Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Medical is pretty quiet, which isn’t too surprising considering Alpha shift ended a little while ago. Jim got busy working on inventory requests and didn’t realize the time, so he’s a little later than he originally planned. Not that Bones is expecting him, but still. There’s a chance that Bones has already left and gone to his quarters, but he figures checking medical first is the best decision. A scan of the place doesn’t locate Bones, so Jim crosses the room and pushes the chime because the door is closed.

“What?” Bones asks over the communicator in a ‘don’t disturb me unless there’s an emergency, damn it’ tone.

Jim smiles and types in the code, listening to the woosh as the door opens. He steps into the office and waits until the door closes against before leaning against it. “Hi honey. How was work today?” he asks sweetly.

“I’ve told you not to call me that before, especially not in my office,” Bones mutters. “I’m not a sweet aliment produced by bees, nor am I derived from flowers.”

“I know you have. I just choose not to listen because you look sexy when you’re scowling at me like that,” Jim informs him. He frowns slightly as a thought occurs to him. “Did she call you that or something?”

“Only you would find scowling sexy.” Bones rolls his eyes before he arches a brow. “By she I assume you mean Jocelyn?”

“Yeah, the Ex.” Jim doesn’t really like hearing her name, and he isn’t sure that he didn’t prefer it back when Bones also called her the Ex. Naming her makes him think that maybe Bones cares more than he says, which is really frustrating considering he didn’t even say her name until he and Jim had crossed lines. She’s had her chance with Bones, gave him up and made his life hell, so it’s Jim’s turn to have his chance, damn it. Without memories of her making Bones use her name or distracting him from what’s important now, namely Jim.

Bones studies him silently until Jim feels awkward. He frowns even more and sits down, tapping his foot slightly as he wonders why Bones won’t answer the question. “I was always Leonard to her,” Bones finally says. “And, no, I didn’t call her honey, either.”

Jim relaxes slightly because Bones’ voice isn’t a yearning for the Ex type. “What did you call her?”

“Not everyone is as fond of pet names as you seem to be, kid,” Bones points out. He purses his lips, though, which means he must have called her something. Jim considers it and decides to push. It’s the second day back after his injuries, and he’s been bored most of the day, so pushing Bones, in moderation, is always good for some excitement.

“You call me kid,” Jim tells him. “Which, in and of itself, isn’t a traditional ‘pet name’, but you make it one. It’s all affectionate and kind of gruff and just for me. You don’t even call Chekov kid, so it isn’t just an age thing.” He smiles slightly. “If anyone else called me that, I’d be annoyed, but I like when you do it, even when you’re being an ass.”

Bones leans back in his chair and shakes his head. “God, Jim. Your mind is a really strange place, isn’t it? You overthink the oddest shit, and don’t think enough about some of the important things.”

“If you were twenty-five and someone five years older than you called you kid, you can’t tell me that you wouldn’t get pissed off,” he says simply. “You’ve never said it in a condescending way, though, and you let me call you Bones, so I put up with it. Now, I realize it’s your way of being affectionate without being silly.”

“It isn’t a pet name,” Bones grumbles even as he gets the wrinkles on his forehead that mean he’s thinking about something. “It’s just a name.”

“Right.” Jim grins because he’s totally won that point. “So, the Ex. Was it sweetie or snookums or babycakes?”

“Damn it, Jim. Why do you care?” Bones snorts. “Snookums? Really?”

“I don’t care.” He shifts in the chair and tries not to lose his smile. “I’m just curious is all. You don’t like it when I use honey and you really don’t like baby. Thought that maybe you used one of those with her.”

“When you use honey, you’re being a silly brat. I might not dislike it terribly, but I’m thirty years old and not some sweet young thing that’s going to be giggling over a term of endearment,” Bones tells him. “As for baby, it’s your fallback, isn’t it? Casual sex, unable to remember the girl’s name, so she becomes baby because it gets her hot to hear you saying it when you’re breathless from fucking. I’m not some nameless one night stand.”

At Bones’ rather accurate description of his normal use of baby, Jim winces and suddenly finds the top of the desk interesting. “Okay. I understand that,” he says quietly. “I don’t mean it that way with you, but it’s obviously not something you’re comfortable hearing. I certainly don’t want it to bring up my past anytime I use it.”

“I know you don’t, but I watched you before, remember? It was all pleasure for pleasure’s sake with baby thrown in while you both got off, and I just--I can’t really hear it and not think about being one of many.”

“There isn’t ‘many’ anymore.” Jim looks up at him and bites his lower lip. “There’s only you. And I know that you still don’t completely believe it, but it’s true.”

When Bones becomes quiet and just stares, it’s always a bit disconcerting, but Jim’s getting more used to it lately. He tends to move when he’s in serious thought, but Bones becomes silent and still. “I called her Lovey sometimes because it’s what her family called her when she was a kid.” Bones shrugs a shoulder. “Not really a term of endearment so much as a childhood nickname, but she liked it.”

Jim nods slowly. “I didn’t really have any childhood nicknames. Not any that I’d want to be called by you, anyway. Jim is it, really. I kind of liked it that time you called me James, mostly because no one ever really uses my full name, but I guess I prefer Jim.” He watches Bones reach over to pick up the PADD that he’d been reading when Jim came into the office. “I like kid, but only when you use it.”

“Is this really something that you think about?” Bones asks. He doesn’t sound agitated, mostly curious. “Pet names and nicknames and shit?”

“I don’t know.” Jim runs his fingers through his hair. “Isn’t it normal in relationships? At least, the long-lasting ones? My mom and Frank never had those kinds of sappy names for each other, and their relationship was just a disaster. I guess I always assumed it was part of the whole successful relationship process.” He makes a face. “Do you think Spock and Uhura have pet names?”

“Jocelyn and I are divorced, and things were utterly horrible the last couple of years. I don’t think lighthearted pet names is a requirement to avoid failure when it comes to that,” Bones tells him quietly. “And I don’t care what our colleagues do or don’t call each other.”

“Oh. Right.” Jim worries his bottom lip as he stares at Bones. “I’m still trying to figure all that out. How to do this relationship thing and how not to fuck it up. I guess calling you baby is a definite negative, and you don’t seem to like being called honey much, even when it’s just playful. Maybe we’ll just skip that bit?”

Bones sighs. “I don’t care what you call me, darlin’,” he drawls as he drags his fingers through his hair, thoroughly disheveling it. “Just not baby. I haven’t ever heard you call anyone else anything, so it’s not like it’s usual for you anyway. Bones is my preference, obviously, and I’d rather not hear Leonard, either. Otherwise, it isn’t really anything I’ve thought much about.”

“I like that,” Jim admits, grinning slightly as he taps his fingers on his thigh. “Darling, only it sounds better when you say it. All southern and drawly and sexy.”

“I didn’t even realize--“ Bones trails off and laughs . “Now you’ve got me using the damn names without even noticing.”

“I’m just good like that,” Jim deadpans, rather pleased that he manages to say it without grinning. He leans forward to rest his elbows on the desk. “Will you call me sweetheart? Just once? I want to hear you say it in that growly drawl.”

“You’re hopeless,” Bones tells him. “I’m not going to go around using silly terms of endearment just because you’ve decided they somehow signify a strong relationship.” He smiles slightly. “Why sweetheart?”

“Why not?” Jim asks. “It sounds as good as I thought it would. And you don’t have to go around using them, Bones. I hardly do, and I’m the one with the issue, I guess.” He looks at him seriously. “I’m glad that I understand about baby, though. I do get it, cause it’s not like I’d want you to be thinking about her if you used the same name or something.”

Bones licks his bottom lip and studies Jim. “It isn’t all her fault, you know? I became a terrible husband, and our friendship died before our marriage did. Hell, that’s probably one reason that the marriage did die,” he murmurs softly. “It’s just, I know she fucked up and she became really unbearable during the divorce, keeping me from Joanna and there was the infidelity and everything, but it’s not just on her, Jim. Maybe that’s one reason that I always avoid talking about it, because I know a lot of it’s my fault.”

“If she’d really cared about you, she’d have tried to make things work instead of deserting you after your father died and she’d never have started cheating on you,” Jim says simply. “I might not be experienced with this stuff or know anything about it other than what I’ve been learning recently, but she’s at fault, too. You shouldering all the responsibility is ridiculous, even if you share some of it.”

“I’m just...warning you, I guess.” Bones sounds serious, but Jim doesn’t really understand the point. He knows Bones, good and bad, and there are times when he wants to punch him for being a self-defeating ass, but it’s also part of him. Besides, it’s not like Jim’s perfect, even if he prefers to focus on the good stuff. Bones makes a face. “If we’re doing this relationship thing, you just need to know that I failed at it terribly once, and I’ve actually become more difficult to get along with in the time since.”

“You didn’t fail at it with me,” Jim points out. “We both have pasts, Bones, and talking about them and worrying over them isn’t going to change anything. What’s important is now, right?” He smiles. “And, while I find the grumpy bitching sexier than I should, I don’t really think you’re that difficult.” He doesn’t say that he hopes to one day see Bones smile more, to be the cause of him becoming more satisfied with his life and less bitter, because Bones probably wouldn’t take it the right way.

“How you can be so optimistic, I don’t know,” Bones says. “But you’re right. I didn’t fail at it with you. Not yet. Maybe never. Of course, the fact that you don’t find me difficult probably says a lot about you and your fondness for challenges, you realize?”

“I do love a good challenge,” he agrees. “However, that’s not how I see you or this connection between us.” He reaches across the desk, despite being too far away to touch. “Damn, look at us. I came in here after my shift to see if you wanted to get some dinner and maybe hang out while I talked Chekov through his hand-to-hand practice tonight, and we end up becoming all talkative over a silly pet name.”

“Well, we’ve never really been that predictable,” Bones muses. “And what do you mean practice? I told you about your restrictions, Jim. It’s only been two days since your release.”

“That’s why I said talk him through. Sulu agreed to work with us tonight, and I’m actually looking forward to seeing him get his ass kicked because he’s been pretty smug assuming he’d be able to defend himself, just because Chekov’s smaller. His fencing training won’t mean much in this practice, though, and Chekov’s getting real good. It should be fun.”

“Actually, that does sound fun,” Bones admits. “Sulu can be a bit of an arrogant ass, I’ve noticed. Takes after you in that way. Must be some command training thing.”

“Nah, he’s a pilot. Most pilots are assholes in varying degrees. He’s at least balanced by the nerd factor with the physics stuff,” Jim explains, smiling as he realizes that Bones is going to accept his invitation. It isn’t a date or anything, but it sort of is if he takes the whole being stuck on a starship thing into account.

“I’ll take your word for it. I keep to medical and have enough egos to deal with when it comes to specialties and titles.” He looks at Jim and rolls his eyes. “You look smug, asshole. I haven’t said yes yet.”

“C’mon, Bones. Say yes,” he whines, giving his best pout and fluttery eyelashes. “Dinner and watching Chekov kick Sulu’s ass then a nightcap in my quarters. We can even, uh, call it a date, since relationships have those.”

Bones snorts. “A date? Well, it’s not exactly dinner at Meridian, but I suppose it might be enjoyable.”

“Dinner at Meridian was undefined,” Jim reminds him, smiling as he leans back in his chair. “This won’t be. It’ll be defined, even if it’s not like a perfect date or anything.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Food, fighting, I presume kissing at some point. Doesn’t sound too bad compared to some dates I’ve been on many years ago. Since you asked so nicely and you pout so prettily, I guess I’ll have to say yes, darlin’,” he drawls deliberately. Jim knows it’s deliberate because Bones smirks when he can’t help licking his lips at hearing the damn drawl.

“There will definitely be kissing, sugar bear,” he says, smiling sweetly when Bones grimaces.

“Okay. I might need to amend my earlier statement that you could call me whatever you want,” Bones warns. “You’re hopeless.”

“I know.” Jim smirks. “Finish up whatever you were doing when I interrupted so we can go get some food. The ass kicking is scheduled in a couple of hours, so we’ll have time to eat then go change into something more appropriate for the gym and combat practice.”

“You’ll only be watching the practice, so it shouldn’t matter,” Bones says firmly.

“I’ll do my leg exercises while there. Seems pointless to go to the fitness deck without doing something.” Jim stands up and stretches. “Don’t worry, Bones. My doctor will be there to make sure that I don’t overexert myself. If I do, you can scold me.”

“I think you like getting scolded because you’ve got some weird thing for my accent.” Bones purses his lips. “Maybe I should start threatening not to scold you to get you to take care of yourself.”

“It’s not a weird thing. It’s a perfectly healthy appreciation for it.” Jim glances at the window of the office to confirm that it’s covered before he walks around the desk. “It’s one of many things about you that I appreciate.”

“Jim, what are you doing?” Bones watches him, his gaze hungry and arousing. There’s frustration there, too, making the nerve in his cheek twitch and his lips curve downward just a bit. Damn impotence. Jim’s been reading more, though, and one of the treatments says it’s important for a partner to be supportive and to establish communication, which he’s been trying to do. Some of the stuff that Bones has to do probably has been demanding, but Jim’s glad there’re some things he can do, too.

“I’m about to kiss you,” he announces as he reaches Bones. He straddles his chair and sits down on his lap, reaching out to touch his face. Establishing intimacy is something he can do really well, even if it might take time before there are results from it. “I love your lips. Have I mentioned that before? They’re full and pouty and just temptation manifested into reality.”

“My lips aren’t pouty,” Bones mutters as he brings his hands up to rest on Jim’s lower back. “And manifested what? That sounds like you’ve been sneaking those romance novels that are on the PADDs in Scotty’s secret collection.”

“I don’t need to read sappy romance novels when I’ve got you,” Jim tells him, though he does make a moment to snicker over the fact that Scotty collects the silly things. He’ll so regret admitting that to them over cards after too many glasses of whiskey, even if Jim hasn’t figured out yet the best way to tease him about it. He focuses on Bones, which is a hell of a lot more interesting. “Now hush. I’m trying to be poetic and shit.”

“It’s not working very well, sweetheart,” Bones says helpfully. “Besides, who said you need to be poetic?”

“I’m trying something different. Experimentation can be fun.” He leers playfully before he traces Bones’ bottom lip. “Fine. No manifesting temptation then. How about I just tell you how hot it is when you’ve got these perfect lips wrapped around my cock? Stretched wide as they glide along my throbbing--“

He doesn’t get to finish because Bones kisses him. Jim whimpers and parts his lips, sucking on Bones’ tongue as the kiss deepens. He moves his hand into Bones’ hair, tugging on it as they fight for control. When they pull apart, they’re both breathing heavily, and he figures that his face is as flushed as Bones’ is. Damn, kissing Bones is fucking amazing. He rolls his hips casually, but doesn’t feel anything pressing up against him. Well, he didn’t think it’d work that fast anyway, so he isn’t disappointed. If anything, Bones responded to the kiss and that’s a good thing.

“How much more work do you have to do?” he asks as he nuzzles Bones’ nose and kisses his cheeks.

“Just have to finish reviewing a chart,” Bones says huskily. “If you stop distracting me, it’ll only take a few minutes.”

“So it’ll just take a while longer then if I keep distracting you.” Jim kisses his jaw and licks that sensitive spot beneath his ear that makes him groan. He smiles against Bones’ skin and whispers, “Fortunately, we’ve got time.”