"You okay Len? I thought you just needed to make that report and then you would be done." Doctor M'Benga asked.
"Yes I'm fine Geoff. I just wanted to finish the other work."
"You just worked a full shift not forgetting you are taking care of Jim through the day. You also need to rest. Where is Jim?"
"Asleep. Spock is watching him." Len said while keep doing his work.
"Alright, so why are not sleeping then too?" Geoff asked confused.
"Because I am working."
"What could wait until tomorrow."
Len sighs just as Chapel stepped inside the office.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were off shift." She asked confused.
Len stood up frustrated. Why were they questioning him when he wanted to be alone so he could think about what just happend. "Working. Just as you two should be doing instead of questioning me why I am here!" He said and went out of his office to see what patient he could focus on. He couldn't handle colleagues right now.
Chapel and Geoff looked at each other confused.
"You think something happend between Spock, Jim and him?" Chapel asked.
"I am not sure, but I think that could be a good possibility. I think it's best we leave him be right now."
"Yeah you are right. But just to be sure we should watch him. He didn't had any sleep for this shift."
"Glad I am not the only one thinking that." Geoff said and went back to his patient.
"Sulu to McCoy."
"McCoy here. What can I do for you mr Sulu?" Len asked. He just took a quick 20 minute nap before he was awake again. He was still in his office. It was already two shifts later.
"Did something happend to Jim?"
"Not that I know. Why do you ask?"
"Spock took the day off so I thought..."
Len looked confused at that and stood up. "It's just a day off. Nothing to worry about. McCoy out." He said and left to find out what happend.
Len took a deep breath before he opened the door of the quarters. He stepped inside but stopped immediately at what he saw. He startled when the door behind him closed. But his focus was immediately back to the scene in the front of him. Jim was laying asleep in Spock's arms but instead of facing Spock he was turned around without a shirt. And Spock... Spock was licking his back. Licking? What the f... This can't be happening. This is crazy. Why is Jim sleeping through this?
"SPOCK! What the hell are you doing!!" Len said angry and took a step toward them but stopped immediately when he heard the growl. Growl?
"Spock?" He asked confused.
The growling got worse and Spock looked angry at Len and took Jim closer to him. "Out!" He just said.
"But.."
"Out!!" Spock growl again.
Len got a little scared at what he saw and the behavior of Spock but it made him angry also. Seriously he is taking Jim away from him! He didn't took another step toward them and listened to Spock. He is not risking his life for an angry Vulcan who was not in his right mind. Besides it was also risky for Jim if he made the wrong decision.
"Fine. But this isn't over." Len said angry and went back to his office in sickbay.
"Something wrong with your quarters?" Geoff asked as he began his shift. He heard from the other doctors and nurses that Len was here all day long. And if you say he slept here, okay. But he didn't. He didn't sleep. He was just working. Some saw him taking a nap but didn't last longer that 20 minutes. And that was the longest nap they saw. They were concerned and they had the right to be. Something was wrong.
"Nope. Just needed to finish some work."
Geoff sighs. He closed the door of the office and sat down in the chair in the front of McCoy's desk. Len looked at him confused. "That is a lot of work you need to finish. Something I can help with?"
"Geoff, What do you want?"
"I think it's time you start talking. It's been two days and you haven't left the office to go to your quarters to get some rest. You didn't sleep in your office either."
"I did sleep here."
"You took naps. And they weren't longer than 20 minutes. That is not sleep that is resting your eyes for a moment. Do I need to lecture you how important sleep is for the human body? The same lectures you always gave Jim if he got those bags under his eyes?"
"No. You don't need to lecture me." Len said as he looked down again.
"Alright then. So you can start talking. What is going on? Why are you here? Why aren't you resting in your quarters? Why is Spock off duty and why isn't Jim with you? He is always with you at some point."
Len sighs and weighted his options. Geoff sighs.
"If it helps... You can start talking soon or we will stand you down so that you have to go to your quarters. Your choice."
Len looked up at that. He hadn't thought Geoff had it in him. "You wouldn't.."
"I would. I don't have a choice at this point Len. And you know this. So talk."
Len took a deep breath. Maybe Geoff could help. Maybe he was right. M'Benga knew the most things about Vulcans. "Spock took Jim. He won't let me near him."
Geoffrey looked confused and leans forward. He hadn't expected this. "What you mean Spock took Jim? You had a fight and Spock took over his care or..."
"Or Spock left Jim alone the other night when he was in his 'right' mind because Jim asked for that. But unfortunately Jim worked himself in a kind of state while laying on the bathroom floor. I could comfort him but he was so cold he couldn't warm up. Spock took Jim and just 15 minutes later Spock brought Jim to bed and told me he needed to be alone with Jim so he could care for him. So I thought okay. One night..."
"The night you stayed here first.." Geoff said.
"Yes. So I was a little angry at Spock. Next day Sulu said Spock didn't come to work so I went to check on them and Spock..."
"Spock did what?" Geoff asked curiously. Something was wrong that bother Leonard deeply.
"Spock was licking Jim. Licking. Just like a cat. Cleaning his back. And Jim... Jim didn't even wake up. So I wanted to check up on him but Spock wouldn't let me get near him and growled at me. Yelled at me to leave and the growling got worse. That damn Vulcan took the kid!"
Geoff was silent for a moment and Len looked at him hopeful to give him any answers. "Licking you say? Jim was still in his arms?"
"Yes. He would even take him closer when I took a step toward them."
"Was Jim distressed that you know off?"
Len looked confused. "How could I know? Spock didn't talk to me and Jim was asleep."
"But it could be? Before you came back." Len nodded confused.
"You know something, don't you?"
"It looks like what Vulcans do to their child. The child is distressed or is having emotions they can't work on. Conflicted as they would say. The parent take their child in his or her arms and start licking the child to relax. It's a ritual to give the child comfort, love and protection. The child will fall in a state of relaxation. They will fall asleep most of the time. It is also a way of marking their child and cleaning them. The saliva is not like ours. I never saw it but it's a very private moment. Only the parent who does the ritual and the child will be present. Not even other family members or the other parent can be present."
Len stared at him for a long moment and looked at Geoff as if he was crazy. "You are kidding? A ritual?"
"Yes. Looks like Spock did it to Jim."
"So Jim was in distress and he didn't tell me and he just did this ritual I never heard of without me knowing..."
"Len I think Spock didn't even know he was doing it until you came into the room. It's an instinct that will take over. If the opportunity is there, their mind will take over. Spock isn't even a parent but he takes care of Jim."
Len sight and ran a hand through his hair. "So what now? I can't see Jim anymore? He is... I want to see Jim. I need to know he is okay."
"I understand. I think you don't have to wait long. Spock should come out of it soon. In the meantime why don't you get some sleep on the couch?"
Len shook his head. "Need to see him first. I still got work to do."
Geoff sighs. "Fine, but you can't see patients. Only if you slept the minimum of 8 hours of sleep."
Len sighs but nodded and went back to work.
"So what is the word? He said anything?" Chapel asked immediately when Geoff walked out of the office.
Geoff sighs. "Yes he talked and no he is not working on patients." He said and tried to walk away but Chapel stood in the front of him and took his arms to lead him to an empty room.
"Christine?"
"Talk to me. What is going on?"
"I am not just tellen everyone around here..."
"I am not everyone. I am his friend too. I am concerned and worried. And I was the one who told you to talk to him. So spill. What can I do?" Christine crossed her arms and stared at him.
Geoff sighs again. "Spock went into a Vulcan ritual with Jim and Len was forbidden to stay there until the ritual was over."
Christine raised an eyebrow. "Ritual? Why didn't he say?"
"Because he didn't know it was an ritual. He thought Spock took Jim from him. Normally the ritual presents it selfs when a child is distressed."
"Oh that poor thing. No wonder he is staying in his office and be grumpy all day."
Geoff now raised an eyebrow. "Okay you spill. Why is it no wonder?"
"Because Len always watch out for Jim. It been like this since the moment they met. You have to observe their interaction. Len is always more relaxed when Jim is around and makes sure he is okay."
"I never thought about that but now that you mention it. He always wants to do Jim's care."
"Yes. That way he knows for sure he gets the right treatment. Did you get him to get some sleep?"
Geoff shook his head. "Unfortunately no. We have to wait until he sees Jim. I told him he can't see patients if he doesn't sleep. He just nodded and went back to work."
"You sure the ritual is almost over?"
Geoff nodded. "Yes I am sure."
"I hope you are because if it takes any longer you have to find a way to sedate him."'Christine said and turned out of the room when her name was called.
"I hope so too." Geoff said to himself before he also went back to work.
"Spock?" A little voice asked.
"Yes ashayam."
"Why am I like this?" Jim looked confused at how he laid in Spock's arms but he felt tired also.
"I was comforting you when you were distressed." Spock said and ran a hand through Jim's hair as Jim sat up so he could look around better.
"Oh... did I sleep?" Jim asked softly still somewhat confused.
"Yes ashayam."
"Where is Bones? Didn't he sleep here?"
"I think he said he needed to go to sickbay to finish something."
"Oh... but it's morning now, isn't it?"
"It almost time for lunch Jim. You slept a long time."
Jim looked up at that. "Bones didn't eat. We need to bring him some breakfast or lunch or something. He gets grumpy if he is hungry and he worked all night. Can we see him Spock?" Jim asked hopefully.
"I think that it's a good idea. But you also need to eat."
"We can eat in Bones office, can't we?"
"I guess you ar right. Let's get you clean up and we can give Leonard his lunch."
"Yes!" Jim said happy and went to the bathroom.
Spock smiled but was also a little afraid. What he did the other night came back to him and he wasn't sure if Leonard would forgive him.
"I am done." Jim said as he came back.
