Christmas in July Post 5

Okay here it is, the last one. Hope you enjoy it. Was not sure how to end it, what the last line should be, but decided to leave it as is.

He woke to a dark, windowless room. He was lying in a bed, naked in a heap of sheets and blankets. Too many, really. He was way too warm.

Vaguely, Jim smelled the scents of the aftermath of sexual activity. It wasn’t strong, as though someone had cleaned up most of it. He realized it came from him and he really needed a shower.

He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling even though the room was too dark to make any details out. Despite the darkness he was pretty sure it was morning.

Jim was alone. His companion had left the bed long ago, definitely hours, Jim guessed. He had a little bit of a headache and he was pretty sure he was dehydrated.

He could hear the sounds of someone moving around elsewhere in the apartment.

Truth be told Jim was unused to waking up still in someone’s bed the morning after. But this was different. This was most definitely not the same old same old. His stomach felt a bit queasy with nerves. He didn’t want to screw this up but was pretty sure he would somehow manage to do so.

Jim told himself for probably the tenth time that he really should watch how many spiked eggnog lattes he drank. It had made him reckless and stupid. And maybe a cheater.

Eventually he sat up and ran his hand through his hair.

He took a chance and said, “Computer lights, 100%.”

Sure enough the room lit up. He spotted his clothes from the night before neatly folded on a chair. More importantly, Jim spotted the bathroom door. He headed in there and turned on the shower.

When he was done, and had dried off, Jim redressed in his clothes from the night before and they smelled so clean he was pretty sure his companion had thoughtfully cleaned them.

Then he noticed the gingerbread mug next to the bed. He walked over and picked it up, smelling the surprisingly good aroma of freshly brewed coffee. It had been enhanced with cream, and Jim took a sip, noticing immediately it was gingerbread flavored but without sugar, which was perfect for him. Beside the mug of coffee was a small glass of water and two headache pills.

The thoughtfulness warmed him just as much as the spices.   

It had started two nights ago.

Jim had decided to volunteer during down hours at the hospital. Well, his best friend, Bones, had decided he’d volunteer, really. Bones was working on staff when he wasn’t attending the Academy.

“What am I? Some kind of candy striper?” Jim asked.

“I can arrange for the outfit if you like,” Bones told him with a smirk.

In the end Jim ended up wearing some kind of gray blue smock. He’d been volunteering for about a week when he spotted the tall, gorgeous Vulcan hovering in the hallway.

Jim recognized him, of course. Everyone knew Commander Spock, who taught part time at the Academy. Jim didn’t have any classes with him, but yes, he knew him.

So Jim had approached him.

“Professor. Is there anything you need help with?”

“Cadet Kirk. I did not know you worked here.”

“I don’t. I mean, I volunteer. I help to make patients and their families more comfortable. That kind of thing.”

Spock nodded. “I see.  My father is currently staying here while undergoing tests.”

“I hope everything is all right.”

“I appreciate the sentiment.”

At that moment, a brunette Human woman appeared in the doorway of a nearby hospital room.

“Spock? I thought I heard your voice.” She smiled at Jim. “Who is this?”

“Mother, this is James Kirk. He is a cadet at the Academy.”

“Nice to meet you, James.”

“Jim, please. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Amanda, please. Kirk,” she said, thoughtfully. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

Spock spoke so softly to her that Jim missed what he said.

But she nodded and turned to Jim. “Of course. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. Your father was George Kirk.”

Jim brushed that off. “It doesn’t bother me to talk about him,” he assured her.
“Can I get something for your family while you’re here?”

Amanda smiled. “Funny you should ask. I saw they have eggnog lattes. I haven’t had one in years. You wouldn’t want to get me one, would you?”

Jim laughed. “I’d love to. And one for me too. Spock?”

“Nothing for me. But perhaps…my father is unimpressed with his dinner.”

“Let me go see.”

Jim followed them into the room where Sarek sat up against pillows on the hospital bed. Somehow in the hospital gown he looked almost soft, which Jim was fairly certain Spock’s father would never wish to appear that way. He was aware of Spock’s parents, though never having met them, they were famous.

“Ambassador, I’m Jim Kirk. I’m here to see about your dinner.”

“Jim is a cadet at the Academy,” Spock advised.

“Starfleet cadets are now in charge of hospital meals?” Sarek raised an eyebrow.

“I’m volunteering here. Let me see what they gave you.”

“It is entirely inedible.”

“Sarek, I’m sure the staff is doing the best they can,” Spock’s mother murmured.

“Then they need to hire better staff.” Sarek sniffed.

Jim smiled and looked at the bowl of slop in front of Sarek. “What is it?”

“Allegedly vegetable soup.”

Jim shook his head. “I’ll get you something else. I’ll be right back. Well, shortly.”

He smiled warmly at Spock and Spock’s mother as he took the soup away and departed the room.

As he stepped out, he heard her say, “Well, isn’t he a good-looking young man?”

“Mother.”

It took Jim a bit longer than he had anticipated, so that by the time he returned to Sarek’s hospital room forty-five minutes had passed. But at least he came with hot soup, two eggnog lattes, and Vulcan spiced tea.

He handed the tea to Spock, who arched a brow, one of the lattes to Spock’s mom, and then brought a covered bowl of soup over to place in front of Sarek.

“Sorry for the delay. Getting the soup took a little longer than I thought.” He removed the lid and handed a spoon to Sarek.

Sarek stared down at it. “This is Plomeek soup.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, wow.” Spock’s mother came over.

Sarek put his spoon in it, took out some and tasted it. He blinked. “This is remarkable. It is made perfectly.”

“I’m glad you like it, sir.”

“I was unaware of a restaurant around here that makes Plomeek soup,” Spock commented.

“It’s not from a restaurant.”

Amanda turned to him. “Where then?”

Jim shifted uncomfortably. “I keep pouches of it in my freezer. I took one out and heated it. I make it for myself as I developed a taste for it years ago when I was on another planet.” Which one go unnamed as far as Jim was concerned. “While there I was taught by a Vulcan woman I became acquainted with.”

“You are quite talented,” Sarek advised.

“And great at fetching eggnog lattes,” Amanda said with a laugh. “A real keeper.”

Jim felt his face heat and saw that Spock’s cheeks also had extra color.

He cleared his throat. “I’ll just, um, I’ll give you some privacy. Hope you feel better, Ambassador.”

And he had excused himself.

Then a distraught Bones confronted him. He’d lost a patient unexpectedly and he needed his best friend. Pretty soon Jim found himself having more eggnog lattes, but these were spiked. He did his best to remind Bones that sometimes no matter what you did, people died anyway.

He wasn’t sure it had helped, but he parted ways with Bones and ran into Spock. Literally.

And somehow, as luck would have it, he ended up at Spock’s apartment. He had the best night of his life, really. Incredible sex. Feeling cherished. And though he had a few spiked eggnog lattes he never felt taken advantage of. He never wanted to leave. Of course he had to.

Jim downed the water and pills, then picked up his coffee to leave the bedroom.

As soon as he left the room he could smell pumpkin and spices.

“Spock?”

Spock, who had been in the kitchen, turned to face him. “Good morning, Jim.”

He smiled a little crookedly. “Is it still morning?”

“Barely,” Spock conceded.

“Thanks for this. It’s amazing. You replicated this?”

“Negative. I obtained coffee beans at a store and ground them myself while you slept. I also have pumpkin rolls ready for your breakfast. Those I obtained from a bakery but I warmed them when I heard you get in the shower.”

“Oh my God, I love you. You know in a totally new relationship kinda way,” Jim joked.

Spock’s lips quirked. “The feeling is quite mutual. Sit at the table there and I will bring you some.”

Jim went to the table and sat down. A moment later, Spock joined him with tea and the pumpkin rolls, while Spock had bread with what looked like pumpkin butter.

“This is really cool. You know before your mom mentioned the eggnog latte, I really didn’t think much about it being holiday season.”

“You do not celebrate the Terran holidays?”

Jim sliced off some pumpkin roll. “As a kid, we did. When my grandparents were still alive. Frank, my stepfather, didn’t celebrate anything. And by the time Mom kicked him to the curb, my brother Sam was no longer around. Mom and I tried some to celebrate but it always ended up being kinda lame.”

“And you really learned how to make Plomeek soup from a Vulcan female?”

He smiled. “I did. But I should warn you, I was just a kid and it’s a time I don’t really want to talk about, at least not now.”

“Understood.”

“I make it often now as I do consider it a comfort food. Which is why I freeze some of it.”

“Your kindness to my parents is very appreciated.”

“How is your dad?”

“Much improved and tests came back negative. He has been released and is resting at the embassy hotel with my mother.”

“Good, I’m glad. If you need to be there…”

“I do not. I am spending time with you. I also have purchased a pumpkin pie and some eggnog ice cream.”

Jim laughed. “I’ll say again, I love you.”

“And I reciprocate the sentiment even in its prematurity.”

Jim grinned. “This roll is great.”

“There is also a holiday movie marathon on that I thought you might enjoy watching together.”

“You’d do that with me?”

Spock inclined his head. “And some other things.”

“Oh, yeah, definitely those other things.”

“Then you will stay and spend some time with me?” Spock asked, somewhat shyly.

Jim reached for Spock’s hand. “You’re going to have trouble getting rid of me.”