Jim jumped slightly when he heard his name being called. Seeing Spock approaching, he relaxed and reached out to pat the Vulcan's shoulder to which he put up an eyebrow at. Jim smiled.
They were still getting back on the right footing with each other but it was getting easier over the weeks. "Would you care to join me once we land?" Spock asked curiously. Jim relaxed further and nodded. He liked spending more time with Spock recently, since the crew and all of Star Fleet had found out he had been on Tarsus, they looked at him differently. It wasn't noticeable to others, nor was it a constant gaze. But sometimes Jim could see that flicker of sympathy, or see a moment of one of his friends thinking they understood some part of him that even he wasn't sure was real or not.
It grated on him.
The only other one he didn't mind was Sulu, who hadn't changed a bit, but who was attached to Pavel all the time and he was the worse to get those images of Jim's twisted, inhuman features of out his mind.
Jim sighed as they entered the transporter room seeing that everyone had already left. Spock raised a brow at him and Jim shrugged in return. It was only as they beamed down that Jim frowned and turned to Spock to say, confused, "So this is the fourth time in a week you've opt to spend your free time with me. Should I be concerned?"
Spock looked back at him just as confused and replied, "I do not understand why you would be." Jim smiled and replied, "Well usually when a person is in a relationship with someone they tend to spend their available time with their mates. I don't mind, mind you, it's cool."
Jim stopped walking when he noticed the tension in Spock's shoulders and he frowned, saying, "Spock, are you and Nyota okay? I mean I don't mean to pry or even interfere...dammit, you know sometimes it's weird being both a friend and the boss but I do need to know relationship status' on the ship. You're not like...fighting...are you?" Jim tried not wincing at his statement, he wanted to take it all back immediately, both embarrassed and awkward.
Spock gave him a blank look and Jim tried not to notice it was Spock's tell. "Nyota and I are not currently fighting, as you put it. While I do understand your concerns in view of crew members not being able to complete their duties once their private lives intertwine with their professional responsibilities, know that regardless of our status both Nyota and I are logical and highly professional. I would never allow any private occurrence to affect my duties."
Jim stopped the smile ready to form. Barely. He nodded and said, "Okay. But you and her are okay, right?"
Spock opened his mouth to reply but then narrowed his eyes and closed his mouth. He looked around at the crowed street and nodded in the direction of a more private park to their right. Jim followed, heart dropping and hid his concern from his expression. They waited until they walked into the park; green and lush with exotic flowers and towering trees, it was one of many dotted around the very modern city. A small stream wound lazily around the park, and small bridges were dotted here and there so that there was a clear path to follow.
"I am not one to speak of private matters." Spock gave him a worried look but also one of confusion. Jim waited, patiently and leaned against the railing of a bridge, focusing on the sound of the running stream and the sound of distant bees he hoped wouldn't sting him. "I know Spock," Jim replied when Spock stayed silent, "It's okay. It's me."
Spock once more looked at him and nodded in return before he said, "It has come to my attention that Nyota and I have not spent as much time together as we used to. I have assumed this is in part of our busy schedule as well as both of us devoting our time to our recent projects." Jim nodded, relaxing, and said, "It's completely common for people to focus on work. It's very easy to do, especially for people like us." Spock gave him another confused, 'not expression', and Jim smiled explaining, "People who love what they do and actually find it enjoyable. Some people don't like what they do to earn a living." Spock looked like he wanted to protest that idea but Jim cut him off, knowing they'd end up in a conversation about the pros and cons about careers and human tendencies that Spock did not understand.
"Anyway, not important. My advice is to simply ask her to spend some time with you." Spock looked away and Jim wasn't able to see his face when he replied, unemotionally, "I did so." Jim couldn't help his brows from raising and he asked, "So?" Spock managed to glance at him as he replied, "She declined and is currently having a girl day with Carol and Maxine from Engineering." Jim nodded his head, more automatically than consciously. He remembered Bones grumbling to Scotty about something before he told Jim they were going to a pub.
"Well, that's okay too." Jim tried to imagine what it would be like to date someone. He liked to imagine he could have dated Saros. Then he tried imagining a four year relationship and if he were being serious, he couldn't. No one ever wanted to date him and the people he wanted, tended to not even be at all available to the idea. "This is acceptable among human relationships?" Jim really wanted to say he had no idea but he was being supportive. He was being a friend so he took a guess and hoped he was right. "Yeah. I mean in a long term relationship there's going to be times when you become sort of, I don't know... comfortable, I guess. You have to keep each other engaged and you know...keep the..."
Jim moved his hands in a confused gesture and mumbled out, "...passion alive. I guess."
Jim was not looking at Spock and Spock was staring very much back at him. "You are suggesting that Nyota has grown bored with me and our relationship together." Jim couldn't help but snap his head back at Spock and gaped at him. Hurriedly, he said, "No. Not what I'm saying."
Not what he meant to say, anyway.
"Just, you know, four years is a long time to be someone. Again, not bored, just comfortable. I mean I don't even know what your relationship...you know what, let's not go there." Jim cleared his throat and tried to reword this and save whatever was left of his dignity. "Look, you've got nothing to worry about. I know how much you mean to Nyota and both of you are people who invest everything to matters of importance. Hence, why you two work so well together. Just, you know, spice it up, surprise her. Do something she can't ignore." Spock raised a brow and tilted his head. Looking thoughtful, he asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"
Jim spoke without meaning to and said, "Sex." He immediately cringed and cursed his mouth. Spock looked both critical and embarrassed. "You believe intercourse will solve the distance in which we have placed between ourselves?"
"Um...really good sex?"
Now Spock was looking at him like he was an idiot. Jim relied snappish, though not heated. "Well what do you expect? I'm a man, keeping my interest is pretty straight forward here." Spock nodded and looked like he was holding back a smile. Before he turned his head, Jim definitely spotted a twitch with his lips. "Besides, nothing's too bad. You're a Vulcan, your sex drive is like ten to one to a human. So long as you're doing that and she's interested, you're fine." Jim stopped when he saw Spock holding back a frown.
Sighing, he stayed silent for awhile before he asked quietly and cringing, really not wanting to know. "When was the last time...you know?" Spock looked like he did not want to answer and instead asked a question, "You believe that a relationship needs constant intercourse to be healthy?" Jim just blinked at Spock and said, "You do know who you're talking to, right?" Spock did not hesitate as he replied, "I know your reputation and I know that it is false. You have not engaged in sexual intercourse with any of the women that proposed to you in the last six months, merely from my observation, including those times we were on Terra. You've spent much of your leave time with Sana Kor or you were with my counterpart before that."
Jim nodded and said thoughtlessly, "You kinda don't need average sex when you have someone in your mind like that." He winced and missed the knowing look in Spock's gaze. "Vulcan bonds are much more...simpler." Spock replied and Jim nodded, totally understanding. "That they are. Welcome to the messiness of humans." Jim put an arm over Spock's shoulder and said, "You'll be okay, you know. Nyota loves you, just talk. Say it as Vulcan-ish as you want. You want to spend more time together. Logically you wish to know if she feels distance from you or if she simply hasn't noticed. Tell her you want to take her out to dinner tonight. Simple and to the point." Spock's shoulders eased up under jim's arms and he nodded.
Jim could totally be a therapist.
He grinned and said, "Now why don't we join Bones and Scotty for a nice glass of scotch and Spock..." Jim waited for Spock to look at him knowingly and disagreeably. "You're so having a shot of chocolate milk. No saying no when we're on shore leave. Ship rules."
He grinned as Spock let out a deep breath.
He felt like his head was about to explode. Taking deep breathes he concentrated on the blonde beneath him. She sighed and moaned perfectly, her pale thighs were clenching around his hips and he nipped at her pulse point making her arch her back, making him push deeper inside her. Her warmth, the need and desire pulsing through him, even his orgasm minutes later, nothing overwhelmed the pain that was making his eyes lose focus. His breathing ragged, he rolled off the unknown girl and she sighed as she curled into him. "You are one fine conquest," she said with a lush accent. He laughed, but it was humourless and she asked, "Do you want me to bring in the next one or do you want to go again?"
Jim frowned and tried concentrating. "Why don't you tell the next one to join and I'll double your payment?" The woman grinned and pranced to the door, opening it she called out to someone and Jim tried relaxing as she and the Orion woman both grinned at him.
Jim made a mental note to not go so long between his own conquests. It'd been longer than six months, he hadn't noticed he hadn't had sex in over eight months. He had a moment of sadness that he wasn't enjoying himself as he once did right after a healing session but he pushed it away a second later as the two women made their way towards him.
Spock reigned in the instinct to fidget. Once more he found himself nervous around his mate. It was an emotion he did not care for, and not in any way with this situation. Uhura herself was having a difficult time keeping up with conversation. Dressed beautifully in a green dress with her hair in loose curls, Spock found her decidedly alluring tonight.
"Why did you not tell me this sooner?" She finally asked as they paused over their meal. Spock tilted his head and asked, "To which part are you referring?" Uhura sighed and leaned forward though there was no need to be quiet, in the restaurant they were in, they had a private room to themselves. "I'm referring to the part where you were unhappy. I didn't think it was so long since we last were together. I am sorry for not paying better attention but when you first felt that way, you should have told me."
Spock nodded and relaxed slightly. "As I too, was not paying attention to our absence of attention to each other, I could not inform you. However, I have found it difficult to speak to you recently, you have been, as I already stated, preoccupied." Uhura nodded and looked down, replying, "Monty and Carol got me into their plans for their papers and it's been really interesting." Putting her elbows on the table, Spock saw the familiar look of Uhura concentrating and when she looked slightly taken back he could no longer remain silent.
"What are you thinking about?" Uhura glanced up at him and then forcing a smile, she asked, "Spock...do you remember the last time we were intimate?" Spock tensed and was reminded of what Jim told him just seven hours previously. Currently, Jim had gone sightseeing, though Spock was doubtful that was what he truly meant when he left them at the pub.
Intimacy was important for humans he was reminded, his mother had told him that when he was trying to become Uhura's friend. There was always something strange and unknown when dealing with humans. Growing up, he knew the true intimacy for Vulcans was in bonding to each other. It was ultimate, it was everything. The physical need of humans were their attempts at creating the same emotional depths. Spock logically knew this, though he tended to forget this fact, forget that his mate needed physical attention as well as intellectual. Vulcans, he knew could be very sexual but it did come second to their bond.
Spock swallowed and could not help but think of what it would be like to bond with Uhura. Due to everything that had happened in the last three years, he was frightened of ever having to bond. One of his prominent reasons not to have asked yet.
"You spent the night in my quarters two months and six days ago."
Uhura looked shocked and then shook her head. Spock watched as emotions crossed his mate's face and tried his best to read them. Finally, she settled on disturbed. "Spock, I think it's a serious problem when we can go two months with having no kind of any personal contact, without even realizing it. It's not just physical, it's the fact that the only thing I can think about you these last two months is what project your working on. I know that much about other crew members. You're my mate and I plan to be with you for the rest of my life but I want us to be together, together. I don't want us to be together because we just are."
Spock frowned, not understanding the last bit but he was sure that he connected as much as he could. Taking a deep breath, he finally asked, "Are you willing to bond to me, Uhura?" Uhura straightened and blinked at him. It was a serious question, one he had only voiced once before to ask if she would ever in future be open to such a connection. It had be theory back then, now he needed a serious and unwavering answer. If one day Pon Farr came and since his counterpart had fell to the Fever he knew the probability of him getting it was close to one hundred percent, he needed a mate that was prepared to tie their soul with his.
"Spock, you know I'm in this. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. But if you asked me today, tomorrow, I'd have to decline." Spock tensed and she reached out to hold his hand, he felt her sadness, her calm and her love for him. "We're not good right now. We're not bad either but we need to definitely spend more time together and want to spend more time together. Once we're back to normal, I want you to ask me seriously and I'll give you a proper answer." Spock relaxed and brushed his thumb against the back of her knuckles.
"Very well. Will you agree to spend the next week in my quarters?"
Uhura raised a brow and smirked as she replied, "A whole week, Spock?" Spock looked down, familiar since working with his captain about innuendo. "We need to spend more time together, therefore the logical decision is that we cohabit our spaces." Uhura grinned, truly and said, "I know Spock. I will very happily, live with you for however long you can stand me."
He nodded and Uhura moved until she sat in his lap and kissed him. Spock tried to ignore the fact that a waiter could come in any moment as he enjoyed his mate's taste.
Spock found himself nervous as he tracked his captain to the Jefferies as the blonde named them recently. He gave a look over to Uhura and she smiled at him knowingly. He called out to Sulu, "Mr. Sulu, you have the comm. Inform me when we reach New Vulcan air space." Sulu nodded and replied, "Will do, Commander." Spock made his way nervously down to engineering and almost immediately ran into Mr. Scott.
The older man shook his head when he saw him and said, "No, no. Sorry Commander but the Captain has stated he doesn't wish to see anyone today. Leonard's already been here and I had to get security to see him back to sickbay." Spock did not frown though he wished to. "Has the Captain been injured in some way?" Mr. Scott shook his head and said, "Now if he were injured I would have let the doctor through. He's sleeping, and it's the first time he slept more than an hour at a time. He asked me to not let anyone disturb him so that's the way it's gonna be."
Spock straightened his posture and concentrated on reminding Mr. Scott that he did not have the authority to stop him from seeing Jim. Mr. Scott's eyes went wide and he said, "Right," before Spock could even start his lecture, "Okay fine, he's in Jefferies three." Mr. Scott's eyes flickered away from him and he immediately frowned as he called loudly, "Keenser, what the bloody hell are you doing with my PADD? I told you, you can't play with the gravitational controls yet!" He turned to Spock once more, went red and then said, "Well you best be going now."
Before Spock could move, Scott hurried over to where Keenser was indeed playing with a PADD along with another cadet who was grinning at his yelling officer. Spock ignored the loud conversation and floating tools in the distance and walked over the opening for number three. He was once more reminded of the size of their tunnels, tall enough to stand up in, he made his way left and just down the bend was Jim, though he was not sleeping.
Looking up at Spock, he noticed Jim's eyes were red and Spock quietly sat down next to his friend. "The crew are looking for you." Jim looked confused and asked, "Did Scotty blow something up?" Spock raised a brow at that and saw Jim had no idea why everyone would be asking for him. "Jim, you are a captain who likes to celebrate your crew's birthdays. Cadet Johnson was entirely surprised when you gave him a gift just last week, especially since he was only transferred three weeks ago. Today is your birthday and yet you do not wish to celebrate it among the same people you make such a big deal about. I do not understand your logic."
Jim snorted and said, "Spock, my birthday isn't like everyone else's." Spock nodded and said, "You are referring to the USS Kelvin. The fact that your father died when you were born." Jim winced and nodded. "Bingo. Birthday boy with daddy issues. My birthday wasn't exactly celebratory growing up." Jim leaned his head back against the metal and Spock wanted to wince at the noise the contact made.
Spock frowned, concerned and feeling sympathetic, he said, "My mother made a point of celebrating mine. Though we were on Vulcan and my father and I did not understand the logic behind such outdated practices she refused to stop. I kept the fact that my peers would bully me every year for the gifts she gave me. They were usually a practical item, chosen with help from my father. Most of the time they were clothing items, or new PADD's, something for my schooling. The fact of the matter was, most years the present was publicly known and therefore it was known that they had a pattern to be given to me on the day of my birth. That day I would get a gift and the next day at school I usually ended up having to face three to five others that would scorn me for showing such a human custom in public. Though only twice did the encounter result in a physical confrontation."
Jim was staring at him and Spock stopped, realizing what he just offered to Jim. He had not meant to tell so much of his childhood. Spock stared back as Jim slowly said, "Well, I think I got it better than you. My birthday my mom usually just locked herself in her room and sent me outside to play all day, usually I'd hear her crying at night. I got a cake once, when I was...seven or maybe eight or something. But my Aunt, now she celebrated with me, three birthdays with her before she passed away. And my very first actual birthday was with Amanda and then my second with Bones. Bones and I tend to spend today together."
Spock nodded, knowing the last part to be true. "Why have you sent him away?" Jim swallowed and took a deep breath as he replied, "I still...I just...I don't know. I guess I just miss Saros right now. I kind of had plans to celebrate with him today. Bastard. It's not that I blame him or anything, Bones that is, I just...I don't feel like seeing anyone." Jim clenched his jaw and Spock looked away feeling dread once again.
"I see." Spock replied quietly. That explained why Jim appeared to have been crying before he arrived. "Jim, if I may, I would like give you something." Jim looked at him surprised and said, "Spock you don't have to, I don't even get Bones to get me anything."
"I believe it's called a gift for the reasoning that one is not required to give it. I heard Uhura's second cousin mention it on one of their comm's last week and I..." Spock tried to control his heart rate and blood flow to his cheeks. Nervousness had no cause to rise within him. "I made this. I thought it would be a good human tradition to practice." Spock pulled out the bag from his pocket and handed it to Jim who looked shocked and he looked at Spock with a deep expression he could not read.
Slowly, Jim opened the bag and pulled out what Spock hoped to be a good gift. He had only given three gifts in his life, one to his mother before he left for the Academy, to Nyota after his world perished and now to Jim. Jim hands stilled when he saw what was in his hand. Spock tensed when he realized that Jim was utterly still, his body more tense than Spock remembered ever seeing him.
Jim's face went pale and his breathing hitched. Spock's nervousness increased and it took twenty-two percent of his concentration to keep it from showing. "Jim?" He asked, his voice rather weak. Jim finally looked at him and Spock saw his eyes were watering. "Have I done something wrong? If I have I will take it back immediately." Jim clenched his jaw and now his pale cheeks were going blotchy with pink and tears ran down them.
"Jim? Please tell me what I have done to displease you. I will correct this-" Spock was cut off as Jim slumped into his body and wrapped his arms him. His voice, when he spoke was choked but Spock understood what he was saying, "Thank you Spock. You have no idea how much this means to me. You really, really don't." Spock felt like he might, the emotion his gift had unleashed was huge and even with his barriers in place they barrelled over them and Spock felt his own eyes tearing up with shock, grief and utter devotion.
Jim, he realized not for the first time but perhaps Spock finally felt the depth of their friendship, Jim truly appreciated him in a way no other human had. His arms were tight and strong and Jim did not let go as he lightly cried on his shoulder, his hand clutching the small bracelet.
Jim fingered the friendship bracelet for the hundredth time. They were on New Vulcan as an official Star Fleet mission though it did not feel at all official as they bunked down in Sarek's home for the past week. He twisted his wrist in the predawn light and watched as the silver metal caught it and shined slightly. It was handmade, he knew that immediately when he first glanced at it, Vulcan script said Spock's clan, and Jim's name. The three strings, Vulcan leather were dyed in Spock's ancient clan colours, one black, one silver and one blue. It was a beautiful piece of art work, delicate and yet utterly male. Jim promised he wouldn't take it off, it'd been a week and he hadn't. He didn't tell Spock that the bracelet thing was more of a child gift and that Uhura's cousin wasn't a good source of human traditions since he was nine. It didn't matter to him, because this, this wasn't Tevik and it wasn't Sam.
Jim had Spock and he'd do anything in his power not to lose this.
Getting up, he made his way downstairs to see the two Vulcans drinking tea and conversing at the kitchen table. "Good morning." Jim called out in Vulcan. The two Vulcans replied back good naturally. Sarek, he saw, was looking better from the last time he had seen him. Not only were they getting over Saros but Sarek had come back home to a very silent house with only T'Pau who was busy trying to control the council and it's members. He spoke still in Vulcan as he had since he arrived, no longer needing nor wishing to hide the fact that he spoke as a native.
"I thought today we might all go to Mount Ds'tehk. I know we finished up yesterday night but Star Fleet doesn't have to know that. We can stay until this evening, if it's alright with you and doesn't conflict with your schedule." Sarek, as predicted, relaxed slightly and replied without wavering, "That would be pleasant. I do have to wonder whether your doctor, however, will be able to make the trip." Jim grinned as he sat down, with his tea next to Spock, replying "Oh, don't concern yourself with Bones, he's all talk. I'll get him to double up on the sun block." He smirked as Sarek and Spock both raised their brows at him.
The afternoon did turn out well. Their last day on Vulcan was cooler, the Vulcans wore looser robes than usual, but for the humans it was still barely manageable. Bones, did indeed complain constantly, and he hypoed all the humans a hundred times with fluids and vitamins. But in general it was nice, Jim only gave in to his headache as he sat down almost at the top of the jagged and rocky mountain. The view was incredible and showed all of the recently built city. Sand hills and mountains covered the landscape but Jim could see blue on the horizon and truly wished he could explore the planet fully.
The heat, however, beat down on his robes and he swallowed thickly remembering the heat of Vulcan, remembering Tarsus and he forced himself to take a large gulp of water from his canister. "This heat is so god dammed horrible. How are you taking this so lightly?" Bones scolded at him. Jim shrugged and replied, while rubbing his temples, "Vulcan was hotter." Spock nodded and replied, "If you feel too uncomfortable we can always comm for a shuttle and have you transported back to our home." Bones snorted and replied grudgingly, "And leave my girlfriend and Jim up here to practically die from heat exposure. I'll stick it out thank you very much. I'm the doctor here."
Spock raised a brow and glanced at him, Jim smiled in return seeing the amusement on his friend's face. "Okay," Jim said, getting the whole group to pay attention, "Who want's lunch?" By the time they made it back to Sarek's, most of the group had a tan and Jim had managed to keep his flashbacks to a minimum, although it was increasingly difficult.
Sarek, had drawn him back and he said quietly, as well as kindly, "James, perhaps it would be best for you to seek out a healer with what time you have left here. I know of two healers of which are..." Sarek paused looking for the right words and continued with, "They are somewhat eccentric and therefore most likely to be granted your respect. They are also very discreet. I think you would benefit from more healing, I can tell you are in pain and it will continue until you deal with your past and your broken bond."
Jim shook his head and replied just as quietly, "We both know I'll always have that broken bond. I've been told on countless occasions this is going to be my life now. I have to get used to it." Sarek frowned and replied seriously, "Was it not getting better when Saros melded with you?" Jim shrugged and looked away from the older man as he replied, "It was only temporary each time." Jim tried to ignore Sarek as he said finally, "I believe you can heal Jim, but you do need healing treatments and you need to help yourself heal as well. It is not solely the duty of the priest but it must come from your inner core just as much." Jim nodded and saw everyone now inside Sarek's home.
Exhausted and hot, most of the group moved to the cool living space and slumped onto the couch. Spock however, completely comfortable, was standing next to a crate that was sitting beside the dinning room table. He was frowning as he looked up at their arrival and said, "Father, a parcel has been delivered. Were you expecting something?" Sarek went up to the crate and saw what his son was concerned about.
There was no address to return to, or any other indication as who had sent the package. Medium sized and with a small rectangular opening in one side, it was made of metal and extremely hard metal at that. Sarek spoke just as confused, though only Jim and Nyota noticed the change in the Vulcan's tones. Nyota sat down at the table as Sarek replied, "I was not expecting any package."
Scotty managed to get up from the couch and frowing said, "Be careful then. Let me scan it before anyone opens it." Carol didn't get up, looking red and tired, only her eyes light up as she asked, "Are you thinking bomb? I can dismantle almost every kind if it is one." Everyone looked at her and she shrugged, "I do not apologize for my excited tone. I can't help the fact that I'm tired."
Sarek was the one who said, "I do not believe it is a bomb."
Quickly, with Spock tensing, Sarek opened the package and nothing happened.
Then Sarek saw what was in it and straightened. His head tilted and he crouched down to lift up what appeared to be a white cougar cub with a pink bow attached to it. The large kitten woke from it's nap and yawned revealing small pointed teeth and it finally opened purple eyes to blink up at Sarek. Slowly, it meowed and turned from strange creature to cuddly kitten.
Pavel, wide-eyed said, "That's a Pahtrae cub. They're extremely rare to be gifted off their planet. Who did you impress to get that kind of gift?" Sarek looked over at the younger man and said just as confused, "I do not know what it is that you speak of."
Now Jim finally spoke up and said, "The Pat's are the chosen animals of X'en royalty. They're extremely loyal and intelligent, as well as telepathic. I thought the protective nature of the Pahtrae would be a good fit with New Vulcan and the predators that are wild here. They're very adaptable and she'll be perfectly fine with the desert environment."
Jim moved to scratch her head while both Spock and Sarek raised a surprised brow at him. They glanced at each other and then back to him and Jim shrugged, now nervous. "If you don't want her I can have her shipped to a rehabilitation centre on Z'en. She'll be trained to hunt and taken into the wild."
Sarek didn't put down the cat, nor did he draw it closer to him, instead, he asked, "Why have you given me a Pathrea? Or indeed anything at all?" Jim frowned and spoke before he could stop himself. "It's your birthday today, I thought it'd be good to celebrate it on our last day."
Bones immediately ducked his head to palm his face and groan, "Jim."
Spock was the next to speak, ignoring a few snickers and Pavel grinning. "I do believe the cub could be a logical pet to keep father." Sarek turned to his son and nodded. "Yes, I believe you're right. I assume this cat is a carnivore," Jim nodded in reply and Sarek continued, "Since she is alone, she would not have a great impact on the environment but can help maintain the population of native V'askh and can perhaps be trained to protect the few Le-Matya's we have managed to save. Their population is only just increasing and is vital that they survive. It could prove beneficial to keep her."
With that said, Sarek drew the cub to his chest and her purring started tenfold. He fingered the bow and lifted a surprised brow once again. Glancing over to Jim, Jim once more tried not to squirm as he replied, "I thought it would be a good name for her." He watched as Sarek's eyes darkened but he nodded and said, "Yes. I daresay, it is an excellent name. Spock, this is Soraya. Soraya this is my son."
Jim watched fascinated as Spock touched the cub and could tell he felt something from it. Soon everyone was on the couch and the crew all said happy birthday to a non-pulsed Vulcan and Jim sat smiling, watching Soraya sniff around the living space and later jump up on Sarek's lap to curl up and go back to sleep.
It was later that night when they were on the ship that Spock stopped him and simply said, "Thank you, Jim." Jim smiled and replied, "Night, Spock."
Entering his room, Jim went right towards the stash of scotch under his couch and sat at his desk, completely ignoring his need for sleep. He heard Amanda's voice clear as day in his head, laughing at the baby pictures of Spock. "I wanted to try for a second you know. I promised Sarek I wouldn't but I always pictured Spock as a big brother, I really wanted a daughter. Spock's so much like his father, it always made me wonder whether a girl would take after me. We decided early on that a boy would be named Spock, it's such an important historical name. I wanted Sara for a girl but Sarek thought it might be too human, so we compromised and settled for a less common human name; Soraya. It means precious jewel and I did eventually come to love it."
Jim sighed as the burning Andorian Ale went down his throat. He poured another glass, leaned back and settled on blocking out the past one glass at a time.
