Chapter Four
Kirk POV
As soon as I rounded the corner in the kitchen I knew that this was going to be a long night. My mother was busying herself around the kitchen while Frank watched her with a critical eye, all the while complimenting her on her work. When Mom finally left the room to arrange the seating and set up the table, I made myself known.
"Frank. I see you're still here." I chirp causing the asshole to turn and cast me a quick glare before smiling wide.
"There is the famous Captain Kirk! It's good to see you boy…" He trailed off, stopping with a twitch as Spock caught his arm from touching me. Frank wincing slightly as I saw Spock's hand clench quickly before dropping the arm.
"I would ask you not to touch the Captain, he is still recovering from several wounds. It would also mean that you would be arrested by Starfleet and put on trial for your… intentional harm toward Captain Kirk." Spock lies, causing my brows to go up and a smirk to pull at my lips as Frank began to splutter.
"Had to bring backup did you Jimmy, as usual, couldn't fight your own battles always had to have someone help you." He spits out with a glare, making me smirk.
"If I remember the last time I saw you, I managed to break a few things. What did you have to tell Mom again, oh, that you had an accident at work because we all know she would never believe her son could do such a thing to you." I whisper back, my smile still wide as my eyes track my mother's movements.
"Hear my words, Frank; I'm going to prove to my mother how much of a loving husband and so called father you really are." I threaten before slapping him on the shoulder hard, causing him to wince.
"Boys, dinner is ready!" Mom yells from the dining room, my smile growing wider as I gesture to Spock to follow me.
The dining room used to be connected to the kitchen but we had built in a wall to have it separated, of course it wasn't really a wall, we actually just built in a kitchen island into a wall with sliding doors across the top to block it out. Everything in this house was old school so to speak, besides the fridge and the security along with the Vid Phones.
"Uh, where is the meat?" Frank asked causing Mom to sigh and me to smirk.
"We are having vegetarian lasagna and all the sides, Frank, I told you this when Jimmy told me he was inviting Spock to come home with him. I wanted to give him a warm welcome." She states while dishing out the food, completely missing the angry scowl Frank sent her or the way I replied with one just as ferocious.
"I thank thee for the hospitality." Spock replies, causing Mom to shake her head and brush it off.
"It is okay dear, we – Jimmy and I – eat this as well, after all there isn't much that boy can eat without being allergic to it." She teased, causing me to snort before shoveling a piece of lasagna in my mouth to stop the reply threatening to spill out.
The rest of the dinner passed in relative silence, only making a few comments here and there while Frank and I stared each other down when mom wasn't looking.
I could feel Spock stiffen whenever Frank's eyes shifted over to him, a sneer on his face as he struggled to eat the food. After all, I knew for a fact the fucker didn't eat anything remotely healthy when Mom wasn't around to make him. I still honestly don't know what she sees in him.
"Thanks for dinner, Mom." I state, picking up mine and Spock's empty plates once we were done and taking them into the kitchen to clean.
"I too give my thanks." Spock echoes, making her smile.
"No need, you may go and meditate if you wish dear. Don't worry about clean up, I can do that, go sit down and rest." She finishes, almost shoving me away from the sink.
I cast her a long look causing her to smile and shoo me out into the lounge where Frank now resides with his beer. There was no way I was sitting in here with him without wanting to punch him in the face for all the shit he has done and is still doing.
With a scowl I decide to go out to the barn, at least there I won't have any problem and maybe I could do something without having someone breathing down my neck constantly. Not that I didn't understand, but it can be overwhelming constantly being babied and watched. I was a Starfleet Captain for Christ sake, the Starfleet Captain of the USS Enterprise and had saved the earth twice now.
Letting a sigh escape my lips, I make my way to the barn, breathing in the night air. It wasn't the smell of home; the smell of home would be the crisp recycled air of the Enterprise, not the Iowa farmland. I had been on this damn planet too long; I was missing my home amongst the stars.
The ladder to the hay loft groaned under my weight and I waited, waited to see if it could carry my weight before continuing to the top, my body sagging in relief as my little hay bed and blanket near the window still remained from my last visit. It was my resting place, my thinking place where I could lay and look out to the stars.
"I'm thinking that it may be too much." I say out into the night, "I am wondering if the pain is worth it all…" I trail off knowing my answer, yes; it will always be worth it to save my crew, my family.
Even now when the pain absolutely riddled my body, pushing past the shields I had pushed up to keep it from showing. I could still feel the ghost pain of the radiation eating away my cells, the way my lungs began to tighten and rasp with each breath.
"I didn't want to join Starfleet, you know?" I ask as I hear the heavy footfalls of my First Officer, before he began to climb the ladder.
"I am aware." He replied before moving to my side, jabbing me in the neck with a hypo spray. The pain ebbed causing me to relax a little more. "Why did you join, if I may inquire?" Spock asked causing me to smile up at him gratefully.
He knew the story; he was Pike's science officer and command officer before mine. He would have had all the information at hand and yet he is willing to hear it from my lips to take the pain off my mind.
With a laugh I look back out to the stars. "I was drunk and talking to Ny, I was trying to get her name when Cupcake and the others of my Security beat me to living pulp in the bar till Pike stopped them. I was drowning fast in my depression, my world was bleak and I was full of hate, he dared me to join, telling me my father saved 800 lives including Mom's and mine. He dared me to do better and I – sick of being in his shadow- agreed."
Maybe it would have been better if I stayed on earth… not cause so much…
"Then I am glad that it happened." Spock stated slowly after a long few seconds. My eyes snapped to his in surprise, his face was set in his usual stoic mask but his eyes reflected everything and I could even feel what he was if I put my mind to it.
"I don't understand?" I reply after my shock wore off, causing his eyes to flicker to mine. A slight twitch of his lips, indicating his usual quick smile when I say something incredibly moronic.
"If you were not there indulging alcoholic beverages and had been, quote 'beaten to a pulp' you would not have been in Starfleet when… When my home planet was in distress, because of your human nature I am alive; the USS Enterprise crew is alive. You have saved us countless times and for that I am glad it happened." He admits, pain radiating from him at the mention of his home planet; I knew it still affected him.
"Spock? You know I am sorry about what I said on the bridge right? I know I've apologized before but… I am sorry for saying it anyway. I know you loved your mother, loved her very much and… And she knew you loved her Spock." I hesitate before resting my hand on his arm in comfort.
He tensed quickly before relaxing and accepting my comfort. It lasted a total of five seconds before he stood up, straightening his clothes.
"If you would excuse me, I am going to retire to my designated sleeping arrangements. I will see you in the morning Captain." He says stiffly before making his way back down the ladder and to the house.
Pinching my eyes shut I exhale sharply, muttering curses in my head. Sometimes maybe I should keep myself a mute, after all Bones always said I don't have a brain to mouth filter. Groaning, I slip further down into my little hay bed and let the exhaustion take me.
Author note: ooooo!