Time became still, brittle. It seemed to Jim that he was stuck in a horribly unfunny tableau.
Evie glared beautifully from a pace away.
Spock stared from the door.
Jim stood motionless, feeling stupid.
God, he ought to do something. Something to break this strange, heavy tension. But he couldn't - couldn't think of what to do, what to say - so he just stayed put.
In real time, outside of Jim's hyperslowed brain, the silence only lasted about five seconds before Spock, usually the least likely to begin a conversation, broke it.
"I presume that this is not the 'surprise' you mentioned previously Captain?"
He stepped decisively into the room, hands clasped primly behind his back. The dark gaze slid over the woman as though she were inconsequential – a piece of furniture for all it cared – and sharpened when it came to rest on Jim.
"Uhgh, hell no it isn't the surprise. Well…uh… she is, but not the kissing. Definitely not any kissing. Dunno what the fuck she was doing."
Kirk gave Evie a beautiful glare of his own. She looked very much like she wanted to stick her tongue out at him. Obviously, she had a very mature nature.
Spock gave a microscopic nod, seemingly satisfied, and walked toward the captain, stopping an arm's length away.
"Your egregious language aside, it would, indeed, prove most interesting to learn what her purpose and motive was in coming here. I hypothesize that you did not allow her entry and she coerced Engineering staff to override your code?"
Jim's head rose and fell in accordance with the expectant tone.
"Right again, Mr. Spock. You're quite good with the deductions. Ever read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by any chance?"
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. A tenet I live by, sir."
Happiness was a swelling balloon in Jim's chest. Spock was still speaking to him.
Moreover, he didn't seem to think Kirk was a disgusting bit of filth from the bottom of his shoe, as the captain feared he would. Jim wasn't deaf or dumb – he knew that his reputation for promiscuity preceded him, even if it was mostly undeserved, and that it colored others' opinions of his actions, especially those regarding women.
He was ridiculously pleased that Spock stood there, talking to him normally, and believing in him without Jim needing to say anything. A relationship that will define you both. At times like this, Jim didn't feel like a sucker for trusting the Alterna-Spock.
He grinned goofily. Spock's eyes gleamed back.
A strangled noise came from the woman's direction. The wide smile that split Jim's face narrowed somewhat. Shit. He'd forgotten all about her, wondrous creature though she was.
She made the noise again; Jim realized it was laughter. Unhinged sounding laughter.
The men looked at her and Spock edged imperceptibly closer to his superior officer. Well, it would have been imperceptible to anyone one else, but with his tingling Spock-Sense, Jim noticed it. His waning smile threatened to wax anew.
Focus, the woman. God. It was sooo hard to send his concentration elsewhere when Spock was right beside him.
Confident that she finally held their attention, Evie gave Jim a dismissive look of disgust and rounded on Spock.
"Mudd said that Vulcans can only be affected by beauty if they want to be. It seems I'm too late for you."
Her disdainful eyes flicked up and down the First Officer's form. Her voice was acidic with haughty confusion.
"I don't understand. You're not much. He shouldn't be able to resist me at all, you know."
Spock stiffened.
Jim was tired of a conversation he only halfway understood and he was pretty sure Evie had just insulted Spock's looks, which were above reproach so far as he was concerned.
Humph, the nerve of some people. Saying Spock wasn't much. What a blind woman – couldn't she see that Spock was everything?
"That is quiet enough, Miss McHuron."
His voice was soft menace, and her mouth closed with an audible snap.
Yeah, Jim wouldn't want to fuck with him either when he broke out that tone. She really shouldn't have antagonized Spock.
Jim pressed a button on his desk and kept talking, "Security is on their way up now. They'll escort you to your hearing, where you can reunite with your boss and let him know whatever you're cooking up isn't going to work."
Her cheeks blossomed rose, indicating the truth in of his words. Clearly, she was not very versed in subterfuge – a true player would have had a better plan and poker-face. So what was she then?
Jim watched her with a hawk-like intensity, pondering the question as they waited. Spock stood idly by, absently inspecting Jim's control panel, but somehow still managing to emanate threat. They were quite an intimidating pair, if Jim did say so himself, and Evie seemed relieved to be transferred to the custody of Security Officers – which was saying something since the Security Department attracted the rougher characters in Starfleet.
When Evie had been taken away (with strict orders to the Security detail to deliver her without delay), Spock remained. He looked at Jim.
"Again, I presume that you were not afforded time to prepare for the proceedings. For the sake of efficiency, may I offer you my assistance?"
"Are you saying you don't think I can do it in time?"
Jim suddenly felt a little defensive, like maybe Spock was sliding back into his disbelieving ways.
"No, Captain, merely that, to use a proverbial expression, we could 'kill two birds with a single stone,' if I aid in the report research and you look over the crystal calculations."
Okay, he had to admit that sentence was ridiculously cute.
Holy shit. Did he just think the word cute? In relation to a Starfleet officer?
Fuck it. Whatever. He should probably just resign himself to thinking un-James Kirk-like things around the Vulcan.
Jim's mouth crooked upward at the left corner. Resignation didn't have to be painful. In fact, a captain could probably grow to like it if it meant hearing Spock say un-Spock-y things too.
He cracked his stiff fingers and took his seat at the desk. His hand patted the chair next to him, the place that he would forever think of as Spock's.
"So long as you aren't still doubting me, let's get to bird killing."
"Indeed," Spock said with a raised eyebrow as he sat.
It was hard for Jim to stop a sound of contentment from escaping his unruly throat. When Spock was at his side, it felt like home. Like belonging.
Now, he just needed to find a way to keep him there.
Well that and to take care of a career criminal, and to save his ship, and a ton of other things, but Jim was nothing if not an excellent multitasker.
I like the idea of them having assigned chairs, like how grandparents have chairs that they sit in together every night. Yeah, I imagine Kirk and Spock totally set up by a fireplace with a grandpa recliner and a grandma rocking chair. You can decide who gets which and tell me in your review...
I'm so brazen. :0
Thank you for reading and I would love to hear what you think!