FIC: Future Altering Paradoxes
Title: Future Altering Paradoxes 1/1
Author: sangueuk
Rating: pg-13
Character/Pairing: Kirk/McCoy (AOS)
Wordcount: approx 1,400 words complete
Summary: A few days after the Narada incident, The Enterprise is almost back home. Things are quiet and Jim pays Bones a visit in sickbay to discuss the future. A sequel, to Space Dust
Warnings: it’s a teeny-weeny bit thinky
Disclaimer: I mean no offence and court no profits - this is just for fun.
Author’s notes: This was written in response to challenge # 10 st11forxi - Postcards from the Future .
Unbeta’d because I needed to be speedy - apologies for any silly mistakes!
Intriguing snippet: “No. If we can’t change anything, we can’t change anything. Maybe some things are meant to happen and it’s like whatever road you take, you always get back to the same destination.”
Future Altering Paradoxes
Jim sauntered into sickbay. It was the middle of gamma shift, not that any rosters had been drawn up; who’d had time for that? But it had been five days now, since they’d beaten Nero and he, all the crew had pretty much stayed awake as long as they could hold on, grabbing naps whenever. They’d be back home in a few hours. Things had settled down and most had retreated to their own mental corners to take stock, enjoy the quiet until the shit hit the fan and then it would be debriefings, memorials, the press, questions, more questions.
He spotted Bones in his office and nodded to him, then briefly checked on Pike who slept on in his private room nearby. He went to the replicator and made two teas, black for him, sweet and milky for Bones.
“How’s it going?” he said, placing the cup near a pile of PADDS.
“Just dandy. I’m havin’ the time of my life?” McCoy pushed his chair away from the desk to give Jim room to perch and he raised his cup in a toast.
“Look at us, eh Jim?”
Jim shrugged, “yep, look at us?”
They sipped their drinks in companionable silence for a few minutes then, when Bones moved a hand towards the PADDS to pick up where he’d left off, Jim said with his best serious voice,
“Bones, I’ve been thinking-“
“Why does my blood always run cold when you start a sentence like that?” Bones rolled his eyes, sipped his tea and glanced into sickbay when a nurse walked past, “also, don’t you have any work to do?”
“Nah, not a thing - just like you.”
Bones gave him a thin smile, “Yeah, that’s the great thing about being in charge, you have people running around, doing everything for you. I’ve been sat on my ass for days.”
Jim chuckled, “Actually, I’m avoiding Spock.”
“Very wise.”
“He’s refusing to sleep, and, so Uhura tells me, if he doesn’t take some time-out and meditate soon or something, he’ll blow!”
McCoy snorted. “He’s like a teenager. A Vulcan teenager throwing logical tantrums - then he’s nice as pie again.”
“Kind of like human teenagers, then-?“
“He’s been through more than the rest of us - grief fucks with you in ways you can’t predict. He’s obviously strugglin’ with his self control, and anger, well… I know this shit, I’ve got a degree in psychology.”
“In Vulcan psychology?”
“Well, maybe not.” They both laughed again. “So what were you thinking, though I know you’re gonna tell me anyway.”
“On top of everything else, imagine meeting your future self?”
“I can’t.”
“It’d be one big mind-fuck.”
“That it would.”
“Especially when he’s so much nicer than you!”
“Not difficult in his case.”
“Give him a break, Bones, he’s not so bad.”
Bones rolled his eyes.
“So, you two best buddies now?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s, you know, he’s alright. He just needs to lighten up.”
“Imagine the conversations they’re gonna have-“ Bones leaned back in his chair, put his feet up on the desk.
“Nice Spock won’t say anything to him - future altering paradoxes or something. He only told me as much as I needed to know, so I could-“ Jim gulped, this train of thought made him feel like shit. He’d kicked a dog when it was down. He looked at Bones, “he told me about my dad.” He cleared his throat and sighed when he noted the look of concern on Bones’ face.
“What did he say?”
“He said he was…he was proud of me.”
Bones dropped his feet to the floor and scooted the chair closer and touched Jim’s hand lightly, “So he should have been, should be I mean. Fuck, you know-“
“Yeah.” Jim shrugged, shook his head like a wet dog and stood up. He picked up the two cups and tossed them in the recycler. “I should try and catch some sleep.” He didn’t move. “Still, imagine if it was you or me, if we got to meet our alternate selves.”
“Can’t say as I’d like it,” Bones said rubbing his eyes, “but it would be kinda nice to share some medical stuff.”
“That it? That’s what you’d ask? You’re unbelievable.”
“Well, maybe I’d ask him to give me a smack upside the head for getting married so young.” Their eyes met. This was fucking nice, it felt so normal, so them, Bones teasing him, him rolling with the punches. “So what would you talk to Older, Nicer James T Kirk about, smart-ass? He could give you a whole lot of pointers so you’d actually get on with the brass - no?”
“Nope. I’m not into older guys, even awesome ones with the same DNA as me, telling me how to lead my life.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Plus, you’d have to be careful what you asked. You could change future events big time.”
“No. If we can’t change anything, we can’t change anything. Maybe some things are meant to happen and it’s like whatever road you take, you always get back to the same destination.” Jim watched Bones’ long fingers as he emphasized his point. “It’s like, I’d wager you and me, we’re still friends in the other universe. Did you ask him?”
“I didn’t need to; I saw it, when he did that voodoo shit on me,” Jim let out a puff and placed his hand on his face like Spock had done. “We were still friends.”
“Well, there you go - you can’t change shit, even if you know what’s coming. Some things are meant to be.”
“Nah, I can’t believe that. I’d keep to safe territory.”
“If you’re right and I’m wrong, there’s no such thing as safe territory. It’s like the butterfly effect.”
“How about if it was something innocuous, like,” Jim thought for a moment, “what about I asked Nice Spock how to beat Brat Spock at chess?”
“Still wouldn’t work. You could totally fuck him up like that and he’d end up leaving Starfleet then you’d never be ‘totally best friends’.” Bones air-quoted to add effect to his teenage girl impression. Jim laughed.
“This is making my fucking head hurt.” Then he slapped his thigh, “I know!”
“God help me.”
“I could fuck myself!”
“But that would be wrong - so wrong!”
“What? It would be totally hot! Also, I’m sure it doesn’t break any laws and I have a really big-”
“Jesus, Jim, your are a big dick!” his tone was sharp, he looked tired but his eyes were warm, fond.
Jim dropped his voice conspiratorially, “Yeah, I am, but this is our secret, ‘k? I can still be a dick with you, right?”
“Sure you can, kid - don’ let me stop you.”
“Do you suppose I was a dick in the other timeline?”
“Yeah- I’d stake my stones on it. And I’ll bet I still got married to Joss-“
“Yeah, you did.”
Bones shook his head, “See? I’m right and you’re wrong.”
Jim made for the door, then he thought better of it, “Computer, lock the door.”
“Jim?”
Bones was right behind him and they almost stumbled into each other.
Fuck it.
Jim took a deep breath and lifted a hand to rest it on Bones’ arm. He scanned Bones’ face then leaned close and whispered in his ear, “I don’t believe in fate, Bones,” and with his heart in his throat, he kissed Bones lightly on the lips and grinned at his stunned expression. Well, he hadn’t punched him yet so, “Carpe diem-“ and he slipped his hand round the back of Bone’s neck and pulled his mouth closer, slid his tongue tentatively between his lips and sagged when Bones parted them, felt his arm slip around him. It was sweet, hesitant, but, thank you, far from one-sided.
When they eventually pulled apart, Bones’ hands dropped to his sides and he gaped at Jim, his brow furrowed.
“You are one crazy, don't-look-before-you-leap, asshole,” his voice was thick, full of feeling.
“Yeah, so I’ve heard. Computer, unlock doors.”
And he swaggered out, never looking back, the heat of Bones’ gaze burning him. The future, despite everything, never looked brighter.
~END~
Feedback is a good thing!
The masterlist of all my fanfiction is here
Author: sangueuk
Rating: pg-13
Character/Pairing: Kirk/McCoy (AOS)
Wordcount: approx 1,400 words complete
Summary: A few days after the Narada incident, The Enterprise is almost back home. Things are quiet and Jim pays Bones a visit in sickbay to discuss the future. A sequel, to Space Dust
Warnings: it’s a teeny-weeny bit thinky
Disclaimer: I mean no offence and court no profits - this is just for fun.
Author’s notes: This was written in response to challenge # 10 st11forxi - Postcards from the Future .
Unbeta’d because I needed to be speedy - apologies for any silly mistakes!
Intriguing snippet: “No. If we can’t change anything, we can’t change anything. Maybe some things are meant to happen and it’s like whatever road you take, you always get back to the same destination.”
Future Altering Paradoxes
Jim sauntered into sickbay. It was the middle of gamma shift, not that any rosters had been drawn up; who’d had time for that? But it had been five days now, since they’d beaten Nero and he, all the crew had pretty much stayed awake as long as they could hold on, grabbing naps whenever. They’d be back home in a few hours. Things had settled down and most had retreated to their own mental corners to take stock, enjoy the quiet until the shit hit the fan and then it would be debriefings, memorials, the press, questions, more questions.
He spotted Bones in his office and nodded to him, then briefly checked on Pike who slept on in his private room nearby. He went to the replicator and made two teas, black for him, sweet and milky for Bones.
“How’s it going?” he said, placing the cup near a pile of PADDS.
“Just dandy. I’m havin’ the time of my life?” McCoy pushed his chair away from the desk to give Jim room to perch and he raised his cup in a toast.
“Look at us, eh Jim?”
Jim shrugged, “yep, look at us?”
They sipped their drinks in companionable silence for a few minutes then, when Bones moved a hand towards the PADDS to pick up where he’d left off, Jim said with his best serious voice,
“Bones, I’ve been thinking-“
“Why does my blood always run cold when you start a sentence like that?” Bones rolled his eyes, sipped his tea and glanced into sickbay when a nurse walked past, “also, don’t you have any work to do?”
“Nah, not a thing - just like you.”
Bones gave him a thin smile, “Yeah, that’s the great thing about being in charge, you have people running around, doing everything for you. I’ve been sat on my ass for days.”
Jim chuckled, “Actually, I’m avoiding Spock.”
“Very wise.”
“He’s refusing to sleep, and, so Uhura tells me, if he doesn’t take some time-out and meditate soon or something, he’ll blow!”
McCoy snorted. “He’s like a teenager. A Vulcan teenager throwing logical tantrums - then he’s nice as pie again.”
“Kind of like human teenagers, then-?“
“He’s been through more than the rest of us - grief fucks with you in ways you can’t predict. He’s obviously strugglin’ with his self control, and anger, well… I know this shit, I’ve got a degree in psychology.”
“In Vulcan psychology?”
“Well, maybe not.” They both laughed again. “So what were you thinking, though I know you’re gonna tell me anyway.”
“On top of everything else, imagine meeting your future self?”
“I can’t.”
“It’d be one big mind-fuck.”
“That it would.”
“Especially when he’s so much nicer than you!”
“Not difficult in his case.”
“Give him a break, Bones, he’s not so bad.”
Bones rolled his eyes.
“So, you two best buddies now?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s, you know, he’s alright. He just needs to lighten up.”
“Imagine the conversations they’re gonna have-“ Bones leaned back in his chair, put his feet up on the desk.
“Nice Spock won’t say anything to him - future altering paradoxes or something. He only told me as much as I needed to know, so I could-“ Jim gulped, this train of thought made him feel like shit. He’d kicked a dog when it was down. He looked at Bones, “he told me about my dad.” He cleared his throat and sighed when he noted the look of concern on Bones’ face.
“What did he say?”
“He said he was…he was proud of me.”
Bones dropped his feet to the floor and scooted the chair closer and touched Jim’s hand lightly, “So he should have been, should be I mean. Fuck, you know-“
“Yeah.” Jim shrugged, shook his head like a wet dog and stood up. He picked up the two cups and tossed them in the recycler. “I should try and catch some sleep.” He didn’t move. “Still, imagine if it was you or me, if we got to meet our alternate selves.”
“Can’t say as I’d like it,” Bones said rubbing his eyes, “but it would be kinda nice to share some medical stuff.”
“That it? That’s what you’d ask? You’re unbelievable.”
“Well, maybe I’d ask him to give me a smack upside the head for getting married so young.” Their eyes met. This was fucking nice, it felt so normal, so them, Bones teasing him, him rolling with the punches. “So what would you talk to Older, Nicer James T Kirk about, smart-ass? He could give you a whole lot of pointers so you’d actually get on with the brass - no?”
“Nope. I’m not into older guys, even awesome ones with the same DNA as me, telling me how to lead my life.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Plus, you’d have to be careful what you asked. You could change future events big time.”
“No. If we can’t change anything, we can’t change anything. Maybe some things are meant to happen and it’s like whatever road you take, you always get back to the same destination.” Jim watched Bones’ long fingers as he emphasized his point. “It’s like, I’d wager you and me, we’re still friends in the other universe. Did you ask him?”
“I didn’t need to; I saw it, when he did that voodoo shit on me,” Jim let out a puff and placed his hand on his face like Spock had done. “We were still friends.”
“Well, there you go - you can’t change shit, even if you know what’s coming. Some things are meant to be.”
“Nah, I can’t believe that. I’d keep to safe territory.”
“If you’re right and I’m wrong, there’s no such thing as safe territory. It’s like the butterfly effect.”
“How about if it was something innocuous, like,” Jim thought for a moment, “what about I asked Nice Spock how to beat Brat Spock at chess?”
“Still wouldn’t work. You could totally fuck him up like that and he’d end up leaving Starfleet then you’d never be ‘totally best friends’.” Bones air-quoted to add effect to his teenage girl impression. Jim laughed.
“This is making my fucking head hurt.” Then he slapped his thigh, “I know!”
“God help me.”
“I could fuck myself!”
“But that would be wrong - so wrong!”
“What? It would be totally hot! Also, I’m sure it doesn’t break any laws and I have a really big-”
“Jesus, Jim, your are a big dick!” his tone was sharp, he looked tired but his eyes were warm, fond.
Jim dropped his voice conspiratorially, “Yeah, I am, but this is our secret, ‘k? I can still be a dick with you, right?”
“Sure you can, kid - don’ let me stop you.”
“Do you suppose I was a dick in the other timeline?”
“Yeah- I’d stake my stones on it. And I’ll bet I still got married to Joss-“
“Yeah, you did.”
Bones shook his head, “See? I’m right and you’re wrong.”
Jim made for the door, then he thought better of it, “Computer, lock the door.”
“Jim?”
Bones was right behind him and they almost stumbled into each other.
Fuck it.
Jim took a deep breath and lifted a hand to rest it on Bones’ arm. He scanned Bones’ face then leaned close and whispered in his ear, “I don’t believe in fate, Bones,” and with his heart in his throat, he kissed Bones lightly on the lips and grinned at his stunned expression. Well, he hadn’t punched him yet so, “Carpe diem-“ and he slipped his hand round the back of Bone’s neck and pulled his mouth closer, slid his tongue tentatively between his lips and sagged when Bones parted them, felt his arm slip around him. It was sweet, hesitant, but, thank you, far from one-sided.
When they eventually pulled apart, Bones’ hands dropped to his sides and he gaped at Jim, his brow furrowed.
“You are one crazy, don't-look-before-you-leap, asshole,” his voice was thick, full of feeling.
“Yeah, so I’ve heard. Computer, unlock doors.”
And he swaggered out, never looking back, the heat of Bones’ gaze burning him. The future, despite everything, never looked brighter.
~END~
Feedback is a good thing!
The masterlist of all my fanfiction is here