Emmeline Vance (emmelinev) wrote in lincolnriver, @ 2013-09-12 20:38:00 |
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Kirk was happy to see Bones was here. The two of them had gone through alot together and Bones was his best friend and that wouldn’t change. At least he also knew that while they were here they were also in their home timeline which didn’t make Kirk worry as much as he might have otherwise about the Enterprise not having it’s Captain, CMO and chief nurse with all three of them stuck here in this god forsaken town. While the town wasn’t the best it had some good parts to it and he was determined to make the most of it. He was just glad he had resolved that issue with Khan before too much had happened. Hopefully that was the end of that. Now he got to see Bones. He was grinning at the thought of that, though it made him wonder from what point in the timeline he came from. Kirk knew he was from fairly early on in it while Christine was a bit later than him. Hopefully it wasn’t too big a difference, that could make things awkward but Kirk would just roll with it, he rolled with everything. “Bones!” he called out knocking on the man’s front door before pushing it open as he did so. After everything the two of them had been through and plus Bones had survived Kirk at the academy, he was sure his friend wouldn’t mind him just entering like that. Well he was used to it even if he did mind... The house was quite different to his, older looking but Kirk kind of liked it. It looked cosy if a bit old. Still it seemed to fit Bones’s personality which was probably a good thing. Bones was reading over some of the documents that were in his name, including a medical license and school transcripts that had him as a general practitioner of medicine. It was a relief, as he fully intended on working as a doctor if it turned out they were well and truly stuck there. Bones was fairly certain that Jim wasn’t lying to him when he’d mentioned they were stuck, but he also didn’t want to believe it. He had responsibilities aboard the Enterprise and he didn’t want to let anyone down. When he heard Jim yell his name, he rolled his eyes and groaned. Bones had forgotten to lock the door; not that that would have kept Jim out anyway. “I’m in the dining room.” He snorted and rolled his eyes. “A dining room. Jesus.” Bones’ living quarters were usually sparse and cramped, even before he’d been divorced. He was sentimental, but that didn’t mean he kept knick knacks, and he’d never needed a lot of space. He got up, going to find Jim instead before the captain found him. There was a chance Jim would do something stupid like smack his arm or hug him. Upon seeing him, Bones crossed his arms and nodded. “This should tell you what a bad day I’m having. I’m pretty sure I’m happy to see you. Mostly.” He didn’t want Jim getting the wrong idea. Jim was a great guy, but he had one hell of an ego and Bones usually tried to discourage him. Not to the point of bringing him down but to the point that he wouldn’t do as many impulsive, stupid things. It didn’t usually work but he had to try anyway. That’s what friends were for, after all. Jim just grinned. That seemed to be his natural reaction to Bones. Instead of listening to his body language he just went in for the hug. Bad day or not, this was Bones he was talking about and he had to do. A punch in the arm went along with it for good measure. “Bones!” he grinned again. “It is good to see you even if we are stuck here,” he said lightly. Yes he could tell his friend was grumpy and he was trying to the lighten the mood. “This place definitely got a whole of a lot better now that you’re here.” “Seriously though I am glad to see you it’s been too long,” Jim added letting go of his friend. “So how are things for you in this god forsaken town?” he asked swinging his arm around Bones’s shoulder and heading them back the way that Bones had come from, which did in fact turn out to be the dining room. “So you know it’s 2013 and we’re stuck here right. Anything else?” he asked curiously. “Though another question. What were we doing when you came? I know Christine is ahead of me in the timeline and she’s explained most of what she knows that I missed out on,” he asked Bones curiously. “Damn it man, give me a chance to breathe!” Bones snapped, though there was no heat behind it. Of course Jim was firing off a million questions at once, that was the sort of person he was. “Please don’t tell me they put you in charge here, too.” They went back into the dining room, but Bones made a detour to the kitchen. He came back with two glasses and a bottle of bourbon. He’d found a liquor store and picked out a bottle specifically for this. He poured them each a drink and sat down across from him. “Yes Jim I know the year, and that we’re stuck. And that according to all this, I own this house, still have a medical license and... Well that’s really about it. I don’t know a damned thing about this time except you and Christine are around. How long have you been here Jim?” He didn’t like the thought of his friend having been stranded in Lincoln River, and he was concerned. Though he’d be damned if he ever showed Jim how much. The man would have to be dying for that to happen. “Timeline? It’s... Well it’s nearly 2259 where I’m from. You’ve been captain for about six months. And it’s been the most stressful six months of my life and I ought to punch you in the mouth for it,” he groused. Instead he sipped the bourbon, liking the general taste of it as it wasn’t what he was used to. He’d had nothing but food from the replicator for the past six months and wasn’t enjoying it one little bit. This was much better. “So pretty much just the basics then,” he said with a nod. “Not that there is much else to tell about this place. We really don’t know much and no I’m not in charge. There’s actually a Mayor of the town floating around here somewhere. Haven’t seen him in a bit actually,” he said frowning before shrugging and moving on. “Thanks,” he said picking up the glass Bones gave him. “Here’s to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with no way out,” he joked before taking a sip. “A couple of months? Well just a bit less, it’s gone by quickly actually,” Jim replied after thinking for a moment. “Damn. I hadn’t quite realized it was that long,” he admitted surprised. Though he supposed it made sense he had done a lot of things, met a lot of people and one day just merged into another. “So you’re from my future then,” Jim said with a nod. “I’ve just become acting Captain of the Enterprise when I was pulled here.” He tried to think for a minute. “I actually think you’re from further into the future than Christine too for that matter,” he said after a moment. “She came from right after we beat Nero.” Kirk just grinned and shrugged. “Bet you loved the six months though despite that,” he said knowing his friend. He might whine and complain but he truly did love what he did. Bones just let him talk, it was one of the things Jim did best after all. That and being a show off. “And how long has Christine been here?” He liked her, she was more than competent as a nurse, and Bones thought she showed real potential. He was even trying to encourage her to go to med school and become fully certified as a doctor once she was out of Starfleet. Of course that would take her off the Enterprise and Bones sure as hell didn’t want that. At the mention about being from the future, Bones rolled his eyes. “So you’re fresh from when you managed to taunt Spock into nearly beating your brains in? What brains you have anyway. I haven’t seen any proof of their existence.” He grimaced as he took another sip of the alcohol, finishing it. He didn’t bother pouring himself another, he wasn’t in the mood for it yet. “I’m sure I’m asking a stupid question but has anyone tried to get out of here?” When Kirk grinned at him, Bones rolled his eyes, acting put upon. “Of course. Because I love having to find cures for brand new infections and diseases because everyone’s too stupid to wear their hazmat suits on certain away missions. I love never getting a full night’s sleep because there’s always some crisis that interrupts it. And I especially love that my commanding officer and best friend is constantly getting himself into scrapes that bring him to the brink of death. Laugh a minute.” He sounded pretty angry by the end of it, but there was the tiniest smile on his face for a moment. Yes, he loved every minute of it. “Couple of weeks longer than me I believe so not that much longer,” Jim said thinking back to their first conversation when he arrived. That seemed like forever ago. So much had happened during that time and it did remind him that he should have to warn Bones about Khan, especially if what he was told was true. Maybe he should warn Khan himself... actually that might be a good idea. “Yep, straight from after he lost control and I took control of the Enterprise. Turning up here wasn’t my idea of celebrating, let me tell you that. And hey let me tell you I have an incredibly high IQ thank you very much.” That was a running joke between them, while Kirk wasn’t the hardest of workest he was quite intelligent even if he didn’t show it that often. “Of course, many of us have and haven’t had much luck. That was the first thing I tried to do actually. You really think I’d be hanging around if there was a way out?” he asked with a grin. “Don’t deny it, you do love it. At least the discovery part. That’s why you joined Starfleet in the first place. Sure I don’t enjoy nearly being killed but it happens and you work your miracles and we’re all fine.” The until next time bit was left unspoken. At least they hadn’t been lonely, Bones was grateful for that. He raised an eyebrow at Jim as he said, “I saw how you celebrated when it was all over. So when we get back, assuming that you remember any of this and we’re all put back in the right time... Take it easy on the booze. And brothels are to be avoided for a reason. As is dragging along your best pilot and a Russian kid with a higher IQ than yours.” He was mocking Jim now, and making it all up. Bones wouldn’t actually tell him anything about the future. Like how Jim and Christine were currently dating, and he was pretty sure it was going to end badly, if it hadn’t already. Because Jim was terrible with romantic relationships, and Christin was far too smart for him. At least in McCoy’s opinion. “I don’t know, you’ve done stranger things. Do I even want to bother with looking?” He was pretty sure he didn’t. He saw this very much like the time he’d found himself stranded on a planet with Chekov and Spock. It wasn’t fun, it wasn’t easy, but it was manageable and they just had to wait for rescue. At the miracles comment, Bones snorted. “Don’t try to butter me up. But I do have the steadiest hands in Starfleet.” He wasn’t bragging either and they both knew it. Kirk snorted. “Did I really do that cause I so don’t don’t see myself doing it,” he told Bones. Chekov was far too young and really he wouldn’t do that to the poor guy. Not that he would go to a brothel in the first place. The booze though... He could do that, had done it in the past though not for celebratory reasons and not for a few years. Ever since leaving Riverside it was pretty much something he hadn’t done in excess. “True but I wouldn’t force myself and you guys to be stuck here if we didn’t have to be,” he told Bones truthfully. “Probably not. I mean I would guess we all have with no luck but you might be the lucky one perhaps but I doubt it....” “Exactly you are the best of the best,” Kirk said with a grin. He chuckled. “No, you didn’t. I’m pretty sure Scotty and Uhura would have killed you if you had. Chekov still being a kid and all.” All the officers were protective of Chekov, not just due to his age but because he was such a sweet person. It was difficult not to love him. Bones started to look over the papers again. They appeared to be legitimate, and he had an idea. He did want to ask Jim his opinion first, however. “No, I’m not that lucky, we both know that,” he said, chuckling. “But the thing is, I could practice medicine again. Go back to being an old country doctor for a bit. I’m sure the medical instruments here are primitive, but I can work with that. And I think I’d like...” He trailed off. Bones couldn’t believe he was about to say this. “I was thinking of working in pediatrics again, like I did back in Georgia before Starfleet.” Jim knew all about it of course; the little girl Jenny he’d been taking care of whose dream was to be a captain in Starfleet. He’d enjoyed working with children, and if it hadn’t been for Pamela taking everything in the divorce, he would have kept on with it. “I could work at the hospital too. I’m not sure which I should choose.” The hospital would be more exciting, certainly, but Bones wasn’t sure that’s what he needed right then. Jim nodded understanding where Bones was coming from with the comment about working with children. He knew Jenny’s death had hit him hard, that he had tried so hard to save her but it wasn’t possible. He knew it meant a lot to Bones to go back working with children, that was his first passion besides medicine in general. “If that is what you want to do then do it,” he told his friend. “I think you’d enjoy working with them again. Seriously though do what you think will make you the happiest here. Perhaps talk to Christine about the hospital and what it’s like?” he suggested “Still that is true about the crew, hell I wouldn’t dream of taking him out like that. Chekov is the kid after all,” he said with a shrug. “I feel like since you think it’s a good idea maybe I shouldn’t do it,” McCoy replied, but he was teasing. He was pretty conflicted about it. On the one hand the chance to work with kids again was what he really wanted to do. On the other, he felt it was his duty that he go where he'd be the most useful. And that was definitely at the hospital emergency room. At Jim's suggestion, Bones almost looked shocked that his friend had such a good idea. "Yeah, that's not a bad idea. She'd know the most about it after all." He was almost smiling as he thought of it. "Who knows, maybe I can do both. Work in pediatrics and be on call for the hospital sometimes." He knew doctors who did that though he'd never felt the need before. Bones shook his head at the last part. "Much as I complain about him he's a good kid." He was the oldest of the officers and being around Chekov and Sulu sometimes made it worse. He wasn't old but he wasn't as young as everyone else. If he were a less competent doctor it might have made him insecure. “Oi,” Kirk said though he was laughing at his friends comment, he knew Bones well enough to know that he truly didn’t mean it. Still it was what made their friendship what it was and he wouldn’t change it for the world - this universe or their own. “Seriously just do what you think will make you happiest.” “Exactly that would work well. I mean from what I’ve seen the hospital wouldn’t be too busy around here,” he said with a shrug. “He is, I still have trouble seeing him so naive, believing that someone can be that young,” he admitted. Bones knew enough about his past to probably figure out what the hell Kirk was talking about “What would make me happiest is treating everyone,” Bones admitted. “Maybe a general practice would be a better idea.” He shifted around a bit and waved his hand, adding, “I’ll make a decision later.” He looked over at his friend and smiled a bit. “And what have you been doing here to keep yourself busy? Haven’t slept with the whole town have you?” Jim’s reputation was pretty well known and he doubted that his friend had changed that much since arriving. If he hadn’t had a girlfriend or a one night stand by now Bones would have been extremely surprised. It was something that at first Bones had found annoying and, if he were honest, a bit shameful. But now it was just part of who Jim was and another thing to tease him about. At the mention of Chekov, he snorted. “He’s young but there’s no way he’s actually that naive. He’s Russian and I’ve heard some of the things he says to Sulu.” He raised an eyebrow and added, “You know who is naive? There’s this physician’s assistant who’s shadowing me for about a month. And I can’t wait for you to meet her because she’s an idiot. Smart as Chekov but when it comes to people? Doesn’t know a thing.” “That sounds like a plan,” Kirk said with a nod. “I’m sure you could get plenty of people involved too. I mean surely there are other people here with medical experience - locals and refugees like us,” Jim shrugged. It made sense to him at least. Running his hand through his hair he nodded, “True no use rushing it, gotta make sure you do exactly what you want to do.” Jim shrugged. “Bits and pieces. I’ve been trying to find a job otherwise just get used to this town, get to know the people here. There’s some really interesting people here,” he said with a grin. “True, he just seems so much younger than us despite that you know?” he said with a shrug. “Ugh that sounds annoying. I’m sorry for a nurse you need to be good with people. Why the fuck did I accept her? I’m assuming I did anyway…” “You’re getting a job? I’ll have to take pictures, no one will believe it if I just tell them,” Bones replied. “That’s like finding out your dog’s gone and rented himself an apartment because he needs his own space.” Now he was really ribbing Jim, but it was still good natured. He figured they could talk about the practice later. “How’s that going for you anyway? And what are the people around here like? Not just the refugees but the locals.” He laughed. “I think it’s the curly hair and the big eyes,” he said, referring to Chekov. At the mention of the physician’s assistant, he rolled his eyes. “A physician’s assistant is like a lighter version of a doctor. And you did accept her because she treats the patients very well. She just doesn’t get them. Also she’s pretty easy to dupe which was fun for a bit. Spock put a stop to it. Kinda glad he did too because it was like teasing a dog by pretending to throw a ball and she’d fall for it every time.” The woman was actually very nice and McCoy had felt a bit bad teasing her. But she was excellent at what she did. “Of course she’s not gonna stick around. I can’t keep any female staff with you around.” He said it in a joking tone, but he was sort of serious. “Well I have to pay for stuff somehow,” he said with a shrug. Necessity of life and all of that after all and he didn’t really have much money left so it was getting kind of desperate. “It’s going well and everyone is great,” he said with a grin. “Haven’t had any problems and made plenty of friends.” “True, that must be it,” he said with a nod. “Well that’s something but still she should quickly learn how to be good with patients or she won’t last.” Jim frowned. “What do you mean by that? I haven’t heard of you losing any staff.” “Yeah that’s true,” he replied. He wasn’t overly fond of how finances worked in this time, and it must be hell for Jim. Bones raised an eyebrow though and said, “Really? Because Christine told me on the network you had your ass handed to you by some random guy. That sounds like a problem to me Jim.” He wasn’t going to bring it up, but it did have him worried. “Like I said she’s great with the patients, just naive. But she’s learning and when her internship is up I’m sure she’ll be a great assistant wherever she’s going,” he said, shrugging. “It’s becoming a habit. I get a new physician’s assistant but they’re only around for a month at a time. And I need to tell Starfleet to knock it the hell off because I don’t have time to keep training these people.” At the mention of female staff, Bones sighed. “Stop flirting with the nurses when you come in the sick bay, all right? It’s getting to the point they’re acting weird and I don’t wanna deal with it.” But then he grinned. He was just teasing now. Jim shrugged, he wasn’t surprised that Bones had heard about that. “A problem that has been figured out now,” he told him. At least it had for the most part and he had convinced Khan that he wasn’t Khan’s Kirk which was the main thing. He really didn’t feel like dwelling on it though. “They must have a reason though, you are the best Starfleet has,” which made sense and it was true. “I’m sure she’ll be fine in the end then. Plus with you here you don’t have to worry about it. Even i you are still on the ship to.” He didn’t bother answering that last bit though and just grinned at his friend. He was Jim Kirk, he would never stop flirting plus he didn’t really mean anything by it. |