ksbigbang Post - Alternative Serendipity - NC-17 - Part 5/5 COMPLETE
Title: Alternative Serendipity (Part 5/5)
Author: luvsbitca
Artists: amechiro and numberthescars
All Information in Part 01
Part 01
Part 02
Part 03
Part 04
/ / / Together \ \ \
Eight days after the first time Spock and Jane had sex, Jane let herself into his apartment for their usual evening meal. “I have a favour to ask.”
“Proceed,” Spock said as she trailed the tips of her fingers over his palm and down to the tips of his own fingers. She was more willing to accept his cultural traits than he had expected. He was also more willing to kiss her in the privacy of his bedroom than he had believed he would be - it was an infinitely more pleasurable act with her than with anyone else with whom he had tried it.
“It’s Bones’ birthday on Friday.”
Spock nodded.
“And I’m throwing him a party.”
Spock looked at her. She did not normally take this long to arrive at the point.
“Would you come with me?”
“Yes. Would you like me to add the dressing to this salad?”
Jane froze for a second. “Really?”
“If I am to…date you, then I shall need to become more acquainted with your friends. Since Dr McCoy appears to be your best friend, it is logical for he and I to spend time together.”
Jane smiled and kissed him in the human way. He did not mind.
/ \ / \ / \
“Hello, Spock.”
“Mother.”
“Hello, Amanda,” Jane said, waving from behind him.
“Hello, Jane.”
“I’m sorry to intrude. I just need a book.”
“It is no intrusion,” Amanda said. “Sit and tell me how you are going.”
“I can’t,” Jane said.
“You have no other plans for this afternoon.”
“Spock, it’s your time to speak to your mother.”
“And she asked to know how you are.”
Jane rolled her eyes at Spock and looked at Amanda to find the other woman smiling. “I’ll stay for a while.”
Spock stood. “Have my chair.”
Jane looked at Spock for a moment and he knew she was going to argue before she sighed and sat down.
“How are you, Jane?”
“Good…exasperated.”
Amanda laughed.
/ \ / \ / \
“Hey, Jane.”
Spock recognised the voice and turned to watch as…Gary Mitchell stood close to Jane. He placed his hand on her posterior and Spock realised he was making a low growling noise. Vulcans were logical beings, but beneath their logic was their emotions and Vulcans were possessive of what was theirs. Spock knew that Jane was not his. He knew that she did not yet want their bond. He knew that he had no right to be possessive and yet he also would have been justified in forcibly removing Gary’s hand from her posterior.
Jane gripped the other man’s wrist tightly, yanked it off of her body and turned to glare at Gary. “Keep your damned hands to yourself, Gary.”
“That’s not what you said last time.”
Jane glared at him. “My exact words were ‘I never want to see you again’ or have you forgotten?”
Gary laughed and Spock watched Jane step back until her side was pressed into Spock.
“Have you met my boyfriend, Spock?”
Gary looked up at Spock. Spock allowed a small amount of anger to enter his facial expression. Gary nodded and turned. “Whatever.”
“Spock,” Jane said pressing closer. “Are you aware of the fact you’re growling?”
“I apologise,” Spock said, pulling back.
Jane rolled her eyes, grabbed his hand, and began tugging him from the establishment.
/ J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
Spock couldn’t see her from where she was sitting in the very back corner of the auditorium. He was presenting a paper on one of his experiments. He was stiff and formal. He assumed everyone was there to listen to him and never deviated from the speech she had seen him writing. She loved watching him present his papers. There was something different about him standing up there in front of everyone.
He used words even she didn’t know and she loved the tone and cadence of his voice. His voice always sank directly into her stomach, but now she was wallowing in it. He sounded different in this setting than he ever did when he was speaking to her.
Spock finished the talk and his eyes flicked up and caught hers. She smiled at him when she realised that her position wasn’t nearly as hidden as she had thought it was. Jane waited after the speech while scientists, professors, and cadets all approached Spock to talk. Eventually, no one was left but the females, who all looked like they were more interested in Spock than they were in the cross-breeding of fish from Rigan and Mikas IX to provide more food for both planets.
Jane chose that moment to walk over to Spock. He immediately turned to her and his eyes softened the slightest amount but it was the way he often looked at her and she chose to read it as a smile.
“Jane.”
“Hi, Spock. You were good.”
“I appreciate your opinion.”
“Can I take you to dinner to celebrate?”
“That is unnecessary, though, I would appreciate it.”
Jane smiled and they left the lecture hall behind.
/ / / Stolen \ \ \ / J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
Jane looked up from her place spread out over Spock’s chest. There was a woman standing next to the bed with long, dark brown hair twisted into an intricate ponytail which was hanging over her shoulder and, the pointed ears she recognised as being Vulcan when paired with the straight line of their eyebrows over dark eyes. She had a long nose and full lips and she looked furious.
“You took what is mine, human.”
Jane jerked at the sound of her voice but then suddenly she was gone and Spock woke beneath her.
“What is wrong, ashayam?”
“Strange dream.” Jane shook herself.
Spock tangled his hand into her hair. “Would you like to discuss it?”
Jane smiled down at him before dropping a kiss to the middle of his chest. “It’s nothing. There was a woman standing by the bed and she told me I’d taken something of hers.”
“Who was she?”
Jane shrugged and pressed herself back into Spock’s side. “No idea,” she yawned into his chest. “Go back to sleep.”
“I have had enough sleep, I shall now meditate,” Spock said.
Jane nodded and fell silent as she tried to get back to sleep. Spock stroked his hand through her hair until she relaxed against him and slowly drifted off.
Jane didn’t think of the dream again until almost a week and a half later when she had another dream.
This time she was alone. Spock was in the labs to participate in the final evening of a study he had been overseeing for months with his xenobiology group. Tonight was his night to test Vulcan telepathic abilities. Her current roommate was attempting to prove that loud music assisted her in studying and Jane was about ready to kill her. Since she spent more time at Spock’s than she did in her own room already, he had suggested she simply wait out the experiment in his quarters. Jane had been surprised at how little she worried about basically living with Spock. She had fallen asleep on his couch studying when she had the dream.
The same Vulcan woman walked through the door and stopped when she was staring down at Jane.
“Who are you?”
The woman glared at her. “You dare to take what is mine without discovering if he has been claimed?”
“What?” Jane felt like she should know, like this woman expected her to know.
The Vulcan reached out and wrapped her hand around Jane’s throat. “You took what is mine and as a result I invoke the rite of kal’i’fee.”
Jane struggled against the hold but couldn’t break the greater strength of the Vulcan woman. Jane tried to scream even as she pulled her legs up and attempted to kick at the other woman.
Just as she connected, the woman disappeared and with a gasp Jane sat up and looked around the room searching for her. Jane’s throat burned as she tried to catch her breath. The woman hadn’t been there, she hadn’t been real, and yet Jane could still feel the Vulcan’s fingers around her neck as she was struggling to breathe.
The communication unit buzzed and startled Jane out of her confusion.
“An’r.” Jane had to try and clear her throat, so she lifted her glass and swallowed some water before trying again. “Ans’er.”
“Jane!” Spock’s slightly louder than normal voice reached her and she felt like she could hear worry in his tone. “What is wrong?”
“Not’ing,” Jane said, trying to shake off the dream.
“You do not sound as though you are well.”
Jane took a moment to think before she answered, making sure she sounded a normal as possible. “I just woke up.”
“I felt something unfamiliar when we were testing one of my telepathic abilities. I am well; therefore it could only be you or my parents.”
“I didn’t think we could do that yet,” Jane said before she’d even had a chance to think. “I had a nightmare, how did you pick up on it?”
“I do not know. I still have the bond behind the wall and yet…It is possible the test could have weakened the wall. My apologies. Are you entirely certain you are well, Jane?” Spock asked.
“Yes. I will have a shower and go to bed properly. I am sorry to have disrupted your experiment. You don’t need to worry about me or the bond, just do what you need to.”
“I shall endeavour to do both.”
“Really, Spock. If you need to lower your walls for the experiment I don’t mind having a dream. It won’t actually strengthen the bond.”
“It will not.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning,” Jane said. “Good luck.”
“The outcomes of my study do not depend on luck,” Spock said and Jane laughed, which she liked to think was his reason for doing so.
“Goodnight, Spock.”
“Goodnight, Jane.”
Jane heard the call sign off and she collapsed back against the chair, rubbing at her neck. It was tender and it had taken everything she could to sound normal while speaking to Spock. None of it made sense, though. She had been alone.
“Computer, when did the last person enter this apartment?”
“A 1430 hours, Jane Temperance Kirk entered this apartment. No one has entered since.”
Jane rubbed her face and stood to go into the bathroom. Once there, she could see the redness on her neck. She frowned at the marks even as she ran her fingers along the blotchy skin.
/ / / T’Pring \ \ \ / J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
(Image by spockchick and embedded with permission - isn't it a perfect T'Pring?)
Jane did not have another dream for a week. The next morning, her neck had been normal and she realised it was just a strange dream.
She was still at Spock’s apartment when the door chimed. Jane finished the sentence of her essay and rose to open the door. On the other side was a tall woman wearing a long cloak with the hood up and over her head.
“Hello?”
The woman raised her arms to push the hood from her head and Jane took a step back. It was the same woman from her dreams. She was taller than Jane, nearly Spock’s height, with fierce brown eyes and she was looking at Jane as if she were the bug that had dared to crawl into her shower.
Jane pressed her hand down on the button that would close the door. The Vulcan woman’s hand shot out and attempted to stop the closing door, but even Vulcan strength could not hold the door open in the time given.
The bell next to the door chimed again. Jane hit the button on the viewer. She could see the Vulcan. “Who are you?”
“I am T’Pring, betrothed of Spock, of the house of Surak.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You are the human who dares to steal what I already own.”
Jane closed the viewer and turned to the computer. She knew Spock was in his office at the moment - a meeting with Pike. She placed the communication not expecting him to answer, but it would alert him to the fact that Jane had attempted to contact him.
“Hello,” Spock said.
“Spock, isn’t Chris there?”
“I am, Jane. Seemed odd you’d call during our meeting, so I told Spock to answer.”
“Thanks,” Jane took a deep breath and watched Spock carefully. He lifted one of his eyebrows in response and she found the movement comforting. “There is a Vulcan woman named T’Pring at the door.”
Spock’s eyebrows twitched and Jane knew he was surprised. “I shall return immediately.”
“She’s in the hallway.”
Spock inclined his head and shut off the communication.
The door chime sounded again. Jane knew she shouldn’t, but she had never been good with curiosity so she went back to the door and hit the button so that she could again speak to T’Pring.
“I know that you have contacted Spock,” T’Pring said. “That is logical. I request entry to his dwelling.”
“No,” Jane said. “You tried to choke me through my mind in a dream. I’m leaving you out there until Spock gets back.”
“You have stolen something that is rightfully mine. I shall kill you to reclaim it if you do not release it back to me.”
Jane stared at the viewer for a moment and then shook her head. She closed off the communication and went back to the table to pack up her work and waited. T’Pring did not attempt to gain her attention again and Jane stared at the door while she waited. Ten minutes later, the door opened and Jane looked up to see Spock standing next to T’Pring. They stood there in a doorway for a moment and Jane had a chance to take in the whole image. T’Pring was slightly shorter than Spock but where his skin was pale, tinged green by his copper blood, she was darker; the green flush under her skin appeared darker than Spock’s. Jane had to admit that T’Pring was stunning. She had lighter brown eyes than Spock and she was looking at Spock now, her face more open than it had been. Her hair fell down over one shoulder, pulled back and away from her face displaying the sharp points of her ears to everyone.
She looked different to how she had in his memories; there had been something sweet about her at seven, though it had been obvious that she would eventually grow into someone beautiful. In fact, Jane had never seen an ugly Vulcan.
T’Pring stepped into the apartment before Spock, as his manners dictated, and Jane stood up. She tensed in case T’Pring wanted to make good on her threat, but Spock stepped into the room quickly and moved until he was between T’Pring and Jane.
“T'nar pak sorat y'rani, T’Pring,” Spock said.
“T'nar jaral, sa-kugalsu.” T’Pring inclined her head.
Spock’s left eyebrow rose sharply. “That greeting is no longer correct.”
“Our bond stands,” T’Pring said. “I have access to it or I would not have been able to warn the interloper.”
Spock looked at Jane who looked straight over his shoulder. She knew she should have mentioned the second dream but, by the time she had woken up her neck no longer hurt and it had no longer seemed real.
“Your mental strength has increased since the last time we met.”
“I have always had a strong mind, Spock,” T’Pring stated. “It is you who have eschewed the Vulcan ways.”
“I chose a path at Starfleet.”
“And have brought honour to your family through your achievements. I came to Earth to evoke the rite of kal’i’fee. You belong to me, as is evidenced by the betrothal bond. I demand the challenge.”
Spock turned away from T’Pring and looked at Jane. “Jane, I ask that you return to your quarters. T’Pring and I have much to discuss.”
Jane looked at T’Pring over Spock’s shoulder.
“I must insist,” Spock said again and stooped to pick up her bag. He handed it to her and placed his hand on her lower back to move her around his body, and away from T’Pring, to the door. “I shall contact you.”
“He shall not,” T’Pring said. “It is logical for him to choose me.”
Jane turned to look at T’Pring, who appeared completely confident. Then her eyes flicked to Spock’s as the door closed and his eyes looked…apologetic. Jane gripped her bag tighter and began walking quickly towards her apartment.
/ S \ / p \ / o \ / c \ / k \
Spock waited until he could hear Jane’s footsteps recede before he turned to T’Pring.
“The Vulcan elders would not give their support to your request.”
“Our betrothal was decided by our families. My claim precedes hers.”
“You have always sought out Stonn’s company before mine.”
“He is a full Vulcan.”
Spock nodded. “And yet you travelled from Vulcan to Earth to ask for challenge?”
“You have proven yourself in your time in Starfleet. You have overcome the handicap of your parentage. You are now a suitable bondmate.”
“And yet I am no longer your future bondmate.”
“We are still bonded and I shall invoke my right to kal’i’fee. You were mine before she laid claim upon you and I shall have you again.”
“I was never yours and I shall not allow you to challenge her to the death.”
“Then the logical solution, if you do not want her die, is for you to break your bond with her.”
“We have a Katra Bond,” Spock informed T’Pring.
“Katra Bonds are myth.”
“Healer T’Penn has confirmed the bond, and as such T’Pau has sanctioned the severing of our bond.”
“I do not accept that!” T’Pring said with anger colouring her voice.
“And yet that is what is going to occur. I shall contact Healer T’Penn and have the bond severed while you are on Earth.”
“I shall not submit myself to such an act.”
Spock’s computer chimed and Spock moved away from her to answer it. T’Pau appeared on the screen.
“Spock,” she said. “You requested I contact you?”
“T'nar pak sorat y'rani, T’Pau.” Spock lifted his hand in the formal Vulcan greeting and then moved just enough for T’Pau to see T’Pring behind him. “I apologise for the unannounced request. T’Pring has journeyed to Earth to evoke kal’i’fee.”
T’Pau’s eyes flicked to T’Pring. “T’Pring, you were informed of the dissolution of your koon’ul.”
“I have rights. If Spock wishes to break our koon’ut’la, then I demand the rite of kal’i’fee.”
“It is illogical to request a challenge when I am bonded to another,” Spock said.
“But you aren’t,” T’Pring said, turning to him. “I felt it; you have it behind a barrier. I had to breech the barrier before I was able to access it.”
“You accessed Spock’s Katra Bond?” T’Pau asked and Spock could hear the notes of annoyance that made her so feared among both of his races.
“That is not the Vulcan way.” Another Vulcan voice joined the conversation. T’Pau had obviously invited the head of T’Pring’s clan to this conversation. Spock recognised him from their bonding ceremony.
“T'nar pak sorat y'rani, Balor,” Spock said.
“T'nar jaral, Spock,” Balor inclined her head. “T’Pring, I have been informed that you are disobeying my decision to grant permission for your bond with Spock to be severed.”
T’Pring looked at her great-grandfather and inclined her head. “Our bond was present when Spock dishonoured us by bonding to a human.”
“He and the human, Jane Kirk, have a Katra Bond,” T’Pau said.
“And as such their bond supersedes yours,” Balor said. “As you have been informed.”
“You were given permission to select your future bondmate,” T’Pau said. “Stonn has made his intention to claim you clear.”
“Spock’s achievements within Starfleet have increased his value as a future bondmate.”
“While that is true,” T’Pau said. “The fact is that his new bond is sacred and your bond is forfeit. If you do not submit yourself to a healer while on Earth you shall be subject to taflaya.”
“As T’Pau, of the House of Surak, states so I, Balor, of the House of V’Las, shall carry out.”
Spock turned to look at T’Pring, who stared at the screen for several long minutes.
“I shall submit myself to the Healer T’Penn,” T’Pring said finally and Spock could hear a note of displeasure in her voice.
“A most logical course,” T’Pau said. “Spock, live long and prosper.”
“Health and long life, T’Pau. I thank thee for thou assistance.”
T’Pau inclined her head and disappeared from the screen.
“T’Pring,” Balor said. “I expect a communication from you in thirty Vulcan minutes from the Vulcan Embassy.”
“I shall do so,” T’Pring said.
Balor disappeared from Spock’s screen as well.
“A most underhanded way of winning the argument,” T’Pring said.
“And a most logical one, as the heads of both our houses agreed to the original bond and its dissolution.”
“You have spent too much time on Earth.”
“I shall spend the remainder of my time in space,” Spock said. “As you shall spend it with Stonn.”
T’Pring turned for the door. “Send me the time to meet the Healer. I shall not remain on this planet any longer than I need to.”
Spock inclined his head. “It was illogical to have attempted to retain our bond since you do not seek out my companionship and did not when I lived on Vulcan.”
“It is logical to seek out the bondmate with the best House and who has distinguished himself above others. You fulfil both of these requirements.”
“A logical position before the creation of a stronger bond.”
“She is human and you shall one day see that my position is more logical than yours.”
“I politely disagree.”
T’Pring stared at him for a moment and then turned from his accommodation without offering him even the most perfunctory farewell. Spock waited exactly five minutes before he left his own accommodations. He travelled to Jane’s apartment and pressed the button for the door chime. He could hear her inside and yet she did not answer the door. She was being illogical and had probably assumed he had made a different decision to the one he had made months before when he agreed to ‘date’ her while she made a decision about their bond. He would contact her through the communication terminal and wait for her to contact him.
When he had not heard from her by the following morning, he contacted Dr McCoy to elicit the Doctor’s assistance. If she would allow their bond to strengthen, she would no longer feel anxious about his commitment. He knew that in this she would have to come to him.
/ J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
The chime on Jane’s door sounded and Jane glared at the door for a moment. The first time it had been Spock. She had not answered the door. She knew she had a communication from him, but she hadn’t bothered to open it.
The door swished open and Jane started to glare at Bones, who walked in with a smirk on his face.
“I just got a damned communication from the hobgoblin requesting that I provide friendship to you. What did he do?”
“He has a fiancé.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“They were bonded when they were seven.”
“And he just forgot about it?”
“He told me,” Jane admitted.
Bones sat down next to her on the bed. “Then why are you hiding in your room?”
“I am not hiding,” Jane said. “I am sleeping.”
Bones laughed at her. “What did he do?”
“Spock asked me to leave so that he could speak to T’Pring after she threatened to kill me.”
McCoy raised an eyebrow at her. “The goddamn Vulcan let her threaten you?”
“He wasn’t there when she threatened me.”
Bones rubbed at his face. “Goddammit, Jane. From the start, explain what is going on.”
“I had a dream and it was of T’Pring; she was using our bond to enter my mind. She was warning me off, but I thought it was just a stupid dream.”
“Like you told me those dreams you were having about Spock were just dreams?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because I should have assumed I had a Katra Bond with a Vulcan I had met once.”
“And now that you do, you should have known that those dreams were worth worrying about, dammit.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t, you gonna complain or are you gonna listen?”
“Go on,” Bones said and continued with a mutter about doing both.
“Then, yesterday, she appeared at Spock’s door and told me she intended to kill me to get Spock back and he told me he had things to discuss with her and sent me home. He looked so apologetic when I left. It’s logical though, it makes sense. If I were him, I’d want to go with the Vulcan rather than the human who is all emotional.”
“He told you he was going to choose her?”
“He didn’t need to,” Jane said. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? She’s Vulcan and their bond existed before ours. She is willing to bond with him and I’m still not sure. Why wouldn’t he pick her?”
“Right!” McCoy said slamming his fist down onto the bed. “You have to stop being a damned fool. You love him, so go out and get him.”
“T’Pring is Vulcan and they were engaged, she makes more sense than I do.”
“Who cares about sense? You love him, and he loves you, even I can tell that and the man is a living android.”
“He is not.”
Bones smirked at her.
“So, are you going to be a little wimp, or are you going to go out and fight for what you want?”
“What if he chooses her?”
“Then he’s a damned fool.”
“What if he regrets it later?”
“Then he’s a damned fool.”
“What if-”
“What if you are the damned fool who lets him walk away?”
Jane closed her eyes and her entire face scrunched up as she thought for a minute. “Right, right, I’m going to tell him to break their bond.”
“Excellent…maybe a shower first?”
Jane sniffed at her underarm and made a face. “Right.”
“And I’ll just clean up in here.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Bones glared at her.
Jane went into the bathroom and had a long, hot shower. She gathered her courage around her while she washed her hair and she reminded herself that if Spock decided he wanted T’Pring instead, she would be fine. She was stronger than that and she would be fine and then she would go out into space and live the life she had intended. When she came out of the bathroom, Bones was sitting on her bed and reading one of her PADDs.
“You changed your mind?” He asked looking up at her.
“I’m going to go and tell Spock how I feel.”
“I’m proud of you, Jane.”
“Thanks, Bones.” She kissed his forehead and left her apartment. Jane walked to Spock’s apartment as quickly as she could and rang the chime. It didn’t feel right to let herself in right now.
The door opened and Spock looked at her. He was wearing his black meditation clothes and Jane’s heartbeat picked up.
“Hello, Jane.”
“Say no to T’Pring,” Jane said, sliding past him and into his living room.
“Jane.”
“Say no to T’Pring. I know I have strung you along and I know I am terrified about the bond and forever, but I…I love you, so tell her to leave.”
“I informed her of my plan to have Healer T’Penn break the betrothal bond while she was in San Francisco.”
“What?”
“I could not have the bond severed until she was present. I have made an appointment to have the bond with T’Pring severed tomorrow.”
“But what if I…why would you? I don’t understand. That’s not logical.” Jane couldn’t understand why Spock would make a decision like that when she had been avoiding the bond. Why would he have faith in her? When she continued to ignore all of the evidence that told her she was in love with him, that she should trust him. She knew she was avoiding it; she wanted to feel him like she had the first time they slept together. She wanted to feel him like that all the time but it simply seemed too good to be true. She couldn’t possibly have him like that and keep her independence. She couldn’t have that and not want everything. She knew herself better than that and she was the type to throw herself into situations that weren’t necessarily the best of ideas and they often ended up affecting her for a long time. She knew this, what was between them, would be permanent…would be for the rest of her life if the way Spock spoke, Amanda explained it was any indication. Jane found it harder and harder to deny the fact that she wanted Spock forever. She had never, ever, received what she wanted and the most time passed the more she wanted him. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything but why would he risk something like this on her when she was so scared of what he wanted? Especially when someone else, someone more suitable, was offering him the same thing? It would only be logical for him to choose T’Pring.
Spock smiled at her. “As my mother would tell me, love is never logical.”
Jane smiled and kissed Spock before she dragged him back into the bedroom with her.
She stopped at the foot of the bed and suddenly everything she had been afraid of felt pointless and she pulled him closer. “Let me feel you.”
“The bond?”
Jane took a deep breath and felt the same old fear in her stomach. “Would that be permanent?”
“Not unless we participated in the ritual that would require us to return to Vulcan. It would, however, strengthen the bond that does exist.”
“Then show me everything, I want to feel you, I want to feel everything.” Spock nodded. “I mean…I mean, you don’t need to keep it behind a wall anymore.”
“Are you sure?”
Jane smiled and pulled him into a human kiss, when she pulled away she held his hand in a Vulcan one and nodded.
Spock’ mouth quirked into something that could be a smile and reached for her. Then Jane could feel him. It wasn’t sudden, it wasn’t overwhelming. It was like being slowly wound up in soft blanket of the same feelings that Spock already made her feel. They peeled one another’s clothes off slowly and lost themselves in the warmth of one another.
The End
Author: luvsbitca
Artists: amechiro and numberthescars
All Information in Part 01
Part 01
Part 02
Part 03
Part 04
/ / / Together \ \ \
Eight days after the first time Spock and Jane had sex, Jane let herself into his apartment for their usual evening meal. “I have a favour to ask.”
“Proceed,” Spock said as she trailed the tips of her fingers over his palm and down to the tips of his own fingers. She was more willing to accept his cultural traits than he had expected. He was also more willing to kiss her in the privacy of his bedroom than he had believed he would be - it was an infinitely more pleasurable act with her than with anyone else with whom he had tried it.
“It’s Bones’ birthday on Friday.”
Spock nodded.
“And I’m throwing him a party.”
Spock looked at her. She did not normally take this long to arrive at the point.
“Would you come with me?”
“Yes. Would you like me to add the dressing to this salad?”
Jane froze for a second. “Really?”
“If I am to…date you, then I shall need to become more acquainted with your friends. Since Dr McCoy appears to be your best friend, it is logical for he and I to spend time together.”
Jane smiled and kissed him in the human way. He did not mind.
/ \ / \ / \
“Hello, Spock.”
“Mother.”
“Hello, Amanda,” Jane said, waving from behind him.
“Hello, Jane.”
“I’m sorry to intrude. I just need a book.”
“It is no intrusion,” Amanda said. “Sit and tell me how you are going.”
“I can’t,” Jane said.
“You have no other plans for this afternoon.”
“Spock, it’s your time to speak to your mother.”
“And she asked to know how you are.”
Jane rolled her eyes at Spock and looked at Amanda to find the other woman smiling. “I’ll stay for a while.”
Spock stood. “Have my chair.”
Jane looked at Spock for a moment and he knew she was going to argue before she sighed and sat down.
“How are you, Jane?”
“Good…exasperated.”
Amanda laughed.
/ \ / \ / \
“Hey, Jane.”
Spock recognised the voice and turned to watch as…Gary Mitchell stood close to Jane. He placed his hand on her posterior and Spock realised he was making a low growling noise. Vulcans were logical beings, but beneath their logic was their emotions and Vulcans were possessive of what was theirs. Spock knew that Jane was not his. He knew that she did not yet want their bond. He knew that he had no right to be possessive and yet he also would have been justified in forcibly removing Gary’s hand from her posterior.
Jane gripped the other man’s wrist tightly, yanked it off of her body and turned to glare at Gary. “Keep your damned hands to yourself, Gary.”
“That’s not what you said last time.”
Jane glared at him. “My exact words were ‘I never want to see you again’ or have you forgotten?”
Gary laughed and Spock watched Jane step back until her side was pressed into Spock.
“Have you met my boyfriend, Spock?”
Gary looked up at Spock. Spock allowed a small amount of anger to enter his facial expression. Gary nodded and turned. “Whatever.”
“Spock,” Jane said pressing closer. “Are you aware of the fact you’re growling?”
“I apologise,” Spock said, pulling back.
Jane rolled her eyes, grabbed his hand, and began tugging him from the establishment.
/ J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
Spock couldn’t see her from where she was sitting in the very back corner of the auditorium. He was presenting a paper on one of his experiments. He was stiff and formal. He assumed everyone was there to listen to him and never deviated from the speech she had seen him writing. She loved watching him present his papers. There was something different about him standing up there in front of everyone.
He used words even she didn’t know and she loved the tone and cadence of his voice. His voice always sank directly into her stomach, but now she was wallowing in it. He sounded different in this setting than he ever did when he was speaking to her.
Spock finished the talk and his eyes flicked up and caught hers. She smiled at him when she realised that her position wasn’t nearly as hidden as she had thought it was. Jane waited after the speech while scientists, professors, and cadets all approached Spock to talk. Eventually, no one was left but the females, who all looked like they were more interested in Spock than they were in the cross-breeding of fish from Rigan and Mikas IX to provide more food for both planets.
Jane chose that moment to walk over to Spock. He immediately turned to her and his eyes softened the slightest amount but it was the way he often looked at her and she chose to read it as a smile.
“Jane.”
“Hi, Spock. You were good.”
“I appreciate your opinion.”
“Can I take you to dinner to celebrate?”
“That is unnecessary, though, I would appreciate it.”
Jane smiled and they left the lecture hall behind.
/ / / Stolen \ \ \ / J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
Jane looked up from her place spread out over Spock’s chest. There was a woman standing next to the bed with long, dark brown hair twisted into an intricate ponytail which was hanging over her shoulder and, the pointed ears she recognised as being Vulcan when paired with the straight line of their eyebrows over dark eyes. She had a long nose and full lips and she looked furious.
“You took what is mine, human.”
Jane jerked at the sound of her voice but then suddenly she was gone and Spock woke beneath her.
“What is wrong, ashayam?”
“Strange dream.” Jane shook herself.
Spock tangled his hand into her hair. “Would you like to discuss it?”
Jane smiled down at him before dropping a kiss to the middle of his chest. “It’s nothing. There was a woman standing by the bed and she told me I’d taken something of hers.”
“Who was she?”
Jane shrugged and pressed herself back into Spock’s side. “No idea,” she yawned into his chest. “Go back to sleep.”
“I have had enough sleep, I shall now meditate,” Spock said.
Jane nodded and fell silent as she tried to get back to sleep. Spock stroked his hand through her hair until she relaxed against him and slowly drifted off.
Jane didn’t think of the dream again until almost a week and a half later when she had another dream.
This time she was alone. Spock was in the labs to participate in the final evening of a study he had been overseeing for months with his xenobiology group. Tonight was his night to test Vulcan telepathic abilities. Her current roommate was attempting to prove that loud music assisted her in studying and Jane was about ready to kill her. Since she spent more time at Spock’s than she did in her own room already, he had suggested she simply wait out the experiment in his quarters. Jane had been surprised at how little she worried about basically living with Spock. She had fallen asleep on his couch studying when she had the dream.
The same Vulcan woman walked through the door and stopped when she was staring down at Jane.
“Who are you?”
The woman glared at her. “You dare to take what is mine without discovering if he has been claimed?”
“What?” Jane felt like she should know, like this woman expected her to know.
The Vulcan reached out and wrapped her hand around Jane’s throat. “You took what is mine and as a result I invoke the rite of kal’i’fee.”
Jane struggled against the hold but couldn’t break the greater strength of the Vulcan woman. Jane tried to scream even as she pulled her legs up and attempted to kick at the other woman.
Just as she connected, the woman disappeared and with a gasp Jane sat up and looked around the room searching for her. Jane’s throat burned as she tried to catch her breath. The woman hadn’t been there, she hadn’t been real, and yet Jane could still feel the Vulcan’s fingers around her neck as she was struggling to breathe.
The communication unit buzzed and startled Jane out of her confusion.
“An’r.” Jane had to try and clear her throat, so she lifted her glass and swallowed some water before trying again. “Ans’er.”
“Jane!” Spock’s slightly louder than normal voice reached her and she felt like she could hear worry in his tone. “What is wrong?”
“Not’ing,” Jane said, trying to shake off the dream.
“You do not sound as though you are well.”
Jane took a moment to think before she answered, making sure she sounded a normal as possible. “I just woke up.”
“I felt something unfamiliar when we were testing one of my telepathic abilities. I am well; therefore it could only be you or my parents.”
“I didn’t think we could do that yet,” Jane said before she’d even had a chance to think. “I had a nightmare, how did you pick up on it?”
“I do not know. I still have the bond behind the wall and yet…It is possible the test could have weakened the wall. My apologies. Are you entirely certain you are well, Jane?” Spock asked.
“Yes. I will have a shower and go to bed properly. I am sorry to have disrupted your experiment. You don’t need to worry about me or the bond, just do what you need to.”
“I shall endeavour to do both.”
“Really, Spock. If you need to lower your walls for the experiment I don’t mind having a dream. It won’t actually strengthen the bond.”
“It will not.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning,” Jane said. “Good luck.”
“The outcomes of my study do not depend on luck,” Spock said and Jane laughed, which she liked to think was his reason for doing so.
“Goodnight, Spock.”
“Goodnight, Jane.”
Jane heard the call sign off and she collapsed back against the chair, rubbing at her neck. It was tender and it had taken everything she could to sound normal while speaking to Spock. None of it made sense, though. She had been alone.
“Computer, when did the last person enter this apartment?”
“A 1430 hours, Jane Temperance Kirk entered this apartment. No one has entered since.”
Jane rubbed her face and stood to go into the bathroom. Once there, she could see the redness on her neck. She frowned at the marks even as she ran her fingers along the blotchy skin.
/ / / T’Pring \ \ \ / J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
(Image by spockchick and embedded with permission - isn't it a perfect T'Pring?)
Jane did not have another dream for a week. The next morning, her neck had been normal and she realised it was just a strange dream.
She was still at Spock’s apartment when the door chimed. Jane finished the sentence of her essay and rose to open the door. On the other side was a tall woman wearing a long cloak with the hood up and over her head.
“Hello?”
The woman raised her arms to push the hood from her head and Jane took a step back. It was the same woman from her dreams. She was taller than Jane, nearly Spock’s height, with fierce brown eyes and she was looking at Jane as if she were the bug that had dared to crawl into her shower.
Jane pressed her hand down on the button that would close the door. The Vulcan woman’s hand shot out and attempted to stop the closing door, but even Vulcan strength could not hold the door open in the time given.
The bell next to the door chimed again. Jane hit the button on the viewer. She could see the Vulcan. “Who are you?”
“I am T’Pring, betrothed of Spock, of the house of Surak.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You are the human who dares to steal what I already own.”
Jane closed the viewer and turned to the computer. She knew Spock was in his office at the moment - a meeting with Pike. She placed the communication not expecting him to answer, but it would alert him to the fact that Jane had attempted to contact him.
“Hello,” Spock said.
“Spock, isn’t Chris there?”
“I am, Jane. Seemed odd you’d call during our meeting, so I told Spock to answer.”
“Thanks,” Jane took a deep breath and watched Spock carefully. He lifted one of his eyebrows in response and she found the movement comforting. “There is a Vulcan woman named T’Pring at the door.”
Spock’s eyebrows twitched and Jane knew he was surprised. “I shall return immediately.”
“She’s in the hallway.”
Spock inclined his head and shut off the communication.
The door chime sounded again. Jane knew she shouldn’t, but she had never been good with curiosity so she went back to the door and hit the button so that she could again speak to T’Pring.
“I know that you have contacted Spock,” T’Pring said. “That is logical. I request entry to his dwelling.”
“No,” Jane said. “You tried to choke me through my mind in a dream. I’m leaving you out there until Spock gets back.”
“You have stolen something that is rightfully mine. I shall kill you to reclaim it if you do not release it back to me.”
Jane stared at the viewer for a moment and then shook her head. She closed off the communication and went back to the table to pack up her work and waited. T’Pring did not attempt to gain her attention again and Jane stared at the door while she waited. Ten minutes later, the door opened and Jane looked up to see Spock standing next to T’Pring. They stood there in a doorway for a moment and Jane had a chance to take in the whole image. T’Pring was slightly shorter than Spock but where his skin was pale, tinged green by his copper blood, she was darker; the green flush under her skin appeared darker than Spock’s. Jane had to admit that T’Pring was stunning. She had lighter brown eyes than Spock and she was looking at Spock now, her face more open than it had been. Her hair fell down over one shoulder, pulled back and away from her face displaying the sharp points of her ears to everyone.
She looked different to how she had in his memories; there had been something sweet about her at seven, though it had been obvious that she would eventually grow into someone beautiful. In fact, Jane had never seen an ugly Vulcan.
T’Pring stepped into the apartment before Spock, as his manners dictated, and Jane stood up. She tensed in case T’Pring wanted to make good on her threat, but Spock stepped into the room quickly and moved until he was between T’Pring and Jane.
“T'nar pak sorat y'rani, T’Pring,” Spock said.
“T'nar jaral, sa-kugalsu.” T’Pring inclined her head.
Spock’s left eyebrow rose sharply. “That greeting is no longer correct.”
“Our bond stands,” T’Pring said. “I have access to it or I would not have been able to warn the interloper.”
Spock looked at Jane who looked straight over his shoulder. She knew she should have mentioned the second dream but, by the time she had woken up her neck no longer hurt and it had no longer seemed real.
“Your mental strength has increased since the last time we met.”
“I have always had a strong mind, Spock,” T’Pring stated. “It is you who have eschewed the Vulcan ways.”
“I chose a path at Starfleet.”
“And have brought honour to your family through your achievements. I came to Earth to evoke the rite of kal’i’fee. You belong to me, as is evidenced by the betrothal bond. I demand the challenge.”
Spock turned away from T’Pring and looked at Jane. “Jane, I ask that you return to your quarters. T’Pring and I have much to discuss.”
Jane looked at T’Pring over Spock’s shoulder.
“I must insist,” Spock said again and stooped to pick up her bag. He handed it to her and placed his hand on her lower back to move her around his body, and away from T’Pring, to the door. “I shall contact you.”
“He shall not,” T’Pring said. “It is logical for him to choose me.”
Jane turned to look at T’Pring, who appeared completely confident. Then her eyes flicked to Spock’s as the door closed and his eyes looked…apologetic. Jane gripped her bag tighter and began walking quickly towards her apartment.
/ S \ / p \ / o \ / c \ / k \
Spock waited until he could hear Jane’s footsteps recede before he turned to T’Pring.
“The Vulcan elders would not give their support to your request.”
“Our betrothal was decided by our families. My claim precedes hers.”
“You have always sought out Stonn’s company before mine.”
“He is a full Vulcan.”
Spock nodded. “And yet you travelled from Vulcan to Earth to ask for challenge?”
“You have proven yourself in your time in Starfleet. You have overcome the handicap of your parentage. You are now a suitable bondmate.”
“And yet I am no longer your future bondmate.”
“We are still bonded and I shall invoke my right to kal’i’fee. You were mine before she laid claim upon you and I shall have you again.”
“I was never yours and I shall not allow you to challenge her to the death.”
“Then the logical solution, if you do not want her die, is for you to break your bond with her.”
“We have a Katra Bond,” Spock informed T’Pring.
“Katra Bonds are myth.”
“Healer T’Penn has confirmed the bond, and as such T’Pau has sanctioned the severing of our bond.”
“I do not accept that!” T’Pring said with anger colouring her voice.
“And yet that is what is going to occur. I shall contact Healer T’Penn and have the bond severed while you are on Earth.”
“I shall not submit myself to such an act.”
Spock’s computer chimed and Spock moved away from her to answer it. T’Pau appeared on the screen.
“Spock,” she said. “You requested I contact you?”
“T'nar pak sorat y'rani, T’Pau.” Spock lifted his hand in the formal Vulcan greeting and then moved just enough for T’Pau to see T’Pring behind him. “I apologise for the unannounced request. T’Pring has journeyed to Earth to evoke kal’i’fee.”
T’Pau’s eyes flicked to T’Pring. “T’Pring, you were informed of the dissolution of your koon’ul.”
“I have rights. If Spock wishes to break our koon’ut’la, then I demand the rite of kal’i’fee.”
“It is illogical to request a challenge when I am bonded to another,” Spock said.
“But you aren’t,” T’Pring said, turning to him. “I felt it; you have it behind a barrier. I had to breech the barrier before I was able to access it.”
“You accessed Spock’s Katra Bond?” T’Pau asked and Spock could hear the notes of annoyance that made her so feared among both of his races.
“That is not the Vulcan way.” Another Vulcan voice joined the conversation. T’Pau had obviously invited the head of T’Pring’s clan to this conversation. Spock recognised him from their bonding ceremony.
“T'nar pak sorat y'rani, Balor,” Spock said.
“T'nar jaral, Spock,” Balor inclined her head. “T’Pring, I have been informed that you are disobeying my decision to grant permission for your bond with Spock to be severed.”
T’Pring looked at her great-grandfather and inclined her head. “Our bond was present when Spock dishonoured us by bonding to a human.”
“He and the human, Jane Kirk, have a Katra Bond,” T’Pau said.
“And as such their bond supersedes yours,” Balor said. “As you have been informed.”
“You were given permission to select your future bondmate,” T’Pau said. “Stonn has made his intention to claim you clear.”
“Spock’s achievements within Starfleet have increased his value as a future bondmate.”
“While that is true,” T’Pau said. “The fact is that his new bond is sacred and your bond is forfeit. If you do not submit yourself to a healer while on Earth you shall be subject to taflaya.”
“As T’Pau, of the House of Surak, states so I, Balor, of the House of V’Las, shall carry out.”
Spock turned to look at T’Pring, who stared at the screen for several long minutes.
“I shall submit myself to the Healer T’Penn,” T’Pring said finally and Spock could hear a note of displeasure in her voice.
“A most logical course,” T’Pau said. “Spock, live long and prosper.”
“Health and long life, T’Pau. I thank thee for thou assistance.”
T’Pau inclined her head and disappeared from the screen.
“T’Pring,” Balor said. “I expect a communication from you in thirty Vulcan minutes from the Vulcan Embassy.”
“I shall do so,” T’Pring said.
Balor disappeared from Spock’s screen as well.
“A most underhanded way of winning the argument,” T’Pring said.
“And a most logical one, as the heads of both our houses agreed to the original bond and its dissolution.”
“You have spent too much time on Earth.”
“I shall spend the remainder of my time in space,” Spock said. “As you shall spend it with Stonn.”
T’Pring turned for the door. “Send me the time to meet the Healer. I shall not remain on this planet any longer than I need to.”
Spock inclined his head. “It was illogical to have attempted to retain our bond since you do not seek out my companionship and did not when I lived on Vulcan.”
“It is logical to seek out the bondmate with the best House and who has distinguished himself above others. You fulfil both of these requirements.”
“A logical position before the creation of a stronger bond.”
“She is human and you shall one day see that my position is more logical than yours.”
“I politely disagree.”
T’Pring stared at him for a moment and then turned from his accommodation without offering him even the most perfunctory farewell. Spock waited exactly five minutes before he left his own accommodations. He travelled to Jane’s apartment and pressed the button for the door chime. He could hear her inside and yet she did not answer the door. She was being illogical and had probably assumed he had made a different decision to the one he had made months before when he agreed to ‘date’ her while she made a decision about their bond. He would contact her through the communication terminal and wait for her to contact him.
When he had not heard from her by the following morning, he contacted Dr McCoy to elicit the Doctor’s assistance. If she would allow their bond to strengthen, she would no longer feel anxious about his commitment. He knew that in this she would have to come to him.
/ J \ / a \ / n \ / e \
The chime on Jane’s door sounded and Jane glared at the door for a moment. The first time it had been Spock. She had not answered the door. She knew she had a communication from him, but she hadn’t bothered to open it.
The door swished open and Jane started to glare at Bones, who walked in with a smirk on his face.
“I just got a damned communication from the hobgoblin requesting that I provide friendship to you. What did he do?”
“He has a fiancé.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“They were bonded when they were seven.”
“And he just forgot about it?”
“He told me,” Jane admitted.
Bones sat down next to her on the bed. “Then why are you hiding in your room?”
“I am not hiding,” Jane said. “I am sleeping.”
Bones laughed at her. “What did he do?”
“Spock asked me to leave so that he could speak to T’Pring after she threatened to kill me.”
McCoy raised an eyebrow at her. “The goddamn Vulcan let her threaten you?”
“He wasn’t there when she threatened me.”
Bones rubbed at his face. “Goddammit, Jane. From the start, explain what is going on.”
“I had a dream and it was of T’Pring; she was using our bond to enter my mind. She was warning me off, but I thought it was just a stupid dream.”
“Like you told me those dreams you were having about Spock were just dreams?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because I should have assumed I had a Katra Bond with a Vulcan I had met once.”
“And now that you do, you should have known that those dreams were worth worrying about, dammit.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t, you gonna complain or are you gonna listen?”
“Go on,” Bones said and continued with a mutter about doing both.
“Then, yesterday, she appeared at Spock’s door and told me she intended to kill me to get Spock back and he told me he had things to discuss with her and sent me home. He looked so apologetic when I left. It’s logical though, it makes sense. If I were him, I’d want to go with the Vulcan rather than the human who is all emotional.”
“He told you he was going to choose her?”
“He didn’t need to,” Jane said. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? She’s Vulcan and their bond existed before ours. She is willing to bond with him and I’m still not sure. Why wouldn’t he pick her?”
“Right!” McCoy said slamming his fist down onto the bed. “You have to stop being a damned fool. You love him, so go out and get him.”
“T’Pring is Vulcan and they were engaged, she makes more sense than I do.”
“Who cares about sense? You love him, and he loves you, even I can tell that and the man is a living android.”
“He is not.”
Bones smirked at her.
“So, are you going to be a little wimp, or are you going to go out and fight for what you want?”
“What if he chooses her?”
“Then he’s a damned fool.”
“What if he regrets it later?”
“Then he’s a damned fool.”
“What if-”
“What if you are the damned fool who lets him walk away?”
Jane closed her eyes and her entire face scrunched up as she thought for a minute. “Right, right, I’m going to tell him to break their bond.”
“Excellent…maybe a shower first?”
Jane sniffed at her underarm and made a face. “Right.”
“And I’ll just clean up in here.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Bones glared at her.
Jane went into the bathroom and had a long, hot shower. She gathered her courage around her while she washed her hair and she reminded herself that if Spock decided he wanted T’Pring instead, she would be fine. She was stronger than that and she would be fine and then she would go out into space and live the life she had intended. When she came out of the bathroom, Bones was sitting on her bed and reading one of her PADDs.
“You changed your mind?” He asked looking up at her.
“I’m going to go and tell Spock how I feel.”
“I’m proud of you, Jane.”
“Thanks, Bones.” She kissed his forehead and left her apartment. Jane walked to Spock’s apartment as quickly as she could and rang the chime. It didn’t feel right to let herself in right now.
The door opened and Spock looked at her. He was wearing his black meditation clothes and Jane’s heartbeat picked up.
“Hello, Jane.”
“Say no to T’Pring,” Jane said, sliding past him and into his living room.
“Jane.”
“Say no to T’Pring. I know I have strung you along and I know I am terrified about the bond and forever, but I…I love you, so tell her to leave.”
“I informed her of my plan to have Healer T’Penn break the betrothal bond while she was in San Francisco.”
“What?”
“I could not have the bond severed until she was present. I have made an appointment to have the bond with T’Pring severed tomorrow.”
“But what if I…why would you? I don’t understand. That’s not logical.” Jane couldn’t understand why Spock would make a decision like that when she had been avoiding the bond. Why would he have faith in her? When she continued to ignore all of the evidence that told her she was in love with him, that she should trust him. She knew she was avoiding it; she wanted to feel him like she had the first time they slept together. She wanted to feel him like that all the time but it simply seemed too good to be true. She couldn’t possibly have him like that and keep her independence. She couldn’t have that and not want everything. She knew herself better than that and she was the type to throw herself into situations that weren’t necessarily the best of ideas and they often ended up affecting her for a long time. She knew this, what was between them, would be permanent…would be for the rest of her life if the way Spock spoke, Amanda explained it was any indication. Jane found it harder and harder to deny the fact that she wanted Spock forever. She had never, ever, received what she wanted and the most time passed the more she wanted him. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything but why would he risk something like this on her when she was so scared of what he wanted? Especially when someone else, someone more suitable, was offering him the same thing? It would only be logical for him to choose T’Pring.
Spock smiled at her. “As my mother would tell me, love is never logical.”
Jane smiled and kissed Spock before she dragged him back into the bedroom with her.
She stopped at the foot of the bed and suddenly everything she had been afraid of felt pointless and she pulled him closer. “Let me feel you.”
“The bond?”
Jane took a deep breath and felt the same old fear in her stomach. “Would that be permanent?”
“Not unless we participated in the ritual that would require us to return to Vulcan. It would, however, strengthen the bond that does exist.”
“Then show me everything, I want to feel you, I want to feel everything.” Spock nodded. “I mean…I mean, you don’t need to keep it behind a wall anymore.”
“Are you sure?”
Jane smiled and pulled him into a human kiss, when she pulled away she held his hand in a Vulcan one and nodded.
Spock’ mouth quirked into something that could be a smile and reached for her. Then Jane could feel him. It wasn’t sudden, it wasn’t overwhelming. It was like being slowly wound up in soft blanket of the same feelings that Spock already made her feel. They peeled one another’s clothes off slowly and lost themselves in the warmth of one another.
The End