Rumors - Chapter VII
Title: Rumors
Author: Sally Daer (sallydaer@hotmail.com)
Fandom: Star Trek reboot
Characters: James Kirk, Leonard McCoy
Rating: NC-17 .)
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm only playing with them for a while.
Artist:
zhie thanks so much for helping me with this.
Beta:
alluranna who was amazingly suportive and helpful. Thanks a lot. All the remaining mistakes are mine.
Summary: Jim always thought that he knew all there was to know about his best friend,. Now he's not so sure.
It was late and Jim was alone in rec room three. Strangely, the place had been deserted for a while, so he'd had time enough to finish all his paperwork. Now, comfortably sprawled on a couch on the back of the room, he was just sipping his cappuccino and enjoying the sight of the stars on the other side of the window. He was waiting for Bones, who should had been off duty two hours ago, but had been delayed for yet another medical crisis.
Tonight was their first, kind of, anniversary. They had been together for six months and Jim didn't know if Bones would remember the date, but he had some surprises waiting for his lover in his cabin. Provided that Bones arrived soon, and Jim had Nurse Chapel's word that he wouldn't spend one minute more in sickbay than strictly needed, he had big plans for tonight. They had reasons to celebrate. The last several months had taken their relationship to a completely new level and he wanted to show Bones that he'd never felt so excited and alive before and that he was in this for the long haul.
Jim was lost in his thoughts when the soft noise of the door made him return to reality. He was ready to leave his seat and greet Bones when he noted that there was more than one person coming into the room and he froze in his place. In any other moment, he'd be glad of spending some free time with his crew, but not today. Today he was too busy trying to anticipate Bones' reaction to some of the things he had planned to socialize. Then, something in the conversation behind him caught his attention.
“Of course I did it. I have five credits in the pool. On Chapel.”
“On Chapel? Really? I have my money on Rand. She's pretty and has already proved that she knows how to deal with bossy men.”
Technically, bets were against regulations, but if the amounts involved were not high, they helped to prevent boredom between the crew and, in Jim's book, that was always good, so he didn't intent to forbid them. However, he liked to know what was going on in his ship. Especially if Chapel and Rand were involved. Bones was damned protective with his head nurse and he knew that Janice was perfectly capable of taking care of herself but even so...
“Nah... He's not that kind of man. Remember my words.”
Suddenly, he recognized the voices. Just half a year before, he had been sitting on that same couch listening those same three women gossiping about Bones. He sighed inwardly. It seemed that nocturnal gossiping sessions were a well-established tradition between them. Jim wondered who their victim would be this night. It couldn't be Bones. Not this time. He had taken up most of his lover's free time in the last few months. People couldn’t be speaking about him.
“So, who are you betting for?
“I don't know but I don't think is one of them. There are a lot of guys interested in Chapel, Rand, and most of the names in that list. If he were dating one of them, I'm sure we'd already know it for sure. Maybe that new ensign in the sciences department. What's her name? Marlena? I think she was transferred here just when we started suspecting.”
“Or maybe he's not dating anyone. He may... what I know? Maybe he's happy for some other reason? Is he working in something exciting lately?”
It had been a long time since the last time he had heard them, and Jim was having problems putting a name to each voice, but he identified the fourth woman as soon as she opened her mouth. Clark's voice was the only one he could associate to a name and a face and he wasn't going to forget her anytime soon.
“Geoff says that he's always working on something new, so it can't be that. His theory is that there is sex involved.”
So, the girl was still dating M'Benga. Jim had wondered about it in the last couple of months. It was good to know that he was not the only one who could not resist a doctor's skills. However, he hadn't believe that M'Benga was prone to gossip.
“And who does Geoff think that she is? They work together all the time. He should have some theory about it.”
A nasty suspicion appeared in the back of Jim's brain, but he did his best to ignore it until he had heard more.
“No idea, sorry,” Clark said nonchalantly. “But I think your money is as well as lost, Jenn. If Chapel were sleeping with McCoy, someone in sickbay would know it by now. And they all are sure it is not her.”
Jim choked back a groan. They had to be kidding. He and Bones had been discreet, right, avoiding obvious signs of affection in public, but they hadn't been hiding either. It had to be evident to anyone who was looking that they spent all their free time together. Damn it! Jim had even managed to convince Spock to move their weekly chess games to Bones' quarters. And that? That was the greatest diplomatic feat in Jim's record as captain. So, why was he not the first one on that list?
“Well, if you ask me, I don't mind who she is, I only hope that it lasts. Visits to the sickbay are much easier now that the doctor is happy.”
“Yeah, his bedside manner has improved a lot.”
And that was because Jim had done an excellent job of giving Bones all he needed, even when Bones was too stubborn to admit that he needed it. It wasn't that he wanted to brag about it, Bones would never allow it in any case, but he'd like to have his merit recognized and not be bestowed to some anonymous, random ensign who didn't even know how to make Bones smile. Jim, nevertheless, was damned good at it. He had a natural skill to for it. He was almost as good at making Bones happy as being captain of a starship. Now that the last barriers between them had fallen, he was finding new ways to do it every day.
Jim was wondering if maybe he should leave his hideout on the couch and make some things clear to the group of gossipers when the door opened again and the four women fell silent all at once. In the suddenly quiet room, Jim had no problems recognizing Bones' steps coming into the room. A brilliant idea popped into his mind then. Bones wouldn't be happy about it. Fuck! He probably would have to use some of his best tricks to make Bones forgive him, but it would be worth the effort.
Before he'd have time to change his mind, he jumped from his seat and walked toward his lover with a purposeful step and a cheeky smile in his face. Bones had taken the time to stop at his cabin and change from uniform, he noted, and was hot as hell in black jeans and a black shirt that Jim had never seen before. Maybe he had remembered the date too, Jim thought, his smile becoming impossibly wide. When he was next to Bones, he turned to the group seated around the table by the replicator and bowed lightly.
“Close, ladies, but not quite right.”
Jim noted Bones' startled expression, but he ignored it and, without a word, he took his lover in his arms and kissed him. It was sweet and deep, the kind of kiss that showed that they had been doing it for a long while, but Jim kept it short. Before Bones had time to react, he put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him gently to the corridor.
“Perfect timing, Bones,” Jim said when the door closed at their back . “Now let them talk.”
Author: Sally Daer (sallydaer@hotmail.com)
Fandom: Star Trek reboot
Characters: James Kirk, Leonard McCoy
Rating: NC-17 .)
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm only playing with them for a while.
Artist:
zhie thanks so much for helping me with this.
Beta:
alluranna who was amazingly suportive and helpful. Thanks a lot. All the remaining mistakes are mine.
Summary: Jim always thought that he knew all there was to know about his best friend,. Now he's not so sure.
It was late and Jim was alone in rec room three. Strangely, the place had been deserted for a while, so he'd had time enough to finish all his paperwork. Now, comfortably sprawled on a couch on the back of the room, he was just sipping his cappuccino and enjoying the sight of the stars on the other side of the window. He was waiting for Bones, who should had been off duty two hours ago, but had been delayed for yet another medical crisis.
Tonight was their first, kind of, anniversary. They had been together for six months and Jim didn't know if Bones would remember the date, but he had some surprises waiting for his lover in his cabin. Provided that Bones arrived soon, and Jim had Nurse Chapel's word that he wouldn't spend one minute more in sickbay than strictly needed, he had big plans for tonight. They had reasons to celebrate. The last several months had taken their relationship to a completely new level and he wanted to show Bones that he'd never felt so excited and alive before and that he was in this for the long haul.
Jim was lost in his thoughts when the soft noise of the door made him return to reality. He was ready to leave his seat and greet Bones when he noted that there was more than one person coming into the room and he froze in his place. In any other moment, he'd be glad of spending some free time with his crew, but not today. Today he was too busy trying to anticipate Bones' reaction to some of the things he had planned to socialize. Then, something in the conversation behind him caught his attention.
“Of course I did it. I have five credits in the pool. On Chapel.”
“On Chapel? Really? I have my money on Rand. She's pretty and has already proved that she knows how to deal with bossy men.”
Technically, bets were against regulations, but if the amounts involved were not high, they helped to prevent boredom between the crew and, in Jim's book, that was always good, so he didn't intent to forbid them. However, he liked to know what was going on in his ship. Especially if Chapel and Rand were involved. Bones was damned protective with his head nurse and he knew that Janice was perfectly capable of taking care of herself but even so...
“Nah... He's not that kind of man. Remember my words.”
Suddenly, he recognized the voices. Just half a year before, he had been sitting on that same couch listening those same three women gossiping about Bones. He sighed inwardly. It seemed that nocturnal gossiping sessions were a well-established tradition between them. Jim wondered who their victim would be this night. It couldn't be Bones. Not this time. He had taken up most of his lover's free time in the last few months. People couldn’t be speaking about him.
“So, who are you betting for?
“I don't know but I don't think is one of them. There are a lot of guys interested in Chapel, Rand, and most of the names in that list. If he were dating one of them, I'm sure we'd already know it for sure. Maybe that new ensign in the sciences department. What's her name? Marlena? I think she was transferred here just when we started suspecting.”
“Or maybe he's not dating anyone. He may... what I know? Maybe he's happy for some other reason? Is he working in something exciting lately?”
It had been a long time since the last time he had heard them, and Jim was having problems putting a name to each voice, but he identified the fourth woman as soon as she opened her mouth. Clark's voice was the only one he could associate to a name and a face and he wasn't going to forget her anytime soon.
“Geoff says that he's always working on something new, so it can't be that. His theory is that there is sex involved.”
So, the girl was still dating M'Benga. Jim had wondered about it in the last couple of months. It was good to know that he was not the only one who could not resist a doctor's skills. However, he hadn't believe that M'Benga was prone to gossip.
“And who does Geoff think that she is? They work together all the time. He should have some theory about it.”
A nasty suspicion appeared in the back of Jim's brain, but he did his best to ignore it until he had heard more.
“No idea, sorry,” Clark said nonchalantly. “But I think your money is as well as lost, Jenn. If Chapel were sleeping with McCoy, someone in sickbay would know it by now. And they all are sure it is not her.”
Jim choked back a groan. They had to be kidding. He and Bones had been discreet, right, avoiding obvious signs of affection in public, but they hadn't been hiding either. It had to be evident to anyone who was looking that they spent all their free time together. Damn it! Jim had even managed to convince Spock to move their weekly chess games to Bones' quarters. And that? That was the greatest diplomatic feat in Jim's record as captain. So, why was he not the first one on that list?
“Well, if you ask me, I don't mind who she is, I only hope that it lasts. Visits to the sickbay are much easier now that the doctor is happy.”
“Yeah, his bedside manner has improved a lot.”
And that was because Jim had done an excellent job of giving Bones all he needed, even when Bones was too stubborn to admit that he needed it. It wasn't that he wanted to brag about it, Bones would never allow it in any case, but he'd like to have his merit recognized and not be bestowed to some anonymous, random ensign who didn't even know how to make Bones smile. Jim, nevertheless, was damned good at it. He had a natural skill to for it. He was almost as good at making Bones happy as being captain of a starship. Now that the last barriers between them had fallen, he was finding new ways to do it every day.
Jim was wondering if maybe he should leave his hideout on the couch and make some things clear to the group of gossipers when the door opened again and the four women fell silent all at once. In the suddenly quiet room, Jim had no problems recognizing Bones' steps coming into the room. A brilliant idea popped into his mind then. Bones wouldn't be happy about it. Fuck! He probably would have to use some of his best tricks to make Bones forgive him, but it would be worth the effort.
Before he'd have time to change his mind, he jumped from his seat and walked toward his lover with a purposeful step and a cheeky smile in his face. Bones had taken the time to stop at his cabin and change from uniform, he noted, and was hot as hell in black jeans and a black shirt that Jim had never seen before. Maybe he had remembered the date too, Jim thought, his smile becoming impossibly wide. When he was next to Bones, he turned to the group seated around the table by the replicator and bowed lightly.
“Close, ladies, but not quite right.”
Jim noted Bones' startled expression, but he ignored it and, without a word, he took his lover in his arms and kissed him. It was sweet and deep, the kind of kiss that showed that they had been doing it for a long while, but Jim kept it short. Before Bones had time to react, he put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him gently to the corridor.
“Perfect timing, Bones,” Jim said when the door closed at their back . “Now let them talk.”