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.
“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.”
Well…I don’t often do Original Series but decided to change it up for today. Here you go,
Jim wasn’t sure why he thought things might be different between himself and Spock after his former first officer came back during the V-Ger incident. He supposed as his grammy used to say, “hope springs eternal”.
Nothing had changed.
Well, perhaps that was slightly unfair. Spock wasn’t the block of ice he’d been when he first appeared onboard the ship. With thanks to Bones for the descriptor. He’d softened as evident by his behavior in sickbay after he had melded with V-Ger.
But Jim had hoped for a more personal connection between them, or a personal conversation at least, and nothing had moved forward in that direction.
After the mission had ended, Jim had high hopes. In the last year of that mission, he and Spock had grown close. As the end came near, they’d even taken their…friendship…to more intimacy. There’d been kissing, touching and gratification.
More than Jim had ever dreamed of and he’d been happy to explore more with Spock.
And then…he’d gotten notice from Starfleet that Spock had resigned and had left for Vulcan. He’d been floored. Hurt. Devastated.
The rumors it was for Kolinahr made him physically ill. But he’d dealt with it. He was a Starfleet officer, not some teenaged boy with a crush.
His heart had leapt with joy at Spock’s reappearance, but that had been tamped down when Spock made it clear he was not there for Jim.
And yet, after the sickbay, they’d grasped hands. He’d felt…something…between them. Hope rose once again in his chest.
Now nothing.
Jim was due to meet Bones for dinner. His friend was returning home to Georgia in the morning. Not leaving Starfleet again, no. But taking a bit of a leave after everything with down. Jim couldn’t blame him. None of them were young men anymore. It took its toll. On Jim, too, but more for Bones.
Bones had chosen a steak place he liked at a restaurant only a block form HQ and so Jim made his way there. Bones already waited for him at a table there.
In front of Bones was a glass of bourbon. In front of Jim’s seat was a glass of red wine. Bones had asked him want he’d want.
“I’m not late, am I?”
Bones shook his head. “Right on time.”
Jim took his seat and immediately a sip of wine from his glass.
“You look tired.”
Jim nodded. “Too many meetings.” He sighed. “They’re pushing through with the admiral promotion again.”
“You already were an admiral,” Bones pointed out.
“I know. But I thought…when I had to take charge of the Enterprise—”
“You mean when you seized it from Decker.”
Jim gave Bones a disgruntled look. “Anyway, no more Enterprise now. Admiral Kirk it is.”
Bones shook his head. “We all need a break after what happened.”
“Maybe.”
“And Spock?”
Jim took another sip of wine. “What about him?”
“Where does he fit in?”
“He’s being promoted to Captain, that I know. And I believe he’s going to be training cadets. He’ll be in charge of the Kobayashi Maru simulations.:
“Nice. But that’s not what I meant.”
Jim raised his brows. “What did you mean, Bones?”
“Well.” Bones shrugged. “I just thought you and the hobgoblin—”
“Yeah, no.”
Bones grimaced, then nodded. “Okay. I won’t mention it again.”
Jim smiled. “Thanks, Bones. Let’s decide on what to have for dinner.”
****
Jim had just returned from seeing Bones off to Georgia and then stopping for donuts for a not so healthy breakfast and was settling into making himself coffee in his quiet apartment when there was a tap at his door.
He really didn’t want to deal with another bureaucratic summons, so he almost ignored it. But whoever stood on the other side of the door kept up a persistent knock.
With a sigh, Jim set his coffee mug down next to the plate where he’d placed a donut and went to open the door,
“Spock?”
“May I come in, Admiral?”
“Sure. Yeah.” He held the door wider to allow Spock to enter the apartment. “You want something to drink? I made myself coffee but I could make you tea. Want a donut?”
Maybe he was babbling, but he was a bit rattled to have Spock there.
“Not at present.” Spock walked straight over to Jim’s couch and sat.
So Jim had no real choice but to join him. He waited.
“I would like to discuss the future,” Spock finally said.
Jim blinked. “The future?”
Spock nodded.
“Whose future?”
“Ours.”
“Yours and mine?”
Spock arched a brow.
Jim laughed. “Well. I mean, mine and then yours or mine and yours.”
It took a moment but Spock nodded. “I see the distinction. I believe the correct answer is mine and yours.”
“So…you’re saying…”
Spock moved closer and kissed him.
Heart thundering, Jim said, “So that’s what you’re saying.” And he grabbed onto the collar of Spock’s unform and kissed him again.
I probably won’t have a flash this Friday. Well maybe I will. Not sure. Right now I have no ideas for one.
On A03, I’m working on finishing up The Visitor. Similar to finishing up Baby within the last few weeks. I figure maybe focusing on each story until they are finished might work. At least for now.
In the meantime, here’s a picture of Violet
Now that Jim was faced with Spock being sent into see him, he found himself nervous about confessing how he felt. It was entirely possible that Spock would say, ‘thank you for telling me, Captain’ and that would be the end of it. At least if Spock didn’t feel the same.
Or worse.
He could respond, ‘Thank you for telling me that, Captain. Here is my transfer request.’
Or maybe this scenario, ‘Yes, it is true I am no longer in a relationship with Nyota, but that certainly doesn’t mean I want you.’
And so the longer it took for Spock to come in and see him, the more Jim convinced himself it was best to remain silent. Jim closed his eyes.
A moment later Spock entered the room. Even with his eyes closed, Jim somehow knew it was Spock.
“I’m in love with you,” he blurted out. His heart beat so fast he thought he might give himself cardiac arrest.
Silence. That was Spock’s reaction. And Jim wondered if he would hyperventilate. Him, not Spock, of course.
Then came, spoken softly,
“Perhaps you should open your eyes and look at me when you speak such words so that I know they are meant for me.”
Jim opened his eyes and saw Spock standing very close to the hospital bed, gazing down at him with dark fathomless eyes.
He was no coward, though maybe he wanted to be in that moment, so he said, “I’m in love with you, Spock.”
Emphasizing Spock so that there would be no mistake.
He waited, anticipating Spock giving one of speculative scenarios.
“I reciprocate.”
“You what?” Jim asked, astounded.
“Perhaps this will make it clearer,” Spock said, then kissed him.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 