Snippet 2b

McCoy watched him out of the corner of his eye, shifting his PADD in front of him.

"That's just great," Jim went on, almost mumbling now as he roughly tugged out a textbook from the stack of miscellanious papers and books on his desk, causing the pile to sag over as he thumped the textbook down in front of him and flipped it open. "Well, see if I care....not like I was saying anything, anyway. I mean, hell if I'd ever be lonely enough...I'm not stupid. I knew you'd say...it's just fine. It's all just fine and freakin' dandy."

Shrill, tiny ripping sounds came with every page that he turned, suggesting that unnecessary force was being used to turn them as Jim very adamently paged through the book. "Really don't care," Jim continued to mutter under his breath, his head ducked down and supported by his fist as he stared moodily down at the text below him. "Won't mention it again, either. Never....totally don't care..."

McCoy watched him, his eyes on the pages as Kirk flipped roughly through them and muttered to himself. He glanced back at his PADD for a moment, listening to the mutterings before shaking his head and standing up, walking over to him. "Jim," he said quietly, putting his hands on his shoulders and resting them there firmly to release the obviously tenseness of his roommate. "Don't do that to yourself, alright? Look, if it's that important to you, then we can go out for coffee or something."

"That's not going to make me feel better," Jim said gruffly, his eyes still on his textbook. "We'll just elaborate more on what's already been said, and there's nothing more to it. I'm not going to make you spend time with me just because I'm having a harder time getting over it."

"Well maybe it'll be better maybe it won't." McCoy replied. "It'll give me some time to think it over."

Jim was silent for a moment. Then, finally, he seemed to give up looking angry, and instead propped his elbow on his textbook and scrubbed a hand down his face. "You really think you need time to think it over?"

McCoy's hands didn't move from his shoulders, but Jim could feel them loosen just slightly. The silence grew heavy, and Jim turned to look up just as McCoy let go of his shoulders and started heading back to his desk. "Yeah, Jim."

Jim watched him, his expression becoming slightly uncertain. "...I don't get it," he finally admitted. "...does that mean...you know. I mean, you're not saying you're actually...considering it, are you? I mean, after what you just said about your family and stuff?"

"Yeah. But don't get your hopes up." McCoy said as he sat down.

"I won't," Jim said, still sounding confused and vaguely - hesitantly - hopeful. "...but...I mean...you're saying it's not an outright 'no', then?"

"Yeah." McCoy said, returning to work.

Jim was, perhaps, too shocked to respond for a moment. But then he felt a strange swelling feeling in his chest that wouldn't let him respond, and then he was about to try and think of something to say - when his phone gave a small little bleep.

Suddenly remembering that he was supposed to check up on how things had gone for Sam, Jim momentarily let McCoy continue to work while he quickly picked up his phone and checked his messages. And sure enough - there was one from Sam. And all it said was "hell yeah."

Oh, boy.

"I'm gonna...I'm gonna go meet Sam, real quick," Jim said, standing from his chair, glancing down at his phone once more before turning to McCoy. "Um...do you want anything from the caf, while I'm up?"

McCoy shook his head. "No thanks, Jim."

"...'kay," Jim said, giving him a last look before he turned and walked out of the room.

Truth be told, his head was spinning so bad on the way to Sam's dorm room that he almost walked right out of the building and just kept going. Eventually though, he did make it. And, shaking his head slightly to clear it, he rapped three times on the door.

A moment later it swung open, a grinning Sam met him at the door. "Hey hey little bro! Come on in!"

"'Kay," Jim said, eyeing him as he walked into the room, taking in his brother's obvious good mood. "I take it stuff went well, then...?"

"Like a dream, Jimmy!" Sam said with a laugh, clapping his hands together as he closed the door. "I can't even believe it - my head is still spinnin'!"

"Sounds serious," Jim joked lightly, taking a seat on a chair by Sam's bed and folding his arms. "So - what? Did you propose or something?"

Sam chuckled as he opened his fridge, tossing him a beer. "You bet I did."

Jim froze, just managing to catch the beer before fixing Sam with a blank stare. "...you not serious."

Sam laughed as he flopped down. "Like hell I am. And dude," he said as he leaned forward, his eyes alight. "He said yes."

Jim was still frozen, taking in his brother's expression with open disbelief. "...dude...I cannot believe you proposed to that guy," he said, slowly bringing his beer to his lips. "Do you have any idea what you just signed yourself up for? I mean...the guy's a hardass Vulcan...and...I mean...really?"

Sam's smile pasted on his face as he watched his brother's reaction. "You're...not happy about this are you."

"Well, it's not that I'm not happy for you, bro," Jim said, putting his beer briefly aside as he leaned forward. "Hell, in a way I think I was waiting for it. It was just a little unexpected, is all. I mean - dude, after watching you with girls, I barely would've pegged you for the marrying type!"

"Aww come on, man," Sam said as he leaned back and swigged his beer. "I always planned on havin' a few kids of my own. I'm totally legit."