String Theory (Spock/Kirk AOS)

Landsharks notwithstanding

Life aboard a starship seems to include entirely too many informal discussions, inappropriate thoughts, and completely illogical physiological reactions. And landsharks notwithstanding, Pike's pretty sure he's going to be reduced to a crater once they get back home.

Part V

—~—

2257.206

"Checkmate."

Spock evaluates the 3-D chessboard. He is perturbed to realize that Kirk is correct. "Your method is most unusual, Cadet," he concedes, tipping over his king for the third time in a row, "but effective."

Kirk flops gracelessly back against the biobed. He is still dressed in his medical gown, bare legs and feet hanging carelessly over the edge. His injured knee is a swollen collage of angry reds, purples and blues crisscrossed with the fading lines of laser sutures and the thin exoskeleton of a portable regenerator. "So I'm 'Cadet' again, huh?"

"Unless you received a promotion I am unaware of — "

"What I meant," Kirk interrupts, sitting up on his elbows, "is that you could just call me 'Jim'."

"That would be highly inappropriate given the nature of our professional relationship."

"And me crashing on your couch isn't?" When Spock looks up at this, and Kirk grins. "Even Pike calls me Jim."

Spock is saved having to reply by the arrival of Lieutenants Page, Riker, and McCoy for their routine follow-up exams. The latter immediately shifts course in lieu of this to inspect the cadet's — Jim's — vitals on the overhead. He scowls. "You didn't sleep."

Jim rolls his eyes. "I had a four hour nap in surgery."

"How many times do I have to explain the difference between sleep and unconsciousness to you?" He glances at the 3-D chessboard, then at Spock. "That goes for you, too, Commander. Vulcan or not, bodies require rest to heal."

"It would be easier for me to rest in my own quarters, Doctor."

"Dammit, man, you can't — "

"No, Bones, he's right," Jim interrupts. "It's too cold in here. Too bright, too. And somebody had to keep him company."

"I can quite adequately entertain myself," Spock says.

"Yeah, well," Jim says, shrugging, "kicking your ass at chess was way more fun than sleeping."

"I think it would be fine to allow you both to return to your personal quarters." McCoy looks up as Laguardia comes over and opens his mouth to no doubt argue with this assessment, but she silences him with a sharp look. It seems that Kirk is not the only cadet in need of reminders that he is, among other things, a subordinate onboard this ship. "As long as you keep the regenerator on, and restrict movement to only what's necessary."

"The only way to do that is to strap him to the damn bed," McCoy says.

"I think confinement to quarters will suffice," Laguardia decides, directing her gaze to McCoy again as if anticipating another challenge before looking back at Jim. "I'll see that you get an increase in water rations; a hot shower every day'll help with the swelling, but otherwise keep it on, or else your body will try healing on its own and that limp will become permanent. Got it?"

Without waiting for a response, she turns her attention to Spock. "You're good to go, Commander, but I'm putting you on an extra day of leave just to be safe. And no," she adds quickly, before Spock can get a word out, "you don't get a say in that decision. I'm aware Vulcan physiology allows for accelerated healing, but since we're stuck in orbit anyway there's no dire need for you to be on the bridge. Check in tomorrow during Alpha and if your vitals are holding steady, then we'll talk. In the meantime, you can both quit cluttering up my medical bay and go get some proper rest."