Disclaimer: I don't own Spock, Nyota, Kirk, McCoy, Cupcake or the Enterprise
Special thanks to Notes in the Class room for the beta help.
This story follows the same assumption as "How the Mighty", Fall of Vulcan left too many unbonded males, Pon Farr set in early and with a vengeance on many of them…bad things happened and Pon Farr became common knowledge.
Pon Farr 35
During the first few months after Pon Farr was publicly revealed, whispers and stares on the Enterprise were cast in Spock's direction. But gradually they dissipated...just as Spock expected they would.
Spock had extensive combat experience, he knew in the end, when you were in the field, the only thing you cared about was that the guy next to you had your back. And Spock always had the back of the crew...the good of the many outweighed the good of the few, after all. And everyone knew he was bonded, married even -- and his bond mate conveniently resided on the same ship.
Still, after his thirty-fifth birthday, things on the Enterprise became a bit uncomfortable. Spock had no idea how, but somehow his age was common knowledge -- it wasn't like he publicly celebrated birthdays, and he certainly wouldn't have allowed a big fuss over that birthday.
But most of the crew did know...and Spock felt like they were all holding their breath watching him, wondering when It was going to happen. He was frequently asked most solicitously, "How are you feeling today, Mr. Spock?" An uncomfortable question for a Vulcan under any circumstances. He was even told by a few well-meaning crew members, "Don't worry, you've always been there for us...we don't think any less of you for...It, you know."
He dryly suggested to Jim, McCoy, and Nyota that perhaps a daily Spock report should be emailed to the entire crew. The report would say Today Spock is unemotional or Today Spock is amorous and homicidal -- because, of course, everyone knew Vulcans had only those two emotional states.
Nyota suggested that instead of an email, wearing a smiley face button would be much more fun -- one with a straight flat-line mouth and eyebrows for normal days, or one with a squiggly line mouth and a raised eyebrow for those other days.
Thankfully, neither of these suggestions was taken seriously.
And as the first month of his thirty-fifth year rolled into the second, and then the third, everyone seemed to lose interest. Spock even began to wonder if it would happen at all.
Emotional well-being had an effect on Pon Farr. He was a much more content creature than his counterpart had been. Unlike his counterpart, he was bonded to Nyota...she was generally a happy, fulfilled person, and she loved him as he loved her. And he had two close friends -- Jim Kirk and Doctor McCoy.
He didn't hold aspirations to complete the kohlinar -- the ritualistic purging of all emotions--as his other self did. He was comfortable with his emotions and lack thereof -- he really wasn't emotional precisely in the same way as a human. He could have had better control of his outward display from time to time...but wasn't that true of everyone?
He began to think he'd dodged a bullet...and if he was honest with himself, he had to admit he was a bit smug about that.
x x x x x x x x x
On the tenth month, twenty-third day, and twentieth hour of Spock's thirty-fifth year, he found himself on shore leave. The crew was celebrating something or other as a team...which was why Spock couldn't get out of it. He did not like shore leave. The crew accepted him, but strangers were not as generous.
They were at a bar, a fairly nondescript one on Earth. Spock was nursing a Scotch between Scotty and McCoy, discussing alternatively the latest warp coil technology and the most recent discoveries in xenophysiology as they pertained to Vulcan-human hybrids -- a topic of considerable interest in the galaxy with so many Pon Farr marriages.
A group of five human males next to them started to get rowdy. The words "pointy-eared-psycho" were tossed about. McCoy turned in his seat and stared at the group. Jim stood up from where he was sitting and moved next to McCoy. Spock felt Nyota approaching him through their bond. She was ready to kill...
Spock sat where he was with Scotty and continued to talk warp-coils. He was angry, but going psycho when one was being called a psycho hardly seemed helpful to the cause. For his part, it seemed like Scotty didn't notice.
Nyota came over and slipped a hand onto Spock's.
...and that pushed the rowdy bunch over the edge.
"Oh, no, I can't believe they allow that at this place," said one man.
"He probably mind-fucked her. Just some weak-minded little bitch..." said another.
Spock put the glass down much more gently than was needed, a wave of green anger rising in the pit of his stomach. Really, insulting him was one thing, but...
As Nyota felt his anger, hers cooled. It's okay, Spock, she whispered through their bond. I know the truth...
But Spock felt it really was not okay. Turning around on his bar stool he surveyed the five men. They were inebriated, probably untrained...he felt his upper lip begin to curl up.
One of the five rowdy men stepped forward. "Hey, what's the matter, psycho? Did that get to you? Are you going to do something about it? Well, are you?"
Spock's heart rate increased. His hands balled up in fists and began to shake...which was odd--normally in a fight he was extremely composed. He was so startled by his involuntary reaction that it caused him to pause...to consider...And at that moment, Lieutenant Commander Giotto, aka Cupcake, came lumbering past Jim and McCoy. With a smooth motion, he hit the offending man squarely in the sweet spot of his jaw. The man was knocked out instantly...his companions rushed to him, Spock forgotten.
"Whoa," said Cupcake, shaking his hand. "I think I tripped and accidentally hit him with my fist."
"Looked like a trip to me," said Jim. "I'll put it in my incident report."
"Do you need anything for your hand?" asked McCoy, not bothering to check the man on the floor.
Tilting his head, Spock watched as the rowdy group dragged their fallen companion from the room. He heard whispers of, "I think they're Starfleet" and "Not worth it."
Spock looked around at his friends now going back to their conversations and their drinks...all but Nyota, who stood in front of him. He felt curiosity and affection from her.
Gazing up at her, he felt a small ripple of happiness and...love. The love and happiness expanded until they completely displaced the green of hostility he'd just felt a few moments before...and then just kept growing. He took a deep breath and momentarily closed his eyes. The emotions were swelling with such intensity he didn't think he could contain it...and he felt something else swelling as well. He wanted...so many things...
The feelings of happiness, love and arousal burst over the dam of all his mental shields to his bond-mate as though a release valve had been opened. The feelings subsided to a more manageable level even as Nyota gasped audibly in delight. He opened his eyes.
That was wonderful, she whispered in his mind. As these thoughts hit him, he felt the wave of emotion rising in him again...and other things, too. He tried to suppress both...
Maybe instead of trying suppress it...maybe we should take advantage of it? Nyota said in his mind. He looked up at her to see a suggestively-raised eyebrow. "It would be very logical, my Spock," she said out loud.
He felt his lips quirk up, his skin flush, and his body sway dangerously forward on the stool. His eyes did not leave hers. She was his for the taking...
And then he felt her...curiosity and concern...
Are you alright, Spock? You feel unbalanced....
Dimly he was aware that his body was wobbling...
Jim's hand was suddenly on his shoulder, pushing him up, keeping him from falling. "Hey, buddy, you okay? You look a little greener than normal."
Spock's eyes were glued to Nyota's...but he felt his hand going up to pat the hand Jim had on his shoulder. A bridge of empathy opened up between Spock and Jim, and Nyota was sucked in, too.
In the few years he'd known Jim, there had been telepathic and mental contact -- accidentally, and on purpose on a few occasions. So it wasn't like touching a stranger. It felt familiar and good...and Spock wanted Nyota...
But...wait...they were concerned...and why were they concerned? It was making him concerned...something must be wrong...what was wrong?
Now he was worried...was that the faint outline of a nipple on Nyota's blouse? Licking his lips, he leaned forward against Jim's restraining grip.
Oh. Nyota was surprised now. He felt her willing herself to be calm, be at ease...that was nice. He still wanted the nipple though...because it was his...and...
...Jim was still worried...that was disconcerting...
"Jim, everything is alright," Nyota said, suddenly. "You have to believe everything is alright."
And suddenly from Jim, Spock felt...comprehension...
That was a very pleasant sensation for a Vulcan to feel. Spock felt himself straighten. His eyes left Nyota's nipple and went back up to her face.
Everything will be just fine, Nyota whispered into his mind.
"Everything is going to be fine, Spock," said Jim...and Spock felt the warmest wave of affection and friendship run through his fingertips...he echoed it to both of them.
Where was Leonard...Leo? Why wasn't the doctor here?
And then suddenly the doctor was there, moving around Nyota to sit on the other side of Spock.
"Spock, are you alright --"
Spock grabbed his hand, too...but his eyes were still on Nyota. His Nyota...
Some part of Spock's mind whispered--this is what it means to feel over joyed.
"What the..." said McCoy.
Spock felt confusion but happiness, too -- from Leonard...Leo, Jim and Nyota. His Nyota...
Feeling very, very, very happy now, Spock forced himself to bite back a purr. At least he hoped he bit it back...
"Yes, Spock, we all love you," Nyota said.
And Spock realized they really did.
Suddenly Spock was aware that he was not just holding Jim's hand; he was holding Leonard's, too. He let go of both quickly. "Excuse me, Jim. Doctor...." He blinked. How odd.
"Maybe you should go back to the ship," said McCoy.
"Yeah," Jim said taking his hand off Spock's shoulder. "Even though it's against regulations to beam up from a civilian area for unofficial purposes...I think I'll have engineering pick you guys up...maybe from the alley," Jim said, taking out a comm.
"I assure you, Captain, that is not necessary," said Spock. He felt perfectly fine. What was the worry?
McCoy looked up at Jim and then at Nyota. They all held each other's gazes a few seconds too long. Spock wondered what that was about.
"You know, it's not necessary at all, Spock," said McCoy. "We'll just walk you outside, through the side door. It's closer."
Come, my Spock, Nyota whispered happily in his mind. You know you don't like these places.
He did not like these places. He let himself be led to the side door by the three humans. As they exited he said, "I think it would be more logical to catch a shuttle cab to the transporter station from the front --"
And then he felt the buzz of transporter static. He looked up to see Jim and McCoy waving to him and smiling.
Suddenly he wanted to bite Nyota desperately and hard--in a most loving, affectionate way, of course.
x x x x x x x x x
The transporter light flashed around Spock and Uhura and they disappeared.
McCoy looked over at Jim...they'd both had telepathic contact with Spock from time to time. Accidentally, or for practical purposes. But this...
"That was --" McCoy cocked his head to the side. It was amazing. For a moment he had felt connected at some deep basic level with his three closest friends...and it had been...wonderful...they had all been...just...happy.
"Yeah..." Jim said, not looking at him. "It was."
"Do you think...?" McCoy began; he didn't want to say the words Pon Farr, didn't want to associate that word with the thing he had just experienced...because this thing was good.
"Oh, yeah," said Jim, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, yeah."
A/N:
Nope, it's not over...next chapter to come sometime soon...not sure exactly how explicit I'll get...
If you want to read the combat experiences of which Spock refers, you can see them in "The Vulcan" (Click my name, then go to my stories). There is also some Spock/Nyota lovin' in that story, too.
If you want to read the story of a emotionally traumatized Vulcan in Pon Farr go to How The Mighty Chapter 10 "The Seven Year Debt."
Reviews are like credits...please let Notes and I know if you enjoyed this…or didn't!