McCoy awoke to blazing light. God…I must be dead. He tried to move, hitting his head on a rock next to him. "Nope, I'm alive…" He groaned putting his hand to his head. He muttered curses to himself. "Still in the blasted Vulcan desert." He picked up his medkit, tricorder, and Jim's canteen.
He kneeled next to the Captain. "Jim…Jim, come on. Wake up, damn it!" He shook his friend.
Jim groaned and put his hand to his head. "My head…feels…like hell." He grumbled. "Not to mention my shoulder."
McCoy handed him the canteen. "Drink," he ordered.
"Don't you say please anymore, Bones?" Jim asked with a grin, putting the canteen to his lips.
"I stopped asking you to do things a long time ago when I realized that you were the kind of fool who needed to be told to take care of himself." McCoy grumbled waving the tricorder over the Captain.
Jim chuckled, "Oh, I see." He looked at the tricorder, then at McCoy. "So what's the prognosis, Doctor?" He asked smirking.
"You've gained a couple of pounds since your last physical." McCoy muttered.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Jim snapped.
Bones cast him a disapproving glance. "You're a helluva lot worse than you should be." He studied his tricorder. "And the worst part is, I don't even know where to begin to treat it!" He stood up, throwing his hands up.
Jim tried to stand, using the rock for support. "Then…we should find someone who does," He said grunting. Waves of vertigo hit him, he clutched his head and his legs gave out. His whole body felt numb. "Not the best way to start the day," He grumbled.
McCoy came to his side and helped him on to the rock.
"Bones…I can't…stand. Numb." Jim gasped, trying to catch his breath. The doctor moved into position to carry him, fireman style.
"Bones, don't. I don't think carrying me to the city is…such a good idea." Jim said.
"Shut up and put your arm around my shoulder!" McCoy shouted. He was very concerned about his friend; he didn't know how much longer Jim could last in this heat with that injury. Hell, he didn't know how long he could last carrying Jim in this heat. But he refused to leave Jim here.
At least I can see where I'm going now…