As soon as Spock stepped foot outside the door, he immediately regretted his decision. Was he being too hasty? It was quite sudden of him, and even Jim could tell that he was acting strange. Spock knew that he was making a bad, sudden decision. But he had already made it, and he was going to follow it through.
While he walked through the halls, he wondered why he suddenly decided that Jim was right about this. Then he realized that from the very beginning he was being illogical about the situation. Spock knew that he should have told McCoy long ago about all of this. He decided that his sudden bout of nonsensical thinking was due to being bonded with a human. His mother told him once that Sarek suffered some illogical thoughts soon after being bonded. She said that he recovered his sense after locking himself away to meditate for hours on end. Spock decided that he would take more time out of his daily regime for meditation.
For now, he would take his illogical human strength and make use of it. Spock knocked on McCoy's door, steeling his face.
Leonard groaned. Right when he was about to comm Christine to see if she was free tomorrow night, someone knocked on his door. All he wanted was some peace, was that too much to ask? He assumed it was Jim, though, so he went to the door and opened it. He was startled to find a stoic Vulcan standing there.
"Mister Spock." Leonard nodded and allowed the man in. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He said sarcastically, shutting the door. He couldn't help but feel annoyed that Spock was there, in his room, at this ungodly hour.
"Doctor, do you recall the events that took place the night when the crew indulged in alcoholic beverages?" Spock asked, prim and to the point. Leonard thought about that. The crew altogether did drink perhaps more than they ought to, but he guessed Spock was talking about that one night in particular.
"For the most part," Leonard said, turning around and grabbing his ice water that he had gotten earlier. He took a long drink. There was a lot of condensation on the glass, so he had to wipe his hand on his pants. "I was kinda surprised that you participated as well. Doesn't seem too Vulcan-y of you." He turned around to face the hard-faced Vulcan, and crossed his arms. "I only remember up until Chekov's little karate chopping accident." He chuckled, but Spock stayed stiff. He seemed kind of... off.
"You do not remember me accompanying you back to your quarters?" Spock asked, taking a step forward. Leonard frowned.
"No. What happened? We get into another fight that I don't know about?" Leonard asked, his patience drying up. "S'That why you been actin' so weird lately?" Spock took another step forward, invading his personal space and making him glare.
"Meld with me." Spock demanded, but then his features softened ever so slightly. "Please, Doctor." Leonard swallowed. Meld?
"Good God, man, just tell me what we fought about and be done with it!" Leonard said, walking away from the Vulcan. He was starting to feel really nervous about the whole situation. He didn't know why, but he felt a sense of impending doom.
"McCoy." Spock said, and Leonard swallowed again. He didn't want to make the man angry, but he didn't wanna touch minds with the guy either. "I merely wish to show you memories." Spock said quietly, as if sensing Leonard's doubts. Man must've been a mind reader or something. Damn Vulcans and their voodoo. He sighed.
"Fine. Do it." Leonard said, and Spock stepped in front of him. The Vulcan placed his fingers on the appropriate places, and spoke.
"My mind to your mind,"
'My thoughts to your thoughts.'
Then, Leonard watched as it all played out for him like a movie, only it was all in Spock's point of view. He saw himself, drunk beyond compare, stumbling along to his room with Spock's help. Then he started feeling. The room was dark. He felt what Spock felt, and watched his silhouette touch him and pull at his clothes. He watched the rough, violent, and dirty sex that played out before him. He had Spock's perception of time, and saw just how long the events played out for. In the end, he saw himself sleeping, and Spock left no trace of him being there before he left.
Leonard was jerked back into reality, and he fell backwards onto the couch. He started sweating as he tried to decipher what happened. He shook his head. "That's... That's not possible. That must've been a dream or something..." Then, he noticed that his own memories were coming back to him. He looked at the floor and the bed and realized that he and Spock had sex there. "Get out." Leonard said quietly, raking a hand through his hair and rubbing his face. When Spock didn't move, Leonard yelled at him. "GET OUT!" He rested his head in his hands, and heard Spock exit the room.
"I'm pissed off, Jim. What do you expect? For me to get married to the guy and live happily ever after?!" Leonard paced his office, Jim sitting down and watching him.
"Look Bones, he means well-"
"Then why didn't he tell me about it earlier, huh? Ever think of that? Why didn't he just wake me up right then and there and said 'I am sorry to inform you, Doctor, that we have slept together' huh? Why didn't he do that?!" Leonard picked up his empty coffee mug and threw it against the wall, making it shatter on the floor.
"Bones, please." Jim stood up and grabbed Leonard's face in his hands. "Calm. Down. He didn't tell you before because he knew you would act like this. He wanted to soften you up first, like on that desert planet, but you shut him down out there. You've always been shutting him down! He doesn't know how to deal with this kind of bond with you either! You know important bonds are to Vulcans, damn it Bones!" When Jim got done yelling at him, he dropped his hands and backed away. Leonard blinked.
"Bond?!" Leonard shouted, and Jim looked like a deer caught in headlights. "What. Bond. Jim." Leonard stepped over and grabbed Jim's shirt. "WHAT. BOND."
"Hold on, Bones, hold on." Jim held up his hands. "I thought Spock would have told you that after he explained what happened That Night." Jim said imploringly, and Leonard let go of his shirt.
"He couldn't have told me..." He muttered, rubbing his temples. "I told him to get out right after..." At that, Jim completely deflated.
"You've gotta be- okay, okay, fine." Jim said, visibly giving up. "Alright. We can work this out. Listen, I'll tell him that you already know about the bond, so he won't try to get on your back again to explain that part to you. In the meantime... This is Captain's Orders, you know, so you better do it." Jim said, standing up straighter. Leonard rolled his eyes, too angry to even speak by this point. "Take some time for yourself. Figure things out. Hell I'll even give you tomorrow off if it'll make it so you're not throwing coffee cups around." Leonard took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay. Thank you, Jim." He muttered, clenching his jaw. Jim nodded, and walked out of the office. Leonard ran a hand across his face. What was he to do now? He saw someone out of the corner of his eye, and looked over to see Christine in the doorway. "Christine," Leonard swallowed, hoping she didn't hear anything. She smiled at him.
"Leonard, I'm sorry." She said, still smiling despite herself. "It seems as though you're taken." Leonard frowned.
"No, wait, this doesn't mean anything!" He said hastily, walking over to her. She shook her head.
"I know, Leonard." She breathed, "But Spock won't say the same. You two are bonded now. I know what that means. It was fun, Leonard." She smiled up at him, and leaned forward. She kissed his cheek, and he didn't know how to react. "I'll see you around." With that, she left him there. He went back to his desk and sat, wondering what to do next.
It was dinner time again, and everyone was at the table. Even Leonard and Spock, who were both ignoring each other (which in all honesty, wasn't too different from normal). Jim and Spock sat next to each other again so that they could whisper.
"Jim, what did you do?" Spock whispered vehemently in Jim's ear, his patience quickly feeling him. At Jim's evasive look, Spock continued. "I felt his anger through the bond." Jim's lip twitched into a smile.
"Ah, so the baby started cryin', huh?" Jim smiled and patted Spock's head. "It's okay, daddy's here." Jim could feel McCoy's eyes on them, so he gave the best show. "You need a kiss to make our baby feel better?" He laughed, and Spock grabbed his wrist.
"This is not the time for play, Jim." Spock said quietly, his jaw clenched. Jim sighed.
"Look, Spock, I'm trying to eat. We can talk about it later." Jim muttered, but Spock got into his space and growled in his ear.
"What did you say to him to make him so overwhelmed with anger." He demanded, and Jim sighed.
"I... told him about the baby." Jim whispered, and Spock's eyebrow twitched. Jim started panicking. "It's okay, he'll get over it." He saw Spock's jaw clench so hard he was afraid he was going to break his face like that. Right when he was going to say something, Spock gripped his water so hard that the glass cup broke in his hand. His green blood seeped onto the table from the various cuts the glass left. "What is it with you people and breaking glass cups?!" Jim complained, and Leonard stood up abruptly.
"Damn it, man." Leonard growled and grabbed a a cloth napkin. He (very roughly) grabbed Spock's hand and (very tightly) wrapped the napkin around it. "Go to your quarters and clean the wound. Don't use that hand for a while." He ordered, but Spock just stared at him. Leonard glared at him. "Now." He demanded, and Spock stood up and walked off. Jim's eyebrows rose to his hairline, but Leonard pointed at him and said "Don't." Jim held up his hands and returned to his food. Suddenly, everyone handed money to Sulu.
"Yep, see, I knew it!" Sulu announced. Jim glared everyone down, and Leonard looked at Jim angrily.
"It was all them, Bones, I had no-" Jim tried, but Leonard just shook his head and walked away. Jim sighed. All he ever wanted to do was help. How come that never worked?!
"Spock and Len?" Uhura said, laughing into her napkin. "I never would've seen that coming..." Jim sighed.
"It didn't. And it probably won't." Jim said, and everyone looked at him for an explanation. He gave up. They'd have to know at some point, right? No secret and stay a secret on the Enterprise, right? "Listen. This doesn't leave the group." Jim spoke quietly, and everybody leaned in. "Spock accidentally formed a bond with Bones. Bones didn't find out until today, and he is NOT happy about it. Granted Spock isn't too happy about it either, but... He's trying." Jim glanced at Uhura, but she only nodded.
"I was really angry about Spock ending our relationship without explanation a while ago, but," she said, taking a deep breath. "I'm glad that I know why now. And honestly, I'm happy for him. He might not be happy about being bonded with Leonard, but he's finally bonded with SOMEone. And that's what really matters here." She smiled, and everyone nodded.
"Vell, ve know vat ve need to do!" Chekov said excitedly. "Ve need to-"
"No." Jim cut in. "I'm sorry, Chekov, but we need to leave this to them. It might take a long time, but they need to work things out themselves." Everyone nodded in agreement, even though Chekov looked a little disappointed. Jim smiled at him and pat his back. Kid was sure cute sometimes.
The next few days passed normally. Spock's hand healed crazy fast because of his Vulcan voodoo, and he and Leonard hadn't talked since. And honestly, Leonard was perfectly okay with that. It's almost like he could forget.
And what was even better, was when Joanna video called him at work. Sure, he was at work and shouldn't have been taking calls like that, but he'd sacrifice anything to talk to his daughter.
"Jo-Jo! How are you?!" Leonard smiled brightly, feeling happier than he had since the last time he saw her.
"I'm great, dad!" Joanna laughed happily. She was beautiful, just like her mother. Lucky her, she barely got anything from Leonard. "How are YOU?"
"I'm... I'm okay, honey." Leonard said, trying to keep his smile. "So how's your mother? She still doin' good?"
"Uh-huh! She got a new boyfriend. He's actually pretty nice." She said, still smiling. "But he ain't gonna replace you, daddy." Leonard grinned at that. Joanna was a pretty good kid.
"I'm glad, honey. How's school goin'? You still friends with uh, what's-her-face?"
"Yes, Cecilia!" Joanna laughed. "But she only spends time with her boyfriend now, so lately I've been hanging out with Sarah." Leonard nodded.
"Ah, boyfriends. You have one yet?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No!" Joanna said a little too quickly, so Leonard gave her The Look. "Well, there is someone I like... Can we please not talk about that right now?" Leonard laughed and nodded. "Hey... How about you? You got any girlfriend?"
"Nah, I'm the same as ever..." Leonard sighed, not even considering telling her about his bond with Spock. "I was seeing one of my nurses for a while, though. She's a pretty nice lady, but we... didn't work out."
"Oh. Well, I hope you find someone soon." Joanna said, looking hesitant. "You know, dad. I really want you to be happy again. And even though we can't talk much, I know you. You never open up to anyone! Please try, dad." Leonard looked at her pleading eyes and smiled.
"I know, honey. I know." He opened his mouth to say more, but there was a knock on his doorway. Spock was standing there, so Leonard turned back to the screen. "Hey, I got a patient I need to take care of." He smiled sadly.
"No! I wanted to talk longer!" Joanna complained, and Leonard sighed.
"Alright... Christine!" Leonard called out, and she immediately popped up next to Spock in the doorway. He beckoned her over. "Hey, can you entertain Joanna while I talk to him?" Leonard asked, and Christine nodded.
"Yes! I've always wanted to meet her!" Christine said excitedly, and she sat in Leonard's chair. He walked over to Spock, appreciating how excitedly Christine was talking to his daughter.
"Watcha need?" Leonard asked, crossing his arms. Spock hesitated.
"Doctor, I had wished to discuss our..." Spock paused, then lowered his voice considerably. "Our bond. There is no point in postponing such a discussion." Leonard scowled at the floor.
"Yeah, I guess not." He sighed, and looked at the wall where he threw his coffee mug. There was a small mark there. "Meet me in my quarters in a half an hour."
"I had anticipated that Joanna would want to speak with you longer than that." Spock said, raising an eyebrow.
"Thanks for carin', but honestly, I'm tired and she has school tomorrow. As much as I love talkin' to her, we got years for that." Leonard said, and Spock nodded.
"May I... wait in here while the two of you converse?" Spock asked. Leonard very deeply wanted to send him away, but he had an "impression" that Spock very deeply wanted to stay. He sighed deeply and gestured towards the chair opposite where Christine was sitting. He walked back over to his desk and put his hand on Christine's shoulder. She smiled at him and said goodbye to Joanna, and he took her place.
"Thanks Christine." He smiled at her, and she nodded and left. He'd be lying if he said he didn't still have have some feelings for her.
"Hey daddy!" Joanna smiled. "Was that the lady that you were seein'?" Leonard shifted in his chair, uncomfortable with Spock sitting across from him (and staring at him, no less).
"Yeah, she was." He yawned, tapping his finger on his desk. He could have killed for some nice coffee right then. Really killed. Spock got out of his chair, but Leonard ignored him.
"She was really nice. And pretty." Joanna said, blushing. That made Leonard smile. There was a sound in the background, and Joanna said, "Mom's home. It sounds like she brought her boyfriend too." Leonard nodded, then he thought of something.
"Hey, honey, do any of Jocelyn's boyfriends ever... you know... mistreat you?" Leonard asked seriously, and Joanna's eyes got wide.
"No! Never! I don't really meet them that often. I try to stay in my room most of the time." She said, and Leonard nodded. A mug appeared in front of him, and Spock sat back down. The mug had hot coffee in it, and Leonard frowned at Spock. The Vulcan just stared back at him.
"That's good." Leonard drank some of the coffee, and immediately felt better. "I had to ask." He smiled at her.
They talked for the next forty-five minutes, before he and Spock made their way back to his quarters. Leonard felt a little bad for making Spock sit through almost an hour of him obsessing over his daughter, but he was the one that wanted to be there in the first place. He felt much better after drinking the coffee, he almost forgot why they were even going to his quarters together in the first place. Until they actually got there, and Spock started talking.
"First, do you have any questions about the bond?" Spock asked, and Leonard shrugged, getting himself a glass of whiskey. He saw Spock eyeing the alcohol, but thank god didn't say anything.
"I wouldn't really know what to ask. I don't know what it means. I ain't as Vulcan savvy as M'Benga." Leonard said, drinking some whiskey. There was a pretty deep burn, but he was used to it. Spock swallowed hardly and cleared his throat.
"Perhaps the most important thing applicable to the both of us," Spock said, visibly uncomfortable, "is that we can feel each other's pain. It is not quite the same pain as when you feel it yourself, however." At Leonard's confused look, Spock walked to the table and slapped it with his hand. Leonard flinched, and grasped his own hand. He could feel the pain, but he knew that it wasn't really there. He just KNEW that it was Spock's, somehow.
"Alright..." Leonard said, putting his hand against the icy drink. "What else?" He was kind of regretting this conversation.
"We are aware of each other's emotions, if they are strong enough." Spock said, and Leonard nodded. "However, I am much more susceptible to your emotions and impressions than you are mine. For example, I felt your desire for coffee, but you cannot feel my desires." Leonard nodded again. So that's how Spock knew he wanted coffee earlier. "Also, since our minds are linked by the bond, our actions can sometimes be... duplicated."
At that, Leonard frowned. Did that mean that he could be controlled? He didn't like the sound of that. "Example?" He asked, and Spock nodded.
"If I thought of carrying out an action, but did not, you might do the action instead. It would not be carried out by either of us, however, if we did not desire it. For example..." Spock stopped talking, and Leonard almost knocked his whiskey out of his own hand. He raised an eyebrow at Spock. "I am perfectly willing to remove the beverage from your hand, but I did not. You did not want to knock it out of your hand, but you did feel the desire to." Leonard frowned again. This was getting complicated.
"I assure you that it will not take too much of an impact on your daily life, as you have been living somewhat normally with the bond for some time now." Spock said, and that comforted Leonard a tiny bit.
"Okay. What else?" Leonard asked, drinking some more of his whiskey. He noticed Spock's discomfort at the burn this time, and smirked. This MIGHT just be fun. He threw back the rest, and took an evil pleasure in Spock's dirty look.
"There is nothing else at this moment," Spock said, and Leonard gave him The Look.
"Right now? What's that s'posed to mean?" He asked.
"It means, that if you wish to finish rooting the bond in our minds, there will be more effects. If you choose that course of action, however, there would be no turning back." Spock said, sounding rather ominous. Leonard scoffed.
"Yeah, not likely to happen, I'm fine with this." Leonard said, and sat down on the couch. "Is that it? Can we go back to our daily lives now? Can we start seein' other people again?"
"No." Spock said, and walked closer to him. "I cannot allow you to start 'seeing other people.' Such a thing would cause me to feel... much anger." Leonard scowled at him, but he could feel hints of Spock's anger through the bond. It made him angry. Not that Spock's anger was making him feel angry, he was angry because of the bond. It was all just incredibly inconvenient. "Ideally, we would form a relationship, as is Vulcan custom. However, I know that you are opposed to that idea, so I will not ask that of you." Leonard nodded. At least Spock could respect that. "I will ask that we... not 'see' other people. Also, I would much appreciate it if we were to spend at least twenty minutes with each other every day- not including meals or anything dictated by work."
Leonard hesitated at that, but then he realized that it wasn't that much to ask. Twenty minutes a day? That wasn't too bad. "Okay, fine. Is that all?" He looked up at the Vulcan, who nodded.
"I will let you retire for tonight." Spock said, walking to the door. "I will see you tomorrow." He left, and Leonard leaned back on the couch and sighed. This was going to be a major pain in his ass.
Author's Note: I will be accepting requests/ideas for their little play dates. I will give you credit if you give me an idea. Thank you for reading, and please review if you like it!