Little While Lies

by Reigen Doki

Or 'The Benefits of a Vulcan Lover'. When Jim gets himself in trouble, Spock lies to protect him. Now they both have to deal with the consequences and figure out how to fix it. A fair amount of cursing goes on in this, sorry.

7. Chapter 7

I think it's safe to say I don't own Star Trek.

… .. . .. … … .. . .. … … .. . .. …

"Well." Jim shifted awkwardly in the smooth, dark recess high up on the geode. "This is cozy."

Spock seemed to acknowledge his speaking with a look of annoyance. "You are speaking facetiously. I will remind you that this was your decision, Jim."

Jim rolled his eyes. "We've been climbing and wandering around for hours, Spock. You've found several interesting creatures, and some amazing geological finds. We agreed together that resting for two hours would be a good idea. We can climb back down before the sun sets and then we'll be rested enough that we can do a night exploration. You liked this idea five minutes ago. What changed? The fact that the nearest safe spot is a little cramped?"

Spock didn't answer for a long moment. "Nothing has changed, Jim. I am simply advising you not to complain."

Jim snorted, curling up on himself so he wasn't touching him at all. It was an impressively tight ball. He looked deeper into the crevice, because he got dizzy when he looked the other direction. He didn't notice Spock moving until his hand wrapped around his wrist. Jim tensed, but didn't move. He couldn't risk falling yanking himself back, but he wasn't really in the mood to be humoring Spock. Which he supposed was pretty obvious because he didn't react when Spock rubbed his thumb against the inside of his wrist. He just made a strangled noise of annoyance and curled deeper in on himself.

He was also promptly reminded of Spock's significantly greater strength when he was pulled across the little alcove. Jim blinked in surprise, but didn't really have much time to react as Spock shifted his weight. Jim found himself sprawled out in Spock's arms, his back pressed firmly to his chest. One of Spock's arms was wrapped firmly around his stomach, squeezing him in a surprisingly comfortable way. The other hand was still clasped around his wrist, holding Jim's arm across his chest. Spock had buried his face in Jim's neck and was gently nuzzling the skin behind his ear.

Jim was completely thrown off.

"Rest Jim." Spock ordered softly against his neck.

Jim grumbled, because he was not going to be placated by cuddling. "I wasn't complaining."

Spock's nose against his skin was surprisingly distracting. "I will not debate this matter with you Jim. Your time would be better spent resting."

Jim growled, squirming a bit. "I can't sleep like this."

"You will manage." Spock's voice had a hard note to it.

Jim gulped. It was...hard to argue with him like that. That tone made Jim just want to melt and do as he asked, and he wasn't used to ever feeling compliant. After a protesting moment longer of sitting tense in his First Officer's arms, Jim relaxed with a sigh. It was a little stifling in Spock's arms, because of the hot weather, but it was also really nice. It was like sitting in a steam room, the heat seeped into his muscles and flooded a sleepy, deep contentment through his system. Spock's grip loosened slightly as he felt the tension go out of Jim. He wasn't sure just when his eyes shut, but he opened them slightly when Spock shifted so both of his arms were loosely wrapped around his waist. Jim was asleep in seconds.

He woke what he assumed was two hours later to Spock gently brushing his hands on his biceps and muttering his name in his ear. He felt a little shudder run through him as the last grips of sleep tried to drag him back down. Jim rolled his shoulders and stretched, ignoring the interesting points of Spock's body that put him in contact with.

Spock didn't so much as move. "Captain."

Jim smirked, muffling a yawn in his forearm. "Mm. Time to go now?"

"Indeed." Spock shifted, ever so slightly, and Jim figured cuddle time was over.

It had probably mostly been to keep him from rolling out of the hole six stories up in a rock. A thought that, having just occurred to Jim, was somewhat disconcerting. He managed to shuffle himself back to his side of the hole without elbowing or kneeing Spock. After a little bit of prep, they were back on their lines and starting down the rock. Jim couldn't see the sun set, but he could see the sky, having been mostly gray up until that point, turning a deep golden-orange. Jim didn't really have the time to sit and marvel, but he decided if he ever came back he was definitely spending an evening at a beach. Dimly, he wondered if there were any with purple sand.

Darkness was beginning to settle over the jungle, so it was back to the tent to prep for a night mission. Fortunately, they weren't going to have to worry about the temperature dropping so low that they needed protective gear. In fact, Jim figured it might actually be nice, other than the darkness.

Jim strapped on a tricorder and a light, running through protocol on these things in his head.

He didn't even notice, when Spock handed him his rations, still deep in thought as he ate. He hadn't even realized he'd finished until Spock asked him if he was ready. Somehow, during his checklist, he noticed that he had eaten and was actually ready. When he told Spock as much, he simply received a nod. Spock handed over a fresh canteen of water and Jim was quick to strap that on too.

"Alright." Jim grinned. "Let's go."

Spock nodded and lead the way. Jim found very quickly that it was too dark for his eyes to quite make things out, the three moons currently up were too blocked by the tree coverage. Spock didn't seem to mind Jim keeping close. Jim didn't actually reach out to touch him, because he was acutely aware of where Spock was. Maybe it was the bond, or the fact that Spock was a different temperature than the ambient air, or some awareness of electromagnetism or something. Either way, Jim was keeping track of where he was based on Spock's presence in the space around him.

The jungle sounded so alive. Jim could hear soft rumbles and chirps and the incessant rustling the farther they traveled from the geode mountain. Apparently a night mission was a fantastic idea, because everything seemed so alive around them, to the point where it seemed dead in retrospect. There had been nothing, a blinding isolation and now he was stepping into a thriving world that moved around him in its almost invisible way.

The bio-luminescence started to make itself apparent about thirty minutes into their walk, when the last traces of light were gone from the ground level. It was just a few distinct plants, clearly trying to attract certain animals to spread their seeds. All the same, the faint white glow was well worth the effort. Spock was taking every chance to catalog the new reactions he was finding in the plants. Jim was keeping his eyes open for animals and occasionally scanning some of the plants that hadn't changed just to see if everything was the same or if they were doing something different on their own. It didn't mean much, but he was sure Spock would be grateful for any assistance he was trying to provide. Spock could be cool like that on occasion.

Jim's eyes flicked sideways, catching a flash of colorful movement. His breath hitched as two big, yellow eyes blinked at him separately. Carefully, he eased backwards, until he could tap gently on Spock's shoulder. He could hear the slight shift, wasn't going to look away long enough to ensure Spock was looking.

Jim eased forward a bit, bringing his tricorder up in an attempt to scan the thing. It was a vague shape, not least of all because of the rhythmic, dull pulse of light along its fur. It appeared to be the size of a human baby, though certainly not the same shape, with a very long tail, a puff on the end of that. The pulsing light made its shifty movements hard to focus on. Based on the slight hunch to its spindly limbs, Jim got the feeling the light was something of a warning system, saying it was about to be a very unhappy lemur/tarsier thing.

Spock was apparently content to let Jim inspect it, because he didn't notice him moving behind him.

So Jim completed one scan, inched a bit closer, and completed a second one. He had just pressed for a third scan when it apparently decided he was too close and alerted him to this fact with a blinding flash of light. Jim stumbled back, blinking and rubbing at his eyes. He felt Spock's hands on his arms and figured Spock would still be able to see. He had probably seen it coming too.

Jim's eyes were watering something awful and he screwed his eyes shut.

Spock took hold of his wrists, when he made to rub at his eyes more fiercely, so he had to just stand there awkwardly, wishing the blinding spots would just fade already.

"Perhaps it would be best if we were to return to the camp."

Jim shook his head, which turned out not to be a good idea because it made his head throb. "I'll be okay soon. Really. On the positive side, now we know what that thing does when it's scared, so we have valuable information."

Spock didn't say 'indeed' so Jim got the feeling his statement wasn't really appreciated. Spock finally let go of his wrists. Jim valiantly didn't reach up and rub his eyes. Several minutes later, Jim was starting to get his vision back, he could tell, because everything was going dark. He would rather the dark then contending with flashes of light. After a while, the pain eased too and Jim almost felt like he was back to normal.

"Next time, you get to approach the blinking, big eyed rat."

Spock didn't call him on that one, so Jim assumed the annoyance and headache was still inherent in his voice.

… .. . .. …

"All in all, good mission." Jim muttered, peeling off his shirts.

He was only moderately surprised to find Spock immediately in his face as soon as his shirts disappeared. Jim resigned himself to the inspection of his eyes, though at that point he would have really just preferred to lay dawn and go to bed. He understood. If Spock had been the one who had been temporarily blinded, Jim wouldn't have been near as patient. He'd probably call Sulu up to get them and thrown a hissy fit until McCoy did a full physical and work-up on him. So standing still for his inspection wasn't that bad, all in all.

Spock pulled back with out saying anything, so Jim assumed he was going to get to keep his eyes for another day.

"Good night Spock." Jim sighed, just about collapsing into his bed.

His pants could just stay where they were. He wasn't going to bother changing. He noticed Spock hesitate for a moment, because he could still feel him standing to his back. But Spock turned and finished getting ready for bed without so much as a good night.

Jim remembered, as Spock turned out the lights, that he had wanted to ask him about why the bond made his head feel the way it did and made him so sleepy.

It was an executive decision to put if off for another time.

A decision Jim was sort of coming to regret after a poor nights sleep as soon as he got into an argument with Spock.

"Fine!" Jim screamed, not caring at all that he was probably scaring off every animal in a fifty meter radius. "Just...Ugh!"

Spock blinked at him, folding his arms behind his back. "It is good that you have come to see the logic in my argument, Captain."

Jim snarled. "Get back to the fucking tent."

"I do not understand your continued aggression." Spock followed closely. "You have already agreed to-"

"Shut up." Jim snapped, voice icy. "I'm done speaking to you."

Spock fell silent, but that didn't make Jim much happier. He was positively seething. That Spock could even think...No. Jim wasn't going to let himself get pissed off because his fian-er-first officer was questioning him. He knew what this was all about. He knew Spock thought he was just protecting him. Spock didn't know him. Didn't know how Jim felt about being treated like that. They were going to have a hell of a conversation about it, just as soon as Jim could calm himself down. Maybe after a consultation with Uhura.

Spock didn't speak to him again before he settled down to rest. Jim picked up a PADD so he didn't have to look at him. After all he didn't need to rest in preparation for a night mission, did he?

Jim could feel his hand aching from his grip on the PADD. Jim glanced over, saw Spock sleeping, and a rage boiled in him. Fine. He'd agreed that he'd stay in the tent, rather than go on a night mission so he couldn't get hurt. He'd keep his word. But he never said he'd stay in the tent while Spock rested. Jim readied quickly, flushed with anger as he moved silently. He glanced down at the braids on his shirt and stepped out of the tent. He was a starship captain for the greatest exploratory agency in the universe.

Sometimes Jim just had to go his own way.

… .. . .. …

Jim felt when the bond burst to life in the back of his head. He had half a mind to keep running. Spock would find him eventually, but Jim was pretty good at running away. He always had been the punch and run type, in the long run. But Jim decided he liked the little lake and waterfall he had found and he would wait right there for Spock. He'd pretty much flat out run away from the tent when he left.

That probably hadn't been the brightest choice, but Jim didn't really care at this point. He was still too angry.

Which is why he was pointedly concentrating to keep his feelings from the bond. It made him sick to his stomach, but he figured he could keep it up for the hour or so it took Spock to find him. It helped that Jim had a lot of interesting fresh water life to focus on. He'd found three distinct kinds of fish, an algae, deeper down, that glowed whenever anything crashed into it, a wonderful variety of water plants, and one thing that looked a bit like a jelly-fish, but apparently had no poison according to his tricorder.

His little pond was pretty. A large waterfall crashed into it, but it appeared almost motionless. He suspected that was because there was a deep underwater stream, moving very rapidly away. The waterfall was warm, so most of it hung around on the top and the currents got faster and colder the deeper you went. Jim wasn't so stupid as to try and explore something like that on his own, but he got as close as he could and got a few scans on it. It was an impressive thing to find in a jungle, and he suspected the science crew had been so focused on that rock that they didn't even notice the underground river of doom. That made Jim just a little smug.

They didn't get to call him useless if he could prove himself like that. Maybe he'd finally earn their respect.

He was currently in the process of watching some little, pointy-eared monkeys he had scanned earlier. He was making note of the way they were using their barbed tails to pull fruit from a spiky bush. It was pretty awesome. They then chewed on the fruit until it was a disgusting, dry paste, and spit it into the water, where the fish were eating it up. One point for the fish. Nothing like getting someone else to feed you.

A monkey chattered up in front of him, waving a fruit at his face. It was a little weird that they weren't scared of him.

Jim accepted the fruit with an awkward smile, because the monkey wouldn't understand it, and started scanning the fruit. Jim wasn't too sure what the readings were saying, but it was nice to have them anyway.

The monkey just seemed glad that he had taken the fruit, because it didn't stay to watch him eat it. Jim tossed it in the water after a bit, enjoying the spectacle of fish attacking it with gusto. When he rinsed his hands in the water, several fish came over to inspect the juice still on them. He found that one of them, a lacy looking little fish, felt like cold steel on his hands. That was going in his notes, for sure.

A tinge of panic bled through the bond. It had only been thirty minutes, but Spock was worried. Jim sort of felt bad for that, but Spock had pissed him off. It wasn't like Spock couldn't find him just because he was holding his emotions back. He'd feel bad about upsetting him later, but for now Jim was just going to ignore it. He was enjoying getting to explore and actually do science things. Spock would get over it.

Well, that was what he thought right up until he saw Spock.

Spock stepped into the clearing looking visibly haggard. Jim stood and turned to greet him, and had a strong pair of arms wrapped around him. The bond flooded him with relief and panic and a myriad of emotions Jim didn't even know the name for. And there was anger. So much anger that Jim felt sick. So much fear.

"Spock." Jim whispered, awed.

"Do not speak." Spock growled, burying his face in Jim's hair. "I am not yet ready to speak to you."

Actually growled. Like full on vocal sound.

So Jim just stood there, hands hanging limply at his side while Spock convinced himself everything was alright. And without the fear all Jim was getting from the bond was intense anger. Something he could see when Spock pulled back and gave him a positively icy look. Jim felt his own anger raising in response.

"Your behavior was reckless." Spock's voice was a monotone usually reserved for the most angering things he had ever seen.

Jim wrenched himself back before Spock could begin his lecture, glaring fiercely. "I don't know if you remember this, but I'm a god damn Starfleet Captain!I am more than capable of protecting myself and I'm not some incompetent fool bumbling through everything I do! I know I'm not the best captain! You think I don't know that? I know I've screwed up! I know exactly how much I've screwed up! Do you think I can't read you verbatim each letter I sent home when someone on my ship died? Do you think I don't know that everyone hates me for it? Thinks I'm incompetent? I know that I'm not the captain any of you would actually choose, but I'm still your god damn captain!"

Jim was shaking, could feel warmth in his eyes and knew his muscles ached from clenching them so hard. He wanted to run, wanted to fight, didn't want to stand there so blatantly open. Completely open. Their anger was like knives, flaying the bond, making it bleed pain into their minds. Jim could feel it, wanted to stop, but the anger was too much. Too good after so long of playing the competent, mild mannered Captain that never lost his cool.

Spock punched him, hard and Jim stumbled back. Before he had a chance to recover, Spock was standing there, kissing him fiercely. It was strange that the second one should be so much more frightening of an act. Jim kissed him back, biting at his lips because if this was as close as he was getting to a fight, he was pouring all of his anger and frustration out into it. And Spock's hands were digging into his biceps and there were going to be all sorts of bruises. And Jim was yanking at Spock's hair and couldn't imagine it felt all that great.

There was absolutely no lust in the act, no want or desire, no love, just pure desperation. Anger and confusion and hurt. Jim couldn't tell any more, who was feeling what. The bond trembled between them.

Spock pulled himself back, collecting himself as best he could. It wasn't too effective considering he was disheveled and blushing. "It amazes me that you can be so foolish captain."

Jim bristled. "Why the fuck did you just kiss me?"

Spock glanced away. "The bond is impairing my judgment. I am angry Jim. Can you not realize this?"

"Most people keep hitting." Jim spat. "They don't kiss the person that pissed them off like they'd die otherwise."

Spock straightened. "Would you prefer if I hit you again?"

Jim made a strangled screech at the back of his throat and lunged. It hurt like hell, when his mouth crushed into Spock's. He could feel his teeth cutting the inside of his mouth and his jaw ached and he couldn't believe this was happening. What the hell was he doing? He could feel it, though, the way the bond used the contact to heal itself. Even if their movements were driven by anger, were damaging the bond, the contact helped it. Kept it safe.

Jim tried to reign his anger in. He was better than that. Spock was already trying to keep his emotions from the bond, trying to control himself. Jim tried to relax, tried to focus on anything but the seething hatred trying to root itself in his chest.

He felt Spock place his hand on his lower back and amusement bubbled up inside him. He broke the kiss with a laugh, and soon Spock was the only thing holding him up. His knees had given out and he was nearly hysterical. Spock soothed a hand through his hair, waiting.

"Jim." Spock finally murmured when he fell silent. "I fear for your safety because I do care for you. I can not deny this. The entire crew cares for you. We respect you and desire your safety because of this fact. To have you reject us...to have you reject me..."

Jim looked up to see the hurt in those eyes, couldn't ignore it. "That's not the way it feels."

"I am sorry." Spock insisted. "You have never protested before...I did not know..."

Never protested? Oh god. Jim felt like he was going to be sick. He'd hung back on missions, on planets, because he thought his presence was unwanted. He wanted to be the good captain, to keep his distance, so he tried not to push too hard on including himself. He felt a resurgence of hatred, directed at himself. Why couldn't he get things right? Spock probably felt it through the bond, because he started soothing his hands over Jim, like he were unsure how to comfort him, but wanted to do so all the same.

Jim didn't want to be touched just then.

He pulled back, out of Spock's reach. Spock just stood there, watching him. Jim could feel Spock easing the shield back over the bond, could tell he was trying to give him the privacy he so desperately wanted and needed. Jim had to get himself back under control. He felt sick, felt tired and confused and he felt like this bond was shoving his emotions around, distorting them and making Jim act on a kind of instinct he wasn't used to having. It was as much a part of him as it was Spock, though. It should know better, its instincts should know better. Should know that throwing them at each other like that when they were angry would do more damage than good.

"I'm sorry I ran away." Jim muttered, not meeting his eyes. "I was angry, and frustrated, and wrong. We are going to need to work on this whole communication thing. I just...I get angry with you and I don't know how to talk to you. I feel like I barely know you and you have all these expectations of me that I can't meet. You speak to me like you know exactly how I'm going to act when I don't even know and I just get angry and the angrier I get the more adamant you become and I just can't step back from the emotions."

Spock shifted like he was going to reach out, but he kept his hands tightly at his back. "I do not know how to remedy this, Jim. I had believed I knew you quite well, but it is now apparent that I was unaware of several important factors. I have never believed myself capable of predicting your actions, but I had believed myself aware of their reasons. I see now that I was erroneous. It is apparent that I have been negligent in my observations and...friendship...with you Jim. I was not aware of your discontent. As such I have performed inadequately."

"Spock...I..." Jim didn't know what to say. "I want this to work. Want us, the crew, everything to just work. To be fun and good and successful. I want to be able to feel happy and confident with what I'm doing."

Spock nodded, his voice tight when he spoke. "I will do everything I am capable to give you that peace Jim."

Jim wasn't really sure who moved first, but they met in the middle for a hug that was only slightly awkward in the long run. Jim pressed his forehead to Spock's, mildly glad they were handling this without making out. Spock whispered something, not even really words, but the question was still there. Jim nodded. He could already feel himself relaxing as Spock brought his hand up to his face.

Spock could feel the gross, open wound of the bond. Could feel the flayed surface of Jim's katra, wounded by anger. It made a deep, hallow sadness resound through him. He resolved to understand Jim, so that he would not be the cause of such anger and pain. Though sadness remained, he left the meld feeling better than before.

"Jim."

Jim shook his head, pulling himself out of the hug. "We've got work to do."

… .. . .. …

Jim was going to kill Spock when he got back, if the waiting didn't kill him first. All because he'd agreed, and because he was exhausted after that afternoon's roller-coaster ride, he'd actually stayed behind. He even promised to stay in the tent. But Jim couldn't sleep, because he couldn't get the thought that something bad could happen to Spock out of his head. Karma, probably, for worrying Spock, but frustrating all the same.

He'd given up on sleep and was organizing the information he'd gotten on his tricorder. Spock had been a little surprised and pleased by that. Jim had been a bit smug about that.

It had been two hours. Spock should have been back already. Jim was trying not to let it get to him, because Spock was a big boy and could take care of himself. And Jim could still feel the bond at the back of his head, shielded, but assuring him he was there. Assuming he wasn't hurt or something. But that didn't stop him from feeling incredibly anxious. He figured he'd just stay up a little longer, until he got back, and then get some sleep. That'd probably work fine. It wasn't like he had much to do when they got picked back up in the morning. He could catch up on his sleep on the ship. There was always mandatory downtime after an exploratory mission. He'd get a full day off, CMO's orders. He'd just relax after they got back and he finished his paperwork.

Well, his paperwork was just about finished. He could really cut through it when he was anxious.

When Spock finally stepped into the tent, Jim felt almost angry that he was perfectly fine. Spock seemed genuinely surprised, for a moment, that Jim was still up. He let go of his anger fast, because Spock hadn't been trying to worry him, and gave him a sheepish little smile at the raised eyebrow.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Are you unwell?"

Jim shook his head, putting aside his PADD and going to help Spock with his gear. "No. I was just...thinking too much."

Spock seemed to hesitate, watching Jim remove items from him like it were perfectly normal. "You are distressed."

Jim shrugged. "I'm fine."

"Jim." Spock said sharply. "You are attempting to undress me."

Jim paused, realizing he was in fact removing Spock's shirt. Awkward. He retrieved his hands with a cough. "Ah. Yeah. I was just...helping..."

Spock wasn't buying that, an eyebrow raised and a pointedly flat look on his face. "Jim."

Jim flushed. "I was worried, okay? I couldn't sleep because I was worried."

Jim huffed, turning around when he caught the smile in Spock's eyes. He was embarrassed enough without Spock finding it amusing. Spock wrapped his arms around Jim's waist, pulling him flush against this chest. Jim was acutely aware of just how comfortable Spock was getting with the movement. He was also acutely aware of the fact that he had succeeded in getting Spock's shirt off because Jim still wasn't wearing a shirt. Spock didn't seem to mind, nuzzling Jim's neck.

"I did not intend to cause you alarm."

Jim scowled. "Stop nuzzling me Spock. You aren't a cat."

Spock paused, but kept his face tucked against Jim's neck. "How may I assist you with your emotions Jim?"

And wasn't that the weirdest thing he'd ever heard? "My emotions aren't a problem. I'm going to bed."

Jim didn't pull out of Spock's arms though. He just sort of stood there, fuming a little. Spock released him after a moment and returned to readying himself for bed. Jim made a show of climbing in bed, but he still felt incredibly tense and awkward. Spock had to finish some of his paperwork first, but he had dimmed the lights. Jim still couldn't sleep. It wasn't even anything in particular. Spock's moving around and finishing wasn't even all that bothersome. The temperature wasn't bugging him, not focusing on work, he just couldn't...something. He hated nights like that.

"Jim. Are you unwell?"

"Stop asking me that." Jim growled, refusing to open his eyes and look at his First Officer. "I'm fine."

"You are making noises indicative of discontent or discomfort." Spock didn't argue with him, just explained why he asked.

"I just can't sleep." Jim sighed, rolling over to look at Spock.

Spock was sitting on his bed roll, only half focused on his PADD. Jim pillowed his arm under his head, watching him work. Spock's fingers danced over the PADD almost absently as he watched Jim from the corner of his eye. In the low light, Jim was fairly certain Spock couldn't see him as well as Jim could see Spock. The PADD was providing a helpful glow. Spock's features were dark, half hidden and cast in sharp relief, and the bright glow of the PADD caught the powdered crystal, making for blinding high points on his cheek bones, nose, the sweep of his brow. It looked good, classically handsome.

Spock's lips flicked through the faintest of smirks. "Do you need assistance?"

Jim blushed, and was glad he was mostly in the dark. "And just how exactly would you propose doing that?"

"You seemed adequately capable of sleeping yesterday." Spock paused ever so slightly. "While we were resting from climbing."

"Oh." Jim squeaked. "Uh...I can't imagine you resting too well like that."

"I would rest significantly better if I were assured you could not leave without waking me." Spock glanced up.

"Ha. Ha." Jim threw a sock. "I was being serious."

Spock placed the sock with his clothing bag. "I was not false with my statement. However, to address your concerns, (Jim noticed he said concerns like it were a hypo tying to stab him in the neck) your presence does not affect me adversely."

Jim rolled his eyes, because Spock was winning and he didn't want him to know that. "I don't cuddle Spock. Like, not even after sex."

"As we are not engaging in coitus before hand, I do not see the relevance of that fact."

"I meant if I don't even use the excuse of being too tired after sex to leave to cuddle a little, why would I cuddle for no reason?" Jim was blushing, wishing sincerely that he hadn't brought up his sex habits. Was this supposed to convince Spock he wasn't a slut? Where did that filter over his mouth disappear to?

"I see..." Spock seemed to consider something for a moment, placing his PADD aside. "Would you prefer to engage in coitus to 'use the excuse' for 'cuddling'?"

Jim's jaw dropped, mostly because it was hilarious to hear Spock using air quotes and the word cuddling. "What would you do if I ever took you up on your teasing?"

Spock raised an eyebrow slowly. "I may not be familiar with all of your habits, Jim, but I have 'teased' you enough on these matters to accurately predict your response 76.34 percent of the time."

"That's a low number." Jim snorted.

It was. Jim wondered what he'd done that was so surprising as to knock it down that far. Spock finished tidying up his area and Jim's eyes started adjusting to the dark. He hated to admit it, but he could tell Spock was looking at him and he was sure it was an expectant look. He sighed, throwing his head back with a groan.

"Okay. But if you can't fall asleep, just tell me. Don't try to suck it up." Jim shook his head incredulously. "I can't believe you talked me into trying this."

"It was not a considerable effort." Spock informed him, suddenly much closer.

Jim grumbled, mostly to hide his nervousness. "So...uh...how...?"

Spock shifted so he was laying next to Jim, who belatedly noticed that he had brought his bed roll. "You may move to find a comfortable position."

"Because I needed your permission for that."

And yet he still hesitated to touch his first officer. Jim awkwardly shifted because he just couldn't work up the nerve to throw his arm over him, or place his head on his shoulder or something. Wasn't that how cuddling normally went? Jim sighed and flopped back, deciding cuddling was entirely to awkward and girly. Spock apparently didn't agree, because he had no qualms about dragging Jim over and throwing a loose arm across his chest. Jim was really beginning to wonder if maybe Spock wasn't an inherently tactile person who pushed it down because it was improper. That probably sucked.

"Are you comfortable?" Jim teased when Spock proceeded to nuzzle him a little.

Spock puffed out what Jim was going to assume was an annoyed breath against his neck. "I am not experiencing discomfort, so by that definition, yes."

Jim shook his head, but tried to relax anyway. It was less awkward, somehow, when Spock directed their interactions. Jim wasn't touching him, he was being touched. Therefor it was on Spock's terms so Jim couldn't feel like he was being invasive. That was probably, on closer inspection, his problem with approaching most of the crew. It was easier to let them approach him, because then all non-work interactions were on their terms, so they shouldn't be too uncomfortable.

"Sleep." Spock ordered.

Jim realized he had be tapping on Spock's arm, thinking. He drew himself back, awkwardly tucking a hand under his head so he wasn't touching Spock with it. That whole thinking instead of sleeping thing was going to be a continuous problem. Spock shifted, pressing his temple to Jim's. He could feel the faintest hint of Spock's mind. It was probably weird. It was like white noise though, just enough of a 'sound' in his head to drown out his own thoughts, to interrupt his long winding ramblings. It felt good, to be able to just relax and let someone else direct it. Spock's mind was such a warm and comforting place that fit. Jim felt safe, letting him have control. It was his last real thought, before he drifted off to sleep.

… .. . .. …

Jim woke up feeling fantastic. His first thought was wondering how much he had had to drink, because his head was still buzzing. He remembered, rather quickly, that he was on a mission. And that Spock was with him. From his position sprawled on his stomach, Jim could feel Spock's chest pressed to his arm and his head resting on Jim's shoulder blade. Jim was going to blame the comfortable feeling in his head for missing that. Not that it had taken long to situate himself.

He must have somehow alerted Spock to the fact he was awake, because it didn't take him much longer to wake up himself. He leaned back, but his arm was still flung over Jim's waist. Jim rolled back a bit, stretching and yawning. Spock shifted, resting his head on Jim's shoulder, pressing their temples together sleepily. The pleasant buzzing redoubled and Jim didn't bother fighting down a sleepy grin. Spock was tracing intricate, vague patterns along Jim's abdomen, just a touch away from tickling.

"Spock." Jim murmured, getting a slight hum of acknowledgment. "I can't read Vulcan."

"How is this relevant?" Spock sounded surprisingly sleepy.

Jim grinned. "What are you writing on my stomach?"

Spock froze, his fingers going completely still. After a second Spock disentangled himself. Jim glanced back in surprise, and saw Spock starting his morning routine. He frowned immediately, a crease forming between his eyebrows as he wondered what he'd done wrong. It occurred to him that maybe Spock hadn't realized he'd been doing it.

Jim got up, not looking at Spock. They needed to break down camp before Sulu got back. They had about three hours, by his PADDs time, until the scheduled pick up. Plenty of time to get everything cleaned up. So he did just that. He set about breaking everything down, conveniently forgetting to eat his protein nibs. He wasn't hungry, anyway. He noticed that Spock hadn't bothered eating either. He wondered if Spock noticed that he hadn't eaten.

Spock still hadn't spoken to him by the time their communicators alerted him to the fact Sulu was thirty minutes out.

Jim tried not to let it annoy him. He didn't need constant reassurances and contact. He didn't even like constant conversation. He'd had plenty of comfortable silences with Spock before anyway. At least, he'd thought he did. So why was this silence so different? Not uncomfortable, but not personable still. It wasn't a shared silence. It was a separating silence. If Spock needed the silence as a wall, then Jim wouldn't take that from him.

Sulu was mildly off put by the silence when they beamed back on the transport. Jim greeted him with a smile, but he focused more on putting up their gear, to be reorganized by personnel when they got back to the ship. Spock was staring down his PADD, still silent. As they neared the Enterprise, though, he rather suddenly stopped what he was doing and went to Sulu's side, as though he were looking at something on the ship computer. Sulu looked significantly more at ease when Spock started acknowledging him.

"Enterprise come in." Sulu called over the comm. "Enterprise? Captain, I'm not getting a response."

Jim frowned, coming to lean over the pilot's shoulder. "Is it our communications?"

"I do not believe so, Captain." Spock was inspecting it closely. "It appears they are receiving our transmission, but they are not responding."

Jim felt his heart beat harder, though it didn't seem to speed up to him. "It's possible they're having difficulties. It wouldn't be the first time. Sulu, what is the status on the docking bay?"

"The doors are open Captain." Sulu flicked through some controls. "There's no one responding. There aren't any signals. I'm going in slow Captain. I should be able to shut the doors from here, if everything is receiving properly."

Jim nodded, retrieving the phaser he had set aside and handing Spock his own. "I don't know what we're getting into, but keep your eyes open."

Sulu set the transport ship down in the hanger, the only one currently out. Everyone was on board. The doors started easing shut and Jim gave Sulu a tight smile, patting his shoulder.

"Good work."

"Um...I didn't do it, Captain." Sulu furrowed his brow, unbuckling himself and moving to check something else on the ship. "Someone outside is shutting the doors. There must be someone in the control room. I don't know why they didn't answer though."

Jim tensed, his eyes flinching narrower as he glanced towards the control room. He drew his phaser up, on stun and nodded to the others to be ready. He could feel Spock at his elbow when he turned back to the exit of the transport. He wasn't sure what they were walking into, but he was confident that they could handle it. His crew was bright, resourceful, and determined. He glanced back at Sulu when he heard the alarm for the open doors finally fell silent, letting them know it was safe to enter. He caught a momentary look on his face, that seemed strange, but it was gone before he could identify the look. Sulu nodded and reached for the transport release.

Jim eased out into the empty dock. It was creepy. He heard a set of doors to his right open and spun to the side, phaser following naturally. McCoy raised his hands immediately, eyes wide.

"Damn it Jim! Put that thing down." McCoy hissed. "You're going to give me a heart attack."

Jim lowered his phaser, but didn't put it away. "What's happening?"

McCoy looked distraught, face tight. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. I've got them quarantined in the canteen. You've been planet side. I need you there too."

Jim tucked his phaser away, glancing back to see Spock and Sulu had already done so. "Quarantined why? Why aren't they in the Sickbay? And why all of them?"

"Because it spread fast." McCoy scowled, wiping at his forehead. "Everyone else is confined to skeleton crew, no wandering, nothing. I can't explain it."

"Doctor...are you affected as well?" Spock asked, his tone grim.

Bones smirked. "Yeah. I am."

"Bones..." Jim placed a hand on his shoulder, and was shrugged off.

Sulu shook his head. "When did the quarantine start?"

"A few minutes after you left. The last of the others came up. That's when we started noticing it."

Jim felt nervous, running through the empty halls of his ship. It was eery. The Enterprise should be bustling with life, teeming with people flowing through the halls like blood.

Bones and Sulu were at the front together, but Jim barely noticed. His heart was beating hard, thundering in his ears and every vein in his body felt like it was surging with anticipation. Whatever he was walking into, Jim was prepared. They were almost to the cafeteria, now, and he felt like he was vibrating with energy. Spock was tense at his side, but a reassuring presence all the same. Bones flashed them a strange look before issuing his medical override on the doors. The four of them stepped into chaos.

"Surprise!" A couple hundred voices screamed at once.

Jim nearly jumped out of his skin as he was bombarded with bright lights and streamers and balloons. He felt like his heart stopped. The beaming faces of his crew and the sudden cheer was such a stark contrast to the immense worry he had been feeling. Jim turned on his heel and exited the room. Spock raised a hand to halt the crew at their crestfallen looks, turning to follow Jim back into the hall. McCoy and Sulu were the only ones in a position to seem them from where Jim had walked to.

Jim turned when Spock set his hand on his shoulder and buried his face in his shirt. He didn't want him to see him crying, though he could probably tell from the wet spot he was going to leave on his shirt. That and the fact that the shield on the bond was complete crap when it came to Jim's emotions apparently. Jim couldn't help it, but he was practically sobbing in Spock's arms. He felt like he could throw up from relief. The knowledge that his crew was safe, that they were all alright, it was almost too much for him. Spock rubbed his hand gently in a circle on Jim's lower back, something almost instinctual in the way he handled him.

He took a few shuddering breaths, trying to calm himself. After a few minutes of hiccuping and sobbing, Jim pulled himself back, wiping his eyes. Spock withdrew his hand immediately. Jim figured it had something to do with the fact that they were on the ship. Jim was more than a little embarrassed. He also realized that his crew was probably standing in there, thinking he'd stormed out pissed. Now that the worry and relief had disappeared, it wasn't an entirely inaccurate assesment. Jim fixed an annoyed, wry look on his face as he walked back into cafeteria. No one commented on how red his eyes were. He was so focused on the people in front of him that he missed the look Sulu and McCoy were sharing behind his back. Spock broke that look up by walking between them, eyebrow raised at their antics.

"Are you out of your minds?" Jim shouted, only a hint of anger in his voice. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! And faking an emergency...If I weren't so relieved I'd have you all scrubbing the ship down with your toothbrushes." Jim sighed, shaking his head and smirking when everyone looked upset. "That said, you got me good. What are you even doing?"

"Throwing a party for you." Uhura appeared out of nowhere, immediately taking responsibility. "This was the least I could get them to do. Literally."

Jim had to smile, because somehow that was so amazing of his crew. "Okay. What what are we doing just standing here? Go! Party. That's an order."

That was met with another cheer. Sulu clapped a hand on his shoulder and the Jim was being surrounded by crew members cheering and pushing him along. He just went with the flow, letting them direct him to cake and punch and people. Spock hung back by the door, watching the crew curiously even as McCoy and Uhura leaned on the wall next to him.

"You knew." Uhura accused. "I could see it on your face."

"I had come to expect some manner of ruse when Doctor McCoy apparently operated the bay door on his own. This suspicion was confirmed when Lieutenant Sulu and the Doctor exchanged a smile while looking at the Captain." Spock raised an eyebrow when McCoy sputtered at the accusation he couldn't operate a bay door.

"And yet you didn't tell him." McCoy pointed out sharply.

"There was no opportunity to do so. Nor did I deem it to be felicitous." Spock looked over at Jim, eyes softening perceptibly. "An error, perhaps."

"Is he okay?" Uhura asked. "He looked...pale when he ran out of the room."

"I can not attest to the Captain's physical state." Spock glanced pointedly at McCoy. "He has recovered aptly from the shock the crew has caused him. It is my understanding that this was the desired outcome?"

Uhura gave a half grimacing smile. "Well, not exactly, but he looks like he's enjoying himself now."

McCoy shrugged, his eyebrows copying the movement. "Maybe. He's just sort of smiling and nodding."

… .. . .. …

Jim was more than a little exhausted and grateful when Bones declared it time to take the Captain for his check up. He'd put it off long enough to humor the crew and now Jim was going to go sit around sickbay. It was saying a lot when Jim was grateful for a trip to sickbay. He'd spent the last half hour just talking though, with a significant number of his science crew sitting on the floor or at tables to listen to him. The floor was actually considered a more optimal position. The cause of that was the fact that Jim had accidentally mentioned the lake. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know everything he could tell them about it.

Jim elbowed Spock when they fell into step, headed down to sickbay. "Where did you disappear to?"

Spock kept his hands at his back. "I was engaged in conversation with Nyota."

Jim glanced over to see his communications officer had followed them out. She waggled her fingers at him, smiling deviously. Bones looked grumpy, but not any more so than usual. Jim nodded happily to her.

"I'm going to assume you set all that up?" Jim smirked when she nodded. "Good to see you found some way to keep yourself busy while the rest of us were doing work."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah. I heard. I guess you weren't just a distraction down there."

Jim grinned. "Well, not just."

She laughed, a musical thing. Jim liked that he could make her laugh, considering the laugh he remembered best was a derisive thing from his school days. Jim's smile dimmed a little, because he'd managed to just make himself a bit sad. He was pretty sure it went unnoticed. McCoy was grumbling about not wanting to know what trouble he'd gotten himself into as long as it didn't have a medical relevance. Uhura followed them into the sickbay, earning a look from Jim.

"Whatever happened to doctor patient privilege on this ship?"

"Do you want me to leave?" She raised an eyebrow.

Jim snorted. "Whatever. It's not like it matters. Does it bother you, Spock?"

"I am not adverse to Nyota's presence."

"Did anything interesting happen down there?" McCoy interrupted. "Drink any strange water? Get bit by a spider?"

"There are spiders?" Jim shuddered. "Ew. Who found that out?"

"Rodgers got hit in the face with one while it was raining." Uhura informed him with amusement.

"Bleh." Jim started removing his shirts, prepping for his exam. "That is not something I would trade him for. He can keep the spiders. I'll stick to the barb-tailed monkeys."

"Jim." McCoy was not amused. "Answer my question."

"Nothing really happened." Jim shrugged. "Uneventful."

"The Captain was temporarily blinded by an animal using bio-luminescence." Spock informed him curtly, folding his own shirts.

"Oh come on." Jim glared at him. "That wasn't it. It flashed a bright light, temporarily screwed my night vision. It was nothing. It took a couple minutes to clear up."

"34.58 minutes, Captain." Spock noted primly.

McCoy went for the eyes and Jim would have glared some more if there weren't fingers and electronics impeding that. "I don't like you anymore Spock. I'm getting a new boyfriend. Uhura? Want to be my boyfriend?"

Uhura burst out laughing, catching Spock's arm to keep from collapsing as she clutched her stomach. "I think there may be some problems with that Captain."

"You are not to date the Lieutenant." Spock just about growled, and Jim smirked.

"Don't tell me you're jealous."

"I am not."

"Mm-hm." Jim swatted Bones' hands away from his face. "Well, I guess I can keep you for a while them. But just because Uhura isn't interested."

Spock's eyebrow twitched dangerously. "Affirmative."

"Is there anything else?" McCoy interrupted. "For either of you."

"I received minor abrasions during a night expedition." Spock informed him. "I properly cleaned and dressed them."

Jim stood up from the exam bed, ignoring Bones' protesting sounds. "What? Why didn't you tell me? When did this happen? Is that why it took you longer to get back than it should have? Damn it Spock. This is why I should have been with you."

Spock raised his eyebrow, waiting patiently for Jim to stop rambling to answer his questions. "I received abrasions on my lower abdomen while examining a life form resting on a tree. I did not inform you, because it was unimportant and you did not ask. It occurred approximately half way through my explorations. I do not know when you expected me to return, so I can not attest to any such delay."

Jim rolled his eyes, allowing McCoy to put him back into a seated position. "How did I not notice that last night?"

"I believe you were distracted." Spock's eyes were smirking, his head cocked to the side in mock deference.

Jim scowled, before his eyes lit up as he realized Spock had just given him the perfect opening. Payback would be his. He smirked, settling back and resting his hands behind his head, aware from the slight glance from Uhura that the muscles of his stomach had just rippled interestingly. No one was immune to his charms completely. Spock kept his eyes on his face, so Jim winked instead.

"Before or after we slept together?"

McCoy swore, dropping his tricorder and flailing. "God damn it Jim! If you're going to lie to get payback at least wait to do it until I'm not holding expensive equipment."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "Jim is not lying."

McCoy rounded on him with a look of abject horror. Uhura was looking between them wide eyed. Jim grinned. He could really honestly learn to love that guy. As a friend. Obviously. Jim leaned forward, grinning right next to Bone's ear.

"Twice. Ow!" Jim rocked back, cradling his nose which McCoy had just elbowed in his flailing. "Bones!"

"Serves you right." Uhura hissed, still staring at Spock, the gears in her head working. "Something isn't adding up here."

"You mean the fact that these two are trying to convince us they slept together?" McCoy growled, eying Jim. "I think you need a psych profile."

"I do not." Jim wheezed through what he was going to assume was a broken nose. "That hurt."

"So you want me to believe that you and the hobgoblin...ugh." McCoy shuddered. "Nope. Not buying it. Not for a minute. Weren't you the one protesting your straightness? I don't know how you convinced Spock to lie for you but I swear I will lock both of you in here until you die of boredom and then I'll bring you back and kill you. If you even-"

"Leonard." Uhura broke through his tirade, arms folded over her chest, hip cocked and eyebrow raised. "I think he's being literal."

McCoy glanced between them eyes narrowed, before a dark smile split his face. "So you cuddled?"

Jim blushed. "How did you turn this against me?"

"Natural talent." McCoy yanked his hand down to start inspecting his nose. "I hate you."

Jim shrugged. "Natural talent. Did you break my nose?"

"No, but it'll bleed a little. Live with the pain." McCoy rounded on Spock. "On a bed. You're next."

Spock inclined his head, raising an eyebrow. "I had presumed as much. You are quite inefficient."

Jim glanced down at the edge of the bandaging peeking out of Spock's pants along his hip bone and stomach. He couldn't stop the frown at the sight. He couldn't believe he'd missed that. He was so busy freaking out about being worried that he'd completely missed the fact that Spock was hurt. Jim felt incredibly guilty, and looked away before he felt the bile churning in his stomach climb any hire in his throat. He caught a sympathetic smile on Uhura's face and stood up, still pinching his nose.

"I'm going to go get cleaned up." Jim murmured, to an off handed nod by Bones.

Uhura followed him over to the counter. "You okay Captain?"

Jim smiled as he wiped some towels across his face. "I'm alright. Did you like what you saw back there?"

She rolled her eyes, smiling a little. "Not as much as Spock apparently. And really? That was a little messed up."

Jim glanced up at her, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"Including Spock in your sexual innuendo." Uhura snorted, unamused. "And calling me a guy."

"Whoa." Jim frowned, leaning back on the counter. "I'm including him in my sexual innuendo? He started it. And not just with the boyfriend thing. He's been making sex jokes with Bones about me for a while. And I didn't call you a guy. I was joking about the boyfriend thing."

She cocked her hip to the side, glancing over at where Spock and McCoy were talking. "I don't believe you. And why not ask me to be your girlfriend then?"

"Of course." He threw up a free hand, scowling. "He's just a damn boy scout to everyone. Didn't you date him?"

Uhura glanced away awkwardly. "He never joked like that with me. He never spoke to me about anything like that."

Jim gulped awkwardly, and grimaced as slimy blood slid down the back of his throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something awkward. UH...Wow. How did you handle...uh...all of that? I mean...he's hard to get down to."

She laughed softly, sadly. "Obviously I didn't handle it Captain."

He coughed, trying to ignore the fact that his bloody nose was getting in the way of trying to be a good friend. "I think now would be a good time to casually divert the topic...what would you have said if I asked you to be my girlfriend?"

She rolled her eyes, but it brought a smile to her face all the same. "I don't think the crew would approve Kirk."

Jim shrugged, affecting a casual look as he inspected his much drier nose. "Ah. That would be a problem. I'd hate to blemish your reputation. The wonderful queen of communication and the awful playboy..."

"More like the gullible, innocent Captain and the home-wrecker that stole him from the king of the science department." Uhura smirked at the surprised look on his face. "They like you. I thought that would be clear by now. Also, they like Spock. They've always liked Spock. It's no surprise, that they genuinely love you two and want you to be happy. It's also no surprise that they were so damn happy about you two getting together. It's like seeing your two favorite characters in a book get together. They idolize you two and the only thing better to most of them then getting to be with you is seeing both of you together. Or didn't you notice how creepy some of the crew is about you?"

"I noticed." Jim said dryly. "Still...it seems like a lot. And weird. It seems weird."

She slapped his shoulder. "Clean your face up Kirk. You look like you've been in a fight."

McCoy and Spock had finished both their conversation and the physical. They were waiting patiently, watching from a polite distance. Jim turned back to finish cleaning his face off and Uhura walked back over to the group. She gave Spock a polite nod and gave McCoy a pointed look. McCoy proceeded to order everyone out of his sickbay and followed Uhura out the doors. Spock stepped out as well and Jim caught the lights as he headed into the hall.

"Well." Uhura rolled her shoulders, smiling. "I'm pretty sure there's a party I'm missing right now. Leonard?"

Bones rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Just one last thing. You bone heads are off duty until tomorrow. I don't want to hear any complaints. You can go back to the party if you want. You can join Scotty and his group. They said they were leaving when we did. I think they're planning on a poker game. I'd prefer if you would just relax. Don't make me hypo you."

"Yes Bones." Jim agreed, before smiling warmly. "And thanks. For everything."

He walked off before he could see the confused look on his best friend's face. Spock walked with Jim to a different turbolift than the direction Uhura and Bones were headed. Jim figured rest sounded like a good idea, actually. Even if he had gotten an alright night's sleep, he felt exhausted suddenly. Collapsing in bed and sleeping until his next shift sounded like the perfect way to remedy that. Spock was standing close to his shoulder and it was just making Jim feel sleepier. He sincerely hoped it was an exhaustion thing and not some sort of Pavlovian response to his First Officer. It wouldn't do for a Captain to get sleepy every time his XO came to stand next to him.

"Going to relax or are you going to try to find some way to do more work?" Jim elbowed him gently.

Spock glanced down at him, a scrutinizing look in his eyes. "I will follow Doctor McCoy's orders."

Jim smirked. "That wasn't an answer." He stepped off the lift, heading towards his door.

"Jim." Spock called for his attention before he could enter his room. "I...have a private query for you."

He blinked, surprised, before gesturing for Spock to enter his room. "Sure thing."

Spock stood awkwardly by the couch. Jim was remotely grateful that Rand had found time to clean the room because Jim knew he left it in disorder more than was probably fair to her. He resolved to try to be a bit neater, but put it aside. Right then, Spock was looking particularly stiff. Jim flopped down on the couch, looking up at Spock inquisitively. He patted the couch, but somewhat predictably, Spock didn't take a seat.

"How did you identify the script I was writing as Vulcan?"

That wasn't the question he was expecting, not that he really knew what to expect. "So you were writing something?"

"Not consciously." Spock said quick enough for it to almost qualify as a snap. "You did not answer my question."

Jim shrugged, edging the conversation carefully because Spock was clearly bothered by the idea that he was tracing words on his skin. "I was the Treasurer for the Xenolinguistics club at the Academy. I'd seen more than a few people trying to figure it out to recognize how it's written. Besides, you get pretty used to identifying a type of writing by sight, even if you can't read it. It's a pretty useful trick."

"I see." Spock seemed...not disappointed, but not pleased with that answer.

"So...do you know what you were writing even?"

Spock stiffened. "I do not."

Jim's console beeped before he could call him on that. He headed over, asking the communications personnel contacting him what they needed. The answer was, apparently, for your mother to stop calling the ship. Jim groaned, telling him to wait and glancing over at Spock. At the raised eyebrow he received, Jim gave a sheepish grin and laughed.

"Want to meet my mom?"

Spock inclined his head. "That would be acceptable."

Yeah. Jim was willing to bet it would. He'd find some other time to lull Spock into a false security and get him to talk. Maybe he could try puppy dog eyes and a little cologne. He cut that short because he wasn't trying to seduce his friend, just get him to admit to what he was writing on his stomach. And then he wondered why that would even qualify as seducing because there was no way Jim could seduce Spock even if he wanted to and was trying. Jim derailed his train of thought, because it wasn't leading anywhere good and pulled up his mothers call.

"Hey mom."

She beamed at him. "Hey Jimmy. Gotten laid yet?"

Jim groaned, gesturing for Spock to come over in view of the screen. "Mom. Meet Spock. Spock, this is my mother, Winona Kirk."

Winona blushed furiously, eyes going wide at the double eyebrow raise Spock was giving her. "Uh...Hi."

He inclined his head politely. "Hello. It is gratifying to be permitted to make your association."

She glanced at Jim, thoroughly impressed, before smiling winningly at Spock. "The pleasure is all mine. I'll admit, I didn't know what to expect. Jim's kept pretty quiet about you."

Jim rolled his eyes. "You just haven't been asking the right questions."

Winona waved him off, charming smile still in place. "So Spock, tell me about yourself."

"Please specify what you wish to know." Spock replied curtly.

Jim smirked and watched as Winona tried to be tactful but nosy and Spock managed to completely deflect all of her attempts. He just sat back to enjoy the show. Spock was still being accurate with her, answering her questions technically correct, or informing her that she was being vague. Jim felt a lot better, knowing Spock could more than keep up with his mother. He'd been a bit afraid Spock was going to have the same problem Jim did with Sarek. He knew he shouldn't have doubted him.

"Aww." Winona's coos brought his attention back with a screech.

Spock was giving her an equally baffled look, so Jim felt justified in his confusion. "What the heck was that?"

She gave him a sly smirk. "Don't think I didn't see you making eyes at him."

Jim flushed, and proceeded to flush some more when Spock's eyebrow asked just what he thought he was doing. "I was not. Don't be ridiculous."

She nodded sagely. "Mm-hm. Sure. You can't fool me Jimmy. I know that look. I had it on my face for damn near ten years."

Jim's face went slack and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. The thought of his mother thinking about his and Spock's relationship like her own with his father left a bad taste in his mouth. He stood, heading off towards his bed, because he couldn't look her in the eyes and keep lying. Had he really asked Spock to be capable of this? Of lying to his father? Jim briefly heard Spock telling his mother to live long and prosper. Then he was in Jim's bedroom, just watching him.

"I'm fine." Jim snapped. "So don't ask."

"I was not going to, Jim." Spock hesitated, before he spoke again. "I understand your difficulty. My father expressed that he believed my mother would approve of my choice in you. I do not regret lying to protect you, though it has proven difficult. I apologize if your efforts were not equally rewarded."

Jim blinked in surprise, and shook his head, pushing himself up from the wall and moving to throw his arms around Spock's neck. "Spock, I'm not going to regret what I did. You're my friend and you matter to me, more than I had ever realized before. And you're a better friend than I deserve, but as long as you're happy, I'll stand by what I did."

"I am." Spock leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together and wrapping his arms up Jim's back, gripping at the back of his neck.

Jim breathed out a sigh, hands skimming down to hold tightly to Spock's waist as he leaned back against the wall. Spock shifted, tracing a line from Jim's temple down to his jaw with his nose, moved to his pulse point as Jim tossed back his head carelessly. He could feel Spock's heart under his hand, a steady flutter, and gently danced along the strongest pulse point, tracing down until it thundered under his fingers against Spock's hip bone. Jim could feel the edge of the gauze under his thumb. Spock tilted his head, keeping his nose pressed gently to Jim's throat as he pressed his lips to his Adam's apple. Jim let his other hand skim up, counting the ribs there absently.

They were interrupted by a loud beeping and Jim sighed, disentangling himself and fishing out his communicator. "Kirk here."

"Aye Cap'n. Me boys were * hic * wondering if ye would be a joinin' us for a wee game. The daft little laddie, Pavel, he thinks it was invented in Russia." Scotty drawled in a happy drunken brogue. "That's a right scunner. Ach, but it makes me drouthy. It's a sair fetched not to go peely-wally when he causes such a right stooshie. The idea's a bit squint if ye no ken what ah mean. Too late to just caw canny now. He's gaun his dinger ower it. Let the bairns fend for thairsels. Ah! I'm havering. Can ye have on then? We'd love ye down for a game or two. May be tha' it's a fiddler's biddin, we'd like ye still. And mony wirds, muckle drouth."

Jim blinked, having been lost at Chekov's name and finally given up at that utter nonsense of a last sentence. "Just how much have you had to drink?"

"A'm sae fou as a piper."

"I'm going to assume that's a lot." Jim sighed, rubbing at his face. "Where did you get the alcohol?"

"The bonnie Mr. Spock set a still in the labs for 'research'." That was perhaps his most coherent sentence yet.

Jim glanced at Spock and smirked. "Oh really? That's interesting. I guess I should head down to at least keep you guys out of trouble."

"And for a drop yurself?"

"No. I learned my lesson on drinking. Thanks." Jim shook his head and closed his communicator. "I should probably go before someone gives themselves alcohol poisoning."

"Good night Jim." Spock nodded and started for the door.

Jim followed part way, because he had to head out to get to engineering anyway. "Sleep tight Spock."

Spock glanced back, eyebrow raised, before nodding and heading off to his room. Jim shook his head, trotting to the nearest turbolift to go deal with his crew. As he was, a thought caught up with him, punched him in his nearly broken nose, and ran off with his breath.

What the hell had he meant, when he told Spock he wanted 'us' to work? What the hell was 'us'?

… .. . .. … … .. . .. … … .. . .. …

His crew aren't always well behaved. Also, that would be one ugly little rat thing. I had a bit too much fun with Scotty's drunken ramblings...I suppose I should provide translations for that. So have a rough estimate of his meaning.

Yes Captain. Me and my boys were wondering if you'd join us for a little game. The silly kid, Pavel, thinks it was invented in Russia. That's extremely off-putting. Oh, but it makes me thirsty. It's a real struggle not to go off-color(pale or sick) when he causes a big fuss. The idea is awry(screwy) if you know what I mean. Too late to go easy now. He's upset over it. Let the kids fend for themselves. Ah! I'm talking nonsense. Can you come? We'd love to have you down for a game or two. It may be a last-minute invitation, but we'd like you to come. All this talking is making me thirsty.

So there you have it. It's almost a coherent ramble even. Oh, wait.

A'm sae fou as a piper. - I'm as drunk as a piper. (very drunk)