So sorry about the lateness. It seems to be getting harder and harder to pick things up. But I got some inspiration from the fact that there are people who are still reading and reviewing my stories, so I figure I owe you all this. Today, Jim and Spock begin to settle into life together for the foreseeable future. This chapter has a couple of important conversations and a little something you'll probably hate me for.
Chapter Fourteen
Jim was woken by a tentative hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes easily enough and looked up at Spock.
"Is it time to leave?" He asked, feeling awake already. The prospect of returning home was more than enough to chase the sleep away.
"Yes." Said Spock, stepping back to allow him to stand. Jim got up, stretched briefly, then followed Spock out the door. They walked down the halls toward the docking bay one last time. They boarded and Spock waited for the all clear before taking off. Jim took the opportunity to admire the ship one more time. It was a fine ship, and Jim had seen a few impressive looking ships being built back home. It was too bad Vulcans weren't interested in building for Starfleet, they'd make some beauties.
Jim then let his mind go back to the fact that he was really almost home. He could already see them descending over the North American continent, and larger objects like buildings were coming into focus. He began eagerly looking for familiar sights as he vaguely heard Spock communicating with the local authorities to get clearance to land. He saw Riverside Shipyards, and the dull gleam coming from the unpolished frame of the current work in progress, the name of which he didn't know yet. Then he saw the farm.
He never thought he'd be so happy to see the old patch of dirt again. As the shuttle landed, he felt himself twitching in his seat, the energy he'd seemed to lack toward the end of his journey returning to him. As soon as the shuttle was powered down, Jim was out of his seat and standing at the entrance before the door was even opening. He actually hopped off the ramp before it was fully descended. He stopped and stood perfectly still, absorbing every sight, sound, and smell.
"Home, sweet home." He whispered. He started toward the house, then remembered the fact that he still had baggage and a guest in the shuttle behind him. He turned back to see Spock coming down the ramp with his baggage and setting it down on the ground. "Sorry." He said sheepishly. "I got a little ahead of myself."
"It is of no consequence." Assured Spock. "It is understandable that you would be eager to see your home again after your ordeal."
"Yeah." Agreed Jim, shifting around. "Well hey, you wanna grab your stuff and I'll show you around the house?"
"Very well." Said Spock agreeably. He went back into the shuttle and retrieved his own luggage. Jim noticed for the first time that he didn't have much with him.
"You don't have a lot there." He remarked as he gathered up his own bags. "Are you sure you have enough to last for a month?"
"I do not believe so." Admitted Spock, looking thoughtful. "I only planned to have enough clothing for the voyage and other supplies for three days here. On the ship I was able to replicate hygiene products and had my research to occupy me."
"That's okay." Assured Jim. "I can take you into town later and help you stock up, or you can just use what I've got in the house. Either way, I'll have to go shopping. I was planning on being gone for about a week, so I didn't bother getting any more perishables. Also, I really need to clean up and catch up on my chores. I paid some of my neighbors to look after the outdoor stuff, but I want to get back into habit right away." Spock seemed surprised.
"You sound as if you have much to do." He remarked. Jim chuckled.
"Well, yeah! A farm is never-ending work." He frowned. "Speaking of work, I'll have to talk to my boss about my job. Pike told me he'd take care of giving people an explanation for why I didn't come back on time, but that doesn't mean he won't have decided to replace me permanently."
"What will you do if that is the case?" Asked Spock, looking a little concerned. Jim shrugged.
"I've got enough put away so that I should be alright until I find something else. I can always go for a job in computer repair, or really any kind of repair. I'm pretty good with technology. Or I can do bartending. Or find another mechanic job. Or just do odd jobs for anyone who'll hire me. I've always managed to get by." Jim led him over to the door and typed the code into the keypad by the door. "I'll tell you all the codes so you can let yourself in and out." Jim promised as the door opened. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the familiar scent of old-fashioned woodwork and dusty curtains. He turned around to see Spock standing in the doorway, looking around the room curiously. He felt a strange feeling again. Something about seeing Spock standing there made him feel…he wasn't sure what he felt about this. It didn't feel like a bad thing.
Spock studied his new surroundings curiously. There was something, a warmth about the cheerily decorated kitchen. If the kitchen was any indication, the house was clearly well cared for and valued by its occupant. He met Jim's eyes.
"I'll show you where the guest room is." He said. "You can get settled in while I clean up a little. There should be enough food left in the house for tonight, and we can go shopping for whatever we need. I'll show you around after I've had a chance to clear some of this dust out." Jim led him through the hallways to a plainly decorated room with some slightly battered old furniture and a comm unit that was perhaps a few years behind the trend.
"I know it's nothing fancy, but there's plenty of space and its quiet. I know there's no replicator or anything, but the kitchen's always open if you need something."
"This is perfect for any of my needs." Spock assured him. "All I require is a space to sleep, meditate, and store my possessions. I am most grateful to have these needs met." Jim shrugged awkwardly.
"Yeah, well, I'd be a lousy host if I didn't do that." He jerked his head toward the door. "I'll just leave you to settle in. I'm gonna get unpacked and start cleaning up." With that, he left Spock alone in what was going to be his new room for the next month, at least. He sat down on the bed, taking a moment to think what he should do next. So far, things seemed to be going well. Jim's home seemed comfortable, and Jim seemed to feel fine about having him here. He'd clearly done well for himself in spite of having such a difficult childhood. It comforted Spock to know that Jim had adjusted as well as he had.
Still, the thought of Jim living all alone in this house on this land was rather saddening. So was the way Jim spoke of 'getting by'. Jim was clearly used to fending for himself. Spock wondered if that would make it easier or harder to prove his worth as a mate.
Jim's independence might make him hunger for someone to share his life with, someone to help him shoulder his burdens. On the other hand, he might see asking for help as a sign of weakness. He'd asked for help in the brothel, but that had been a desperate outcry prompted by fear and hopelessness. Now that he was back in his comfort zone, he might not be interested in accepting assistance from anyone, only resuming his independent lifestyle.
Spock set about taking out his few possessions, easily finding places for them in the closet and dresser. He also emptied the few toiletries he'd brought for his time planetside. He began making a mental list of things he'd need when he and Jim went into town for supplies. He was rather concerned about the weather. He didn't know much about the local climate, but he was fairly certain that snow fell here, and might while he was staying with Jim. If he really wanted to stay with Jim, he was going to have to prepare himself for the climate and how to deal with it. It also occurred to him that he might need to find himself employment. He couldn't very well help himself to Jim's money. He believed that humans enjoyed a partnership in romantic relationships, but not to be too dependent on said partner, and vice versa.
He was pulled from his musings by the sound of a machine coming to life. He realized it was the sound of a vacuum cleaner. He opened the door and looked out in the hallway. Jim was steadily pushing the machine across the carpet. He looked up and saw Spock watching.
"Hey." He said over the whine. Then he looked down at the vacuum and shut it off. "Oh, is the noise bothering you?"
"Not at all." Replied Spock. "I did not realize you used this antiquated form of cleaning device." Jim shrugged carelessly.
"I've had it around for a while, and I don't use it that often."
"Do you not have a modified ventilation system to clean dust from the house?" Asked Spock. That was the typical way now; to have vents that sucked up dust and sent it to an enclosed incinerator instead of allowing it to settle on the surfaces of the house.
"Yeah, but I've been gone a few weeks now and I don't want to overwork it. Feeding too much dust or lint into it at once has been known to cause the fire to spread into the vents. So I'm getting some of it up the old fashioned way first. I have a timer for it, but I didn't want to add too much to the power bill, so I just left it off while I was gone." He looked at his surroundings wistfully. "I was gone a lot longer than I meant to be." Spock felt a pang of sorrow. If he had to guess what Jim was thinking, it would be that he had been afraid that he would not see his home again.
"Your home is larger than I expected." He said quietly. "Would you care for some help with your cleaning?" Jim looked surprised, but shook his head.
"No, it's okay. I know how to get it done fast and you're not really dressed for it." Spock knew what he meant; Jim was dressed very casually in a faded shirt and jeans, clothing that didn't matter as much if it was dirtied. Spock knew he probably looked overdressed in comparison. While he tried to think of a reply, Jim spoke again.
"Have you thought about what you might need when we go into town?" Spock nodded.
"To put it briefly, everything." Jim grinned at him sympathetically.
"Yeah, you'll pretty much have to start from scratch." He commented. Spock cocked his head to one side.
"What must I scratch, and why must I start by doing so?" He asked, confused. Jim stared at him a moment, then began laughing.
"It doesn't…you don't have to scratch anything." Jim managed to get his breathing back under control. "It's just an expression that means, in this case, that you don't have any of the stuff you need for a long stay, just a short one, so you have to get it all before you can start settling in. Starting with nothing but the bare minimum, basically."
"I see." Said Spock thoughtfully. "That description would be accurate for my situation. However, perhaps it would be logical to wait until tomorrow to begin shopping for such things. Surely you wish to rest before taking on such a strenuous task." Jim shrugged.
"I think I did enough resting on the ship. But you're probably right about waiting until tomorrow for the shopping. I can take today to clean up the house and get settled back in, there's no point in putting that off. There should be enough food in the fresher unit for tonight. I don't keep a lot of vegetarian stuff, but I should be able to throw something together."
"Of course." Said Spock. He was troubled though. Jim was already pulling away from his offers of help. He was referring to doing most things on his own. Cleaning the house, doing the farm work, cooking the meals. He clearly wasn't expecting any help. And Spock wasn't sure how hard he should push to convince Jim that he truly wished to help, and that he could. On Vulcan, guests were expected to take care of some household chores in exchange for their place in the house. He also thought that long term guests in Earth homes were expected to do something to earn their keep, since their continued presence would be a drain on the hosts finances. He had no desire to be a burden. He decided to start with something small and logical.
"You have told me you are not familiar with vegetarian cuisine. Perhaps I could at least prepare my own meal so you need not concern yourself." Again, Jim looked surprised. Any offer of assistance seemed to be met with such, and it made Spock ache in a way that he'd never experienced before. Jim, oblivious to his thoughts, shrugged.
"I guess that makes sense. No one knows what you like better than you. If you even find something you like in there."
"I am certain I will." Assured Spock. "I mean no insult to you; I simply wish to contribute something while I am staying here. The least I can do is cook my own food and clean my own space." Jim smiled and nodded.
"Deal." He stuck his hand out, surprising Spock. He realized that Jim probably didn't know the significance that hand touching held for Vulcans, and he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. He took Jim's hand in his own.
"Deal." He replied, keeping his face calm as he secretly relished the feel of Jim's hand in his. They shook once and Spock was forced to let go. He struggled to think of something else. "This is a working farm, correct?"
"Sort of." Replied Jim. "I've got a horse, his name's Flash, but other than that I board barn and pasture space to some neighbors of mine, for their milk cows. I do the same for some other neighbors sheep. My actual thing here is crops."
"What do you grow?" Asked Spock, thinking he might be able to focus on the agriculture a little.
"Sunflowers." Replied Jim. "I grow them and harvest their seeds. Then I sell them to companies who get them and take them to be made into other products to sell."
"Sunflowers." Said Spock, thoughtfully. "My mother has spoken of them. She enjoyed them greatly before she moved to Vulcan."
"Has anyone tried growing them there?" Asked Jim. "It's not hard at all." Spock shook his head.
"My mother knows that non-Vulcan things are not always welcomed there, not if it takes time that could be used on more certain projects to attempt to make them so. She does have an impressive rose garden though."
"That's cool." Said Jim. "I need to get to work. I'll show you around some more later." Jim turned back to his vacuum cleaner and Spock retreated into the guest bedroom to compose himself. The feel of Jim's skin against his had been wonderful.
Jim had been as thorough as possible with the vacuuming, in spite of being in a hurry. He also dusted the larger surfaces of the house's furniture. He heard the door to the guest bedroom opening and Spock making his way quietly downstairs. He almost stepped into Spock's room, then hesitated. Spock might want his privacy. Plus, he'd said he'd prefer to take care of his own space, not wanting to impose too much. Jim decided to respect his wishes and let the room alone. He put away his cleaning tools and turned on the vent to finish the job. Then he headed to the kitchen.
He was surprised to find a pleasant aroma wafting through the house. Spock had set the table for two, plates and silverware on opposite ends of the table. He'd prepared some kind of fruit salad for himself and had heated up a frozen dinner for Jim.
"I could not find anything suitable for a meal for you." He said, looking embarrassed. "I found several of these in the freezer; I hope it will suffice."
"That's fine." Said Jim, surprised. "I forgot I had those." He paused, then closed his eyes in frustration. "I also forgot that I was supposed to contact Pike as soon as I got back." Seeing Spock's confusion he added, "He said he'd contact Sam to let him know that I was home safe. He's already contacted him by now to give him part of the story. He's just telling him that I was abducted, and probably where I was. I'm gonna explain the rest to him myself."
"I see." Said Spock slowly. Jim got the wrong idea from his response.
"Don't worry, I won't give him any specific details or anything. And I won't give away any secrets."
"I know." Said Spock. "You have already shown that you will not expose my private life, something I am very grateful for." Jim just nodded and went back to his meal. In truth, Spock had been concerned that Jim's brother would jump to conclusions just like everyone else and hate him. He knew that approval from close family members was very important in creating and maintaining a romantic relationship. He and Jim weren't remotely close to that yet, but he desperately wanted Jim's family to be receptive to the idea of him at least having Jim's friendship.
They finished their meals in silence. Jim got up to clear away the dishes, and Spock made a point of depositing his own plate into the dishwasher and wiping off the table while Jim set the wash and dry cycle. When they were done he put them away and looked over at Spock.
"I'm gonna go call Pike now and turn in." He said, gesturing to the stairs. "If you need anything for tonight, let me know, okay?"
"Of course, Jim." Replied Spock. "Goodnight."
Jim walked upstairs to his room and shut the door behind him. He had a feeling Pike wasn't going to be happy about the fact that his so-called rapist was staying with him for an undetermined amount of time. He stopped for a moment to think about the fact that Spock was in his house. He realized that the only concern he'd had about that fact so far was whether or not Spock was going to be comfortable here. He was determined to show the Vulcan the same consideration and hospitality that he'd been given on the ship. And right now, that was going to involve telling Pike that Spock was staying with him, whether he liked it or not. Jim programmed in the comm address Pike had given him. There was an answer almost immediately. There was a mixture of warmth and relief on the man's face as he appeared on Jim's monitor.
"Jim." He said in greeting. "I trust you made it home alright?" It was clear he was waiting to hear some negativity about his hosts. Geez, why was everyone looking for a Vulcan to blame?
"Yeah, I'm fine. There was a little change in plans though." Replied Jim.
"What do you mean?" Asked Pike, starting to look a little wary.
"Well, it turns out that Spock and I are full-on bonded." He let that sink in before continuing. "And then, it turned out to be so strong that their Healer couldn't break it. It's got some kind of weird protective ability or something. We have to stay together long enough to let it really settle and relax before we can try breaking it again. He's staying with me until then." Pike just stared at him before finding his words.
"Jim," he said slowly, as if speaking to a volatile animal, "do you really think this is a good idea? I'm sure you think you're doing the right thing here, but is it really a good idea to stay in such close quarters with Spock? You never know; he might not be as honorable as you think right now." Jim waited to make sure Pike was finished, taking several deep breaths before he spoke.
"You're entitled to your opinion, sir." He bit out. "But I trust him, and I don't see that changing for any reason. He was nothing but good to me on the ship, and we're not even sharing room anymore. And the only reason he offered to stay on Earth was because his dad just assumed I'd be cool with them dragging me to Vulcan to sit on my ass and wait until the bond could be broken. He and his dad had a huge fight about it and now they're not talking. If he hasn't earned my respect gratitude with everything else he's done, then he definitely has with this. He's staying in my house as long as he needs to and that's just how it's gonna be." Pike looked at him calculatingly before sighing and shaking his head.
"I can see there's no changing your mind this time either. I hope you're right about him; he sounds like he's really got you impressed." He changed the subject. "I contacted your brother on Deneva. I told him that you didn't arrive because your transport was hijacked and you were taken prisoner. I also told him where you were kept, but that you were unharmed. I said it would be up to you to share any more information on the subject. I'll contact him shortly to let him know that you're home, and then I'm sure he'll be in touch with you soon." He looked at Jim again. "Jim, I hope you realize I don't want to be right in assuming the worst. I really do hope Spock is as good a man as you believe, and I hope everything works out alright for you. Take care son."
"I will." Said Jim quietly. He signed off and headed to the shower.
Spock prepared himself for bed. He intended to use the shower in the morning. For now, all he wanted was to meditate briefly and go to sleep. He was more than a little nervous about what might happen the next day. What if Jim decided at some point that maybe he shouldn't be here? That he should leave his home or worse, his planet?
Spock tried to calm himself. Jim was a good and rational man. He wouldn't just turn Spock out with no warning. But he was going to talk to his brother in the near future. It was likely that he brother, this Sam, would react similarly to the Starfleet personnel who'd helped rescue Jim from the brothel. He might hold Spock responsible for any trauma that Jim might have suffered. Hopefully Jim would stand up for him yet again. It amazed him how much he'd done that already.
Spock decided that he'd meditated enough and readied himself for bed. He settled under the covers, pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the bed was. He fell asleep to thoughts of how his day with Jim tomorrow might go.
Jim stood in his kitchen, not really looking at anything. All he could do was stare in the direction of the wall and think about everything that had happened. Spock was upstairs in his guest bedroom and would be for God knew how long.
What if I made a huge mistake asking him to stay here? Wondered Jim. But he didn't even know just what he was so afraid of happening because of what he'd offered. It wasn't like Spock was going to suddenly turn around and try to have sex with him again, forcibly or otherwise. Everybody else seemed to think that Spock would turn on Jim and rape him (again, in some people's opinion). The only people who didn't seem to think that were the Vulcans who knew what was really going on, and they all seemed to think that if there was any trouble, it would come from Jim, like he would be some horrible influence on Spock.
As he pondered all of this, he heard the sound of creaking from the floor behind him. He turned in surprise and saw Spock slowly entering the kitchen.
"I heard noise and saw the light on." He said. Jim noticed he was wearing the same sleeping robe that he'd worn on board the ship, but it was hanging open on top, revealing the pale flesh of his chest. Jim realized he hadn't noticed how slender Spock was until now. But it was a firm kind of slender, and his appearance could only hint at the strength his body actually held.
Jim realized where his mind was going and almost physically shook his head to clear it, and would have if he hadn't known that Spock was standing right there.
"I couldn't sleep." He said with a shrug. Spock didn't ask for an explanation. Instead, he stepped closer to Jim.
"I too have had difficulty finding rest." He admitted. "When we shared quarters on the ship, I often thought about the intimacy we shared, and how odd it felt to have you there, just a few feet away from me." Jim shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah, I guess it's a little awkward having someone you slept with hitch a ride home."
"You misunderstand." Said Spock. "I do not remember our entire encounter, but I do know that it was…pleasurable. I have never known anything as wondrous as what we experienced together. And to have you there, sleeping just mere feet away, yet so far out of my reach…it was distressing." Jim stopped moving as he backed into the table, unable to retreat any further.
"I don't-" he stopped as Spock held up a hand to silence him.
"Perhaps you consented to save both our lives, but can you honestly tell me you did not find it pleasurable? Have you given no thought to it, or what it might be like if you were to engage in such activities again, without the threat of rape, or death, or punishment?" He was practically on top of Jim now, his hands latched onto the table's edge on either side of Jim's body. "Why do you continue to fear me even though you know I will not hurt you?" He asked softly. "It cannot be because you fear pain." He stared intensely into Jim's eyes before pressing his lips over Jim's in a chaste but firm kiss. One of his hands ran up and down Jim's side in a caress that could only be described as teasing. He took advantage of Jim's gasp to push his tongue inside the other man's mouth.
Something in Jim snapped and he gave up pretending he didn't want it. He brought his hands up to cup Spock's face as he returned the kiss eagerly. Spock in turn wrapped his arms around Jim's torso and pulled them together tightly. He released Jim's mouth and began licking and sucking at his neck, almost exactly like he had during his fever. Jim just clutched at his shoulders and allowed him to do what he wanted. He groaned when Spock pulled away.
"There is no shame in pleasure, Jim." Whispered Spock. Jim shuddered as Spock's hot breath tickled his ear. "There is no reason to be afraid to feel it, or allow someone you care for to give it to you." Without warning, Jim suddenly found himself spun around and pressed against the table. Spock pressed against him and he shuddered again at the feel of a familiar hardness pressed against his ass, separated by nothing but the thin material of Spock's robe and Jim's sleep pants. Jim threw his head back as Spock's hot hand suddenly dipped into his pants and wrapped around his-
Jim shot up in bed with a gasp that strangled the moan coming from his mouth. The dream had been so real. Jim actually needed a minute to realize that he'd just been dreaming and that Spock was sleeping in the next room. In the next minute, he realized how chilled he was due to the sweat cooling on his body and…
Jim cursed, then clamped a hand over his mouth before he remembered that the walls were soundproofed. There was a large, rapidly cooling wet spot on the front of his sleep pants. Mortified, he stripped the pants off and threw them in the laundry basket. He hadn't been subject to wet dreams since he was a teenage boy entering puberty. And now he was having one about the guy he'd been forced to sleep with while imprisoned.
He looked at the clock beside his bed. It was nearly six in the morning, about time for him to wake up. Since there was no way he was going back to sleep, he shut off the alarm and got up and went into the bathroom to clean up before starting his day.
Spock was awakened sometime in the early hours of the morning to the sound of movement in the hallway. He'd left the door open just slightly, and he heard the sound of Jim moving down the stairs. The smell of brewing coffee soon filled made it up the stairs and filled the house. Before too long, Spock heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. He rose from bed to look out the window. He saw Jim heading for the barn, wearing heavy, warm coveralls over his clothes. Spock could feel what humans considered a mild chill seeping through the glass of the window.
Spock glanced at the clock; it was nearly six in the morning. Jim had only just arrived home and was already hard at work trying to make up for what he'd fallen behind on. It was clear Jim was a hard worker. He'd looked at Spock like he was crazy when he suggested putting off some of his work until the next day. His unwillingness to procrastinate was almost Vulcan in certain respects.
Spock decided to follow his example and selected some clothing before moving to the shower. Afterwards, he would dress, go downstairs, and eat some of the leftover fruit salad. Once Jim was finished with whatever it was he was working on, perhaps they would go shopping.
He realized he'd never copied the list of things he needed to his padd. He pulled it out and began typing rapidly. He would ask Jim just where he could procure everything he needed. Then, a thought gave him pause.
He had no idea how he was to afford anything. He had few credits of his own. He'd withdrawn some from the account his father had set up for him when he was a child, but that was it. The account itself was impressive, but should his father find him undeserving, he could be cut off from it already. Sarek might have chosen to deny him money for going against his will.
Spock fully intended to prove his worth to Jim by earning his keep, but that might take some time, and he didn't want to make himself look like a burden by relying on Jim to cover his expenses.
He forced himself to remain calm. He had enough to get him through this shopping trip. He would deal with any such problems as they came along.
Jim finished cleaning out the barn after a couple hours. By then, it was well into morning, and he wasn't too tired yet. He'd been extremely thorough, and he knew it was mostly due to the fact that he was in no hurry to go back inside and face Spock after dreaming about nearly getting fucked over the kitchen table by him. Not to mention the fact that said dream made him come in his pants like a teenager.
Still, he had to go back in at some point. He'd told Spock they would go shopping, and he wasn't going to break his promise just because he was confused about what he was feeling over the whole thing that happened between them. Yeah, he'd enjoyed the sex. He wasn't ashamed of that. It didn't mean he wanted it to happen again, or that he had any kind of interest in Spock.
Jim finally sucked it up and walked back to the house, breathing in the crisp morning air that was typical of the transition from summer to autumn. He entered the living room and saw Spock sitting primly on the couch. He stood up as soon as their eyes met.
"Good morning Jim." He said cordially.
"Hey." He said, somewhat at a loss as for what to say to him. What do you say to someone you had your first wet dream in years about? "I didn't know when you were gonna get up."
"I was woken by the sound of your bedroom door." Said Spock calmly. "I do not mean to presume, but I believe it would be best to begin shopping for supplies early, as I do not know how long it will take to gather everything I need."
"No, you're right; we should get an early start. Groceries won't take too long. Toiletries shouldn't take too long either. The big thing is gonna be clothes. Do you know your sizes? On a human scale, I mean."
"I do not." Said Spock, looking a little troubled.
"Then you might have to guess and experiment a little. We don't have a lot in Riverside, but there's a Wal-Mart, and they should have something that'll work for you. If not, we can always travel to a town with a few more options after we're done with the other stuff."
"Very well." Said Spock with a nod. "Shall we prepare to leave?" He gave no indication that he might have overheard any noise Jim had made during his dream.
"Sure." He said. "Let me grab a jacket and get my keys." As he turned to do just that, he sent a silent thanks to whatever deity that might be listening that his grandfather's interest in history had been directed at classic heavy metal and had driven his great grandparents to soundproof the walls in the bedrooms.
Spock could feel the chill in the air on his exposed skin. He was wearing thermal undergarments, but the approaching autumn season was not being kind to him. He vaguely recalled that it had been cooler in Canada, but the fact that he'd been outside for all of five minutes had allowed him to ignore it.
Jim owned a truck that was at least ten years past being new. It seemed to have been well-maintained though, so there was no problem. It had a spacious cabin with a wide front seat section and a bench that could fit three in the background. The large bed in the back was topped by a removable cover. It was a good vehicle for transporting heavy things. He had the heat on low, so the temperature was a little more bearable. Spock began thinking about where Jim said they were going. He had heard of Wal-Mart before; several planets had such stores, but he had never been to one.
"Do you believe we will be able to find everything we need at Wal-Mart?" He asked, wondering where else they might be headed.
"Most of it." Replied Jim. "I do need to get some stuff for my animals though. I'll stop by the mill first to pick up some feed and straw for the start of the colder months."
"Will the owners of the cows and sheep you board be reimbursing you for those expenses?" Spock asked.
"For part of them." Replied Jim. "Some of it's for my horse too. I'll have to introduce you to him later, so he'll know who you are and won't be nervous when he sees you around. But the hay's for in the barn, when the ground gets slushy, and the feed's for when there's not so much nutrition left in the grass. There it is." Spock looked up and saw a large building with a sign that said 'Riverside Mill.' Jim found a spot and parked the truck.
"I'll be right back." He said, getting out of the truck. He moved up some steps to what appeared to be a loading dock and began speaking to a worker. After a moment, they disappeared inside. A few minutes later, they reappeared, Jim with a receipt in hand, and they, with some other workers, began loading bags of feed and bales of straw into the bed of the truck. Spock could tell from the way the truck rocked as the bags were thrown in that they were quite heavy, at least by human standards. It was rather clear that Jim didn't need to visit a gym to keep his attractive physique; it came naturally from long days of hard work.
Jim got back into the cab of the truck and started it up again. He pulled out of the parking lot and, after a few minutes, Spock began to see more homes, then stores and restaurants. Finally, Jim pulled into a large, crowded parking lot in front of a large building. He pulled as close to the entrance as he could and they both got out.
"This is Wal-Mart?" Spock asked, taking in the large building.
"Yup." Said Jim. "If you need everything at once, this is the place to come get it." He led Spock through the other vehicles and into the building. The first thing Spock registered as he stepped through the automatic sliding doors was cold. Wal-Mart had excellent air conditioning, and it threatened to cause noticeable discomfort to his hands and face. He supposed to humans, the chill was a relief, especially if they were hard workers like Jim. The first thing they did was get carts. Jim insisted on two since they were going to be getting a lot. Then, he allowed himself to be directed to a section selling clothing. Most of it was season appropriate for humans, but some of the warmer, winter clothing was being sold already. Spock headed straight for those.
"What size do you think I should try?" He asked Jim. Jim looked at the clothing speculatively.
"You're taller than me, so obviously you'll need long pants. You're thinner than me though, so you might want to start a size smaller than mine." He made a few selections and handed them to Spock. He also moved over to long sleeved shirts and selected a few of those as well. "Here," he said, handing them over, "You can only take six items at a time. Anything you like, just put in the cart. Whatever you don't like, you can leave at the desk and they'll it hang up later. Just try to get a feel for what you might like." He stopped suddenly, his cheeks turning pink as he gestured toward an aisle a few meters away. "You might want to check out the socks and underwear and stuff. We can look at shoes later. While you're trying on stuff, I'll go start getting non-food groceries. I'll be back in about thirty minutes, okay?"
"Certainly." Replied Spock. He watched Jim turn and leave. He considered the way Jim had flushed when he mentioned underwear. Was it possible he was thinking about Spock being naked? Or what he might look like in nothing but a pair of underwear? It was an intriguing possibility. For now though, he was going to focus on finding some clothes for his stay. He turned to the desk to wait to be shown to a changing stall.
Jim grabbed his cart and hurried off to start getting other things. He had a list, and it was going to take him a little while to get everything on it. He fumed silently as he made his way through the aisles. He couldn't believe the way he'd acted! Blushing like a damn virgin trying to talk about underwear. He had blushed at the sight of bras when he was first starting to notice his female classmates developing bodies, but the thought of Spock in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs…it was like being an awkward thirteen-year-old all over again.
Jim started getting average things, things he really already had but would need more of now that someone else was living under his roof with him. Paper towels, laundry detergent, garbage bags, and other things. After he'd gathered all the things he didn't need to worry about spoiling, he headed on back to the clothing section. He saw Spock standing by his cart, which was heaped with clothing.
"Okay." He said, with a smile. "I guess that should do it." He looked at the employee there. "Is it okay if we leave this here? We've got some more stuff to buy."
"Sure." Said the woman with a shrug.
"Alright." With that, Jim began putting the other things he'd got into Spock's cart. "This way, we'll have plenty of room for whatever food we get." He explained.
"That would be logical." Said Spock agreeably. Once all the items were in The cart of clothes, they headed to the grocery section. Jim started selecting canned items, and Spock made some selections of his own. They proceeded to do the same with cereal, bread, and some snack items. Then they reached the fruit and vegetables, Jim showed Spock how to spot the good produce and they stocked up. When they were finally finished, they went to the checkout. The cashier began scanning their items and putting them into bags. Then, once Jim had paid for all the items himself (Spock seemed to be calculating the cost of all the items he'd selected and almost seemed to wince at the thought) they made their way back to the truck and loaded their purchases into the back seat. There almost wasn't enough room for everything.
"So, what did you think of our WalMart?" Asked Jim as they made their way back to the farm.
"It was the first I have ever seen, but I found it to be quite impressive." Replied Spock. "I have never encountered an establishment with such varied products. On Vulcan, we once had marketplaces like many of your desert countries. Even now, there are some outdoor venders who sell their wares. Though, many shopping areas are indoors as well. Perhaps it is a more logical way of managing space to have it all located in one facility."
"Yeah, maybe." Agreed Jim absently. As angry as he'd been over the thought of being carted back to Vulcan like some unwanted houseguest, he couldn't help but be a little curious about where Spock came from. He wasn't sure he wanted to get into that now though.
Once they arrived back at the farm, Jim began hauling bags inside. To his great surprise, Spock began picking up bags as well.
"You don't have to do that." He said quickly.
"It is no trouble." Said Spock dismissively.
"You're my guest." He protested. Spock ignored him.
"I will be making use of many of the items you purchased. I intend to repay you for whatever those items cost you. I also intend to 'do my fair share', to put it in human terms." With that, he started to take the bags containing his clothing up to his room.
"Hang on." Called Jim, snapping out of his stupor. "You should probably wash those first. You don't know how many other people might have tried those on." He added, seeing Spock's look of confusion. He fought the urge to laugh as Spock fought to hide disgust at the thought of who might have worn those clothes before him, clearly imagining the worst. Jim just tried to hide his amusement as he directed Spock to the laundry room so he could deposit his new clothes. Jim quickly sorted out the groceries and put them away before heading back out to the barn.
Spock finished sorting his laundry out according to the labels on the tags and returned to the window in time to see Jim unloading the animal feed and straw from the back of his truck into the barn. Spock hurried out to the barn to join him. Jim had most of it done already, but Spock had to ask.
"Is there anything I may help you with?" He asked. Jim looked at him in a measuring way before nodding.
"Sure, just follow me." Spock did as he said and placed the feed and straw where Jim directed him. When they finished, Jim gestured back toward the house. "You can go back inside. I'm gonna check out my crop now." Spock balked at the idea of being sent away.
"May I accompany you?" He asked. "I know little of sunflowers, and I would welcome the opportunity to learn more." It wasn't a total lie; he was always interested in learning. He just wasn't including his interest in learning about Jim. Jim's response to his request caught him off guard.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"I see." Said Spock, not knowing what else he could say. If Jim didn't want him present, then there just wasn't anything he could do about it. Jim seemed to catch his thoughts though, because he spoke again quickly.
"I don't mean that I don't want you to go into the fields or anything. It's just I didn't know you were going to ask me that. You don't have the right kind of footwear for that. You need tough work boots, something to protect you from snakes. They like to hide out in sunflower fields." Spock felt a sensation of unease at the thought.
"Do Terren snakes like sunflower seeds?" He asked uneasily.
"No," said Jim, "but mice do. And snakes love mice. Birds too."
"I see." Said Spock again, for a different reason this time. He resolved to get the proper footwear at the earliest opportunity. He rather disliked the thought of Jim being alone in those fields with potentially dangerous animals. "Are there many venomous snakes in Iowa?"
"A few." Replied Jim. "I think most of them are rattlesnakes, but I don't think they like farm fields. I've know I've never seen one out there. I'd almost rather have them there; at least if I ever came across one, I'd have a warning. The ones I have to worry about here are copperheads. They don't have rattles, which makes them really dangerous, and they eat mostly mice, so my fields are like an all-you-can-eat buffet to them. I have seen a few of those over the years."
"Have you ever been bitten?" Asked Spock, unable to help himself.
"No." Replied Jim. "But I go through anti-venom treatments like almost all farmers do. I mostly keep up with the Northern Copperhead ones, but I go hiking and camping every once in a while, so I get the others too." Spock was mollified to hear this. "Anyway," continued Jim, "I just need to check on the coverings for the flowers. I have to use cheesecloth to keep mice and birds from getting the seeds. I'll just need a couple hours to walk through the rows and check all the heads." He paused, then added, "I could show you the greenhouse later. Sunflowers grow better if you start them out indoors and then transplant them."
"Very well." Said Spock with a nod. "If you do not mind, I will prepare a meal while you are out."
"Sure, that works." Agreed Jim. "I won't be gone too long." With that, he headed out the door.
Spock started to get out dishes to prepare dinner with, but paused when he remembered that he needed to check his messages. He pulled out his padd and began looking through. His mother had sent a request for notification of his safe arrival. He quickly sent her the message, including an apology for being late in replying. He found a quick message from Stonn asking how things were progressing with Jim. He sent a message back detailing that things were fine so far, including a brief mention of Jim's sunflowers. Then he found a message from his father.
It took considerable will just to open the message. He had a feeling that he wasn't going to like what it said. He was right.
Spock,
I believe you may have spoken in haste about staying on Earth while your bond with Mr. Kirk settles. There is a celebration at the Embassy in Arizona. I believe it would be wise for you to attend in order to discuss your plans in person and demonstrate that there is no instability in our family relationship. If anything, please attend for your mother's sake. She is quite worried about how you will fare amongst the humans after we return to Vulcan.
Please contact me soon.
Spock felt furious. He knew his father's real interest in having him attend stemmed from the fact that there were delegates who expected him to be there and would suspect Sarek of not being able to keep his own house in order if he was not there. He did not send a reply; he merely shut off his padd and began preparing a dinner for himself and Jim.
Jim was a little distracted as he went through his fields, checking his crop. Spock almost seemed to get nervous when he mentioned snakes in the flowers. Maybe he had a problem with them. A phobia of snakes was understandable. At least it wasn't something weird, like a fear of milk or something. He'd heard something like that once on an old tv show.
After finishing his survey on the heads, making sure none were damaged by the local animals, Jim headed back to the farmhouse. He entered to the smell of a frozen vegetarian lasagna he'd bought cooling on the kitchen table. Spock on the other hand, was not to be seen.
"Spock?" Called Jim, wondering if he was getting washed up for dinner or something. After a moment, Spock appeared in the doorway. He looked…terrible.
"My apologies." He said quietly. "I was simply trying to engage in meditation. I have not been successful."
"What's wrong?" Asked Jim.
"My father sent me a message requesting that I attend a diplomatic function in Arizona. He wishes for us to show his colleagues that there is no issue with his personal life." Spock's voice became increasingly bitter as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" Asked Jim
"My father does not want anyone to doubt his diplomatic capabilities. His intent is that my presence will dispel any rumors that I am not present because he failed to keep me in line."
"Oh man." Said Jim sympathetically.
"I also believe that he once again hopes to convince me to return to Vulcan with him and apologize to the VSA council in the hopes of convincing them to reconsider my acceptance there."
Jim hesitated. It was true; going to Vulcan was the last thing he wanted to do. There was no way at this point that Spock could go to Vulcan without taking Jim with him. But at the same time, Jim had to wonder. From what he could tell, Spock was this super-genius with a real future ahead of him, not chained to a piece of land with no idea what else he could do for the rest of his life. Jim was proud of his land, in a way, but he also knew he probably could have done a million other things that most people would think were more important. So it was in all seriousness that he said what he did next.
"Maybe you should go." Spock looked about as surprised as he'd ever thought a Vulcan could look. Jim continued on. "You worked for like, your whole life to get into this place, so shouldn't you maybe give it another shot? I mean, could it be that you really want to be there?" Spock considered his words.
"No." He finally said. "It is true, I dedicated my entire life to gaining admission to the Academy, but it was because of more than just my father's expectations. I had hoped that once I proved myself Vulcan enough to attend, I would have the acceptance I was denied by my peers in my childhood. I was accepted, but only as a member, not a fellow Vulcan. A kind of acceptance that was truly just tolerance under the guise of political correctness. I would never be able to truly thrive there."
"Okay." Jim said quietly. That sounded pretty final to him. "But maybe you should still go to the meeting."
"Why?" Asked Spock, looking confused again. Jim shrugged.
"I know you and your dad fought about it, but did you really explain all that to him? Maybe if you did it without getting angry, if you let him see how you actually felt about all of that, he'd understand." Jim paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully. "At least give it a chance. You never know what's gonna happen. My mom died of cancer in spite of all the medical advancements we've made, and I never really took the chance to make things right with her. I thought I was going to be home from seeing my brother by now, and that didn't happen because of something that happened by chance. I could've been killed, or something might happen to either one of us before we get a chance to see each other again. If I had known any of that stuff would happen, I might have tried to reach out first. For all you know, this might be the only chance you have to settle things with your dad." He paused to let his words sink in. "Or, at least go to see your mom off. She's a good lady; she deserves that much." Spock seemed deep in thought for a moment. Then he nodded decisively.
"Very well. I will attend."
"Okay." Replied Jim. "Do I need to pack or anything? Is it an overnight thing?"
"What do you mean?" Asked Spock.
"We can't stay too far apart, remember? I have to go with you."
"I had not thought of that." Murmured Spock, looking embarrassed.
"Well, I did, and I suggested it anyway." Said Jim with a little grin. "Besides, in situations like these, it's usually good to have someone there who's got your back." Spock looked surprised again, and then his eyes seemed to warm.
"Thank you, Jim." He said quietly. Then he seemed to catch himself. "You need not pack anything. The event only lasts a day, and we will be able to return shortly. We will need to leave very early tomorrow, however." Jim nodded.
"I can do that. I just need to make sure some stuff gets done tonight, and then I'll go dig out some of my nicer clothes. So, ready to eat?"
"Yes, of course." Said Spock as Jim took his seat at the table.
After they'd finished eating, Jim started to head back to work when Spock spoke.
"Jim." He said quietly. "I would gladly have your back too." Jim stared at him for a moment, startled.
"Thanks." He said quietly, before going out to see to his work.
Spock prepared himself for bed that night. He pondered what he would say to his father when he arrived at the conference. He'd said the words before, but he'd said them in anger. Perhaps if he approached the situation a little more rationally, his father would actually hear the words. Another thing that occupied his mind was what Jim had said.
Jim did not seem to like his father. Given his treatment of him, Spock didn't blame him. He didn't find his father too likable either at moments like that. Yet Jim was concerned enough about the long term affects of his decisions to actually suggest that he change his mind. He was…concerned for him. That gave Spock the same warm feeling he got from any little gesture Jim made for the sake of his comfort. He didn't know what he was going to say to his father, but having Jim react to his situation as if Spock were a friend in trouble…it was comforting.
Spock settled in for the night, taking some reassurance from the fact that he was going to have someone with him who really had his best interests at heart. It was almost hard to believe that he'd found that in Jim, the man who stood so much to lose if he left. At best, he might have to live on Vulcan until the bond could be dissolved. At worst, he could be left with permanent brain damage. Spock had never imagined having such a friend growing up. He could only hope that someday, Jim would be more than a friend.
Jim woke to the sound of some insistent beeping. He realized it was his desktop comm was going off. He rose groggily and stumbled over to the comm, pulling on a robe as he went. He answered the message, half intending to tell the sender exactly how he felt about two a.m. calls. His mind went blank as Ambassador Sarek's emotionless face appeared on his screen.
"Mr. Kirk." He said flatly.
"Ambassador." He replied, trying to hide how angry being awakened in the middle of the night tended to make him.
"I have sent a message to Spock, but he has not replied. Has he said anything to you?" Asked Sarek. Jim decided to try and wring some information out of the guy.
"What would he want to talk to you about?" He asked, going for a casual attitude. Sarek's gaze grew even colder, if that was possible.
"I am urging him to reconsider his choice to stay on Earth until the bond can be broken. I understand that you do not wish to come to Vulcan, but it cannot be helped. Spock can still have a prosperous future ahead of him-"
"Whereas I'm just some human nobody who should be honored to sacrifice who knows how much time to make sure your plans to keep your good family name untarnished?"
"I understand that this is an inconvenience." Said Sarek, his voice damnably even. "However, you're continued running of a family farm and doing a common labor job are little compared to where Spock may go with his life."
"And just what the hell gives you the right to decide that?" Snapped Jim, not bothering to sensor himself anymore. "Just because I don't do work that takes me amazing places or pays a fortune, doesn't mean I don't have rights too! You obviously think that the protection and power that your cushy job gets you allows you to push around whoever you want, even your own son, but I'm not gonna let you tell me that I matter less than anyone else, or that I should just give up my own life for someone else's benefit! No one can decide that but me!"
"Then you clearly do not care about Spock's future." Said Sarek coldly. "If you can be so selfish that you will not help him in this way, how worthy of respect can you be?"
"I'd consider it if I thought for one second that this was actually for him." Said Jim, equally cold. "But it's not, is it? It's about you. If he proves he's good enough, then you're good enough too."
"That is not true." Snapped Sarek. "I have Spock's best interests at heart."
"Well, I don't believe that, and neither does he." Retorted Jim.
"I am his father; it is my duty to him to make sure that he has the best opportunities in life." Said Sarek, practically sneering. "You had a father for less than five minutes, so you cannot possibly understand my motivation or Spock's feelings in the matter." Jim barely took a second to feel the sting of those words, even though they were totally uncalled for, before he retorted.
"I always assumed my life would be better if my dad was there, but if what you guys have is a normal father-son relationship, then maybe I was the lucky one." He had just another second to see Sarek's face go white before he cut the connection and turned off the comm, ensuring that the man would be unable to call back. Knowing that he wasn't going to get back to sleep, Jim threw on his clothes and went outside to finish taking care of what needed to be done before he left with Spock. Then he froze.
If he told Spock about the conversation with his father, he might choose not to go to the event in Arizona. Jim still wanted him to get the chance to sort things out with his dad before he left, lest there be some complication that prevented them from talking again. Then again, Jim was pretty sure he'd really riled up Sarek, and it would probably reflect in their conversation. Jim didn't think Spock would blame him for the way he acted; if anything, he'd probably blame Sarek. Eventually, Jim decided to keep his mouth shut about the call, but to advise Spock to be patient. It was the only advice he could think to give. He glanced out the greenhouse window and saw the first rays of sunlight. He headed back inside to get ready for the trip.
Thus ends the ten thousand word apology chapter. Again, I'm extremely sorry about how late this is, and I'll do my best to not take so long next time, though it'll be a lot shorter. Big thanks to everyone who hasn't given up on me! While I'm on the subject of posting, does anyone here post on the KS Archive? I tried to post a chapter there too, but I couldn't seem to do it the way I always have or with any other way I've tried. Did something change while I was away? I'd appreciate any help.