To say that Vulcans were a patient people would be a gross understatement. Jim watched as during the two day journey to Uzh-Ah'rak Spock spent more of his time sitting in the chair next to his bedside, working on a PADD, going over reports, and generally getting in Bones' way. McCoy took it all in stride after the first incident between them, but his patience was being stretched. Jim smiled to himself at the memory of Spock and Bones going at it.

"You can't just sit here all day, Spock!"

"It is the duty of the First Officer-"

"Oh, don't give me that crap about duty! You just want to make sure he doesn't vanish again! Fine, I'll give! But I swear to whatever god you hold dear, if you upset his recovery, I will cut off your ears and feed them to the nearest Tribble colony!"

After that, things became a bit quieter in general around the medbay. Spock did his shifts on the bridge and returned after. He would sit until it was time for bed, then disappear for only a few hours to return before his shift again. It was the morning of the second day that a message came through as Spock was sitting next to Jim's bed.

"Bridge to Spock."

"This is Spock."

"Arrival at Uzh-Ah'rak in twenty."

"Make a request for permission to orbit. Spock out."

Jim raised his eyes from the book he was thumbing through to look over at the Vulcan. "You are going to tell me what's happening before it actually happens, right?"

Spock turned his attention to where Jim was resting, sitting up in the biobed. "I will of course inform you of anything necessary for you to know beforehand."

With a roll of his eyes, Jim smiled to himself. "Of course," he repeated. When Spock went back to his work, Jim glanced over at him, a sudden pain in his chest causing him to look away again.

Over the last two days, the pain had come and gone, but never in the same intensity as when Spock was sitting just next to him. It seemed that the Vulcan's presence caused a chain reaction in Jim's body of relaxation, acceptance, then painful recall of the events he had survived through.

"Have you seen your mother?"

Dark eyes moved over to him as Spock's attention was brought back to Jim. "I have. She was injured prior to your return, and therefore required more medical attention. She is resting."

Jim actually made a face. "Have you talkedto her?"

"I..." When Spock paused, Jim looked over at him. The Vulcan was staring at the PADD in his hands, looking more likely to snap the device than anything. "I have not," he said. "I wanted to await Ambassador Sarek's presence before I questioned her."

"Spock, she's your mother-"

"No," came the quick answer. "My mother is dead. This woman resembles my mother, but is not her." As if he realized what he had said, Spock froze and looked over at Jim's devastated expression. "Captain...Jim...I did not..."

"Just go," Jim said with a shake of his head. "You have duties to attend to."

Reluctantly Spock stood, looking back at Jim. "I will return when communications have been established and the landing party gathered."

Jim sat there, staring hard at the book in his hands as Spock left. His eyes landed on one word and did not move as he contemplated it. What Spock said was true. This woman was not the same as the one who loved and nurtured Spock as he grew. Jim felt the pain again, this time clenching around his chest like a vice. This was not the Vulcan he had professed his love to.

But he was already in love with him. And that thought hurt more than the pain of losing his Spock. Because this Spock did not show the same caring or feelings his Spock did.

In his mind, he could not reconcile these two, similar but inherently different creatures into the same. It made sense to him that Spock couldn't do the same for his mother. And that pained him.

Maybe once this bonding ritual was held, and his mind repaired, Jim could look at everything differently. But as it was, his heart hurt too much to think in the logical, steady way the Vulcans could.

And then Jim realized it. He was not Vulcan and could not be held to their standards. Spock hid every emotion he felt.

Maybe Spock did love him in return.

His mind traveled back to the thought of the universe that he had no urge to return to. It had nothing more for him. And Jim was quickly learning where real wealth lay.

So he sat there in his biobed until Bones informed him that they were in orbit. The doctor helped him up and dressed, giving him looks that ranged from sympathy to disgust to worry. But ever present in the doctor's face was the concern for his friend.

"Jim, you don't have to do this, you know. There are other ways."

"No, Bones. I do. It'll help heal the damage from that journey."

"If there was any other way-"

"But there isn't." Jim used his friend's arm to steady himself as he pulled his boots tight against his shins. "You've known from the first moment how I felt. Did you really think being in another universe would change that?"

"No," Bones admitted. He took Jim's forearm as the man stood back up. "Just...you'd better come back whole."

"Yes, doctor," Jim said jokingly. "And you'll be allowed to go back to annoying me at every turn."

McCoy nodded sternly, but the emotion in his eyes said more than enough for Jim to understand fully the relief the doctor felt at having his best friend back. When Spock appeared to get him, Jim gave Bones a wave.

"I'll be back," he promised the doctor as he followed Spock to the transporter room.