Disclaimer: I don't own. I don't profit.
Special thanks to beta Notes from The Classroom - check out her latest "The Survivors" in my faves, for Spock/Nyota, Romulans, Kirk, and Pon Farr good times.
IMPORTANT...
It's been a while since I updated, so I just want to remind readers that a few chaps back Kirk reminisced about being stuck in Spock's body for a while.
Holding
Jim made his way through the halls of his ship, running his hands along her scorched bulkhead.
Flipping out his comm, he hit Bones' number. There was no answer.
Jim wanted someone to commiserate with, maybe to a share glass of bourbon with. The last few weeks had been rough. Today had been worse. A prototype cloaking device had inexplicably caused flash fires on the Enterprise's decks - Jim had lost a crew member, and Bones had been burned.
Maybe Bones was really hurt. Jim hit his comm again. Again there was no answer.
Tapping a different code on his comm, Jim said, "Computer, locate Doctor McCoy."
"Dr. McCoy is in his quarters."
Worried, Jim abruptly changed direction. It was too early for Bones to be asleep. As much as Bones complained that Jim wasn't a good patient, it was Jim's personal belief that Bones was even worse. He was going to haul his ass down to sickbay and let Chapel at him. Would serve him right.
Stopping at Bones' door, he hit the chime. There was no answer. "Bones?" Jim called out. Still no answer. Entering the captain's override code, he stepped in and…Christine was already there...in fact, from the noises she was making...
"Arrgh!" said Jim, squeezing his eyes shut, throwing up an arm and ducking his head.
"What the hell?" growled Bones. "Were you raised in a barn?"
If had been anyone else, Jim might have made a joke - but it was Christine, and that was still weird after all these years. Not dropping his arm or lifting his eyes, Jim backed out. "Sorry, really, sorry," he said as the door slid shut in front of his nose.
Embarrassed, and sadly a little turned on, Jim backtracked as fast as he could, nearly careening into Yeoman Rand.
He closed his eyes and took a breath. Just the person he did not want to see.
"Captain," she said, putting her hands out as though to steady him. "I've been looking all over for you."
Gritting his teeth he said, "I'm fine," and stepped around her.
Swallowing, she said, "Sir, I know the last few weeks have been hard on you."
"They've been hard for all of us, Yeoman," he said, making his way down the hall towards his quarters.
Falling into step a few paces back she said, "Have you eaten? Please let me get you something from the mess. I can bring it to your quarters, sir."
Jim stopped. He turned his head to look at her.
She halted mid-stride a few paces behind, drawing to attention.
Janice Rand in this universe was as enticing as she'd been in the other universe - Old Spock had transferred a lot of memories in that quick meld. This universe's Janice also stood too close to him on the bridge. She got a little too upset when he was injured.
Now she stood before him, so young - at least ten years his junior, 21 at most, her legs impossibly shapely beneath the very short red skirt, her eyes wide and very soft. Her crush on him was so transparent. It struck Jim that she was nothing so much as a ripe piece of fruit waiting to be picked.
Rand was a sweet girl - and Jim did like sweet girls. Christine swore he was afraid of strong women. And maybe he was, just a little. His own mother had sacrificed Jim and his brother Sam to her career. Jim didn't care if her motivation partially had been grief. The end result was the same.
He was drawn to good girls, nice girls. Uhura was constantly niggling at Spock when they were off duty, not that Spock didn't give as good as he got, and Jim knew it was like verbal foreplay to them - but still, he didn't really understand. And Bones and Christine - well, Jim would never really understand Christine. She was a shark and didn't wait to be off duty to give Bones what for.
"Captain?" said Rand, eyes wide, one hand wrapped around the bottom of the leather satchel carrying the PADD at her hip.
It would be so easy. He exhaled again. In another universe he would take her up on her offer. She'd come to his cabin, tray in hand, and lay it on his desk. He'd take her hand, push the tray aside and never touch its contents. Her lips and her legs would part and she'd give him her whole heart.
And that other Jim would like her a lot. But nothing more. And she wouldn't just stand too close on the bridge, she'd grab his hand. When he was injured she'd weep and throw her head next to him on his stretcher.
He remembered T'Pring sitting in sickbay watching him argue with Spock. She'd been silent and still as a stone. She hadn't gotten in the way of him doing his job.
Taking a step closer, this Janice said, "Captain?"
Shaking his head, he said, "No, Janice. Dismissed."
In this universe he did not need that type of drama coming between him and his ship - whatever woman he was with had to share him with his mistress, the Enterprise. A few minutes later he entered his cabin. As the door slid shut behind him, he looked up at the ceiling and said softly, "Just you and me again, Baby."
He sighed. Too bad looking at the Enterprise wasn't quite enough to get him going. He chuckled. Maybe for Scotty...
Sitting down, he hit his monitor and watched as emails scrolled in. They'd been on communication blackout for all but priority one Starfleet communications for over 48 hours during the cloak test.
His eyes went over to the holo on his desk as they often did. It was dark. He'd fixed it so Jimmie didn't spring to light with the least jostle. He was about to reach and turn it on when his comm chimed.
x x x x
The sun was setting behind Nyota when she got off the comm with Spock. He was on New Vulcan putting together a team to rapidly advance Starfleet's weaponry and shielding technology.
She was on Tilonias III aiding code breaking efforts. It was hot here, and the gravity weighed heavier even than New Vulcan's.
Her call with Spock hadn't been enough. Even with the bond she still wanted to see him - and it had only been two weeks. Maybe it was the knowledge of how much time apart was stretching in front of them as they prepared for war with Romulus.
She sighed. He'd been pulled abruptly from the call. She stared at the blank screen and had an inspiration.
"Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise," she ordered her comm, and the screen of her monitor flickered to light. For a moment it was blank and then there was Jim on the other line.
"Hey, Commander Uhura," he said, drawing out her new rank with a lopsided grin. "What's wrong - basket weaving getting boring?" Basketweaving was his code for what she was currently doing.
"Oh, it's about as thrilling as star mapping," she said, her own code for his current assignment - playing guinea pig for new technology.
His face got very dark for a moment, but then he smiled a fake, insincere smile, "Yeah, just out here twiddling our thumbs."
"Sorry," she said, and she meant it.
He shrugged and looked down.
"Seen any good holos lately?" she asked. Obscure historical holos were something she and Jim really enjoyed that Spock was just lukewarm on.
She heard a small chime in his computer sound and his eyes went to the side. "Email alerts," he said, "Nothing important." Then he groaned. "The holo selection released by Starfleet has been really bad - situational comedies and inane romances. So how was New Vulcan?"
And it hit her. T'Pring hadn't told him. And yes, Spock had been in contact with Jim since her visit; they were best friends. But all Spock and Jim did in their comm calls was play 3D chess and war games.
"There is something you should know about T'Pring," said Nyota.
Jim's face lost all expression and he looked down. "She's pregnant, right?"
Nyota blinked.
Licking his lips, looking up and smiling a not-quite-insincere smile, Jim said, "Good for her. The universe will be a better place with little pointy-eared T'Prings in it."
Letting out a breath, Nyota said, "No, Jim, that isn't it at all." And then she told him.
When she was done, he looked down at the floor. "Of course she wouldn't tell me," he said. "It would be too much like whinging."
Sighing, Nyota shook her head, "I love Vulcans, I really do. But sometimes they're stupid."
Jim smirked up at her. "Is Spock listening in?"
Narrowing her eyes, she said, "He knows my feelings on the matter."
Chuckling softly he looked away, "Do you know where she is?"
"No," said Nyota.
Tapping a finger, he said, "The consulate on Earth might know if she's still there..." The chime on his computer sounded again. He looked to it and blinked. "Whoa, Nyota your timing..."
Not correcting him for using her first name, she said, "What is it?"
"It's an email from T'Pring," said Jim, pulling up a PADD and tapping fast, "Opening it here..."
Nyota held her breath at his obvious excitement. She liked T'Pring; she was tough and smart. And she liked Jim. He was Spock's younger, accident-prone, over-eager, genius brother. He wasn't the player he once was - and he was lonely. The way he looked when he said goodbye to T'Pring on the transporter, and the way he was jumping now, forgetting even to shut off his comm...If T'Pring played her cards right, she could wind up Mrs. Kirk - if she so desired.
Nyota heard something that sounded like chintzy music. Jim blinked at the PADD. And then he broke down in hysterical peals of laughter.
"What is it? What is it?" asked Nyota.
Wiping his eyes - was he actually crying?- Jim said, "It's a dancing turkey Thanksgiving Card!"
So much for playing her cards right.
Sniffing a little, Jim grinned down at the PADD and said, "This is so awesome! No one has ever sent me a dancing turkey for Thanksgiving!"
He held it up for her to see. It was painful to look at, but Nyota did her best not to grimace. Biting her lip she just nodded.
Not noticing her discomfit, Jim said, "No one sends me Thanksgiving cards, ever. I mean, there was that card Gaila sent to everyone, the Indian girl and the Puritan girl making out -"
Scowling slightly Nyota said, "I don't remember getting that card -"
Jim didn't seem to have heard her, "She had herself as the Indian girl and - " Pulling the PADD back and looking at it with a wistful expression on his face, he said, "But this is even better!"
It occurred to Nyota that she really didn't understand Jim. But to each their own, she supposed.
Looking up at her, Jim said, "Um..." He looked down at the PADD. "Would you mind if I -"
"Go ahead and call her - or email her," Nyota said, feeling very magnanimous.
Jim grinned. If he had a tail it would be wagging.
"You're the best," he said.
She smiled, not a little triumphantly. And then she blinked. "Wait, who was the Puritan girl in that card?"
But the screen was already dark.
x x x x
The house of T'Rene's parents in Silicon Valley, California, was quiet, just warm enough, blissfully dry, and smelled of pine. In the meditation room there was the smell of fresh straw from the Japanese tatami mats.
It was normally the perfect place for meditation. T'Pring's eyes sprung open from her trance, her subconscious mind alerting her that something was amiss. Turning her head, she found, T'Rene, legs still in lotus position, shaking violently she'd almost doubled over.
T'Pring put out a hand to her shoulder. Blinking, T'Rene lifted her self and opened her eyes. "It is gone," she said.
T'Pring did not ask what. A side effect of the break of a consummated bond was occasional visions.
In contrast, T'Pring's own broken bond was easy. The shame of being twice unbonded was worse than the physical effects. She swallowed. Guessing her thoughts, T'Rene said, "It was the right thing to do. This way he is only in my head some of the time."
Stretching her legs, T'Rene said, "Come, let us go have some tea."
As they walked from the meditation room down the corridor, the chime of the family's main comm line sounded in the library. "Subspace call. Captain James T. Kirk, U.S.S. Enterprise," said the caller I.D.
Surprised, T'Pring stopped. She'd sent James an email two days ago with the traditional greeting of his people. She'd expected an email in reply and only included the main comm number as an after thought. But he was calling. How nice. But then her stomach did a little flip flop that was disorientating and not very nice at all.
From the library she heard T'Rene's brother Tulim. "I will get it."
"I think-" T'Pring started to say.
And then from the library, Rachel, Tulim's human wife said, "Didn't you meet Kirk, as Spock, when you were on Camus II?"
Mentally stumbling over "meet Kirk as Spock," T'Pring stopped at the library door.
"He would not have our number," Tulim said, going to the comm. "This is probably a crank caller."
Confused, T'Pring blinked and looked at the floor. Crank. Machinery. An ill-tempered person. An eccentric zealot.
"What is it, T'Pring?" T'Rene asked.
There was a light beep, and they both turned to see the monitor's light shining around Tulim's back. Through the library, James' voice rang. "Is T'Pring there?"
"I am here," T'Pring said stepping into the library. Tulim, T'Rene, their parents and Rachel all looked at her. About the only person whose eyes weren't on hers was James. He was giving a sidelong look at Tulim. Perhaps because he remembered Tulim from Camus II?
Everyone's eyes went back to the monitor and Rachel said abruptly. "I think we should adjourn to the kitchen and get some tea."
"We just had tea," said Tulim.
Rachel said nothing, but T'Pring saw her eyes narrow as though in concentration. Tulim blinked. And then his parents and T'Rene blinked. It was as though a wave of understanding had literally passed through the family - and T'Pring realized it probably had. They were all connected - even Rachel through Tulim. T'Pring was the only one here who was really alone.
"T'Pring," said James, and her eyes went to the monitor as the family filed out of the library. Everything seemed to fade around her. This was the first time she'd looked at him since the bond was broken. It was as though a dam had burst, and her feelings were more intense than she remembered. If he were here he would not be safe from her.
She closed her eyes and collected herself for a moment.
"T'Pring," said James very slowly. "Will you be all right?"
Opening her eyes, T'Pring said, "Yes, I will be." If he were here she wasn't sure she could be logical. And what was logical was with him? His feelings for her had changed, or maybe deepened. But what did that mean? He was human. Humans were serial monogamists - and Jim was...well...more serial than most.
He wasn't here. Neither of them was endangered by her feelings or confusion.
"I suppose you are wondering how I came to be on Earth," she said.
He shook his head, "No, Uhura told me."
Oh. T'Pring put her hands behind her back. On the one hand, Vulcans did not like their personal matters to be shared. On the other, this meant she did not have to discuss the issue. She felt curiously relieved.
"I know a broken bond...is hard," said James. "I am really very sorry."
T'Pring tilted her head. Was he speaking of hers, or T'Rene's? "Yes, once consummated, it is extremely difficult." Hers had not been consummated, and she was grateful. But she did not want to discuss it.
He swallowed.
She was curious if he had found her greeting card aesthetically pleasing - but something else burned in her mind even brighter. "Tulim, the man who answered the phone, his wife said that he met you as Spock on Camus II?"
James blinked. "His wife..." he said looking to the side. "Oh, yeah, I thought he looked familiar."
He grinned at her. "That is a long and complicated story - it involves alien technology, cosmic radiation, and rather deep understanding of the short and long term memory repositories of Vulcans and humans."
"Fascinating," said T'Pring. James was better than a documentary holo. And Surak did permit satisfying intellectual curiosity...
They were light years apart. If satiating her curiosity for events on Camus II and the cultural affinity to the likeness of a fat flightless fowl dovetailed neatly with an emotional desire to speak to James...well, what harm could it possibly do?
A/N:
What could go wrong? Heh.
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