TOS

“This is all Spock’s fault,” Bones grumbled as he was chained to a rock wall next to me. He rattled the chains when he shook his hands.

“Bones, just…”

“Am I wrong?”

I blew out a long breath, making a whistling noise through my nose. “Yes. Your constant haranguing of  Spock is getting on my last nerve, Bones. I don’t know why you can’t get along with him, but you give me a damn headache. Spock tried to prevent this whole mess and if it’s anybody’s fault—”

There was a loud splashing sound then, like a foot hitting a puddle in the stones that lead to where McCoy and I had been chained. The beat of my heart picked up as I realized this could be it.

After all the Klingons that had chained us here hinted at some creature that would be hungry from Human flesh. I thought it was all Klingon bluster and I hoped I was not wrong.

“Captain?”

“Spock?”

“Coming, Captain.”

And a moment later my first officer came into view. It took him only a short time to undo my chains and as my boots hit the solid ground I glanced toward Bones as Spock approached to let him out of the restraints.

“You sure you want to do that, Spock?” But I smiled to show Bones I was teasing.

“Har har,” Bones muttered as Spock got him out of the chains. “Thanks.”

Spock arched a brow but said nothing in response to Bones’ somewhat sour show of gratitude.

“The beam out location is this way,” Spock said and led the way.

As we followed after him, Bones stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Listen, Jim, about what I said back there. I was cranky and feeling—”

“A little afraid.” I nodded. “I know. Forget about it, Bones.”

Bones nodded. I hadn’t even told him that my relationship with Spock had been changing. There were some things that were better left private. At least for the time being.

Spock handed me my communicator. I smiled at him and flipped it open. “Scotty, beam us up!”