Carpal Tunnel

[john_grimm]

John dropped his gear on his single-size bed with a groan, wincing at the ache of his wrists. He sighed and shook out his hands. Joanna had commented on the weakness of John's wrist during one of her hand to hand lessons. He'd flushed and coughed a bit, then spouted off some bullshit about "overdoing it during some independent training". She had

Comments

[kirktastic]

It took only a bit of time to find out where they had stashed John. There had been something he had been meaning to talk to John about all that time, but well, things had kept popping up and interrupting. But, provided John was even there, it seemed a good as time as any. It needed to happen before they got onto the Enterprise, because either Jim needed to teach John what he needed to know, or to find someone instead.

He pressed the buzzer on the outside of the door, sliding a hand through his hair. Already his mind was running through possible counter-arguments to what John could say. Not that he would push it on the man, but he... hoped. John was his best possible choice.

[john_grimm]

John started at the sound of the buzzer before pushing up off the floor to stand on his feet.

"Coming!"

Well... hopefully not.

He thumbed the door open, tired eyes going wide at the sight of the captain standing there.

"Kid. What can I do for you?"

[kirktastic]

"Can we talk?" Jim said with a smile, but he could see the faint bags under John's eyes, a tension in his shoulders and--

Oh. Shit.

"Um, privately?" His smile turned to something almost sheepish.

[john_grimm]

John waved his hand halfheartedly to welcome Kirk into his quarters, then hissed at the pain that shot through his forearm at the twist of a wrist.

"Fuck. Yeah...right. Come on in."

Turning and walking back into the room, John pulled out the single chair for Kirk and sat cross-legged on the bed across from him, head lolling as he rested it on his fist.

[kirktastic]

He looked surprised at the hiss of pain and immediately a look of concern crossed his face. "John, did you get hurt?" He cautiously sat down, brows raised in John's direction.

[john_grimm]

John went red, eyes wide.

"Uhh... no. No, sir. Just overdid some hand to hand practice is all. Sparring. You know how it is, I'm sure Captain."

[kirktastic]

The blush... was a surprise. "...Uh huh." Jim gave him a no-nonsense look. "Seriously, John, that's the best excuse you could think of?" He smirked, just a bit, trying to take the bite out of it.

"...you and Bones have... a connection, or something." Bones had mentioned it in passing before, and intriguing concept.

[john_grimm]

"He told you?" John frowned for a second, then sighed. "I guess that makes this whole thing easier. I mean, you are the damn captain and Leo-McCoy's man after all. So I might as well spill."

He paused, realizing that telling Kirk that he was going to spill meant he had to, which made the whole thing that much harder.

"Shit. Why don't you just tell me what you came here for, and afterwards I'll ask your advice, okay? Give me some time to come up with a diplomatic way of putting this."

[kirktastic]

"I promise you can call him Leonard," Jim commented with that little slip in John's words. He wondered how diplomatic of a man John could be.

"Since I know you don't like bullshit," it was about that moment Jim realized John had called him McCoy's man and almost laughed, "I'll cut to the chase. I need someone I can trust as the head of security. Someone like you."

[john_grimm]

Alarmed, John's head came up from his fist. "Me? Head of security? Even after all you know about me, about my past, about that shit of a debacle at Olduvai... Are you sure that's a good idea? Not that I'm not willing to be a civilian contractor, but don't you want someone more... I don't know, suited to as important a job as that?"

[kirktastic]

"Suited? You're a man who knows things, who's seen a lot. You know what a lack of security can turn into, and how to prevent it. I'm not looking for someone who's all brawn and no brains, just a killer. I need someone who wants to protect people, the people on this ship, and deal with meeting alien species and worlds." Jim kept his tone calm despite a raised eyebrow at John's reaction. It wasn't entirely surprising.

[john_grimm]

This whole situation... it was not one John wanted or needed to be in at this point. He was tired, sore, achy and confused. A beaten man. Psychological warfare he could deal with. Sexual warfare? That was a whole other story.

"Fine. I'll do the best I can for you and your people." He smiled weakly, holding out his hand for a shake. "I guess I'm officially one of yours now, Kid."

[kirktastic]

"That's Captain Kid to you," Jim teased, reaching out and squeezing John's hand in a shake. He met John's eyes, almost feeling embarrassed. "...So maybe I should explain what happened."

[john_grimm]

"Explain what... oh shit." John closed his eyes, bright red. He'd realized how embarrassing it would be to explain what had happened to the captain, but he hadn't realized how humiliating it would be if Kirk had already known.

[kirktastic]

Kirk looked to the side, rubbing the back of his neck. He let out a slow breath, wondering where to start. He closed his eyes, and finally chose the most basic thing. "Vulcans, every couple of years, have this... biological impulse. Sort of like a cat going into heat. It's called... pon farr. Spock, my first officer? He went into that."

[john_grimm]

John froze. "The elf?" he forced out, incredulous. "No fucking way."