After leaving Carol in the break room, Jim made his way back to his quarters. He had done all his paper work for the day this morning, so was left with nothing to do. He had a quick bowl of pasta from the replicator in his room, then decided to watch a holovideo. He was just settling down to watch the latest action flick, when his door chimed.
"Come in." He said and, to his surprise, Spock strode in. He got up off the sofa. "Spock, I didn't expect to see you tonight."
"We arranged for our weekly chess match to be replaced by meditation tonight Captain." Spock told him. Jim frowned in confusion.
"Yeah, but I thought you were dealing with the lab incident."
"It was a minor spillage of a harmful substance. I have 'dealt with' the clear up and the paper work. If you were not expecting my presence, and wish for me to leave, I will-"
"No Spock," Jim said, cutting him off. "I don't want you to leave."
Both men were silent for a moment. Spock nodded a second later, and started rummaging in the bag he was holding.
"So . . . meditation." Jim said, trying to break the awkward silence. Spock said nothing, and started lighting weird smelling candles around the room. He then sat down on the rug, and asked the computer to turn off the lights. The room was instantly plunged into darkness, with only the candle lights flickering around the room. Jim thought it was quite creepy, especially with the weird smell.
"Could you sit down opposite me Captain?" Spock asked quietly. Jim did as he was asked.
"Call me Jim." He muttered, wondering how many times he would have to ask the Vulcan to put aside protocol. "Whenever we aren't on duty." He added. Spock nodded slightly, but otherwise ignored the comment.
"Do you understand the concept of meditation, Jim?"
"Um, I know Vulcans use it to control their emotions, and that it doesn't really work for humans." He answered honestly.
"Meditation has been proven to work for humans, when they are taught the Vulcan method." Spock countered.
"Well ok then," Jim shrugged "it's not like me to have a closed mind, teach me everything you know."
"I believe if I taught you everything I know, we would be here for an extended period of time." Spock said, and Jim snorted and rolled his eyes, knowing Spock was joking. It was a rare occurrence, but had been known to happen. "However, you will need a relatively 'open mind'" He continued. "Firstly, you must get yourself into a comfortable position. We may be here for a long time, and moving will make it more difficult to concentrate."
Jim nodded, and loosely crossed his legs beneath him. He glanced over at Spock, who was still in his stiff-as-a-statue Vulcan mode. It didn't look very comfortable, but Jim didn't comment.
"Ok." He told the Vulcan when he was ready.
"Secondly, you need to rid your mind of all thought, rendering yourself to be completely calm and still."
Jim paused for a second, thinking about what he was being asked to do. 'Rid yourself of any thought?'
"How am I supposed to not think anything?" Jim voiced his troubles. Spock looked at him for a second. Jim swore he saw a hint of mischief in those big brown eyes.
"I had not anticipated this would be a problem for you."
Jim gaped at the Vulcan, before throwing his head back in laughter. Did the sly Vulcan just call him stupid? Jim thought he saw a smirk on his face, before it vanished just as quickly as it appeared. Spock had just told his second joke of the night. One more and Jim would start to suspect Spock had been drinking alcohol, or God forbid hot chocolate. Spock quickly returned to the matter at hand.
"I recommend you start by anticipating the thoughts you may have beforehand." He saw the confused look on Jim's face and explained further. "Think of any problems or difficulties your mind is currently occupied with, and cast them aside. They do not matter now. The only thing that matters is you and your health."
"Ok." Jim said, trying to understand what Spock was asking him to do. He closed his eyes.
The obvious problem that he had was his health. How was he supposed to forget about the nightmares and the fear he was feeling? He decided to employ a method that had worked for him after Tarsus all those years ago. Put everything into a mental box, and shove it to one side to deal with later. He did this, and moved on to the next problem. He sorted through everything he could think of, from his spat with Bones, to an argument with Admiral Archer. When he couldn't think of anything else that was bothering him, he just sat. It was a weird feeling really. He wasn't thinking anything. He could just sit, and . . . be. Just exist without having to do anything. Spock was right, it was extremely calming, but it didn't last long. He didn't think it lasted long anyway. But when he opened his eyes slightly, he saw the candles had melted a lot. They must have been sitting there for quite some time.
Spock was sitting in front of him still, eyes closed. He looked different. His face was relaxed, nothing like the stiff Vulcan Jim was used to. He looked peaceful and calm, and maybe a bit . . . happy? All of a sudden, Spock's whole being changed. His body had gone completely ridged, and his face was screwed up in anger and fear. He had only seen that look on the Vulcan twice before, and that was when people were dying, his mother and Jim himself. Something was wrong in that Vulcan brain of his, but Jim had no idea what to do. Should he snap Spock out of his trance, or should he wait for him the stop dreaming? After a minute, Spock started shaking, and Jim decided he couldn't just sit there and do nothing.
Crawling over to Spock, Jim put his hands on both of the Vulcans shoulders, shaking him slightly. When nothing happened, he tried again, but harder, this time calling out "Spock! Wake up!" At the sound of Jim's voice, Spock twitched slightly, but still didn't open his eyes. Jim decided Spock could only hear him. He shifted closer the Spock's quivering form. He desperately wanted to stop what was going on in the Vulcan's mind
to make him this emotional.
"Spock, listen to me." Jim started, still shaking his shoulders. "It's not real. None of its real. I'm here Spock, everything's fine-" He was cut off when Spock opened his (slightly moist) eyes. He gasped for breath and as soon as he saw Jim, launched himself at him. Jim found himself being pushed on his back, with a very emotional Vulcan on top of him for the second time in his life. This time it was very different.
"Jim!" Spock half sobbed into his shoulder. "You're alive."
"Of course I'm alive Spock." He said, trying to calm the quivering Vulcan. He reached gently for Spock's face, tilting it so Spock was looking into his eyes. "Everything is ok."
Spock seemed to get the message, because he quickly (disappointingly) got off Jim, and leaned away as for as possible. He was blushing bright green, which Jim found slightly adorable.
"I apologise Captain" He started, trying to revert back to 'unemotional Vulcan' mode. Jim wasn't having any of that.
"Hell no Spock, you have nothing to apologise for, and for God's sake call me Jim."
Spock looked at him for a long minute and finally nodded, wiping a stray tear from his cheek. Jim's heart melted for the Vulcan.
"Are you ok?" he asked, trying to get him to talk. Spock stayed silent and nodded again.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked hesitantly. Spock shook his head. Jim sighed, but didn't say anything. Spock didn't either, so they both sat in silence. This was going to be a long night.