Chris looked up from his maple bacon donut at Zach who stood next to the counter where Chris leaned against eating his donut and sipping his espresso. “What?”
“Why don’t you do a Friendsgiving?”
“Why would I?”
“To have a big turkey feast with your friends.”
Chris shook his head. “Just come to my parents for Thanksgiving.”
Zach sighed. He turned away to nuke his coffee which had cooled after he put tons of cream in it. Chris had teased him about it.
“I won’t be here for Thanksgiving. Which is why I want you to host a Friendsgiving.”
Chris frowned. “Where will you be?”
“Back to New York.”
“Well.” Chris paused to take a bite of his donut. He needed a moment to deal with Zach leaving again. “When are you returning?”
“The Monday before Thanksgiving. I’m hoping to beat some of the crowds.”
“When would I do Friendsgiving then?”
“Saturday before. I just think it would be nice. All of us. You, me, our friends. Turkey, stuffing, pies.” Zach smiled. “I’d help of course.”
“Damn straight you’d help.” Chris made a face.
“What’s wrong, Christopher? You like to entertain.”
“Just bummed you’re leaving I guess.” He avoided Zach’s gaze.
“Hey.” Zach put his hand on Chris’ arm to draw his attention back to him. “I always come back.”
“Yeah.”
Zach put his hand on Chris’ jaw. “To you. It’s always back to you.”
Jim eyed him out of one closed eye. “I’m not a dog. Not this year.”
Boyce got close to Jim in the hospital bed and scanned him with a medical equipment. “What are you supposed to be? Big Foot?”
He raised his arm to block the light Doctor Boyce shined in his eyes. “Ouch. Do you mind?”
“What is his condition, Doctor?” Spock asked from somewhere in the room. Jim couldn’t see him.
“Seems to have a bit of a concussion.”
“Seems?” That was Bones. Sounded outraged too. “What kind of a doctor are you?”
Boyce straightened and gave Bones the evil eye. “Listen, son, I was treating injuries when you were still in nappies.”
“Can we maybe focus on me?” Jim wondered.
“You’ve got a nasty bump on your noggin.” Boyce smiled. “No fleas though.”
Jim would have rolled his eyes except it would have hurt.
“You’re going to have to spend the night for observation.” He glanced over, Jim figured, at the other two. “Your boyfriends will have to come back tomorrow.”
Bones choked.
“Boyfriend,” Spock said icily. “I am Jim’s mate.”
“Oh. Okay. I assumed you were a threesome.” Boyce patted Jim’s shoulder. “Get some rest. I’ll send a nurse in to remove that costume. Whatever it is. Try not to end up here next Halloween.” He eyed Bones. “Now that I think of it since it was the other one last year and this kid here this year, it’ll be you next time.”
“Over my dead body,” Bones mumbled.
Boyce looked at Jim. “What happened anyway?”
“I slipped in, uh, cow, uh, you know, at the Halloween Festival and hit my head.”
“Ah.” The doctor nodded. “That explains the smell. The nurse will give you a sponge bath too. You two out.”
“But—”
“Out. He needs rest. Come back in the morning.”
Then all three of them left and shortly after Nurse Ratchet appeared a few minutes later. She seemed to take pleasure in yanking his ruined costume off and rubbing his skin raw.
When Spock arrived to see him, Jim was sitting up in bed and when Jim saw that Spock was bringing him a drink, he brightened.
“Spock, you’re my hero if that’s Bones’ special Autumn Spiked Punch.”
Because Jim had managed to incur the wrath of some hairy spear throwing alien he was currently confined to the medbay instead of at the Autumn Ball being held for crew morale. Typical.
“It is most certainly not,” Spock said, handing the cup to Jim. “It is pumpkin spiced tea.”
Jim made a face but he accepted the cup.
“How do you feel?”
“Like I’m missing out.”
“T’hy’la, it is not even very interesting. I was there and it was merely a few people drinking, laughing, and dancing.”
Jim sighed. “Oh, yeah, that just sounds terrible. Drinking and dancing. Nothing fun about that.”
“I did bring you a scone with your tea.” Spock handed him a wrapped baked good.
“Swell.” But Jim took a bite. “It’s good.”
“Doctor McCoy said you can be discharged day after tomorrow.”
“Two more nights?”
Spock nodded. “And then you will be off for twenty four hours.”
“What?”
“I will be off too.” Spock paused. “To take care of you.”
Jim perked up. “Okay, that sounds good.”
“I thought you might think so.”
“No Autumn Spiked punch though?”
“No.”
Jim sighed again and sipped his tea. He watched as Spock pulled up a chair.
“You don’t have to sit with me.”
“In fact I do.”
Jim smiled. “Okay. But when I fall asleep, it’s okay to leave.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Much later, Jim woke in the night to see Spock still sitting beside his bed. He sighed softly and went to sleep.
The last two years I did a werewolf story. This one is related to a October 2020 one. I was told the link I added didn’t work so I have removed it. Sorry, there’s simply no way to refer back to it unless I copy and paste the entire fic from 2020 here.
“Remember when you were a werewolf?”
Jim stopped and stared at him, tamping down his nervousness. “What?” He laughed. “A werewolf?”
“For Halloween,” Bones said, giving him a funny look.
Jim noticed then that they had stopped in front of a Halloween costume store.
“I believe,” said Spock. “The accepted term is wolf shapeshifter.”
Bones rolled his eyes. “Right. Anyway, you looked cool.”
Spock frowned at Jim. “I do not remember you dressing in this manner.”
“Er, yeah. It was, um, before, Spock. Before we met.”
Spock nodded his understanding. “I do recall the first time we met I saw a wild dog in the park.”
“Right. You thought you saw a dog. I remember.”
“I did see a dog,” Spock corrected. “Or a wolf.”
Jim smiled. “Anyway, that costume party was before that. Don’t know why Bones remembered it now.”
Bones looked at him, shrugged. “I guess because they’re having another party this year and we’re standing by a costume store. You going?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Depends on Spock, I guess.”
“I do not generally go in for such frivolities.”
“What a surprise,” Bones muttered.
Jim just laughed. “Anyway, if I do go it won’t be as a wolf. Last time I had a heck of a time getting rid of the flees.”
He kept walking as his friends stared after him. He laughed once more and they caught up.
Spock reluctantly went to the sickbay to speak to McCoy. Generally their discussions ended up being somewhat acrimonious and he was truly not in the mood for a sparring match with the doctor.
But he had heard the way to a Human’s heart was through his stomach and he realized, to his embarrassment, he did not know what Jim liked to eat. What his favorite dishes were. And he wished to declare his affections in this manner, as thus far, all his attempts had been unsuccessful.
Spock did not want to think that Jim was simply not interested. He preferred to hold onto the belief that Jim was oblivious. He was not used to subtle attempts to be wooed.
“Spock, what can I do for you?” McCoy looked up from studying a medical report.
It bothered Spock that there were things McCoy knew about Jim he simply did not, but he tried to remind himself that one’s favorite food dishes were trivial things.
“Can you tell me what the captain enjoys eating?”
“He eats everything, he’s not picky.” McCoy was once more studying his report.
Not at all helpful. He inwardly sighed.
“Yes, but what does he like in particular?”
McCoy glanced at him. “What’s this about?”
“I want to know what the captain likes to eat. His favorite.”
“Why?”
“Does it matter for you to give me the answer?”
McCoy snorted. “It’s October, right? So, if um, your idea is to impress him, pumpkin cheesecake.” The he smirked. “That is what you want to do, right? Impress him.”
Spock decided to be noncommittal. “Is it difficult to make?”
“Not for a genius like you.”
Spock decided it was time to depart before things became more difficult. He turned and left without another word.
***
“Uh.”
“It is pumpkin cheesecake,” Spock told Jim as he presented the slice of runny orange colored cheesecake to Jim.
They were in his quarters about to play chess.
Jim stared at it, took it from Spock, and smiled. But Spock could tell it was one of his fake smiles.
“Well…this is a surprise.”
“You do not like pumpkin cheesecake?”
“I love it but…uh…this is nice. Why the cheesecake, Spock?”
Spock stared at it. “It is not supposed to be this consistency, is it?”
“No.” Jim smiled and put the plate down without trying it. “Did you make it yourself?”
“I attempted to.”
That earned him a genuine smile. “That’s very sweet of you. Let me try it.”
Spock watched eagerly as Jim stuck his fork into the gooey runny mess and put a forkful into his mouth. But Spock’s spirits deflated when he couldn’t miss Jim’s wince.
“Well.”
“It is terrible, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Because you are attempting diplomacy.”
Jim laughed. “It has nice pumpkin cheesecake flavor but it’s not cooked through. Cheesecake can be difficult if you don’t know what to do. Did you put it in a bath?”
“Why would it need a bath?”
Jim laughed again. But this time to Spock’s utter delight, okay reserved delight, Jim threw his arms around Spock’s neck and kissed him.
Bones did not reply, but he did glance up at Jim as he continued to wrap Jim’s middle.
Jim sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry. I should have told you. I just…” He trailed off when Bones glared.
Spock had departed right after Bones had arrived and assured the Vulcan Jim wasn’t seriously injured and wouldn’t require hospitalization. Jim suspected Spock’s goal was to confront Owens for what happened to Jim. He tried not to be anxious about it.
“The truth is…the whole thing is humiliating,” Jim said, softly.
“What? Why?”
“Because, I’m not a victim, Bones. I hate that these assholes got the best of me at the bar and—”
“It was like three against one, Jim.”
“I know. And nothing happened to them. They were allowed to come into that bar and gang up on a civilian and they got away with it. If Pike hadn’t come in, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“I get it. I agree the Fleet should have done something.”
“Yeah, I mean I keep wondering what I should have been differently. I thought when I made a joke about them going to get more guys, I meant to diffuse it but it had the opposite effect.”
“Those guys were going to be macho dickheads no matter what you said or did at that point, Jim. They were spoiling for a fight and they set their sights on you.”
“I know that, but that’s where the humiliation comes in. I didn’t think I’d have to deal with them here, let alone have one of them come after me. So I wasn’t prepared and they got the best of me again. And it made me feel weak.”
“Jim, you are a lot of things but you aren’t weak or a victim. Being victimized doesn’t mean either. Now I can’t pretend to understand what thugs like Owens are thinking, but you can bet you won’t have to deal with him again.”
“Indeed, the doctor is correct.”
“Spock!” Jim smiled as Spock reentered the apartment holding a pizza box. “If that’s really a pizza, I’ll marry you.”
Spock arched a brow. “It is, so I look forward to the ceremony.”
Jim laughed.
Spock put the box down on the kitchen counter and then turned toward Jim and Bones.
“Cadet Owens is now former Cadet Owens.”
Bones finished wrapping Jim and stood. “Does that mean he’s no longer with Starfleet or that he no longer lives?”
Spock shrugged. “Take your pick.”
“Spock!”
“He has been expelled,” Spock said. “And his accomplices are even now working on formal apologies to you if they want to remain with Starfleet. They expressed regret over Owens’ behavior and no direct knowledge of it.”
“Apologies huh? You accomplished all that in the short time you’ve been gone?”
“I work fast.” Spock paused. “Which you are personally aware of.”
Jim laughed again. “Boy do I.”
Bones snorted. “On that note, I’m outta here.”
Jim frowned up at him from where he sat. “You don’t want to stay for pizza?”
“And interfere with your wedding dinner? No thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jim got up and followed Bones to the door. “Okay see you.”
He turned back to Spock with a smile.
Spock suddenly looked uncertain. “Jim, we need to talk.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Bones knelt before Jim, examining the tear of his uniform and his bloody scraped knee.
They were on a short wall in a quad area of Starfleet Academy campus.
“I fell.”
“You fell. You didn’t have help falling?”
Jim shrugged.
“Jim—”
“I ran into one of assholes that tried to beat the crap out of me at the Riverside bar,” Jim replied. “Or he ran into me. He stuck his foot out deliberately and I tripped and well…you see the results for yourself.”
“Who is this dickhead? You should report him.”
“I know how to deal with bullies, Bones.”
Bones gave him a look and then ran a regenerator over the scrape. “Fixed up good as new. Though that doesn’t fix your pants.”
“I can sew the tear. Thanks, Bones.”
“You tell this boyfriend of yours. Or whatever he is.”
“Boyfriend, significant other.” Jim smiled. “Spock, Bones. His name is Spock.”
“Yeah, yeah. Have you told him about these clowns?”
“No, of course not. There’s no reason to. That was just …a one off thing.”
“Mm. When do I get to meet Spudnick?”
Jim laughed. “Spock. Geez, I’m going to smack you.”
Bones snorted. “Well? When?”
“We’ll have you over for dinner soon.”
“Good. And I mean it, Jim. Tell him about these guys harassing you.”
“One guy, Bones.”
“Tell him.”
“Okay,” Jim agreed, just to get Bones to leave it alone. He stood up and smoothed out his uniform pants. “I’ve got class and so do you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let me know when for dinner.”
“Will do.” Jim smiled faintly as Bones moved off. Then he winced as he lifted his uniform shirt. He was getting a big fat bruise on his abdomen. He was going to have a hell of a time explaining that to Spock.
“What is your interest in Kirk?” Nyota asked Spock the moment he saw her again.
In truth he was rather taken aback by her…forcefulness. She had approached him as he obtained a to-go cup of tea from the science lab’s replicator.
He turned it back on her. “What is your interest in my interest?’
She blinked. “I want to warn you about him. He’s good looking. I won’t deny that but Spock…he’s a…”
He arched a brow. “A what, Nyota?”
“A player.”
Spock shook his head. “No.”
“Spock, at that bar he was hitting on me. Coming on pretty strong.”
Spock looked away, took a sip of tea.
“What?” she demanded.
“I learned from Jim about that night. He offered to buy you a drink and you refused, as was your right, then the other cadets approached, acted inappropriately, and tried to engage him in combat. He attempted to deflect but they persisted and attacked him unprovoked.”
She frowned. “Is that the story he told you?”
“No, Nyota.”
“I do not understand. Spock, maybe that’s what he told you but—”
“I learned that information from a meld. It is accurate.” Spock stared at her. “As for Cadet Kirk, I met him on Vulcan where he spent time with his aunt who was engaged to teach Non-Vulcan resident children. I am well acquainted with him and can vouch for his integrity.”
“I…didn’t know.”
“Acknowledged. Jim is living with me at my apartment.”
“I see.” She nodded. “Okay, Spock. I’m sorry. Looks like you know what you’re doing. I’m sorry I overstepped.”
“Apology accepted, Nyota. Now, I do have class. Lunch tomorrow?”
She smiled slightly. “Sure, see you then.”
Spock knew from experience that Jim was, perhaps, a bit of a flirt and playful, but not, as Nyota had surmised, a player.
Later, his classes at last ended for the day, for Spock had chosen a significant load, he made his way home to Jim.
And so we begin with Starfleet Academy. Will these same Academy Spirk boys dominate the month? We shall see. But here is our first flash of September.
Spock could hear buzzing in his ears, which admittedly was the droning voice of his friend, Nyota Uhura, speaking to him about how excited she was to attend her first day of classes the following day.
It was not his intention to be rude but as they sat at a table in the cafeteria at Starfleet Academy he had noticed the arrival of a tall, sandy-haired, blue-eyed cadet.
“Spock, did you hear what I said?”
“I apologize—”
Her eyes narrowed as she followed his gaze. “What’s your interest in Kirk?”
“You know him?”
Nyota shrugged. “I met him briefly in Riverside as we were shipping out from there. There was a bar fight.”
“Was he injured?”
“Just…I mean sure. It was like three guys to his one. Just a bunch of macho men. Why do you care?”
“I will explain later. Please excuse me.” Spock rose then and went after the cadet. “Jim!”
Jim Kirk turned at the call of his name and turned to face Spock. He smiled brightly. “Spock? Is that really you?”
Spock reached him and barely refrained from reaching out to touch him. “Yes. I had not anticipated seeing you here. I had thought on my first break from school I would seek you out.”
“Yeah, I got talked into enlisting.” Jim laughed. “I thought you were going to the Vulcan Science Academy.”
“It is a bit of a story, but I changed my mind.”
“That’s great luck for me.” His eyes were shining. “When I left Vulcan I didn’t think we’d see each other for maybe years.”
“Same. Although as I said when I decided to come to this Academy, I did anticipate visiting your city.”
Jim put his hand on Spock’s arm. “I can’t believe you’re here. I’m…” He wet his lips with his tongue. “I’m a little thrilled.”
“I cannot deny a feeling of pleasure myself. When do you being your courses?”
“Not until tomorrow. I was just trying to get a feel for the place.”
“Do you have a dorm?”
Jim shook his head. “I’m supposed to go later this afternoon to get an assignment.”
Spock hesitated for only a second. But then with a slight hitch of breath, he said, “I have an apartment across the street from the campus. It would be perfect for sharing.”
Jim’s eyes widened. “You mean it?”
“I do. We can go and inform campus housing that you will no longer need to be assigned a dorm.”
Jim nodded and just stared at Spock.
“Jim?”
“Sorry, I’m just…really glad to be here and really glad to see you.”
“I assure you, it is mutual.”
And then as turned to walk together, side by side, it seemed the most natural thing. Spock looked forward to informing his mother of his good news.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 