16. Punch

16. Punch

"Bones!" Jim's expressive face was stricken as he ran through the courtyard towards his friends. McCoy looked up from where a healer was attending to his leg.

"Hiya Jim. You missed the fun." Bones winced as the young woman in front of him finished tying off a bandage. Behind Jim, who had knelt next to his friend, Malcaia the leader of the indigenous people of Kalis Ty was looking around the crowd with an angry look.

"What happened here?"

Spock was standing nearby; he had another of the Kalis Ty inhabitants by the neck in his viselike grip. The Vulcan looked calm but his breathing was a little sped up. "This young man decided that we were not welcome here and attempted to attack me. Doctor McCoy came to my assistance and this man managed to injure his knee before I could subdue him."

"Bones, you okay?" Jim was shaking his head. "You know how much stronger than us these people are. Why would you-"

"That kid was askin' for it!" The doctor winced as the healer jostled him. "I mean he went right up to Spock and punched him in the face; what was I supposed to do?"

The young captain took in the bruising on the Vulcan's jaw and then looked back at his friend. A tiny smile began to eat away at the anxiety on his face and soon he was giggling under his breath. McCoy raised an eyebrow. "I'm injured and he's laughing; some friend."

"So what you're saying is," Jim managed between his laughs. "Is that you saw this man hurt Commander Spock and rushed in without thinking to help him?"

"Yes! Why is this so funny to you?!"

Jim shook his head. "No...I...It's not. I'm sorry... You must have been pretty worried about him."

The leading tone in his friend's voice made McCoy groan as Spock's eyebrow shot up in what could pass for amusement. Jim continued to giggle as the doctor began to curse him out and Malcaia turned to Scotty, who'd run over with them, with a look of puzzlement on his face. "Why is your leader so amused by his doctor aiding his shipmate? Is that not a normal action for a friend to take action in the defense of another friend?"

Scotty grinned. "Ah'm not sure friend is the correct word here. They bicker far too much..."

Malcaia was trying to understand; someone who would risk physical injury for someone else and yet fought and argued as though enemies... His face lit up. "Perhaps then, you would call them brothers?"

McCoy's groan could barely be heard over Jim's laughter.