so be proud. I'm just going to check in up here on the bridge then I'll come down so you can quit harping. Alright?"
"Yeah yeah, kid. I'm holding you to that." There was a simple click and Jim shook his head ruefully. It was nice to know some things never changed, one of those things being McCoy's perpetual grumpiness.
Jim stood and stretched before making the rounds of the bridge, taking time to talk to everybody and congratulate them on a job well done. He discovered that the ship was doing both better and worse than he had expected: without the warp core, they were moving at a snail's pace and it would likely take at least a week to make it back to Earth, most of the third level deck had been torn clean off the ship, and almost a third of all personnel were in sickbay with moderate to major injuries. However, they had gotten lucky in that the life support systems and food supplies had remained miraculously untouched. The only necessities he had to worry about rationing out were the severely depleted medical stores.
He supposed he was a little biased, but Jim was unfailingly grateful that he would not have to limit anyone's food to rations. The last thing he needed was a tired and hungry crew. The thought was cut off by the crackle of an incoming comm. at his chair and Jim strode over quickly, accessing the audio feed. What was left of the bridge crew either stared or laughed with their Captain when the distinct sound of a tapping foot could be heard echoing into the room.
.:.:.:.:.
