A/N: okay so this is slightly shorter than you guys are used to. But I didn't want to put too much going on at once into a single chapter. Thank you again for every review, story alert and favourite. I love you.
Spock clasped the captain gently to his chest as he made his way back to Jims quarters, glad that it was still too early for other members of the crew to be wandering the halls.
He lay the shorter man gently on the bed and paused hands on hips as he considered his next move. Jim stirred mumbling and reaching out, his hand gently clasping Spocks sweater, thumb knuckle grazing the exposed skin on the vulcans hip. Spock shivered and gently pulled his hand away, resting it on his softly rising chest.
The vulcan tilted his head and crossed the room, seating himself at the desk preparing the required paperwork for the captain and first officers medical leave. He finished it quickly and sat in silence for a moment deciding that there was only one person aboard who would be awake at this time in the morning.
He checked the captains state of consciousness before reaching out to the screen on the desk and speaking into the microphone.
"Spock to lieutenant Uhura, this is Spock"
There was a quiet buzz and the screen flashed, Uhuras curious face filling the screen. "Spock?"
She was dressed in a track top, hair pulled back in a ponytail, water bottle in her grip.
"Nyota" he spoke quietly not wanting to wake the captain.
"Spock what's wrong? Why are you calling me from the captains quarters?"
"I wish you to inform the bridge crew that the captain and I will not be attending our shifts for the next few days"
She gaped at him, eyes wide "What the hell is going on?"
Spock almost smirked "The captain is ill and doctor McCoy has asked me to remain with him to ensure he remains rested and does not go missing"
Nyota chuckled , remembering the now infamous chicken pox incident.
"Oh right" she smirked at him crossing her arms "And nobody else was available, it just had to be you"
Spock tilted his head "What are you implying Nyota?"
"Oh you know full well what I'm implying. Keep the captain in bed for a few days?"
She raised an eyebrow and giggled, Spock blushed lightly and glanced at his t'hy'la's prone position.
"I do not wish to take advantage of him"
She sighed "Are you going to tell him though? I mean it's a perfect chance"
Spock frowned "I do not want to apply undue stress whilst he is recovering"
She glared at him and flicked her hair "Spock, you are going to have to tell him eventually"
Spock sighed "I cannot"
"You're being an idiot!, he loves you. I am sure of it"
Spock glared at her, eyes hard "You do not know how the captain feels. It is illogical to assume the situation before I know the facts"
Uhura groaned "Fine, but when he says I love you Spock, I'm completely head over heels ridiculously in love with you. You have to stand there and I get to say I told you so. Okay?"
Spocks anger faded and he felt a new sense of affection for his ex. "If it comes to such, I will allow it"
Nyota grinned at him "Good. Right I've got to go, I have to get a run in before my shift"
Spock nodded "Goodbye Nyota"
"Goodbye Spock" she waved and suddenly the screen went black. Spock sighed glancing again at his unconscious friend before pulling a PADD closer and beginning his paperwork.
Six hours later and the captain had not awoken. Spock was beginning to get worried, as was McCoy whose frowning face filled his screen every hour on the hour, infamous frown deepening when every time Spock gave him the same message.
"No change doctor"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the captains condition has not changed. Although I must admit this is irregular, the captain is prone to sleeping in short periods of five hours and as he has been asleep for twice that period I believe some attempt to wake him is necessary"
Spock spoke quickly his face blank. McCoy crossed his arms, knowing that the vulcan was obviously worried.
"Alright since when have you been studying Jims sleeping patterns?" He shook his head sighing "... Turn the screen so I can see him properly"
Spock nodded and turned the screen, rising from his seat and crossing the room. He paused at the bed before raising his voice "Captain? Jim! You must awake!" but there was no movement and Spock frowned.
"Try shaking his shoulder!" McCoys voice filtered through the thick air and Spock sighed, knowing that touching Jim was necessary but uncomfortable. He reached out and touched him gently shaking and whispering his name.
But still no movement, Spock frowned and grabbed him by both shoulder lifting his torso from the bed, normally cool skin terrifyingly warm. The first officer shook his captain, terror filling him when Jim still did not wake.
He let his t'hy'la fall back onto the bed and turned to face the doctor an idea striking him "Doctor, whilst on vulcan a classmate of mine was involved in a violent collision and suffered damage to his brain. His doctors used a mind meld to pull him back and awaken him"
He knew his desperation was evident but found he did not care. McCoys mouth was hanging open and his eyes wild "You...you want to mind meld with Jim?"
Spock sighed and stood up straight hands clenched tightly behind his back "Affirmative"
McCoy closed his mouth and glanced at his friend before nodding "If it helps. I am on my way down, do what you can" the screen went black and Spock was alone again.
He turned on the spot staring down at Jim "I apologise my t'hy'la, this invasion of your privacy is unacceptable. But necessary if it saves you" he knew speaking to the unconscious man in such a way was illogical and yet it comforted him somewhat to be allowed a chance to explain.
He sighed and walked forwards, seating himself on the edge of the bed, hand reaching out to touch his psi points "Forgive me"
Suddenly he found himself alone, at the centre of a spotlight that bathed him in bright white light. The vulcan squinted and called out "Jim?" hand held over his eyes he took a single step forward.
A figure appeared from the strange black world outside of the spotlight.
"Jim?" , the captain was dressed in formal terran attire, a black tuxedo and bowtie, his hair combed back, face panicked lips closed around the tip of his thumb.
Spock tilted his head "Jim?"
The man looked up and instantly his face lit up "Spock! You came!" he rushed forward and wrapped his arms around the vulcan, holding him tightly.
Spock just stood there, frozen in shock when he realised Jim had let him go and was now stood much too close, his eyes trailing over Spocks chest. The vulcan glanced down and raised an eyebrow surprised when he noticed he too was wearing a suit very much similar to Jims and he took a moment to consider how truly beautiful the captain looked.
His startling blue eyes alert and filled with joy, shining grin making it heard for the vulcan to breathe.
"Jim? Are you well?" Spock took a step forward and Jim pouted.
"Dance with me"
Spock tilted his head "Captain you must wake up"
Jim frowned and reached out pulling the Vulcan's arms around him, and Spock did not resist. He wanted to dance once more with Jim, to feel his arms around him and to lean into the soothing cool of his skin.
Spock nodded and opened his arms, the shorter man letting out a yelp of joy before leaping on his first. Together they began to sway and Jim hummed into his friend shoulder remaining like this until Spock felt a presence in the back of his mind.
He sighed "Jim, I have to go"
Jim pulled away and stared up at him eyes wide "I wish we could dance forever. It just feels so…good"
Spock frowned and took the liberty of resting his head on Jims shoulder "I too enjoy dancing with you, but you are ill and I have to get you to wake up. Do you understand?"
Jim groaned and hugged the vulcan once more before letting him go "Touching you is addictive…what does that mean?"
Spock paused "I do not understand"
Jim shook his head, "Spock, I think I… I like you"
Spock tilted his head "I too value you as a friend "
Kirk groaned and punched him lightly on the chest "I mean I like like you"
"I do not understand"
The presence in Spocks mind flared and Spock knew it was McCoy, calling him back "Jim you must wake up"
Jim looked up at him his eyes sad "I cant, its stopping me"
"What is stopping you Jim?"
"Listen, whatever I have it isn't the flu okay? Tell Bones. Tell him I need a hospital. You have to promise me"
"I promise Jim"
"Thank you Spock"
Suddenly the vulcan was expelled from Jims mind and awoke panting, his body leant over Jims, heart beat erratic as he breathed deeply.
McCoy pulled him away and began scanning him "Damn it Spock. What happened in there?"
Spock controlled his breathing, stood his full height, eyes baring down on Bones. "The captain needs a hospital, he cannot wake up"
Bones shook his head rushing to Jims side "Damn it Jim"
Spock glanced once at his friend and turned towards the desk, quickly calling the bridge "Spock to bridge, this is Spock"
"Bridge here"
"Mr Chekov, plot a course to the nearest Starfleet hospital. The captain has taken ill and is in need of medical care than cannot be provided aboard"
The bridge crew stared at each other "Aye aye commander, plot laid in"
"Thank you, maximum warp Mr. Sulu"
"Aye commander"
"Spock out"
The crew stared at each other for a moment before bursting into action, professional air dampened by the concern they all shared for their popular captain.
Spock turned back to the doctor and clasped his hands tightly behind his back.
"Spock, I'm going to need you to carry Jim to sick bay again so I can get him on a medical gurney"
Spock glanced at Jim and nodded, again holding the captain close to his chest, ignoring the pointed stare McCoy was giving them. Walking through the halls was a strange experience, the crew staring without shame as he trod onward keeping his eyes up and forward.
The doctor had packed a small bag containing some of Jims clothes and was hurrying ahead of the vulcan, hand clasped tightly around the handle knuckles white.
Spock felt an odd emotion when he realised there were others who cared for Jim almost as much as he did, he decided based on his studies of positive human emotions that it was affinity he was feeling.
Spock pulled Jim tighter and inhaled his scent, this action seemingly steadying his panic and slowing his frantic heartbeat. They arrived at sickbay, Bones throwing the bag down on a nearby bio bed, hollering to the nurses to get him a gurney and to wake up the second medical officer as McCoy was needed elsewhere.
The nurses worked efficiently, helping the vulcan lower his t'hy'la onto the gurney and pointedly ignoring the vulcans hand clasping at his worn tee.
Spock placed himself in the seat next to the captain and left his hand there, just watching his chest rise and fall steadily as McCoy buzzed around making arrangements.
"Spock?"
Spock looked up sharply and raised an eyebrow at McCoy in silence. The room had gone almost motionless, and it appeared that they were alone.
"We've arrived at the hospital Spock, I take it you're going with him"
Spock stood and placed a protective hand on the now floating side bars of the gurney.
"Affirmative"
McCoy rolled his eyes "Follow the man in red when you get in there, I will admit him you just go straight to the exam rooms' okay?"
Spock nodded and grabbed Jims bag from the chair, his eyes flickering between the door and Jims pale face. Suddenly the calm was broken and the medical staff flooded the room, lining up to take orders from the doctor.
"Okay everyone, doctor Franklin is in charge until I get back. I will keep you updated"
McCoy turned and began striding out of the room, gesturing over his shoulder for Spock to follow. The vulcan gripped the handle tight just as Bones had done and pushed the gurney lightly, the sleek metal bobbing slightly with the pressure.
The two men rushed through the halls, crew members leaping out of the way or standing to attention as they passed their faces pale and worried all eyes seeming to stick to the captain prone form.
There was no sound, no whispers just the steady air of respect and communal anxiety. Spock dropped his head and pushed on, mind solely on his task.
They entered a shuttle, McCoy running to the controls and pressing buttons furiously as Spock carefully tethered the floating gurney to the bars to stop it juggling the captain during flight and sat down hand still clenching the cold metal bars.
When they landed two officers in yellow opened the door and rushed in, moving towards the gurney. Spock stood quickly and moved in front of them, blocking their path.
"It's alright; he has it, just get people out of the way"
The two men shared a glance but relented rushing out of the door. McCoy didn't look up from his PADD.
"You're welcome"
Spock raised an eyebrow but grabbed Jims bag and untethered the gurney, pushing it lightly down the ramp, focussing on getting him into the hospital.
The hospital was a large domed structure, three enormous pods covered in silver panels and large circular windows dotted across them. The front entrance was a half circle, sliding white doors opening to a large airy room, tiny black desk at its centre.
A woman sat watching them approach, red suited man at her side. McCoy glanced up from his PADD "Spock follow him, I'll finish the paperwork"
Spock nodded and followed the stocky figure as he rushed away, sprinting to another set of black shining doors face refreshingly blank. The vulcan pushed Jim into the turbolift, not looking up from the now seemingly paler face of his friend.
As the black doors slid open again he found himself in a bright white corridor, single shining doors at uniform periods along the walls staff in bright red uniform milling about, ignoring the newcomers. The air was cool and smelt clean , the low hum of manufactured cleansed oxygen floated from the large vents high up on the walls.
Spock pushed forward and was shown into a small room, a single white biobed again at its centre, shelves lined the walls and the man in red crossed his arms waiting for Spock to place Jim on the bed.
He turned and carefully lifted him placing the unconscious man stretched out on the cool white bed. Spock turned on his heels and placed his hands behind his back, watching as the doctor glanced up at the lines of streaming characters Spock did not recognise as they streamed across the wall above Jims head.
The doctor looked up and spoke quietly, pressing a hypospray to Jims neck.
"It will take some time to diagnose your captain. You may use the family quarters through there, he is stable for now"
The man gestured toward a cool white door to the left of Jims bed and Spock nodded. He turned to leave and Spock turned considering his captains attire, it was not fitting for him to be in such a state whilst he was stable and in the presence of so many strangers. The vulcan tilted his head and opened the bag McCoy had brought with them. Inside he found several black undershirts and uniform trousers, and to his surprise his own change of uniform.
He glanced at the door, but saw no way to lock it and steadied his mind. He gently removed Jims shirt and replaced it with a undershirt sliding the trousers on and covering his bare feet with a pair of unfortunately familiar green socks that the captain had taken to wearing on the bridge.
Standing back he sighed at his friend, settling himself down to meditate.
.