Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

Vulcans did not feel nervous, Spock reminded himself, and he’d lived his entire life trying to be a model Vulcan.

Still, it took all he had within himself not to shift his position while standing as George Samuel Kirk, “Sam” as he was introduced, surveyed him.

Sam was taller than Spock and used that to his advantage, staring down at Spock with barely disguised intimidation.

He did not comment on Spock’s woolen cap covering Spock’s ears, but Spock suspected that Jim informed his family of Spock’s pointy ear coverup when they’d first arrived, as Jim had hurried into the house prior to the introductions.

“Scientist, are you?”

“Indeed.”

Sam’s cool blue eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you like to drink?”

Jim returned at that moment from having used the bathroom. He had left Spock in the front hallway with a somewhat hostile older brother.

“He doesn’t drink wine,’ Jim explained. “An occasional sake, but not much else.”

Predictably, this made Spock more suspicious in Sam’s mind.

He wrinkled his nose. “Sake.”

“I did try your cabernet sauvignon.”

“And?”

“He tried it,” Jim interrupted. “Come on. Let’s have you meet Mom and Dad.”

Sam’s gaze shifted to Jim and he softened immediately. “I was going to call you, kid. Dad’s had a bit of a setback.”

Jim frowned. “I saw he looked a bit weak and was sitting with a throw around his shoulders in the chair.”

“He’s got an appointment tomorrow, but yeah, I guess he’s not doing as well after they bypass surgery as they had hoped.”

“What’s the next step? What are they going to do?”

Sam shrugged slightly. “Guess we’ll find out Monday. It’ll be all right though, I’m sure. He’s got excellent doctors.”

He squeezed Jim’s shoulders. “Come on.”

Spock followed the Kirk brothers out of the hallway and into the “living room”. The house was quite large. Jim had called it a Spanish style villa and advised Spock it had something like ten bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

It was not the house Jim first lived in when they’d moved from Riverside, but that house had been turned into the “guest house” and this villa built as soon as the Kirk Winery had begun to make a decent amount of money.

On the way from Bodega Bay to Napa, Jim had also told Spock that Sam was pushing Jim to move back to Napa and to live with his family.

Spock had to agree that the older Human male sitting in a large Easy Chair covered with a throw did not look well. He was quite pale and seemed to have a bit of perspiration dotting his forehead.

Still George Kirk managed a smile for Spock.

“Nice to meet you. I’d get up but—”

“That is not necessary,” Spock assured him.

“In fact, why don’t we all sit?” Winona Kirk suggested.

Jim took the seat on a loveseat next to Spock, but he leaned forward toward his father.

“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital, Dad?”

“I’m all right. I’ve been in contact with the doctors, son. Basically, I’m in heart failure.”

“And that’s not an emergency?” Jim asked sharply.

George Kirk shook his head. “I’m taking the medicine they said to take. And I’ll see them first thing in the morning. I don’t feel any pain. Just weak and tired.”

Winona directed a wan smile in her husband’s direction, then turned to Spock. “I’m so sorry we aren’t meeting you in better circumstances, Spock. Jim has spoken about you, though. Briefly.”

“You’re Jim’s neighbor?” George asked.

“Yes, I have the apartment next to Jim’s and I work at the San Francisco Science Institute.”

Winona rose again. “Since you’re here, why don’t we all have some lunch? I’ll make us sandwiches and soup.”

Jim smiled. “Sure, sounds good. But, uh, Mom, Spock’s a vegetarian.” She nodded. “I will keep that in mind.”