Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration. ~Charles Dickens

After another four days in the hospital on Prince Sultan Base, Leonard decided Jim was well enough to travel. Jim very much wanted to sleep in his own bed and Leonard knew he would rest much easier in their house than he had been in a strange hospital.

Chris said that Scotty would fly Jim, Leonard, and Spock home. Kameer would co-pilot. Everyone else would be flown in the smaller shuttle. Winona insisted on going on the shuttle with Jim, not that she didn't trust Leonard, but…. Chris understood and naturally agreed. Sulu would pilot the second shuttle and Selema would be his co-pilot.

"Because it's going to be very hard on you," Bones said again when Jim insisted he didn't need to be sedated for the trip home.

"I'll be fine," Jim said.

"So you're the doctor now?" Bones asked in a warning tone.

"No. I'm the patient. And I know I'm okay to fly," Jim said, looking at Spock and Chris in hopes of reinforcements. Hopes which proved to be utterly futile.

"No. You. Aren't," Bones said. "I can sedate you or we can stay here another three days. Those are your choices."

"Chris," Jim said in pleading.

"I'm on Leonard's side in this. You are still having trouble breathing. You were peeing blood until yesterday. I'm sure Leonard wishes he could keep you here another three days. He also knows if he tries, you'll sneak under the cloak of darkness," Chris said. "Now be a good boy so he can sedate you and we can pull this circus train out of the station."

"Okay. Fine," Jim conceded. He rolled onto his side away from Bones who lowered the pajama bottoms Jim had only started wearing the day before. He inhaled sharply when Bones gave him the shot, rolling back over to frown at Bones.

"Those men beat the living tar out of you and you never said a word. I give you a shot and your pride is wounded," Bones said in exasperation.

"Shut up," Jim responded, accepting Bones' help out of the bed and into the waiting wheelchair. Jim's left arm was still bound to his body to help the dislocation heal, his over-sized pajama top buttoned over his chest.

"You see what he's really like," Bones said to Spock once Jim was settled, a blanket over his lap. "It's not too late for you to run away."

"It is far too late," Spock said, making Jim smile up at him.

"Fine," Bones snorted, pushing Jim out of the room and down the corridor. He was able to wheel the chair directly onto the van waiting to take them the short distance to the shuttle. He knew that by the time they arrived, Jim would be out for the count which was just as well.

When they got to the hanger, Jim was, as predicted, gone to the world. Spock easily picked him up out of the wheelchair to carry him onto shuttle Padema, placing him carefully on the bunk. Bones covered Jim with a warm blanket and strapped him in. Winona was already in the shuttle with Scotty, making sure they had everything they needed for the trip home. Not that she didn't trust the Consortium. But Jim was her little boy and she was going to make sure he was well cared-for on the trip over.

Once Bones gave Scotty the okay and everyone was buckled in their seats, Scotty and Kameer lifted the shuttle out of the hanger, flying effortlessly back to the States.

In a rare exception to their strict rules, the Consortium had granted them permission to temporarily land shuttle Padema on the beach in front of Jim and Bones' house rather than the airfield. When they were safely down, Spock carried Jim into the house and directly into his bedroom, where he deposited him gently onto his bed. Everyone left Bones to see to Jim, going into the kitchen for something to eat and to watch the shuttle leave the beach as Scotty flew it to the hanger.

As soon as Bones appeared in the kitchen, Winona went into Jim's room, needing to see for herself that he was okay. She knew he was but seeing him, touching him was more important than hearing it from Leonard.

"How's he doing?" Chris asked when Leonard was sitting at the table between Nyota and Spock.

"Sound asleep. He should wake up in another hour. I propped him up so his breathing will be easier," Leonard said, accepting more tea from Chekov.

"Good," Chris said with a nod. "When he wakes up, you're going to bed." Chris held up one hand, forestalling the protests. "No arguments. It won't help Jim one bit if you wear yourself completely out worrying about him."

Leonard stared at Chris a few stern seconds before glancing at Nyota. "Will you tuck me in?"

She giggled at that, leaning closer to kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear. Whatever she said was the right thing because his frown was turned magically into a smile, one that telegraphed her agreement to his invitation.

Kameer watched the interactions of everyone at the table, understanding why Jim and Leonard's house had become a gathering place. It felt warm and comfortable and like home even though it was his first visit. And he was grateful for the opportunity to be included.

He looked at all those eating and talking and enjoying their own company. Selema was debating with Hikaru about the relative merits of one type of sword versus another. Kameer had no idea what they were really talking about and a glance at Chekov confirmed that he didn't either. Pavel had a little better idea but confided to Kameer that he was glad that Karu could argue with Selema and leave him out of it.

Scotty, when he got back from the hanger, looked tired but in a comfortable, everybody's-where-they-belong way. As though he could finally stand down. Kameer predicted it wouldn't be long before Scotty was fast asleep. Either on Jim's floor or the couch from what he had heard from others.

Leonard and Nyota were continuing to flirt with each other, both their faces lit with the unmistakable glow of reunited lovers. Not that they had been apart the entire time. But they finally had the chance to talk without focusing on Jim or the mission or anything but each other.

Winona, once she returned from Jim's room, kept busy making sure everyone had enough to eat. She seemed to be able to make food appear out of thin air which was greatly appreciated by all. Chris was helping her, or talking to her while she cooked. Kameer had never had much opportunity to spend time with Chris outside of official duties and enjoyed this opportunity to see The Boss as a regular guy in jeans and a flannel shirt, barefoot in the kitchen scrambling eggs. He knew that Chris was one of the reasons that the Consortium was never short members. Chris could sell ice to the Eskimos and Kameer absolutely believed the stories he had heard that Chris actually had done it.

Kameer caught Spock watching him watching everyone else and Kameer smiled with a tiny shrug.

"It is quite fascinating," Spock confirmed quietly.

"I've heard about it for a long time," Kameer said. "I've never seen it."

"I have not spent a great deal of time here. However, I do know that it is a gathering place. One that this appreciated by all those who come."

"Once you live here, will you change it?" Kameer asked, suddenly realizing how inappropriate that question was. "Oh God. I'm so sorry."

Spock shook his head, a tiny smile playing at his lips. "You do not need to apologize. While Jim and I have not yet discussed any long term plans, should I be invited to move in with him, I would never allow anything to disrupt the love that is to be found here."

Kameer nodded at that. "Is it true that Chillie Waters' wife and children visit?"

"It is my understand. I have not met them," Spock said. "You are a fan of the Ice Floes?"

"Totally. They rock the most. You?" Kameer asked, pretty sure he knew the answer.

"Of all the rock bands with which I am familiar, they are the most talented," Spock said, making Kameer laugh.

"Is that a yes?"

Spock just raised one eyebrow at him and Kameer knew not to ask again. Not that Spock would mind but he wasn't going to get a different answer so what would be the point?

"Have you known Jim for a long time?" Spock asked him as they left the dining room for the living room, Winona insisting that she and Chris would take care of the kitchen. Chris didn't seem quite as certain but Winona was a force to be reckoned with and he capitulated gracefully.

"Six years," Kameer said. "I apprenticed with him."

"An apprenticeship is required upon entering the Consortium?" Spock asked.

"Always. Make sure you keep your head about you. Follow protocol. It lasts between a year and eighteen months, depending on how well you do, how many missions you are assigned."

"What do you do when you are not active with the Consortium?" Spock asked, finding the other man quite interesting and very lively. Not as lively as Jim but with a spark of life he very much appreciated.

"I write fortunes for fortune cookies. I know," he laughed when Spock looked at him skeptically. "It's weird. But somebody has to come up with those funny and strange sayings. I also write greeting card verses. I don't like doing that as much. And the fact is, the Consortium pays us all enough that we don't have to work. Most of us do to keep busy between missions. Selema makes beautiful stained glass. Hikaru works for Jim. Sam Giotto works for Chris."

"Montgomery?" Spock asked.

"He does work for Jim. And Chris. He's everybody's handyman. I'm pretty sure he doesn't accept payment for any of the work he does but he doesn't care. As he always says, as long as he has scotch to drink and place to lay his head, everything else will take care of itself."

"Very wise," Spock said.

"You're thinking of joining, aren't you?" Kameer asked, studying Spock as he studied those around them.

"I am considering it," Spock admitted, briefly wondering why he had decided to confide to Kameer what he had not yet told anyone else.

"You'd be great," Kameer said. "You were great. Scotty told me how you were during the rescue. He thinks you have to do it."

"I am flattered," Spock said with a nod.

"What will Clan Shi'Kahr say about you joining?" Kameer asked. "If it's not too personal of me to inquire."

"As I have not discussed the possibility, I have no way of predicting," Spock said. He knew that was not entirely true but as he was not at liberty to tell the complete truth, it would serve. "Do you live close to here?"

"I live in Bartaville. It's convenient to the Consortium headquarters and airfield," Kameer said.

"Are you married?" Spock asked because it was a polite thing to do. At least he hoped it was polite. Sometimes the finer points of Human interactions still eluded him.

"I'm not. Not yet. I'm engaged to Nadia Faraj. She is a researcher at the labs where Sam Giotto's wife works."

"That is how you became acquainted?"

"Of course," Kameer laughed. "Denise had been determined to fix us up. Sam tried to stop her but, well, she's a woman of focus."

"I have met her once," Spock said. "She has a delightful personality."

"She'd have to, to put up with Sam," Kameer laughed like it was a long standing joke. Spock knew he didn't mean anything by it and inquired about Sam's ankle. They continued to chat quite comfortably, discussing topics of no importance at all.

~o0o~

Even before he was completely awake, Jim smiled. He was laying in his own bed, in his own house. Nothing like it. He allowed his eyes to open as they would, glad that the first thing he saw was the ocean out the wide window on the opposite wall of his room. That was a welcome sight at any time. He could vaguely hear the voices of his friends in the living room, a warm and comforting sound. He tried unsuccessfully to decide how many were there but gave up as he realized it made no difference at all.

He knew that he had not been left alone the entire time he slept. Though he had slept very soundly, he had felt the presence of Bones and his mother, at the very least. He knew equally well that it wouldn't be long before someone came to check on him. Nothing was required of him until then and not even after that. He only had to lay and wait and hopefully someone would arrive with Pepsi. Or something to eat. That would be good too.

As he waited, he considered the state of his body. Everything still hurt but not in the intense for God's sake when is it going to stop? pain that had been ever-present since his encounter with the thugs. His chest hurt the most at the moment, a severely bruised sternum a new entry in his ever expanding ledger of injuries. And it just sucked. Having a bruised sternum made it hard to breathe, to sit up by himself, and if he had to cough, the pain was excruciating. Broken ribs were a cakewalk compared to this bruised sternum.

Broken ribs, a separated shoulder, and fractured fingers were a new combination. Having his left hand and arm taped tight to his chest helped all of the injuries but oh the itching. He'd pay really good money for the chance to scratch his chest and his left armpit. Not exactly something you could ask anyone, not even your best friend. There was a limit to what Jim would request even of Bones.

He ran his tongue over the braces holding his sore teeth in place. They didn't hurt like they had right after the beat-down. Now they just ached in the background. It wasn't the first time he'd had braces put on but he thought they'd be on longer this time than they ever had been before. His only possible concern about his braces was in connection to kissing Spock. Because he really did want to kiss him. And be kissed by him. And do other things to Spock that might be more difficult with the presence of the hardware in his mouth. Like those things they did before Spock had his Vulcan version of a freak-out. That was something Jim probably didn't really need to ever say to Spock. He would ask him how he felt about kissing a man with braces. Hopefully he was willing to learn if he had never done it before.

More than anything, more than even Pepsi, what he wanted was to take a shower. Having his head shaved meant that he didn't have to worry about terminal greasy bed-head but a shower was his current goal. He ideally wondered what the chances were that Bones would allow it. Even a quick bath. Surely he would be able to soak in his tub for a little while. All the bandages were off except the ones around his ribs holding his left hand and shoulder secure. It wouldn't hurt his shoulder to release it while he was in the tub, right? If there was a God, Jim felt certain Bones would agree to a bath.

Not many minutes elapsed before Jim felt Bones' presence in the doorway. He turned enough to smile at him, getting a return smile.

"How are you, kid?" Bones asked, coming in to sit on his bed.

"Good. Thanks for letting me come home," Jim said.

"You'll sleep better. I know that. What do you want to eat?"

"Can I take a bath? Please?" Jim asked.

Bones considered the question, putting his palm on Jim's forehead. "Feelin' a little ripe, huh?"

"Completely. And itchy."

"All right. I need to check your fingers and your shoulder. I'll take off the bandages, put you in the tub, then bandage you again when you're done."

"Good," Jim agreed. "Then you'll go to bed?"

"Chris already told me that was next. So it's not like I have a lot of choice."

"Good," Jim repeated. "Think Mom will make me a cheeseburger?"

"I think Winona will make you anything you want to eat. You'll have to eat it with a fork. A bun, thick burger," Bones said, shaking his head.

"Yeah. I'll use a fork," Jim agreed.

"You may need to sleep after your bath. So she'll make it whenever you are up to eating it."

Jim nodded at that, looking past Bones when Spock stopped in the door. "Hey."

"Jim," Spock said lightly. "You are feeling better?"

"I am. Please come in," Jim requested.

Spock entered his bedroom, standing by the bed. "Can I get you anything?"

"I'd love some Pepsi," Jim admitted.

"Certainly," Spock agreed, leaving for it.

"Can you come with me to the bathroom? Or does Spock need to carry you?" Bones asked, backing up a little.

"I'd like to try," Jim said, slowly easing his legs over the side of his bed. With Bones' help, he was able to sit up, stopping to catch his breath.

"Any dizziness?" Bones asked.

"No. Just short of breath," Jim said. "Okay."

Bones nodded, a warm arm firmly around Jim's waist. They made their slow way to the bathroom, Jim leaning more heavily on Bones than he would have liked. But that was the only way he could be certain he would arrive safely.

Once they were inside Jim's spacious bathroom, Bones put him on the closed toilet lid to wait. It felt odd to be sitting up by himself and he considered the new sensation. He decided it was tolerable as he watched Bones fill the tub, adding some foaming bubbles. While the hot water was flowing, Bones said he was going for his medical bag and would return shortly. Jim solemnly promised to stay right where he was until Bones returned. In the meantime, Spock came in with the glass of Pepsi, giving it to Jim and making sure he had a secure grip on it with his right hand.

"Everybody still here?" Jim asked.

"For the most part. Kameer is here. Salema is planning to leave tomorrow. Pavel and Hikaru have no intentions of leaving – apparently ever from what they have said," Spock said, making Jim laugh.

"They always get like that when I've been hurt. They'll be okay," Jim assured him. "Are you spending the night?"

"I had hoped to," Spock said. "I have heard the recliner is quite comfortable."

"You can sleep with me," Jim said, hoping he came across as causal but not sure he succeeded. "If you want."

"I do want," Spock said, shrugging when Jim laughed. "I do not know it is what is best for you."

"Unless you plan to toss and turn, it will be fine. I don't move."

"Discussing sleeping arrangements?" Bones guessed as he reentered the bathroom.

"Something like that," Jim agreed, drinking from his Pepsi.

"You can sleep with him," Bones told Spock. "You won't bother him. And he won't roll over on you."

"Very well," Spock said with a nod. "I will leave you."

"You'll come back when I'm safe in bed?" Jim asked him.

"Certainly," Spock agreed, leaving silently.

Jim frowned at Bones' expression, even less happy when Bones laughed. "Stop that."

"I'm not doin' a thing I need to stop," Bones informed him.

"You are," Jim protested as Bones helped him out of his pajama top. "You are making fun of me."

"Because you are in love? Because you want him like you've never wanted anybody?"

Jim shrugged, waiting as Bones unwrapped the bandages.

"How does it feel?" Bones asked as he very carefully lifted Jim's left arm away from his chest.

"Tight. Stiff."

"Painful?" Bones asked.

"A little. It feels like it's pulling," Jim said.

"That's not surprising," Bones told him. He checked Jim's fingers, not removing the splints. "Another few days."

"Okay," Jim agreed. "These are some pretty spectacular colors."

"They are," Bones said. "I think it's a personal best. Come on."

Jim let Bones help him stand up and lower his pajama bottoms. That taken care of, Bones assisted Jim into the delicious hot water, sinking up to his chin.

"You won't be able to stay like that very long," Bones reminded him.

"I know," Jim said. "But it sure feels good."

"I know it does. You want a washcloth?"

"In a minute. At least I don't have to worry about washing my hair."

"There is that," Bones agreed, rubbing the stubble on his head. "It's coming back even blonder."

Jim shrugged at that, knowing he had absolutely no control over it. "You know," Jim said, looking up at Bones, a warm and thoughtful expression on his face. "When I thought I had finally run out of luck and that I was going to die, I only had two regrets."

"You did?" Bones asked, listening to anything Jim wanted to say.

"I was sorry Spock and I hadn't… you know…."

"Made up?" Bones suggested.

"Something like that. The other thing I regretted was leaving you. That I would never see you again. And I hadn't told you how much I love you," Jim said quietly and sincerely.

"You know I know that, kid. You don't have to say it for me to know," Bones assured him, rubbing over his stubble in a comforting motion.

"Sometimes it needs to be said," Jim told him. "And I'm sorry I don't tell you as much as you deserve to hear it."

"Thank you," Bones responded. "You know the opposite is true, right?"

"I've heard," Jim joked, relishing his friend's comforting presence. "Thanks."

"That's what best friends are for," Bones assured him.

"Sooooo…." Jim said, deciding it was time for a change of subject. Some emotions needed to be spoken even when they are understood. But not at the risk of embarrassing them both beyond redemption.

"What?" Bones asked in suspicion.

"About Spock," Jim said.

"I am not having this conversation. You are not ready to do anything more strenuous than taking a bath. I will not, repeat, not give you permission to do anything except sleep. You got that?"

"Yeah yeah yeah. You never let me have any fun," Jim complained, laughing when Bones smacked him very gently on the head. "Is Nyota staying the night?"

"She is. Tahla and Kheri are coming tomorrow to check on you," Bones said.

"That's cool. I guess I'll still be in bed, huh?"

"Yes. For another few days. No use complainin' about it," Bones said in a preemptive strike.

Jim snorted at him and closed his eyes to enjoy the hot water surrounding his aching body. "Did they find the rat in the corn?"

"Not as far as I know. Pavel and Hikaru are still checking all of the firewalls. Chris has security on it as well. They found one anomaly but don't think it's the problem."

"Did I hear that Sheik Siraj Khalil-Gheisari said the whole thing was our idea and he wanted no part of it?" Jim asked.

"He released a statement to that effect – disavowing all knowledge of the potential coup. Chris isn't concerned. He received word that Khalil was going to do it to protect his people."

"What happens now?" Jim asked.

"That's up to Tahla. I think she's convening the Hierarchy but I'm not sure."

"So her visit tomorrow is official or social?"

"Social. Chris said it can be official when I decide. Not before," Bones assured him.

"Okay," Jim agreed. "Can you help me slide up?"

Bones pushed up the sleeves of his sweatshirt, pulling Jim higher in the water, his breathing easier. "That better?"

"Yeah. Do you have that washcloth?"

Bones gave it to him, watching as he washed to make sure it wasn't too much for him. As he waited, he told Jim of other news he may have missed. Whether or not Jim was actually listening was of little importance. He knew Jim liked having his voice in his ears and he was happy to oblige.

When Jim finally decided he'd been soaking long enough, Bones helped him up and out, seating him on the toilet again to dry him and bandage his shoulder. Jim hated admitting it but there was no way he could dry or dress himself. Clean pajamas were the last step before Bones took him back to bed and tucked him in.

"Eat or sleep?" Bones asked once Jim was snug in bed.

"Sleep," Jim admitted reluctantly, Bones nodding and waiting until he was completely asleep before leaving his bedroom.