Hello All! This is my newest story, and it's another series of oneshots, though it will probably be much much longer than the last one. It's titled 'Learning How to Sail My Ship' and it will feature the Enterprise crew, though most of the oneshots will be focused on McCoy, Kirk, and Spock (And the relationship between the three of them, really I just love writing the friendship between those three). There will be references in here to other stories I have written (because all my stories are somewhat interconnected), but they can all be read as stand-alone fics.

That being said, this first chapter directly follows the last chapter of my story 'The Many Faces of James T. Kirk' (To all the kind reviewers of that story: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND I LOVE YOU ALL). Enjoy my newest oneshot kick!

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Characters: Kirk (POV), Spock, McCoy

Genre: Friendship, Humor

Summary: Kirk considers the his relationship with Spock and McCoy (NO SLASH: really guys I just don't write it)

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Jim couldn't figure out when it had happened. He couldn't figure out when exactly Spock and Bones had become as essential to him as his own hands.

He knew that, lately, the crew had begun referring to the three of them as though they were one entity. He had heard one crewman say, "Captain Kirk has three brains. He's got the one in his head, and the other two are in Dr. McCoy and Commander Spock." The comment had made him smile. Of course the crew would get that impression. On nearly every away mission he beamed down on, Spock and McCoy were with him. In a crisis on the bridge, Spock was at his right shoulder, and Bones was at his left (or screaming at him from the communicator to 'stop shaking this goddamned ship while I'm trying to fix people').

In the last year, Jim had come to appreciate them more and more. Bones was his rock, his best friend. He could lean on Bones when he needed to, and Bones would see his weakness and not judge him. When he was with Bones, for a moment he could be Jim and not 'Captain Kirk the Hero'. Bones was all heart, despite his gruff shell, the strong steady emotional support. And then, there was Spock. Spock was cool, calm, and steady in a crisis, always ready to calmly inject his advice without undermining Jim's authority. When things slowed down, Jim had discovered that the Vulcan was human too. He could see it when they played chess, or when Spock was bantering with McCoy, or when he looked at Uhura. He was making friends, finding love, and making a home on the Enterprise, and Jim was glad to be a part of it, and proud to call himself Spock's friend (even if his First Officer would never say it out loud).

However, Jim knew in the last year, Bones and Spock had become even more than that to him. They were more than friends, they were closer than that. He needed them like he needed air, food, water, his own two working hands and feet. Perhaps it was all they had been through together. Besides nearly dying together on an away mission a few weeks ago (rock aliens? really?), Spock had dragged his ass out of life-threatening situations at least six times, and Bones had saved his ass with hyposprays and small medical miracles even more times than that. Beyond that, the three of them had discovered a camaraderie that Jim had never expected. They could work together, and get the job done, but they could be together and relax too. Jim had found that Bones was not the only one that let him be 'just' Jim. Despite Spock's ridiculous insistence on calling Jim 'Captain' all the time (even when off duty), Jim found that Spock didn't judge him when he wanted a drink or two with Bones, or gloated over beating Spock at the occasional chess game that he won, or just wanted to talk and be himself and not Captain Kirk. Spock was quiet, but steady as a rock, and surprisingly helpful when Jim needed it.

He straightened from where he was leaning against the rail of the observation deck, stretching his sore muscles with groan and wincing at the slight pull in his lower back. He was still healing up from his near death, courtesy of the rock aliens, but he had been back on duty for two weeks and was merely grateful for his life and his miracle working crew.

"You're gonna end up back in sickbay if you're not careful." Drawled a slow Southern voice behind him. He turned, grinning at Bones, who was lounging on a couch. The Doctor's sharp eyes missed nothing, and he had picked up on Jim's wince when he had stretched.

"You should talk Bones. You've been running around like you didn't nearly get eviscerated less than four weeks ago. You will be back in sickbay before I am, mark my words."

"Captain, As the Doctor's duty requires him to spend most of his time in the medical facilities, I would not call that a valid threat. In your case, however, Dr. McCoy is not only correct, his threat against you is completely viable, considering your strong aversion to medical contact." Spock interjected, his brown eyes dancing with humor despite the lack of a smile on his pale features. He was standing on the other side of the deck from Jim, hands clasped characteristically behind his back as he addressed his Captain.

"Spock…did you just agree with Dr. McCoy?" Jim said, his grin widening.

Spock raised an eyebrow as Bones smiled up a Jim. "I was merely stating facts. I could not possibly agree with such an imprecise statement as the Doctor has made. He did not adequately explain your risk factors as related to your injuries."

"Risk factors? You green-blooded hobgoblin, Jim is a walking 'risk factor'! That is an obvious fact."

"I fail to understand how a person can be a risk factor to themselves."

"You fail to understand a lot you ice-cold…"

Jim grinned, turning back to watch the stars fly by. The banter was just part of the package, and he was glad for this, glad to be here and have such friends as these.