Chapter 2

Jim POV

Two days, two days it took Spock and I to convince Bones to leave, two very long days and a phone call to little Jo. That girl is an angel and I owe her a signed copy image and a bag of sweets for her helping me get her stubborn ol' dad to Georgia.

"Bones! Go, just go, I am fine, I'm in a wheelchair for god's sake and Spock is here. There is little to no harm that will come to me, I am sure no man or woman would dare come near me with him by my side." I sigh out, jerking my head to the ever rigid Vulcan behind me.

It worried me actually, and I could see that it worried Bones as well, from what I had gathered from every one of my crew who came for a visit is that Spock had never left my side since capturing Khan, only when he was requested to give his statement report and to overlook the repairs. He very rarely left when I was still in a coma, even so much as meditating in the corner of the room.

"Okay, I'm going and don't think for one second I don't know about you and that hobgoblin bribing my daughter to help you get me out there earlier than expected." He grumbles while patting my shoulder as he stepped to my side.

I look up at him wide eyed, a smile on my face. "Why Bones! I don't know what you are talking about. Do you, Mister Spock?" I ask, turning my head to see his face. I could have sworn I saw his lip twitch.

"I do not know what you speak of Doctor McCoy; I have been busy getting my belongings together and seeing over the science…" He began, causing Bones to cut in with horror.

"Okay, okay… I'll let it go. But Jim, I know you; if you hurt yourself, I will be back before you can say 'Warp It'." He threatened, waving a hypospray in my face.

"Why are you even carrying that?" I ask before I felt the all too familiar sting in my neck. "Dammit! You know I hate when you do that!" I yelp, rubbing my neck instantly, causing him to smirk and wave goodbye before disappearing into the crowd.

I waited a few more seconds before looking up at Spock, "Is he gone?"

His lip twitched before it went back into its straight line and he looked down at me with his usual composed stare. "If you are suggesting getting up and walking then yes, but no you cannot until we are at our destination. I have spotted Chekov and Sulu several times; I am glad that they are our Lieutenant Commanders and not a part of the security team."

I couldn't help but laugh as we moved our way to our section for the transports to Riverside. "Did you just joke? I can't believe it! You made a joke, I'm proud of you Spock."

There was no reply, only his rigid composure he always held within public and around the crew. I had begun to hope he would relax someday in public but I understood it took too much to do, to break years' worth of teachings in such a short amount of time but his making a joke just then proves that it could happen someday. A flash of red caught my eye and I couldn't help but sigh as I saw Chekov's curls peeking out from the fake trees near a door and I couldn't help but agree with Spock.

They would so be fired for being this obvious.

With another sigh I pull out the communicator that was hidden in my coat before calling Scotty. "Kirk to Scotty, Kirk to Scotty, are you there Mister Scott?"

"Aye Captain, is thare somethin' I kin dae fur ye?" His voice echoes across the line causing me to sag in relief.

"Yes you can, Mister Scott, I need you to get to the Transporter and lock in on my and Mister Spock's signal and beam us to the ship. I gathered you had fixed that first, I want to have a look at my Girl before getting you to beam us to Riverside." I state causing Scotty to laugh.

"Aye Captain. Ah tak'it the guid doctor haes left awready tae see his wee lassie?" He asks causing me to chuckle and shake my head.

"That is right Mister Scott, but he left some spies to watch me and Spock. So hurry and beam us up to the Enterprise before they decided to come any closer." I laugh out.

"Aye, Aye, Captain." He responded, still laughing. It took a total of two minutes before the familiar gold swirls began to swirl around myself and Spock. Spock, who was very much looking down at me with his raised brows in his usual way of showing he disapproved.

I let out a sigh of relief as the familiar cool air of my ship caressed my skin before hopping out of the damn chair and stretching. "Oh, that feels good, that damn chair is stiffer than a board." I grunt out as my back pops.

"Guid tae see ye up 'n' aboot Captain." Scotty greets as I pull him into a man hug before shaking my head, no matter what he and I have been through and all we have shared together he still won't call me Jim.

"As am I Mister Scott, but we have I say about an hour tops before Spock over there decides to call Bones and tell him I'm not home resting. That or he will insist I be back in that god awful chair. So show me what you can in an hour before I leave for hell." I state, thinking about home. I loved seeing my mother, especially since we had patched things together over the years since I joined Starfleet, but it was Frank whom I hated. Frank who was still pulling the wool over my mother's eyes, no matter what I or Sam told her about what he did to us growing up.

Looking over my shoulder I cast Spock a concerned look, I was unsure of him coming now. I was excited at first, able to get my mom to meet him but now… I'd forgotten all about Frank; there was a fifty-fifty chance we would come to blows or better yet, he'd insult Spock and I'd hit him.

Why am I worried? Spock can handle himself…

It isn't Spock I'm worried about; it's my actions that would happen if Frank so much as cast a dirty look towards my Second Officer…

"Captain, I am certain that we should reach your home soon before McCoy calls like he scheduled with you this morning." Blinking, I realized I was in the engineering bay, nowhere near where we started or where I… I could faintly remember speaking, listening to Scotty but I'll have to look back over it all later to see what I missed. Oh sometimes it was good to be able to categorize my brain.

"Okay, thanks Scotty, give me updates every few days okay? Make sure none of those hired hands butcher my ship." I mutter as we make our way back to the transporter room.

"Aye Captain, I will mak' sure, otherwise they'll be answering tae me afore ye." Scotty chuckles as we step up onto the transporter pad, after clearing it of the chair of course.

"Beam us down Scotty." I chuckle out causing him to give me a salute as the swirling lights began.

As soon as the familiar Riverside land reached my eyes, my hand shot out and grasped Spock's to steady myself, waiting for the sense of vertigo to pass. It didn't happen a lot, only when I transported so frequently in such a short time and half the time I was able to block out the sensations as, usually when that happened I was either A) in danger or B) needed to play peace keeper and had no time to appear weak.

"Are you alright, Captain?" Spock asks, his arm stiff under my palm causing me to yank it back quickly, almost tumbling over in the process, his hands catching mine as I fell backwards. He steadied me quickly before letting me go and placing his hands behind his back, ears tinged green.

"Uh, yes, sorry Spock. I get a little bit of vertigo with frequent beaming, anyway Mom said she got the car dropped off here by a friend and I can drive us back." I state, now realizing that the bags were by his side.

"No need to apologize, but I suggest we make our way towards your mother's residence." He states, his voice back to the firm tone.

Sighing, I nod in agreement before gesturing to the expanse of harvested land before me. "Welcome to Riverside."

Author Note: *cracks knuckles* time to get this show on the road?