Chapter Six: A Child's Lessons

Kirk arrived not ten minutes later. His face was slightly flushed, as if he'd run from Deck Eight to Spock's quarters, and his expression was almost frantic with concern. He took one glance at Spock, leaning against the desk, then stepped inside. "Spock..."

"I am...functional, Captain." Spock spoke softly. His eyes blinked open. "Doctor McCoy's intervention, as well as your own, prevented anything more than momentary discomfort."

McCoy snorted. "That was a little more than momentary discomfort, Spock. You were hurting, and don't you try to deny it."

"I will not. However, there are other matters to be concerned with." Spock's fingers, arched in front of his face, twined together. "Unpleasant as the experience was, it has provided some insights that may be beneficial to resolving my current situation."

"Oh?" McCoy blinked.

"Can you explain that?" Kirk moved further into the room. He glanced at the two chairs, then perched himself on the edge of the desk.

"I can. Moreover, I must, as I will require your assistance to make this work." A line of tension creased Spock's brow, then smoothed out.

"All right. Tell us what you need." McCoy settled himself more firmly in his chair.

"I have been attempting to deal with the situation as I would a normal breach of my mental barriers, through a forced meld or other such disruption. Or as I would should there be a chemical disruption, such as the spores we encountered on Omicron Ceti Three." Spock's fingers twitched in a restless movement that McCoy read as discomfort, or embarrassment. "However, this situation is not the same. In both such cases, a foundation is left from which to work. Chemical imbalances or inhibitions can be corrected. Breaches can be repaired."

There was the key McCoy had been missing, and he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner. He'd never seen Spock lose all control of his faculties. Not even in the one Fever. "All your controls were wiped out. Not just suppressed, but practically obliterated."

"Precisely. And while I recall all the basic training required to re-establish such things, I do not possess the required stability." Spock's shoulders tightened. "There is, however, a way around such a problem." His dark gaze shifted, focusing on McCoy's face. "To solve this problem, I must return to the lessons I had as a child."

Kirk shifted. "I don't understand."

Spock's fingers interlaced and clenched around each other. "Vulcan children become aware of their psi gifts early in life. Most do so at the age of 4 or 5 Standard years old. We are then trained in shields and bio-control, as well as any specialized training we require, until we are in our early teens. Or until we have sufficiently mastered the information and techniques. However, until that control is perfected, we remain vulnerable. Thus, the first lesson we learn is not that of shielding. It is of bonding, of linking our minds to another."

"What?" McCoy stared. "You mean, you're vulnerable, so you make yourself more vulnerable? How in tarnation does that make sense?"

Spock fixed him with a level gaze. "I assume you felt what I did, when I asked you to assist me."

McCoy paused. "Yeah. I felt it. Kinda like you were ducking behind me, usin' my thoughts to protect yours."

"Precisely. One of the first lessons a Vulcan child learns is how to meld his or her mind to the mind of someone they trust or share compatibility with, to seek protection." Spock paused. "In this way, the child's mind is protected until he or she has learned to protect themselves. It is usually the family who offers such protection, parents or close family members. Sometimes a teacher, if a child shows more mental compatibility with an instructor. It is rare, but has been known to happen."

Kirk frowned. "Do we need to return you to Vulcan, Spock? Or contact the Ambassador?"

"It may be necessary, but I would prefer to avoid that outcome." Spock had tensed at the mention of his father, and McCoy didn't blame him. He'd only met Sarek once, but he suspected the Ambassador was a strict parent. Besides, Spock was far too independent to want to be under parental control.

Kirk nodded. "Understandable. What do you recommend?"

Spock hesitated. His words were slow when he did speak, as if he were wading through concepts and thoughts that he was still putting together. "There is no one aboard who is a match to me in terms of psi-strength, and certainly not in terms of discipline and training. I do not think it would be possible for me to be protected by only one person. Even when I was a child, it was not possible, and my strengths have changed since then."

McCoy grimaced. "Who helped you when you were kid?"

Something still and tense settled in Spock's expression, turning his eyes to opaque mirrors. "My father was in charge of controlling my ability to receive. He was uncomfortable with my ability to project, however. My mother was more receptive in that regard, and it was she who tended to that manifestation of my strengths. I also had an instructor who served as a secondary guard, due to my parents' frequent absences for diplomatic duties." Something in his guarded tone made McCoy think he didn't want to know too much about Spock and his instructor.

Kirk, to his credit, didn't ask. "All right. Who do you think can help you now? And how?"

Spock settled his chin on his interlaced hands, thinking aloud for their benefit. "Doctor McCoy has proved a most capable shield against mental intrusion. Unfortunately, I suspect that providing constant protection would prove wearing for him. He must also be free to concentrate his attention elsewhere, should an emergency arise. However, Mr. Scott and Lieutenant Uhura are both very focused individuals. Indeed, I have noticed that when the Engineer is thinking of his engines or his ship, almost nothing can get past him."

Kirk laughed. "And Scotty is always thinking of his engines or his ship. At least, when he's anywhere near them."

Spock's eyebrow rose. "Precisely."

Kirk nodded. "All right. I'll call them up here so you can explain it to them, and we'll see what they say." He paused. "You said you needed protection against not just intrusion, but projection. What do you have in mind for that?"

Spock's eyes moved then from where they had been focused on the far wall, to fix on Kirk's face. "For that, Captain, there is only one logical choice I can make." He looked away. "By accident or choice, it is your mind to which I have most often been linked. Last night, when I dreamed, it was you who recognized my dreams and memories. You who felt them." He stood, a sudden restless movement. "I do not wish to interfere with your command duties, nor do I wish to attempt anything that might compromise your responsibilities. And I do not know with any certainty what will happen as I attempt to restore my mind to it's proper adult function. However, there is no one else."

"It's all right. I trust you Spock." Kirk rose from his seat and set one hand carefully on Spock's shoulder. "Just...let me know, if you think there's going to be a problem. If you can."

Spock nodded. "I shall. You should be advised...I was not the most compliant of children. The disciplines required...not all of them came easily."

Kirk grinned. "No one's perfect." He waited until Spock relaxed. "Do you want to call Scotty and Uhura now?"

"I should prefer to test my theory as soon as possible, Captain."

"All right." Kirk released him, and Spock went to the intercom.

***U***

Scotty and Uhura arrived ten minutes later. The scotsman took a moment to adjust his uniform collar and accept the cold pack McCoy handed him before addressing his commander. "Mr. Spock. You said there was something we could do to be helpin'?"

"Indeed. You are aware of the clash between Engineering and Security on Deck Eight?"

Scotty grimaced. "Aye. Everyone is. And my men will have a talking to for that. Engineers are supposed to be smarter than getting into brawls in the corridors."

"Quite true. However, it has brought to light a possible method for managing my own current condition." Spock repeated the explanation he had given Kirk and McCoy, and his request.

Uhura shrugged. "Well, I have no problem with it."

"No problem indeed." Scotty was equally amiable. "God knows, even on a quiet run like this, there's a million things that need tunin' up and checking into around here. It'll be no trouble at all."

Uhura paused. "I do have one question though. How susceptible will you be to our thoughts, Mr. Spock?"

"Extremely susceptible." The Vulcan folded his hands in front of him, tapping is fingers together in what all of them realized as one of his few nervous gestures. "However, you, Engineer Scott, and even Dr McCoy to some extent, have fairly disciplined minds, and an ability to stay focused that is...impressive, by human standards."

"Well I like that." McCoy huffed. "What do you mean 'by human standards'? And 'even' me?"

Spock fixed him with a level stare. McCoy subsided instantly at the faint shadow in his dark eyes. "I mean only that there are species in the galaxy, Vulcans among them, that are born and trained to greater levels of focus than humans are typically required to develop. As for my personal comment, I have noted that when in surgery or busy with research, you can be focused nearly to the point of personal neglect. However, in performance of your more casual duties, or in a non-work environment, your attention is sometimes divided. It is not intended as a slight, Doctor, merely recognition that your mind functions differently, which may be a factor in our connection."

"Oh. Well then." McCoy ducked his eyes away with an uncomfortable shift of his shoulders. "If that's all...well, thank you for takin' the time to clarify. I'll try to ask next time before I get my feathers all riled."

"It would be...most appreciated." Spock stared at him a moment longer, before turning back to the others. "If you wish to reconsider..."

"Not in the least. I'll not turn my back on a friend in need." A small smile twitched one corner of Scotty's mouth. "And I have been getting' behind on my technical journals again. I doubt any harm'll come of sharing that."

"Indeed."

Uhura shook her head. "I still don't mind. I was more worried about you. But if it helps...these people have a lovely language, and they seem very friendly. Perhaps I can start learning the language, some of the idioms and customs that the translator doesn't catch. There are always a few. And I'll bet they have some beautiful music."

Kirk smiled. "I'll be happy to authorize the research Lieutenant. And you, Scotty, if you need any more...engineering research to keep you occupied. Or new parts to tinker with."

Scotty's face lit up. "Why, thank you Captain."

McCoy grinned. "Well, if we're all agreed, how about you tell us what we need to do to make this happen? There's no time like the present, after all."

Spock bowed his head in agreement. "There is no formal preparation required, as you sensed earlier. Only a touch, and a brief moment of work on my part." He glanced at his guests. "You should make yourselves comfortable. This could be...somewhat disorienting."

There weren't any more chairs, but at Spock's nod, Uhura and Scotty perched on the edge of his bed. Spock rose, and Kirk took his chair. Spock considered, then turned. "Captain, with your permission, I will begin with you."

"Go ahead Spock." Kirk nodded, relaxing in his seat with a grace and calm that McCoy envied.

Spock reached out, touched him lightly on the temple. It wasn't like the formal mind meld touch, just a light press of lean fingers to the side of Kirk's face. Kirk made a soft sound, slightly surprised, then relaxed again. So did Spock. After a moment, the Vulcan withdrew. "Captain?"

Kirk smiled. "I feel fine Spock. Just...the initial contact was a little surprising. I don't think I've ever realized how much you're holding back. But it's certainly nothing I can't handle."

"Thank you Captain." Spock turned. "Dr. McCoy."

"Go for it." McCoy tried to relax, remembering he'd already done this, and with a panicking, migraine-suffering Vulcan at that.

Spock repeated the same light touch he'd used on Kirk, and a moment later, a familiar presence brushed McCoy's mind, hesitant and asking permission. In some way he didn't understand, he could feel Spock's mind asking for his protection, kind of like a kid or a kitten trying to get in out of the rain. He felt Spock's faint indignation at the comparison, followed by resigned acknowledgment, and it amused him so much that he couldn't help relaxing and letting the Vulcan in. Spock brushed lightly into his mind and seemed to settle, reminding him again of a small animal coming in to rest by a fire. Then a gentle offering of thanks, and Spock withdrew, the presence in his mind fading to a barely noticeable thought in the back of his mind.

That wasn't so bad. He watched Spock repeat the procedure with Scotty and Uhura, both of them fairly relaxed under the Vulcan's careful touch. Then it was done. Spock slumped a little. Kirk got out of the chair and moved it so the Vulcan could settle into it, and Spock bowed his head in thanks.

McCoy watched him for a moment. "You all right there, Spock?"

"I am. A quatri-fold meld, however, is somewhat exhausting to establish, at least in my current state. However, the fact that I can no longer feel every crewman within a hundred yards is indeed relief that more than outweighs the strain."

"I'll bet it is." McCoy stood and double checked the monitors. "Well, relief or not, my tricorder says that you need some rest."

Spock didn't object. Instead, after a moment of consideration, he nodded. "I would not be adverse. However, with the current state of my mind, I do not feel I need a...close companion any longer. The meld should remain even if I choose to sleep, and all four of you will be alerted if something untoward happens."

"Fair enough, Spock." Kirk motioned Uhura and Scotty out of the sleeping alcove and toward the door. "We'll let you get some rest then. I'll come find you for dinner."

"That would be acceptable Captain. And...thank you." Spock's eyes flickered to all of them.

"Not a problem Spock." McCoy gathered up his equipment. After consideration, he took the tricorder, but altered the settings on the medical sensor pad so it would alert him if something happened to Spock's physical condition. Spock didn't protest when he set it back down, so he assumed the Vulcan approved the caution. "You go ahead and get some shut-eye."

"I shall endeavor to do so." McCoy gave the Vulcan one last quick glance-over, then followed his shipmates out the door.

Author's Note: Temporary solution established. But that's not the end of it. Not even close.