A Star Trek Fiction

"The ultimate duo, the mighty Bones and Jim. With Bones' skills, and Jim's unpredictability, the two are unstoppable, for better or worse."

Secretly a Child at Heart

5xs Jim was Careless & 5xs Jim Cared too Much

Story 6: Stay

Bones closes his eyes, it's been a long night of studying for him and all he wants now is nice night of sleep. His weary brown eyes shut and his body grows comfortable despite the hard mattress beneath him. The Doctor is on the verge of falling asleep when Jim releases a scream from his room. But surprisingly it doesn't jolt the Doctor to his feet, no, he's heard Jim scream countless times before and the kid has always told him to leave.

Even though Bones wants sleep more than anything else in the world right now, he can't help but listen in to Jim's room, picturing the kid's movements to see if he'll fall back asleep.

Jim takes a glance at his door, hoping that the Doctor will swoop in to confront him and this time he'll tell him to stay, he's tired of pushing his friend away, he wants him, he needs him. The blond waits, but Bones doesn't make his entrance with his usual concern, Bones' door doesn't even move, apparently the Doctor has slept through his night terror.

The blond relaxes back down, blocking the vivid images of his step father from his mind. He knows that he should have moved passed this by now, but he can't stop himself from wondering if maybe he could have done something, that he could have changed his world, if only. Jim rolls over, gripping the blanket tightly and squeezing his eyes shut.

The cadet falls back into a slumber, only to be awakened by a similar dream but this time he releases a cry instead. He didn't mean to, he didn't want to sound weak and pathetic but that's how it came out. Jim hangs his head, sniffling as he tries to stop his hands from shaking.

This time, Bones isn't passing the opportunity, he has to ask now. Jim literally sounded like he was crying, that was no normal scream. The Doctor gathers to his feet, expecting the usual response. He opens Jim's door, revealing the younger man, huddled up in a tangle of blankets.

"Jim-" Bone starts, about to ask his normal question to get his normal response from the kid.

But Jim stops him, his voice trembles when he says it, "Stay." Jim tells him, looking up with teary blue eyes.

Bones takes a step closer, a shaky breath escaping him. Jim seems younger, a lot younger, like he's a ten year old boy again, facing the dangers of life by himself. Too young for this life, too adolescent.

"Jim I-" Bones is about to start again, but once again, Jim stops him before he can finish anything.

"Please Bones, just this one time, stay?" Jim pleads, his eyes youthful and sparking.

Bones swallows and comes closer, sitting on the edge of the bed, "Come here kid." Bones whispers, ushering him to his lap.

Jim takes it greedily, climbing into Bones' warm embrace, welcoming the arms that wrap around his frame. He sighs, sinking into Bones' lap, listening to his steady heartbeat in his chest.

"Jim tell me something…" Bones asks, peering down at him, "…what were you dreaming about?"

Jim gazes up at him and Bones meets his stare, the world unfolding in those bright blue eyes, "It was about my step father."

Bones stiffens slightly, this is the first time Jim has ever spoken freely about his past without having a couple of drinks, "What happened?"

"If I tell you will you stay?" Jim questions, gripping Bones' black t-shirt.

"Jim I'll stay no matter what." Bones replies, offering the troubled kid a smile.

Jim meets the smile with one of his own, "Even if you don't like what you hear?"

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm all ears." Bones reassures him, shifting to get more comfortable.

Jim sighs, knowing that Bones will stay with him, and he'll probably stay with him for the rest of his life, because if Bones can stay through this, then he'll stay through anything for him.