A Star Trek Fiction

"For the relationship between Bones and Kirk, because they're awesome, but without each other they would be lame. Besides, who doesn't love the two together?"

The Couch and The Bed

5xs Kirk Had to Sleep on the Couch & 5xs Bones Had to Share his Bed

Story 4: The Wall

It's second semester, Jim's living in the same dorm room with Bones. It took lots of convincing and favors, but Bones managed to get Jim in the same room. First semester didn't end too long ago, somehow, they both passed, despite Jim's 'no study' logic. Bones is getting used to having the kid around. And even if Jim doesn't admit it, the kid has a routine, he's very particular, not in a bad way, but not in a good way either.

Jim's very edgy, he doesn't like the lights on often, he prefers natural light instead. He doesn't eat while he's alone; he only shoves food into his mouth if Bones is watching him closely with hawk eyes. And if he does eat, he'll only eat standing, like he has to be able to drop the food and run.

Another thing that Jim does, well doesn't do that is, is sleep. The kid never gets a solid night of sleep. Hell, most of the time the kid isn't even in bed. Jim spends most nights doing homework, because he was probably out drinking, or he spends it having intimate sex. Half the time Bones is convinced he has sex with inanimate objects, because the kid is like a wild sex machine and by now he has probably has had sex with every single girl possible on campus. And he doesn't want to picture it with any other alien or gender of any species.

Bones now has plenty sleepless nights as well now, because whenever the kid is home and not up and about, he makes so much noise sleeping. Jim, while sleeping, makes more noise in that state than he does when he's awake for crying out loud! And that's saying something.

The Doctor is too stubborn to get out of bed to check it out, but by now this is the sixth time he's heard this noise, it's a constant thumping sound and he's had enough of it. With raged tiredness, Bones gathers up a robe and clothes himself before leaving the sanctuary of his bed. The exhausted Doctor stumbles out of his room and makes his way to Jim's.

"Jim, can you quiet down? Some people like to sleep here." Bones grumbles outside the door and waits for a reply, but he gets none.

"Jim!" Bones calls out again, this time giving the door a knock.

This time the noise stops and he hears a couple of sighs and shuffling of feet. Right when he's going to turn around, the door swings open and Jim is standing there.

The kid looks sleep deprived. He stands there, shirtless, and despite his muscle tone he looks thin. There are dark bags underneath his blue bloodshot eyes and his golden hair is ruffled in all sorts of directions. Along with plenty of sweat. The kid's feverish that's for sure.

"Bones…?" Jim groans, leaning against the doorway, hand over his face.

"You keep kickin' the wall." Bones explains and Jim blinks several times.

"Huh?" The kid grunts, his head tilted in confusion.

Bones rolls his eyes, "While you sleep, you kick the wall and it's keeping me up all night." Bones says robotically, really wishing to hurry this conversation up so he can head back to bed.

"Oh…sorry." Jim mutters, scratching at his hairline.

"It's all good, just stop doing it." Bones replies and begins to head back to his room.

"Oh, okay…" Jim mumbles and shuts his door somewhat loudly.

Bones grumbles his complaints. Why did he want Jim to bunk in the same room again? The Doctor collapses back into bed with a comforted sigh.

It's not even ten minutes later that he hears the thumping again. Bones eyes peel open. He growls a few cuss words and turns over onto his side, ignoring the kicks. It's not until he hears a scream that he perks up and rushes out of his room.

"Jim!" Bones shouts, bursting into the kid's room.

Jim is curled up into a tight ball, his eyes fluttering open and closed.

Bones approaches slowly, afraid to startle the kid. He creeps up to Jim's bedside and peers down at him. Jim's expression is worried and his lips mutter something unheard. The kid's chest rises and falls faster than a rabbit's. Quite unhealthy.

"Hey, Jim." Bones says, shaking Jim slightly.

Jim's eyes snap up at him and he shies away from Bones, his back pressed up against the wall.

"Woah, woah, easy Jim. It's alright, it's me." Bones tells him reassuringly and Jim's shoulders sag as he relaxes at the Doctor's voice.

"Sorry about that." He replies slowly, rubbing his tired eyes.

"It's fine Jim. Just I'm not getting any sleep around here with you kicking the wall. And there's no way you're getting any decent sleep as well." Bones exclaims and gives a sigh when he sees Jim look away, embarrassed.

Bones smiles gently and sits beside his friend, "Look kid. I'm not gonna ask you what's wrong, hell I don't even wanna know what your dreaming about. But we gotta both be able to sleep at night, okay?" Bones asks, looking at his friend, but Jim keeps his gaze lowered.

"Makes sense." He mumbles, scratching at the back of his head.

"So here's what's gonna happen, I'm going to go back to bed and you can either sleep like a normal person, or sleep on the couch where you can't kick any walls. And if I hear a bunch of thumping one more time, I'm just gonna sedate you. Got it?" Bones grins and Jim nods his head tiredly, still weary and out of it.

"Alright, good." Bones replies and gets to his feet.

But he pauses on his way out and glances back over at Jim. The kid looks fragile, his arms wrapped around his legs and his knees tucked under his chin. He seems so small. How can anyone harm a hair on his head?

Bones swallows back, his heart pounding. He can make things right, he has the ability to do something now.

No, it's too awkward.

The Doctor continues for the door but stops again at the doorway, his head rushing with thoughts and possibilities.

"Jim?" Bones calls out, turning around to gaze back at him.

Jim looks up, the light reflecting off of his blue irises, "Yeah Bones?" He smiles softly over at the Doctor.

God the boy looks like he's eight years old or something.

"I uhh…you know what? Never mind, forget about it. Night Jim." Bones says and rushes out of the room, barely catching Jim's response, "Night Bones."

Bones jumps back into his comfy bed, resting his head down on the overused pillow. He gives a rusted sigh and lets his body sink into the sheets. But his mind doesn't relax, no, all he can see is Jim's defeated look, the little boy who looked up at him so dearly but also with so much pain and misery. The thoughts melt Bones' heart, and that's saying something, for the man has a heart of stone.

Bones should go back in there.

The Doctor lies there for twenty minutes, debating whether he should walk back into Jim's room. The decision is hard, do the right thing, or remain here in his warm, snug bed.

"Ugh." Bones groans and gets to his feet, Jim's face still on his mind.

He strolls into the kid's room and finds him still in the same position. Jim glances his way when he sees the Doctor approach, but doesn't make any signs of moving.

"Hey Jim." Bones greets him, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I thought you were asleep." Jim replies softly, meeting Bones' gaze.

"I couldn't sleep with knowing that you're still awake." Bones responds, giving the kid a smile.

"How'd you know I was awake?" Jim pries, grinning back.

"I had a feeling." Bones chuckles and gets to his feet, bringing Jim with him.

"Where we going?" Jim asks as Bones steers him out the door.

"My room." Bones says confidently.

"Wait, umm, Bones?" Jim replies nervously as Bones brings him into his own room and shuts the door behind himself.

Bones stares into his friend's eyes, seeing the slight panic in them.

"Don't worry Jim, nothing crazy is about to happen." Bones laughs, but he can see real relief in the kid's eyes, like even though Bones was joking about it to Jim it's a real issue.

Bones pauses awkwardly for moment; he didn't think he would actually be doing this.

"Well, don't be shy, you can have this half and I'll get the other half." Bones grumbles and jumps into bed.

Jim just stands there, his expression shocked.

"You want me, to sleep in the same bed as you?" Jim asks suspiciously, mouth gaping.

"Uhh, yeah Jim… Look, if there's one thing I know about nightmares, it's that you can't face them alone. You don't have to tell me anything about them, and I don't need to hear what happens or why they're happening Jim. I don't need to know your past or your demons. I just have to be with you now, so I can help you get through it. I'm not asking any questions here because I don't want any answers, the only thing I want from you, is to help yourself. So stop being an infant and get into bed with me." Bones lectures and smiles when he sees Jim move closer to the bed with a grin.

"And if you have any sexual dreams, you can sleep on the floor." Bones adds and Jim chuckles as he slides underneath the covers beside Bones.

"Deal. Bones?" Jim mumbles hazily, already drifting asleep.

"Yeah kid?" Bones grunts, shifting to get comfortable.

"Why are you doing this?" Jim asks, glancing over at him and rolling over onto his side, facing Bones.

"Alright, I'm only saying this once so listen up kid. There's two reasons, one: I really do care about you kid…don't tell anyone I said that." Bones says, looking into Jim's eyes.

Jim laughs lightly, a bright smile on his face.

Bones takes a deep breath before continuing, "And two: because you wouldn't stop kicking the wall damn it!"