"How has school been going?" Spock's therapist asked. Mr. Sanders was a middle-aged man with graying hair. He had laugh lines on his face from a life full of happiness and joy. Spock was sitting on the couch across from him, back straight and posture perfect.
"It is acceptable." he answered.
"How has being at a new college made you feel?" When Spock said nothing, Mr. Sanders continued. "Spock, what have we talked about? Use your emotion words." Spock hesitated, muscles tightening with his discomfort.
"It has made me feel..." He thought for a moment. "nervous."
"Did anything happen?" It took Spock several moments to get anything out. Mr. Sanders understood. The boy had a problem expressing his emotions. That was why his mother put him in therapy in the first place.
"A couple of bullies have taken an interest in me." He finally got out. "They intentionally spilled water on my notes." Mr. Sanders knew that Spock's notes meant a lot to him.
"And, how did that make you feel?" he asked. Again, Spock thought before speaking.
"Angry. Upset."
"How did you handle it?" Spock hesitated and colored slightly.
"I had an episode." Mr. Sanders began scribbling on a notepad he had.
"How did you get over it?"
"Jim helped me." Mr. Sanders flipped back a few pages, searching for a page.
"Jim Kirk, right? The new friend you made at school."
"Affirmative."
~x~x~x~
Spock left the therapist's office and headed home. The two-hour session was a difficult one. He didn't like talking about his feelings, but was forced to during these visits. Logically, he knew that his mother was doing what was best for him. He knew that the only way to be able to function better amongst the general populace, he needed to learn new skills that the therapy would aid him in learning. As Spock walked down the sidewalk, he felt the first few drops of rain. He quickened his pace, but soon, the trickle turned into a downpour. He hunched his shoulders against the freezing rain, getting soaked in an instance. Out of the corner of his eye, Spock noticed a car slow down beside him. Keeping his eyes on the ground, Spock sped up. It wasn't until the window rolled down and a voice came from inside the car that he stopped.
"Hey Spock!" It was Jim. More accurately, it was Jim leaning across Dr. McCoy's lap to talk to him out of the older man's window. "What are you doing out here in the rain? Hop in, we'll take you home." Spock thought for a moment before he bobbed his head and opened the back door of the car, climbing in.
~x~x~x~
Jim and Leonard, as he insisted on being called, had managed to talk Spock into going to the doctor's house and watching a movie with them. Well, Jim had been the one to do the convincing. Leonard just stared, grumpily, out through the windshield. Spock, who had called his mother to let her know what was going on, sat in the back of the car shivering. Looking in the rear view mirror, Leonard noticed and cranked up the heat. Once they arrived, everyone exited the vehicle and made a run for the door. When they entered the house, water dripped off Spock.
"Great, he's dripping on my floor." Leonard muttered. He went on in a louder tone. "Jim, he's dripping on my floor!"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you. C'mon Spock. Let's get you changed and get those clothes in the dryer." Jim led Spock through the living room and down a small hallway in the house. When they reached the master bedroom, they walked in and Jim went for the dresser. He pulled out a pair of boxers and a set of pajamas.
"Here, these should fit. I like my pajamas a little long, so they should be just right on you." Spock stood there, shocked, for a moment. When he was finally able to speak, he looked from the clothes to Jim.
"You live here?" Jim blushed a brilliant red at the question. He stuttered for a moment before he was able to talk.
"N-no. Bones and I just have movie nights and usually end up drunk. Can't go home that way." He forced a laugh and handed the clothes to Spock, making a hasty retreat. Spock just stood there as the other left and quirked an eyebrow.
~x~x~x~
Jim walked back into the living room where Leonard was and plopped down on the couch. The older man was rifling through his dvds, looking for something they all might like.
"I may have made a mistake." Jim spoke up into the silence. Leonard looked up at him from his place on the floor.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, Spock is suspicious. I don't know if he's quite figured it out yet, but he was asking about it-" Leonard cut Jim off there.
"What the hell are you blabbing about?" he asked in irritation. Jim sighed dramatically.
"I took Spock to our room and gave him some of my clothes." Leonard swore under his breath.
"Dammit kid! The hell were you thinking?"
"I dunno. That he was wet and needed a change." Leonard shook his head at Jim.
"You could have given him some of my clothes."
"They're way too big!" said Jim defensively. At that moment, Spock walked into the room. His wet hair was sticking up at odd angles and the clothes he wore were just long enough, but baggy on his slender frame. He padded, barefoot, over to the couch and stood there. All in all, Jim thought he looked adorable. Spock was still shivering and, when Leonard walked over, beginning to sit beside Jim, he spoke up.
"Uh uh." the blonde said, grabbing Spock by the wrist and dragging him down to sit between him and the doctor. Leonard just grumbled as he sat beside the shaking teen.
"C'mon Bones, don't be so mean! He needs to be warmed up." Jim grinned and threw an arm around Spock's shoulders. Spock scowled and shrugged Jim's arm off. The lights had been turned off and, as the movie began, it lit the three on the couch in a soft glow.