Just one more part to go for this series of flashes!
When Spock
arrived at the Rec Room, early, he quickly noted that the captain was already
there, again not his usual practice, and he was seated at a table for four with
McCoy, Scott, and Keenser. They were playing some sort of card game.
Spock approached.
“Captain?”
“Oh hi,
Spock. Got involved in this game here with the guys. I meant to message you to
tell you no chess game after all.” Jim smiled. “Sorry. Another time?”
He could
not help it, he felt himself stiffen, even as the other three occupants of the
table stared up at him. Spock could not have said why, but he was convinced
that Jim had started the game himself with the other three deliberately to get
out of the game with Spock.
“Very
well, Captain. If you will excuse me.”
And as Spock
walked away, he heard McCoy whispering to their captain.
After
that, Spock decided there was a reason Jim would not agree to spend time with
him, and whatever it was, Jim would tell him when he felt like it. In the
meantime, Spock would cease to bother him with invitations to play chess or
other time together.
A week
went by before, Nyota pulled him aside into the turbolift.
“Spock,
what’s going on with you?”
“To what
do you refer?”
“You’ve been
ignoring the captain for days. Barely speaking to him. Everyone’s noticed.”
Spock
frowned slightly, “Has the captain noticed?”
Nyota
gave him an incredulous look. “Of course he has. Haven’t you noticed the looks he’s been shooting you? Spock, if this is the
way you intend to woo Jim, I’m afraid you’re going to fail.”
“I am
not attempting to woo him.”
“Why
not?”
“Because
he has given no indication that he returns my affections. And in fact…”
“No indication?”
She slapped the wall of the turbolift. “I give up. You two are too much for anyone.”
The
doors to the turbolift opened and Nyota hurried out, leaving Spock standing
there by himself.
Spock
straightened away from Nyota who had motioned him over to her station so that
she could ask him what was wrong. He exchanged a look with her before stepping away.
“My
apologies, Captain,” Spock said coolly, returning to his science station.
Jim
waved that away. “Wasn’t just you.”
Sulu and
Chekov rather pointedly stared straight ahead.
“Mr. Chekov,
you’re part of the landing party. Lieutenant Uhura, please have Doctor McCoy,
Mr. Hendorff, and Mr. Scott meet us at the transporter room.” Jim rose from his
chair and headed for the turbolift, following by Chekov. “You have the command,
Spock.”
“Captain.”
He
stopped but didn’t turn around. “Yeah?”
“During
our prior meetings regarding this mission, it was concluded that I would be an
asset on the landing party.”
“I’ve
decided to have Chekov in your place. He could use the science experience.” Jim
turned then to gaze at Spock, expression schooled and blank. “Is that a
problem, Mister Spock?”
“No,
Captain.”
Jim
nodded and entered the turbolift as did Chekov and the doors closed.
Nyota
approached him. “What was that?”
Spock
exhaled. “I do not know.”
Much
later after the landing party returned, Spock went to the medbay. Surprisingly,
it was not Jim who had been injured, but Chekov and Hendorff. But Jim stood by
the biobed next to the ensign while McCoy examined him.
“Reporting,
Captain. The situation is stable.”
“Good,” the
captain replied. “You okay, Chekov?”
“Yes,
sir.”
Without
even looking in Spock’s direction, Jim went over to the biobed with Hendorff.
Nurse Chapel was with him. Spock followed.
“Good
work down there, Lieutenant.”
“Glad to
be of service, Captain.”
“Extra service
today.”
“Oh?”
Spock asked politely.
Hendorff
shrugged. “Nothing, Commander. They were just going to take the captain hostage
and I prevented it.”
“And got
injured in the process,” Jim added. “I’ll put an accommodation in your file.
How is he?” He directed this at Chapel.
“He’ll
be fine. Few days of rest, he’ll be good as new.”
Jim
smiled and nodded, turning away and heading for the exit.
Spock
followed.
Jim
stopped just outside the medbay doors turning, toward him/ “I’m off duty so I’m
headed for my quarters.”
“You
definitely could use some rest.”
“Yeah.
Why aren’t you on the bridge?”
“Mr.
Sulu is in charge at the moment, but I’m on my way there. Chess later?”
The
captain didn’t respond at first and Spock got the oddest feeling he was
counting to ten in his head. But then he very slowly let out a breath.
“Okay.
Sure. Why not? Twenty-one hundred. My quarters.”
“I will
be there.”
Jim
started to turn away, but then stopped. “You know what? Scratch that. How about
the rec room instead?”
“The…rec
room?” They had not played chess there in months. Jim preferred relaxing in his
quarts and frankly, so did Spock.
“Yeah.
We should socialize more with the crew, I think. Put in an appearance of a
united front. That kind of thing.”
“As you
wish, Captain.”
Jim
offered him a smile but it was brittle and Spock knew with absolute certainty he
had failed some kind of Kirk test.
Today’s Song Inspirations is You Sang to Me by Marc Anthony
Jim woke up with a bitch of a headache. He
supposed that was what he got for trying to drown his feelings in far too much
alcohol.
Lying in the bed next to him, head currently
turned in the other direction so Jim couldn’t see his face, was his first
officer.
Spock.
And wasn’t that an interesting end to the
night. Morning. Whatever.
The sliding glass door of the hotel room was
open and Jim could hear the waves lapping against the shore from his place on
the bed.
Damn, he loved shore leave.
He hadn’t before, to be honest. Spock had to
talk him into even going on shore leave, and worse than that, Spock hadn’t
intended to go. Until Jim had called him down.
Spock came too.
Jim had needed…well Spock, actually. The
comfort of Spock. Jim didn’t know when Spock had become that for him, but he
didn’t question it.
Jim had been sitting in the hotel bar, drinking
way too much, and alone besides, when he’d checked his messages and saw one
from his mom. Frank had died. And wow, that had filled him with a dozen
different feelings.
Suddenly he hadn’t wanted to be alone. Not at
all. And he’d taken out his communicator and stared at the contact for Leonard
McCoy.
But no. Bones wouldn’t do it.
He’d wanted Spock. Needed him. More than taking
his own next breath, he’d wanted the man, er Vulcan, he loved more than
anything or anyone in the entire Universe, there with him.
Spock had made it there, too, in under ten
minutes. Jim had timed him while he anxiously waited.
Jim had fallen into Spock’s startled arms,
letting loose of a billion different feelings. Crying and sniveling all over
the Vulcan, until Spock got him out of the bar and back to his hotel room,
making him coffee, and listening, quite patiently, to every word Jim said.
Spock had been unexpectedly philosophical,
speaking of life, truth, and being free. And Jim was. He was free of Frank and
all the memories at last.
Then as Spock lapsed into silence, suddenly
seeming to be out of words, Jim looked deep into those brown eyes and his heart
nearly beat out of his chest.
“You…”
“Jim?”
“I can’t believe I didn’t realize.”
“Realize?”
Jim had risen from where he sat in a chair and
rushed at Spock. The Vulcan, to his credit, had not moved away. He stood his
ground and stared right back at Jim.
“I’m going to kiss you now.”
And Spock kissed back. Boy did he ever kiss
back.
Jim had felt so much love, so much passion.
Even now he could hardly believe he’d never seen it in Spock’s eyes before,
because it definitely was there.
So much so that it was as if Spock sang to him.
Jim carefully rose from the bed, trying not to
disturb Spock after the night they’d had, and took a few steps over to the door
that led outside. He had no clothes on, but no one could see him from where he
stood. All that was around them was the ocean of the planet where they had
shore leave. Jim had chosen this particular room for that reason. No one around
him at all.
It promised to be a beautiful sunny day. Made
more beautiful with the realization that Spock returned every one of Jim’s
feelings. And more, perhaps.
Best of all, there was just the slightest buzz
in his brain that had nothing to do with the hangover. It flickered, warmed, and
then lit up, as the Vulcan himself opened his eyes.
Jim turned toward the bed. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Jim.” Spock sat up, wiping his
face with his hand. “You are standing before the open door with no clothes on.”
“Yep.”
Spock looked uncertain. “Jim, I—”
“You can’t take it back,” Jim said in a rush.
That earned him that famous raised eyebrow. “I
did not intend to take it back.”
“Good. Because I’m crazy for your love. Okay.”
He laughed. “Maybe just crazy. But damn, Spock, you’re amazing. And when you
melded us—”
“You are all right?”
“More than. You live inside me now.” Jim
exhaled. “I feel it. I feel you. And all that you feel. And I never want to be
without that, without you…again.”
He returned to the bed then, to kiss Spock,
because his beautiful love was looking vaguely befuddled, and it was such an
endearing look. He kissed him thoroughly.
“I’m hopelessly in love with you.”
“That is indeed excellent news because as you
are keenly aware, I love you as well.”
Oh yeah, he was. Every time Spock thrust within
him, he had punctuated it with “I love you”. It was glorious. Jim would
remember it for all his days.
“However—”
Jim stopped those words with his fingers,
shaking his head.
“If you were incapacitated due to alcohol—”
“No. I wasn’t. You had sobered me up enough. I
fully consented. And since we still have three more fantastic days of shore
leave, I intend to full consent frequently.”
Spock’s lips twitched. “I did not anticipate an
eagerness to engage in shore leave.”
Jim cupped Spock’s jaw as he leaned in for
another kiss. “I’m sorry I didn’t see what was right in front of me until now.”
“It was in front of both of us.” Spock started
to push him down on the bed.
“Wait! How about outside, on the beach? No one
is around.”
“Sand between our cheeks?” Spock shook his
head. “No. Perhaps a walk later after you have decided to rest from your
consenting.”
Jim grinned. “You’re on. Sing to me.”
Spock frowned. “Sing, Captain? But I lack the
skills associated with—”
Jim laughed and drew him down for a kiss. He didn’t let him up for air for quite some time.
As you will see, things do not go so well for our clueless Vulcan. Wonder what’s up!
After he
left Nyota’s quarters, Spock went to their captain’s, but there had been no
answer. Spock felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. He was not certain
he was at all prepared to acknowledge the possibility that Nyota’s speculation
might be correct. But he also found those occasions when he spent time with the
captain to be preferable to making do with merely himself.
He had
not made any specific plans to see Jim, however, anticipating spending his
evening with Nyota, so he had no right to feel that Jim should have been there
to see Spock.
The next
morning, Spock stopped by the captain’s quarters as was his usual practice on
the way to the mess for breakfast. There was no response to his attempt to
rouse his captain.
With a
slight frown, Spock stepped over to the computer on the wall. “Computer, locate
Captain James Kirk.”
“Captain
Kirk is in the mess room, Deck 7.”
Spock
knew that he was not late, but knowing Jim’s sleep patterns were often not
ideal, he made his way to Deck 7 and the mess.
There he
found Jim sitting in a corner at a table reserved for only two, which was not
at all his usual practice. But as Spock approached, Jim’s gaze flicked up to
Spock’s face and it gave Spock no little pause.
There
was absolute blankness there. Not sorrow, not anger, not happiness. No emotion
at all. Which was also unlike Jim.
Still,
Spock was used to both having breakfast with Jim and his mood swings, so he
made to take the seat opposite Jim.
“Good
morning, Captain.”
He
expected Jim’s usual banter or perhaps a reminder to call him Jim, but instead
he got a curt, “Commander.”
Spock’s
uneasiness grew, but he quelled it for the moment. “I was surprised you had
already left for breakfast.”
“Were
you?”
“You generally
wait for me.”
The
captain nodded. “Didn’t feel the need. And I’m done, actually, so if you’ll
excuse me…”
His gaze
swept over Jim’s mostly untouched food. Jim never left food. Not long after
their fight with Krall, while still on Yorktown, Jim had confessed to Spock one
night over chess that he’d been on Tarsus and wasting food was anathema to him.
“Jim…”
But the
captain was standing and pushing back his chair. “I’ll see you the bridge,
Mister Spock.”
Spock
nodded, tamping down his unease once more. “Chess to—”
“No.”
“You are
busy?”
“No. I
just don’t want to. Bridge, Mister Spock.”
And then
Jim was gone and Spock was left staring at his uneaten food.
“Do not
be ridiculous, Nyota. I am most certainly not in love with the captain.”
Nyota
smirked at Spock. “No?”
“Of
course not. He is my friend and superior officer and that is it.”
They had been approaching her quarters when she had made the suggestion that he viewed their captain with a lot more than just friendly affection. They stepped inside, Spock glad they were no longer in the corridor where anyone could hear them.
“You two
are practically joined at the hip. He can’t stop touching you and you let him.
Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
Spock
paused as he took a seat on the sofa in her room. “Does that bother you?”
“No.”
She went to her wardrobe. “I mean sure it did a little when we were still
together, but honestly, that was part of why I ended our romantic
relationship.” She unzipped her dress.
“You did
not tell me this.”
“Spock,
at the time I was dealing with the end of our love. Well, that kind of love. If
you couldn’t figure out it was Kirk you loved, why should I tell you?” Nyota
slipped out of her uniform dress and pulled on a robe, which she tied at the
waist. “But now it’s been months, Spock, and you still haven’t faced the
truth.”
Spock
thought about his interactions with the captain. He did look upon Jim with a
great deal of affection, but surely it was just as a…a friend.
“Do you
remember how jealous you got at that bar on Fenrah 2? You actually put yourself
between Kirk and that woman.”
“Her
intentions were questionable in nature and as first officer—”
“She
just wanted to fuck him, Spock.”
“It was
my duty to protect him from harm.”
“Honey,
you are a very logical being. Think about it. Think deep. Your wanting to
protect him from paramours has nothing to do with your duty. You want him for
yourself and you hate the idea of anyone else with him.”
Spock
opened his mouth, closed it. Was it true? His counterpart had implied he was
close with his captain, but he had never said…of course he was quite
tight-lipped. And Spock had been with Nyota. There had been no reason to
believe their timeline would necessarily mirror the ambassador’s.
“You’re
always defending him to others, too. And Spock, you aren’t at all comfortable
with anyone else touching you except him.” She sat beside him and smiled. “And
me, of course. But I’m your former lover and he’s the one you want now. It
makes sense.”
Spock
swallowed heavily. “How do I…but he does not…”
Nyota
laughed. “Oh yes he does. Trust me. He’s
crazy about you.”
As some of you know, our garage was broken into on Friday while we were at work. The garage is separate from our townhome, fortunately, but they did take a few things, including an unopened portable AC, as well as breaking our garage door opener mechanism. We’d been delaying getting one of those new sliding metal garage doors and openers that most of our complex had, with us having the original wooden door, but looks like we are no longer able to delay that. It was a cost thing, but God or the burglar, made that decision for us. So this week we are dealing with getting estimates, HOA approval etc. We had a very nice police officer out Friday night, but he admitted there was little they could really do since there are no cameras and all that. I suspect that someone targeted the AC because nothing else of value was really taken. It was a break in, grab and go kind of thing. But definitely makes you disappointed in your fellow human beings.
In other news, we are still celebrating M’s birthday. We had a get together at a friend’s on Saturday and Sunday night it’s a dinner with the family at a nice restaurant. M’s birthday is actually Tuesday but it’s easier to celebrate on a weekend. Plus when we get home from work Tuesday, one of the garage door people will be by to give us an estimate on everything.
Coming up for updates this week should be The Fling, Stranded 3 and The Mysterious One. I love the flash coming on Friday very much. And I have a new flash series coming on Wednesday too.
This coming weekend in front of us is Labor Day, of course. We are going to the Hollywood Bowl Saturday the 31st for the John Williams Music thing. Should be fun. Then is the three day weekend! And September. Busy times, my friends.
Tomorrow is Chris Pine’s birthday, so I am including a fan video someone made a few years back. Fun!
Hands suddenly covered Spock’s eyes so he
could no longer see the book he had been reading.
“Guess who?”
Spock covered the hands with his own, removed
them from covering his vision, and turned. “Jim!”
Jim laughed. “Good guess. Well, especially
since you were looking right at me.” He thrust Spock’s book aside. Spock
suddenly had a lap full of Jim. “Hiya, sweetheart.”
Spock put his arms around Jim. “I thought you
were not returning from the conference for two more days.”
“I got bored, so I left early.” Jim glanced
around their yard where Spock sat in a Adirondack chair. “You’re not too cold
out here?”
“I have my blanket. And I was thinking of
returning inside.”
Jim snuggled close to him. “I’ll warm you up.”
Spock accepted the snuggling. “I had intended
to make you dinner when you were back in two days for our…”
“Our?” Jim prompted.
“Anniversary,” Spock admitted, blushing.
Jim scrunched up his face. “Our…but we bonded
in December. And we got married in January.”
Spock sighed, blushing more. “The anniversary
of when I first realized I was in love with you.”
“Oh.” Jim stared at him.
“Ridiculous, I know. Never mind. It was a
stupid notion.”
“Oh, honey! No.” Jim put his hands on Spock’s
face. “I love that. I love you. I was just…taken aback. Because you are never
particularly romantic.” Jim leaned in and kissed him. “And that’s just…wow.”
Spock smiled slightly when Jim pulled away. “I
haven’t cooked you dinner yet. It might be terrible.”
“Eh. We can make it together.” Jim got off
Spock’s lap and reached down to pull Spock up. “Let’s go inside. I can’t wait
to show you just how much I missed you.”
Please see Super Flash 3 before reading this (and Super Flash 1 and 2)
The last of the super flashes before their story continues beginning October 04, 2019 and continuing every Friday through December 27, 2019.
Hopefully I have you eagerly waiting for more!
Spock
got closer again and immediately reached for the hand he had been holding
before. “Is this all right?”
“Very.”
Jim searched Spock’s eyes. “I thought…I mean when I said I loved you, well, you
didn’t say it back.”
“You
did not allow me to finish. I merely thought it was not the time for us to
declare such deep feelings. I never intended to imply I didn’t feel them.”
Spock paused. “Jim, everyone on the ship knows of my affection for you, how could
you not?”
Jim
opened and closed his mouth. Opened it again. “Uh. I don’t know. When were you
going to tell me?”
“When
it became relevant. As it just did.”
Jim
rolled his eyes. At least they didn’t hurt. “Not funny by the way.”
Spock
leaned in to kiss him again. “I apologize,” he murmured, kissing Jim’s lips
softly.
“Is
this real?” Jim asked, breathlessly.
“Yes,
ashayam.”
“Okay,
break it up, you space boyfriends.” Bones pushed Spock aside and gave Jim a
shot.
Jim winced, but honestly the pain wracking his body was worse than any shot pain. “Thanks. I think.”
Bones
smoothed the hair off Jim’s forehead. “You’re lucky to be here. We’re lucky you
are.”
“That
bad huh?”
Bones
glanced Spock’s way and then back to Jim. “Worse. This doesn’t leave this room
or the three of us, but let’s just say I was lucky to have a serum or two left from
a certain someone.”
Jim
frowned. “Khan?”
Bones
nodded.
“It
was still good?”
“Kept
it in deep freeze and yeah. Stuff is practically indestructible. But you aren’t.
So cut it out, will ya?”
Jim breathed out, glad it didn’t hurt quite as much as before thanks to Bones’ happy shot. “What’s the bad news then?”
Spock
stepped forward. “We were forced to inform Starfleet Command of your injuries,
Captain.”
“And?”
“Komack wants you to take a leave,” Bones said.
“What?”
“A
leave of at least three months,” Spock explained. “Your choice of locations.”
Jim’s
jaw tightened. “This is bullshit. He can’t take my command away from me!”
“He’s
not, Jim. He’s not. No one is being named captain in your place.” Bones patted
his shoulder. “Jim, I am telling you, your injuries were bad. You’re not even
getting out of this bed for another three weeks.” He held up his hand. “No
arguments. None. I’ve had it, Jim.”
Jim
bit his lip.
Spock
reached for and took Jim’s hand in his as Bones stepped back. “Jim. The Enterprise
will be out of commission for those three months. It will be a leave for all of
us. Considering the missions we have endured lately, it was highly recommended.
And the ship can use some repairs, according to Mr. Scott.”
“So
they really aren’t replacing me?”
“They
are not. They could not. The crew would mutiny and I have no desire to command
while you are away. I hope to spend your leave with you.”
Jim
closed his eyes and sighed. “Okay.”
“Do
you know where you wish to spend that leave?”
“No,”
Jim admitted, opening his eyes to look at Spock. “I can’t believe you’re really
here. And that you’re saying all these wonderful things.”
“I
am grateful you are here. Doctor
McCoy did not exaggerate, Jim. If you had died…”
“I
didn’t,” Jim said softly.
“Rest
now, ashayam. We have time to decide where our leave will be.”
Jim smiled, feeling suddenly rather loopy. “And to start our life together.”
“Indeed.”
Spock leaned down to kiss him once more. “Taluhk nash-veh k’dular.”
There is still one more part to this. And then…surprise surprise, this is the Kirk and Spock you get to read about for every Friday Flash in October, November and December.
You will love them.
You are welcome.
When
Jim first woke up, the sound of medbay machinery irritating to his ears, he
thought perhaps he had died after all. For there was a warm hand holding his so
tenderly. But then his entire body throbbed with excruciating pain that had him
sucking in a sharp breath.
“Not
dead then.”
His
hand was quickly released and then Spock’s face hovered over his, leaning in.
“Jim? Jim, are you awake?”
“Obviously,”
Jim muttered. Spock’s face was so close to his they could have kissed. Jim
didn’t though. He opened his mouth to speak more when Spock’s mouth covered
his. “Mmph.”
Spock
pulled back, but not far. “I apologize. I was overcome.”
Despite
the pain wracking his body, Jim smiled. “You can become overcome any time.”
“Jim,
I…” And then he was kissing Jim again.
A
throat cleared.
Spock
pulled back again, but this time straightened away from Jim.
“Jim,
thank God. Chapel told me Spock was attacking you.”
“I
was not attacking the captain.”
Bones
waved this away and peered down at Jim. “Damn it, Jim. You scared the bejesus
out of us.”
“Sorry.
I…”
“Be
quiet. I’m giving you a lecture. You almost died on us three times since Spock
got you back to the ship. Not cool, Jimmy. Not cool at all. Spock and I, not to
mention everyone else, almost had heart attacks. We’re too old for this crap.”
“Hurts.”
Bones’
eyes softened. “I’m not surprised. And there’s some bad news, at least you’ll
think so. I think it’s warranted. But let me get you something for the pain.
I’ll leave you with the lovesick Vulcan for the moment. Be right back.”
