Fears

by Starsinger

Jo's having a birthday. Bones hires a clown. Somebody's afraid of clowns. Don't own them.

Jim smiled as Jo squealed. Bones had pulled out all the stops on the Enterprise. Jocelyn had given in and let Bones plan it on the Enterprise with her help. This party had everything, which explained why it was being held in one of the cargo bays. It had a petting farm, a pony, a magician, and six guys dressed as characters from Harry Potter and Jedi Knights.

Jo was dressed as a Princess and all her little friends were in constant motion as several adults, including the senior staff, stood around admiring the decorations. Jim looked at Bones, "Didn't you hire a clown?"

"Yeah, he'll be here," Bones responded. "Bridge just called to confirm he beamed up a minute ago. Security is escorting him down." Bones grinned. "Jo loves clowns."

"Couldn't tell," Jim said with a laugh. Jo had been talking about it non-stop for the last week. Sure enough, a figure emerged from the other side of the bay. Brightly striped clothes with oversized pants. Huge shoes, facepaint and a brightly colored wig could be seen a mile away. The horn he squeezed completed the outfit. He was immediately surrounded by children who clamored for balloon animals. He complied with a loud laugh and exaggerated movements.

"Spock!" Jim heard Uhura's voice echo from the other side of the room. "GET DOWN FROM THERE!"

Jim and Bones looked at each other before turning toward her voice. Soon, the problem became evident. Spock had climbed the wall and was clinging to one of the lights hanging from the ceiling. "I'm not coming down," Spock responded. To Jim's ears the normally calm Vulcan sounded, well, petulant.

"Why not?" Jim asked.

"Who invited the clown?" Spock asked.

"I did," Bones told him. "Jo likes clowns. Wait, are you afraid of clowns?" Bones asked. Jim looked at Bones and then back at his first officer.

"Fear is illogical," Spock announced as the kids and clown worked their way to the table holding the food and cake directly under the suspended Vulcan. He managed to get higher up the light. "But that clown is unnatural."

"You're afraid of clowns," Jim said. "You're actually afraid of clowns," he said with a laugh.

"Jim, please," Spock said, trying to remain composed.

Jim sighed. "Okay Spock, I'll distract the clown. Uhura, get him down and out the door while I do so," Jim said. Spock watched as Jim approached Joe, the guy in the clown suit and managed to get him to walk away with him, a trail of kids following.

Bones watched as Spock climbed down off the light and took off toward the nearest door. Bones laughed as Jim glanced over to see Spock sprinting out the door. He clapped Joe on the shoulder and wandered back to Bones. "Uhura, did he tell you he was afraid of clowns?"

"I didn't have a clue until now," she said with a laugh. "He's never going to live this down, is he?" she asked.

Jim grinned. He looked a lot like the cat who caught the canary. "Not in a million years."

I am making no apologies to anyone who may be afraid of clowns, I'm not. I think they're funny!