T'Slash: Well I meant to write this story about two days ago but…I kept putting it off. This is only being written cause, well to be honest I am being yelled at. Not that I don't want to write it. Another tribute to Leonard Nimoy and all he has given to all of us. He was truly a great man and he will never be forgotten
Disclaimer: I don't own and never will.
One to Beam Up
"It looks like he will be coming up any time now."
"Are you sure we want him here? I mean you remember what he was like alive! He might be worse dead!"
"Of course I want him here. He belongs here with m-us."
"Keptin, you can say vhat you mean."
"He is right, sir. We won't judge you."
"Fine I want him here with me. It's been far too long since I saw him…since everything happened."
"Well who would have thought that pointy eared bastard would get trapped in an alternate universe years ago! Only he could do it!"
"I think he also didn't have much left for him. He knew that we would be gone. He has accomplished so much here."
"And he will be joining us soon. Can you go and get the transporter?"
"Course, Cap'n. Ah wuld be honored."
Spock Prime could feel it. His time was drawing to a close here in a universe so like his own but…so different as well. He had been able to meet and help his counterpart, help James T. Kirk become Captain of the Enterprise. He helped his people after Vulcan had been destroyed by Nero. He had helped in the dealing with Khan and was able to hear that the Captain of the Enterprise had survived his Warp Core adventure.
"He is so very like you," Spock Prime said, thinking back to his own Captain. "They are all very like us."
"Spock, who is it you are talking about," a monotone voice said, coming from the right side of Spock Prime's bed. "There is no one but myself in the room."
"I know that, Sarek," Spock Prime said, a twinkle in his eye as he looked over at his counterparts Father. The only one who was here with him on this, his dying day. He was grateful for his presence. He did not have to be here. "I am merely remembering times long since gone. People long gone."
"Your old crew and your Captain," Sarek said, easily determining who his son but not son was talking about. "You…miss them."
"Very much," Spock Prime said, having no issue with admitting the emotion. Not like he had in his youth. Back when his struggled to suppress his Human half, thinking it to illogical. It took melding with V'Ger for him to see the error of his. He was lucky that his Captain had been willing to forgiving him for years of pain. Years of heartbreak. "We had…the best of times and the worst of times."
"Yet you encourage my son to follow in your footsteps. Many would consider that illogical," Sarek said, raising his eyebrow, brown eyes locked on brown eyes.
"He is half human. He is already closer to accepting that truth than I was at his age," Spock Prime said, eyes reflecting all of the emotions he was feeling. The loss of his crew, his family, his t'hy'la. "As a wise man once told me, 'If there's any true logic to the universe…we'll end up on that bridge again someday.'"
"Who told you this?" Sarek asked, looking over at Spock Prime seeing the sadness reflected in his eyes.
"You have already concluded who it is who has told me that," Spock Prime said, looking down, remembering those days. Those memories. How he now wishes that they were both on that ship again. That they were side by side as they should be…but that time was over. It was time for his counterpart and Jim to start that journey. "It was my Captain…my t'hy'la."
Sarek said nothing, his eyes widening and his eyebrows raising up to hide under his bangs. If there was ever a Vulcan shocked…this was it.
"I will admit that it is one of my…hopes that Spock will end up on the same road I travelled. His relationship with Uhura was…a surprise to me."
"Yet you wish for him to bond with a human male. One who has the reputation of being a womanizer," Sarek said, wondering if the elder had lost his mind with age.
"Jim is not such a womanizer as you would think. He has the capacity to feel deep…I have experienced it. I know the potential is inside this Jim as well," Spock said, looking over at the pendant that the younger Spock had returned to him many months ago. "They are different I cannot dispute that but they are alike as well. This Jim is very similar to my Jim. It would be illogical not to give Spock the chance to experience the friendship I was."
"I will allow my son to live his life. He choose Starfleet himself," Sarek said, before looking back at the elder dying man. "I know you had some influence. I thank you for helping my son."
"No need. I was selfish. I wanted one James T. Kirk and Spock to end up back on that bridge," Spock Prime admitted, looking over at the locket. He knew he didn't have much time now. "If I may trouble you with one last request for you."
"What is it?"
"May you bring the HOLO-EMITTER to me? I wish to listen to the message one last time. I also request that it be buried with my body. I do not wish to leave it behind."
"Of course," Sarek said, bring to pendant to him, laying it on top of his hands. "Do you wish for me to activate it for you?"
"No…I can do this alone," Spock Prime answered, gently taking it in his hand, happy to have it back and close to him.
Sarek nodded before leaving the room. He knew that if Spock Prime's captain had been his t'hy'la he would wish to listen to the message alone. If he had such a message from Amanda…he would have wished to listen to it alone as well.
Spock Prime waited for the door to close behind Sarek. He was thankful that he was left alone to see the message. He knew that Spock and Jim would be on the way but he did not believe that they would make it to him before the end. He would have liked to see them again but…his life was ending. He knew that.
Spock Prime smiled activating the Holo Emitter. He had wanted to see the message once more. To see his Captain's face once more before the end. He looked just as he remembered him. Not the young Captain in Starfleet gold but the older man, more sure of his role and his friends. More sure of Spock. He was old but still beautiful to Spock.
"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you," his Captains sang to him, a smile on his face. "I know I know, it's illogical to celebrate something you had nothing to do with, but I haven't had the chance to congratulate you on your appointment to the ambassadorship so I thought I'd seize the occasion."
It was here that his Jim's eyes smiled. That they showed his pride in everything Spock was doing. Everything he had become.
"Bravo, Spock," he said, smiling widely, "they tell me your first mission may take you away for awhile, so I'll be the first to wish you luck…and to say…." It was here that Jim had to stop for a second. He had grown emotion.
Spock Prime looked on, knowing what was coming. His t'hy'la had been proud of him. Had congratulated him but he had missed him. Missed his friend, his brother…his t'hy'la. Just as Spock Prime missed him now.
"I miss you, old friend," Jim said, staring out, looking directly at Spock Prime.
"I miss you as well, t'hy'la," Spock Prime said to the holo. Hoping, illogically, that somehow his Captain could hear him. Why had he left him? Why not take Jim with him…that would have given them more time together…but alas there was nothing he could do. What is is.
"I suppose I'd always imagined us…outgrowing Starfleet together. Watching life swing us into our Emertus years," Jim continued on sad but going on. "I look around at the new cadets now and can't help thinking…has it really been so long? Wasn't it only yesterday we stepped onto the Enterprise as boys? That I had to prove to the crew I deserved command…and their respect?"
Spock Prime chuckled slightly, knowing how much Jim worried about these thoughts. He had always worried about these things. The fact that…time flew by, as the humans say, and made him grown old. A man who once believed that he would never grow old. That he would die long before that time. "Jim…"
"I know what you'd say," Jim said, smiling brightly before trying to hide all emotion, thought his eyes still twinkled. "'It's their turn now, Jim….' And of course you're right…but it got me thinking."
Spock Primes eyes brightened again as he saw the excitement in his t'hy'la's eyes. Saw the joy in his eyes. The mischievousness that had never truly left him.
"Who's to say we can't go one more round?" Jim asked, almost bouncing in the holo, so excited about his idea. "By the last tally, only twenty five percent of the galaxy's been charted…I'd call that negligent. Criminal even – an invitation."
Of course Jim would think that. His heart was always in the stars. Just like himself. That is why they belonged together.
"You once said being a starship captain was my first, best destiny…if that's true, then yours is to be by my side. If there's any true logic to the universe…we'll end up on that bridge again someday," Jim said, believing in his heart that it was true.
"We have Jim. We have ended up on the bridge…it just was not this us," Spock Prime said sadly, wishing it was the two of them.
"Admit it, Spock. For people like us, the journey itself…is home," Jim said, smiling over at Spock Prime once more before the holo turned off.
"It is," Spock said, feeling his organs start to fail him. "The journey…and the Enterprise…are home. As are you, T'hy'la."
Spock Prime heard the door open. He was able to look up, seeing his young counterpart with his Jim. They had come…but it was too late. It was his time. He was able to smile at the two of them one last time before his eyes closed for the last time.
Jim and Spock went into the room. They knew they had arrived too late. He could see the light leave Spock Prime. His mentor…his friend.
"We were too late," Jim said, looking down at the old man. Tears coming to his eyes but he refused to let them fall. He knew the man had truly lived long and prospered and would not want his tears.
"Indeed," Spock said, looking down at his counterpart, seeing the pendent within his grasp. He knew he would have wanted to listen to it one last time.
Jim didn't say anything. Spock and he were still working on everything after what happened with Khan. They had much to talk about. He just wished he could have talked to the old man once more.
Jim reached out, just to touch the old Vulcan once more only for a bright light to come out, temporarily blinding him.
When the light faded he looked down into the empty bed.
"What the fuck?" Jim said, looking over at Spock who was just as shocked at him at his counterpart's disappearance.
Spock jolted feeling himself rematerialize. He didn't know where he was. He was just dying in his bed on New Vulcan. Where was he now? How was he still alive? He knew he died just moments ago.
"Ah got him, Cap'n," Mr. Scott's voice came through, forcing Spock Prime to open his eyes.
He stood in the Enterprise transporter room. The one from his first five year mission with his Captain and his friends. Mr. Scott stood in front of him, young once again. In his usual red Starfleet uniform.
"Et has been far too long, Commander," Mr. Scott said, coming up to stand next to the Vulcan. "Ah kno ye must be confused right now. It will clear up soon."
Spock didn't know what to say. His body felt younger. As if he had been reborn. Looking down at himself he noticed he was back into his science blue. Uniforms that had gone out of style years ago in his home universe.
"Follow me," Mr. Scott said, smiling as he led the still confused Vulcan out of the transporter room. Taking the well-worn path to the bridge where the rest were waiting for them. Waiting for him.
Spock Prime followed him quietly. He recognized the path they were following. Yet he still did not know how he was here. He had died.
"Mr. Spock!" he heard as soon as the turbolift opened onto the bridge. He saw Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov all smiling towards him, at him.
"About goddamn time, hobgoblin," came the familiar southern drawl. He looked over near the captain's chair seeing his friend and nemesis Doctor McCoy. "You just had to take the longest time to join us here. I thought Jim would go crazy."
"…" Spock opened and closed his mouths a few times, unsure of what he should say.
"It's okay, Mr. Spock we were all like you at the beginning. It will make sense soon enough," Uhura said, stepping forward and putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We are just happy to see you."
"As am I, Lieutenant," Spock said, looking down at her. Happy to see all of his friends again, though he knew not how he got here.
"At least you were able to beam him up, Scotty," Sulu said, smiling over at the engineer.
"Aye, ah was worried ah would not be able to. What with the alternate universe and everything. Luckily I was able to pinpoint Mr. Spock thanks to that holo device," Mr. Scott said, smiling over at the crew.
"Come on over here, Spock. I am sure there is someone else even more excited to see you," McCoy said, gesturing for Spock to get closer. The crew smiled as they made a path for the confused Vulcan. Allowing him to see the captain's chair for the first time since entering the bridge.
"Hello Spock. It's been a long time," Jim said, smiling over at his t'hy'la, drinking in the sight of him. Just as Spock was doing with him.
"Et iz okay, Mr. Spock. You are home," Chekov said, smiling as Spock Prime started to walk up to Jim.
"Jim…is it truly you," Spock Prime had to ask.
"Of course, who else would it be," Jim said, yearning to hug Spock but knowing he would not like that. Until Spock surprised him and drew him into his arms. "You are here now, t'hy'la."
"Do not leave me again," Spock Prime whispered, fearing that his was all a dream. That soon he would lose all of this again.
"Never, you are suck with us for the rest of eternity," Jim said, smiling up at Spock as he pulled away.
"God help us all," McCoy said, looking up towards the ceiling.
"I know you have a lot to tell us, Spock. Adventures we never had…but that can wait," Jim said, his eyes sparkling once more. "For now…we are back on this bridge once more."
"Indeed we are," Spock said, folding his arms behind his back once again.
"Course setting Keptin?" Chekov asked, back to his seat, Sulu right next to him.
"Spock?" Jim asked turning to his friend…his love.
"The destination does not bother me, Captain," Spock said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Well then, Uhura. Ladies choice," Jim said, laughing as he turned back to the communication officer.
"On no, sir. I couldn't," Uhura said, smiling over at the two of them. Happy they were reunited again.
"Scotty?"
"You're the Cap'n."
"Sulu?"
"Not my choice," Sulu said, exchanging grins with Chekov who also denied an answer. Scotty denying him an answer right after.
"Bones?" Jim asked turning to his last chance.
"You're the, Captain," Bones said, smirking over at his friend from his left side, looking over at Spock who could not bear to tear his eyes away from his t'hy'la.
"Fine then," Jim said pouting slightly which the crew only laughed at. "Second star to the right. Let's see what's out there."
"Logical, Captain," Spock said, putting aside all of his questions. There was time enough for that later. For now he was home. Back on the Enterprise taking another journey with the crew who was his family. With his T'hy'la. He did not wish to be anywhere else. And he knew that they were in agreement with that.
The End
T'Slash: I just could not pass on the opportunity to have them been reunited. I'd like to believe that is what happened. Or will happen with them all. I also could not resist using the pendent that was going to be in the 2009 movie. I hope that you all like this small story, its longer then I thought. To a great man…may he rest in peace.