"Dammit, Jim."
A door opened and shut.
"What'd you want?" Bones asked the intruder.
"Sir, there's a request from the brig to speak to you. They say it's from Cadel," a pause, and silence from both men.
"They say it's about Jim."
Jim froze, lucidity suddenly coming back to him.
"Bones…"
A million thoughts ran through Jim's head. What did Cadel want from him now? Had he done something to him that he'd kept hidden? Was there a new implant while he was asleep?
The doctor sighed, "Stay here, Jim," and followed the red-clad security guard out of the room, leaving Jim alone in the room.
Which, frankly, he didn't feel was a good idea.
Admittedly, he didn't feel safe.
He wanted to be with someone at all times…as pathetic as that sounded. He wanted to be with Bones, or Spock. Someone that could protect him.
Hopefully that insecurity would dig itself back into the crevasses of his mind once Cadel had left.
Slumping back down flat onto the suspiciously-comfy-chair that had more cushion than his own bed, Jim gazed up at the large spherical object above him. There was a small blinking red light, knowing it was warning Bones that whatever scan he had been trying to do was disrupted by Jim's fidgeting.
Deciding he had nothing better to do until Bones came back, Jim thought he might as well do the scan again…Bones would do it when he got back anyway.
Having no idea how to work the system, he shuffled up the chair and lay stone still, hoping that whatever the machine was, was automatic.
To his relief, the red blinking became a constant happy green, and vaguely he could hear a low humming noise emitting from the overhead mystery object.
Hopefully Bones would be pleased with him for doing it on his own. His friend knew very well how much Jim detested medical equipment—hypos, physicals, scans, the whole lot.
He didn't know where this sudden desire for appreciation came from, but he hoped it take away some of the anxiety.
Moments later, the door hissed open again, revealing Bones stomping into the room with a scowl upon his face. That scowl instantly dropped to a soft smirk when he saw what Jim was doing. He strode over to him.
"You able to work that thing on your own? That's real good. You can do your own damn physicals instead of ditching me for a month."
Jim rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to turn and face him, not wanting the green light to turn red, as that'd mean he'd have to do the scan for a third time.
"What did Cadel want?" he asked instead, his eyes focused on the green light.
He heard Bones' footsteps grow closer to him before he disappeared behind his head.
"Well, he tried to make us a deal," Bones put simply; Jim had no idea what the doctor was doing behind him.
"What kinda deal?" Not something to hide from him…he hoped.
"Said he'd save your life and fix you up good as new if he could 'keep' you. Like a damn rat," his friend's voice was turning dark, angry, "Bastard doesn't know we've already fixed you. I've fixed you."
A pause.
"So, he said he'd wanted to show me new medical interventions, to advance medical science."
Jim blinked. Why would Cadel want to do that if he wanted to kill him?
"And?"
Bones scoffed, "I ain't teaming up with that smug sunovabitch, even if it made me the best surgeon in the whole damn universe."
Jim considered this, "But Bones, you could help hundreds more people with all the extra equipment," he reasoned, "I mean, the amount of crew members that get fatally injured on away missions would be decreased dramatically if you knew what he knew! It doesn't matter who you learned it from!"
"Dammit Jim!" Bones shouted, Jim wincing as his ears vibrated, "I'm not using knowledge from that sadist! Besides, he wanted to show me how to do it himself."
"You don't trust him? Ask Spock to surround him with security guards." It was a simple enough solution.
"No, Jim," Bones hissed, "He wanted to show me on you. He wanted me to do all these crazy new techniques on you!" there was silence while both men tried to think of a reply.
Jim bit his lip, "But Bones—"
"I said no, Jim!" his friend shouted, eyes widening in frustration, "I'm not letting him hurt you for the sake of some moronic redshirts on a ship!"
Jim bulked, "They're not moronic! They're on the front line and it's their job to protect me!"
McCoy slammed his hand on the biobed rail, "It's Spock's job to protect you, and he's doin' damn well fine!"
Jim watched Bones' fuming face for a second before retreating behind a pillow and staring at the scanner light above him instead. Cadel would probably be hunting him down as long as he continue to step foot on ground.
"…I think he wants to kill me," Jim mumbled, his eyes drifting away from the green light.
"Yeah, no shit!"
Jim still didn't entirely understand why Cadel was hellbent on killing him. Perhaps at this point just a fatal dose of paracetamol ought to do it. Why resort to such drastic sadistic methods?
His eyes flicked back to the scanner above him when the green light suddenly went out. He was about to panic, thinking he'd have to do it again before Bones spoke up.
"Finally. It's done. Hang on."
Took long enough. Sitting still is painful.
Jim stretched around on the chair and eventually rolled onto his front, trying to use his knees to make him kneel.
He turned towards Bones, leaning over the railing behind the chair, watching the doctor's very thoughtful face.
Considering Bones' face was a natural scowl, Jim couldn't tell whether he was happy with the results or not.
"Well, seems to be okay," Bones exclaimed, twisting the monitor around so Jim could see, "Nothing deadly showing up here. Although of course the scan unfortunately can't pick up recklessness."
Jim silently was relieved by the results, but raised a cocky eyebrow, "Sounds fatal, doc."
McCoy scoffed, "Yeah, it would be," he grunted, "I happen to be the damn antidote."
Jim snickered under his breath and turned away, slipping off the chair and onto his feet.
"What'd you guys do with Cadel?"
Bones shrugged, turning the monitor off and leading Jim towards the exit, thank god, "He's still in the brig. Gonna drop him and Ruri off at the nearest Starbase."
Jim bounced in front of him, blocking the exit, "So am I clear for duty!?"
Bones blinked at him, then lazily shrugged a shoulder, "Yeah, go on. But take it easy, ya hear? I'm releasing you for bridge work only, no landing party nonsense," he gave him a stern look, then added for good measure, "And you're running half your shift for at least a week."
The news had started off great but quickly spiralled down-hill.
Jim whined, "But Bones! I feel fine! Your medical thingies said I'm fine! You said I'm fine! I'm—"
"Not to mention you're still recovering from the nitrous," he paused, "That's probably why you can't feel anything. Actually, I shouldn't release you for duty yet…"
Jim shook his head and jumped in the way again as Bones continued walking to the exit, "Bones, I need to do something! I can't sit on a biobed any longer, please…"
Bones was unrelenting, "Then you could be released to your quarters and start catching up on paperwork."
Jim utterly felt like a child complaining to a parent.
Then out of desperation, made an offer he knew he'd regret, "After my half-shift I'll come down to medbay and you can scan me?"
Bones stopped walking and stared at Jim at that.
"You seriously offerin' to let me give you a physical outside of schedule?"
Jim bulked, "A scan, no physical."
Bones watched him a while longer, before his shoulders slumped, ensuring Jim to know that he'd won that argument.
"Fine. After the 'shift' you come straight up to me. If you're not here ten minutes after it ends, the deals off and you're stuck in your quarters for a week. Understand?"
Jim nodded tastefully and moved out of the way, allowing Bones to finally stomp out of the room.
Somehow, Jim always ended up getting his way. Bones probably had a soft spot for him.
Spock glared inconspicuously at Jim from across the room, noticing the tense way he held himself in his chair.
Surely he cannot be released for duty already, could he? Only hours ago he was in respiratory arrest; yesterday being held captive.
Yet here the Captain was, sitting in his chair and ordering the crew around cheerfully as if nothing had happened.
On eyes that only Spock's superiority could see, there was a sheen contour of sweat across Jim's forehead, his jaw clenched as if in pain.
It was possible Jim had underestimated himself and the drugs were beginning to wear off, the pain ebbing back into his system, but refusing to acknowledge it.
Spock however refused to ignore it, deciding that if Jim's outward appearance hadn't changed within the next ten point seven minutes, he would contact Dr McCoy.
Jim grit his teeth, forcing himself to sit up straight, "What's our ETA to Starbase T12?"
There was a pause as their navigators looked over the console, "About 3 earth hours, Captain," Sulu replied.
The Captain grunted, his fingers growing white as his knuckles clenched around the armrests.
"Alright," he said quietly, slowly pushing himself back into the chair and taking a deep breath.
While doing so, he twitched his head to the side, making eye-contact with Spock.
Spock assumed it was an accident, as Jim just quickly shifted his eyes back to the main viewer, sitting hunched in his chair.
"Captain." He announced, getting the attention of every crew-member in the room, unfortunately.
He briefly saw Jim roll his eyes in irritation, probably knowing that Spock saw through his fake health act, and turned to him, jaw clenched.
"Yes, mister Spock?" his eyes were stern.
"Are you alright?"
Jim pursed his lips, "Yeah, I'm fine," he stated, despite the sweat plastered all over his tense face.
"You look unwell," Spock deduced, ignoring the gawking looks of the rest of the crew, "Perhaps you should visit Dr McCoy?"
The attempt to get him help was always futile, but it was important to be known that he had asked anyway in case something unfortunate were to happen.
"I'll see him after my shift," Jim obviously lied, turning back to the main view screen and sighing slowly, as if not to disturb an injury.
Spock frowned, watching Jim for a while longer before making his decision.
His first priority was to the captain's safety, not to the captain's ego, and Jim certainly didn't look very…safe…right now.
He opened a channel to sickbay, "Bridge to Dr McCoy."
The Captain whipped around instantly, "Spock!"
"McCoy here, Spock, what is it?" the voice was grouchy but had a hint of worry, likely and correctly assuming that the call was something to do with Jim.
Jim piped up loudly, "Bones, it's a prank call!"
Spock turned to Jim, "Captain, I am not prank calling—"
"Forget it, Spock," McCoy's voice piped through the console, "I'll be right there."
The second the channel was closed, Spock turned and saw Jim instantly slump his head back resignedly against the chair, clearly giving into his fate.
Upon realising the crew had now turned their attention to the slouched Captain, Spock made eye-contact with them individually, "Return to your stations. There is nothing to see."
Silently, everyone swung their chairs back around to their posts, leaving Spock to continue eying Jim, ensuring that he would not suddenly get up and make a hasty exit before the doctor arrived.
He did however seem quite content to just slouch in his chair and do absolutely nothing.
Swoosh.
Ah. He has arrived.
Spock noticed Jim's arms suddenly becoming tense again, as if the good doctor was going to walk over there and haul him out of his chair.
Out of the corner of his eye, he realised that McCoy was just standing idly in the turbolift, door open, not taking a step out of it.
After a moment had passed, and Jim still hadn't moved from his position, the doctor spoke up.
"Jim. With me. Now."
He saw Jim scowl uncomfortably. "That's Captain to you, Bones."
McCoy grunted, "And that's McCoy to you, Captain," he hissed the latter word sarcastically, and began tapping a finger on the wall, to Spock's irritation. "C'mon, Jim, before I drag you out myself."
The Captain grumbled something incoherently under his breath that not even Spock could decipher, before the blonde finally pulled himself up from the chair and shuffled over, like a human child in trouble with their guardian.
How this man was ever mentally fit to be a captain, he did not know.
"That's it," McCoy encouraged, stepping out of the way to make sure Jim went into the turbolift first, "Why I ever agreed to this, I have no idea. Look at you, sweating as if you've just run a damn hundred-mile marathon. Though I bet even with that, you wouldn't break a sweat, you…" the voice faded out as the doors closed, leaving Spock rightfully in command for the bridge now.
Spock internally sighed, and lifted himself from his chair. "I am resuming command of the Enterprise as acting Captain, as Kirk is deemed unfit for duty," he announced, sitting in the chair that Jim just vacated, "Continue on course to Starbase T12."
"Yes sir."
Bones was on a tangent.
"I shoulda put a damned med-bracelet on you. The second Spock called me, I damn well knew what a mistake I made. You got me wrapped around your little finger you little shit—"
"Bones," Jim moaned, head pounding from McCoy's endless ranting ever since he entered the turbolift.
He was now in sickbay, laying on a biobed, and McCoy was still going on.
"What?" Bones' face moved over above his, blissfully blocking the massive circular light above him.
"…stop…"
He frowned, "Stop what? Stop lecturin' you 'cause you were being a careless idiot? I think—"
Jim groaned, "Just stop…'ave a headache…"
"Oh," Bones shrugged, grabbing his trusty hypo of devastation, "Why didn't you just say so?" and immediately jammed it into Jim's neck before he could react.
"Ugh…"
Bones disposed of the weapon on the tray, "Should get a kick out of that in a few minutes,"
He glanced at the monitor on the wall for a while, before turning back to Jim, "Ya got a fever. Ya got a damned fever. Congratulations, Jim, you're in here for another three days."
Well, that explained why he was sweating so bad. But he swore that he was supposed to be shivering. Usually that was what happened when he was ill.
"No shakes?" he mumbled nearly incoherently into the fluffy pillow. It was a luxury item compared to the metal bed with a thin excuse of a sheet thrown over it.
Bones smirked, "No, there'll be no shakin'. You got a temperature, that's it."
Jim nodded half-heartedly, letting his eyes flutter shut. At the back of his mind, he wondered if Bones had drugged him with a sedative instead of a pain-reliever, considering how fast he was becoming fatigued.
"Night, Jim."
Of course he did.
One certain tired doctor watched Jim's slow descent into slumber as his brainwaves finally evened out.
He glanced up from under his eyebrows, "Nurse! Hook the Captain up on fluids and do a blood draw to be safe," he ordered, tugging Jim's sweat-soaked sleeve up to his elbow. His arm had half-healed scars littered all over his skin. "He's got a fever and I want to make sure it's nothin' too bad."
I really should talk to him about that…
Chapel immediately trenched over, glanced down at Jim, then back up to the CMO, "So that's why you knocked him out?" she teased.
McCoy shrugged, "He would'a just pulled out the IV and whined about the blood draw until my ears bled."
Which was true—Jim couldn't even take a hypo without complaining, actual medical procedures, no matter how small, would probably turn nasty. Better to leave him out of it.
Chapel plugged an IV into Jim's sleeping form, running a fresh load of fluids into his system.
"With any luck the sweating is just from lack of fluids and exhaustion," she said, watching the liquid drip into the tube.
McCoy rubbed the back of his neck and stared at Jim, "It better be. I don't know if he can afford another setback," he sighed, a twinge of relief settling into his stomach when his temperature dropped down by one, "He just wants to get out of here as soon as possible."
Chapel seemed to have noticed the improving vitals too, her tense shoulders relaxing, although hopefully she was still 'on guard'. The human body was unpredictable.
As he watched the nurse leave, McCoy turned his attention back to Jim, who was sleeping peacefully. No complaining, whining, moaning.
Bliss.
Beep-beep! Beep-beep! The communicator.
Of course.
Grumbling profanity, he whipped the communicator out of his pocket and flung it open.
"McCoy here."
"Spock here, doctor. Please alert Kirk that we have arrived at Starbase T12."
McCoy snorted.
He ain't even the Captain anymore, you are, Spock. How 'illogical'.
The doctor decided to avoid an argument, "Will do, Spock."
Acting Captain Spock didn't elaborate anything further than that. Clearly, McCoy wasn't needed on the starbase, thank god.
Or perhaps he was, but Spock thought he was more of use in here with Jim.
Although there were other doctors on duty that could help him…
Well damn, the stubborn hobgoblin has a heart after all. Who would've known.
"Spock out."
The transmission ended, leaving static noises blasting out of his comm.
He pursed his lips, flipping the device shut and pocketing it away, looking back over to Jim…
Looking at Jim, hurt.
Every time he made eye-contact with his friend passed out on a biobed, tubes attached to his body and machines beeping, there was an instant pang of fear in his chest.
Fear, guilt, panic; and it gave him a brief shock every time.
He'll drag himself out of that sedation in no time, he taunted to himself, Stubborn bastard just won't stay down.
He was about to smile down at Jim before it all happened at once—the room dimmed red, klaxons blaring from walls—red alert.
Shit.
"Attention Enterprise crew. Upon approaching orbit to Starbase T12, our prisoner that we are to transit to hold in the intergalactic prison…"
My god, just get to the damn point.
"…escaped and is now running loose within the ship."
Shit. Shit! Jim!
"Please shoot to stun and alert the security team immediately if you identify the prisoner, known as Cadel. Acting Captain Spock out."
Breath hitched in his throat, McCoy whizzed over to Jim and unlocked the restraints from under the bed, pulling them out and over the bed to effectively strap Jim down tightly, carefully avoiding the IV tubes.
If Cadel were ever to find him, his restrained body would give the crew an extra few vital seconds to get there and prevent a catastrophe.
"Doctor McCoy!" a voice yelled from behind him, instantly recognised to be Chapel, "Is the Captain secure?"
McCoy was currently in a dilemma with whether to wake Jim up.
On one hand, he could become overwhelmed and freak out, although if not, could be able to fend himself off. On the other hand, if he was asleep on the biobed, he was defenceless if Cadel got to him.
"Yeah, as secure as he can be," he answered, storming over the vial contents and inserting a vial to slowly bring Jim around safely. Considering the powerful drug he was knocked out with, hitting him with adrenaline could throw his heart out of whack. Again.
"You're going to wake him up? Is that wise?"
"He's defenceless if Cadel manages to get through us. At least if he's awake, he has a chance," McCoy explained, frantically rushing with the vials.
"Will he even be able to defend himself properly with the sedatives still flowing in his system?"
McCoy bit his cheek, "I'm trying to reverse it. He'll wake up in his own time and it might be too late if Cadel finds him by then, but the sedatives will be gone and it's much safer in his state."
His nurse nodded, approaching Jim's IV, "Do we keep running the fluids?"
He nodded back, "Yeah, keep it going for as long as you can. If news surfaces that Cadel is on our deck, stop the fluids and remove the IV," he ordered, typing in a few commands to the system, "Jim should be awake by then with the medication finishing its course."
Confident that he was making the right decision, McCoy pressed the dispense command and allowed the new drugs to begin flowing through Jim's IV.
Hopefully he will wake up soon, without the grogginess, and with a little luck, without the panicking.
For the love of god, Cadel, don't come in here…
Don't find Jim…
Even though he's the reason you're searching the damn ship…
"Doctor?" Chapel brought him back to reality, "Is there anything you want us to do?"
He nodded. Being CMO meant he had to control the safety of his medbay.
"Call down to security and get three of 'em up here. I want two inside the door and one with Jim."
Chapel frowned, "Inside the medbay, doctor?"
Yes Chapel, inside the damned medbay.
"Cadel is lookin' for Jim. If we post two security guards outside the entrance, he'll know Jim is in here," he reasoned, watching Jim closely as his brainwaves began to pick up again, "It's a big fat red fuckin' sign screaming 'your hostage is in here!'"
Chapel didn't question him further, obviously agreeing to his plan and darting out the private bay to main sickbay to contact the security personnel.
Jim's vitals were rapidly beginning to pick up again, showing that he was soon to return to consciousness.
You're damn lucky. You're gonna be awake whether Cadel gets in here or not.
Jim always woke up command ready. It was almost hammered into him from the academy, as part of his command track. The ability to wake up command ready in 0.3 seconds.
But this time when his consciousness surfaced, he knew he hadn't woken up in time.
Klaxons were blaring, people were shouting orders, distantly he could hear the tannoy speakers barking, and upon opening his eyes, the room was flashing red.
Jim instantly shot up into action to protect his crew—only to be forced back down again.
He whipped his head to the side, desperate to get up and running, to see that there were straps running over his body that left him hardly any room to move.
Seconds later, another alarm sounded, but was much closer—louder.
This was soon followed by a man in blue—Bones, striding over.
"Jim! Calm down, we're all ready for him here," his friend ordered, not making eye-contact with him, only watching something over his head.
"Ready for who?" he croaked, wincing at the frailty of his voice. How long had he been out?
"Cadel," Bones put simply, eyes finally looking down to meet Jim's and frowning, "You alright?"
Jim nodded slowly, trying to figure out why people were 'ready for Cadel' before the realisation hit him.
"…'scaped?" Damn, he sounded weak.
Bones pursed his lips grimly, "Yeah, he's escaped," he rested his chin on his hand in thought, "We've arrived at Starbase T12. Bastard got out when we tried to transfer him over."
Jim was paying no attention, only gaping at the straps over his body. Bones didn't seem to care.
"Why'm I held down?"
The doctor sighed, "Because it's safer for you. Gives us a few extra seconds."
Jim frowned, "It's tight…" The belt was strangling his stomach.
Bones looked apologetic, "I know. But he's after you, Jim. We need to keep you safe."
"By strapping me down?" he was helpless in this position. At least free he could defend himself…protect his crew.
"M'sorry, Jim. I know ya don't like it," Bones murmured, then slightly smiled, a rare sight during a dimmed red room, "But your fever is gone. That three-hour nap did you a world of good."
"So can I go?" he asked, pushing at the restraints in an attempt to sit up.
Bones pressed his lips together, "I don't know if ya strong enough yet, kid," he reasoned, glancing over the straps and back to Jim's face in uncertainty.
Jim smirked, "Arm wrestle? If I win then you let me go."
Bones snorted, looking around the room in disbelief and shaking his head back to Jim, "You're a damn infant, Jim, you know that?"
Anything to get out of this freaking prison.
"Sure. Let's do it," he urged, tugging at the arm restraints enthusiastically.
Bones rolled his eyes, ripping the strap on Jim's left arm back with ease and grabbing his hand.
"If I win, you're staying here. Just so we're clear."
Jim shrugged, "Yeah yeah, whatever," and wrenched his arm forward to struggle against McCoy's.
A strange way to prove that you're fit for duty, but it wasn't like Bones was going to let him go back to the bridge any time soon.
"Jesus, kid," Bones grunted, struggling under Jim's hard grip, "Ya muscles are really somethin', huh."
Jim wiggled his eyebrows and yanked Bones' arm down onto the blanket in ten seconds flat.
"See, I win. Can I go now?"
Glaring, Bones tensed his jaw before sighing in resignation. "Fine," he snarled light-heartedly, "But no duties. Only did this knowing you could defend yourself."
Jim smirked, "I hardly think that Cadel's way of weapon is to arm wrestle me," he jested, watching in glee as Bones stripped the straps away.
"Well, if ya complaining, I'm happy to fasten 'em back down again."
Jim paled, "No. No, I'm fine. Was a joke."
Bones smiled despite himself, "I know you were. Here," he gestured to the end of the bed, patting it gently, "Sit up."
Jim slowly hauled himself up, now free of the straps, sitting up on the end of the bed and resting his head against the wall.
"Should I go look for him?"
Bones flopped down next to Jim, "No, dammit. If we can get away with him not finding you before security catches him, I'll take that."
Jim nodded sluggishly, the wall rubbing against his head.
"I just feel pretty useless here, y'know? I'm supposed to be the captain but I'm not doing—"
BANG!
"SHIT!"
Muffled yelling and screaming surrounded the room outside Jim's private bay.
Jim's heart thudded in his chest as chaos ensued only twenty metres away.
Cadel found me.
Fuckfuckfuckfuck.
Why am I suddenly so scared of him?
There was a deafening ROAR, before phaser fire began hammering walls, the sound of bodies thumping the floor invaded his ears.
Jim tensed up and grabbed his doctor, "Bones—"
"It's alright, stay here," Bones soothed, sliding off the bed in an instant and stepping towards a tray of equipment. A couple of hyposprays loaded with sedatives was all he was armed with.
"Bones…"
He found himself unable to say anything else. Bones didn't reply.
A hoarse scream calling out Jim's name throttled the men's ears, "CAPTAIN!"
Jim's fingers curled around the bed sheets, all hope of going into command-ready fight mode out the window.
Soon—too soon—WHAM!
The locked door was up in flames, before quickly diminishing and leaving a giant hole in the middle.
Inside it was a figure. A beaten, bleeding figure. But it was recognisable as someone they both knew.
"Bones…"
"Give him to me. Now."
"I don't think so, buddy. I tried pretty damn hard to heal him after all the crap you pulled last—"
"NOW! Don't get in my way, you're just collateral damage."
"Bones, get out of his way."
McCoy stepped backwards towards Jim—then lunged forward with hypo in hand—
SMACK!
Bones' body collapsed onto the floor with a thump.
"You actually thought that would work? You thought that hasn't been tried before?" Cadel roared, Bones moaning as the thump in his shoulder caused pain that was beginning to catch up with him.
"Everyone in that other room just tried the same thing. You guys aren't very creative," the scientist then added, "Give me the Captain."
When neither man moved, Cadel rolled his eyes.
"Suit yourselves—" and lunged at the Captain.
"NO!"
"BONES—"
For Jim, everything suddenly went black.
TBC...
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