"Jim? Spock? You both here?" Bones called out as he came into the apartment. He'd needed to speak to them both all day.
"I'm in the kitchen and Spock's in his room!" Kirk called back.
"Well can you both come into the living room? It's important." Bones said and waited for them there.
"What's up?" Jim asked, flopping down onto the couch. Spock sat down as well, although more calmly and only taking up one couch cushion instead of sprawling across half the couch.
"Jocelyn is coming to visit next weekend and she's staying here." Bones said. He'd been trying to decide how to say just that all day and finally decided on his normal approach to things: blunt.
"She's what now? No! Bones this apartment is two-thirds not yours you can't invite people to come and stay like that!" Jim said.
"Although I have no objection to her staying here over a weekend I do have to agree with James-We should discuss such arrangements." Spock said.
"There's plenty of space and we'll probably be out and about during the day it won't effect your lives at all." Bones argued. "I haven't seen her face-to-face since winter break!"
"I know-We know! It's just...I mean, you should've checked! and what if it wasn't okay you can't assu-"
"-I can assume you don't like her." Bones said. "Fine. You don't have to like her at all. Hate her if you want but I love her." Bones insisted. "So please. Sorry I didn't check with you both but she's coming next weekend. Let us have our time together."
Jim had to pause and think about that.
Spock didn't.
"I won't belittle you and pretend I am so emotionless that I can't understand the concept of love. Or wanting to keep people you care about close. I have no issue with Jocelyn staying here, thank you for informing us." Spock said and got up. "I am going to make dinner now-shall I cook for you too as well."
"Sure I'm starving." Bones said. "...Jim?"
"Oh Yeah...Sure, thanks, Spock."
Spock raised an eyebrow but simply nodded and retreated into the kitchen.
"Jim-"
"-No, Bones. It's alright, you think you love her so I'm not gonna keep you from seeing her." he smiled and clapped Bones on the back as he retreated into his room, claiming he had to study.
"...I don't think I love her. I do love her..."Bones said quietly to an empty room before going to see what Spock was making.
"It'll be too soon next time I do that!"
"I know what you mean, darlin." Bones said, smiling widely as he offered Jocelyn a hand down from the transporter platform. "Hello."
"Hello." She smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "Glad I'm here?"
"Of course I am." he said, picking up her bag for her and leaving the room with her, the pair chatting happily and catching up on the short walk from the transporter room on campus to where Bones lived.
"Jim? Spock? You here?" Bones said as he opened the front door into the apartment. "...Guess not. Come on, let's get your stuff put in my room. You hungry?"
"Starved." she said, glancing at the kitchen. "You boys cook in here?"
"Spock and Jim do. I can barely scramble eggs." Bones said as he lead Jocelyn into his bedroom and set her suitcase down. "So unless you really wanna cook I was thinking about taking you to this amazing hole-in-the-wall place I like."
"I'll have plenty of chances to cook for you over the summer." she said. "That is, if you're on board for what we talked about?"
Bones nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, holding Jocelyn's hands. "Of course I am. Just gotta find the right place down south-somewhere you'll be okay during the school year when I'm not around."
"Promise me not in a city?" She asked.
"Promise. No city. No Country. A suburb-A picket fence neighborhood with lots of kids and married couples to make us have to think about it." Bones promised. Jocelyn laughed and kissed him.
"Sounds perfect-what's that noise?" She asked as a beeping noise sounded off.
"That's my com-sorry I'm required to answer this, Starfleet policy." Bones said. "Hello? What? Burt I'm-look I...I have somewhere here and-...yes it's my significant other sir bu-Yes. I understand. I will be there. Goodnight." Bones sides and hung up.
"Why do I get the feeling our evening was just cancelled-compliments of the government?" Jocelyn said, looking away and at her hands.
"Darlin, I'm sorry I...Well, I'm doing really well in school so I get to help in the campus clinic sometimes and they need a nurse on call tonight for just three hours. I'll be back after that." He told her. "Jocelyn-Jo. We're in Los Angeles-we can go out any time of night or day-When I get back."
Jocelyn thought a moment before sighing and turning back to Bones. "...Fine. I shoudl get yuse to you always being 'on call' whatever kind of doctor you are."
"Thanks, Darlin...I love you."
"I love you too-I'll rest for a bit-rifle through your books and you go keep people from dying, okay? see you tonight."
"I'll see you." and Like that Bones was up and out the door.
"You better." Jocelyn said to the empty room, looking toward the door.
"Bones? Hello?"
"Just missed him-by a half hour." Jocelyn said, turning about on the couch to look over the back of the couch to look at Kirk. "Hi again by the way."
"Hello Jocelyn." Kirk said tersely. "If you're here then where's Bones?"
"Leonard got called in to help at the clinic." she shrugged. "So I assumed Id be here by myself for the next few hours."
"Not anymore-Why are you in the living room?"
"You have a nice couch for a couple of college boys." she said. "Where's the Vulcan?"
"Spock is taking an evening class on Friday nights." Kirk said. "Excuse me-I'm starving." he headed towards the kitchen.
Jocelyn took a deep breath, got up and headed around to the kitchen. "You know," she said. "You don't have to hate me."
Jim had been facing away from her but whipped around. "The only conversation I've had with you, you insulted my best friend, insulting my career path-And Bones!-and accused me of losing my humanity! I'm supposed to like you now?!"
"No But I'd hope someone who likes to act like they represent humanity out in space would quite judging me one things I said when I was emotional and vulnerable." She snapped, arms crossed. "Look. I don't know you. You don't know me. Maybe we don't need to know each other. Maybe we shouldn't. But I love Leonard. Do you?"
"I care about him. I'd like him on my ship someday." Kirk told her evenly.
"I care about him. I'd like him as my husband someday. I don't think both will happen."
Jim found himself staring at her and her staring back. He realized that they both were determined to not back down.
It was rare he found someone as determined as himself.
"You're jealous." She said.
"So are you." he retorted.
"And if I am?"
"And if I am?"
"...You know it's been a long day-I'm going to go lay down, you are going to make your dinner and we are gonna stay out of each's others way and accept that we both have a claim to Leonard but especially that you don't own him. Mmkay, soldier boy?"
"Sailor Boy."
"Fine. Sailor Boy." Jocelyn said and turned on her heel and walked out.
"...Fine." Kirk grumbled and went back into the kitchen.
"An Internship?" Bones said as he took off his scrubs.
"At the Atlanta base too-you're a Georgia boy, aren't you?" the doctor said, taking off his gloves and throwing them away. "Now I don't need an answer now But I will before finals."
"All Summer?"
"And September. You'll come back October Second. But you come back with hands-on experience, training, and if you do a good job and work hard, the good word of and connections to some well-respected Starfleet officers and doctors stationed all over Earth." The Doctor looked at McCoy. "Look, Cadet. I know that when you came in here you intended to graduate in four years-that's an uncommon feat. But that's not going to happen-especially because of your stint at another school. But, with this? I can all but guarantee you five-Heck, four and a half if you're lucky."
"...Will I have to live on base?" Bones asked.
"Probably. Or within walking distance."
"...I'll think about it."
"Alright, let me know soon. Goodnight, Cadet."
"Goodnight, Doctor." Bones said as he left, thinking over the situation to himself
Jocelyn isn't gonna like this...
"Well of Course I don't like it-We have a plan, Leonard...Leo..." Jocelyn frowned. They were having breakfast on the last day of her visit before he would take her to the transporter station.
"We can still get our place over the summer! It just might...not be what we were thinking." Bones told her. He reached across the table to hold her hand. "With this I could finish school sooner-that means we can get on to having a real life together sooner-I might even make the connections to ensure I get an Earth post. Wouldn't you rather have a home together at Christmas instead of in two years?"
"…I don't want to live in a city…" she told him. "Much less one the size of Atlanta…"
"I know. But I can't pass this up, Jo."
"I know." She looked down then back at him. "I guess, push-comes-to-shove I'd rather live in a city with you than live alone….If you can promise me-and I mean really promise me-that if-When-we make a home together I'm not going to be stuck living in Starfleet quarters of some tiny city apartment."
"I promise. Real house. Real Home." He said, giving her hand a squeeze before letting go. She smiled at him then sighed softly.
"We need to get going, don't we?"
"Yeah…I'll miss you, Darlin."
"I'll Miss you too."
"She's gone?" Jim asked as Bones walked back into the living room that evening."
"Yeah." Bones sat down on the couch by Kirk. "Where's Spock?"
"Meditating I think."
"Okay. Hey, Thanks for giving me and Jocelyn our space this weekend...I really missed her." He told Kirk.
"No Problem. I was busy anyway." Kirk lied.
"Still. Bones said. "You know, you and Jo are a lot alike."
"What? Really?" Kirk sounded skeptical.
"Yes really! You're both...Well, I wanna say stubborn asses but mama raised me better than that."
"Mama raised you to swear when you can't find the toothpaste."
"But never at or about my girlfriend." Bones said. "And to be honest and you two-well, you're both determined, charming, single minded..but you both care. Maybe that's why I like her."
"Maybe." Kirk said. "I should be studying for finals..."
"We both should."
Kirk nodded and got up and shrugged. "I'm gonna go take a walk first."
"Have fun don't take candy from strangers." Bones said. Jim laughed.
"I won't!" he said and left, wandering around the streets around their building. In just a few sentences Bones had given him a lot to think about.
And that was in addition to what Jocelyn had already given him to think about.
"...I don't own him...but neither does she." Kirk whispered to himself.
But if she's really what he wants...I respect that.
I just hope he knows what he wants.