WHO: Kirk and McCoy WHAT: Tennessee Whiskey gravy! WHERE: Jim's place WHEN: evening, after this convo RATING: probably low
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Jim had spent more time at the store than he'd originally planned. Not only did he have to buy all the food, and the whiskey for the gravy, he'd also grabbed some beer, wine, and - most importantly - an apron. If McCoy hadn't mentioned finding himself something to wear, Jim would have stuck to a t-shirt and jeans. But now he was worried that the doctor was going to arrive all decked out, and he couldn't look like a slob. He also couldn't go change once the doctor had arrived - that was rude, wasn't it? - so he'd gotten dressed while the roast was in the oven, ergo the need for the apron. Black jeans, a white button-down and a soft grey sweater later - plus the apron - and Jim was tidying up the place. He was used to much smaller quarters on Enterprise, so he didn't really have a lot of stuff, nor had he collected any in the time he'd been at the Facility. Besides that, he was naturally a tidy person, so it didn't take him long to get the place organized.
He put on some jazz - cooking was always better with music - and got to work on the vegetables and potatoes. The roast was almost done, then he'd have his drippings for the gravy while it rested. He realized he didn't have an actual time for his guest's arrival, but that didn't matter. Everything he was making could stay warm until the doctor got there.
It had been weird, inviting the man over like that. A whim, really. Jim had invited McCoy - his own McCoy - to eat lunch in the mess a grand total of twice in the time he'd known him. The doctor had said yes once, and they'd been joined by Sulu and Scott, so it wasn't on a one-on-one basis, which was fine with Jim. He'd made efforts to be pleasant to the officers he served with, and asked to spent time with each of them, save Spock and Pike, as often as he remembered. He was used to keeping to himself, but on the Enterprise, it was worth his while to reach out and get to know people. This, however, wasn't the Enterprise. It was the furthest from the Enterprise Jim figured he could possibly be. So why did he ask the Southerner to dinner? Chekov had obviously planted a seed when he'd mentioned his Kirk and McCoy were close friends. It had been a long time since he'd had a real friend.