Thank you to everyone who reviewed or read the last chapter. This is the final chapter of the Jim Kirk edition of 10 Signs. There will be a short epilogue after this that I hope to post next week if I stay on schedule.
Note: This is a slightly revised chapter. I accidentally posted the wrong version last night. I apologize.
Sign 10 B: I Will Always Fight for You and I Will Always be by Your Side.
Thanks to a certain biological condition they lost about three days of research time. In addition, someone's computer may have been destroyed at some point during the three days before the files were transferred to the main server.
Jim and Spock were too busy engaging in extreme amounts of sex to keep the blood fever away to even think about finding a way to keep Spock from being transferred. Although they may have done something during that time that would make things easier. She will talk about that later.
She was too busy trying to keep the fact that the two most senior officers on the ship were locked in Spock's quarters having sex for medicinal reasons to do any additional research herself. Everyone but Dr. McCoy was told that the two were quarantined after contracting some strange virus that had an unusually long incubation period. Most people did not buy that.
If she did not know better, she would swear that Jim planned to be on "sick leave" just so he would not have to fill out all the paperwork for everyone's shore leave on earth. If he wanted to convince her to retrain for command having her spend 4 hours filling out paperwork every day, was not the way to do it.
She must admit that she enjoyed being in charge. Leadership seemed natural to her. She felt comfortable in the captain's chair.
There were no unusual problems during her tenure as acting captain. She just had to deal with the usual things that every captain has to deal with like crazy crew members wrecking parts of the ship due to boredom or illicit gambling on the personal affairs of their commanding officers. (She may have written up a few people for placing bets on when Jim would finally get his threesome wish with her and Spock.)
She did enjoy writing up lieutenant Cupcake for being his usual asshole self. She has hated the guy ever since he and his friends attacked Jim in an effort to get in her pants. His recent stunt involving her friends and the rumor mill did not endear him to her at all. It turned out Cupcake didn't like Spock that much either because he succeeded in a way Cupcake never could.
The worst thing about the experience was everyone kept asking her what was really going on between Jim and Spock. She kept her mouth shut because it was none of their business. Not that it kept the rumor mill from operating at full capacity.
Also during her tenure as acting captain she had the displeasure of telling Admiral Pike a somewhat edited version of the truth. Fortunately, he was already in her corner and did not ask questions. He promised to send several files pertaining to the situation after he found out that Jim and Spock decided to fight the transfer.
These were the files that she, Jim, and Spock were going over and Jim's quarters. Spock's room was completely trashed after their marathon. They managed to break the bed, the bathroom door, two shelves, the couch, and his desk. She would really like to know how they broke the bathroom door but she is too afraid to ask. Jim said most of the damage occurred before any actual sex occurred. Apparently Jim was a little pissed off that Spock locked him out and was willing to die rather than sleep with Jim because he was afraid to hurt him. (See other rant.)
Something else interesting also happened during the sex marathon. When they emerge from Spock's room three days later they were engaged. She doesn't know all the details but at some point during the three days Jim proposed to Spock. Jim also mentioned that he had to fight the stubborn Vulcan in question to say yes. (She is not sure if he meant that in the figurative or the metaphorical sense.)
No one but she and Dr. McCoy knew about the true change in their relationship. A few like Sulu and Chekov suspected but did not say anything. It was common knowledge already thanks to lieutenant Cupcake that they were sleeping together so the change in Their behavior was not noticeable.
On the bridge earlier today, they were as professional as ever. Actually Jim was more professional. The eye sex and Vulcan make out sessions have completely disappeared from the bridge. Thinking about it now maybe Jim's obvious "teenager in love" behavior was is way of fighting back anybody who tried to get with his Vulcan.
Despite the possibility that they might be split up she was happy that the denial was over. She was even happier that they were planning to spend the rest of their life together. It didn't bother her to see them kiss in front of her right now. They were right for each other in a way that she and Spock never were.
She and Spock were only supposed to be friends. He was her best friend. They were never meant to be more than that. She understands that now. This is why she was spending her free time helping her two best friends figure out how to stay together.
Jim is supposed to be Spock's everything. It is obvious to her that Jim would do anything to keep Spock with him. He already survived the brutality of Pon Farr and Spock's stubbornness. What was taking on the Admiralty in the grand scheme of things?
Because they were already engaged the research focused on tandem assignments. On the side, she contacted her friend Leslie in the Starfleet legal office to see if any of the wedding ceremonies were legally binding by Starfleet standards. She was still waiting to hear back from her.
Currently she was sitting on Jim's couch going over all the files pertaining to a lawsuit that Brittany's parents filed against Starfleet around 13 years ago when they tried to split up the pair during a supposed crisis. Jim and Spock were lying in the bed completely entwined with one another with PADDs in their hands researching. Jim had his head Up on Spock's chest with their fingers laced together. It was too cute.
"Marry me," Jim said in a way that startled her out of her research.
"I do not see the logic in you asking me that question again when I have already said yes."
"I mean right now." He said as he kissed Spock in a way that made her a little uncomfortable. She was very close to asking if she should leave the room for a little while. One would think after three days Jim Kirk would be sated for at least a few days.
"I do not see how that is possible T'hy'la when you are the only person on this ship who has the authority to perform a marriage and you are unable to perform your own ceremony."
"I meant as soon as we get to earth. We'll be back in San Francisco tomorrow. We'll have a better chance of fighting the transfer if we are actually married. I just read through six cases where they split up engaged couples."
"I read through those files too. There were extenuating circumstances in at least three of those cases. Also two of those incidents took place before the Thompson Amendments to Starfleet's personnel policies." She said looking up from her own PADD trying to sound cheery.
As they continued to do research, they realize the situation was bleaker than they originally thought. Being in a committed relationship did not necessarily mean tandem assignments. There was an exception to the tandem assignments policy that allowed Starfleet to assign married couples to separate assignments during times of war or during crisis situations when it was in the federation's best interests to split up a couple.
The only good thing was the definition of a crisis was adjusted in 2246 as part of the Thompson amendments to Starfleet's regulations regarding families and couples. Before then various policies including those that regulated dating between crewmembers made Starfleet a family unfriendly place even if the enforcement of such policies were random at best.
"The crisis exception was in effect at the time that meant that niceties such as joint assignments for engaged or married couples get thrown out a window. No, nothing was actually thrown out of the window. What's the point of playing stupid in regards to human vernacular? You have spent years are round humans. I know you do this stuff on purpose."
"I do not know what you are referring to T'hy'la."
"Sure you don't know what I'm referring to. I just think it would be easier if we were already married. The current command shortage is a serious problem. Even under the Thompson amendments, we could still be split up. However precedent would be in our favor if we were already married."
"I will not leave you. If you wish to get married right away we will." She heard Spock whisper as he kissed Jim again. She was just glad Spock chose not to mention that they needed to be married before the orders were issued for Spock's transfer for the rules to be applicable to the situation. She wondered if this was a good time to tell them that they were already married. It would be best to wait until she knew if the marriage was binding under Starfleet policy.
She went back to reviewing the lawsuit filed in early 2246 against Starfleet filed by then Commander Thompson and her husband Lieutenant Commander Thompson as the oblivious couple went back to groping each other. The settlement reached regarding this lawsuit was responsible for the personnel changes referred to as the Thompson Amendments.
In 2245 during a "crisis situation" Starfleet in their infinite wisdom assigned the couple to two separate ships as First Officers claiming it was in Starfleet's best interest. They also ship their children off to separate parts of the galaxy saying it would be in the best interest of the children to not grow up on ships of war.
According to the file, Brittany's brother who was only four at the time ended up on earth with family. Brittany's location was redacted from the file. When she asked Jim about it, he became really quiet and Spock gave her a look that told her not to ask any more questions.
The lawsuit was settled out of court two months later when Commander Thompson became Captain Thompson and the entire family was reunited on board the USS OBAMA. The entire incident resulted in the regulations involving families, interpersonal relationships between crewmembers, and tandem assignments to be completely rewritten. Enforcement of the rules on the book became more universal supposedly. Most importantly the true definition of a crisis situation when the tandem assignments rule can be suspended was established.
The federation was still in a crisis situation 12 months after the destruction of Vulcan. The command shortage wasn't the only problem. The federation was still in a very fragile state. Some planets left the Federation because they felt the organization could no longer offer true protection. Various adversaries also believe the Federation was weaker. Technically the Federation was not at war, but casualties were high for ships that were supposedly on peacekeeping missions.
As she read the file, she relies that something else was missing besides Brittany's whereabouts during that time. "Why were the Thompsons split up in the first place? There's nothing in here about that." She asked out loud breaking the two out of whatever they were doing.
"Starfleet said it was in the best interest of the organization for the two to serve on separate ships. That was the same justification they gave when they shipped off Brittany and her brother to separate parts of the galaxy. At least now an extreme shortage of captain's is a buyable excuse." "
"That doesn't make sense. Your mom was pregnant with you in space. Even prior to the amendments Starfleet did not split up family is that way unless there's an actual war going on. Something's missing." She said aloud.
"I always knew you were a genius. Evelyn Thompson was not very well liked for reasons other than her personality. She was a good captain. She was an excellent negotiator. No one was shocked that she gave up her life to protect her crew."
"She's basically you but more likable."
"Yes. Just like me she had her own "we hate you" club. She was a super genius who graduated from the academy at 18. She was a full lieutenant before she was even old enough to drink. She still holds the record for youngest female captain. Although you have several years to break that yourself." She rolled her eyes when he said that.
"We are having a serious conversation about trying to keep you two on the same ship and you decide to use this as a opportunity to get me to sign up for the program again?"
"I'm a multitasker." Jim said with a smile
"I'm aware." Spock said sharply before Jim continued.
"What's not in the file is that before the transfer she was already being considered her to receive her own ship. Certain people were not happy about that including one admiral in particular. He was convinced that she was given preferential treatment for various reasons. He was also upset that Starfleet look the other way when the Thompsons got married. One admiral in particular thought she was riding her husband's coattails. He was one of these people who was born 300 years too late and still believed a woman's place was in the home. He thought if you split one of the most effective teams in Starfleet up she would fall flat on her ass. Instead she thrived under pressure and sued Starfleet's ass off."
"Why didn't this part of the story make the media?"
"Nobody paid attention to the fallout because they were too busy being outraged by an easily preventable tragedy halfway across the galaxy on Tarsus IV." He said cryptically with anger in his voice.
"The split was political." She heard Spock say as more of a statement than a question.
"Considering you grew up as the son of a diplomat, you should be well aware that everything is political, especially in Starfleet. I spent too much of my childhood being paraded in front of cameras during Kelvin anniversary ceremonies to think otherwise. I'm not egotistical enough to think my appointment to captain at 25 was solely based on my awesome captain skills. During the last year, half of our missions have been specifically designed to improve Starfleet image. They needed to distract the galaxy from the ugly truth. Starfleet had 25 years to find the Narada and never did. They assume that no one will ask questions when they are projecting the image of the guy who saved earth who just happened to be the son of a dead war hero. The fact that the other guy who helped saved earth is happens to be Vulcan was just a bonus." Jim said as he began to play with Spock's ears.
"Will you please cease touching my ears when we are having a serious conversation?"
"You love it when I touch you there." Jim said as he ran one finger across the shell of Spock's years. This caused her to throw one of the pillows on the couch at the couple.
"As much as I enjoy watching you two making out and not denying it, if you too want to be able to do this six months from now we need to focus. If every decision in Starfleet is politically motivated, why are they doing this now?"
"That's obvious. Others could be promoted to captain or first officer. They need to show the federation at large that despite the decimation of their planet and almost 99% of their total population, the Vulcan people are still doing fine. What better way to do that than appointing Starfleet's first Vulcan captain and assigning him to a ship named after the United States very first president of African ancestry? I don't understand why they didn't try it last year."
Apparently it is a lot harder for Spock to keep something from Jim then it was from her. It turns out the conversation she overheard a few months ago wasn't the first time Spock was offered his own ship.
They did offer him his own ship last year in hopes of keeping him in Starfleet when Spock was considering going to the colony. Starfleet was so desperate to keep him that they were willing to make him captain. It didn't work. Although a suggestion from a certain other self did.
It wasn't until they reached the earth a day ago that she discovered the real reason why they were forcing Spock to leave the Enterprise. Apparently Jim had more in common with the late Captain Thompson then he thought.
Starfleet was inundated with reporters presently. This time they were not easily distracted by the festivities to commemorate the thousands of cadets who lost their lives almost a year ago. Normally the death of a captain in the line of duty would be something that would be forgotten about as soon as the court martial hearings were over with. This time the reporters smell blood in the water.
The OBAMA should have gone on the Enterprise's last major mission. She does not mean that the OBAMA was more suited for that particular mission, but rather the ship was originally assigned to that mission.
A certain reporter who was a hacker in a former life discovered an internal memorandum stating that the OBAMA should have handled that mission. The Enterprise had more advanced weapons and was more used to the type of missions that led to the death of Captain Evelyn Thompson.
She knew that the joining ceremony mission was a setup for a while. She did not know how bad of a set up it was until the three of them met with Admiral Pike and her friend from Starfleet legal today.
"Are you really telling me that the three of us would have been dead by now if Jim and Spock were not a real couple?" She said still in shock.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Sending a fake couple to the planet would have been a direct violation of the preliminary agreement reached earlier. According to their local custom they would have been in their rights to execute the impostors. We are not sure if the person who switched the assignment was aware of that fact sense it is quite obscure. Maybe they just assumed that you would fail miserably and they would have a justifiable reason to take your commission away from you." Pike said solemnly.
"It's possible. They were unaware that Spock and I were really a couple. However, I doubt the person is that innocent."
"You and Spock were unaware that you were a couple at the time." She said taking a large drink of the alcohol provided earlier.
"If the person was aware they probably assumed that Spock would follow the regulations regarding first officers and captains not going on away missions together."
"This person really doesn't know us at all. So which member of the Admiralty set us up?"Jim said with a hint of anger.
"We're not sure yet." Leslie said. "The investigation is still in progress. The admiral who oversaw your last assignment said that she was just following orders.
"I find such an argument illogical. Certain important information was purposely kept out of the mission briefing materials." Spock said to the others in the office.
"She's a brand new vice admiral who got her position through nepotism. The paper trail shows that she wasn't the one to change the orders. Unfortunately the identity of the person who did it is still in question. Whoever set this up was not expecting Captain Thompson to end up dead or for Jim to succeed.
"Actually it was Lieutenant Uhura who successfully negotiated the treaty."
"That does not matter; your success caused problems for their plans. They definitely weren't expecting Admiral Pike to investigate what happen or for Commander Thompson and his daughter Lieutenant Brittany Thompson to file a wrongful death suit."
"What does any of this have to do with Spock being transferred to another ship?"
"It appears that this is the backup plan. With the lawsuit and the investigation pending they need a distraction."
"Let me guess whoever wants me out of the captain chair by any means necessary assumes that Spock is the real person in charge. They assume if we are split up I will fail miserably and I will be decommissioned or dead within two months."
"Obviously this person doesn't know you at all." She said rolling her eyes.
"Or they know me better then they think they do. I would not fail because of incompetents or lack of skill. I wouldn't accidentally get killed on a diplomatic mission because I forgot to read the briefing materials. However, I wouldn't be anywhere near as good without Spock. You see things I don't. You come up with solutions I can't. You are my other half. That's why I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Chris, how do you feel about performing a wedding today?"
"Only you would ask me a question like that. However, it's not necessary."
"Of course it's necessary."
"No it's not. One of the good things to come out of switching assignments is that the joining ceremony does count as a legally binding ceremony under Starfleet regulations and Federation law even though the planet was technically not a member of the Federation at the time of the ceremony. The ceremony is recognized retroactively now that they are a member planet of the federation. Because that wedding date Spock's orders to become the captain of the OBAMA your relationship would be covered by the Thompson amendments but just barely." The legal advisor said.
"Actually under Vulcan law we may have been married for as long as 11.8 months." Jim's mouth opened in complete shock as Spock when on to explain.
It turns out her assumption about Vulcan bonding was true. All those times they seem to be talking to each other without words they were talking to each other without words. She just didn't think it was going on that long.
No one said a thing about insubordination when she hit her now ex boyfriend for staying with her for over six months when he was technically married to someone else.
Jim's only response was, "I told you she would make a good captain. She's not afraid to attack someone five times stronger than her."
She left shortly after punching Spock. A couple of hours later Jim showed up at her hotel room bearing gifts.
"Can I come in? I come bearing real chocolate and non replicated ice cream." She would let him in eventually. She was not that mad anymore. However, she wanted to have some fun first.
"What brand?"
"Ben and Jerry's of Earth. I brought Phish Food." He said giving her the container. It was her favorite flavor.
"Fine you can come in. Either you were really good at guessing or your husband chose your peace offering."
"The ice cream is from Spock." He said passing a spoon to her.
"I don't think ice cream will make up for this."
"He knows that. He says he is sorry and it's possible that we weren't really bonded until the conference room incident. He didn't realize it was a possibility until after then any way." That explanation placated her slightly. She was less pissed off now. Considering how heavy the two were in denial, she would not be that surprised if Spock did not really know for a while.
"I'm going to go with it happening earlier because it seem like you two were having conversations without words since the beginning. How do you accidentally get married?"
"Apparently it's quite easy since we manage to do it three times within the last year. Can Spock come in now without you throwing things?" He asked sheepishly.
"Spock you can come in. I know you were listening the entire time. I'm sorry I punched you."
"Your response was completely logical given the circumstances."
"Pike agreed. Also, there's no way I'm writing that up in a formal report."
"So what happened after I left?" she asked a few minutes later.
"It seems that it is highly probable that to avoid calling attention to the situation, I will be allowed to stay on Enterprise."
"What my husband is saying is there too afraid of a scandal if the media finds out. Starfleet can't deal with any bad press at all less than a year after almost an entire cadet class ended up dead and an entire planet was destroyed due to bad intelligence and a decision 25 years ago that it wasn't cost effective to search for the ship that destroyed the Kelvin." She could hear bitterness dripping from every word.
"So you get what you want. That's a good thing. Why are you not happy? You're not adopting your husband's normally stoic behavior are you?"
"This is not a win .We win this time. Then some other Admiral decides he doesn't like me or someone else and manipulates things so they will lose his or her position or end up dead. If it was just me they were messing with, I could deal with it. Except it's just not me and chances are next time more than one person will end up dead. 13 years ago an Admiral who had no problem abusing his power did the same thing with the Thompsons. That time someone just almost ended up dead. This time someone did end up dead and it could have been worse. Next time I'm sure the body count will be higher." She was pretty sure they were doing that thing where they talk to each other telepathically after the long silence that followed. They were both silent for a moment as Spock put his arms around Jim.
"Can you two please start talking out loud again?"
"Sorry we didn't know we were doing it. See this is why he didn't know that he was married to me when he was still dating you." She just rolled her eyes when he said that.
"I think it's in our best interest long-term to fight this." He said confidently.
"What are you planning T'hy'la?"
"It is best you don't know. Do you trust me?
"Implicitly"
Today marks exactly one year since Jim and Spock met each other in this very room for the first time. Everything is different now. One year ago she and Spock were lovers. One year ago her three best friends were still alive. One year ago, there was still a Vulcan and Spock's mother was alive. So much has changed in that year for better or worse.
Spock and Jim are now together in the "until death do us part" sense. She and Spock are just friends despite that little incident earlier in the week. If you cannot hit your friend for being an asshole, what is the point? A certain captain of hers successfully convinced her to sign up for the command retraining program. Jim is convinced she is going to break Captain Evelyn Thompson's record for youngest female captain by at least five years.
Some things haven't changed. One year ago she sat in this room and watch Jim fight for something he believed in. Considering everything that has happened in the last year, fighting over a test seemed so silly. Now she knows they really weren't fighting about a test. They were fighting over the fact that no situation was unwinnable. She's pretty sure that he has convinced Spock of that, otherwise they wouldn't be together right now.
Mere hours after their initial meeting last year, she would see firsthand how hard Jim will fight for something he believes in. Now once again he's fighting for the thing he believes in the most. She stands back in the shadows as the scene unfolds in front of her.
This was supposed to be when Spock received his new commission in front of the new soon to be graduating class of cadets and representatives of the press from every planet in the federation. Instead, Jim chose this moment to derail the admiral in question using him to keep everyone distracted. The member of the Admiralty that practically fell over when Jim brought out the marriage license was probably the one who was responsible all along.
"This doesn't change anything." The Admiral said with anger. "Accidentally getting married on a mission that you were not even supposed to go on in the first place doesn't mean you're really together. You're just worried that if you get separated from your first officer everyone will find out how incompetent you really are." Jim just laughed as Spock stood beside him giving the man the Vulcan death glare.
"We've been together for nearly five months. We were already planning to get married. Thanks to whoever had a grudge against me, we don't have to plan the ceremony. You wouldn't know about that would you? It worked out for the best because the leaders of that planet sure know how to throw a honeymoon." She could see Spock giving him his usual "I think you're being a complete idiot" look as the admiral in question saw firsthand how fierce Jim Kirk could be when truly tested.
"These little games end now. No more using liberal execution of Starfleet policy to exercise a personal vendetta again someone you don't like. You have two choices in this situation, enforce the policies correctly for everyone and allow my husband and me to stay together so that you will have the greatest command team in Starfleet history or you lose both of us."
"Losing him would be worth no longer having to deal with you. You are a disgrace to that uniform. You are only here because you got lucky and everyone expects you to be as good as your daddy."
"I've always thought I look great in command yellow. At least that's what my husband says." He said ignoring the earlier comment. "Of course, we won't be going without a fight and a few interviews." Jim said pointing to the press corps waiting in the wings. "I'm sure they would love to know about how your decision to reassign a mission meant for the Enterprise to the OBAMA, lead to Captain Evelyn Thompson's death. The choice is yours. Let's face it you really can't deal with the bad publicity right now."
One year ago in this very room Jim and Spock faced each other head to head on different sides of an argument that doesn't seem so big anymore. Today they stand side by side. Together they can face anything including a dick of an admiral and win. The fact that they are together is a true victory. The fact that Jim will fight for Spock is the most important thing of all. The fact that Spock is there by his side is a true sign of how far things have come. This is the final sign that Jim Kirk is completely in love with Spock. He will always fight for Spock and he will always be by his side.
The end
Yes, there will be an epilogue.
Also check out my new story Starfleet Family Values.