A/N
Busy week! Glad I've finally got something to post for you all. Bit more Jim/Spock in this one, and a smut warning I guess, though it isn't all that graphic or long of a scene (though we'll get to that soon enough ;) )
Thanks once again to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter. Reviews definitely mean more than ever to me right now because this story is MUCH more difficult to write than the last one, I mean, all the OC's, mixing storylines, all very new to me!
It's late as i'm posting this and I wont get to proof read and correct until tomorrow morning, so if there are any silly errors please ignore as they'll be fixed very soon :)
Chapter Seven
"Daddy, what's dead mean?"
Jim looked down at his young son and sighed.
"It means kind of like when you go to sleep, but you don't wake up again. It means you're not alive anymore," he explained gently.
"But why don't you wake back up?" he asked as he looked at the headstone in front of him.
"Death means that the body is no longer functional Christopher, no longer able to sustain life," Spock said bluntly and Jim glared at him.
"Gee, thanks Spock, way to explain it gently to them," he said sarcastically.
"I do not believe we should, what is the term… 'sugar coat' explanations of such things," Spock said and Jim looked away from him and back to the grey headstone.
Shoving his hands deeper into his pockets Jim walked quicker through the cemetery grounds. September had quickly become October and the ground was littered with partially decomposed leaves that crunched under his feet as he walked.
He stopped in the familiar spot and took a deep breath.
"Hey. Sorry it's been a while… I've been busy. Life just… gets in the way sometimes," he sighed as he looked at the headstone. It had been over a year since his last visit and he felt guilty about it, he'd intended to come here more often.
Christopher Pike.
There were no other words. Not even dates of birth and death. They weren't needed. The grand grey marble stone bearing just his name was perfectly befitting of Jim's original inspiration to join Starfleet.
"I… I guess I'm here to say I'm sorry to you, for letting you down. I'm going to have to leave Starfleet. I have more important things to do now, Leo is really sick, and I want to spend as much time with him as I can before… well… just in case the worst case scenario happens."
Jim shivered a little and pulled his coat higher around his neck.
"It just feels wrong you know? Leaving. I always wanted to get back out there, but things aren't the same anymore. I don't feel like I could sit in the chair and deal with the situations I used to deal with… I've spent too long behind a desk. Feel a bit like I've lost my edge," he said, glancing at his watch.
He stood in silence for around ten minutes. Reflecting. Trying to make sense of things in his jumbled mind.
"I have to go," Jim said quietly. He turned and walked away in the pale morning light, towards his car to drive to the hospital.
"I hate this so much," Leo said through gritted teeth as Dr McCoy carefully removed his IV.
"I know kid, it aint nice. You're doin' good though. You want a hand?" he offered and Leo shook his head, gripping the arms of the chair tightly before forcing himself up onto his feet.
He lasted about five seconds before sitting back down, a wave of nausea washing over him.
"Think I'm gonna puke," he managed to warn before he followed through on his words, the doctor holding a plastic basin for him as he emptied his stomach.
He gasped for air, knuckles white as he gripped the chair for support until he was done, dry heaving but with nothing left to come up.
The doctor handed him a plastic cup of water which he used to wash his mouth out, spitting into the basin then taking a sip from the water, followed by a deep, steadying breath.
"I hate this," he muttered.
Bones sighed.
This was the first day he'd seen Leo this negative about his treatment. It seemed the tiredness, the nausea and the constant aching in his limbs was finally wearing him down.
"Sorry. I'm good now. Is Jim here yet?" he asked and the Doctor offered him his hand again, this time he took it and allowed him to help him to his feet.
"Haven't seen him kiddo. You told him ten right?"
"Yeah, ten," Leo nodded, letting go of the doctors hand and using both his hands to push his sweaty hair off his forehead.
How his hair hadn't fallen out was beyond the realms of the doctors understanding. The dose of chemotherapy being used was so potent it should have certainly caused his hair to fall out, but the kid was stubborn and seemed to be refusing to let it.
"You know you only have five more of these, right? And then we're going to… you know, go ahead and try to remove it," he said and Leo nodded slightly.
"Yeah. I know. I'll be glad. I'd rather have my head cut open than keep being poisoned three times a week," he said and Bones put his hand on his shoulder.
"Keep it up kid, you're almost there."
Jim arrived five minutes later and barely spoke a word. Bones knew something was wrong with him, but didn't ask questions; Jim had enough on his plate without him nagging him.
"Have you heard from Chris at all?" Leo asked Jim as they got into the car.
"Uh… not for a few days. Has he contacted you?"
"No. It's kind of… weird. It's like he's ignoring me. I sent him a comm. but I got nothing back."
"Guess the bright lights of New York have got him distracted," Jim said quietly.
Leo wasn't thrilled when Christopher had announced he was moving away, but he'd signed a temporary contract to a different modelling agency and they were getting him a hell of a lot of work, the only problem being all the work was in New York City. He'd be gone for another few weeks before his contract allowed him to move back home.
Jim was quite obviously unhappy about his son moving so far away, to a city where he didn't know anyone, but Christopher told him he needed to go and make his own mistakes.
Spock had gone so far as to go to New York and hunt Chris down, telling him he had to come back immediately.
He'd returned alone, so Christopher obviously hadn't listened.
The only reason Leo was slightly grateful for his brother being away was that he didn't have to explain to him about his illness. He'd managed to maintain acting normally around him until he left, but the chemo was well and truly affecting him now, and he struggled to keep up any kind of normal behaviour.
"Are you doing anything for the rest of today?" Jim asked and Leo nodded.
"I'm meeting Emily tonight, but other than that, no nothing, just resting," he said and Jim smiled to himself.
"You see her quite often," he pointed out.
"She's a good friend," Leo dismissed. They had become firm friends in the time she'd been back, realising that though they had spent years apart they had never really changed.
"Just a friend?"
"She has a boyfriend. And it isn't me. So yeah, I'd say just a friend."
Jim was quiet for a minute before speaking again.
"You like her though don't you? I mean… you always did as a kid."
"I like her as a friend," Leo said stubbornly and Jim smirked.
"A friend you want to be more than friends with?"
Leo sighed.
"I want more than anything to be more than friends with her. You're fully aware of that. The trouble is I'll never be good enough for her, even if this sight treatment works, even if I survive beyond Christmas, I'll never be the right guy for her or it would have happened by now. I can accept that, I have accepted that," he said and Jim shrugged.
"Just the way she looks at you lately… I don't know if there is a boyfriend, I think he's fictional to make you jealous," Jim thought aloud.
"Well I don't see the way she looks at me so I don't care," Leo muttered. His head was throbbing, his body was aching, he felt sick again and he was so tired it physically hurt him to keep his eyes open.
Jim knew when to shut up, and he did, driving them both home. He noticed Leo falling asleep in the car and knew he'd need to either wake him or get Spock to help carry him into the house. Even with the weight he'd lost Leo was still heavier than Jim by a substantial amount.
Spock, are you at home?
Jim only had to wait a few moments for a response. They'd been using their bond more frequently to communicate and Jim found it comforting, he was also beginning to enjoy Spock's company more and more and although they hadn't had any kind of sexual contact, he'd found himself wanting to be in physical contact with him. To touch him, even to kiss him.
I am, T'hy'la. Are you on your way with Leonard?
Yeah. He's fallen asleep in the car; can you help me move him? We're about two minutes away.
As Jim parked in the driveway Spock was waiting for them and gently lifted Leo out of the car and over his shoulder as if he weighed nothing at all.
He carried their son up the stairs and to his bed where he carefully placed him down, Jim removing his shoes and then pulling the blankets up and tucking him in.
"I hate seeing him like this," Jim sighed and Spock nodded in agreement.
"It is… unpleasant to witness him in such a condition," said Spock and Jim bit his lip and looked at the ground.
They hadn't really discussed their worst fear, but the unspoken words hung heavy in the air of the room like a thick winter's day fog.
Their fear that Leo wouldn't make it.
That the chemo would fail and the surgery would fail and he'd die.
"I'll be so lost without him if he doesn't pull through," Jim said quietly and Spock reached for his hand.
"Do not think about it."
"I can't help but think about it Spock! Look at him. He barely eats and when he does its only a matter of time until he's sick, he sleeps for most of the day, he's barely strong enough to walk ten minutes… I just… watching him go downhill like this, so quickly, it's the worst thing I've ever had to see. The hardest part is being so helpless. I mean… a month ago things were so different for him, he had his whole life to look forward to… but now that could only be a matter of months. What… what if he doesn't make it? What if we never get to see him get married? Have kids of his own? All these things that everyone takes for granted. What if he never gets to see?"
Spock used his thumb to brush away a single tear that had escaped onto Jim's cheek.
"I have no answers to your questions," said Spock as he looked down at the young man in the bed, his face a sickly green colour against the white of his pillows.
"Talk about me somewhere else, m'tryna' sleep," he mumbled sleepily, rolling onto his side and pulling the blanket higher so it covered the bottom half of his face.
"Sorry," Jim said quickly. He hadn't realised Leo was awake, and if he had, he wouldn't have said anything he had just let slip.
"S'ok. Just… stop stressing? I'm going to be fine, this part just really sucks," he said quietly and Jim nodded.
"I know. I know you'll be ok; it's just really scary to think that you might not be… I want you to have a… long and… y'know, prosperous life," he said, not missing the small curl of the corner of Spock's lips as he played on the Vulcan greeting.
"I will. I'm going to grow up and have ten kids and get married and do all the stuff I'm meant to do. Quit worrying Jimbo," he said and Jim smiled weakly.
"You got it boss."
Jim and Spock left him to sleep, returning to their own room where Jim sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed until Spock took a deep breath as if to say something. Jim beat him to it and spoke first.
"I think I'm going to resign from Starfleet."
Spock raised both eyebrows so high they were in danger of being lost behind his hair.
"Please, elaborate," he said and Jim looked down at the floor.
"I want to have more time to spend with Leo. I mean, the admiralty hate me for squashing all of my hours into four days as it is, but the fact is that he needs me, he needs us more and more to help take care of him as he… gets weaker," Jim said solemnly.
"I understand, however it is highly illogical to give up your career due to this. Seren is more than capable of caring for Leo, and my own working hours allow me to spend more time at the house than you. Between the two of us we can provide care for him when you are at work," Spock said and Jim sighed.
"I know. I know you only teach a few classes a week, and that Seren is here most of the time apart from when she's checking on the… experiment…" Jim shuddered slightly. Seren had showed him the piece of cloned brain as it developed and it creeped him out, even made him a little squeamish.
"It's just that I want to be here. I don't want to be at my desk, I can't focus at my desk. I want to be here to look after him myself. I want to spend as much time with him as I can," he said and Spock sat beside him.
"You would be unhappy if you were to resign, I know this to be a fact," Spock said as he placed his hand on Jim's knee.
"Probably. But I'm unhappy every hour I sit at that desk and think that if he slips away it's another hour with him I'll never get the chance of again. I can't regret that for my whole life Spock, I honestly can't. But I can't choose. I went to see… Admiral Pike this morning, to try and decide, but he didn't have any answers."
"As the Admiral has been dead for over twenty years it is unlikely that he could have provided you with a solution," Spock pointed out and Jim couldn't help but chuckle weakly.
"You're right. I don't know why I went there, it was stupid. I just… I've been thinking a lot about my original reasons for joining, the reasons he pointed out to me that day in Iowa… and I feel like I've lost my way. I've been so caught up in everything, in being mad at you, in being 'Dad' half the day and 'Commodore' the other half that I kind of… forgot who I am," he finished weakly and looked up at Spock who's eyes were fixed on Jim's left hand, where the well worn gold band was back where it belonged around his finger.
"Oh… yeah… I put it back on this morning… felt so weird without it I didn't want to leave it off anymore," he said nervously and Spock looked up at his face, deep brown eyes locking onto his own clear blue orbs.
"You are James Tiberius Kirk, the one and only. Captain of the USS. Enterprise, the youngest ever Captain and then Commodore. You are a most valued asset to Starfleet, able to generate bold and brilliant strategies where others draw a total blank. You are an exceptional father-"
"Spock, I'm not exceptional under anyone's definition and-" Jim tried to cut him off but Spock continued talking.
"Exceptional. Raising two children as model citizens and one who I am certain is simply in need of a bondmate to curb his more… carnal… behaviour before he too will become the brilliant young man I am certain you have raised him to be. You are a far too forgiving partner, as the longer I stay here with you, the longer I feel I do not deserve you after having left for so long and hurt you so-"
Spock was cut off as Jim surged forwards, connecting their lips in a dizzying kiss and holding him like he never wanted to let go.
Both men were breathless when they finally broke apart.
"Do you want to… I don't know, do something later? Like we used to do?" Jim asked cautiously and Spock quirked an eyebrow.
"There are a lot of things we used to do," he said matter-of-factly and Jim chuckled.
"Well I was thinking if you're in the mood to say nice things about me we could go out somewhere and I could listen to you say nice things in a nicer setting," Jim smiled.
"I recall you enjoying the colours at this time of year, perhaps an outdoor activity?" Spock suggested and Jim grinned.
"I'm off all day if you want to go somewhere now?"
"I regret that I must give one lecture at mid-day, however I will return as soon as it is complete?" Spock offered and Jim nodded.
"Sure. It's a date then… I mean, I guess," Jim smiled nervously. He felt like a giddy teenager going on his first ever date, not a forty-five year old man who'd been married for fifteen years and bonded for even longer.
Jim spent the day sitting watching holovids with Leo.
He'd always found it curious that his son enjoyed them so much, given that he couldn't see them, but Jim never asked questions. Leo dozed through half of them, struggling to keep himself a comfortable temperature even with several blankets and the heat in the room turned up to an extent that had Jim sweating slightly.
He had called Jim a genius when he'd brought him a hot water bottle, gratefully accepting the somewhat primitive method of warming himself instantly and shoving it down his shirt.
Spock arrived home right on time that evening and kept his promise of taking Jim somewhere outdoors.
The pair materialised in the middle of a familiar place and Jim grinned widely.
"Yosemite! Spock we haven't been here in years," he sighed wistfully as he turned to look around.
"You always enjoyed this place," Spock noted.
"I love it here. One of the advantages of living so close I guess, but then having a genius son who can create a handheld transporter device after even Scotty couldn't also comes in useful," Jim smiled and tucked the device into his pocket.
It was late afternoon and the sun was relatively low in the sky, casting perfect 'golden hour' lighting through the forest.
"Shall we walk?" Jim asked and Spock nodded, holding his hand out.
Jim looked at it for a moment before taking it, loving the familiar feeling of warmth as their fingers meshed together.
They walked for over an hour. Listening to the quietness of the forest, to each other talking and their slightly heavy breathing as they walked. They ascended the entire time; and now had a truly spectacular view over the park as the last of the golden evening sun ebbed away. The reds and yellows and browns of the leaves painted the landscape before them like a beautiful canvas and Jim found himself wishing he had his camera. Taking pictures was something he'd become heavily interested in over the years, and the house was full of images he'd captured, mostly of the kids.
Ashayam, it is not since returning home that I truly appreciated the depths with which I missed you whilst I was away.
Jim smiled to himself.
"That mean you're staying?" he asked.
Spock nodded.
"As I have already stated on thirty-four occasions since my return, I will not leave you," he said and Jim smirked.
"Only thirty four times? Feels like you've said it more than that," he laughed, giving Spock a playful shove and causing him to narrow his eyes.
"If you are seeking a reaction from me I will not-"
Jim silenced him by stopping walking abruptly, pushing Spock against a nearby redwood tree and slamming their lips together. He made sure to angle his hips forward so their bodies were entirely in contact, Spock sandwiched between the tree and his bondmate.
Quick as a flash their positions were reversed and Jim found himself against the tree, Spock dropping to his knees before him, long slender fingers fumbling with the buttons of his pants.
"Spock! We're outside," Jim giggled, half-heartedly pushing him away.
"And as I am entirely aware of what you were intending to do to me, I do not see how our being outside is an issue," Spock retorted as he got Jim's pants open and began to tease him with the tips of his fingers through the thin fabric of his boxers, causing Jim to tilt his head back against the tree as his knees began to go weak.
"All these years and I still forget you can read my damn mind," Jim chuckled and Spock looked up at him before glancing around.
"Might I suggest that before we become too distracted by our activities that we find a more private location?" he said and Jim nodded quickly.
"Yeah, right on the main trail might be a bad move," he agreed as he and Spock headed off the track and into the rapidly darkening forest.
Jim felt positively giddy. He felt like he was falling in love all over again, and he knew he needed to stop, to take control, to remember all the nights Spock had been away but he just couldn't help himself.
They walked far enough that the trail wasn't easily visible, and then stopped, Spock running his hand up Jim's arm and then onto his neck, finding its place on the back of his head, drawing their lips together once again.
"I think you were right about to do something, before we moved," Jim suggested, and Spock smirked slightly.
"I am unable to recall what-"
"Don't bullshit me, I'm not in the mood for games Spock," Jim said in a warning tone. It had been a long year with only his own right hand for company, and Spock certainly owed him this at the very least.
"And what is it that you are in the mood for, Captain?" Spock asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jim practically growled and pushed Spock so he dropped to his knees.
"Not Captain," Jim corrected as his fingers hurriedly finished unfastening his jeans.
Spock grabbed at his jeans, beginning to pull them down as Jim noticed the tiny flecks of white light beginning to flicker around them. Spock had inadvertently hit the button on the transporter device in his pocket to send them home.
"Shit," he muttered as they dematerialised, appearing a moment later in their thankfully empty living room.
Spock scrambled to his feet as Jim hurriedly fixed his pants, looking around quickly just in case. Not a second too soon the front door opened and Seren walked in alone, looking at them both suspiciously.
"What have I just interrupted?" she asked and Jim blushed pink.
"N-nothing! We just got home," he said, pausing to clear his throat as his voice came out way too high pitched.
"You have a leaf in your hair," she said pointedly and Jim quickly ruffled his hair, grabbing the offending leaf and throwing it on the floor.
"Are you home now for the night or…?" Jim asked, trying to be nonchalant and ignore the throbbing in his pants.
"If you are requesting that I leave then-"
"No… no you don't have to leave. I mean, why would you? Nothing is going on here but I… uh…" Jim faltered. Spock stared at him but offered no help, his hair slightly out of place and doing nothing to support Jim's argument that nothing had been going on before she arrived.
"Leo is at the McCoy's, I was invited to stay for the evening also, though I declined the invitation initially I think I'll reconsider," she said with a small smile as she backed out of the door and closed it behind her.
"Shit," Jim breathed.
"Though I agree it is highly unfortunate that she is fully aware of what she interrupted, I am sure she is aware we engage in sexual intercourse," Spock pointed out and Jim pulled a face.
"What did I say about using the term 'sexual intercourse'?" Jim asked with a sigh.
"To not do so?"
"Exactly. Now the moment is gone. You've totally ruined it. It just sounds so… gross," Jim protested.
"Perhaps I can find a way to return you to your previous state of arousal?" Spock suggested and Jim raised an eyebrow.
"Well… what did you have in mind?"
"You going to tell me what's wrong?" Leo asked through the silence of the room.
He was sitting on the floor of Emily's bedroom; his back against her bed where she was laying sprawled out like she'd lost the will to live.
"I don't want to talk about it," she sighed.
"Sure you do, otherwise you wouldn't have let me come over tonight, so what's wrong?" he asked and she groaned, pulling her pillow over her face.
She hadn't wanted to talk to anyone about it.
"I can tell you've been crying too," he pointed out and she sat up.
"How?!" she demanded and he chuckled.
"You're sniffling a tiny bit, and your voice is a little scratchy… plus your Dad warned me when he let me in," he said with a smile. He tapped his fingers lightly on the carpet, trying to focus on ignoring the splitting pain in his head and the way he could feel sweat beading on his back though he felt frozen to the core. He was finding it damn near impossible to continue acting normally around her, but he would grit his teeth and force himself. He couldn't let her find out, he didn't want her to feel sorry for him, or worry about him, though he half-doubted she actually would.
"How can you hear that?" she asked and he shrugged.
"My eyes may not work, but my other senses have always compensated. I can hear really subtle things other people don't pick up on, little tones in their voices, come in handy to impersonate people," he said and she crawled to the edge of the bed, sitting so her thigh was only a few inches away from the side of his head.
"So c'mon darlin', what's the matter?" he said in a good enough impression of her father for Emily to shove his head and laugh at him, causing him to grin in the way she'd come to adore, that made her heart skip a beat because he just looked so perfect.
"Urgh… I just… promise you won't tell anybody?" she asked and he pulled a face.
"I'll make you a deal, you tell me your problem then I'll tell you a secret so you have something on me to use if I tell anyone what you've told me. Deal?" he offered and she laughed again, leaning back to lay flat on her bed with her head dangling over the side, around a foot away from his and tilted towards him to see his face as she spoke. He was staring straight ahead at the wall.
"My… boyfriend broke up with me," she sighed and he turned his face towards her.
"Who, G.I. Joe? Why is that anything to be embarrassed about?" he asked and she sighed.
"It's because of why he broke up with me," she said and he inclined his head expectantly.
"Go on…"
"Because I wouldn't sleep with him. He said I was… frigid. But I'm not, I swear, I just wanted to wait and-"
"There's nothing wrong with that," he interrupted. He looked… annoyed. "I hate when guys pull shit like this! Urgh. No wonder people think all men are pigs. Listen, if you didn't want to have sex with him and he was pressuring you then you breaking up is for the best. What a complete shit-stain to try and bully you into it. You deserve so much better than that. Want me to kick his ass for you?" he offered and she smiled. Leo couldn't help his mind racing. Suddenly he didn't feel nearly so weird for still being a virgin at twenty years old, especially if Emily had been living away for so long, and touring with a band, no doubt partying too.
"Thanks, but I'd kind of like to kick his ass myself," she said and he nodded.
"Can you wait until I can see, so I can watch?" he asked and she chuckled, shuffling slightly closer to him.
"So. Mr Kirk. Time for you to hold up your end of the deal," she prompted and he sighed and let his head droop against the mattress.
"Hey! None of this bullshit! A deal is a deal," she said, prodding him in the shoulder with one finger and making him squirm.
"Yeah yeah… uh… let me think of a good one," he said, falling silent for a moment.
I'm in love with you? No. Too much.
I might be dying? Also too much, don't want to make her cry again.
I'm glad you've broken up with that piece of shit so now I can finally make a move?
"I… pee sitting down?" he offered weakly and she snorted.
"Yeah, and find me someone on this side of the universe who doesn't already know that! Chris told everyone already!" she laughed and he gasped theatrically.
"Well shit, I thought that was still a secret! But I'll have you know it's difficult to aim without a visual reference," he shrugged but he was smirking at the same time.
She shook her head and pushed her hair back off her face. He had her blushing again, something she was beginning to find impossible to avoid around him. She was grateful he couldn't see her when she went so bright pink.
"A real secret, something nobody else knows," she said, shifting slightly closer again. He lifted his head and turned towards her, and if she didn't know he couldn't see her she would have sworn he was staring right into her soul with those damn deep chocolate-brown eyes.
"I uh… hmm," he said thoughtfully, his tongue flicking out over his lips for the quickest flash of a second before he leaned towards her.
"Where's your ear? I don't want anyone else overhearing this," he said and she took his hand and placed it on her ear, allowing him to lower his mouth right to it until she could feel the tickle of his exhales on her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
He blew a loud, wet raspberry right into her ear and she grimaced, shoving him away as he started laughing.
"You're a mean boy," she pouted and he smirked.
"I'm sorry, it was just too easy," he laughed, holding his hands up in surrender as she snatched up her pillow, hitting him square in the face with it.
"Ooooh, you're a bad person!" he said, pointing at her accusingly.
"How?" she asked as he scrambled to turn around so he could back away from her.
"You just hit a poor, defenceless blind guy," he said and she laughed.
"You?! Defenceless?! I'm pretty sure you can defend yourself Leo," she said and he shrugged.
"Never had to, but if it's a pillow fight you want… then, you know, I might have to oblige," he said as he lunged forward and attempted to grab the pillow from her, missing entirely and accidentally grabbing her side, she swung the pillow around and caught his head with it again and he laughed as he scrambled to his feet before tumbling onto the bed with her still hitting him with the pillow at every possible opportunity.
They were both giggling as he tried to catch her wrist to stop the repeated onslaught of pillow hitting him in the face.
"Come on… I… oh come on!" he cried as she hit him again. He finally caught her wrists and held them gently but firmly enough so she couldn't hit him with the pillow again and she dropped it.
"Ha, I win," he grinned and she flounced back onto the bed, laying on her back beside him.
She realised just how much she wanted him to stay in her bed at that moment.
"Emily?" Carol's voice called through the closed door.
"Yeah?" she responded to her mother.
"Your father said no boys in your bed, especially not Kirk ones," laughed Carol and Leo smirked to himself.
"She pushed me. Mrs McCoy," he defended and Emily hit his arm playfully.
"Did not."
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"You hit me with a pillow!" he protested.
"Emily, honey, can you keep your door open? It isn't that we don't trust you, it's just that… well… he's Jim's son, and if he's anything like Jim then…"
Emily muttered something that sounded like 'for fucks sake' and stood up, crossing the room to hit the button to slide open the door.
"There, happy? We aren't doing anything. We're just two friends hanging out. You don't make David keep his door open when Chris comes over," she sulked.
"That's different sweetie. Like I said, Dr grumps is getting all fussy about it," Carol smiled and Emily shrugged, leaving the door open and walking back over to the bed and sitting on the edge beside Leo who was still laying diagonally across the bed on his back.
"Are you sweating?" she asked as she noticed his hair was slightly damp around his forehead.
"Hmm? No. I uh… no," he said quickly, pushing her hand away as she pressed her palm to his forehead.
"You're burning up!"
"No… honestly. I'm normally this temperature. Vulcan blood remember?" he said and she narrowed her eyes.
"You're a bad liar," she said and he shrugged.
"I'm not lying."
"Yes you are."
"Well yes I am, on the bed," he smirked and she sighed and rolled her eyes at his terrible joke.
"Seeing as we aren't allowed to hangout up here because my Dad has gone completely paranoid, should we go put that movie on? I'll make the popcorn," she offered and he sat up, pushing his hair up and messing it and then nodding.
He looked… uncomfortable.
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked and he nodded quickly.
"OK. Movie time," she said, leading the way downstairs.
In the time it took her to make the popcorn and return to where she left Leo on the couch he was shivering and unable to hide it.
"Maybe you have the flu or something?" she suggested as she handed him a blanket.
"Yeah maybe," he said as he covered himself with it.
"I could get my Dad to-"
"No really. I'm fine, it's getting kinda late and I don't want to bother him. Let's just watch the movie. Which part was it you're going for again?" he asked and she smiled. The first thing she smiled about was the fact he said they were 'watching' the movie, when really he was only listening to it, and the fact that he was actually taking an interest made her smile too.
"Audrey, the main girl. I'll tell you when it's her," she said as she set up the movie to play.
"And it was this week you have your audition?" he asked and she made a 'mhm' sound in the affirmative as she chewed on a mouthful of popcorn.
"I bet you'll get it," he said and she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah yeah, you're just saying that."
"No really. I have a good feeling about it."
"Well I have a good feeling about your sight treatment working. When you can see we'll have to go travelling, with David and Christopher too, go and see the world and then go and see some other worlds," she said and he nodded.
"I'd like that," he said with an unconvincing fake smile that she didn't notice as she was watching the opening scene of the movie. The throbbing in his head was unbearable and he was losing control over his ability to hide it.
"Ok this is her," she pointed out as her chosen character began to sing.
Leo nodded, doing his best to still appear interested. He smiled as Emily sang along quietly beside him on the couch, subtly moving slightly closer to try and share some of her body warmth.
"You cold?" she asked as she noticed.
"Freezing," he admitted and she got up momentarily to turn up the room temperature.
She sat down so close to him that their thighs were pressed together, joining him under the blanket. Under any other circumstances he would have been panicking about her being so close to him, but it was mere minutes before he fell asleep, his head lolling onto her shoulder being the first she knew of it.
Initially Emily froze; unsure as to if she should wake him up or let him stay there. Finally ready to admit she was experiencing a huge crush on her childhood friend, she relaxed back into the couch slightly, pulling the blanket higher as she felt him shivering again.
It was around half an hour before he stirred, almost as if he had woken up but didn't want to move. She reached up one hand to gently stroke his hair and he sighed contentedly, shifting to lay on his side with his head in her lap.
"If my Dad catches you with your head in my lap like that he's going to skin you alive," she giggled and he sighed sleepily.
"I can't see where my head is, so I'll play dumb," he mumbled.
"You'll risk the wrath of Leonard McCoy over using my leg as a pillow?"
"Anytime," he mumbled as he began to drift back off to sleep.
Emily smiled to herself as she continued to watch the movie alone, Leo fast asleep with his head still in her lap. She must have fallen asleep herself because the next thing she knew someone was gently shaking her shoulder and the warmth of Leo's head in her lap was gone.
"Hey, sorry for waking you, but I should probably go home seeing as it's like three in the morning," Leo whispered. She blinked sleepily. The lights had all gone off as well as the movie and the room was dark.
"S'three in the mornin'?" she whispered, still half asleep.
"Yeah. I guess we were both really tired," he whispered back. There was a moment of silence between them.
"You should stay, we should just stay here," she sighed, stretching her arms out slightly.
"I can't, I shouldn't," he whispered and she nodded.
"I know. But my Dad is working tomorrow and I could sneak you out in the morning?" she offered.
"I… it'd be wrong of me."
"But how will you get home now?" she asked.
"Walk. I have legs."
"But it's dark!" she hissed and he chuckled.
"It's always dark."
"Smartass. Just… stay?"
He was silent for a few long moments.
"Can I have an extra blanket?" he asked and she smiled.
"My bed is much warmer than down here."
"You… want me to… sleep in your bed? But then where will you sleep?" he asked and she sighed before chuckling to herself.
"You're so clueless it's adorable."
I can't.
Jim held his breath and gripped the bedsheets with so much force he was convinced he was going to rip them.
You can and you will.
He gasped as Spock's teeth sunk into his neck as he slammed into him once again, his hand stroking his length at a desperate pace.
I can't!
Jim whimpered. It was almost too much. Spock inside of him again, both physically and mentally, mind-numbing pleasure ripping through every molecule of his being as he tried to focus on maintaining any kind of control.
"I… Spock, fuck," Jim gasped as Spock increased his pace, each and every thrust hitting exactly the right spot, making him see stars when he closed his eyes.
He was trying to keep his eyes open though, to see the determination, the pure possessiveness on Spock's face. The dark eyes so much darker than usual, hair mussed, Vulcan control entirely gone to shit as he gave himself over to Jim in a way he hadn't done in a long time, their bond fully open and causing them both to feel slightly lightheaded as they lost themselves in each other.
"Come," Spock ordered and Jim could have sobbed as his third orgasm in as many hours tore through him, the peak of the pleasure so high it was difficult to distinguish from pain.
Gasping for breath he did his best to keep his legs wrapped around Spock's waist as he thrust twice more before hitting his own release, burying himself to the hilt and holding still as he bit his lip to stop the moans from escaping. Jim loved him in that moment. All control gone, bar that one little attempt at keeping quiet.
"God… I am getting way too old to go that many times in one go," Jim panted as Spock carefully pulled out. The human winced slightly and the Vulcan caressed his arm apologetically.
"Are you injured?" Spock asked as he lay beside Jim.
Not injured, but I'm pretty sure I'll be limping in the morning Jim sent back through the bond, too tired to even use his voice.
"It has been, regrettably, a long time since our last encounter of this nature," Spock said and Jim chuckled, shifting closer to him and wrapping him in his arms.
"I know. Been so long I almost forgot what it even felt like. Totally worth the wait though," he smiled and the Vulcan placed a kiss on his forehead.
They both lay in silence, listening to each other breathe as they both allowed their bodies to return to normal.
"Did you hear Leo come home?" Jim asked suddenly and Spock took a moment to try and remember.
"I did not notice anyone enter the house," he said and Jim slipped from his arms and snatched up his boxers from the floor, no doubt going to check.
He returned a minute later.
"Dirty little stop-out isn't here," Jim sighed as he crawled back into bed, re-settling in Spock's arms.
"It is logical to assume he is with Emily McCoy. Perhaps she is offering him comfort," Spock suggested and Jim shook his head.
"Bones told me Emily doesn't know about his illness. He goes over there and tires himself out pretending to be fine, she's oblivious to it all so he must be a damn good actor."
"He managed to convince his own twin that he is fine," Spock pointed out.
"True," Jim agreed, fingertips starting to trace small circles on Spock's side as he closed his eyes.
"I find it odd that he'd stay over there this late though," Jim thought aloud.
"As I previously stated. Perhaps she is offering him… comfort."
Jim finally caught on.
"Oh. Oh. Uh... maybe. Do you think that's what they're doing?"
"Their time together has increased by approximately seventy-four percent. I have become aware of a large amount of giggling, flirtatious comments, jokes containing poorly-concealed innuendo and occasionally play fighting whenever she visits him here. A logical conclusion based on this behaviour alone would be that they have formed a romantic attachment," Spock said and Jim frowned.
"I feel like he'd tell me. Especially if it was with Emily, he's wanted her for years… I think she's the only person he's ever wanted."
"Perhaps," Spock said sleepily and Jim kissed his neck softly.
"I'll ask him tomorrow, and talk to him about being… careful, I guess. I don't think Bones would take too kindly to it if he knocked up his little girl."
Spock chuckled slightly.
"I am certain the Doctor's reaction would be highly entertaining."
"Yeah, until he hypo's someone in the eyeball! I mean, I'm sure Leo knows about all of this stuff, but he's never asked me about it."
"You worry entirely too much, T'hy'la," Spock mumbled as he began to fall asleep.
"Probably. Just… feels weird. Our babies are all grown up now," Jim whispered as he closed his eyes and tried to force himself to stop wondering if his youngest son had just left behind the last of his childhood innocence in Emily McCoy's bed.
Please review if you feel that way inclined ;)
Coming up next chapter: Christopher coming back to San Francisco with a bit of a bang, David McCoy making an alarming personal realisation and Leo taking a big step.
