Ty Mira Black-Snape for beta
Warnings: baaad words
Reminder: PEG: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (tube in the stomach), PN: Parenteral Nutrition (tube near the collarbone), BP: Blood Pressure
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It was 18:00. Jim was on the couch with his legs up, signing reports from various stations. He was waiting for his husband to come back from his round in the science lab. Turning the PADD off and placed it on the coffee table next to him, he sighed. He was not thrilled by the idea they were going to tell Selek (Spock Prime) and Sarek (Spock's father) about the news. While the Elders took it pretty well with the idea that they were married, he was afraid the pregnancy would end with angry Vulcans. Feeling their father's inner turmoil, the babies sent him love with the bond.
"Thanks, little ones, I know I don't have to worry too much. I want you to have a great uncle and a great grandfather behind your backs."
Now, at 18 weeks, the belly was more prominent, even if not so big to be noticed when dressed. He loved to be able to see the bump now.
When Spock entered, he stopped in front of the door. Jim was singing.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
"Ehi love!" Said Jim, turning his head.
"Ashayam, glad to see you finally." Spock moved so he could sit on the coffee table and watch his husband.
"What were you singing? It was beautiful."
"Oh, just an old Terran song by Elvis Presley called Falling in love."
"Fascinating. We still have some time before we make the calls. Do you want something to eat or drink?"
"Mmm, maybe some tea, please."
The Vulcan moved at the replicator and selected the drinks for them. Moving with the mugs, he noticed how swollen Jim's ankles were and started thinking he would have to talk with McCoy about it. He asked about the nervousness he was feeling, but the other man said nothing. They talked about their day and prepared for the calls.
"Uhura, please patch the calls in our quarters," said the captain, putting his commanding face on. Seconds later, the half screen showed the oldest version of Spock, and the other half Sarek.
"Greetings Selek, Father," said Spock, who was standing to the left of James (seated in his chair, mind you), a hand on his shoulder.
"Ambassadors, it's a pleasure to see you both well," said James.
After the customary greetings, the conversation moved between Jim's health, duty for Starfleet and the bewildering way the human was now carrying two babies. Both Elders stated their mutual knowledge that the pregnancy was a blessing, how happy they were and how they will prepare papers for the incoming babies, granting them both Vulcan's heritage and citizenship.
The talk eased Jim's mind. He was so glad about how it went.
He convinced Spock that he needed a back massage, and completely enjoyed it! They were now laid in bed, kissing with passion, when Spock stopped.
"Aww Mr. Spock, do you love teasing me, don't you? Don't stop now! It's already ugly that we can't have sex!"
"Not at all Jim I will not tease you in your condition. However, I am noticing how swollen your eyelids are. We shall tell Dr. McCoy."
"Come on! He will take all the PADDs from me! What I'm supposed to do if I can't even look at screens! A good night's sleep will help." After a moment, he added.
"Let's go to the mess for dinner, I want to see the others."
"Are you well enough for that Jim?"
"What about it now? It's not like the crew is not murmuring about me already. Besides, replicator 12 makes the best pizzoccheri! You and Bones already told me that it's not healthy for me to stay secluded in our quarters."
Reluctant, the commander helped the captain dressed in casual clothes and together they headed down to the mess.
They were spotted by Uhura and Scotty, already at a table eating. Spock placed his husband near the Scottish man, promptly suggesting to him to wait for the dinner he would fetch.
They chattered for a while; soon Chekov joined, and after even McCoy. For once, Jim was quiet and happy, recollecting the previous talk with the Vulcans.
"Enterprise to Jim," said the doctor, wavering his hand in front of Jim's face. He blinked several times, trying to clear his gaze.
"You know you look like shit right? Your eyes look the size of lemons! What the hell did you give him to eat, stupid hobgoblin!" The table had McCoy's attention.
"Leonard, if you inquire about the meal I took for the captain, he asked for some pizzoccheri, and they do not have any allergens that affect Jim. I did notice before we came here about his eyes, but James thought he just stared for too long at his PADDs." The Vulcan stated. The doctor grunted, picking up the free wrist from Jim to check how fast his pulse was. He noticed the faint tremor of the limb.
"Ehi, I'm eating here!" Jim said, getting his wrist back.
After they all finished the meal and prepared to recycle the trays, the doctor stopped the captain. "You," pointing his finger at James, "are coming with me to the medbay. Do you really think I didn't notice how many times you squeezed your eyes to clear your vision or how red they are?"
Whining, "Bbbbbooooooonnnnnneeeeessssss! Come on! I'm just tired. Leave me alone please! Spock! Do something!" But the look on his husband's face told him he was busted.
Unfortunately, while the scans didn't find anything major going on, it found his BP too high (more meds, yay), petechiae in his eyes, and confirmed McCoy's doubts he was having blurred and double vision.
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After the shower, Jim exited the bathroom with a towel around his waist, drying his hair with another one, looking in the mirror.
"I'm so ugly," he said to no one.
He was grabbed from behind; two hot hands surrounded his pregnant belly.
"Hush, my beautiful. You could never be ugly. Mine." And he started kissing Jim's upper body.
Humming, the blonde turned around.
"Uh, uh, Mr. Spock, I believe Jimmy here is waking up. Can you please assist me?"
He dropped the two towels and gently moved them to the bed, pushing the Vulcan down the surface, going to retrieve his night clothes. He was stopped midway, where the pale hands of his husband took the items, placed them on the night table, guiding him this time in the bed.
"Please captain, allow me to assist you with this task. I believe I was informed about your displeasure in not being able to have what you call grown-up time. While I concur with the doctor statement, I think I have a way to please you." Strong and yet gentle hands were on the now pallid body, massaging, caressing it. A hot mouth was on the nipple, biting.
"Oh Spock, I've missed this! Don't stop!"
"I have no such intention, ashayam", replied the smirking Vulcan.
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They were in the CMO office. Spock and Jim were on the couch, M'Benga, Leonard's second, on a chair. McCoy was pacing the space between the screen and his desk.
"Guys, this is not working. Even with the PEG tube, you lost weight. It's not tolerable that you are only 120 lbs (54.4 kg)! ONE HUNDRED TWENTY! Unbelievable! You should be at least 178 lbs (80.7 kg) minimum!"
"I'm sorry Bones, but I really thought the PEG was helping." Said the pregnant man sadly. McCoy moved so fast that left everybody speechless. His hands on Jim's shoulders.
"Listen, kid, I'm not mad at you. Not at all. I'm mad at myself for being so useless in this situation. Understood? It just infuriates me with all the medical discoveries in the past few centuries and I'm almost powerless with this situation. Of course, you are a man, it doesn't help, but if we watch this like you were a woman, there is the same very little I can do. It's a difficult pregnancy and we can't change it, but we are in this together, I told you before and I didn't change my mind." Out of the blue, Jim threw up on Bones. "Fuck that is gross! Couldn't you warn me before you did that? I would have moved."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry". Were the only words coming out from the captain. McCoy went to change, sending in a nurse to clean up the mess, while M'Benga took a glass of water for his superior. Returning to the room, tricorder in hand, he scanned his friend.
"You didn't have nausea." It wasn't a question. "I need better scans. Let's move." The four of them moved to the diagnostic's room.
It took half an hour to have all the reading. But the two doctors left the room before speaking.
"Ashayam, do not worry. The doctors will find a way to help you." Said the Vulcan caressing his beloved.
"I know Spock, they are the best. The fact they left us here alone, means more troubles. I don't know if I can take it anymore. You deserve a better partner; I can't take care of you."
"Jim, look at me," And he took his face in his hands. "You take care of me by taking care of yourself and the babies now. You are under a great amount of stress, yet you are here fighting. It displeases me that I am the one not enough for you. I can take so little pain from you from our mind melds. And you have the bad habit of hiding your distress from me. You were the one, during our vows, saying 'in sickness and in health'. It goes both ways, you should know this by now. Step by step, we are together in this. Now rest some while we wait for the doctors to come back."
"You are correct, as usual. Kiss me?"
Notes: next in 10 days ^_^