Jim was still not himself the next day; there was still pain that lingered from the memories that had been brought to the surface the day before. Spock had remained by his side the entire time, letting the blond cling to him when he woke from nightmares. Soothed him when those same nightmares brought tears. By time morning came, Jim had barley slept. The blond was exhausted, both mentally and physically.
"I will get you some breakfast while you shower," Spock said gently, and Jim nods quietly standing from the bed and heading into the attached bathroom. Spock picked up the phone and ordered breakfast for him and his mate, before silently leaving the room.
McCoy had just grabbed his shirt to pull it on when he heard a knock on his door, dropping the shirt back on the bed; he hit the button to unlock the door, letting Spock into the room. Bones didn't need to ask, he knew exactly why Spock was there.
"How is he?" the doctor asked, concerned for his friend.
"He is not speaking very much" Spock replied.
"That's not surprising" Bones told him, sitting on his bed, and gesturing for Spock to take a seat in a chair. "How'd he sleep?" he asked, once Spock was sitting.
"He did not sleep very well" Spock replied.
"I thought he might have nightmares" Bones sighed "I'll give you a sedative for him, it shouldn't cause any allergic reactions, I only grabbed his. It'll just let him sleep without dreams, that's the best thing for him. Give him that then call his mother and tell her we won't be coming today," Bones instructed, digging in his medical bag and pulling out a hypo he handed to Spock.
"He is blocking me," Spock told him. Bones was shocked, Spock sounded upset, he was showing emotions, to someone that wasn't Jim. McCoy quickly got a hold of himself and set back on his bed, elbows resting on his knees.
"He's hurting, he's dealing with memories he buried years ago. He's reliving the hell of his childhood Spock, he doesn't want you to feel the pain, or fear, or any other emotion that they bring. To Jim, this shows just how weak he is, that he's not the man who fears nothing that his crew wants him to be. You have to know by now that he puts on an act, a mask so people don't get close, when you let someone get close, they can hurt you, Jim's afraid of being hurt. For now, let him have his space, if he's still blocking you in two days, then you talk to him. For now, just let him have the time he needs" Bones told him.
"I am concerned" Spock admitted.
"I know, just give him time," the doctor said gently.
"I will adhere to your wisdom in this matter, now I must go, Jim will be done with his shower soon" Spock stated, standing. Bones watched him leave, before sighing, worried about his friend, but trusting Spock to take care of him.
Jim was still in the shower when Spock returned, and Spock quietly stepped into the bathroom, wanting to check on his mate. Jim was sitting on the floor of the shower stall, tears making their way down his cheeks, head buried in arms supported by his knees. Spock stepped into the cubicle, still fully dressed but not caring in the least, his mate needed him that was all that mattered.
"Jim" Spock said softly, reaching out to his mate and laying a gentle hand on his shoulder, in an attempt to comfort.
"Spock" Jim sobbed, clinging to the Vulcan, arms wrapped around his neck, and crying into his shoulder.
"Jim, Ashya, please do not cry, I am here," Spock said soothingly, trying to comfort the distraught human in his arms.
"I can't, he won't leave me alone" Jim said brokenly, and the tone and pain in the voice of the man he loved so dearly broke the Vulcan's heart.
"Hush, beloved, I am here" Spock whispered pinching Jim on the neck and letting the blond fall limp into his arms. "I am sorry, but I can not stand by and watch as you suffer any longer, forgive me my Jim" Spock said softly, placing a hand to Jim's psy points and entering the mind that had called out to his own for so long. Spock quickly found the memories, going around in a continuous loop, and removing them from the mind they belonged to. Jim hadn't wanted him to do this, but he couldn't bear to see the blond in so much pain over them.
Once he was finished, Spock stood, gently gathering the blond into his arms and turning off the water, before carrying his mate back into the room. He laid Jim on the bed, drying him as much as he could with a towel before dressing him in a pair of boxers and sleep pants. Spock left the sleeping area, letting his mate recover from the neck pinch on the bed.
When Jim regained consciousness he was furious, his neck hurt, an obvious sign Spock had nerve pinched him, and his head felt emptier, the memories were no longer there. He had told Spock not to do that, but he went behind his back and did it anyway.
"You son of a bitch!" Jim shouted, standing in the doorway between the sleeping area and living area, arms crossed over his chest.
"I could no longer bear to watch you suffer Ashya" Spock said softly.
"I told you not to do that, I don't need you to make everything alright, I'm not a fucking child!" Jim yelled angrily, jaw clenched.
"You do not need to be a child, for someone to wish to care for you" Spock told him.
"I could have dealt with it on my own, I have for years!" Jim shouted.
"You do not have to, you are my mate, my T'hy'la, you no longer have to suffer alone" Spock said, voice gentle.
"Leave me alone" Jim said flatly, turning on his heel and going back into the sleeping area.
Spock sighed, grabbing the tray of food that had arrived, while Jim was still unconscious and leaving it just inside the room so that Jim could eat it when he was ready. Jim would forgive him, soon enough, at least he hoped he would.