Riverside,Ia

Stardate::2278.69

"You know...it could be your constant nagging making my headaches worse Bones." Jim glared at his best friend. He really wasn't sure why they were arguing again but it seemed to happen more frequently, just like his headaches, nightmares, and mood swings.

An eye roll and a huff from the brunette next to him didn't help matters either. "All I did was ask a question. You're the one who damn near gave birth!" Bones growled at Jim.

"Well, as you can plainly see I'm doing fine. Just a minor headache and that's largely due to lack of sleep." Jim shrugged trying to feign nonchalance. He wouldn't admit it to his friend but he was beginning to worry about the frequency of them. Maybe it's due to those nightmares, even if they don't make sense. Jim wondered distractedly. He had been having nightmares about a man with dark hair and a fight, then watching that same man killed in front of him. They had him jerking awake some nights, scared to go back to sleep while others he would wake up screaming in pain and rage a name on his lips but never passing them, the sound going unheard even to himself.

"Well ya' sure as hell coulda' fooled me. You look like hell warmed over if you..."

Shaking his head ruefully, he looked over at his friend just as the shop door opened. James T. Kirk, or Jim, as he was affectionately known to family and close friends, was the owner of a successful excavation company. His friend, Dr. Leonard McCoy, was a successful medical doctor who had his own private practice. They had opened the antique shop along with another one of their friends, Hikaru Sulu, after they had all graduated from Starfleet Academy, where Jim's fields of study had been archeology and xenolinguisticts.

Looking up at the sound of the ringing bells, Jim abruptly stopped listening to McCoy's tirade. A tall, dark haired stranger had just walked in to the shop and all Jim could do was stare, watching the man as he looked around the shop. Jim unconsciously took a step back as the strangers eyes swept past the area he and McCoy were standing. He wasn't sure why but something about this man seemed familiar. Making sure that he wasn't easily spotted if the man were to look their way again, Jim tried to study their guest.

The stranger was tall, with short jet black hair, his skin was pale with a light green tint to it. It wasn't his height or hair that got Jim's attention, it was the fact that despite his skin being pale it did have a green tint to it. That and the fact that he had pointed ears, which was a dead give away to him being a Vulcan. Jim blinked, surprised to see a Vulcan in the store. It wasn't odd for different species to come and go from the store, they did have the reputation of having hard to get items that most others didn't carry or weren't able to get a hold of and would get if possible. As he watched the stranger, he became aware of McCoy watching him. He wasn't sure why but he seemed to be trying to gauge his reaction to the stranger.

"You have no clue as to who he is do you?" McCoy asked softly. "The man that just walked through the door, do you recognize him?"

Jim glanced over at his friend then back to the other man. He did look vaguely familiar but he couldn't seem to place where he knew him or why. "Umm, well he is pretty hot for a Vulcan..." Jim paused as he looked at McCoy. "Ohgod, please tell me that we went out and I don't remember taking this man back home?" Jim chuckled as he looked over at his friend only to see a look of irritation on his face.

Rolling his eyes and giving a snort of laughter, Bones muttered "There is seriously no way I'm goin' there with you Jim. Seriously, I need you to focus though. Do you recognize the man that just walked through the door?"

Letting out a heavy sigh, Jim said thoughtfully. "He does look familiar, but I'm not sure why. I mean, I feel like I should know him, as if...as if he means something, to me." Jim frowned slightly, his blue gaze still watching the dark haired stranger. "How do I know him Bones?" Jim whispered.

"His name is Spock, Jim, he's your husband." McCoy stated.

Heart beating rapidly, Jim looked at McCoy. "That's not funny Bones. If he is my husband why is it I'm just now hearing about him and he just now showed up? Where the hell has he been this entire time?" Jim, despite his curiosity about the stranger, was angry. How was this possible, why didn't he remember him?

Sighing, McCoy looked back at his friend and told him. "He's been here everyday since you and Sulu returned to Earth after your accident. Honestly refused to stop comin' by and before you ask," he held up a hand to stop Jim's question. "Yes, I told him to stop, felt like it was kinda' for ya' own good." He looked over at Spock then back at Jim. Before he was forced to give an answer, McCoy headed towards the other man with a look of irritation as well as determination.

Jim wasn't sure why his friend seemed to dislike the tall stranger...Spock was his name? What could he have done for Bones to hold some type of animosity against him? Wonder how well this is going to go if he doesn't seem to like him. Jim thought to himself. Rubbing his temples slowly, he watched as Bones approached Spock and stood talking to him.

Without warning, a hot flare of jealousy went through Jim. McCoy had stepped closer to Spock, there was a look of concern on his face despite the previous vibe he had been giving off earlier. Well Bones is a doctor after all, if Spock is sick he's going to be concerned. He thought to himself. Shaking his head, Jim went back to studying their guest, wanting to quench his curiosity about him. He watched as Bones asked Spock a question which seemed to earn him a flash of something...irritation...confusion? Jim wasn't sure but as he continued to watch them he noticed that Spock didn't seem well. His color seemed to have darkened and Spock kept reflexively clenching his hands into fists. There seemed to be a slight tremor running through his body as well. All of which seemed to be off for a Vulcan. He doesn't look well at all. Like he's trying to keep from unleashing his anger or something else. Jim took a step forward wanting to comfort him. Shocked by his actions he stopped mid step, confused as to why he would feel the need to comfort a complete stranger. Closing his eyes and trying to calm his heart rate, Jim thought about what McCoy had said about the other man. My husband, hmm? Sliding to the floor Jim leaned back against the wall he and Bones had been standing by.

Jim...

Echoed softly through his head. Eyes snapping open, Jim sat up with a gasp. Trying to stand, he stumbled against a pile of books knocking them over. Hoping that no one had noticed the noise, Jim froze trying to remain unseen. He prayed Spock hadn't seen him, he wasn't sure if he could face him just yet, not without knowing who he was. He was trying to figure out who the voice in his head belonged to and why they had spoken his name with such reverence and love.

Trying to stack the books as silently as possible, Jim stood up in enough time to see both men disappear down the hallway headed to Bones' office. His curiosity was eating at him, he wanted to know what they were talking about. It was in his nature to be curious, it was his curiosity as well as his love of nature that made him want to follow in his mom's footsteps and become an archeologist. His father had been a police officer and much loved in the community. He was killed during a hostage situation the same day Jim was born and he grew up never knowing him. His mother and brother, Sam, told stories about George A. Kirk but Jim was naturally curious about a man he would never know. So naturally his curiosity about Spock was piqued. If Spock is my husband why can't I know what they're talking about? Why do they have to go to Bones' office? Jealousy flared through Jim again as he tried to remain where he was, both he and Bones had been waiting on Sulu to get back with lunch and he hadn't shown back up yet. After drumming his fingers against his leg for about five minutes, Jim headed around the pile of books and towards the offices. Before he could make it, the front door opened and he froze in his tracks. Turning, he looked into the face of his other best friend, Hikaru Sulu, as he walked in with lunch, a data padd, and a smile.

"Hey Jim." Sulu said cheerfully. Hikaru was one of the closest people to Jim besides Bones. He was about the same height as Jim, with a head full of dark mahogany hair and warm chocolate brown eyes. His Korean heritage was evident in his features as well as his mannerisms and cooking style, something Jim was grateful for. Besides being an excellent cook, he was also a well respected botanist and aerial pilot. He usually had a smile at the ready for anyone he met, but was known to be lethal if he were ever crossed. Despite his lean build Sulu was an asset to Jim, both in the field and off. They both spoke a number of different languages but it was always helpful to have someone with him who could protect his back. Where as Jim was skilled in hand-to-hand combat, Sulu was skilled with swords, rapiers being his specialty.

As Jim watched his friend enter the store, he let out a heavy sigh. Jim wanted to see what it was Bones and Spock were talking about. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Jim turned and greeted his friend. "Hey Hikaru, how's it going?"

Sulu looked up from the padd in his hand and smiled. "I'm good, how bout you? You seem distracted by something?" Sulu noticed Jim glancing back towards the offices and wondered what was on his mind. "Where's Len, he not hungry?"

Jerking around to look at his friend, Jim looked as if he was trying to figure something out.

"Hey, Jim you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost or something. Is there something bothering you, what's happened?" Sulu had taken a step closer to Jim, his voice full of concern.

Jim looked at Sulu, would he tell me what he knew about Spock? Bones had said that Sulu was the one who had brought me back to Earth after my accident. An accident that he didn't remember and it was starting to bother him. "Hikaru, who exactly is Spock to me and why has no one told me about him? Why is it I've never heard anyone talk about him?" Jim rushed through the questions, fearing his friend wouldn't answer him. He hoped Sulu didn't tell him to talk to Bones, he wasn't sure he had the patience for that.

Sulu looked at Jim confused. "I take it you and Len started to talk or you've seen Spock?" Jim shook his head and his gaze again turned back towards the offices. "So you've finally seen Spock then." He smiled at Jim as the blond head snapped back around to look at him. Bout time he was able to see him, Sulu thought to himself. He hadn't agreed with McCoy in keeping Jim in the dark about his bondmate. It didn't feel right even if Jim didn't have his full memory back.

"He's in Bones' office talking. Walked in while we were in the middle of an argument and Bones just kinda...dropped it on me who he was. That doesn't answer my question though, who is he Sulu? What could have happened between us for me not to remember him and why didn't either of you tell me about him...that I had a husband?" Jim asked in angry confusion. He was trying his best to understand why either man would withhold this type of information from him. Information he should have known as soon as possible.

Sighing, Sulu shifted the bag in his hand and looked at Jim, his dark brown eyes meeting rich blue. "Come on, let's set this stuff down. We can eat, talk and I'll answer as many of your questions as I can, as honestly as I can." He wondered how much he could get away with telling Jim without upsetting him or McCoy. He had originally left to get lunch as well as run a few errands. He knew Jim wouldn't turn down the idea of food but his curiosity was eating him up and Sulu could see it. So he and Jim both turned and headed down the hallway to the offices. When they passed McCoy's office Jim hesitated, looking at the door with a look of longing he shook his head and followed Sulu down the hall.