Bones - recovering in sickbay - OPEN

[dctr_mccoy]

Jim had finally left, called away by duty. He hadn't wanted to see him leave, but they both had some things to think about, the last few days having been full of more emotional drama than they were used, too

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[rn_chapel]

McCoy had had several visitors, and Chapel suspected that he was exhausted, even if he wasn't showing it. Still, she decided to check in with him briefly before she left the sickbay after her shift was - finally! - over.

"It's good to have you back with us, Doctor," she said, smiling.

[dctr_mccoy]

He turned to her voice, offering a tired smile of his own. "You. You saved my life." He swallowed, then sat up, as much as he could in his bed. "I don't know how to begin thankin' you."

[rn_chapel]

She touched his hand, lightly. "Start by making a full recovery, okay? That's the best thing you can do for any of us, right now."

[dctr_mccoy]

"I've told you before," he said, uncharacteristically taking her hand and squeezing it back. "You should be in med school. I'd be dead if it weren't for you. All of you."

Falling back onto his pillow, he exhaled loudly. It had been a busy day for someone confined to his bed. "So, how soon until I can get out of here?" he wondered aloud.

[rn_chapel]

Chapel raises an eyebrow. Looks like she's been learning more than medicine from her CMO.

"I thought you'd be telling me when you should be released. Have you really resisted the temptation to sneak a peek at your own chart?"

[dctr_mccoy]

"Of course not," he lied, pushing his contraband tricorder further under the blanket. "Just sitting here, resting, like the doctor ordered."

It's possible he's not the most convincing liar she's ever seen...

[rn_chapel]

"Mmhmm," Chapel said. "If I give you your chart and let you keep that tricorder you've been trying to hide, will you promise to stay in bed and at least try to rest when you feel tired?"

[dctr_mccoy]

"You're a hard woman," he muttered at her, agreeing as she handed him his chart. He gave it a cursory glance, trying not to blanch as he read exactly what kind of shape he'd been in. He'd been barely alive when they brought him in.

"Alright," he told her, holding it - he wanted to go over it thoroughly, but she didn't need to sit here and watch that, "- I should probably remain hooked up to the bed for another evening. But can we agree," he lifted an eyebrow back at her, "that if my temp doesn't spike and there are no more changes that I can be released to quarters tomorrow morning?"

[rn_chapel]

"If you can get out of bed under your own power tomorrow, I'll let you go. But I'm not going to sign off on you resuming active duty, so don't get your hopes up."

She squeezed his hand. "Good night, Doctor. Do get some sleep."

[dctr_mccoy]

"Yes ma'am," he said quietly, with a small smile, waiting until she left before going back to read his chart.

He knew that walking on his own wouldn't be easy tomorrow unless he was well-rested, so he told himself to read quickly, so he could get his ass to sleep.