Bones and Jim Kirk have a relationship built on friendship. And on how often who owes whom. But they make it work just the same.

I do not own Star Trek.

Big brother part 6

Being a doctor has its perks. And getting Jim on board the Enterprise was solely due to me being a doctor, because no one can say no to me when I push the medical button. My idea to get Jim on board was simple. I had to see to it that he looked sick so that, as his attending physician, he could travel with me. I honestly didn't think the ruse would work, but the officer on duty barely questioned my demand. I just made it easy for him to decide. The kid comes with me, or I stay behind. Captain Pike wouldn't be happy with that. He let us board the shuttle without further interrogation.

I knew that Jim felt like crap, but a pretense wouldn't pass muster. No one could question the sweating, lack of coordination, and maybe even throwing up for anything than what it looked like. It had to be believable. I injected him with the viral infection carried in mud fleas. Harmless for the most part, but the symptoms were not very pretty.

Once aboard the Enterprise, I was going to have to get Jim the anti-toxin as soon as possible. One thing that I noticed in my friend was the way he could ignore his symptoms with just one look of the orbital docking station. Now that is a man who deserves to be called Star Fleet. Nothing else matters when they see a ship. It's just like a beautiful woman to any space-faring man worth his salt. And Jim always did have an eye for beautiful ladies.

Once we left the shuttle bay, I helped Jim to Sick Bay, just barely dodging that pointy-eared bastard. Good god, was he on board this ship too? Just my luck, I thought.

Sick Bay was pristine....and almost empty. Being the maiden voyage, no one had the chance to get sick or injured yet. And was I amazed that Jim Kirk, all sweaty, aching and quite ill, could still muster enough elan to flirt with one of the nurses. But I had to knock him out for awhile, in order for the symptoms to calm down, after I gave him the anti-toxin. He bellyached the entire time, just like an infant. It was unbelievable how quickly the sedative took effect. He passed out like a sack of potatoes onto the medical bed.

Later, when he'd awoke, he was going on about storms in space, while I tried to see how he felt. That was when I noticed his hands. Obviously the anti-toxin, mixed with the sedative, caused Jim to have an adverse reaction. His hands were huge. I tried to think quickly, what to give him to counter the swelling. His heart rate was also way up, and what does he do, but race off to look for someone in communications. I followed him, of course, trying to give him a vaccine against the anti-toxin's side effects. He wasn't very happy at the numerous hypos I had to give him, and was getting a bit testy. I could understand, but dammit, I had to counter the swelling, and get his heart rate down.

As he tried to get information from the person he was looking for and found, his speech became slurry. Oh hell, I thought, numb tongue. I searched in my med-kit for something to counter that. This was getting ridiculous. I was beginning to ask myself, why did I bring the kid aboard. We were going to get caught, I just knew it. I gave him one final hypo, to which he gave me a very annoyed Stop it!

With the cadet and me in tow, Jim headed for the bridge. I figured Captain Pike would give it to him now, so I stepped up and took the blame. He couldn't very well throw me in the brig, yet.

Jim was going on about that damned storm in space, all the while, me standing there, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Pike was visibly angry, and I hoped when we had our little talk, I would be able to explain everything to his satisfaction. I doubted it though.

Fortunately for me, Jim had everyone's attention. As soon as he finished his explanation, suddenly the Vulcan backed him, along with the communications cadet. And Captain Pike was actually taking him seriously enough to put the bridge on alert.

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Ok, so on Earth, I had told Jim that he owed me one. Maybe we would owe him one, if he was proven correct. But I recalled many times when he owed me and I owed him. It was the nature of our friendship. Like the time he tried to introduce me to someone, after I expressly told him I was not interested in dating anyone.

It was a Saturday night, when he'd asked me if I wanted to join him for dinner. I had innocently agreed. When we got to the restaurant he'd chosen, he started towards a table already occupied by two very pretty females. Instantly, I regretted trusting him.

"Kid, what did I tell you? I'm not interested in meeting anyone." I gave him my best glare.

He put his arm around my shoulder, gave me that little boy grin of his, and said, "It's just dinner, Bones. Dinner and some pleasant company. I'm not asking you to marry her. Neither of them are cadets. I thought you might enjoy some non Star Fleet conversing tonight."

I hid my anger deeper, and just let my annoyance show. "Alright, just this once! And I'm telling you right now. If you take your date back to her place, you better have a ride for her friend, because I'll be going back to the dorm."

Jim gave me a look of irritation, which was instantly replaced by the Kirk grin. "Ok, Bones. We'll eat, talk, and there will be no "going back to their place, I promise."

We went over to the table, introduced ourselves, and took our seats.

"Hello, Marisa. Kareen. This is my friend from the academy, Doctor Leonard McCoy."

"How do you do, ladies." I tried to give my best Southern gentleman face, but I really didn't want to be there.

"Oh, you're a doctor. Jimmy never told us that. How fascinating that must be," said the blonde Kareen, all sweetness and adoration.

"So you decided to join Star Fleet to practice medicine?" asked the brunette Marisa.

"It's along story, one he doesn't like to talk about. Hey, why don't we order some drinks," Jim interrupted, thankfully.

We got our drinks, and while Jim was being nuzzled by the brunette, the blonde insisted on talking to me. She liked asking questions, which was ok, except she didn't really know what I was talking about when I answered her. Having been around so many Star Fleet cadets and instructors spoiled me for a decent conversation. I attempted to get Jim's attention away from the vampire on his neck, by kicking him under the table. Unfortunately, I missed.

"Oww!" shouted Kareen. "Who did that?"

"I'm sorry," I admitted. "Um, ....leg cramp." I was done here. I would have thrown up on "Jimmy" if it got me out of this bar. "Look, Kareen, it was very nice to meet you, but I, ...we have to be getting back to the academy. Big test tomorrow. Isn't that right, Jimmy?"

"Hm? Oh...yeah. Big test. Sorry, Marisa. Kareen. Maybe we can do this again sometime." Jim un-entangled himself from his admirer, and stood. "If you ladies want to stay, I'll tell the bartender the next round is on me. Good night."

We left the bar, with Jim smiling and waving to our dates as we exited through the door. "Bones, what is the matter with you anyway? And kicking that poor girl."

"I was trying to kick you! What the blazes did you expect, when I specifically told you I don't need to date. Not now, maybe not ever. So don't ever do that to me again."

Not feeling offended, Jim put his arm around my shoulders as we headed back to academy grounds. "Alright, alright. Never again. I swear it. I just thought you might like to meet some nice girls."

"Not any time soon. Kid, wait until you meet someone whom you'd like to just erase out of existence from your life. Then maybe you'll understand that, sometimes, you have to stay clear of the cigarettes before you get lung cancer."

"What?" Jim asked totally confused by the statement.

"Never mind. Old saying. Let's just get back to the dorm." I was tired. And I figured that this time, he owed me, big time. Just because.