Fic: Escape Attempt (Kirk/McCoy)
Title: Escape Attempt
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Summary: Jim is bored
Rating: Teen/PG13
Word Count: 4070
A/N: #5 in the Two Men & a Starship series. Follows Marked Man. Thank you to everyone who reads/comments! ♥
Bedrest is definitely going to the top of the list of reasons to avoid getting injured while on duty. Jim thinks being confined to the bed is more incentive to be cautious than the whole pain and nearly dying thing. At least if he’s almost dead, there’s something happening, and the medication makes everything better. This bedrest thing, however, is just boring. Yesterday, it wasn’t so bad because Bones was doing the whole observational period, which gave him a valid reason to be in Jim’s room all day. There had actually been a few kisses, though it hadn’t gone any further than that, in between Bones working via PADD and entertaining Jim. Bones had stayed all night again, too. It made sense if he was observing Jim, and no one had to know that he’d slept with Jim snuggled around him instead of on the sofa as everyone would presume.
There won’t be an excuse tonight, which means Jim’s going to be sleeping alone again. That doesn’t do anything to improve his mood. While he’s relieved, more than he wants to admit, that he and Bones are trying to work through whatever’s wrong, he might be slightly worried that Bones will go back into hiding once this crisis is over. Well, if he tries, he’s going to find out that Jim’s finished with the whole ‘giving him space’ nonsense. He attempted the mature route and ended up with Bones avoiding him. If it happens again, he’s doing things his way, which is a lot more confrontational and focused on doing something, not waiting and being patient.
“This is boring,” he whines, not that there’s anyone to hear him. Scotty dropped by during lunch to bring him a sandwich, but he left at least fifteen minutes ago and no one else has come by since. It’s annoying because he’s had visitors several times during morning, and he figures there must be some sort of visitation schedule somewhere because it’s too organized to be random. But, now, they’ve all forgotten him, and he’s going stir crazy. His legs feel better, a hell of a lot better than yesterday, but he’s still confined to the damn bed.
Athos jumps on the bed and drops his new toy on the blanket. “Are you bored, too?” Jim asks as he picks up the large bolt that Scotty brought the dog and can hear Bones in his head grumbling about the doggy spit covering it. “He’s just bribing you because it’s his fault you ended up here. Don’t be bought by the shiny gifts. Hold out for food.” He tosses the bolt onto the floor and watches Athos scramble down to the floor so he can pounce on it. He’s glad that Archer isn’t going to be able to get him for a few months, even if it’ll be tough to give Athos up. Still, it just makes him more determined to become an admiral so he can get his own dog.
He makes it through five more throws before he feels restless. After considering it, he rolls off the bed and stands up. It takes a minute for his legs to decide that, yes, they’ll hold his weight, and he’s relieved that there isn’t much pain. Just a little soreness, but everything must be healing the way it should. Bones has fixed him, just like always, but Jim doesn’t plan to end up in medical again anytime soon if he can help it. Everything feels better, though, so it seems pointless to lie around doing nothing. Not when he can leave his room and walk around doing nothing.
Since he’s only been able to lie around the last couple of days, he hasn’t bothered to change his shirt. Bones did finally let him put on a pair of sweatpants this morning, since Jim couldn’t really entertain visitors in his boxers. So he’s good for the bottom half, but the shirt needs changed. He grabs a t-shirt out of his closet and pulls it on before he goes into the bathroom. It’s a little loose, but that’s to be expected since it’s one of Bones’ shirts that he, uh, borrowed when Bones was going to Capella IV. When he looks in the mirror, he makes a face. His hair is a mess, but at least his face looks normal again. He hasn’t shaved since the exploring expedition, yet he still just has a five o’clock shadow. Bones doesn’t shave for a few days, and he practically has a beard. He doesn't bother to shave yet, since him doing so would probably just make Bones suspicous. Being on bedrest shouldn't require a shave, after all.
Once his hair is combed and he’s used the toilet, he leaves his quarters. Freedom. Sweet freedom. The air feels better in the corridor, the walls are practically singing happy songs to him, and he can’t help grinning as he carefully makes his way to the turbolift. Walking on his own after lying down for several days isn’t as easy as it should be, but he’s always liked a challenge. Besides, it’s worth it to get out of his damn room. He can go to the rec room maybe or go see Jess and make it back to his room before Bones’ll drop by to check on him. If Bones asks, he’ll say that he spent most of the day in bed, and he can just list the bathroom if pressed for what ‘most’ means, as Bones is likely to do. Then he can be honest by omission, and he won’t have to lie about it.
It’s been days since he’s been anywhere but medical or his room, so there are too many options of what he can do during this bedrest break. He finally decides to go to Engineering because Scotty will keep the secret if Bones suspects anything. Anyway, he hasn’t had a chance to check on Jess in a couple of weeks. He passes a few crew members on his way and greets them all. Oddly, they look more concerned than pleased to see him. Of course, who knows what rumors are out about the injuries he sustained on Scorching Monotony, which is a much more apt name for that ball of heated hell than Planet whatever the fuck Spock’s calling it.
“Chekov!” He grins when he sees the kid walking towards him.
“Keptin, what are you doing here?” Chekov asks lowly. “You are supposed to be resting in bed.”
“I’m walking,” he says simply. “I’ve been resting. Now, I’m supposed to be moving and doing something that isn’t lying around being bored.”
Chekov shakes his head. “No, Keptin. You are supposed to stay in bed. It is wery bad that you are here. Doctor McCoy will not be happy,” he says, looking almost scared when he mentions Bones’ name, which is amusing.
“Well, Doctor McCoy won’t find out, so he won’t be too mad,” he tells him. He doesn’t point out that Bones’ bark is a lot worse than his bite because biting makes him think about sex, and he’s pretty sure that his baggy sweats wouldn’t completely hide the reaction that Bones sex thoughts causes.
“You are wrong, Keptin,” Chekov announces grimly. “Doctor McCoy has put out notice to all crew that he is to be notified if you are seen before he says is okay.”
“He what?” Jim frowns. “A notice? About me?”
Chekov nods. “Yes, Keptin. About you being in bed, not walking around ship. The crew, they will not disobey him, Keptin. They will tell that they see you. You need to go back to bed.”
“I’m the captain of this ship. The crew should be more worried about disobeying me than the CMO,” Jim says. “If I want to go for a walk, I can take a damn walk. And if Doctor McCoy doesn’t like it, he can shove his hyposprays up his-“
Chekov’s eyes widen and his squeak interrupts Jim’s tirade. He’s staring behind Jim, which gives him a sinking feeling.
“He’s behind me, isn’t he?” he whispers, receiving a nod of confirmation from Chekov. “Get out of here, Chekov. While you still can.”
“Up my what, Captain?” Bones drawls from behind him. Chekov squeaks again before he turns and rushes back the way he came.
“Ass.” Jim turns and leans against the wall as he faces Bones, who looks so damn sexy in his uniform that Jim can’t help but stare.
“What part of ‘don’t leave the bed’ did you fail to understand, Captain? I used small words,” Bones says in a tone that’s just got enough edge for Jim to know that he’s going to get scolded for this. Damn it.
“It’s physical therapy,” Jim tells him after analyzing the situation and quickly choosing a course of action. “I have to move my legs or it’ll be difficult to walk once I’m given my release.”
Bones arches a brow. “I believe that we’ve discussed your lack of a medical degree before, Captain. I gave you instructions that you’ve failed to heed. I should take your skinny ass back to medical and force you to spend the next day or two there,” he growls softly. When Jim starts to speak, Bones holds up his hand. “Save it. I’m getting you back to your quarters before you set back the healing process.”
“My ass isn’t skinny,” he mutters, glancing over his shoulder to scope it out. “It’s exceptionally attractive, just like the rest of me.”
“All you had to do was remain in bed for a few days. You actually managed to do it yesterday, and I thought that maybe you’d be mature about it and realize how important it is to listen to your doctor’s instructions instead of doing whatever you want,” Bones says quietly as they walk back to the turbolift. Jim really doesn’t like the whole ‘treating him like a naughty child’ thing, even if he normally finds competent and bossy Bones arousing. “I should have known better. Hell, I did know better. I’ve been waiting all day to get notified that you were out and about. I will say that it’s later in the day than I expected.”
“I had visitors throughout the morning,” Jim tells him. He gives him a serious look. “I wouldn’t have disobeyed orders if I hadn’t felt better. It’s not like I want to do more damage to the injuries, you know? The sooner I’m off restriction, the better.” Even if this has brought Bones back, in a way, Jim doesn’t handle the being helpless thing really well.
“You feeling better and your body being better are two entirely different things, Jim. I don’t give my patients unnecessary limitations,” Bones says firmly, the nerve in his cheek twitching as they step onto the turbolift. Jim leans against the wall and bites his lip because it’s obvious that Bones is displeased. “I’m the CMO on this ship, Captain, and I’m one of the best out there. It’d do you well to remember that whenever you decide to ignore my instructions.”
Oh. Well, then. This is about his authority being questioned just as much as it’s about Jim getting out of bed. “I know you’re great at your job, Doctor, McCoy” he says, using the professional title.
“Then why won’t you listen?” Bones shakes his head. “I know you have issues with hospitals, so I approved you recuperating in your room. I tried to accommodate you, as captain, on the condition that you did what you were told in order to heal. In the future, you’re just going to have to remain in medical if I can’t trust you.”
“Don’t go there,” Jim warns quietly. He knows it isn’t the same, but hearing Bones talk about not being able to trust him makes him think about distance and avoidance and the belief that he’s not going to be able to keep his dick in his pants.
“Damn it, Jim. Where should I go then?” Bones asks in a low hiss. “I asked for you to stay in bed for three days. Three days. You didn’t make it through day two. Now, you’ve probably aggravated your legs, which means rechecking all the wounds and ensuring that the skin is still healing properly, and you’re about to fall over because you aren’t up to full strength yet, not enough to be wandering around the ship like nothing’s wrong at all.”
“I fucked up. Okay? I admit it. Add it to the list,” he says, glaring at Bones before he steps off the turbolift as soon as the doors open.
“Yes, you did,” Bones agrees solemnly as he moves his arm around Jim’s waist and forces him to rest most of his weight against him. He doesn’t say anything else until they’re in Jim’s quarters.
Once there, he leans down and kisses Jim hard, using his tongue and teeth as if he’s punishing him, which Jim finds ridiculous because kissing Bones is one of the best things ever, and he’s never been fond of kissing, so he knows that it must be really good. When Bones pulls back, he’s breathing hard and scowling. Jim glances down quickly before looking back at Bones. There’s no movement at all below the waist, not that he really expects Bones to get hard from a kiss. Still, it would have been nice to see a physical reaction. This isn’t about sex, though.
“I might be somewhat overprotective, but I wouldn’t put my personal feelings ahead of my professional responsibility. As your doctor, I told you that you need to be careful and stay off your feet and left it to you to follow those instructions. As your…” Bones hesitates, floundering for the right word, which Jim can understand.
“My Bones,” Jim murmurs, knowing it’s the best way to define it because anything else that comes to mind means commitment and seriousness beyond what they’ve discussed. Despite the part of him that wants to be able to know what exactly it is between them, things have worked with the intangible boundaries and defining it all is scary. Hell, it took him weeks before he’d even call it a Relationship in his mind, something neither of them has really spoken about yet. Maybe they should? Not now, though.
Bones drags his thumb over Jim’s jaw, brushing against the stubble there. “As your Bones, I’d simply chain you to the bed and force you to remain there so you’d always be safe.”
“Sounds kinky.” Jim reaches up and moves his fingers over the back of Bones’ hand. “There’s no such thing as always being safe. If there was, I’d have locked you away years ago, even before things became complicated between us. I’ve done my best to protect you, when I can, cause that’s what best friends do. But part of living is having risks and making mistakes and shit.”
“I’m still mad at you,” Bones tells him, but there isn’t any anger in his tone. It’s more like disappointment, which is something Jim can’t handle well at all. “It’s probably all over the ship by now that you were ignoring your instructions, and the crew will figure that means they don’t have to listen to the medical staff, either.”
“Yeah, well, you’re the one who sent out a damn memo, like I’m an errant schoolboy,” Jim points out. He doesn’t protest when Bones guides him back to the bed. “Who tattled on me, by the way?”
“Damn it, Jim. This isn’t about you. Didn’t you listen?” he asks, pursing his lips as he removes Jim’s boots and then tucks him into bed.
“What do you want me to say, Bones? I’m sorry. I’m a selfish fuck who was going stir crazy in here alone with just Athos to keep me company, and I didn’t think about the crew at all,” he says. “But the crew know because of that memo. If it wasn’t for that, they would have assumed that I had permission.”
“If it wasn’t for that memo, you’d have probably collapsed somewhere by now because you were pushing yourself too hard, like usual,” Bones says sharply. “And, yes, you are a selfish fuck sometimes, and you’d better be damn glad that I’m used to it and have the patience of a fucking saint.”
“I don’t think that saints fuck. It’s probably how they became saints in the first place.” Jim pulls at the blanket until he gets a thread loose, wrapping it around his finger as he looks at Bones. “I am glad, even if you might not believe me.”
Bones sighs and sits down on the bed beside him. He leans back against the pillows, and Jim shifts as Bones puts his arm around his shoulders. He rests his head against Bones’ chest, more comfortable already. “I do believe you,” Bones murmurs as he rubs Jim’s shoulder. “And I’m sorry, too. I probably overreacted, but you’re such a damn handful, and I was worried.”
“I’ll make sure that the crew know that not following the doctor’s orders is a very bad thing,” Jim says as he rests his hand on Bones’ abdomen. “I do want to know who turned me in, though.”
“Nope,” Bones says simply. “There’s not going to be any juvenile retribution.”
“I’m twenty-five years old, not a teenager intent on payback,” he grumbles. “I just want to know who ratted me out.”
“I had four communications within, I’d guess, five minutes of you leaving your room.” Bones kisses the top of his head. “Your crew worries about you, asshole, even if you don’t seem to care about yourself.”
“Four?” Jim makes a face. Damn. He can’t really do anything to four people without it being noticeable that their laundry is messed up or they get a terrible assignment. Not that he’d do anything like that, anyway. Of course not. That’d be immature and not at all appropriate for a captain. Right. “You’d have chased me all over the ship?”
“I didn’t have to,” Bones says, moving his fingers in circular patterns on Jim’s shoulder. “I had an accomplice detain you long enough for me to catch up.”
An accomplice? Jim frowns then his eyes widen. “That sneaky little twerp,” he mutters. “All his ‘oh, keptin, you need to rest’ bullshit was just a cover then?”
“Nah, that was the truth. He was just worried about you, kid. Besides, he couldn’t really refuse after he contacted me.”
“Why not? I’m the captain. They should be more scared of me than you.” He slowly tugs on Bones’ uniform shirt until he’s able to touch bare skin, listening to Bones inhale at first contact. “I can give them horrible job details.”
“I can give them viruses that they’ve never even heard about,” Bones points out matter-of-factly.
“Damn it. That’s not fair. I’m the captain,” Jim whines, fully aware that he’s pouting but not really caring. “What’s the fun in it if they’re more scared of my CMO?”
“I know that you’re the captain, without you needing to tell me twice in the last five minutes.” Bones snorts, which makes his stomach clench beneath Jim’s fingers. “Just let me be the bad guy, Jim. You’re used to being the hero anyway.”
Jim tilts his head up so he can look at Bones. “You aren’t a bad guy. Scary and too quick to use a hypospray? Definitely. But nowhere near bad,” he says, smiling slightly before he rubs his cheek against Bones’ jaw. “I’m going to get a rash from this beard of yours.”
“Is that a not so subtle hint that you want me to shave?” Bones nuzzles his face.
“Was it subtle?” Jim grins. “I’ve been working on that, so go me for accomplishing it.”
“Yeah, go you,” Bones says dryly. “Only not because it wasn’t very subtle.”
“You know, I’m confined to my bed because I bravely stepped in front of some alien creature to save my crew. The least you could do is humor me and let me think that I’m being successful at subtlety,” he muses, moving his head slightly so that he can press his lips against Bones’ mouth.
“If I tried to humor you, you’d know I was full of shit then you’d kick my ass,” Bones murmurs before kissing him thoroughly. When he pulls back, he brings his free hand up to trace Jim’s lips. “I should get back to medical. I told Chapel that I was coming to check on you, but my shift isn’t over for another couple of hours.”
Jim wants to demand that he stay, but he knows that he can’t. He’s been enough of a pain in the ass today, in retrospect. “Alright,” he says finally. “Will you come by after work? If I promise to stay in bed and eat all my veggies?”
“I’ll come by, even without the promise.” Bones kisses him again, and Jim presses closer, moving his hand lower but stopping before he reaches Bones’ crotch.
Despite knowing about Bones’ current condition, it still feels like rejection when he’s actually trying to arouse him and nothing happens. Been there, done that, knows better now, even if he still continues to try because he can’t accept defeat. He’s not really in a place right now where he can just shrug it off, so he’s not going to go there. Besides, they don’t have time even if all of Bones’ equipment was in proper working order.
When they part, Jim reluctantly moves and lets go of him. “Back to work. I know,” he says. “Before you go, could you get me something to drink and hand me one of my PADDs? If I’m stuck lying here, maybe I can get some reading done.”
“I thought I’d have more of a fight on my hands when I said I had to go,” Bones says thoughtfully. He studies Jim’s face curiously.
“I think I’ve given you enough trouble today.” He smiles slightly. “Plus, the sooner you get to the med bay, the faster you’ll get back here, right?”
“Yeah, well, I’m used to your trouble,” Bones grumbles. He kisses Jim again before he stands up. “Want water or something else?”
“Milk. And cookies.” Jim bats his eyelashes. “Please.”
Bones arches a brow but goes to the replicator and comes back with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. After he puts them on the bedside table, he opens the drawer where Jim has the PADDs with books and case histories. “Which one do you want?”
“Number four,” he says after considering it. He’s glad that he labels them all or Bones might have more trouble finding the right one. When Bones hands it to him, he takes it and puts it on the bed beside him. “Thanks. For everything.”
Bones nods and takes a step back from the bed. “You don’t have to thank me, Jim.” He lowers his gaze and stares at Jim’s mouth before he growls softly.
Jim doesn’t even have time to react before Bones’ lips are against his. The kiss deepens, and he feels Bones’ hand on the back of his neck as they kiss. Bones licks and kisses his way across Jim’s jaw and down his throat. Jim tilts his head slightly and whimpers when Bones bites his neck. He grips Bones’ shoulder and closes his eyes as he feels Bones lick and suck on the bite mark he’s just made. “Bones,” he sighs, holding him tighter.
“Mine,” Bones whispers. Jim opens his eyes and looks at him when he draws back. Bones touches his face, tracing his bottom lip with his thumb. “I’ll be done with work in a few hours, then we can have dinner, with vegetables.”
“You’d better go before I pull rank and keep you here to entertain me,” Jim warns softly. He reaches up to touch the bite, watching Bones hesitate before he takes a step away from the bed.
“Right. Don’t want you pulling captain’s prerogative when I need to get back to medical,” he says, licking his lips as he runs his fingers through his hair. “Stay in bed, Captain.”
“Understood, Doctor,” he says as he snuggles back against his pillows. He gets his glass and a cookie off the plate, dipping it into his milk. Bones smiles slightly and turns to leave. Jim watches his ass as he walks, munching on a cookie as he enjoys the view.
End
#4: Marked Man | #6: Rambling Man
Pairing: Kirk/McCoy
Summary: Jim is bored
Rating: Teen/PG13
Word Count: 4070
A/N: #5 in the Two Men & a Starship series. Follows Marked Man. Thank you to everyone who reads/comments! ♥
Bedrest is definitely going to the top of the list of reasons to avoid getting injured while on duty. Jim thinks being confined to the bed is more incentive to be cautious than the whole pain and nearly dying thing. At least if he’s almost dead, there’s something happening, and the medication makes everything better. This bedrest thing, however, is just boring. Yesterday, it wasn’t so bad because Bones was doing the whole observational period, which gave him a valid reason to be in Jim’s room all day. There had actually been a few kisses, though it hadn’t gone any further than that, in between Bones working via PADD and entertaining Jim. Bones had stayed all night again, too. It made sense if he was observing Jim, and no one had to know that he’d slept with Jim snuggled around him instead of on the sofa as everyone would presume.
There won’t be an excuse tonight, which means Jim’s going to be sleeping alone again. That doesn’t do anything to improve his mood. While he’s relieved, more than he wants to admit, that he and Bones are trying to work through whatever’s wrong, he might be slightly worried that Bones will go back into hiding once this crisis is over. Well, if he tries, he’s going to find out that Jim’s finished with the whole ‘giving him space’ nonsense. He attempted the mature route and ended up with Bones avoiding him. If it happens again, he’s doing things his way, which is a lot more confrontational and focused on doing something, not waiting and being patient.
“This is boring,” he whines, not that there’s anyone to hear him. Scotty dropped by during lunch to bring him a sandwich, but he left at least fifteen minutes ago and no one else has come by since. It’s annoying because he’s had visitors several times during morning, and he figures there must be some sort of visitation schedule somewhere because it’s too organized to be random. But, now, they’ve all forgotten him, and he’s going stir crazy. His legs feel better, a hell of a lot better than yesterday, but he’s still confined to the damn bed.
Athos jumps on the bed and drops his new toy on the blanket. “Are you bored, too?” Jim asks as he picks up the large bolt that Scotty brought the dog and can hear Bones in his head grumbling about the doggy spit covering it. “He’s just bribing you because it’s his fault you ended up here. Don’t be bought by the shiny gifts. Hold out for food.” He tosses the bolt onto the floor and watches Athos scramble down to the floor so he can pounce on it. He’s glad that Archer isn’t going to be able to get him for a few months, even if it’ll be tough to give Athos up. Still, it just makes him more determined to become an admiral so he can get his own dog.
He makes it through five more throws before he feels restless. After considering it, he rolls off the bed and stands up. It takes a minute for his legs to decide that, yes, they’ll hold his weight, and he’s relieved that there isn’t much pain. Just a little soreness, but everything must be healing the way it should. Bones has fixed him, just like always, but Jim doesn’t plan to end up in medical again anytime soon if he can help it. Everything feels better, though, so it seems pointless to lie around doing nothing. Not when he can leave his room and walk around doing nothing.
Since he’s only been able to lie around the last couple of days, he hasn’t bothered to change his shirt. Bones did finally let him put on a pair of sweatpants this morning, since Jim couldn’t really entertain visitors in his boxers. So he’s good for the bottom half, but the shirt needs changed. He grabs a t-shirt out of his closet and pulls it on before he goes into the bathroom. It’s a little loose, but that’s to be expected since it’s one of Bones’ shirts that he, uh, borrowed when Bones was going to Capella IV. When he looks in the mirror, he makes a face. His hair is a mess, but at least his face looks normal again. He hasn’t shaved since the exploring expedition, yet he still just has a five o’clock shadow. Bones doesn’t shave for a few days, and he practically has a beard. He doesn't bother to shave yet, since him doing so would probably just make Bones suspicous. Being on bedrest shouldn't require a shave, after all.
Once his hair is combed and he’s used the toilet, he leaves his quarters. Freedom. Sweet freedom. The air feels better in the corridor, the walls are practically singing happy songs to him, and he can’t help grinning as he carefully makes his way to the turbolift. Walking on his own after lying down for several days isn’t as easy as it should be, but he’s always liked a challenge. Besides, it’s worth it to get out of his damn room. He can go to the rec room maybe or go see Jess and make it back to his room before Bones’ll drop by to check on him. If Bones asks, he’ll say that he spent most of the day in bed, and he can just list the bathroom if pressed for what ‘most’ means, as Bones is likely to do. Then he can be honest by omission, and he won’t have to lie about it.
It’s been days since he’s been anywhere but medical or his room, so there are too many options of what he can do during this bedrest break. He finally decides to go to Engineering because Scotty will keep the secret if Bones suspects anything. Anyway, he hasn’t had a chance to check on Jess in a couple of weeks. He passes a few crew members on his way and greets them all. Oddly, they look more concerned than pleased to see him. Of course, who knows what rumors are out about the injuries he sustained on Scorching Monotony, which is a much more apt name for that ball of heated hell than Planet whatever the fuck Spock’s calling it.
“Chekov!” He grins when he sees the kid walking towards him.
“Keptin, what are you doing here?” Chekov asks lowly. “You are supposed to be resting in bed.”
“I’m walking,” he says simply. “I’ve been resting. Now, I’m supposed to be moving and doing something that isn’t lying around being bored.”
Chekov shakes his head. “No, Keptin. You are supposed to stay in bed. It is wery bad that you are here. Doctor McCoy will not be happy,” he says, looking almost scared when he mentions Bones’ name, which is amusing.
“Well, Doctor McCoy won’t find out, so he won’t be too mad,” he tells him. He doesn’t point out that Bones’ bark is a lot worse than his bite because biting makes him think about sex, and he’s pretty sure that his baggy sweats wouldn’t completely hide the reaction that Bones sex thoughts causes.
“You are wrong, Keptin,” Chekov announces grimly. “Doctor McCoy has put out notice to all crew that he is to be notified if you are seen before he says is okay.”
“He what?” Jim frowns. “A notice? About me?”
Chekov nods. “Yes, Keptin. About you being in bed, not walking around ship. The crew, they will not disobey him, Keptin. They will tell that they see you. You need to go back to bed.”
“I’m the captain of this ship. The crew should be more worried about disobeying me than the CMO,” Jim says. “If I want to go for a walk, I can take a damn walk. And if Doctor McCoy doesn’t like it, he can shove his hyposprays up his-“
Chekov’s eyes widen and his squeak interrupts Jim’s tirade. He’s staring behind Jim, which gives him a sinking feeling.
“He’s behind me, isn’t he?” he whispers, receiving a nod of confirmation from Chekov. “Get out of here, Chekov. While you still can.”
“Up my what, Captain?” Bones drawls from behind him. Chekov squeaks again before he turns and rushes back the way he came.
“Ass.” Jim turns and leans against the wall as he faces Bones, who looks so damn sexy in his uniform that Jim can’t help but stare.
“What part of ‘don’t leave the bed’ did you fail to understand, Captain? I used small words,” Bones says in a tone that’s just got enough edge for Jim to know that he’s going to get scolded for this. Damn it.
“It’s physical therapy,” Jim tells him after analyzing the situation and quickly choosing a course of action. “I have to move my legs or it’ll be difficult to walk once I’m given my release.”
Bones arches a brow. “I believe that we’ve discussed your lack of a medical degree before, Captain. I gave you instructions that you’ve failed to heed. I should take your skinny ass back to medical and force you to spend the next day or two there,” he growls softly. When Jim starts to speak, Bones holds up his hand. “Save it. I’m getting you back to your quarters before you set back the healing process.”
“My ass isn’t skinny,” he mutters, glancing over his shoulder to scope it out. “It’s exceptionally attractive, just like the rest of me.”
“All you had to do was remain in bed for a few days. You actually managed to do it yesterday, and I thought that maybe you’d be mature about it and realize how important it is to listen to your doctor’s instructions instead of doing whatever you want,” Bones says quietly as they walk back to the turbolift. Jim really doesn’t like the whole ‘treating him like a naughty child’ thing, even if he normally finds competent and bossy Bones arousing. “I should have known better. Hell, I did know better. I’ve been waiting all day to get notified that you were out and about. I will say that it’s later in the day than I expected.”
“I had visitors throughout the morning,” Jim tells him. He gives him a serious look. “I wouldn’t have disobeyed orders if I hadn’t felt better. It’s not like I want to do more damage to the injuries, you know? The sooner I’m off restriction, the better.” Even if this has brought Bones back, in a way, Jim doesn’t handle the being helpless thing really well.
“You feeling better and your body being better are two entirely different things, Jim. I don’t give my patients unnecessary limitations,” Bones says firmly, the nerve in his cheek twitching as they step onto the turbolift. Jim leans against the wall and bites his lip because it’s obvious that Bones is displeased. “I’m the CMO on this ship, Captain, and I’m one of the best out there. It’d do you well to remember that whenever you decide to ignore my instructions.”
Oh. Well, then. This is about his authority being questioned just as much as it’s about Jim getting out of bed. “I know you’re great at your job, Doctor, McCoy” he says, using the professional title.
“Then why won’t you listen?” Bones shakes his head. “I know you have issues with hospitals, so I approved you recuperating in your room. I tried to accommodate you, as captain, on the condition that you did what you were told in order to heal. In the future, you’re just going to have to remain in medical if I can’t trust you.”
“Don’t go there,” Jim warns quietly. He knows it isn’t the same, but hearing Bones talk about not being able to trust him makes him think about distance and avoidance and the belief that he’s not going to be able to keep his dick in his pants.
“Damn it, Jim. Where should I go then?” Bones asks in a low hiss. “I asked for you to stay in bed for three days. Three days. You didn’t make it through day two. Now, you’ve probably aggravated your legs, which means rechecking all the wounds and ensuring that the skin is still healing properly, and you’re about to fall over because you aren’t up to full strength yet, not enough to be wandering around the ship like nothing’s wrong at all.”
“I fucked up. Okay? I admit it. Add it to the list,” he says, glaring at Bones before he steps off the turbolift as soon as the doors open.
“Yes, you did,” Bones agrees solemnly as he moves his arm around Jim’s waist and forces him to rest most of his weight against him. He doesn’t say anything else until they’re in Jim’s quarters.
Once there, he leans down and kisses Jim hard, using his tongue and teeth as if he’s punishing him, which Jim finds ridiculous because kissing Bones is one of the best things ever, and he’s never been fond of kissing, so he knows that it must be really good. When Bones pulls back, he’s breathing hard and scowling. Jim glances down quickly before looking back at Bones. There’s no movement at all below the waist, not that he really expects Bones to get hard from a kiss. Still, it would have been nice to see a physical reaction. This isn’t about sex, though.
“I might be somewhat overprotective, but I wouldn’t put my personal feelings ahead of my professional responsibility. As your doctor, I told you that you need to be careful and stay off your feet and left it to you to follow those instructions. As your…” Bones hesitates, floundering for the right word, which Jim can understand.
“My Bones,” Jim murmurs, knowing it’s the best way to define it because anything else that comes to mind means commitment and seriousness beyond what they’ve discussed. Despite the part of him that wants to be able to know what exactly it is between them, things have worked with the intangible boundaries and defining it all is scary. Hell, it took him weeks before he’d even call it a Relationship in his mind, something neither of them has really spoken about yet. Maybe they should? Not now, though.
Bones drags his thumb over Jim’s jaw, brushing against the stubble there. “As your Bones, I’d simply chain you to the bed and force you to remain there so you’d always be safe.”
“Sounds kinky.” Jim reaches up and moves his fingers over the back of Bones’ hand. “There’s no such thing as always being safe. If there was, I’d have locked you away years ago, even before things became complicated between us. I’ve done my best to protect you, when I can, cause that’s what best friends do. But part of living is having risks and making mistakes and shit.”
“I’m still mad at you,” Bones tells him, but there isn’t any anger in his tone. It’s more like disappointment, which is something Jim can’t handle well at all. “It’s probably all over the ship by now that you were ignoring your instructions, and the crew will figure that means they don’t have to listen to the medical staff, either.”
“Yeah, well, you’re the one who sent out a damn memo, like I’m an errant schoolboy,” Jim points out. He doesn’t protest when Bones guides him back to the bed. “Who tattled on me, by the way?”
“Damn it, Jim. This isn’t about you. Didn’t you listen?” he asks, pursing his lips as he removes Jim’s boots and then tucks him into bed.
“What do you want me to say, Bones? I’m sorry. I’m a selfish fuck who was going stir crazy in here alone with just Athos to keep me company, and I didn’t think about the crew at all,” he says. “But the crew know because of that memo. If it wasn’t for that, they would have assumed that I had permission.”
“If it wasn’t for that memo, you’d have probably collapsed somewhere by now because you were pushing yourself too hard, like usual,” Bones says sharply. “And, yes, you are a selfish fuck sometimes, and you’d better be damn glad that I’m used to it and have the patience of a fucking saint.”
“I don’t think that saints fuck. It’s probably how they became saints in the first place.” Jim pulls at the blanket until he gets a thread loose, wrapping it around his finger as he looks at Bones. “I am glad, even if you might not believe me.”
Bones sighs and sits down on the bed beside him. He leans back against the pillows, and Jim shifts as Bones puts his arm around his shoulders. He rests his head against Bones’ chest, more comfortable already. “I do believe you,” Bones murmurs as he rubs Jim’s shoulder. “And I’m sorry, too. I probably overreacted, but you’re such a damn handful, and I was worried.”
“I’ll make sure that the crew know that not following the doctor’s orders is a very bad thing,” Jim says as he rests his hand on Bones’ abdomen. “I do want to know who turned me in, though.”
“Nope,” Bones says simply. “There’s not going to be any juvenile retribution.”
“I’m twenty-five years old, not a teenager intent on payback,” he grumbles. “I just want to know who ratted me out.”
“I had four communications within, I’d guess, five minutes of you leaving your room.” Bones kisses the top of his head. “Your crew worries about you, asshole, even if you don’t seem to care about yourself.”
“Four?” Jim makes a face. Damn. He can’t really do anything to four people without it being noticeable that their laundry is messed up or they get a terrible assignment. Not that he’d do anything like that, anyway. Of course not. That’d be immature and not at all appropriate for a captain. Right. “You’d have chased me all over the ship?”
“I didn’t have to,” Bones says, moving his fingers in circular patterns on Jim’s shoulder. “I had an accomplice detain you long enough for me to catch up.”
An accomplice? Jim frowns then his eyes widen. “That sneaky little twerp,” he mutters. “All his ‘oh, keptin, you need to rest’ bullshit was just a cover then?”
“Nah, that was the truth. He was just worried about you, kid. Besides, he couldn’t really refuse after he contacted me.”
“Why not? I’m the captain. They should be more scared of me than you.” He slowly tugs on Bones’ uniform shirt until he’s able to touch bare skin, listening to Bones inhale at first contact. “I can give them horrible job details.”
“I can give them viruses that they’ve never even heard about,” Bones points out matter-of-factly.
“Damn it. That’s not fair. I’m the captain,” Jim whines, fully aware that he’s pouting but not really caring. “What’s the fun in it if they’re more scared of my CMO?”
“I know that you’re the captain, without you needing to tell me twice in the last five minutes.” Bones snorts, which makes his stomach clench beneath Jim’s fingers. “Just let me be the bad guy, Jim. You’re used to being the hero anyway.”
Jim tilts his head up so he can look at Bones. “You aren’t a bad guy. Scary and too quick to use a hypospray? Definitely. But nowhere near bad,” he says, smiling slightly before he rubs his cheek against Bones’ jaw. “I’m going to get a rash from this beard of yours.”
“Is that a not so subtle hint that you want me to shave?” Bones nuzzles his face.
“Was it subtle?” Jim grins. “I’ve been working on that, so go me for accomplishing it.”
“Yeah, go you,” Bones says dryly. “Only not because it wasn’t very subtle.”
“You know, I’m confined to my bed because I bravely stepped in front of some alien creature to save my crew. The least you could do is humor me and let me think that I’m being successful at subtlety,” he muses, moving his head slightly so that he can press his lips against Bones’ mouth.
“If I tried to humor you, you’d know I was full of shit then you’d kick my ass,” Bones murmurs before kissing him thoroughly. When he pulls back, he brings his free hand up to trace Jim’s lips. “I should get back to medical. I told Chapel that I was coming to check on you, but my shift isn’t over for another couple of hours.”
Jim wants to demand that he stay, but he knows that he can’t. He’s been enough of a pain in the ass today, in retrospect. “Alright,” he says finally. “Will you come by after work? If I promise to stay in bed and eat all my veggies?”
“I’ll come by, even without the promise.” Bones kisses him again, and Jim presses closer, moving his hand lower but stopping before he reaches Bones’ crotch.
Despite knowing about Bones’ current condition, it still feels like rejection when he’s actually trying to arouse him and nothing happens. Been there, done that, knows better now, even if he still continues to try because he can’t accept defeat. He’s not really in a place right now where he can just shrug it off, so he’s not going to go there. Besides, they don’t have time even if all of Bones’ equipment was in proper working order.
When they part, Jim reluctantly moves and lets go of him. “Back to work. I know,” he says. “Before you go, could you get me something to drink and hand me one of my PADDs? If I’m stuck lying here, maybe I can get some reading done.”
“I thought I’d have more of a fight on my hands when I said I had to go,” Bones says thoughtfully. He studies Jim’s face curiously.
“I think I’ve given you enough trouble today.” He smiles slightly. “Plus, the sooner you get to the med bay, the faster you’ll get back here, right?”
“Yeah, well, I’m used to your trouble,” Bones grumbles. He kisses Jim again before he stands up. “Want water or something else?”
“Milk. And cookies.” Jim bats his eyelashes. “Please.”
Bones arches a brow but goes to the replicator and comes back with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. After he puts them on the bedside table, he opens the drawer where Jim has the PADDs with books and case histories. “Which one do you want?”
“Number four,” he says after considering it. He’s glad that he labels them all or Bones might have more trouble finding the right one. When Bones hands it to him, he takes it and puts it on the bed beside him. “Thanks. For everything.”
Bones nods and takes a step back from the bed. “You don’t have to thank me, Jim.” He lowers his gaze and stares at Jim’s mouth before he growls softly.
Jim doesn’t even have time to react before Bones’ lips are against his. The kiss deepens, and he feels Bones’ hand on the back of his neck as they kiss. Bones licks and kisses his way across Jim’s jaw and down his throat. Jim tilts his head slightly and whimpers when Bones bites his neck. He grips Bones’ shoulder and closes his eyes as he feels Bones lick and suck on the bite mark he’s just made. “Bones,” he sighs, holding him tighter.
“Mine,” Bones whispers. Jim opens his eyes and looks at him when he draws back. Bones touches his face, tracing his bottom lip with his thumb. “I’ll be done with work in a few hours, then we can have dinner, with vegetables.”
“You’d better go before I pull rank and keep you here to entertain me,” Jim warns softly. He reaches up to touch the bite, watching Bones hesitate before he takes a step away from the bed.
“Right. Don’t want you pulling captain’s prerogative when I need to get back to medical,” he says, licking his lips as he runs his fingers through his hair. “Stay in bed, Captain.”
“Understood, Doctor,” he says as he snuggles back against his pillows. He gets his glass and a cookie off the plate, dipping it into his milk. Bones smiles slightly and turns to leave. Jim watches his ass as he walks, munching on a cookie as he enjoys the view.
End
#4: Marked Man | #6: Rambling Man