"Can I sit in the big chair Spock?" Jim asked as he and Leonard entered the bridge. They just came from the transportation room to say goodbye to Chris who needed to leave.
"Just for a minute. But Jim you have to promise not to touch the buttons." Spock told him sternly.
"I promise. Can I sit now?" Jim asked and let go of Bones hand.
Spock lifts him up and put him down in the chair. The bridge crew all smiled at the happiness of Jim sitting in the chair. Even if he was little it was his chair.
Spock stood next to Leonard. "I think we found out what could possibly be the result of Jim to change to a four year old child."
Leonard looked shocked at Spock. "You did? What was it? Can it be reversed?"
"We are not sure it is the item or where Jim got it from."
"Then how do you know the item could be cause?"
"Because of the results. They were strange. We didn't test it any further because we wanted to be sure this was the right item and where it came from."
Leonard sighs. "Let me guess. You need Jim to see if he remembers it."
"Yes. Even if he is a child he still remembers who he was. He got memories."
"Alright. Should we go now? The sooner we are sure the sooner we can find a cure."
"I think that is for the best."
"Jim, it's time to go." Leonard said and walked to the chair.
"Already? We just got here."
"I know kid but Spock wants to show you something. And besides the bridge it not a playground for a child. We just came here to visit." Leonard said as he walked to Jim.
"It was not long enough to visit. Spock just a couple of more minutes please." Jim asked as he stood on the chair. The whole bridge crew was now watching.
"Leonard is right Jim. It's time to go. What I want to show you is more important."
"It is? What is it?" Jim asked as he held his arms out for Spock to lift him up.
Spock put him in his arms and walked with Leonard to the turbolift.
"Is this a lab?" Jim asked. He was walking between Spock and Leonard. Both holding one of Jim's hands so he couldn't walk away.
"Yes, it is." Spock answered.
"That is why you have to stay close to us. There is dangerous stuff around here." Leonard told him and Jim suddenly stopped.
"Is something wrong Jim?" Spock asked.
"I...don't want to be here if it's dangerous. It's not safe. I... want to be safe. Doctors are in a lab. Don't...want to be here. Bad stuff. I want to go. Why you bring me here?" Jim asked. He got more worked up while talking and was crying in the end.
Leonard and Spock looked at each other confused. What was happening?
"Leonard, he is trembling. He is frightened for something. His shields are up. I don't know what memory he is experiencing." Spock told him softly.
Leonard saw Spock looked almost uncomfortable for the emotions Jim was sending through their connections with their hands. So Leonard kneels down and put his arms around Jim.
"Calm down darling. We don't want you to do something if you are not comfortable. No one is going to hurt you."
"It's not safe. Not safe. No lab. Never safe. I wanna go. Wanna go." Jim rambled.
Leonard stood up with Jim in his arms. Holding him tight. "Okay kiddo we go. Come on Jim calm down. Spock and I are here with you. Sssh darling you are okay." Leonard kept repeating while he and Spock walked out of the lab to their own room for some privacy.
"No lab. Please I will be good. I am good. Please please." Jim cried hysterically.
When they got to the room Leonard kept rocking Jim and repeating comfort words. While looking worriedly at Spock. Who was holding Jim's puls to send comfort and warm feelings.
What felt like hours as Jim finally calmed down. Still mumbling words he was good and didn't want to go but he wasn't crying anymore. He just held Bones in a really tight embrace while sniffing.
Spock ran a hand through Jim's sweaty hair. "Jim could you tell us what happened?" Jim shook his head no.
"Did someone hurt you while you were in a lab?" Spock tried again. Jim didn't answer.
Bones looked down at Jim thinking he had closed his eyes and fell asleep but instead he found two blue eyes wide open. To afraid to close them. "Jim, we want to understand what happend but you need to tell us. Why are you so afraid?" Jim just shook his head no and kept his mouth shut.
"Spock call Pike. Maybe he knows something that could help us. We can't let this go. Something big happened. I think, I think this could be one of the reasons he hates doctors." He told him softly while rocking Jim.
Spock nodded and stood up. Just a minute later Spock came back. Leonard looked confused.
"He didn't answer?"
"He did. He just wants to see the two of you too. He said it could help in telling the story. But he needs to know in what kind of state Jim is in and what exactly he remembers." Spock told him.
Leonard sighs. "Alright, let's go then."
"Jim can you look at me for a minute?" Pike asked after Spock and Leonard told him exactly what happend. Jim shook his head.
Pike sighs. "Come on kiddo. I know you are afraid but I need you to understand this is not happening now. Nothing happend in the lab right now. You were safe."
Jim looked up at that. "How would you know?" He asked softly.
Pike had a sad look on his face. "Because Spock and Leonard were with you. And they would not let anything happen to you.
The memory you had was not from something that just happened kiddo. It was from when you were a teenager. It's a memory from your adult mind. It didn't happen when you were four years old kiddo. You are safe."
"It felt so fresh. I don't understand." Jim said confused in a little voice.
"It's understandable to be confused Jim. Your mind is playing tricks with you because of the deageing." Spock told him.
"Spock wanted to show you an item that could be the source of the deageing. But we needed your confirmation and you to tell us where you got it from." Leonard told him.
"You found the source?" Pike asked.
"We need more information to be sure." Spock explained.
"I don't want to go to the lab." Jim said softly.
They were all silence for a moment. "What about a video? Spock you could video call us while you are in the lab while I stay here with Jim. He can see the item but he doesn't have to go to the lab." Leonard said.
"Could you do it now? I think now is the best time. Jim is still in his right mind at the moment." Christ asked.
"I am not crazy." Jim said.
"You know what I mean Jim. Well can you Spock? We don't know how long it will last."
"Yes I can do it right away." Spock said and walked out of the room.
Jim sat up so he didn't fell in the cuddle or snuggle habit he had now. His mind would immediately go to that of a four year old. Even when he sat up Leonard would put his arms around him so he sat up safely and kept going on with the rocking motion. Even how awkward it was when you were in your 'right' mind, it helped to keep him calm and comfortable.
Suddenly there was the call from Spock and showed Jim the item. Jim looked at it closely. It's a green looking rock.
"Do you know it?" Leonard asked.
"I don't know. Where did you find it?" Jim asked.
"On the shelf behind a brown box." Spock told him. Jim looked around and slide of Leonard's lap.
"Where are you going?" Bones asked.
"I need to see it. Maybe I remember." Jim said and Bones followed him.
Jim looked at the brown box. Thinking hard. Bones just watch patiently. In the mean time Spock came back and stood next to Leonard.
"It was from the last planet I visit. It was a gift. The grandmother gave it to me. Said to keep it close with me but not let anyone touch it."
"I believe you didn't let us know you had received a gift from the grandmother. I didn't remember I let you see the grandmother either. Who was with you captain?" Spock asked.
"No one. You were already back on the ship. Or on your way or something. She appeared suddenly out of nowhere and began a conversation I couldn't walk away from. I didn't wanted to show disrespect."
"Great Jim. The grandmother was probably an evil witch. Congrats she gave you a wicked stone. Damn it Jim. That is why we can't leave you alone." Leonard said angry.
"Calm your temper Leonard. Don't forget he is now four years old."
"And who's fault is that huh? If I find that evil..."
"LEONARD MCCOY!" They suddenly heard from the other room. Chris was still listening to the conversation. "NEXT ROOM, RIGHT NOW!"
"Bones is mad at me, isn't he?" Jim asked softly as Spock leads him to the bathroom.
"Leonard is an emotional person. Especially with you. I believe the emotions you just saw were not directed toward you but toward the grandmother who gave you the stone." Spock said while filling the bathtub with water.
"Are you sure? I really believe he was angry at me. You were in the room Spock."
"Yes I was. And that is why I tell you that the anger was not directed toward you."
"He said damn it Jim."
"I believe that was for himself to say."
"What you mean?" Jim asked as he took his shirt off.
"We were not there. We couldn't protect you. We had no idea what she gave you."
"And who's fault is that? Me Spock. I took the stone. I didn't tell you. And Bones knows that too. So he is angry at me." Jim sat on bathroom floor only in his underwear with his arms around his legs.
"I think you should talk to him after your bath. But believe me when I say the anger was not directed toward you. The bath is ready Jim. You should get in."
Jim stood up. "Spock could you leave? I want to be alone for a moment.
Spock hesitates. "I don't think that is a good idea. Something could..."
"Please Spock just for a moment. I will not drown. I am not a baby. Just a moment."
Spock still didn't think it was a good idea but he saw the desperation in Jim's eyes. "Alright. Just for a moment. But I will help you in the bathtub. You could fall climbing in. You are too short to do it on your own and the door will not quite shut."
Jim sighs. "Fine." Spock helped Jim in the tub before leaving the room. Outside he sat on the bed so he could keep an eye on the bathroom door.
After getting a running down from Pike of how to respond when you are angry and scared in the front of a child, Bones came back to the room where Spock was still waiting for Jim to finish.
"What did that door do to you that you are giving a staring down?" Bones asked.
"I am not staring at the door. How was your talk with the admiral?"
"Not talking about that you green blooded... I am not taking that catch. I know you heard every word that was said with your hearing. Where is Jim by the way?" Len asked while looking around the room.
"In the bathroom taking a bath."
Len stopped suddenly. "Taking a bath? You mean by himself?"
"Yes he wanted to by himself."
"And you let him? What were his exact words Spock?"
"Yes. He was still thinking with his adult mind..."
"That doesn't matter Spock! You know how fast that can switch. What were is exact words Spock?" Bones asked again but with more force.
Spock stared back at Leonard. Understanding now what he did was wrong even if he meant it right. "He wanted to be alone."
"Damn it Spock!" Len said and ran into the bathroom. Spock following close behind.
Jim was out of the tub and lay on the ground under the sink with just a little towel covering him. He was still wet and was shaking from the cold. He was mumbling something to himself while making himself as small as possible. Len immediately went to his side and lay a hand on his shoulder.
"Jim? Kiddo what are you doing? What is wrong?"
Jim just shook his head while making himself even smaller. Len looked worried at Spock who gave him a bigger towel. Len immediately put it around Jim and scooped him up in his arms.
"No no. I am good. No no. Don't want..please. No no"
"Shh it's okay darling. You are safe. Spock and I are here. You are not alone." Bones said while rocking Jim. Spock looked panicked and ashamed. He let this happend he thought. He held up the pjs he left for Jim to put on. Bones nodded and together they put in on Jim.
Unfortunately Jim was trembling from the cold. "Here take him Spock. You can give him your warmth."
"I don't think that is a wise decision. It's my fault he is in this state. I shouldn't have let him alone..."
Bones shook his head and put Jim in Spock's arms, who immediately put the kid closer to his chest to give him more warmth. "Spock stop that. You are very good with him. It's my fault I yelled at you. I know how Jim can get. And if I was in your place and he said that in the voice I think he said it, I would make the same decision. It's easier to look at an other if you are not making the decision. It doesn't matter how it happened, it would happen eventually. Unfortunately."
Spock looked confused. "What you mean it would happen eventually?"
Len ran a hand through his hair. "I mean at any moment Jim would be in his 'right' mind this could happen because we know how Jim can be. You know this Spock. And you know he would do it alone. Not in the front of us."
Spock looked down at Jim who was now snuggling in his warm embrace against his chest asleep. "I guessed you are right. It would happend. That doesn't mean I don't feel responsible for what happend."
"That is understandable. But we learn from it and make it better. Look at him Spock. You already making it better."
"I... I think I will take him to bed now. I will stay with him to keep watch."
Len smiled. "I think that is a good idea. I just need to check on something quick in sickbay but after that I will be here. I wouldn't take long."
"I think I need to stay with him alone this night. He needs my warmth right now and I can help him better if he has a nightmare. I also can do a mind meld if needed. But without an ... audience." Spock said as he walked to the bed.
"Oh Uhmm. Yes. I understand. Of course. I..." Len said a little hurt about what Spock said but didn't wanted to let him know.
"Glad you understand. Goodnight Leonard." Spock said and turned away to get ready.
"Yeah yeah of course. Uhmm goodnight." Bones wanted to run a hand through Jim's hair but Spock turned away as he made the bed ready. Slowly he walked out of the room.
