What Shouldn't Be (But Ultimately Is) Chapter 4
Title: What Shouldn't Be (But Ultimately Is)
Author: whatshouldntbe
Universe/Series: Reboot (in more ways than others)
Rating: PG13 (Eventual NC17)
Relationship status: first time, slow build K/S
Word count: 5000+ Now, 27000+ So Far
Author Note: This will most likely be a series.
Warnings: always!girl Kirk, angst, action, character death, language, rom-com humor, violence, possible amateur world-building
Additional Pairings: Spock/Uhura, Kirk/Uhura, Kirk/Various
Summary: The importance of conception, as it was preordained, does, in fact, effect alternating life-lines.
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Chapter 4
Snow and wind presses in on Jim at every side. She can feel her teeth chattering and its so cold that she can barely stand it. Prime Spock reassures her that they are getting close as they trudge up an iced-out hill. They were able to spot the outpost and Jim can’t keep from groaning. The distance between has to be at least half a mile away. It’s not that she was out of shape or anything, but traipsing through snow and ice isn’t exactly her favorite hobby.
“Warmth!” Jim moans in delight as she stumbles in. Prime Spock closes the door behind them, blocking out the cold and Jim notices there’s something…or someone jogging towards them from the other end of the corridor. Jim frowns as the oddly small alien creature stops right in front of them. “Er…hello,” she greets awkwardly, yanking off her gloves and pulling her hood down.
Prime Spock follows her actions, and says to the alien, “Are you the station chief?”
The odd creature shakes his head in the negative and gestures for them to follow. They’re led to a sleeping Starfleet officer. His legs are kicked up on the table, his hat covering his face as he holds some kind of junked space part in one hand while his other hand has a poorly drawn picture of a sandwich with hearts all around it. The odd creature pushes the man’s legs off the table and it startles the man into consciousness.
“What the…get on with you!” he bats wildly at the creature. “What did I tell you abou-”
“Fascinating,” Prime Spock says. “You are Montgomery Scott.”
Scotty sits up. “Yeah that’s me? Unless there’s someone else here who’s equally underappreciated?”
“Me,” the creature answers.
“What the…Keenser! Away with you. I can do without your comments,” Scotty gripes. Then he turns his attention back to Jim and Prime Spock. “So you’re here now are you? Took you long enough, but I’m not about to complain when I could be eating.” Scotty makes a zipping gesture over his lips. After two beats he goes on to say, “But I will say this-couldn’t you come a wee bit sooner? You’ve got me here wasting away, surviving on six months of Starfleet protein bars and the promise of a decent meal. I need food, real food. This is unacceptable. But you lads are just doing your job I suppose, so I wont say another word about it.” Scotty holds up his hands to show he’s done. Then, “Six months! You do realize how unacceptable this is. It’s clear what’s going on here. Punishment, isn’t it? Everlasting torture.
“I get into one little debate with my professor about Relativistic Physics as they pertains to subspace travel. Then the man’s dog got involved, and well, can’t help what happened after that, I do feel real bad about it though. I’m sure it’ll reappear sometime or another.”
Jim grins. “Ha! I heard about that. Admiral Archer’s prized beagle wasn't it?”
Scotty nods furiously. “See! That’s what I’m talking about! He seemed to think that the range of transporting say, a roast turkey, was limited to a few hundred miles. So I told the Admiral that I could not only beam the cooked bird from one planet to an adjacent planet in the same system, which is no big deal anyway, but if I were so inclined I could actually do it with a life form! And well, you know what happens after that now don’t you? Look, do you have the food or not?”
“Mr. Scott, your trans-warp theory is not only correct, but you have undeniably succeeded in beaming a life form onto a ship that is traveling at warp-speed. You only require the correct field equation to recrystallize dilitium,” Prime Spock confirms.
Scotty's eyes bug. “I think I would have heard about such a thing if I did. I’ve been here for six months like I said, how could I have possibly?”
“The reason that you have not heard about it, is because you have not yet discovered it,” Prime Spock explains.
“So are you all from the future then?” Scotty questions.
Jim shrugs her shoulders. “He is, I’m not.”
“Brilliant,” Scotty says. “Do they still have sandwiches there? I’d be heartbroken if they didn’t. No reason to go on living if not.”
Jim snorts. “You sure love your sandwiches don’t you?”
“Aye, lass. There’s not a purer thing,” Scotty says seriously.
“Clearly you haven’t had enough sex,” Jim argues shamelessly.
“Jim,” Prime Spock chides gently, and she can’t help but to shut her mouth, and smile sheepishly. “Mr. Scott, if you will allow us access to your shuttle, I would be more than willing to show you your equation for achieving trans-warp beaming.”
Scotty is on his feet an in instant. “Just tell me where you want to go.”
“Enterprise,” Jim answers as she brushes her bangs out of her eyes.
Scotty looks heavily interested now as he leads them over to his shuttle. “Had its maiden voyage already, has it? You’ve done something right then to be assigned to such a well-endowed lady. Wouldn’t mind getting my hands on her nacelles, if you pardon my engineering parlance.”
Jim desperately wants to make another comment on Scotty’s lack of sex life, but swallows it down instead and decides to be good for Prime Spock’s sake.
Scotty scurries around; pressing switches to get the shuttle properly animated. “Even if I believe you’re from the future, which is still questionable by the way, I still don’t see how you can manage slinging aboard that ship. Doing that would be like shooting a bullet at another speeding bullet, whilst riding a horse, backwards and blindfolded, if there is no proper receiving pad.” Scotty walks over to watch Prime Spock type in their course and Scotty’s equation. “Fancy that. It never occurred to me that space was the thing that was moving,” Scotty says, baffled, staring at his own equation.
“It did occur to you,” Prime Spock points out.
Scotty stares at it for a moment longer before shaking his head in discouragement. “That’s very good and all…until you find yourself about four meters outside the ship.”
“Agreed. Which is why I find it best to place you in the aft engineering bay. A large space and no unpredictable airlocks. I calculate no more than a four meter margin of error,” Prime Spock reassures.
Jim, who has been silent the whole time, steps onto the transporter pad, waiting for him.
Prime Spock stands, clasping his hands behind him as he faces Jim. “Mr. Scott, if you could accompany Jim, you will find me most appreciative.”
Scotty nods, eager at the chance to get off this desolate planet. He pushes Keenser back when he tries to follow, telling him that he couldn’t come along.
“Spock…?” Jim frowns in confusion when Prime Spock makes no gesture to join them. “Aren’t you coming?”
Prime Spock looks grave. “My destiny lies along a different path.”
Jim stares at him silently. “Is that a pretty way of saying no?”
“Under no circumstances can he be made aware of my existence. This is one rule you must not break. You must promise me this,” Prime Spock says sternly.
Jim is disheartened and her face falls with the emotion. “Just how am I going to convince you-the other you-that I’m following your own orders by being there? Let’s not forget that it was you that marooned me here in the first place.”
“Do not act coy, Jim. It is more than likely you have provoked me to such an action,” Prime Spock says as his lips twitches in amusement. “I can think of no other who has the abundant ability to emotionally compromise me.”
Jim smiles at the fond twinkle in his eye. “And that’s what I’m expected to do? Emotionally compromise you guys?”
“Jim, today I have lost everything. I can assure you. I, am, compromised,” Prime Spock says solemnly. “You alone must take command of your ship and stop Nero.”
Jim doesn’t say anything but she nods. She fidgets on the transporter pad, waiting for Prime Spock to send them on their way, but there is a long pause where all they do is stare at each other. Jim’s heart rocks unsteadily when Prime Spock takes a step forward, and he doesn’t stop until he’s no more than a fraction away. He’s so close that she can feel his inviting heat, and unable to resist, she hugs him. He doesn’t stiffen like she expects, but welcomes her in the embrace by placing a heated palm on the middle of her back.
“T’hy’la,” he whispers serenely in her left ear.
Jim’s face burns and she quickly hides in his shoulder. With a little daring, she reaches up and fiddles with the pointed top of his right ear. There is a low rumble that comes forth from Prime Spock’s chest, and her own body gives an answering shudder. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply, taking in the smell of sharp incense and dark cinnamon. She’s so focused and lost in the smell that she jumps when she feels two warm fingers stroking along the inside of her palm. She pulls her head back so that she can gaze into his black eyes, still fiddling with his ear as his lip twitches in amusement.
Her cheeks turn a light pink. “I may not know a lot about Vulcans, but I know what your doing,” she muttered, glancing pointedly at their hands.
The corner of his mouth kicks up a fraction more. “You have always had such a fondness for my ears. It still confuses me,” Prime Spock replies instead.
Jim chuckles at the obvious deflection and tangles her fingers with his, deciding to play along. “Well, I feel as though I won’t get another opportunity. I don’t think I’ll be allowed such liberties with younger you.”
Prime Spock doesn’t say anything, but something in his eyes looks like he wants to argue, and for once, Jim gets just a small glimpse of his younger counterpart.
Scotty clears his throat. “Not that this isn’t endearing, but we really should get a move on shouldn’t we?”
Jim flushes violently. She’d forgotten there were others there, having been so lost in the comforting heat that is Prime Spock.
“Consider my heart carefully, t’hy’la, and handle yourself with proper precaution. I do not wish to lose you again now that I have found you once more,” he whispers and Jim closes her eyes tightly. He’s suddenly inside of her again, and she can feel the longing, love, grief, loss, joy. It is a confusing mix of emotions, which she knows are not her own. She wants to question him about it, how its possible to feel that when they aren’t even melded, but Prime Spock squeezes her hand for what feels like a final time and steps completely out of her reach.
Jim’s heart twists a little at the distance. She has to exhale slowly and push the longing deep down. She had bigger fish to fry, and fawning over Spock’s older counterpart is not helping her cause. Once she’s gathered herself, she says, “You know-coming back in time-changing history…that’s cheating.”
“Or perhaps exercising the proper amount of ingenuity,” Prime Spock says as his eyes twinkle. “A trick I learned from someone very precious to me.”
Jim ducks her head with a blush and a bashful smile.
Prime Spock activates the transporter, and as Jim looks upon him for the last time, she watches as he lifts his hand in the Vulcan salute, saying, “Live long, and prosper.”
She smiles in return as she’s whisked away in the white light.
888
When she rematerializes however, it’s a very different story. There is darkness and pressure as unseen liquid presses down at her at all sides. She lifts her hands but they move slowly as she beats against something hard. Then, she can hear Scotty on the other side of it, desperately asking after her well-being. She wants to answer, but she’s being swept away, and suddenly she’s in a tube. Scotty appears at her side in an instant, and she can vaguely make out the blurry expression on his face and realizes it’s panic. She opens her mouth, and a fraction of the air keeping her alive escapes from her mouth and morphs into bubbles around her face. Then she’s off again, moving rapidly through the tubes being twisted in every way, sucked down and up, and she can not breathe.
Scotty’s yelling something as he tries to follow her but then she’s pulled up and the sound of something whirring drowns out all other noises. She has a feeling that the source of it is not good at all. But before she can accept the fact that she might just die, all weight leaves her and she’s coming down hard, making painful contact with the floor. She spits up water for the next five minutes as Scotty worries over her and hauls her to her feet.
“I’m fine,” Jim gasps. “Just a little wet, but I’m alive.”
“Aye, you gave me a nasty scare there,” Scotty says, patting her back gently as she continues to wheeze. “Let’s keep your brushes with death to a minimum, what’d you say?”
Jim nods and finally has her heartbeat down to an acceptable rate. “Let’s get a move on before-”
“Freeze!”
Jim and Scotty suddenly find themselves on the other end of some phasers. Scotty raises his hands immediately and Jim rolls her eyes. She observes the security team and groans when she sees who the lead security officer is.
“Come with me…sweetheart,” he snarls. It’s none other than Cupcake.
888
The bridge doors whoosh open as Jim and Scotty are manhandled onto the bridge. Jim grins lazily at all the surprised and incredulous stares. Bones looks the most relieved out of all of them, and agitated as always.
Probably pissed that I made him worry so much, Jim thinks.
Bones takes a step forward, and looks prepared to give Jim an earful, but thinks better of it since Spock is already there, right in front of her. Jim’s breath hitches and she’s reminded of emotions from before with Spock’s older counterpart, but she quickly shakes out of it, reminding herself that this Spock doesn’t give a shit about her, let alone any kind of fond feelings.
“Howdy, Commander,” Jim greets coolly.
Spock glances at her briefly before turning to Scotty. “Who are you?”
Scotty opens his mouth to reply but Jim’s way ahead of him. “He’s with me, and it’s none of your concern.”
Spock goes on ignoring her to address Scotty. “How did you come to be on this vessel?”
Again, Scotty is all too willing to explain but Jim cuts in once more. “Don’t answer that.”
Scotty closes his mouth obediently.
Annoyance. Unsettled irritation. Confusion.
These emotions hit her in an intangible wave, and knocks Jim for a loop because she just knows those aren’t her feelings. Prime Spock isn’t around, so Jim can’t ignore that it’s obviously coming from Young Spock.
But how?
“We are traveling at warp. How did you manage to come aboard this ship?” Spock asks, still addressing Scotty.
Jim frowns. Spock is a champion at being petty.
Fine then, you wanna play? Let’s play. She thinks, then says, “You’re the one with the superior intellect. Why don’t you draw your own conclusions?” Then she shakes out her still-dripping ponytail, sending water in every direction.
A few drops land on Spock’s cheek and he stiffens immediately.
Anger. Irritation.
Jim smiles secretly. She may not know how or why she can feel what he feels, but it’s a great advantage for her. “Well now. That doesn’t frustrate you does it-our lack of cooperation?”
“As captain of this vessel I order you to explain your presence,” Spock replies coldly.
“We aren’t explaining a thing, Captain,” Jim retorts.
Outrage.
Spock focuses on Scotty once more. “You are not a member of this ship’s crew. Under penalty of court martial-”
“Oh don’t even,” Jim snaps. “You don’t say a thing,” she says to Scotty.
“You will explain,” Spock demands.
“Not. A. Word.” Jim rebuttals.
Scotty laughs uneasily, inching away as he holds his hands up in a harmless gesture. “You know I’d rather stay neutral in this whole…situation.”
Fury. And then two beats later: Chilling indifference.
Jim frowns. That isn’t good. She’s got to keep him feeling.
“Escort them to the brig,” Spock says and turns his back on them both.
Jim shakes off the hands that reach for her. “Just what is it with you, Captain?” Spock stops mid-step. “You are just-completely cold. Wasn’t your planet just destroyed?”
Spock doesn’t even turn to face her. “You believe the effect of these events impede on my ability to command this ship.”
“Shouldn’t it? Where you not just here today? Did you not see what happened?” Jim presses. “Did you see what he did? Where you there?
Anger.
“Yes of course I was,” Spock utters. “I fail to see the logic in your reference towards it.”
Jim knows she has him. “Certainly you of all people should aware of this,” she replies mockingly, using his words against him. “Your mother died today, had she not?”
RAGE.
Jim almost fumbles with the explosion of it, but she pushes forward anyway. “Did you see how quickly she fell-did you even try to do anything to stop it?”
Grief. Shame.
Spock squares his shoulders and walks to the captain’s chair quietly, sitting down and remaining silent.
Loss. Shame. Grief. Unbearable grief. Resignation.
“Got nothing to say to that, do you? Captain.” Jim is surprised that she can keep her voice steady. She’s feeling anything but that on the inside.
“Kirk. Stop it,” Uhura hisses.
“Why should I? It clearly doesn’t have a single affect on him. He’s the perfect model of Vulcan control. No trace of fear, or anger, or hurt,” Jim taunts, walking until she stands right in Spock’s line of vision. He stubbornly keeps his gaze lowered. “Well I guess I just have to applaud you don’t I? You’re keeping your cool so well despite having suffered the worst possible tragedy of your life.”
Simmering Anger.
Spock finally speaks, “I will not allow you to lecture me on the merits of emotion-”
“Oh come off it! You are an unemotional, unfeeling robot. You never loved her!” Jim says and Spock’s on his feet in an instant, and before she can blink or has time to prepare, she’s flying towards Sulu and Chekov, surpassing them as she crashes into the console from the force of Spock’s backhand.
There are gasps all around. As Jim cradles her cheek and crumbles to the floor, Bones rushes to her side, swearing up a storm and checking her over anxiously.
MURDEROUS WRATH.
Jim shudders with it as it washes over her, and she watches warily as Spock stalks towards her, eyes ablaze with unrestrained rage. Bones scowls, gathering himself to his feet and is prepared for a fight.
“Spock.”
Spock stops immediately but the wild anger in his eyes is still present.
“Control yourself, Son.”
Jim watches as Spock’s hands clench and unclench. He’s staring down at her, nostrils flaring, but a slow dawning washes his features and he’s seems to realize what he’s done, what he’s about to do. His face clears and he looks as though he’s finally got his bearings on reality again.
Shame. Embarrassment. Confliction. Fear.
Spock staggers back. “Doctor. I am no longer fit for duty. I hereby relinquish my command on the grounds that I have been...emotionally compromised. Please note the time and date in the ship's log,” and then he’s gone before anyone can blink, his father hot on his trail.
“No longer fit,” Bones growls darkly. “I’ll show him what it means to be no longer fit, putting his hands on a woman like that. He’s lost all his senses!”
“Bones,” Jim says softly. “Let it go. I provoked him.”
Bones snaps his head around to glare at her, and she flinches back. “That’s no excuse!” he snaps. “I oughta-”
“But you wont because I will never forgive you if you do,” Jim warns sternly.
Bones seems to being choking on several responses. He finally says neither of them and stands to his feet. “Fine. Be a goddamn punching bag for that sadastic green-blooded bastard but don’t come crying to me broken and expecting that I’ll fix everything without saying a damn word,” and then he too makes a hasty retreat.
Jim winces and stands to her feet, waving away Chekov and Sulu when they try to assist her. She knows Bones must be pretty pissed, but she’ll explain everything to him later. Not that it might make a difference anyway. Bones is viciously overprotective of her and that man knows how to hold a mean grudge. Combine those two facts together and Spock better hope he can appeal to Bones’ good side in this era.
She sighs and rubs her sore cheek, already feeling it overheat as it swells with blood. She always did bruise like a peach.
“I like this ship,” Scotty chimes excitedly and quite randomly. “Never a dull moment here.”
Incredulous stares are tossed his way but he just goes on grinning like a fool.
“Fantastic, Kirk,” Uhura states, crossing her arms. “Not only are we without a captain now, but there’s no first officer to replace him.”
Jim straightens and strides towards the captain’s chair. “On the contrary, Nyota.”
Uhura and the others look confused, but Sulu says, “Pike made her first officer.”
“Unbelievable,” Uhura mutters.
Jim sits down and drawls, “Thanks for the support, Lieutenant.”
“I just hope you know what your doing…Captain,” Uhura retorts.
“So do I,” Jim counters. She presses the communication button and makes a ship wide announcement. “This is Captain Kirk speaking. Commander Spock has resigned commission, and I know you’re all prepared to regroup with the fleet, but I’m changing course and ordering a pursuit of the enemy ship to Earth. I’m issuing red alert. I want all departments ready and at battle stations in ten minutes.” Jim pauses briefly, then says, “Either we’re going down, or they are-Kirk out.”
These words, Jim finds, are truer than she’s ever known.
888
Jim leaves the bridge to let Chekov, Sulu and Scotty deliberate the best strategy concerning what would happen once they’ve caught up with Nero. She knows she should be present for this discussion, but she trusts that they will come to the best conclusions without her. Right now, she trying to find Spock, and maybe rectify some of the damage she’s done. She’s been unable to feel him, and perhaps that’s what worries her the most. The computer directs her to the transporter room, claiming that’s where Spock could be found.
“-feel anger for the one that took mother’s life.”
Jim stops the moment she hears Spock’s voice and she finds herself standing outside, unwilling to interrupt but too curious to walk away.
“I am as conflicted as I once was as a child.”
A new voice joins in, and Jim recognizes that it belongs to Spock’s father. “You must not punish yourself. You will always be a child of two worlds-I am grateful for this.” A beat, then, “Perhaps even more, now that she is no longer with us. You are all I have left of her.”
“Father…” Spock sounds confused.
“You once asked of me why I choose to bond with your mother, and I misled you. I made it seem as if it was nothing more than convenience, when, the truth Spock, is that I loved her.” He goes on saying, “Emotions runs deep within our race, perhaps even deeper than humans. Such complexities…are uneasy to admit. Perhaps it is why we try to conceal them, bind them with rituals of control and meditation, when it doesn’t make us any lesser than who we are. I need you to comprehend this, Spock. Speak your mind.”
Spock seems to hesitate. “I feel an anger I can not control.”
“I believe your mother would say-do not try to. You will overcome these hardships. How you will, is left entirely up to you.”
Spock’s father exits a moment later, and Jim foolishly tries to flatten herself along the wall to avoid being seen. Because of this attempt, he takes notice of her immediately and lifts a questioning brow that eerily echoes Spock. “Captain Kirk, I believe eavesdropping is mutually distasteful in every culture.”
Jim smiles sheepishly. “Yes…sorry.”
He eyes her for a moment, as though he is looking for something. “I trust that the display you put on earlier with my son shall not happen again.”
Jim shakes her head quickly, a little cowed.
“I also trust, that you will explain to me why I feel a connection between you and my son,” he says unexpectedly. “A connection that is much like the one found amongst our young when they are betrothed.”
Jim is a bit thrown. “Um…”
“You may address me as Sarek,” he says.
Jim can only blink but Sarek looks indifferent.
Sarek studies her for a moment more, then says, “I recognize this is a discussion for an alternative time. I am aware of the more pressing matters that you must attend to, so I will take my leave, and wait patiently for a more suitable occasion to discuss the subject. I will then be able to decide what precautions to take.”
Vulcan Translation: I know you have a lot of shit on your plate, so I’m willing to wait until your ready to talk to me. Then after we talk, I can maybe know what to do about you.
“The need for a partition, however, is essential. I have taken the liberty of lifting basic shields between you and my son to prevent difficulties and complications.” That explains why Jim can just barely feel Spock there. “I also advise that you discuss this matter with my son as well,” Sarek instructs. “For now, I ask that you give him a moment of peace, so that he may, as you humans say, ‘collect himself’ and ‘come around’.”
Jim nods. “Yes, sir.”
Sarek lifts a brow. “It is not in my nature to reiterate. As I have stated before, you will address me as Sarek.”
“Sarek. Got it.” Jim responds immediately.
“Good day, Captain,” Sarek says once he is satisfied that he’s scared the living daylights out of her while also reassuring her that their interactions won’t have to be so stiffly formal.
Jim, again, is completely baffled, and can only watch as Sarek leaves wordlessly. He obviously knew more than she did about what was happening between her and Spock. That kind of made her blush a little guiltily. She felt a little like she’d got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Not wanting to be caught lingering, she makes her way back to the bridge.
She doesn’t know what’s more frightening: a conversation with Spock, a conversation with Sarek, or facing possible doom with Nero.
888
When Jim returns to the bridge, she realizes she hasn’t been gone long enough for them to reach a solution. So she adds her brainpower to the mix to try and speed along the process. In the middle of bouncing ideas off of each other, Chekov gets this look on his face that makes Jim pause. She quiets the others and asks the kid to go ahead and share with the rest of the class.
“Based on the Narada's course from Vulcan, I've projected that Nero will travel past Saturn. If we could drop out of warp behind one of Saturn's moons, say, Titan, the magnetic distortion from the planet's rings will make us invisible to Nero's sensors.”
Scotty cocks his head thoughtfully. “Aye, that just might work. You’ll have to adjust your shield frequencies of course to avoid further detection.”
Chekov nods rapidly.
Jim is just a bit skeptical.
“It is a logical course of action.”
Jim frowns and turns, as does everyone else in the room, to the bridge doors to see Spock standing there. He looks as prime and neat as ever, giving no hint to his brutal meltdown just moments before. Jim can’t help the small smile that touches her face. “Is that so, Commander?”
Spock darts a quick look at her bruised cheek, then away, and steps further in the room with his hands clasped. “I have reviewed his telemetry. If Mr. Sulu can maneuver us into position, I can beam aboard the Narada.”
Jim gazes at him considerably. “I can’t allow you to do that.”
“My mother was human. Which makes Earth the only home that I have left.” Spock eyes flicks to her bruised cheek again, then away as he explains, “Romulans and Vulcans share a common ancestry. Our cultural similarities will make it easier for me to access the ship’s computer to locate the device.”
Jim nods once. “Then I’m coming with you.” She grins, and adds, “No need to cite regulation, Commander.”
“I am aware. You would simply ignore it.” Spock eye’s dart to her bruised cheek for what must be the hundredth time.
Jim grins deviously. Then says, “Stop looking at my face like you mutilated me. I’m fine.”
Spock stiffens and responds, “‘Fine’ has variable definitions, Captain. ‘Fine’ is unacceptable, as was my actions.”
Jim sighs, too aware of all the ears listening in. Sarek was right about eavesdropping being distasteful. “I’m not exactly an innocent bystander now am I? I said some very ugly things.”
“That is no excuse for-”
“Forgiven, Commander,” Jim quickly interjects.
“I must protes-”
“Forgiven.” Jim repeats stubbornly. “End of discussion.”
Spock has that look about him again. Like he wants to argue, but merely resigns to the fact that it would not be wise, and nods wordlessly.
“Good,” Jim says evenly, and turns quickly so that he doesn’t see her amused smile. “Now if you’re all done watching us like a soap opera…”
That gets everyone moving, looking equally chastised and guiltily.
As she watches them scramble with a secret smile on her face, she finds that she loves being Captain.
888
Jim’s standing on the transporter pad with Spock when Uhura strides in the room. She’s walking with determination and poise, and doesn’t stop until she’s face to face with Spock. There is a whispered exchange and then a kiss. That’s when Jim decides that the ceiling has become the most enlightening point of interest. When she glances back over after a few moments, they’re still going at it. Even Scotty looks uncomfortable.
“Well done, Mr. Sulu,” Scotty says suddenly. “You’ve got a fine Helmsman there, Captain. He’s done good.”
Jim smiles.
Bones suddenly makes an appearance. He looks around with a scowl before he zeros in on Jim. Much like Uhura, he stalks forward with a purpose.
“Bones,” Jim says, inching away subtly. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Bones doesn’t answer right away. He just moves closer and yanks Jim to him when she’s in reachable distance.
Jim eyes widen and her jaw drops in shock. He never voluntarily hugs her. Several moments pass before she shakes off her surprise and awkwardly pats him on the back, vaguely wondering if he was drunk.
Bones pulls back, still scowling. “You listen to me. You’re an absolute pain in my ass. So help me if you die, I’ll do everything that I can to revive you just so I can shake you right back into a coma,” he warns, then steps back and lands Spock with a sinister glare. “If you weren’t my superior I’d-” Bones cuts himself off, and just mutters. Then he starts up again, “I expect you’ll bring Jimmy here, back in one piece, because if you don’t, if you let anything happen to her, superior or not, I’ll show you exactly what I know about Vulcan biology.”
Jim snorts and pokes Bones in the forehead with two fingers, sending him stumbling back three steps. “Easy there, Tiger. I don’t think they can handle that whole Papa Bear side you try to hide.”
Bones just glares at them all before he storms off.
“Love you too Bones!” she calls after him. She snickers when he flips her the bird and disappears. After a moment she goes gravely quiet, then says, “Mr. Sulu?”
“Captain?”
“If you feel you have the tactical advantage, even if we’re still aboard, I want you to fire on that ship. That’s an order. Understood?”
“Aye, Captain.”
Uhura steps down from the pad. “Good luck, Kirk.”
Jim nods. “Mr. Scott?”
Scotty answers, “If there’s any common sense to their ship design, I should put you right in the cargo bay, not a soul in sight.”
Jim acknowledges that with a nod and glances at Spock who inclines his head slightly.
Jim exhales to catch her bearings.
“Energize.”
Chapter 5
888
Author’s Notes: Did I mention this was going to be a series? Yeah…this is going to be a series. I think I’m getting more comfortable with the characters.