Star Trek doesn' t belong to me.

"Sloth" is part 2 of my idea of the end of Kirk's first five year mission, it is a sequel to "Pride" and a prequel to "Envy". As a mindful observer you have realized by now that these are three of the seven deadly sins, therefore you can anticipate 7 parts in total. :-)

o0o

"Sloth is defined as spiritual or emotional apathy. (...) Religious views concerning the need for one to work to support society and further God's plan and work also suggest that, through inactivity, one invites the desire to sin." (Wikipedia)

Sloth

Kirk couldn't find him anywhere. He'd searched for him in sickbay, but it wasn't his shift, which Kirk knew of course, but often enough Bones was in his sickbay when he actually didn't have to be there. Only now he wasn't. He hadn't been in his quarters, either. When no one had answered the door chime, Kirk had even used his override code, somewhat guiltily, but still, he was the captain and also worried about his CMO. But it had been empty. He hadn't seen Bones in the last two days, ever since they had left Meriah Five.

He hadn't seen him on the bridge, in the rec room, or the mess, and also Spock had had no idea about his whereabouts. "I believe the doctor wants to be left alone, Captain." Yeah, Spock, you're a genius, Kirk had thought. If he wanted to be alone every now and then, then of course he had a right to. But Kirk was worried that Bones would work himself into such a dark and moody depression that he would be brooding for the nextmonths.

And he missed him. Bones was actually the only person on board with whom he could have a drink and talk about all the things that where on his mind. Spock didn't drink, and what was worse, he always wanted to solveproblems. Usually, that was something he valued much about Spock, however, sometimes, he just needed to tell someone how very overrated life was in general.

Complaining and whining was something he usually didn't do, but when he did it, he didn't need someone who pointed out to him, how he exaggerated, or what he could do to make it all better in a second. He wanted that person to agree.

Well, they'd talk, and have one or five glasses of whiskey, or Saurian brandy, or whatever, share some good stories, have a good laugh together and the next day, he'd wake up, feeling all better - except for the headache.

He was tired. And he was sure that Bones was too. After all, it had been Bones who had been assaulted by that Meriahn, and who had only just recovered. He'd said he was okay, but he almost always said that about himself, even if it was obivious to everyone else that he wasn't.

Where are you, Bones? Maybe Scotty had an idea. He wandered off to the engine room. Of course he could call Bones over the intercom, or have him located by security, but that didn't seem to be fair. If he wants to play hide and seek, then he's got me hooked. It gave him something to do.

Surprisingly, he found him. They were in Scotty's office looking at a plan of the Enterprise's interior on a screen.

"Jim! Did you know the Enterprise had a sweet spot?" Bones seemed excited. It made Kirk smile.

"Only if the artificial gravity doesn't work 100 %!" Kirk answered and looked questioningly at Scotty. The old spaceships all used to have this spot, where there was no gravity and where you could float and relax and dream about a better future, in which the system of artificial gravity would be so efficient, that these sweet spots would become extinct.

"Oh, it does, Captain. Only, I have to do some maintenance work on the generator, and the artificial gravity could be affected to a small degree."

"And where will it be affected?"

"Right here." Scotty pointed to an area on the plan.

"That's cargobay 1."

"Aye. It will not disturb anyone or anything. Cargobay 1 is empty at the moment."

"How long will it take?"

"An hour or two. But it won't be for another two or three days. I have to make preparations."

"Right. Just warn me, before you do it," Kirk said, watching Bones who seemed to look disappointed. Then, as an afterthought, he added: "And make sure to warn us, when gravity will be restored again, also."

"Be glad to, Captain." Scott chuckled, then nodded, and left to do something in the engine room.

"Here you are!" Kirk said to McCoy, who looked absolutely his normal self. If not, then he seemed to be in a better mood than normally.

"Yeah, Scotty told me about that maintenance work. And I came here to find out where that sweet spot is going to be."

"Bones, I didn't know you could get so excited about something like this!" Kirk was surprised, but pleased. He had prepared himself to work on lifting his CMO's spirits, but roles had been reversed.

"Are you kidding? The prospect of zero gravity was actually what made me join Starfleet!"

"Only, we have artificial gravity on all our vessels."

"Yes, but it is more likely to come across such a sweet spot when you're a doctor on a spaceship than when you're a country doctor in Georgia."

"What's so special about it?"

"Don't tell me, you don't know! It's like being drunk, only you won't have a foul taste in your mouth and a headache the next day. You can float around, and you and all your burdens weigh nothing."

"What burdens?" Jim asked, feeling concerned again.

"Jim, don't give me that. It has been a long week ..."

"I'm just concerned. Can't I be concerned for my friend?"

"You can. But it won't change anything. Moreover, I'm usually the one who does the being concerned thing."

"So? Now you know how it feels to be on the other side."

"I can't say I like it. Though, I feel touched. Do you know what Spock did this morning?"

"Bridge to Captain Kirk."

"Hold that thought," Kirk said and went to the comm to answer the call. "Kirk here."

"Captain, we're receiving a distress call from the P'Jem."

"I'll be right there. Kirk out."