Homeplot - 3

[leftwithmybones]

At her age, Jo's beginning to insist that she's too old for certain things. McCoy doesn't want to believe that's the truth, but he knows that she's going to slip away from him one day and he won't get her back. If that means he has to take advantage of these times while he can, then he'll do it, no matter what. It means that when they get back from the Iowa drydocks (and McCoy's over his last panic attack from the shuttle), he curls up with Jo in bed, the blankets tightly snug around them, and he reads to her from one of her favorite books -- Where the Wild Things Are.

Knowing Max as he does know, what that temper is like and the issues he has, it's a whole different experience, though he tries not to let it temper the story as he speaks. He tugs Jo even tighter to him, his gaze slipping to the door every now and again to check for Jim or his mother, wanting to know if this moment is privy to any witnesses.

"How you doing, Jo, baby?" he murmurs, taking a break as he turns the page.

Sleepily, she peers blearily up at him. "M'okay," she says quietly. "Keep going."

Comments

[chasedthestars]

"Honestly? I'd like to watch you read to Jo for about five or six hours, then go push her on the tire swing for another two, then take her out for ice cream. But it's the middle of the night, and she's sleeping, so."

Jim shrugs. "I got nothing."

[leftwithmybones]

"Wanna watch me curled up with her in bed? Even though that's borderline strange," he points out with a soft laugh, giving Jim a fond smile and a slow kiss to his lips. "I'm not going to lose her. I know that now. Even if she's just in my heart and head, she's there with me."

[chasedthestars]

"Borderline strange," Jim agrees, smiling softer for that kiss, and he reaches, spreading his fingers over Bones' heart. It's the only place he really gets to keep Jo, no matter where in the universe he is, and Jim leans forward, planting a kiss over the spot.

"It's your rodeo, Bones. What do you want to do with the time?"

[leftwithmybones]

It's sweet and it's fond and it's perfect. McCoy lets out a soft exhalation and leans over to curl closer to Jim, grateful to have him in his life. "I want to be with you and I want her to like you. In the event we ever do get home, that's what I want."