A small bat clings upside down to a damp, moss-covered tree in the forest.
“Are you, uh, coming to the party?” Jim asked Spock, as the were finishing up their lunch at the Academy cafeteria.
Of course given the blank stare Spock gave him, Jim figured he likely had the answer.
“Party?”
Jim tried not to let it bother him that he’d mentioned the Halloween party probably four times since mid-September and a few more since October began. Of course he knew it wasn’t important to Spock, but he thought, maybe, since it was important to Jim, he might remember.
Fat chance.
“Halloween party at the Sulus house.”
Spock nodded. “Right. I recall now. If it is all the same to you, I would rather skip it.”
Jim tried not to be disappointed. But the truth was, this was more than just the Halloween party. Spock had been showing a decided lack of enthusiasm about anything to do with Jim lately.
They’d started out hot and heavy but now…clearly Spock had gotten everything he’d wanted out of Jim and now knew they didn’t have much in common.
Other than Jim was crazy about Spock. Didn’t seem to be mutual, though.
Jim forced a hopefully convincing smile. “No, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“You may, of course, attend yourself.”
“Oh, I will.” He almost added he didn’t need Spock’s permission. But that would set things off on a bad note, he guessed, so he refrained. “Anyway, got it. So I’ll see you.”
He didn’t want to make any promises of tomorrow or the next day or whatever, because honestly he didn’t know when he was going to see Spock again, it certainly wasn’t going to be by any plans made by him. If Spock wanted to see him, Spock could plan something.
But Spock barely looked up from his PADD as he called his goodbye.
With the help of his best friend, Bones, Jim chose a bat Halloween costume and went off with a group of friends, Bones included, to the party. He had a great time.
“So what’s with you and Spock?” Bones asked Jim a few days after the party as they had breakfast at a café on a Saturday morning.
Jim shrugged. “Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“Just what it sounds like. I think it’s over.”
“Yeah?”
“Pretty much. I haven’t heard from him in days and even before that he was pulling away from me.”
“I’m sorry, Jim. I know you were really into him.”
He sighed. “I still am. I’m in love with him, Bones. But he doesn’t feel the same, so I have to move on. I feel pretty stupid about the whole thing.”
Bones frowned. “Why?”
“Me? Get caught by all that love nonsense? Never in a million years. Except I did. So the joke’s on me.”
“Well, again, I’m sorry. I did wonder when you went without him to the party.”
“Yep. That was pretty much the end of it. I mean, I don’t care that he didn’t want to go to one stupid party, I get that he’s not a party guy, it was just…the accumulation I guess of not really being present in anything we did and acting like I was an afterthought. It hurts. It does. But I will definitely get over it.”
“Yeah you will.” Bones looked past him. “Morning, Uhura.”
“Hi guys. I’d ask to join you but looks like you’re done with breakfast.”
“We are,” Bones said. “Sorry about that. Rain check?”
She smiled, squeezed Jim’s shoulder, and said, “Sure. Next time. See you guys.”
When she moved away, Jim made a face. “Well that was weird.”
“What?”
“She squeezed my shoulder with like…affection.” Jim laughed. “Normally she acts like I have cooties.”
“You do have cooties,” Bones said. “But maybe you’re just growing on her.”
“Like a wart.”
Bones chuckled. “Seriously.”
“More likely she’s just cheerful because she won.”
“Won what?”
“Spock. You know she wanted him before I met him. She’s probably already made her move.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. And I have to pick up candy for tonight.”
“I thought you already got candy for trick or treaters.”
“I did.” Jim grinned. “I ate it. You coming over to watch scary movies?”
“Sure sure. I’ll be there.”
His doorbell rang and Jim rose from the couch, picked up the bowl of candy and opened the door of his apartment.
Only it wasn’t the kids from the apartment building.
“Oh.” Jim blinked. “Spock?”
“May we speak?”
“Uh.”
Spock looked past Jim. “I was unaware the doctor would be here.”
“Yeah, uh.”
Bones came over and took the bowl of candy from Jim. “I’ll take care of the door. Why don’t you and Spock go speak in the bedroom?”
Jim moistened his lips. “Right. This way.” Even though Spock certainly knew the way to Jim’s bedroom.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” Spock said at once when Jim closed the door.
“No. Just dumb Halloween stuff.” Jim exhaled. “Are you here to make it official?”
“What official?”
“That it’s over between us. You didn’t need to. I figured it out for myself.”
Spock closed his eyes briefly. “That is not why I am here. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I am here to apologize.”
Jim frowned, confused. “For what?”
“Being…a crappy boyfriend.”
That startled a laugh out of Jim. “What?”
“Not the words I would have chosen,” Spock admitted. “True nonetheless.”
“Who—”
“Nyota. She overheard your conversation with Leonard.”
“Oh.”
“It is…sometimes I get in my own way and I did not mean to likewise get in yours.”
“What does that mean?” Jim asked.
“I have no excuse, but my father has been unwell lately and I allowed my concern to take over everything. Until Nyota told me that you said our relationship had ended, I was unaware I had made so many mistakes. I analyzed all our recent interactions and—”
“Spock, stop.” Jim pressed his fingers to Spock’s lips. “I didn’t really care about the party, though I was a little disappointed, it was all the other stuff. You could have told me about your dad. I would have understood. Is he okay?”
“Yes. He is doing much better.”
“I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I love you, Jim.”
Warmth infused him.
“Yeah?”
“Yes. And I do not want our relationship to be over. If you will give me another chance I promise not to be a crappy boyfriend.”
Jim laughed and kissed him. “You’re on.”
Twenty minutes later, they returned to the living room. Jim had a hold of Spock’s hand.
“Guess what? Spock is staying to watch the movies with us.”
“Swell,” Bones said, but Jim didn’t miss his smile. ”You were in there a long time.”
“Well. We did have to do a little making up.”
Bones made a gagging noise so Jim tossed a Snickers at his head. It landed.
“Nailed it.”
“Sit down you two and watch the movie.”
“What are we watching?” Spock asked, drawing Jim close to him.
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.”
This one should be a tad bit spookier than last weeks.
Jim spotted his friend, Leonard “Bones” McCoy standing before a digital bulletin board on Starfleet campus.
“What’s up? Looking for a new roommate?” he joked.
“Well, I’m guessing that’s gonna happen pretty soon, but no. Listen to this.”
Jim smiled. “I’m listening.”
“Over the last few weeks several cadets have gone missing. They are seen one day and the next morning it is as if they have vanished. No trace of them has been found,” Bones read.
“Hmm. Yeah? Does it give any other information?”
Just then Jim felt someone’s hand touch his waist lightly. He glanced over and smiled at Spock.
“Hey you.”
Bones glanced over and barely refrained from rolling his eyes. “I should have known with you here Spock wouldn’t be far behind.”
“What are you saying, doctor?”
“Oh, don’t pay him any mind, Spock. We were just reading about the disappearances of cadets.”
Spock glanced at the board. “These are all cadets staying in the dormitories.”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“Then it makes sense for you to move in with me now,” Spock said smoothly.
Bones snorted. “And leave me to disappear I suppose?”
Jim laughed. He turned to look at Spock. “Do you really think I should? I mean I figured I would eventually, sure, but we’ve only been official for a couple of weeks.”
“This seems an appropriate time given the recent disappearances.”
“The whole thing sounds weird to me,” Jim said, glancing back at the board. “I wonder if it’s someone’s idea of a Halloween joke.”
“I was unaware of Halloween being a time for jokes,” Spock said.
“Well, a prank.” Jim scooted closer to the board, moving Bones away with his shoulder.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just standing here.”
“Oh shush. See look.” He stabbed at the notice. “All of the cadets have been male with fair hair and blue eyes.”
Bones chortled. “That leaves me out after all.”
“That is alarming,” Spock put in.
“Hardly. This has Gary Mitchell all over it.”
“I do not understand.”
“Gary’s an asshole. Him and his buddy, Finnegan. The two of them get together and decide how to make everyone else miserable. Like my second day here, I walked through this doorway and a bucket of old fish poured all over me from above.” Jim made a face, remembering. “Those two idiots were behind it.” He narrowed his eyes at Bones. “Are you laughing?”
“Of course not, Jim,” Bones assured him.
Jim rolled his eyes. “The point is this thing is specifying “cadets” that sound just like me. I bet if we checked with someone in actual authority no such disappearances are happening.”
Bones frowned. “You could be right. I’ll check into and let you know. But I agree it’s likely those two idiots at it again. Trying to cause a panic or something.”
“Next thing you know they’ll be dressing up as the headless horseman and throwing pumpkin heads at people.” Jim patted Bones’ shoulder. “See you later.”
Bones moved off and Jim turned to Spock, who still looked troubled.
“I still believe it would be prudent for you to move off campus into my apartment,” Spock declared. “You have been spending most nights there anyway.”
“Yeah, that’s true. And for all his grumbling, I really don’t think Bones minds.” He grinned. “Okay sure.”
Spock glanced at the notice. “Are you sure it is a Halloween prank?”
“Not positive but it sounds weirdly specific.”
“Indeed. A bucket of old fish?”
“Yeah and it was really gross.”
“I will have to make myself acquainted with Mitchell and Finnegan,” Spock said, rather ominously as they walked away from the bulletin board.
Jim opened his mouth to tell Spock he didn’t really need to defend his honor, if that was the intention, but then he remembered standing there covered in smelly fish, humiliated beyond belief as the two idiots cackled like maniacs. He smiled to himself and began to plan his move to Spock’s apartment.
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.
“What was that?” Leonard “Bones” McCoy demanded sharply as they heard the rustling of leaves or maybe rats.
James T. “Call Me Jim” Kirk laughed. “Who knows?”
“Why are we here again?”
Good question, really.
They were traipsing through a very dark park at close to midnight.
“And why are there no lights?”
“Power’s out over half the city,” Jim reminded his friend.
“Oh, sure. So when there’s a major power outage we should make sure to go skipping through some dark secluded park. Makes sense to me.”
“When I agreed to come I didn’t know there’d be an outage. And aren’t you the one who declared it was just a park, nothing spooky about it.”
“Well, it sure as hell is spooky now.”
Jim took pity on Bones. “You can go back if you want. I’m okay by myself.”
“Sure when they find your body with your throat ripped out or your guts oozing out I’ll feel real good about having gone home.”
“Geez, drama much?”
“I don’t like this, Jim. Which is why I agreed to come with you in the first place. You shouldn’t meet some stranger for the first time on your own. He could be a serial killer or something.”
“Mm. I know, you told me.”
“Why couldn’t he meet you some place normal? A public restaurant? The movies? Come to our apartment so I can grill him?”
“That’s probably why. He heard I had a mother hen living with me and you scare him off.”
Bones glanced at him. “You told him about me?”
“Of course. We’ve been talking nearly every night for there months. You come up in conversations sometimes.”
“Computer talk or talk talk?”
“I think I understand. At first just on computers and text on communicators. But then voice conversations.”
“So you have heard his voice?”
“Mm hmm. And a great voice he has.”
“Spare me. Still think it’s weird. What’s his name?”
“Spock.”
“Odd.”
“Told you, he’s Vulcan.”
A twig or something snapped near by and they both froze. It sounded loud in the darkness. Jim raised his flashlight, illuminating the area. But there was nothing in the beam of light.
He did notice he had reached the clearing where he was supposed to meet Spock. But there was no sign of anyone but him and Bones.
“Think he spotted me and made a run for it?” Bones asked, with some amusement.
“Could be. You are scary.” Jim sighed. “Spock? You there?”
But the only sound was their own breathing.
“I’ll wait a few minutes, I guess.”
But first ten and then fifteen minutes passed. No sign of Spock or anyone.
“Maybe the power outage prevented him from coming,” Jim said to Bones.
“Could be,” Bones said non-committedly.
He looked like he felt a little bad for Jim, and honestly Jim felt a little bad himself. Jim wasn’t used to being stood up. And he really liked Spock, from what he knew about him.
Jim sighed. “Let’s go home. No point in waiting out here for no one.”
“I’m sorry, Jim.”
“It’s all right, Bones.”
They made it out of the park and toward their apartment without any incident, though Jim thought he heard some weird noises along the way.
Once he even said to Bones, “You don’t hear wings flapping, do you?”
“What now? Wings flapping?”
Jim just laughed. “Guess not.”
The power was still out when they got to their apartment so Jim just went straight to his room. He had no communication from Spock, which disappointed him further.
Hours later he woke to a sound in his room. Jim bolted upright.
“Who’s there?”
“Do not be alarmed. It is Spock.”
Jim blinked. “Spock? How did you…”
A light beside his bed switched on and a tall, dark-haired man with pointy-ears all dressed in black stood near.
“I apologize for not being able to make our rendezvous.”
Jim swallowed. “How did you know where I live? How did you get into my room?”
It was then he noticed the open window. But that made no sense as his apartment was on the third floor.
His gaze flew back to Spock and it must have been his imagination as Spock’s dark eyes seemed to glow.
“My roommate—”
Spock shook his head. “I have already taken care of him.”
“Taken care of him? What?”
“He is unharmed,” Spock clarified. “I merely meant he will not interfere.”
“Interfere? With what?”
Spock held out his hand and as Jim stared into those glowing dark eyes, he rose from his bed and placed his hand trustingly in Spock’s.
Spock drew him close and lowered his mouth toward Jim’s neck.
Probably the end of these flashes for this month. I’ll pick it up again in November. Reminder, I do have an unrelated Halloween flash for Thursday.
Bones looked at Jim after he spoke to Spock. “What are you going to tell him when he sees this?” He gestured to Jim’s black eye and cut him.
Jim held the werewolf mask in his hand.
“The truth.”
“That’ll be refreshing,” Bones cracked as they left the party. He had dressed as the mummy to kind of match Jim in his old Hollywood type monster costumes. “How are those ribs I bandaged?”
“Painful but manageable.”
“Maybe we should go by the hospital.”
“Nah, they aren’t broken. Just bruised.”
“Think he’ll be mad?”
Jim shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not like I was looking for it. If that guy hadn’t opened his big mouth—”
“I know. He’s a douchebag. I think you still should have let me stick him with a hypo.”
Jim laughed. “We both know you’re way too ethical for that.”
“I could have given him a good case of the shi—”
“Bones.” He laughed again. “Not that I don’t appreciate it. But no. And here we are at the dorm, so good night.”
“All right but let me know when you get to Spock’s.”
“I will. Like five minutes. I promise.”
“Okay. That was a sucky party anyone. Worse beer I ever had.”
“Same, Bones. Same. Talk soon.”
He waved at Bones and headed to Spock’s, ready to face the Vulcan’s million questions, he was sure.
