Jim doesn't sit well, when it comes to things that keep him from his normal duties. Taking time off when he has a say in the matter is one thing. Forced downtime is a different beast entirely. He thought he'd had enough of it during his long recuperation from the warp core incident, but now it seems he has to deal with it again.

Reading is one of the few things that let him escape reality for a bit, both then and in previous hospital stays. He can only hope that such escapes will continue to be metaphorical. He smiles faintly back at Hunter. "I think I can handle that. I'm sure you've got something that won't... set me off."

Under normal circumstances, it'd be nice to just spend quiet time with a friend, without any pressures of command waiting for his attention. But he can also tell that Hunter isn't quite buying the everything-is-fine act either. "You holding up okay?"