A present to myself this year was a special-order calendar. It finally came today (via New Zealand and I suspect most of these were posters from the films in New Zealand) but it’s way cool and I figured you’d appreciate it.
Yes. Every movie. Pretty damn cool, huh?
The first indication that something unusual was wrong was a very loud and sudden sneeze.
Jim turned so fast in his captain’s chair to gape at his first officer, he had to hold on not to fall out.
Sulu and Chekov had also turned around to stare.
Uhura, predictably, was up off her feet and rushing over to him. “Spock? Are you okay?”
He gave every one of them a look of consternation. “I sneezed.”
Jim nodded.
“You never sneeze,” Uhura said. Also predictably, she added, “I shared a bed with you for years and I never once recall you sneezing.”
Jim tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair and counted to ten. Spock, likewise predictable, glanced his way surreptitiously.
Spock glanced back at Uhura. “It is nothing, Nyota.”
Which made Jim turn his chair back around. Jealousy was ridiculous. Jim knew that. Spock wasn’t with Uhura anymore, he was with Jim. Sorta. Recently. Yeah. But, right.
There were no more bridge sneezes, but after their shift when they were standing near the replicators to get food, Spock sneezed again.
This time Bones was with them and he narrowed his eyes.
“I heard about that.”
Spock, wiggling his nose, peered at Bones. “Heard about what?”
“You sneezing.”
“I had one sneeze.”
“And this is the second,” Jim pointed out.
“You’re sick.” Bones poked a finger at Spock’s chest.
“I am not. Please do not touch me.”
Jim rolled his eyes at Spock. “If I hear even one more sneeze out of you, mister, you’re reporting to the medbay.”
“Captain, that is hardly…”
Jim gave him a quelling look and Spock closed his mouth.
Dinner passed without further incidents, but later, in Jim’s quarters, while he was bent over trying to set up the chess set he heard a peculiar noise out of his Vulcan. Well, not his. Not yet. Or sorta. Maybe.
Jim straightened and turned to stare at Spock with his captain look again. “That wasn’t you trying to suppress a sneeze, was it?”
“Would I do that?”
Not exactly a denial, which meant Spock was trying to say no, but without actually lying about it.
“Maybe we should postpone this.”
“Captain, I feel fine.”
“Still. You should rest. It’s already late. You need sleep, Spock. We can play another day.” And he meant that about more than the stupid chess game. He didn’t even like chess. But Spock did and Jim was pretty okay at it even though he didn’t care for it.
Spock hesitated. “I…very well.”
“What?”
“I did not really wish to retire to my quarters just yet.”
“Oh. Well. Um. You want to-to sleep here? In-in my bed?”
Great work at sounding like a love struck teenaged boy, Jim.
“If agreeable.”
Jim grinned. “It’s totally agreeable. And I’ll, um, try not to attack you. For now.”
Spock nodded. “I appreciate that. My sleeping robe…”
“You can borrow some jammies.”
“And I like to have tea.”
“I’ll make you some.”
Spock’s nose twitched. He sneezed.
Jim walked up to him, put his hand on Spock’s forehead. He sighed. “You have a fever, honey.”
“Honey?” Spock blinked.
“Yeah. Honey. You got an issue with that?”
“I do not.”
“I’d better call Bones.”
“I do not wish to go to the medbay.”
“He’ll make a house call. And then after, you can go to sleep in here. It’s not like no one knows.”
Spock nodded. “Very well. I do not usually catch colds.”
“But you are half human.”
His Vulcan sighed. Totally his Vulcan. “Yes. And it rears itself up at the most inopportune times.”
“Of course.” I patted his cheek affectionately and commed Bones. “Hey, can you come check out Spock? He’s sick.”
“Be right there.”
Jim smiled. “Now for those jammies and tea. You deserve some pampering, honey.”
“Well.” Spock looked rather pleased. “If you insist.”
For January, we are back to Flash Fic Fridays. In February I will add back in Wednesday Flashes.
Spock should not have been surprised to look down and see Vanik standing beside him as he checked himself in the mirror in the bathroom of his apartment. It was becoming all too common to find the boy nearby. He was fond of his nephew, but he would not be all that unhappy when Sybok and Anoria took their leave of Earth with their precocious son in tow.
And yet…he was surprised. Illogically.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“I have come to learn what progress you are making with Jim.”
Spock eyed him balefully. “That is not your business.”
“I believe that it is. Since I am the one who first introduced you to Jim…”
“We became acquainted with Mister Kirk on the same day.”
“And I arranged for your first date.”
“It was an outing, not a date. And you tricked us.”
Vanik shrugged. “You were getting nowhere on your own. Which is why I am inquiring as to whether you require my assistance again. You have now been on no less than four dates with Jim, not counting the sleigh ride.”
“We rode in a carriage, not a sleigh,” Spock pointed out. “An expensive one at that. It was false advertising.”
“There would be no place in San Francisco to pull a one horse open sleigh so improvisation was required,” Vanik said simply. “Jim did not seem to mind.”
“As he is your elder and you are barely acquainted, you, perhaps, should refer to him as Mister Kirk.”
“On the contrary, he told me when we met his name was Jim. He has not rescinded the personal use of his name.” Vanik paused. “To either of us. Are you scheduled to have a date with him this evening?”
Spock sighed. “Yes. I am preparing for it now.”
“That is good news. Have you had opportunities to exchange implications of favorable softer emotions?”
Spock blinked, feeling somewhat dizzy with such a convoluted sentence. “I am quite sure that is not your business. Nor is any of the specific details of my interactions with Jim.”
Vanik frowned. “But you do…like him?”
He hesitated only a moment. “Yes.”
“And he likes you?”
It was on the tip of Spock’s tongue to advise the boy to direct that question to Jim, but then he realized Vanik would, and Jim certainly didn’t need to have the boy pestering him with personal inquiries.
“Yes,” Spock replied instead.
He was saved from further invasive inquiry by the blurp of Vanik’s communication device. The boy flipped it open and Spock heard Anoria’s voice.
“Vanik! You ran off again. Get back here right this instant.”
“I am with Uncle…”
“I know where you are. Stop bothering Spock. Come back to the hotel immediately.”
“I will be there soon.” Vanik closed his device and nodded at Spock. “I must go. I hope you have a most productive date with Jim.”
Spock did not reply as his nephew scampered off. Instead he looked at his colognes that had been gifts from his brother and sister-in-law just this past holiday season. He chose one and splashed it on himself.
Then he turned away from the mirror to prepare to retrieve Jim for their date.
We’ve all read this before I am sure, but I thought it would be fun to revisit something I posted 6 years ago today.
And so we come to the last flash for December. Oh what fun it has been. We rejoin the Spock and Jim from the Prime in the Library and Rudolph flashes.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“God help us.”
Jim frowned at his best friend, Bones. “I’m serious.”
“I know. And whenever you say I’ve been thinking and I’m serious, I say God help us. Because we’re going to need it, Jim. I don’t know what you’ve got in that pretty little head of yours, but I’m worried.”
“You exaggerate. I was just going to suggest we go to that new club down the street from the Academy for New Year’s Eve.”
Bones sputtered. “Sure. Just how I want to spend the night. In an overcrowded smelly club with people pawing each other.” He paused. “What time?”
“What time for what?” Spock asked, suddenly appearing at their table. He touched his fingers to Jim’s who smiled at him.
“Genius here wants to go to that new club for New Year’s Eve.”
“You should go, Doctor,” Spock said smoothly.
“I…should?”
“Indeed. However, unfortunately, Jim cannot join you.”
Jim looked at him. “I can’t?”
“That is our rescheduled dinner with my parents. From when you were previously ill.”
“Oh. Damn. Right. Sorry.” He grinned sheepishly at Bones. “Never mind, Bones. I’m having dinner with Spock’s folks.”
“It was probably a bad idea anyway,” Bones said. “I should go. I have a test I need to study for.”
After Bones left, Spock stroked his finger along the knuckles of Jim’s hand.
“Are you sorry you cannot go to the club that night?”
“No. I mean we can go any time. Bones is right, probably too crowded for New Year’s Eve, anyway.”
Spock continued to soothingly brush his knuckles. He had a way of calming Jim that he really appreciated. “Did you really forget the dinner or were you attempting to get out of it?”
Jim coughed. “What? Of-of course not.”
“Jim.”
“I did forget, but maybe because I’m kind of sort of blocking it out.”
“May I ask why?”
He sighed. Maybe dramatically. “You won’t understand.”
“Perhaps not,” Spock agreed. “But I would like to. It is my belief that you and I have become quite close and are in a mutually beneficial monogamous long term relationship. Am I incorrect?”
A strange warmth filled Jim, which was crazy. Because it seemed such a longwinded way of saying, aren’t we a couple? And yet he liked the words. A lot.
“No, you aren’t wrong. We absolutely are.”
“Then, will you explain your reluctance?”
Jim spun his coffee cup around, keeping his eyes on the cup rather than Spock. “You know. You…you’re my first.”
“You were not inexperienced before our first sexual encounter.”
The confusion in Spock’s voice had him looking up.
“No. Not that.” He hadn’t lied to Spock, he’d been quite upfront that he’d had quite a bit of sexual experience prior to them meeting. “Relationship. You’re my first serious relationship.”
“And I hope to be your only one.”
Jim swallowed, his face feeling warm. “Yeah. And see, that’s it. Exactly.” He looked away again, back to his coffee mug.
“I do not understand.”
“Spock…I love you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. But I’ve never met anyone’s parents either. And, well, your dad has something of a reputation, and what if they hate me?”
Spock didn’t respond. He just remained completely quiet. For so long, that Jim’s gaze rose once more to look at him, and was greeted with wide brown eyes.
“You…you okay?”
“I love you as well,” Spock whispered.
“Yeah?”
“You have not yet said these words until now.”
Jim was surprised when Spock seized his hand in his. “I know. I…like I said, this is all new to me.”
“And to me. My depth of feeling has never reached this level with another. My parents will like you, Jim, simply because you are my chosen one.”
Jim smiled a little. His stomach was full of fluttering butterflies. “Chosen one, huh?”
“Indeed. So, will you spend the beginning of the New Year with me meeting my parents?”
Jim laughed. And stroked his fingers along Spock’s. “Yes. Of course I will. And for the record, I want the same. With you.”
Spock’s eyes now sparkled. “Then it should, indeed, by a Happy New Year.”
“You are to come with me.”
Spock blinked and looked up from the document he was perusing on his terminal in his apartment. He stared at his nephew, Vanik. “How and when did you come in?”
Vanik straightened to his full height. Which was not altogether that high at four feet. The boy was dressed quite casually in jeans and a maroon colored sweater with a snow man on it. Likely purchased by his mother, Anoria, his brother, Sybok’s human wife.
“A moment ago,” Vanik replied.
Spock barely refrained from a most illogical sigh. “You copied my palm print and hacked into the system to acquire entrance.”
Vanik pursed his lips. “Perhaps. Be that as it may, I still require you to come with me.”
“For what purpose?”
“We are meeting Jim.”
“Who is Jim?”
Vanik rolled his eyes. “You know who Jim is. Since you refused to take my advice and inquire into his availability to dine with you, I have been forced to take matters into my own hands. We are meeting him for a one horse open sleigh ride.”
Spock turned fully from his terminal to glare at his nephew. “I did not agree to these plans.”
“I agreed for you. You will need your coat as it is liable to be rather cold when the horse pulls the sleigh. We are meeting at the park as they apparently have such frivolities this time of year to amuse citizens.”
Spock almost still refused for he did not care to be manipulated. But since he did want to see the blond human from the department store again, he didn’t wish to spite himself, so Spock rose to retrieve his coat.
He ignored Vanik’s satisfied look.
The park was, at least, a short walk from Spock’s apartment. They made it in no time, and Jim was already waiting beside a sign that read “Sleigh Rides, 60 credits for 30 minutes.”
Even before they reached Jim, Spock’s pulse had increased at an alarming rate. Jim’s cheeks were red from the cold wind, but his blue eyes shined like the prettiest of crystals. He smiled at them with stunning white teeth.
“Hey there.”
“Hello Jim. Thank you for meeting us,” Vanik spoke up. He clutched Spock’s sleeve. “You recall having made the acquaintance of my uncle, Spock.”
“Yeah. Nice to see you again, Spock.” He turned that smile exclusively on Spock, who felt his own cheeks warm.
“Uh.”
Jim’s gaze remained on him for a second before turning to Vanik rather quizzically. Spock didn’t blame him, but Jim made him rather tong-tied.
Spock looked at the sign instead and directed his words to his nephew. “60 credits for 30 minutes seems unreasonably high.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Jim said. “I’ve got it.”
Vanik shook his head and stepped forward to the man waiting there. “Dad presented me with the credits.”
And before either Spock or Jim could stop him, Vanik paid the driver of their sleigh.
Spock eyed the small seating in the back of the sleigh. It would be tight for two adults let alone two adults with a child.
“After you, Jim,” Vanik said, gesturing to the sleigh.
Jim shrugged slightly and crawled up into the seat, his jeans stretching across his bottom as he maneuvered into it. Not that Spock stared or anything.
Vanik then told him to get in.
Spock did, but the whole while he kept thinking all three of them would not fit. Both he and Jim were fairly tall and…
“Vanik…” Spock knew that it was his nephew who wished to try the sleigh so he was about to volunteer to stay behind and let Vanik ride with Jim.
But then, to his shock, Vanik stepped back.
“Please take them around the park,” Vanik told the sleigh driver.
“Wha—”
But the horse driven sleigh was already in motion. Both Spock and Jim turned as one to look back at the half Vulcan child who waved at them.
Jim then looked at Spock and laughed. “I think that was planned.”
“Most definitely,” Spock agreed.
Jim smiled and for a moment he remained silent as the sleigh traveled through the park. It was more a carriage, at that, for there was no snow or anything. It was still San Francisco, after all.
“Sorry about that,” Jim finally said, softly.
“For what do you apologize?”
“Well. I think your nephew figured out that I kind of like you and so he forced this on you.”
Spock’s heart stuttered in his side. “Only…kind of?”
Jim blinked at him. “What?”
“I was certain that Vanik set this up due to his realization that I am…interested in you.” Spock paused. “As well.”
The smile he received was a blindingly beautiful gift. As was the simply spoken question.
“Yeah?”
Spock looked straight ahead at the park, carefully moving his hand to rest over Jim’s hand, which rested on his thigh. Jim didn’t move his hand away. And in fact turned it upward, until they were palm to palm.
And though it was a different winter song that declared something about it being thrilling, Spock decided that it definitely applied here.
Jim moved closer to him in the seat.
“Yes,” Spock finally answered. “Yes.”
“There’s my baby boy!”
Jim winced at his mother’s exclamation as he entered the restaurant on Rigel 9 to meet her. She had stood up from the table and had come around to the aisle to embrace him.
As he hugged her, he noticed the brightly wrapped boxes on the table.
“Mom.”
“What?” She followed his gaze as she let go of him. “Oh. Those. Well, Christmas just passed, you know, and your birthday is only days away. It’s not like I’ll get to see you again after tonight,” she said wistfully.
He frowned as he slid into the booth across from the glass of red wine he assumed she’d ordered. She got in and picked up the glass to take a sip.
“What do you mean by that? We’ll see each other again.”
She nodded. “I know. That’s not what I mean. I mean it’ll be a long time. You’re…out there. And knowing you, you’ll sign up for another five years when this one is done. It’s a miracle we get to have this time. There won’t be any opportunities for presents for a while.”
“You make me feel guilty I didn’t bring you anything.” He picked up the menu.
She waved that away. “You with me right now is all the gift I need.”
Jim snorted. “How come that didn’t work both ways?”
“You’re my son, I get to spoil you when I can. I didn’t nearly enough when you were younger, and now the opportunities, as I said, are rare. Order what you want. My treat.”
“Mom.”
“There’s that voice again. I can do it as I’m the mother,” she insisted. “Speaking of…”
“Wait.” He gestured to the waitress. “I’m going to need a drink for this.” He ordered one, and then, when it was brought to him, he said, “Okay, proceed.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Sure.”
“Are you still seeing that girl?”
Jim stared at her blankly. “What girl?”
“The blonde one. The admiral’s daughter.” She lowered her voice. “You know, the evil one.”
“The evil blonde or the evil admiral?”
“Jim!”
He rolled his eyes. “If you mean Carol Marcus, no. That ended…actually, it never really began. I thought about it for half a minute and so did she, but ultimately, she left Starfleet to concentrate on her scientific career.”
“Bummer.”
“Why the interest in my love life anyway?”
“When you get to be my age, you start to think about grandchildren.”
Jim choked on his drink. “Yeah, that’s not happening. No time soon, anyway.”
His mother sighed as the waitress approached to take their food orders. “So no special woman in your life?”
“Certainly not.”
She took another sip of wine. “Well I hate to think of you all alone.”
“Who said I’m alone?”
“But…wait. So you…you are seeing someone?”
He shrugged.
“It’s not that lovely Doctor McCoy, is it?”
Jim laughed. “Um. No. No.”
“Then…”
A shadow fell across their table. Jim glanced over.
“Mister Spock.”
“Captain. Forgive the interruption. Admiral Fremont insists on having a quick word with you. I did say you were dining with your mother but…”
Jim shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll just take a second.” He smiled at Spock.
“Oh!” His mother exclaimed. “It’s him.”
They both glanced, startled at her.
“Mom…”
“I can see, Jim. You’re glowing just talking to him.”
“Mom…”
She smiled at Spock. “But he’s doing the same thing right back at you. Why don’t you have a seat, Spock, while Jimmy deals with that pesky admiral?”
Jim almost laughed out loud at Spock’s wide eyed deer caught in the headlight look. Ah, hell he did laugh. Slid out of the booth and touched his fingers to Spock’s discreetly. “I’ll be back as quick as I can. Keep the seat warm for me.”
“Captain…”
Jim merely smirked and left the restaurant to handle Admiral Fremont. As he looked back through the glass of the restaurant, he couldn’t help but grin as Spock sat across from his mother.
Christmas may be over but the flashes just keep coming…until the end of the month that is!
Jim was surprised when Uhura approached him on the observation deck. Generally when he came here to ruminate, no one dared to disturb him by some unwritten code.
“What are you doing here?”
Jim glanced at her, surprised she had asked him the question he’d been about to ask her. “Isn’t that my line?”
She shook her head, her ponytail swaying behind her. “Why I’m here should be obvious. Looking for you. But you…that I don’t know.”
“Where should I be, Lieutenant?”
“By his side, in the medbay. He was injured protecting you, Captain.”
“I know that,” Jim said softly. “Bones said he’ll be okay. Shouldn’t you be there?”
“Oh, I intend to. But he wants you. Are you really this thick? Spock loves me and I love him. That has never changed.”
Jim winced. He couldn’t help it.
Uhura snorted. “But I’m not the one he’s in love with.”
Jim eyed her.
She rolled her eyes. “You, Captain. Spock’s in love with you. How can you not know that? Don’t you feel anything for him?”
Jim narrowed his eyes. “My feelings are of no concern to you.”
She huffed. “But they are of concern to Spock. And even if all you feel for him is friendship, you need to be by his side.”
He knew she was right, but he wanted to remain stubborn. Because, damn it, he was angry. Furious with Spock for putting his own life in danger just for him. And he knew, yes, he did, he knew Spock hadn’t protected his captain, he had protected Jim. And yes, there was a huge difference.
Uhura was staring at him too intently, too much like she could read his mind. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “How can you be mad at him for saving you?”
Jim blew out a breath. “Aren’t you?”
“No! Don’t you remember with Krall…?”
“That was your captain.” He paused. “And your ship.”
“And my friend. My family. Wouldn’t you have done the same? For your ship and us, yeah, you did. But for us as individuals.”
“Yes.”
“Why would it or should it be different for Spock?”
“I don’t want him sacrificing himself for me.”
“He didn’t. He saved you and he’s going to be all right. Why in the world are you up here sulking instead of telling him how much you love him right back?”
“I…” Jim gave her a tiny smile. “I don’t know.”
She hugged him. “Tell him I’ll come see him later. Now go.”
Jim went and the minute he got to the medbay, Bones just pointed.
Spock was sitting up in bed. He looked vaguely surprised to see Jim. “Captain…”
Jim just shook his head, put his hand on Spock’s jaw, leaned down and kissed him.
He murmured against Spock’s mouth, “Jim.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 