For Author's note and Disclaimer, see chapter 1
Chapter 15
Jim had to admit to some light feeling of unease as he went to bed after the chess game ended. Probably a little before that as well he decided for himself as Spock had easily won the game. He wasn't used to the idea of Bones having nightmares, had never seen much evidence of them at all before. Now though he was starting to doubt his own perception. If Bones had learned to quiet himself, had developed a habit of forcing himself to be quiet in spite of the terrors he must be experiencing, then how many times had he missed it? How many times had he walked right past Bones door, able to hear except there was nothing to hear. How many times had he caught him napping in sickbay at his desk and ignored it because he knew he had been working long and was tired. How many of those times had his friend been in distress?
Now he tried to force himself to remain vigilant as he slept, mindful of the body next to him, the one that did not move because Bones grudgingly told him of his ex wife. The woman who would not let him move or make a sound, was that why? Was that the only reason he had learned to be so quiet, or was there more? What of the rest, was it worse? How was a man treated if he learned to suffer nightmares without a sound, bit himself hard enough to draw blood, in his sleep, so that his night terrors would not be discovered?
So he slept restlessly, fitfully and turned often, a few times he did hear a rustle beside him and he reached out a hand to touch the shoulder only to get a soft sigh in reply and eventually one growled out command to go to sleep.
Perhaps that was why he was uneasy even in the morning, the alarm sparking an instinctive response and he flung out an arm to check that the body was still beside him.
"Dadgum blast it all!" Bones snapped the very instant his hand hit flesh. "You miserable dadburn two-timing mangy doodlebug!"
Wincing over the force of the outburst, not that he could blame him, Jim pulled back. Looking up he could just see Spock, fully dressed and with an intrigued look on his face. Clearly indicated by the tilted chin and raised eyebrow.
Scrambling to his feet Bones stalked past the Vulcan without really acknowledging him, not that Spock seemed to be at all bothered by this.
"Captain," he simply stepped forward as Jim himself started getting out of bed. "While I find the progressive curve most fascinating, I must confess to a lack of knowledge in certain matters."
"Dadburn?" Jim winced at the memory. So much for trying to look out for the doctor, instead he had managed to hit him, again…
"Indeed," Spock nodded. "Though I do not understand the reference of a larva insectoid either, nor the multiplied time reference. I do feel confident in the definition of 'mangy' even if the application is more uncertain."
"It was mostly just a way to call me a miserable idiot," Jim mused. The second time it happened he had seen some amusement in it, and while Bones expletives could be amusing to listen to, it was less fun when they were directed at you. At least not when you felt they were well deserved. "Some rather forceful ways to call me an idiot..."
"Fascinating," Spock's eyebrow rose to the 'peculiar humans' level as he threw a glance towards the bathroom door. "I must say this is a very fortunate opportunity."
"Spock, please don't let him hear you say that," Jim pleaded as he went to the dresser to pull out a fresh tunic.
"I am happy to merely observe," Spock stated calmly before settling to wait for the other two men to get ready.
Coming out of the bathroom Bones was clean shaven and calmer if not looking much happier. Not that Jim blamed him, the slight bruise from the day before was still visible. Not large, and he had seen Bones suffer worse with no complaint. Even so, going to sleep and wondering when it was going to hit, he really did feel guilty about it.
"Bones, I really am sorry," he caught his arm in a light grip as he moved to take his own turn to shave.
"Don't you think I know that?" Bones half snapped. "I'm not some petty cotton picking idiot, but confound it, I wish you'd just quit it…"
"You and me both," he mused. "Maybe we should try switching sides?"
"Hmph," Bones snort didn't sound very optimistic, but he did not object either. Well, it was worth a shot the way Jim saw it. For some reason they had stuck to the same side since the first night. He had never really had a particular preference, always happy where he just happened to wind up. Though he had noted that Bones for some reason tended to favour closer to the door. Why it was he had never wasted any time wondering about, some people just had a preference and there was nothing wrong with that.
Breakfast in the mess went the same as before, coffee and nutrition bars, Bones getting called away from both and muttering under his breath as he went. Not really a surprise as Jim figured the only thing worse than being forced to eat the tasteless bars was to be denied even that little.
The captain and the doctor, neither could ever be certain they would get to finish a meal they started.
He and Spock were able to eat up, but when they got to the bridge there was already a message waiting for them from Bones about personnel that were listed sick. Something that meant that the shift rotation had to be changed.
"Well, he had a point about the food," Jim mused as he sat back in the captain's chair. "If we lose any more men to colds and carelessness it's only a matter of time before things get really serious."
"Indeed," Spock stated softly. "I believe the doctor does have a point in what he says, and while Vulcans do not share this weakness, human has a need for food."
"Don't rub it in Spock," Jim ran a hand over his face. "And don't pretend you won't like it if it comes your way. Just because Bones the one said it, you can admit to it."
"Very well," Spock inclined his head graciously.
"You know," Jim eyed his friend. "When you do that, I never know if you're agreeing, or trying to make me sound all the more a fool."
"Indeed?" Spock clasped his hands behind his back and hitched an eyebrow to the 'curious humans and their curious habits' level.
"Okay, now I know I feel a fool," he smiled softly. It felt good to smile with the stress of everything that was going on around him. Scotty was working hard, there was no doubt about it, but that did not mean that seeing open bulkheads, trailing cables and blown panels any easier. Bones was right, the crew needed a sense of normalcy.
He also needed some sleep Jim decided when his friend joined them for lunch, or the nutrient bar that still counted for lunch in the mess. Weary, tired looking and seemingly dragging his feet as he shuffled into the room.
"Confound it, if we have any more idiots, it'll be more of them than I know what to do with" he muttered. "Whatever a historian would try and mess with wiring for I'll never know, and I hope none of them tries it again. People don't know what they're doing should have the sense to leave off it."
"Rough day?" Jim asked and he nodded.
"I think we're officially past that," Bones sighed though he was able to offer up something of a weak smile. "Well, first shift over, then we get to look forward to seeing what the idjits come up with for next shift."
"I'm sure it won't be boring," Jim smiled, the slight flare of a southern drawl didn't escape him. It was annoying to have to view it as a warning sign when he rather liked it.
"Ain't that the gospel truth," Bones sighed, reaching into the pouch he had clipped to his belt. Leaving the cold sickbay he had pulled off the extra sweater, but he was still wearing scrubs over his tunic as if he couldn't quite warm up. Distracted by this thought Jim did not have nearly enough time to notice what he was keeping in the pouch.
The sharp hiss of a hypo discharge was very familiar to him, and not as bad as some made it out to be. A slight sting, sometimes an odd cold or warm feeling slowly spreading from the injection site. On rare occasions when it was important and nothing could be done about it there was also some lingering nausea.
Really, the sensation was not so troublesome but he wondered sometimes about Bone's habit of springing it on them.
"A little warning would be nice," he rubbed his sleeve.
"A little warning and you would be whining and carrying on like the rest of them," Bones snorted. "Spock, your turn."
"Doctor, I assure you there is no need. I am Vulcan and therefore much better equipped to handle our current predicament on the amount of nutrition available to us."
"Now you listen to me you green blooded hobgoblin," Bones snapped, taking a step towards him. "I am the doctor on this here ship, and it's my job to take care of the crew, if they have the good sense God gave a goose or not, so if I have to go head to toe with a dang blasted Vulcan to do so, I will, and don't think I won't. Now give me your arm or so God help me I'll have you hog-tied and dragged down to sickbay!"
"Really doctor," Spock managed to look completely astonished that he should be faced with such an intense reaction. "There is no need to place such a strain on your central nervous and cardiovascular system. I am willing to comply with any course of action you feel is best for the crew."
"Why you pointy eared calculator!" Bones flared and Jim had to bite back a laugh. Spock knew how to push McCoy's buttons alright.
"Bones, he's complaying, don't let him get away," he laughed. It wouldn't be completely illogical to assume that Spock was trying to bait Bones into forgetting what he had been intending to do. Not that it really would happen, Bones might be distracted by the insult trade, but he would never forget about a hypo he had intended to distribute.
With gritted teeth Bones stepped forward and grabbed Spock's wrist, discharging the hypo in his arm with something between triumph and aggravation.
Well, while Spock seemed to know better than anyone how to push his buttons, he did sometimes forget that there were some buttons better not pushed. Riling Bones up could be easy enough, but if his profession was questioned, his dedication to the art of healing, then the words cut deep. Deeper than the Vulcan sometimes seemed to realise.
"And now that that's over, what say we have some coffee?" Jim stepped in, a nod to Spock and a hand on Bones' shoulder as he led them both along. Vulcans prefered not to be touched, Bones needed physical contact and reassurance even if he was not always aware of it.
Taking their nutrient bars and coffee, or in Spock's case water it was at least easy enough to find somewhere to sit. Meal times like everything else had been disrupted with less space for the crew to eat in. They were eating in shifts, but the way things stood Jim had wanted to make sure to keep his schedule following that of his friends as much as possible. Especially at this time Bones since he worked with Spock on the bridge. He could keep an eye on him there, make sure he was managing alright. Bones he only rarely saw as the doctor was too busy to come up to the bridge. Normally unless the doctor got busy with his own research Jim would see him at least once a day or so. When he really got himself enthralled with something he found intriguing it could take a minor search party to find him.
Bones had only managed a small corner of his nutrient bar when the call came on the intercom and he was needed.
"Well, this once I think they're doing me a favour," Bones sighed as he tossed down the nutrient bar.
"With a bit of luck, we'll have something better later," Jim mused as his friend downed the last of his coffee in a big gulp.
"That'd be something," Bones mused. "See you later," he put the mug down and left for the door.
TBC
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