A/N

Hi, happy Hallowe'en! Hope everyone has had fun today/tonight :)

Little thing I just have to say because it'll bug me otherwise... I'm not ranting so I apologise if it seems that way, but I need to say something. I've had some more negative-ish reviews (which is fine, you can be negative if you like)about how it's taking me longer to update lately... saying like "WHY haven't you updated yet, it takes you forever, I want more NOW (normally right after I post an update, haha), etc etc".

Now I'd love to be able to update every day, I really would, it would make me so happy to be able to do that. Unfortunately, I also have a real life outside of writing this story, a full time job, a family, a partner, hobbies, evening classes, a social life (lol good joke...) lots of things. My life is really busy, and I'm honestly really struggling to write at all at the moment. Things will settle back down again i'm sure, but for now, all I ask is please be patient and please don't make me feel bad when I can't update right away? Pretty please? :) I'll update once a week minimum, but most weeks it'll be more, and if it ever goes over a week, please do PM me and yell at me, slap me in the face, whatever floats your boat.

I promise I won't leave you, and this won't be one of those stories that never gets finished, because I already have the end two chapters written and I'm sure as shit not wasting them because they're epic! ;)

Thanks all, sorry if that sounded ranty, just needed to be said. Hope you enjoy... and more to come soon (should be in a few days this time as the weekend is coming up xD )

Sorry for typo's/silly errors, will proof read in the morning, just wanted to get this posted tonight!

Also, warning for this chapter for self-harm I guess. It isn't graphic or sustained or even particularly deliberate, but feel I should warn anyway.


Chapter Twelve

Montgomery Scott roared with laughter as he opened the door of his house.

Before him stood the Kirk twins, dressed as none-other than their fathers.

"Evenin' Cap'n, Commander," he sniggered. 'Spock' nodded curtly with his hands clasped neatly behind his back and 'Jim' raised his hand for a high-five.

"Scotty! Nice costume! Now direct me to your liquor, and that's an order," smirked Chris, straightening his gold shirt that was too tight across the shoulders. Scotty noticed his usually dark eyes had been disguised with vibrant blue contact lenses, and if it weren't for the pointed ears, he'd have been a dead ringer for his father.

"Aye Sir! Right this way," he laughed, pointing him towards the kitchen. Leo lingered in the doorway and Scotty clapped him on the science blue-clad shoulder.

"You guys look hilarious, nice job."

"Thanks Scotty. Originally I was meant to be Jim, but I got bullied into a last minute switch, not sure how I feel about hair dye… but I've been promised it'll wash out," Leo said, fiddling with the sleeves of the blue science jersey he was wearing. His hair had been dyed black and was pressed flat to his head. It was nothing like Spock's blunt style, but similar enough to make the costume obvious who he was dressed as.

"So where'd you get the shirts?" he asked and Leo smirked.

"Chris stole them from their closet this morning. Can't wait for their reaction when they see us, should be brilliant," he said unenthusiastically. He looked tired and miserable, and his hands were shaking slightly.

Scotty wanted to ask what was wrong, but he knew better. Jim had been quiet and subdued the last time he had seen him, and Scotty had a feeling his youngest son had something to do with this.

"Yeah, I'm sure Spock'll love it," he smirked and Leo nodded.

"I need to try and stay in character, that's going to be the hardest part."

"Don' worry about it, I'm sure once everyone's had a few nobody'll notice if you slip up. Now c'mon in and let's get you sometin' t'drink."

Leo placed his hand on Scotty's shoulder and allowed him to lead him through the noisy living room and into the kitchen here his twin thrust a plastic cup into his hand.

"Down in one," he ordered and Leo shook his head.

"No, I'm not drinking alcohol, not tonight," he said and Chris groaned loudly.

"Oh come! Live a little, all you need to do is- holy shit," Chris stopped talking and cursed under his breath as the door opened again and Emily, David and Joanna entered from the living area, the three of them dressed as zombies.

David immediately looked at the floor, doing anything in his power to avoid looking at Christopher who also looked away, though he looked anywhere than at the floor, he was staring right at Emily and at what she was wearing.

"Zombie cheerleader? Bit unimaginative, don't you think?" he asked and she shrugged.

"Least I'm not dressed as my dad," she smirked as she looked him up and down before draping herself all over Leo in a way that told Chris just how much she'd already had to drink.

"Evening Commander," she purred into his ear and he swallowed hard, willing himself to stay in control of his body and keep at least some of his blood in his brain to allow him to retain the power of speech.

"H-hi Emily," he managed out, shifting awkwardly as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and leant in to kiss him.

Christopher made a loud gagging noise and Joanna frowned.

"Oh grow up!"

"I am grown up, it's just gross!"

"In what possible way is it gross?"

"Because it's my baby brother! And he's got a half-naked zombie girl draped all over him," he frowned at Emily's costume. It left very little to the imagination, with a short skirt and barely-there crop-top.

"Hey! I am not half naked!" she protested and Chris snorted.

"Yes you are. You look like a slut."

Christopher stumbled forwards and almost lost his balance as his twin pushed him with all his strength.

David pointedly left the room. Scotty watched the situation unfold nervously, wondering if he'd have to call Spock to separate them if they started to fight.

"Apologise," Leo said coolly and his twin stepped forwards, squaring up to him.

Emily dived in between, one hand on each of their chests keeping them apart.

"Both of you calm down, okay? Chris, fuck you," she spat, turning her back on him and leaning in to hug Leo who continued to glare in the direction of his brother over her shoulder.

"What? What are you gonna do? Huh?" he asked with a smirk curling on his lips.

"Nothing. But you need to apologise to Emily, that's not a nice thing to say, and if anyone is a slut here it's you," he pointed out and green blush began to creep into Christopher's cheeks.

"Sorry Emily," he said quickly, taking a large gulp of his drink.

She shrugged and gave him a dirty look.

"Alright, gents, shake hands, no fightin'," Scotty said, finally coming to his senses and trying to mediate the situation.

You're an asshole Leo growled mentally to his twin as they reluctantly shook hands.

You should see what she's wearing and you'd agree with what I said, she looks a mess.

Chris left the room, going back into the living area with a drink in each hand.

Scotty also made himself scarce, mumbling something about Jim and Bones arriving soon and needing to fix his costume. He was dressed as count Dracula, with pale face make-up and a long black cloak.

Joanna smirked as she stood in the kitchen with Emily and Leo.

"I feel like a third wheel," she said as she poured herself another drink. She intended on getting as wasted as possible, hoping to forget what she'd learned about the younger Kirk twin a few days prior. Whenever she looked at him she could see it, the way he was starting to waste away, his pale skin, sunken eyes. He looked terrible now that she knew the truth.

"No, don't be silly Jo, you aren't a third wheel, you can stay and hangout with us," he said sincerely as Emily stood beside him mouthed to her sister 'don't listen to him'.

"I'm going to talk to David, I'll be right back," she said as she picked up her drink and left the room.

There were already quite a few people at the house. Scotty's party was an annual occurrence, and his house was suited perfectly for it with two large reception rooms and a spacious kitchen leading into a dining room, there was plenty of space for people to spread out. Their group was the youngest there, as most of the guests were people Scotty had known from the academy or during his days out on the Enterprise. He'd stayed one mission longer than Jim had, a two year stretch, before returning to Nyota and their young daughter.

Joanna had always found Scotty and Nyota's relationship odd. They were married, it had been a tiny ceremony with only a handful of guests, but each had their own house as they preferred it that way and could easily afford it, and they alternated spending time at each-other's home, they went on missions apart, splitting the care of their daughter and then cherishing the time that they did spend together. They were two independent people who behaved more like a couple who were casually dating than a couple who had been married for over a decade.

Emily stumbled slightly as she took a step closer to Leo and then burst into uncontrollable giggles.

"You're drunk," he pointed out and she shook her head.

"No, no."

"Yeah, sure you are, I can smell it. Come on, I'll take you home and you can sleep it off or somethi-"

Emily cut him off by crashing her lips to his in a sloppy kiss. He pulled away.

"Ok, you're definitely drunk young lady," he said with a small sigh and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"We should get out of here, both my parents are out… my house is empty… nobody around to disturb us, we can do whatever we want," she mumbled suggestively, pressing her body against his. He froze for a second before pulling away.

"You're really drunk, come on Em, I'm not going to do anything with you when you're drunk."

"You're such a gentleman," she giggled and he nodded.

"Yeah. Maybe. Is your dad coming? Maybe he can give you a hypo to sober you up?"

"Yeah he's coming with Jim, should be here soon," she said, leaning back against the countertop and pulling at her short skirt. Maybe she was dressed a little too provocatively; especially considering Leo couldn't even see her to appreciate the effort she'd gone to.

They were both distracted by loud laughter from the doorway and Emily turned to find her father and Jim standing there.

"Oh Leo you look awesome! This is fucking hilarious!" Jim laughed as Bones continued to shake with laughter beside him.

Leo immediately dropped into character, straightening his spine and stiffening his limbs, hands clasping behind his back.

Jim laughed harder and Emily pressed drinks into his and her father's hands. They both already looked well on their way to being drunk.

Jim was dressed as a pirate, but Emily was quick to notice her father hadn't bothered with the compulsory fancy dress and was still in his medical uniform.

"Hey! How did you get in without a costume?"

"I'm myself, aint that scary enough?" he said with a raised eyebrow and she shook her head.

"You better not be plannin' on wearin' that the rest of the night! Go put some clothes on," he ordered and Jim laughed.

"Oh Bones don't worry it's Halloween! Everyone gets a little crazy and…- hey that had better be non-alcoholic young man!" Jim scolded as he spotted Leo sipping from a cup.

"I hope so, I have no fucking idea what it is," he mumbled.

"Here buddy, let me see," Jim took the cup and sipped it before pulling a face.

"No there's something in that. Here I'll get you a fresh one," he said, busying himself with raiding Scotty's fridge in the hunt for something non-alcoholic to drink.

Leo settled with water.

His head was throbbing and he felt sick and shivery. He'd spent the better part of two days in bed following the chemo, and when he'd crawled back out of bed Emily had been pissed off at him for vanishing for two days. He'd struggled to find an excuse, so hadn't really explained his absence, and they hadn't spoken too much since.

He knew the day was fast approaching when he'd have to be honest with her, but he wasn't ready to tell her, he didn't want to scare her off when things had been going so well between them.

The evening passed in a blur of drunken antics, laughter and bad dancing.

Everyone had got very drunk very quickly, and Leo found himself more and more uncomfortable and wishing for his bed. Emily was behaving in a way entirely out of character for her, being incredibly flirtatious and insistent, Jim was too drunk to function correctly and was dancing like a moron, Scotty egging him on and joining in in equal measure. The only comfort Leo had was the tiny flickering of white across the centre of his vision when he turned his head a particular way.

"Hey Bonesy?" he asked of the tipsy Doctor who had stayed stood beside him as Emily had run off to sing Karaoke with Jim.

"Hmm?"

"What's that, right there?" Leo asked, squinting and pointing directly at the object.

Leonard followed his young namesakes gaze and grinned, clapping him on the shoulder.

"That's a light buddy, congrats."

"Oh wow really? So I'm not imagining that?"

"Oh no. That's it for sure. Here," he waved his hand between the light and Leo's face, interrupting the light and making Leo blink rapidly.

"What's doing that?"

"My hand. I'm putting it in front of the light to prove you're really seeing it. Hey Jim!" he called.

Jim was giggling with Emily as they tried to pick a song to sing, rifling through the twentieth century folder.

Bones rolled his eyes. He, Jim and Emily had laughed hard at the bullshit story that had been published claiming Jim and Emily were an item, but Leonard understood the basis of it. Jim Kirk was a flirt, plain and simple. He'd giggle a lot and touch people in a friendly way that would suggest flirting to the untrained eye that didn't know he was exactly the same with everyone, and even with the doctor himself when he'd had a few to drink.

"KIRK GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!" he roared and the whole room fell silent for a second. Jim hiccupped loudly and laughter broke out.

"Yes dear?" he slurred, stumbling towards the doctor, taking another swig from his glass.

"Leo. I'm going to put my hand in front of the light again, you tell me when it flickers okay?" he said and Leo nodded.

Bones slowly moved his hand in front of the light.

"Okay, uh… now. You're blocking it."

He moved his hand away.

"And it's back again. Hey, this is pretty cool," he grinned and Jim's eyes widened.

"Oh god, m'gonna cry," he blurted out as he threw himself at his son, grabbing him in a bear hug so powerful it almost sent the two men tumbling onto the floor.

"Oh jeez," Bones rolled his eyes at his wasted friend.

"Hey Jim? Jim! Earth to Jimbo, pull yourself together man!" he said, shaking him roughly by the shoulder as he rambled to his son.

"-And I'm so proud of you, and I –hic- I always knew one day we'd find a way, and I… we're gonna… we'll go and… s-see the stars like I've always wanted to show you-"

Leo nodded and patted his father on the back, gently trying to pry him away so he could escape him until he sobered back up.

"He's trashed Bones, I think he needs Spock and sleep," Leo said and the doctor sighed.

"I'm inclined to agree with your diagnosis. Dammit Jim, you handle your liquor like a seventeen year-old academy freshman," he grumbled as he pried him off his son who was quickly grabbed by Emily McCoy.

"Do you know Don't Stop Believing by Journey?" she asked and he pulled a face.

"Urgh. Unfortunately. Most overplayed song of all time."

"But do you know the words? And the tune?"

He shrugged.

"I know enough. Why?"

"Ok! Scotty I don't forfeit! I found a substitute for Jim!" she cried, grabbing Leo's hand and raising it above his head. He felt his face flushing hot as she dragged him forwards, stumbling with each step. He'd lost his bearings of where he was in the room and didn't know where the walls or door were.

"Emily, I don't want to. I want to go home," he protested and she shook her head.

"Nuh uh. You want t'stay," she slurred and he sighed.

"I'm not singing with you, I'll make an idiot of myself," he argued and she whined loudly.

"Leo, please? I just want to sing with someone, and otherwise I'll lose to Scotty and I don't want that to happen," she pleaded and he took a deep breath.

"Fine."


David smirked as the woman wrote her comm. frequency on his arm. She was older than him by around ten years, and he had a feeling he'd seen her before, maybe around Starfleet HQ.

Still, she'd make a great change in the bedroom from part Vulcan males.

He downed another shot, glancing around the room.

Joanna was nowhere to be seen, she'd probably stumbled her way back to the kitchen for more drinks. Between the two of them they were really getting through a lot and she'd been oddly quiet all night. Seren hadn't shown up at all and he wondered if that had anything to do with how quiet his sister was being.

He straightened his clothes and glanced at his face in a reflective surface, possibly the front of a cabinet on the wall, but he was entirely too drunk to know or care. The zombie makeup was staying well, and he decided he still looked acceptable.

He glimpsed fake Jim entering the room and picked up the last shot he had left and quickly vacated. The only place he had left to go to avoid him was the garden, so he snuck out of the side door of the house, planning on getting some air for a few minutes and hoping that Chris would leave him alone. The cool night air rushing up to greet him seemed to clear his mind of all but one thing.

Chris.

Christopher George Kirk.

Try as he might, David couldn't get his head around what they had done.

He couldn't even look at Chris, much less actually talk to him. It was entirely too awkward. Whenever he looked at him all he could think about was his face covered in a thin sheen of sweat, hair a mess, mouth hanging open in some kind of cry of pleasure, eyes dangerously dark, clouded with lust and passion and need.

T'hy'la.

David downed his shot, vodka this time and he pulled a face. He must have got them mixed up. Jo drank vodka, he didn't.

He set the small empty glass down on the handrail surrounding the porch and wandered a few steps away from the door, glancing up at the sky. It was overcast, and the light pollution from the city was staining the clouds with a pungent orange hue. He longed to take a long drive out into the middle of nowhere, to see the stars clearly again, like he used to when he lived on the ship out amongst them.

David had always hated being the youngest of the group. The others had more memories of life on the ship than he did, and were closer in age to Joanna, who he considered not only his sister but one of his best friends. He was very close with his older half-sister, much closer than with Emily. They just… clicked, whereas he and Emily seemed to constantly bicker and deliberately annoy each other.

"Shame it's cloudy."

David jumped at the voice close behind him and then glared back.

"I came out here because I wanted to be alone."

He was silent for a few moments.

"You're never alone. Not anymore. I can hear everything you think since you don't shield anything, I know everything you do, and you should have the same for me, but you don't because you block it all and I don't think you even know you're doing it. You remember it? Kashkau, wuhkuh eh teretuhr. Estuhn wi ri estuhn; k'wuhli wi ri k'wuhli. Our minds, one and together, touching yet not touching, apart yet never apart. That's what it means, in standard," Chris explained and David frowned.

"I never even knew you bothered to learn to speak Vulcan, thought you were just babblin' gibberish, out of your mind."

"Of course I speak Vulcan."

"Well," David shrugged. "I don't know. Anyway, I'm going back inside and-"he stopped speaking as Christopher grabbed him by the shoulder, firmly but not aggressively.

"Can we talk?" Chris asked and David shook his head.

"No, Christopher I don't think that's a good-"

The hand on his shoulder tightened possessively.

"Don't walk away from me David," he growled and David ripped his shoulder from the part-Vulcan's grip, squaring up to the larger man.

"You stay the fuck away from me," he hissed, beginning to walk away.

David winced and cried out as a sharp pain coursed through his head, stopping him in his tracks.

He stared at Christopher who was quick to elaborate.

"You feel that? That's what I've been feeling since you left my apartment. New bonds require close physical proximity to settle down, and since you've avoided me like some kind of plague since that day, I've been getting one hell of a headache through the bond, and taking all of it on myself so you don't have to deal with it."

"I miss the part where that's my problem," David muttered and Chris took a step towards him.

"David. Look. As hard as this may be for you to believe, I… well… I have feelings for you. I want to work this out, and for us to be together-"

"Would you just shut up? And maybe let me explain my side of all this?" David demanded, shoving Chris in the chest though he didn't so much as flinch. He gave a short nod and David ran his hands through his hair, frustrated and anxious to get away from his bondmate as soon as possible.

"I thought I made this clear. I only did what I did to save your life, and I didn't just do it for you either. I did it for Jim and Spock, because I wasn't going to let their son die if I could do something to stop it. I don't feel any kind of romantic attraction to you, and I'd like to say you're still my best friend but if you keep actin' like this I don't think that'll be the truth. You need to get it through your thick skull Chris, we're not the new Jim and Spock, ok? We aren't going to be that couple. We aren't going to be any couple. I'm sorry if I'm breakin' your sad little emotionally-stunted heart here, but it's the truth. Get over it," he said and Christopher visibly flinched before straightening his stance and pulling himself together quickly.

"I'll talk to Spock about getting a transport to New Vulcan as soon as we can," he said shortly and David nodded.

Chris was doing his best to look like he wasn't bothered, but his drunken state had left his controls weakened and he was giving himself away.

Realising he'd quite obviously just broken the other's heart at least a little bit, David reached out to touch his shoulder. Chris jumped back from the contact as if he'd been burned.

"Don't. Don't touch me. Stay the fuck away from me," he growled, shoving David backwards hard enough that he hit the wall behind him with dizzying force, sliding down it and ending up in a heap on Scotty's porch.

"Chris! Wait!" David tried as he watched the part-Vulcan storming away across the yard.

He didn't turn around and David just stared after him, feeling sick guilt bubbling up inside of him at the hurt he'd obviously caused and the strangest sense that he disagreed with some of the things he'd just said.


Spock heard a glass shatter in the kitchen and a low curse. He allowed a few moments before getting out of bed and pulling on a black robe that he usually wore for meditation before making his way downstairs.

"Jim what are you-"

Spock froze as he realized the gold-clad figure with his back to him was most certainly not his husband, the droplets of green blood spattering the kitchen floor and the pointed ears giving it away instantly.

"He doesn't want me," Christopher mumbled pathetically as he looked at his hand.

He'd squeezed the glass that had been holding his drink until it had failed, driving the shards into his flesh as he hadn't released his grip.

"My son, you are not thinking clearly, you are under the influence of-"

"HE DOESN'T WANT ME! WHY DOESN'T HE WANT ME?!" he roared, throwing the remaining pieces of glass at the wall opposite him, flicking more blood from his torn hand at the same time.

Spock crossed the room in two graceful strides and swept his son into his arms, forcibly lowering the young man's arms to his sides as they began to thrash against him.

"Be calm," he said gently and Chris turned in his arms, doing the last thing he expected and wrapping his arms around him in an incredibly needy hug, beginning to sob into his shoulder.

Spock used the fact he was distracted to raise the bloodstained hand to his face and get a look at it. There were several deep cuts, one looking like it still had glass in it, and the bleeding was considerable.

"I… I don't understand, I thought that we'd… b-bond and that'd be it, that he'd see how I f-feel about… I… He's T'hy'la, but he doesn't want me. What do you do, if your other half doesn't fit? If the pieces don't match up?" he asked as Spock collected a clean cloth from the drawer and carefully wrapped his sons hand until he was able to get him proper medical attention. Dealing with his emotional state seemed much more important as he had never seen him so distressed.

"I do not know," Spock said honestly, raising Chris' hand so it was higher than his heart to slow the bleeding.

For a few minutes all that escaped the young man was incoherent drunken mumbling and crying of varying degrees of hysteria, his father just holding him in his arms, patiently waiting for him to start talking sense again.

"He fucking hates me. He hates me so much. He looks at me like I'm lower than him… and maybe I am… I've been living this… stupid rebellion for so long… and I don't even know. I don't hate you, sure I was mad at you, but now you're back and I don't hate you. It used to all be about getting a reaction, but now I don't even know what I want," he sighed, getting himself slightly more under control.

"I am certain that David does not hate you. I believe he is highly conflicted in his emotions. The relationship you share has undergone a dramatic shift, he needs time to come to terms with it," Spock explained calmly and Christopher sniffled.

"Your bond is causing you pain, as it has not yet settled," Spock stated. He could sense the pain emanating from his son, the waves of it rolling off him. He had a similar sensation when he was in close enough proximity to Leo, though that pain was different, that was a dull physical ache. Christopher's pain was purely emotional, and felt almost like a hand pressed to a hot stove and unable to peel itself away no matter how much it hurt.

"Feel like my head is going to explode," he said weakly and Spock nodded.

"I will attempt to teach you to block this sensation, in addition to educating you in correct meditation techniques. We will begin tomorrow once you awaken," he said and Chris looked down at the floor, sniffling again as a few new tears spilled onto his face.

"What's wrong with Leo, Sa-mekh? He's had me shut out of his head for almost two months… we used to be so close, and now he… he won't… he hides everything… where our minds were connected now it's just emptiness and I… don't… d-don't understand," he stumbled over his words as the large glass of whiskey he'd thrown back before breaking the glass began to hit him.

Spock slowly helped him to the couch in the living area and sat him down. The last time Christopher had called him 'Sa-mekh' he'd been only seven years old, and hearing it again, hearing it from his son as an adult in such a state of emotional distress stirred a deep protective, parental instinct within him.

"You are not speaking sense, you are highly intoxicated," Spock said calmly as he reached for his communicator.

"I'm not so drunk that I don't see the way you reacted to that question," Chris said much more clearly and Spock froze momentarily, meeting his son's eyes. They were glassy and out of focus, but the intent to know the truth was there.

Green blood seeped through the cloth and ran down slowly Christopher's forearm, staining the tri-banded sleeves of the borrowed shirt.

Spock did not answer his question, but sat beside his son and held him until he fell asleep, his head lolling onto his shoulder, Spock still supporting his injured hand to keep him from damaging it further.

He was able to comm. Seren who snuck downstairs to take a look at his injury and grimaced as Spock carefully peeled back the cloth.

"It'll keep for a few hours, let him sleep off the drink first," she said quietly as she looked over the wound.

"He asked me directly about Leo. I do not know how much longer I can avoid his questions," Spock said, eyes meeting Seren's before she quickly looked away.

"If he asks me directly I will not be able to leave him without an answer," she said and Spock nodded once.

"Are you going to move him?" she asked and he glanced down at his son sleeping face on his shoulder.

"Eventually. This is the closest I have been to Christopher in a long time," he said, not needing to elaborate.

He was enjoying the contact, far too much to let him go just yet.

Seren said nothing and sat on Spock's other side, resting her head on his other shoulder. He was initially taken aback by the display of affection but relaxed quickly, allowing his own head to droop until his cheek rested on the top of her head.

He sat in silence with his two children sleeping either side of him, wide awake and wondering about so many things simultaneously that it made his head spin.


"Come on Count Drunkula, lets get you to bed," Bones ordered as he dragged Scotty up the stairs of his own home.

"M'goin' m'goin," he mumbled as he held the wall for balance.

The sun was beginning to rise and the party had only just ended.

Leo and Emily were asleep on the couch in Scotty's den, usually off limits to party-goers, but he'd made an exception. Passed out on the floor near to them was Jim, sprawled on his stomach and snoring slightly as he often did when he'd been drinking heavily.

Bones would scrape him off the floor and hypo him up to his eyeballs in stimulants and hangover cure and he'd make a speedy recovery.

The doctor had found himself ending the night exhausted, sober and frustrated.

Jim had been pretty much uselessly drunk all night. Emily was far too drunk for his liking, and dressed in a way he really needed to talk to her about. David and Joanna had also been drinking heavily, David having snuck off at one point before returning, holding himself slightly differently, moving gingerly as if he had hurt himself. He hadn't had the chance to ask before he'd vanished again, this time taking Jo with him.

Assuming they'd gone home, Bones had resumed his babysitting duties. Leo looked like shit, but everyone was too drunk to notice, and Bones had managed to discreetly get Scotty to let him take a nap on the couch in a quiet room, which turned into Emily curling up beside him and the two of them falling asleep together.

Bones sighed and crossed his arms over his chest as the drunken Scotsman managed to crawl into his bed, still in his full costume.

"G'night," he managed to mumble.

"Drunken moron," Bones muttered as he left the room, heading for Jim.

"Kirk, get your ass up, I'm takin' you home to your wife," he said, grabbing Jim by the shoulders and shaking him. Jim groaned loudly and kicked at his friend feebly as he was dragged to his feet.

"Idon'wanna," he slurred.

"Infant," the doctor grumbled as he dragged him to the car, dumping him in the passenger seat before going back in for Emily and Leo. He woke them up more nicely, but still rushed them a little, not wanting to leave Jim unattended too long.

Everyone was silent as Bones drove to Jim and Spock's house first.

He pointedly cleared his throat as Emily and Leo had a sloppy goodbye kiss in the back seat of his car.

"You keep that tongue in your own mouth young man," he grunted and Leo started giggling, breaking the kiss with Emily who glared at her Dad in the mirror. Jim just smirked like an idiot in the passenger seat.

"I'll see you later," Leo mumbled to Emily as he stumbled out of the car, reaching for Jim who swayed as he gripped his son's arm.

"Good god, it's the drunk leading the blind! Get over here before you make a mess," Bones ordered and Jim giggled feebly as he stumbled towards his friend, leading Leo behind him.

Not caring how early it was, Bones rang the doorbell and waited a few seconds before Spock appeared.

"Morning, I think these belong to you. This one's trashed," he grabbed Jim's wrist and raised his hand for him "and this one isn't, but he's about five seconds from being murdered if he keeps frenching my daughter in front of me," he said as he poked Leo firmly in the ribs who squirmed away from the contact.

"'Frenching', Doctor?" Spock asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"I'm sure Jim'll be pleased to explain when he sobers up," Bones said, handing Jim's hand over to Spock who took it carefully.

"Thank you for bringing me home Bones," Jim said slowly and carefully.

"You're welcome Jim. Call me when you wake up all hungover and I'll come laugh at you," he said with a small chuckle as Jim nodded mindlessly, smiling vacantly to himself as his eyes went out of focus again.

"Wait… am I dressed –hic- like a pirate?" Jim asked as he glanced down at himself.

"You are," Spock said.

"Why?" Jim asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It's Halloween Jim, dumb shit happens," Bones said and Jim giggled, lunging at Leo.

"He's a Spock."

"Yeah, but before you start molesting me, please remember I'm not the real Spock," Leo said and Bones laughed at his drunken friend one more time before beginning to retreat down the driveway.

"Good luck Spock, he's about the same level of drunk as his bachelor party!"

Spock raised both eyebrows and started trying to coax Jim into the house, knowing that he needed to sleep as he'd be feeling very sorry for himself when he woke up.


"Well, fuck," David mumbled.

Silent tears rolled down his half-sisters face.

"Is it… terminal?"

She shook her head slightly.

"He's fighting it, done with chemo and surgery coming up any time now."

David fell silent, opening and closing his mouth a few times as he tried to verbalise what was going through his mind.

"Fuck," he whispered.

"Yeah, pretty much," Joanna mumbled, wiping away a few tears with the back of her hand.

"How in the hell has he managed to stay acting so normal? I mean I know he's skinny, but damn, he puts on a good act."

Joanna shook her head.

"Seren told me that when he gets home he just crashes out. He saves up all of his energy for times when he knows he's going to be around people, and the rest of the time just sleeps."

David swallowed. His throat was dry. His ribs were throbbing, the pain getting worse as he sobered up. He was pretty certain Christopher had fractured one or two when he'd thrown him into the wall of Scotty's house. But he didn't care.

"Surely he's gotta be… in pain, right?"

Joanna nodded.

"Oh yeah, he's in a hell of a lot of pain. He's injecting himself with stuff to control it, and meditating, but yeah, Ser said he's going to be feeling it regardless," she said, pushing her damp hair off her face.

They were sitting in her living room, both freshly showered and changed for bed, David wearing pyjama pants he'd left there months ago and completely forgotten about but was now incredibly grateful for. Jo had even let him shower first.

"I don't understand how he can be so… calm."

"Neither do I."

"So is this why Jim drank himself retarded tonight?" David asked and Jo nodded.

"I'm guessing so."

David fell silent again, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Fuck it all, he doesn't deserve this."

They were both silent for a while. Joanna began to regret telling him, but she'd started to talk and hadn't been able to stop.

"Don't tell Chris," she said quietly and he shook his head.

"No, of course I won't."

They were silent for a few seconds before David added to his statement.

"He wouldn't cope."


A/N

Reviews/constructive criticism welcome and very much appreciated :)

But please don't nag me for more just yet, haha ;)