Don't do anything stupid (1)
Bones thinks you and Captain Kirk are very similar, and it takes an away mission to prove him right.
Captain Kirk x reader
Fluff and Adventure (Completed Series) Warning: minor blood, needles, minor injuries. mild violence This is a rewrite of a fic called "Another You" I did. Fixed it up a bit. Read Part 2 here <3
Dr. McCoy was at it again, trying to coerce you into visiting the Med Bay. This time, he seemed to think that threatening to involve the Captain would somehow sway your decision.
“I’m telling you right now, Y/N, you can’t go on your away mission without getting your immunizations for this planet,” McCoy said, leaning against the counter like he had no intention of leaving. “Ever heard of the Quazulu VIII Virus? No? That’s because there’s a vaccine for it!”
“Dr. McCoy, it’s just a quick trip to the planet to grab a few specimens. I won’t be staying for the diplomatic engagements like the rest of the team,” you explained, continuing to pack your equipment in the research ward.
Your preparations were nearly complete when the ship’s chief medical officer decided to ambush you. The task was straightforward: collect samples of water and nearby vegetation. This planet had only recently become accessible, and much of its biological features remained a mystery.
McCoy gave you a pointed look, his expression clearly unimpressed. “As a scientist, I’d think you’d be the first to appreciate the importance of vaccines,” he grumbled.
“On the contrary, Doctor,” you retorted with a smirk, carefully placing empty sterile test tubes into your case. “I firmly believe medicines like vaccines are life-saving. But as a scientist, I’m also keenly aware of just how dirty hospitals and Med Bays can be.”
His face contorted in a mix of offense and exasperation, as he threw his hands in the air.
“You do realize you’re going on an away mission to a planet that is far from sterile—to literally play in the dirt,” he mocked, crossing his arms as he tilted his head in mock dismissal. “And when you get injured, will you refuse medical care, too?”
You recognized the "gotcha" moment he was relishing—and he wasn’t entirely wrong. The truth was, you just hated needles. They grossed you out.
“I’ll be careful,” you stated confidently, adding a playful wink, which earned an unimpressed scoff from the young doctor.
“Fine, you don’t like my Med Bay, but what if I gave you the shots here?” he countered, tilting his head slightly.
You hesitated, but admittedly, it wasn’t a bad compromise. The Med Bay gave you more of a sinking feeling than the needles themselves ever did. You’d always noticed that too many people who went in didn’t come out—or if they did, they weren’t the same. That persistent sense of dread lingered every time you stepped through its doors.
“If this place is too dirty for you, then you’ve only got yourself to blame,” McCoy added dryly, motioning around the room. “You are, after all, the head lab runner.”
You pretended to mull it over, feigning indecision for a moment before muttering your reluctant agreement. “Fine. Go get them, then.” It was standard policy to receive the immunizations, and deep down, you knew they’d be a lifesaver if something went wrong on the mission.
“Great!” he exclaimed, grabbing a red bag you hadn’t even noticed he’d brought in. Your jaw dropped as he began pulling out the vaccines.
“You knew I’d agree?” you asked, narrowing your eyes suspiciously as you reluctantly took a seat on the stool in front of him.
You had spent countless hours working alongside Dr. McCoy in the labs, and you liked to think you knew him well. What you hadn’t anticipated was just how well he seemed to know you—including your aversion to the Med Bay.
“I deal with you the same way I deal with him,” McCoy said as he prepared one of the doses. He paused, smirking as if a thought had just struck him. “You two are a lot alike.”
“Who?” you asked, curious about who you were being compared to, as you rolled up your sleeve.
Before McCoy could answer, the doors to your lab chimed, signalling someone’s arrival. You kept your eyes tightly shut, bracing yourself. McCoy had your skin pinched at the top of your arm, and you knew the needle was coming.
“Bones? We’re supposed to be having breakfast,” a familiar voice said. You jumped—and not because of the needle. “Chapel said you were here waiting for me…”
Your eyes snapped open. “You were actually going to tell the Captain on me?” you muttered through gritted teeth, glaring at McCoy. A small chuckle sounded from across the room, drawing your attention. Your gaze locked with his piercing blue eyes, and your heart skipped a beat.
“Y/N,” Kirk said, walking over and leaning casually on the counter in front of you. “Causing trouble?” His tone was light, laced with amusement.
“Captain,” you mumbled, feeling your face heat up as you turned back to McCoy, who looked far too pleased with himself.
“Jim,” McCoy interjected, preparing the second dose with a practiced ease. “Why don’t you explain to our young scientist here the importance of getting inoculated before an away mission?” He glanced at you with a smirk. “After all, you have the most experience finding out the hard way.”
Ignoring the second half of McCoy’s comment—one you were far more interested in hearing about—you turned your attention to the Captain who asked, “Y/N, will you be coming tonight?” His voice was so alluring, that it sent a slight tremor through you.
Clearing your throat, you offered a simple response. “Yes, Sir.” It was all you could manage, as it often was when you found yourself in conversation with him. He was so handsome, so kind, and so funny—it was incredibly intimidating.
“And Bones is giving you trouble,” he said with a soft chuckle, breaking your gaze as he began to casually scan the lab. He had a habit of doing that whenever he came in to talk to McCoy—picking around at things like a child unable to sit still.
You watched him smile to himself as he pulled open your backpack for the mission, his easygoing nature only adding to the warmth in your chest. Then, something about how he had called McCoy ‘Bones’ dawned on you. “Bones?”
“Don’t start calling me that too,” McCoy grumbled, clearly unamused.
“Ouch!” you jerked at the unexpected jab, your focus finally breaking from the Captain. You began rubbing your arm, still sensitive from the injection. “You didn’t warn me,” you muttered, your voice tinged with mild frustration.
“You’ll survive,” McCoy said dismissively, preparing the last dose. After a moment, he added, “Captain, you were about to explain the merits of getting all your inoculations.”
It was odd to hear Dr. McCoy refer to the blonde man by his official title, and it seemed to dawn on him as well. “Right,” Kirk muttered, dropping everything he was tinkering with and walking back over to you. “As your captain, I’d inform you that it is mandatory, and refusal can compromise the health and overall well-being of the crew…” He finished with a thumbs-up directed at the doctor.
To be honest, you weren’t really listening. His voice was far too distracting for lectures. So, it wasn’t until you heard the clatter of the final needle hitting the counter that you realized McCoy had finished with you. “All done,” he announced.
As you began pulling your sleeve down, the Captain cleared his throat. “If that’s everything, then—”
“Oh, Jim,” Dr. McCoy interrupted, launching out of his chair and grabbing the Captain’s arm before he could say another word. “Leaders lead by example… Can’t be a hypocrite now.”
You noticed the three other needles lined up on the counter. This had been McCoy’s plan all along. Despite feeling a bit of satisfaction that you weren’t the only one afraid of needles, you couldn’t resist teasing, “For the well-being of the crew and all.”
“Right,” the Captain replied with a dejected sigh, taking the spot McCoy had just vacated. His warmth brushed against you as his shoulder lightly nudged yours. “Just make it fast,” he muttered, lifting his shirt just enough to free his arm. Your eyes darted anywhere but at him.
“You two are very similar,” McCoy remarked, earning a scoff from you.
Feeling the eyes of both men on you, your cheeks flushed with heat. You hadn’t meant anything negative by your comment; you simply couldn’t imagine having much in common. He was important and useful, and you… well, you played in the dirt.
The silence stretched on, and feeling embarrassed, you muttered, “We do have a pretty good style.” You were thinking of the mandatory uniforms you all wore. While yours perfectly matched McCoy’s, the Captain’s gold uniform complemented him far too well.
The Captain softly chuckled, about to add something before a jab of the needle interrupted him. He let out a hiss of pain.
“Dammit, Jim, stay still,” McCoy muttered before adding, “You’re just proving my point.”
“What? That we’re both good at making fun of you? Have a good sense of humour?” You laughed, debating whether now was a good time to ask about the Bones nickname.
“You like my sense of humour?” the Captain asked, looking down at you. You were flustered over what you had just admitted, but thankfully, McCoy spoke up.
“You both like causing me stress and making my job harder than it already is.” The doctor complained though the small smirk on his face betrayed his irritation.
“That’s hurtful, Bones,” you said sweetly, finally using the nickname Jim always called him.
“Dammit, Jim,” McCoy muttered under his breath as the final needle clattered to the table. “Just promise me you both won’t do anything stupid tonight.”
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