Chapter Two: Just A Complication

The captain took his seat before asking for a status report. When he was told everything was in order, he instructed the crew to set a course for their next destination. He felt tired and sore, but tried not to let it show.

Spock had very little to do for once and sat mostly staring at his captain. Spock knew he was hurting and wished he could help.

Once they were set on the right course, Kirk stood. He was confident in his crew to get them where they needed to go. Since departing on this mission, which was suppose to take them three years, the crew had set up a shift schedule so
everyone had time to rest while the ship was still being taken care of. Jim planned on heading to his own quarters to rest a bit.

Spock watched him leave, aware that he needed to be careful. Around Jim he had always had a harder time keeping his emotions in check. And lately, the mere thought of him made Spock uncomfortable and hot under his skin. He got up to follow his captain. He wasn't entirely sure why.

Jim rubbed his sore ribs tenderly as he headed to his quarters. "Next time… I really need to put a timer or something on the damn explosives…" He muttered to himself as he walked, unaware of the Vulcan following not far behind him.

The Vulcan quickly caught up with his captain, pushing back his anger. "You didn't put a timer on the explosives? If I may sir, that's more than illogical, it's bordering on stupidity." He stepped in front of the captain and caught his eyes. "It's against all odds that you survived. And while I have no doubt in my ability to captain this vessel admirably, I would not wish my promotion to be
caused from your death." He studied the human before him, needing him to listen this time. "Do you understand me Jim?"

The captain stared at his First Officer as it registered that he had called him 'Jim'. "It wasn't stupidity when the timer wasn't functioning correctly so I had to set it off
manually." He paused for a moment. "I believe that's the first time you've called me 'Jim' since the start of this mission."

"I found you listen more when your name is used. I believe you find yourself more interesting than anything I say so it's helpful." Spock allowed himself a small Vulcan smile. He enjoyed teasing the captain.

Kirk looked at the Vulcan and flashed him the crooked grin that he only really used when talking to Spock. "Well, hate burst your logical bubble, Spock, but it only works when you use my name." It was true, Bones used him name all the time and never really made a difference in how the captain listened.

"Ah, so you enjoy when I say your name. Then let me say this, I'll say your name more often if you discontinue your suicidal missions." He smirked softly. "Have a good rest Captain." He walked off towards his quarters, having to distance himself from the charming man. Spock shuddered to think what Jim would be able to do if he knew how much that grin affected him.

Watching the Vulcan go, Jim sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He headed to his quarters and plopped down on his bed once inside. "I can't promise that even if I wanted to." Kirk wasn't sure how it always seemed to happen, but his 'suicidal missions' usually resulted in only him getting hurt. That was why he did them, to prevent harm befalling anyone other than him. Spock would never find logic in why he had gone on the mission alone and some part of Kirk was glad. He would already known what most likely would happen after the explosion and hadn't wanted the Vulcan to be harmed.

Spock went into his room and began meditating. He needed to be more level headed around that man. If he wasn't logical he would cease to be useful in his position on the ship. What feelings were brewing to the man needed to be cut down now.

Jim sat in his room for a moment longer before getting up to find Chevok. He had been the only other person who had known the most likely outcome of the explosion and Kirk needed to make sure he wouldn't tell anyone, especially Spock. The captain didn't need more people angry at him and he certainly didn't need Bones on his ass again.

Spock fell deeper and deeper into meditation, focusing on his confusing feelings for his captain. But for whatever reason burying them with logic didn't work the way it always had in the past. They throbbed like a disturbed sore, and Spock doubted covering them with a bandaid would not work much longer.

Kirk found the young man as he was heading to his quarters for some well deserved rest. Chevok's quarters were two down from Spock's so Jim tried to keep his voice down as he talked to him. He explained that he didn't want anyone to know about the knowledge he had of the outcome of the explosion and Chehvok didn't seem to like the idea, but agreed in the end.

Spock opened his eyes feeling less calm than when he had started. He still felt things for and about Jim and was now annoyed in top of it. He wished, not for the first time, that he didn't take after his dear mother so much. He sighed and stood, deciding a walk might clear his head. He walked out from his room, seeing his captain with young Mister Chevhok instantly.

Just as Spock walked out, Chevhok had agreed to not tell anyone. Jim turned to see the Vulcan and gave a somewhat sheepish grin. "Hey, Mr. Spock. What are you doing here?"

Spock raised a single eyebrow at this and waved a hand gracefully at the door he'd just walked out of. "I had been meditating in my quarters. But now I'm going on a walk. Might I ask you the same question Captain?" He knew of course. Mr. Chevok was an incredibly
bright young man. Jim must've been trying to insure the mans silence about something to do with the last mission.

His grin morphed into that crooked grin as he draped an arm over the young man's shoulders. "Just talking to my friend, Chevok. Was just about to head back to my quarters. I was hoping to invite him back with me to keep talking." Jim knew how that sounded and didn't bother correcting it as he pulled the young man closer. "So, what'll
it be, Chevok?" Kirk's smile morphed again to the one he always used when flirting, causing the young man to flush slightly.

Spock had to resort to counting to 5 backwards to keep himself calm. "I see. Well, I won't keep you. I'm sure you have many important things to /talk/ about." He turned on his heel and walked away, flushing a very faint shade of green. "Green with jealousy.." He muttered to himself as he walked down an empty hallway.

A sigh of relief left Kirk as he watch the Vulcan go. He smiled at the young man and patted his back. "Thanks for not shoving me away or anything, I know you like some else." He winked at the flushing young man before turning and heading back the way he came. Seemed that Spock had bought his act, though that didn't make him feel much better. Jim had always been a huge flirt, but he wasn't entirely proud of it.

Spock found himself staring out a tiny porthole into the darkness of space, breathing much harder than a simple walk would normally make him breath. He had always liked Chekov but for some reason he vaguely wished he had punched the young man in the face. It would've have given him completely illogical pleasure though, so he restrained himself.

Kirk walked straight to his room, the tiredness and soreness finally getting to him. He stepped into his quarters and plopped on his bed, not even bothering to strip before closing his eyes and letting sleep claim him.

Spock roamed the ship until his shift came. He slowly walked up to the bridge, grateful now for the meditation. It's wasn't the same as sleep but it was the next best thing for the Vulcan.

Jim had the same shift as Spock and his alarm had gone off, was still going off, but the captain was snoring softly in a deep sleep. If he was awake, he would blame Bones and his damn needles. That wasn't the case though, Kirk's body was just beaten up and tired. It was blocking out anything and everything that would get in the way of his rest.

Uhura came up to Spock and leaned down. "Do you know where the captain is? He supposed to be here and he isn't answering the com." Spocks eyes didn't leave the screen in front him. "I suggest checking in Mr. Chekov's room, they seemed quite intent on performing a disgusting human sexual act when I last saw them and Mr. Chekov doesn't need to be on the bridge
until next shift change." Uhura blinked surprised by the answer but could not fault the logic there. "Right. Alright, I'll go check."

Chekhov was alone and informed Uhura that the captain hadn't been serious. The young man thought the man had returned to his quarters. That was exactly where Jim was, sleeping away in his locked quarters with his alarm still blaring.

Spock typed away, delegating the work load to the other scientists on the ship.

When Uhura got to his quarters, he didn't answer and the door wouldn't open so, with more than a little frustration, she went to inform Spock. "Chekhov said that the captain was faking and went to his quarters looking a bit tired. When I got there, I could hear his alarm, but the door is locked." As far as she knew, Kirk and Spock were the only ones with the code to the captain's quarters.

"Faking?" Spock turned to study Uhura. "Mm. I shall go check on him." He stood quickly and walked to the captain's quarters. "Captain?" Ke knocked on the door before punching in the code. "I'm coming in."

Kirk didn't move from his sprawled out position on his bed, his face was flushed and beads of sweat covered his forehead. The alarm was still going off at full volume. Right next to Jim's head. The damn thing always woke him up the second it went off, but now he slept through it like it was nothing.

Spock looked at him for half a second before picking him up, carrying him out and running towards the infirmary. "Everybody move!"

The noise hadn't awoken him, but the jostling movement had. "Mmm…" Kirk's eyes opened blearily and looked up at the Vulcan. "Spock? What the heck?" As his eyes adjusted, his head began pounding and he groaned. "My head hurts…"

"The term, I believe, is, shut up." Spock had reached the infirmary and laid Kirk on one of the tables, yelling for bones. Dr. McCoy came around the corner frowning. "Dammit ya green blooded robot, what's gotten you-" he froze at the sight of the captain on the table. "What happened?" "He's showing all the early symptoms of the disease frequently found on the aliens species Kirk just fought. Fix him."

Did Spock tell him to shut up? Wait. Why was his vision blurring again? Shit. Through the pounding in his head, Kirk realized what was wrong just as his vision went completely black. His hand shot out to grab the Vulcan blindly just to know he wasn't alone. He wasn't looking forward to what was to come. "Bones… Can't see…" Jim tried to sound calm and not scared like he felt, thankful he pulled it off. If Bones didn't do something soon, he'd lose more than just his sight. The captain knew that his hearing was suppose to go next and it all terrified him. He didn't want to be in a dark silent void. "Spock, how long did it take for the symptoms to become permanent?" They wouldn't just become permanent. If they couldn't fix him, he'd die in a black, silent nothing.

Spock shook his head as he thought. "I don't know. I..." He sighed, his hand closing over Jim's, letting him know he was here. "I would estimate a time frame around 252 hours but its impossible to tell because a human has never been infected with this disease." He found comfort in the logic and mathematics, knowing he was rambling

Shit. He heard rummaging around and then a needle was in his arm. "Ow. Bones. A little warning?" He figured his friend was giving him a look by now and he gave a bit of a smile. "I figured you'd like to get your sight back as soon as possible and not loose your sight, you dumb ass. Why did you go down there by yourself, anyway?" As if on cue, Jim heard Chekhov enter, saying he knew why. Kirk flopped back on the bed, knowing he'd get yelled at for this as the young man told Bones and Spock that the captain had known the planet would crumble so much and that the particles in the air could interfere with any electrical equipment.

Spocks hand became tighter against the sick mans, angry at him for taking an even greater risk than he'd known. He said nothing as bones yelled at Jim for about ten minutes. "That's enough Doctor. He's going to go deaf without you helping him along."

Jim sat there and waited for the yelling to stop. "I did it because I couldn't risk someone else being in this bed with this damn virus or whatever it is." His hand tightened on Spock's sensitive one as if trying to say he hadn't let him come for that exact reason.

"If you had other men with you, as I suggested, you could've succeeded with the mission much faster, decreasing the chance of this disease affecting anybody. You took a needless risk Jim and now you're sick." Spock closed his mouth tightly before he could reveal his feelings on the matter any further. The two healthy men in the room were already giving him strange looks.

"I'm sick because the timer malfunctioned. If I had brought you then you would have argued with me on being the one to set the explosion off manually." Jim gave the area he assumed Spock was in his crooked grin. "Probably saying something about Vulcans being stronger than humans so having you set it off would be the ''logical' decision."Spock paused and looked away from the grin. "It would have been thelogical decision. I would've been able to perform the needed task much quicker and you wouldn't be ill now."

"But you could be. Dammit, Spock. Not everything needs to revolve around logic." Kirk sat up, letting go of Spock's warm hand as he started getting out of the bed despite Bones' yelling at him to lay back down. "I know this ship better than the back of my hand. Until I'm completely unable to get around by myself, I'm not staying in this damn bed." He walked blindly to the exit, managing to not run into anything. Kirkcouldn't be around the Vulcan at that moment. He just couldn't. The logical First Officer just would never understand how the captain couldn't have let him take that risk.

Spock stared after the man, flushing soft green with sheer frustration. Bones lightly cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable but having to say something. "He's upset because he cares about you Spock. He's upset for exactly the same reason you're upset with you." Spock looked at thedoctor coldly before leaving the room, walking back to his room, frustrated with himself on top of everything else. He shouldn't have lost it like he did. He shouldn't feel anything about anyone, much less his captain. He paced the room,needing something. Needing release.