Star Trek Alternate Universe

Christmas in July #3

This one is a bit longer.

It hadn’t been intentional. Perhaps subconscious. Wherever Spock’s captain went, he often found himself drifting that way. Sometimes it was done before he even realized, like now.

They were on a short leave in San Francisco during the Terran holiday season. It had been an exciting development for many of the Enterprise’s Human crew members and the fact that Kirk was able to arrange it due to his current positive reputation with Starfleet had made the crew think even more highly of him then they already had.

Spock found himself somewhat adrift there. There hadn’t really been enough time to make his way to New Vulcan to see his father and his relationship with Nyota had, rather unfortunately, never really recovered from their estrangement over his now abandoned decision to go to New Vulcan to assist with populating the colony.

Nyota was spending the holidays with friends from the ship.

And Jim…while on Yorktown he had renewed his relationship with Carol Marcus. When the Enterprise left dock there, Doctor Marcus returned to serve on the ship so that she could be close to Jim.

Jim’s mother and brother, as well as his family, were in San Francisco too and the intention, as Spock understood, was for them all to spend Christmas together in Winona Kirk’s fancy hotel suite.

But it was now two days before Christmas and Spock had somehow followed in the footsteps of his captain and Carol Marcus who apparently had also been out for a walk on that somewhat warm twenty-third of December.

He realized their voices had turned angry as they stopped by one of the ocean piers. Spock had good hearing but he deliberately held back even out of Vulcan earshot because Carol Marcus sounded very upset and Jim had sounded…weary.

She appeared out of the pathway, arms wrapped around herself, tears streaming down her face. Spock had been unable to hide before she did, so her gaze went immediately to him.

“Why am I not surprised?” she demanded in a sobbing voice before hurrying away down the street.

Though uncertain as to her meaning, Spock felt it was prudent to check on Captain Kirk to make sure he was all right, given their apparent argument.

He hadn’t decided what to do when Jim himself appeared from the same direction she had just come from.

“Oh. Spock.”

“I did not intend to intrude.”

Jim nodded. “Yeah. Did you, uh, hear anything?”

“No. But Doctor Marcus did appear upset.”

“It’s over. Again. This time for good.”

Unsure what to say, Spock said nothing.

Jim glanced back the way he came. “I’m going to look out at the ocean. You coming?”

Since Jim didn’t wait for an answer, Spock didn’t give one, and simply followed after him.

Jim was dressed casually, wearing Jeans and a navy long sleeved shirt. He had stuck his hands in his pockets as he stood on the edge of the peer looking out at the dark, rolling ways directly in front of them.

Spock waited for his captain to explain, as he knew he would get around to doing eventually.

“She’s pregnant,” Jim said after a while.

“I…see.”

“I’d say something lame like I don’t know how it happened but yeah. We used protection, but nothing’s completely reliable.”

Spock understood. Once early on in his relationship with Nyota she had become pregnant, but the pregnancy hadn’t been viable and she’d lost it.

“She wanted us to quit Starfleet, get married, and raise the child together.”

Spock’s stomach roiled though he had no right to feel that way. But yes, the idea of Jim leaving the Enterprise and marrying Carol Marcus dismayed him.

Jim glanced at him. “I told her no.”

“You…do not want to marry her and raise the child together?”

“No, I don’t. That sounds awful, right? I know it does. But, Spock, I just…I don’t want to leave the Enterprise. It’s my home and the crew my family. My friends. Over the last few years this is the life I’ve built. Is it selfish to feel this way?”

“I cannot judge you.”

“She said if I loved her then I would make the sacrifice and do as she wanted. That doesn’t sound like…is that what love is, Spock? Sacrificing every part of yourself for someone else?” He blew out a long breath. “And it hit me then.”

“What, Jim?”

“If I loved her, it wouldn’t seem like such a sacrifice. I’d want to be with her, I’d want to get married and raise our kid together. I’d be so filled with happiness, I’d want just that. Or I think I would. I don’t love her. Not like she deserves. I care about her. But I don’t see us spending the rest of our lives together. I told her that.”

“I…” But words failed Spock. He didn’t know exactly what he should say to that. If he was expected to say anything.

“That’s when she left. She ended things. She’s already resigned her commission in Starfleet. She won’t be rejoining the Enterprise.”

“I…am sorry, Jim. And the child?”

“She’ll have him and raise him alone. It’s a boy. She already knows. She wanted us to settle in London where her mother lives so I am sure her mother will help. I’m not sure she’ll let me be part of his life at all at this point. I guess I’ll have to talk to her again about all that.” Jim sighed and turned away. “I don’t think I’ve ever broken anyone’s heart before.”

Oh you have, Spock thought, but chose not to say so out loud.

“And now. Fuck. We were supposed to spend tomorrow night and Christmas with Mom. She’s got a big suite at the Grand Hotel. All decorated for Christmas. A tree and all the trimmings. Big fancy feast. Sam and Aurelan will be there and their kids. Carol was supposed to go with me. I finally had a significant other to go with me to one of these family things.”

Jim fell silent, shook his head.

Then, “I sound like an ass, right? God, I’m all messed up.”

“I do not think you sound like an ass, Jim. You do not love her and do not wish to change your life knowing that eventually it will not work between you. I find that rather brave of you.”

Jim snorted. “Not really.”

“For a long time I stayed in a relationship because there was no real reason to end it but it had become both emotionally and physically unfulfilling. I am sure many do that exact thing. It is preferable to being alone.”

“All I know is I couldn’t even imagine not being on the Enterprise. Not seeing you…and-and everyone.”

Spock nodded. “You love the Enterprise.”

“As I said, it’s my home. But that’s…” He shook his head. “Do you know why I’m not in love with Carol?”

Spock once more was left without an answer. How was he supposed to answer that?

“Because I love someone else. And I have for a long time.” Jim wiped his face with his hand. “And I always knew I did, you know, but I thought…I can pretend I don’t. Since-since they don’t love me, it’s easier to push it away.”

“You love someone who doesn’t love you back?”

“Unrequited love is a bitch,” Jim said softly. “I’m not…proud of myself for using Carol to try to get past it…if that’s what I did. I did care for her. I do. It just…it wasn’t the same. I wasn’t fair to her.”

“And you are certain that this individual does not love you in return?”

“Well.” Jim shrugged. “He’s never given any indication he does. For a long time he was with someone but now he is not and—”

Spock shut him up with a kiss.

Jim sputtered against Spock’s lips and took a step back. “Spock!”

“You have always babbled on way too long.”

Spock returned to kissing him and this time Jim did not pull away. In fact his arms came up around Spock’s neck to remove any distance between them.

He did not know how long they kissed in the dark by the pier, but eventually Jim looked at him, eyes shining.

“That might be the best kiss I’ve ever had.”

“Yes, it might be.”

Jim laughed, as he always seemed to laugh at the strangest things. “Listen, how would you like to meet my family for Christmas?”

“I think that would be appropriate,” Spock agreed.

“But first…your place or mine?”

Spock considered this. “Wherever the closest bed is.”

Jim grinned. “Affirmative.”

****

Spock thought perhaps entering Winona Kirk’s hotel suite for the Kirk family celebration ought to have been awkward. They were all clearly expecting Carol Marcus to accompany Jim. But somehow with Jim it didn’t seem awkward at all.

“Hey everyone. This is Spock,” Jim made a general announcement. “Spock, meet the family.”

Winona Kirk’s gaze went briefly to her son but he smiled warmly and shrugged a bit, and she smiled in return.

“Welcome to our celebration, Spock. It’s wonderful to finally meet you. Jim has talked about you a lot.”

And to Spock’s surprise, she moved forward and embraced him.

“I know you’ll make Jim very happy,” she whispered as she hugged him.

“I will certainly try,” he whispered back, not at all surprised that Jim’s mother already knew how her son felt.

She released him and turned to her other son, a big giant of a man with bulging muscles who had been playfully fake punching Jim’s arms.

“This punk is my son, George Samuel, and the lovely woman trying not to look embarrassed by her husband’s antics is Aurelan.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Spock said. “And to be included in your holiday.”

“Hey the pleasure is ours,” George Samuel declared. “We always worried Jimmy would never settle down.”

Jim blushed at the nickname and real punched his brother back.

“Boys,” their mother admonished. “And the children, of course, Peter and April. Come, we’re all sitting in the living room area eating treats.”

Jim returned to Spock’s side and linked his arm with Spock’s. “They can be a bit much.” He laughed. “Like me.”

“I have a feeling I can tolerate all of you quite well.”

Jim gave him a quick kiss and drew him forward to join his family.

July 5, 2024

Bombay, Chapter 5

Spock decided not to wait for Nyota’s class as he was too curious about James T. Kirk to adopt his usual amount of patience.
He tried to pretend to himself it had nothing to do with how uncommonly attractive Kirk had been. At least in Spock’s opinion.
And there was the added fact that Bombay’s eye color seemed to be an exact match for Kirk’s. A coincidence of course but it made Spock all the more curious.
After doing some preliminary research, Spock decided to contact George Samuel Kirk, the older brother and seeming spokesperson for the family. He requested communication with him if it was permitted.
It was a few hours later when Jim Kirk’s brother contacted him.
George Samuel Kirk, he told Spock the family called him Sam to distinguish him from George Kirk, resembled George Kirk more than he did his younger brother, Spock thought.
Sam leaned back in a rocking chair and stared rather sourly at Spock.
“What is it you want exactly?”
“To make inquiries about your brother’s disappearance.”
“Don’t you mean death?”
Spock shook his head.
“Your Starfleet has declared him dead.”
“I am sorry. But you and your family have doubts.”
Sam snorted. “You bet we do. They never found a body in the wreckage. Nothing like that.”
“What did they find?”
“It’s all a matter of record,” Sam said with no hidden disdain. “They found the burned out crashed shuttlecraft and the remains of Doctor Helen Moore, and her two medical assistants, Ensign Allen Luras and Ensign Inid Harr. The door of the shuttle was inoperable and there was no sign it was ever opened after the crash. They found no trace of Jim’s remains, though there was evidence someone had used the seatbelt in the co-pilot’s seat beside Helen Moore.”
“And they are certain Commander Kirk was on the shuttlecraft when it left the Endeavor?”
“Yes.”
Spock nodded. “Do you have any theories?”
Sam hesitated, then slowly shook his head. “Other than someone must have abducted Jim. That’s always been our belief.”
“For what purpose?”
“How should I know?”
“And how would they have done so when the door was inoperable?”
Sam’s lips thinned. “There was a hole in the door.”
“How large?”
“Large enough for Jim,” Sam insisted. “But there was no sign of him on the planet anywhere. Or so they said.”
“You don’t believe it?”
“No, I don’t. Jim’s alive. I can feel it. And someone has him. I don’t know why they haven’t come forward. But my family hasn’t given up no matter what they tell you. Starfleet may have decided Jim’s dead, but he’s alive.” Sam frowned. “I gotta go.”
And then the screen winked out and Spock was left staring at nothing. HE couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something Sam was not telling him. Some elusive clue.

February 17, 2023

Bombay, Chapter 3

“There are some options with regard to your leg.”

Spock looked up in surprise as he carefully got down from the exam table. “Options, Doctor?”

Leonard McCoy shrugged slightly as he studied his medical tricorder with Spock’s latest results on them. McCoy was the CMO at Starfleet Hospital in San Francisco. It was located directly beside Federation HQ.

“I was told there was nerve damage and nothing could be done.”

“There coming up with new treatments all the time, Spock. In fact, a Doctor M’Benga has extensive knowledge of the physiology of Vulcans. I would recommend making an appointment with him.”

Spock took in this information and ventured to ask, “Where is this doctor located?”

“On Vulcan at the moment,” McCoy advised. He lowered his tricorder. “How’s the pain in that leg?”

“Manageable. On cold days it gets stiff. And when I do too much walking.”

“I’ll write you a prescription that should help with that. Vulcan friendly.”

“The earliest I can plan to see M’Benga on Vulcan would be the next break between semesters at the Academy,” Spock said.

“I understand. Just think about it. It’s possible he can’t do anything, but if he can, it’s worth looking into, yeah?”

“Perhaps,“ Spock acknowledged.

Spock departed and headed for his apartment. The walk was a little longer than his typical walk to the campus, but in some ways Spock thought exercising his leg might be good for him. He’d possibly be sorry for it later.

When he made it home, just as a light drizzle began, the cat was waiting for him by the door. He appeared to want to dart out of the apartment into the drizzle, but Spock got the door closed before Bombay could make good on his escape.

“I can see how you must have gotten away from your care giver,” Spock remarked out loud as he moved into the kitchen to prepare himself tea and feed the cat.

As Spock spooned out the smelly food into a dish, the cat rubbed against his legs. He put the food down, made himself tea and a bean burrito and headed to his terminal to grade tests.

He’d only been sitting there five minutes when Bombay leapt into his lap and settled down there.

Rather than fight a losing battle where Spock made him leave only to have him return, repeat, he just allowed the furry pest to remain.

When the cat stared at him while he ate his burrito, Spock even began to share little bites with him. He made a mental note to check with the veterinary’s office to learn if anyone had come forward to claim Bombay.

Once he finished his grading, he signed into his Academy email account and found an email from Nyota.

“If you’re interested in my class on the disappearance of James Kirk, the class will be next Thursday at ten in the morning. It’s kind of a strange case and I thought you might be curious. I’m surprised you don’t know more about the details but then again you were on active duty on the Enterprise when it occurred. Attached is a picture.”

Spock clicked on the link and a very good-looking young Human male appeared on his screen. And yes, Nyota had been right. He had incredibly striking blue eyes.

Bombay uncurled from Spock’s lap and stared at the picture. Then to Spock’s surprise he raised paw and put it on the picture and meowed loud.

Most strange.

February 3, 2023

January 31, 2023

Jim wouldn’t exactly say he was disappointed to be back on the Enterprise.

The thing about shore leave was that it wasn’t really special if it was an every day thing. Or so he had convinced himself. He couldn’t entirely deny he would still love to live in a tropical paradise with an ocean view to wake up to every morning.

Waking up to the stars of the galaxy wasn’t such a bad view either, though.

And waking up next to Spock was perhaps the best view of all.

He was content. With Spock by his side and with Spock’s counsel, he could and would do another five-year mission. Then perhaps retire. Or semi-retire.

He just couldn’t imagine himself just sitting around in the farmhouse, getting up to chop wood for the fire or whatever. He didn’t really see Spock as particularly stationary either. Spock’s counterpart had stayed active and involved right up to his death. Spock would be the same.

Jim spent extra time with Bones, sharing a meal in the mess with him and then later a drink on Bone’s quarters because Spock had told him not to come to their quarters quite yet. He had a surprise for Jim.

Finally Spock communicated with him that he could come to their quarters.

“Got any idea what surprise Spock has for me?” Jim asked as he prepared to leave.

Bones smirked. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“You do know!”

His friend shrugged and said, “Have a good night, Jim.”

Jim made his way to his quarters, perhaps with a quick anticipation in his step. The door opened at his command.

Spock stood in the middle of their quarters, hands clenched behind his back, wearing his favorite pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a T-Shirt.

“Welcome, Captain.”

Jim smiled. “Captain is it?”

His husband’s lips twitched. “Would you like to take a bath?”

“A…bath?”

“In your new whirlpool tub.”

“My…what? Spock, we can’t have that on the ship.”

“In fact we can. It’s all approved and installed. And while you are correct in that it is neither advisable or practical to make use if it every day, once a week is acceptable.” Spock held out his hand. “Come, T’hy’la. Let’s try it out.”

The end….thanks for reading this little series. Starting tomorrow, February first, I will be posting flashes with the theme of love/Valentine’s. Only on Wednesdays I am afraid with the exception of Tuesday, February 14. You’ll still get Bombay chapters on Fridays too.

January 31, 2023

Bombay, Chapter 2

Spock stopped briefly on the way home to purchase a pet bed for Bombay as that had not been one of the supplied he’d been given when he agreed to foster the cat. He chose what looked plush and comfortable. At least from a cat’s point of view.
Or Spock thought.
They’d given him a cat carrier too, so once he opened the door to his apartment, he set all the things down and then put the cat carrier on the floor and opened the gate to allow Bombay to explore the surroundings.
The vet’s office had warned him that the cat would likely be skittish and not want to have anything to do with the place at first, but Bombay immediately ran out of the carrier and started checking out Spock’s apartment.
Spock left him to it and went into his kitchen to open a can of cat food to feed the feline. It smelled awful and fishy to Spock and he wondered why any cat would eat it, but with a shrug, he set the dish down for Bombay.
It took a few minutes but the cat came over to the dish and gobbled down most of the contents.
After that Spock sat down at his desk to work on grading tests that he’d required for his students to take. He paid little attention to the cat for some time.
An hour had passed when he decided to get up to make himself tea and when he entered his kitchen he spotted Bombay on the top of the refrigerator. On the floor were several containers Spock had placed there to store them.
“Did you do that?” Spock asked, illogically, as it could be no other.
Bombay meowed.
“Come down from there.”
The cat leapt down right onto Spock and dug his claws into Spock’s stomach when he dropped the cat in surprise. The scratches left across his abdomen stung and were bleeding.
With a sigh, Spock went into the bathroom, removed his now bloodstained shirt, and applied first aid to the marks left by his visitor. He chose a new shirt and went back to his desk only to find Bombay occupying his chair.
“You are determined to try my patience.”
Spock tried to move the cat but he wouldn’t budge more than an inch or so, and therefore, as a means of compromise, Spock occupied about a quarter of the chair, leaving the rest to his guest.

“You adopted a cat?” Nyota Uhura asked Spock the next afternoon while they dined on the outdoor patio of the Starfleet Academy restaurant.
“No. I have definitely not adopted him. I am fostering him until his rightful caretaker can be located and they are reunited.”
“Hmm.” She shook her head and added artificial sweetener to her coffee. She was a friend and colleague at the Academy. She taught communications and languages as well as a course in Federation history.
“What does hmm mean?”
“You did say he spent the night sleeping on your bed.”
“I secured him his own fine and plush pet bed for his use,” Spock said sourly. “He refused to even try it.”
Nyota laughed. “Cats have minds of their own. Anyway, you may think of him as temporary but it sure sounds like he has other ideas. What’s his name anyway?”
“I do not know his real name as he had no collar or microchip but I am calling him Bombay.”
“Bombay?”
“For sapphires.”
She arched her brows. “Like the gin?”
“Yes. Or the Star of India, though lighter. He has blue eyes.”
Nyota smiled and picked up her chicken salad sandwich. “That’s cute. Speaking of blue eyes, we’re covering the old James Kirk disappearance in my class this semester.”
“James Kirk?”
“Don’t you remember? It was about five years ago. Lieutenant Commander Kirk was on the starship, Endeavor. Was on his way in a shuttlecraft with medical staff to drop off supplies to a colony on Rigel 9 but some storm anomaly caused the shuttlecraft to crash on a planetoid near Rigel 9. Unnamed. They found the remains of the medical staff in the crash but never any sign of Kirk.”
Spock nodded. “I do recall hearing about it. I never did have all the details. What does that have to do with blue eyes?”
“He had very blue eyes. Handsome guy. Like all the Kirks. I guess his family refused to give up searching for him for years after. I think they finally did last year. He’s presumed dead.” She sighed. “Anyway he had a fantastic reputation and was an exemplary officer. Very well liked. Sad story. So we’re covering during my history course. Your cat’s blue eyes made me think of it.”
“He is not my cat,” Spock insisted. “He is a temporary guest.”
She ginned. “Of course he is.”

January 27, 2023

Flash Fic, January 26, 2023

Photo by Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels.com

Jim was resplendent when a short time later he appeared before Spock dressed and ready for their renewal ceremony. Somehow he’d obtained, Spock imagined by contacting McCoy, the embroidered robes he’d worn when they formally bonded all those years ago on New Vulcan.

“You are beautiful.”

Jim gave him a doubtful look. “Yeah? I mean It’s just a tad tight around the stomach. I guess I put on a few pounds in these last fifteen or so years.”

“Not many. You are quite fit.”

Jim smiled. “I’m more gray too. By a lot.”

“We all age, Jim.”

“Not you. Look at you. You look the same. I’m jealous.”

Spock shook his head. “You are stubborn as ever. You are magnificent and everyone knows it. Do I have the doctor to thank for sending our robes here?”

“Uh-huh. I contacted him right after I talked to T’Merr.”

“That is the priestess?”

“Yes. She’s ready anytime we are.”

“Are there to be guests?”

“Nope. I decided to make it private. Just you and me. Well her too obviously.” Jim looked uncertain. “That’s okay, right? Or should I have invited our friends?”

“I am content with just us,” Spock assured him. He took Jim’s hand in his. “Shall we?”

Jim leaned in to kiss him. “She’s waiting for us in the private garden.”

Hand in hand, the two of them walked out to the suite’s private garden area where Spock saw the Vulcan Priestess waiting for them. He didn’t remember ever seeing her before but she looked young.

“Spock, this is T’Merr. And this is Spock.”

She greeted Jim with warmth in her eyes and then turned to Spock. “I have heard much about you, Spock. I am familiar with your sire.”

Spock acknowledged this and couldn’t help nut murmur, “It is unusual to find a Vulcan Priestess on Risa.”

“Indeed. I suppose it is unusual to find a Vulcan at all,” she returned. “I am currently on sabbatical.” She paused. “A crisis of logic.”

“Fascinating.”

“I assure you I still quite trained and capable of this, however, or I certainly would not have agreed when your very charming mate asked.”

“My mate is persuasive.”

Spock was surprised when she chuckled. “As fascinating as I find him, I am well aware of your T’hy’la bond and how sacred it is. While predictable your jealousy is unfounded.”

“Hmm.”

Jim laughed right with her. “She’s got your number. And don’t worry, Spock, I’m all yours.”

He gave his mate a disgruntled look but then moved to stand beside Jim and before the Priestess.

After a moment, she put her hands on each of their faces. “You may begin.”

“Spock, I commit myself to you body, mind and soul,” Jim spoke flawless Vulcan.

“Jim, I commit myself to you body, mind and katra.”

T’Merr closed her eyes. “As it comes down from the beginning without change, this is the Vulcan heart, this is the Vulcan soul.”

Very slowly she lowered her hands from their faces. She folded them in front of her.

“I am honored to experience such a strong and worthy bond. Fortune smiles upon you.”

Spock arched a brow at her flowery, illogical words, but he nodded.

“Now, I will leave you to mark the occasion as you see fit.”

She departed in something of a willowy cloud and Jim turned to Spock, grabbing his hands.

“Thank you for that, T’hy’la,” Spock whispered.

“You are welcome. I thought, after everything, after our Pon Farr, after these years together, it would be nice.”

“And it was.” He glanced toward their suite. “We have one more night here. Perhaps we ought to go inside and mark the occasion as T’Merr suggested.”

Jim laughed. “I love the way you think.”

“Great minds, T’hy’la. Great minds.”

We will see these two one more time on January 31st

January 26, 2023

Bombay, Chapter 1

A while ago, I did a fic where Spock was a cat, Nine Lives. I don’t remember the exact date. It was so much fun I’ve been itching to do something sorta similar.

So, for the next several Fridays you can expect a new chapter of Bombay. Not sure how long it will be so it may go into months on here before there is a resolution. Once completed it will be proofed for errors and go on AO3. But that’s going to be a while, so for now the place to read Bombay will be here on Fridays.

This is an AU. You won’t see most of our usual friends in their accepted roles. But you will see most of them.

This isn’t exactly how Bombay looks but use your imagination! LOL

Chapter One: A Companion

Spock had taken an apartment close to the Academy Campus where he worked full time as a professor.

Prior to his employment there, he’d served aboard a starship under Captain Pike, but after an injury to his left leg caused him to have a permanent limp, Spock had been retired from active duty.

For the most part he found his present position fulfilling. He kept in regular touch with his mother and had a small circle of friends he saw occasionally.

As most Vulcan children had been, Spock had been preliminarily bonded to another Vulcan child. Subsequently, T’Pring, the Vulcan female, had discovered her desire to bond with another and Spock had not objected to having their link dissolved. In any event, Spock had already come to the conclusion that he preferred males.

Despite his limp, which the leg itself only pained him on certain damp days, Spock chose to walk from Campus to home. The apartment itself was on the ground floor, to the left of the cactus garden area just as one passed the double entrance doors into the courtyard.

On this particular Wednesday, he had returned from teaching early as he only had morning classes and he felt slightly under the weather so he didn’t linger at his on-campus office.

Standing in front of his apartment door was a cat. It cried loudly on Spock’s approach.

The cat was mostly white but had orange patches on the top of his head and on his paws. And he had the most striking blue eyes on a cat Spock had ever seen.

“Hello there.”

The cat rubbed against Spock’s legs, purring. He lolled around the complex, guessing the cat belonged to one of the tenants there. He wasn’t sure which one.

“Go home to your caregiver, please, and do stay out of trouble.”

Spock went into his apartment and did not think further about the cat for several days.

****

It was on the very next Wednesday, perhaps an hour or two later, when Spock saw the cat again. What Spock saw was alarming.

The cat was outside the front of the apartment building and a man Spock did not know pulled back his leg and kicked the cat very hard, knocking the cat to the ground.

“Stop!” Spock yelled.

The man ignored Spock and kept on walking.

Spock was torn between pursuing the man and showing him what it would be like to be kicked by someone else and rendering aid to the likely injured feline. Spock’s concern for the cat won out and he approached the poor creature.

By now it had pulled itself to its feet and hidden behind shrubbery. Spock saw its big wide blue eyes staring fearfully at him.

“It is all right.” Spock crouched down. “I will not harm you. I promise.”

After a few more moments of hesitation, the cat came out and sniffed warily at Spock’s outstretched hand. He mewled.

Spock picked up the cat and stood. “I’m afraid it’s off to the veterinarian for you, my friend.”

He knew of one a block or so away and though he didn’t really relish the walk in the windy afternoon, he had no choice. He did not own a hover car and the cat needed to be seen.

About an hour later, a Dr. Chapel examined the cat.

“Well, the good news is he’d just a bit bruised and sore in the spot where the nasty man kicked him.”

“He? So the cat is a male.” Spock had not actually examined it that closely before taking it for care.

She smiled quizzically at him. “Isn’t he your cat?”

“Negative. I don’t actually know who he belongs to. He hangs around my building and I saw the man kick him. I suppose he must be microchipped.”

Dr. Chapel shook her head. “Surprisingly no. If you don’t know where he lives I guess I’ll have to get one of the girls here to watch him. I want to see how he reacts overnight and I’d like to give him some pain medication. Once he’s okay we’ll try to find his owner. If we can’t find them soon though he’s going to have to go to a shelter?”

Spock frowned. “If it is acceptable, I will take him home with me and can watch him. I am able to give him medicine. I can foster him until his caregiver is found.”

Her smile broadened. “That’s wonderful then. I’ll make sure to get you a care package of food, medicine, a litter box and litter of course. I’ll be back shortly.”

And she left Spock with the cat who was now sitting up looking at him curiously.

“I will need to call you something,” Spock said out loud. He recalled seeing a particular shade of blue in an alcohol one of his friends drank. Bombay Sapphire. “Bombay. I shall call you Bombay.”

January 20, 2023

Flash Fic, January 19, 2023

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“How’s that feel?”

Spock leaned back in the giant spa tub which seemed vaguely obscene in size. Of course this room had been chosen to be luxurious after their “ordeal”. It wasn’t much of an ordeal, Spock had to admit. He and Jim had been together for so long that they had love making down to a “t” as Jim would say. And Pon Farr was just…a lot of love making. Even their first time, Spock discovered it wasn’t the horror he’d always imagined it to be.

Jim had added many soap bubbles, scented with roses, together with rose petals themselves.

“It feels a bit hedonistic,” Spock admitted.

Jim laughed. “This whole place is. Not just this room, this planet.”

“True. Would you join me?”

Jim’s grin widened. “I’d love to.” He dropped the terry cloth robe he’d pulled on earlier to the floor and then lifted a foot, then leg into the tub to join Spock.

After he was settled into the bubbles with Spock, Spock pulled him close so they could snuggle together in the heated scented water.

“Wish we could have one of these on the Enterprise.”

“I do not think they are considering adding such things to the layout of the ship. Even the captain’s quarters.”

“They totally should. We should have one in each one of our retirement homes.”

Spock considered. “You’ve mentioned retirement before. And more than once recently. Are you actually considering it?”

Jim shrugged against him. “Well. I mean someday, right? And I’d like to be young to enjoy aspects of it.”

“And yet during the admiral’s recent call you indicated you’d be up for another five years.”

“Hmm. Does that bother you? I know I probably should have talked to you first.”

“Being the leader of a starship is your first best destiny. I can hardly argue with that.”

“But you can, you know. This is a partnership.”

“Wherever you are, I belong. If you wish to serve another five years I am amenable.”

Jim smiled faintly. “As long as we both come back alive.”

“There is always that.” Spock wrapped his arms tight around Jim. “Still, this is quite nice. You may be right about having one of these wherever we retire to.”

Jim chuckled. “I’m always right, Mr. Spock.” “If you say so, Captain.” Then he put his fingers on Jim’s jaw to turn his face for a kiss

January 19, 2023

Flash Fic, January 17, 2023

When Spock opened his eyes he felt as though he had been absent from his world for a very long time, yet even as he rolled over from his stomach he noted his bondmate sitting on the edge of the hotel bed, smiling at him.

“T’hy’la?” His throat hurt some from yelling his release during intimacies and so the word came out a hoarse whisper.

“Welcome back to reality.” Jim handed him a glass of water and Spock drank from it greedily. Jim’s hand reached over to smooth a lock of Spock’s hair. “How do you feel?”

Spock considered his answer, then said carefully, “Better I believe.”

“Are you hungry? I bet you are. I have some quinoa and tofu stuff ready for you.” Jim made a face which almost cause Spock to laugh, but he wasn’t quite in a laughing mood.

“You are well?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve been awake and up for a while. I even took a dip in the pool outside our room.” He reached for Spock’s hand and squeezed it. “Let me get that food for you.”

Spock was reluctant to see Jim move away, not because he was still in the throes of Pon Farr, but more because, generally, afterward, he craved extreme closeness to his bondmate.

Jim returned in hardly any time though and returned to sitting on Spock’s bed. He handed him a plate of quinoa mixed with seasoned vegetables and tofu.

“I ordered that when I saw you were waking up. Bones said you’d be out about twelves hours but it was more like fifteen.”

Spock took a bite of the food and nodded. “It was quite exhausting. And I saw that you were settled and resting before I rested myself.”

Jim smiled. “Of course you did. Did you hypo my shoulder? I saw a tiny bandage there.”

“Yes, I gave you electrolytes per Doctor McCoy’s instructions. And a small sedative to help you to rest.”

“You’re good at taking care of me.”

“You are my T’hy’la.” Spock ate more of the food, feeling better with each bite. “You went swimming?”

Jim grinned. “I did. And had a long soak in the whirlpool tub. I never want to leave.”

“We do have a few days left for our shore leave,” Spock commented, amused.

“I think when we retire we should consider purchasing a vacation home on Risa.”

“Hmm. There are a number of possibilities for such things.” Spock finished the food and Jim took the empty plate away.

“Would you like to go for a swim?”

“Perhaps later.”

“The whirlpool tub?”

Spock nodded. “That sounds currently more agreeable.”

Jim stood and reached a hand to haul Spock up. “Come then. There are even bath salts and bubbles.”

Spock brought Jim close for a moment, holding him. “I adore you.”

“I know. Same, Spock. Same.” And Spock allowed Jim to take care of him. Soon, when he was energized, he fully intended to make Jim’s comfort his priority for the rest of their leave. Jim had surely earned it.

January 17, 2023

Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto)

Fan Fiction and Personal Ramblings

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