Chapter Nine: In which Bones is mortified, Karina is frustrated, Camille is done, and Jim is offended. But in which there are also many positive things, such as more Bones and Camille moments, and Camille begins to piece together the exact - ahem! - details about Karina's teaching assignment.

Good morning! If any of you were on last night, you may have seen that I updated my Companion One-Shots (I promise, it will get a working title sometime soon!). Besides suggesting that you head over there and read what went down when Karina decided to get lost in a bad part of town - I swear, can that girl stay out of trouble?

Chekov: Ze answer to zat question is decidedly NO.

Shh! Don't spoil anything for them! Anyway, besides suggesting that, I also am informing you that I've developed a habit of letting the characters here give some of my messages. So, be bracing yourselves for that one. And now, over to Bones for the disclaimer.

Bones: browneyedgirl29 does not own Star Trek or its characters. She only owns Camille and Karina. If she did own us, however, there's potential she could keep Jim from getting us into -

And on that happy note, as the good doctor continues ranting in the background, enjoy!

Bones' eyes flew open and he sat straight up in bed. What exactly had gone down last night? Most of it was a blur, but what he did remember wasn't exactly the most dignified of stories to tell.

He'd seen Jim drunk before, to be sure, but the man had reached a new level last night. Then again, so had he, but at least he hadn't gone up to Camille and proclaimed she had "the world's most boopable nose." Unfortunately, he had responded when Jim did it to him. And his drunken response was something he'd prefer to forget.

Fervently praying Jim had, as well, Bones lay back down and tried to ease himself back into sleep.

"So, I guess saving Starfleet is something you come by honestly, then?" Jim said, leaning toward Karina across the table.

"It's not funny, Jim," Karina said. "All I know is the circumstances of my being delivered to the abbey, and how my parents died. And that the nuns, for all their proclaimed holiness, are big fat liars." She put her head in her hands and groaned. "I still don't know exactly what he saved Starfleet from. Or how there were no legal ramifications for my being signed in by someone who shouldn't have even been close to being able to do so. Who was he, by the way? Did he kill them? How long was I with him after they died? The Reverend Mother wouldn't tell me anything else. I swear, I could just – "

She balled her fists and looked about for something to hit. Camille reached out and gently moved her hands back down.

"Easy there, kid. I'm the violent one, not you. The old biddy owed you an explanation, I agree, but have you stopped to consider that she gave it to you? She might not have known anything else."

"She did! I know it!"

Jim, showing all the classic signs of hangover, shook his head. "I'm going to have to agree with Cam here. You've figured out what happened to him. Now sit back, relax, and accept the fact that your father was a hero."

Camille saw Karina's eyes narrow for a brief moment, then her face completely cleared. If Camille could read minds, she imagined Karina was thinking about Jim's father, killed under heroic circumstances. If Jim could get revenge on those who killed him, wouldn't he in a heartbeat?

Of course he would. But Jim was not always the best at seeing when his advice was a bit hypocritical.

Bones wandered up, obviously feeling the hangover a bit more than Jim was. Camille felt sorry for any poor soul who was his patient today. The good doctor was not at his best, it appeared.

"Look who showed up," Jim said as Bones pulled into the seat next to him, across from Camille. "How's the nose?"

Bones, completely deadpan, muttered, "Fine. Now shut up."

Camille looked down at her hands. He remembered that. What else did he remember, she wondered?

Karina, too, was looking down, shaking her head furiously, like a shaggy dog just finished taking a swim. Camille felt a few strands of mousy brown hair whip her cheek as Karina said, "It's not enough, Jim! I can't explain why, but it's not enough. I have to know why he died, if you know what I mean."

Jim looked confused. "Not entirely sure I do, kiddo. Enlighten me."

Karina let out a shout of frustration. Camille resisted the urge to slide down the bench away from her as the population of the mess hall within fifty feet turned and looked at them. Seeing it was just a kid probably going through some form of teen angst, they went back to their lunch, rolling their eyes.

"He was murdered, Jim, probably by people who wanted revenge for a failed operation. How am I supposed to tell whether what he died for was worth it?"

"Kari, calm – "

"You lost your father, too, Jim," Karina said, finally snapping and stating what Cam had predicted she was thinking. "But you've known your entire life what he did was worth it. Mostly because you have life. Think on that one. And call your mother!"

She rose from the table, taking her tray and stalking off. Jim stared after her, then turned back to Camille and Bones. "Ouch."

Camille, too, rose. "Jim, you know I love you. Just saying. Oh, calm down, Bones!" she demanded when his shoulders tensed a little. "I didn't mean like that! Anyway, Jim, but you're an idiot sometimes."

She rose and walked off. Karina had class, so she'd had to leave soon anyway, and Cam didn't go after her. She instead headed for the other side of the cafeteria, where she saw Juliet sitting with Sulu. She'd become good friends with Juliet since January, but hadn't seen much of Sulu – besides the few times he was with Juliet. Most people who hung out with another member of the opposite gender one on one would consider their relationship a bit more than platonic, but not Juliet.

"He's a good friend for me," she told Camille. "He's pretty realistic, which compliments the dreamer in me pretty well. Keeps me grounded. He definitely chased off two guys who were complete jerks that asked me out last week. Well, I guess technically he just warned me off them. Nah, there's nothing there, Cam. Hikaru's a good guy, just not for me." Pausing to consider, she added, "Of course, there's also the matter that he's married. And gay. But details."

Camille briefly wondered why she was so content to let Juliet handle her own romantic affairs – or not so romantic – but when it came to Karina, she was so determined to meddle. Well, the majority of the time, she was just teasing, she supposed. Oh well. Now was not the time.

She slammed her tray down on the table next to Juliet and sat down with a huff.

Juliet stared at her. "Rough day, huh?"

Cam looked at her. "You have no idea. Jim is such an idiot sometimes."

Juliet groaned. "What did he do now, or do I want to know?"

"No, it's fine. He just doesn't always think before he speaks. And he can be a bit of a hypocrite. Just ask Karina."

"Should I?"

"Decidedly not."

"Okay, cool, then."

Camille smiled at the banter she shared with this girl. Juliet was probably a year older than she was, Sulu maybe four years. She didn't mind the age gaps. Heck, Bones and Jim were much older than she was, and she considered them far better friends than these two. And it gave her a good feel for what Kari felt like most of time.

"Distract me, guys," she said. "I'm just kind of done with Jim and Bones for today. I may or may not have taken them out to a bar last night. I had to drag them back and all but tuck them into bed."

What a disaster that had been. Jim, in typical drunken fashion, had forgot that some women were off limits to him and tried making a pass at her. So, naturally, Bones had taken a swing at him, missing by a foot and nearly hitting Camille herself. Judging by her newfound dodging abilities, she came within an inch of a concussion on top of the broken wrist. Therefore, Jim had only gotten dumped on his bed in a heap. She had no clue how he'd been so alert this morning, only showing the other signs of hangover.

Bones, however, she'd taken a bit more care with. A little uncomfortable with the idea of undressing him, she'd made him at least take off his red cadet uniform and strip down to just his boxers. Looking upward so she didn't have to know what his underwear had on them – she was actually quite curious as to whether he had plain white ones or if they had little red hearts on them like you always saw on old cartoons – she'd nearly scared the living daylights out of his roommate when she cried out, "No, Bones!" as he began to remove the boxers, too. She had no idea how the roommate had slept all the way through Bones' drunken stumbling till then.

When the man rolled back over and went back to sleep, she pulled back Bones' sheets and gestured for him to get in. Remarkably obedient when inebriated, Bones had obeyed without question, face-planting onto his pillow before even getting his body into bed.

He showed no intention of moving, so she'd moved to the other side of the bed and taken hold of his feet.

"You'd better appreciate me, cowboy," she muttered as she swung his legs upward and covered them with the sheets.

"Don't worry, Cam," he slurred. "I appreciate you. You're a gem among women! A queen! A goddess!"

"Shut up."

She'd pulled the sheet up the rest of the way and imitated her drill sergeant from her military days. "Now, stay in that bed. That is an order, Doctor."

He sloppily saluted her from his prostrate position. "Aye, Captain!"

She smiled and turned to go but stopped cold when she felt a hand on her wrist. Turning back, she was shocked to see him staring at her. Camille wished she could move, but something prevented her from shaking him off or slapping his hand like she normally would have.

He pulled her down until their faces were inches apart. A few strands of her dark hair fell down and brushed his cheek. He reached up with his free hand and tucked it back behind her ear, lingering for a minute.

"You're beautiful, Camille Osbourne," he said, his voice suddenly very clear, husky like it normally was. "You know that?"

Camille blinked for a few minutes. She hadn't ever really considered herself pretty. When people told her she was, she generally waved it off. But secretly, she was glad Bones thought she was.

Regaining control of herself, she'd pulled back up, smiling as though to dismiss it as a joke, and pried her wrist from his grip. It hadn't been that hard, considering he'd still retained enough of his doctoral inhibitions to only take light hold of her broken wrist.

"Whatever, cowboy," she said. "Now get some sleep."

As she opened his door, she barely heard him drunkenly mutter behind her, "Well, you are."

Snapped back to the present by Juliet asking, "So, did you give Jim that black eye?"

Camille rolled her own. "That's just circles, Jules. You really should know the difference. But believe me, I came close." She turned to Sulu, who'd been waving at someone across the mess hall. Camille looked toward where he was facing. A boy a few years younger than her, about Kari's age, nodded in their direction then walked out of the room.

"Who was that?" Camille asked, curiosity piqued.

"I'm pretty sure his name's Pavel Chekov," Sulu said. "Kid's in one of my navigation classes. I don't think he really has anyone to hang out with at meals or anything. He doesn't speak English very well."

Camille frowned. Wait. Someone around Kari's age…who didn't speak English… Hold up. Wasn't Pavel the Russian form of Paul or something? Not that she knew. She just thought she heard Kari mention it in her random dialect fangirling. She tried to maintain a casual tone as she asked, "So, he's Russian?"

Sulu eyed her. "Yeah, why?"

Camille smirked. "No reason."

She wouldn't bring it up today. No, probably not for a while. Better to catch Karina when she least expected it. There would be no more inquiries to how lessons were going. Or bringing up of any other boys around the Academy. No, she would leave the meddling state blissfully blank and then pounce.

Oh, this was going to be entertaining.

Bones turned to Jim. "When was the last time you called your mother?"

Jim gave him a look. "Really? That's what you take out of that conversation?"

"Well, it's about all I was here for."

"I called her yesterday before we went out. I just don't advertise it. Honestly, why do you all assume I never call my mom?" Jim asked.

The pair of them lapsed into silence for a moment. Then Bones said, "Jim."

"What?"

"You ever tell anyone about my…" Bones groaned before saying it out loud, barely above a growling whisper, "'boopable' nose again, and I will end you. I'm a doctor. I could make it painful very easily."

Jim nodded. "Noted. So, out of curiosity… what else do you remember from last night?"

He knew if Bones remembered what he remembered, there was no way he'd admit it. But Jim wasn't quite giving up yet in that area. He'd poke and prod his way around until Bones broke.

"Not much," Bones said, as expected.

"Well, don't worry," Jim muttered as he rose to dump his tray. "No hard feelings about Camille holding your hand there."

Bones surged to his feet, staring after his friend's back. Jim had forgotten nothing. His mortification was complete. Sitting back down, he contemplated flinging himself off the roof of the Academy. After last night and the complete fool he'd made of himself on multiple occasions, what was the point of living?