AI generated picture

“It’s really coming down out there.”

Jim turned away from the window. Outside the rain was slashing violently against the window, lightning flashed, and an occasional large boom of thunder could be heard in the distance, though he thought it was likely coming closer.

Bones sighed. “There’s no leaving here tonight then. Hopefully it’s better in the morning.”

They were in a cabin in the woods. They were lucky to have found the shelter since originally they had been tent camping.

“Yeah.”

Bones poured whiskey from a flask into a mug. “Fortunately this place is pretty well-stocked. We should have booked this cabin in the first place.”

Jim had found the contact information when they entered the cabin and had notified the owner they were there and would reimburse whatever they used. He had been glad the owner was pretty cool about the whole thing. The cabin was a rental, anyway, and Bones was right, they should have rented it to begin with.

But nothing about this trip had gone right.

It was meant to be a little camping trip to celebrate the end of their five-year mission. Bones had fond memories of camping with his dad when he was a boy and he had talked Jim and Spock into the idea of a couple of days.

Of course now Bones said they should have rented a cabin. It had been his damn idea to do the tents. But Jim wasn’t going to point that out. He was cranky and miserable. The clothes he wore still clung damply to his skin and he’d only just got the fire going in the fireplace.

There was also the plain fact Spock was not with them. Just before they were to leave on this camping trip from Hell, he and Spock had a huge fight. Spock declared he was going to New Vulcan to visit his father instead and that was that.

Jim thought maybe they broke up. He wasn’t even really sure.

Somehow Bones talked him into making the trek into the woods for camping anyway. They’d barely set up their tents when the storm came. A bad storm that had collapsed their flimsy tents and drenched them.

They had made their way back to their transport car only to find it wouldn’t start and it was stuck in the mud, anyway.

So here they were. Wet, cold and miserable. He’d change into dry clothes except that the rain had soaked the clothes he’d brought with him, too, as his whole bag had been drenched.

“I suppose you blame me for all this,” Bones grumbled as Jim joined him once more by the fire.

Jim picked up his own mug of coffee mixed with whiskey. “Nah, you couldn’t have known we were going to get the storm of the century. They didn’t even predict it.”

“True. But I knew you weren’t thrilled with the tent thing.”

“Eh. I was a boy scout a long time ago. I slept in a tent a few times.”

Bones smiled faintly. “You’re being too nice. I’m sure things would seem better if, well, you know.”

“Spock didn’t dump me?”

“I’m sure he didn’t dump you, Jim. He’ll cool off and when we get back to civilization you’ll contact him and the two of you will kiss and make up.”

“Mm.”

“This isn’t the first disagreement you ever had,” Bones pointed out.

“I know.”

Bones sighed. “I’m going to go and take a nice hot shower. I promise not to use up the hot water.”

Jim offered his friend a smile. “Thanks. I only wish we could put on dry clothes.”

They’d hung up the clothes they weren’t wearing by the fireplace. Unfortunately the cabin, though having a lot of amenities, a dryer was not one of them.

Bones disappeared down the hall to where the bathroom was and Jim continued to stare into the fire.

But a few minutes later he heard what sounded like a howl. Surely there weren’t any wolves in this area.

Jim waited to hear it again, but nothing.

He was just about to relax again when he heard a screech. He stood up and set the mug down. He went back to the window to look out, but all he could see was blurry rain. There was another flash of lightning and this time the thunder followed almost immediately after.

“Okay, really, get ahold of yourself, Jim,” he told himself out loud. “Just the storm. Storms have weird noises.”

Or a rat. Did the cabin have rats? Although a rat might screech, it wouldn’t howl.

He shook his head and went to the cabin door and opened it to look out at the storm and surrounding area. Another flash and boom.

It was hard to see very far in front of his face as the rain was pouring down harder than he’d seen in years.

“Hello?”

Not that he expected a wolf or other animal to answer him. And he got nothing. Just silence. The rustling in the trees.

Jim took a step back, wishing he had a flashlight or even his phaser.

Then there was another howl, this one sounding like…a ghost. His hair stood on the back of his neck and he rushed back inside, slamming the door shut.

“There’s no such things as ghosts,” he reminded himself.

And really, how did anyone even know what a ghost sounded like? This had been more of an angry moan then a mournful cry. Did ghosts have emotions?

“No, because there aren’t any ghosts,” he reminded himself.

And then the knob of the cabin door rattled.

Jim grabbed a log to use as a weapon, went to the door and wrenched it open.

“Spock!” Jim dropped the log and flung himself into Spock’s arms. Spock’s arms closed around him.

After a moment, Jim pulled back slightly.

“Get in here! You must be soaked and frozen half to death.”

He yanked Spock inside and closed and locked the door.

“Spock, what are you doing here? I thought you went to New Vulcan.”

“I intended to,” Spock admitted. “But I could not let another day go by where we were angry at each other. I apologize.”

“No.” Jim shook his head. “I’m sorry. Let’s get you out of that wet coat.”

He helped Spock remove his heavy raincoat and then once more threw his arms around Spock, holding tight.

“Where is the doctor?”

“Shower. How’d you find us?”

“I surmised when I saw your destroyed camp that you logically sought shelter elsewhere. I searched until I located this cabin.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. I…was a little worried.”

“Worried?”

Jim shook his head and smiled. “That maybe we broke up.”

“Impossible.”

Jim laughed. “Maybe. Did you hear howling by any chance?”

Spock arched a brow. “Howling?”

“Er. Never mind.” Jim kissed him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”