Disclaimer: See Chapter One
I have no idea why I've continued starting off with a quote, but I like it! Hope you all do as well!
Thanks for the encouraging reviews!
"You do not know what you have until you nearly loose it."
Peace was in high demand and short supply on a star ship, and even more so when one was in the wake of James T. Kirk. Whether it was the gaggle of admirers on the planets below, the newly minted officers trying desperately to prove themselves or the pompous admirals who were constantly attempting to grind him into the dirt, Jim was the calm eye of the storm with chaos swirling around him. Of course it helped to have Bones and Spock by his side. They were a force of nature together. No one stood a chance when faced with their combined wrath. Jim was extremely happy that they were on his side…most of the time.
The situation had been remedied and the Admiralty had been mollified, and now Jim was finally able to check on Spock. Worrying over the fate of his First Officer was unnecessary when he was left in the ever capable hands of Bones, so the Captain had the piece of mind to be solely focused on the task at hand. It had been another reason for his ordering Bones to private duty with an injured Spock. Nodding to his relief, the young man raced down the hall to the turbo lift and then to Spock's quarters. He knew that Bones would have already moved Spock out of Med Bay, so he didn't need to waste time and frazzle CNO Chapel's nerves any more today.
Without requesting entrance, Jim punched in his code and breezed into the room. Bones and Spock were sitting on the couch, tea in their hand, Spock's was warm Vulcan tea and Bones' was iced lemon tea, with the most peaceful look on their features. To say the least it was unnerving, they were never this calm unless they had finally reached the stalemate of an argument and had agreed to turn their malicious powers on the next unsuspecting victim that walked by (which was more likely to be Jim than not). But their eyes did not hold any sign of a trap about to spring to life. They really looked calm, peaceful. "I'm glad to see you are feeling better, Spock." He smiled, eyes watching them like a hawk watching her prey. As if he noticed nothing unusual, Jim took a seat across from them.
Spock inclined his head. "I am well, Jim. Has the crisis been averted?" The calm in his voice was astonishing.
Rolling his eyes, Jim scoffed. "Of course the crisis has been averted. I'm not a child, I can do my job while you sit in here looking like you are either drugged or in love or some other crazy-ass thing that a Vulcan would never be." The Captain stood and walked to the replicator. There was something going on that he couldn't quite put his finger on – yet.
Behind his back, Bones looked as if someone had slapped him. Coughing, trying desperately to regain his composure, the physician paled. "Jim you don't have to be so crass. Just because you had work to do and Spock was recovering from saving your ass, yet again, don't mean you have to get your panties in a wad. A little hard work is good for the soul." Locking his inner turmoil away from the prying blue eyes that were glaring at him, Bones did his best to mimic Spock, not that he would ever admit to such a thing.
Abashed at his unfriendly retort, Jim ducked his head. "I didn't mean it that way, Spock. You just seem really different tonight, so unlike your usual self." He walked back to the chair holding his coffee with both hands, sinking down and stretching out his long legs. He might be able to not catch on to a human's emotional nuances, but a Vulcan's were like writing on the wall.
Spock having been completely silent through the whole exchange, not that it was the first time Leonard had saved him from responding to Jim's quicksilver tongue, raised an eyebrow. "I am not drugged, I assure you, Captain." Deciding it was for the best to simply not respond to the rest of his comment and nothing to do with the tiny spark of hope within him, Spock changed the subject. "What is our new course heading?" He sipped his tea, watching the blue and hazel eyes lost in their own thoughts.
Shrugging, Jim leaned back. "We are heading towards Andorian space. They are convinced that Vulcans are living on their moon and want the Enterprise to investigate." Jim laughed. "They take paranoid to a whole new level." Relaxing once more after his mishap, the blonde took a deep breath.
Bones rolled his eyes and Spock raised his eyebrow further. "It is impossible and highly doubtful that a Vulcan colony would exist on the Andorian moon. It is uninhabitable and would be much colder than my people prefer…" Spock stopped as Bones raised his hand.
Chuckling, the older human shook his head. "Spock, they are Andorians. Illogical is what they are. Give your processer a rest tonight, huh?" He took his empty glass back to the replicator rolling his eyes again.
With his mouth turned down in thought, Spock nodded. "I concur with your assessment of their race. I will not endeavor to refrain from overstepping the boundaries of 'small talk'." The Commander acquiesced easily.
Jim, who had been moving to join Bones at the replicator, dropped his coffee mug and spun to face the Vulcan. "You mean you are going to drop a 'how illogical are they' argument simply because Bones asked you to?" His blue eyes were wide open in shock, not even blinking as the words tumbled from his mouth in rapid succession.
Groaning as the cleaner bots raced around his legs to get to his best friend's mess, Bones put his hands on his hips watching the two but not bothering to get any closer. Tilting his head, Spock stared straight back into his Captain's eyes. "Yes." That one word was said with much conviction.
Blinking several times, his mouth hanging agape, Jim was momentarily speechless. Thinking back over the last few weeks, it seemed that Bones and Spock were getting closer. The arguments were less heated; the words were simply words, an act for calming tension that constantly enveloped their commanding officer. Jim no longer had to order them to spend time together or make Bones keep an eye on Spock. He knew his best friends well enough to know something had shifted their relationship, not enough to be Earth-shattering, but just enough to alter the air between them. It had no doubt been changing slightly for quiet some time, but until tonight Jim had not seen it. Even now reflecting back in those onyx eyes before him, a new light shone. "There might be something there that wasn't there before." He whispered into the quiet.
No surprise flickered on either face at the words. Bones chuckled and Spock raised an eyebrow. "Jim, I believe that you are heavily stressed after such a day. I think it best if you got some rest." He didn't go so far as to deny it.
The lack of words, or at least the lack of rebuttal, spoke volumes of the truth. Jim Kirk was not the youngest Captain in the Fleet because he was stupid. This was a precarious line drawn in the sand that neither Spock nor Bones had gathered enough courage to cross. Well, he sure wasn't about to look at that elephant in the room. "I believe this is one time I will not argue with the CMO's orders." Pushing himself up with his hands on his knees, Jim smiled down at Spock, a true smile of understanding and compassion. "Sleep well, Commander." Nodding to Bones, Jim left the room.
Taking a deep breath, Bones took his place beside Spock. That had gone surprisingly well. He had known that if anything had developed between the two that Jim would immediately take notice and he had not been disappointed. While he should not have been surprised, Bones was comforted that Jim was obviously supportive, of course that altered nothing for the moment. Sitting next to him, Spock was having similar thoughts. As Spock finished his tea, both men enjoyed the silent company of each other.
Finally, at their routine bedtime, Bones stood taking both his companion's cup to the replicator. Upon his return, he took Spock's wrist manually checking his pulse. "Is there anything you need before you bed down? Are you comfortable enough? Any pain?" The physician was pleased with his findings, returning Spock's hand to his lap.
Shaking his head negative, Spock stood and faced his friend. "I am well. Your skill is unsurpassed." A tiny smile tugging at his lips, the rush of affection from their skin to skin contact was like a drug.
Grinning like a bobcat, Bones chuckled. "You are damn right. Now, off to bed with you." He pointed Spock in the right direction before tugging off his boots and blue tunic. Spock brought back his usual sheets and blanket and assisted him with fitting them on the couch. "Thanks Spock." Bones gave a genuine smile.
Spock's eyes widened a fraction at the glimpse of warmth radiating from Bones' smile. "You are very welcome, Leonard." His eyes filled with an unnamed emotion, with an emotion that he would not utter aloud until the right time.
Knowing that it had been 5.5 seconds longer than a friendly meeting of the stares, Spock forced himself to turn away and head to his private chambers. "Good night." His voice was soft, addicting smooth. Bones watched the Vulcan leave, entranced by his emotional eyes and velvet voice before he brought himself back to reality and slipped under the covers.
Both men were accompanied by the sweet thrilled of acceptance of one so deeply cherished into their slumber.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
I'm really proud of this. I love having the odd-man-out of the trio get a glimpse at the love of the other two!
Please leave me a note and tell me what you think! Much love!