A/N: Another installment of my story. Getting closer to the end. Thank you as always, for reading and reviewing.
A special shout out to Talltree-san for being a faithful reader and reviewer. Glad you are enjoying this!
By the way, I do not own Star Trek :)
"I love you..."
Kirk's voice sounded broken and muffled against Spock's shoulder. The older man wrapped both arms around Jim and held him tightly.
"Taluhk nash-veh k'dular. Kwon-sum."
Spock whispered the Vulcan phrase into Jim's ear, rocking him gently.
"Don't leave me...please don't me. " The desperate plea caused Spock to still and pull Jim even closer to him.
"Never."
"Promise me. You have to promise me Spock..." Jim hiccuped, and took a shaky breath, as the emotions he had buried for so long came to the surface.
"I swear it Ashaya."
Spock moved until his forehead rested against his captain's, and he brought a hand up to stroke the blonde's damp, flushed cheek.
"Do you not understand how much I need you? I need you Jim."
Kirk brought a hand up to grip Spock's wrist, as if he was afraid the Vulcan would pull away from him. He leaned into the hand that continued to cup his cheek.
"I need the sound of your voice... I need to know that you are here, waiting for me at the beginning of every shift...at the end of each day. I need to feel you next to me as we sleep."
Jim finally looked up at him, and the Vulcan smiled faintly, tenderly.
"I need your love Jim. As much as I need oxygen, and water. I cannot function without it."
The couple gazed at each other for a long moment before Spock leaned closer, and captured Jim's full lips with his own. The blonde melted into the kiss, all the tension in his body ebbing away.
Some time later, approximately 46.23 minutes later by Spock's calculation, as he lay with Jim's sleeping body wrapped around him, the comm sounded.
The Vulcan attributed his feeling of irritation to the fact that he had not had an opportunity to meditate in the last 36 hours. Normally, he meditated while Jim slept, but this evening his place was next to his T'hy'la.
The device buzzed a second time, as Spock slipped silently from the beneath the covers and padded over to the table. Seeing the number on the screen, he willed himself to remain calm. He answered the call, but left the video screen off.
"Commander Spock here."
"Commander?" A hesitant female voice answered.
"Yes."
"This is Winona Kirk...Jim's mother."
"I am aware of you identity." Spock's tone would have made his grandmother proud. His voice was completely devoid of emotion. Icy.
"Is Jim..."
"He is resting. I will inform him that you have called." Spock reached to end the transmission.
"Please...please wait Spock."
Her use of his name surprised him. Spock hesitated, his finger hovering above a button.
"Is he alright? When we spoke earlier he got a little upset."
A little. A little upset. The human tendency to minimize situations, and use such general wording was tedious, almost nerve-wrecking.
"The Captain is adequate. I am sure he will appreciate your...concern."
Spock could not keep a small note of sarcasm from coloring his tone of voice in this response. Perhaps if Jim's mother had shown more concern in times past, his mate would not have been brought to tears this evening.
"I would appreciate it if you would let him know that I'm worried about him."
"Understood." Once again Spock reached to terminate the call.
"Look Spock..."
Spock's hand clenched into a fist, and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He wished fervently that this woman would cease speaking.
"I don't know how much Jim has told you about...um..."
"Your son is my bondmate Madam. I believe I can say with all certainty that I know Jim better than anyone."
There was a pause before the elder Kirk spoke again. Although a part of him did not wish to give her any information about his relationship with Jim, the greater part of Spock wanted to 'stake his claim' and protect Jim for all possible injury.
He supposed there was still something of his warrior ancestors left deep inside him.
"I'm sure that's true. I'm glad he has someone like you. God knows he deserves it."
Winona's tone was quiet. Since he could not see her facial expression, Spock was not sure what emotion he heard in her voice. He would have to take time to ponder this at a later date.
"Despite what you may think of me Mr Spock, I do love my son. I've made a lot of mistakes along the way. Perhaps too many."
Spock sat silently, considering his response. He did not know Winona Kirk, nor did he trust her, but he did believe that in her own, flawed way, she loved Jim.
"The New Year is approaching on Earth, is it not?"
"Yes...yes it is."
"Perhaps this would be a good time to make some changes. Instead of waiting for Jim to come back to a place that holds many unhappy memories for him, you could resolve to come to him. I believe he would be amenable to that."
There was a long period of silence, and Spock wondered if perhaps Jim's mother had ended the comm call. When she spoke, he almost started in surprise.
"Thank you, Mr Spock. I hope you and Jim...I hope you have a Merry Christmas." The older woman's voice quivered, but she did not cry.
"I wish you the same Ma'am."
Spock ended the call and took a deep breath. When he turned and rose from the chair he'd been sitting in, a pair of blue eyes gazed up at him from the bed.
Taluhk nash-veh k'dular. Kwon-sum = I cherish thee. Always.