Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer... Who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously? ~Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes

"What are you doing?" Bones asked Jim as he crossed the living room to stand next to the couch where Jim was reclining. The TV was on, another insipid Christmas special airing. Jim didn't seem to be watching it so much as using it as an exercise to strength his concentration by ignoring it.

"I was napping. Not so much any more," Jim said with a frown up at Bones. "You're late."

McCoy shrugged, sitting on the couch next to Jim. "Yeah. Got caught up in an emergency. I checked on Scotty right before I left. He's complaining about still being in the hospital. So that's a good sign."

"Definitely," Jim agreed. "I roasted a chicken. It's in the oven."

"Thanks," Bones said, studying Jim. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. I slept off and on most of the day. Are you taking the stitches out of my arm tonight?"

"I'll have to check it first. How does it feel?"

"Tight. I talked to mom. She's still in London. Said she's coming on the 21st."

"Good. She staying with us or Chris?" Bones asked.

"Us mostly. She is still denying that she's seeing Chris. But I don't know why she bothers. She read Cereec'o."

"And?" Leonard prompted.

"She loved it. I told her about Spock. I'm a little afraid she's going to call him up and give him what for," Jim laughed.

"It's what he deserves," Leonard agreed. "When are you meeting with him?"

"Tomorrow for lunch. Can you come?"

"No I cannot. But thanks for asking. If you're worried, take Chris," Leonard suggested, going into the kitchen, Jim following.

"No," Jim sighed. "It will be fine."

"Yes it will," Bones agreed, taking the chicken out of the oven and putting some on the plate Jim had gotten for him. "Is Hikaru coming tomorrow?"

"Yeah at 3 o'clock. We're going to finalize the plans for Marjorie's party. Is Nyota coming to the party?"

"She's planning to. Did you decorate the trees?" Bones asked with a frown.

"I was careful. Hikaru and Pavel came over for a little while. They helped with the highest limbs."

"Pavel didn't sleep all day?"

"He mostly lay on the couch and watched Hikaru. He seemed a little dazed but I think it's from being over-tired."

"Probably. Did he call Chris?" Bones asked.

"No. He will tomorrow. I think I'm going to go back to Paraguay in March," Jim said.

"Who are you going to visit?" Bones asked as he continued to eat his chicken and roasted potatoes.

"There is a small enclave of Inarakgha there. No more than 100 or so. According to the latest UNESCO report, only 75 of them speak Inarakghan. So that would be a good place be for Avery's next research," Jim said.

"Will you be able to transcribe it?"

"I think so. I called Desiree at UNESCO. She said the tribe is looking for someone to help with the preservation of their language."

"Sounds like you're in," Bones agreed. "Will Pavel have to go? Or will he be able to stand being away from Hikaru?"

"I told them today I was thinking about going. I don't want to wait until school is out. Pavel said he understood. We'll probably be there three or four weeks."

"Which usually turns into five or six weeks," Bones reminded him with an affectionate shake of his head.

"Yeah. Well. If we don't do the research, the book can't be authentic," Jim reminded him.

"As I am aware," Bones agreed. "Is this the book when Avery finally comes to his senses and proposes to Nerissa? Poor long suffering Nerissa."

"Maybe," Jim laughed. "You know he's so busy documenting endangered languages he barely has time for her."

"True. She is much better to him than he deserves."

"She is," Jim had to agree. "He will take her to the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship gala. Use some of his prize money to buy her a new dress."

"Forget the dress. She wants a diamond," Bones told him.

"I know," Jim agreed. "So does Nyota."

Bones snorted at him and got up from the table to put his dishes in the dishwasher before going with Jim to the living room where another Christmas special had replaced the one that had been on when Bones got home.

"Why do you even watch those specials?" Bones asked as he so often did.

"I have no idea," Jim admitted. "I thought The Grinch was coming on."

"Because we don't have it on DVD," Bones said.

"I know. But then I don't get to watch the commercials for underwear and the latest electronics that will make my life complete."

"Underwear makes your life complete?" Bones asked. "Because I thought you usually didn't bother with it."

"I do so wear it. I have on some right now," Jim informed him.

"Then why isn't there ever any in the wash?"

"There is. When did you start doing inventory of my dirty clothes?"

"When you refused to do the laundry."

"That's what we have Hikaru for," Jim said.

"He's your research assistant. You shouldn't be havin' him do your chores," Bones countered.

"Why would I pay him between projects if he's not our houseboy?"

"Good thing he doesn't mind. Anyone else would have quit a long time ago," Bones reminded him.

"He won't ever quit. Because he knows I'm awesome like that," Jim said with a smug grin.

"You are not awesome. You are a pain in the ass."

"Maybe. But I'm your pain in the ass," Jim said.

"True," Bones had to agree. "Take your shirt off so I can see the wound."

Jim complied, laying on the couch so Bones would have easy access to his left arm which he had resting over his head. "How's it look?" Jim asked when Bones returned from washing his hands.

"It's healing," Bones said, gently rubbing over the stitches. "Does it hurt?"

"Not really. Feels tight."

"But it's not itching?"

"No," Jim said.

"Okay. Another day or two," Bones said, standing up. "I'm going to bed. What are you doing?"

"It's barely 9 o'clock. When did you become such an old man?"

"I've been up since 5 this morning. I couldn't come home and nap like some people. I have to be at the hospital at 6 in the morning. And that makes me old?" Bones asked with a scowl.

"And cranky," Jim added.

"I hate you. Have I told you that lately?" Bones asked as he went down the hallway to his suite.

"You don't hate me. You love me," Jim corrected as he followed Bones into his bedroom to lay down on top of the covers.

"I cannot imagine why that is," Bones said, removing his suit in exchange for his pajamas.

"I told you to stop working so many hours. I can support us both."

"I have no desire to be kept by you. I'm a doctor for a reason," Bones reminded him as he went into his bathroom, the door still open so they could continue their conversation. "When you go into town tomorrow, can you stop by O'Conner's? They have a watch Nyota has been talking about. I want to get it for her for Christmas."

"Sure. Will you call and let them know so I get the right one?"

"Of course. You don't think I'd trust you, do you?"

"You should. I have excellent taste," Jim reminded him.

"You most certainly do not," Bones said around his toothbrush as he leaned against his bathroom doorjamb. "They also have a pair of diamond and ruby earrings she wants. If you got them for her for Christmas, she might hate you a little less."

"Nyota does not hate me," Jim said in indignation. "It isn't my fault she was in a bar the first time I met her."

"But you didn't need to try to pick her up."

"She was in a bar."

"So were you. And you came away with a fractured cheek and a bloody nose."

"Again. This is why I have you," Jim said with a smile. Bones shook his head and disappeared back into his bathroom.

"Get off of my bed so I can go to sleep," Bones said when he stood next to it, his fists on his hips.

"Yeah yeah yeah," Jim agreed, getting up. "Sleep well."

"I will providing there are no 1 a.m. phone calls," Bones said as he got into his bed.

"There won't be. And don't wake me up on your way out. I don't have to get up until 10."

"Yeah. Like you'll sleep past 7 anyway."

Jim shrugged, going to the door and turning off the overhead light. "'Night."

"Good night," Bones said, closing his eyes and very soon drifting off to sleep.

A/N: It looks like I might be destined to be a NaNoWriMo drop-out. My muses have abandoned that story, at least for now. That's the bad news. The good news, I guess, is that they are interested in working on this story. So fickle they are! One thing always remains the same - they love reviews!