A/N: Hi, it's me, Kourtni (formerly thatkourtnichick). I used to write all the time. I hardly ever write anymore, and that makes me sad. Be gentle as I get back into the swing of things.
Dr. Leonard H. McCoy knew that one day he would have an aneurysm. Not like in a few years ‘one day’ but like this very second ‘one day’. It was a shit mission from the beginning, but turned shittier when a rebel group from the tiny planet they were convincing to join the Federation decided to kidnap Jim and take him hostage. One minute, Jim was standing in front of McCoy, and the next minute, he had some kind of weapon next to his temple. He tried to ignore Jim’s dumbass orders (‘Stand down Lieutenant Commander!’ As if the infant thought using rank would make Leonard listen to him), but Spock used his Vulcan strength to keep Leonard from ripping the rebels to shreds. When the rebels left, Leonard was swearing up a storm as he began searching for his best friend. Spock was next to him the whole time, searching with just as much fervor. However, when they hit the fourth hour and there was still no sign of Jim, Spock insisted they go back to the Enterprise to regroup. McCoy told Spock he could fuck right off, but the Vulcan had the audacity to actually Nerve Pinch him. McCoy awoke about half an hour later in the Enterprise. He roared at Spock for quite some time, which the Vulcan took in stride, only raising an eyebrow when McCoy said he’d kill the Vulcan half of Spock and shove that half up his human half’s ass. Jim would’ve thought it was funny.
“Get me back down there.” McCoy demanded of Spock.
“Doctor, while I understand your fear--”
“Scotty!” McCoy didn’t allow Spock to continue. He turned down the hall and went looking for the Engineer.
“Doctor!” Spock called after him.
McCoy kept walking, trying his hardest not to turn around and punch Spock in his stupid face. No one knew Jim like McCoy knew him. The kid had the absolute worst luck in the galaxy, in probably all of the galaxies in the universe. Every minute was another kick to the stomach, punch to the face, or some other kind of torture Jim would experience while in their custody. And because Jim’s the biggest dumbass in the universe, he’d be thinking about how much he deserved it because of past deeds, or he’d be thinking of how happy he was that he was the one being hurt and not McCoy or Spock or anyone else on the Enterprise…
The use of his first name caused the good doctor to pause.
“You must remain calm. We have a team searching as we speak. Lieutenant Uhura is acting as negotiator between the two factions. Lieutenant Sulu is updating coordinates as they come,” it’s here that Spock placed a hand on McCoy’s shoulder. “We will find him.”
Spock was right of course, not that McCoy would ever admit it. Barging in like an idiot wasn’t going to be helpful to Jim. McCoy rolled his eyes and shrugged Spock’s hand off his shoulder much gentler than he usually would, hoping that Spock understood the gesture was more affectionate than not.
“I won’t forget that Vulcan nerve shit anytime soon.” He told his…friend.
Spock smirked slightly. “ I would never think otherwise, Dr. McCoy.”
Six hours later, Jim was back on the Enterprise. McCoy wasted no time in waving a tricorder over the Captain while simultaneously dragging him to Sickbay (Jim complained and protested the whole damn time, insisting he was fine).
Leonard forced Jim to sit on a biobed.
“Bones, I told you, I’m fine!” Jim exclaimed. “They were really nice, surprisingly! They didn’t even hit me!”
McCoy snorted. “What do ya want? A gold star for not getting the shit beat outta you for the first time?”
“I mean…kinda. I sorta deserve it.”
McCoy said nothing as he took notes on his pad as his tricorder beeped.
“You’re not gonna find anything wrong.” Jim sing-songed.
McCoy finished up some notes and grabbed a hypo. Jim flinched dramatically away when McCoy tried to jab it into his neck.
“Hold still, ya damn infant.” McCoy grumbled.
“I don’t have a single scratch on me, Bones! I don’t need a hypo!” Jim jumped suddenly and raced to the other side of the biobed, making him on one side and McCoy on the other.
That was the last straw for McCoy. It had been a really fucking stressful day, and the last thing he needed was for Jim to make light of it.
“You were fucking kidnapped Jim! For almost 11 hours! We were on a random ass planet, around God knows what virus or bacteria wise, and just because you didn’t get the shit beat outta you for the first time in your short and dumbass life, doesn’t mean you’re fine!”
McCoy was shouting, breathing heavily as he finished his tirade.
“Now let me fucking treat you so you don’t die in two hours from some other godforsaken allergy we dont’ know about!”
Jim stared at him for a few seconds before he finally said, “Okay, you’re at a level 10, and I’m gonna need you to turn it down to a level three.”
“Jim.” McCoy growled, trying to convey his feelings without saying exactly how scared he was.
“Bones, I’m not kidding. We literally sat and talked about the politics of their planet. I didn’t even get a papercut! There’s nothing to treat, I swear!”
Leonard pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. It took him a few seconds to look back at his best friend, but when he did, he begged, “Jim…please…” McCoy let all the stress, sadness, fear, worry, and love fill his voice and face.
Jim looked confused for all of two seconds before his own face softened.
“Oh Bones…I-I’m sorry.” Jim walked over to Leonard and placed his hands on his best friend’s shoulders. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
McCoy, sensing that Jim was finally going to cooperate, tried to downplay his feelings. “I’d be fired if you died.”
“You’d be back on Earth.” Jim countered.
“Wouldn’t matter if you weren’t around.” McCoy responded, looking away.
Leonard said nothing, but he did press the hypo gently into Jim’s neck. Jim squeezed Leonard’s shoulders. The two men were quite for a few seconds until Jim, of course, had to break it.
“You gave me the soft touch.” Jim motioned to the empty hypo in Leonard’s hands. “You totally love me.”
“There’s another hypo I could use if you wanna keep pushing it.” Leonard threatened.
“So, what, you don’t love me?” Jim teased, knowing full well McCoy wouldn’t outright deny it.
“Whatever you say, kid.” McCoy said as he grabbed Jim in a loose headlock and rubbed his knuckles into the blonde head.
“Hey!” Jim squawked, pulling at Leonard’s hand.
McCoy wasn’t good with emotions, but he was good at irritating Jim.
“Suck it up, Jimmy.” McCoy grinned as Jim squirmed half-heartedly.
“You suck it up.” Jim grumped.
McCoy didn’t expect it; he should’ve expected it, but he didn’t. The CMO of the Enterprise let out a shout of laughter as Jim squeezed the older man’s hips. McCoy released Jim immediately and pushed him away.
“I know your greatest weakness, Bones.” Jim laughed as he wiggled his fingers at Leonard.
“My greatest weakness?” McCoy snorted. “Let’s not forget which one of us folds like a cheap lawn chair the moment their ribs are even slightly poked.”
Jim flinched slightly before he pointed a finger at Leonard, face already turning red. “Hey, you leave my ribs outta this.”
Leonard took a predatory step towards Jim, who immediately backed up.
“Let’s also not forget who shrieks like a banshee whenever their knees are squeezed.”
“Stay away from me, Bones!” Jim had his hands up in front of him as he moved backwards.
“And, most importantly, let’s not forget who actually enjoys being tickled til’ they can’t breathe.”
Jim’s face turned redder than a rose lying against winter snow, and the kid spluttered.
“Not even gonna deny it, are you?”
McCoy grinned, pretended to wave Jim off, and as soon as the kid’s guard was down, McCoy lunged for him. Jim let out a shriek as McCoy wasted no time latching onto the kid’s ribs, tickling with no mercy.
McCoy gave no reply. Instead, he vibrated his hands and raked them up and down Jim’s ribs. He wiggled a finger or two in between each rib as well, and the kid laughed hysterically.
“Not a single stop in all your belly achin’, just ‘please’ and ‘Bones’ and ‘no’.” McCoy teased.
Jim attempted to say shut up, at least, that’s what Leonard thought he attempted to say. It was hard to hear anything through the ridiculous giggles.
“Let’s move on to some other places, whaddya say?”
Jim shook his head no, but said nothing, only laughed even harder the moment Leonard latched onto Jim’s thighs. Leonard had a distinct advantage, which he realized was totally unfair. Leonard knew Jim better than anyone else. Jim was his best friend. So, of course the CMO knew every ticklish spot on Jim’s body. The other unfair advantage is the fact that Leonard was a doctor. So, of course he knew the exact amount of pressure, and exactly where to apply that pressure, to have Jim in absolute hysterics.
And that’s exactly what Jim was in right now, hysterics. Leonard squeezed Jim’s thighs, and he moved up and down, adding more pressure the closer he got to Jim’s knees. Jim was clawing desperately at Leonard’s hands, doing his best to get the older man to stop without actually asking him to stop. Leonard moved to the tops of Jim’s knees and relished the high pitched laugh that came out of Jim.
Jim’s knees were a weak spot for him. Not his number one ticklish spot (his underarms were number one), but his knees were the spot that got him laughing like he was a kid again. Jim didn’t have the childhood he deserved, he didn’t get to have tickle fights with family members, he didn’t get to play with neighborhood kids, he didn’t get to be an actual kid…ever. So, Leonard did his best to ensure to bring out as many childhood whims as he could for Jim.
The doctor squeezed the top of Jim’s knees and moved his ring fingers to lightly scratch at the sensitive skin behind, making Jim squeal and giggle like a lunatic. He kept at it until Jim literally begged for mercy. McCoy moved to Jim’s stomach, which made Jim curl up like a roly-poly. That worked for McCoy as he switched to Jim’s sides, forcing the kid to straighten. Then it was back to his stomach, then his sides, and on it went until Jim was silently laughing and had tears rolling down his cheeks. Only then did Leonard stop. As much as Jim loved being tickled, McCoy loved tickling him just as much.
“That’s for getting kidnapped.”
Jim was still giggling as he looked up at Leonard with the dopiest grin on his face.
“A b-bit of an o-overkill, don’t ya think?” Jim asked.
“Not even a little bit,” said Leonard. “You deserve an hour of that every day for the next 10 days to match the amount of hours you scared the shit outta me.”
“Ha! You were worried! You do love me!”
“You’re just askin’ for round two.”
Jim grinned and slapped McCoy’s shoulder good naturedly. McCoy returned the gesture with a hand on Jim’s back as they walked to the Bridge.
