Chapter Text
13:00 on the USS Enterprise. Jim is strolling around the ship performing a well over due inspection. The science department are currently working on a cure for a viral infection commonly found on the Denobulan home world. Very similar to a 21st century threat known then as the swine flu.
“Making any progress, gentleman?” Kirk said as he walked up behind them.
“Negative, Captain. We have had little to no progress.” Replied the Ensign.
“Better hop to it then.” Kirk took one step back and in the process knocked over the crewman holding the Petri dish containing the disease. The glass fell to the ground and so did the captain. Falling head first into the substance.
“Ensign Romanoff to Doctor McCoy. Doc we have a serious problem.”
“On my way. McCoy out.”
Mere minutes later McCoy runs into the chem lab with his med kit. Tricorder in hand he scans both the crewman and Kirk.
“Jim, you’ve caught it.” He’s heart drops, not meeting Jim’s eyes. McCoy pulls out his com and starts barking orders.
“Clear the corridors. Scratch that. Transporter, lock onto the Captain’s signal and beam him directly into quarantine. Crewman, clean up this mess. No one is going anywhere until this lab has been fully decontaminated.”
~
6 hours later when the chem lab is clean and its occupants scanned countless times. McCoy heads back to sickbay to check on Jim. He enters the room connected to sickbay facing a huge panel of glass. Looking straight at Jim and what resembles the brig.
“Any good news? I feel like I’ve been standing here for days.” Jim says through the glass.
“Everyone else is clean and dinner is on its way.” McCoy replies.
“Good im starved. For food and a conversation. Please tell me you’re staying.”
“Yeah, I need to run tests.” Jim pulls a face.
“How romantic. What did you order?” Jim responds with interest.
“Mashed potatoes, green beans and steak. No you’re not getting any alcohol. Yes you are getting this hypo spray. Come closer.” McCoy sticks his arms into the gloves and though the glass into Jim’s side of the room. He picks up the hypo spray and injects it into Jim’s neck.
“OW! How long are you holding me captive in here?”
“The disease is highly contagious and deadly. Until we find a cure you are going to have to stay put. It could take months, Jim.” Jim’s heart broke at McCoy’s sad reply. He looks down at his feet not wanting to believe the words coming from his partner.
The silence was broken by the yeoman entering with their anticipated meals. Placing the dishes down on a small table near the door and quickly departing as to not disturb them further.
“We should eat before our food goes cold.” McCoy nods in reply and retrieves their plates. Jim sits down at his mini dining room table, enjoying his view of McCoy’s backside.
“I can feel your eyes on my ass through the glass.” He says with a smirk, returning to the panel he had his arms in before. Jim takes the dish and lifts the cover off.
“Mmm smells amazing.” Jim’s mind starts to wonder. Considering how long it will be until he can smell bones again. Hold him, kiss him, have magnificent sex. What it’s like to wake up next to bones, mess up his hair after a shift. Long steamy showers together.
“Didn’t think you loved steak that much.” Bones giggles looking down at Jim’s crotch. Jim’s cheeks turn the shade of Scotty’s red uniform shirt. Returning to his seat and digging in.
“Remember that in a week’s time when you’re horny and in need of my ass. Then we’ll see whose sprouting random boners.” McCoy quickly changes the topic of conversation.
“Spock is coming down at 19:00 hours so you can debrief him before the conference with the Andorians.”
“Good.” Jim says after a mouth full of juicy steak.
“Chapel to McCoy.” Comes the nurse from the intercom. The doctor rises from his seat and walks over to the intercom.
“McCoy here.”
“We have Chekov in here vomiting all over my clean floor. It isn’t the only bodily fluid he’s losing.”
“On my way, McCoy out.” McCoy approaches the table once more, shovelling in three more mouthfuls of food before leaving.”
“Be back in 30, love yah.”
“Love you too.” Jim manages over a mouthful of potatoes.
~
McCoy returns 30 minutes later to find his previous seat now occupied by Spock.
“Managed to replace me already I see.”
“I assure you doctor that I could never be an adequate replacement for your sarcastic attitude and over-emotional tendencies.”
“I was just updating Spock for the Andorian conference.”
“Which I now must prepare for. If you would excuse me gentleman. Doctor your neglected meal is inside of the heating compartment.” Spock says followed by his prompt exit.
McCoy retrieves his meal and takes the empty chair across from Jim.
“How’s Chekov doing?”
“He’s asleep in med bay attached to an IV. Should be good as new in 24 hours.”
“Glad to hear. Speaking of sleeping, any chance I won’t be sleeping alone tonight.”
“Jim, you’re under medical surveillance at all times.” He takes a bite of his surprisingly warm food,
“You know what I mean, Bones.” Jim whines.
“Scotty is sending up another cot. I know it’s not the same, but it’s better than nothing, darling.” McCoy finishes his dinner and begins checking all of Jim’s vitals, attaching an IV. Much to Jim’s disgust, heart rate monitor and a million other things coming off his body.
“This would be a hell of a lot easier if I wasn’t using these 2kg gloves with my arms though a panel of glass. You’ll be thanking me in the morning when you don’t wake up in a puddle of piss.” McCoy says as he inserts the catheter. Somehow that doesn’t lighten the frown on Jim’s face.
“Is all of this necessary, I feel fine?”
“Better to get you all hooked up now rather than trying to when you’re half asleep and barely vertical.”
“This would be almost arousing if you weren’t inserting a catheter.”
“Mind outer the gutter, Jim. All done. Pants up, Scotty is going to be arriving with the bed soon.” As if on que, Scotty backs into the room with another ensign, carrying a small cot.
“Where would you like it laddie?” Scotty asks.
“Against the wall on the left.” The engineers place the cot against the wall, so his bed is perpendicular to Jim’s cot on the opposite side of the glass.
“Thanks Scotty, I owe you a bottle of bourbon.”
“No trouble at all doctor. Good evening lads.” Scotty and the ensign leave the temporary home they’ve made in the back of med bay. McCoy retrieves a pile of bed lining and makes his new bed. While Jim finishes up some reports he didn’t get to finish earlier. McCoy starts changing into his pyjamas, spiking Jim’s interest, reports forgotten on the bed.
“Darling you’re drooling.” McCoy smirks pulling a blue shirt over his head.
“Boooooooones.” Jim whines laying down on his cot.
“Get some sleep, baby.”
“But I want you.” Jim says in the most pathetic voice the doctor has ever heard.
An idea came to the doctor. He jumped out of bed, moved the glass penetrating panel to between their beds and stuck his hand through. Stroking Jim’s hair affectionately. It could never compare to falling asleep wrapped around each other, or skin contact, But maybe it was enough to fill the gap, even if only slightly.
“Love you, baby.”
“Love you too, Bonesy.” Jim murmured back. Before his eyes drifted shut as sleep pulled him under. He kept his hand there resting on Jim’s sleeping form. Knowing that Jim won’t stay asleep for long. The inch of glass reminding him of Khan. Jim’s dead body, separated by an inch of glass. A tear fell from McCoy’s face. This disease could be fatal and he sure as hell isn’t losing Jim from the opposite side of an isolation chamber.
“I’m going to save you, darling. Whatever it takes.” He closed his eyes, joining Jim in sleep.