#mckirkenterprise

Bones only proposes once in his life; at the early age of 20, when he’s madly in love with Jocelyn Treadway, and has been for 4 steady years. Of course, it doesn’t last. Having a kid makes everything better, for a while, until it just doesn’t. The divorce is painful, Bones is drunk for most of it - maybe even more so when he finds he’s driven her back into the arms of an older high school flame.

After the dust of that divorce is settled, and Bones joins Jim and the other on to the Enterprise, he’s changed. He’s still a romantic at heart, but he doesn’t believe in marriage. Losing Jocelyn has scarred him bad, and though he eventually starts dating again here and there - marriage is a thing not meant for him. He’s certain of that.

But that’s not to say he doesn’t receive proposals in his life. Quite a few, in fact. After getting over his divorce, he meets a girl in the Academy. They’re not serious or nothin’, he tells Jim when they’re drinking in the campus bar together, they work together on assignments and they have sex. Sometimes dinner first, or a movie. They date, but it’s not serious. Doesn’t feel as serious as Jocelyn had been, but maybe he’s just scared of getting hurt again. She thinks they’re serious, though, perhaps a little too much too quickly, because she casually asks about marriage on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Bones sat on her bed, quietly studying a case study on some alien disease when she asks him. Maybe a little insensitive, but he laughs out loud when she suggests it. “No, darlin’, I don’t think so,” he says, “if I were meant to be married, it would’ve lasted the first time I tried it.” He doesn’t hear from her after that.

The second time, it’s a guy. But does it really count? They’re visiting Earth shortly after defeating Nero and they’re celebrating their victory. Jim and Bones are out late, tipsy but not wasted. The guy that comes up to them is, though. He stumbles over, and Bones catches him before he falls. “You ruined it,” the guy says, “I was gonna fall for you, handsome. You’re a fine specimen- you’ll make a fine husband someday. Why not to me? There’s a chapel ‘round the corner.” “I– no,” Bones says, “thank you.” Jim’s laughing at him. The two help the drunk guy back to his hotel, and Bones declines his invitation to stay the night, thanking him kindly, though. “There’s a bucket next to your bed in case you need to throw up, okay?” Bones says when he helps the guy in bed. “Drink plenty of water. You want to stay properly hydrated, or you’ll have an even worse hangover. There’s a deli just around the corner for orange juice and a greasy breakfast.” “You hold on to this one,” the guy tells Jim, and he’s trying to point at Bones, but he’s very drunk, “you hold on to this one, and make ‘em yours.” Jim is still laughing about it when they get back to their own hotel an hour later.

An alien species has Bones under his spell, and his mind is not his own. He’s obsessed with her. Jim is shaking his shoulders, but the words his friend is saying doesn’t get to his brain. All he thinks, feels, even smells, is that alien girl, and it’s making him sick unless he’s close to her. She talks about marriage, too, but even her words barely have meaning to him. Really, he just does as she asks. That includes beating up Jim for trying to stop her. Jim isn’t fighting back - not really, and Bones fears he could’ve killed him if Spock hadn’t knocked him out with that incredibly painful Vulcan pinch. He wakes up on the Enterprise, Jim sitting next to him  with a broken nose, but the worried look on Jim’s face is not over his own well-being, it’s over Bones’. “Are you okay?” Jim asks. “Are you?” Bones counters, “fuck, Jim, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t stop it-” “It’s fine,” Jim says, “no need to explain. I know it wasn’t you. We stopped her, you don’t have to worry. I gotta tell you though, dude, your taste in people is despicable.” Bones laughs, his hand reaching out for Jim’s face, fingers gently running under the bruise on his cheek. “Tell me about it,” he says.

With Jim, things are different. Jim is patient about Bones’ flaws, while simultaneously not taking any of his bullshit. Bones is dating his best friend, and for the first time, it feels similar to Jocelyn. Like it’s going somewhere, like this could be his forever. And Jim knows Bones doesn’t believe in marriage anymore, hasn’t believed in it since Jocelyn. But when a stranger in a bar in York Town hits on Bones openly, Jim’s a little jealous even if he has no reason to be. Bones has no intention to go home with a beautiful stranger when he can go home with his best friend. 

“Would you have gone home with her tonight if we weren’t, you know, a thing?” Jim asks Bones later, after he’s politely rejected that girl and they’re walking back to their apartment. “No,” Bones replies. “She’s beautiful, though.” “Certainly,” Bones says, “I think I still would’ve rather gone home with you.” “But if we weren’t a thing.” “Still,” Bones replies, “I rather watch movies and get drunk on the couch with you, having stupid discussions on the importance of updating my piloting skills-” “Very important,” Jim nods. “- than going home with a stranger for meaningless sex,” Bones concludes. 

Bones looks so good; a dark blue suit and a black tie; Starfleet insignia pinned to his chest. Jim reaches out to touch it, grinning when the other rolls his eyes. "Can we go inside or what?" Bones asks, nodding towards the doors to the reception hall, and Jim nods. "Can you at least try and pretend to be happy to be with me?" Jim asks, "I really need tonight to work." "Did I mention you're a terrible person?" “All the time,” Jim says, and Bones huffs. “Okay, let’s go inside.”

It's like the flip of a switch the moment they get inside. Bones' arm is around Jim's waist and he's smiling. He's greeting Jim's family members and he's laughing at bad jokes and, surprisingly, he doesn't drink a lot. Jim's surprised, pleasantly so, at this stranger on his arm. "James!" Winona said, cupping Jim's cheeks and kissing his forehead like she always does. "Mom," Jim said, catching Leonard smirking from the corner of his eyes. "Mom," Jim continues, "this is-" "I know who this is," his mother says, "I knew the two of you would eventually get together. You should’ve told me sooner, though." "You... what?" Jim asks. "Well, obviously the two of you are dating. You’ve been “roommates” since the Academy," she says, and Leonard smiles. "I can't believe you didn't even tell your mother about us, Jim, oh my God,” he says, and Jim feels terribly lost. 

Leonard tells Jim’s family about their incredibly romantic dates they went on, made up out of thin air. He kisses Jim’s cheek before he leaves to grab another drink. He’s constantly reaching out for Jim’s hand, or his arm, or his waist, anything. And he doesn’t even hesitate when Jim pulls him to the dance floor.  “What is all this?” Jim asks, sliding his arms around Bones’ shoulders, “I’ve never seen this side of you.” “Well, you know, countless years pretending to like my in-laws, I can do this,” Bones says, and Jim laughs. “What about that date we were describing? Stargazing at the Golden Gate Bridge? What secret romantic is hiding inside that grumpy exterior?” “Nothing secret about it, you literally call me Mr. Sensitive all the time,” Bones points out, and Jim nods. “That’s fair,” Jim says, and he smiles fondly at the other. Being this close to Bones, he finds himself thinking about kissing him. But they haven’t yet, other than cheeks, and this is different. Jim catches himself having feelings, and Bones looks so good. The other pulls away before Jim can do anything regrettable and impulsive, though, and with a conflicted mind, Jim watches him leave.

“Hey,” Sam says as he approaches Jim, and Jim smiles. “If it isn’t the groom. Congratulations,” he says, patting Sam’s shoulder, and then he pulls him into a quick hug. “You too,” Sam says, and Jim raises an eyebrow. “Huh?” “You and your doctor,” Sam says, “I gotta admit, I thought you were going to get an escort just to get back at me for being better at relationships than you.” “What? I would never do that,” Jim says, grinning stupidly. “I can tell. You look more in love with Leonard than I’m with my wife, and her and I are a for-life deal.” “Ha, yeah,” Jim says, and then: “wait, what?” "I see the looks you two give each other," Sam says, nudging Jim's shoulder, "that's how you know it’s for real." Jim glances in Bones' direction, who's speaking with Jim's mother, and when he catches Jim looking, he smiles lightly before turning back to the conversation with Winona. 

Jim promises he's going to help clean up afterwards. He walks Bones outside, only letting go of his hand once they were out of sight from most family members. "Thank you for this," Jim says quietly, and Bones shrugs. "It's okay, I had fun," he says, "you know that if you're going to clean up, I can help." "You've helped enough," Jim replies. He hesitates, and then adds: "You're really good at pretending." "Huh?" "You said you did this all the time, pretending to like your in-laws. It's really convincing. Even had me fooled," Jim explains, running a hand through his hair. "It helps that it's not all pretend," Bones replies, and Jim frowns. He studies the look in Bones' eyes, but he detects no annoyance or anger. No lies; instead, he smiles, possibly slightly intoxicated, and so Jim smiles, too. "Maybe we don't have to play pretend," Jim says, "we could just actually date." Bones laughs, and Jim feels the doctor's hands on his shoulders. "If this was your elaborate plan to get me to date you, you should know, it's ridiculous, and complicated. But, I guess, it did work," he says, and Jim grins. He reaches out, pulling Bones in closer, and he kisses him. Really kisses him, not just on his cheek.

Bones is the best doctor, but he’s undoubtedly the worst patient. Jim is far from perfect when it comes to health checkups and generally looking after himself, but Bones is worse. It frustrates Jim to no end, because he’s worried and he’s angry at whatever causes Bones to suffer, but he’s also annoyed that his doctor and best friend doesn’t look after his own health the way he preaches it to patients. That, and maybe it’s one of those realizations that Bones is far more alike Jim than Jim wants to admit.

Bones gets hurt surprisingly frequently for someone who scolds anyone for getting as much as a scratch. He joins Jim on ground missions a lot, and so more than once, when things to awry, Jim finds his best friend hurt and bleeding, but it’s Bones who pushes through that and tends to the minor bruise on Jim’s cheek. He ignores his own pain until everyone else is okay, and then he gets himself checked out - if he even does that in the first place.

“Jesus Christ,” Jim sighs when he catches Bones incredibly sick in his own med bay. Not to rest, of course, instead he’s tending to the other patients. “You need to rest,” Jim says, and Bones huffs at that. “You’re not my doctor,” Bones says, “I am, and I am fine.” “You’re not fine,” Jim replies. Bones’ skin feels hot and clammy when he briefly places his hand on Bones’ forehead, but Bones leans away instead. “I’m fine, Jim,” Bones says. “Go to your chambers, take a hot shower, and go to bed,” Jim orders, firmly this time. He grits his teeth, watching Bones patiently tend to a patient instead, but once he’s done with that, Bones finally obliges.

Jim doesn’t say anything about it, because Bones is a damn fine doctor and he knows what he’s doing at least 99% of the time (arguably, that number is a lot lower according to Spock). But it’s incredibly frustrating, because every time Bones gets hurt, Jim feels nothing short of a panic attack until he’s certain Bones is gonna make it through. He has that feeling with everyone on the Bridge, but Bones even more so. And while Jim is bleeding - an encounter with an alien race gone horribly wrong - he makes his way to Bones, who looks far worse. “Bones! Let’s get you back to the Enterprise,” Jim says, grabbing on to Bones’ arm to hoist him back up on his feet. “Are you alright, Jim?” Bones asks, and Jim nods. “I’m gonna be fine, Bones.” “You’re bleeding, just let me take a look-” Bones starts, but Jim interrupts him. “God damn it, no. Scotty, two to beam up. Get Chapel ready to escort McCoy here to med bay.” “Jim,” Bones starts, through gritted teeth, but Jim shakes his head. “No, shut up. We’re going back to the ship, and you’re going to heal.”

Jim is angry with Bones, of course, but he doesn’t really have anyone to talk about that with. Spock and Uhura are busy, Chekov is never interested in Jim’s social life, Sulu can’t relate because his best friend is Pavel “everything I do is great” Chekov, and Scotty somehow always finds a way to blame Jim. So, Bones it is. Even if it’s the very person he’s mad at.

Bones sits quietly on the couch while Jim paces through the room. He’s ranting about everything and nothing. Bones getting hurt on the mission, Bones ignoring his own health, Bones diving headfirst into trouble to save an ensign. And Bones sits there quietly, listening to the other. “Are you done?” Bones asks, and Jim narrows his eyes. “Are you?” He counters. Bones huffs, rubbing his temples like he’s fighting a headache - something that instantly worries Jim. “Done with what? Being a good doctor?” “Being a reckless idiot,” Jim replies, and Bones laughs. “You sound like me yelling at you,” he says. Jim hesitates, briefly, and then he sinks down on the couch next to Bones.  “You’re ignoring my point, Bones.” “I know.” “I’m just constantly worried you’re going to get hurt, and I can’t… I think my leadership abilities are compromised when I’m worried over you.” Bones opens his mouth to speak, but instead he decides to be silent, resting his hand on Jim’s leg. “You gotta have leadership abilities in the first place in order for them to be compromised,” he replies eventually. Jim briefly glares at him, but when Bones smiles, Jim does, too. “I can’t believe it,” Jim replies, “I’m pouring my soul out here and you’re still talking shit about me.”

Bones has been nervous for days. Jim has tried to calm his nerves by feeding him drunk the night before, but how is that gonna help? He’s a skilled doctor, Bones is, and Jim has seen him take charge on many assignments and field trips. If anyone in the medical rank should take command classes, it’s Bones. And he has been taking them. Doing quite well for himself, too, but now it’s his time to shine in the Kobayashi Maru test, and he’s nervous. “There’s no need to be,” Jim tells him, “you know it’s a bullshit test you’re going to lose anyway. Why be nervous at imminent failure?” “Jesus Christ, Jim, what happened to your ‘I don’t believe in no-win scenarios’? I think I liked that version of you better.”  “I still think that,” Jim says, “but you’re not gonna do what I did.” “No,” Bones says, stepping onto the simulated Bridge, and he glances towards the window where he knows he’s being watched, “I’m not going to do what you did,” he adds, and then he sits down in the captain’s chair. Jim knows, the moment Bones takes that deep breath, he’s gonna do fine.

Bones isn’t exactly first to be in command whenever Jim and Spock are away from the Bridge, but sometimes the situation calls for it. “We need a pilot to operate the shuttle,” Jim says as they’re brainstorming how to save a survivor on a crashing ship. “Sulu, Spock, you two come with me. Spock and I will have your back while you fly the survivor back to safety,” Jim promises as Sulu gets up from his seat. “Good luck,” Bones tells the three of them, and he gently pats Jim’s shoulder, “don’t get hurt.” “You too,” Jim says. “Why me? I’ll be on the ship.” “Well, yeah,” Jim says, “but you’ll be in command.” Jim watches the look in Bones’ eyes looking briefly struck with panic, and with a groan, Bones sinks down in Jim’s chair. “Just so you know,” he tells Jim, “if you’re not back in two hours, I’m taking this ship and I’m flying it to the nearest bar.”

Jim knows he agreed to meeting Bones at 6. The Enterprise is docked in York Town for a supply stop, but the Bridge is kind of their place. Plus, it’s quiet now and it’s dark. But it’s much closer to eight than it is to six by the time Jim steps on to the bridge. Bones sits in Jim’s chair, and when Jim approaches him, he finds the other asleep. Slouched back, head resting on his hand. Jim reaches out, his hand gently running through Bones’ hair, and the other slowly opens his eyes. “Hey, Captain,” Jim smiles. “At least this captain was on time for our date,” Bones counters, and Jim laughs. “Sorry, meeting took too long,” he says, sliding  down on the chair, too, and he sits on Bones’ lap. “You still wanna hit the bar?” Jim asks, and Bones shrugs. “I dunno, I’m kind of comfortable,” he admits, and Jim chuckles at that. “I know, right? The captain’s chair is pretty neat. That’s why I sleep here sometimes.” “Oh, that’s why?” Bones asks, “you sure it’s not your crippling fear of being alone?” “Wow,” Jim replies, settling down comfortably with one of Bones’ arms leisurely around his waist, “way to attack me on date night.”

Bones needs to go to medbay, but he refuses. Jim holds on to him tightly, one arm around Bones’ waist to keep him standing. “You’re bleeding,” Jim says, “you need to go to med.” “No,” Bones grits his teeth, doing his best to pretend he’s fine, but Jim can see his in pain, “Joanna is on that ship, Jim, I can’t– I need to see if she’s gonna be okay.” “Fine,” Jim says, stumbling back on to the bridge with him, and when they get there, he forces Bones to sit down on the chair. “I’m fine,” Bones says, but when Jim’s hand pushes him down, he sits down anyway. Jim rests his hand on Bones’ shoulder, partially to keep him seated, but maybe more so for mental support. Bones reaches out for Jim’s hand, squeezing it nervously while they try and get Joanna (and a few other kids) out of an enemy ship. 

Two months later, he still can’t open a Comms channel without duck noises echoing through the corridors. Whatever Joanna did to his chair, she’s a very good prankster.

The second time they’re on the bridge is 2 years later. He’s about to lock down the Bridge for the night, but then he hears those quiet sniffles, and he finds Joanna under Chekov’s desk. “Hey,” Jim says, crouching down in front of her, “what’s the matter, Jo-Jo?” “I’m staying here,” she replies, and Jim frowns. “What do you mean? It’s not a comfortable floor to sleep on, and no one will be here til morning.” “I don’t want to go back to York Town. School sucks, and dad will be gone for years.” “We’ll be back in York Town as often as we can,” Jim says, sitting down next to her, “and I’ll keep an eye on your daddy for you.” Joanna huffs at that, but Jim reaches out a hand to her. “C'mon,” he says, “lets sit in the chair and pretend we’re fighting Klingons.” “You’re so lame, Jim.”

When Joanna is 14, Jim is no longer just Jim. Not to her. He’s the cool uncle, without even really being an uncle. Hes more of a stepdad. Dad’s boyfriend. The one who rides motorcycles and takes Joanna with him despite Bones telling him not to, but uncle Jim has a nicer ring to it (and she flat out refuses to call him dad). They see each other on the bridge, but this time on more formal circumstances. Jim agreed to let school kids roam the ship so they can have a tour, and it just so happens to be Joanna’s class. “Hi, Uncle Jim,” Joanna calls out to him when her group makes it to the bridge. She looks a little smug at the other kids, who are perplexed to find out that Jo’s “Uncle Jim” is actually Jim Kirk. She’s definitely bragging, and Jim let’s her. “Hey, Jo, want to sit in the chair again?”

“Why are we here?” Bones asks Jim, “we’re on the bridge every god damn day, let’s enjoy a bar on the plaza!” “But look at the view,” Jim says, pulling Bones towards the window, and they overlook the plaza together. Kind of. The docking stations don’t have the greatest views at all. “You have a penthouse downtown,” Bones says, “with a pool on the roof garden. That’s a view. This,” he gestures outside, “barely classifies as such.” Jim laughs, arms sliding around Bones’ shoulders. “You’re a beacon of positivity, Bones.” He leans in to kiss him, but Joanna groans at the sight of that. “Gross.” “Jo,” Bones says, turning to look at the girl curled up in a blanket on Jim’s chair, “what are you doing here?” She hesitates, briefly, and then sighs. “Jackson broke up with me,“ she says. Both Jim and Bones are at her side instantly, and Joanna feels much better when the three of them settle on the floor in front of that big window. “You’ll be fine,” Bones says, running a hand through her hair and hugging her tight, “who needs a guy named Jackson anyway? And you’re going to the Academy soon. You won’t even remember him next year.” Jim’s a little less subtle. He’s on the other side of her, also holding her tight, but instead of sugarcoating things, he looks at her, dead serious; “want me to punch him in the face?”

It’s become a habit by now. There’s at least one night he finds Joanna sneaking on to the Bridge, looking out at the terminals into York Town plaza. She’s seventeen now, and looks so much like her father, it’s almost eerie. “Hey,” Jim says, walking over to the window to stand next to her. “I got accepted,” Joanna says, turning to look at Jim with the biggest grin on her face, “I’m gonna go to the Academy next month.” “That’s great!” Jim says, pulling her into a hug, “why are you here, then? You should be celebrating!” “I’m worried dad’s gonna be disappointed, since I’m not in medical.” “Are you crazy? Bones is going to be proud no matter what you choose to do in life,” he says, “come, let’s go celebrate, the three of us.” “Can I sit in the chair for a bit, first?” “Fine,” Jim says, “but for the love of God, don’t change the sounds.”

“Seriously, Jim, I’m going to diagnose you a workaholic or something. And still you get no work done!” Bones tells Jim when they’re on the bridge. York Town is quiet this time at night, only a few people still stroll the plaza from what they can see. “This is just our little spot, you know?” Jim says, and Bones huffs. “No, I don’t know. Are you okay? You seem more jittery than usual.” “Hmm,” Jim replies simply, and then; “ I was just thinking, you know? We’re also not getting any younger-” “Yeah, you’re greying,” Bones interrupts him, and Jim briefly relaxes when he feels Bones’ hands through his hair. But then he narrows his eyes. “What do you mean? No I’m not. It’s summer blond, just lighter than usual.” “What summer? We spend most of our days in deep space!” “Shut up, oh my God. Why do I want to marry you?” He groans, and Bones tenses instantly. “What?” Shit. “What?” Jim repeats, throwing Bones a nervous smile, “is that bad?” “As far as proposals go,” Bones says, “this one is pretty terrible.” “Oh my God,” Joanna calls out from the chair, loud enough to startle both of them, “you guys suck, get on with it. I didn’t spend the last few weeks looking at rings with Jim for such a lame proposal.”

“Let me get this straight,”  Bones says, watching Jim sit down on his desk chair, “you want to study for the Introduction to Command exam the entire night? Why didn’t you just start studying earlier, like a normal person?” “I’m the normal person here, Bones, no one actually starts studying weeks in advance,” Jim replies, turning around in his chair with a grin that’s terrifying - probably with at least three energy drinks downed already. “Lots of people study weeks in advance, that’s why I only have to read the summary a couple times and I can go to bed on time,” Bones says. “Sounds boring,” Jim replies, “anyway, no, you can’t go to sleep. You need to make sure I stay awake.” Bones laughs at that, until he realizes Jim is entirely serious. “Wait. What?” “I’m serious, Bones. Don’t let me fall asleep. I need to pass this exam or I’m out. Please.”

“You need to rest,” Jim tells Bones, watching the doctor fussing worriedly over the new batch of patients finding their way into the med bay. The ship was under an unusual attack; a deadly virus sweeping through the corridors. A few decks are under strict quarantine, and though Jim isn’t infected yet himself, he can basically smell the disease everywhere. Bones has been working on a cure, but so far results have been slow. Jim can tell Bones is infected, too; he’s pale and shaky, and he coughs a lot. Probably off worse than most sick people checking in, because they’re resting now, and Bones is not. “I’m close to a breakthrough,” Bones says, “I may have a vaccine.” “Just rest, please,” Jim says, “I’m worried about you.” He hesitates, and then adds; “at least rest until the test results from the vaccine come in.” Bones doesn’t immediately respond, so Jim takes that time to push his doctor down in his office chair, and he runs his fingers gently through Bones’ hair. “Rest.” “Five minutes, maybe,” Bones says, leaning back in his chair, “don’t let me fall asleep.”

Conference meetings are the worst. It’s a large gathering with captains, first officers, and CMO’s, as well as Starfleet officers, and all they do is talk. Talk numbers. Talk data. Talk laws and law breakers, processes and prime directives, and all that other crap. It’s like being back in the Academy’s auditorium, and Jim sits next to Bones, constantly stifling yawns and looking at his PADD under the table. He can feel himself nod off a little too often, and Bones nudges him just before they ask Jim an important question. Jim clears his throat, gives the admirals a bullshit answer, and slouches back in his seat. “Are you that tired?” Bones asks quietly, and Jim shrugs. “I am that bored, Bones,” he complains silently, and Bones chuckles. “You never grow up, do you?” “Not if I can help it,” Jim replies. He smiles innocently at the lady shooting them glares for talking, and then he rests his head on Bones’ shoulder. “Just don’t let me fall asleep.”

Bones is hurt. Bones is badly, badly hurt. His shirt is more red than it is blue, and Jim’s hands are slippery with the doctor’s blood when he pulls Bones back up on his feet. “Jesus, Bones- Scotty, two to beam up!” he calls into his communicator loudly, but all he hears is static noise, with the occasional angry shouting from Scotty coming through, but nothing coherent. “What do I do?” Jim asks Bones, helping him sit down against the wall of a destroyed building. Beaming down in a parallel version of Earth that’s somehow stuck in the 1940’s was a bad idea. Very bad. And Jim blames himself for Bones being hurt. Bones’ hands are shaking as he presses his hands down on the wound in his stomach. “Keep me conscious,” Bones grunts under his breath, and Jim stares at him blankly. “How?” he asks, gently cupping Bones’ cheeks, and he bites his own lip, “you need some rest.” “Falling unconscious is not the same as sleeping, you idiot,” Bones mutters through gritted teeth. Jim laughs, though it’s filled with sadness and worry over his best friend. Where his hands previously touched Bones’ face, the other’s cheeks are smeared with blood, and it looks horrible. “I’ll keep you conscious,” Jim promises. “Good,” Bones says, “just… don’t let me fall asleep.”

It’s Uhura’s idea. Jim immediately agrees. Spock takes a little convincing, but the promise of having plenty of research samples in the woods is enough. That, and the way Uhura looks at him and talks about spending time with him socially definitely contributes to Spock’s agreeing to it. Bones, though, is a cold hard “no”. “Please,” Jim says, reaching out to hold both Bones’ hands, and he squeezes them lightly, “I’m asking nicely.” “Hmm,” Bones replies, “no.” “Why not?” Jim asks. “Camping. In the woods,” Bones says, “that’s why. It’s awful. There’s flies everywhere, no bathroom, no bedroom-” “It’s just for a weekend,” Jim says, “can you try to not be the grumpy old man? It’ll be good for you to get some fresh air. The fumes of med bay are wearing you down.” “Resorting to flattery, I hear,” Bones replies, “there’s not a thing in the world you can do to convince me to come.”

“So what did it take you to convince him?” Uhura asks Jim quietly. The two of them walk ahead of Spock and Bones, following the small mountain path that leads down to a lake clearing, where Uhura arranged everything to be, apparently. “Sex,” Jim admits sheepishly, and Uhura rolls her eyes. “Classy. I shouldn’t have expected anything else.” “Oh, like you were any different convincing Spock. Engaging ’socially’, you’re not fooling anyone,” Jim counters, nudging her arm and matching her grin with one of his own. 

Okay, Jim can tell Bones is trying. He’s trying not to curse so much when they struggle pitching their tent. He cusses under his breath a lot, and Jim’s pretty sure his name is muttered out multiple times in less than flattering manners, but Bones is trying. And Jim shows his appreciation of that by pressing him up against the closest tree, lips chasing his in a heated kiss - something that brightens Bones’ mood considerably, at least. 

Uhura isn’t an idiot. Their camp site isn’t entirely excluded. There are other campers not too far away. There’s even an outhouse with a functioning toilet and a shower a few hundred feet away, and a campsite shop with a very limited amount of food that looks locally caught, cooked, or brewed. They’re camping, but they’re not really as stuck in the wilderness as it looks. When she tells Bones about it, he lightens up to the point that he actually enjoys himself. 

He teaches Spock fishing at the lake - something that would’ve been relaxing had it not been for Jim cannonballing into the water right in front of them. “Fuck sake, Jim,” Bones curses at him when Jim climbs back out of the water. "You’re scaring all the fish away.“ “I think you and your grumpy face do that, too,” Jim counters, which is answered with Bones pushing him right off the pier and back into the water.

While Bones and Jim stay at the lake to swim, Spock and Uhura venture out on a hike. Besides the fresh air and a change of scenery from their usual recreational spaces in the Enterprise, it’s nice to spend some time solely in each other’s company. They can gossip about crew members shamelessly, while simultaneously enjoying the views of the lake and the lush green of the trees. They take a break at a river bed to watch the fish and other wildlife around them. 

The night is spent surrounding a camp fire, roasting food over the open fire and sharing ridiculous dating stories. It’s nice to gossip and share secrets. Jim and Bones sit next to each other, bickering over whether or not Jim did or did not get hurt on their last away mission. Spock and Uhura listen to them rather fondly, though they’re more fond of each other’s company - Uhura’s resting her head on his shoulder while Spock’s fingers run absentmindedly over her arm. “Hey,” Jim interrupts them, “I know what Vulcan kisses look like. Get a room.”

Spock gets hurt on a hike the next day. Rather, it’s an allergic reaction to a sting from a bug. Luckily, Bones is there with a med kid to stop the reaction from getting too bad. He advices Spock to take it slow, though, and so that’s a good excuse to spend the afternoon with Uhura lazing around in the hammock near their tent. Bones is reading a book on the pier, feet in the water, and Jim’s next to him playing a game on his PADD. And, probably, because he’s still a Captain, checking up on the Enterprise crew.

A night hike is made terrifying by Jim filming everything and telling fake horror stories about the woods until Uhura tells him to shut the hell up. Bones scoffs about Jim’s immaturity, but it’s definitely Bones who lies awake at night terrified of every unfamiliar sound around them. Which, in the woods, is every sound. He rolls over in their sleeping bag, shaking the other awake. “What?” “There’s someone outside,” Bones says, and Jim huffs, turning back around. “There’s other campers, Bones.” “No, Jim, seriously, you should check.” “You go check.” “Jim.” “I’m sleeping!” “Jim-!” “Fine,” Jim says, turning around to face Bones, and he hovers over him for a few seconds, “if this is nothing, I swear I’m going to make sure you’re not falling back asleep any time soon.”

He doesn’t catch a predator, or a wild animal. He catches Spock and Uhura making out - and he’s not sure which is worse. True to his word, though, Jim finds a distraction by keeping Bones awake now that he is, too.

Frank was never a bad person, but he was pretty far from good. He was a drunk, negligent, and an all-round asshole. How Jim’s mother managed to stay with him that long was beyond Jim, but then she wasn’t home a lot growing up. She came back shortly after Jim’s brother ran away from home, and Jim crashed Frank’s car off a cliff, and her being back in their lives made Jim being in his stepfather’s presence a whole lot more bearable.

But it’s a past he doesn’t think about. In space - exploring new planets, his life as a child is just a distant memory most of the time, and Jim is genuinely happy. It helps knowing his alcoholic dick of a stepfather would never achieve to anything, and that his mother is safe doing her research on a faraway colony. His brother is married and on Earth. All is well.

They’re outside on a small colony planet, far away from Earth, and Jim has been desperately trying to convince the primitive colony about the need for Starfleet to research certain minerals growing underground, but the townspeople are having none of it. It doesn’t help that Spock is trying to explain it to them, too, but continuously calls them derogatory terms they may not know the exact definition of, but they understand it’s not positive. Jim is interrupted by Frank, so suddenly stepping towards him and the people he’s negotiating with, it takes him completely off guard. He’s grey now, wrinkled and with a scruffy beard. Despite that, though, Jim recognizes him instantly, and he’s frozen in place watching the older man. Frank speaks to the people there quietly, and Jim let’s him, without hearing a word the man is saying because his mind is racing through a million questions he doesn’t even want the answer to.

Finally, Frank looks up and nods. “They’ll let you research for one week,” he says. . Because Jim doesn’t respond, Spock says; “Thank you” in his place, and then he turns around to get started. Jim turns around, too, and he starts walking away. “James,” Frank calls out to him, and before Jim can slow down himself, Frank walks after him and grabs his arm - and very briefly, Jim almost flinches like he used to. Almost. Instead, he turns around, turning to look at his stepfather, and forces a small smile. “Frank,” he says, “I didn’t recognize you.” Frank huffs. “Bullshit, you didn’t. I know you did. I don’t blame you for pretending not to, though,” he says, “I know we didn’t end things on great terms.” Jim doesn’t know what to say to that, so instead he asks; “What are you doing here?” “I oversee supplies being shipped here, mostly. It’s not Earth, but it’s something.” “Oh, okay,” Jim says, “well, I gotta go.” “Wait,” Frank says, “why don’t we catch up? I know you’re here all week. Make some time free for your old man.”

“I mean, who does he think he is? The nerve to tell me to ‘make some time’ for him. He’s not my dad. He’s never been my dad, Bones.” “I know,” Bones replies. Jim paces in front of him, constantly walking back and forth in front of the couch Bones is sitting on, until Bones reaches out and pulls him down next to him. “I don’t know what to do,” Jim says. “Why don’t you just go and see what he has to say? Even if it’s nothing, it’s only an hour or so, and then you never have to see him again.” “This is my stepfather we’re talking about,” Jim says. “You can also just not go,” Bones offers, “what is it you want?” Jim thinks about that for a few seconds, sighing; “I don’t know.”

Jim keeps tossing and turning in bed, thinking it over. What did he want? Preferably, for his stepfather not to have walked into his life in the first place, but he wasn’t that lucky. Eventually, Bones’ arm found its way around his waist, pulling him in closer. “Stop fussing,” Bones says, “or talk about it.” Jim sighs, turning around to face Bones. “I don’t want to see him,” Jim says, and Bones smiles lightly, his hand running through Jim’s hair. “Then don’t. You don’t have to. You owe him nothing.”

Still, Jim goes, because what if this man did change? Bones goes with him, to a small tavern where the beer is cheap and it smells like old cigarettes. Clearly, this whole planet is a bit underdeveloped, still, but that seems to fit Frank fine. Jim doesn’t know what to expect; an apology for a sucky childhood, maybe. Maybe even being yelled at again, or spoken down to, but it’s nothing like that. It’s not much of anything. Frank doesn’t acknowledge the past, and Jim doesn’t feel like digging, either. Frank doesn’t even ask much about Jim’s adventures in the Enterprise. They sit, and have a drink, and Frank talks about being a supplier. Honest work. He talks about Winona, too, about never really seeing her again. About Jim’s brother being married and with two kids, and he asks when Jim thinks about getting kids. Jim’s pretty sure he hears the other scoff a little when Jim mentions that the answer to that is “probably never”.

“Jim,” Frank says, “you’re not getting any younger, either. Perhaps you should start considering kids.” It’s the first time Bones turns into the conversation, too. He’d been sitting a table away to give Jim and his stepfather privacy. But even though Jim could still shrug Frank’s comment off, it seems Bones can’t. “Jim has a stepdaughter,” Bones says, which takes both Jim and Frank off guard. "Great with kids. Not negligent in the slightest, doesn’t even drink more than a beer in her presence. Who’d have thought that, seeing the great example he’s had growing up?“ Bones pulls out his PADD, showing off pictures of Jim with Joanna to the - to him - complete stranger sitting across the table from Jim. “Who’s this?” Frank asks. “My medical officer,” Jim says, and then adds: “and my partner.” Frank stares at the two of them. “Oh,” he says, “okay.”

It’s a short goodbye; no promises to meet again. Again, no apology either. “He could’ve at least said something about the twenty-something years he was a poor father,” Jim tells Bones when they’re back on the Enterprise. “Were you expecting anything?” Bones asks, sliding an arm around Jim’s shoulder when the other sits down on the couch next to him. “I don’t know, some recognition, maybe,” Jim says, and Bones shrugs. “You don’t always get the closure you hope for,” he says, “sometimes people are just shitty. And you have your family here. It doesn’t matter what an old man thinks.”