There was something to be said about Jim's mood if it took Spock, a man that cherished quiet and solitude, to get him out of their quarters and into the mess hall for some much needed social interaction and food. Spock would usually enjoy a time between just Jim and himself, but he felt that at the moment Jim needed more than just Spock's presence. He needed the emotional comfort of human understanding, something the Vulcan believed he was ill-equipped to provide.

Entering into the mess, Spock directed Jim to a table already occupied by Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott and Nyota before going to retrieve their meals.

"What's with you?" McCoy asked, noticing the slumped posture, and pouty expression on his best friends face.

"'M fine." Jim mumbled.

"Well," McCoy forced out between bites of mash potatoes. "would it make you feel any better if I told you Admiral Pike sent me the sequencing process?"

And, apparently it would, because Jim immediately perked up. "You got it?" He asked, peering around his husbands arm that was laying a tray of food in front of him.

"I believe I just said that."

"Yeah, well tell me about it." Jim urged.

Chris had said it would take him a few days to get the information he needed, and that Jim would have to be patience. Only that Jim wasn't the impatient one. Sam had called the night before asking a million questions that Jim didn't have an answer for. Sam had become agitated with Jim's limited knowledge and had said things Jim knew was said and only would ever be said out of frustration and stress. They had never been close but, it was nice to talk to his brother after so long without communication. When Jim had finally gotten Sam to calm down, they spent hours talking and even laughing. Reminiscing on shenanigans that had gotten themselves into when they were just boys on their family farm in Iowa. Jim had laughed so hard he cried, Sam along with him. Something they had never really done before, and it became very obvious that the distance between Jim and Sam was severely unnecessary. Once they had finally cut off the call Jim had sat back and wondered what it had been like if Sam had never left. This was one of the reason for Jim's sour mood.

McCoy began to explain the steps needed to be taken to ensure a healthy and successful revival of George, Jim listening intently as Spock asked questions of the doctor and also added his two cents when Jim seemed to not understand. Which honestly only made it worse, because let's be honest, Spock spoke with too much formality for anyone to understand sometimes.

As they continued on Jim began to notice Nyota and Scotty's lingering and longing gazes at each other. Of course, when one was doing the staring the other was gazing too intently at their food. Jim rolled his eyes both mentally and apparently physically because, Nyota caught his eye and gave him a confused look.

"Vu dahkuh kup-fam weht ak'wikmun" (You two cannot be more unaware) Jim smiled sweetly at Nyota as he used his husband's native tongue to convey that he had noticed the pining going on between her and Scotty. In response he got a raised eyebrow from his Vulcan and a confused glare from his communications officer.

"Ikap'uh t'du ru'lut" (Shut your mouth) Nyota mock hissed and glared back at him.

Jim grinned as the rest of the table looked on in confusion. Spock obviously being the only one to know what was being said between the two officers.

Jim shrugged. "I'm just saying, it's becoming painful even for people who aren't involved."

"Bath'paik" (Damn you)

Jim laughed. "You know what, Spock. I think you were right, I definitely needed this."

Poor Bones and Scotty were left only imagine what was said at the dinner table.

"I'm staying at the Starbase." McCoy announced later that evening as he and Jim lounged on the sofa in Jim's and Spock's quarters. Said Vulcan sitting at Jim's desk finishing his evenings paperwork.

"What, why?"

"Well, I have the sequencing, everything's all ready to go and I don't see why I would waste any more time." The doctor shrugged as he leaned forward to pour himself another glass of the whiskey he and Jim were sharing.

"Yeah, but we have shore leave on Earth, why wouldn't you go visit Joanna?"

"Come on, Jim. Jocelyn is still being the bitch she always was."

Since Jim had met McCoy, the doctor had only seen his daughter a handful of times, and commed her only a few more than that. It was something Jim knew weighed on his friends mind heavily, not being there to see his daughter grow up, achieve her goals and dreams hurt him more deeply than anything else.

Jim stayed silent as Bones sulked into his drink. Spock caught his eye over the doctor's head, his face completely stoic but, his eyes conveyed sadness and sympathy.

"Hey man," Jim spoke quietly, setting his drink down before beginning to rub his best friends slumped back. "I can't say I understand, Bones, but I at least want you to know how grateful I am for you."

McCoy looked up at him and gave him a small smile before giving his usually snark "Don't be gettin' sappy on me, Jimmy. We might end up cuddling."

Jim laughed. "Hey, ask Spock, I'm an amazing cuddler."

Later that evening as Jim lay awake. Millions of thoughts zoomed through his mind, several among them about his mother and brother. Others about the ship and its crew. Spock and McCoy had large roles in his pondering as well but, the leading man was his father. To say that Jim was absolutely goddamn terrified about all of this was slightly more than accurate, but that something of a well-known fact.

He just could not get a grasp on anything because of the extreme momentum everything was speeding at. It was all so happening so quickly and Jim's head was reeling. He was still so angry and confused, heartsick and devastated. He felt like he was screaming at the top of his lungs but no one was listening to him. Nobody cared. But, isn't that overly dramatic, and selfish?

"No." A soft voice that he thought was asleep whispered into his ear.

"I thought you were asleep, ashaya." Jim whispered as he rolled over to face Spock.

"I was, but your thoughts were extremely loud." The Vulcan brushed his fingers through the captains mused and tangled hair. "And, to correct your earlier thought, I do care."

"I'm sorry, I should have left so I wouldn't have woke you."

"Nonsense." He whispered against Jim's lips before kissing them. "You are my bondmate and this is also your bed. You do not have leave because I might happen to stir from your mental activities. Also, I would wish to know when you are distressed."

Jim sighed. "I think I want to stay on the Starbase as well. If that of course does not bother you." He added quickly, not wanting Spock to think that he was controlling his choices.

"I am amicable to either, Jim. All I wish to be is with you."

That made Jim smile faintly and tuck his head into his bondmates shoulder. Spock pulled him tightly against his body, wrapping his arms around his beautiful human. "Are you at all fatigued?"

Jim shook his head. "I'm wide awake." His voice muffled against the pale skin.

"Well, then I believe we should take advantage of this time and engage in coitus." Spock stated as if he wasn't requesting he and Jim fuck each other senseless (which he was). He got a bite to the neck and a hand down his boxer as a response.

"You really know how to get a guy hard, you know that?"

Later as the lay sated and content Spock murmured to Jim. "By the way, ashaya, your Vulcan earlier at dinner left somewhat to be desired."

"Shut up, Spock. You knew my Vulcan was terrible when you married me."

Notes:

Okay, my Vulcan is crap, so if it's really bad I am super sorry. If you want to let me know what's wrong with it feel free to do so because, I'm hopeless at it.