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Chapter Five
Jim turned at the sudden noise. His whole body tensed and his eyes scanned the vast, thick forest that he had hidden himself in, standing guard of a small cave that only he was big enough to wriggle into. It had been a long time since he had heard any noise in the area and nerves churned in his stomach. Pain rippled through his stomach as it trigged the thought of the last time he ate.
He was so hungry.
Another twig snapped and Jim leapt to his feet, pushing through his hunger and the wave over fatigue it caused. His limbs felt weak but there was too much to protect here. He picked up the big stick he had found and spent hours sharpening into a point.
"Whose there?"
Jim tightened his grip as he saw a figure emerging through the trees.
"Stay back," Jim demanded, brandishing his stick like a sword.
"You are Jim?" the man asked.
Jim frowned at the man. He had never seen him before but he was oddly comforting. Despite this, Jim did not relax his grip on his stick. He took in the grey uniform he wore and Jim recognized it as a Starfleet uniform.
"Your from Starfleet?" Jim asked.
"Yes. I am Spock. You are Jim, correct?"
Jim looked at Spock, frowning at the peculiar way he talked. He looked over the man and took in his pointed ears. It took Jim a moment to realize that this man was a Vulcan.
"How did you find me?" Jim demanded. "Nobody has found me. Starfleet was too late. You shouldn't be here. Go!"
"It has taken me a long time to navigate myself to you," Spock said. "May I approach?"
Jim bit his lip, waving his stick back and forth. "Why are you here?"
"I am here to help you, Jim," Spock said. "You are in great pain."
At the mention of pain Jim head flared with agony and his stomach twisted in a way that Jim knew it was eating itself. His arm dropped, as he was no longer able to hold his stick while his other arm curled around his stomach. He struggled to lift his stick again as Spock took a step closer.
"Stay back," Jim said, though it was weak to his own ears. "You can't be here. I won't let you hurt me or anyone else."
"I am not here to hurt you," Spock said, falling still. "I am here to help you Jim. It pains me to see you in this state."
Jim panted and swallowed. Everything hurt and there was something about Spock that felt like a comfort to Jim that he had never experienced with anyone before. Jim had met many aliens but none of them had ever felt like safety – something that Jim craved but could not trust.
"How did you find me?" Jim asked. "Nobody has been able to find me. I made it that way."
"You created this place?" Spock asked looking around the forest. "You a thirteen, correct?"
Jim heard the impressed tone in Spock's voice and liked the way his eyebrow raised. "Yeah."
"Remarkable," Spock said. "Jim. You no longer need to be here. I came to help you."
Jim shook his head, stumbling as his vision swam and his ears buzzed. "No. I have to protect it. I have too." He swayed dangerously to the left and his ankle gave way.
He let out a cry and waited for the impact of the ground but it never came. Spock had caught him and gently lowered them both to the ground.
"You are not alone anymore, Jim," Spock said very close to his ear. "I am here to help you. I care very deeply about your well being and it pains me very much to see you in this state. Please, allow me to help you."
"You care about me?" Jim asked weakly.
"Yes, Ashayam. Very much so," Spock said.
"Spock?" Jim asked.
"Yes?"
"It hurts," Jim whimpered.
"You need to be more accurate," Spock said. "Where does it hurt?"
"Everywhere?" Jim sniffed. "I'm so hungry."
"I can help you Jim. Let me take you home," Spock said.
"But I have to protect it," Jim said. "Kodos can never find it."
"Do you trust me enough to protect it for you?" Spock asked.
Jim felt very safe in Spock's arms – the first time he had ever felt safe. He trusted Spock. "You promise to protect it? With everything you have?"
"On my life, Jim," Spock said.
Jim was silent for a moment before he said, "Okay." He wiggled out of Spock grasp and crawled into the cave.
Spock watched warily, hovering by the cave opening. He felt relief as Jim wiggled himself out, carrying what appeared to be a small file.
"Here," Jim said, thrusting into Spock's hand. "Promise to protect it."
"I promise," Spock bowed.
"Okay. You can take me home now."
"Well?" Bones demanded as soon as Spock opened his eyes.
Spock breathed deeply, feeling both mentally and physically drained. He was still seated on Jim's bed where Jim laid across, the crease finally starting to fade from his face. He had contacted the Doctor when he could not get Jim to wake. Bones had wanted to Jim to the Starfleet medical center but Spock had been very protective in moving Jim. The Doctor had eventually allowed Spock to do a mind meld with Jim after he found Jim's reading concerning.
"Did you find him? Is he okay?" Bones continued his demands.
"Jim will make a full recovery," Spock assured the doctor quietly. "He has been protecting himself for so long. I…I have never seen anything like Jim's mind."
"I'm not surprised," Bones said, casting both a fond and sad look at his best friend.
"Had Jim ever been tested on his intellect?" Spock asked.
Bones eyes narrowed and he gave Spock a long, searching look. "When he was a kid before he went to Taurus IV. From his medical records he had been recorded as being a genius. But then it happened and the trauma was too much."
Spock nodded. "I believe Jim did it on purpose."
"What do you mean?" Bones frowned.
"When I entered Jim's mind and tried to find the source of his pain I found a forest that was a complicated puzzle. It took me more time than I care to admit to find the correct path."
"Jim made a puzzle in his mind? For what purpose?" Bones frowned.
"To hide himself," Spock said. "I quote directly from Jim; 'Nobody has been able to find me. I made it that way.'"
"What exactly did you see in Jim's mind?" Bones asked.
Spock hesitated a moment. The Doctor was Jim's best friend and therefore trusted by Jim but he was wary about divulging such intimate details of Jim's mind. But the logical side of Spock knew that this information could be helpful to Bones in the future treatment of Jim.
"A manifestation of Jim at thirteen years of age at the time of the crisis," Spock said. "He was guarding information on Kodos."
"Christ," Bones swore. "He's been guarding that for that long?"
"It would appear so," Spock said quietly. "He was…like nothing I have ever seen. He was malnourished to the point where his ribs were visible under his torn clothing." He looked at Jim, drinking in the details of the man he had become today.
"Yeah, I saw the photos," Bones said. "Jim hates that I did but I saw them. Those kids…" he trailed off shaking his head. He pulled out his tricorder again and ran it over Jim's sleeping body. "He's reading are much better."
"He wished me to take him home," Spock said.
"You did great, Spock," Bones said gently. "You should get some rest now. Jim probably won't wake until morning."
Spock knew this logically and that now would be an opportunity to mediate and rest but his human half could not let Jim from his sight.
"I'll keep watch over him," Bones promised.
"I am finding myself emotionally compromised," Spock said. "Jim will be perfectly safe and cared for with you, Doctors, but I find myself unable to leave Jim."
"I get it," Bones said gently. "Could you mediate here? You can still be in the room and know that I'm watching him too."
Spock nodded. "I find that will be acceptable."
"Get yourself set up while I contact Pike," Bone said and with one last look at Jim he left the room.
Spock waited until the door was shut and he could hear Bones speaking to Captain Pike before he leaned forward and brushed his lips across Jim's forehead. He brushed his fingers against Jim's in a Vulcan kiss and leant his forehead against his, breathing in time with his beloved. Only did he move when he heard Bones coming back.
Spock settled himself on the floor beside Jim's bed and closed his eyes and attempted to meditate.
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