Disclaimer: SSDD

Warnings: Language, confusion, some sexytimes - but not graphically depicted.

Author's note: So it's pretty confusion at the beginning here - I hope I adequately explained why. This went a whole different direction than I intended but then again, that always happens to me. I would explain but that would entail spoilers... lol. Let me know what you think. I'm still unsure about it, but sure enough to just 'go with it'.

In Which Jim Starts Coming Around

Spock attended to some morning duties such as signing off on various orders, checking the science labs, and checking in with the bridge. He then informed Hikaru, who was in charge of the botanical sciences expedition crew, that he and James would be coming down to the planet for a picnic in the early afternoon.

"I was hoping James would be able to talk you into it Captain. It really is beautiful down here. It would be a shame to have missed seeing it. We'll be done here by tomorrow afternoon and then we'll be en route to meet up with Endeavor."

"Yes Lieutenant Sulu, I had taken that into consideration when granting James' request. He has expressed a desire to swim in the Lagoon you told him about. You are quite sure it is safe?"

"Yep, I'm sure, or I wouldn't have suggested it to James. We tested the water for purity the first day. Ensign Chekov and I went swimming there yesterday evening after our shifts. The water's great, kind of warm. Jim's a great swimmer too so James should be as well. He seems to retain all of Jim's abilities like that. I outlined on the data PADD I gave him where all of the deep and shallow areas are. It'll be fine. The doc goin' with you?"

"He is not. He had a patient in the middle of the night to attend to and has been on duty since then. His shift is not over until later this afternoon."

"Lemme guess. You could have asked him but James doesn't want his cranky ass ruining his fun?"

"Something like that. He did not say those particular words, but the sentiment was conveyed nonetheless. I did not disagree."

"Nice, you crack me up sometimes Captain. Anyway, we'll watch for you guys. It's quite a trek to the Lagoon but it's worth it. The work crew has moved on to a different section and I have to approve any recreational requests from other crew with time off today. I'll make sure you guys have the place to yourselves while you're down here. See you in a bit, Sulu out."

"Captain Spock out."

"Was that Karu?"

"Yes it was, we should get ourselves ready to go. Would you like to replicate our lunches or get them from the commissary?"

"I already got everything ordered from the comsary. I'll go get it, you get our towels and stuff. I'm just gonna wear my suit wif a t-shirt over it. I'll dry off on the walk back. Oh and get a big blanket. But not my blankie…um… an don't tell Little Spock where we're goin'. I tuckted him in for a nap on the bed acuz I don't wanna take him wif this time."

"You take him everywhere with you, even to work. Do you not think he would enjoy a picnic?" Spock inquired of a slightly guilty looking James.

"Yeah, maybe, I dunno. I just don't wanna take him this time. It might be dirty and stuff, and he can't not swim and… and… I just don't want to okay?"

"It is fine with me James. The decision is yours." Spock found it odd that James would leave his 'bestest friend' other than himself or Dr. McCoy, behind and not include him in the outing, but it would be dirty. He supposed James had his reasons. He went into the bedroom and saw that James had indeed tucked the bear in very nicely for a nap. It was quite cute. He quickly changed into his own swimming trunks and a t-shirt, though he was quite unsure about swimming, he felt it would be better to be prepared and did not want to have to change clothing while on the planet.

He knew and had learned the basics of swimming at the academy, but had not engaged in recreational swimming at all. However he had been proficient and assumed that there must be some enjoyment to the activity. He felt he would probably try if only because he was protective of James and did not want him swimming alone.

He gathered towels from the bathroom and placed them in a bag with handles and then grabbed a blanket that was currently not being used, from Jim's quarters. It seemed large enough to host a picnic on. He also added sunscreen to the bag, and a small first aid kit, just in case. He ensured that there were Harry Potter band-aids in the kit before packing it. He rounded up a few more items ensuring that he had his comm badge and communicator with him as well as he and James' locator beacons just in case they needed to be beamed back aboard quickly. He had just finished packing when James came back in with a picnic hamper, loaded to the brim.

James went into the bathroom and changed quickly and then they headed down to the transporter room. James was chattering excitedly the entire way, explaining that Hikaru had told him about all kinds of neat plants and flowers and things that they would see on the planet.

"Are you quite certain you do not want to invite Leonard?" Spock asked as they entered main transporting. "He may feel hurt that you did not ask."

"I askded already, just to make sure he dint get his feelings hurt. He said he was too tired and that Claymore guy wasn't doin' too good after his surgry acuz he had a lergic reaction to the stetic so he hadta stay anyways."

"Still, it was nice of you to ask," Spock praised as they stepped onto the transporter pad. Mr. Scott was already there and had there coordinates punched in.

"Thanks Papa. I try ta do the right things like you teach me, like bein' constiderdate and stuff."

"Considerate."

"That's what I said. Beam us down Scotty!"

"Aye, sir," Scott said with a wink and a salute. "Energizing."

Familiar swirling lights surrounded them and an equally familiar tug was felt in each of their stomachs as they were transported to the surface where they were greeted by Hikaru Sulu and several members of the botanical sciences department.

"I still don't know what a pilot is doing heading a science department." James said chuckling and clasping Hikaru's forearm with his own in much the same manner that Jim used to do when he was greeting the helmsman. Hikaru seemed a little taken aback as well but accepted the familiar gesture as he shot a puzzled look at Spock who gave him an eyebrow shrug.

"Yeah, well I can multitask with the best of 'em right?"

"Heck yeah. How's it going down here anyway? Did you find those medicinal plants you were looking for?"

"Um… yes as a matter of fact we did….sir?" Hikaru was completely baffled because he could not tell who he was talking to, and Spock was not helping.

"I'm not a sir Hikaru. I'm just me, Spock's the sir. Hey, I brung you a grapple. Commisary had 'em in the salad bar and I knowed you like 'em."

"Oh, hey, that's…great…James? Um… thanks," Hikaru said as James sat the picnic hamper down and started rummaging through it. Hikaru took the opportunity to pull Spock to the side. "What the hell is going on with him? I could have sworn that was Jim just now," he whispered.

"I do not know. I am as stunned as you are, but I agree, it did sound like Jim momentarily. Given his odd behavior the last two or three days and the fact that Admiral Pike is due to visit, I believe it would be prudent to step up our game as it were with our investigation."

"Agreed. Look I have to be down here to supervise for the rest of the day but I can get Mills to take over the remainder tomorrow and I can put in some time tonight as well. If you can find a replacement for Pavel on the bridge tomorrow it would really help."

"Consider it done." Spock said quickly as James appeared, grapple in one hand, picnic hamper in the other with the data PADD balanced on top of it.

"Hey thanks Jimmy. I appreciate it. You guys have fun and don't drown."

"Funny. I'll try not to. See ya, come on.. uh… Papa," James/Jim said with a wink and an unsure eyebrow furrow. He got a funny look on his face and then proceeded to read the data PADD and dance his usual childish jig down the path as he whistled a tune from the Sesame Street program he'd been watching lately.

"I don't know what you're getting yourself into," Hikaru said to Spock as he was leaving to follow James, "but good luck."

"I believe I will need it Lieutenant."

It took about a half an hour for them to hike to the Lagoon area with its grassy shore. The hike itself had been perplexing. One minute James would be chattering away and remarking on a cool looking flower or bird like creature, or a really big neat plant or tree, or the colors of the tree bark. Purple and blue were not usual bark colors on Earth after all.

In the next moment he'd slow his erratic gate to a steady rhythm, with a bit of a swagger to it and cock his head and look at Spock and wink before saying something simplistic like "wow, it really is beautiful down here, Hikaru was right about that, but it's still not as beautiful as you are Spock,"' and give Spock a wink before continuing on down the path whistling or humming a tune that Jim had preferred. When these moments occurred, the speech patterns and inflections that James usually used were gone. His pronunciations were uninhibited and his observations were quite keen and bordered on scientific.

It was not unlike riding a roller coaster or playing with a yo-yo. It was perhaps likened to watching a Newton's cradle device. Spock had wanted to inquire as to what was going on, and address Jim directly on several occasions, but the moments were so fleeting that he did not seem to have a chance. Each time he was about to speak, Jim/James' mannerisms would abruptly change. At times he seemed as though he were neither Jim, nor James, but a teenage version of the two of them. He was cocky and juvenile with all of Jim's muster and attitude, but immature without being childlike.

By the time they arrived at the Lagoon Spock was so confused that he considered contacting the ship and having them beamed directly to the Ship's counselor's office or to sickbay. Jim/James' level of multiple personalities was borderline frightening and more than a bit concerning. However, one look at James' delighted face when he saw the Lagoon and the grassy picnic area melted his reserve. He resolved to get through the lunch and the outing as quickly as James would allow, and then go to sickbay immediately upon their return.

They spread out the blanket and sat down to eat and it became obvious that it was James with whom he was sharing his meal. He tried to make several inquiries about James' odd behavior on their hike to the Lagoon but got nowhere. James evaded every question with the skill Hikaru used to evade enemy fire during battle.

Once the food was spread out and divided, Spock observed that the peanut butter and jelly sandwich James had requested was absent from the feast spread before them. In fact the meal seemed quite sophisticated for James' palette and was filled with things that Jim had loved, but James had previously pronounce, icky or yuck, and would not eat or even try. Spock noted that along with their bottles of water, there was also a bottle of wine in the basket.

"James, I thought you wanted peanut butter and jelly?" Spock carefully inquired.

"Changed my mind. You an my Bones keep tellin' me I should ought to try new things right?"

"On many occasions we have stated just that. What made you decide to comply today?"

"Don't know. I just thunked I wanted somthin' different for a change. Asides, this stuff sounded good taday."

"I see, and why did you decided to include a bottle of wine with our picnic."

"I just thought it might be nice Spock. A glass of wine on occasion is good for the heart you know." James said, stretching out beside Spock and shooting him a very soft and thoughtful gaze. "Hey, you're not eating. Dontcha like what I packed you?"

"It is fine, wonderful in fact. You remembered to include all of my favorites, even plomeek soup. I am just, preoccupied. I apologize."

"S'okay. I get it. Um… I kinda need to talk to you about somthin' that happened at work yesterday. You know, affore I, did the bad thing."

"James, we talked about this, you did nothing bad."

"Yeah yeah, I know, the bleeding stuff, anyway I uh, kinda yelled at the IT guys and stuff and I thought they was gonna be mad but then they weren't and they said a lot of stuff about Jim bein' Captain, but I thunked you better know in case they really was mad and they told on me acuz I don't want you to be mad at me."

"What bleeding are you referring to and why did you yell at the crew members in IT?"

"You know, what Jim said about the bleeding, you said it was metaforcle."

"Metaphorical. "

"That's what I said. Anyway it wasn't. He meant he's bleeding through, his persnalty and anyways yesterday at work I guess was kinda like that acuz it was more like he was yellin' and not me, but it was me, see?"

"I… perhaps. Explain to me what happened."

"Well, you know how I said they make me mad sometimes acuz they are doin' stuff all wrong and they don't listen ta me when I tell em how they could do it better?"

"I remember very well."

"Well I left out the part where I shoulda told you that I couldn't take it no more and I yelled. Or Jim did, I dunno, he got real frustermated."

"Frustrated."

"That's what I said. Anyways the way they was doin things, it was wasting 'valuable time and resources' and I'd tried a bunch of times to show 'em how ta do it better but they just said stuff like, 'hey thanks kid' but they wasn't really listenin'. So yesterday the IT director comed down and started splainin' how they was gonna implement this new system, only it was bad Spock, real bad. It was all backwards of how it shoulda been and all they had ta do was change a few simple things to make the backups run more fissiently and the updates be automated and shipwide instead of bein' done by hand by remote accessing every department separately.

He just kept goin on and on about how this was gonna be so much better and finally I just took his PADD and took over. I told 'em it wasn't gonna be better it was going to cost us a lot of time and resources that could be allocated to other more important projects and I wasn't going to stand for it anymore. I put the schematics up on the big screen and showed them how to reroute the subroutines for the updates to make them entirely automated and shipwide just by rewriting a few fundamental algorithms to the Data Core and that the backups would be just as easy and everything would be handled all at once with no loss of man hours.

When I got done lecturing they all just kinda stared at me. So I kept going. I went back and detailed everything they could be handling more efficiently that I'd noted in my own data PADD and showed the a whole bunch of different ways of improving efficiency and rewrote a bunch of codes and algorithms for them and by the end of the day….well… they were all calling me Jim and Captain and sir and stuff and I tried to tell 'em I wasn't him but they just kept saying that they I was him and I needed to be him and that they needed me to be him cuz they need Jim and they needed Jim to be Captain again and that the whole ship was lost without him. They said they loved and respected you and would follow you to the ends of the universe and back rather than leave Enterprise but, they still wanted Jim back, they want Jim to be Captain again.

Then I started yellin' and I told 'em all them things Jim told you about how everybody transferred off the ship and nobody new was getting' cruited and that it must mean that Jim's a sucky Captain. You know what they said Spock?"

Spock had listened to all of this with a great deal of interest. James had fluctuated between his own speech patterns and what were obviously Jim's speech patterns and mannerisms during the entire explanations. It was truly a manifestation of Jim's personality bleeding through without actually taking over. Spock found it fascinating to say the least, and the fact that the IT department had picked up on the very problem that Spock and the senior officers and bridge crew were currently working to resolve was fascinating as well. Taking all of this in he found that he was very interested in hearing what the IT crew members had to say about Jim's self-doubt and opinion that he should not be the Captain.

"No I do not. What did they say?" he replied quickly and earnestly.

"They said all that stuff was a bunch of ….well they said bullshit….sorry, but that's what they said. They said that we didn't have no cruits cuz nobody was graduatin' with high nuff scores and acuz our standards are higher on Enterprise, and then they said that those people that transferred off were a bunch of flaming idiots. They either couldn't hack it cuz they weren't smart nuff to work with Scotty or they were scared of goin' on away missions cuz they knew they didn't have adequate training, or they just felt dumb acuz everybody on the Enterprise is the best of the best. Then there was some people that wanted promotions real bad but you gotta go on other ships for some of the promotions cuz our high ranking officers ain't goin' nowhere cuz nobody who's smart wants to leave Enterprise."

"I believe all of those things to be true James." Spock said, agreeing with the IT crew member's assessment. "Several of us are looking into the validity of statements like those and trying to gather data and facts to prove just that as we speak. We would like the opportunity to present the data to Jim, to prove to him that he is not only a good Captain, loved and respected by his crew, but is indeed the best Captain in Starfleet, and is very much wanted and needed by his ship and crew."

"Yeah, he's startin' to get that. He don't gree wif it all but some of what they said maked sense."

"Is that why he is bleeding through so much more today? Is that also why you were so sullen and silent yesterday evening after your shift, and why you could not handle his thoughts and desires last night after your bath?"

"I dunno, maybe, probly. But Spock, he still don't wanna be Captain, on account of people dying. He just wants to maybe be head of IT or something and be a ocifer aboard Enterprise but not be Captain."

"I can understand his viewpoint James, but he must understand mine, and everyone else's as well. Resigning the captaincy and taking a lower ranking position via self-demotion is unacceptable. To do so would be, as the saying goes, taking the easy way out. He would be allowing himself to run away from his problems without facing them.

James T. Kirk is a lot of things, but a coward is not one of them. His place aboard Enterprise is on the Bridge, in the Captain's chair. That is where his unique skills and abilities to think far outside the confines of 'the box' , his original thinking, his abilities to leap without looking and see things in ways that others don't, or won't see them, are needed and will best serve the Enterprise and her crew. Anything less, would be the ultimate waste of manpower, efficiency and the best resource in all of Starfleet."

Spock said all of this not just to James, but to Jim as well, putting all of the emotion he could into the statement for emphasis, since there was no one else around to witness it. He had looked deeply into James' eyes and held his hand so that he could telepathically transmit that what he was saying was the ultimate truth and must be listened too. He only hoped that what he was sending was being received.

James took it all in and was very silent for a while. He simply nodded and looked at Spock thoughtfully. He lay back on the blanket with his arms behind his head and seemed to be lost in thought as he watched the fluffy clouds, so much like Earth's, floating in the periwinkle sky above. Spock simply watched him and then began putting the remnants of their lunch away. He was about to ask if James was ready to leave when the other man finally looked at him again.

"Thanks, I think I needed to hear that. I'm not convinced yet but, you made a good point."

"Jim?"

"Mostly…I guess. I dunno. I just don't know anymore," he said, picking up the data PADD and thumbing through the view screens. Then he abruptly stood, shed his shirt, having already kicked off his shoes earlier, and headed for the rocky cliff from which the waterfall was flowing. He scaled it in only minutes and did a perfect swan dive off the top of the waterfall into the deepest part of the Lagoon below, while Spock watched in awe. He was below the surface so long that Spock became concerned and walked to the edge of the water. Just then he shot up, breaking the surface of the water, much closer to the shore than Spock thought he would be.

"Man the water's great. Get in here. It's almost warm. Not quite, but definitely not cold. You'll love it, come on."

Spock simply cocked his head to the side in a familiar shrug, shed his shirt and waded in. He was still unsure what to think as he approached the deeper water, and the bright white smile of his T'hy'la, who winked at him and dove back under the water just as he was getting close. He emerged many feet away, causing Spock to have to swim after him.

Just as Spock was about to reach him, Jim pulled the same maneuver, this time staying above the surface and turning to stick his tongue out at Spock as he swum away. Spock took this as a challenge and increased the speed with which he pursued his prey. Jim was a far more skilled swimmer however and always managed to stay a few strokes ahead of the Vulcan. Soon Jim was laughing merrily and Spock was grinning fiercely. They splashed each other and when Jim finally allowed the Vulcan to catch him they began wrestling and playing a wild game of dunking tag as if they were teenagers.

Spock's confusion was still very much present but he was tired of battling it. He had inquired several more times to whom he was talking and swimming with, whether it was Jim or James, or some other version. Jim had answered him and stated that it was him, for the time being, at least mostly, and that the mostly part was complicated, and he had asked Spock to just relax and 'go with it'. Spock had decided to 'go with it' and enjoy whatever time with Jim he could get, in whatever manner he was allowed. He let go of his reservations and pushed his confusion to the back of his mind and concentrated on the gorgeous man in front of him with whom he was enjoying very pleasant and playful interactions. He got so wrapped up in the interactions that by the time they had begun wrestling and dunking each other, he felt happier, and freer than he could ever remember feeling.

"Woah, hey, was that a laugh? Vulcans don't laugh," Jim said grinning like a Cheshire cat and catching Spock's hand to pull him in closer as they both tread water, nearly out of breath."

"I assure you that it was most certainly not a laugh."

"A chuckle?"

"Of course not," Spock's mouth said, but his sparkling eyes and the smirk on his lips betrayed him.

"I don't believe you Mr. Spock. I'm afraid you are going to have to pay the penalty for lying to your former Captain."

"I am now the Captain. I can lie to whomever I choose."

"Ah ha caught you. What happened to Vulcan's don't lie?" Jim teased, treading closer to the Vulcan and gazing at him lasciviously with his piercing blue eyes.

"I am half human. I do what I want," the Vulcan teased back, his own gaze just as full of desire.

"Oh do you now? And what exactly is it that you want to do right now?" Jim asked, wrapping his arms around the teasing Captain.

"Enlighten me on just what the penalty for lying would be,"Spock challenged, wrapping his own arms around Jim and caressing his back.

"Kissing the former Captain of course."

"Then I believe I should like to pay the penalty for lying, sir."

"Hey now with the sir crap," Jim whispered huskily as he closed the gap between them to capture Spock's mouth with his own. Their legs and bodies intertwined as they both became lost in the kiss, but staying above the water soon became an issue, so Jim pulled them backwards towards the shore, never allowing the kiss to be completely broken. Finally they hit shallower water where they were able to touch the bottom and didn't have to struggle to stay above the surface.

Their half-naked bodies pressed together in the lukewarm water as hands and fingers roamed everywhere at once. Their tongues joined in a familiar dance and soon Spock found himself kissing his way over Jim's jaw, stopping to nibble at his earlobe and blow into his ear, which elicited a delicious moan from the man, before continuing down his neck. He had just about reached the base of Jim's neck and was suckling and nipping with his teeth as he went, when Jim pulled back with a little grin and stopped him.

"I already have a huge honkin' hickey there thanks to you, I don't need another one," he winked.

"Are you quite sure? I am not adverse to giving you a matching set," the Vulcan teased darting quickly to the other side of Jim's head to latch on to the base of his neck there.

"Hey, knock it off or you're gonna get it." Jim warned and propelled himself backward through the water.

"What exactly am I going to get, and how do you propose to give it to me?" Spock immediately volleyed back at Jim and he pursued him through the water once again.

"Ooooh, feisty today aren't we?" Jim said waggling his eyebrows in a facetious and lust filled manner. "I'll give it to you any way you want Mr. Spock. Any. Way. You . Want."

"You are not providing me with any valid reason to, as you said, 'knock it off' Jim, you are only making me want to knock it on."

"That's not even a phrase you…" Jim's words were cut short as the swift Vulcan caught him once again and crushed their mouths together in a searing kiss that took both their breaths away. They were quite near the shore and the grassy area by that time and when they finally broke apart Jim took Spock by the hand and led him out of the water and onto the blanket where they collapsed to the ground completely entwined in one another's embrace. Their kissing and fondling of each other intensified, as did their need for one another and finally Jim tore himself away from Spock panting and breathless.

"Stop, stop."

"You do not wish to…"

"Yes I wish to very much, just give me a minute," he said rummaging through the bag with their towels until he found the communicator he was looking for. "Kirk to Sulu."

"Uh… Sulu… here? What's up…Jay..mes?" this tentative response made Jim chuckle before he continued.

"Hey, um.. is the entire landing party and botanical sciences crew down there in that section for sure?"

"Yeah why?"

"And you don't need any more samples from up here by the Lagoon?"

"No, I told you already, we're done there, everybody is down here."

"Present and accounted for? No stragglers?"

"Yes they're all here and no, no stragglers, I can see everybody from where I'm standing, why?"

"Just, you know, curious. Can't a guy be curious?"

"Uh huh. Sure. Is, uh, that all you wanted?"

" Well no, not entirely. Um… is there anybody else down here from Enterprise, you know, recreational use of the planet and whatnot? I mean I know you said you are approving where everyone can and can't go, and that we'd have the Lagoon all to ourselves, but, you know, people wander…"

Sulu started chuckling as well at this point, and had obviously caught on to the fact that yes, he was indeed talking to Jim, and what exactly Jim was getting at.

"There's nobody else down here Jim. No indigenous life forms other than birds and small animals. I only had two inquiries and both sets wanted to go to the Lagoon so I denied the requests until you guys were done. You're alone, and nobody is going to bother you, or interrupt, or walk in on whatever it is you're doing. By the way, it's good to hear your voice, not that it wasn't your voice before, it's just, well you know what I'm saying. Anyway, tell Spock he's a pervert and a pedophile"

"He is not! Shut the fuck up before I come down there and kick your ass. He's still the Captain you know. He can have you put in the brig for insubordination for that crack."

"Um… A – if you come down here and kick my ass, you won't get to do whatever it is you seem to need to make sure you have privacy to do, B – no he can't because I didn't say it to him, I said it to you, and C – yes he is, you've been his… his… KID… for all intents and purposes for the last few months…. Which makes whatever you're about to do..."

"I said shut the fuck up Hikaru, I never said we were doing shit. Maybe I just wanna skinny dip or something okay?" Jim yelled laughing again, missing this banter with his friend.

"Yeah right. Whatever dude. I'm shutting up now. Hey, Jim?"

"Yeah?"

"It's good to have you back man."

"I'm not back to stay, but thanks man. Kirk out."

"Damn…, okay fine. Sulu out."

"He sounded very disappointed that you are not here to stay Jim." Spock tried.

"He'll get over it. Come here you." Jim simply stated, attacking the Vulcan once gain and swiftly removing said Vulcan from his swimming trunks. Spock reciprocated and they made love, kissed and explored each other's bodies, and then made love again under the periwinkle sky and finally fell asleep in each other's arms afterward. They were awakened some time later by a harsh voice emitting from the communicator.

"Hey, where the hell are you two? You were supposed to be back a couple hours ago. Is James alright? Answer me god dammit or I'm beaming down there right now!"

Spock was startled not only by Leonard's tone, but by how long they had slept. He and Jim were still naked and wrapped up in each other's arms, and he suddenly realized that he was unsure if the man in his arms was still Jim. Embarrassed and concerned by that thought he tore away from Jim with lightning speed and grabbed the communicator.

"Leonard we are fine. Do not worry, we simply fell asleep after our swim. We will be back aboard shortly," Spock assured the doctor, looking tentatively and nervously in Jim's direction. Jim just grinned at him and moved up behind Spock, kissed Spock's neck gently and wrapped his arms around the warm Vulcan.

"It's still me love," he whispered into Spock's ear, "not sure how or why, but it's still me."

"He better not have a sunburn!" Leonard's voice issued from the communicator. Jim grabbed it from Spock.

"I'm fine, quit bitching. Shouldn't you be asleep or something?"

"I… no, I'll just go to bed early. You uh… you sound funny kiddo."

"I sound fine. You on the other hand sound like a cranky asshole. Have a glass of bourbon and keep your pants on, we'll be back in a bit."

"Holy… Jim! What the hell?"

"Don't get all hot and bothered. I ain't stayin'. Well, maybe for dinner, but I don't think I can hold on much longer than that. I'll see you in a few Bones."

"Yeah, yeah okay. I'll uh, meet you guys in your quarters in 30,that okay? I'll want to run scans Jim."

"I'm well aware. Thirty sounds fine. Kirk out."

He didn't wait for Leonard's response he just shut the communicator and tossed it back in the bag, then returned his attention to Spock.

"Hi beautiful."

"Hello. I do not wish to sound ungrateful, but how is it that you are still with me T'hy'la?"

"Don't know, but it is harder now than it was before. Much harder actually, which is why I told Bones I didn't think I'd make it past dinner. I guess it comes down to the fact that I'm beginning to see things your way. I understand your point of view, and you and the IT crew made some very valid points. I miss being in charge, it's just, as valid as your points were, they aren't proof Spock. I need proof. Proof that the numbers weren't my fault. Proof that the deaths weren't preventable. Proof that I really do belong in that chair. Until I have proof, I don't know if I can accept it. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I do. I believe that you have been able to surface for longer because you are on the verge of changing your mind about abandoning the captaincy. I hope that is the case. Perhaps you will be able to come back to us, to me, when we are able to give you that proof."

They talked for a while longer, then dressed and packed up their belongings before hiking back to the landing party and the beaming coordinates. They could have had Scotty beam them directly from the Lagoon, but after their activities and falling asleep on the ground, they had both wanted to stretch their legs and enjoy a little more fresh air before beaming back aboard the ship.

Jim greeted a very happy Hikaru who was done with his duties by that point and beamed back aboard the ship with them. Scotty was in the transporter room and was equally excited to see that it was Jim who was standing in his transporter room greeting him. They agreed to have the senior staff have dinner together in Jim's quarters, so Hikaru and Scotty left to round up Pavel and Nyota. Finally Jim couldn't put off the inevitable so he and Spock went to their quarters to wait for Leonard and deal with facing Leonard's wrath, and his tricorder.

A/N: Okay so I didn't originally intend on having Jim come fully forward in this - but as I was writing it, that seemed more prudent than having him keep yo-yoing. Hope the title didn't spoil anything.

What do you think? Did it work or was it still confusing? Oh and - I know I'll get dinged on this so let me just address it. I am WELL AWARE of how OOC Spock was in this Chapter. I'm sorry if some of you take offense to that, I just... I just wanted him to have some fun for a change. Sorry ;)