A/N: Okay reeaaally long one for you guys. Lots happening today (: Thanks again to all my reviewers you all deserve enterprise cookies 3
Jim sighed rolling his eyes. "Do we have to?"
Spock sat up fully gently manoeuvring the captain off his lap so they were sat side by side. Silently he began to button up his shirt politely ignoring the stare he was receiving.
"Jim…" A warning.
With an overdramatic sigh Jim got to his feet strutting towards the door, the vulcan resisted rolling his eyes.
"Jim...clothes."
The blonde man turned arms crossed, hip jutted to the left eyes narrowed.
"But Spock…"
He simply raised an eyebrow wiping the emotion from his face, hiding his love, affection and most importantly his amusement, blinking in surprise when it actually seemed to work.
"FINE, fine…but remember I'm doing this for your benefit, not his."
Spock raised an eyebrow coolly and stood, crossing his own arms to mirror the shorter man "I fail to see how the addition of clothing to your visage is in any way beneficial to me Jim."
The captain paused holding one of Spocks black t-shirts, his cheeks flushing vibrant red. "You can't just say things like that!"
Spock chuckled inwardly and licked his lips, he tilted his head allowing his amusement to shine in his eyes and Jim bit his lip eyes following the vulcans tongue, shaking his head as he turned and pulled the tee over his head.
He kept his eyes off of the vulcan as he swung around, striding to the door and kicking it open, posing dramatically in the doorway as he stared down at the lump moaning on the floor, his chief medical officer.
Spock watched from beside the bed as his lover let out a pained noise and stepped forwards wrapping an arm around the older mans waist, pulling his friends arms over his shoulder so he could support him. Glancing back at the vulcan he raised an eyebrow but said nothing carefully dragging/walking the doctor into the room and dropping him heavily on his bed.
He chuckled when a almost empty bottle of bourbon rolled from his friends sweaty fumbling hand and the doctor groaned pulling himself up to his elbows eyes rolling slightly as he focussed on his friend.
"Why you so…so big in the britches?"
"Me and Spock are going to bond."
Spock instantly shut down on the shock caused by Jims brazen attitude and watched the doctor carefully. His eyes first narrowed at Jim and then slowly they turned on Spock boring deep into him.
"You bastard. It could drive him insane you selfish stupid son of a-"
Suddenly Jim slapped his oldest friend with a sound like the crack of a whip and everything was silent for a long long time. Spock forced his eyes away from the older mans shocked confused expression and up to the captain, his eyes widening when he realised that his lover was shaking, lips in a tight white line, every muscle tensed.
The vulcan strode forwards placing his hand on the cool skin of his lovers exposed arm and pulled lightly "He…"
"Jim he is inebriated he does not mean what he says."
There was whimper from behind him and the vulcan turned raising both eyebrows in shock at the doctors suddenly innocent and hurt expression.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean it. Don't be angry Jim…I love you kid."
Jims shoulders slumped his anger dissipating almost instantly, replaced by a tired over worn expression and he sighed sadly "I'm so sorry. I love you too Bones. Sleepy times now."
He reached out pushing the doctor down and onto his side "M'happy for you…the hobgoblin isn't such a bad guy."
Jims expression eased and he chuckled "I know…"
"Shhh don' tellim I said tha."
"I won't."
"Promises promises."
Bones grunted and wiped his hand down his face, smiling childishly up at the captain before closing his eyes, passing out a few moments later.
The next morning Jim woke with a snort, his tongue grazing Spocks skin as he licked his lips, hand clenching in the sheets the other playing with the thin trail of hair on the vulcans stomach.
Spock looked down at him and waited for Jim to make eye contact before he spoke "Good morning t'hy'la."
"Mornin' lover."
"Have you rested well?"
"Mmm I'm gonna need some happy pills before I'm anywhere near coherent sweet pea."
Spocks lips twitched and he reached out grasping the small paper cup containing two headache pills he had prepared when Jim had fallen asleep and handed them to the dozing man.
"God I love you, prepared for anything. You'd make the best boy scout….king of the boy scouts. Hey did they have boy scouts on vulcan?"
Spock said nothing he simply sat thinking over his plan ignoring the voice that told him to just stay here, like this all morning and the rest of the day. Jims sleepy tones snapped him out of his reverie.
"Did you sleep well?"
"I did not."
"Aww nightmares?"
"No Jim I simply had no desire for sleep."
"Oh…so you just lay there…all night?"
"Affirmative. Although I was not 'just lying there' I was thinking about our bond."
Jim was quiet for a few seconds before pressing a soft kiss to Spocks forehead.
"Oh?"
He was feigning nonchalance again and the vulcan licked his lips, putting what Jim referred to as his 'oh I'm so noble and serious' face on. "If you are to go through with the stages involved, I have devised a way for it to be less dangerous for you. I will create a juvenile bond with your mind."
Jim frowned "What's that?"
"It is a fragile link, much like that formed between betrothed vulcan children however our bond will be less strong even then that, but it will mean you have been through the initial stages at a weaker level."
"Oh… so it's like putting a IV tube in so you can put lots of different injections in the same hole instead of loads of different ones."
He felt confusion but quickly blocked it carefully picking the analogy apart. "Yes I suppose it is."
Jim beamed "Sounds great….how do we do it then?"
Spock looked down trying to clear his mind, calm himself.
"Jim, may I have a few moments to meditate?"
"Oh…oh oh excuse me, sorry."
Jim extracted himself from between the sheets stopping when he spotted the doctors empty bed, his face dropping.
"What happened to Bones?"
"He awoke some hours earlier and stated he felt the need to vomit and I have not seen him since."
Jim nodded, distracted "Oh right."
The captain walked slowly out of the room glancing at Spock just as he entered the bathroom. Spock waited for the door to close before he began to breathe deeply, slowly and carefully removing all lingering traces of emotions from his mind, building his blocks so they were strong enough to withstand anything he felt.
For a few minutes he sat in silence checking and rechecking his mental and physical barriers ensuring they were solid before he began pulling himself out of his trance.
When he came to Jim was leant in the doorway his eyes soft a smile quirked about his lips. "Found Bones. Sleeping with his porcelain princess."
Spock raised an eyebrow "May they dream in peace."
The captain chuckled, his nervous energy making his hands shake slightly as he shut the bathroom door behind him and causing him to pause before striding over to the vulcan. He hesitated again before setting himself down, hands on his knees, head down.
Spock sighed and pulled Jim round to face him, hands on his arms trying to catch his eye. "Are you sure you wish to do this captain."
"Don't call me captain when we are about to actually do…do this."
"I must be positive that you have no-"
"Lets do this."
Spock sighed smiling and placed a hand on Jim shoulder fingers flexing for a second. The captain grinned and leant forwards his lips pressing softly to the edge of the vulcans mouth, forehead brushing against his, eyes locked on.
After a moment the commander pulled back and raised his hand Jims eyes full of trust and excitement.
"Jim you must attempt to clear your mind as much as possible."
The captain screwed his eyes shut whispering under his breath. He waited patiently for the captains words to slow and when he finally lifted his eye lids and looked at Spock, the vulcan could see Jim had done as he'd asked.
The ambassador had taught him well.
"I will now attempt to first meld with you and then from within your mind I will form the bond."
Jim nodded and Spock took a deep breath relaxing enough to press his fingers to Jims psi points feeling the desire to do so ghost behind his barriers. The meld was weak, fragile at first and he stood on the edge of a great chasm, the brink of his lovers mind.
For a few moments he just hovered there in the cool breeze bathed in golden light before he began to descend. Jims consciousness joined him and together they went deeper and deeper the captains calm trusting energy strengthening Spock.
He could not only feel but see the captain's emotions here, flashes of colour out of the corner of his eye and Spock sighed; there was love, trust, guilt, fear, and affection all around him.
It was so cluttered here.
"I will now attempt to form the bond. You may feel some pressure but do not be scared t'hy'la. I will not harm you."
He grew warm and knew Jim understood, he began the process a vague crying out in the distance told him Jim could feel the pressure in his mind as Spock pushed forward settling the bond and building it string by string to form a thin glittering silver thread that reached out into the distance in both directions.
He began to pull himself out, the emotions in Jim's calm but cluttered mind remaining with him as he released his psi points and let go of the deep breath he had been holding, it slowly exhaling through his mouth.
Spock opened his eyes the situation coming back to him and he focused his laser gaze on Jim. The captain was pink in the face, beads of sweat on his brow, eyes screwed shut, breath slow and deep but shaky.
"Captain?"
"It's Jim sweet pea. Remember?"
Spock smiled and felt a ghost of the blonde mans own amusement through the bond. Jim opened his eyes and grinned leaning his forehead on Spocks shoulder "You said pressure! It was like a needle to the brain."
Spock frowned his emotions pouring through his barriers and sliding across the bond making the captain shiver. "Hey hey none of that. I'm not mad idiot, I'm fine. It was just a shock that's all….wow that's weird. I can kind of… you know when you touch me and I can kind of feel what you're feeling, like its right there but I can't ….that's so cool its like seeing your mind out of the corner of my eye while I'm in a car going really fast and you're in a alleyway….. D'you know what I mean?"
Spock raised an eyebrow and Jim blushed.
"Oh yeah…of course you do. If this is a juvenile bond…I can't wait for the full one."
Spock beamed "Perhaps you should attempt to block me from your mind Jim. You may not always want me to know your emotions."
The captain grinned and screwed his eyes shut, after several seconds the warm trickle Spock had been feeling stopped and he felt sadness pour through his barriers at the loss, careful to keep that from entering Jims mind from his.
"Impressive."
"Why thank you."
The captain laughed leaning up to press a not too innocent kiss to Spock, his tongue darting out, the flow returning with a fiery stab of lust and the commander moaned, his hands moving of their own accord pulling Jim closer.
There was a abrupt heavy knock on the bathroom door and they pulled apart irritation flickering in Jims mind and Spock knew he felt his agreement. The door swung open and Bones wobbled out hands over his eyes.
"Right, get a foot away from each other right now or I will throw up on you."
Jim squeezed his eyes shut closing the bond and stood hands on hips. "It's okay Bones."
The doctor removed his hand and glanced between the pair his frown deepening, eyes flickering between the couple. "Okay…what's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well for one Spock looks like the cat that got the cream and you look like you just….oh god."
He put a hand over his mouth turning a sickly green colour.
"It's nothing Bones we didn't… do that. It's cool, okay?"
The doctor removed his hands leaning on his knees and Jim patted him sympathetically on the back waggling his eyebrows at his lover. After taking a few deep breaths the older man stood and turned to his friend. Jims grin faded and he held up his hands to show defeat.
"Bones…I'm so sorry I just, what you were about to call him was…"
"I know. Off limits. I was drunk I didn't know what I was saying."
"No hard feelings?"
"None."
"Great… how do you feel about breakfast?"
It took an hour to get the doctor to eat something and even when they did he decided to go back to his medbay and find something to settle his stomach, leaving the couple alone again.
They had talked for a while before father Jack had appeared behind the bar watching them with an odd expression on his face.
"You boys ever play chess?" He was grinning and brandishing a obviously antique wooden chess set.
Jim laughed "I wouldn't mind learning."
Spock glanced at Jim and then to the father "May I?"
He explained each piece and the basic rules, the captain stropping him when he began a short history lesson into the chess board's origins and the reason behind the different pieces.
Three games later and Spock was winning two games to one, the captain was learning quickly his moves illogical, seemingly random and infuriatingly tactically perfect.
"Jim, hey Jim!"
McCoy came running into the bar; skidding to a halt next to the game he paused glancing down at the board, after a short breath he rolled his eyes using Spocks knight to checkmate Jim.
"Right now you are free you are coming with me to see the new prototypes for the hover bikes!"
Jims mouth opened and he stared wordlessly at his friend eyes wide "What!"
"New. Hover bikes. Prototype. New hover bikes."
Jim shut his mouth, closing his eyes and turning in his seat whilst Bones attempted to catch his breath.
"I met an engineer on the way back from the ship and he said they are testing the new models here on the base and since I was so nice to him back at the academy he could get us in….maybe even get us a ride….that is, if the space fairy will let you come?"
Jim opened his eyes sending his excitement and hope through the weak bond and Spock grinned inwardly careful to block his emotions so he could act as thought he were thinking it over.
He glanced between the two friends surprised to see they were actually waiting on bated breath and smiled slightly. "I am not adverse to your plans."
Jim beamed and jumped from his seat leaping across to grasp either side of Spocks head and kissing him furiously, his tongue sweeping over his teeth. A soft bite to his bottom lip and he was away running after bones, out of the bar.
"I love you babe, you're the best."
He watched the captains leave, his excitement still flowing through the bond. Spock smiled sending his love back before closing the flow so Jim could enjoy his trip without his own emotions weighing in his mind.
Turning back he jumped inwardly. The father was in Jim's seat, the board already set up.
"Mind if I give it a go?"
By midday Spock had beaten the father fourteen times. A crowd had gathered and he was beginning to feel crowded, anxious and to his horror the father noticed.
"You know what, I give up. You are the new chess master."
He stood wandering through the crowd, it parting like the red sea as he made his way over to a blackboard in the corner, scrubbing his own name out and writing Spock in sprawling italics under the title chess master.
The vulcan stood, hands behind his back and nodded quickly pushing through the crowd their thoughts and emotions crushing him. Sighing in relief he stepped out into the much more comfortable burning heat outside, the dusty dry air comfortable and familiar in his lungs.
He relished the cool calm of his mind as he walked, no distractions no crowds. He sighed, his fingers itched for work and he quickly changed his stride now more purposeful more direct.
His light footing taking him clear across the base, over a familiar bridge and deep into the gardens the blistering heat surrounding him sending the fumes from the flowers and imprinting them in his clothes, his hair.
The air here was moist and tasted of clear water and fibrous plants. His sensitive ears picked up voices in the distance and he quickened his pace breaking into a clearing where a small group of scientists were hurrying around, collecting samples entering data into computers under the shade of a small roof supported by four thin metallic poles.
They were sweating heavily in a pale powder blue uniform, a jumpsuit that many wore rolled to the knee and the elbow, dark sunglasses and soft canvas shoes.
He could smell them now, a salty tang that wafted through the buzzing air and attacked his sense. He moved silently to the centre of the activity several scientists stopping their work and watching him approach, some began to move back towards him others gathered in pairs or threes a quiet murmur eyes focussed solely on him.
Spock stopped hands behind his back and tilted his head.
"Professor."
The dark haired man spun on the spot and blushed furiously as he realised who had greeted him.
"Oh... Mr. Spock it is great to see you. Can I help you with something?"
"May I be of assistance to you? I find my time is… disturbingly abundant."
"You want to…to help?"
"Affirmative."
"I would be honoured…unless… why?"
"You enquire as to my motives?"
"Yes."
"A wise move. I ask so you may then owe me a favour. I believe it is correct that in circumstances where one party completes a favourable act for the other they are then owed a favourable act in return."
Mark was silent for a long time thinking over Spocks words. "What would you want in return?"
"It will be of equal value."
"Like…"
Spock said nothing and Mark glanced to his left and a slightly shorter bald scientist who glanced at Spock and back to the professor.
"Don't be an idiot. To have his name on the research paper would..."
"Yeah but what does he want from me?"
"Does it matter!"
Mark turned back "Would you right a foreword?"
"To your report? If you wish it."
Mark beamed at him.
"Great…um Harris show Mr. Spock around won't you?"
Three hours later and Spock was enjoying himself, the heat had loosed it grip and the scientists pace had picked up, sampling and analysing every plant every blade of grass was a big job. Hours of clear minded rules, guide lines and scientific process that felt like home.
It was fascinating.
He was in the process of taking a cutting from a particularly large and spiky bush, long thin needle shaped laves tracing faint green lines in his skin and suddenly Spocks mind was invaded by a stab of pain that shocked him making him stand suddenly blinking furiously as he tried to clear his mind.
Polaris stood looking at him oddly "Sir…are you alright?"
Spock turned to the young man and straightened his back "Yes. If you will excuse me."
He handed the cutting over and turned without a word striding to a shadier more private area. His hand shook slightly and he took a deep breath pulling his communicator out of his pocket.
"Spock to Jim. Is everything alright?"
To his surprise doctor McCoy answered his voice breathy "Dammit Spock you really pick a time to call. He is fine. I'm taking him to the ship. Don't panic its nothing I can't handle."
Spock frowned "May is peak to him?"
"I have to go"
McCoy hung up on him and Spock was left the communicator still to his ear the pain slowly lessening replaced by fear, a ghost of shame and embarrassment. After a few moments he quickly slipped the communicator back into his pocket and strode over to the central area.
"Professor I must take my leave."
Mark turned around blushing and Spock noticed that Nyota was stood behind him her hand in his.
"Nyota."
"Hey Spock."
"So…"
"If you will send me your report I will add my foreword. You may contact me via my quarters on the enterprise."
Nyota kissed Mark quickly and let his hand go. "I'll come with, I need to talk to you about something. I'll see you later Mark."
He grinned waving a hand as the lieutenant grabbed Spocks arm and began to drag him away glancing behind her until the scientist's were out of sight. She stopped spinning around and punching him on the arm.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Spock frowned "I do not know what you are referring to?"
"Well I turned up to see Mark and he was all over excited about getting some big shot important scientist to write the foreword to his paper and how impressed everyone will be. Imagine my surprise when he told me it was the amazing Mr. Spock, apparently a celebrity in scientific circles."
Spock smiled looking away allowing his pride to flood his mind. "I believed my status amongst my peers was known to you. My apologies."
"He also mentioned you wanted a favour from him?"
"It is nothing to concern yourself with. It's a personal matter."
She glared at him "Then why not tell me."
"It is private between me and Jim."
She rolled her eyes and they walked in silence for a while Spock instinctively stopping outside of her hotel. She smiled patting him on the arm about to leave when he remembered the doctor's statement.
"Nyota I wish you to be my…maid of honour."
It was a phrase often used by the bride and he knew this, but Nyota was not a male therefore couldn't be the best man. She stopped turning slowly on her heel her eyes wide with shock.
"What!"
He paused unsure, his mind clouded. He had not considered that she may refuse and leave him without an option. As Jim had pointed out he did not have a great many close friends and Nyota was his only available option.
Spock blushed lightly and Uhura walked back to him. "Did you just ask me to be your maid of honour?"
Spock nodded and she patted him on the chest staring into the distance. "Don't you think it's a bit strange to have your ex play such a important role in your wedding?"
Spock couldn't look at her "Perhaps if you viewed it as asking my closest friend to play a role in my wedding you would reconsider."
She looked up at him her eyes softening a hand reaching up to cup his cheek "You know what…Yes. Of course I will do it."
She smiled up at him and Spock smiled down at her slightly taken aback by the force of her smile. "Thank you."
She sighed "oh Spock just…just."
She kissed him on the cheek and nodded walking away. His mind whirred back to that morning and he frowned.
"Nyota!"
She paused in the doorway "Yes Spock?"
He licked his lips walking over to her "What is private between Jim and I… It is something only doctor McCoy is party to and as such you should be party to as well."
She raised an eyebrow "Right…"
"Jim and I will bond."
Her mouth dropped open and she laughed jumping up to hug him tightly "Oh congratulations!"
Spock blinked putting his hands on her back as she hugged him. "Thank you for telling me Spock. I know how personal these things are."
He pulled back smiling slightly and she beamed up at him "He must really be special if you're risking that… I heard it's pretty dangerous for non-vulcans."
He nodded "Jim is aware of the risks."
She laughed again her eyes taking a strange light. "And I suppose he thinks any risk is worth it. Worth you."
Spock blushed and she released, him a sunny smile and wave of the hand. "Goodbye Spock tell the captains congratulations from me."
He nodded and waited for the door to close behind her before turning and making his way to the transport pads, breaking into a run as soon as he left the few people on the streets behind.
"Spock to transporter room Mr. Scott, are you there?"
"Aye I'm 'ere laddy."
Spock sighed clearing his mind of his affection for Nyota, his worry for Jim.
"Energize."
As soon as his feet hit the solid ground he broke into a swift walk barely a nod of acknowledgement as he went through the doors and found his way to medbay. He paused in the doorway glancing around and spotting the doctor hunched over a biobed.
Spock sighed and strode over, hands behind his back, posture perfect, eyes trained on Jims sprawling figure. He had angry red grazes on the side of his face, a black eye and was staring at Spock his eyes half lidded a hazy smile on his face.
"Hey there sexy Spocky."
Bones growled and pushed him heavily on the chest so he lay back down. "He is obviously on pain meds. Fell off the bike going 110mph broke every bone in his left arm, his thigh bone, four ribs, a cheekbone and got himself a hairline fracture to his skull. You're lucky I got the new bone regenerator yesterday."
Spock took a deep breath "I see. Thank you doctor McCoy."
He shook his head and walked away "Keep an eye on him."
Spock gave no indication he heard him instead concentrating on the captains only too pleased face. "Jim your desperate desire to kill yourself is rather disconcerting."
"I wasn't! I was just….I'm clumsy okay?" he was indignant arms crossed full no pout and sad eyes. Spock sighed looking him over noticing he was naked from the waist up, his trousers torn on the knee.
"Do you have a shirt?"
Jims mouth went slack and he looked down at his feet smiling as he wriggled his toes. Spock sighed again; he was in no state to answer any questions.
"Excuse me."
He walked away quickly finding a passing medic "May I borrow your outer uniform top?"
The young officer blinked at him blushing slightly. Perhaps he required more specification.
"The captains own shirt has been waylaid and he cannot return to our lodgings unclothed."
The officer laughed blinking at the commander for a second in embarrassment. "He does that a lot."
Spock dipped his head in agreement and the man smiled pulling his scrub top over his head leaving him stood in a blue undershirt. "Thank you. This will be noted in your next evaluation."
"Thank you sir."
Spock turned and walked back to the captain who was now moving his hand back and forth in front of his face giggling. "Jim?"
He turned and practically threw himself off the bed jumping into Spocks arms hands grabbing loosely at his waistband. "Hey there."
"Captain maybe you should put this on?"
"Do you think it'd look sexy on me?"
He now had his arms wrapped around Spocks neck and was whispering into the skin behind his ear. Spock shivered holding him loosely reminding himself that Jim was not himself. He licked his lips whispering hoarsely.
"Yes."
Jim chuckled and let him go pulling the scrub top over his bare chest and smoothing it down. He giggled and gave a spin hand on hip, the other on the back of his head.
"Tada."
Spock blinked, even now battered and bruised, intoxicated, Jim was…stunning.
"Beautiful."
Jim beamed and wobbled up to him leaning heavily on his arm as he attempted to hold hands with his lover. Spock sighed bracing Jim against his side as he began the slow drag back to the pub.
He was greeted at the door by father Jack who wordlessly placed a arm around the captain and bodily carried him away from Spock and up the stairs stating that the vulcan should 'sit down and take a breath'.
He took the time instead to use the computer nearby to make a call his stiff abrupt tone useful in his attempts to organise a meeting. The father returning as he shut the console down.
"He fell asleep halfway up the stairs. Told me he is sorry about ruining sexy Spocky's sexy black top."
Spock blushed slightly and stood "I take it you know what he is referring to?"
"Your assumption is correct."
The father nodded sagely and went behind the bar, cleaning glasses. It was then Spock realised that the bar wads empty.
"To use the colloquial term, you appear to be having a slow night."
The father laughed his voice booming and echoing around the small room. "Miners and tradesmen moved out this morning. I heard there is a war ship returning from battle tomorrow so it won't be quiet again for a while."
Spock nodded his eyes landing on the chess board "Then you have time to play?"
The father followed his line of sight and grinned "Sure."
Spock was winning five games to three when Jack reluctantly went to bed leaving him alone in the dusty cool bar. He decided he could meditate here for a while and cleared a small area on the floor to do so. When he came round it was early in the morning, so early in fact that the suns hadn't risen.
He felt calmer, his mind clear and ordered. Smiling he made his way to there room forcing himself not to look at the captain on his way to the bathroom for a shower.
As he towelled himself off afterwards he considered what Jim's reaction would be. He was sure he had done the right thing, but human emotions were extremely complicated and he may have interpreted them wrong.
He entered the bedroom wincing in shock as he was hit by the thundering noise of McCoys snoring. He glared at the lump but he did not relent so instead he placed his hands over his ears and walked over to where, miraculously, Jim was still sleeping.
He leant over the bed and pressed a feather light kiss to the captains lips almost jumping in shock when his tongue reached out and licked along his bottom lip, the captains bright blue eyes opening slowly as he smiled up at Spock.
He blinked for a second glancing over to the doctor and back to Spock, a wicked grin spreading across his face. He rolled his eyes sitting up suddenly and swinging off the bed, holding a finger up to silence the confused vulcan.
He crept slowly across the room until he was hovering just over the doctor's prone form and placed a hand over his mouth, two fingers closing his nasal airways.
Spock could feel his confusion growing, what was Jim attempting to do?
The doctors snoring stopped and he spluttered waking up and smacking the captains' hands away "God dammit Jim if I'm snoring just roll me over. Stop trying to kill me you bloody maniac."
The captains laughed grinning at Spock who fought to keep his own amusement of his face instead sending it through the weak bond. Jim beamed at him and backed away from the doctor.
"Sorry Bones but your admittedly impressive snoring was hurting Spock ears. And I love Spock's ears."
Bones grumbled turning over in his sheets "God dammit I'm glad we go back to the ship tomorrow. The less I hear about Spocks bloody ears the better."
Jim laughed deeply and wriggled his eyebrows at the vulcan titling his head to indicate he should follow him out of the room. They walked downstairs in silence not unsurprised by two plates of steaming hot food left on the bar top for them, two stools with hologram reserved signs hovering over them.
Jim grinned flicking a switch to turn them off and biting into his bacon sandwich a blissful expression filling his face as he chewed. Spock smiled the corners of his mouth twitching as he too bit into his whole-wheat toast.
Father Jack joined them a few minutes later leaning on the bar and fixing the captain with a calculated stare.
"Hey Jack. How're things?"
"Good captain, things are good."
Jim nodded and blinked when the father didn't look away "Got a message… the nunnery will be expecting you at twelve."
He gave a short smile and nodded to Spock who was watching Jim carefully, ghosts of confusion sliding into his mind.
"Jim whilst you were…indisposed I took the liberty of contacting the nunnery in a effort to set up a meeting with your mother. You expressed a wish to talk to her and I thought-"
Jim held up a hand to silence him and smiled love and gratitude slipping into Spocks mind. "Thank you sweet pea…I don't think I would've taken the first step without you."
Spock smiled and Jim glanced around before pressing his two fingers gently to the back of the vulcans palm. Spock could feel Jim's anxiety as they approached the flat grey building, dull greying trees and shrubs surrounded them as they walked a solid path towards the square door ahead.
Jims hand reached out grasping Spocks wrist and he glanced up at him looking for something in his eyes. The commander blankly stared back but miraculously the captain seemed to find what he was looking for, his shoulders straightening out, chin up high, some of his usual swagger returning.
"Right lets do this."
He let go of Spock striding towards the door his finger hovering only for a second before he pressed the buzzer. Spock reached him just as the door opened and they were silently led inside.
The walls were beige and empty apart from a single wooden cross nailed over the entrance, the floor well polished and they walked single file down a long straight corridor footsteps echoing around them, many doorways leading to numerous rooms and smaller corridors that wound off into the distance.
Spock glanced as he past at nuns praying, cooking, cleaning and in one room, playing with some sort of holographic tennis game. They reached a large staircase and the squat woman who had led them this far looked up at Spock smiling, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Sister Kirk is upstairs in her room. Two floors up, third on the left. I hope you enjoy your visit."
Spock ducked his head and Jim smiled at the woman if a little warily and she turned to him fixing him with a calculating stare.
"I sense you haven't had good experiences with nuns in the past…"
Jim blushed "Uh…they don't tend to agree with me…no offense."
She grinned at him her wide open face split by a toothy grin "Well you will find that the nuns here are much more…welcoming."
Suddenly she reached out pulling the captain into a bone crushing hug and he turned puce, eyes wide. She released him "There…already on the way now aren't you."
Spock tensed fearing he would be next but she seemed to notice this and chuckled patting him on the arm "Don't worry, I know all about vulcans. Have a good time now and don't forget to come say goodbye to Sister George before you go."
She waved a hand and disappeared at an impressive speed into the nearest doorway and down the corridor. Jim turned to Spock still blinking in shock.
"Well…she was different."
"She was certainly that Jim."
Together they walked up the stairs the captains shoulder tensing every so slightly when they reached the correct level and he took a deep breath reaching out to pull Spock closer as they made their approach.
He knocked three times and put his hand around the vulcans waist for a second his hands reaching around to where Spock had habitably placed his own hands, fingers laced behind his back.
Jim's fingers found his only briefly before the door opened and he pulled away.
"James."
It was not a greeting nor really a statement of surprise, more a statement that he was present. She moved away stepping into a clinically neat room, hands at her sides, predator eyes on Spock. Jim placed his hands at the base of his lover's spine and together they crossed the threshold.
"How are you settling in?"
She looked at him sniffing haughtily. "The sisters have been respectful."
"Good, good…that's good."
"I believed you would have left by now."
"Oh no we had some shore leave so…."
There was an awkward silence and Jim coughed weakly hand rubbing the back of his neck. His mother just stared blankly at Spock, after a minute he sighed inwardly and stepped forwards.
"Jim and I have come to inform you of something."
It was more for the captains benefit than his mothers and Spock could feel his panic through the bond making him frown inwardly. He licked his lips sending his love, trust and confidence back to him.
For a second Jim just stared into the distance his shoulders sagging slightly and his plump lips quirked at the edge, a light blush on his cheeks. The sun was shining through the circular window illuminating his glowing eyes and Spock took a quick step closer to him. He could feel something through the bond that he couldn't place, it was too faint and he felt longing, desire for more.
His skin was cool as the vulcans fingers slipped gently down the bare skin of his wrist, wrapping in a tight circle. "I love you t'hy'la."
Jims mind shimmered next to his and he heard its faint chuckle in answer "I love you Spock." He could feel it now, a strong pulse of heat like a trickle of boiling water that ran up his arm and filled his mind. It was the captains confidence, his shining charisma.
Spock smiled and Jim glanced up at him and then to his mother.
"Spock asked me to marry him. I said yes."
At first it was as if she were unaffected, her eyes slowly looking Spock up and down, gaze lingering on their hands joined at the wrist. Then she turned sharply, pulling the wooden chair from under the desk and perching elegantly on the edge now glaring at herself in the mirror.
Jim blinked and stepped forwards, releasing the vulcan "It is going to happen… You can't stop us."
She frowned glancing at him in the mirror and then to the cross on the wall behind him. "The father has explained to me his theories and the modern interpretation of the bible concerning…concerning you."
The captain raised both his eyebrows but didn't move and Spock continued to press love through the bond, barely daring to allow Jims emotions to reach him, they were private.
"Oh. Did you learn anything?"
His voice was sharp unfamiliar and his hands were now clenched by his sides, every muscle in his back and shoulders tense. She licked her lips blinking at her reflection.
"James… I cannot give this relationship my blessing, I cannot agree with your choice but I…I accept that it is your choice and as my son I should ….respect…. this relationship regardless of my personal beliefs."
"Wait…you don't believe in it, you don't like it, but you accept it?"
She turned and looked up at him her face emotionless. Spock blinked; it appeared Jims mother would fit in well on vulcan. Jim was staring at her, his mouth open and she stood, chin high, lips pressed tightly together, hands clasped elegantly in front of her.
"Yes."
Jims shoulders sagged and he looked to his commander for support. Spock stepped forwards "Father Jack has explained to you that Jim's sexual orientation is not a choice, it is as biologically tied to him as his hair colour. I cannot not ask you to be pleased with his orientation or indeed our relationship. However for you to accept this shows that you are capable of growth and because of that, we would like to extend an invitation to the ceremony."
She crossed her arms and looked to Jim and he narrowed his eyes crossing his arms. "He wants you to come to our wedding and so do I but… but only if you want to be there. It's the happiest day of my life and I don't want you there if you're just going to ruin it."
Spock walked up beside him and wrapped a hand around his waist smiling slightly when he leant backwards, his weight reassuring in Spocks arms, hands brushing against his thigh.
His mother sighed and let her arms fall to her side her gaze suddenly fixing on a picture frame on the unit beside her bed. It was a younger Winona Kirk, her arm around the waist of a handsome man his easy smile so full of life.
Jim stared too his posture crumpling into the vulcans grasp and Spock looked away, hand tightening on his waist as grief slid across the fragile link. Another quieter sigh and she turned back her eyes now sad, distant.
"I shall consult the lord. May he give me the strength to…to change."
Jim actually dropped a few centimetres his knees buckling and the commander gripped him tightly, supporting him.
"I hope you will."
She then did something Spock did not expect.
She smiled.