Characters: Kirk and McCoy, with mentions of Sulu, Chekov, Chapel, Rand, Gaila, Spock and Uhura

Pairings: You'll see :D

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POSTPRANDIAL SOMNOLENCE

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"You did good, Jim."

"Hmm?" He looks away from the movie on the holo screen, some action blockbuster from a couple years back. Bones is sitting next to him, pressed against him from hip to shoulder, Rand and Chapel take up the rest of the couch. They're slumped against each other, heads hanging at odd angles, snoring softly.

"They didn't last long." Jim says, keeping his voice low.

"It's the tryptophan, from all the carbs. Knocks you out." Bones rocks his head back, popping the vertebra in his neck. His eyes are heavy and drooping but he looks happy.

Jim looks around the room. The lights are dimmed for effect but most everyone is visible in the light from the holo. They're curled up in ones and twos and threes, some fast asleep, others half way there. Jim can see Sulu and Chekov staring at the holo vid but not really seeing it. Chekov is smiling to himself, maybe because he's still preening from killing everyone at cards, or maybe because Sulu is absentmindedly playing with his curls. Jim's gaze moves on, meeting Gaila's eyes from across the room. She raises a finger to her lips and winks. Jim wonders what Giotto will think when he wakes up to glittery pink toenails.

"This was fun. We should do it every year." Jim says, stretching his arms up over his head then letting them flop down across the back of the couch. "It's a nice way to get everyone together and just be ourselves. Share something personal, make the ship feel more like home."

"Mmm." Bones hums his agreement.

Jim watches the movie for a few minutes. He can feel Bones breathing next to him, long and deep.

"I feel bad about the casserole," He whispers, leaning in towards Bones' ear. "I know you were looking forward to it."

"Wasn't your fault."

"But still."

"I'm over it, Jim." Bones says with a sigh. "Besides, the scalloped oysters went over well and I got pecan pie."

The last bit is said with a wistful smile.

"Yeah." Jim half glances at Chapel before looking back at the holo.

"You jealous?" Bones is smirking now.

"No."

"Sure?"

"Very sure."

"Because she's very pretty and she made me pie." Bones has that sort of rumble in his voice now that means he's trying not to laugh.

"She's your head nurse." Jim says, shifting his shoulders and looking at Bones sideways.

"Doesn't mean she ain't pretty."

"Oh." Jim glances around the room again. He catches Uhura just nodding off onto Spock's shoulder. His first officer looks down at her and almost smiles, his lips barely twitching but Jim can see it in his eyes. He wonders what's taking so long with that tryptophan stuff Bones was talking about. He feels wide awake and jittery, his leg is bouncing, brushing against Bones' in a way that's probably really annoying. Jim turns back to face his friend.

"I thought your nursing staff was off limits."

"They are for you."

"Oh, but for you it's ok-"

"Jim." Bones turns to face him, their faces almost touching.

"Yeah?"

"You told Chapel about the casserole," Bones says, looking him straight in the eyes. "You sat next to me at dinner. You sat next to me playing cards. You're sitting next to me now. You're pulling all the dumbass, cliché shit every guy tries at least once – nice yawn and stretch maneuver by the way –"

"Going anywhere with this?" Jim asks, taking his arms off the back of the couch and crossing them over his chest.

"Yes. If you're going to come on to me, could you speed things up a bit? Cause I'm gettin-"

At some point Chapel wakes up and wolf-whistles loud enough to wake half the room.

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