Well the Vet and us hoped Luna had treatable hyperthyroidism but it was not to be. It is likely she has blood cancer. She’s in her 14th year and we don’t think she should be put through a lot of treatments she won’t understand and will separate her from us. Right now we are keeping her comfortable and she still wants to be with us and purrs. She is not in any acute distress and until the time that changes, if it does, we will keep her here with us until the time she passes. It’s the worse news, obviously. But we’ve had her since she was about 3 months old and it’s very tough but we love her and want her with us for what she has left. I think she wants that too. If her condition worsens we will make an even more difficult decision.
This story is inspired by the not unexpected announcement that Paramount would not be making another movie in the Kelvin universe. After nearly 10 years since the last one and several false starts I don’t think anyone is that surprised given the new ownership there. I have mixed feelings. I would have loved to see one more movie with them all but on the other hand I can now happily break up Spock and Uhura without ever having to see them together as a couple in another movie. They didn’t work, they never will.
Anyway, just one more after this for “family” month and I might make it TOS. We shall see.
“So unfortunately they’re pulling the plug on any more adventures,” Jim confirmed to his crewmembers gathered before him. He sighed. “If the Enterprise goes out again, it’ll be with a new crew.”
“So the rumors are true,” Bones said softly.
Jim nodded. “Afraid so. Some of you may be offered assignments elsewhere in Starfleet.” He smiled faintly. “But for this exact crew, that’s the end.”
Scotty grunted. “Aye. Maybe it’s for the best anyway. With Pavel dying on that last mission, it doesn’t quite seem the same without him.”
“True. Anyway, check your own messages for assignment in the future, but for now you’re all officially on leave.”
Bones shook his head. “That’s it for me. I’ll be sending in my resignation. Been thinking about it anyway. Kind of tired of dealing with so many catastrophic injuries. I’ll probably head back to Georgia and set up practice to be an old country doctor.”
That didn’t really surprise Jim. He could sense Bones’ weariness for a while. And the death of Chekov and Bones’ inability to do a damn thing about it was sort of the last straw. He got it. More than most, really.
“How about you, Sulu? What do you think you’ll do?”
Jim knew Sulu was likely to be promoted to captain soon and the pilot would deserve it.
Sulu shrugged. “For now, I’ll be going to Yorktown to be with Ben and Demora. I’ve missed too much time with them.”
“Scotty?”
“Don’t know yet and that’s the truth. Not sure I’m ready to hang up my engineer’s hat, so we’ll see what they have in store for me. What about you, Jim?”
“They want to promote me to admiral,” Jim admitted. “Have me stationed at HQ. I haven’t decided whether to accept it. I’ve got more aches and pains in my limbs than I have limbs,” he joked. “I’m considering retirement.”
Uhura, who had stood there looking defiant, had her arms crossed in front of her chest. “And what go back to being a farm boy?”
“Maybe.” Jim turned to look at Spock, who had remained stiff and silent, as usual. “What about you, Spock?”
“I have already offered my resignation,” the Vulcan said. “I have no desire to command a ship, and I have already served with the two finest captains in Starfleet. My intention is to settle on New Vulcan.”
Which is entirely what Jim had expected to hear. No reason to expect anything else.
He simply nodded and went to turn away when Uhura made an irritated noise. He glanced her way.
“What is wrong with you?” Uhura demanded. “You both act like this is all settled and off you go.”
“Uhura—”
“No. The rest of you might keep your mouths shut but I definitely won’t. Just like that, you’re going to let him go to New Vulcan without ever telling him how you feel?”
Jim opened his mouth, closed it.
She then turned to Spock. “And you! I can’t believe you. You’re really going to leave him behind and never tell him he’s your T’hy’la and you’ve worshipped him from afar for years?”
“Nyota, this is not your concern.”
“You bet your Vulcan ass it is. We broke up because of the way you feel.” She pointed at Jim. “And you go around with a sad puppy dog face all the time while drowning your sorrows in booze and casual lovers because you think Spock will never love you or want you and I’m sick of both of you. So get your act together. I don’t care if you both resign from Starfleet but you sure as hell aren’t going to sit here and tell us you’re living separate lives.”
Jim stared at her, his heart pounding.
“I know I speak for all of us,” Uhura said. “We’re a family. All of us. And you don’t get to walk away from us without a payoff for all the time we’ve put up with you two.” She pointed at Spock. “You…talk to him. The rest of us will be over here, pretending not to listen.”
Jim watched as the group of them took several steps away from him and Spock. He was shaking as he glanced at Spock, who was clearly blushing.
“Um, listen, what she said, you don’t have to—”
“It is true,” Spock interrupted quietly. “Everything Nyota said.”
Jim swallowed. For a moment he couldn’t form words. But then he tried to lighten the mood a bit because everything seemed so intense all of a sudden.
“I’m sure worship is a little over the top.”
Spock shook his head.
“No?”
“I do worship you, Jim.”
“Well.” He didn’t know what to say. He felt overwhelmed.
Spock suddenly looked smaller. “You are under no obligation to—”
“Yeah, I am,” Jim said, quickly. “It’s not that…it’s really kind of a shock.”
“A shock?”
“To go for years wanting something you know you’ll never get, couldn’t get, to suddenly be looking at it staring you in the face, somehow actually getting it, I don’t know how to act, what to think. I’m at a loss.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“It means I think I’m having a heart attack.”
“Jim—”
He shook his head. “No. That’s wrong. I love you, Spock. I think I always have. From day one. From the minute you tugged your uniform down to accuse me of cheating. I don’t know. I just know it’s always been you. Always will be you.”
“Why don’t you kiss him then?”
Jim glanced over at the group and saw Bones smirking.
“Do you mind? You’re supposed to be pretending not to listen. And—”
Spock kissed him silent, speechless. Jim grabbed hold of him and clung to him as the kiss deepened between them.
“I don’t think Spock will be going to New Vulcan after all,” Uhura said, smugness in her tone.
I’m super behind on everything and I’m sorry. I was on a four day cruise when obviously I couldn’t write and since returning home I haven’t gotten my mojo back. I’m going to try to catch up in the next week or so. Because it’s late in the year I’ll mostly be concentrating on holiday related stories because that’s just the way it is. I’m a little freaked out about the whole thing honestly but I’ll do the best I can do.
This one is more like the lead up to the family gathering.
“How do I look?” Jim asked his husband after observing himself first in the mirror. He’d chosen not to wear his uniform for this was a personal occasion and they were not on duty. While Spock had dressed in Vulcan robes, he had opted for nice slacks and a long-sleeved button-down shirt he was certain he’d be too warm in.
“Acceptable,” Spock replied, absently.
Jim sighed inwardly. “Some day you’re going to have to tone down those compliments, Spock. They’re starting to give me a big head.”
Spock glanced at him. “Your head is of appropriate size.”
“That’s a relief.” He tamped down his annoyance. “Do you think she’ll like me?”
‘She’ was Sarek’s new Vulcan wife. Many years after the death of Spock’s mom, he had formally bonded with another and Spock and Jim had been invited to their home on New Vulcan for a ‘Meet and Greet’ or a family dinner, Jim supposed. Sarek had offered his lodging for them to stay overnight as well.
“I cannot say.”
“You can’t even guess?”
Spock shrugged slightly. “To speculate would be illogical. I do not know her specific preferences and cannot speak to them.”
“See, on Earth when you meet someone’s parents and they ask if they’ll like you, the usual preferred response is ‘I am sure they will love you as much as I do’ or some variation.”
“That would not be an accurate statement,” Spock told him. “Vulcans do not form opinions based on the perceptions of others.”
Jim’s jaw clenched. “Your dad likes me, though, right?”
“He has never stated whether he does or does not.”
“But you must have an impression.”
Spock denied this too.
“Oh my God. Why…why am I even going to this with you?” Jim exclaimed, no longer bothering to hide his anger and disappointment.
Spock now appeared perplexed. “Because you are my husband and I want you there with me.”
Jim narrowed his eyes. “What for?”
“Because you are important to me and should be included in a gathering with my family.” Spock came forward and took Jim’s hands in his. “Jim, their opinion of you is irrelevant.”
“How?”
“Whether they like you or not, it does not change who you are. You remain an outstanding individual with many honorable accomplishments, a great many admirers, a number of people who love you and respect you, me most especially.”
Jim blew out a breath and smiled a little. “You most especially?”
“Of course. I only meant that I cannot predict what her opinion of either of us will be, but that it does not change what is true, who we are to each other, and how we will go forward. That is what I mean by irrelevant. We remain committed mates with a deep, lifelong bond.”
Jim’s smile widened. “When you put it like that…”
Spock smiled slightly. “On the other hand, I cannot imagine how either my father or his new wife could find you lacking, because you are a treasure to me.”
Now he laughed. “Okay, okay. Now you’re making up for it. Come on, Spock. Let’s go meet the parents.”
“She is not my parent.”
“You know what I mean. Your father’s wife.”
“Indeed. And while I will respect that and perhaps even come to appreciate her, she will never replace my mother.”
Jim kissed him. “I know. Not in a million years. Come on. They’re waiting.”
Jim nodded, or tried to. It seemed to take more strength then he could manage.
Uhura. That’s who was with him. She put her hand on his forehead.
“You’re burning up.”
“F-freezing.”
“That’s the fever,” she told him. “But it’s going to be okay. They’re coming for us.” She tucked blankets around him, the emergency kind, so they weren’t particularly soft and cozy.
“I know, Jim, but that’s all we have.”
He hadn’t realized he spoke that out loud.
“You’ll be with Spock any minute, okay? But in the meantime you need to stay with me here. Rest but don’t close your eyes.”
His dry lips felt like they were about to crack open and bleed. “Water.”
She held up a canteen and helped to lift his head up so he could take a sip.
“You need to drink more.”
“No. Save it for you.”
“I don’t need it. And they’ll come and get us before I will,” Uhura insisted.
“Listen.”
“I’m listening, Captain.”
“Tell Spock—”
“No. You tell him yourself,” she said firmly.
He was dying. He knew he was. And he was fading fast. He could barely think coherently. He’d been speared in the side by a native of the planet and he’d been bleeding pretty badly. He was going into septic shock. And unless the ship beamed them up right now, he was going to die.
“Not going to make it,” he whispered.
“You are too!. Listen to me, Jim Kirk. We’re all supposed to have shore leave in just a couple of weeks on Earth and we’re going to your mom’s farmhouse in Riverside for a big Thanksgiving gathering for all of us as family and you most certainly are going to be there!”
“Nyota.”
“You are! They’re going to get to us any minute and then Leonard is going to fix you.”
“Tell Spock—” He closed his eyes.
“Jim! No! You open your eyes! You hear me! Open your eyes.” She sobbed and grabbed hold of him. “Open your eyes!”
****
He woke up. Somehow he was not dead.
“There you are.”
“Bones?”
Bones gave him a small smile. “Welcome back.”
“I thought I was a goner.”
“We all did. We beamed you up with Uhura draped over you begging you to wake up. If it weren’t for Spock—”
“Spock?”
“He’s here. He did something in your bond, somehow he brought you back.” There were tears in Bones’ eyes. “Here.”
Bones disappeared and in his place was his…Spock.
“Hey.”
Spock grabbed Jim’s hand and held it tight.
“Close huh?”
Spock nodded but did not speak.
“Guess I’m going to make it to that Thanksgiving shore leave after all.”
****
“Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh, through the white and drifted snow.”
Jim, Sulu, and Bones finished singing as they approached the Kirk Farmhouse.
“Only she’s not our grandmother, this isn’t a sleigh, and there’s not a hint of snow anywhere!” Jim declared.
Spock said, “The original poem was actually written to Grandfather’s house and was written in 1845.”
Jim grinned. “Thanks for the history lesson, babe.”
“You are welcome, Jim.”
“Doesn’t know sarcasm when he hears it,” Bones muttered under his breath.
They all got out of the hover car and headed to the kitchen door to enter the house. They’d always used that door growing up, Jim mused, rarely using the front door.
His mom greeted them warmly and as they all filed in before him, Jim used the chance to pull Uhura aside before she entered the house.
“I wanted to thank you for everything you did down there,” he told her.’
She smiled. “It was nothing, Captain.”
“It was more than nothing and we both know it.”
“You would have done the same thing for me. And now we’d better get in there. Ever since that incident, Spock won’t let you out of his sight.”
Jim laughed. “Yeah.”
And sure enough Spock was waiting anxiously by the door.
“Still okay, honey,” Jim assured him.
Spock looped a hand around Jim’s upper arm and held on to him, drawing him close. Jim let him.
“Now, welcome everyone,” his mother said, cheerfully. “We’re going to have turkey and stuffing and pie, and yes some vegetarian fare, and wine and cheer. We’re all thankful and blessed.”
I’m here Jim sent through the bond, sensing some underlying anxiety still coming from Spock.
For which I am thankful.
Jim smiled and squeezed his hand, then accepted the glass of wine his mother brought to him.
This site has been paid for for another year, most of 2026. But I wanted to let you all know that I have made the decision that the next year will likely be it for this blog. When the time comes for renewal in November next year, I intend to cancel. I’ll still be working on AO3 I think, but this will be ending next year.
I know that is disappointing for some but at least you’ll get another year of flashes, etc.
I’m going to be on a cruise for the better part of the next week so there won’t be any updates to A03 other than the two I just did. I have the flash done for tomorrow and am hoping I can get something written to post next Friday but it might be a day or two late. We will see.
Bones eyed Jim as he approached the rec room entrance. Bones stood there like a sentinel guarding it. Beyond the CMO, the Halloween Pary was going full swing. Loud pounding music, drinks, food, laughter, dancing.
“What are you supposed to be?” Bones demanded.
“Little Red Riding Hood, obviously.”
“What’s obvious about it? You aren’t wearing a little dress.”
“Ya think?” Jim fingered his red cape and hood. “This doesn’t give it away?”
“I suppose.”
Jim held up his basket. “I also have a basket full of goodies for grandma.”
“Hmm. Still pretty lame.”
Jim looked Bones over. He was wearing some kind of soldier’s costume, heavy with armor and some kind of helmet over most of his head and face with only his mouth showing.
“What the hell are you supposed to be?”
“Judge Dredd.”
“There’s something dreadful about the way you look all right,” Jim said with a laugh.
“Hardy har har. Where’s Spock? Are you telling me he got to skip this?”
“No way. If I had to come, so did he. Who’s idea was this anyway?”
“Who do you think? Uhura and Sulu. They’re on the morale committee.”
“They are the morale committee.”
A tall slender man attired all in black except for the wolf mask covering the whole head appeared behind Jim.
“This is very uncomfortable, Captain,” Spock said, his voice muffled by the mask.
“I know, honey, once we get into the party you can removed the head.”
Bones laughed. “So he’s the wolf gonna eat you, huh?”
“What else?” Jim grinned. “He made a better predator than a granny.”
Bones shook his head. “All right, go in, don’t let me stop you.”
“Why are you the doorman anyway?” Jim asked as he and Spock moved past Bones and into the rec room.
“Uhura’s orders. No one is allowed in without a costume. I only have duty for another ten minutes then Scotty takes over.”
Jim and Spock moved further into the party until they were approached by Uhura, who was dressed as the Huntsman.
“You’re going to come to my rescue after the wolf devours me,” Jim joked.
She smirked. “You wish. You guys want a drink? You’ll have to take off the mask, Spock.”
“He wants to anyway.’
Spock started tugging at it. “Captain, it won’t come off.”
“What? Here let me.” Jim started tugging at it. “Damn, it’s really stuck. Uhura, help me out here.”
She joined Jim in trying to tug it off. “It won’t budge. Sorry, Spock. You’re going to have to remain a wolf.”
“What? We can get someone to cut if off.”
“You run the risk of cutting Spock’s head off then, Captain.”
“Well, sure, but isn’t that better than staying a wolf” Jim turned to Spock. “What do you want to—”
Spock howled, then growled, pouncing on Jim and knocking him to the ground.
“Oh my GOD!” Jim sat up in bed, breathing heavily. His heart pounded hard.
“Jim? Jim, what is it?” Spock exclaimed next to him.
“Computer, lights.”
His bedroom lit up, and next to him Spock, looking perfectly normal.
“That was…that was a weird dream.”
Spock appeared concerned. “You were yelling, something about a wolf.”
“Uh-huh. Remember I was saying we should go as Little Riding Hood and the Wolf to Uhura’s party?”
“Yes.”
“Forget it. No way.”
“What will we go as then?”
“No idea. But it’s not going to require masks, heads or make-up of any kind. You know, you should go as me and I’ll go as you. We just switch uniforms and easy peasy.”
“What about my pointy ears?” Spock asked with an arch of a brow.
“Not doing that either. Just uniforms. That’s gotta be good enough.”
Spock nodded. “As you wish, Captain. Can you return to sleeping?’
Jim thought about it. “I…think so. Computer…lights out.”
“Jim?”
“Hmm?”
“What big teeth you have.”
Jim laughed. “That’s my line. But go ahead and eat me.”
Spock pounced on him and began to kiss him until Jim forgot, sort of, about the bad dream.
Leaves fell outside the window of the hospital room on a late October day. Jim stared out that window as daylight disappeared and nighttime took over. He stayed out of the way as nurses fussed over his mother.
When they departed, he turned from the window and smiled.
She fluffed her blankets. “You don’t have to stay here, you know. They’ll be bringing my dinner in soon.” She made a face.
Jim laughed as he approached the bed. “What are they bringing?”
“Supposed to be Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes but given the trout they served me last night, which was not trout by the way, I don’t know what it was, I don’t have high hopes.”
Jim pulled a chair closer. “What did the doctor say?”
“I have to stay three more days.”
“So you get out in three days? That’s good.”
His mom snorted. “That’s the way to put a positive spin on it.”
“I believe in positivity.”
She smiled and reached for his hand. “You didn’t always.”
Jim acknowledged that with a nod.
“Anyway, I’ll have a list of things I can and cannot do and medications to take and all that.”
“You did have heart surgery,” he reminded her gently. “I’m glad you’re here to get those lists.”
“Me too. But you really don’t have to stay. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
“I’ll stay through your dinner.”
As if on cue, the food services person appeared in the doorway, wheeling the cart, followed by one of his mother’s nurses.
“Can I get you anything, honey?” the nurse asked Jim. “You’re entitled to a dinner of you want one.”
“Thank you, no.”
“Okay.”
They both watched as the food services person put the tray in front of his mother. Jim peered at the Salisbury steak.
“Looks vaguely gray, that gravy.”
His mother sniffed.
The food services person looked vaguely affronted but departed with her cart.
“That’s one of our most popular meals,” the nurse insisted.
Jim smiled. “I’m sure.”
“Coffee? Tea? A date with my single daughter?’
His mother laughed. “He’s very much taken, Lois.”
“Hmm. Didn’t see a ring.”
“His Vulcan husband didn’t feel rings were required,” Spock said from the doorway.
Jim chuckled. “And that’s him, there. And I didn’t feel the need either.” He tapped his forehead. “He’s branded me his…here.”
Lois rolled her eyes. “I’ll never understand the younger generation.”
She slid past Spock to leave the room and Spock came over to his mother’s hospital bed.
“Here to collect him,” she said. “Believe me, he’s ready. He’s been hovering.”
“I have not,” Jim protested.
“We can stay as long as Jim wishes. How are you feeling?”
“Like I want to get out of her yesterday,” she admitted. “But seriously, take him home. I’m going to eat this slop, watch some things on that screen up there, and go to sleep. See you tomorrow, honey?”
Jim leaned over and kissed her. “Of course you will.”
They passed Jack O Lanterns and fake skeletons decorating the nurse’s areas and the lobby as they exited the hospital to Spock’s waiting hover car.
Jim sighed and closed his eyes once he got into the passenger seat.
“You are exhausted, T’hy’la.”
“Mm. Long day. Meetings at HQ, then coming here. All I want is some Plomeek soup, a massage and to laze in bed with you.”
Spock’s lips quirked. “Fortunately, I can make all of that come true.”
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.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 