A.N. Awww thanks for the reviews guys! And the follows, and favorites, and even those of you who just sit and read, it means a lot! So here's the chapter for brother. Enjoy!
3 months, 13 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes, and 17 seconds ago was the moment Jim pronounced that he saw me as part of his family. That, indeed, every crew member on the Enterprise was like a family. We were, in fact, playing chess. It had become a nightly routine, so long as neither the Captain nor myself had any duties to perform.
However, while many of our games passed with what Jim had called 'small talk', this game differed entirely. The Captain and I were debating a specific action of his that I had believed illogical. The 'argument', as Jim called it ("Vulcans do not argue, Captain") was rather pointless and would have been resolved if he had begun with his closing argument.
"Spock, I told you, you'd be dead if I hadn't jumped in front of you!" At this point, the two of us had remained sitting on either side of the chess board, the game, in Jim's case, forgotten. It is not in my nature to forget something that is directly in front of me and I most certainly was not distracted by the argu- discussion we were having. Not in the slightest.
"It was unnecessary, Captain-"
"Jim."
"-for you to sustain an injury that could have been fatal because of me."
"Well I did, so suck it up."
"Excuse me, that is-"
"An expression, Spock. It's a 'colloquialism'."
"Very well, Captain. My point remains. I would like to inquire as to why you continuously risk your life for mine."
"Because."
At this point Jim had risen from his seat, as he often does when aggravated or stressed, and began to pace. It was a common occurrence for him to walk back and forth within the small area. The logic in this action still remains unknown to me.
"'Because' is not an answer Captain."
"Jim. It's Jim. I thought we were past the whole rank thing."
"So we are, when we are not speaking of our positions. In this instance, we are discussing your inherent incapability of keeping out of danger when it is possible for you to do so. This falls under your duty as Captain, therefore it is the title I will address you by."
"Fine, Commander."
His goal, I am sure, was to cause an emotional response within me. He succeeded, though unknowingly, as I controlled my anger at his comment.
"Then I shall ask again. Why do you risk your life for mine?"
"Because you...you are more important."
"You are Captain."
"As a person, Sp- Commander, you are more important than me. I'm easily replaceable. You're not."
"This is illogical. You are not easily replaceable, for there is no other Jim Kirk in existence in this universe. As such, you are the captain of Starfleet's most important vessel and must take precautions to make sure that you remain her captain. These precautions do not include catapulting yourself in front of every phaser that is pointed at my being."
"Listen Spock, I can't do that. It just...I guess it's just that...you...Look. I just can't."
"Explain."
Jim had sighed and sat back down, only this time he sat next to me instead of across from me. He ran a hand through his hair and looked up at me. "You're too important. Spock, everyone on this ship is like family to me. Losing anyone is hard. But you, you're like a brother to me. I wouldn't, couldn't, handle it if you, you died. I just couldn't. So I'm sorry for risking myself, but if it's between dying and losing you, I'd die."
I had been speechless. So I did the only thing I could do, though it was difficult. As I had seen many humans do, I put my hand on Jim's shoulder. He had looked up at me and smiled, and I knew that he was like a brother to me as well.
