Spock looked up at Jim and let out his Captain's name before No'Teil slammed her foot into the half-Vulcan's chest. Jim found himself let out a heart wrenching sob as he heard a sharp snap from his friend's chest.

No'Teil turned to him with a smile and said, her voice disoriented – young and innocent, "Mister? Sir? Wake up! Wake up!"

Jim's eyes shot open with a gasp. The first thing he saw were bright, big blue eyes with long lashes and concern. The Captain looked at the rest of the person before him. She had a soft, chubby face, dark brown eyebrows, a missing tooth in the front of her mouth and brown hair that was in dual braids and bangs. She also had pointed ears. The girl looked about four or five years of age. Jim blinked at her, "Wh-what?"

"I am so glad you awoke! You looked like you were having a very bad nightmare." She said.

"I… I was." Jim answered. He wondered what her name was as she sat on his bed in jeans, a green tee and a gray hoodie and swung her little legs.

"That is not fun." The girl said, quiet, "Why are you in here? Are you sick?"

"Not technically, healing from some bad injuries." Jim shrugged as he attempted not to wince at the pain that attacked him for such an action.

"At least you survived." She pointed out. The Captain stared at her, wondering why such a young child say that. He quite honestly wasn't sure what species she was, for that matter.

"That's… true." James nodded, "I'm Jim, by the way, what's your name?"

"T'Aand, I thought your mother and I discussed this with you." A Vulcan came in with the socially accepted stoic expression but Jim felt he had an exasperated air about him. Odd, right? Maybe it was spending so much time with Spock? Or it could be the meds Bones had him on – cause it had to be Bones, he was Jim's physician after all.

T'Aand tilted her head to the Vulcan, "But, Sybok, I do not want to visit her. I do not understand why you insist I come."

"That is an illogical thing to say. Why do you not wish to see your mother?" Sybok asked, as he ignored Jim.

"Because!" The little girl said and turned her head away from Sybok.

"That is not an answer, T'Aand." The Vulcan said.

She slid from the bed and glared at him with tears in her eyes, "Because I do not wish to see her! I do not want to see her die! I-I don't want to watch her die. Do you think I can't see it? I don't wanna watch Mother die more every single day!"

"Then isn't that more reason to be with her?" Jim asked, his voice a mere whisper.

"Huh?" T'Aand turned a tear streaked face toward the recovering human as the Vulcan raised a single brow. It made Jim wonder if every time he saw a Vulcan do that, he'd connect them to Spock.

"Your mom is dying and you know that and while it's painful to watch someone so close to you leave, shouldn't you cherish every second you have with them? Do everything in your power to make your last memories of her happy?" James inquired, gentle in his tone and manner.

"He is right." Sybok stated.

T'Aand's eyes found the floor and she nodded, sniffling, "Yes. I will make her happy for as long as I can and make sure she knows she'll be m-missed."

"Then, come, T'Aand, and we shall go visit her once again." Sybok said before he began to leave the room.

T'Aand went halfway to the door before she ran back up to Jim and hopped onto his bed. She gave him a quick and tight hug, "Thank you, sir."

Jim chuckled soft and hugged her back, "You're welcome, T'Aand."

T'Aand giggled, jumped from the bed and ran to the door. Well, rather into Spock. She stared up at the half-Vulcan for a moment before she raised her right hand in the Ta'al and bowed her head in respect, "Dif-tor heh smusma, osa."

Spock raised a brow at her and a Ta'al of his own, "Sochya eh dif, pi'wuhkuh."

She blushed a little, cheeks rosy pink. Sybok called from the corridor and looked in, "T'Aand."

"Coming!" The young girl fled to her guardian but not before the Vulcan and Spock's eyes met. Neither said a word but Jim had a feeling that they hadn't needed to speak. Just as he was trying to decipher if he was reading into it too much or had actually seen something pass between them, Sybok led T'Aand out of sight.

"Well that was interesting." Jim said.

"Captain?" Spock inquired.

The Captain looked up at his First Officer, eyes curious, "Spock, why'm I still alive?"

Spock's shoulders seemed to tense at Jim's blunt question. It caused Kirk to feel as though he should have waited to ask Bones instead. As his Science Officer explained, the Captain did listen but at the same time he recalled his dream and how Spock had given his life to protect Jim from that evil Romulan bitch. Not only did it make Jim wonder why but also kinda made him feel as if he should thank the half-Vulcan somehow. And so he did.

"Thank you." Jim said.

"Captain?" Spock inquired.

"For informing me and for going to such an extent to bring me back." A light blush dusted the Captain's cheeks.

"Of course." The First Officer nodded.

Jim flashed him a smile, "So, chess?"

"Affirmative." Spock said as he began to set up the board.

Author's Note: Here are the translations for the Vulcan dialogue, to my knowledge. If wrong, please inform me.

Vulcan - English:

Dif-tor heh smusma, osa - Live long and prosper, sir.

Sochya eh dif, pi'wuhkuh - Peace and long life, little one

~Nobu