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

[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...]

[boldygoing]

Jim was sort of expecting more than that, since he has no real experience with gas-burning vehicles. And Iowa has a whole lot of nothing in between cities. But there are a few options. "There's an old art museum up in Cedar Rapids, about forty miles north of here. It's over three hundred years old, so it probably exists back home for you, too, but I figure the art's probably different."

[losthunter]

"That sounds nice."

"And what I can do is set up a PINpoint right to my garage, so if I do get low on gas, I just have to go back through the door for a refill."

[boldygoing]

Jim has no idea what kind of cost that'll be to Hunter, given that apparently people in the twenty-first century have to pay for everything, so he figures it's only fair to offer to pitch in. "Let me know what's worth a tank of fuel and I'll get it for you. Since this is my idea."

[losthunter]

"You don't really have to do that..." Hunter knows it would be difficult to figure out a value. "We will barter for something."

"Besides, you are taking me to see some art."

[boldygoing]

"Sure, but my bike won't cost me anything to get there," Jim says, raising his eyebrows. "Seems unfair."

[losthunter]

"Not in my opinion." Hunter shrugs his shoulders. "You are taking me on an adventure."

[boldygoing]

"Fine, you win." Jim puts his hands up slightly in surrender, though he's still planning on finding some way to compensate Hunter for the cost, even if he has to be sneaky about it. But he'll worry about that later. "It's a bit too late to set out today, and if I skip out on PT, Bones will know, so I've gotta pick my days carefully. I'll check my calendar and get back to you."

[losthunter]

"Now if that isn't a 'it is time to leave', I don't know what is." Hunter grins slightly. He stands up, moving towards Jim, so he can take the other man's hands in his own.

"You know how to get a hold of me."

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles a little, squeezing Hunter's hands gently. "If you want to hang out a bit, I'm not chasing you out. Just no epic road trip today." But of course, if Hunter has other things to do and places to be, he understands. Life goes on, after all, and even though Jim is not a fan of being alone in this house, he can't have company over forever.

Besides... now he has some extra reading material to keep himself occupied.

[losthunter]

"I don't feel chased out."

Hunter reaches up to touch Jim's face. "I would like to stay. The night, if that is okay?"

[boldygoing]

Jim's smile widens a little, grateful for Hunter's sensitive soul, and he lifts a hand to cover Hunter's. Being in this house is weird enough without being here alone. "That's fine with me. My bed's a bit small to share, but my brother's room is free. He hasn't lived here even longer than I have."