“Captain. Are you all right? Captain?”
Jim came to with the sound of Spock’s question ringing in his ears. The pain was almost unbearable. He clutched at Spock, who suddenly hovered over him.
“Spock…God, it’s…I can’t.”
“Hang on, Captain. Help is on its way.”
“Don’t…” Jim sucked in a breath. “Not going to…”
“You will. It will not be long.”
“No. Spock…I-I’m sorry. I wish…”
“Jim! Jim! No. Jim. Jim.”
This takes place after the mission, but before The Motion Picture. TOS, obviously.
Jim nodded. “Okay. So.”
“So,” Spock repeated, tonelessly.
Jim looked behind him at the crowd bustling past them in the shuttle bay. Going about their business without thought to anyone else. Certainly not an idiot Human and an awkward Vulcan.
“Guess.” He cleared his throat. “Guess I should let you be on your way. Don’t want you to miss your shuttle.”
“Yes.” Spock moved to turn around.
“Goodbye, Spock. Good luck with everything.”
Spock looked back at Jim. “And you as well, Captain.”
Jim smiled faintly. “Jim. You’re not even in Starfleet anymore.”
“That is true,” Spock acknowledged. “Jim.”
“Give my best to your parents.”
“And to yours.”
“Will do.”
This time when Spock turned around, Jim didn’t say anything to stop him. But he did watch his former first officer’s retreating figure until he could no longer see him.
Everything was changing, Jim mused. He was no longer in command of the Enterprise, which was being redone anyway. They’d just promoted Will Decker to Captain and it was his ship now. Jim had been promoted. Basically against his will. But it was what it was.
Bones had retired. Soon Jim’s crew would be scattered all over the galaxy.
And Spock?
Kolinahr, from what he’d said.
Purging oneself from every emotion made some sick sort of sense at the moment, Jim thought, as he turned to leave.
As he caught transport back to HQ, Jim tried to forget the sight of the marks he’d left all over Spock’s skin the very night before.
As Spock would say, Kaiidth.
Spock did not like to impose on his captain, normally. If Jim had merely invited him to his quarters and to his bed, as was usual, Spock would have gone very willingly. Eagerly, in fact, for he had no desire to spend the night alone in his cold bed without his heater beside him.
And tonight of all nights…
The mission had gone so terribly wrong. It was a miracle both he and Jim were physically unscathed. But they were both exhausted and emotionally, as Jim would say, fried.
And yet…there had been no invitation from Jim. He’d just said goodnight and gone to his quarters.
Spock stared at him empty cold bed and made a decision he hoped he did not regret.
He picked up his sleeping robe and walked out of his quarters and went next door to Jim’s. On the prior Enterprise their bathroom had been shared, but that was an old design, and when they were forced to rebuild the ship after Altamid, they’d all gotten their own bathrooms. Jim’s and Spock’s being the largest floorplan.
“Enter.”
Spock stepped inside as the door slid open, then remained by it, as he held his robe staring at his captain, who already lay in bed. Jim was dressed in a tight fitting T’shirt, molded to his muscles, and Spock suspected, his usual cotton pajama bottoms with the stars dotted on them.
“I…”
“Yeah?” Jim was leaning up against the pillows that propped him up. He had a book in his hand.
And now Spock felt foolish. It was obvious Jim had not wanted him there. Why hadn’t he gotten that?
Jim’s gaze went to the robe clutched in his hands as Spock remained silent. “Spock, what is it? Are you all right?”
“I…wanted to…may I stay with you tonight?” He felt that his face was flushed and knew that he must be a very dark shade of green. But this was not his element. Nyota had never made it this hard. Everything was difficult with Jim. Watching Jim breathe was.
Without a word, Jim picked up the corner of the blanket and sheet, holding it aloft.
Spock swallowed. “I understand if you do not—”
“Just…get in.”
“If you would rather—”
“Spock.” Up until that moment Jim had sounded almost harsh, but just then his tone and his voice had softened considerably. “Put on your robe and get into bed. It’s okay.”
Spock nodded, undressed and redressed quickly, and then slid into bed next to his captain, who had now put aside his book to watch Spock’s every move.
“If I have overstepped—”
Jim held out his fingers toward Spock who was suddenly filled with such relief, he was shaking, as he touched his fingers to Jim’s.
“You can’t, okay? You can’t overstep. And I’m glad you’re here.” His mouth thinned. “What a craptastic day. Yeah?”
“Beyond imagining.”
‘I’m sorry. I should have…I really wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to get in bed and have the day all over.”
“And me as well. But I needed…”
Jim smiled then, soft and sweet. “I know. It’s all right. I don’t mind. Lie down and come here.”
They both lay flat on the bed and then Spock scooted closer, wrapping himself around his captain. He closed his eyes and sighed.
“Computer,” Jim called. “Lights off.”
It felt good to be waiting to meet with Jim, Leonard thought, as he waited in his seat at the restaurant he’d arranged to meet Jim in while Leonard was briefly in San Francisco.
He hadn’t seen Jim since the last time he’d been there, a year ago, when Leonard had left Starfleet to return to Georgia to set up private practice and finally stay grounded on Earth, where he could attempt to have a relationship with his daughter.
But he’d come to San Francisco to pick up some medical equipment he needed in person, and honestly, it had made for the perfect excuse to catch up with Jim.
Just then the door to the restaurant flew open and Jim breezed in, literally, as it was quite windy outside, and his friend came in with a gust.
Jim was laughing, his face lit up by a smile, which was great to see, honestly.
Leonard stood and motioned him over, pulling Jim into a tight hug. “God, it’s great to see you.”
“And you.”
“Sit.” Leonard gestured. “Wow, you look—”
“Fat? Ugly?” Jim joked.
“Gorgeous, actually.”
And it was true. Jim looked well rested, tanned, his blue eyes sparkling. He wore a burgundy long-sleeved T-shirt that seemed molded to him, and his slacks, black dress ones, looked pressed and expensive.
Jim laughed again, and Leonard was struck how he seemed…happy. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were flirting with me.”
“You do know better,” Leonard said, dryly. “I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle of wine. Should be here any time.”
“Fantastic. And speaking of, you look pretty good yourself. Leaving Starfleet agrees with you.”
“Are the rumors true?”
“True?”
At the moment the wine sommelier arrived with their bottle and for the next five minutes they were occupied with tasting and then pouring glasses for each of them.
“Back to rumors,” Leonard said. “I’ve heard through sources that they’re finally going to make you a full admiral, Commodore.”
“Oh that.”
He snorted. “You say that like it’s nothing. You’re a big deal, Jim.”
“If you say so. And yeah, I guess they are true. I’m torn. Part of me wishes I could go up again, command of a ship—”
“Ten years wasn’t enough?”
“Oh, hardly. Anyway, I guess they want old men like me to be in charge of the brash young ones.”
“Which you were at one time.”
Jim sipped his wine. “Mm. Great choice.”
“Glad you approve. Still in that apartment?”
“Sure am.”
“Big place for just you.” Leonard shook his head.
“It’s not that big and who says it’s just me?”
Leonard lowered his glass to the table. “Damn! You’re with someone?”
Jim blushed. “Well.”
“No wonder you look so damn happy!” Leonard grinned and slapped the table. “That is good news. Great news in fact. I never thought you’d settle down, Jimmy boy. When did this happen?”
“Well.”
“Is that all you can say? Within the last year, I’d guess.”
Jim shifted. “Little longer.”
Leonard frowned. “You were with her when I saw you last year?”
Jim grimaced.
“Longer?”
Jim nodded.
“But…wait. You were together on the Enterprise?”
“Yeah.”
“How in the world were you with someone on the Enterprise and I didn’t know?”
Jim was bright red. “We kept it a secret, Bones. For, um, for a while, actually.”
“How long?” Leonard asked, dumbfounded.
“Last three years of the mission.”
“Plus this whole last year?”
Jim nodded.
Leonard felt hurt. He supposed he didn’t have a right, but…he did. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? Was she an ensign?”
“No. God. No. Nothing like that. For a long time, we just, it was so weird for us, everything, and I wasn’t even sure if I could get it right, Bones. And then we did and it was so private and intimate between us that for a long time neither of us wanted to spoil it.”
“Okay. Okay. Maybe. I get that. But what about the last year?”
Jim winced. “Well. Um. Actually, Bones, who I’m with, well, I included them for dinner. And uh—”
The door opened to the restaurant and Leonard turned around to look. Standing there, looking windswept, was Spock.
For a moment, Leonard’s brain didn’t catch up, and he wondered what Spock was doing there, and what a coincidence that he would be at the same restaurant he and Jim met at, but then Spock looked in their direction and walked toward them.
And it all made a strange sort of sense that he didn’t even think about before, but now, it was all he could think of. Yes. Of course. Spock. “Bones,” Jim said with a smile as he took Spock’s hand. “Spock is my husband.”
“Don’t move! Hold on! Computing gravitational pull and…gotcha!” Chekov exclaimed.
Jim slammed hard onto the transporter pad, Sulu right there with him. Sulu blinked at him, then turned to Chekov.
“Thanks.”
Even as he and Sulu moved to get up, the doors of the room opened and Spock rushed in.
“Clear the pad.”
Jim stepped down as Spock stepped up. “Wait. Spock. What are you doing? Are you going down there? Are you nuts? You can’t do that!”
“Watch me.”
Jaw tightening, Jim jumped back onto the pad next to Spock. “Then I’m going too.”
“There is no time to argue, Jim.”
“Then don’t.”
Spock gave a short nod. “Energize.”
They reappeared on Vulcan and before Jim could even think about what Spock planned, he was grabbing Jim’s arm and dragging him toward some ancient looking dwelling.
“The Katric ark,” was all Spock said.
The ground beneath them shook violently. Jim ducked falling debris.
There surrounding artifacts were Spock’s parents and several Vulcan elders.
“Spock! Jim!” Amanda exclaimed.
“The planet only has seconds left. We must evacuate now. Mother now!”
They ran for it, running out of the dwelling, Spock holding on to his mother the entire way. Right next to Jim a giant statue broke apart and landed on the Vulcan running beside him.
Outside, Spock pulled out his communicator. “Spock to Enterprise. Get us out now.”
“Locking on you,” Chekov’s voice. “Don’t move. Stay right where you are now.”
Jim felt the ground falling away. Eyes wide, he saw that Amanda was right on the edge.
“Shit!”
“No!” Spock yelled.
Jim lunged at her, arms ensnaring her waist just as Spock lost his grip on her. The transporter activated and Jim watched as the others disappeared.
“Jim,” Amanda cried.
“Hang on.” They began to fall as Jim desperately clawed for the edge of the cliff. “Don’t let go.”
“Jim! I…”
Suddenly he felt his particles breaking up and a moment later he reappeared on the transporter, arms tightly around Amanda. She clung to him.
“Oh, oh my.”
“Hey,” Jim whispered. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
****
“Have you confirmed that Nero is headed for Earth?” Spock asked Uhura.
“Their trajectory suggests no other destination, Captain.”
“Earth may be his next destination, but we have to assume every Federation planet is a target,” Jim said, sitting in the captain’s chair.
“Out of the chair,” Spock said curtly.
“If the Federation is a target, why not destroy us?” Chekov asked.
Sulu glanced at him. “Why would they? Why waste the weapons? We aren’t a threat.”
“No,” Spock replied. “He wanted me to see the destruction of my home planet.”
Bones brushed past Jim to speak up. “How the hell did they do that? Where did the Romulans get that kind of weaponry?”
“The engineering comprehension necessary to artificially create a black hole may suggest an answer. Such technology could theoretically be manipulated to create a tunnel through space-time.”
“Damn it, man. I’m a doctor, not a physicist. Are you actually suggesting those Romulans are from the future?”
“If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
“Then, what would an angry future Romulan want with Captain Pike?” Jim asked. “What we need to do is catch up to that ship. Disable it, take it over, and get Pike back.”
“A rescue attempt would be illogical. We are outmatched in every way.”
Chekov shook his head. “The ship would have to drop out of warp for us to overtake him.”
“Then, we assign engineering crew to try and boost our warp gear.”
“Remaining power and crew are focused on repairing radiation leaks on the lower decks.”
“Spock, there’s got to be some way.”
He shook his head. “We must gather with the rest of Starfleet to balance the terms of the next engagement.”
Jim sighed in frustration. “There won’t be a next engagement because by the time we’ve gathered, it’ll be too late. If you say he’s from the future, he knows what’s going to happen, so the logical thing is to be unpredictable.”
“You are assume that Nero knows how events are predicted to unfold. To the contrary, his very presence has altered the flow of history, beginning with the attack on the USS Kelvin, and culminating in the events of today. Thereby creating an entire new chain of events that cannot be anticipated by either party. Whatever our lives might have been, our destinies have changed. Mr. Sulu, plot a course to the Laurentian system warp factor three.”
“Spock, no,” Jim pleaded. “Running back to the rest of the fleet is a massive waste of time.”
“Captain Pike issued orders when he left…”
“He also ordered us to go back and get him. Spock, you’re captain now. You have to be…”
“I am aware of my responsibilities, Mr. Kirk.”
“Every second we waste, Nero is getting closer to his next target. I will not allow us to go backwards instead of hunting Nero down!”
Spock’s jaw clenched as he glared at Jim. “Security, get him off the bridge.”
The security guards bore down on Jim, who struck one in the face.
“Jim,” Bones cried. “No.”
Spock approached Jim, hand out, Jim shook his head.
“Get him off this ship.”
“Jim, wake up. Sweetheart, wake up.”
Jim gasped and sat up straight.
Amanda smiled. “There you are. Back with me?”
Jim looked around the hospital room, breathing heavily.
“Deep breath, Jim. Let it out. Inhale, exhale. There you go.” She squeezed his hand. He hadn’t realized she was holding it. “Better?”
Jim nodded, swallowing.
“Bad one?”
“A memory dream.”
She perched herself on the edge of his bed. “You said my name. Spock’s too.”
“I was dreaming of when I rescued you before Vulcan was destroyed,” Jim admitted. “And after.”
“Understandable. Humans have to process these things somehow, don’t we? I’ve had a few uneasy dreams lately myself.” She paused. “Some where you were not there and I fell to my death.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It is no matter. You haven’t been taking care of yourself. Here you are in the hospital.”
“I’m being released today.”
“So I have been told. You’ll come stay with us, of course.”
Jim shook his head. “No.”
“Now, Jim. There’s no point in arguing with me.”
“I agree. Amanda, I guess you haven’t heard, but, uh, Spock and I aren’t…we’re not together anymore.”
“What?” Her hands went to her face. “You-you broke up with him?”
“Huh? No. No. He…well, I mean. Sorta. But he was going to…”
“Spock wouldn’t have ended your relationship,” she insisted. “He loves you.”
“Maybe he did once. But he woke up.” Jim paused. “Or I did. Whichever. The point is, Amanda, the events surrounding everything Nero did, well, it-it was too much for Spock. He’s resigned from Starfleet.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Pike told me. Not Spock. And he’s going to go help with the Vulcan colony.” He moistened his lips with his tongue. “I can’t even blame him.”
“Well, I can. None of this makes any sense, Jim.”
“How can it not? I’m sorry. I am. I really really wanted us to be a-a family for-forever, but it’s just, it’s not going to happen. Sometimes love doesn’t survive something like this. And it hasn’t now. I mean, I’m always going to care about him. So much. But surely you can see that it does make sense.”
Amanda stood. “What I’m going to do is bring Spock here.”
“Please don’t.”
“Jim…”
“Please?” He pleaded with her. “This is all hard enough on him as it is. He’s lost so much and I don’t want to add anything else to his pain. So, please, don’t bother him. Okay? Not about me.”
She bit her lip and Jim could tell she wanted very much to argue with him. But instead she sighed, and nodded, then moved forward to give him an all too brief hug.
As she pulled back she said, “Are you sure you don’t want to come home with me?”
He smiled. It was forced. “I’m sure. I’ve got the apartment. I’ll be fine until the Enterprise goes out.”
“Okay.” Amanda walked to the door of his room. Then turned to fix him with her motherly stare. “And I don’t care what you say or think, Jim. I know my son. He loves you.”
As soon as she left, Jim got out of bed and got ready to leave. Bones had said he’d be by later in the day to release him, but Jim figured he was okay to release now. He didn’t need Bones mothering him anymore than he’d needed Amanda. He was going to be fine on his own. He’d been that way before and had lived through it.
The hover cab pulled up in front of his apartment building. Jim’s hand went to his throat.
“Come on, Spock. Your whole planet was just destroyed. We barely rescued your parents. Some of the elders we tried to help died. Your own grandmother was killed. You have to feel something about all of that. You’re not a robot despite what others say.”
“I will not allow you to goad me into some emotional outburst.”
“Are emotions so shameful? Do you even love me? Spock, your mother is human. Don’t you feel love for her? She’s got to be devastated and you’ve not even said one word to her since you came back to the ship. I’m starting to wonder if you even love her or anybody. Maybe they’re right. You aren’t even upset. Did you see his ship? Did you see what he did?”
“Yes, of course.”
“You’ve said before that fear is necessary for command. Are you afraid or not?”
“I will also not allow you to lecture me on the merits of emotions.”
“Then why don’t you stop me, Spock? What is it like not to feel heartbreak or anger? Does it even compute to you how close you came to losing her? Losing both of us?”
“Back away from me,” Spock said coldly.
“You don’t love her!”
“Mister, we’re here.”
Jim realized the cab driver had been trying to get his attention for a while.
“Oh. Thanks.” Jim smiled. Hit the pay with his credit chip, added a tip, and got out of the cab. He stood on the sidewalk, watching it leave.
Nothing lasts forever, except memories.
He entered the building, walked up the stairs instead of the lift, and then headed to the third floor where his apartment was.
He swiped his hand across the scanner and the door popped open. He was about to take out his communicator to let Bones know he’d left the hospital when he saw someone standing by the sliding glass door to the balcony.
Jaw dropping open, Jim stared at the broad back, clad in a charcoal gray sweater. “Spock?”
Spock turned then to face him. He looked…wrecked. Dark eyes wet. Something was clutched in his hand though Jim could not see what it was.
“Ashaya,” he whispered.
“Hey, Mom?” Jim Kirk stood by window next to the back door of the family’s farmhouse.
“Yeah Jim?”
“I’m going to go check on the barn.”
She appeared next to him, arms crossed in front of her chest, wearing an oversized sweater. Jim couldn’t totally blame her. It was cold. Outside anyway. But ever since she got sick a month ago, she got colder easy, even inside in the heat. Jim was sweltering though.
He’d moved back home to help her after her illness. She was doing much better, yeah, but not up to herself yet.
“Something wrong?”
He smiled, reassuringly. “Doubtful. I saw a flash of light or something. Probably just lightening.”
“Lightening?” She frowned. “Didn’t hear any thunder.”
“Too far off, probably. I’ll just be a second.”
“Okay. Should I make a pot of coffee?”
He squeezed her shoulder. “Good idea. Be right back.”
He went to the peg that held his coat and shrugged into it. He pulled up the hood and went out the back door and started for the barn. Rain splattered on him, at an angle, so the hood wasn’t much protection, the drops kept hitting his face.
Jim frowned when he noticed the barn door was ajar. He had definitely closed it earlier, knowing that it was going to rain.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
It was possible someone broke into the barn to seek shelter. If so, Jim would invite them into the house for food and to dry out.
He pushed open the door.
“Hey? It’s Jim Kirk. Are you in my barn?”
And then he saw a mostly naked long hair man huddled next to his jeep.
“Hi. Do-do you need help?”
“Wait. Wait. Jim. You cannot just drop Pre-Surak Spock into Jim’s world. He won’t know what to do with a Vulcan. And Spock won’t know what to do with Jim. They won’t be able to speak to each other.”
“Well. I guess they’ll find a way, won’t they?”
“Jim.”
“Spock, it’s too late. He’s there. And Jim already knows!”
“One thing’s for sure.”
“What’s that?” Jim eyes Bones, questioningly.
“I can’t believe it took you this long to see someone.” Bones sighed as he ran his medical scanner over Jim. “Never did have much sense.”
“It’s just a few contusions, Bones,” Jim said wearily.
He should have gone right to bed, really, but as he saw his mother off to her transport after dinner at Giuseppe’s, she made him promise he’d at least have Bones check him out. She was on her way again, back to her ship and her duties, and Jim had been lucky she’d been able to spare as much time as she had to see him.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” his friend grumbled.
The last few days he’d been surviving on adrenaline really. Certainly no sleep. But it was starting to catch up with him. He was leaning on Bones as his friend scanned him.
He’d been running around, crazy, ignoring all injuries since he and Sulu had made it down to Nero’s drill on Vulcan. It started there and got worse and worse. Now he was pretty sure half his inability to breathe properly was likely because he had some cracked ribs. The human body could only take so much, after all. And Jim’s could take more than most. Or he made himself anyway.
“That’s it, I’m checking you into the hospital.”
Jim blinked his eyes open and straightened. “What? Just from a couple of bruises and maybe a cracked rib or two?”
“Five cracked ribs, genius. And a cracked skull.”
“Huh?”
“That head of yours might be hard, but you’ve still managed to damage it. I want you in a hospital bed at least overnight so I can monitor you, and make sure you actually sleep. When was the last time, anyway?”
“Uh. The morning of the distress signal.”
“That’s what I thought. I don’t know how you’re still on your feet.”
“Sheer will,” Jim admitted.
“All that strangling damaged your larynx too. It needs rest. You need rest. Damn it, Jim.”
“I’m too exhausted to fight you, Bones. Do what you will with me.”
Bones shook his head. “You’ve got a wound on your left leg I don’t like the looks of, either.”
“Uh. Yeah. Monster number two.”
“What?”
Jim sighed. “You know, when Spock got pissed because I didn’t agree with his methods and decisions on the ship, he had me kicked off to Delta Vega.”
“I remember, yeah. Always did say he was an asshole, Jim.”
He waved wearily at that. “Anyway, the point is, there were these giant monster things there. The first one pretty much chased me around until I about had a heart attack, but the second one—”
“Monster number two.”
“Yeah. It managed to get a hold of my leg before Ambassador Spock got me away from it. It hurt. But I kind of have had to ignore it ever since.”
Bones stared at him silently for a while.
“What?”
“I don’t know.” Bones sighed. “There were just a few times you almost got killed thanks to him. And I know, he wasn’t himself.”
“He wasn’t. Bones, his whole planet was destroyed. He lost family, friends.”
“Uh-huh. So his reaction to that was to maroon the guy he’s supposed to love on some ice planet, possibly forever, if something happened to the Enterprise, or the space station on Delta Vega, and then when he finally gets that same guy, he’s supposed to love, back he tried to choke him to death.”
“Bones,” Jim whispered, shaking his head. He didn’t have the strength or even will-power to defend Spock just then. Wasn’t even sure he believed Spock deserved a defense.
“I’ll drop it for now,” Bones replied. He squeezed Jim’s shoulder gently. “Let’s get you admitted and into a hospital bed. Someone needs to take care of you and it looks like it’s going to be me.”
Jim smiled. A tired smile, but a smile nevertheless. Just as Bones began to help him down from the examination table, an ensign appeared.
“Oh. There you are, sir.” The ensign practically saluted.
“At ease,” Jim said, amused.
“Admiral Bennett would like to see you, sir.”
Bones snorted. “Admiral Bennett’s going to have to wait.”
The ensign looked shocked as he stared at Bones. “Sir?”
“Captain Kirk is being admitted to the hospital. You tell that to Bennett.”
“Bones, maybe I should—”
“Nope. Not this time, Jim. Doctor’s orders.” Jim nodded, took a step, then pitched forward onto the floor.
Chapter 3
They got a table at Giuseppe’s in the back of the restaurant, close to the kitchen, but Jim didn’t mind, because it had been where they’d sat before, all those years ago, and he was pretty sure his mom had done it on purpose.
“It’s been years since I’ve been here,” she declared as she picked up the menu. “I even wondered it if it was still here. Everything changes so fast. Are you going to have a drink?”
Jim thought about it but shook his head. “I think I’ll stick to iced tea or something. But head’s still really fuzzy and I’m so damn tired, I don’t think adding booze to the mix is a good idea.”
“Hmm. What did the doctor say, anyway?”
“You know.” Jim waved his hand vaguely.
She narrowed her eyes. “James Tiberius, are you lying to your mother?”
“Well. I’ve just been busy. And anyway, you can see that I don’t have severe injuries.”
“Except all those bruises around your neck.”
“Just a bit of soreness. What are you going to get?”
His mother sighed. “Do you know you’ve been like this since you were a tiny boy? Never did want me to tend to your boo-boos. And when you came back from Tar…that place, you didn’t want to deal with that either.”
“Lots of people came away from there a lot worse than I did.” Jim paused. “Or not at all.” He didn’t add her own husband being one of them.
After Sam left, and Jim lost the car over the cliff, Frank had taken Jim to Tarsus IV. He had a sister that lived there with her family. Eventually Jim’s mom was to join them there. It was supposed to be a new start for them, or so they’d all said. In the end, of the group of them, it had only been Jim and Frank’s sister’s son, Kevin, who got out alive. The rest perished at the direction of Kodos.
Mom got quiet for a moment, her gaze sliding over the content of the menu. The waitress arrived and Jim ordered iced tea and his mom coffee.
“Remember when we came here last? Well.” She paused. “Not the very last time. That was right after you returned and even then you wouldn’t eat much.”
Jim nodded.
“The time before that. It was you, me and Sam then.”
He smiled faintly. “Yeah. We got the biggest pizza they had and a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs.”
She laughed. “And garlic bread. Spumoni for dessert.”
“Sam threw a meatball at me.”
“Yeah.” Her gaze moved away, out to the rest of the restaurant. “Think he’s okay?”
“Sam?” Jim shrugged. “Maybe. He always did seem to land on his feet. He’s probably out there somewhere without ever a thought to us.”
“Mmm.” She put down her menu. “I think I’ll have the fettucine alfredo. All that cream sauce is terrible for me, but why not indulge? My baby is alive, and surely, that’s something to celebrate.”
He rolled his eyes at the baby. “I’m going for the spaghetti alla puttanesca.”
“Look at you, all fancy now. No more simple pizza for you.”
He laughed. “Well.”
After they ordered, his mom put her chin on her hand. “First time I came here was with your dad.”
“Yeah?”
“Ages ago, obviously. Back in our academy days, so we were babies then. And neither you nor Sam were even on our radar.”
“Bet you were cute.”
“George definitely was. When I first met him, he was seeing a classmate named Pamela Wenton. I hated her, of course.”
Jim laughed. “Of course.”
“Well, she had what I wanted. Or who.”
“I get it. I do. When I first met Spock he was dating Uhura.”
His mom snorted. “Oh, goodness. She was never right for him. He’s clearly interested in males.”
“Sure, but I am too.”
“Only males. I don’t know what that girl was thinking.”
“That he’s insanely hot and extremely fascinating.” Jim grinned.
“Yes, dear.” She patted his hand. “Obviously, the moment he laid eyes on you, he was a lost cause.”
Jim’s smile slipped. “Or was. I just…I really don’t know what to think.”
“I don’t know much, I suppose, Jim, but what I do know is that boy loves you. I can see it in his eyes. I recognize it because it’s just how I used to look at George. He’ll come around, honey. He will. Some things are just meant to be.” He tried to smile again, but it faltered a little, so he took a sip of tea, trying to ignore the burn in his throat as he swallowed.
This one is based on Eveningstar’s Prompt, Jim is drunk and confesses his love to Bones, and Spock overhears.
“This sucks.”
“I know, Jim.”
Jim leaned against the wall of the hotel.
“Let’s just get you to your room, all right?”
“Being in love with someone who hates you sucks, Bones.”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
“He hates me. He was going to leave the Enterprise.”
“To make Vulcan babies. And he stayed.”
Jim shook his head and then regretted it as the hall spun. “Not because of me. Because of her. They’re probably going to get married.”
He started to slip from the wall to the floor, but Bones held him up. “They broke up.”
“They’ll get back together,” Jim said, miserably. “They always do. Like a billion times. And I’ll be left with the usual broken heart.”
“Jim.” Bones stiffened. “Stop talking.”
“That’s easier for you to be so cold-hearted. You aren’t in love with Spo—”
“Jim. Be quiet.” Bones practically shook him.
Jim frowned at him and tried to push away from him only to suddenly be grabbed by—
“I’ll take control of him, doctor.”
Jim peered at him through hazy eyes. “Spock?”
“Yes, Captain. I’ve got you.”
“Listen, Spock, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Jim’s drunk and—”
“I am aware. Go back to the party, doctor. I will see that Jim is safely in his room and will sleep it off.”
“I don’t…fine. All right. But I’ll come by to check on you in the morning, Jim. With something for the hangover you are sure to have.”
Somehow the floor disappeared out from under him. He grabbed onto Spock’s shoulders to keep from falling and as they entered his hotel room, Jim realized that Spock had scooped him up bridal style.
“I can walk.”
“Barely.”
“You want me to walk while bare?”
“Perhaps another time. For now you will rest.”
Spock approached Jim’s bed and Jim put his hand on Spock’s face just as Spock appeared to be preparing to lower him to the mattress.
“You know, you’re beautiful.”
Spock’s mouth twitched. “Oddly enough I had the same thought.”
Jim nodded. “You think you’re beautiful too?”
“I think you are.”
“Where I come from, buddy, that’s a proposal.”
“You are from Iowa.”
“Oh.” Jim found himself deposited on the bed.
“You will be sleeping off your excessive alcohol. In the morning, we will be having a very long talk.”
“Submitting your resignation?”
Spock arched a brow. “No. I will get you some water, you will drink it, and then you will go to sleep. I will watch over you to see that there is nothing you need.”
Jim stared at him. “Why?”
“You know why.”
Spock walked away and over to little kitchenette sink in the hotel room. He returned with a glass of water.
“Drink.”
“I’m the captain,” he mumbled.
“Drink, Captain.”
Jim took a sip of the water. “Why?”
“I stayed for you.”
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 