"Leonard, after meeting a few times, I feel like we've grown a lot closer." Christine said, after dabbing her pink lips with a napkin. Leonard smiled at her and nodded, taking a small sip of his wine. He'd been enjoying their talks also, over the past few days. It was a nice escape from the reality for a while. "In light of our being closer, I was wondering, if... if you'd like to-"

"Bones!" Jim bursted into the picture, heaving Leonard up by the arms. "Medical emergency, now!"

"I'm so sorry, Christine-" he sputtered, feeling sorry for her as he was dragged away by Jim. Christine's shocked face turned into a sad one before Leonard had to turn around and watch where he was going. When they got out into the hall, he yanked his arm away from Jim to walk with him. "Who is it?"

"It's Spock-"

"What? No it's not." Leonard interrupted him, and stopped walking. If it was Spock, he would have felt it. "Jim, what're you doing?" Jim looked conflicted, before sighing. He visibly gathered his composure before speaking.

"The question is, what have YOU been doing?" Jim asked quietly, gesturing for Leonard to walk with him. The doctor glared, wondering what the hell kind of intervention-like conversation this was. Usually these were aimed towards Jim, not him. "It might not be a medical emergency, but it is Spock. You've kinda been... y'know, cheating on him. I know that you two are together still, but you've been seeing Nurse Chapel a lot. In very romantic settings, and-"

"Whoa. Hang on." Leonard stopped, grabbing Jim's arm to make them stop. "I needed some time away from Spock after our... encounter that one night. I was kind of freaked out. I've never done anything sexual with a man." He growled, trying to be quiet so that any passing ensigns wouldn't hear. "Christine has been nice enough to help me relieve some of that stress- and not in a romantic or sexual way. Our relationship is completely platonic! I can't help that she's pretty and that she invited me to some dinners!"

"That did not look platonic to me. Trust me, Bones, I know what women look like when they want more. Christine had desire written all over her!" Jim growled back, and Leonard shook his head.

"This isn't any of your business anyway, Jim. Just... stay out of it." Leonard walked away then, ignoring Jim when he called after him. He sighed and shook his head. This was definitely not the sort of stress-free escape that he'd been hoping for. Avoiding responsibilities (Spock) was hard work. Hopefully shore leave would fix that, causing for a more relaxing environment.

Spock had had about enough. With everything building up on him- the regular xenophobia from several ensigns, Leonard's precarious and ignorant behavior, Jim's meddling, work, et cetera- his walls were weakening with each day. He'd been through more in the past, seen things he'll never forget, but that didn't change the fact that he was fed up with it all.

Meditate, breathe, clear the mind... This has been his mantra, day after day since he was old enough to comprehend the words. And now? That's all he did.

Meditate. He sat in the traditional position, his posture immaculate, for many hours. Breathe. He inhaled and exhaled the deepest breaths of incense that his body would allow him, to contract the fresh positivity and to extract the old negativity. Clear the mind. He thought of nothing, focusing on his breathing, seeing the black abyss behind his eyelids.

When Spock could no longer smell the incense, he knew that it had been a while. When he heard his alarm, he knew that it had been all night. When he heard a soft knock on his door, he knew that he was almost late for work, and exceptionally behind schedule. He opened his eyes, told the computer to brighten the lights to 70%, and took a quick shower.

So began his day. Jim walked with him to the Bridge, and digressed from appointing Spock any tasks that someone else could take. For that, he was grateful. They ate all their meals in silence. When shift was over, they walked back together, and Spock retreated to his quarters for more meditation. Evidently Leonard was no longer committed to their twenty minutes together each day, as they had barely seen each other over the past week.

Taking a deep breath, he attempted to clear his mind. However, that was much easier said than done. His thoughts always returned to Leonard, no matter what. What he was doing, who he was with, how he was feeling... The speculations cluttered Spock's mind like a tsunami, constantly attacking his emotional barriers. But he could not afford to get emotional now. He had to build up his walls.

After an hour had passed, he snapped to attention when he felt pain accumulating in his hand. He surmised that Leonard must have hurt himself, and Spock's first instinct was to go running for the man. But what if he wasn't welcome? What if Leonard got mad about the bond, and an argument arose?

Spock stood and walked out the door, clenching his hands behind his back as his lungs cleared of incense and filled with the crisp air of the ship. They had shore leave to discuss, and he knew exactly what to do. Since it would be on Earth, Leonard would no doubt want to see his daughter, and Spock would accompany him. By spending time together, and with Joanna to assist, he presumed that Leonard would come to his senses about their relationship.

At Leonard's door, Spock knocked twice. He emptied his mind of all emotion, locking it all away behind his well-constructed walls, and walked in as soon as the door opened.

"Hey, don't just barge in here!" Leonard complained, and Spock stopped to face him, standing a few feet apart.

"I wished to discuss shore leave." Spock said, and continued talking before Leonard could object. "If I may, I should accompany you back to your home town, where we could visit Joanna." Leonard looked shocked for a short time before glaring at him.

"Why do you wanna go with me? Don't you have anywhere else?" Leonard asked, crossing his arms. Spock only stared at him.

"I have no home, Leonard." Spock said quietly, and Leonard's eyebrows twitched before his face softened.

"I know." He replied softly, rubbing his red knuckles. He had no doubt punched something, possibly out of anger. But what would he be angry about? "Joanna will be happy to finally meet you. In person, I mean."

"Indeed." Spock said, somewhat relieved that Leonard gave in to the idea without too much of a fight.

"Well... Is there anything else?" Leonard asked, and Spock almost answered. He almost asked about Leonard's activities with Nurse Chapel. He almost brought up their sexual interaction several days ago. But he kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to anger Leonard, making him change his mind about the shore leave.

"Nothing else. Goodnight, Leonard." Spock said primly, and exited the room.

He couldn't help but wish that shore leave would be the end of Leonard's rebellious behavior. However, he knew from his childhood, hope alone will never accomplish anything.

Leonard looked around, trying to see if there were other things to pack. It's not as if he really needed much of anything other than clothes, since hotels always provided everything anyone would ever need during their stay. He took a deep breath, and looked around the room. They wouldn't get to Earth until approximately 23:30, and it was 22:38 at present. Honestly, he was quite tired. Maybe he could take a little nap...

"Bones!" He jumped when he heard Jim grunting outside his door. He sighed and opened it, and Jim flew in with a big box in his hands. "Hey, I need you to take this care package for me. Give it to Joanna." Leonard gaped at him, and Jim set it on the floor with a thunk. The man grinned, wiping his forehead.

"What'n the hell are you givin' my daughter?!" Leonard exclaimed, circling in on the box. "And where'd you get it all from?" Jim just waved his hand and sunk down onto the bed.

"It's just all those birthday presents I forgot to give her for the past... oh... how old is she again?"

"Fourte-"

"Fourteen years!" Jim exclaimed, using wide hand gestures. "Over the past fourteen years, I've been trekking across galaxies just to get her the most-"

"Jim, you haven't even known her that long." Leonard said, sighing. Jim glared at him.

"Come on, Bones! Aren't you excited?!" Jim asked, bouncing himself on the bed. Leonard tried not to sigh again.

"I guess, since I get to see Joanna, but I'm really tired. I try to keep a regular sleeping schedule, and this is messing me up." Leonard grumbled, and Jim started laughing.

"Bones, I've seen you stay up late! What, are you getting THAT old?!" Jim said, still laughing. Leonard crossed his arms and glared at him.

"Just get out for a while, will you? I'd kill for a nap right now." Leonard said, and Jim hesitated. "Literally, kill." He threatened, making Jim drag himself off the bed.

"Fine, just be ready to leave when the time comes." Jim said, and disappeared out the door. Leonard took a deep breath, resisted opening the suspicious box, and flopped onto his bed. It didn't take too long before he drifted off to sleep.

Jim, Spock, and Leonard all met at the transporter room. Jim seemed excited for some vacation, but sad to depart from his beloved ship. Leonard was just relieved to get away from the work and drama. Spock- well, who knew with him?

Leonard tried to push away the sickening feeling he got from the energizing, and opened his eyes to see the bright blue skies of Earth. He immediately smiled, breathing in the crisp air. It was late January, so it was the tiniest bit chilly. Luckily, they were all beamed down near the Academy, right in San Francisco. It tended to be pretty warm there, so they weren't freezing.

They worked their way through the bustling people to find the means of transportation. Jim was going to Iowa to visit his old friends and maybe even see some family. Leonard hoped that it all worked out well for the kid, especially considering that his family was a bunch of assholes. Tarsus IV? The nerve of some people...