Warnings Part Deux: Still not mine. Still not long. Still not beta-ed.

Thank you to Kadigan and Lady Merlin for the reviews, and those who faved. I really appreciate it.

Chapter Two

Seven hours into what they had since learned would be a week-long trip to Earth, six and a half of which were spent making sure the ship would last long enough to complete the journey, Jim was accosted on the Bridge by a worried, annoyed and sleep-deprived (but, hell, who wasn't?) Chief Medical Officer.

"Bones, I'm fi—"

Said CMO held up a hand, holding a hypo that, in Jim's opinion, was larger than really necessary, "Finish the barefaced lie coming out of your mouth and I'm sticking this in your eye."

"I'm managing." He transitioned smoothly. Jim had been dealing (in various and creative ways) with authority figures for the better part of two decades before meeting Bones. The doctor only enabled him daily practice. He noted with a measure of amusement, however, that most of his crew was showing more reaction now than they had during the confrontation with Nero. Chekov, in particular, was going to break something if he stared at them any harder.

"Only by the grace of God and sheer, stubborn willpower, you idiot," Bones shook his head, "Now, are you going to come willingly or would you rather be carted unconscious through the halls?"

Jim's eyes narrowed, but he knew by then that the good doctor was not one to bluff. He would have no compunctions about jamming that seriously ridiculously big needle into his friend's neck and dragging him half the length of the ship. He restrained a sigh and a roll of the eyes, because his ribs and his head had held out this long against the constant barrage of fists and floors and wall but were pretty pissed with him for it, and reluctantly capitulated. "I'll walk, thanks."

"You're welcome." Bones took him for his word and began to walk toward the turbolift. He turned around when he realized that he was doing so alone. A hint of threat returned in his voice, "Jim."

"Yeah. I'm coming." Jim's eyes swept across the bridge, over the people seated there, eventually finding his First Officer, "Hey, Spock—"

"We will take ample care of the ship, Captain." The Vulcan told him with a level stare.

Jim smiled to himself, "Yeah, you will." He made to follow Bones, "Thanks."

"Of course."

The Enterprise's First Officer watched them go ("Ow! Bones!" "You look like a stiff wind could knock you over." "You don't have to grab my arm so hard." "I don't have to risk you collapsing halfway there by letting you walk, either." "...blackmailer."), waited until the lift doors had closed before moving toward the center dais. He placed a hand on the Captain's Chair, but didn't sit down as he commed Engineering, "Mr. Scott, how are the drive repairs faring?"

As the ranting voice answered, several around the bridge turned back toward their consoles to resume their work, a ship to keep safe.