Rating: PG for Merik getting stabbed
Summary: This is from Spock's POV, in the Episode 'Bread and Circuses'.
When I heard the soldiers call me a barbarian, it was the ultimate irony. I was now being insulted for being Vulcan, as opposed to my childhood, when I was accused for being non-Vulcan. Jim cast a sympathetic glance at me; the pain from deep inside me was mirrored in his kind, understanding eyes.
In the arena, McCoy was insulting me, while asking my help in his own language. He is the only person I know who can do that.
The last part of the war with the Doctor was over, when I repeatedly 'tested' the solid iron jail bars. He came up to me and started, hesitantly, to try and say what I later found out was to be a thanks. "Spock, uh, I know we've, er, had our disagreements. Um, maybe they're jokes, I don't know. As Jim says," At the mention of his name, I shudder imperceptibly//Jim…//, "we're not even sure ourselves sometimes. But, er… what I'm trying to say is…" I begin to grow impatient. This was no time for McCoy's sentimentalism.
Starting to speak, I portray some of my annoyance, for my controls are worn down from worry for Jim. Will they kill him? Will it be painful? Will they torture him? "Doctor, I am seeking a means of escape. Will you please be brief?"
McCoy starts over. "What I'm tryin' to say is, you saved my life in the arena." I remember. As much as I express dislike for the good Doctor, he still is my friend. An odd sort of friend, perhaps, but a friend nonetheless.
"Yes, that's quite true."
McCoy's eyes widen fractionally, and he becomes indignant. "I'm tryin' to thank you, you pointy-eared hobgoblin!" He returns to his insults. I respond in my customary manner, however, it comes out somewhat harsher than I intend.
"Oh, yes, you Humans have that emotional need to express gratitude. 'You're welcome', I believe is the correct response." I cross in front of him, toward the other corner of our cell. The attempt at closing the subject is successful, however, the conversation goes on.
McCoy starts talking again, grinding on my nerves, until I hear what he is saying. "You know why you're not afraid to die, Spock? You're more afraid of living." I look away, knowing he has hit the bulls-eye. "Each day you stay alive is just one more day you might slip and let your human half peek out." I glance back briefly, wanting to see his expression, but I hide my face from him again, for my eyes betray my controlled face. What really astonishes me is that it was exactly what Jim would have said. In a different tone, perhaps, but the words are the same. "That's it, isn't it?" As if he doesn't know. "Insecurity. Why, you wouldn't know what to do with warm decent feeling." That part of his tirade, however, is completely wrong. I know exactly what I would do, if I got a 'warm decent' feeling from someone else than Jim. I would wrap it up and give it to Jim as a present to the one who finally listens to me, understands me, cares about me…
"Really, Doctor?" I respond. McCoy nods.
"I know…I'm worried about Jim too." And the sparring is over. That one subject, the one emotion that I admit to binds us together. Just then Jim comes running around the corner. My heart leaps.
"Are you alright Jim?" McCoy asks
"What did they do to you, Captain?" I inquire, not sure I want to know.
"They threw me a few curveballs, that's all, no time to explain…" He goes on, but I am not listening. I am just so relieved that they didn't hurt him, or kill him…It is similar to the feeling after I believed I had killed him and found out he was alive. The rest is a blur. I can only remember that somehow Captain Merik managed to get a communicator, beam us up, and get stabbed in the process.
A/N: Soooo…you like? Please review!