Chapter 8 - Mating Time

Did he say unfortunately, or was it fortunately? I must have heard it wrong. Get a grip on yourself, Jim, no jumping to conclusions here. He was cold and I was allowed to warm him, that's all. He wouldn't let me hold him close like that unless he had to, I know that. I try not to touch him too much, I really try, but sometimes it just happens. I know he thinks it's too often, but it's still only a fraction of the times I want to touch him and stop myself.

"Captain... Jim, will you sit here next to me?"

"What? Uh, sure. Do you have something on your mind, Spock?" Kirk sat down and was waiting to hear what his science officer had to say. Was it bad news? Was it another catastrophe coming, and that's why he had waited until Lily-Lee was asleep? Spock was silent for so long Kirk became certain that it must be very, very bad news.

"Jim... may I?" Spock reached for Kirk's hand and lifted it up, holding it in a light, almost hovering grip. He let it go and Kirk was sitting still, confused, with his hand empty between them. Spock hesitated, holding both his own hands tight together, swallowing and finally... slowly... stretched out two fingers and stroked them against Kirk's. Kirk could feel Spock's fingers tremble. What is he doing? I don't understand, is he trying to calm me down or something? I don't... oh god, oh my god, he's KISSING me!

"Spock? That is... that is a vulcan... kiss, am I right?"

"Yes." Spock's voice was only a whisper and he stroked his fingers against Kirk's again. "Please tell me if it makes you uncomfortable."

"No, no, but I'm no Vulcan, I don't know how to do that." And I don't know how to SHUT UP either, apparently. What am I trying to do, discourage him?

"I will attempt to make a combination of the different cultures. I have been advised that it can be done, and it had best be done without delay. This crash... it could have killed us. It may have killed some of the team. In fact, it may kill us yet if we are not rescued. It would not be logical to postpone this until it is too late."

"Postpone what?"

"This." Spock put his fingertips against Kirk's and leaned in to put his mouth to cover his captain's surprised gasp. The touch was light and yet so determined, so calculated and yet so warm that Kirk found himself frozen in time, sitting still with closed eyes hearing the waves rise and fall synchronised with Spock's slow breathing. Kirk could feel his own heartbeat in his lips, pulsating against this unexpected soft surface.

"I'm SO sorry to interrupt you guys, but..." Spock jumped up and walked away without speaking, too embarrassed for words. Kirk remained seated, sighed deeply and looked up at Lily-Lee with a scowl.

"This had better be important."

"A ship." Kirk looked in the direction she was pointing. She was right.

–***–

The alien ship was very close to shore, rocking on the waves. Shaped like a doughnut and red with a transparent roof, it looked like an earth child's swim ring. No crew could be seen.

"I waited as long as I dared to. But it started to veer and I didn't want us to miss it."

"You... waited? I thought you were asleep."

"Let's not get distracted by tiny details. What sort of ship is that?" Spock had joined them after regaining his composure.

"The facts available indicate an automated rescue vehicle, originating from the north of this planet. The O345 inhabitants are technologically advanced but very reclusive. The federation have sparse information on them, but they have a history of being peaceful and disorganised."

Kirk was approaching the ship and when he got close, the roof opened in five places around the outer edge. Water splashed in and sloshed around on the floor. The three of them got in and the roof closed again. There was no place designated for sitting on and the roof was too low for the men to stand upright. Kirk spotted three similar rescue vehicles far away. Lily-Lee was standing with her hands against the glass, looking back at the small island as the ship moved away.

"Hey, look! The sea's turning white and yellow!" Kirk and Spock came over to look. Around the island the water looked like milk and cream. "So I was right, it was mating time for those things."

–***–