I’m trying this again, a fan fiction site separate from the one I use on AO3. For now I’m not widely advertising it while I see what I do with it.
I’m posting a work in progress that takes place after Star Trek Beyond, called Where My Demons Hide.
I’ll probably post photos and stuff that inspire me. Right now I’m fixated on a picture of Zachary Quinto in the snow that I just have to use for Spock.
This may or may not be the last one. Maybe I’ll do one for next Friday and maybe not. If this is the last one (ever) I hope you enjoyed.
“I think the sleigh is crooked.”
Jim grimaced from on top of the roof. Silently he counted to ten. “Yeah okay. Hang on.”
“Sorry,” she called from below.
“No problem.”
It wasn’t really. It was just that he’d been up on the roof of the farmhouse for at least an hour trying to get his mother’s Christmas decorations just right.
He was tired and cold and wanted to be done with the whole thing. But yeah, he’d said he would. So he would.
Jim carefully stepped back over to the front of the sleigh where the reindeer led. The roof was slanted and it was hard to get them just right. When he’d been a kid and his mom wasn’t around, they hadn’t ever had to put up the decorations. Frank hated the holidays.
“While you’re there, can you retie the red velvet bow around Dasher’s neck?”
Fake velvet bow, Jim thought to himself.
“Sure.”
“Thank you, honey.”
Jim retied the bow and surveyed the other reindeer to see if they needed to be done too, but they seemed okay, so he adjusted their position.
“How about now?”
“Perfect. That looks good.”
Jim sighed in relief. “Okay, just need to finish this last strand of lights then on the roof.”
“Great. But, um.”
He tried not to glare down at her. “What?’
“The Santa sticking out of the chimney is a crooked.”
“Maybe it’s the house,” Jim cracked.
“Well, if you don’t want to move it, you don’t have to. Really.”
“No, I will.”
The old fireplace in the living room hadn’t been used for decades so at least the plastic Santa wasn’t about to go up in smoke, Jim was pretty sure jolly old St Nick would be happy to hear that.
Yep, losing it.
He trudged over to the chimney, thinking about how it was a good thing he was not afraid of heights. With a twist and a pull, he got the Santa right, and his mother called out her approval.
Fifteen minutes later, he had finished the lights and came down the ladder.
He rubbed his gloved hands together. “Now I just need to get the gingerbreads, the light up trees, and the snowmen from the barn and put those out in the yard.”
She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry about this. Id’ do it myself if I could.”
She wiggled her cane a little even though it had hardly been necessary.
“I know, Mom.”
“When you’re finished, I’ll make us hot chocolate.”
“If it has peppermint schnaps in it, you’re on,” he said, cheerfully, and made his way to the old barn.
He reminded himself often this might be her last holiday season. She was not doing well, both of them knew this, though they didn’t particularly talk openly about it.
And so here he was, spending the season with her.
He was no longer captain of the Enterprise. He’d had his last mission as her captain a month ago. It was time. The crew had many fantastic adventures, some scary ones too, but all good things had to end.
So he was spending this time in Riverside making decisions about his future while celebrating with his mom.
After he set up the lawn decorations, he went back into the house where she had waited for him. As promised, she had hot cocoa for him with the schnapps.
They both took their mugs to the living room to sit by the Christmas tree he had set up for her the day before.
“What’s that friend of yours doing now? The doctor.”
Jim smiled faintly. “He’s gone to Georgia. His daughter is in medical school and engaged and they might set up a practice there.”
“So he’s leaving Starfleet?”
“I think so.”
“What about your other friends?”
Jim laughed. “I’m not really that close to others, Mom. Most of the crew is staying in Starfleet. Some got assigned to other ships. I think a few will stay on the newly built Enterprise. Others are taking other assignments.”
“Mm. Like you maybe.”
“Right.”
He’d been offered Yorktown. Commodore Paris had left and recommended that he take over command of the Starfleet presence there. He’d also been offered another space station called Lorington. It was as beautiful as Yorktown but further out. Jim hadn’t decided which he’d take, if either.
HQ in San Francisco had promoted him to Admiral and indicated they wanted him to be head of Starfleet Academy.
Then the Federation was trying to recruit him to be Ambassador to the planet, Zector, as they had asked for him specifically after joining the Federation. They’d been successfully recruited by the Enterprise and the inhabitants there had come to really like and respect him.
It was great to have so many opportunities to choose from, honestly, but he couldn’t deny he would give up every single one to be back on Enterprise.
“Anyway, I think I’m going to go sit with my cocoa on the porch and admire the night sky,” Jim told his mother.
She yawned. “Okay, put on a jacket. If I don’t fall asleep here by the tree, I’ll take myself off to bed.”
He dropped a kiss on her brow. “Night, Mom.”
He grabbed his coat, a thermos he’d set up earlier, and his cup of enhanced cocoa and went out to sit on the porch.
Before he sat, he went out to the yard to admire his handiwork and had to admit it looked pretty and festive.
There were two chairs on the porch, both rattan with high backs and big cushions. For the first time that day, Jim let himself relax.
“I’ll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree,” Jim sang.
He’d been sitting there for ten minutes when the hover car arrived. A tall Vulcan got out, dressed in jeans and a big pullover sweater that made him look a little like a child wearing his parent’s clothes.
Jim grinned. “Hey there.”
Spock took the steps up to the porch, bag in hand, which he set down before sitting in the other chair.
“You look well settled in,” Spock commented. “The decorations look good but I thought you intended to wait for me to assist you.”
Jim shrugged. “I had time.” He handed Spock the thermos. “Gingerbread tea.”
Spock’s lips twitched. “You think of everything.” He took off the lid that doubled as a cup and unscrewed the stopper before pouring himself some steaming hot tea.
“I couldn’t wait until you got here,” Jim said. “How’d it go?”
“Well. My father sends his regards as well as wishes for a good holiday season for you and your mother. And your mother?”
“She was thrilled knowing you were coming. I think she was more excited than me.”
Jim reached for Spock’s hand and held it.
“There is nowhere else I would be,” Spock assured him. “Have you made any decisions?”
Jim thought about it. “I don’t think I’m going to take the ambassadorship.”
“I am not surprised.”
“Yeah, that’s not really me. You, sure. Not me. And I don’t really think I want to take over Yorktown. I appreciate Paris recommending me, but I think that time has passed.” He took a sip of cocoa. “Lorington? Too far away and not really different than running Yorktown.”
“I see. Then you are going to choose leading Starfleet Academy.”
Jim smiled. “I think so. If you’re amenable to living in San Francisco.”
“I defer to you to choose where we live. My only request is that we are able to make visits to New Vulcan where time allows it.”
“Of course. Any time. But for now, let’s focus on giving Mom the perfect Christmas.”
“Agreed.” Spock eyed him. “There is room for you in this chair with me.”
Jim laughed. “Okay.”
He got up and joined Spock in the chair, mostly squished against him, but Jim knew that the closer he was to Spock, the more content the Vulcan was.
Spock’s arms wrapped around him and Jim rested his head on Spock’s shoulder.
“I’ll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe—”
“No snow,” Spock interjected.
Jim grinned and leaned over to kiss Spock’s nose. “Okay, no snow.”
I’ve been away for a few days doing summer things, but I’m back now
The plans this week are for Friday’s CIJ flash and the conclusion of The Visitor.
Thought you might enjoy a pic of the furry pains checking out the great outdoors
With all the heat going on it might be hard to think Christmas! Just two more to go after this.
Spock was not sure why he continued to sit in a chair at a table in a drinking establishment he should have departed at least an hour ago.
But here he sat.
It was a strange place to end a relationship that was simply not working for either party, but it was where Nyota had chosen to meet. And to find that they both had mutually wanted to end their romantic connection had been a relief to Spock.
Yet here he sat, after Nyota had departed, sipping on a now cold cup of Oolong tea. Waiting…for something.
And then that something literally jumped into his lap.
“Hiya.”
Spock found he had an armful of Human male. The man’s arms were wrapped around Spock’s neck, and he was quite clearly very intoxicated.
“Want to have sex?” the drunk asked, actually quite charmingly.
Spock could not deny an almost overwhelming attraction to the sandy-haired, blue-eyed Human. And one of the reasons his relationship had not worked with Nyota had been that Spock preferred men.
“I do not think that would be wise,” Spock replied.
The bright sunny smile that accompanied the question disappeared.
“No?”
“You are quite intoxicated.”
“Well…you know. It’s the holidays. I think I head one too many peppermint mocha martinis.”
“I think, perhaps, it was several too many.”
The smile returned. “You may be right. My name is Kirk. Well, Jim.”
“Is it Jim or Kirk?”
The drunk laughed. “Jim Kirk. When I’m not wasted, I attend Starfleet Academy. Do you know it?”
Spock’s lips curved upward slightly. “I’m familiar with it, yes.”
“I’m on command track,” Jim said, slyly. “After the winter break, I’m taking the Kobayashi Maru. You probably don’t know what that is.”
“I have heard of it.”
Jim looked surprised. “Yeah? What’s a tall, dark and incredibly handsome Vulcan doing in this place anyway?”
“Having a cup of tea.”
This made Jim laugh. “There are better places to have tea.” He hiccupped. “Sorry.”
“You are quite correct about the tea. I was about to return to my apartment for a better cup.”
“Oh.” Jim nodded. “Okay. Well nice to meet you. Wait, what’s your name?”
“Spock.”
“Nice to meet you, Spock.”
Jim got off Spock’s lap but he swayed, very unsteady on his feet, and as Spock stood, he noticed several patrons at the bar counter area eyeing Jim with ill-intent.
“I believe you should accompany me to my apartment, Jim,” Spock said.
“I thought you didn’t want to have sex with me.”
Spock shrugged slightly. “That is not entirely accurate.”
Jim frowned. “So you do?”
“Not while you are intoxicated.” Spock glanced around the bar again. “But I fear you are not quite safe here. I can provide you with coffee at my apartment.”
Jim blinked at him. “Yeah?” He moistened his lips and followed Spock’s gaze around the bar. Then he returned to looking at Spock. “You’re right. I’ll go with you.”
Spock was relieved. “Come then.”
A short while later Spock replicated a cup of coffee for Jim in his apartment. He’d heard it should be black, but Jim insisted it had to have cream and sugar, so Spock made it that way for him.
Spock set Jim up on the couch, checking with him first to ensure he did not think he would vomit.
“No. No, I never have,” Jim said. “You know, no matter how drunk I’ve gotten.”
Spock had made himself spiced tea and then sat in a chair across from Jim.
“Do you make a habit of overindulging?” Spock asked, after a few moments of observing Jim.
“Not anymore,” Jim said, vaguely. “This is a nice apartment, Spock. What do you do?”
There was no point in avoiding answering, so Spock replied, “I am a commander with Starfleet, my specialty is science.”
Jim’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. And here I was going on about the Academy and the command track.”
“Yes, I do apologize for not making it clear earlier. And for further disclosure, I teach a few courses at the Academy.”
“None that I’m taking.”
“Correct.”
“Well…uh…I’m not normally like this.”
Spock inclined his head. “That is good to know. And believe me, Jim, I am not in the habit of filing reports on cadets who enjoy leisure time.”
“That’s good to know.” Jim smiled a little and sipped his coffee. “This is pretty good for replicated coffee. So, what were you doing there? In the bar.”
“I ended a romantic relationship this afternoon in that bar.”
“Really? Wow. That sucks. And you know during the holidays.”
“It was a mutual decision, and as a Vulcan, we do not participate in many celebrations.”
“Okay, but still. I’m sorry.”
“It was not working for either of us and I believe our platonic friendship will endure. And what about you, Jim? What happened today?”
“Oh.” Jim nodded. “It’s kind of a long and pathetic story. When I was just barely in my teens, my brother, Sam, left home. He was three years older than me. We lived with our physically and emotionally abusive stepfather. Mom was hardly there. She never got over our father’s death.”
“George Kirk,” Spock said softly.
“Yep. Sam couldn’t stand being there in Riverside anymore and he decided he was better off just about anywhere. I begged him to stay, he wouldn’t. I begged him to take me with him, he wouldn’t do that either.”
“He abandoned you to an abusive stepfather.”
“He did. Things went from bad to worse and a bunch of really shitty things happened. I never saw him again, not for years. I didn’t even know what happened to him. Fast forward to today. I was doing some Christmas shopping browsing. Then I noticed this man standing and laughing with a group of guys near the store I’d been at. I knew who he was immediately because he looked just like my dad.” Jim sighed, close his eyes and laid the back on his head on the couch. “I briefly thought, ‘a Christmas miracle’, right? Ha. What a stupid thought. But yeah, I thought it was fortuitous to see him. We’d reconnect over the holidays. Maybe even have a dinner together as two grown men.”
He paused for so long, Spock prompted. “It did not go that way.”
Jim raised his head and opened his eyes as he gazed sadly at Spock. “No. I did approach him. Visions of sugar plums were dancing in my head. I walked up and said, ‘Sam?’ And he looked right at me but through me, if you know what I mean. He knew exactly who I was, I could tell, but I told him I was Jim anyway. Then he looked at his friends and actually said, ‘did you guys hear something?’ and they all laughed like it was a great big joke, and then he turned around and walked away in the opposite direction with his friends.”
Spock felt a pain in his side where his heart was. “I am very sorry he treated you that way.”
Jim nodded, swallowed. “I’d never felt so humiliated and hurt in my life to be honest. I started walking and before I knew it, I ended up at the bar and I started loading up on Peppermint Mocha Martinis.”
“As it happens, perhaps it was…fate.”
“Fate?” Jim asked doubtfully.
“You fell literally into my lap. And though, as I said before, I was not interested in sex while you were unable to consent, I am interested in you, Jim.”
Jim blinked and then smiled slowly. “Yeah?”
“Indeed. And I hope by your bold question, you are also interested in me.”
Jim laughed then. “Yes.”
“I propose you get some rest, take a nap in my bed, and when you wake, we will have a very nice dinner where we will discuss our future association.”
“Association. I like the sound of that.”
“While you rest, I will go to the store for foods that are appropriate for a holiday celebration.” Spock paused. “And perhaps a holiday wreath.”
Jim gave him a bright smile. “Thank you, Spock. This day doesn’t nearly suck as much as it did earlier.”
“I concur.”
Jim set his coffee down and Spock helped him to stand and lead him to Spock’s bedroom.
He was only mildly surprised when Jim hugged him. He didn’t linger, but Spock could still feel the warmth of his hug.
“Thanks again, Spock.”
“Merry Christmas, Jim.”
“Well, Mr. Kirk. Looks like you can go.”
Jim peered through the slits in his eyes. “What?”
The cop standing at the bars of the cell smirked. “Somebody paid your bail. A Christmas miracle.”
Jim smirked and sat up, rubbing his hand over his face. “Right.”
He stood up, aware of pain of his split lip and the dried blood there. Not to mention every muscle felt like someone had been pummeling his with a baseball bat. There was a definite hitch in his -get-along.
The cop stepped aside as Jim went through the now open gate of the cell.
“Who paid my bail?”
The officer shrugged. “He’s waiting in the lobby for you. You look like shit.”
“You should see the other guy,” Jim cracked as he started down the hall.
“Happy Holidays,” the cop called with a laugh.
Christmas Eve.
He’d expected to be here until at least Boxing Day, not that he knew much about that. Still he had not anticipated getting out any time soon. He’d already spent one night there.
So he was pretty damn surprised when he spotted the tall, austere Vulcan standing on the other side of the sergeant desk. He was dressed casually in jeans that looked pressed, a black turtleneck sweater, and what Jim knew to be a faux leather jacket.
He moistened his lips. “Spock?”
“Come with me, Cadet.”
He winced at the sharp tone. Truth be told if anyone was going to rescue him he had thought it would be Pike so he was pretty surprised to see Spock.
Wordlessly, he followed the Vulcan out of the police building and to a hover car parked at the curb.
“Get in,” Spock ordered.
Jim complied. And as Spock pulled away, Jim kept his gaze on the various Christmas lights and wreaths decorating the city.
“I can explain,” he tried.
“Doubtful. It is only thanks to Captain Pike that you aren’t facing expulsion.”
Jim let that sink in. “Where is he?”
“The Mohave Desert, enjoying the winter break with his wife. He sent me to assist you.”
Jim merely nodded.
Spock glanced his way briefly before his gaze returned to the road. “Have you been medically treated for your injuries?”
“I’m fine.”
“I did not ask that. Have you?”
“No, of course not. They just threw me in the cell. But I don’t have anything significant.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.’ Spock turned down a street.
“Where are you taking me? This isn’t the way to the Academy dorms.”
He hadn’t bothered to leave the school grounds for the break like so many others had done. He had no family expecting him for the holidays.
“I am not taking you there,” Spock explained. “We are headed to my apartment.”
“Your apartment? I bet Uhura has something to say to that.”
“Nyota is not there.”
“Okay, but she still won’t like me being there.”
“It is not her choice.”
Jim fell silent, figuring it was Spock’s funeral. But he knew Spock’s girlfriend would not appreciate him being there. She didn’t like him and she didn’t bother to pretend otherwise.
Jim followed Spock into the building, conscious of all the holiday merriment going on around him, even in this building, and feeling more than a little sad about it.
Spock lived on the third floor, apparently, as Jim certainly had never been there, but they took the lift to that floor and made their way down a long hallway. Spock’s door was the last one on the left.
As Jim entered Spock’s apartment, he was immediately hit with scents of pumpkins and gingerbread.
“Wow, something smells great.”
“It is my air freshener,” Spock told him. “I bought it at the store.”
“It smells like the holidays.”
“I like the scent therefore I chose it.” Spock gestured to the sofa. “Sit. I will get my medical tricorder.”
Jim blinked. “You have a medical tricorder?”
“I have found it useful. Sit.”
This time Jim complied.
“Thanks for all of this. For helping me. I know it was because of Pike but still.”
“It was not entirely because of Pike,” Spock said, approaching him to scan him.
“No?”
“Be still while I scan.”
Jim closed his mouth and tried to be still, which was not easy for him.
“Nothing appears to be broken, but you do have a lot of contusions and your lip is split. Your left eye is impaired by swelling and bruising.”
“Yep,” Jim agreed.
Spock lifted a moistened cloth to Jim’s lip and wiped it gently.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Besides Pike, why did you help me?”
“Because of you,” Spock said simply.
Jim’s heart beat a bit faster. “Well…thanks.”
“What is your explanation?”
“About what? Oh. The fight. This dude was harassing a couple of women who were there together. He was being an ass and I stepped in to get him to stop.” Jim winced as he felt his lip. “I don’t think they appreciated it much. They told me they didn’t need a man to save them. Anyway Gorilla decided to pick a fight with me and so we started throwing punches. The bartender called the cops. You know the rest.”
Spock nodded and then looked down at his communication device. “All charges have been dropped.”
“What?” Jim laughed. “Really?”
Spock arched a brow. “Vulcans do not lie.”
“Okay, but how?”
“That was Captain Pike’s doing. He says, Merry Christmas, stay out of trouble.”
“Wow. Okay. Well it’s certainly shaping out to be better than I expected anyway.”
“Why did you not go home for the break?”
“Home? I don’t really have one. Not really. No one wanted me for the holidays.” Jim shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
“I do.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I wish to spend time with you for the winter break.”
“Me? Don’t you…you have a girlfriend, don’t you/”
“As you would say…nope.”
Jim laughed. “Really? So you…you do want to spend time with me?”
Spock got up from the couch and picked up a bag which he brought back to Jim.
“What’s in it?”
“Festive food and decorations to enhance my apartment.”
“Wow. I know I keep saying that. But I really want to kiss you.”
Spock kissed him instead and then Jim winced and pulled back.
“Damn, that stings.”
“I happen to have a dermal regenerator to fix it.” Spock produced it and fixed Jim’s lips.
“Better.” He grinned. “Thanks.”
“Now,” Spock murmured as he leaned in close. “Where were we?”
“Merry Christmas to me.” Jim accepted Spock’s kiss with great enthusiasm.
All Christmas in July Posts are standalones, no second parts, FYI
“Don’t you think you’re taking this Christmas in July stuff just a little too seriously?”
Jim eyed his best friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy, as he strung multicolored lights all over the artificial tree he’d just set up in his dorm room at Starfleet Academy.
“What do you mean?”
Bones snorted. “I don’t know. Do you know anyone else who is setting up a holiday tree in their living space when it’s ninety degrees outside and it’s time for barbecues and picnics?”
“I can’t help it if no one else has any imagination.”
“All this because your old granny did this for you when you were a kid?”
“Don’t be disparaging my granny,” Jim warned.
“I’m not. But she’s been gone for years, right?”
“She has,” Jim admitted. “But, I don’t know, I’m kind of missing her and the whole thing, so I figured why not. What’s wrong with a little festive cheer out of season. There’s even a song about it.”
“We Need a Little Christmas. Yeah, you told me. If anyone knew about this little quirk of yours, you wouldn’t get any dates.”
Jim rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Anyway, that’s part of my Christmas wish.”
“A Christmas wish? In July.”
Jim laughed and clapped his hand on Bones’s shoulder. “You really struggle with this concept, don’t you?”
“Fool-hardness? Yes.”
“No. Whimsy.”
Bones looked a little uncomfortable. My dad was a doctor just like me. We deal in facts, not whimsy or whatever you want to call it.”
“Okay, well, feel free to ignore the tree when you visit.”
Bone folded his arms across his chest. “Done. So what’s your wish?”
“Other than you’d stop being grumpy”
“Har har.”
“I know not gonna happen. I shouldn’t tell you or it might not come true.”
“Seriously?”
Jim laughed again. “It probably won’t anyway so fine. My Christmas wish is to finally get Spock to say yes when I ask him out.”
“Professor Spock? The guy who failed you on the Kobayashi Maru test two times and reported you for cheating when you beat it on the third try?”
“Yep,” Jim said cheerfully.
“You’re right. You have no chance.”
“We’ll see,” Jim said, just as there was a knock on the door.
“Who could that be?” Bones wondered with a frown.
Jim merely smiled and went to the door. “Oh, Hi. Come in.”
He almost burst out laughing when Bones gaped at his Visitor.
“Good afternoon, Doctor.”
Spock, yes that Spock, gazed at Jim’s tree and arched a brow. “It is certainly brightly colored.”
“Yeah, thanks. I love these little fairy lights I got for it. Very festive, right?”
“Indeed.”
“Why is Professor Spock here?” Bones demanded.
“Bones, don’t be rude.”
“As a matter of fact, Doctor. I just finished grading the paper you submitted in my class. And I must say…fascinating.”
“Fascinating?”
Spock shrugged. “Interesting if you prefer.”
“What I would prefer is to skedaddle right out of here.”
“Not staying for dinner?”
“Hell no.” Bones made for the door.
“How about you, Spock? Want to have dinner?”
“Yes, that does sound agreeable.”
Bones muttered, “I don’t believe it.” And then he was gone.
Spock looked at Jim. “What was that about?”
“Never mind him. He’s always like that. Sugar plum tea?’
Spock nodded. “Christmas in July is really a thing?”
“In my family it is. My granny made a big deal of it.”
“I would have liked to meet her.”
“She would have loved you.” Jim turned on his brightest smile. “Come on into the kitchen. I have cookies.”
We adopted a kitten as Violet’s little sister
Edited to add: Wasabi is her name! She’s spicy
This can be read as a standalone or if you want, the third and final part of the prior two.
Next week begins my annual Christmas in July posts.
“So…anyway. That’s my story. What do you think?”
Oh crap.
Jim leaned over his straw, stuck it in his mouth and took a long sip from his strawberry shake. His gaze strayed around the Academy cafeteria, stalling for time as he tried to figure out what Bones had just been talking about and what he was supposed to think about.
But his gaze stopped on the table on the far side of the cafeteria where a Vulcan sat talking to a beautiful cadet with a ponytail.
“Jim?”
Jim returned his gaze to his friend and smiled. In front of Bones was a largely untouched salad.
“I’m thinking.”
Bones narrowed his eyes. “So you weren’t just staring at Spock and Uhura?”
“Well, maybe I was.” Jim cleared his throat. “I think you should insist that she allow you at least three weeks over the summer to spend with your daughter.”
For several heartbeats, Bones stared at him, and for a second Jim thought he’d gotten it wrong after all. He hadn’t been listening, really, but nine times out of ten lately the subject was Bones getting to spend time with his daughter during the break.
But then Bones said, “Yeah, you’re right. I gotta stick to my guns.”
“You do.”
“And he’s coming over here.”
“Who?”
Bones snorted. “Who do you think? I’ll leave you to it. I gotta contact Jocelyn.”
A moment later, Spock took the seat Bones had recently vacated.
“Hey.”
“Hello Jim.”
“Listen, I know I didn’t make it clear the other day that it wasn’t a one-night-stand for me but—”
“Nor was it for me.”
“Okay.” Jim nodded. “It’s just I haven’t heard from you for days and I know you were busy because your folks were here, but I don’t know. I sort of felt…feel…that I’m not much of a priority.”
Spock looked stricken. Vulcan stricken anyway. “I apologize. I am…unused to dating a Human.”
“I’m unused to dating a Vulcan too,” Jim admitted.
“I will do better. In fact, I would like to inquire if you will go with me to Vulcan during the summer break.”
Jim blinked. Moistened his lips. His heart was racing. And he started to realize what he felt was a kind of apprehensive hope.
“Really?”
“I would like for my parents to meet you and for you to meet my parents.”
“I would…” His voice cracked. “I would like that too.”
“Is everything all right with your friend? He seemed to depart abruptly.”
“Custody issues. He’ll be all right. And, uh, I saw you with Uhura. I thought maybe…” Jim shrugged.
Spock shook his head. “She is a friend only. My interest lies entirely with you.”
Jim smiled, touched Spock’s hand briefly with his fingers. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Don’t you have a class, cadet?”
Jim laughed. “It was canceled.”
Yesterday’s was so popular I decided to do a part two. I’m off to San Diego for the weekend, see ya next week
Jim was huddled over a cup of coffee the next morning when there was a knock on his dorm door. Figuring he knew exactly who knocked at his door at this time at eight in the morning.
“Come in, Bones.”
Sure enough Bones stepped inside.
“Coffee’s in the pot there.”
Bones smiled slightly. “Thanks.” He went to help himself to a cup.
He sat across from Jim. “So…how did last night go?”
“What I expected,” Jim said, vaguely. “And your night?”
Bones snorted. “Gary got shitfaced and threw up all over the dancer that worked there. Nolan got in a fight and they took him to jail.”
“About what I expected there too,” Jim said with a laugh.
“Mm.” Bones cradled his coffee mug. “So with my keen power of observation, I saw a mug on the kitchen counter that appeared to have remnants of tea leaves in it. Now, if you drink tea, which is pretty rare and only when you’re feeling poorly, you either replicate it, thus no leaves, or use a teabag, also no leaves. So that means someone else had that tea. Someone serious enough about their tea drinking to want to brew it.”
Jim smirked. “And what else?”
“There are two pizza boxes on the counter. One is empty so that one was definitely yours.”
Jim chuckled.
“The other one has a few slices left and the crust is made out of some vegetable and the toppings are also vegetable with the cheese being vegan. Definitely not yours.”
“What’s it all mean, Bones?”
“You were not alone last night. Someone was here with you!” Bones wagged a finger. “You made up that story about not getting the highest test score so you could have some woman over. A tea drinking, vegan woman!”
Jim shook his head. “Nope. You got it wrong, Sherlock. Or in your case, I’d say, Doctor Watson.”
Bones looked dumbfounded. “How?” Then he glanced toward the bathroom. “Is that the shower turning off?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You mean she’s still here?”
“No.”
“Jim, I know there’s someone here besides us. Just who—”
The bathroom door opened and Spock came out, drying his hair with a towel. Fortunately he had pulled on one of Jim’s robes.
“Good morning, Doctor,” Spock greeted Bones calmly.
Bones sputtered as Spock went into the bedroom and closed the door.
Jim lifted his coffee mug to his mouth and took a sip. “You were saying?”
“I think I’m going to go out for breakfast.” He rose from his chair. “See you later, Jim.”
“See you, Bones.”
Bones left and Jim got up to get Spock another cup of tea.
“Maybe you’d better go without me,” Jim grumped.
Bones glanced at him as they walked side by side on the Academy campus.
“What’s with you anyway? You’re very cranky.”
“Had a bad test today.”
“You? Don’t tell me you failed. I won’t believe it.”
Jim grimaced. “Get real. I might as well have though. I didn’t get the top score.”
Bones gaped at him. “That’s what your sore about? You want to blow off plans for that?”
“It’s plans with Gary and Nolan. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go anyway. Really, Bones, I’m not in in the mood.”
“Fine. So you’re going to go sulk in your dorm?”
“Yep,” Jim agreed. “Going to get a pizza and watch rom coms or something.”
“Sounds dreadful.” Bones stopped and put his hand on Jim’s shoulder. “Okay. But I bet I have a better time than you.”
Jim smiled. “Probably. See you tomorrow, Bones. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
When he got to his dorm someone stood there holding a pizza box.
He grinned. “Hey, Spock. You been waiting long?”
“I have not.”
Jim let them inside. “Thanks for picking that up.”
“Did you have any trouble getting out of your plans?”
“Only a little. I had to lie and say I didn’t get the best score on the test in a class today.”
Spock arched a brow. “And he believed it?”
“Right?” Jim laughed. He tossed his cadet’s coat on a chair and went to give Spock a welcome kiss. “Best night ever.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 