For Author's note and Disclaimer, see chapter 1
Chapter 14
Searching down Scotty in engineering Jim noted that Bones was right, the crew there was looking more and more weary, and he saw a couple of them that handled their equipment with a little less care than usual. A welding rig stood abandoned in the corner, an untidy heap of wires lay coiled in another corner and the occasional burst of sparks showered the floor from a panel that had been left open.
The Scotsman scratched his neck at the request, but nodded slowly. "I willnae say he hasn't got a point, because he does so he does. But I cannea say what I can do. We thought we had the wiring for the life support on the lower decks sorted, but then the whole kit and caboodle fried on us, seems half the time we get something fixed, something else blows up. We're wearing thin, there's no doubt about that."
"McCoy's suggestion was cook it on the warp coils," Jim offered a smile knowing it would get a chuckle out of Scotty. "He really does have a point though. I think everyone would be a little better of if they could just get one or two hot meals. Is there any chance that you can do something? It doesn't have to be a fully repaired gally, just something we can cook enough food on for about fifty at a time."
"I'll see what I can do," Scotty promised. "I won't make any promises ah can't keep, but I'll see what I can do."
"That's all I ask," he patted his shoulder before leaving again.
Up on the bridge he found his chair had been uprooted from its spot, and the communicators station was just about gutted with Uhura and a harried engineer trying to put it to rights again. It really was heartbreaking to see the ship in such disorder, and he was for once glad to leave the bridge. Deciding that the best he could do was to head to his quarters. Bones had been working a double shift, and he had been forced to go back after his shift. By now, both Bones and Spock should be back in their cabin and with a bit of luck they could kick their feet up and sit back with a coffee and a few drops of something heartening in it. Gathering two mugs of coffee and a mug of tea to bring with him he was surprised to find Bones already stretched out on the bed and apparently asleep while Spock sat frowning over the computer.
"The doctor was rather fatigued," Spock stated softly. "He did state he would most likely be working a double shift tomorrow as well as certain members of his staff are unwell."
"Yeah," Jim nodded slowly, watching the prone figure on the bed. "I was up with him in the lab, it really is dangerously cold up there."
"Indeed," Spock nodded. "I would not recommend prolonged exposure."
"Chess?" Jim placed the mugs he had been carrying on the desk. "I suppose he needs sleep more than he needs this."
"In all likelihood, yes," Spock nodded as he moved the chess set over.
"Luckily I don't think we'll disturb him much," while Bones was a light sleeper he usually wasn't bothered by people he knew moving around him. It was as if he could filter all the common noises and movements out, and only reacted to what was not normal.
Just as they started the game though Jim looked up at some very quiet whimpers, a soft moan, the rustle of the sheets as the man on the bed shifted barely noticeable. Bones had turned over on his side, and Jim frowned as he realised he had brought a hand up to his mouth, again a faint groan carried to them, but it was so quiet it could easily have been lost in a conversation or even in the hum of a computer.
"Fascinating," Spock mused as he turned on his chair. "I had thought that was a habit reserved for human children, quite fascinating indeed…"
"That's not what he's doing," Jim frowned as he too turned in his chair.
"I thought it was a habit of human children to comfort themselves thus?" Spock queried as Jim slowly stood.
"It is, but very rarely adults," Jim shook his head as he moved closer. "And that's not what this is. Human children suck their thumbs, to comfort themselves like you said, but that is not what he's doing." Bones was shifting, barely, but still moving and the occasional small noise of distress escaped him.
"The doctor does appear to have his thumb in his mouth," Spock mirrored the frown as he stood himself. "I do not mean to call it shameful, merely, interesting."
"Children suck their thumb Spock, that's just not what he's doing," moving closer he could see better. Bones had turned on his side and was tossing his head, one hand at his mouth, just like Spock said. He was however not sucking his thumb, he was biting down at the base of it, the small noises of distress muffled by the clenched teeth. "He's having a nightmare, and he's doing that so no one will hear," Jim swallowed. "He's trying to keep anyone from noticing…"
"Indeed," Spock had moved closer to him, standing over the sleeping form. "I believe his heartbeat has quickened, blood pressure appears elevated and breathing rhythm is indicating a level of distress."
"It's a nightmare," Jim nodded, crouching down and reaching out. Bones was a light sleeper, but he was also very trusting when it came to his friends and Jim was able to take a light hold of his wrist, easing his hand away from his mouth. "He's bitten down hard enough he's bleeding," there wasn't much blood, but there was a few drops on the flesh where the intendention of teeth marred the skin. Wiping the small trickle away Jim's jaw settled in a hard line. "Spock, look at this," he moved a little to the side, showing Spock what he meant. He had never noticed it before, but then he had never for any reason looked that close at Bones' hands, but around the base of the thumb and back of the hand just by the wrist were over a dozen tiny white scars. Faint, barely noticable if one wasn't looking for them, but they were there and no doubt caused by the same thing.
"Fascinating," Spock leaned in closer. Inspecting the small faded scars for himself, noting the distressed notes of the sounds he emitted. "It would appear this is not the first occurrence."
"Sure doesn't seem to be," Jin agreed. Taking his friends shoulder he shook it gently. "Hey Doc, wake up."
"Wha?" the sleepy drawl as McCoy opened his eyes and sat up did not surprise him.
With his mouth already open to tell him he had woken him because of a nightmare Jim paused, McCoy was biting his hand in his sleep, to the point where he drew blood, to keep anyone from noticing he was experiencing night terrors. He probably would not want to have it pointed out to him, especially not in front of Spock. Regardless of the fact that the two of them were friends, grudgingly and with a fair load of insults, Bones would not want to appear weak in front of the Vulcan. "I got coffee, want some?" he asked, forcing a smile and ignoring the way Spock's eyebrow seemed to challenge his judgement.
"Sure," Bones sat up, rubbing a hand over his face. "Coffee's good I reckon."
The southern lilt was still a little more pronounced than usual and this time Jim did not think it was because he was relaxed. He looked relaxed enough as he swung his feet to the floor, but there was the way the hand gripped the side of the bed.
"I thought you'd see it that way," he turned back to the desk where he had left the mugs to cover the unease he still felt. Everyone had nightmares at times, especially in the line they were in. It came with the territory, even Spock would sometimes, if very rarely, admit to having his sleep disturbed. It was natural, normal, and he had woken in cold sweat, a cry on his lips more than once himself. For someone to have an automatic response to quiet themselves, even in their sleep, that he had never seen before.
Bones took the proffered mug with a frown, the shameless one of scrutiny he always defended with the two statements that he was first and foremost a doctor, and secondly surrounded by idiots that could not be trusted to let him know when something was wrong.
Personally Jim always disliked it because it would make him feel like a child with his hand in the cookie jar, added to the fact that Bones always seemed to figure out the things he did not want to admit to from it.
A medical scanner had nothing on the eye of McCoy on high alert.
"I spoke to Scotty," he started, hoping to throw his friend off the track once and for all. "I conveyed your message, and he's appalled by your suggestion of cooking food on the warp coils, and made a fervent request that you stay away from engineering, far, far away from engineering."
"I don't care if he does it 'in' the warp coils, but we have to do something…" Bones declared as he sipped the coffee.
"That assessment he agreed with," Jim nodded. "Apparently he had an engineer down there that rivetted himself to a bulkhead by three rivetts through the sleeve of his tunic before he realised he was doing it wrong… One tried to put a conduit upside down, and we have a too long list of similar incidents. He said he'd take some time of the main repairs to try and rig something up. We all agreed it'd be worth it."
"Yeah," Bones took a deep swallow of cooling coffee. "Everyone will be working more effectively for it anyway."
"Not to mention more kindly dispositioned towards you," Jim added with a teasing grin. "I hear the whole crew is starting to develop a real aversion to hypos…"
"Hrm," Bones gave him a displeased frown. "Blasted ingrates, the thanks you get for trying to keep everyone in working condition. They should know how lucky they are."
"I don't know Bones," Jim teased. "I heard Sulu say he was developing 'hypophobia,' fear of doctors with hypo sprays I believe he called it."
"There's no such thing and you danged well know it," Bones flared and Jim while he had wanted the response was a little concerned still. Bones was usually faster to shake off sleep than he appeared to be now.
"Just teasing you Doc," he stated, holding up his hands. "Figured we could all do with relaxing a bit."
"Them idiots have been doing nothing but complaining," Bones ran a tired hand over his face. "Hard to find it funny when you know we're all walking on our knees."
"We're holding together Doc," Jim put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "We're all holding together and they know that it's for their own good. They're just complaining from habit."
"I suppose," Bones nodded slowly, draining his mouth.
"I believe that while Mr. Sulu might be in error of the word, the underlying condition may very well be real," Spock added. "You have after all claimed yourself to suffer from 'aviophobia,' stands to reason that similar such conditions could prove equally problematic. It is only logical."
"Aviophobia is real," Bones snapped, irate. "It's what you get when you're forced to hop around between every danged planet in the galaxy on a miserable tin can!"
"Bones, Bones," Jim held up his hands again, smiling softly. "Nothing bad about my ship…"
"If indeed a person does suffer from phobia in regards to machines of aviation, it would be illogical to take service on one, even more so on a starship." Spock inclined his head and kept his tone humble as he spoke.
"Now you listen here you green blooded hobgoblin!" Bones started but Jim cut him off. A slight argument served to take their minds off things, and ironically in the cases of Spock and Bones to put them both in a much better mood from the familiar routine.
"Gentlemen, Gentlemen," he put one hand on Bones shoulder and held out the other towards Spock. "Let's keep this civilised, shall we?"
"Captain, Vulcans are extremely civilised," Spock raised an eyebrow.
"So we hear," Jim grinned. "But sometimes I think you enjoy being a little less civilised on occasion…"
"Captain, really…" Spock opened both eyes wide, the very image of offence while Bones gave an amused snort behind him. Well, if the idea was to distract the doctor from whatever it was that had plagued his dreams he felt he had done a fair job.
"Just teasing Spock," he smiled softly as Bones got up and put the empty mug on the desk.
"Don't know about y'all, but I'm beat," he decided as he turned back towards the bed.
"I thought I'd beat Spock in a game of chess," Jim mused. "That okay?"
"Sure, won't bother me," Bones stated as he undressed. Socks went into the borrowed boots, pants and tunic on the shelf. Undershirt was suffering a little from their lack of laundry ability but it wasn't too bad. It was just one of the things he was currently looking forward to, but not the most important thing.
Pulling back the covers and climbing in while Jim dimmed the lights even though he had not asked them to he slowly started to relax. He considered himself able to sleep just about anywhere at any time. One of the perks with being a doctor and used to sleeping whenever and wherever he got the chance.
TBC
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