Bones recalls the turning point of his relationship with Jim Kirk.
I do not own Star Trek.
Big Brother part 4
I have to jump back in time to the night Jim and I became friends. Not just friendly roommates, but real friends. The kind who backs you up in a bar fight. The kind who holds your head while you're puking up your guts, after drinking too much The kind who tells you to shut up when you're moaning in pain the next morning. And yeah, I did all that. Well, I did end up giving him something for his hangover.
It happened the day after he had taken the Kobayashi Maru test.....and failed miserably. Not only had he failed, but some of the cadets who were on the bridge set said things, or just stood there sniggering. Jim's ego couldn't take the jokes, which were just that. Truthfully, no one meant anything by it, because they all knew, you don't beat the Kobayashi Maru test. Unfortunately, Jim took it all very seriously. He was determined to prove that you could beat the no-win scenario. So he took it a second time. But again, he was slammed down by the computer, which would always invent new obstacles, no matter what the testing cadet came up with. I wasn't there the second time, because of a busy schedule. But I heard about it later. And not from Jim. So when he didn't come back to the room, and it being after hours, I decided I'd better go look for him. It wouldn't do to have a surprise inspection, with him gone.
I checked several places he haunted, not so much to get drunk, but to pick up women. I finally found him, not only drunk, but very drunk. Being Jim Kirk, he was still trying to pick up the ladies, but his slurred words didn't really impress any of them. I went up to him, and leaned against the bar. He noticed me right away.
"Bones! When did you get here? Hey, let me buy you a drink." He picked up his glass and while attempting to find his mouth, he spilled some of his drink on the shoe of the man next to him. Apparently, liquor doesn't make good shoe cleaner, and the victim had no sense of humor. He went to grab Jim's shirt, an angry look on his face. I stepped between them, and did my best to calm the man down.
"Look, guy, the kid just lost something valuable to him. Give 'em a break, will ya. Here, let me buy you a drink, and we'll get out of your way." I passed my ID card to the barkeeper, who scanned and returned it. The man mumbled something, but took his drink and left us.
"Jim, I think you've had enough. Let's get back to the dorm, before someone notices that you're gone."
"Bones, Bones, come on, have a drink with me. Didn't you hear? James Kirk is a big loser. That damned test proved it."
"Good god, man, all you did was prove to yourself what everyone else already knows. It can't be defeated!" I grabbed his half-empty glass and slid it down the bar. "Come on, Jim, let's go." I put my shoulder under his arm, and started leading him out the door.
"Bones, I know I can... ugh,...beat it. I don't feel so good." He lost his footing, while I tried to keep him upright.
We managed to cross the street, and headed for the quad. So far, no one saw us. Everyone who might have been out were probably safely in their rooms. After entering the main gate, we were near a tree, when Jim started puking. While his body was expelling the toxic liquor, I held his head. As a doctor, I was used to this sort of stuff. But I hated seeing my best friend doing this to himself over some unwinnable test. I knew that by morning, he would be regretting his actions, but for now, I didn't say anything. I was just there for him.
When he was finished, Jim leaned against the tree. "Thanks, Bones. Man, I feel worked over."
"Wait until morning. No doubt, you'll be feeling a hell of a lot worse. Now can you leave it alone?" I kept my hand on his back, in case.
"No way. I gotta do this, Bones, and next time, I want you there. Promise me, you'll be there."
I propped myself under his shoulder again, and we started back to the dorm. "Yeah, yeah, kid, I'll be there," not actually believing he'd try a third time. "Now let's move and get you cleaned up before anyone sees you."
We arrived at our room unseen by anyone. I got him stripped and washed up, and tucked into bed. I looked down at him sprawled on the bed, and covered him with a blanket. "You know, I should let you suffer your hangover as a lesson." But I knew I'd end up giving him a hypo for the pain. The kid had determination, that was for sure. He'd pass that damned test, if it killed him. Well, maybe by morning, he will have forgotten all about it. At least I hoped he would.