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Chapter Six
Sneaking out of bed wasn't a habit that Jim had made over the years of bedding one night stands – though a few of them had required him to do so when an unknowing (on Jim's half) husband/partner came home a little early. He hadn't done it in some time so it took a while to slip out of bed without Spock waking. He had been surprised to find Spock curled on the edge of the bed like a small puppy who knew they weren't supposed to be on the bed but were knew they were adorable enough to get away with it.
Jim had grabbed his work uniform and snuck out of the room. Getting past Bones was easy enough – Jim had done it many times and the doctor was exhausted from being up all night looking after him. Jim made his way to work, exhaustion and some lingering pain still working around his body, but he couldn't stay in his apartment.
He cringed at the thought of Spock seeing everything. Even in his unconscious state he had felt the massive relief of Spock finding that part of him and slowly healing it. Jim remembered the hospital visit and the way he feigned sleep as the nurses and doctors bustled around him all the while deep inside his mind creating that puzzle and finally locking it away. At the time he hadn't realized the toll it would take on his mental status but he never regretted hiding that information away. Jim couldn't imagine what Spock thought of him now – Jim was beyond damaged and he had done it to himself.
"Jimmy!" Gaila greeted him when he entered. "What are you doing here so early? Your shift doesn't start until ten."
Jim moved past her with a shrug.
"Whoa," she said, grabbing Jim's shoulder.
He flinched violently, spinning around and backing into the cabinet that rattled the dishes inside. He winced, face flashing hot at Gaila's startled look. "I…please don't touch me."
"Sorry, Jimmy," Gaila said, obediently becoming submissive. "I won't touch you. Promise."
Jim nodded, swallowing thickly. "Sorry."
"Rough night?" Gaila asked, still peering at him with concern.
Jim snorted. "Something like that."
She hesitated, biting her lip. "Spock didn't…loose his Vulcan control, did he?"
This time Jim looked up startled. "What? No! Of course not."
Gaila relaxed visibly.
"Why would you say that? Spock wouldn't hurt me. Ever," Jim said firmly.
"I know he wouldn't intentionally," Gaila said. "It's a thing with Vulcan's. Once every seven years or something they get…we'll I wouldn't call it feral but something similar."
Jim shook his head, no idea what Gaila was talking about. "He didn't do what ever your thinking. I just…got some bad news, that's all."
"I'm sorry, Jim," Gaila said. "Want me to cover your shift?"
"No, I just want to work," Jim said. "It…It hurts to think right now."
"Sure," Gaila said. "Jim? Can I give you a quick hug?"
Jim smiled and opened his arms, stumbling on slightly when she rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"I'm here for whatever you need," Gaila whispered in his ear, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. She stepped out of his grasp, gave him a wink and sashayed away to deal with a customer.
Jim felt some the pain ease in his chest and he hurried to the back to grab his apron. He fell into work easily, his mind and thoughts on autopilot as he went about making coffees and meals for the patrons.
"Where is Jim?"
Bones snapped awake, nearly falling off the couch as he took in the angry Vulcan hovering over him. "What are you growling about?" He pushed himself up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and got to his feet.
"Unless your hearing has rapidly declined in the past three hours you do not need me to repeat my question but I will for you are obviously incoherent this morning. Where is Jim?" Spock said.
"What do you mean where is he? He was in bed with you the last time I checked," Bones glared and moved towards the bedroom. He was surprised to find the bedroom empty and he strained to hear any noise that would indicate that Jim was in the apartment.
"He is not currently in the apartment," Spock said. "Did he tell you where he went?"
"Damn it Jim you stupid infant," Bones growled, now joining Spock in his worry. "He'll be at the café. Working."
"He is not supposed to be unattended," Spock snapped.
"That 'aint going to stop Jim," Bones said, swiping up his medical kit as he strode to the door, Spock right behind him. "Jim does what he wants. You stick around long enough you'll learn that about him."
"He is in danger," Spock said.
"Yeah, no shit," Bones said and he sighed. "Look, I'm not agreeing on him disappearing on us like this but I know Jim. He'll need some time to sort through all of this. He's comfortable where he works. It's one of the few places he is."
Spock nodded but it didn't deter the worry he felt and he summarized that the feel would not evaporate until he could see Jim physically.
In their haste they reached Grind Me quicker than it would normally take from Jim's apartment. They strode in and the place was packed as usual. Bones scanned the place and spotted Jim with a PADD taking an order. Spock saw him too and moved ahead of him, weaving through the tables easily.
"Jim," Spock said when they reached him. His voice was even but both Bones and Jim could hear the underlying anger there.
Jim fiddled with his PADD, avoiding both their eyes. "Let me just finish this order and then we can talk."
"Very well," Spock said curtly and strode off to find them a seat at the back for some privacy.
Bones followed and sat in silence until Jim came to them, looking very much like a dog with his tail between his legs.
"What were you thinking taking off like that?" Bones growled once Jim was seated and ran the tricorder over Jim that he had taken out while they waited. "You could have collapsed again."
Jim looked at the table, picking at the edge with his thumbnail.
"I, too, agree with the Doctor's assessment," Spock said coolly. "You are also aware of the present danger surrounding you. I find it illogical that you would leave the safety of our protection."
"I may be slow but I can take care of myself," Jim huffed. "I don't need babysitting."
"Damn it Jim you no damn well we ain't baby sitting you," Bones growled. "We're concerned about and we care about you not ending up in a ditch."
Jim's shoulder's sagged. "I know you do."
"Captain Pike has requested your presence in his office this morning," Spock said. "We must not keep him waiting." He stood and waited for the others to follow his lead and led them out of the café.
Jim's early morning fears were slowly being confirmed as Spock remained silent on their walk to the academy. Jim kept his head bowed and entered Pike's office without complaint, taking the seat offered to him, noting how Spock remained standing off to the side.
"Jim," Pike greeted with a nod. "I wont' beat around the bush. You know that Kodos is alive."
"Yeah," Jim sighed. He plucked the mixed rubix cube off the desk and started fiddling with it automatically.
"Kevin and Tom have been notified as well," Pike said. "You are all being placed under protective custody as we believe Kodos will be targeting you for information."
"No shit," Jim snorted. "Kevin and Tom don't know anything though."
"I take it you do," Pike said.
Jim swallowed. He cast a quick glance at Spock who lips were in a thin, his eyes dark. He looked away and found Bone's eyes that were looking at him with silent encouragement.
"I was on the naughty list," Jim said, his voice sounding distant to his own ears. "Allergies. I was a hindrance to the already short supply of food. I was to be executed." He twisted the rubix cube, the colours blurring as he twisted it around and around. "I wasn't the only kid and we managed to run and hide ourselves. We were hungry and since I was the oldest I had to take care of them. I…." he swallowed around the vomit that was rising as he thought of the things he had to do to get them food. "I fed them. But there was a baby. She needed food."
A heavy hand clasped his shoulder sharply and Jim leaned into the anchor that kept in him reality. "I broke into Kodos' place. I knew he would have plenty of food. I searched his office and found something that was suspicious."
"What did you see, Jim?" Pike asked gently.
"The fungus. He had research of it and I took it. I thought if I could figure it out I could stop it," Jim said. "I was just so hungry." He shook his head. "I was nearly caught. I don't know how much Kodos saw of me, if he knew who I was. Kodos introduced the fungus. He wanted the perfect colony."
Silence followed his statement and he sighed. He looked down at the rubix cube and placed it on the table now completed. Puzzles had once been easy, something he could do before Taurus but now it just caused headaches when he thought about trying to solve them – another part of himself he had lost on that damn planet.
"We can assume that Kodos is after you because the fungus is back on the black market. With this is safe to assume he wants to continue he work," Pike said. "What did you do with his research?"
"We ate it," Jim said. "We didn't have anything else."
Pike nodded, his face looking older then Jim had ever seen. "I'll relay this information to Komack."
"So whose my security going to be?" Jim asked dully.
"I will be protecting you," Spock said.
Jim turned so fast in his seat that his neck cricked. "No you won't."
"Yes, I will," Spock said.
"Perhaps we should give you to a minute," Pike said, standing up and moving to the door giving them a pointed look as he did so.
Bones followed, muttering under his breath about 'damn fools'.
The office door sealed shut and Jim slumped back in his seat. "You can't want to protect me, Spock. Not after what you saw."
"Do not presume what I wish," Spock snapped. He crossed the room and fell to his knees in front of Jim, taking in his surprised look. "I will protect you from that monster until my dying breath. I refuse for you to suffer at his hand once more, not this time."
Jim took in a stuttering breath. "You said you liked me for me, for my mind. You can't mean that after what you saw in there. After what I did to myself."
Spock spread his hands on Jim's knees, slowly sliding his palm up his thighs. "My previous statement still holds truth. I find you fascinating and there is nothing in your mind that could deter these feelings I have for you." His hands continued to slid up Jim's thighs until they cupped his hips. Spock kneeled easily between them, his face inching closer to Jim's. "I do not know how to express myself in a way to make you understand the depths of what I feel for you. You alone have brought these emotions I did not think I could feel."
"You aren't disgusted at what you saw?" Jim asked in a small voice.
"No," Spock said truthfully. "I only saw your courage and outstanding bravery. Qualities I admire and saw the first time I met you. I will protect you, Ashayam, for now that I have you I will not let you go."
Spock did not blink as Jim stared at him, his blue eyes shimmering with emotion that he could not identify. Slowly, Jim lowered his lips to Spock's and he could feel the steady thrum of his emotions – painsorryexhaustedlovednotalonewanted
Spock, unable to help himself, deepened the kiss, dragging Jim forward by the hips.
Jim's arms rested on his shoulder to steady himself as he moaned softly as Spock's tongue flicked teasingly against his. He gasped as he felt a presence in the back of his mind a wash of want and need, of love and affection that was not his own. He cupped Spock's cheek with one hand, the other coming up to cradle the back of Spock's head. His thumb brushed Spock's ear and Jim was surprised to feel Spock shudder and his grip tightened on his hips. He made a mental not to file that reaction away for later.
Spock pulled back, his breathing uneven and lifted himself off the floor. "It would be inappropriate to continue this here."
"Yeah," Jim shifted as he felt tightness in his jeans and licked his lips. "No kidding. I do have to get back to work. There's a big party coming in tomorrow that I need to prepare for."
"I will escort you to work," Spock said.
"You're just going to watch me work all day?" Jim frowned.
"To ensure your safety, yes," Spock said.
Jim stood, looking thoughtful. "That means you'll be coming home with me, right?"
"Yes," Spock blinked.
A sly grin unfurled across Jim's lips. "Great. We can pick up where we left off." He pressed a quick kiss to Spock's slack lips and winked. "Come on, I have to get to work."
Spock swallowed thickly and followed his tease of a human.
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