Well it's about time I managed to get this second chapter up.
Sorry for the delay. :D
Writing this chapter actually helped get me out of a funk I've been in all day. It's impossible to be depressed when writing this story and I'm even more excited to write the last chapter which I'm hoping to have up Wednesday. Enjoy!
Uhura could barely contain her smile when she walked onto the bridge at 0700 hours and saw Jim sitting on Spock's lap in the Captain's chair.
It had been two days since their Captain had been reduced to his six-year-old self and this was the first time Jim willingly came to the bridge. At first he had been too shy and wasn't keen on the idea of being surrounded by strangers. Jim had stayed mostly in Spock's quarters and Sick Bay with Dr. McCoy until Spock had brought him to the Rec Room where the crew cautiously introduced themselves.
Although he had been mostly silent and focused on Spock, he had agreed to visit the bridge with Spock in order to get to know the rest of his 'friends.' Dr. McCoy and Spock had assured him that they would not hurt him because they were indeed his friends. Jim seemed overwhelmed that so many people were his friends, but that helped strengthen his desire to see the bridge.
Uhura traded glances with Sulu who was fighting laughter as Chekov's lips twitched in amusement. She nodded quickly to Spock and Jim pushed himself further into Spock's chest, obviously uncomfortable at the attention the crew tried to resist giving him. Uhura found his actions both adorable and sad: McCoy had informed her as well as Sulu, Chekov and Scotty of the Captain's emotional condition.
"What a shame, the poor lad." Scotty had said quietly and there were mummers of agreement.
"We must make him feel comfortable then!" Chekov had exclaimed suddenly and Uhura smiled in agreement. Together they had decided if Spock was unable to attend to the Captain's needs then one of them would. After all, Jim was nothing short of friendly and affectionate towards his entire crew so now it was their turn to give back.
Alpha Shift was rather uneventful and it seemed more unbearable due to the fact the Captain was not his usual playful self. Uhura was almost bored to tears as the hours passed by without as much as a message from Starfleet or an S.O.S from a random ship not far by. Uhura knew she should be counting her blessings: It wasn't every day that they found themselves without a perilous mission.
Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if the Captain was his normal self making jokes and engaging Spock in their habitual debates that Uhura knew for a fact were Jim's way of flirting intellectually with his First Officer.
Uhura resisted the urge to turn around and chance a glance at Spock and Jim. McCoy had confided in her his shock at seeing Spock take such a supportive role so quickly and without reservations about being openly affectionate with the young boy, but Uhura wasn't. Sure, Spock wasn't the most expressive guy in the universe, but he was full of emotions that ranged from furry to adoration despite his desire to devote himself to the Vulcan way.
Spock took his status as First Officer so seriously, that he had more or less boldly claimed that is was his job to protect the Captain. Uhura had the sneaking suspicion that Spock's claim had less to do with duty and more with desire.
Uhura was so focused on her thoughts, she failed to notice Spock, with Jim in tow, had approached her station.
"Lt. Uhura, Ensign Cane has just informed me Dr. McCoy wished to speak with me. If you do not object, I will leave Jim here with you until I return." Spock said when Uhura straightened her back and acknowledged his presence.
Uhura looked down at Jim who tried to hide himself behind Spock's leg and she smiled warmly at him. "Of course I do not object Spock. He will be safe with me," she said and Spock nodded before looking down at Jim.
"I should not be gone long Jim. Lt. Uhura will be adequate company while I speak with the Doctor." Spock said, but Jim eyes Uhura cautiously.
Before Spock could assure him that Uhura meant him no harm she stopped him.
"Hey Jim, if you promised not to report me, I'll let you sit at the console and play some games I happened to stumble upon a few weeks ago," she said leaning down to his height and lowering her voice as if to conspire with him.
Jim's eyes lit up and they darted from her face to the console she sat at and he took a step away from Spock and smiled hesitantly at her.
"Don't worry, I won't tell," he said and held out his pinky. Spock watched, fascinated, as Uhura took her pinky and entwined it with Jim's and smiled at him. Jim then giggled when Uhura picked him up and sat him on her lap and let him explore the various features of her station.
Spock cocked his left eyebrow and Uhura just smiled at him. Seeing that Jim was in capable hands and would most likely not notice his absence now that Uhura had succeeded in distracting him, Spock walked to the lift to see what McCoy wanted to speak with him about.
- - - - - - - -
Spock ventured to his quarters to drop off clothes McCoy had managed to procure before returning to the bridge.
Spock had reported to the Doctor that Jim seemed open to contact with Uhura after she offered to let him play games at her station. McCoy had considered this as a good sign and encouraged Spock to expose Jim to other members of the crew so he could bond with them as well.
When he walked onto the bridge he realized he would not have to do much to make sure the crew and Jim 'bonded' as McCoy had put it. Sitting at Chekov's post was Jim and it appeared that he was furiously managing the controls in an effort to outdo Sulu whose actions were of the same speed.
"You ken do it Jim! Beat him!" Chekov encouraged almost jumping up and down next to Jim whose fingers moved at a quick pace. He heard Uhura's laugh and turned to see she had moved to stand next to him.
"He wanted to play with other people so Sulu suggested Jim try to beat him at a game he and Chekov often play when they have downtime." Uhura explained and immediately started clapping when Jim threw his arms up in victory and Sulu slumped back in his seat stunned.
"Congratulations Jim." Uhura said and gently patted his head. Jim looked up and smiled at her until his eyes landed on Spock.
"Spock!" he exclaimed and hurried out of the chair to run to his friend. The crew watched amused as Spock opened his arms and bent down to receive Jim's enthusiastic hug. Spock wrapped his warm arms around his young Captain and Jim buried his face in Spock's neck happily. It took everything Uhura had not to 'aw' out loud, but she heart a faint noise of approval from Chekov beside her.
"I take it you enjoyed your time with Sulu, Chekov and Uhura." Spock said when Jim pulled back and looked at him.
"Spock I had so much fun! They have a lot of games and I just beat Sulu!" Jim exclaimed and the bridge erupted in laughter as Sulu tried not to sulk.
"I never beat Sam at games when we played. Sometimes I'd get really close but then Frank would come in…" Jim's voice faded and the entire bridge grew tense. Jim seemed to struggle with forming words to complete his sentence and very subtly his body curved inward. Spock pulled Jim closer until his face was buried once more in his neck and he quickly walked to the Captain's chair while everyone else returned to his or her stations. The merriment that seemed invincible vanished without a trace and a strangled silence descended upon the crew.
Jim clung to Spock's blue shirt and inhaled his calming scent of soap and spices Jim immediately associated with vast stretches of desert planes. Although Jim had no memories of Spock before waking up in Sick Bay, his smell was so familiar; like coming home after a long adventure. Jim's gut reaction was to seek Spock out when he was upset and since the alien seemed to welcome Jim's physical presence, he had no qualms about using Spock as his overgrown teddy bear.
Spock turned his head and nuzzled Jim's forehead affectionately and he heard Jim sigh contently as the young boy relaxed in his arms.
"I will not let anyone harm you Jim." Spock whispered to the boy and Jim looked up into Spock's dark human eyes and smiled.
"I know you won't Spock. I won't let anybody hurt you either." Jim promised with an aching sincerity that caused Spock's heart to jolt. This young boy possessed qualities Spock had seen in his older self many times: Courage, affection, loyalty, and a devout sense of protectiveness that never failed to make Spock pause in admiration.
Jim closed his eyes and Spock surmised that he was tired. He was content to let Jim nap in his arms until shift ended. All eyes were on Spock as he carried Jim to the lift deciding it was best to return to his quarters until Jim awoke and was hungry.
Before the doors closed Spock watched Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov gather and smile fondly at him and the child in his arms. They too experienced the instinct to protect Jim and Spock took a quite moment to appreciate the dedication of the crew to their Captain no matter what condition he was in.
"We're more than a crew Spock: We're a family. That's just something you're going to have to accept considering we'll be spending five adventurous years in space together." Jim had said one night over a difficult chess game. Spock had simply given Jim a look before capturing his queen, but now Spock began to see the truth in Jim's heartfelt words.
Spock cradled Jim closer to his body, not wanting to part with him in any fashion. The lift opened and Spock stepped out, focusing on Jim and reaching his quarters quicker than normal. Once inside he gently laid Jim on the bed and forced himself to step away.
He needed to meditate.
The feelings Jim stirred within him were not unfamiliar to Spock. Jim had a penchant for bringing Spock's emotions to the surface. Spock was use to feeling a surge of protectiveness towards Jim. It had developed shortly after Jim saved Spock's life at the cost that came closely to being his own. Over the year and a half they had worked side by side other emotions had developed for the vibrant Captain and Spock's control grew weaker by the day. There were days Spock was forced to retreat into his quarters for hours to regain his control. He felt for Jim, cared for him in a way he had never cared for anyone in his life.
The affection that burned in his heart for Jim increased tenfold when he first laid eyes upon the small child. It morphed into a parental form, but it was laced with a more mature desire for Jim as an adult.
As much as Spock took pleasure in looking after a young Jim Kirk, he wanted his Jim back. The one who would play chess with him and mediate his disagreements with Dr. McCoy: The Jim Kirk who spoke to him both intellectually and illogically. Spock longed for the familiar contours of a body he had held as blood poured from it and had memorized with his eyes when Jim wasn't looking.
Spock emptied his mind and solidified the barriers that withheld the tidal wave of emotions that raged within him.
"Spock…" Jim mumbled in his sleep he began whimpering as his hands moved around the bed, searching for something.
Spock opened his eyes and walked with haste to his bed. His presence must have been what Jim had been searching for because he latched onto Spock as soon as he laid down and Jim was instantly pacified.
Spock watched Jim sleep and wondered what his course of action was to be once Jim returned to his normal age. Spock wasn't sure if Jim would recall the events of the past days nor was Dr. McCoy. Spock lifted his hand and traced a finger along the side of Jim's cheek and knew no matter what happened he would endeavor to increase his ability to protect Jim.
He could not let anyone else harm his precious human.
His t'hy'la.
Yay 2 out of 3 complete! *cheers*
I really appreciate all the support I've gotten for this fic so far and I hope I can continue to capture your attention as I wrap this story up. I think the last chapter will be a bit longer because I want to incorporate some adventures in Engineering with Scotty.
LL&P