prompt: Jim is actually terrified of water and Bones teaches him how to swim
Just looking off the edge of the dock and into the seemingly endless depths of the lake was making Jim’s chest tight. The waves lapped lazily at the edges of the dock, making the platform rock gently with the swells and fall of the water. The longer Jim stood there the more it seemed like the dock was moments away from capsizing, but he also couldn’t get his feet to understand that they should just move already.
Jim jumped, torn between relief that he seemed able to move now and cold dread as he imagined himself toppling over into the dark lake.
“Whoa!” Bones dropped a steady hand onto Jim’s shoulder, balancing the other man before he could flail himself off the dock. “Sorry, Darlin’. Didn’t mean to startle you.” Bones took one glance at Jim’s face and narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong!” Jim insisted, throwing a quick grin in Bones’ direction and screaming internally for the man not to let go of his shoulder.
“Bullshit. You look like someone just asked you to swallow a phaser.”
Jim glanced back down at the water and swallowed hard. “Okay so, I might, not be entirely comfortable with bodies of water I can’t stand up in.” He looked to the doctor and waited for the snort and scathing, yet fond, comment. All he saw was a raised eyebrow, waiting for him to finish explaining. Jim’s shoulders slumped. “I know it doesn’t make any sense. It just freaks me out.You can’t see what’s down there! There’s nothing between you and just-just–”
“Unbreathable, endless, blackness?”
“Yeah.” Jim admitted sheepishly. “I guess you understand how that feels.” Bones nodded and squeezed Jim’s shoulder, obviously fighting a smile.
“There’s one thing that you have on water that I don’t have on space, though.” He pulled Jim down to the edge of the dock and sat them both down so that they’re feet were in the water. “You can swim in a lake.” Jim swallowed hard and watched the water swish up around his ankles. “That means going into it.”
Bones nodded.” That’s true, but things are a lot less scary when they don’t have complete power over you. You learn to swim, and all of a sudden you have something that can get you out of the water. We’ll take it slow, but I think you learning would help.”
Jim sighed and let his head fall against Bones’ sun warm shoulder. “You wouldn’t mind teaching me to swim?”
“Course not.” He pressed a kiss to Jim’s head and kicked some water over Jim’s legs playfully. “If anything I’m just returning the favor. You make space a hell of a lot less scary, kid.”
