Author's Note: I know some of you want to know the conclusion to some of my scenes. That, unfortunately, is not the purpose of this story. This story is to show instances in McCoy's life and how they relate to Jim in some fashion. If you ask me, I'll tell you what I think might have happened had I allowed a scene to continue, but I purposefully put hints in there so that you can just assume that things happen "backstage" so to speak. And though I don't consider my story a series of one-shots, that's the basic foundation of it. But! If you have some interaction that you want to see (Bones going on a date, some other fantastical circumstance involving McCoy, or just some more brotherly love) just tell me and I will do it. What I will not do is add some kind of conclusion to my chapters, I leave them open because that's life. Life never truly ends, so you can't really have a true ending point in your story. Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up if anyone was wondering about the nature of this story :)

Links: I don't know why I wrote this down for this chapter, but my notes say "tell people to watch episode 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series". I don't remember why! But it's a good episode anyway, so you all should just watch it for the heck of it! Also there's a link on my page to Annime1231's Star Trek gallery, the fanart is amazing so you should all take a gander.

Chapter 5: Series of Unfortunate Events

The sound of people packing their things and walking about and talking reaches his ears. It seems like such an insignificant sound. Wait. McCoy shoots straight up and realizes class was over. He had slept through his physics class. Shit. The teacher was looking at him with an annoyed expression. Leonard starts packing his things and books it out of there. This was the third class he had slept through today, it was unbelievable!

Of course, the great Doctor Leonard McCoy was not the one at fault here. No, the person at fault was none other than the parasite that had latched onto him since day one. James T. Kirk. Jim seemed to up the ante on nightly calls lately. And sometimes it was for the most ridiculous of things.

The sky was barely changing from its dark blue to a dark grey when there was someone shaking him. Leonard swatted at the person and mumbled something. More shaking. He growled and slowly opened one eye. The blurry silhouette of Jim was hovering above him. McCoy felt irritation and an emotion that might be hate bubble up. He pushed himself up and glared and the man before him.

"What is it this time, Jim," His voice was harsh from sleep, "This is the third time you've woken me up tonight." He mumbled something about regretting giving Jim the code to their room.

Jim looked slightly sheepish, but gestured towards his left hand. Leonard glanced at it, several fingers were in unnatural positions.

"Dammit Jim! You got into another fight didn't you? Show some restraint, kid." McCoy pulled Jim into the bathroom, looking back to see if all this commotion had woken up his roommate. Heaven seemed to smile on him tonight, Kyle was still out like a light. McCoy turned back to Jim, the kid had taken up his customary position on the bathtub lip. He held out his hand, grinning.

The doctor ran a hand through his bed-messed hair and sighed loudly, "You know, you should really go to the hospital for dislocated limbs. I'm not a one-stop-shop, Jim."

"Could've fooled me, Bones."

McCoy glared at him and took his hand, he studied it for a minute, "When I count to three I'm going to pop these fingers back into place, okay?"

Jim nodded and took a deep breath.

"Okay: One . . ."

Pop!

Jim yelped and tried to pull back, but McCoy was holding on firmly. He scanned the fingers, satisfied that they had set back properly. He wrapped the fingers tightly together in bandages. He then proceeded to check the rest of Jim, making sure that Jim wasn't hiding any other injuries. Once he was satisfied he patted the kid on the back and motioned him out to their small kitchenette.

It was 5 in the morning, so McCoy figured he might as well stay up. He made Jim and himself some herbal tea that would help with Jim's pain, as well as calm the doctor down. As Jim looked out the window at the brightening sky, McCoy slipped some whiskey into his own drink. Clearing his throat he handed Jim his cup. The kid sniffed at it.

"What the hell is this?"

Leonard rolled his eyes, "Its herbal tea, it should help with the pain. Pumping you full of drugs all the time isn't good for your system. This tea is stuffed full of natural pain relievers."

Jim made a face, "But it's such a girly drink."

"Just drink your damn tea, Jim."

Leonard heard a thump, and then a curse. Cracking an eye open, he saw that it was 0300. Damn it was early. Why did he wake up? Oh right, the noise. He looked over at the couch. Jim was sitting slouched, looking like he wanted to curl up on himself. McCoy got up and knelt in front of the young man. Jim wouldn't look at him.

"Are you hurt?"

He shook his head.

McCoy thought for a second, "You screw a pooch?"

A chuckle, he shook his head again.

"Well, this ain't twenty questions, kid. Tell me, or leave me the hell alone so that I can sleep."

Jim lifted his head, he looked close to tears, "You know Friezza, the one I couldn't stop talking about?"

McCoy nodded, "Your girlfriend."

"Well that's the thing, she doesn't want to be my girlfriend."

Leonard had never seen Jim so torn up over the rejection of a female, it happened so often and usually the kid just let it roll right off his shoulders. Once rejected he would move on to the next girl in line like nothing had happened. It didn't seem to be the case with this girl. Friezza.

McCoy stood up and went over to his dresser; he quickly put on some jeans and a shirt. He grabbed his ratty jacket and wallet. He slapped Jim on the back, "Come on, get up."

"Where are we going?"

"Don't get your panties in a twist, you'll see once we get there."

Suddenly Kyle sat up, "Can you two shut the hell up and leave already?"

McCoy glared at him while they were walking out the door, "Go screw yourself, Kyle."

The cabbie dropped them off in an older part of town, a more antique part. McCoy grabbed Jim's arm and dragged him down the street until they reached their destination. Jim looked up curiously; Leonard could see what was going through his mind. It was written all over his face. An ice cream shop? McCoy snorted, hell yeah.

Jim turned to his friend, "An ice cream shop? Are you feeling ok, Bones?"

McCoy growled as he pulled the reluctant young man inside, "Kid, you are never too old for ice cream. It's therapeutic, I should know, I'm a doctor."

Jim shook his head, "It's just that I've never been to an actual ice cream shop."

"Well, you deprived human being, now you can say that you've been in an ice cream shop."

They sat on the barstools and studied the menu. The cashier sauntered over, her big eyes looking at them expectantly. McCoy already knew what he was going to get, "I'll have the mint chocolate chip, heavy with the syrup."

"Do I detect a sweet tooth, Bones?"

"Shut up and order."

Jim looked for another minute, "I'll have the rocky road."

The woman sauntered off. Jim turned towards the doctor, "Ok, now what do we do?"

"We wait for our damn ice cream, idiot."

"No, I mean, there has to be a reason why we're here other than to satisfy your late night cravings."

"Just wait for your ice cream, Jim."

Shrugging Jim looked around, taking in all the details of the place. McCoy could still see the shadow of despair on his face. But his plan for uplifting spirits was foolproof and he thinks even the great Jim Kirk would succumb to it. So with that thought, Leonard turned to the cashier who slid both the bowls down to them.

They both dug into their treats, not saying anything. Each man in their own world for a minute. Finally McCoy shifted towards Jim, waving his spoon around, "You know, Jim, Friezza is not the last female in the universe. There are so many females, sometimes I feel suffocated."

Jim looked sullen and started playing with his dessert, "Yeah, I know."

"So what's your problem?"

"It's just . . . Friezza was different. She wasn't a one-night stand; I didn't want her to be." Jim went silent.

McCoy looked at him, ready to hear more, but it was obvious that Jim didn't really feel like talking about it much. But as a doctor, Leonard knew that a wound had to be cleaned before it could heal. So he supposed it was time for him to give a little more before the kid felt like revealing anything.

"You know . . . I always loved Jocelyn. Even though we married young, and our finances were tight, we could be beggars and I would still love her. She was my everything, perfect. We had a perfect little girl that I thought would finally cement us together as a family. But people change," McCoy paused, and continued with bitterness lacing his voice, "I changed, she changed. I had longer hours at the hospital because there was just so much to do, so many people that needed help and our small county hospital just didn't have enough people to meet the demands. She started socializing with a more questionable crowd, and their poisonous words took root. I don't think I will fully understand what happened between us."

Jim was looking at him intently, probably because this was the first time he had ever talked about his life before the divorce. McCoy took another bite, he let the minty chocolate slide down his throat and send electrical messages of pleasure to his brain. Breathing deeply he continued.

"Some things are just out of our control, Jim. We can't control what other people think or how they choose to feel towards us." His throat was starting to close up. No, McCoy shook his head, he was not going to break down dammit, he needed some good bourbon for that occasion. "Jocelyn was special. Really special. And I think I saw that in her, but she didn't see that in me. Jocelyn's special to someone else, but she wasn't meant for me. And maybe someday I'll meet someone out there who's special to me and I'm special to her."

Jim was studying him, his little genius mind working away. He raised his hand and the cashier came and refilled his bowl. He took a bite, and then looked at McCoy, "You and that one girl seem to be going at it well enough."

Leonard nodded and smiled slightly, "Nancy and I do get along surprisingly well, I don't know if it will go anywhere, I don't know if I want it to. But that's just my point, Jim, Nancy might be the girl for me, but I won't know until I get to know her better. I'm definitely not going to rush this relationship like I did with Jocelyn. It's a good thing that you found out right away that your relationship with Friezza wasn't going to work out, otherwise you might have ended up like me."

Jim played with his food for a bit, "I've never had any really solid relationships my whole life. Not with my family, not with anybody. I've never really had any desire for it either. But then I met Friezza and she brought out some longing in me that I've never felt before. Like I wanted settle down and actually get to know this girl, like I wanted her to be around me longer than a day, or a month, or a year.

"And I realized what I've been missing out on, all these people around me have these deep, lasting relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. I want that, but now that I want it, I can't seem to find anybody who wants it as well. Or, at least, not with me."

McCoy snorted, "Then what the hell does that make me?"

Jim raised his eyebrows and looked at him, "What do you mean?"

McCoy took a breath, he was not in favor of all this mushy, girl-stuff, but it's what Jim needs right now, and a doctor's first priority was to help the people around him, "I've never had someone stick around me as long as you have. Usually the gruff, sarcastic, and demeaning attitude scares them all away. Everyone except you," Leonard looked into Jim's bright blue eyes, the kid needed to know that he was one hundred percent serious, "No one has cared enough to look past the rough exterior to see me, as I actually am. Well, besides my parents and Jocelyn, but they're not in the picture anymore." McCoy pushed his bowl away, "I want you to know, Jim, how much I've appreciated you sticking with me. You should know that my actions are reciprocated. Whenever you need help you know I'm there, and whenever you need to talk over a bowl of ice cream, I will always have at least one ear willing to listen." Leonard grinned, "So you tell me what that makes me."

Jim's whole countenance had changed. It appeared to be brighter, stronger. A big grin was growing on his face. He nodded and pushed his finished ice cream away. Leonard paid and they left. Friezza was never mentioned again, Jim found ways to spend even more time with Bones, and whenever either was in need, they had ice cream at three in the morning.

The bar was smoky, and entirely too loud for McCoy. But of course he was dragged along for the ride. Jim had said he wanted to hook Leonard up with someone, what a lying son of a bitch. Jim just wanted someone to help pick up babes for himself. The doctor shrugged, not that he cared really, he had been avoiding the female population ever since his divorce, well, with the exception of Nancy of course. So he just sat there nursing a cheap bottle of beer and keeping an eye on his eccentric friend.

It was actually getting really late, and boy could McCoy feel it. Even though tomorrow was Saturday, he had to work a double shift at the hospital. The patients didn't need a grumpy doctor helping them out, well, more grumpier than usual. McCoy looked around to try and spot his wayward companion. The crowd was too damn thick, well great. He decided to take out his PADD, he would just have to leave Jim a message. He was just reaching into his medical bag when a commotion started at the other end of the room.

Having a sixth sense that concerned all things Jim, McCoy pushed through the cheering crowd. He stumbled out to witness Jim on the receiving end of a nasty right hook. Leonard waited on the sidelines, Jim was a big boy, he could take care of himself. But then again, he scratched his head, it looked like Jim was losing. He was on the ground and it looked like he wasn't getting up anytime soon.

Time to intervene. McCoy calmly walked up to the man and tapped him on the shoulder, surprised by the sudden contact the bulky patron swung around. McCoy gave him a smile, "I would appreciate it if you would refrain from beating the shit out of my friend there." He pointed at Jim, who was looking at him as if he had grown another head.

The drunken man growled and swung a meaty fist at the doctor. McCoy dodged easily enough, the next one as well, until he was positioned behind the man. Then with precise, quick movements, Leonard struck at certain pressure points. There was a large crash as the man fell down.

There was silence throughout the whole bar. McCoy helped Jim up and guided him outside, "Let's get those injuries looked at, shall we?"

Jim just kept looking at him, "Bones, that was totally badass!"

Something slammed into his bed, McCoy grunted, "Go to hell."

"Come one, Bones, get up. I need some help."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Then go the hell away."

"Come on, I really don't understand this."

Bones lifted his head, Jim was holding up a couple of PADDs and looking at him with something utterly pathetic. Well, he was already awake, might as well humor the kid. McCoy grabbed his blanket and motioned towards the door, "Let's go out in the lounge."

He sat there rubbing his eyes and blinking, Jim laid out all the material and got comfortable on the couch. They both sat there for a minute until the kid picked up a PADD.

"Okay, so here's the situation: Klingons have decided to do negotiations with the Federation, they've sent the flagship to meet with them. But things get ugly and the whole Klingon crew, including the chancellor, are all murdered. The flagship notices something fishy so the Captain and CMO beam aboard. Eventually the Klingons accuse them of murder and they are sentenced to some remote world that's basically hell. Now, what would you do, if you were in the Captain's position?"

McCoy sat there and stared at Jim, just stared. Then he palmed his forehead, "Why the hell am I helping you with this?! Isn't this for your class in basic command? Why are you asking me? I have no interest or talent with negotiations or anything remotely connected to them."

Jim scratched his head, "Well, Bones, you're going to be a medical personnel, so you have to have at least some connection to negotiations and every field is connected to command. I just thought a new perspective on the situation would be refreshing."

"This is the most ridiculous situation I've ever heard of. Why just the Captain and the CMO? Why the hell would Klingons even think of talking to Federation? And why the hell am I still out here, contemplating a situation that will never ever happen?"

Jim shrugged and went back to studying the problem.

Bones rubbed his face, "You just wanted someone to be as miserable as you, didn't you? So you dragged me out here in the middle of the night, and you ask me advice about some stupid command problem from your precursor class. You want my advise, Jim? Take that PADD and shove it up where the sun don't shine."

"Oh, don't be that way, Bones."

McCoy snorted and stretched out on the couch, wedging his legs between the couch and Jim. He closed his eyes and got comfortable.

"But seriously, what would you do in this type of situation?"

There was some loud banging on the door as well as absurdly loud guffawing. Leonard decided to ignore it. Kyle, though, was pissed. He got up and opened the door. McCoy already knew who it was, but he was just so tired. His name was called a few times, loudly. Kyle walked over and shook him roughly.

He felt like slugging his roommate. But decided that for the better of the many, he might as well get up. Sitting up he looked at Jim. He was wasted, and so were his two companions. The kid waved lazily at him and grinned.

"Mornin' Bonesy, I need a favor."

McCoy rubbed the back of his neck, "What?"

"I need to borrow some money. You see, I need to rent a hotel room and maybe some more booze. Don't you think so." Jim's eyebrow's were going up and down like crazy.

A sigh, "I don't know, Jim."

"Oh come on, I'll pay you back."

McCoy snorted, "Like hell you will." But instead of arguing anymore he got up and grabbed his wallet, he took out enough to just barely cover the hotel room. He shoved them into Jim's waiting hand.

"Thanks Bonesy, I owe you one." Jim walked away, supported by the two lovely females on either side of him.

"You have no idea, Jim. No idea." He was never going to see that money again.

Tiredly he closed the door and locked it. He was exhausted, which meant that he was going to be catching up on sleep during his classes. Especially in his Starfleet 1010 class, they were going over engineering and physics and other useless things he didn't need to know. Shit.

That's all! See you all in another three days!