Jim woke up with a headache the size of California and a queasy stomach to match it. He opened his eyes and found a plate with crackers, a knife, and a jar of peanut butter sitting beside a glass of juice, all on the nightstand. He sat up and his stomach rolled for a completely different reason. In the twentieth century, there used to be something called cartoons, and in the cartoons when a character felt really bad about something they had done, they turned into a skunk. Jim felt he had a black and white tail himself now. Spock had gone to all this trouble for him?

He ate his crackers slowly, letting his insides catch up with his outsides. When he was done he got up and went to the bathroom and cleaned up before carrying the plate and glass back down to the kitchen. David was sitting in the kitchen, eating vegetable eggrolls. The boy looked up and smiled.

"You liked the crackers?" David asked happily.

Jim paused. "You brought me the crackers and juice?"

"Yeah. I remember from health class that when you have a hangover you're dehydrated, and you haven't eaten since breakfast. I thought it would help."

Jim looked around. "Where's your father?"

David shrugged. "He went out about two hours ago."

"In the car?"

"No, he called a cab. He said he left a note for you on the downstairs computer." David finished his meal and put his plate away.

Jim walked in the living room and turned on the screen. There was a note minimized, and he pulled it up. What he read knocked his breath out.

James,

I trust you will find this note in a more sober frame of mind than I left you. David has assured me he will not mind waiting for you to awaken. I am leaving for a hotel. I do not feel I can stay with you while you alternate intoxication and abusive behavior. I will be in contact at a later time to determine how long I will be away.

Spock

Jim stared at the screen, trying to will the characters to change to something not as painful. He realized David was standing beside him and he shut off the screen.

"Father left us, didn't he?"

Jim swallowed. "Not permanently. He just needs some space, that's all. He'll be back."

David leaned against the desk. "I don't see what the big deal is. You lost someone and you got drunk. At least you were at home; you weren't driving or something."

"I'm responsible for you, David. If something had happened to you and I wasn't able to respond it would have been my fault."

There was a snort. "I'm fourteen. It's not like I'm a baby anymore." He wasn't convincing. David looked down. "I'm sorry I called Father on you. I thought something was wrong and I got scared. I could have taken care of you and me without him. I promise I won't call him again."

"No, dude, it's alright. I'm glad you called him, and hopefully you won't ever have to call him again. We'll get through this. We just have to stick together."

"Just us two Kirks," David replied.

"No, the three of us," Jim insisted. "You're not mad at your father, are you?"

"He left us!" David exclaimed. "Why shouldn't I be mad? He's the one that walked out on us, he can go to hell for all I care!"

"Hey! Mouth!" Jim snapped, and the boy colored. "I don't want you talking that way. If he can forgive me for all the stupid things I've pulled over the years, I can forgive him for taking a breather for once. And you can forgive him too."

"Whatever," David replied, and walked out of the room. Jim pulled up the directory and began calling each hotel one after another, asking if there was a Spock staying there. He found him in the fourth one down the list, and asked to be connected to the room.

The line rang for a minute and finally Spock answered.

"Hey," Jim breathed. "Can we talk?"

"We may talk," Spock responded in a typical fashion.

"Look, I screwed up and I'm really sorry, but I don't think it warranted you leaving the house. That's a little drastic, don't you think?"

"Becoming intoxicated over the death of my counterpart was not just as drastic?" Spock shot back.

Jim pursed his lips. "Death gets to me. Especially when I lose someone who means that much to me. He's the first personal loss I've faced since you and I got together, and you're right, I didn't handle it well. But still, baby, why did you leave?"

Spock closed his eyes briefly. "Please refrain from using your terms of endearment with me. I am not in a gracious mood at this point."

"Okay, Spock. Fine. But you're not answering the question. Why did you leave? Do you know how badly you've upset David?"

There was silence. "The child may not understand my reasoning now, however I will explain if or when I return."

"If or when?" Jim stammered. "Spock, this is bordering on the ridiculous. I understand you may need space to get your head straight – I won't argue that. But you're coming back, because you wouldn't leave me forever, right?"

"I understand you may be unnerved by my absence, however you will grow accustomed to it. Just as I became accustomed to your absence in my life nine point six years ago."

Jim took a second to calculate the time frame and then grunted. "Spock, we were separated eight and a half hours. I was in the next freaking cabin and we saw each other every five minutes all over the ship. You can't compare that with this."

"Do you need something, James?" Spock broke in.

"No." Jim felt his stomach knot again. "I'll let you go."

"Live long and prosper," Spock responded, and the line went dead.

Jim took a breath and started to dial another number when it occurred to him, Solion was gone. He couldn't call the old man for advice anymore, and suddenly his eyes were flooded again. He wiped the tears away furiously and dialed a different number.

"Hello?"

"Father," Jim began.

"What has occurred?" Sarek asked automatically, putting down his padd.

"How did you know?"

"I have seen enough humans in tears to know the sight. What happened, son?"

Jim sniffled. "I made a huge mistake and Spock left me. Us," he corrected.

Sarek frowned. "Were you unfaithful?"

"No."

"Did you take another's life?"

"No!" Jim shook his head violently.

Sarek's eyes narrowed. "What mistake could be so grave that my son would leave his dwelling and leave his mate and stepchild behind?"

"You remember calling me about Solion?" Jim posed. Sarek agreed. "Well, I kinda went out and bought a bunch of beer and got drunk and David found me like that and called Spock."

Sarek pulled his head back. "But you were not unfaithful and you did not take a life? Did you harm your child?"

"No, he was just scared."

"James, when was the last time you overindulged?" Sarek asked.

Jim shrugged. "It was after a diplomatic mission on the ship, like over fourteen years ago." He laughed mirthlessly. "That was the last time I was drunk period."

Sarek looked at his son by marriage with kindness. "Child, I do not believe you have erred so egregiously that Spock will not forgive you. Where is he now?"

"At a hotel."

"Give me his number." Sarek picked up a padd and Jim rattled off the number to the hotel he had found Spock in. "I will speak with my son. Have you apologized?"

Jim sighed. "I've tried. I keep screwing it up."

"Take heart, son. This will work out. Peace and long life."

"Live long and prosper, Father," Jim replied and hung up to find David in the doorway.

"Was that Grandfather?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah."

"Is he going to get Father to come back?" David asked with some small hope in his voice.

"I hope so." Jim smiled at the young boy.