Author's Note:

Hello for the third time today. I know that I've posted three chapters in one day (four if you count the one for 'TDFBD' as well) but I sort of had a fanfiction writing spree today. This chapter gives some insight to the relationship between Bones and Jim and I hope you enjoy it.

I own nothing.

Silent Comfort

Bones rubbed his eyes tiredly.

He was in his quarters working on medical reports and it was keeping him up well into the artificial night. He'd come off his shift hours ago but things had been hectic recently so he had a huge backlog of paperwork to catch up on and most of his free time was being given up to it. He stretched from where he'd been hunched over the desk and massaged the back of his neck before returning to the reports; things were quiet until there was a light knock on his door.

McCoy looked round in surprise before calling out, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal Jim though he had a look that few but Bones had seen, he looked almost haunted.

McCoy had experienced this version of Jim before and gestured to the couch and the younger man nodded before entering and sitting down. They sat in silence and Bones resumed his work knowing that if Jim wanted to talk then he would but pushing him wouldn't do anything. More often than not when this happened the younger man would never say anything but seemed to find comfort in just being with someone he trusted who wouldn't bombard him with questions. McCoy realised ages ago that it had something to do with nightmares but he didn't know what those nightmares were and since Jim didn't want to say he never asked.

Time passed and still the two friends didn't speak until eventually Bones looked up from his work and saw that Jim had fallen asleep on the couch. Deciding that the rest of the reports could wait McCoy quietly got up and gently scooped the young captain up; he carried him to his bed and deposited him carefully onto it. He pulled the covers gently over Jim and softly made his way back to the couch and settled down onto it for the night.

Bones didn't know why there were nights Jim couldn't sleep and he didn't know what nightmares plagued his friend but if he could do anything to alleviate them then he would.

Even if it meant he sometimes had to sleep on his couch instead of his own bed.

PS-Please let me know what you thought of this chapter and Happy Easter everyone.