Not Mine, Never Mine, Usual Disclaimers.

Spock had seen Jim limping when he returned, he assumed that he had fallen while running, not as common nowadays as he gained coordination over his extra feet. But the captain had been walking crookedly, like there was more going on than a slightly sore leg. He had ignored dinner and gone to curl up in the closet, which was an unusual practice for Jim, preferring to sleep out in the open, he hadn't used the closet since his first few nights, preferring the company offered. Something was off. Opening the cupboard, he took in Kirk's curled up form, left foreleg held carefully so not to be jarred.

'You are hurt,' he could only conclude that something had happened at Nyota's.

Jim looked away and Spock realised that he wanted to be left alone. Spock gave him his space and tried to meditate. The whimpering from Jim wasn't helping and Spock abandoned meditation altogether when the howling began. Spock opened the closet and rested his palm on his friend's head. The images he picked up stirred something inside of him. Nyota had deliberately thrown something at the captain and injured him, hurting not just his body but his feelings as well. Kirk stopped howling and exerted a small snuffling sound instead. Spock wondered if the pup was crying. 'I'll get McCoy,' Spock promised.

He picked the pup up carefully and deposited him in the bathroom, before heading back out to comm. McCoy.

'McCoy, your assistance is required in my quarters immediately.'

'What happened to Jim?,' came the reply.

'Unclear,' Spock did not think it wise to tell the details over a comm. link.

Spock returned to the bathroom to find Kirk shaking where he left him.

'Do you need anything?'

Spock's question was answered when Kirk vomited. Spock grabbed a damp towel and cleaned up the pup, wrapping him in another, dry towel, and opened the other door in the bathroom and took Kirk back into his own quarters. Spock hoped that the familiar surroundings would help Kirk. Laying the towel on Kirk's bed, Spock watched as Kirk gave a half-hearted sniff of the covers before curling up on himself again. Spock heard the chime in his quarters, and went to answer it, he was beginning to worry about Kirk, there was something very wrong with him.

'Doctor,' he greeted in his usual manner.

McCoy looked around and Spock led him through the bathroom to Kirk's quarters. McCoy was gentle as he examined Kirk, muttering under his breath the whole while.

'What happened?'

'He went to see Lieutenant Uhura and came back like this.'

McCoy began to bandage Kirk's injured shoulder.

'Well, he has some swelling, and appears to be in shock, I'm not trained in animals so I can't be more specific. Make sure he drinks and try to get him to eat if you can. Keep an eye on him tonight, and I'll check-in in the morning. Call me if anything changes.'