Jim had just finished putting out the pumpkins and gourds all around his quarters and had a bag of artificial leaves to scatter around when there was someone at his door.
He was not expecting anyone, but he was captain so he could hardly ignore whoever it was.
“Yeah. Enter.”
And he was surprised to see Spock step inside.
“Oh. Hey.” Jim paused, thinking about the possibility he had forgotten some plan. “Were we supposed to play chess tonight?”
“There was no specific plan,” Spock assured him. “But I did think to ask if you were interested in a game.”
The Vulcan’s gaze darted to what Jim had clutched in his hands.
Jim felt himself blush. “I…I was decorating. For um. You know, fall.”
Spock’s brows furrowed. “There is no change of seasons in space on the Enterprise.”
“Yeah. I know. I just…” Jim shook his head. “Never mind. Aren’t you doing something with Uhura?”
“Jim, Nyota and I are not together.”
“Uh. I thought you…I mean yeah I heard you broke up, but I figured you’d get back together. Like you always do.”
“We are not. We care for each other, but we are not resuming our romantic relationship.”
Jim hugged himself, feeling weirdly vulnerable. Realizing he was still holding the leaves, he set them down on his desk. “I had planned on carving a pumpkin too.”
“Carving a pumpkin?”
“Back home it’s October. I got a message from my Mom and we were talking about the seasons and I got a little homesick. I replicated all this. I was going to make a Jack-o-Lantern. And maybe some pumpkin pie. Stuff like that. But sure, if you want to play chess, that’s cool.”
“I would like to spend the evening with you in any capacity. I am amenable to assisting you with your décor.”
“With me?”
Spock visibly deflated. “I had hoped…it is nothing.”
Something occurred to Jim then.
“Wait. You…you’re not going to resume a romantic relationship with Uhura and you’re…Spock. Are you?”
Spock sighed. “Yes.”
Jim allowed a smile to play on his lips. “Bones is right.”
“About?”
“My thick skull.”
He opened his arms and moved toward Spock. “Yes, I’d love for you to stay.”
Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Pexels.com
Once more we visit these two from Who Does Spock Wake Up With/Hospital
Jim sits at a table at a teashop with Spock and his friends. He has stopped paying attention to whatever it is they talk about because over the few weeks of their relationship, Jim is aware Spock’s friends dismiss him as though he is nothing. Pretty much a passing phase for Spock.
Or so they all seem to believe.
Two of them are also Vulcan, a male and female, who Jim knows are a bonded pair. They have made references to Spock bonding someday to a mate, and they barely spare Jim a glance when they do, most often alluding to the fact Spock will bond with a Vulcan.
The other one is Uhura, who, apparently, since she could not consider Spock her boyfriend any longer, has decided to insert herself in his intellectual group of friends who meet weekly over tea as they are now.
Every one of them, including Uhura, like to pretend their intelligence is far superior to Jim’s. It’s complete bullshit and he knows it. He’d match wits and knowledge with any one of them and he’d likely win too.
But whatever.
They always share an enormous pot of tea that tastes like a combination of licorice and smoke. Jim hates it.
After two times of barely drinking it, he brings his own thermos of coffee to drink, and besides ignoring their superior sneers over it, he also ignores the proprietor of the teashop’s side-eye.
This time he brought pumpkin spice cookies with him and he munches on them while they continue to blather on about subjects he has no interest in.
Once in a while one of them says something to him about whatever it is they are speaking about, certain he will get the answer wrong. He can see it in the superior way they address it to him. When he answers correctly and without hesitation, he can see they are surprised.
Spock never is.
Finally, the evening wraps up and the two other Vulcans make their exit first.
Uhura still sits with them and she is now eying Jim’s cookies. “Are those good?”
He smiles and scoots two of them over to her, they are shaped like pumpkins and have frosting on them.
She bites into one. “You were quiet tonight.”
Jim shrugs.
“They are good. You should bring more next week.”
Jim thinks about saying he’s had enough and won’t be coming next week, but doesn’t. He doesn’t want Spock to feel weird about his friends and including Jim.
“Okay.”
Uhura eats a few more cookies and then rises to leave. She leans down toward Spock as though she plans to kiss him, but straightens and pulls away at the last second with a look at Spock.
“Goodnight, Nyota,” Spock murmurs, his eyes on Jim.
When she leaves, Jim smiles. “You want some of that tea to go?”
“No, I have had my fill. Jim.”
“Yeah?”
“If your uncomfortable at these gatherings I will make no objection should you choose to skip them.”
He gets up and so does Jim. They leave the teashop then and Jim is certain the owner is happy so she can clean up after them.
“I don’t. Want to skip. It’s fine, Spock. You like them.”
“But I am aware you do not care for them. Nor the tea. I don’t wish for you to be unhappy.”
“Eh. You put up with Bones and Finnegan. That bunch.”
Spock’s lips twitch. “Barely. But very well. Should you change your mind, I will not be offended.”
Jim nods. He can’t wait to return to the apartment because usually on such evenings, Spock likes to make up for Jim’s boring evening by being very enthusiastic in their lovemaking.
He is glad, later, to discover this pattern has not changed.
He lies on his back in their bed, naked, sweaty, and sated. Two recent orgasms have blown most thoughts out of his head. Spock has risen to get warm, wet cloths to clean them before they sleep.
Jim stares rather sleepily at the small pumpkin he has decorated the end table with. He loves how Spock indulges his nonsense. And yes, that is certainly part of the reason he indulges Spock’s friends.
And this…aftermath.
Spock returns to their bed, leaning down to kiss Jim’s mouth even as he wipes him down with the wet cloth. “Ashaya.”
“Love you,” Jim whispers, his eyes closing, exhaustion taking over and rendering him even more senseless than usual. He laughs.
A bit of TOS. It’s not really that related to October/Halloween/Harvest but I threw in some mentions to make it work!
“It was a dark and stormy night.”
“Why?”
Jim lowered the book and gazed at the small Vulcan child peering up at him from his seat on the floor. Jim was sitting in a chair. The child, Saran, had informed Jim he would sit cross-legged on the carpeted floor.
“Why what?”
“Why was it dark and stormy?”
“Uh. I don’t know. That’s just how the story starts.”
Saran eyed him but nodded.
Jim cleared his throat. Babysitting Vulcans. Ugh.
“Soon he heard an ominous noise outside his window.”
“Why was it ominous?”
“Because he didn’t know what the sound was.”
“Then it should say, soon he heard an unknown noise outside his window. He decided to investigate.”
Jim sighed and closed the book. “I don’t think you’re in the mood for a ghost story.”
Saran sniffed. “Ghosts are illogical.”
“Sure are. So what else would you like to do, Saran?”
“You could tell me about your exploits.”
Jim paused. “My exploits.”
“You are a famous starship captain.” Saran paused. “Or so I have been told. You must have exploits.”
Jim opened his mouth to reply, but then was saved by the sudden appearance of Amanda, Spock’s mother.
“Oh! Here I am. I’m so sorry, Jim, I didn’t mean to be gone for so long.” She came to him and clasped his hands. “Spock’s on his way back now. Thank you for watching Sarek’s nephew.”
Jim smiled. “You’re welcome.”
She leaned in to whisper, “He’s at a bit of a challenging age. It was kind of you to watch him. And I really hadn’t intended to be gone so long.” She patted his arm. “Why don’t you go and wait on the covered terrace for Spock? I’ll send him out there when he comes.”
He tried not to be too relieved as he made his escape out to the terrace. There was a pitcher of cool water out on a table there, so he helped himself to a glass.
Jim had been rather surprised at the invitation to join Spock on Vulcan after they had saved the Earth from impending disaster. Again. Jim didn’t even feel the slightest bit bad about being demoted back to Captain. The admiralty hat hadn’t ever quite fit him.
It seemed that Spock, though he had gotten many of his memories back, he hadn’t gotten them all. There was a vague memory there, Jim supposed, of their past intimacy, but not enough to convince Spock to reestablish anything. Or so Jim had believed, until this recent invitation.
The door on to the terrace opened and Spock stepped outside. He was wearing those Vulcan robes he seemed to favor on the planet. This was a short visit before they would return to duty.
“Everything okay?”
“Indeed.” Spock came to stand near him. Jim had been viewing some plants in pots there. “My mother’s garden. She has another garden in the back yard.”
“Yes, she showed me earlier. Told me there’s no real harvest time like there is back in Iowa.”
“Yes. I do apologize for staying away so long today. Mother informed me you were required to watch Saran for a time.”
Jim chuckled. “Yep. Not sure I’m very good with children. Probably a good thing Carol kept David from me.” His smile faded, his mood now melancholy.
Spock, of course, knew. “I am sorry, Jim. For the horrifying loss of your son.”
He nodded, turning away. “The pain is manageable.”
At least I have you, Jim thought.
It wasn’t in the same capacity of what he’d been used to, what he wanted. But it was something. Yes. He would have Spock however Spock would allow it.
“I tried to read a ghost story to Saran,” Jim said, changing the subject.
“A ghost story, Captain?”
“October, Mister Spock. The month of Halloween.”
“Ah.” Spock nodded. “I recall.” He gestured to two chairs. “Will you sit with me? There is something I would like to discuss.”
Trying to stem his curiosity, Jim took the seat and waited as Spock sat beside him.
“I would like to discuss us.”
Jim glanced at Spock’s face, trying to read what that meant. He was unsuccessful in figuring it out. “Us?”
Spock held his hand up in the air toward Jim, who’s gaze zeroed in on it. He swallowed. He must have hesitated too long for Spock began to lower his hand, his brows furrowed. Jim hastily thrust his hand out, rather clumsily, and touched his fingers to Spock’s.
“It-it’s been a long time for that,” he whispered.
“Is it unwelcome?”
“No.” Jim paused, feeling hope spring up in his chest. “No.”
It was weird not being on the Enterprise for three months, but it’s something Starfleet forced Jim to agree to after the end of their five-year mission. He was signing up for a new one, another five years, which he’d debated at least a thousand times with everyone he knew. And had decided that, yes, the decision was right for him.
Yet still they’d insisted on leave.
For the first month he’d been the dutiful son and visited his mom. She was thrilled for the visit.
But then now he was on New Vulcan, of all places, doing three six week classes to young Vulcans. Battle Leadership Tactics. Considering Jim’s checkered past with reprogramming a certain test, Jim had been surprised at the invitation, but Sarek had assured him it was genuine.
And it had allowed Spock to spend some time bonding with his father. If Vulcans did that sort of bonding.
The first six-week class was over and it was now time for new one. It was October, though as far as Jim could tell, this new version of Vulcan never changed temperatures much.
A throat cleared.
Jim looked up from where he sat at his desk, going over coursework.
A Young Vulcan male stood there.
“Hi.”
“Greetings, Captain Kirk. I have brought you something.”
Jim smiled. “Your completed assignment?”
“Not as yet.” The Vulcan stepped forward and placed a cellophane wrapped package on his desk.
Jim looked at it. It appeared to be an apple. His gaze rose curiously.
“It is a seasonal treat,” the Vulcan said, smoothly, rather proudly.
“Oh?”
“Indeed. A caramel apple. I have researched Earth and, also, your apparent fondness for fruit of this nature, so armed with this knowledge, I was able to provide a replication of this fruit seasonally dressed out with caramel.”
“Mm. Well. That is very considerate.”
“Then you are pleased?”
Jim smiled. “Yes. Now, please take your seat. I am hopeful you will provide as much enthusiasm to complete the required assignment.”
The Vulcan male nodded and went to his seat.
In his place were three others. Two females and one male. He remembered them from the first six-week course.
“You already completed this course.”
“Indeed,” one of the females conceited. “But…with barely passing grades, if you will recall.”
“I do.”
“We have decided to take it again to improve our scores and perceptions of the topic.”
“Uh. Okay. Sure.” Jim smiled again. “Take your seats.”
As he looked out, he noticed quite a few of the Vulcan from the first six-week course had come back for this one. He didn’t get it.
“Let’s get started.”
Jim stood up and came around his desk. He was pleased to see he seemed to have their undivided attention.
One raised her hand.
“You have a question?”
“Yes, Captain Kirk. Is it true that you are married and share a bond with a Vulcan?”
“That’s your question?”
“Affirmative.”
Jim nodded. “Yes. I am bonded and married to Spock, Ambassador Sarek’s son and my first office on the Enterprise.”
“For how long?”
“How long…I’m sorry what does this have to do with Battle Leadership Tactics?”
“Nothing directly,” she admitted. “Merely a curiosity.”
“Let’s get back on topic.” Jim dropped the stylus he carried as a matter of habit. With a sigh, he bent down to pick it up. He heard a collective creaking of the chairs, and then as he glanced at the students, he realized they were all leaning forward in their seats. He quickly straightened and turned to face them, putting his buttocks against the nearby wall.
No, no. It wasn’t possible they all had checked out his ass, was it? They were Vulcans, after all.
Jim decided to ignore the possibility and just continued teaching the class.
When that course was over and the new six-week one began, Jim was surprised to once again see many of the same Vulcan students.
Once again, he tried, “You’ve already taken the course.”
“Indeed,” said one Vulcan male. “But I learned so much last time, I am certain there is still much to learn from you, Captain.”
That first day, toward the end of the class, Spock and Sarek showed up. They stood to the back of the room to wait for the class to be over.
When it was, many of the students hurried out faster than normal, giving Spock a look as they basically fled the classroom.
Jim smiled as he approached Spock and Sarek.
“Hey, it’s great to see you.”
Spock spotted the package in Jim’s hands. “What is that?”
“Hmm? Oh. Another caramel apple. I swear they won’t stop giving me things. So weird.”
Spock arched a brow. “They are courting you.”
Jim laughed. “Right.”
“My son is correct. They are making attempts to win your favor.”
Jim frowned. “To get a better grade?”
Spock shook his head. “No, they are all…attracted to you, Captain.”
“What? Give me a break.”
“It is true, Jim. Father and I just watched. I had my suspicions but now they are confirmed.”
Jim rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say.” He touched Spock’s fingers with his. “I only have eyes for you.”
“I am gratified.”
“As a matter of fact, Jim,” Sarek said, “I have been asked to inquire if you might extend your stay and give another six-week course. Apparently there are some who would like to attend who could not get a spot.”
“Sorry, no can do. Once this one’s over it’s back to my ship.”
Spock murmured, “And not a moment too soon.”
Jim laughed again. “Come on you two. I’m starved, let’s go pig out on Kreyla or something.”
And Spock and Sarek fell into step behind him, both unbeknownst to Jim, eyeing his bottom as he walked before them.
Jim was surprised how fast the time went since he’d arrived on Vulcan with his mom and Sam.
The original plan had been to stay in ShiKahr to see how well a non-dairy ice cream shop, Tastes Like Real Ice Cream Co., would do there.
His mom was one of the executives of the company and had been charged with making it successful on Vulcan. To pretty much everyone’s surprise it had worked. The Vulcans were…literally…eating it up.
The Kirks had trouble keeping every flavor stocked and usually customers were out the door. It had meant very little free time for Jim and his brother Sam.
From the beginning Sam had announced his intention to leave for Chicago where he was going to meet his fiancé Aurelan on September the first, but after Mom begged and begged, Sam had postponed leaving.
Now they were in October and Sam still hadn’t left. Jim hadn’t made any decisions about joining Starfleet either. The thing was, he wasn’t sure what his Mom was going to do if both of them left. Either of them really. But he knew Sam wanted to. Saw the far off look in his brother’s eyes when he thought no one was looking.
Jim for his part had met someone pretty much right away.
Spock.
They’d gone on a date, well, sort of. Spock was very reserved at dinner and Jim hadn’t known how to act with a Vulcan.
But it was nice, and Jim thought they’d see each other again.
Only at the end of dinner, Spock announced he was leaving in the morning for an extended mountain retreat.
Dumbfounded, Jim had asked, “For how long?”
“Uncertain.”
And that had been that. The whole summer passed with Tastes Like Ice Cream becoming a raving Vulcan success. Only he hadn’t seen Spock again.
And now it was October. Jim felt both disappointed and foolish for having gotten his hopes up.
Exhausted as the three of them were, Mom finally had to hire additional help in the shop, so there was now a young Andorian male working there, and also a Vulcan female.
Jim was on a break, sipping iced coffee, sitting at a table outside the shop, when Sam approached him, looking determined.
“I’ve had it,” Sam said, flinging himself into a chair.
“Had what?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “You know what. It’s already a month past the time I said I’d blow this rock. Mom’s so successful there’s no way she’s leaving anytime soon.”
“You think?”
His brother smirked. “I just overheard her, brother mine. She’s actually looking into buying a house here.”
“She…is?”
“Yep. And that’s fine for her if she wants to live on a melting rock, but I have plans with Aurelan. I told her today, end of week, I’m on the shuttle back to Earth.”
Jim bit his lip. “What she say?”
“I should do what will make me happy. And you know what? You should too. You wanted to join Starfleet. I know you said you hadn’t made up your mind, but I think you did and you’re just staying to help Mom.”
Jim scowled. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. Except that you’re living someone else’s life, not your own. Just because she wants to stay here, doesn’t mean you do or should. Don’t let helping Mom keep you from your dream. And anyway, I don’t think she would want that either.”
“Easy for you to say. Dad died because of Starfleet.”
Sam sighed. “Dad died because of who he was, Jim. And he knew the risks. And so did Mom.” He patted Jim’s leg. “Just think about it. You could be on that shuttle with me back to Earth. Mom can hire others to take up the slack. There are plenty of people on Vulcan willing to work here.”
Jim opened his mouth to reply when he spotted a familiar face, well attached to a whole body of course, coming toward them. It was the Vulcan, Spock.
Sam followed Jim’s gaze, frowned, and then shook his head. He rose from his seat, squeezed Jim’s shoulder, and then moved off.
“Jim.”
“Hello. Long time no see.”
“Indeed.” Spock gestured to the seat that Sam recently occupied. “May I?”
Jim nodded.
“I apologize for my lengthy absence.”
“You don’t really owe me anything.”
Spock inclined his head. “Perhaps not. And yet when I told you I would be on a retreat, I had not anticipated the length.”
“And did it do for you what you wanted?”
“Affirmative. I have been considering Kolinahr.”
Jim frowned. “What’s that?”
“The purging of emotions. It is a lengthy process.”
“Uh. Okay. Why would you want to do that?”
“Vulcans value logic over primitive emotions. It is considered the ultimate logic and highest standard to undergo Kolinahr.”
Sounded awful to Jim.
“You said you were thinking of it, what have you decided?”
“To do so.”
Jim blew out a long breath. “I see. Well. Thanks for letting me know. I wish you well, Spock.”
He stood then.
“Gotta get back to work.” Jim glanced around, saw no one paying attention, and leaned down, placing his lips on Spock’s in what he hoped was a searing kiss. He pulled back and straightened. Smiled at the dazed look on Spock’s face. “That’s what emotions do, by the way. See you.”
Jim smiled from his spot lounging on the couch. Spock had covered him with a fluffy autumn throw and propped him up with big squishy pillows. He’d also lit a fire in the fireplace.
“Probably a box of more medicine.”
“We will see.”
They were currently spending Jim’s medical leave in a mountain retreat in the Rockies. They would be there for an extended time as Jim had been severely injured in a blast on an away mission.
Spock opened the box and looked inside.
“Well?”
He pulled out a box of hot cocoa “Pumpkin Spice” was labeled on the outside.
“Oh my God! I love Bones.” Jim grinned at the look Spock gave him. “I love you way more though. What else?”
“Pumpkin tea for the hobgoblin,” Spock read from the note. He narrowed his eyes. “A light up autumnal gourd.”
Spock held it up and flipped a switch as it lit up.
Jim’s smile widened. “Ah, I love it.”
“Why does it have a face?” Spock queried.
“It’s a Jack o’ Lantern for Halloween.”
Spock shook his head. “Count Chocula Cereal.”
“Score! Bones thinks of everything.”
“Pumpkin Spice coffee and also various bags of Halloween candy.”
Jim’s smile turned soft. “All the comforts of home. That is so cool. I’ll have to send him a note to thank him.”
“Later. For now, you need to rest.”
“Rest? I’m already lying down, Spock.”
“You need to sleep.”
“I’m not a little kid who needs a nap.”
“When we allowed you to have your leave here instead of in a Starfleet approved medical facility you agreed to do everything that either I or Doctor McCoy said.”
Jim sighed. “I know. Okay.”
Spock knelt down beside him. “I almost lost you again, ashayam. Please indulge me.”
“Of course I will. I’m sorry.”
Spock leaned up and kissed him. “I am not. I am grateful. When you wake, you can have some of the cocoa.”
“Join me?”
Spock rolled his eyes. “You are not yet ready for that. I will have tea.”
He laughed. “Okay.”
“Be good and close your eyes.”
Jim smiled faintly, but closed his eyes. He was still very pale and tired easily, but yes, he was here, and Spock would care for him.
I opened my eyes to see the spot next to me in bed was currently empty. I placed my hand there and it still felt warm from Chris’ body. I turned onto my back, looking up at the carved wood ceiling. The room was well-lit with both candles and sunlight from the open windows.
They’d been pulled closed before, so I knew Chris had opened them and lit the candles. I allowed no servants to enter my bedchamber when Chris stayed over. I glanced over and saw him standing there at the window looking out on Bulwary Street, no doubt at the carriages and riders passing by. There’d be fewer now. Though I knew London was never really deserted, even when the Season ended, which it had more than a month earlier.
“You’re up early,” I said.
“Have to be off,” Chris replied, not turning around. “Traveling out of London and to the Country seat this afternoon.”
I knew it of course, but the words and the meaning behind them still hit me hard. We wouldn’t see each other nearly as much over the next several weeks. He would be off to his family’s estates and me to mine. Miles away from London and our almost nightly visits.
I sat up then and swung my leg to the floor.
He turned then, his blue eyes sweeping over me. “You don’t have to get up, Zach. I wasn’t going to bother you.”
“No goodbye?”
“Wasn’t last night’s activities enough of a goodbye?” He smiled, sweet and almost shy. “Temporary anyway. It’s never truly goodbye.”
I rose and went to him. “And it shan’t ever be, Christopher.” I pulled him into my arms, and we kissed deep and slow.
He leaned against me, resting his head against my shoulder. “And when are you off?”
“Not until tomorrow morning. I’ve got some things to settle up here today.”
“Autumn is my favorite time in the country,” he murmured. “Only that we are parted is my one regret.”
“We will make time as always.”
“Yes.” He put his hand on my cheek, the bristle of the growth of beard on my jaw. “I love you. Only you.”
“And you have my love in return. May your journey be a safe one.”
Spock glanced at Jim with
what could only be considered derision. “I am surprised you would listen to rumors,
Captain. Especially nonsensical ones.”
Jim snorted. “Tell me how
you really feel, Spock.”
“I always endeavor to do
so.”
Jim sighed. Crossed his
arms in front of him as he looked at the ruins of the ancient civilization. It
was little more than abandoned decaying buildings and crumbling stone arches.
It was kind of eerie but more than that it made Jim sad for what was lost.
Whoever had lived here, had dreams and hopes and wishes for a future that never
happened.
“Did you want to go into
the dwelling further, captain? I do not recommend it. It looks dangerous.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll
be careful. Report over to the chieftain of the village and I’ll meet you there
shortly.”
“You do not intend to go
in there alone.”
“It’s not haunted, remember?
You said yourself.”
“Indeed, but they are crumbling
ruins, Captain.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Spock hesitated, but he
finally nodded. “If you do not return to the village in fifteen minutes—
“I will.”
He waved Spock away and
headed into the ruins. He knew his first officer watched his every moved, but Jim
ignored it. He’d chalk it up to their new-found…er…well whatever it was they
were…more than friends, less than lovers? Jim sure as hell didn’t know—but
Spock had been weird about watching Jim’s every move even before all that. Jim
used to think Spock was looking for a way to file a report against him, but he
no longer thought that.
Jim didn’t know all that
much about this ancient, almost-forgotten civilization. The chieftain had told
them that the ruins had been abandoned for hundreds of years, long before any
of them were alive, and had long been the subject of stories about ghosts and
hauntings.
Spock had barely contained
his skepticism as the chieftain spoke, but Jim figured that was mostly because
the chieftain had a huge crush on Spock and had been openly flirting with Jim’s
second in command since they’d arrived.
The chieftain had suggested they go look at the ruins while he prepared the feast for them, but he’d wanted Spock to stay at the village and Jim to go alone. Jim had decided he’d just let Spock go back early. Especially since the Vulcan hadn’t wanted to go anyway.
Jim ducked under a half
collapsed arch, trying to imagine what the people from this planet would have
been like hundreds of years ago. They had jewel eyes now and lilac skin,
attractive. It was unknown what their ancient ancestors looked like. Perhaps
the same.
It had been an earthquake
that had destroyed them, sudden and catastrophic. When they had rebuilt, it was on the other
side of the planet, less prone to seismic activity, and this place was never rebuilt.
Jim stepped through what must have been a doorway into a house or something.
He heard a child’s laugh,
merry and bright, and so real-sounding, Jim turned quickly. But there was
nothing and no one there.
“I’m getting punchy.” He
shook his head and decided maybe he was better off going back to the village
sooner rather than later.
He took a step and fell
through a hole.
“Shit!”
He didn’t know how far he
fell but it seemed like a long distance and when he landed, his leg was twisted
underneath him at a painful and clearly broken angle. He went to fish his
communicator out of his pocket and discovered it was missing.
All around him was
nothing but darkness. Even looking up, he couldn’t even see the sky. And he
suddenly felt like it was all a setup from the chieftain.
He hoped he was wrong.
****
“Come on, Jim. Wake up.”
A gentle hand on his face.
Light as a feather.
“Jim. Jim. Please. Wake up.
Come on. You can do it. Come back to us. Come on, kid.”
He was trying. He was.
Couldn’t-couldn’t whoever it was tell? He should know the speaker. He should.
But he couldn’t think of them. Couldn’t…
So tired.
“Jim. Please. Jim.”
A different voice. But
still familiar.
Drifting. Let me rest.
“No!”
Jim woke with a gasp and
he sat up straight into strong arms that held him. He blinked hard, and stared into
Spock’s dark eyes.
“Jim,” Spock said, it
sounded almost like a whimper. He pulled Jim close.
“Easy, Spock. Easy,”
Bones said. “Let him breathe. Let him catch his breath.”
Spock pulled back, but
only a little.
Jim put his hand up to
Spock’s face. Spock was shaking. “Medbay?”
“Yes. We…”
“You almost died on us
again, Jim.”
Jim looked at Bones. “The
ruins?”
“You fell down some giant
crater thing. Lost consciousness. It took us a long time to reach you and you’d
lost a lot of blood.”
He nodded. Looked back at
Jim. “The chieftain?”
“Chieftain?”
“Of the village. He had the
hots for you. I thought maybe he set me up to fall.”
Spock shook his head. He
covered Jim’s hand with his. “There was no chieftain, Jim. The planet was
abandoned. The ruins were from an extinct civilization. It is unknown what
happened to the people from there.”
“But…they were lilac with
jewel eyes and…”
“No, Jim. There was no
one on the planet. We had barely begun to explore the ruins when you fell.”
He could barely believe
it but his friends were looking at him like he was crazy, so he nodded. “Okay.”
“You gave me and your
husband here a heart attack.”
Jim’s mouth hung open. “My-my
what?”
“Ashaya, perhaps you
ought to lie down.”
“You are unaware Spock is
your husband?”
“Since?”
“For a year!” Bones exclaimed. “Spock is right. Lie down. I’d better check a
few things.”
Jim allowed Spock to ease
him back down on the biobed and as Spock held his hand while Bones examined
him, Jim heard the faint laughter of a child.
Chris
stepped outside as Zach held the door open of the Starbucks they had just had
coffee at just moments earlier.
“Dinner
next?” Chris wondered, because truth be told, he was hungry. The espresso he’d just
downed hadn’t really done much to get rid of that.
He’d
been vaguely surprised to even hear from Zach as he knew his friend had a
pretty busy filming schedule right now. Still, Chris wouldn’t complain about
any chance to spend time with Zach.
“Eventually,
sure,” was Zach’s reply. “But it being October and just a couple of weeks until
Halloween, I thought we’d do something else first.”
Chris
eyed him. “Something else? Halloween? Oh, God. Please tell me you aren’t having
us go to an Escape Room. I’m claustrophobic.”
Zach
rolled his eyes. “I know that, Christopher. Not an Escape Room. A haunted
house.”
“A
haunted…damn it, Zach. Most of those are so lame. I haven’t gone to one of
those since I was a teenager.”
“A very
long time ago,” Zach cracked.
“Says
the guy who is older than me. Okay,
fine. We’ll go. But you are so buying dinner.”
Zach
smiled amicably. “Sure, sure.” He clicked open the locks of the rental car. “Get
in, my boy.”
Chris
snorted, but got in. Zach remained mostly silent on the way to the haunted house.
Beating a rhythm on the dashboard to Monster Mash playing on the radio.
He
pulled into a parking lot that proclaimed it was for the Haunted House. To Chris
it looked like one of those prop houses on the movie lots, but he shook his
head, grinned good-naturedly, and got out to follow Zach up to the door where
his friend forked over two five dollar bills as entrance fees.
A woman
stood in the front entry way of the house, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of
a Disneyland costume from the Haunted Mansion.
“Welcome,
Victims,” she declared in a falsely eerie voice. She pointed to an elevator. “This
way.”
Chris
withheld his eye role and followed Zach and a few others into the elevator,
which predictably dropped several flows below. There was a scream and the elevator
went dark.
“Disney
should sue,” Chris muttered. He put his hand on Zach’s arm.
The
elevator stopped and the lights flashed on.
He
turned to Zach to say something about the lameness when he saw his hand was on
some other guy’s arm. He stared at Chris.
“Do you
mind, dude?” the guy said, moving away.
“Zach?
Where the hell did you go, man?” He glanced around but didn’t see his friend. Everyone
was moving on to the next part, so Chris followed, all the while looking for Zach,
figuring his impatient friend had gone on without him.
At the
next part, Chris jumped a little when costumed performers jumped out unexpectedly.
And okay, maybe the first time his scream was a little high-pitched.
“Zach? Dude, where’d you go?”
He moved
on to another part with a room full of twisted mirrors, but still didn’t find
Zach. He was starting to get pissed. He hadn’t expected Zach to ditch him.
At the
end, the last room had a mad scientist, and he was working on a mannequin in a
chair. He pulled out a drill and aimed it for the dummy’s mouth.
And then
the dummy screamed.
“Chris!
Chris! Help! Help!”
****
“Hey,
come on, Chris. It was a joke, okay?”
“Not
funny.” Chris walked ahead back to the car.
“It was
a little. You should have seen your face.” Zach stopped to double over
laughing.
“Fuck
you, Quinto.”
Zach
straightened and scrambled after him. “Sorry. Come on. Sorry. Okay.”
Chris
looked away, and wiped his eyes.
“Wait.
Jeez. You…you aren’t crying, are you?”
“No.”
“Shit.
Yeah, you are. Chris, man, no. I didn’t mean anything. It was just a stupid…”
Zach grabbed Chris’ arms and turned him. “I would never…”
Chris
laughed and smacked him in the face. “Crying. Get real.”
“You
asshole!” Zach touched his face where Chris hit him. But he was laughing too. “You
had me going.”
Chris
smirked. “Yeah? That was lame, Quinto.”
Zach
nodded. “Yeah, a little.” He searched Chris’ eyes. “So, we’re good?”
“Yeah.”
He moved in close, putting his hand over Zach’s that still touched his face
where Chris had hit. “Did I hurt you?”
“Stung a
bit.”
“Yeah?”
“Want to
kiss and make it better?”
Their
hands lowered from Zach’s face and Chris smiled, leaning in, kissing his stubbly
jaw.
“Did that
make it better?”
“Hmm.
Not sure. You’d better do it again.”
Chris
chuckled, but he did, and just as his lips touched Zach’s jaw, he turned his
face, so that Chris was kissing his mouth instead. Chris’ tongue teased the
corner of Zach’s mouth.
“Better?”
Chris murmured and kissed him again, this time longer.
“Way
better. Dinner? How about we order a pizza and eat it at your place?”
“Best
idea you’ve had since you called me, Quinto.” He kissed Zach long and slow,
lingering over the stubble of his jaw as he pulled back. “Maybe you can try
escaping from my room.”
Zach
shook his head. “I’ll fail. Because I’m not leaving until morning.”
Chris
laughed. “I thought surely that should be my line. You’ll never get away.” His
laughter was sinister.
Zach
opened the rental car. “Just get in, Pine.”
“Home,
James.”
“Zach.
Remember? Zach.”
Chris
reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together. “Yeah. Yeah. I know.”
