'Oh good it's only been three freaking hours of nothing in the view screen…'

The captain of the Enterprise cracked his neck before returning to the PADD settled on the armrest of his chair. This was the third separate report that was compiled on the next planet that they would be beaming down to. The mission was a simple diplomatic one involving hand shaking, and picture taking. Maybe not the hand shaking if these pictures of the claws these inhabitants have are anything to go by. The planet was Federation friendly and eager to meet the newest flagship. Jim was certain that this was the 300th, give or take a couple hundred, diplomatic photo opt that the ship had been through. Luckily for Jim, and Bones, most of these missions ended with Jim being unscathed. Most of the time Jim skips through the reports on the diplomatic trips picking up the big points and waiting for Spock to fill him in, preferring to let Spock's cool collected voice fill his head.

Therein lays the problem. It started a day ago when Kirk got the first word of the ship's next assignment and started thinking about Spock calmly telling him about the planet and what the trip would entail. He couldn't keep the small smile off his face when he thought about the exasperated sigh he would receive from his first officer. Spock would never admit to anyone about that sigh, but it was there and Kirk always heard it. He thought about that and the fact that he could always tell how Spock was feeling just by the tiny changes in his body language or by the Vulcan's expressive eyes. He sometimes wondered how no one picked up on these things, but also loved being the one to understand the cryptic language of Spock. Jim's thoughts drifted to Uhura, and wondered what things she picked up on. He shook his head trying to push the thought of them sitting close holding hands and talking quietly. It was when he was analyzing why he didn't want to think about them together that he realized why. 'I want that. Not just that, but that with him…WHERE THE FUCK DID THAT COME FROM?' he was walking down a corridor turning into the mess hall when he came to the startling revelation. He stopped in mid stride and nearly got knocked to the floor by two security officers that where conversing behind him. After gathering his thoughts and waving off the confused looks he received from the two officers he plastered his charming James T. Kirk smile on and strolled into the line for breakfast.

He plopped down at his regular table across from Uhura, Spock, and Sulu while sitting next to Bones and Chekov. Scotty made an appearance for dinner and sometimes lunch, but always preferred breakfast down in engineering. The man was dedicated to say the least. All the eyes at the table greeted Jim with a nod while they continued to listen to Uhura talk about the newest translations she read about. She was always the center of attention when she talked, and her voice pristine and crisp while her face glowed. 'How do you compete with that? What,no! You don't want to compete with that. He is your first officer and one of your best friends. Your straight best friend.' Jim's internal monologue continued while the talk around the table continued.

"…and try not to end up on the receiving end of those massive claws Jim, cause I swear if I gotta stitch your ass up for a photo opt your next physical will include Walter's giving you a thorough prostate exam." Bones casually sipped his coffee as the rest of the table stifled their laughter. Spock was the only one not suppressing a grin externally.

Jim placed his hands over his heart.

"Hey! I'm quite capable of being professional and un-antagonistic."

"How about you steer clear of the entire female population and all the single males as well, to be safe." Bones raised cocked his eyebrow before rising up with his tray. He tossed a mock salute the table's way before heading to sick bay.

Jim started pushing the food on his plate around while the rest of the table continued their banter. He turned Bones' words over in his head thinking about the different times foreign leaders ushered their daughters towards him as well as some sons. He never took any of them up on their offers, not that anyone believed him, and it was just now starting to irritate him that everyone thought him to be a man whore. Still in his own head, Jim felt eyes on him intently. He glanced up from his mashed food to spy Spock staring right in his eyes. The intensity of that brief moment made Jim blush and almost choke on his own tongue which he tried hiding as a cough. He quickly gathered his plate and explained he had Captainy things to do before shift. Spock rose from his seat graceful as ever to join Jim on his way to the bridge. 'Does he have to move like that? So smooth and beautifully'

Jim was trying everything he could to keep his thoughts on the next mission and not on the very tall, dark, and hot Vulcan walking close to him talking about science reports. 'How does he make nitrogen compounds so sexy? Tall, dark, and hot? Damn it! No. Think about the claw people on Traxen' Apparently Spock wasn't the only one with readable body language…

"Captain, are you well?" Spock slowed his pace to match Jim's. Jim hadn't realized he had slowed down.

"…yeah. I'm fine." He gave a small forced smile.

"Fine has many variations of meanings. Fine is too relative a term."

Jim couldn't help but smile a little for real. 'Yeah, too damn cute.'

"I'm okay. Okay isn't too relative is it? Why do you ask?"

"You sat down without your normal greeting to the table. You then were quiet until Dr. McCoy commented on the next mission. You then became even more quiet as if you were upset by the doctors comments made in what I would assume was a jest at your personal history. Am I wrong in assuming there is something troubling you?"

'Damn perceptive Vulcan.' Jim layered on the JT Kirk smile and turning to Spock while stepping on to the lift.

"Nothing to worry about. I'm just ready to get this mission over with and maybe score some shore leave." Jim watched as worry and a bit of sadness passed through Spock's eyes. 'I hate lying to you, but you definitely don't want the truth."Yeah, I'm a bit broken hearted because I'm not actually a man whore and I'm in fact in love with you. I know that you're with Uhura and that I'm a mess, not to mention a man but I can't change how I feel so I'll just get better at sulking away from public." Not a great plan

"If you would like, I am always there for counsel on any matter you would like to talk about, Captain. Of course, that is if you are comfortable." Spock stood stark straight with his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Jim recognized this coupled with those eyes as a sign of nervousness.

'Why is HE nervous? I'm the one in love with him…' "Thanks Spock. I really appreciate it, but it's nothing. Really. We still on for chess for tonight?"

"Of course." Both strode to their positions on the bridge and Jim couldn't help feel the nervousness in his gut about chess later that day. He and Spock had played chess together many times, but never with these other feelings at the forefront. All these months of slowing falling for Spock, and Jim didn't see it coming till it nearing knocked him down.

'Just don't try and jump your best friend. Simple enough…right'