"Hello?"
"Hello, Captain Kirk. My name is Jamie McDonald, I was your son's social worker. I'd like to speak to you and your spouse at this time."
"It's one o' clock on a Saturday," Jim objected.
She shrugged. "I was told this was a good time to reach you. Was that wrong?" Jim shook his head and she continued. "We have a request for a home review by a third party. When may I see your home?"
Jim felt his hairs raise up and realized Spock was sending soothing love through the bond. He closed his eyes as he had been taught and breathed in and out three times before opening his eyes and answering.
"Just about any time is good for us this weekend. We have a house guest, so downstairs is being used as an office and bedroom, but we're pretty much ready."
"We appreciate your cooperation, Captain. I will arrive there in less than an hour. See you then." She ended the call and Jim closed his eyes again.
"Correct, ashayam, breathe. Imagine as you breathe out, the frustration is leaving your body." Spock stood very close to his mate. As the anger dissipated, Jim's confidence grew.
When he opened his eyes again, he looked around and said, "I did it!"
"Indeed you did, Jim. I am proud of you." Spock looked into the living room. "We should alert the doctor to the upcoming visit, and straighten our rooms. I have not been a part of an inspection before, so I do not know for what she will be looking. Do you know, Jim?"
Jim shrugged. "Well, the house can't be falling down around our ears. We can't have trash three inches thick on the floor. The food can't be moldy. I'm pretty sure we can't have sex toys sitting around the living room," he joked just to break the mood. "David's room has to be big enough and furnished properly. I don't know, things like that."
Spock regarded his mate closely for a moment. "I would now hypothesize that you have undergone a previous inspection of this nature."
"Well, I called CPS on my stepfather once. They came and did a perfunctory glance and left. When I called back they explained that we had fresh food, we had beds in rooms that were safe, and the house was in good repair. So they couldn't take us away."
"Yet now, we know you were denied this fresh food they observed, and that your rooms were not safe from Mr. Barnett. I am saddened that the system designed to protect you failed, t'hy'la."
Jim ducked his head. "The system didn't fail me. Don did." Jim went upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door where McCoy was showering. "Hey, Bones?"
True to his training, both in Starfleet and as a doctor, McCoy responded instantly. "What's wrong, Jim?"
"Nothing's wrong, Bonesy. Social Services is going to inspect the house, and they're on their way. We thought you'd like a heads-up."
McCoy turned off the water and reached for his towel. "Why are they sending Social Services after you at this late date? They gave custody of David to Spock and cleared him to come home. Now what do they want?" McCoy got out and grabbed some clothes. "I'll go get ready."
Jim remained outside the bathroom door. "I don't know what they want. Maybe they still don't trust me. Maybe they're going to take him away from me again," Jim called through the door. Behind him, another door opened.
"Say what?" David exclaimed, sticking his head out. "They're coming for me again? But you didn't do anything this time! Why can't they just leave us alone? Damn!"
"Hey!" Jim snapped over his shoulder. "Mouth!"
"David, please assume your station on the stairs," Spock called from downstairs. "Fifteen minutes of Latin verbs."
David growled and put away his iPod and tromped down the stairs angrily. "Well at least they'll be able to find me when they come for me," he muttered.
Once McCoy was almost done with the bathroom, Jim went down the stairs and sat by his son silently. At his mate's curious glance he explained, "I can't prove they're not going to take him again. So I just want to sit with him for a while."
McCoy emerged, clean and dressed and having finally shaved. The three men sat together in the kitchen while David finished out his punishment on the stairs. McCoy was talking to Spock when the doorbell rang and Jim got up slowly to answer it.
"Good afternoon, Captain Kirk. I'm Jamie McDonald. May I come in?"
"Not really much point in me saying no," Jim answered sarcastically and Spock poked him in the bond. "Welcome to the Spock-Kirk household. This is my husband and bondmate, Captain Spock, and this is our best friend, Dr. Leonard McCoy."
"Dr. McCoy, I have questions for you later. Please show me your home." She pulled out a padd and began making notes.
Jim rolled his eyes and said, "Well, this is the kitchen. It's also the dining room and the meeting room when we have to discuss something as a family." He headed over to the next doorway and continued, "This is the living room. We watch videos and receive guests here. This is where Dr. McCoy is staying."
He spun around and went to the stairs, where David was sitting, writing away. "This is my son David, who is in timeout for another four minutes. Let us by, David." David got up and the two walked by. "Up here are the bedrooms. Bathroom right behind you, David's room here, our room beside it." He got a saccharine smile on his face. "Ta-da!"
"Why is your son in timeout, Captain?"
Jim shrugged. "He said something he wasn't supposed to."
"Such as what?"
"He said 'damn'." Jim blushed involuntarily. "It's more his father's rule than mine."
She blinked at him. "You're not his father?"
"Oh." Jim shook his head. "I'm his birth father but he calls me 'Dad'. Captain Spock is his stepfather but we call him 'Father' for short."
"Oookay," Ms. McDonald answered slowly. "I'd like to see your rooms now."
Jim tilted his head. "I'll be with you for ours but David has to be present for his. Hey, kid!" he called out. "Time's up, we need you up here!"
A/N: So who's up for sending nasty emails to the child protective services? Do you know who asked for their house to be inspected? Do you think they're going to pass? I'll post as soon as possible so I don't leave you hanging. Thanks for all your reviews and support, it means a lot to me!