Notes:

Disclaimer: This is fanfiction, as everyone around here should know, and there's no copyright infringement intended. I am just playing with my favourite characters and I will be respectful and put them back as soon as I am finished.

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I've been a very very intense fan of TOS since I was 13… which was ages ago and I have never dared to write anything when it comes to Star Trek.

Although I have – all my life – sought refuge in the Star Trek Novels, I never had the idea of writing… until now.

I am new to this (fanfiction) and I am also new to the 'alternate original series movies'. Just got hooked with those about two weeks ago and therefore I am still kind of inexperience when it comes to this universe. So if there are any errors, please let me know.

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Academy days – Early in the friendship

"What the hell, Jim! Are you drunk?" McCoy greeted Jim.

It was Friday night and quite late.

"Bit, yeah… Let's go out and have some more," The man on the other side of the open dormitory door huffed.

McCoy hesitated for a moment, but then stepped closer to the figure with the lowered head opposite him.

"How much did you have?"

"I don't know… Three beers… maybe… four?"

The doctor frowned.

Jim Kirk was usually not this drunk… especially not after a few beer, he also didn't use to do pre-gaming like this on his own.

Which meant he was here not just because he was in search for a drinking buddy.

"Jim?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you feel okay?"

"Yeah. Fine, Bones."

"So what are you doing on my doorstep?"

"You asked me when my birthday was, didn't you?"

"I did," the doctor answered, well aware this had happened months ago and he had been not granted an answer – until now that was. He had not asked because he hadn't known, it was basically Starfleet history, but out of politeness and to find out if Jim wanted to celebrate it, a few days before his last birthday.

"Well, today is kind of an anniversary… and some people in my youth told me it should be celebrated like my birthday… Guess they were not too fond of celebrating it on the real day because it was also the day my father died, and that was in general a… gloomy day when it came to my mother… and… although I don't… Oh, shit… I just… I'd like to invite you for a drink," the obviously more than tipsy cadet offered.

McCoy just stood there for a moment, staring at him.

"You look like you had enough already…" McCoy started. Then he thought about the exact choice of words the other man had just used. They were kind of odd.

"So what is this anniversary about?"

"No important. Just go out with me…" Kirk smirked but the doctor could see clear as day it was a blunt try to fake a good mood.

"What happened?" he asked, his medical education kicking in when Jim swayed at bit.

Kirk was not okay.

"Nothing happened! I just wanted to ask you… out… you know. Have a drink, eat something completely unhealthy… We just passed the latest tests and…."

Leonard raised his hands.

"Man, it's the middle of the night… Wait," he interrupted, sensing something was odd about the whole situation. "You never…." But then he stopped, realizing that Jim had actually asked him out.

They had been out several times before of course, but this was different. The other man had never gotten drunk on his own before asking him for a night out, they usually did this together.

When Kirk leaned into the doorframe, one elbow resting against it over his head, Leonard finally realized something about this was fucking serious.

"Come in," he offered, it was the only thing he could think of for the moment.

"The party is not waiting… get ready!" Kirk urged him. But he nevertheless sauntered in.

"I am not quite sure I am ready to party," the doctor stepped closer to the other man, watching him closely.

Kirk's expression was neither relaxed nor did it really show he was in a state of proper enjoyment over a leisure night out clubbing – at least to McCoy.

The doctor's eyes narrowed.

"Hey… Why don't you sit down for a moment while I shave and get ready? I'll only take a minute," he pointed towards the old couch he had inherited from the previous tenant of his dorm… or the one before that… or maybe even the one before the one before that.

Some aspect of Leonard was not ready at all to go out but another urged him to keep the man company who had just interrupted his reading session.

For a moment some odd feeling urged him that this was important, before he looked over his shoulder and rolled his eyes.

Kirk was letting himself fall heavily into the old furniture and his gaze went this way and that, scanning the widely used room thoroughly.

Leonard headed for the ensuite but paused at the door, looking back at the man who he barely knew and who had invaded his privacy in quite an endearing manner.

His roommate had just graduated and he was living alone for the moment.

"So, what are your plans for tonight?" he asked while rummaging through his shaving kit for the cream, he liked to do it the old way, neither using a razor nor a product that stopped the hair grow on its own.

"I… I don't know… Do you happen to know a good place?" Kirk stammered.

McCoy frowned and hesitated for a moment and then realized the kid was not at all ready to hit the streets tonight.

Probably he was here in fact because he wasn't.

The doctor's thoughts raced, he needed to find an excuse for them to not go out there.

With his face covered in shaving cream – he thought it might be funny - he stepped out of the ensuite.

"Well, maybe 'The Pier' would be a good choice."

Kirk's gaze rose, but it was emptier than Leonard had feared, his demeanor had changed somehow drastically.

"Really? What is there that I've never heard off?" Jim asked.

McCoy was lost for an answer for a moment, but then stepped closer. His medical education kicked in – ferociously.

Jim Kirk's eyes were not focusing right.

His breathing was off.

He was slumped into the seat in a way McCoy found was out of character, he was aware Kirk was probably trying to look cool and in his state overdid it pathetically.

"Jim?" he asked cautiously, but the kid was still trying to grin stupidly.

As long as he did Leonard hat a moment to collect his thoughts.

He hurried into the bathroom and washed off the shaving cream without having shaven.

While doing so his thoughts raced. Something was definitely off with the kid and this was beyond the usual 'being drunk after a week of heavy training from the academy'. He had been confronted with the usual share of 'cadets celebrating' and this was none of that.

"Jim?" he asked again, stepping back into the room.

Slow eyes rose up to meet his, but the gaze was empty and if Leonard hadn't known better he'd say the man opposite him was drugged somehow.

"You feel bad, don't you?" his medical instinct kicked in.

Kirk evaded his gaze and turned his head away, then opened his mouth but failed to reply.

Leonard stepped closer.

"Hey?"

The only response was a fiercely shaken head.

"Bones?"

"I'm right here."

Kirk seemed frozen for a moment but then shook his head once more.

His breaths had turned to slight panting, which raised a red flag in the doctor's mind.

"Jim? What is happening?"

The other man just shook his head and stared into nothingness.

"Have you taken anything?" The doctor was quite sure Jim wouldn't, Jim had hinted that his body was prone to odd reactions to drugs, no matter if medical or recreational.

As expected another shake of the head followed, accompanied by a bright false smile.

This was where Leonard drew the line.

"Kirk?" he addressed the other man when and knelt down in front of him.

Carefully, he touched the back of Jim's hand, to see how he'd tolerate being touched, when no violent reaction came, he wrapped his fingers around the other man's wrist.

Damn, the pulse was racing.

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A/N:

Please leave a review or give me some feedback.

Constructive criticism welcome.

I am not a native speaker, so excuse my grammar mistakes or tell me how to fix them.

Thank you for reading :)