Hey guys!
Okay, this chapter is... entirely useless! :D But it was at least fun to write. Oh well!
ShayLove: But... but my corner! It's cozy there :( I'm typing! D:
Talltree-san: Thank you. Your review practically made my day :D Along with the others, but the 'fainting rights' had me laughing so hard, I scared my cats.
Muwahkisses: First. I love your name. Second. I love you too! ...I don't even know you :3
meakamaxwell: ;) I'm preparing for the name suggestions.
Kim: :D You're the first one to accuse me of being tricky. I'm glad the medical stuff wasn't that bad... and... what did what sound what way? D:
Adrianna: *pats your head* *gives you a cookie* :) You're so adorable, you squee-y little thing.
Anyway, this thing is unbetaed, probably riddled with errors I could not find. I hope you enjoy it anyway :)
Secret World
Chapter 4: we were hiding love
Upon waking, Spock immediately noticed the hard surface he was lying on that, opposed to the relative softness that supported his head, was highly uncomfortable and made him want to squirm. A slender hand brushed over his cheek, the fingertips slightly calloused. Spock's eyes fluttered open and he had to blink three times before they were able to focus on his bondmate, who was leaning over him, smiling uncertainly.
"Oh, good, you're awake. Finally, Bones was about to stick a hypo in you," Jim said with a grin that seemed to waver at its corners, "You okay?"
Spock nodded, sitting up slowly. He was a little surprised when he realised that he had been lying on the ground, his head cradled in Jim's lap, "What has happened?"
"Ya fainted," Leonard quipped, kneeling down beside him, a tiny smirk lounging in the corners of his mouth, "Like a fairy princess."
Spock frowned at the entirely too chipper man standing beside the examination table, leaning his hip against the gleaming metal contraption, "A 'fairy princess', Leonard?"
"Yep."
"An illogical comparison, considering I am neither female nor do I possess any sort of wing-like appendages."
"Don't take everything I say so seriously, Spock. You fainted and it was hilarious."
"I could have injured myself, Leonard."
"Good thing I'm a Doctor then!"
Jim chuckled into his palm, "How old are you two again? Five? I thought I married a grown Vulcan!"
"Nope, you obviously married a fairy princess, Jimbo."
Deciding not to answer, Spock furrowed his brows slightly as he tried to remember what had occurred before he woke up prone on the floor. When his brain finally supplied him with the needed information, he instantly felt light-headed again, raising a hand to rest his forehead against his palm, "Leonard, is it... are you certain?"
"That you knocked your husband up? You saw the ultrasound," Leonard reached out, grasping Spock's elbows to pull him to his feet, steadying him as he swayed, "Jim, up on the table, I ain't finished with examining ya yet. Or rather, the tiny hobgoblin you've taken to carrying around."
Jim stood, hopping onto the table, face suddenly closed off and free of mirth again as he stretched out on his back for the second time this day. Leonard set the chair that had fallen over when Spock stood upright again and Spock let himself be manoeuvred onto it. The Doctor walked back around the table, peeling the shirt off Jim's stomach where the gel had caused it to stick to the skin. Shaking his head, Leonard wiped the dried gel off with a wet towel, before applying another glob of the translucent substance.
Once more Spock was confronted with the image of the barely formed child nestled within Jim's body. The sound of a steady, rapid heartbeat filled the room and Spock found himself struggling to keep calm. Leonard moved the transducer slowly over Jim's stomach, reaching out towards the screen to magnify the picture. Spock was now able to discern the pulsating heart, dark against the foetus tiny body, watching as it moved away from the transducer touching Jim's stomach.
"Well... the baby's about nine weeks along. The uterus usually takes about a week to become functional after being activated within the male body. After that, it takes about two weeks for the ovulation to take place, so you must have gotten pregnant about three weeks after you were healthy again. So, when I say nine weeks, I mean Gestational weeks. You probably want to count in Fetal weeks, meaning from the time the impregnation took place and your little bundle of joy settled in its temporary home. In Fetal weeks you'd be about seven weeks along now," Leonard nodded at the screen, "Heartbeat sounds very good. Baby is a little tinier than it should be, but we won't worry about that now since it's otherwise developing perfectly."
Jim covered his face with both hands, his voice muffled as he spoke, "Great that the Baby is doing fine, but how does that explain the headache and the cramping?"
"The headache is probably either stress related or because of the change in hormones in yer body. The cramping is yer uterus growing to accommodate the baby and, although not everyone has them, they are actually pretty common. I'm guessing that ya had slight stomach pains before today too, but simply choose to ignore them, am I right?"
Jim nodded sheepishly, "Yeah... I had this odd pulling sensation from time to time, but I thought nothing of it because it went away rather quickly again."
Leonard rolled his eyes, "Right. I'll step outside and let ya two have a moment. Call me when you're finished."
Leonard pulled the transducer off Jim's belly, setting it down on the paper towel again, before cleaning the gel off the blond's stomach quickly, tugging the shirt back down and finally leaving the room. Standing as soon as the door had closed, Spock walked closer towards the table, reaching out to rest his palm against Jim's flat, firm abdomen. He looked down at Jim, meeting his wide, too blue eyes. The younger man swallowed thickly, placing his own hand over Spock's.
A long silence followed this gesture, before Spock directed his gaze at the frozen image of the foetus. It was so small, the arms and legs just barely discernible and the head much too big.
"Spock...?"
He turned his attention back towards his husband, "Yes, Jim?"
Jim averted his gaze, twitching as he continued to lie on the table, one hand fumbling with the hem of his shirt, "You... I mean... you do want... want to keep it, right?"
Involuntarily, simply a display of disbelieve and horror, Spock's mouth opened in a tiny gape, "Of course, Jim, why would I... do you truly think I could...?"
Jim groaned, "No. Fuck. I don't know, Spock! I know you'd never tell me to get rid of it, I don't even know why I asked! This is all so confusing. Nothing makes sense anymore."
Spock sighed, pulling Jim into a sitting position, cradling his husband's face between his palms, "It will be alright, Jim, I do want this child, even if the circumstances are rather peculiar."
"Yeah, well, I didn't know my parents both carried the gene. Hell, I barely knew my Mom at all, considering that she was almost never home... and I don't even remember her that well anymore either," Jim shrugged, smiling lopsidedly, "So... how about we call Bones back in?"
Spock inclined his head and, letting go of Jim's face, walked towards the door. Leonard had been waiting patiently and immediately returned to Jim's side, gesturing for Spock to come closer, "Alright you two. Jim, your blood showed a slight copper deficiency. I'm going to give you copper supplements, because the kid's clearly got Spock's green ice-water for blood and once it starts to really grow, you'll need all the help you can get to keep the baby and yourself healthy. Additionally, I have to tell you that there's still a rather high risk that your body simply aborts the foetus, but," he stressed the last word when Jim opened his mouth to interrupt, "I will do everything I can so that this particular scenario will not happen, alright?"
Leonard handed Jim a small container filled with bluish white pills, instructing him to take one each day, explaining that it was a slightly higher dose than he should receive, but since the baby would draw the excessive copper from his blood stream quite quickly, there should be no side effects. Jim seemed slightly lost as he stared at the tablets, and Leonard sighed, "You'll do fine, Jimbo. Just keep an eye on what you're eating and don't forget to take your copper supplements."
Jim nodded, smiling gratefully, "Thanks, Bones."
"Yeah, you're welcome, kiddo," he helped Jim off the table, "You can go for today. Call me if something comes up, if not, we'll see each other in two weeks for the next check-up. I'll call Amanda's Doctor too to find out a little more about how to handle this."
"We shall be there," Spock said quietly, gently placing a hand to the small of Jim's back to guide his husband towards the door, when Leonard called them back.
"Not so fast, you forgot something," Leonard strode towards the ultrasound, tinkering with the machine, before it started to beep and whirr, producing a sheet of sturdy paper that held the first picture of the child.
The Doctor carefully slid the printed image into an envelope, handing it to Jim, "Here you go, gentlemen. Drive safely and Spock... keep an eye on Mommy-to-be."
Instantly, the bond began to boil with furious anger, spilling over from Jim's mind. Before Jim could even think of mauling the chuckling Doctor for giving him such a ridiculous nickname, Spock had nodded and guided his fuming husband out of the office.
"Stupid Bones! Next time I see him, I'm gonna jab him with every hypo I can find in his office! Mommy-to-be... seriously?"
Spock was a little confused by the overly dramatic outburst, "James, please, calm yourself."
"No!" Jim actually stomped his foot onto the ground, reminiscent of a small child having a temper tantrum, "I need to get this out of my system, Spock, don't interrupt me!"
Ah... this was one of Jim's mood swings, apparently.
"I was merely-"
"I'm going to kill him, slowly and painfully!"
"Jim, he only-"
"Maybe I should sew his mouth shut, that'd teach him!"
"James, please, this cannot be healthy for the child."
Jim's mouth snapped shut and his eyes bulged out of their sockets as he stared down at himself, "Are you sure? Does that I mean I can't murder Bones?"
Spock sighed softly, "No, Jim. May we return home now?"
"Oh. Yeah, sorry," Jim climbed into the car when Spock unlocked the vehicle, choosing to sit on the passenger seat instead of scrambling behind the wheel like usual.
Spock was glad that Jim did not insist on driving. He definitely needed something to occupy himself now to stop his head from reeling. They drove back home in silence and Jim vacated the vehicle as soon as it was parked, hurrying towards the front door and vanishing into their house when he managed to open the door. Spock sat in the car for a while longer, simply staring at the steering wheel in front of him, knuckles white from the tight grip he had on it. Jim was pregnant.
Pregnant.
Spock was going to be a father.
Overwhelmed, he rested his forehead against the synthetic leather covering of the wheel.
A soft, tentative tugging issuing from Jim's side of the bond made him exit the car to enter the house. He found Jim sitting on the couch, legs curled up against his chest, arms resting on his knees. Spock lowered himself onto the cushions beside Jim, waiting patiently, the envelope containing the ultrasound picture of their child lying on the coffee-table.
Finally, Jim spoke, voice quiet and sounding slightly off, "We're going to be parents, Spock."
Spock nodded slowly, almost afraid to speak, the atmosphere was strangely fragile.
Jim unfolded himself, one hand coming to rest on his stomach as he frowned pensively, eyes ghosting towards the envelope, "I don't... know if I'm ready to tell Manda and your Father yet. This is... I need to get used to it first."
"I understand, Jim."
"... So...," Jim's bright smile broke the uncomfortably tender situation, "How about I make dinner and then we go to bed? I'm really tired."
Spock nodded and had to stop himself from following Jim into the kitchen. His eyes landed on the chronometer above the door to the hallway. It was already thirteen minutes past ten. It had indeed been a long day for them. Even he was beginning to notice the first symptoms of fatigue.
A few minutes later, Jim returned with two plates containing the vegetable lasagne Mother had packed for them, holding one plate out to Spock, who took his with a grateful nod.
Just as they were about to start their late dinner, the comm. unit began to beep, signalling an incoming call. Spock set his plat aside and moved to answer, "Spock speaking."
"Hey darling, I'm just calling because your Father and I were worried since you didn't comm. us as soon as you were home- oh stop it, Sarek, you were worried, at least be Vulcan enough to admit it- how is Jimmy doing?"
"He is well, Mother," Spock glanced at his bondmate.
"Did you go and see Leonard?"
"Yes, Jim has been examined by Leonard. Apparently, it was merely a combination of stress and a slight reaction to a vitamin shot Jim received two days ago," Spock lied easily.
"I'm glad it's nothing serious, honey," Mother said brightly, "Have you two eaten yet?"
"We are currently having dinner, Mother."
"Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting you two then. Goodnight, darling," his Mother's voice rose a little as she addressed Jim, somehow knowing he was listening, although the call had been audio only, "Get better soon, Jimmy!"
"Thanks, Manda, goodnight!" Jim called back, before whispering, "Nothing serious indeed..."
The comm. call ended and Spock returned to the couch, sitting down again to resume eating, keeping an eye on his bondmate, not wanting to be caught off guard if Jim's nausea returned. It did not and Jim leaned back with a satisfied groan when he finished eating. Spock gathered up the used dishes, carrying them into the kitchen to set them in the dishwasher. He heard Jim get up, before two slender arms wrapped around his middle, squeezing gently. Spock turned around in Jim's embrace, gazing down at his husband. A tiny grin curled Jim's lips upwards and there was a soft twinkle in his eyes.
Spock felt his own expression relax into a barely visible smile and he gently slid his arms around Jim, grasping his hip to lift him slightly and leaned down to press a small kiss to his husband's forehead, "Do you wish to retire to bed now, Jim?"
Jim nodded tiredly, hooking their index fingers together and started to pull Spock towards the staircase leading up to their bedroom.
As soon as they were settled and Jim had snuggled into his respective place buried in Spock's side, already fast asleep, Spock started to ruminate about the situation. He wondered how he would explain this to his parents, how the council would react and if he could still become an Ambassador considering Jim's current condition. Was it even possible for him to travel now that he was pregnant?
What would his Father say? Would their child be accepted by its peers at school later? His own childhood had been mottled with taunts and days of coming home hiding bruises from his Mother, he did not wish for his child to suffer through the same treatment.
Spock moved his hand slowly, slipping his fingers underneath Jim's shirt to cover the still flat abdomen. It was warm, more than usual and Spock was almost certain that he was able to feel a tiny, firm structure beneath Jim's navel that had not been there before.
A soft murmur against his collarbone indicated that Jim had dropped into the REM phase of sleep, his body twitching slightly against him as he dreamt. Jumbled images and emotions dripped through their bond, too blurred to be recognisable. Spock pulled the sleeping Human a little closer.
Maybe it would be better to give up on wanting to go to Earth. Jim would have to confront his past and the stress that would follow could not be healthy for the child.
Spock felt a sort of panic rise within his chest. What if something happened to Jim while he was not home? What if they lost the child?
"Sp'ck...?" Jim mumbled, patting his chest, "St'p thinkin' 'nd g' sleep..."
"I apologise, Jim," he whispered.
"Y' worry too much," came the muffled response.
"Considering what we have already been through, Jim, I believe my concern is warranted," Spock answered.
"Hmm...," Jim yawned, "'s okay..."
Spock shook his head, confused by the tranquillity that flowed through Jim like a steady stream of water. It was as if all the excitement they had gone through today had simply seeped out of the Human's body and vaporized into thin air.
"Jim, how can you be this calm?"
"Freaked out already after you fainted at Bones' office... tha's how...," the younger man gave a soft grunt and hooked his leg over Spock's hip to acquire more contact between their bodies, "Wha's your hand doin' there?"
Spock pulled his fingers out from under Jim's shirt, feeling slightly embarrassed at being caught, "I merely noticed that your temperature rose, Jim."
"Didn' you notice tha' before...? I think you said tha' already..."
"Go back to sleep, t'hy'la."
"M'no, you keep thinkin' weird stuff 'nd I don' like it," Jim huffed, opening his eyes and sitting up slightly to look at Spock, "So stop, we'll... we'll talk tomorrow, yeah?"
"Yes, Jim, I apologise."
"Well, stop apologising, 's just who you are," Jim dropped back into the pillows with a heavy sigh, "Jus'... try to worry a little quieter, yeah? You can come in the mindscape... 's pretty there."
Spock chuckled, "It is always beautiful there, Jim."
"'s prettier now."
"Good night, Jim."
"Nighty night, Spock."
Within minutes, Jim was asleep once more, snoring softly into the front of Spock's shirt. Spock ran a hand through the blond mop adorning his husband's head. Closing his eyes, Spock slowly relaxed into the mattress, relishing in the fact that Jim was so much warmer than himself and fit so perfectly against him. Involuntarily, his other hand came to rest on Jim's abdomen again. There would be a lot to speak about tomorrow.
As Spock felt his consciousness slip, the bond between them spread open, swallowing him and enveloping him in softness and light.
On the next episode of Spock Hunters; Will they arrive for the appointment in time? How will Sarek react? Is plomeek soup compatable with chocolate? Find out whenever I finish the next chapter!
Yeeep. I've gone insane... fuck.