Jim held up Bones as he tried to get comfortable with the new makeshift cast. They had both agreed they needed to get Bones on his feet and able to walk. Jim had gone out a few nights before to find some large sticks to create Bones a crutch and weapons. With Bones injured, Jim needed to go forage for food, water and other essentials to keep them going. Out on a patrol Jim had come across two camps that were beginning to expand in primitive ways. He ran into a little boy who was playing in the river with a makeshift boat out of sticks and leaves.

'Mister?'

Jim looked up at the boy. His had a face of excitement and confusion. The young brown haired boy held his boat in his hand, waist deep in water looking up straight at him. Jim smiled and tilted his head before nodding to the boy who looked about seven.

'Where you abandoned too mister?'

Jim looked at the boy wide eyed. Did the boy know fully what was going on?

'My name is Jim, what is yours?'

The boy frowned at Jim's question dodging.

'My name is david'

Jim smiled at the boys name and offered a hand to shake. David reached out and grabbed Jim's hand shaking it softly.

'David!'

A voice echoed in the air. Jim shot a look at the boy before starting to retreat. A figure started to walk towards Jim and the boy. Shouting soon filled the air as the figure spotted Jim. Quickly he was on his feet, running as fast as he could away from anyone that was trying to track him. Jim knew he couldnt lead a track straight back to Bones. He needed to find a way around it to keep him safe.

'Jim..'

Bones fell to the side leaving Jim to take his weight as the crutch snapped supporting Bones. Lifting his friend over to a rock, Jim slowly lowered Bones to the ground.

'I'm so sorry Bones, I'm so so sorry. I should never have commed you, you'd never be in this mess. No-one deserves to die this way. Nobody! For it to happen again. The starving, the struggle for survival. The murdering of innocent people..'

Bones frowned as he grabbed ahold of Jim's hand.

'Jim this isn't your fault. We were at the wrong place at the wrong time. For these sick bastards to do this... It's crazy Jim! Nobody could of prevented this Jim or protected anyone'

Jim went white and looked vacantly at the cave opening.

'What if it could have been prevented Bones? What if someone could have stopped the first Tarsus IV'

Bones watched as a pale Jim turned to face him.

'Jim... Nobody could have predicted it-'

Jim turned and pushed Bones to the rock.

'Someone could have predicted it Bones because someone knew and planned the whole thing!'

Jim got up and walked to the other side of the cave, the fire barely illuminating on Jim's ripped clothes.

'Jim..'

Jim turned his head to the side looking at the opening whilst his body faced the wall.

'We had best get some sleep. The rain should stop by morning. I will need to get more supplies and find more wood for your crutch. I can't leave you as a sitting duck, not when people are branching out. The slaughter down there is staining the ground already.'

Jim turned to face McCoy.

'I can't lose you Bones