#mckspirk

He’s lost track of how many times he’s held Jim andSpock’s life in his hands. He’s made this exact same decision over and overagain; it’s all so damn routine that he doesn’t understand why they’re evenpretending to debate this.

Leonard’s neveronce hesitated, and he sure as hell isn’t going to start now.  

“Well bless your hearts,” Leonard drawls into thesilence. This draws a frown from Jim, who actually knows what he’s getting at,and a curiously arched brow from Spock. “I’ll drink it of course.”

“Bones, wait-”

“Leonard, I feel I must protest-”

This time it’s Leonard who ignores the words ofcaution. He pushes aside their obvious concern for him and plucks the cup fromthe center of the table before Jim can snatch it instead.

He’s not going to stand by when he can dosomething. He’s not going to stare down at Jim’s lifeless body again, he’s notgoing to allow himself to face the same thing with Spock.

One thing his idiots just don’t seem to get, isthat he can’t be the one left behind, not again.

“Oh come now, Spock. Clearly you can see this isthe logical choice,” he teases with a slight smirk, trying, as he alwaysdoes, to hide behind his sarcasm. “The ship needs the captain, and Jim needsyou to help think your way through the rest of this mess. You’ve alreadyfigured out this little puzzle. Besides, Chapel and M’Benga will be able tofind an antidote, as long as your two are idiots about this whole thing andfinish this trial nonsense up nice and quick.”

Three cups, two with water, one with poison, allthe liquid has to be drunk. Of course they can’t just leave that to chance,thus the single cup that Leonard holds in a slightly trembling hand.

“Bones! Don’t be an idiot. We’ll find another way,or I’ll drink it or-”

Leonard meets Jim’s eyes, and shakes his head.Spock is standing now, making his way over to Jim, and giving Leonard thatlook, the one that took him too long to figure out. The look that says withoutwords, because of course the damned Vulcan couldn’t actually say what he’sfeeling, that he trusts Leonard, and that he loves him.

“There’s no other way, darlin’, and we all know it.”

Jim shakes his head, and it looks like he’s aboutto lunge forward, but Spock places a hand on his shoulder.

“I’ve made this choice before, and I’m sure I’llmake it again. I don’t care ‘bout the consequences, I choose that you live.”

With one last look into Jim and Spock’s eyes,Leonard nods and raises the cup in silent salute. Then he tips the whole thingback. It burns on the way down, but he makes sure to drink every single lastdrop.

The cup drops from his hand with a dull clang, andalready his body is going numb.

“Bones! Dammit, Spock! Let me go!”

“Captain, Jim, we must go now. There’s still achance-”

“Come on, Bones. Come on. If you die….if you die Iswear I’m going to kill you.”

“You do realize that would be counter productive.”

Leonard groans softly. It feels like he’s breathingin fire, and his entire body feels like it weighs about ten times as much asusual, but he still manages to open his eyes. Jim and Spock are on either sideof him, each holding a hand.

“Bones!”

“Leonard.”

All he can manage is a low growl, blinking stupidlyup at them. He drank poison, he’d said there might be time to save him…he hadn’tactually thought- “Well fuck me,” he mumbles.

“Later,” Jim says softly, his grin a little shaky,but there none-the-less. “Dr. M’Benga says you need to rest for a few daysfirst.”

“How-?”

“I took it upon myself to persuade our…hosts…thatit was in their best interest to give us the antidote,” Spock explains softly,the hand holding Leonard’s twitching slightly and tightening its grip.

Jim sinks into the chair by his bed, and leansforward to press his forehead against Leoanrd’s. The familiar baby blues arebright with tears, and it looks like he’s gone and managed to get himselfscraped up again, despite Leonard trying to prevent that very thing. “He beatthem up,” Jim clarifies. “It was awesome.”

Leonard chuckles weakly, breaking into a cough andthen a groan as his body protests.

“You’re never allowed to do that again,” Jim sayssternly, squeezing Leonard’s hand even tighter than Spock is. “Promise me you’llnever do that again.”

“I must agree, Leonard. The thought of you dying isnot one that I enjoy. I do not think I would handle the loss well at all.”

“Welcome to my world,” Leonard whispers. A wrysmile twitches at his lips and he squeezes their hands.