Big Reveals [for losthunter]

[boldygoing]

Jim has been in Starfleet Medical for eight weeks before he's finally released. Which is not to say he's been cleared for duty, mind you. But he's recovered enough not to need that kind of constant medical supervision, able to take the rest of his treatment as outpatient. He has physical therapy three times a week, exercises to do at home, and of course Doctor McCoy is still keeping an eagle eye on his diet, something that annoys Jim to no end.

Of course, that's nothing compared to finding out that his Starfleet-assigned apartment is buried under the crashed bulk of the USS Vengeance.

Jim doesn't really give a shit about the apartment itself. Yeah, it was kind of nice to have his own place, but it's never been home. It was just a place to stay whenever the Enterprise was in port. And though it was more decorated than his quarters onboard the ship, it was all meaningless knickknacks, nothing with any real sentimental value.

No, he's more pissed about the fact that nobody told him until a month after he woke up from the coma.

He understands why, of course. McCoy gave him the whole spiel about stress being bad for his recovery, about not needing to worry himself about things he couldn't do anything about, that by the time this happened Jim was already dead, but it's a heavy blow to realize that the loss of life was far, far greater than he'd realized. Tens of thousands died or lost their homes. Yet Jim Kirk lives, when he has no right to be breathing, let alone leaving the hospital.

And it's hard not to be in a foul mood when he realizes that the only place he has to stay on Earth is in Iowa, at the old neglected Kirk homestead. At least it's not likely to be bugged by Section 31, and Jim spends two entire days sweeping the place for surveillance devices, and another three to get the house in order, before he's reassured enough to have visitors.


[OOC: Image links to replace broken ones below:
23rd century Iowa
Mind meld position]

Comments

[losthunter]

"And the three of you are more than welcome to come by my Nexus apartment, the next thing we get together." They will get a small taste of what the Nexus offers from his place.

"I will make supper." He grins.

[boldygoing]

"I'm sure we can schedule something," Uhura agrees, smiling.

"A gracious offer," Spock agrees. Of course, he's now more aware than before that Hunter has had almost no contact with Vulcans before. And just because someone eats one vegetarian meal does not necessarily mean they always eat that way, so it is logical to inform a potential dinner host of his culture's dietary restrictions long before it becomes an issue. "Please be advised, I do not consume meat."

[losthunter]

"A gracious host always finds out the dinner preferences of their guests. I will make sure to have a suitable option for you."

"And if anyone has any allergies, I will be sure to avoid those." That might be something else that is not as common in the future, as it is during Hunter's timeline.

[boldygoing]

Allergies, sadly, are still around in the twenty-third century, but those that are related to food are a bit rarer than medical allergies. "I'll getcha a list," Jim tells him with a grin, as he sees his guests to the door.

McCoy grabs Jim up in a hug before he goes, though. "Don't do anything dumb, Jim. I'm not kidding. You're on medical leave for another two weeks; try 'n act like it, all right?"

Jim rolls his eyes a little and thumps a hand against the doctor's back. "I'll take it easy, Bones."

McCoy releases him, and looks past Jim to Hunter. "I still say this all sounds crazy, but I guess now I've got somethin' to think about for a bit."

[losthunter]

"Maybe it be a nice distraction, ever now and then." Hunter grins. He is glad to see that Jim does have such a protective doctor, who is also his friend.

[boldygoing]

Jim appreciates that too, although sometimes the mother henning gets to be a bit much. "I'll see you next week, if not sooner," he promises.

And then Jim and Hunter are alone again, as the others take their leave. "Well that went better than I expected," Jim admits, his body relaxing a little as some of the tension leaves his shoulders.

[losthunter]

"Me too..." Hunter smiles. He sits back down. "I am glad we told them."

[boldygoing]

"It's gonna make taking side trips a bit easier," Jim agrees. "Like if I show up with a bag full of apples in the middle of deep space again, at least now I've got a good excuse. And co-conspirators."

[losthunter]

"I can just imagine their faces when you had done that..." Hunter chuckles.

[boldygoing]

Jim shrugs a little. "It's not the first time I've smuggled apples somewhere I'm not supposed to have them. First time it's been more than one, though. Good thing that old saying about apples warding off doctors is bullshit, right?"

[losthunter]

"I don't think that you would really want to ward off your doctor, as much as pretend otherwise." Hunter tilts his head, smirking slightly.

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles a little. "Depends on what I did to myself this time." His smile fades slightly, though, as he is unavoidably reminded why he's on medical leave. As funny as it is to see Bones' face when he's minorly injured himself a dozen times over the years, there's nothing funny about it this time.

[losthunter]

"He cares a lot for you." Hunter observes softly. "So he wants to protect you."

[boldygoing]

"I know." Jim sighs a little, turning to face him. "And believe me, it's nice to have people that give a shit about me."

[losthunter]

"They definitely do give care..." Hunter nods slightly.

"I saw that much when we were all waiting in the hospital."

[boldygoing]

"Yeah, I know. I'm not ungrateful, I just... really want this to be over." At the same time, he wonders if he should feel guilty for even thinking that. After all, it was his choice to climb into the warp core. His choice to give his life for his crew. He should be grateful to even be alive to be nagged in the first place.

[losthunter]

"And there will come a day, when you are back on your ship, adventure just a flight away... and maybe a part of you will miss the chance you have now."

"To be free a little. You might be on medical leave, but there are things you can do. Things you can enjoy. Adventure you can have."

[boldygoing]

Jim gives him a slightly amused look, though there's not a ton of humor in it. "I meant Bones' fussing. I mean, hell, he worries about me more than my actual mother."

[losthunter]

"I would suggest that you 'play Doctor' with him, to distract him, but we both know how that would turn out right now."

[boldygoing]

Jim shrugs a little. "Can't sleep with crew anyway. Regulations." Of course, he still doesn't know if they are going to be his crew again. If he's going to continue to be captain of the Enterprise, after all that's happened. And he's doing his best not to show how much it'll hurt if Starfleet Command decides he doesn't deserve it.

He shakes his head a little. "So... when do you want to take that ride?"

[losthunter]

"Whenever you feel ready." Hunter feels like Jim needs a little control in his life. Something that he gets to decide.

[boldygoing]

He smiles slightly. "I have a confession to make... I really am going to visit the shipyards, but I don't plan to just stop there. Interested?"

[losthunter]

"I sort of guessed that..." Hunter smiles softly in return. "Yes. I am."

[boldygoing]

"How far can you go on one tank? I'd hate to get you stranded." Seems only fair to find out before Hunter runs out in the middle of nowhere, so they can plan to bring along extra fuel if necessary.

[losthunter]

"I have a fuel efficient bike. I get about 85 miles-per-gallon."

"So about 150 miles. Give or take..."

[making me do some conversion math here...]