Chapter 10

Not two days after Spock's talk with Bones, Leonard's jaw had almost completely healed. "This is impossible! We have tried everything for this to heal and nothing worked! Then out of the blue it's healed?" M'Benga was stunned.

"Should you not be happy that your patient is improving?" Spock was monotone, allowing his eyes the privilege of showing his annoyance.

M'Benga took a step back. "O-of course, sir. It's just a little shocking, is all. I'll just be over there if- yeah." And he was gone.

"Jim says that you need to be nicer, Spock," Jimmy said staring intently at his coloring book. It seemed that the men were getting more and more antsy to be freed.

Spock sighed and turned around to help Leonard off the biobed. "Are you in need of sustenance?"

"Food!" Jimmy shouted, jumping up from his spot on the floor.

Leonard smiled brightly. "I get to eat real food, right?"

"If you mean solids, then yes, you do 'get to eat real food'. Let's go, shall we?" The boys nodded vigorously and took his hands.

In the mess hall they met up with Scotty and Uhura. When Spock told them that he and the boys had just come from sickbay, their smiles dropped. "Isn't that Ambassador still there?" Uhura asked, still unaware of who that ambassador actually was.

Spock shook his head. "He was brought back to the brig, being prepared for our arrival to Earth in thirty minutes."

"Oh, right. Well, that's good then. Is that why you're in your formal wear?" Once again Spock nodded.

"It is crucial to make an excellent impression correct?" He said taking a spoonful of Plomeek soup, being very careful not to get anything on his clothes.

Scotty and Uhura laughed. "It's not like they don' know who ye are, already. You're to the Federation like that prized beagle was to Archer," said Scotty humorously.

Uhura rolled her eyes. "What he's trying to say is, you don't need to impress them because they already know how excellent an Officer you are."

"I do not believe they will think so highly of me when they find out that I was the one who 'dealt' with the Ambassador." He looked warily over at the boys. They weren't paying any attention to the conversation, too busy wolfing down their cheeseburgers, french fries, and fruit punch while coloring vigorously.

Uhura placed her hand gently on his shoulder; she was an exception to his no-touch policy. "That's what you've got Pike for." They sat in silence for a while, eating and concentrating; Jimmy broke the silence 10 minutes from when they were supposed to arrive.

"Spock, look!" Jimmy swung his arm around to show Spock his picture, knocking his fruit punch right into the man's lap. It seemed to happen in slow motion, and even with his lightning fast reflexes, Spock couldn't stop it, and was soon covered in red juice. Jimmy's blue eyes were wide with horror. "I'm sorry, Spock." He took his napkin and tried, in vain, to mop up the mess. Spock grabbed his wrist to stop him. Jimmy would not look up into Spock's eyes.

"Jimmy, it is fine. I am not mad with you. I can easily chan-" His comm. beeped.

"Captain, we've arrived to Earth ahead of schedule, and admiralty has said that you must beam down to the surface-with the prisoner and the boys- immediately." Sulu sounded nervous.

Spock looked down to his lap, then over to the boys. I believe that today is not going to go well.

"Very well." He may or may not have sighed in exasperation.

Spock looked to Uhura and Scotty. "I cannot beam down with unclean clothing. Will you bring Jimmy and Leonard to the transporter room?"
"Of course, Spock," Uhura said. "Go get changed and we'll meet you there."
Spock nodded and quickly headed to his room to change his pants. Upon reaching his room, he realized that he did not have any cleans pairs. It was with an exasperated sigh that Spock decided that he would need to borrow a pair from Leonard. Jim's would be too small, and even though Leonard's would be too big, at least he would not be forced to show off his 'assets' to the admiralty.
In the transporter room, Scotty was getting ready to beam down the boys and Spock. The ambassador would be beamed down separately, but with a security detail. Spock reached the room and, along with Jimmy and Leonard, stood on the transporter pad.
"Well, Mr. Spock, good luck," Scotty said, trying to cover a laugh at the new pants the Commander was sporting.
"Luck, Mr. Scott, is a human belief and therefore-"
"Energizing," Scotty interrupted Spock and gold lights overtook the three on the pad.
When the black faded from his vision, Spock was greeted by a sight that made his heart- and stomach- lurch. There in front of him were Admirals Archer and Pike (a Godsend, if Spock was inclined to believe in Christianity), Sarek, T'Pau, and Winona Kirk, the one family member of the three t'hy'la that was not informed of their bond (which wasn't an actual mating bond, but Spock was not in the mood to argue semantics).

Winona Kirk squealed in excitement and ran to Jimmy. "Jimmy baby!"

Jimmy was taken aback. "H-hi, mom."

"Oh baby, look at you! How'd this happen?" She looked up to Spock with scorn in her eyes.

It was Spock's turn to be shocked. "It was a transporter malfunction, but I assure you that all will be well."

Winona snorted humorlessly. "I've already lost my husband to Starfleet, I am not going to lose my son."

"And you will not, Mrs. Kirk. As I have stated it was a malfunction that we are fixing."

Winona let go of Jimmy and turned to Spock, jabbing her finger into his chest. "You let this happen! Isn't there a regulation that states a captain should not go on unnecessary missions? I'm pretty sure there is!"

Spock was willing to admit that being rude to your t'hy'la's mother is not the most intelligent thing to do, but the accumulation of 'shit' over the past month had really gotten to him. "You should know your son by now, Mrs. Kirk, that even if I got down onto my knees and begged him, he would not listen."

Pike cleared his throat before she could say anything. "We should really go. The trial will start soon." Winona gave Spock another sharp look, then offered her hand to Jimmy. He looked at it then to Spock; Winona looked hurt, but turned away to catch up with the rest of the group. The two boys clung to his hands as they began the walk to the courthouse.

"She doesn't like you, Spock." Spock wasn't sure which Jim was talking.

"Why is that funny?"
"I always promised her I would marry someone she hated." Definitely Jim.

Those present at the beam down sight were also the only people present at the trial. No one outside of Starfleet knew about Spock Prime and the true events of the Narada Incident.
Upon arriving in the courtroom, Spock found three seats together for himself and the boys. But as soon as they sat down, Winona came up to Jimmy, kneeling down to his level.
"Jimmy, why don't you sit with me, sweetheart?" She said in a low voice, moving to grab his hands. Jimmy pressed himself into the seat further- as if he could become one with the chair if he tried hard enough.
"I'ma stay here," Jimmy said quietly, looking at the floor. Winona's face turned angry for a split second, but then she reached out a hand to smooth Jimmy's hair back from his forehead.
"Baby, this is a difficult time for you and-"
"Tha's why I wanna stay with Spock and Len. Spock's been takin' care of me, and Lenny's me bes' friend," Jimmy interrupted and grabbed Spock's hand tightly.
Winona made no reply to her son, but turned to face Spock as she stood up. "I know you did something to him with that Vulcan mind invading you people do."
Spock could have killed her. If she was not one of my t'hy'la's mothers. If she had not returned to her seat at that moment. If Pike hadn't called for the start of the trial. If Jimmy and Leonard were not gripping my hands as if their lives depended on it. Spock would have killed her.

When Selek walked into the room the small talk that people were making stopped. His eyes were still bruised from when Spock punched him; Spock allowed himself a small smile. The silence remained until the first witness was called. "Leonard McCoy?"

Leonard looked up in shock, as did Spock. "But I don't wanna, Spock!" Spock nodded his head, stood up, and walked up to the front of the room.

"Excuse me, but Leonard McCoy cannot-"

The judge- Kinney was his name- looked at him with annoyance. "Mr. McCoy is an adult. I am sure he can speak for himself." Obviously, no one clued him in on the odd situation.

"That is where you are wrong, sir. There-" He was cut off by Selek's attorney.

He was an aged man with glasses, a mustache, and a sour attitude. "I would not object if the man decided not to give his testimony." When Spock saw Selek smirk slightly, he turned back to the judge.

"I only wish that you could question him in an easier setting. Leonard, come here." Spock held his hand out and a very hesitant Leonard (attached to an even more hesitant Jimmy) stepped into the front of the room. The judge looked at them in question. "There was a transporter malfunction and the captain and chief medical officer were reverted to children. I was under the impression that you were told of this, as it is a crucial aspect of the trial." Judge Kinney motioned for him to continue. "Is it not procedure to bring children into separate rooms when they are being questioned?"

Kinney seemed to think about it. "I agree, Commander. Escort these children to my office. Counselors, follow me."

Spock moved to go with the boys when a hand on his chest stopped him. "Sorry man, the judge didn't say anythin' about you."

Jimmy and Leonard looked panicked. "I cannot leave them-"

"Look, dude, they're safe with me. Scouts honor." It would be illogical to fight, Spock knew, and although he hated the fear in his t'hy'la's eyes, he knew that fighting would make everything worse.

"Very well but if they have one scratch, mentally or physically, I am holding you personally responsible." The threat was clear, and the officer accepted it.

Spock sat with his head bowed over his clasped hands. He had not anticipated being separated from Jimmy and Leonard, so he was unprepared for the emotional turmoil he was facing.
The two admirals remained in the room with him, along with Winona, Sarek, and T'Pau. Finally, Spock could not stand the thoughts in his head. His thoughts were eating at him, so it was not a surprise when he moved to sit near his father. As he passed Winona, she glared at him in a way that, if looks could kill, he would have been long since dead.
"Father," Spock said as he approached. "T'Pau."
Sarek inclined his head. "Spock. I trust you are well."
There was definitely not disbelief flickering across Spock's face. "I am in perfect physical health."
"But it is clear that your mental faculties are strained, Spock. This is to be expected when one's t'hy'la are in danger," T'Pau spoke for the first time. Since disembarking the shuttle, the elder Vulcan had been staring at him, appraising him.
"You have been alerted to the status of my new relationship." There was no question in Spock's tone.
"I have."
"Do you have any arguments against my arrangement?"
T'Pau stared at Spock. "I do not. It would be illogical of me to be against it when you would disown your Vulcan heritage for these men."
Spock was stopped from answering by the return of Jimmy, Leonard, and the rest of the court.