[ It's tough, because it would benefit Bones to have Jim around. He'd get the constant reminders of him being alive, for one, and he did actually get some sleep. But he knows this isn't like his captain. Jim's never been not ready to see his crew. Loves them more than pretty much anything out there.

So a good doctor would let him stay. Hell, a good friend probably would. Bones isn't going to let Jim sit in his anxieties and fears, though. It wouldn't be him if he did. For god's sake, one of them has to be normal. ]

Sorry, Jim. You're going to have to get back out there. They've waited long enough for their captain to return to them. Anyway, you're not going to see pity or shock, you're going to see relief. And even if someone does look at you funny, what's it matter? Your hair isn't still slick from the womb, you know what you're doing. Tell them to get lost.

[ Bones takes his tray, giving a firm nod. ]

[ Bones gives a half smile in response to Jim's frustration with him. He knows that he's doing the best thing for his captain's mental health, and that's just as much part of healing him as taking care of the physical wounds. Besides, the crew worships the man, he can't imagine there'd be much in the way of pitying looks. They'll all just stare at him with hearts in their eyes.

The demand to sleep with him again makes him laugh. Of course Jim would find a way to get more cuddles out of the situation. But if he wakes up in the midst of another attack, it'll be good to have him there. ]

All right. But we're staying in your quarters, they're way better than mine. [ They've both been in each other's rooms enough to know that's true. ]

Activities. Right.

[ Jim might not have a lot of confidence in himself going back out there, but Bones does, and damn it that should count for something. He nudges his captain's forehead with his own, not quite headbutting but enough to show he's returning the gesture. It's one of their weird things, he's totally used to it by now. ]

Well, it's a good thing I'm being contracted as your designated cuddle-buddy, hm?

[ There's a little bit of that playful light back in his eyes. It's certainly a start. ]

[ The scowl doesn't threaten him in the least. Bones just rolls his eyes and has a seat so he can work on eating his own dinner. He's expecting more of a battle (he usually has to promise Jim something to get him to eat a damn salad), so he's pleasantly surprised when it turns out not to be. He's not sure if it's because the guy was already promised cuddles that night or he's feeling better about what he went through, but he'll take it either way. ]

I know it was, and you're better for having done it. [ He is absolutely patting himself on the back for this one. It's always hard to say no to Jim, especially when what he's asking for is usually something Bones would want to allow, but this was the right call this time. ]

I'm proud of you, Jim.

Lucky me. [ Bones gives him a half smile and goes back to eating. Things are beginning to feel a little bit more normal. The two of them teasing each other, and that adorable look on Jim's face. Surely if he just represses all of his thoughts and feelings, and focuses on the nice things happening, his mental health will be restored.

His arm moves when it's pat and he reaches for the younger man's hand instead, giving it a small squeeze to back up what he said. He knows it means a lot for Jim to hear it, but he said it because he'd genuinely meant it. He's proud that his closest friend will do the hard stuff, even though it means risking being vulnerable.

Bones could honestly learn a thing or two from him, if he were to look inward. ]

You get enough to eat? Figured you wouldn't want anything super heavy. [ In the South, feeding someone is a way to show love. ]

[ Bones lets go of his hand and relaxes back in his seat once more. He's glad that what he brought for his captain seems to have hit the spot, but yeah, no milkshakes right before bed. Since it certainly seems like Jim won't be awake too much longer. ]

Give yourself a few minutes to digest, then you can head to bed.

[ Jim doesn't need a babysitter telling him what to do, but Bones is really good at it, okay? And he's concerned, he knows Jim is worse off than he's acting. ]

I'm gonna drop these off and grab some clothes. [ The kiss gets a little smile, like it always does. This is another one of those things that he assumes Jim does with everyone, because Bones is simply not special.

He does just as he told Jim he would, takes the trays of food back to the mess and stops by his room. It's tempting just to change there, but he's not really interested in wandering the halls in his pjs. Someone would stop and ask him what was going on and even though he'd just say it's very platonic cuddling, he can imagine that'd be hard to believe.

So he grabs what he wants to change into and heads back to Jim's room once more. ]

[ He kind of just comes in and immediately starts changing, but there's no shame about it. Bones tells himself he's definitely normal and not thinking about the sliver of Jim's ribs that he saw when he first came in. They've lived together, so it's really not weird to see each other that way. This is so normal and heterosexual.

He moves to the other side of the bed and slides in once he's in something more comfortable. It's a little early for him, but he's not going to complain. Jim is actually going to get some sleep without being hyposprayed. ]

This is your bed. If you actually slept in it regularly you wouldn't be able to forget what it feels like.

[ Another eyeroll from the doctor, and he doesn't point out that actually, yeah, Jim probably could whine at him to. He'd end up allowing it because Bones is a sucker. It's fine, everything's fine. ]

Just go to sleep.

[ The older of the two mutters against his hair once Jim is properly tucked all up on him. He might sound a little grumpy but it's deeply soothing to have the younger man in his arms after almost losing him.

He can almost pretend to be normal. ]