Disclaimer: Just borrowing.

Warnings: Slashy bits and lots of bad language!

A/N: I apologize in advance for the bit of a cliffhanger but I couldn't fit it all in one chapter and keep the length of the chapters consistent. I'll try to get the next one up this weekend though, so I won't leave you hanging long.

Two days after Spock had experienced his disturbing dream, he was on the bridge during Alpha shift, perusing some reports on his data PADD which Yeoman Janice Rand had just handed him. The turbo lift doors opened and in padded James, Little Spock clutched tightly to one cheek, his blanket draped over his shoulder and his thumb firmly latched in his mouth. He looked more than sad, more than dejected, but said not a word. He strode over to Spock solemnly, climbed into his lap without hesitation and melted into the Vulcan as if he'd had a nightmare.

"James, you know that you are not allowed on the bridge when I am on duty." Spock admonished softly, but received no reply at all.

"James, what is wrong? You are supposed to be on the playground or in the daycare with the other children."

They had picked up a distress signal during the night from a Kaldorian freighter that was adrift and were providing transport and assistance to a the Kaldorians who had been stranded due to a failing warp core. The passengers included a myriad of children and James had been very excited at the prospect of finally having other kids to play with. However this was not the excited James that Spock had dropped off in the daycare a few hours before. This James was sullen and lethargic and Spock's prodding did nothing to elicit a response from him. He simply sat stoically and silently on Spock's lap refusing to budge and inch.

"Captain, I contacted the daycare. They said there was some kind of disagreement between James and group of children he was playing with but they thought it was minor. They didn't even notice that James had left" Nyota informed him.

"Didn't notice he left? He's the biggest one in there and the only one who's human, how did they not notice?" Hikaru spat his question in an aggravated tone. He along with everyone else was very protective of James. He left his station at the Helm and crossed over to the Captain's chair and tried to talk to James but James wouldn't even look at him. He just clung to Spock, ignoring his friend. He wouldn't even laugh at Hikaru and Pavel's jokes. Not even the ones that usually had him rolling on the floor.

"Keptin, perhaps you should take him to sickbay and see if somesing else is wrong." Pavel finally suggested in a very worried tone, after he and Hikaru had exhausted all of their efforts to engage James in conversation.

"I believe I will." Spock agreed, prying James loose from his shirt and urging him to get down off his lap and follow him to the turbolift. James complied but still said nothing, his eyes downcast, never removing his thumb from his mouth.

Once in sickbay Leonard did thorough scans but announced that there was nothing physically wrong with James. Still he would not speak. He would only cling to both of them. They were discussing what to do when Christine came into sickbay, after having taken a walk down to the daycare to see if she could find out what had happened.

"He got into a disagreement with the group of kids he was playing with, that's all they know. One of the kids said he got mad at them and said a bad word and left. We asked the kids what the disagreement was about but they all claimed they didn't know or just shrugged."

"He said a bad word? James doesn't like swears. What was the word?" Leonard asked sounding confused and concerned.

"Apparently he told them to 'get bent and go to Hell' and then stomped out of the room. I don't know if they thought bent or Hell was the bad word, but either way, that sounds like something Jim would say, not James."

"I agree. Leonard, I am remiss in keeping something that may be pertinent from you." Spock admitted and explained that it was possible that Jim himself had surfaced the morning after Spock's disturbing dream. Leonard wasn't happy that Spock had kept the information from him, but understood that the Vulcan couldn't be certain that it had really been Jim.

"I'm not sure it's Jim now, but if Jim is surfacing, that might explain his odd behavior and why he doesn't want to talk to us. I just don't know what to do about it."

"It may be because there are others present Leonard. Nearly a month ago I had a conversation with James, in which he admitted to me that, though he and Jim are one and the same, there are times when it is as if they are separate entities, and I gleaned from that conversation that it is indeed possible for Jim's personality to become forefront and be the one speaking or 'in charge' as it were, but that Jim is apprehensive to do so."

"Why's that and why didn't you tell me?"

"James asked me not to," Spock admitted. "It seems that Jim is afraid that if anyone found out that he can communicate to us himself that further measures will be taken to bring him forward and force him to regain his Captaincy. He is adamant that this is something he does not want, and would not further explain. The conversation was becoming strained and exasperating and in the interest of concluding it amicably, I agreed to keep the information to myself. Had there been any reason to share it with you I would have, but at the time, sharing the information with you was illogical. The only purpose that it would have served would have been to further confuse you and upset James."

They debated back and forth for a few more minutes and agreed that the only alternative they had was to get James alone. They hoped that if he felt more comfortable and safe, he would talk to them and explain what was going on.

"Well look, me and Spock are gonna take him home and try to get him to talk to us there, call M'Benga or Pharris and have one of them cover for me."

They got James home but he still wouldn't talk. He just wanted to curl up on the couch between the two of them and wouldn't let either one of them get out of reach. The most they were able to do was get him to nod yes or no to questions like whether or not he was hungry or wanted to watch a video. Both fathers were quite frustrated throughout the afternoon having gotten nowhere with James. They had no idea what to do or what to try next.

"I give up," Leonard finally said, throwing his hands up in the air. "We've been at it since just after 11 o'clock this morning and M'Benga has covered most of my shift. Now he's supposed to be on Beta shift and it's not right for me to make him pull a double when we aren't getting anywhere. I suppose I can call Honeycutt, it's his day off and I can work his shift this weekend or something but honest to God I feel pretty damned useless right now."

"As do I," Spock agreed. "I have been neglecting my duties as Captain for seemingly no reason as well. James is still just as sullen and lethargic as he was this morning. Perhaps we should put him to bed early. You could return to sickbay and finish out the evening shift, and I could get some work done here."

Leonard agreed that this was the best choice and they finally got James to agree and eat an early dinner. Afterward he went ahead and took his bath and changed into his pajamas and let Leonard read to him as if it were bedtime. They were up to 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' by that point. They had just finished a chapter when sickbay called. He'd let them know he was coming back down and they'd just received word that a couple of crewmen in Engineering had received minor injuries while repairing a plasma injector.

"Tell M'Benga I'm on my way," Leonard said into the comm. "Sorry kiddo, I gotta go. Do you want your Papa to finish reading to you?"

"Nope, just wanna go to bed Bones," he said looking forlornly up at Spock who was at his computer finishing up some reports. Spock immediately turned at the sound of James' voice and walked across the room to sit beside him.

"Well at least you are talking again. I can stay if you need me to, they can handle it without me."

"I'm fine Bones, just go. Papa can tuck me in."

"Alright, goodnight," Leonard said reluctantly shooting a concerned look at Spock. "You'll let me know if…"

"Of course Leonard," Spock agreed before the other man could finish his sentence. He sat silently with James for a few minutes hugging the man to him and asked him if he was sure he was ready for bed already.

"Not really, I just didn't want my Bones to fink he had to stay. Not when he's got hurted people comin' that need him."

"Are you ready to talk?"

"There ain't nothin' to talk about."

"I disagree. Something upset you greatly. I would really like to know what it was." Spock urged. James looked up at him and heaved a huge sigh before letting the flood gates loose and pouring forth his explanation.

"They said I was too big. They said I was weird and called me names and said I must be stupid or tarded or sompink and they didn't want to play wif me. They threw stuff at me on the playground and wouldn't let me swing cuz they said I'd break it and when I tolded them that it was my playground and I played on it all the time an I helpeded Scotty build it they said only grownups build stuff and called me a freak. When we gotted back to the daycare they wouldn't let me play blocks cuz they said if I builded playground quipment and fixeded computers I couldn't play wif blocks cuz you dint use tools to play wif blocks. They called me a freak again and they kept makin' fun of me and… and…I hate them! So I left. I din't wanted to play wif them anyway…"

"I am sorry James. I know how excited you were to finally have other children to play with," Spock sighed, realizing how difficult the teasing must have been for James.

"But that's just it," he said rising off the couch suddenly and starting to pace back and forth in the living room. "I was so cited to have other kids ta play wif, but I'm not a child Spock. I'm not a child, not really, and they were never going to accept me, not like this. So I don't fit in anywhere. I'm not a kid, but I am. I'm not the Captain, but they'll expect me to be if I come back, I'm not really your son and because I'm pretending that I am, or whatever I'm doing, I can't be your….

Dammit Spock I'm so fucking sick and tired of this whole fucking situation!" he yelled throwing his arms in the air and continuing to pace without even looking at Spock. As he paced his speed and coordination changed, as did his mannerisms and his voice.

"At first I hated that James got to spend all the time with you and be close to you when I wanted to be with you just as badly as he did. Then I started to get used to it and the last few weeks I thought I was finally getting the hang of the whole kid thing. I was settling into it. I was happy for the first time in who knows how long. I figured if I could just let go I could just be James all the time and find a way to be happy just being your son and I was doing just that. I found a nice little corner way in the back of my subconscious to hide in and I was fading away and becoming just James, but then you had that damn dream and I fucked up and took over because I couldn't leave well enough alone, and then all this shit happened today.

I'm no good at being me and I'm no good at being James! I don't belong anywhere so where does that leave me? Huh? It puts me right back to square one that's where. Right back to where I was when those god damned interfering, stick their noses in where they don't belong , mother fucking assholes decided to hold a god damned intervention and explain to me how god damned important I am to Starfleet and the future, or their history or whatever. Apparently it's my fucking DESTINY to be Captain of the Enterprise and it's tantamount to the future of the Federation and of Starfleet for me to stay here. Why does everyone keep telling me that?

Fuck Destiny. That's what I say. Fucking temporal god damned police. Why couldn't they just mind their own fucking business? Why the fuck do I need to know about Temporal Cold Wars and Temporal Accords huh? I don't that's what, and I still fail to see how they can fucking "preserve the integrity if the timeline" when Nero's already fucked it over and we're stuck in an alternate reality or whatever anyway.

I bet Admiral Archer is really gonna get kick out of this whole fucking thing. He thought all that was resolved. And what about the fucking Temporal Prime Directive anyway? I say they are violating it.

This IS an alternate reality thanks to Nero so who says I can't resign from Starfleet and move home huh? Who says I can't just move to my Uncle's ranch in Idaho like I planned and live out the rest of my life in peace and fucking quiet? I say it's none of their fucking business cuz I'm fucking tired of this shit," he ranted and then stopped cold in the middle of the room crossed his arms over his chest, rolled his eyes and seemed to be listening to something Spock could not hear.

"God dammit – I know that James. I'm sorry, I know you don't like swears, I'm just frustrated….. No I know Spock has no idea what I'm talking about just, butt out for a while will ya?.... No!....I know you did but I won't be Captain again and you damned well know why, just… leave me alone."

Spock watched all of this in shocked silence and confusion. When the ranting and raving had started it had definitely been James, sullen and saddened, but the more angry he'd become, the more Jim had come through until it was obvious that James was no longer present at all. That had all been confusing enough without all of Jim's ranting about Temporal police and Temporal Cold Wars and Temporal prime directives. The culmination of the entire rant ending in Jim and James having some bizarre internal debate over something Spock could not possibly hope to grasp was enough to leave him completely wide eyed and speechless, staring blankly at Jim.

"You got nothin' huh?"

"I… no…. Jim?"

"Yeah. I guess I've got some explaining to do huh?"

"That is an understatement."

"Fine, call Bones but don't say too much, and don't let him bring anyone else with him. I don't want anyone else knowing I'm here, but I don't want to have to explain any of this twice and he'll kick my ass if he has to hear it second hand from you."

"I will call him, where are you going?" Spock asked Jim as he hurried past him towards the bathroom.

"I'm just going to my quarters to change into some jeans or at the very least some pajama bottoms that don't have feet in them and pictures of ducks and bunnies all over them. I have to get something out of my desk to show the two of you anyway. Just call Bones. I'll be right back, I swear."

Spock just stared at Jim apprehensively and with longing as he crossed to the desk where the comm button was. Jim stopped short seeing the look on Spock's face. He turned back around and came across the room and stood on front of Spock. Slowly he raised his hands to gently cupped Spock's face gently brushed his thumb along the Vulcan's jaw. Spock leaned into the touch and felt his breath hitch.

"I will be right back, and it will still be me. I promise," Jim assured the Vulcan as he leaned in closer. He closed the gap slowly, never taking his eyes off of Spock's ,then gently brushed his lips against Spock's before pressing their foreheads together. Spock closed his eyes, savoring the sensation and reached up to take a hold of Jim's wrists, and then felt Jim's fingers intertwining with his own. Jim kissed him gently and chastely one more time before pulling Spock into his arms where Spock let himself melt into Jim's cool embrace.

"Jim…" Spock sighed, nuzzling Jim's neck

"I know hon, but I have to do this first. I have to explain what I can now, before I change my mind. Call Bones. You and I will have time alone to talk, and stuff later. I promise."

Jim let go of him and gave him one more fleeting look before he turned and disappeared through the bathroom door. Spock sighed again, still feeling the tingle of Jim's kiss on his lips. He also felt more overwhelmed than he could remember since the destruction of Vulcan. He called Leonard and somehow managed to convey to him that it was urgent that he return to their quarters without actually alarming him. However, Leonard must have been a little alarmed because he got there before Jim returned and found Spock nervously fidgeting and pacing in the living room.

"What the hell is going on and what's got you so on edge? Did something, you know, sexual, happen with James again?"

"No Bones. Nothing "sexual" happened with James, but thanks for that image. You're a dirty fucking old man you know that you pervert?" Jim said from the bathroom door, now clad in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that said "I beat the Kobyashi Maru" which James had refused to wear.

James might not have liked the t-shirt but it was Jim's favorite and he delighted in wearing it on his days off as he knew it irritated the hell out of Spock. Spock always pointed out that he cheated on the Kobyashi Maru when Jim wore the shirt and sparked a round of 'did not' 'you did' debates. It had been obvious to Leonard that the t-shirt had been Jim's way of flirting with his First Officer. It was also obvious to him right then, who was wearing said t-shirt.

Leonard now wore the same dumbstruck look on his face that Spock had been wearing before Jim went to change. Jim walked across the room, smirked at his friend, clapped him on the shoulder, and handed him the data PADD he'd been holding.

"You know Bones," he said reaching up and putting one finger gently on the bottom of Bones' chin and pushed upward to help the man close his gaping mouth, "if you don't shut that thing, flies will get in there."

"Uh huh. Right… uh… what the hell is this?" Bones asked, indicating the data PADD Kirk had handed him, still awestruck and not quite knowing what to say.

"It's my resignation."