You get so used to lying that after a while it's hard to remember what the truth is. ~Philip Agee
McCoy was in his bathroom trying to restore order to his thick black hair which he realized he should have had cut last week when he heard the front door open. He made his way down the hallway, stopping at the edge of the foyer. He wanted to be surprised that Jim and Scotty were there with a woman he didn't know. Not yet anyway. She had really green skin and tumbling red curls. An Orion from the looks of her. She was talking too rapidly and Bones couldn't quite figure out what she was saying.
"...don'tknowhowyoucan. It's justimpossible," she was saying breathlessly. She broke off abruptly when the two men focused on Bones.
"Hey," Bones said, trying for serious even though he was standing in only a towel around his waist. The woman stared at him as he stared at Jim. "What's happened?"
"Nothing," Jim lied, still leaning against Scotty, his tie missing, several rips visible in his suit jacket. Bones would have been closer to being convinced if there wasn't blood dripping from the end of the fingers on Jim's left hand. Blood that was staining the entryway rug spread over the marble tiles. A real oriental that Jim had gotten from one of the sheiks he had rescued several years ago.
"He's hurt," the woman said, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed a deeper green. "It was for me. He did it for me. He shouldn't have but he did."
"It's alright, lassie," Scotty said soothingly. He managed to pass Jim off to Bones who accepted his weight easily. Bones helped Jim into his suite and on into his bathroom, still warm from his shower.
"What happened?" Bones asked as he carefully peeled off Jim's wool overcoat. Jim gasped as he attempted to removed it from his left arm.
"Easy," Jim groaned, slapping away Bones' hands and taking the coat off himself. The left side of his suit jacket was soaked with blood, the white shirt underneath red with it. "It's not as bad as it looks."
"Which you always tell me. Never mind that you have nearly bled to death three times in the last two months."
"No I haven't," Jim said, gritting his teeth as Bones cut away his jacket and his shirt to expose the formerly pink tie wrapped around his upper arm. He carefully cut away the tie, exposing the gapping wound halfway down Jim's left arm.
Bones shook his head, studying the blood running down Jim's arm. "Gunshot?"
Jim smiled. More a grimace. "Knife."
Bones was skeptical, picking up the ruined shirt. It was sliced cleanly from underarm to elbow. "Who's the woman?" Bones asked as he reached into the back of the linen closet to open the fake wall, taking out his medical kit.
"The Prime Minister's wife."
"And she's here why exactly?" Bones asked. He was in the process of filling a syringe and Jim had to look away from that long, shining needle.
"Slight change of plans. He's coming here to meet up with her," Jim said, gasping when Bones plunged the needle into his arm just above the laceration. "Little warning."
"Stop being such a baby. You know I have to numb it," Bones said, carefully wiping away some of the blood to better see the wound. "Why didn't you drop her like Pike said?"
"We think we were made. We lost 'em on Elm."
"Great," Bones grumbled. "So I shouldn't come home tonight."
"Like you weren't going to stay over with Nyota," Jim said, looking at the deep cut on his arm. "Not as bad as I thought."
"Six stitches," Bones said.
"Four will do it," Jim countered.
"Now you're the doctor?" Bones asked, taking out his suturing kit. "Is Scotty taking …."
"Gaila," Jim supplied helpfully.
"Gaila to Pike's?"
"Hikaru is coming and bringing the Prime Minister. What do we have to eat?" Jim asked as Bones sewed him up.
"Lasagna's in the oven staying warm. I expected you an hour ago."
"Yeah," Jim said, listening. "Hikaru's here."
"Good. Scotty okay?"
"Fine. I'm the only one dinged. You want to meet Gaila before you leave?"
"Not really," Bones said, glancing over at the door as Scotty appeared with the very same Gaila who nearly vibrated with energy as she tried to stand still, her dark blue dress sparkling with what looked to be silver spider webs woven in.
"Oh Jimmy," Gaila was saying. "You are hurt."
"It's okay, Gaila. I'll be good as new," Jim assured her. "This is my friend. Leonard," Jim said, nodding his head at Bones.
"Hello Leonard," she said with her overly bright smile. "It's nice of you to sew up Jimmy like that."
"I'm handy to have around," Bones agreed. "Scotty, can you get him some sweats?" Scotty agreed, leaving and returning very soon with a pair which Bones accepted after tying off the last suture. Despite Jim's protest, he gave him an injection of anti-biotics, Gaila gasping as the needle entered the flesh on Jim's arm.
Bones looked over at her before carefully removing the needle. "You okay?"
"Fine," she said faintly, leaning harder against the doorjamb.
Bones looked from her to Jim who was studying the stitches with slightly unnerving intensity. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Jim said, trying to focus on Bones. "I need a drink."
"I'm sure you do. And you can have it just as soon as I wrap this up," Bones said. He put a thick bandage around Jim's arm and helped him change into the sweats before passing him off to Scotty. "Now if y'all will excuse me, I have a date." After they were finally out of his bathroom, he put Jim's shirt, tie and suit into the chute to be incinerated the next morning. Handy feature to have. That done, he left his bathroom for his dressing room to finish getting ready, putting on his tuxedo. After making sure his shoes had a mirror shine, he went out into the living room to find Jim, Scotty, Hikaru, Gaila and a strange man whom he assumed to be the Prime Minister lounging around, drinking his best bourbon. He ignored the wolf whistles that greeted his appearance, staring holes in Jim. "Don't wait up," he said, pulling on his overcoat. He suffered patiently as Scotty untied and retied his bowtie, finally satisfied that it was perfect.
"I never do," Jim assured him, his legs over the arms of his armchair as he watched Scotty's efforts. He knew the man was a genius with machinery - but bowties? Gaila was sitting on the lap of the strange man, not noticing anything else going on as they kissed. Feverishly. Hungrily.
"They staying the night?" Bones asked, waving a casual hand at everyone else.
"Mmm…not sure. Maybe. Some will."
"Aye," Scotty said, saluting Bones with his glass. "Aye'll be sleepin' on Jim's floor."
"Fine," Bones said with a shrug.
"You want me to drive you?" Hikaru offered with a smile as he ate more lasagna.
"How much have you had to drink?" Bones asked, studying him closely.
"Nothing but Pepsi," Hikaru assured him, giving his plate to Jim who promptly finished his lasagna.
"Alright. I probably won't see you until tomorrow," Bones said, buttoning up his overcoat before going with Hikaru to the garage where the Mercedes waited.
"Why didn't Pike send me?" Hikaru asked Bones when they were in the large, comfortable car.
"I have no idea. I figured he would," Bones said, looking out his window. "Did he call the House?"
"Yeah. Apparently this Spock guy isn't pleased that Jim was incommunicado," Hikaru laughed.
"Better get used to it," Bones said with a shrug. "Even if he were home all the time, he wouldn't be at anyone's beck and call."
"Except Pike. And yours," Hikaru said with a smile.
"Yeah. Are you going to ask Pike why you got left behind?"
"Nah. It was apparently straight-forward. I guess they just didn't need me," Hikaru shrugged.
"I'd feel better if Scotty wasn't flying through Russian air space with no co-pilot."
"Jim co-piloted," Hikaru assured him.
"Over. Not back. He'd lost too much blood," Bones said, shaking his head.
"I'll work on the blood in the oriental," Hikaru promised.
"You staying over?" Bones asked.
"Yeah. It's easier than worrying all night."
"Pavel coming?" Bones asked as Hikaru drove up the long, curved drive to stop in front of Nyota's house.
"Not tonight. He's with his grandmother," Sulu said with a dramatic shudder.
"Okay. We'll be right back," Bones said, leaving the car to go up to the front door that opened as he approached. The tall, stoic butler looked at him before nodding. Bones disappeared inside, very quickly reemerging with the beautiful Nyota on his arm, wrapped up in a warm fur coat. She was laughing at something Bones had said.
"Hello beautiful," Hikaru said as Bones helped her into the roomy backseat.
"Oh no. What's happened?" Nyota said, looking over at Bones with wide eyes.
"Everyone's fine," Bones assured her. "Sulu was home and decided to drive us."
"Why do you lie to me, Leonard? When I know?"
He leaned closer and kissed her, his only answer and she knew better than to ask again. She shook her head, looking in his eyes to find the truth. "He's home and safe?"
"Yes. Scotty's staying over. Hikaru will too," Bones told her.
"How are we getting home from the opera?" she asked Bones.
"You'll call me and I'll come get you," Hikaru told her.
"Have you been here all day?" Nyota asked, one eyebrow raised.
"I've been at my house. Pavel was studying and I was trying out new recipes."
"Fine," Nyota said with a sigh.
"What do you know of House Net'no'kwa changing hands?" Bones asked her.
"It's owned now by Sarek. Smart. Hard negotiator. Nobody's fool," Nyota said.
"Neither are we," Bones reminded him.
"No you aren't," she agreed, leaning closer to him. "Why do you smell like blood and antiseptic?"
"No idea, darlin'," he lied easily, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You are looking especially beautiful this evening."
"You are such a flatterer," she laughed, easily allowing herself to be distracted from whatever had happened. She knew she'd learn the truth soon enough.
They chatted about inconsequential matters until Hikaru pulled up outside the Opera House, assuring them that he would come collect them as soon as they called.
"Thank you," Bones said before escorting Nyota up the steps and into the lobby where they disappeared into the crowd of society folks whom Bones detested but tolerated because they were the ones that controlled the real money in city.
~o0o~
When Nyota's butler drove him home the next morning, it wasn't much of a surprise that the table was filled to overflowing with food and guests. There was a gigantic breakfast casserole in the center, French toast piled high on a plate, two carafes of coffee, what looked to be home fries, and food he wasn't sure he could readily identify.
"Hey," Jim said, leaving the chair at the head of the table to properly greet Bones. "How was the opera?"
"Wonderful," Bones said as he went to his suite, Jim following behind. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired but otherwise fine," Jim assured him, hoisting himself on the vanity as Bones undressed, exchanging his tuxedo for jeans. "You want to check it?"
"After breakfast. Right before you go back to bed."
"I'm not going back to bed," Jim corrected. "I'm going to scrub all the toilets."
"No you aren't. You're going back to bed if I have to sedate you," Bones said, uselessly brushing his hair which was determined to fall back into his face.
"Why are you so mean to me?" Jim asked with a dramatic pout.
"You nearly bled to death yesterday, kid," Bones reminded him. "For the third time. There is nothing that needs to be done that can't wait until tomorrow. You need to give your body a chance to heal."
"Okay. Okay," Jim conceded. "Stop nagging."
Bones shook his head, leaving his suite, certain that Jim was following him. "You talk to Pike yesterday?"
"Yeah. He may be coming by tomorrow afternoon," Jim said, sitting back at the head of the table, accepting more casserole from Hikaru. Bones sat in the empty chair at the foot of the table, Pavel to his right who was speaking in Russian to the stranger on his left.
"I am Grigory. Prime Minister of Tajikistan. At least I was. I hope to be again soon one day," the large man said to Bones, his smile genuine and infectious. Gaila was sitting pressed close to him, so clearly happy to be back in his company.
"It's nice to meet you, Minister," Bones said, watching Pavel fill his cup with coffee. "Thanks."
"You have a beautiful home," Grigory said in admiration, looking at the huge dining room that flowed into the gleaming kitchen.
"Thank you," Bones said. "It's comfortable."
"I see this," Griory said. "You are generous to allow us to stay."
"Plenty of room," Bones said with a shrug. "How long will you be with us?"
"Only one hour more," the Minister said. "Then we will disappear once again."
Bones nodded at that, watching Jim who seemed mostly okay. His smile was bright even if his eyes were not quite as blue as they should be. He turned his attention to answering Pavel's question, between bites of French toast.
He continued to eat and talk, sipping from his cup before setting it down. He made his way to the opposite end of the table, staring down at Jim until he finally looked up to meet his friend's worried eyes.
"I think I have to be excused," Jim said reluctantly, carefully putting his napkin on the table. He delayed his exit as long as possible by speaking to each person at the table.
"Now Jim," Bones said, his tone not to be refused.
Jim sighed and finally turned to follow the Doctor to his suite. He flopped down on his bed, frowning up at Bones. "I'm not four."
"Then stop acting like it. And take off your shirt," Bones said before disappearing briefly. When he returned he had his medical kit with him. Jim was bare to the waist as ordered, his left arm over his head to provide Bones the best possible access. "Does it hurt to do that?"
"Nope. You did your usual excellent job," Jim said with a smile, watching as Bones cut away the bandage. "How's it look?"
"Good," Bones said with a nod. He gently touched the stitches, nodding before taking a syringe out of his kit.
"Wait. What's that for?" Jim protested as Bones filled it from a small vial.
"Stop whining and roll over," Bones directed, pushing his hip to get him started.
"But what's it for?" Jim asked again as Bones pulled down the waist of his pajamas enough to expose his butt.
"Because I said so," Bones said, swabbing his skin before administering the injection, Jim gasping as the needle penetrated. "You can be shot and hardly flinch. You can nearly bleed to death and shrug it off. I give you an injection and you act like it's an insult to your manliness."
"I hate you," Jim said, pulling up his pajama bottoms and worming under the covers. "You know that, right?"
"Shut up and go to sleep," Bones said, stroking his hair as Jim's eyes got heavy.
"You sedated me," Jim protested.
"Only way I can be sure you'll actually rest," Bones said, going to the window to pull the shade. "You want me to stay?"
"For a minute?" Jim requested, curling up on his right side facing Bones. "Tell me about the opera."
Bones pulled the blankets higher, making sure his bare shoulders were covered, then told him about the opera, who was there, who they spoke with, the somewhat odd, modern interpretation the conductor and choreographer had chosen. It wasn't long before Jim was sound asleep and Bones slipped out of his room, leaving the door open in case Jim needed him.