Words: A Star Trek Drabble Series

By EveryDayArtist


Chapter Two

Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.

–Fran Lebowitz


Lieutenant Commander Spock walked towards the observation deck, allowing himself to relax slightly in the near solitude of the night shift. In the last hour and a half the Vulcan had seen only a handful of crewmembers and had been left to wander the darkened halls with only his thoughts for company. He walked through the doors and stopped in surprise at the sight of the figure silhouetted by the low-lit lights. He hesitated, loath to interrupt someone else's privacy but was relived of the decision by the quiet voice that carried over the floor.

"Are you going to come in Mr. Spock, or just stand there?"

Somewhat unsettled by the familiar voice, Spock found himself walking forward to stand next to his captain. James Kirk was staring out the view screen, arms resting on a railing and eyes straight ahead even as his subordinate joined him. The young man looked exhausted and Spock felt a strange sensation in his chest that he was feeling more and more often and had yet to diagnose. He, for possibly the first time in his life, felt the silence weigh on the room and felt a need to intervene. "Shouldn't you be resting, Captain?"

Jim smiled wearily. "I'm afraid that 'resting' merely brings nightmares Mr. Spock. D'you have nightmares?"

The Vulcan blinked and stiffened slightly, bringing his hands behind his back. "No, Captain."

"I am impressed." The young captain sighed. "Vulcans are so logical that even nightmares cannot break through. I think I may actually be jealous.

"I am actually half human." Spock wasn't sure why he said it but the truth just slipped out of his mouth.

Jim's eyes widened and he finally turned to make eye contact with the half-Vulcan. "I'm sorry, I wasn't aware."

"I… do not make it public knowledge since it seems unimportant in my duties."

"I understand. None the less, thank you for telling me." The captain pulled away from the railing and took a deep breath. "Look, I should be telling you this in a more formal setting but I wanted to give you a heads up." He turned to face him head-on. "I talked to StarCommand and you're going to be promoted to full commander and I'm making you my second in command."

"Captain?" It wasn't often that Spock was a loss for words but this had completely thrown him for a loop.

"I mean it's ridiculous that you haven't been promoted yet. You have to be one of the most capable officers I've ever met."

"Captain, I-"

"Don't worry, I've informed them that you're more than able to continue your Science Officer duties as well. Shouldn't be too difficult for you, you seem to be bored any way. I also know you love, sorry poor word choice, your science projects so-"

"Captain." Spock's voice level didn't change but his tone startled Jim enough to stop the younger man's babbling. "I do not understand. I am aware that it is vital to maintain the chain of command but I do not understand why I am your first choice.

Jim turned back to the railing and looked out at the stars. "Bones was always saying that Gary and I were too alike, that we didn't present enough of a challenge to one another. I loved Gary, he was my best friend but…" He pressed his forehead to the glass and let out a shaky breath. "Back there, when you told me to kill him I was… I think I hated you. But you were right and because I didn't, people died. You and I are so different but I trust you. I really trust you for some bizarre reason. I trust you to tell me what you think even if it's not what I want to hear."

Spock stood silently as the man's words sank in. His captain trusted him, more than he did others on board. And, for some strange reason, he trusted the man in turn. He'd thought the human too young, too over confident to be a good leader. His thoughts had seemed confirmed with the whole ordeal but when he'd looked at the man who had beamed back onboard the ship, bloodied and exhausted, his eyes had been different. They were tired, bleak.

Spock slowly moved to stand nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with his captain. "…I am… Pleased to accept your offer."

Jim smiled weakly. "Thank you Spock. I'm…" He laughed and ran a hand over his face. "I am so very glad you are willing to do this. I admit that earlier I was worried you'd want to transfer to a ship with a saner Captain." He laughed again but it was a pained sound.

It was an offhand remark, but made him seem very vulnerable. Spock knew that he could brush it off and continue the formal relationship that they had perfected because Jim would never pressure him to act in any way that would compromise his heritage. He could stop any threat of compromise right there. There was no reason to encourage him.

"I believe the correct phrase would be, 'Where's the fun in that'?"

Jim's face blanked for a second before a huge, real smile spread across his face for the first time since his friend's death. Spock felt strangely unrepentant for his flip remark. Somewhere along the line, the happiness of this young man had become important to him.

Fascinating.


It's too emotional isn't it? It is. Isn't it? Dangit, I'm tired as hell so if these start to get weird, sorry.

Did Jim know about Spock's parentage at this point? I'm not sure.