Still reading? Wow okay, then, suit yourself.
By now the mood's been set, more people study than action and for now not even that much banter. But I do hope that will change.
Give me a shout if you've got any thoughts more coloured than 'meh'.
Captain's log, day 24 of our mission. Stardate 0922.8. Our mission to Tetra/Asaniteh was.. success as we had, indeed, secured enough samples to study the planet's primary chemical environment. Otherwise, it has been a total clusterfuck. See reports by CMO, CSO and myself.
Jim switched the recorder off, his mind helpfully supplying the 'While technically correct, I do not think that is an appropriate description, Captain Kirk'. Because Spock didn't say it. Because Spock was still in the medbay, bleeding, unconscious. Bones didn't say anything, either, because he was in the medbay, trying to save the three bleeding people Jim had brought back to the ship.
Two had died on spot, Spock was only alive because his heart had been shielded by a tricorder and Jim was only alive because Spock had shoved him to a side.
Jim really needed a drink.
They had been arguing, because of course they were. Jim's last words to his commander were to suggest where he could shove the regulations. Neither of them had noticed the life forms until they were under heavy fire, old-time bullets and laser beams mixed together, and up till this moment Jim wasn't completely sure what had happened.
Quite possibly the planet hadn't been as uninhabited as expected and if he had to place a bet, it would be on smugglers and insultingly good jammers.
From the orbit they continued scanning the planet's surface and Jim wanted- needed to know if he was right, if the spikes in radio waves were in fact more than just space echoes. He counted the disturbances to find a pattern, one long wave, second, third..
He got shaken back awake by Uhura's soft hand and concerned voice,
"Captain..? Do you need me to call Nurse Chapel?" And Jim knew she meant well, but his fatigue and few bruises weren't worth the trip. He didn't deserve to be down there next to Ensign Moree and Doctor Kowalski. And Spock.
"Nah, no. I'm quite alright Lieutenant." Jim gave her a warm smile and straightened up, finally admitting to himself that he was obsessing. They were quite capable of scanning a damn planet on their own, no one needed him to stare over their shoulders, yawning. He reached for his Padd and continued counting waves.
He was pretty sure he fell asleep at some point again, because the Alpha shift was bidding him a good night and trickling out, Sulu appearing out of nowhere to offer him coffee and start with the Beta shift.
The waves were still the same frustrating wavy selves, nothing at all suggesting any form of communication was taking place. No unexplainable sources of energy. Fucking nothing that would in any way justify his three people struggling for their next breath.
It was the middle of the Beta shift when the lift door swished open and Jim was pretty damn pissed at the whole world so he didn't even look up to see who it was. The storm cloud above his head had to be enough to change the mind of anyone who would want to talk to him.
He caught the familiar scent of tea leaves and something not quite cinnamon and the footsteps stopped right next to him; if that hadn't been enough to give him a hint, then the collective inhale and bated breath of everyone present would have.
"Commander..?" Jim prompted when Spock just stood there, probably looking at the screen Jim himself was still staring fatalistically at. It was safer to keep his eyes there, because otherwise he would be staring at the vulcan and trying to strip him with his eyes. Not to be crude but to see his side, make sure he was supposed to be standing and walking around at all.
"Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy requests your presence in the medbay." Spock said in that perfectly controlled voice, but something in the way he hesitated between words made Jim look up. Spock was looking at him, not with a cold emotionless politeness, not with badly hidden disdain, but.. worry maybe.
More than anything else that shocked Jim enough to bite back protests, standing up to let Spock take over his seat. Normally Sulu would have been enough, but Spock had taken the Padd with their current progress, so that was probably what he was intending to do. "I'll go see what he wants, thank you." he said softly and that was where it was supposed to end, this whole fragile peace between them.
Only, it really didn't.
Jim didn't get anywhere further than halfway to the lift when Spock's voice halted him. Just 'captain'. No surname, no subtle hint to remind Jim that he wasn't Spock's captain, that the vulcan was only tolerating him because he had to. Jim spun around and saw Spock frown at him, but somehow.. not at him, personally.
"Yes, Commander Spock..?"
In Spock's hand was the Padd Jim had been using to write his mission report, the rough draft where he tried to understand what could have gone different.
"It is illogical to insist that the failure of our mission was in any way caused by your decisions." the vulcan said and Jim just gaped at him. "None of us had noticed the presence, therefore none of us would have been able to avoid what followed." Spock was still talking, oblivious to Jim's rapid thoughts; he had expected the man to correct him, insult him in a covert way, not.. practically explain that this hadn't been Jim's fault.
"I.. know." Jim managed at last, but it was probably enough for Spock, since the vulcan nodded at him and turned to sit properly in the chair.
"Also, intentionally neglecting your health is irrational. There is no need for you to be present on the bridge; failing to get enough rest will only negatively impact your performance." There it was, the expected berating, but in a very different way to what Jim had been dreading. It only made him smile, because he was pretty sure nothing could ruin his mood any more.
"I hear ya, Commander. No need to be worried." the turbolift door closed behind him before Spock could make the expected reply and Jim was grinning by the time he got to the medbay.