Author's Note: mostly a warning. Jim is not in a good place right now. Read with care.
"Jim." No answer came as the human stared in horror at the trees. "Jim what's wrong?" Spock tried shaking the other man but still he would not respond. "Captain!" Even the title would not draw Jim from his mind. Spock raised his hand. He placed it on Jim's face careful not to touch the meld points. With little force he turned his Captains eyes on him. "Jim I need you to come back to me. I cannot follow where you've gone to."
Slowly Jim's breathing returned to normal and his eyes began to focus. His hand reached up and gently grasped Spock's own. As he became more aware he began to squeeze. Jim closed his eyes. So many emotions flared through the touch that Spock couldn't keep up. Guilt and terror were the ones that would flare the most. Gratitude was begaining to work it's way to the surface.
"Are you back with me?" Spock asked. After a moment Jim nodded. He still wouldn't speak. Standing Spock helped his Captain to his feet. When he tried to take a closer look at the web like substance Jim yanked him back. He glanced over his shoulder. "Captain?" Jim only shook his head. He tugged where their hands were laced and started to walk away from the forest.
Hours of silences passed between them as they made their way back down the rocky ridge. It made Spock worry because through it all Jim refused to let go of him. Almost as if he were afraid Spock would vanish if he did. "We should take a break." The human shook his head. "Jim you haven't slept more than two hours in three days. You haven't eaten in at least one full day. You haven't drank anything since last night. You need to rest."
Jim once again shook his head. "It's not safe. Let's get back to the others." Sighing Spock wraped his arms around Jim holding him in place.
"If you don't take a break now I will nerve pinch you and then carry you back to the others." He wouldn't want to but Jim had ran all night and Spock had struggled to keep up with him. He had a feeling he knew why. The question remained, did Jim? Would his Captain tell him if he knew? He could feel the waring emotions until finally Jim just dropped where he was taking Spock down with him.
Spock rearanged their limbs until they were in a better position. "How old are you Jim?" Spock asked as he brushed his fingers through his hair.
"Thirteen." Came the answer as his Captain leaned his head against his chest. The emotions were slowly settling into normal ranges.
"Why do we need to go back to the others? You only keep saying it is not safe. What isn't safe?" Spock stared over his Captain head. Though right now he wasn't speaking to his Captain at all.
Jim's fingers tightened on his shirt. "He'll find them. He's going to hunt them and find them. When he kills them it won't be quick."
So Jim thought they were being hunted and it has something to do with the spider web like substance. Spock could work with that. But right now it would be best for Jim if he didn't stress him too much. "Sleep. I will keep watch. I promise to wake you if anything happens."
Jim looked up. His eyes scanning the area. So he was aware of what surrounded him as long as it fell in line with what a thirteen year old Jim would have seen. 'Who am I to you right now?' He wanted to ask but anything could cause more damnage at the moment. It would be best to stay withing the fantasy Jim was experincing.
"It isn't safe. We're out in the open." He leaned his head back down resting it on Spock's shoulder. "Caves are safe. They never think to look there." He muttered. Spock could feel the start of drowsiness lacing Jim's thoughts. Comfort and peace were taking over the fear. Spock hummed the first thing he could think of and almost regreted it. He still avoided things that reminded him of his mother. Only Jim settling in sleep kept him going.
He would have to tell McCoy about Jim's dissociation. They could not allow him to be in command if he could not stay with them. But that made Spock wonder. How often had their Captain done this? Why would he return to the age of thirteen? What happened then that caused this? How had Starfleet not caught this? Or was it something about this planet that acted as the trigger. There were too many question and none that his Captain would answer.
