A Star Trek Fiction

"The ultimate duo, the mighty Bones and Jim. With Bones' skills, and Jim's unpredictability, the two are unstoppable, for better or worse."

Secretly a Child at Heart

5xs Jim was Careless & 5xs Jim Cared too Much

Story 4: Tarsus

He clutches the toilet desperately, hoping no one will walk in to see his embarrassing scene. The blond's a wreck, cold sweats are running down his face and his stomach has pushed out every meal he's had today and he's pretty sure if he throws up one more time, his actual stomach might come out.

Today was awful, his history professor decided it was appropriate to go over Tarsus IV for their lesson, let's just say, it didn't end too well for Jim. And now, here he is, clinging onto the rim of the toilet in his dorm room, praying to god Bones looks for him at the bar before heading here, but he's not in luck because the Doctor has a knack for finding him when he doesn't want to be found.

"Jim? Are you home?" Comes the brunette's soothing, yet gruff southern voice.

Jim opens his mouth to reply, but another wave of nausea passes over him and he throws up again, only stomach acid pouring from his chapped lips.

"Jim?" Bones calls out with more concern.

"No Bones…" He groans, taking side glance at the closed bathroom door to make sure it's locked, it is.

"Open up Jim." Bones demands, standing outside the locked door.

"No." He growls and lets out haggard sigh as his stomach twists into a knot with fear wrenching in his heart.

"What's wrong?" The Doctor asks, leaning against the door, only hoping that Jim will have the sense to open it.

"…m' fine." He mumbles before dry heaving at the toilet's edge.

Bones scoffs, "Yeah, you sound amazing, now open up kid. Don't make me break down the door."

Jim freezes up, he's a hundred percent sure that Bones will break down the door, it wouldn't be the first time and he's sure it won't be the last. But this time, he's doesn't need a scene, if he wants Bones to believe he's fine, he's gotta play it cool.

The blond gathers to his feet, flushing the toilet and washing his face. He unlocks the door and Bones opens it before he even has the opportunity to grasp the handle.

"Damn it Jim, why do you do this to yourself?" Bones mutters, gripping him by the shoulders.

Jim nods drowsily at him and gives a weak smile, which Bones isn't buying into. He opens his mouth to speak, but he only coughs, which only turns into a choking sound as more bile rises up his throat. Instantly Bones gathers the sweaty mess into his arms and pulls him over the toilet so his stomach contents don't ruin the floor.

Bones can only watch as the clear liquid leaves Jim's mouth, obviously the kid has thrown up everything else in his stomach, which isn't a good sign.

Jim's trembling in Bones' strong arms, so weak, so fragile. Bones gathers him up, pushing away his uncooperative hands and scooping him up like a small child. The blond gives some inaudible complaints, but stops fighting Bones' helping hands. He places Jim on his own bed, since he knows Jim finds sleep easier in the Doctor's bed and not in his own. Must be something mental, must be.

Jim mutters something underneath his breath, but Bones doesn't catch it, the Doctor is too busy collecting medical supplies to notice. Bones returns to the blond's side seconds later and pushes several different hypos into his neck. Jim just sighs as the nausea eases and the tremors fade into manageable shivers.

Bones huffs, staring down at his drowsy friend, wondering what has gotten him so worked up. The Doctor picks up a thin blanket and throws it over Jim's body, wiping away some of Jim's sweat with a discarded towel.

"Bones?" Jim asks, his voice coming in stronger now that his breathing has settled.

Bones smiles and sits beside his best friend, "Yeah Jim?"

"Thanks." Jim replies, grasping his hand and giving a squeeze.

"No problem kid, just don't freak me out like that again." Bones informs him, and Jim gives his trademark grin and slowly falls into a peaceful slumber, which was induced by the sedative Bones injected his careless friend with. Because whatever has shaken up his golden boy this bad, well it isn't going to let him sleep, not without a fight, so Bones will just have to fight harder.

So with all the care in the world in Bones' heart, he wraps an arm around his blond friend, his mind still buzzing with unanswered questions. The only reason why Bones was able to find Jim in the first place was Uhura. The lovely cadet informed him that his dirtbag of a friend "Jim" had literally sprinted out of history class looking green. When Bones asked her what had caused him to look so sick she told him that they were going over a touchy subject. Bones asked her which one, she gave a simple answer: Tarsus IV.