"One step at a time. One day at a time. One hour at a time."
I'll be Good
Chapter 26
"It's alright, I gotch'you."
Thud.
"Damn it."
Stumble.
"Hold still."
Moan.
"Gimme a second."
Splash.
"Shit, it's everywhere."
Whimper.
"Alright, on three."
Nod.
"One, two, three."
Pull.
"Okay in you go."
Thump.
"Just sit there, cool down."
Leonard sighs, turning the water just a tinge bit colder. Jim's fever began to spike and the vomiting got worse along with his stomach cramps. It's Sunday afternoon, nearing dinnertime and Jim hasn't touched any food yet.
If the stress of the situation doesn't kill him, the Academy Board sure will.
"Thanks Bones."
Leonard glances down at the mess he calls friend once more.
He was planning on having the talk later, but once he started talking he couldn't stop and it all just sort of spilled out. And now that it's over with, he had felt the instant relief but now the reality of getting Jim through this hit him like a shuttle crash-which reminds him (on a totally unrelatable topic), the Academy Board gave him the go ahead on his astrophobia seminar idea.
Suddenly he coughs, remembering that Jim is staring up at him.
"Yeah, no problem kid."
A smile edges his lips. He'd tossed the kid straight into the bathtub once he realized the fever wasn't going down and he'd ran out of hypos two hours ago, well at least the ones Jim wasn't allergic to.
Though, Leonard supposed after today Jim will be through the worst of it.
"McCoy!"
He snaps up, finding Francis at the doorway, "It's Captain Pike."
"He commed me?" Leonard asks.
Francis shakes his head, "No he's at your front door."
"Shit." Leonard curses, scratching at his growing beard.
Francis nods hurriedly, "Yeah Finnegan kinda answered your door for you."
"Shit." Leonard repeats, "Watch him." He orders, pushing Francis towards Jim and quickly making for the front door where Finnegan chats mindlessly to the captain.
"Cadet McCoy." Captain Pike addresses him sternly, cutting Finnegan off midsentence.
He swallows and nods, "Yes sir?"
"It has come to our attention that Cadet Kirk has not been attending classes and has skipped two required sessions with the Academy's therapist." Captain Pike explains, crossing his arms and staring accusingly at Leonard, "Do you happen to know of his whereabouts cadet?"
"No sir."
The captain glares him down, eyes narrowing, "Where is Cadet Donovan?"
"Right here sir." Francis appears from the bathroom, shutting the door with the bathroom light off.
"Where is your roommate cadet?"
Francis eyes Leonard and glances back to Pike, "I don't know sir."
"You don't know huh?" Pike prompts with a huff, glaring them all down, "Cadet Finnegan, do you happen to know of Cadet Kirk's whereabouts?"
Finnegan straightens further at the mention of his name, "No sir, I do not."
"You're telling me none of you know where Cadet Kirk is?"
"That's correct Captain Pike, sir." Finnegan pipes up boldly.
"So you're telling me if I send a search team they won't find him here?"
They all hold their breath collectively.
"Cadet McCoy, may I speak to you privately?"
Leonard frowns, but quickly fixes his expression, "Yes, of course sir."
Pike nods, "Excuse us gentlemen."
"Yes sir." Finnegan and Francis head into the spare bedroom, shutting the door behind themselves.
Captain Pike takes a moment to watch the door close before turning his attention to Leonard, eyeing him carefully. Leonard can feel his heart pound in his chest, questions swirling around in his brain. Man they're screwed really screwed.
"Look, cadet," Pike begins, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder, "I know he's here, so there's no point in lying to me."
Leonard opens his mouth to argue, but snaps it shut when Pike continues, "Let me guess, the closest? Maybe, the bathroom?" Pike smirks and Leonard presses his lips into a firm line, not letting a sound escape.
"It's alright Cadet McCoy, I'm not going to search your room, actually, I don't want to know where he is. If there's one thing I've learned about Jim Kirk, it's that he's always tangled up in trouble." Captain Pike states firmly and Leonard blows out a nervous chuckle, "Well sir, if you're not here to look for him, why are you here? If you mind me asking."
Pike smiles, "I know Kirk's in trouble with his professors right now, so, I'll give you a little cushion. I'll keep the Academy Board off of your back for a few days so you can get him back on his feet."
"Excuse me, sir?" Leonard stutters, his face bewildered. Why is Captain Pike helping them? Why does he even care what happens to Jim Kirk?
"I knew George, he was a good man, it's the least I can do. Give his son another chance." Pike nods and heads for the door, "Just get the idiot going again, or he'll seriously be in trouble."
Leonard watches Pike leave, mouth hanging open.
Jim Kirk apparently does have a little luck on his side after all.
"What was that all about?" Finnegan prompts, stepping out of the room followed closely by Francis, "Are we in trouble?" Jim's roommate asks.
Leonard shakes his head, "Pike is buying us a couple days to get Jim straightened out and back to normal." He explains coolly.
Finnegan snorts, "Why?"
"I don't know." Leonard replies, staring at the door, until a loud thud emits from the bathroom and all three of them share a glance, remembering that they had left Jim Kirk, in a bathtub, in the dark, all alone.
"Jim?" They call in unison, Leonard the first to open the door and switch on the lights manually.
There's a gurgled "f you" followed by Jim vomiting onto the floor, clinging onto the bathtub's edge.
Francis grimaces and flees from the bathroom rather quickly, leaving a snickering Finnegan and a disgusted Leonard.
"Couldn't you just have done that in the water?" Jake Finnegan grumbles.
"It's not like you're gonna clean it."
The bully laughs, "Yeah, you're right Lenny."
Leonard scowls, "Lenny?"
"Yeah, it's a nickname. Get used to it."
"God, I'm just the one for god-awful nicknames aren't I?" Leonard groans, turning his attention to Jim, avoiding the puddles of vomit, "Hey Jim," He taps the blond's face, feeling the feverish heat leave his body, "I'm gonna get you out now okay? Dry off and get some clean clothes for you."
Jim's reply is simply a moan.
"Finnegan can you-"
"Get some clothes, got it." Finnegan fills in and quickly dashes out.
Leonard sighs, "You guys are going to be the end of me."
"Alright, ready Jim?" He asks, stroking back the water soaked hairs.
Jim nods, eyes drowsily staring up at him expectantly.
"Okay," Leonard says, shutting the bathroom door before coming back and helping Jim stand within the tub. He then brings a towel around his friend's bare body and helps him sit down onto the toilet.
Finnegan steps back in as Leonard pulls the old fashioned plug and the water drains away.
"Here, I got some of your clothes Lenny."
Leonard grunts, "What other clothes would there be?"
Finnegan shrugs helplessly.
"Just get out." Leonard shoos him out, once more closing the door.
"Lenny huh?" The blond smiles, his voice weak and grating.
"Yeah, Finnegan, he's rather fond of nicknames." Leonard smirks, snatching another towel to dry off Jim's hair, though he supposes it only serves to ruffle it more than anything else.
Leonard goes to grab the clothes but Jim pipes up, "I think I can dress myself."
He nearly falters. Of course Jim can do it himself. The blond is looking slightly better than before and is more than likely very damn capable of dressing himself. Leonard perhaps just got too carried away in his 'doctor mode' to notice.
"Oh yeah, of course. Yeah sorry-I'll umm, I'll step out." Leonard falters, biting his tongue to stop himself from looking like a further fool.
Jim graces him with a smile, "Chill Bones, I knew what you were trynna do."
"Oh yeah, and what was that exactly?"
"You were trying to check me out!" Jim exclaims with one of those shit-eating grins that serves to infuriate Leonard, "Oh you bastard! Just get dressed already." Leonard growls, stalking out of the bathroom, though they both know neither one meant it; it was just their way of going back to normal. Joking, they were both joking.
Though if Jim checked his ass out on the way out, nobody said anything.
Leonard takes the next couple minutes to disappear into the couch, letting his mind drift away into the soft murmurs of Francis and Finnegan discussing who the hell knows what.
Then there's a damn knock on the door and everybody freezes.
Did Pike come back? Did he lie to them? Did he send a search party for Jim? God they are all screwed. They're all going to get kicked out because Jim couldn't save his own ass. Damn, does it really have to end this way?
"Well go on. Answer it Lenny!" Finnegan chirps from the kitchen and Leonard sends an icy glare his way to shut him up.
Somewhat cautiously he opens the door, sliding back to reveal a head of red curls and a big smile.
"Pavel?" Leonard announces, head cocked to the side in confusion.
What the hell is the kid doing here?
"Hey Leonard!" Chekov squeaks excitedly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can I come in possibly?"
Leonard shakes his head, "Now is not the bestest of times Pavel."
"Leonard, it's about Jim. Hikaru and I haven't seen him-and now his roommate is gone!"
"Pavel," Leonard raises a hand to silence him, "Look, I can explain everything, but not now-this is not a great time."
Chekov seems disappointed, but he sighs a nods, "Okay, I will see you later then."
"Alright, see ya' later Pavel."
Leonard shuts the door, wanting to bang his head against it.
"Why'd you send him away?" Jim croaks from the bathroom doorway, staring rather curiously at Leonard, blue eyes gleaming, "Jim, I can't have word spread that I have you, you're damn roommate and the school bully all hiding out in my room!"
"Hey!" Francis whines and Finnegan huffs but keeps his mouth closed.
Jim just nods slowly, swaying and adjusting his grip on the doorframe.
Leonard comes beside him, slinging his arm about his own shoulders to gently steer him to the couch. Jim's wearing Leonard's sweatpants, and a button up nightshirt, but the buttons are misaligned, which bugs Leonard's OCD side, yet he makes no comment on the matter.
Jim hits the couch cushions with a sigh, and Leonard can't get the smile off of his face. Slowly he pulls a blanket over the kid's body, squeezing his arm reassuringly before heading to the kitchen to join the others.
"So, is he gonna pull through McCoy?" Francis questions.
Leonard crosses his arms, staring over towards the couch, "Yeah he'll make it. But I need to put some damn fluids into him or he won't."
"How about some soup?" Finnegan prompts.
"Yeah that'll work, but he's going to be throwing up all night, and he's also not gonna wanna eat it in the first place."
"So what?" Francis huffs, staring blankly at Leonard, "Which means," Leonard adds a bit of emphasis on his words, "that we're in for a long night."
"Hope you boys don't mind cleaning up vomit." Leonard comments.
Francis grimaces.
"Why don't you go and practice?" Leonard taps Francis' shoulder much to the man's dismay, "There's vomit all over my bathroom floor."
Francis can only give him a glare, but obliges anyways, making Finnegan chuckle.
"You can get me some soup."
"Or what?" Finnegan sneers.
"Heroin."
"Good point."
Leonard grins, watching the goons get to work. He's got dirt on both of them, but neither of them have anything on him. If Jim gets discovered, Francis would get kicked out for sure, after the whole trial and now this. Finnegan would be gone too; all they had to do is trance the heroin to him which wouldn't be too hard. And it all depends on whether or not Jim gets caught here.
They can't let that happen.
Within a couple hours, Sunday, November 11th, is fading away with the sunlight. Francis is wiped out at the kitchen table, head buried into his elbows while slouched over the table surface. Finnegan is still awake, eyeing Leonard and Jim from across the room.
Leonard's got Jim sitting up on the couch, propped with pillows, with a bucket placed cautiously on the ground beside him.
Watching carefully, Jim's hands tremble as they hold the small bowl of soup, spoon nearly slipping through sweaty fingers. Jim's only taken several bites of the soup making Leonard frown and force more into him.
"Bones…I'm full." Jim complains, beginning to place the bowl down, but Leonard reaches out, grasping his wrist, "You need to eat all of it."
"Bones…" Jim whines, slumping against the pillows as he pouts, "Hey, don't spill any of it. Eat it up. It's good for you." Leonard urges, meeting Jim's steady glare, "If you eat it, maybe we'll watch one of those movies of yours." He suggests.
"Like Fight Club!" The blond bursts out and Leonard is barely able to stabilize the bowl in the kid's hands before it falls into his own damn lap, "Yes…like Fight Club." Leonard groans, making sure Jim has a firmer grip on the soup.
There's a smile on the kid's lips as he devours the soup, not even taking the time to chew, only to swallow it down. Leonard grimaces, Jim's going to regret that later, that's for sure.
"Alright, I'm gonna grab my PADD and hook it up to the TV." Leonard explains as he gets up, patting Jim's shoulder, "Be right back."
It takes Leonard an embarrassing ten minutes to connect his PADD to the television, sending multiple curses Finnegan's and Jim's way that serve to wake up Francis who grumbles his complaint from the table.
"What are we watching?" Francis asks, plopping down onto the ground a few feet away from Finnegan who lies sprawled out before the screen.
"Fight Club." Leonard informs him, hopping beside Jim who already seems a bit queasy from his meal.
He turns on the movie with ease and soon enough all four of them are tugged into the entertainment. Leonard actually forgets about all his stress. His worries seem to melt away into the oblivion and the weight from his chest is lifted away, allowing him to breathe.
That's until Jim yanks his sleeve, clearly starting to gag.
"Jim!" Leonard snaps into action, grabbing the bucket and thrusting it into Jim's lap right before the blond heaves the soup out.
Jim gasps for breath, gripping the sides tightly and blinking fiercely.
"Hey, hey it's okay kid." Leonard soothes, placing a hand on Jim's neck as the kid hunches over the bucket, and his other hand finding its way onto the blond's shoulder, "Breathe, its okay."
The kid nods shakily, sniffling wetly.
"More soup?" Finnegan asks and Leonard nods, pausing the movie and placing the bucket on the ground.
Jim's eyes widen, "No more, Bones I can't." The kid pleads, bringing his arms around his stomach as if to protect it.
"Jim, I can't hook you up to and IV and I need to get some calories into you."
"Hey, what about some Gatorade?" Francis prompts with a shrug, getting to his feet, "I think I have some back at my dorm."
Leonard nods, "Thanks, yeah that'll work."
"Alright, I'll head over and grab it now."
As Francis leaves, Finnegan takes his place with a new bowl of soup. Jim watches the bully's movements carefully, as if expecting Finnegan to lash out at him. Leonard wants to ask, but decides now is not the time for that conversation.
Leonard takes the bowl with a nod, turning his attention back to Jim, who sits deathly pale before him, but his eyes gleam an exuberant blue.
"Bones I don't wanna eat." Jim whines, shaking his head at the gestured bowl.
Sighing, he grabs Jim's wrist, guiding the kid's hand to clasp onto the bowl, "Eat up."
Jim's eyes meet his briefly before the kid nods, daring to take the first bite. This would all be much easier with an IV hook up, but with them in not such great terms with the Academy Board, taking Jim to medical is out of question, unless it's an emergency. They're looking at the possibility of being thrown out on their asses.
"Taste good?" Leonard jokes and Jim gives him a look, shoving another spoonful into his mouth.
"Remind me next time when you're sick to shove a bowl of soup down your throat." Jim grumbles, chewing and swallowing slowly.
"That'll be no fun, you have a terrible bedside manner." Leonard grins, smacking Jim's knee playfully, causing a smile to spread on Jim's lips, "At least I have a bedside manner. You treat everyone like a klingon criminal that just committed mass murder on village."
"Thanks Jim, you kinda hurt my feelings." Leonard mockingly places a hand over his heart and Jim gives him the stink eye, "At least now we know you have a heart." The blond retorts and Leonard barely refrains from slapping him over the head, remembering that the kid is still sick and is just able to gag down his soup.
"You two should get married. I'll go to the wedding." Finnegan chuckles and Jim replies so fast Leonard can't help but wonder if Jim was just waiting for the school bully to open his mouth, "Finnegan if I ever get married, you'll be the last person in this universe that I'd invite."
"Woah okay, calm down Jimmy. Maybe you just haven't gotten to know me enough." Finnegan smirks and the blond's gaze doesn't waver on him, "I think I know you well enough Jake." Jim spits the name, glaring at the bully as if daring him to say anything else.
But the bully clamps his mouth shut, rethinking his words, "I'm gonna grab some food, if you don't mind Lenny."
Leonard shakes his head and stares at Finnegan as he makes for the kitchen.
"What was that about?" He whispers over to Jim, whose gaze has fallen onto the half emptied bowl of soup, "It's nothin', don't worry about it."
Leonard purses his lips but says no more.
Jim barely finishes the bowl just in time for Francis to burst through the door, a pack of Gatorades in hand. Leonard gets up to meet Francis, showing him where to place the package on the table. When he gets back to Jim, the kid is hunched over puking his guts out into the bucket.
"Damn it kid."
Jim's shivering frantically; eyes squeezed shut as his stomach heaves its contents out.
"It's alright, breathe kid." Leonard instructs, gently placing a cool hand on Jim's overheated neck, feeling the tremor race up the blond's spine at the contact.
"Wanna try some Gatorade?" Francis offers, coming beside them with a bottle of red liquid.
Jim grunts, shaking his head as he shakily places the bucket on the ground and wipes his mouth with his sleeve-thus reminding Leonard, that the kid is wearing his shirt. Jim probably has more of Leonard's clothes in his closest than his own.
He takes the bottle from Francis, shoving it into the kid's hands urgently, "Drink up or I'll force the soup down your throat."
Jim gives him a glare, "Just wait until you're the sick one." The kid grumbles, snatching the drink and fumbling with the cap, which he refuses to let Leonard help him with.
The blond drinks about a third of it before handing it back to Leonard, giving him a little smile.
"Feel like you're gonna throw up again?"
"No." Jim replies, placing a hand over his stomach.
He nods and sets the Gatorade bottle on the floor within Jim's reach.
With Finnegan eating, Francis and Leonard clean out the bucket before putting it back beside Jim. By the time they're done, the school bully has rejoined the living room, all ready for a movie. Leonard can only sigh and hit the play button for Fight Club. And by god, he loves the smile that casually creeps onto his friend's face as he watches the movie.
A warm feeling spreads within his chest. Their friendship might not be alright now, but it'll be fixed soon, and it's going to be better than before. He can feel it.
Author's Note: So here's another chapter, and boy I'm excited to write some Jim and Bones! Without them being mad at each other! This chapter is just another step in the road to recovery for Jim, though it won't be easy. Even though the addiction part is coming to end, there are still plenty of loose ends to tie up here. Anyhow, I'm hoping to bring Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov back into the mix (since they are some of my favorite characters). The next couple of chapters will go back into their life in classes and I'm hoping to throw around some crazy stuff in there, so until next time! Live Long and Prosper.