Inell's Fanfiction Archive

There are a lot of people in the mess hall by the time Jim and Bones get there. Alpha shift is the largest, even if time is sort of relative in space, and it makes sense that most of the crew who serve on that shift get hungry around the same time. Jim likes eating around a lot of people usually. Not necessarily eating with all of them, since he does enjoy having a good conversation with his meal, but the sounds and chatter are nice. It’s funny, in a way, because Bones prefers to eat somewhere quiet and would probably choose the officers’ dining hall every time. It’s good that they’re friends because Jim needs to be encouraged to have that downtime sometimes and Bones needs to be pushed to be around people occasionally.

“It’s crowded,” Bones grumbles as they stand by the door.

“Yeah.” Jim grins and claps him on the shoulder. “You want to find us a table while I go bat my eyes at the chef?”

“Why are you going to flirt with the chef?” Bones gives him a semi-amused look.

“I’m not telling,” Jim teases, nudging Bones’ side with his elbow. “I’ll find you when I’m done.”

“Asshole,” Bones mutters and rolls his eyes before walking off to find them an empty table.

After Bones walks away, Jim goes back to the kitchen area. He’s worked in a kitchen before, so he knows how hard the work can be as well as how thankless it is. He’s tried to come back a couple of times a week since the ship set off just so the crew is aware that he appreciates their work, even if it’s not as shiny as working in Engineering or navigation. It also doesn’t hurt to be a well-liked captain by people who are in charge of what he eats most of the time, since the synthetic food just doesn’t taste as good as the freshly cooked.

“Captain, you shouldn’t be in here during Beta dinner rush,” he’s informed firmly when he reaches his destination. He receives a glare from Chef Emerson when he smiles his friendliest smile at her.

“I haven’t had the chance to bask in your charming aura in a week, Em,” he points out. “Besides, you have everything under control back here, so I’m not causing a disturbance.”

“Charming my ass,” she says, slapping his hand with a spoon when he reaches for an apple. “This is my kitchen, Captain. Hands off.”

“My ship,” he reminds her with a grin. Back at the Academy, she’d call him pretty boy in a dry tone whenever he went in to get food at the main student dining hall, but he guesses Captain is more appropriate considering her new position.

“Don’t be getting some big head just because you’ve got this ship,” she warns him as she flips over a piece of chicken and sprinkles some herbs over it.

“Of course not. With people like you around, how could I?” he asks sweetly. He waits until she’s distracted before he steals the apple. “Did you get the dinner request that I sent you earlier?”

“That’s what I mean about getting too bigheaded,” she says. “Can’t eat normal food with the rest of us, can you? Have to request special things.”

“It’s actually not for me. It’s for Doctor McCoy. He’s had a busy day, and I thought the change in menu would be good for him,” he tells her, not mentioning that the menu is actually because he had hopes of making the dinner into a date sort of thing. All he has to do is mention Bones to her, and she melts like butter anyway.

“Well, why didn’t you say so? Doctor McCoy works too hard. I hear that he spends most his time in medical, and that’s not good for a growing boy,” she mutters. “You need to stop getting yourself hurt so you can make sure he doesn’t work too much. That boy relies on you to get him to live a little.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he drawls, attempting to capture that Southern thing and not failing completely. Emerson is from the Carolinas, one of them, but he doesn’t remember which. It doesn’t seem to matter, since she and Bones share the same Southern weirdness that Jim finds somewhat enthralling at times.

“Since the special order is for Doctor McCoy, I’ll even make a peach cobbler,” she decides. “You make sure it takes time to eat, and I’ll whip something up back here. It won’t be as good as fresh peaches, but he always likes my cobbler.”

“He always likes any of that Southern stuff you make,” Jim says. It’s one of the reasons he chose her application to replace the chef who vowed to never work in space again after the Narada incident. Not for Bones, since he didn’t know Bones wouldn’t be on Capella IV, but because he’s accustomed to eating some of those things now after three years of friendship.

“He’s going to get pork chops, green beans, and corn tonight. You run along out there and tell the boy that his food will be out real soon.” She shoos Jim away.

“Thanks, Em.” He grins and takes a bite of the apple as he leaves the kitchen, stopping to chat with a few crew members along the way. He reenters the dining area and starts making the rounds while scanning the room for Bones. He talks and flirts along the way, repeating the story about the killer rock creature attack a few times to interested crew members and assuring others that he’s in good health. When he finally reaches the table where Bones is sitting, he sees Sulu on one side and Nichols on the other. Bones is all caught up in whatever they’re talking about, something involving plants and medicinal purposes that goes over Jim’s head when they get technical about it.

“Lieutenant Sulu, Ensign Cupcake,” he greets with a smile as he pulls out a chair and sits down. Nichols gives him a dirty look, which just makes Jim smile wider. Bones might be somewhat friendly with the oaf, but that doesn’t mean that Jim has to stop giving him a rough time. After how he shoved Jim around during the Narada incident, he better be glad that he got approved to serve on the ship anyway. True, Nichols was working security then due to the special circumstances, and he might not have known exactly what he was doing since he normally works in sciences, but Jim figures it was more personal than anything else.

“Captain,” Nichols says, nodding once to be polite even as he makes the title sound like a curse word. He’s surprisingly good in his field, which is why Jim is glad the Enterprise has him, but he’s glad that Nichols isn’t assigned to security this time around.

“Jim, did you hear about the plant that Science found on the planet below?” Sulu asks excitedly. “Nichols has been telling us that it seems to have some healing properties.”

“I read a report on it,” he says. “The analysis is still inconclusive, but it does seem that it might be useful in some ways.” He glances at Nichols. “The report was informative. I’m glad that Botany is finding the samples gathered from Scorching Monotony to be useful.”

Nichols snorts. “Murtaugh’s been calling the planet that, too. Says it’s easier to remember after nearly dying from the heat,” he says. “We’re finding the samples extremely interesting, Captain.”

“I’m going to go to the lab to look at the plant before training,” Sulu tells him. “I won’t be late.”

“Damn, we should do that now,” Nichols says as he stands up. “Doctor McCoy, Captain.”

“Sulu, don’t be too confident about the training,” Jim warns him. Chekov might be on the smaller side, but he’s really learned a lot. He figures if he gives a warning and Sulu ignores it, then that’s not his fault.

“I’ll be fine, Captain,” Sulu says smugly before he follows Nichols out of the mess hall.

“You really need to stop calling him Cupcake. You’re a captain now,” Bones points out after they’re gone.

“He doesn’t mind. It reminds us of our first meeting,” Jim says with a smirk. He sees that Bones doesn’t look amused and shrugs a shoulder. “Fine. I’ll stop harassing him, but only if he doesn’t start it first.”

“So, you really think Chekov can kick Sulu’s ass?” he asks as he leans back in his chair.

“Want to bet on it?” He grins. “Make it fun.”

Bones shakes his head. “Not this time. I’m rooting for the kid.”

“Sulu saved my life,” Jim says thoughtfully, “but Chekov saved both of us, so it isn’t betrayal or anything that I’m pulling for him to knock Sulu down a peg or two.”

“You also always pull for the underdog, whether they are one or not,” Bones points out. “It’s a bit of an anomaly, actually, because you also love to win.”

“Anyone in the command program loves to win,” Jim tells him. “It’s one of those things that’s required, I think. No one wants a potential captain who likes to lose. As for irregularities, what can I say? I like supporting tenacity and stubbornness over brute strength and certainty. That certainty can often times lead to defeat, after all. Now, our food should be ready, so I’m going to go get it.”

“No, you’re not. You’re still recovering, so sit your pretty ass right there while I go get it.” Bones stands up and rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t know why you didn’t bring it with you when you came back from flirting in the kitchen.”

“It wasn’t all finished yet.” He watches Bones walk away and drums his fingers on the table. It’s not going to be much of a surprise now that Bones is picking up their trays. He’ll see the food when Jim can’t even enjoy his reaction. If he’d been thinking ahead, he’d have just waited and brought it himself.

“Here,” Bones says gruffly as he puts a tray on the table in front of Jim. He bumps his arm into Jim, lingering for a moment before he walks around the table and sits down. “Special request from Em, huh? She snagged me when I went to the front and said she hopes my day gets better.”

“She’s immune to my charms, but she dotes on you. There’s something wrong with that,” Jim grumbles as he shifts under Bones’ stare. He finally kicks him under the table to get him to stop staring like that because it’s disconcerting. “I just wanted something good for dinner, if you said yes.”

Bones flashes his dimples briefly and ducks his head to look at his plate. “Would have said yes sooner if you’d told me there’d be pork chops and green beans. Reminds me of home, having Sunday dinner with Mom and Dad before I lost them.”

“Yeah, I know.” Jim smiles as he puts his apple core on the tray and picks up a fork and knife. “Now you’ve got me eating all the heavy, greasy food, probably so you can bitch to me about my cholesterol count and shit when I get older.”

“Shut up and eat, kid.” Bones is still smiling slightly, so Jim can’t help but feel smug. They eat and talk, falling into a comfortable routine that’s familiar to them, and Jim’s really glad that they can do this. That this eating and talking thing means as much as the blowjob on the desk when it comes to their relationship. He’s finishing up the last of his corn when a crew member comes over with a tray.

“Emerson said to bring this to the captain’s table,” he says as he puts down the tray.

“Dessert. Thanks, Ky’rol,” Jim says, pushing one of the bowls heaped with peach cobbler towards Bones. “See? She dotes on you. I didn’t even have to ask for sweets, and she made you peach stuff anyway.”

“This is peach cobbler, Jim. Not peach stuff,” Bones corrects him. “Not as good as back home, since you need fresh peaches for it to be mind-blowing, but this’ll do.” He lowers his voice. “If you were planning to impress me in an attempt to get to first base tonight, your plan is working.”

Jim slowly smiles. “It is?”

“Hmm.” Bones arches a brow and looks at him for a moment before he begins to eat the cobbler.

As he eats, Jim tries to remember what first base is. He’s heard about it, of course. What pre-teenage boy hasn’t? It’s one of those old-fashioned sayings that’s just stuck around over hundreds of years. Jim’s never gone slow before, though. Hell, even his first experience with Bones that crossed the line involved a hand job and him kneeling on the side of the road. When it comes to sex, he’s usually been all or nothing. With Bones’ current condition, though, he’s been forced to step back and go slow. And, oddly enough, he’s having fun with it, despite his desire for Bones to get better.

When they finish eating, he sees that they’re going to have to hurry to change clothes and reach the fitness deck on time. “Should we split up and go change and just meet there?” he asks as they leave the mess hall.

“That’s probably the best idea,” Bones decides. “Don’t rush, Jim. Remember to take it easy.”

“Yes, Doctor.” He rolls his eyes as they step onto the turbolift. After he pushes the appropriate numbers for their respective decks, he finds himself shoved against the wall as Bones kisses him. He parts his lips and deepens the kiss, tasting sweet and Bones together as he sucks on his tongue. Bones lets go and steps back while Jim licks his lips and blinks stupidly.

“Reward system, right? That’s for dinner,” Bones says with a smirk, obviously pleased with himself for catching Jim by surprise.

“You--lift--kissing--cameras!” Jim cringes when he hears himself stammer. Real smooth there.

“Someone really smart once told me that it’s good to learn the angles of cameras, which I can accept a lot more than his advice to just not care if someone is watching.” Bones glances at the camera which is obviously focused on the doors and leaves a blindspot beneath it.

“Damn it, Bones.” He grins and runs his hand through his hair. “I’m proud of you.”

“What? You think you’re the only sneaky bastard around when it comes to stealing kisses?” Bones winks at him when the lift arrives on his floor and he steps off. “See you in a few, Captain.”

Jim’s still smiling when he reaches his quarters. After using the toilet, he changes into sweatpants and a t-shirt before he feeds Athos and plays with him for a few minutes. He takes care of the puddle that Athos made at some point and wonders if dogs can get toilet trained. They’re not stupid animals, and he’s read somewhere about cats being taught. Maybe Bones’d know, since he had a kid and probably did research about that sort of thing. Cleaning up puddles is definitely not on the list of positive reasons for having a dog. Fortunately, cuddles and messy licks and companionship all make up for it.

He arrives at the fitness area a few minutes early. He didn’t even have to rush. Chekov is already there doing the warming up stretches that Jim taught him. After a quick look around, he doesn’t see Bones or Sulu anywhere. “Been waiting long?” he asks as he joins Chekov.

“No, Keptin. I got busy and was worried that I’d be late,” Chekov admits as he looks up. “You are sure that you want to train tonight?”

“Of course. I can’t do anything myself, but it’ll do you good to face-off against a new opponent,” he says as he sits down. “You’ll want to keep an eye on his footwork because he’ll probably use his knowledge from fencing whenever possible.”

“I am wery determined to win,” Chekov says firmly. “He is telling me that he’ll take it easy on me, like I am silly child who needs protected.”

Jim smiles at the look of determination on Chekov’s face. This is going to be fun. “It’s the age thing. People think seventeen automatically means you’re vulnerable or something. I don’t really get it, since I remember what I was like at that age,” he explains. He sort of thinks of Chekov as a kid brother type, but he tries not to baby the guy.

“It is this, too,” Chekov complains, motioning to his face and frowning. “Gaila says I look like child, but she does not treat me as one. Others on this ship do.”

“Eh, they’ll figure it out eventually,” Jim tells him, patting him on the shoulder. “We all have things that people just seem to take for granted or assume we’re a certain way because of it. Doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you look.”

“I am not naïve child who needs Hikaru to go easy on me,” Chekov mutters. “I will show him easy, then he will know.”

“That’s the spirit.” Jim stretches his legs out and points his feet down enough to feel the tension in his muscles.

“Good form, Captain,” Bones says, causing Jim to stop focusing on his stretching.

Jim looks up to see Bones approaching them and stares. What the fuck is he wearing? He wore those loose shorts and the tank top just walking around on the ship to get here? Where anyone could check out his legs and his arms? Since when did Bones wear shorts to work out anyway? He’s always worn baggy sweats and t-shirts when they exercised at the academy, not that he did it as much as Jim did. Bones tosses a towel on the floor next to Jim and arches a brow.

“Something wrong?” he drawls, looking slightly concerned, which pulls Jim out of his daze.

“Nice shorts, Doctor,” he says in what he hopes is a teasing tone and not a ‘cover yourself before everyone in here starts drooling, damn it’ tone.

Bones makes a face and crouches down beside him. “My sweats are in the laundry. I’ve been busy this week and didn’t get a chance to send my clothes down to get washed.”

“I’ve got clean ones in my closet, if you want to borrow some,” he offers, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from looking at Bones bare legs.

“Nah, not worth it. I can just wear this,” Bones says, shrugging a broad shoulder that’s barely covered with a scrap of white fabric that just seems to make his skin look more tan than it really should be after months in space. “I’m only going to work with the weights, I think.”

“The weights. Right.” Jim clears his throat and nods. “That’s good.” The shorts aren’t indecent or anything; hell, Jim’s got a pair in his dresser that are a lot less long and baggy that he’s worn out running before. It’s just too much skin for Bones to be showing off when he normally isn’t so comfortable about that sort of thing. Not that Jim understands why since, damn, the man is well put together.

“You okay?” Bones asks in a lower voice. “Legs feel alright?”

“Legs are fine.” He can’t really say that he’s cranky because Bones looks hot, and he can’t do anything about it since there are people around. “And I see Sulu coming in, so the training’s about to start.”

“Guess that’s my cue to hit the weights.” Bones stands up, and Jim can’t help but stare at his legs. Firm thighs, defined calves, dark hair lightly scattered along the tan skin, a faint scar on his right knee from an accident with a bicycle that he didn’t tell his parents about soon enough for a skin regenerator to fix it, and all sorts of other developed muscles that Jim doesn’t know the names of. Bones smirks slightly, indicating that he’s caught Jim looking, but he just glances at Chekov. “Good luck with the training.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Chekov calls out before he leans forward to touch his toes.

Bones goes over to the weights, and Jim can’t help but feel smug when he notices a few crew members checking him out. He has to resist bragging that Bones is his, and they can all look but they’ll never touch. There’s some jealousy, too, but he’s confident enough overall that he isn’t worried Bones is going to flirt with any of them. He’ll keep an eye on them anyway, of course.

“Sorry I’m late,” Sulu says as he joins them. “It took ages for the turbolift to reach my deck. I’m here now, though.”

“We can get started then,” Chekov says. “After you warm up.”

“That’s not necessary. We can just begin,” Sulu tells him. Jim purses his lips slightly and wonders where Sulu learned to do combat because warming up is generally recommended when training.

“Are you sure?” he asks, exchanging a look with Chekov, who shrugs.

“It’s just hand-to-hand combat.” Sulu really does need his ass kicked, Jim decides. As much as he likes the guy, he can come across as an ass, and not in the charming way that Jim likes to think he does.

“Alright. Into position and begin,” he says, leaning back on his palms to watch. It doesn’t take long for Sulu to realize that Chekov takes this seriously. The first time a punch sends Sulu to the floor, he looks startled and stares up at Chekov, who helps him back up.

As they spar, Sulu begins to take it more seriously, too, and Jim calls out instructions as they go. Occasionally, he looks over at Bones, proud of himself for not staring at all the bare skin on display and for not growling when he sees one of the women in Security flirting openly. Bones isn’t interested, and that’s obvious from his body language. When he catches Jim watching, he gives him a ‘get me the hell out of here’ look, which makes him smile before he focuses back on the training. Since he can’t actually do anything but sit, he keeps his attention between watching Sulu get his ass handed to him by Chekov and Bones dealing with the reality that Jim’s right about how attractive he is and how there are lots of women hot for his body.

It’s too bad he doesn’t have any popcorn.