This isn’t really what I wanted to post for this week but time got away from me and I didn’t have time to devote to the flash I intended to write, so you get this one. It’s sort of a mix of POVs which I don’t like to do in the same scene but eh, it is what it is. It also ended up being a bit longer than I thought it would.

Uhura didn’t often come to this part of the observation deck. At least not anymore. It was nicknamed “The Crying Room” because it seemed the location most chose to come when they were feeling particularly down. You had to be an officer to have access to this area and it had some of the best views of the stars and also many private areas for reflection.

When her relationship with Spock was ending, she’d come there but she’d moved on from those days. She no longer felt sorry for what was not meant to be and looked forward to the future.

She wasn’t even sure what brought her there this particular night. Intuition of some kind, maybe? Whatever. She had only been there a few short moments looking out at the vastness of space when she heard someone crying.

They weren’t far away and she turned to leave, feeling as though she was intruding on the person’s grief, but something in the way it sounded reminded her of who it might be and that was strange. She wouldn’t have expected to find him here these days. Maybe once, but now…

“Captain?”

Uhura approached the corner area where she knew there was a small alcove with a cushioned bench, like one of the old-fashioned fainting couches in long ago history. It was secluded and she guessed many didn’t even know it was there. There was one small round window that looked out to space, like a ship’s porthole.   

“Captain?”

He was huddled in the bench, legs pulled up tight to his chest, arms wrapped around those legs.

“Jim? Are you all right?”

He shook his head but didn’t speak.

She was torn about what to do. He seemed so distraught she didn’t think it would be good to leave him like this.

“What happened?” she asked after a moment.

He wiped his eyes. “I’ve just had a really bad day.”

Not too far away was a chair that she could bring over so she did so and sat close by him..

“Like what? Tell me,” she urged gently. She wanted to contact Spock but first she needed to know how bad the situation was.

He didn’t answer at first and she thought he might not and she was prepared to get Spock anyway.

“I woke up after a nightmare with a really bad headache. Bones stabbed me with a hypo in the neck when I told him. And they always hurt, but I don’t know maybe he got it in a weird spot, because it really hurt. And then I was notified Wilkins didn’t make it.”

“Wilkins?”

“Security guard injured during the mission yesterday.”

“Oh,” she said softly.

“Then Komack contacted me. He’s sending us to a sector that’s known to be hostile and dangerous. I argued about it, got reprimanded for arguing and told to go anyway. That’s likely going to cost us more casualties. Lots of crew members injured or worse. And why? Because bureaucrats say so. People signed up to explore new words and civilizations not to get murdered by maniacal alien forces.”

Uhura didn’t respond to that. Everyone knew it was possible but Jim knew that just like she did.

“Spock and I had a big fight.”

Oh.

“How big? Like not talking for a few days or break up big?”

He closed his eyes.

“Listen, it can’t be that bad. Spock loves you. Like a crazy amount.”

He blew out a long breath. “Then my mom contacted me. Sam…he’s dying. There was an accident on Deneva where he’s been living. He’s not expected to survive. I haven’t…you know…he’s still my brother.”

“You really have had a bad day,” Uhura agreed. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

If he heard her, he didn’t acknowledge it.

She slipped out of the room and pulled out her communicator. “Uhura to Spock.”

It didn’t take long.  “Spock here.”

“Listen, Jim’s in the observation area known as the Crying Room. He’s upset.”

“We had an argument and—”

“No,” she interrupted sharply. “Whatever your issue is, get over it. He’s really upset, Spock. I guess Leonard hurt him and Wilkins didn’t make it and Komack is being Komack and—”

“Nyota—”

“Spock. There was an accident and his brother isn’t expected to live.”

“I am on my way.”

Uhura wasn’t that surprised when he made it very quickly. She squeezed his arm and walked away, leaving her two commanding officers to it.

“Jim?”

Jim looked at Spock, his eyes brimming with tears. “Uhura contacted you?”

“Yes.” Spock stepped forward, scooped Jim up in his arms and moved to sit on the bench Jim had been only a moment before.

“We’re both not going to fit,” Jim protested.

Spock had to acknowledge he was right. “Will you come with me to your quarters?”

“Okay, but you’re not carrying me. I’m walking on my own.”

Spock agreed and set his captain down.

They departed the room and made their way to the turbolift in silence. Jim kept his gaze down and Spock was glad as they made their way to the captain’s quarters that they didn’t come upon anyone.

He entered Jim’s code and Jim stepped inside followed by Spock.

Spock instantly enveloped him in a tight embrace.

“I apologize for speaking in anger before.”

“Me too,” Jim mumbled against him.

“Do you want something to eat?”

“No.”

“Shower?”

Jim shook his head.

“Then let me get you ready for bed, where I will hold you and you can tell me everything.”

Spock took Jim’s hand and led him to the bed. He undressed his captain, then helped him into his pajamas, before undressing himself and putting on his preferred sleeping robe.

Then he got them both into the bed and pulled Jim close to him once more.

“I don’t like it when we fight.”

“I do not either. I was about to look for you when Nyota contacted me to apologize. I am so very sorry I contributed to your bad day, Ashaya. Your brother—”

Jim closed his eyes and pushed closer still to Spock, who tightened his grasp on him.

“I haven’t talked to him in years. Now I’ll never get the chance.”

Spock closed his eyes. “I lost a brother too.”

“You had a brother?”

“Half. My father disowned him.”

Jim looked at him. “So there’s still a chance that someday—”

Spock shook his head. “I have learned he perished on Vulcan when it was destroyed.”

“Oh.”

Spock kissed him. “Tell me about Sam.”

“Once he was my hero…” Jim began.    .