A Million Little Things

1

Challenge

Jim leaned heavily on his elbow at the table, woozily considering the contents of his glass.

"You're a hypocrite." He said simply to the room's other occupant, who had been quietly reading something on his PADD.

"Hmm?" Bones puzzled distractedly.

"You know, do as I say not as I do?" Jim prompted, "A hypocrite."

Bones was immersed in the PADD with which he'd taken to searching for the last subject of Jim's wondering mind; the name of the first, later confirmed, life supporting exoplanet found by Earth astronomers before the dawn of the space-faring era. Jim had argued it was Tau Ceti e, in response to which McCoy called Kirk a geek, downed the remains of his last glass of whiskey before stating that it was definitely Kepler-22b.

How they'd jumped from Chekov's rumoured fling with Ensign Remi to early astronomy was beyond McCoy at this late stage in the day, although he strongly suspected it had started with Jim goading him about his apparent hatred of space in general and McCoy jumping to his own defence.

He looked up lazily, "Tell me more."

"Well, you're favourite food is Southern Fried Chicken."

"A little stereotypical don't you think Jim?" Bones bit, indignant.

"I've seen you eat it!"

"Jim, everybody likes southern fried chicken; Scotty's sainted great grandmother liked southern fried chicken… but then, she was from Glasgow…" McCoy almost lost his train of thought.

Kirk continued, "While I have to eat salad."

Seemingly unhearing Bone's continued, "…It doesn't mean you have to eat it for every meal. I'll have you know I like salad too."

Jim crossed his arms, glaring. "You're still a hypocrite."

"Go on."

As if loosed by the invitation Jim carried on with increased enthusiasm; "You're favourite drinks are Saurian Brandy and a mint Julep strong enough to knock the socks off've a moose..."

He was interrupted, "Well, in moderation maybe…"

Jim stared blearily, pausing for a moment. "Are you sober?"

McCoy eyed him with a look just a little too lucid for Jim's liking.

"We've been drink for drink for the last hour Bones!" Jim exclaimed, thrusting his glass forward to exaggerate the point, "I, for one am not…"

"Jim do you have a point?"

Indignant, James Kirk continued to rant at his friend, "You kick up a ruckus when we're late for a medical – don't interrupt – and then don't turn up for your own… "

McCoy's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Oh yeah, caught you out with that one."

"Damned DCMO…"

"What was that?" Jim goaded

"I said one God damn time Jim. Gees."

Undeterred, Jim lay his cards on the table, "You don't take your own health seriously."

"I'm a doctor, I'm not meant to take my own health seriously! If I did that how could I advise other people properly? You learn from your mistakes Jim."

"Oh you do? So crashing the Enterprise into a rogue asteroid qualifies me to be the Fleet's top advisor on how to avoid asteroids?"

"Uhhhh. Where are you going with this exactly? …should I be nervous?" McCoy half joked.

"Terrified." Jim teased

"Really? Cause I could seriously rethink this whole…" Jim promptly cut him off.

"I challenge you."

Bone's stared back, incredulous, "Wha?"

"I challenge you." Jim stated matter of factly, " A 50 round cross-fit circuit in the gym; 50 of everything from yesterday's WOD, 50 times. See who finishes first."

"Are you serious…?" McCoy gaped back.

"Don't think you can handle it?"

"You'd collapse!"

Jim shrugged off the retort with a scoff, "Says the guy who sets all the PT sessions but doesn't attend them himself!"

McCoy didn't need time to make his decision. He sat back in his chair defiantly, "Well now, since you put it like that... No."

"See! You see! Hypocrite!" Jim practically leapt out of his seat. McCoy remained just as he was.

"We'll do the circuit, 100 times." Bones deadpanned.

Jim stopped, jaw frozen in thought. His gaze set, " .…. Deal."

xxxxOxxxx

The next afternoon three men were alone in the Enterprise's largest gym. One was standing off to the side, an exasperated sort of boredom wrote itself across his features. He rolled his eyes undetected for the 15th time.

"You give up?" McCoy panted, resting his hands on his knees and taking in the sight of his captain before him. McCoy so hoped that the vest that Kirk wore wasn't meant to look attractive, as every inch of it was now drenched with sweat. A lock of hair flopped down over Jim's eyes and he impatiently blew it away from his face. Jim looked, well, they both looked…

Flattened.

" I give up…." He started, then; "No wait! …." He picked up the weight he'd been lifting and hauled it up just one more time before letting it fall to the floor. " Now I give up."

Still panting, McCoy turned to their quiet observer, "How many was that Spock?"

"Captain, you completed 69.95 circuits."

"YES!" Jim hissed victoriously.

"Doctor, you completed 71."

"Wait… what? You counted wrong Spock."

Spock glared.

"No ya didn't." Jim quickly conceded, " Bones what the hell? Where do you keep all the muscle? In your liver? We all know it's the biggest part of you…"

"Oh, the Lord hates a sore looser Jim-boy." Bones shook his head and reached for his towel and water.

Jim was incensed, "Don't you go getting all preachy on me!"

Bones turned casually away, "You're gonna ache in the morning."

"That's what you said at the bar last night." Jim grouched as they headed to the shower.

"Was I wrong?"

Sure, Jim had been hung over this morning but hell, it wasn't like a little detox had ever done him any… he stood still as the thought occurred to him.

"Well I'll be damned…" He muttered. McCoy had already walked away. "HEY!" He shouted after his friend, "I want a rematch! Hey! Don't you walk away from me!"

He sprinted after Bones to the locker room, clearly for Jim this was not over . In the corner of the gymnasium Spock shook his head, a rueful smile almost tugging at his lips as he left for the bridge.

True friends are the ones who challenge you :-)