[Checking In | Private]

[dammit_imadoctor]

Who; Leonard McCoy and James T Kirk
What; Checking in
Where; Common Housing, Jim's Room
When; May 25, Evening
Warnings; None


[It had been a few weeks since McCoy had woken up in Genessia and he was, he supposed, starting to adjust. As time had went on and the chances of them getting home before they wore out their free stays in the common housing shrank, he'd even gotten a job.

Genessia's hospital wasn't as advanced as he was used to, but it was easier to adapt to then what they had in Nova City. He could, smuggling some things through the arch, do more good there.

Spock had found work of his own and was working on his experiments, on finding them a way out on top of things. He might wind up branching into five more scientific disciplines by the time they were home, but at least he was busy.

Jim on the other hand, seemed to be more busy worrying him than anything else. It was some kind of twisted joke, landing here, stranded, just after he'd gotten that mid-life crisis of his in hand.

That was why McCoy had made a stop on the way back from work, to pick up a bottle of whiskey and a few glasses before he made his way to the room Jim had wound up with. He knocked on the door, leaning close to listen for any sign of movement.]

Jim, it's me. Open up.

Comments

[james_tiberius]

[It had been a long few weeks for Jim. Besides trying (and only recently succeeding) to find a job and keeping up with Bones and Spock, he'd been doing his best to keep moving, keep exploring - he couldn't count how many times he'd walked the streets in Genessia and, later, in Nova City, the familiar places, before ambling back to the temporary housing he was still living in. He'd never been much good at sitting in one place - it tended to lead to bar fights and general bad behavior. So far, so good, here.. for the most part.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't upset at being stranded, but he did his best to put a good face on it. He didn't want to worry Bones, and he and Spock both had better things to do.

For now, though, he was browsing the network on his communicator when Bones knocked on the door, and he startled - he didn't get visitors really at all. But he stood up and opened the door, putting on a winning smile.]

Bones! Hey, what's up?

[dammit_imadoctor]

[McCoy held up the bag once Jim had answered the door, the paper-wrapped bottle in the plastic bag in clear sight.]

Thought I'd bring a little something, celebrate that job of yours belatedly. Or whatever excuse you feel like using. I know I've been busy.

[That was, unquestionably, a better way to get in the door than suggesting that things were less than alright. It was best to have a few in Jim before trying that.]

[james_tiberius]

[Jim stepped back, gesturing for Bones to come in.]

Sounds good to me. Yeah, I noticed - the hospital's keeping you working, huh? Is it that bad?

[It's a small joke. But really, it had been a while since he'd really sat down and talked to Bones.]

[dammit_imadoctor]

It's a hospital, they tend to do that. Still getting my foot in the door to be honest with you.

[Not that he acted it when he was there. McCoy walked in, moving towards the kitchenette for lack of a decent table and setting down the bag.]

Not to mention Spock's great idea the other day.

[james_tiberius]

Yeah, I mean, fair enough. [Jim shrugs, following Bones and having a seat on the edge of the bed.]

That was.. [Jim chuckles, shaking his head.] And you say I get into trouble.

[dammit_imadoctor]

You get in trouble. [McCoy informed Kirk very pointedly, with an equally pointed look before he turned back to the bag and pulled the glasses out of it.]

Just means you're rubbing off on him now. [The way he said it made it sound apocalyptic as he moved to wash the glasses in the undersized sink. No way was he going to use them as is off the shelf.]

[james_tiberius]

I can't help it if I'm a role model, Bones. [Jim grins when he says it, watching Bones get the drinks. After a moment, restless, he stands and walks over to him - not that it's far. But the movement helps.]

I think I've been pretty well-behaved since we got here.

[dammit_imadoctor]

You've gotten quiet since we've gotten here, there's a difference. [McCoy tells him blithely, finally drying the glasses and pouring whiskey in both before he hands one over.]

Here.

[james_tiberius]

I don't know what you're talking about. [Blithely innocent, Jim takes the glass with a nod and a smile.]

Thanks.

[dammit_imadoctor]

Like hell. [McCoy argued but he took his own drink anyway, and, with pointed eye contact, downed it, waiting for Jim to do the same before he continued.]

You're going crazy stuck here and we both damn well know it. You want to be out there. [He pointed, somewhat harshly, in a general upwards direction.]

[james_tiberius]

[Jim drinks before he talks, looking at his glass instead of at Bones. It's not like he doesn't know that he's right, but he doesn't love the idea of admitting that.]

On the roof? [Yeah, he knows that sarcasm will get him nowhere with Bones, but he tries like it's a reflex. After a moment, he sobers - metaphorically, he's definitely hoping to not be doing that literally for a while.] ...yeah. Well. I don't get the feeling this is optional.

[Instead of waiting for an answer, he holds up his glass in a universal gesture for another drink.]

[dammit_imadoctor]

[McCoy doesn't laugh, but he does pour the both of them more alcohol. He thought of it less as enabling, and more as the best way he had to keep an eye on him. A private drink wasn't going to lead to one of Jim's famous - but long behind them, thank god bar fights.]

Never said it was. Seems like you're giving up pretty damn easy for the guy who hacked the Kobayashi Maru.

And I know Spock's not going to call you on any of this, so here I am.

[james_tiberius]

[He takes a drink, shrugs. But Bones is right, and he knows it.]

I'm not saying I've given up. [Really. He hasn't.] We're working on getting out of here, and I know we'll get there. [He has to know that. Or else he'd really lose it.] It's the 'in-the-meantime' stuff I'm no good at.

[dammit_imadoctor]

[McCoy watches him as he talks, shaking his head briefly to clear it and break the gaze when he realizes that he isn't, and taking a sip of his fresh drink.]

Makes sense. I've got my niche, and Spock's got his - but this place is lacking pretty sorely in the ship department. You can't science our way out of here and neither can I. The difference I, [Here McCoy punctuates the pause with a drink.] I've got something fulfilling to do. You've had nothing, and now you've got that mechanic job and that damn death machine you insisted on.

Tell me, Jim, you think that's really gonna satisfy your craving for purpose in the meantime? Cos if you think it will we both know that's bullshit.

[james_tiberius]

[Well, that hit the nail on the head, didn't it? Jim wasn't sure how long it would take him to get used to Bones just walking in, pouring him a drink, and neatly summing up every confusing feeling he's struggling with, but it hasn't happened yet. As it is.. Jim makes a pause by taking a drink, finishing off his second glass, considering his answer. Considering what Bones had said, given that he hadn't really thought of it that way himself. What he ends up with is a slight shake of the head, a faint smile.]

I'll be fine, Bones. I've got work, stuff to do. And I can start asking around, see if anyone has any more information than we do.

[He's lying and he knows it, but it's more comfortable than the truth - that he has no idea how to handle being stranded like this.]

[dammit_imadoctor]

You've got a life that was never going to satisfy you when you didn't know what you were capable of. [He finishes his own drink, frustrated, but doesn't immediately move onto the next round.]

I know you don't want to go around knocking on doors for scraps of information or else you would be already. You need a way to prove yourself. And I've got one.

[james_tiberius]

You're making it sound pretty desperate, Bones. [He's being sarcastic, of course, because that's just about the only defense he's ever had to Bones's uncanny perceptions. Honestly, he was trying to make it work as hard as he could - to believe that this would be fine until they found a way out of here. He couldn't even really say if he believed it himself.]

Okay- what's the plan?

[dammit_imadoctor]

Well, [McCoy starts, with a rare twinkle in his eye that can't mean anything but trouble. He makes to pour another swill of whiskey into each glass.] With all this hub-bub about the Guardian nominations, the plan was to nominate you. That didn't work out.

[He offered his glass out to clink with Kirk's, then took a drink and waited for Jim to take his. Then, he adds;]

The damn Vulcan beat me to it.

[james_tiberius]

[It takes Jim a moment to get past sputtering to respond to this, because he honestly has no idea how to take it. And he never in a million years would have thought that this was what Bones's big plan was. Guardian nominations?]

You're kidding. Right?

[He's not sure if he hopes he is or not. He's too surprised by the whole deal.]

[dammit_imadoctor]

[Oh you wish he was kidding Jim.]

Not a chance. Check the network if you don't believe me.

[He finished the drink, fighting a smile and crossing his arms to indicate that he was more than willing to wait. This didn't mean he wasn't watching his reaction.]

Of course, you've still got to accept the nomination.

[james_tiberius]

I believe you. [Or, well, he did now, anyway. He didn't have to check - if Bones was telling him to, it meant it was real. Jim takes a drink instead of responding further at that moment, finishing it and taking a second to look at the glass like he was considering something.]

Right. Which.. you obviously think I should do.

[dammit_imadoctor]

I do.

[McCoy was blunt about that.]

I think it'd do you good, and this place. Spock obviously agrees you're right for the job or he sure as hell wouldn't have nominated you.

Win or lose the race, you'd be stupid not to try. Anyway - who knows what doors and information it might open. It's not admitting defeat, it's adapting and leaving your mark on this place while we're stuck here.

[james_tiberius]

You think so, huh? [It's a rhetorical question, and one he'd never ask if it weren't just him and Bones. He trusts Bones implicitly, so it doesn't bother him as much to let him see that he's uncertain.

[He knows Bones is probably right, though. Uncertainty and the newness of all of this aside- the idea is tempting. Guardians protected people, directed law enforcement - it wouldn't be all that different from what he did every day. He'd just be doing it planetside.]

You have a point. Just.. one question. [He smiles up at Bones, and asks,] Do I get to keep my day job?

[dammit_imadoctor]

[McCoy rolls his eyes, gaze turning upwards even though he still smiled. It was a moment before he looked back down at Jim.]

You'll probably want to quit it if you win, but it's not like you'd listen to me if I told you know.

[There's a beat, and for a moment his sarcasm melts away as he meets his eyes.]

You've got this.

[james_tiberius]

[Jim shrugs, leaning back a little finally, looking at the small window in his room. Thinking. He smiles a little when he reaches his decision.]

Well. [There's a weight to the word, and he looks back to Bones before continuing.] I'm not going to turn it down.

Yes, that means he's going to go for it.]

[dammit_imadoctor]

I'm shocked. [Bones tells him with a hint of the usual vinegar, but he breaks into a smile afterwards.]

[Then, of course, he reaches out takes the cup from Jim's hand, gesturing his head towards Jim.]

But in that case you've got an application to fill out. Better get to work.

[james_tiberius]

[Jim pulls a face when the glass is taken from him, but he shakes it off.]

Yeah, yeah. I'll get it.

[dammit_imadoctor]

You can get another once it's done.

[But he's still smiling.]

I've got to see this.