A/N – I am just whipping these out! Yes! I like it when my writer's block lifts! 8D Enjoy Chapter 13!

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No one hated goodbyes more than Jim Kirk. There was always a form of sudden emptiness that stayed with him when he told his friends or family goodbye and looking at the counterparts, they were just that: Family. They were a family he had grown to love and appreciate over the few days they had spent together.

Wow.

When Jim thought about it, they had been through quite a shit-storm in the small amount of time they had been present. He snickered. Maybe he and Bones and Spock were just magnets for trouble.

Pssh, nah. Me? A magnet for trouble? No way!

Totally unlikely!

I mean, that makes me sound like a drama-queen or something and James T. Kirk ain't no 'queen'—or a 'drama' for that matter—if that even made any sense. Ugh, I've got to stop monologuing.

But Jim couldn't argue. Between the Narada Crisis, to the messed up head emotions, to memory loss, to memory regain—perilous adventures were definitely the norm around his starship. As he studied his older counterpart and all the troubles he had been through it seemed it was a universal constant. James had his share of troubles too, all which he was banking on that Mr. Spock could now fix since they were obviously going to be sharing something deeper than a 'friends-with-benefits' relationship. Jim had no idea what a 'bondmate' was and wanted to ask his Spock about it, but after using his context clues—because I'm not an idiot all the time—he figured it was something similar to asking someone's hand in marriage.

Jim shivered.

It's not that he didn't approve of commitments, it was just a scary thought that he and his Spock were still lurking in the depths of 'friends-and-leave-it-at-that-you-asshole-and-if-you-try-to-kiss-me-again-I'm-going-to-Nerve-Pinch-the-mother-fucking-hell-out-of-you' when he witnessed his older counterpart make it into something more. It was like a strange silent movie of your future. Jim liked Spock and he really enjoyed teasing him but as he remembered how Mr. Spock's heart melted and shown him the deep emotions a Vulcan could hold and when he listened to James break his heart down into small low self-image pieces, he had to wonder.

Is it really still just a tease?

Would he be able to take it as far as James and Mr. Spock had? Would he be able to live up to the expectations of Elder Spock's ideal 'friendship'? The worrisome thoughts lead him in a circuit back to Elder Spock.

Old Man Spock.

There was a guy who had believed in him before all the emotions, before all the shit hit the fan, before—well—before himself. He had been kind hearted and helpful and quite charming. Jim could see himself as an old man too and languidly holding hands with his equally old lover. Elder Spock just seemed to radiate a nice and homey feel. For all he knew, maybe the Jim from his universe had been his lover and maybe they did hold their old hands together and embrace the peace of growing old. The thought put a smile on his face.

And then it fell.

Elder Spock, just like James, Leonard and Mr. Spock, had been forcefully removed from his universe and harshly thrown into another. Looking at the guy, maybe his elder self was still living—but then he threw the notion out the window of his brain where he typically cast aside worthless stupid shit he thought because—duh —Vulcan's aged more slowly if he remembered anything about Vulcans from his academy days and so if Elder Spock looked like an old raisin, chances were that his elder self had already passed. The sudden awareness of his past, present and future all collided in his head at once.

In his past—there was Spock.

In his present—there was Spock.

And now…in his future—there was Spock.

Maybe he could learn to love the pissy Vulcan, if he let him. Maybe the implanted emotions had been the bridge that finally connected the two of them. He was certain in time he could have realized his affections just as James did or the Spocks did, but just like his rushed early Captaincy, it seemed the universe was determined to rush his love life too.

Jim looked across the briefing table to the fancily clad Captain Talho. The man had insisted he beam aboard and give his sincerest apologies in person and who was Jim to deny him that? As far as he was concerned, he was owed it. After all the shit they'd been through, getting answers and getting apologies was a nice change of pace—though it didn't change the pace of his mind. All the thoughts of the Vulcans, Mr. Spock's passions, his own Spock's deliberate refusals and evasions, and the Elder Spock's kindhearted words and support, it made him think of something drastic but not quite as strange as the events that led them here. Feeling his stomach fill with bravery, he lifted his chin and directed Captain Talho's attention from their discussion of apologies and fuck ups.

"Talho," he wavered, "I have a strange request that you may or may not be able to fulfill but I wanted to ask all the same."

"Of course, Kirk." He replied quickly not at all minding the interruption. Jim shifted in his seat and contemplated. How was he supposed to ask this?

Well, might as well ask it directly with no added bullshit.

Good idea.

"I have another older counterpart stuck in my timeline—well, not so much as my older counterpart as it is my First Officer's—and well, due to circumstances, he was brought here against his will." Talho's free-charmed expression had grown a little darker as he listened to him. "I was hoping that maybe, if you gave us time to go get him, would you be able to send him back to his timeline too? I can't shake the feeling of loss he must be suffering in a younger universe without all the people he grew up around and grew to love. A little while back I had asked him for help with my counterpart problem and the question just looked like it killed him a little more." Jim sighed. He still felt like the biggest fucking idiot in the universe for asking if Elder Spock knew of a way to send them back. That was one memory he wished had stayed masked. "Can you help him?"

Talho was looking everywhere in the room but at Jim. After much thought, he finally answered and didn't bother bullshitting either. They were both Captains who had seen some fucked up events and they could handle blunt truths. "Kirk, I am most sorry for the problems your timeline has faced. Truly I am, but I can not help you." Jim let go of the breath he was holding and he felt disappointment welling inside him. "My laws strictly forbid me from interfering with anything that has nothing to do with our selves. I can take your counterparts back because it was our fault that they arrived here, but I can not take this other one back because it is forbidden. We would be breaking our Prime Directive to all universes. I hope you understand."

Jim waved his hand, "No, I understand. I do. I was just hoping…wishing there was something more I could do for him. He's a really nice guy."

"I grieve with thee." Talho said quietly. He reached out and clasped Jim's hand tightly and then moved the bundle of fingers up towards his forehead, to the left, to the right, and then he kissed their joined fingers. "May peace and prosperity come hasten to your universe. I am sorry, Kirk." Jim didn't know what the hand thing was all about, but the look in Talho's eyes told him it was a very special blessing and so—going out on a limb—he did the same gestures to Talho's hand and then released the grip.

"Thank you, Talho." The older, gruffy Captain grinned and opened his arms wide with an equally wide smile.

"I am your friend, Kirk, please, call me Frasouir." Jim equaled his smile.

"Jim." He replied and the men hugged the kind of brotherly hug that you only gave your best buds when you wanted to say 'I like you' and 'I care about you' without the awkward homoerotic nature of it. They parted and Frasouir took his shoulders in strong arms.

"Jim," he tested, "I shall be ready to take back your counterparts in one hour. Accommodations have been set up for our short travel and we hope to undo what we have carelessly done. I am sorry that our time together is so brief. I like you, Jim. Out of all the beings I have encountered on my study, I like you most." He shifted gears suddenly to that of professionalism and released Jim's shoulders. "Though your universe piqued my interest with its far off trek from the origin point, I must say that I think it was a brave and worthwhile choice of its nature. I believe out of all the universal choices and timelines, this universe will be the happiest."

"Thanks, Frazer."

"Frasouir."

"Fraggernaught." Frasouir chuckled lightly and then began a full-hearted laughter that rubbed off on to Jim. Both of them snickered and chuckled until their abdomens were sore. The older Captain placed a hand on Jim's shoulder once their giggles had subsided.

"Thanks, Frasouir." Jim said with a stifled laugh.

"You," he pointed at the young Captain, "I will regret not having time to spend with you, Jim. But as it is, I must make my leave. Your laughter will remind me of our crossings and my hands will remember your peace. Peace and prosperity, Jim Kirk."

"Peace and prosperity, Frasouir Talho."

...

The moment of dread had finally come and though Jim didn't like classifying it as dread, he couldn't help how his heart hurt. He would be saying goodbye to three people whom he had learned to love all over again. Somehow, seeing them all standing beside one another on the Transporter Pad brightened Jim's heart a little. It was like a symbol that was telling him they would always be together, through thick and thin, through sanity and chaos, through love and hate. His body wanted to tear up and start crying, but Jim wouldn't allow himself to do it.

Not in front of them. He told himself. I must show them that I am strong and that I can say goodbye without ever saying goodbye.

The Transporter Room only had Jim, Bones, Spock and the counterparts. Spock would be handling the Transporter functions in place of Scotty to keep the scene from looking too much like protocol and more like a sentimental moment. Without anyone else in the room, they could really be themselves without having to let duty keep them apart from what they were really feeling.

Jim was grateful for this and he knew his Bones and his Spock were too, even if they hadn't said anything.

It was now time for the goodbyes.

They each approached their counterpart. Bones and Leonard were looking smugly at one another, Jim knew he was sporting his typical goofy grin and when he looked to his left, Spock was staring just at mutely as Older Spock was. No one spoke for a while until Jim noticed Mr. Spock make the first move. He extended his fingers in the position for a mind meld. It looked to Jim like Spock wasn't going to take his offer at first, but then guided his head towards the fingers and let them rest on his face. No words were spoken as both men let their eyes flutter shut and their bodies stilled.

"Why are they melding?" Jim particularly asked no one. He didn't even know he had said it, really. He just hadn't been expecting the two Vulcans to be so peaceful after all the dislike they had waded through together.

"They're sharing." James voice prompted and everyone else turned to look at him.

"They're each other!" Younger Bones sighed, "What could they possibly have to share that they don't already know?" James looked at the Vulcans serenely with a nice smile plastered on his lips.

"My Spock is sharing memories with your Spock of his mother." As much as the entire room felt like it wanted to go 'awww', no one said anything, they just watched as the stilled Spocks melded until they finally pulled apart. No expressions could be seen on them immediately, but Jim knew, he looked at those brown orbs and he knew his Spock had changed. For Mr. Spock it was more obvious and Jim knew it was because he still had those implanted emotions, but since Mr. Spock was now shoving them towards a different Jim, they weren't as overwhelming. He felt a slight contentment and a wave of happiness settle over him so he smiled for them.

Spock turned to Jim with his typical stone-faced exterior. "I believe we are ready to transport them, Captain." The three counterparts nodded to his assessment. As Spock went behind the controls Leonard spoke up quickly knowing it was only a few moments before they would be gone.

"Leonard," he called to his younger self, "I wasn't kidding about Captain Masochist, over there." He pointed begrudgingly, "Nor the chair by the special medical bed." Bones smiled and chuckled his gruff laugh.

"Thanks, I'm glad you decided to warn me." The quiet talk reminded Jim of something then. Before Spock could do anything else, he stopped the younger Vulcan and told him to wait a moment. Spock complied though he did look interested to know why he was being delayed.

"Mr. Spock." Jim said with a firm tone and a grin. The older Vulcan peered down at him from the Pad and tilted his brow. How many times had he seen that brow shoot up? Jim had lost count but it was still funny every time he saw it. He took his communicator from his belt and looked it over once and then with a sigh, he tossed it towards the older Spock. He caught it without fail.

"Remember what I told you? Here's a little time travel gift for you to toy with. Take good care of her. She doesn't require much attention, just keep her frequencies clear and don't reply to any messages that say they're from XXXeno." He suddenly lifted his hands to try and defend himself mockingly, "I don't know how that awesomely erotic porn holovid site got my number, I swear." Bones rolled his eyes and Spock seemed just as indifferent to his last attempt at humour, but Mr. Spock didn't show any indifference as his counterpart had. Instead of putting the device on his belt and shifting himself to be ready for transport, he stepped from the Pad and approached Jim slowly, lacing his finger behind his back and looking a little more relaxed.

"Thank you, Jim." He said lowly. The way he had said his name made him blush against his will.

"Um…yeah, it's n-no problem." Why was he stuttering? He suddenly felt like he was searching for words, like the older Vulcan was waiting for him to say something more. He felt embarrassed that he had nothing else.

"Jim." The single word made him look up at the taller man and before he could do anything to stop him, Spock grasped his cheeks and pulled him into a sweet kiss. He was startled, surprised—hell he was flipping out in his mind—but he still managed to see James on the Transporter and Spock beside him and both their eyes were blown wide open. Jim could understand why James was surprised, maybe even upset, but he didn't have the faintest idea why Spock would have freaked.

The kiss was supposed to be melodramatic, Jim thought, but when he saw Mr. Spock steal a glance at his younger self, the kiss deepened and he felt a tongue slip by. As much as he wanted to throw the Vulcan off him, he found his limbs felt heavy and his body wasn't responding in quite the way he wanted.

Spock is watching himself kiss me! Jim panicked. Do something besides submit, you ass! Jim finally managed to get a grip on Mr. Spock's hands and was just about to push him off when the older man did it for him. Their lips parted and with them a tiny string of saliva which broke instantly. All Jim could do was gasp and breath heavily as the older Spock released him completely and walked back up to his spot on the Pad. Anyone who said Vulcans couldn't look smug, they were drastically mistaken. While in his place Mr. Spock looked like he had just tasted the finest wine in the universe and was content he was the only one allowed.

Jim turned to Spock, he opened his mouth to say something but nothing was coming out.

Spock.

Looked.

Pissed.

Oh shit.

As he attempted to make more words than his stricken vowels, Spock moved away from the console and started his way to the Transporter Pad. Oh god, Spock was going to unleash his Vulcan fury on Mr. Spock again. He didn't need a repeat of what had happened in the corridors only days ago. He didn't want to watch his Spock throw around his older self, but Mr. Spock didn't look worried. He stood rigidly and calmly as his younger self approached him.

They stared at each other.

Jim was just waiting for the sound of a smack—but none ever came. Instead of a smack, Spock moved over one place, stretched out his hands and cupped James' confused face, then he brought the older Captain to him in one swift motion and planted his lips firmly on the stunned man. Just as James' and his Spock's eyes went wide, now Jim and Mr. Spock were doing the same. James looked perplexed as they watched his face roll with the kiss. It was obvious that he was using some tongue there.

Everyone was too stunned to say or do anything about it.

Even Jim was too shocked to move from where he was. Spock, his Spock was kissing James.

For real this time.

Not for fake.

No illusions, no stage kissing. They were kissing.

On full throttle.

After what felt to everyone like an eternity but was probably no more than a few seconds, Spock parted with James, leaving the older man breathless and gasping just as Jim had. His face was red with embarrassment just as Jim's had been as his eyes flitted between the younger and older version of his lover. He looked to Jim for support.

Jim had none and sent an unheard message of 'sorry dude, you're on your own chopping block, just like me now'.

To break the sudden silence which had fallen over everyone in a paralyzing shock of what the fuck, Spock turned to his counterpart with a now equal smug look. "As the Humans would say 'we are even'."

Jim blinked.

Had Spock just taunted himself?

Mr. Spock did not look amused and tilted his brow before replying. "You, my younger self, are a brat." Spock was quick with his rebuttal.

"And you, my older self, are a lecherous jerk." They threw their hands up at once to engage the Vulcan salute.

"Live long and prosper." They said in even unison and Spock was quick to remove himself and go behind the console once more. As the younger Vulcan began to initiate the controls, James began to chuckle and then it bled into a laugh. It had apparently been infectious as Bones and Leonard started laughing which caused Jim to start and Mr. Spock and Spock appeared to be laughing behind their eyes. It continued until their eyes were starting to wet and didn't stop until the three older men had twinkled away leaving Bones and Jim the only ones laughing last.

"What the fuck was that?" Jim said in between his laughter.

"I didn't—" Bones snickered, "—I didn't really think the hobgoblin had it in him!" The laughter ensued, but Spock did not let his mask fall.

"Are you quite finished jollying yourselves at my expense?" He questioned loud enough to be heard. Jim tried to stop, he really did, but the whole scene had just seemed unreal. Spock, in a furious (jealousy?) move had sucked face with his older self in an attempt to similarly piss off his older counterpart. By the harsh exchange of words, Jim was left to assume that Spock's little kiss had worked in his favour.

After all the laughs dwindled into soft sighs and breaths of air, Bones turned and pointed at Spock with a hard, teasing finger. "Spock, if I didn't know any better, I'd say that we just witnessed you expressed the human emotion of jealousy." An eyebrow went up as a result of the statement and Spock was not going to let him off the hook without taking the doctor down a notch.

"Why, Doctor, then I am most pleased that you do know better for what I had done had not been provoked by emotion." Jim and Bones switched glances.

Bullshit.

"Then what do you exactly call what you just did?" Bones drawled and folded his arms like he was the most badass doctor of all fucking time and Spock could just suck it. Spock dipped his head and then returned the gaze with his hands placed behind his back in a fashion that similarly told the doctor he could suck it.

"My older counterpart had attacked my Captain's face, I thought it only fair that I return fire and attack his Captain's face." Jim really tried again not to laugh but was finding it hard as he watched Bones' forehead furrow in frustration.

"So what you mean to say is, his kissed your Jim so you kissed his Jim?" He turned to Jim, "Doesn't that sound like an emotional provocation to you, Captain?" Jim could feel it, he was blushing, but he swallowed it down along with his laughter.

Both eyes were on him.

"Well…technically, I was attacked—" Bones threw his hands up in frustration.

"I should have figured you'd take his side!" He shouted exasperatingly but he was clearly not really in a bad mood, only faking it for the tease. The smile Bones was wearing gave it all away.

"Thank you, Captain, for seeing the logic." Spock evenly said. Bones put another finger hard into his chest.

"There weren't nothing 'logical' about anything you done said!" Wow, his southern talk was really starting to break through now. "And you damn well know it!"

Spock did the Vulcan equivalent of an eye-roll. "Doctor, it would be logical for you to calm yourself before you cause a rise in your blood pressure." Without anything to retort and teasingly angry, he threw his hands up, made a grunt and said something about needing a drink and left the room quickly. They both watched him leave and the door shut snugly behind him. Spock then turned back to his face his Captain who was wearing his goofy grin again.

"You know, if you had just said 'yes' to my boyfriend offer I'm pretty sure Older You wouldn't have—"

"You are incorrigible, Jim." The call of his name instead of 'Captain' alerted him to the twinkle in Spock's eye. Okay, so maybe they weren't lovers, but they were on their way. It could be tonight, tomorrow, or next year when it happened, but Jim was sure they were on their way.

After all, Spock said he was 'incorrigible'.

Snicker.

"So when should I expect to get that answer?" He kept wheedling.

"I would assume the answer would be given when Lt. Uhura tells you her first name herself."

Ow.

Ego Vulcan Punch.

Jim wouldn't be deterred. "Oh, shit, really?" His eyes lit up excitedly. "That's all I have to do? I'm reporting to Uhura right now and I'm going to order her to tell me her—" Spock placed a soft hand on his shoulder that made Jim stop where he was.

"Jim, this comical tease must stop."

"I agree." He dove straight to the point. "Be my boyfriend."

"You are carrying it rather far for someone who is only seeking laughter."

"So carry it with me and be my boyfriend."

"I do not understand why you are still playing this charade."

"Be my boyfriend, Spock."

"Jim, this is getting tedious and not at all funny. I do not appreciate your attempts to lead me into a relationship which is clearly meant to only indulge your dry humour." He started to leave and Jim's mind made a quick decision in that moment. He grasped Spock tightly by the upper arm and swung him around until they were flush against each other's bodies.

"Who said I was joking, Spock?" Then he pushed forward and forced their lips to meet. It was hard, but gentle. No lips parted, no tongues danced, it was just a simple sweet kiss. Jim pulled away from a brightly green blushing Vulcan. "Be my boyfriend." He purred.

Spock looked up at him and stared.

He stared.

He stared some more and it looked like he wasn't going to answer. Then he opened his mouth, hesitated and, "Jim, I—"

Whatever response Spock was about to give, Jim didn't hear it. Suddenly his head pounded and he felt a searing pain wrap around his body like a serpent bent on devouring him. He fell over in Spock's arms and contorted with every new pulse. He felt like he couldn't breathe! Then it was like he was on fire and then suddenly dumped in ice water. He was sure Spock was calling to him but he couldn't really hear him his head too foggy to let anything more than a muffled "'im!" into his brain.

He could hear his heartbeat in his ears thumping and thumping and then it felt like the very fiber of his beings was suddenly shred into pieces. Torn in two like a sheet of paper and just as quick.

The last thing he remembered was seeing Bones dash into the room, the two worried faced of his friends and then…

…blackness.

...

A/N – Oh noes…oh noes! What's wrong with Jim? Oh and it was just getting good! Did Mr. Spock do something to him? Did James sabotage him? Was Captain Talho really an evil person who captured the counterparts for ransom and wanted to murder the famously known Captain James T. Kirk? Who knows! It could all be true…it could all be me just pulling the hell out of your leg, but we won't know until the next chapter! Until then! 8D *blush*giggle* I am so mean…lol