Vokaya Halan
A/N: I've really got to start updating on time, huh? I know its a wee bit of an ask, but could you, ya know, if you have time, review? Please? With a cherry on top? And also if you guys were wondering, I don't have any rights to Star Trek, ya know, cause I own it as much as I do the weather, while I'm compelled to talk about it, I don't own it, nor take rights to what said weather does. But yeah, plese review, even if its to theortically to throw things at my head? ...Hmm...On that hating note, I really should do a who's on my list of people I hate, there's only a few, I think either Marcus or Khan can fight each other out for top space though, because I'm not really too sure who I hate more. Thoughts? Who do you guys hate in this fandom? This fandom being either the series in general or just specific to this story, because either way those two can duke it out. I'mma stop ranting now, and go find a trio of ducks.
Chapter 3 – Two's School
Jim did not wake up throughout the night.
It was early hours of sun break when he heard differently.
"…Spock…?" A small voice called.
Spock's eyes flew open to see Jim sitting up, looking a little frightened, which passed when he saw that Spock opened his eyes.
"Jim, are you well?" Spock asked, getting off the floor and facing him standing up. Jim had also confessed to 'not being a morning person', once when he was hailed in the early hours by Starfleet, not at all looking like he usually did; he recalled as he watched Jim groan as he brought one hand up to rub his eyes.
"Thoug't I w's dreamin'." Jim said; it took a minute longer for Spock to translate Asleep-Jim into Standard.
"Why would you have dreamt you had landed on another planet without cause?" Spock asked; he himself had yet to provide a plausible conclusion.
"It seem'd a bet'r idea then 'idin'," Jim retorted with a yawn, but stopped rubbing his eyes and finally took in his surroundings, and blinked. "Oh hey, where are we?" He asked without missing any wordings.
"We are in my room at my parent's house." Spock told.
However, Spock didn't form into his mind that the notion would completely frighten and terrorise Jim, as the boy quickly looked to the only bed, and near on jumped out of it.
"I am so sorry, I took your bed!" Jim said terrified.
Spock blinked, as if emotionally someone had just mentally pulled a freight train over him. He didn't understand Jim's reaction. But Jim could stand, albeit he was trembling.
"Do not apologise when there is no need." Spock replied. Jim needed not apologize for any of this situation.
Jim frowned and still looked uneasy. "Still a pretty shitty move, you could not go to sleep." Jim muttered, however, Spock heard him.
"I do not require as much sleep as you do, Jim, it is only—"
"You still had to sit on the floor!" Jim parried.
"I would have preferred you have the bed to rest on even if you were conscious, Jim, I was meditating, the type I was practicing requires one to sit for periods of time." Spock tried to explain to keep Jim calm. He couldn't formulate how Jim would react with his mother. Not even trying to with his father; or any other Vulcan for that matter, (his Elder-self excluded, of course; Jim had on various occasions worked better with the two versions of himself then that of any other Vulcan he had the chance to meet).
"Still would have been more comfortable sitting on the bed." Jim mumbled in self-depreciation
Spock blinked. This had to stop.
"Jim, quiet," Spock started in a firm voice that always got his friend to quieten, and it did the trick this time as well. "You do not need to apologise for my lack of sleeping arrangements, I would not have used them in the previous night as the type of meditation I used requires sitting, and I have always found the floor a better place for such matters. In any case, I felt more at ease having you slept away from such matters that would concern your welfare." Spock announced.
Spock waited for the outpour of emotions. He knew it was coming; Jim was too emotional with currents not to. However; Spock wasn't expecting him to cry. Tears alarmed him greatly. At such tears, mental shields immediately went up. What he expected less (in hindsight, he probably should have expected it over the tears) was Jim hugging him (while crying at the same time).
His friend with memories had never hugged him, only occasionally slapped/patted his shoulder with a grin. This boy did not know of Vulcan boundaries that differed from Human.
Spock found himself not caring the slightest as he brought his arms around Jim to comfort him more, and he felt Jim nuzzle into him; which Spock understood meant he was doing a good job of that.
"It will be well, Jim." Spock murmured into his hair, and he felt Jim nod slightly as if he only believed Spock, had it been anyone else he wouldn't have.
"Are you hungry?" Spock asked, not knowing last when the boy ate properly.
Jim blinked. "…You'll give me food?" He asked as if trying to detect sarcasm or deceit.
"Vulcans do not lie." Spock reminded, not showing how disturbed he was that Jim thought he wouldn't be given food. "However, I am doubtful I can find anything you like."
Jim blinked then seemed to grin. "Lead the way!"
Spock knew his mother had Terran food somewhere in the kitchen, Spock would rather not 'play the devil' and feed Jim Vulcan food without McCoy to check if any and all foods he would try did not contain any allergens new to Jim (Spock knew all to date. However, Jim had never tried Vulcan food). Jim had found a miraculous way to be allergic to typically most new foods tried on the new worlds he visited. Spock wasn't about to try him with Vulcan food could he give him Terran, without McCoy around with his usual array of hypo-sprays to save Jim's life.
Spock looked to the food stores with a frown, he had never seen his mother get or put away her Terran food, but he had seen her eat it. He was dimly aware of Jim sitting in the nearest chair to him at the table, watching closely both Spock and his surroundings. If Spock was into gambles and bets, he would have bet that any other person, (be they either Human or Vulcan) Jim would run and hide behind him, and possibly cling to him in fear.
Spock was sure he didn't like Jim so frightened and scared. He turned to Jim.
"Jim, I feel compelled to tell you that I live with my parents, they will not harm you." Spock said in measure, Jim nodded. "I may have to ask my mother where she put her Terran food." Spock voiced, hating to rely on his mother for Jim's welfare.
"When will they come?" Jim asked, fumbling with what words to say instead of 'wake up', assuming Spock's parents didn't sleep either.
Spock looked to the chronometer. "Father had already left. Mother will arise shortly." Spock announced; walking over to Jim, leaving the search for food until his mother showed him where she kept it.
Jim went straight as a board when Amanda entered the room and watched fearfully. Spock stood near to Jim, as much so the child could reach and grasp him should he want to.
Amanda smiled. "There you are. Hungry…?"
Spock nodded. "I was unsuccessful at finding your Terran food, mother."
Amanda blinked, "…My—? Oh…!" She walked over to the food storage unit only to reach up high and to the back to pull out a container. Pulling out a PADD, and pressing buttons she then went over to the replicator to pull out an array of Terran fruit.
Spock was immediately alarmed at seeing strawberries.
"Banana…!" Jim cried and took said banana and happily munched away to both others surprise.
Spock discreetly took away all allergens Jim was allergic to when his mother was fusing over a plate for Jim, while trying not directly look at Jim eating with his hands.
"Well, that worked." Amanda said faintly as the plate was cleared of only the banana, and strangely didn't notice the lack of strawberries. "Would you like more?" She asked as she giggled.
Jim blinked. "I can have more?"
Amanda gave a strange-tortured look and went over to replicate more bananas. "You can have as much as you like while you are staying in this house." She said giving him a plate full.
Jim blinked with eyes ablaze. "Thanks!"
Amanda also gave Vulcan's version of fruit to Spock with the exception she gave him cutlery. Jim didn't remark about that, and occasionally asked shyly for more fruit, as if just waiting for Amanda to say no to him and ignore him. Never once asking for things he was aware of being allergic to. Which Spock was grateful for as he had yet to decide what to do with the strawberries he had.
Amanda later found the handful of strawberries on Spock's plate and silently wondered how they got there and when.
"Jim." Spock started and said boy looked to him. "I have to go to school—" at this Jim's eyes widened fearfully. "You will not be alone; my mother will be here with you." Spock quickly said seeing the expression.
"That's right." Amanda's voice said from behind Jim, making him jump in fright. "Sorry dear! I often forget when I'm talking to humans."
Jim frowned at this as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of the statement.
"Vulcan's have a higher range of hearing; they would have heard her come in before she spoke." Spock clarified for Jim.
Spock watched carefully and stood very still as Jim looked to his ears carefully with his head to one side.
Jim had always been curious about his ears; making comments about them whenever he could.
"…Awesome; they would come in handy."
…Was Jim's response.
And that was that.
"I'll tell you his progress on your break, and once you get home." Amanda promised quietly, knowing Jim was present.
Spock nodded. "Farewell, mother," He said then turned to Jim. "Farewell, Jim, I will return." He said for good measure.
Jim looked up form pretend-drawing on the counter with his fingers; he came around to Spock and looked a little uneasy; as if perhaps he did not believe Spock would return.
Spock immediately hugged Jim fiercely, ignoring his mother's gasp.
Jim returned the favour.
"I will return, Jim." Spock said softly, a little muffled from Jim's neck area.
Jim nodded.
"I'll be here." Jim said in a small voice in return to what Spock had said.
Amanda turned to Jim, who flinched seeing her look to him.
"Well! What shall we do…?" She asked.
Jim blinked. "….Do you have puzzles?"
Amanda beckoned Jim to follow and she went over to where she kept Spock's old child puzzles and pulled one down for him and gave it to him.
Jim gingerly took it from her and sat on the floor, and pulled the pieces apart in silence.
Seeing Jim uncomfortable with her presence she decided it best she removed it.
"I'll leave you here, if you don't want me to stay. Shall I come and get you when I can talk to Spock?"
Jim looked up at the offer, and nodded.
"I'll stay here." He said in a small voice.
"And, I'll be in the next room if you need me." Amanda nodded and left to the next room. Knowing very well she could still hear him from that room, in case anything went wrong. She took hold of her PADD as she sat down at the table, looking for signs someone, somewhere was missing Jim.
Amanda looked up, not even half hour had passed when she heard a scuffle by the door; only to see a little head poking through it and looking at her shyly.
She blinked. "Yes…?"
"…Are…Are there anymore puzzles…?" He asked, almost looking like he wanted to be invisible for asking.
Amanda blinked again, and got up.
In the half hour he had finished all the Terran puzzles and lined them up neatly and finished. She hadn't even heard him get them down from the shelf.
Amanda blinked in amazement and looked to Jim, who noticed and shrank back.
"I'm sorry! Was I not meant to touch the others?" Jim asked alarmed.
Amanda quickly shook her head. "No, no. I am amazed you finished them all."
Jim blinked. "…Is that bad…?"
Amanda shook her head. "No." She replied and he visibly looked relieved. Amanda then pulled down the box full of Vulcan puzzles. "This might try you better."
Jim nodded and took the puzzles to the floor with him and pulled the pieces out. Amanda was silently amused, and she made her way back to her PADD in the next room.
There was still no one looking for Jim.
Amanda got up; absolutely flawed that Jim could be this quiet. She knew Human children weren't quiet at all. She poked her head through to see him. Jim was still on the floor with the puzzles. He sported a frown, but he was silent; Jim was side on to her, and had not noticed her observing him. There was suddenly a loud grumble noise, which made Jim flinch.
"Shh…!" He said quietly, looking down and covered his stomach, and gave it a little hit as if to make it stop making its hunger known.
Amanda blinked. He was hungry, but he wasn't acting on it.
"Jim." She called, making him flinch and looked to her, with a looked that portrayed a scared little boy. "I'm about to eat, will you join me?" She asked politely.
Jim blinked. "You'll let me have food?"
Amanda flinched, if she ever found his parents, she would give them hell. "I will, but you can't eat on the floor."
Jim's whole face lit up as he smiled and quickly got up and came over to her. "Can I have banana again?" He asked, hopefully.
Amanda chuckled as she led him through the house, and he made his way to where he had sat before. "Of course, you can have whatever you like."
"…Really…!? Like…like—pasta? I can have pasta!?" Jim asked.
Amanda chuckled again; it seemed food solved Jim's problems momentarily.
She placed a bowl of pasta down.
"Thanks!" He said politely, picking up the fork and eating. Amanda chuckled again and gave herself some pasta.
"I think I'll have some of that." She said agreeing.
Jim giggled as she sat down next to him, almost as if he was happy.
"Ma'am…?" Jim asked, looking to her, after he placed his fork into the empty bowl.
Amanda blinked. "You can call me Amanda, dear."
Jim nodded, quickly reverting back to being shy. "…Amanda…?" He asked in a small voice.
"Yes, Jim…?" She replied.
"When's Spock gonna come back?" Jim asked.
Amanda smiled. "Soon," she replied, "he gave his word, did he not?"
Jim nodded. "Yeah…! And…'Volcans' don't lie!" Jim said, confusing his words from his memories.
Amanda chuckled as she stood up to clean the bowls. "Vulcan, dear," She corrected.
"Right…" Jim said. "When's soon?"
Amanda near on laughed as she turned to clean the bowls via sonic. "When the sun comes down from the sky…" She said cryptically, wondering if he would be up to it.
Jim blinked, but got up to go to the window and looked up. "Soon…" He mumbled, copying her, and then looked to her. "Does Vulcan have the same days as Earth?" He asked, curiously, all he wanted to know when Spock would come back.
"No, but if you were on Earth, what time would it be, according to where the sun is?" Amanda asked.
Jim frowned at her, and then looked back to the sun.
"Be about…midday? We just had lunch…?" He questioned.
"If you think so…Are you at school at midday?" Amanda continued.
Jim absently nodded. "When I can get to it..." He mumbled, not seeing Amanda flinch. "So…Spock'll be home in a couple of hours!" He worked out.
Amanda blinked. "Well done…!" She praised.
Jim looked embarrassed.
"Well, now, shall we pack away the puzzles?" Amanda asked.
Jim shook his head frantically. "No, no…! I haven't finished!"
Amanda chuckled. "Go on, then!" She replied happily.
"Okay, Ma'am-Amanda!" Jim said.
Amanda chuckled. "…Just Amanda, Jim," She said.
Jim nodded and rushed back to his puzzles quietly.
Amanda observed Jim was a rather quiet child by force, that didn't want to be a burden, who had the capacity for a high I.Q. She hadn't heard peep from him since he went back to his puzzles. Her PADD investigations still picked up nothing; she would need to speak to Sarek about what to do if she should make a comment to the Federation, but it wasn't like they could explain how they suddenly had Jim. Spock didn't say he saw any ships, just the boy. Amanda was rather averse to asking Jim if he wanted to tell her; she rather knew the answer wouldn't be a yes. It would be rather troublesome if Jim's parents pinned the blame on them for his disappearance, not to mention all the hype it would get from either Government's, also not to mention what the ordeal would do to either children…She'd rather not think about the repercussions of the whole ordeal going south, as well as what it would do to Spock to forcibly lose his first friend because of it.
Amanda would definitely need to consult with Sarek about all this before putting anything forward about Jim.
She would need to call Spock soon. He would be coming up to his break in day. Amanda got up and walked to find Jim. Jim had half-finished the Vulcan puzzle, and was fast asleep curled up around it. She smiled. It would appear; Jim would be awake in time for when Spock got home. That would be nice. Amanda sat down on the seats nearest to Jim's figure, she wouldn't move him for she may wake him up, or not know where he was if he woke up in a different place.
It did not take long (less than three minutes) for Spock to come into view once Amanda summoned him.
"Mother," He greeted, holding himself like a Vulcan.
But his eyes betrayed him. They always did. They probably wouldn't always, but for the time being, his eyes told of his worry and concern for Jim he wasn't allowed to voice.
"Jim is fine. He seems content with puzzles, I hoped you would not mind him playing with them, he asked for them." Amanda started.
Spock shook his head. "It is fine, mother, I was not using them."
Amanda nodded. "He went through the ones I brought from Earth in half an hour." She voiced, still rather amazed.
"If he completed them, what is he doing?" Spock asked with a blink.
"He went onto the Vulcan ones." Amanda noted, and Spock nodded. "He ate once I asked him if he was hungry, he did not search me out to ask."
"He is still in the mindset he will not get food, so does not ask." Spock theorized.
Amanda blinked in amazement. "That…he is…"
"What is he doing currently?" Spock queried.
Amanda looked sideways to see Jim still curled up around the puzzle asleep. She turned the PADD around so he could see the image. "I do not want to move him case I wake him or frighten him." She voiced, bringing the PADD back to her.
Spock nodded. "Logical."
Amanda chuckled. "He asked after you." She recounted.
Spock blinked, and looked like he was fighting down emotions that threatened to blurt out. "Indeed?" He questioned, his voice low, and eyes adverted.
"Indeed," Amanda echoed. "He will be awake by the time you come home; you can speak to him then." She said, knowing he didn't have much time left.
"Of course, Mother. Farewell." Spock replied.
"…Until then."
Jim seemed to awake magically half hour before Spock would come home. Seeing the mess he had made, and not seeing Lady-Amanda, he figured he better put the puzzles away, before she yelled at him for making a mess.
He couldn't reach the spaces Lady-Amanda had taken them down from, or the spaces he had been able to reach to take the other puzzles down. Jim frowned and looked around for something he could stand on to reach. He started to get worried when he couldn't find anything.
"You're awake!" Amanda said happily.
Her voice made him jump in fright and turn to her. "I'm sorry! I can't put the puzzles away!" He said frantically.
Amanda blinked, stunned. "You cleaned up…?" She asked.
Jim shivered, but nodded.
He looked rather confused when she smiled, but didn't back down when she came down to his level.
"How 'bout I help you?" Amanda asked.
"How…?" Jim asked, frowning at her, trying to tell if she was trying something.
Jim still had hold of the puzzle boxes.
"Easy." Amanda said, then coming in slow, in case he wanted to back out, she picked him up, and he yelped in fright from leaving the floor. "There we go." She announced while walking over to the spaces. "Do you want to put them away?" Amanda asked looking towards him, and noticing he had gone very pale.
Jim nodded, but remained silent; he stretched out with the boxes and put them back.
"Well done!" Amanda praised, making him grin. "Now, guess what?" Jim looked to her. "Spock'll be home soon."
Amanda watched at it looked like Jim literally lit up from smiling, his eyes suddenly very bright.
"Yay…!" He near on shouted joyfully. Then seemed to remember he was being held, and looked nervous. "Uh…Lady-Amanda…?"
Amanda chuckled. "Just Amanda, Jim, what's wrong…?"
Jim blinked. "…Could you let me down…?" He asked in a mumble.
Amanda smiled. "Certainly," She said and set him on the floor.
Just in time too, because they both heard the front door open, and as soon as Jim heard the door open, he was rushing towards it happily, only nearly tripping once, but getting back up just as fast. With Amanda keeping pace to see what happened, and if she could have a Kodiak moment pictured forever in her mind.
Having friends was the best.
Spock was glad that he knew the material, because if he didn't he wouldn't have gotten through the first couple of questions without his mind going over in circles about his worry for Jim. He had thought being in contact with his mother would quell these feelings. However, it only seemed to aggravate them further. He wanted to be with Jim.
Instead, he was 'learning', and ducking out of sight of Stonn, who he knew from experience meant to emotionally compromise him.
No sooner could he leave, he was rushing out the door and rushing home.
Only stalling when he saw his home; was Jim alright?
Spock opened the door, and barely had time to shut it before no sooner did he hear Jim running up to him, nearly tumbling over himself to stop before him.
"Spock…!" Jim greeted happily with a wide smile. Spock could almost hear what he did not say; you came back.
Spock nodded. "Hello, Jim." He greeted making him giggle, Spock noticed his mother in the background, sporting a hovering smile. This meant she liked Jim. Now that Spock could identify her emotions and categorize them, as well as what each of her smiles meant; the smile she had when she met T'Pring was a forced one; she had not liked T'Pring (Spock didn't like T'Pring, either).
"How are you?" Spock asked.
Jim nodded. "Lady-Amanda let me play with puzzles!"
Spock blinked at the honorific, but noticed his mother softly roll her eyes.
"Just Amanda, dear, you don't need to call me 'lady', or 'ma-am'." She told him gently.
Jim looked to her a little oddly, as if he couldn't quite figure out why she was asking him to call her by her name only.
"Do you like puzzles?" Spock asked.
Jim immediately turned his attention back to Spock, not seeing the smile it put on Amanda's face as Jim bounced up and down. "I do! They're easy to do when you don't have to move much."
Spock blinked at the hidden comment. "Why would you say that?"
"Sometimes it hurts to move." Jim muttered.
Spock saw his mother bristle, and he knew she understood, but ignored her when he placed his hand on Jim's forearm.
"It will be well, Jim." Spock announced.
Jim nodded and lent into him.
"Well, shall we get further into the house?" Amanda asked, pointing out that they were still by the door.
Both youth's nodded, and moved away with her.
"What did you today, Spock?" Amanda asked as she sat down on the seats near where Jim had previously had his puzzles.
"…Mathematics." Spock recalled, and noticed Jim's eyes light up. "Do you like mathematics, Jim?"
"I'm good at what they teach at my school; but sometimes I get bored with it." Jim said.
"Maybe I can give you some problems to do while we wait for Spock tomorrow?" Amanda questioned. "Perhaps when you're better you can go along with Spock once."
Spock kept the thought to himself that perhaps that might be a bad idea.
"Cool! Really…Really, Spock…? Can I? Can I?" Jim asked in a jumble.
Jim's frequently changing moods had Spock feeling like he had gone through loops on the highest warp factor.
Amanda must have noticed this and laughed. "Of course…!"
Jim grinned.
The two had noticed that Jim had started nonplussed pulling discreetly at his clothes.
"What's wrong, Jim?" Spock asked, after the fourth pull.
Jim flinched. "Your planet is hot."
Spock blinked and glanced at his mother who nodded. "I'll show you to the shower."
Jim balked at the idea, "W—what…?"
"You can have a shower, Jim, it is not a problem." Amanda said.
Jim blinked. "It….It isn't?"
Spock shook his head, grasping Jim's sleeve, he pulled. Both sides of Spock were in definite agreement that Frank would hurt: A lot.
"Spock." Amanda called. Spock looked back to her. "Give him some of your clothes and I'll wash his."
"Agreeable, Jim…?" Spock asked.
Jim looked anywhere but at them. "…Thanks…"
It wasn't hard to notice the still healing wounds on Jim's body as he looked rather uncomfortable without any clothes on.
"Hot or cold…?" Spock asked; leaning towards the shower, knowing very well this Jim didn't like being broadcasted, (through the many lost or ripped shirts Jim with memories had come to get over that fact around Spock and the rest of the crewmembers, (pants of course were another thing entirely)).
"Cold…!" Jim yelped.
Spock nodded and turned the shower on, and Jim quickly hopped in while Spock moved away, but stayed in Jim's line of sight.
"You won't leave?" Jim asked shyly.
"Do you wish me to?" Spock asked.
Jim shook his head. "Can you stay?"
Spock nodded. "Then I will stay."
Jim stayed very close to Spock upon seeing Sarek, curling his fingers into the material of Spock's sleeve; Spock stopped walking to let Jim hide behind him as much as he could.
Spock watched his father's eyes gloss over him, to the connection point, to the human behind him, then to Amanda who gave him a swift warning look not to say anything.
"Jim," Spock started, Jim jumped in alarm and his fingers curled harder. "This is my father." Spock stated, turning to Jim, so he could see him.
Jim quickly looked to Sarek. "…Hello, Sir…" And quickly looked away, and hiding back behind Spock.
Sarek raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Hello, Jim." He said, and met Amanda's glare with a blank face.
Amanda came around to Jim's level.
"….Hello, Amanda…" Jim muttered.
He blinked when Amanda smiled. "You hungry, Jim…?" She asked.
Jim nodded nimbly.
Amanda grinned. "Then we shall eat, yes?"
Jim looked to Spock, his steadfast on Spock lessoning greatly.
"I shall too."
The state of affairs continued for a week, before there was any change in Jim's behaviour and wellbeing. His body slowly got better and acclimatized to the heat he was submitted to outside of Spock's room. Amanda had taught him more math and literacy skills then his own teachers could, Jim had a knack for picking up problems and solving them, if he wasn't scared of his surroundings.
Jim was soon venturing outside with Amanda when she went to tend to her gardens.
But it was always at lunchtime every day when Jim would ask after Spock's whereabouts, even though he knew where he was.
Amanda found it endearing, and grateful Spock let it be. Especially since Jim was most of the time, a very tactile needing individual. But Spock let him cling, hug and stay close whenever Jim needed to. It was especially around Sarek, who he hadn't spent much time with, whom didn't what to do with the other.
So, Jim clung to Spock, unawares of the Vulcan way.
Spock certainly wasn't going to tell him, neither was Amanda.
Everyday Amanda searched for evidence that someone, somewhere was looking for Jim, even after she filed an anonymous Earth wide missing report.
Nothing came up.
It was as if Jim just popped out of thin air.
Amanda huffed at how weird the universe was; how could someone not want someone like Jim?
Amanda would have him at the drop of a hat.
Spock definitely wouldn't have minded.
…Sarek and the rest of the Vulcans probably would have though.
Amanda could say they could kick their own behind if they dared her too.
Jim was like her second son; and a younger brother to Spock he could dot on and rely on:
Because Spock dotted on Jim a lot;
Because Jim relied a lot on Spock.
Now, how to word, to a Vulcan, that Jim would visit their school for the day…? She would have to say he would be theoretically a family member, or a close family friend, because she very much doubted Jim and Spock would quietly separate.
But…THAT idea was perfect.
And now something she would pass up.
Now, only to pass it by the Vulcan's of the family.
Amanda briefly wondered which would be harder to convince.
Spock wanted Jim having no part in this venture at all.
But his mother was right.
But she didn't know about Stonn trying to emotionally compromise him…yet.
Sarek hadn't said a word for or against the idea.
Jim was still clinging to Spock's arm.
Jim did not like that Spock left every day; if he could be with Spock all day…then… Jim wanted that.
Amanda had noticed that with Vulcan's longer nights, Jim no longer medically needed to sleep throughout the day, which would be a problem if he was going to attend school only to fall asleep.
Try explaining THAT to the Vulcans.
They all agreed (Vulcan instructors and all), that Jim could visit to see how Vulcans his age-group learnt. Spock did not speak out how dangerous this was, in favour for the fact Jim would be by his side, and well away from Stonn.
Spock would have to be faster than Stonn at the end of the lessons to get to Jim first.
In hindsight, he should have known it wouldn't have worked.
Jim had stared in wonder at the classroom domes unit, Spock had detailed and explained previously how his classroom worked, and that Jim wouldn't be able to be directly by his side. Jim seemed to understand this, and did not flinch or stand closer to Spock when a Vulcan came up to them.
"You must be the Ambassador's guest, Jim." She stated.
Jim nodded.
"I will take you to your lesson." She said, moving away.
Spock gave a quick nod when Jim looked to him, asking if he could leave. He watched which dome Jim entered before going into his own; instantly knowing how fast he would need to be to get besides Jim before Stonn.
Stonn's unit was next to Jim's.
Spock made sure to get to Jim first for the mid break in the day, very much observing the surveying Jim was getting from the other Vulcans in his class.
…Stonn in particular.
It was the same expressions of which they all looked at him with:
Anger and contempt.
Spock needed to make sure he got to Jim first.
As soon as the lesson finished Spock made his way out and came into contact with an instructor awaiting him.
Spock blinked in cast off worry; he wouldn't reach Jim in time.
Jim had been able to keep up with the lessons as it had been extensions of what Amanda was teaching him. But sometimes when it came to brief history lessons of Vulcan or their language, he had no clue. Were those squiggly lines their language?
As soon as the lesson finished, Jim exited, hoping to find Spock.
There was a Vulcan standing there.
But it wasn't Spock.
There were three Vulcans that Jim did not know. He would have stepped back had it not been for the dome behind him to make him fall.
"Look, it's the human." One started, almost looking like he was sneering at Jim.
Jim knew the emotions pouring from these Vulcans.
He instantly wanted Spock.
Where was Spock?
Why couldn't all Vulcans be like Spock?
"Perhaps he thinks he is better than us, learning side by side by us." Another commented.
Jim froze in terror, as they stepped in further, Jim flinched.
"Look at him." The last one commented, sneering like the rest. "He can't even speak."
Jim would have if he knew it would do him any better, which he knew from Frank and is mother; it was best to stay quiet.
There was a loud noise building up in his head, almost like it wanted to burst.
"Human, what are you doing here?" The first one asked.
Jim shook his head trying to clear his head, and trying to keep from falling backwards.
"Perhaps his human emotions have clouded him." The second sneered.
"Perhaps it needs to be dealt with physically." The first replied, stepping closer.
Suddenly the world around Jim exploded and flooding memories came back, and momentarily stunning him.
Where was the Enterprise?
Why was he suddenly on New Vulcan?
…Where was Spock?
Yet again his eyes zoomed in on the first Vulcan, he was raising his fist, and before Jim could duck, another Vulcan suddenly appeared to take the punch without so much as recoiling from the impact, (had he, Jim would have found himself at the bottom of the learning dome), and he was very much taking the hit for Jim.
"You will not harm him." Spock growled dangerously.
"Spock…" Jim started.
Before the other Vulcans could retaliate against Spock, the instructor who had been talking to Spock had seen the whole thing.
"Stonn…!" She called.
Stonn and his lackeys had flinched, not knowing there was any other Vulcans around.
