Disclaimer: I don't own anything Star Trek it is all property of Gene Roddenberry, J.J. Abrams, Paramount, and whoever else owns rights to the franchise. I am not making any profits off of this so please don't sue me.
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Chapter 14: Protective Vulcan Husbands, Confused Doctors, and Weird Symptoms Starting to Appear
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Author's note: Please try listening to " Stay with me" from the soundtrack for the movie " The Fountain" when reading the beginning of the chapter.
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It was the wee hours of the morning on board the Enterprise as the ship glided gracefully through space. There was a sense of stillness throughout the ship. Most of the crew was still sleeping peacefully in their respective quarters. The same could not be said for one of the occupants of the Captain's quarters. From where he lay his side in his bondmate's bed, Spock sighed softly as he ran a gentle hand down a sleeping Jim's bare back. Throughout the entire night, Spock had remained wide awake and ready to ease any discomfort to his mate. At the moment, Spock was silently soothing Jim through some restless shifting. Jim instantly stilled as Spock gently ran his hand along the length of his spine. Spock also sent Jim his feelings of reassurance and warm love through the bond that connected their minds.
This scene was a complete 180 from the events of mere hours earlier. Just a few hours ago that same night, Spock had come into the bathroom that joined their quarters to find his bondmate all but drowning himself in the shower with ice-cold water. What had ensued after Spock had all but dragged his distressed mate out of the bathroom had probably been one of the most terrifying and erotic experiences that both Jim and Spock had ever had in their whole lives. Now was the aftermath, whee Jim slept fitfully at best, and Spock had not slept at all.
When he felt Jim relax beneath his palm, Spock reluctantly pulled his hand away and sought out the sheets that had ridden down to Jim's hip. With careful ease, Spock pulled the bedsheets upwards till they covered his bondmate almost up to his neck. Spock went so far as to lightly tuck the sheets around his sleeping bondmate before, with a lingering look, he pulled the sheets away from his own body and rose from the bed.
Spock looked around the dimly lit bedroom and silently decided on what course of action to take. He figured that a shower would be his first order of business. As quietly as he could, Spock stepped away from the bed and made his way into the bathroom. The Vulcan immediately stepped into the shower and pressed the necessary buttons. Moments later, Spock was standing under a powerful cascade of steaming hot water. Under normal circumstances, Spock usually enjoyed a hot shower, especially when a certain blond bondmate would feel free to join him without saying a word. However, these were not normal circumstances in the least, As he let the hot water thoroughly soak him, Spock' mind was bombarded with the images of how frightened and confused Him had looked when he had found him in this very shower just hours earlier.
Spock mechanically cleansed himself of the remnants of the previous night's desperate and primal fornication from his skin. Once he was satisfied that he had cleaned himself enough, Spock turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He quickly retrieved towels from the shelf next to Jim's side bathroom door. Spock wrapped one fluffy white towel around his waist and began using the other on to dry his damp, raven black hair.
As he rubbed the towel against his head, Spock happened to catch his reflection in the bathroom mirror. The Vulcan paused in drying his damp hair to take a good look at himself. His pale skin was littered with the marks of his bondmate's passion from the night before. There were light green suction bruises all about the sides of Spock's neck and shoulders. There were also a few light bite marks scattered along the Vulcan's chest. And when he turned around and looked over his shoulder, Spock could see the faint green lines that marred his normally smooth back. These were the scratches left by Jim's fingernails. Spock tunred back around so that he was once again facing the mirror as he reached up and lightly ghosted his fingertips over one of the bruises on his neck. As he felt a small twinge as he touched the bruise, Spock knew that Jim had identical marks marring his skin. With a lingering look at himself in the mirror, Spock turned away and headed back into Jim's bedroom.
Spock walked back into Jim's bedroom to find his bondmate still fast asleep in the bed. Being extra quiet, Spock made his way over to the storage drawers that were situated in the wall adjacent to the bed and pressed the button to open one of them. The drawer opened with a soft his and revealed that articles of clothing that were contained inside. This was the small amount of clothing Spock kept in Jim's room, and Jim did the same in Spock's quarters next door. Not wasting any time, Spock pulled out a pair of simple black sleeping pants and quickly donned them. Spock then stepped over to the bathroom and deposited the towels he had used to dry himself into the laundry hamper.
Once he was back in the bedroom, Spock wanted nothing more than to climb back into bed with his sleeping bondmate. But instead, Spock made his way to the foot of the bed and gracefully lowered himself onto the soft, carpeted floor. Spock sat cross-legged by the foot of the bed and began to take in deep and slow breaths. He looked over his shoulder to eye his sleeping bondmate one more time before he focused his mind into a meditative state.
About an hour and a half later...
Pale blue eyes slowly fluttered open and blinked away the remnants of sleep's hold. Jim slowly rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom. As soon as he realized his surroundings, Jim's head immediately turned to the side. The moment he saw that the bed was empty beside him, Jim felt his heart slam to a dead halt inside his chest. Jim's eyes began to burn with anguish at the truly irrational thought that Spock had left him. Then a suddenly deluge of emotions seemed to torpedo the young man's mind. Warmth, reassurance, and deep love were among the emotions that filled Jim's mind. And as the bond in his mind seemed to vibrate pleasantly inside his mind, Jim felt the icy grip of the irrational terror that had risen up inside him ease.
Jim quickly pushed himself up into a sitting position. The moment he was upright, Jim's pale blue eyes were met by those of deep, black coffee brown. Spock met his bondmate's openly relieved gaze from where he sat on the floor. Not wasting any time, Jim and Spock both move towards each other. While Spock gracefully climbed onto the bed from the floor, Jim shifted forward to meet his bondmate halfway. Without uttering a word, Spock took Jim in an almost painfully tight embrace. Jim returned the gesture with equal fervor as he spoke.
" M'sorry for being so clingy with you Spock." He said against Spock's shoulder.
" It is alright Jim, as my bondmate, you may be as 'clingy' as you wish with me." Assured Spock.
Jim let out a small chuckle before he reluctantly drew back a little so that he was face to face with Spock as he spoke.
" Are you alright Spock?" He asked as he took Spock's face in his hands.
" I am perfectly sound T'hy'la, but I believe that it is I who should be inquiring about to physical and mental state." Replied Spock as he eyed Jim with veiled expectancy.
Jim smiled warmly at his husband as he nodded and spoke.
" I feel alright Spock. Maybe a little tired and sore, but I think whatever came over me last night has run its course. I'm more confused now than anything." He said and he stroked his thumb against Spock's high cheekbone.
" You are still visiting Dr. McCoy and explaining what happened. I wish for there to be a thorough examination to make absolutely certain that you are indeed, unharmed." Said Spock in a tone that held no room for argument.
Jim nodded wordlessly in agreement before he leaned in and pressed his forehead to Spock's. With one hand, Jim reached for one of Spock's pointed ears and lightly traced it with his fingers. Jim smiled softly when he felt Spock shudder lightly and give out an almost inaudible sigh at the touch to his ear. With a small sigh of his own, Jim spoke.
" It's still really early, I don't wanna call and wake him up at this hour." He said .
" Then we shall wait until it is the opportune hour to go see him." Replied Spock.
" Okay." Said Jim before he reluctantly pulled away from Spock and began rising from the bed.
" I'm gonna go take a shower." Said Jim before he got up from the bed with the sheets wrapped around him.
"That is acceptable T'hy'la." Said Spock softly as he watched Jim nod and then walk into the bathroom.
About ten minutes later, Spock and a freshly showered and clothed Jim were sitting cross-legged on the floor facing one another.
" Just relax and allow your mind to clear itself." Instructed Spock as he himself breathed deep and slow.
Jim nodded wordlessly and did as his bondmate instructed. Jim took in deep, even breaths and closed his eyes as he relaxed his body. Once Jim and Spock were almost synchronized in their breathing, Spock used his Vulcan abilities in accordance with the bond. Jim let out a small gasp as he felt his mind completely sync with Spock's. A wave of peace washed over Jim as he felt like his whole body was being cradled in the palm of Spock's hand. Jim allowed himself a small smile as he heard Spock's deep voice echo in his mind.
" Relax T'hyla, I am hear. I assure you that everything will be alright. Do not give in to the fear that grips you, you are alright now, and I am here."
And so, for a full two hours Jim and Spock meditated together, each man finding peace and solace in the joining of their minds.
Several hours later, about an hour before Jim and Spock were meant to go on duty for the day...
Dr. Leonard McCoy looked up from the hyposprays he was preparing when the doors to sickbay opened with a soft hiss. He watched as the Captain and First Officer of the Enterprise walked in with Jim looking uncharacteristically unsure and grim, and Spock looking as blank-faced as usually.
" Jim, Spock, what brings you two here so early?" Asked a curios Bones as he walked over to his two friends.
" Morning Bones." Said Jim with a wan smile, while Spock spoke to explain.
" Doctor, the Captain is in need of your expertise." He said.
" Why, what happened?" Asked Bones, now on full alert.
" I think it's best we discuss this in private." Said Jim as he gestured to the private examination room a few feet behind Bones.
" Sure, no problem." Said Bones as he led Jim and Spock to the preferred area. The three of them stood in the private examination room as Bones spoke.
" Alright Jim, spill it. What's goin' on?" He asked in a no-nonsense manner.
" To be honest Bones, I really don't know what it was, but something did happen last night." Began Jim.
" Okay." Nodded Bones before Jim continued.
"Yesterday I was completely fine until just after lunch. I don't know what it was, but all I could think about was Spock." He said, looking slightly sheepish.
At first, Bones wanted to roll his eyes and maybe have a small chuckle at Jim's expense, but when he saw the slightly haunted look that came across his best friend's face, the doctor realized that this was not just Jim being head over heels in love with his husband, but something serious.
" What happened after lunch?" Asked Bones.
" I was just doing my job on the bridge when it felt like my blood was on fire. It wasn't normal Bones, after a few hours I could barely function." Said Jim.
Then Spock added in his own knowledge of the incident.
" I can corroborate with Jim, what he felt was not his natural feelings towards me, but they seemed to have been amplified a great deal. After I concluded my duty shift, I immediately proceeded to our joint quarters. I found Jim in the bathroom under great distress. He was in the shower with copious amounts of frigidly cold water soaking him. I will not go into further detail about what took place after I made my discovery. I will ask you Doctor, that you perform a full examination of Jim to establish that he is in full health." Said Spock.
Bones was intrigued and still a bit confused as to what happened as Jim spoke. But he could easily see the marks that were peaking out from beneath the collars of both Jim and Spock's uniform tops.
" I feel fine now, but could you just run a few tests to ease Spock's mind?" He asked.
" Yeah, of course I can do that, just get yourself on that table over there and I'll run some scans. I wanna see for myself that you're alright too Jim." Nodded Bones before he indicated the examination table right behind where Jim and Spock stood.
Jim nodded and stepped over to the examination table, easily climbing onto the table. Jim sat and waited for Bones to return with his necessary tool, all the while with Spock standing faithfully by his side.
Bones came back into the room with his tools in hand.
" Alright Jim, just lay back and try to relax." Said Bones.
Jim wordlessly did as Bones instructed, laying flat on his back on the examination table. Taking in a deep, steadying breath, Jim waited for Bones to begin. As Bones began running the scanner over him, Jim's eyes caught Spock's. Though he kept his face a stoic as he could, Spock could not fully hide his worry from showing in his deep brown eyes. Jim smiled softly up at his bondmate and used the bond to convey his thoughts to the Vulcan.
" I'll be alright Spock."
Jim watched as Spock's eyes softened somewhat, a few seconds later Jim was being engulfed in warmth through the bond. This silent interaction eased some of the tension and served to distract both Spock and Jim from Bones's ministrations. About twenty minutes later, Bones was finished with all his scans and was now looking over the results with Jim and Spock awaiting his findings.
" So, what's the verdict Doc?" Asked Jim, feeling a little nervous about what Bones's results were.
" Based on all the scans I've run, you're absolutely fine Jim. The only thing that's a little off is that your hormone levels are a little bit elevated, but that in itself is nothing serious, and should resolve itself in maybe a day or two." Said Bones.
Jim nearly sagged with relieve, while Spock seemed to exhale and relax slightly. But through the bond, Jim knew that Spock himself was relieved beyond words. Eager to get out of sickbay, Jim all but jumped off of the examination table and stood beside his bondmate as he spoke.
" Thanks for running the test Bones, we both appreciate it." He said with a small grin.
" Think nothing of it, if whatever it was that happened last night was serious enough to make you both come to Sickbay, than I am glad I ran the test. Oh and by the way, your annual physicals are coming up, so don't forget." Said Bones with a smirk as he watched a sour expression grace Jim's face.
" Yeah yeah, we'll keep that in mind, won't we Spock?" Asked Jim.
" Indeed, but for now, let us proceed to the Main Bridge, for our duty shift starts in approximately thirty minutes." Said Spock with a signature quirk of one black, slanted eyebrow.
" Yeah, let's." Said Jim as he proceeded to lead the way out of Sickbay.
" See ya later Bones." He called over his shoulder, while Spock gave the doctor a nodded before they both exited the private examination room and then Sickbay.
Bones just smirked and gave a gruff laugh to himself before he shook his head and went back to the main Sickbay area where he had left his hyposprays.
As they walked the brightly lit corridors to one of the nearby turbo-lifts, Jim and Spock were side by side and completely silent. Jim did have a happy little smile on his face as he walked along side his husband. And since it was still somewhat early, the corridors were more or less empty, so no one's curiosity would be spiked about what had made Jim look so happy and relieved.
Once they reached the turbo-lift, Spock stepped aside to allow Jim to enter first before stepping inside himself. Jim was about to press the button for the main bridge when Spock's hand beat him to the control panel and pressed the button that would put the lift at pause. Jim was just about to ask Spock why he stopped the lift when he suddenly found himself wrapped in a nearly rib-bending embrace with a hot and familiar mouth sealing itself over his own. Jim was stunned for a split-second, before he smiled and melted into Spock's kiss. The bond between them hummed in contentment as Jim kissed Spock back with equal fervor. It was several long moments before they finally drew apart. But their faces were mere inches apart as Jim spoke.
" Was that your way of saying that you're relieved?" He whispered.
" Affirmative." Whispered back Spock.
" I'm glad too." Whisper Jim before he pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to Spock's lips and then reluctantly pushed him back slightly as he continued to speak.
" But we are going to be late for Alpha shift, Commander." He said formally, though there was a spark of mirth in his eyes as he said.
Spock instantly stood to attention and nodded as he spoke.
" Indeed, we have our duties to attend to, Captain." He said with just as much formality.
But through the bond, both Jim and Spock knew that they would have time later to express how they both felt. For now though, they were not Jim and Spock, but Captain Kirk and Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise. They had jobs to do, and a ship to run.
A week and a half later...
" Oh GAWD!" Groaned Jim before he all but lunged for the toilet bowl as the urge to regurgitate overtook him yet again.
Once he was sure that he could vomit no more, Jim pressed the button to flush away the revolting contents of the toilet. With a low groan, Jim pushed himself up onto his feet and made his way over to the sink and turned on the cold water. Jim let out a deep huff as he splashed cold water onto his face and gargled the rancid taste from his mouth.
" It must've been something I ate last night." Thought Jim as he looked at himself in the mirror.
Then Jim shook himself of his contemplations about why he suddenly had the urge to hurl up the contents of his stomach while all he had been doing was brushing his teeth a few minutes ago. Not wanting to really dwell on it, Jim focused on getting himself ready for the day, starting by brushing his teeth all over again. Once he was done with his morning ritual, Jim headed back into his bedroom to get dressed for duty. But all the while as he got dressed, Jim couldn't help but notice this strange, warm, stirring sensation in the bond he shared with Spock. It wasn't much, more like a small humming in the background. It was not unpleasant, but it did raise Jim's curiosity because he was quite sure that Spock was not causing this sensation. Jim quickly dismissed it as a simple quirk of the Vulcan bond.
Once he was ready, Jim made his way out of his quarters. He was eager to get to the bridge, and maybe ask Spock in a subtle way if he felt the same sensation on his end of the bond.
Thinking it was just another ordinary day, Jim headed off towards the turbo-lift. But Jim noticed that there was also one more anomaly he was feeling, besides the faint stirring of the bond, and the sudden and unexpected vomiting.
For reasons he had yet to fathom, Jim found that he also had this strange urge to go and have a bowl of hot, plomeek soup.
Jim just shrugged it off as he entered the turbo-lift. He could have some plomeek soup once it was time for lunch. Right now though, Jim had to get on duty for the day.
Little did Jim Kirk know, these weird occurrences were merely the precursors to the main event.