We start this month out with Fall/Autumn stories. No Spooky with this one!
Jim had just stepped outside the house, carrying a large uncarved pumpkin, when the hover car pulled up next to the cobblestone pathway his mother had put in some years ago.
He continued over to where he had decided to place the pumpkin even as he was aware of the tall, thin Vulcan getting out of the hover car.
“Captain.”
He crouched down and placed the pumpkin on the ground. “Jim. I’m definitely not on duty.”
“You are not answering your communicator,” Spock said, a clear reprimand in his tone.
“That’s right.”
“May I ask why?”
Jim straightened and stood. He walked backward to admire his handiwork on the Autumn décor.
“I’m not required to. Regulation 2465, Part A. If officer has been relieved of duty while under investigation they are not—”
“I know what the regulations say,” Spock interrupted.
Jim smiled faintly. “You probably wrote some of them.”
“Your being relieved of duty is temporary,” Spock pointed out. “And can be rescinded at any time. How would you know if you ignore attempts to contact you?”
“I figure they’d send a representative from Starfleet if that were the case.” He eyed Spock. “Is that the case?”
Spock shook his head. “That is not the purpose of my visit.”
“Ah.” Jim nodded, then shrugged. “Okay. So we’re back to I’m perfectly within my legal right not to respond. I was suspended for six months, Spock. I’m barely half a month into that suspension.”
“You are surely aware that you will not be suspended for those entire six months.”
“I am not aware and don’t call me Shirley,” Jim said with a laugh. And when that was met with a blank look, Jim laughed more. “Never mind. What do you want, Spock? And why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be acting captain?”
“I refused the position.”
Jim frowned. “It needs more pumpkins. And maybe some other gourds. Hang on.” He took out his personal communicator. He’d also ignored messages from friends on that too. His Starfleet one was up in his room, stuffed into his desk. He tapped out a message, closed it, and repocketed it. “Why? If you did, who is acting captain?”
“William Decker was brought on board upon my refusal.”
“Decker? Hmm. I guess he’ll do fine.”
“If you have concerns, you can fight the suspension and be reinstated sooner.”
Jim laughed. “I have no concerns, Spock. And I don’t regret my actions during that battle. Ten thousand lives were saved. That matters to me, even if it doesn’t to them.”
“I agree you did nothing wrong, but regulations—”
“I’m really not having this discussion with you. I haven’t been in Riverside for Fall since I was a kid. I intend to make the best of it.” He sighed. Looked up at the gathering clouds. “Want to go inside?”
Spock paused for a moment, looking slightly pained, and then said, “Yes.”
Jim led the Vulcan into the house, turning lights on from old-fashioned switches as he did.
“It’s nice to be back with no signs or ghosts of Frank,” he commented.
“Your stepfather.”
“Yeah. Dead and buried now. Thank God. And that might sound harsh, but I don’t care.” Jim went into the kitchen and poured himself coffee from the carafe sitting on the coffeemaker. “You can replicate yourself tea over there by the wall if you want. Or I think there’s a tea kettle around here.”
Spock went to the replicator and had it make him tea.
Jim added cream to his coffee and then leaned against the counter to observe Spock.
“There was a rumor she did him in.”
Spock arched a brow. “Who?”
“Mom.” He shrugged. “It was officially ruled a heart attack but I don’t think anyone really believes that. It wasn’t investigated too closely because he was a rotten Human Being. Terrible abuser of me and my brother, and mom.”
“You are serious?”
“About my mom? Yeah, maybe. I mean she’s never said, but who knows. I thought about it myself a dozen times.”
“Where is she now?”
“In the city, getting us some supplies. She’s living here full time now that she retired from Starfleet. And madder than a hornet about my suspension.” He grinned.
“I have taken a leave,” Spock announced then.
“What for?”
“I told you before I have no desire to serve aboard the Enterprise without you.”
Jim sighed. “I broke things off so my actions wouldn’t interfere with your career, Spock.”
“I don’t consider things ‘broken off’,” Spock said with a hint of a sneer. “I do not agree to end our relationship.”
“I said I wouldn’t bond with you.”
“I am aware of what you said and when all of this has been settled we will revisit that.”
Jim set his coffee cup down and went to Spock, who immediately pulled him into his arms. He could feel Spock trembling slightly as he held onto Jim.
“I didn’t want to wreck your Starfleet career,” Jim said into Spock’s chest.
“I do not think either of our careers will be wrecked, but if they are, then they are wrecked together.”
Jim laughed and pulled back to look at Spock. “You’re nuts.”
“I surmised that when I first realized I was in love with you.”
“Wait, is that a joke? Who knew you could tell jokes?” He kissed Spock. “I love you. That’s never going to change.”
“Just as my feelings will stay the same for you. Jim, we are together. And that means together in everything.”
“But my decisions shouldn’t harm you.”
“They did not. I agree with your actions.”
“Despite regulations?”
“Yes. And I believe ten thousand people also agree with your actions.”
“How long is your leave?”
“I specified that it would be as long as your suspension whether that is the six months conveyed or if it shortened when they conclude the investigation in your favor.”
“They might not.”
“They will.” Spock kissed him this time. “In the meantime, I have arrived with belongings that are still in the hover car and if you and your mother are amenable, I will spend my leave here with you.”
“Oh, I’m very amenable.”
Just then the back door opened and his mother came in.
“I got your gourds but you have to get them out of the car. Oh. Hi, Spock.” She smiled. “It’s lovely to see you.”
“I am pleased to see you as well.”
Jim wasn’t surprised at all when his mother came to Spock and hugged him, and Spock allowed it.
“Jim told me that you and he weren’t—”
“Jim was wrong,” Spock said coolly.
His mom laughed. “And that’s exactly what I figured. I’m so relieved you’re here. You’re staying of course.”
“Of course.”
“It would serve them right if they lost both of you. Old men assholes.” She sniffed. “I have groceries and gourds in the car. Firewood, too. You boys can go bring them in for me.”
Jim smiled at Spock. “Shall we?”
Spock took his hand and they went out to unload everything together.
And yeah, in reality, Jim knew they would rule in his favor, but he intended to spend as much time with his mom and Spock like this as long as he could.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 