DISCLAIMER: No, Star Trek is not mine...
Chapter 7
It wasn't long before the Enterprise had met up with Integrity; after all they weren't that far from each other. Although Spock was supposed to be resting, he decided as acting Captain it was his duty to greet the new passengers.
Leonard and Jimmy were almost in tears when Spock said that they had to go to sick bay while he was "working". In fact, the moment they stepped into the white, sterilized room they broke out into hysterics, screaming as loudly as they could and kicking at Chapel when she tried to calm them. "Spock, I actually have patients in here. If they're going to act like this, I can't watch them." She barreled over the boys' tantrum.
Spock actually sighed in frustration, not in any mood to care if Chapel heard him or not, and muttered what sounded like 'God dammit' under his breath. "Very well. Leonard, Jimmy, we must hurry so that we make it to the visitors in time." As if they had not been flailing and screeching on the floor of sick bay, they got up and latched their hands onto Spock's. As they left, Spock missed the dark smirks they sent Chapel over their shoulders.
Once they reached the transporter, Spock told the boys to sit quietly next to Scotty who was working the control panel. "Mr. Scott, are you sure it is safe to use the trans-"
"It will be fine fer this type of transport. I was able to fix the major damages-" He looked over to the boys, "most of them anyway. It will be safe this one time." Even though he had Scotty's word, he was still worried that something was going to go wrong. When the flashing lights of the transporter cleared, Spock realized his worry was for a good reason. Standing proudly around five other Vulcan's was Selek.
Spock stiffened as the figures on the transporter pad turned to look at him. All of the Vulcan's raised their hands in the salute. "Live long and prosper, S'chn T'gai Spock."
"Peace and long life," Spock replied. He watched as Selek's eyes went from searching his face to staring at the two children who were still seated next to Scotty. Spock's eyes narrowed.
"You have come to claim the criminals, I assume?"
"Affirmative," said one of the Vulcan's. He motioned to his companions and all but Selek looked to him for instruction. "If you will direct us to their holding cell, we will relieve you of their presence."
Spock nodded and called Chief Security Officer Giotto, or... "Cupcake!" Spock spun to look at Jimmy, who had cried the name upon seeing the Security man.
Giotto turned red-faced, but took it in good humor seeing as he couldn't swear at the child like he would at the full grown captain. "If you will follow me, I'll show you to the brig." A nod was received and the men left the room. Spock remained focused on Jimmy, who was staring back at Spock with a worried look on his small face.
"Spock? Whatsa mattah?" Jimmy said. He cast a glance at Selek and moved closer to Leonard, disturbed by the look he was on the receiving end of. While this movement eluded Spock's notice, that was not the case for Scotty. The engineer turned to face Selek and allowed a possessive face to overcome his face.
"How did you know of Mr. Giotto's nickname?"
Jimmy shrugged. "I dunno. Jus' did, is all. Issat bad?"
Spock cocked his head to the right in contemplation. "No, I do not believe it is." Spock finally noticed that Selek had not left the transporter room with the others. He also took note of the bags that were on the back of the transporter pad. If he had been human, he would have been able to tell that the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach was not caused by his past injury- but because he felt that something bad was going to happen. "Ambassador, is there something that you require?"
Selek kept his eyes on Jimmy, who was shifting uncomfortably because of the attention. "Yes. I must inform you that the Enterprise will be transporting me to Earth." Spock was able to hold his emotions together - until he was locked in the bathroom and made sure the movie the boys were watching was loud enough to cover up his tantrum.
By the time Spock and the boys left his quarters it was already time for dinner. Which meant it was time to deal with Selek, much to Spock's disappointment. I believe I could use Leonard's incessant banter at this moment in time. Spock thought as he stepped into the mess hall and saw Selek sitting at their-he, Leonard, Jim and the rest of the groups' - table. Sitting alongside him was the always boisterous Scotty.
"We cannae reverse the affects until we get the piece from Alecar, and we won't arrive there for another few weeks, but-" Spock finished for him.
"But now that we've had to change course, Ambassador, we will not be able to fix the damage for at least another month." Scotty almost died from shock, partly because Spock used a contraction, but mostly because he was so rude.
"What Spock means to say is that, although we're glad ta have ye on board, it's a wee bit of a set-back." Selek, who never seemed to stop that stupid smile thing, actually frowned, never taking his eyes from his younger self.
"I do not believe that is so for your Captain, Mr. Scott, but it is kind of you to try and make me feel welcome. Perhaps the emotional repercussion of having your t'hy'la "damaged" in a sense is too much for him to bare." The emotions building up throughout the weeks surged, and Spock saw red. He forgot the boys at his side and slammed his fists down on the table. Pain seared up his side, but he fought down the urge to yelp and growled instead.
"You are out of line! I am sick and tired of you acting as though you know my men. This is not your world, and I will not allow you to ruin the life that I was born to live. You have had your turn, so, in the words of a man that I love dearly, 'Back the fuck off'!"
His chest was heaving in anger, and he barely noticed how silent the room had gotten. The keyword here is barely. He looked over his shoulder to see everyone in the room staring at him flabbergasted, then he looked back to where his hands were fisted in Selek's robes. As if the robes were scalding, he let go and stepped away from the table. The old man looked at him with dark knowing eyes.
Scotty nearly jumped over the table so that he could stand between the two men. He looked at Spock with a mix of worry and disgust; Spock could not look him in the eye, terrified of his friend's rejection. Before he could walk out with some semblance of dignity left, he was overcome with a wave a pure emotion, like a fire was roaring to life in his blood. When he caught the Ambassador's eyes again, he understood. "No. Not now."
Jimmy and Leonard had been sitting quietly, enjoying their breakfast-for-dinner right up until Spock slammed his hand on the table, causing the bowls of cereal to fly up and bounce off of the table. The result was that both Leonard and Jimmy obtained milk stains and wet faces. They watched in horror as Spock became angry and made to leave the mess hall.
Spock stared at his counterpart. "The symptoms may be beginning, but this is not worth my concern."
Selek shook his head. "You cannot ignore the changes your body is undergoing."
"I do not intend to ignore it, but I will not allow it to dictate my actions." With that, Spock removed himself from the mess hall. He returned to his room in order to undertake intense meditation the hopes of postponing the onset of Pon Farr. In truth, Spock understood that this was just a symptom, one of many, that would mark the beginning of fever. Pon Farr would not actually begin for another three to five months, he had plenty of time to return his t'hy'la to their original forms.
Back in the mess hall, Jimmy and Leonard sniffled, drawing the attention of Selek and Scotty. The ambassador moved to Jimmy's side. "James, come with me. We must clean you up." He made to grasp Jimmy around the shoulders, but Scotty beat him there.
"I'll take care o' it, sir. Jimmy an' Len remin' me o' my days back home. I go' it," Scotty said as he ushered Jimmy and Leonard from the mess hall. There was something about the older Vulcan that didn't sit right with Scotty. But as he led the boys from the room, he missed the look sent in Jimmy's direction.
It took Spock 30.45 minutes to realize that the boys were not with him. It took him 3 seconds to begin panicking. How could you leave them? What were you thinking?
That is simple, you were not. He answered himself. In another illogical move, Spock punched the wall leaving a hole the size of his fist. He stared at the hole, fuming, when the familiar whoosh of the door caught his attention. Quickly, he spun around to find Scotty entering his quarters with each boy on either hand. His expression was a worried one, which in turn worried Spock. For a moment his attention was caught by the sniffling of Leonard. Spock knelt down, getting to the boys level, and reached out to pull him into an embrace, but Leonard flinched away. "Leon-"
He slapped his out-stretched hand away. "Are you outta your Vulcan mind?" And with that he started crying. Spock was shocked, and felt a sense of déjà vu (even though déjà vu seemed quite illogical). Jimmy gave Spock a sharp look, took Leonard's hand, and dragged him into the bedroom.
Spock straightened and looked at Scotty. "Thank you for-"
Scotty sent a scornful look at the Vulcan. "The laddie's right, are ye outta yer Vulcan mind? Believe me, I dinnae trust that man as far as I can throw 'im, but attacking 'im in front of half the crew is just stupid. An' I never thought I'd say somethin' like that to ye of all people!" Spock looked down shamefully. "Well, now that that's outta the way, ye need ta keep an eye out on that man. The way he was lookin' at Jimmy, it just didn't seem right," said Scotty shaking his head.
"I will keep my emotions in check, Montgomery, and obviously I agree that he is troublesome, but there is nothing we can do. I will be lucky if he does not tell Starfleet command of my . . . mistreatment." Spock looked over at the bedroom door anxiously.
"I'll leave ye alone, Spock. Call me if ye need me." Spock nodded and Scotty was out the door. He breathed deeply and went towards the room, ready for anything.
Spock opened the door to his bedroom, the familiar whoosh giving way to the sound of crying. The scent of salt assaulted his nose upon entering, drawing his eyes to the bed. Jimmy held Leonard to him, petting his hair and whispering in his ear. It was too low for Spock to hear what was being said, but he did get the... feeling... that it was comforting Leonard- he was nodding and pulling Jimmy closer to him.
Spock cleared his throat, alerting the boys to his presence. Jimmy looked at the Vulcan, while Leonard's response was to bury his head farther into where Jimmy's shoulder met his neck.
"Leonard? Jimmy?" Spock asked as he approached the bed.
"Spock," Jimmy said when Leonard did not answer. "You're no' gunna yell at us, are you?"
Spock's chest clenched at the dejected tone in Jimmy's voice. "Of course not. You did not assume that I was upset with you, correct?"
"You been angry with us, Spock," Leonard whipped around to pin his reddened eyes on Spock. "O' course ya would yell a' us!" Leonard threw a pillow at Spock, but the throw was so weak that it barely made it off of the bed. Spock moved swiftly to pick Leonard up.
Despite his protestations, Leonard snuggled into Spock's warm embrace, the tears and anger lessening. "I have no anger directed at you presently. I will not deny that I have been previously frustrated with the pair of you, but do not doubt that I love the both of you. I would do anything, to ensure your happiness and wellbeing." The last was directed at both of the children. Jimmy got up and was enveloped by Spock and Leonard, much to his elation.
"Spock?" Jimmy asked quietly.
"Yes, Jimmy?"
"Does that mean I don' hafta go with tha' ol' Vulcan?"
If Spock's heart could stop beating, it would have at that moment.
So, before anyone reviews, here's something I just want to say. Although Leonard Nimoy is the shit and we love him dearly, there is only room for one awesome Spock in our universe. Please don't flame us if you don't like how we portray him... this is fanFICTION afterall and we are entitled to some artistic license.
