"Fragile"

[amine_eyes]

Title: "Fragile"
Pairing: Jim/Bones
Rating: PG-13 :) 
Beta: sororexitium
Summary: #11 - TOUCH ME: Bones is the one who gets nailed by the anti-sex-pollen (or alien curse) and literally gets a jolt of severe, debilitating pain every time he touches someone, or someone touches him. This is a rather large problem given his position as physician on the Enterprise -- not to mention Jim not being able to keep his hands off. So how do they solve this problem?

Bones' POV: "Wheels of the Juggernaut" PG-13 by spikeface  :)

A/N: This was done for the "Sweethearts" challenge over at jim_and_bones , and the banner was made by the awesome spikeface :D
 
Disclaimer: Of course I own this, this is why I'm a penniless student ...

It’s one of these missions again, Jim thinks as he jumps over a fallen branch, dodges a rifle blast and skids along the ground as he runs as fast as possible. Keeping pace with him are the rest of the group – Lieutenant Dawson running faster and then turning back to fire and distract the team, Ensign Clewer diving to avoid getting hit and rolling along the floor for a metre or so, while Bones simply runs while insulting the Telethiens in as many languages as possible.

 
“Come on Scotty!” Jim yells as they get closer and closer to a cliff edge, and Scotty’s “Well if you’d stay still for even five seconds I might be able to beam you out!” is almost lost in the barrage of fire at them. Dodging a tree, Bones runs through a bush, coming out the other side covered in green dust, and Jim finally sees a gap for the group to get transported back.
 
“Everyone, dive left!” he yells, and as they dive and roll, the shouts of the Telethiens and the rifle blasts getting closer, Jim can hear the whine of the transporter, and it’s the most welcome sound in the world.
 
They materialise on the landing platform, still rolling, and as Jim rolls to a stop, he sighs in relief and accepts the hand offered by Scotty as he comes out from behind the console. Dawson and Clewer are already levering themselves up, and Bones is sitting up and wincing.
 
“Damnit Jim, why is it that these sort of missions are normality for us?”
 
He gestures to his uniform which is still covered in the green dust, some of which has settled in clumps in his hair. Jim looks at him.
 
“Because life is more interesting? Come on; let’s get down to Sick-Bay before Chapel and M’Benga have to come find us.”
 
As the four of them leave the transporter room, Bones snorts in laughter.
 
“Jim Kirk, going to Sick-Bay before I said so – wonders will never cease.”
 
Jim feels justified in elbowing him in the side. As they get to Sick-Bay and everyone is checked over, pronounced fine, and they get back to important ship stuff, Jim thinks no more of the Telethiens apart from some impressive insults as he wakes up covered in bruises.
 
By the time the bruises have faded, they’ve already taken part in two diplomatic missions, settled a trade agreement between Nang-Teth and Argos Five, Jim has won three out of six chess matches between him and Spock, Bones has successfully published yet another article in Starfleet Medical’s journal, and Jim has forgotten about Teleth Seven and the green dust.
 
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
 
Bones shifts again in his seat, visibly trying not to scratch his skin. Jim pauses in eating, and frowns.
 
“That’s about the third time you’ve moved in as many minutes Bones, something wrong?”
 
Bones is frowning too, though his is more exasperated than Jim’s.
 
“I don’t know! Been feeling weird since I got up this morning, and I can’t think what could be causing it.”
 
“You seemed fine as you moaned at me for using your toothbrush,” says Jim, and Bones rolls his eyes.
 
“That’s because yours was right next to it, would it have killed you to move that extra millimetre?”
 
Jim nodded, and Bones just looks at him. He spread his hands in “what was I meant to do?” as he took another bite from lunch, and Bones put his head in his hands.
 
“I give up, there is no way you’re going to learn before the end of the next century – oh Goddamn it!”
 
Bones seems to turn right round in his seat without moving, knuckles going white from where he’s gripping the table to avoid scratching. Jim is already over the other side of the table before Bones lets go, and he places a hand on Bones’ shoulders.
 
Bones winces, shrugging him off.
 
“Jim, please don’t.”
 
“Bones,” Jim says as he sits down next to him, “I think you’d better head to Sick-Bay.”
 
Luckily Bones doesn’t argue, and Jim manages to get the two of them down there and Bones dropped off to the barrage of questions from the medical staff, before he has to go back on shift. As he leaves, he waves at Bones who is already in a medical gown, and he gets a roll of the eyes and a small smile in return, before M’Benga asks him exactly what has been happening.
 
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
 
“Well, yes Admiral, it is very important –“
 
“No, no I quite understand –“
 
“The problem isn’t the willingness of the crew Admiral, the problem is that we’ve done three Neutral Zone missions in the past –“
 
“I know that Admiral –“
 
“Well if you’d just –“
 
A chirp sounds on the console, and Jim barely manages to let a grin of relief hit his face.
 
“Sorry Admiral, must go, important message from Sick-Bay, I’ll contact you later, yes, yes, will do, uh-huh, yes, bye!”
 
Ending the call, Jim switched channels on the comm system, a smile already on his face.
 
“Seriously Bones, you must be psychic the way you interrupt these conversations …”
 
His voice trails off, as he saw M’Benga’s worried face on the other side of the comm.
 
“Captain, something’s wrong with Doctor McCoy,” is all M’Benga manages to get out, before Jim cuts the call with a brief “I’ll be there in five,” and running down to Sick-Bay, only pausing to give the con to Spock.
 
He skids to a halt in front of Sick-Bay, and is met by the worried face of Nurse Halton.
 
“Sir, Doctor McCoy is in Isolation Room One, but – Sir, wait!” She’s grabbed hold of his arm, forcing him to stop heading over to where Bones is. He takes a deep breath, and looks to where she’s grabbing, her hands white with tension. She lets go, and runs a hand worriedly over her head.
 
“Sir, Doctor M’Benga is in there at the moment, he’ll be out as soon as he can, he’ll let you know what’s wrong, I promise Sir.”
 
Jim looks at the door to the isolation room, and then rubs a hand over his eyes.
 
“Thanks Ms Halton for letting me know, I’ll just …” he gestures to a set of seats and Nurse Halton visibly relaxes.
 
“Okay sir, though, if you wouldn’t mind, Crewman Davies is in for his next regen session, would you mind coming and talking to him please?”
 
Jim puts a smile on, and clasps Nurse Halton’s shoulder briefly.
 
“Of course not, he got it injured on the way to Hawker Two didn’t he?”
 
“Yes sir, falling down the steps at Engineering during one of the practise sessions.”
 
As they walk towards the bed, Jim looks back at the closed door of the isolation room.
 
Don’t worry Bones, I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere …
 
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
 
Jim is regaling Davies about the time he and the rest of Delta Squadron thought it’d be a good idea to reprogram one of the simulation suites, when M’Benga leaves the isolation room. A brief farewell and Jim strides over to where M’Benga is grabbing a cup of water, downing it with speed.
 
“Doctor M’Benga, what’s happening?”
 
He looks up, and his shoulders slump.
 
“Let’s talk in my office Captain.”
 
Once they’re inside, M’Benga puts up the privacy screens, and sits heavily in his chair.

“Captain, somehow, Doctor McCoy’s skin has become hyper-sensitive.”

 
“Which means what exactly?”
 
“It means,” M’Benga takes another cup of water and drinks a bit before continuing, “that every single bit of pressure on his skin is being magnified at least one hundred times.”
 
Jim thinks back to lunch.
 
“So when I placed my hand on his shoulder …” his voice trails off, and M’Benga gives him a look of sympathy.
 
“It’d have felt like you punched him Captain.”
 
Shit.
 
“Is there any way we can fix this?”
 
Jim tries not to notice how his leg is beating twenty to the dozen as he speaks.
 
“If I knew what was causing it maybe, but Captain,” he looks at Jim and spreads his hands, “none of the general analgesics are working, even that’s hurting him, as it is we had to take off the gown because of the pain it was causing him. If it progresses even more, we won’t even be able to have him on the biobed or give him pain relief. The most we’ve been able to tell is that it’s certainly an outside influence that brought this on, not his own body suddenly deciding to do this.”
 
Jim frowns.
 
“Bones hasn’t been off the ship since … since Teleth Seven.”
 
He pulls his comm off his belt, and flips it open.
 
“Kirk to Bridge. Spock, you there?”
 
“Yes Captain.”
 
“Get whatever information you can on Teleth Seven out again, I’ll meet you in the Ready Room as soon as I can.”
 
The “Yes Captain,” that follows has a hint of query in it, but Jim finishes the call without explaining. There’s no explanation he can give at the moment.
 
He stands up, and M’Benga gets to the door before Jim manages to start walking towards him.
 
“Captain, you do have permission to go into there, but Nurse Chapel will make sure that you don’t end up close enough to touch Doctor McCoy.”
 
His voice softens.
 
“I’m sorry Captain, but we can’t afford to hurt him anymore than we have to.”
 
“I understand Doctor,” and even to Jim the words sound harsh.
 
M’Benga though, seems to see that Jim doesn’t really mean it, and he steps out of Jim’s way, letting him out the office.
 
Jim strides over, waits for Chapel to undo the door, and –
 
Bones is still.
 
Not even in sleep has Bones been this motionless, he shifts and snuffles and tightens his grip and his eyelashes move, but now …
 
“We sedated him Captain, it means he’s not feeling any pain at the moment,” says Chapel, and Jim starts to take in the bio-bed readings, the lack of restraints, the lack of clothing which would normally make Jim happy if it was in the privacy of their quarters, but here, out here –
 
It shows how vulnerable Bones is.
 
“How long before it gets to the point that he can’t rest on the bio-bed?” he asks, and his voice sounds like it’s coming through a tunnel.
 
Chapel sighs.
 
“If this is caused from something on Teleth Seven Captain, maybe a week, maybe a day, we can’t predict how fast this is going to progress, not properly. At the least, maybe a day or so, but …”
 
Her voice trails off, and Jim empathises with the feeling of helplessness. He looks at Bones, still and silent, and clenches his fists by his sides.
 
“Don’t worry Bones, we’ll cure this. I promise.”
 
He nods and Chapel leads him out, locking the door behind him, and Jim heads off to his Ready-Room.
 
He’s got some questions that need answered.
 
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
 
“Nothing?”
 
Spock sighs quietly.
 
“All the information that we have on Teleth Seven Captain is focused on the political situation, with only,” he gestures to the slim folder on the table, “one file on the flora and fauna of the planet. If you were to speak with the Telethiens however, information may come to light that will aid Doctor McCoy.”
 
Jim runs his hand through his hair in frustration.
 
“And we’re too far away for subspace communications, at least two days.”
 
Spock steps to his side.
 
“I took the liberty of ordering a change in course towards Teleth Seven after your communication; we should be in reach of subspace communications in one day.”
 
Jim feels a smile appear on his face for the first time since the beginning of this latest crisis.
 
“Good work Spock. Scotty, any luck on the bio-bed modification?”
 
Scotty looks up from the scrawled blueprints on the table, and waves his pen in the air, sending a splatter of ink across the room.
 
“Not as such with the bio-bed Captain, anything added to that could possibly inhibit the readings, however,” he gestures to a sheaf of paper next to the bio-bed designs, “We may be able to make an anti-gravity device that we can focus to only affect the doctor, while still keeping the bio-bed’s life sign detector functional.”
 
Jim nods.
 
“Do it Scotty, how long will it take?”
 
Scotty shrugs.
 
“About three hours if I delay the testing of Number Three Engine.”
 
“Get on it right away Scotty.”
 
“Right you are Captain.”
 
Scotty gathers up the bundle of papers in his arms and leaves, and only Spock and Jim are left in the room.
 
Jim breathes out heavily, and places his hands on the table.
 
“The Telethiens better have a way of curing Bones.”
 
Spock doesn’t question, merely nods and waits for Jim to collect himself. He pulls himself up, and straightens his uniform.
 
“Inform me as soon as we come into contact with the Telethiens, and make sure that when I get back here from Sick-Bay, that Lieutenant Uhura has already caused enough havoc with them that they’re ready to answer all my questions and give us as much help as they possibly can.”
 
“Yes Captain.”
 
As Spock heads out the room, Jim rubs his eyes, and then heads out himself to go to Bones’ side until he’s needed to verbally kick ass in order to cure Bones.
 
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
 
“Captain?”
 
Jim jerks from his light doze, and grabs his communicator.
 
“Yes Lieutenant?”
 
“We’re in range of Teleth Seven, I’m currently setting up a call between you and their Minister.”
 
Jim smiles slightly before he answers.
 
“Thanks Uhura, I’ll be right up.”
 
As he closes his communicator, he looks at the pale figure now hovering slightly above the bio-bed.
 
“God-damn it Bones,” Jim whispers, and his voice cracks slightly in the hush of the isolation room.
 
“Just … I promise we’ll fix this soon,” he says quietly, and walks out of there, hand shaking with the effort of not patting Bones on the shoulder.
 
As he heads towards the Bridge, crewmen look at his face and almost feel sorry for the Telethiens.
 
Almost.
 
He walks in, and Lieutenant Uhura puts up the communication link in front of the whole Bridge. Jim can see a rather pale looking Telethien on it, and he settles into his chair, looking directly at the third eye of the Telethien in front of him.
 
“What. Is wrong. With my Chief Medical Officer.”
 
The Telethien gulps.
 
“Captain, the plant is one that is commonly used for … recreational purposes on our planet, it heightens sensation, I personally don’t understand why, I mean, it’s their decision, but as for its effect on your McCoy I couldn’t possibly -”
 
“Is there a way to counteract the effects?”
 
Instead of fear gracing his features, the Telethien looks sorry.
 
“The only cure that has been discovered has been shown by our scientists to fail when used in cases such as your own. The difference between our physiologies … I am very sorry Captain, all the data we have on the plant will be sent to you of course, but -”
 
His third eye blinks rapidly as he spreads his hands.
 
“We cannot help.”
 
The transmission ends, and Jim stares at the rise of Teleth Seven’s moon, hearing his breath harsh in his ears.
 
Eventually, he turns and looks at Spock.
 
“Right, we have the data?”
 
Spock nods.
 
“Then we’ll make a cure. That works. We’re the crew of the Enterprise; we solve at least three impossible things before breakfast.”
 
Jim hopes that no one hears the small crack in his voice.
 
-x-x-x-x-x-
 
“So what you’re saying is that there isn’t a cure?”
 
M’Benga takes some more coffee and looks at Jim, eyes red round the edges.
 
“Pretty much Captain, at the moment all the data is -” he gestures to the mass of charts detailing the differences in physiology between them and the Telethiens, “saying exactly what their Minister said. There’s no case of a human surviving this, and even if there were we don’t have any data so I counter …”
 
M’Benga pauses, and looks at Jim.
 
“Doctor?”
 
M’Benga looks back at the charts, and then to Jim.
 
“Captain, did you end up covered in any of this dust?”
 
“Even if I did, it wouldn’t – Hey! ”
 
Jim rubs his arm from where M’Benga has jabbed it with a needle.
 
“I have an idea,” is the only response as M’Benga runs out the office, and Jim follows, a frown on his face.
 
“Doctor -”
 
M’Benga waves off the question starting to form and starts talking as he focuses the scanning equipment on the drop of blood M’Benga got from Jim.
 
“You got some of the dust on you, but it hasn’t affected you, normally it would be the other way round due to your immune system Captain, if I can find a trace of the – there!”
 
He points at the screen where an image of a B cell is rotating slowly on the screen. M’Benga turns to look at Jim, and Jim sees a look o triumph on his face.
 
“Your immune system fought this off Captain, if we just copy this, and then inject the antibodies into Doctor McCoy, we’ll be able to cure him!”
 
Jim’s already rolling up his sleeve as he sits down on the nearest bio-bed.
 
“Take what you need Doctor,” and as M’Benga talks shop with Nurse Halton and Chapel, Jim looks at the door to the isolation room. He feels a small smile on his face.
 
Told you we’d fix this Bones …
 
-x-x-x-x-
 
Of course things don’t go as smoothly as they would in an action movie. It takes about a day for them to work out how to transfer the Jim-specific antibodies to Bones without Bones trying to fight them off, and another day to perfect the delivery system so that it will cause Bones the least amount of pain, but they eventually manage it.
 
Jim stands next to Bones while M’Benga readies the hypo, while Bones’ face is creased up from the pain of the air hitting him, and nods. M’Benga quickly injects the solution into Bones’ cephalic vein.
 
He screams.
 
 Jim barely manages to stop himself from going to hold Bones for comfort, he just watches helplessly as M’Benga gives him a sedative, and Bones falls silent.
 
“And now we wait,” M’Benga murmurs, and Jim agrees.
 
-x-x-x-x-x-
 
It’s been five hours, and Jim has filled out all the paperwork for today and told Bones about everything that has happened this week, and he’s still silent.
 
“Well, after M’Benga injected the cure, I sent word to Spock to take the con, and …” Jim runs his hand through his hair, “damnit Bones it’s supposed to be me lying here in pain, not you. Just – damn my immune system for actually doing its job …”
 
Jim looks at his hands, and his next words are a whisper.
 
“Don’t you dare leave me Bones. Don’t you damn dare.”
 
“Don’t plan to.”
 
The words are croaked out, Bones’ throat raw from the yelling and screaming, and they’re followed by a great hacking cough, but it’s the most beautiful sound that Jim has ever heard.
 
“Bones!”
 
He grabs his arm, and Bones winces.
 
“No need to be so heavy-handed Jim, god-damn it!”
 
Jim yells for M’Benga who is already running across Sick-Bay.
 
“You ever do this to me again Bones I swear I’ll handcuff you to the bed so you can never leave.”
 
He kisses Bones on the forehead.
 
“I mean it, you’re not even going to let out of them to go to the toilet or down to Sick-Bay.”
 
Bones’ smile is small, but it’s the most beautiful sight in the world.
 
“I promise Jim.”
 
As M’Benga does his Doctor thing, Jim sits there, still holding Bones’ hand, ‘cos he’ll be damned if he’ll ever let Bones go after this. His smile refuses to go away.
 
-x-x-x-x-x- THE END -x-x-x-x-x-