Chapter Text
“It’s just a routine mission, right?”
Spock looked up from his console into the half-smiling face of his captain. “All indications are that it is, yes.”
Kirk tilted his head. “Then really, only one of us needs to go down.”
Spock straightened then, pulling down on his uniform shirt. His captain almost never went on a mission without him. In fact there were reasons there were rumors of how close they were. That they were, as McCoy said, ‘joined at the hip’.
This was not the norm.
“I will go then, Captain.”
“No, I don’t think so. I’d like you to stay behind.”
He took a step forward without even thinking about it. “I do not understand.”
Kirk glanced away, his smile slipping from his face, replaced by a slight frown. “This storm.”
“You have concerns?”
His gaze returned to Spock, his eyes an intense glacial blue. “Not concerns. More a feeling. I want someone in the command chair who can handle anything, Spock. And that’s you.”
“And you, Captain. If you remain behind—”
“They’re expecting me. They asked specifically for me.”
“Jim—”
Kirk’s hand shot out to rest on Spock’s chest. Preventing from moving any closer. “I’m sure it’s fine, Spock. It’s not like I’m known for my intuition.” His gaze slid away again and swept over the bridge. When it returned to Spock once more the blue had hardened. “If the storm gets bad, get the Enterprise out of here.”
“Captain—”
“You have your orders, Commander.” Kirk looked at the bridge again. “We have some time before we reach orbit. Come with me. Sulu, you have the command.”
“Yes, sir.”
Spock followed his captain into the turbolift, uncertain what Kirk’s intentions were. The doors opened on the deck with the officers’ quarters and Kirk headed straight for his own. Spock followed him inside. He prepared himself for anything. A reprimand was most likely. Kirk was in charge on the bridge and he took that very seriously.
“Spock—”
“I know,” Spock said quickly “My behavior—”
“Shh.” Kirk leaned up slightly to kiss him to silence. “I know.”
“It is only that—”
“Babe, I know.” Kirk kissed him again and Spock closed his eyes. “This is new for both of us. But if we can’t get our shit together, they’re going to tear us apart.”
“I would not let that happen.”
“Nor would I,” Kirk said. “But we have to proceed with caution. There are those who are looking for any excuse. I’ll go down, deal with the dignitaries, and be back in no time.” Kirk smiled. He leaned into Spock. “You can fuck me all night.”
Spock tamped down the arousal that instantly spiked at his captain’s words. Time touching Kirk, embedding himself within, would soothe him as nothing else could.
“Okay. You ready?”
Spock nodded. “Yes, Captain.”
Even though he would not accompany Kirk down to the planet, he walked with him to the transporter room. There two security guards, Mr. Scott, and Ensign Chekov waited.
“I’ll keep you advised,” Kirk promised as he stepped up onto the transporter pad. For a moment, his gaze held Spock’s, and then he said with a nod to the transporter chief, “Energize.”
****
Spock had been required to take the Enterprise out of orbit two hours later when the storm became too unstable. Prior to that Kirk had kept his promise and advised Spock everything was going as planned.
It was another twelve hours before the storm let up enough for the Enterprise to return to orbit the planet.
“Enterprise to Captain Kirk.”
When there was no response, Spock turned in the captain’s chair toward Uhura. “Lieutenant?”
“Everything’s operational, Mr. Spock.”
“The storm did not affect communications?”
“Not that I can see, sir.”
“Enterprise to Captain Kirk. Spock to Kirk.”
“Mister Spock.” Scott’s voice.
Spock tried to quell the panic that rose within him. There were any number of reasons Scott could be speaking instead of Kirk.
“Spock here. Go ahead, Mr. Scott.”
A pause. “The-the captain’s been injured. Request immediate beam up.”
“Transporter, beam up landing party.” Spock ran from the bridge and into the turbolift. He ordered Dr. McCoy to the transporter room as well.
When Spock arrived the party was there. Scott was cradling Kirk in his arms. There was blood everywhere, soaking through Scott, soaking through Kirk. All over the security guards and Mr. Chekov, who looked very pale and appeared to be crying.
As Spock approached them he saw there were tears in Scott’s eyes too. He dropped to his knees and pulled Kirk to him.
Kirk’s eyes were open but his eyelids were drooping and the light in his blue eyes dimmed even as Spock held him. “H-hey.”
“It will be all right. Dr. McCoy is coming.”
“Not this time, Spock.”
“Jim—”
“Hurts.”
Spock’s eyes began to sting. “You cannot—”
“Just…” Kirk licked his lips. “No matter what I’ll always love you. Anywhere, any place, it’s always you, Spock.”
“Please, do not leave me.”
“Always and forever. Don’t forget.”
The door opened behind him and he heard McCoy cursing and rushing forward as he felt the life fade from his captain.
****
“You can’t do this, Spock.”
“Watch me, doctor.”
Spock went to the transporter and operated several switches.
“To interfere with another universe—”
“I do not require a lecture right now.”
McCoy grabbed Spock. “But you’re going to get one. No one is more upset about Jim’s loss than I am.”
Spock’s jaw clenched.
“Except you,” McCoy said quietly. “I know. But you can’t go to another universe and take the place of another Spock just so you can have Jim back.”
“I have chosen a James Kirk where the Spock is not with him, so the loss of Jim will not matter to him.”
“They are still friends, Spock, even if they are not a romantic pair.”
“You cannot compare mere friendship with what I had-have with Jim.”
“I know it isn’t the same but Jim wouldn’t—”
“Jim said he would love me any place, anywhere.”
“That’s not what he meant.”
“It is precisely what he meant. The Spock that will take my place will be captain.”
“Are you saying trading Jim for a captaincy is a fair trade?”
“I do not care about fairness, Leonard. Nor does this universe in which I find myself. It would never have taken my t’hy’la from me if it had. I am harming no one by taking the place of this Spock and loving Jim.”
“You don’t know that. Spock, this isn’t logical.”
Spock shook his head. “I am not currently ruled by logic.”
McCoy deflated. “What of this Jim you go to? You said he and Spock are not together. Why is that?”
“Currently my counterpart is engaged in a relationship with Uhura.”
“Uhura? You and her?”
Spock shrugged. “It is peculiar. But that will not hinder my plan. Jim is my t’hy’la in any universe.”
“Wouldn’t he be that Spock’s t’hy’la then?”
“Likely. But if he chooses to ignore that, then he should have no problem adapting to a universe without Jim. I cannot do so.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
Spock took a step back. “For what purpose?”
“To try and convince you that you have to live without Jim.”
“Never. If that is your purpose, then stay here.”
McCoy glanced at the transporter. “How do you intend to do it?”
“There is a storm.”
“And the Leonard from there would come through here?”
Spock nodded.
McCoy swallowed heavily. “To-to see Jim again. Even for a brief time.” He wiped his eyes. “He might not be like ours.”
“He is as close as I could find.” Spock finished the coordinates and controls on the transporter. “If you come, there is a chance you cannot come back, even if that is your intention, your desire. We may never get back to our universe. In fact, it is unlikely.”
“This is wrong.”
“Stay then.” Spock stepped up onto the transporter. He was not surprised when McCoy stood next to him just as his program engaged.
They wavered in space for a moment and then reappeared on the transporter.
“Thank God. That storm was a bitch. Good job, Scotty,” said an achingly familiar voice.
Spock stood on the pad, staring down at James T. Kirk. His uniform was almost the same. Except instead of the three same sized stripes at the wrists of his uniform Spock was used to, there were two thicker stripes and a thin stripe between them. But he was beautiful. His golden hair perfectly groomed, his blue eyes sparkling, a smile curving his sensual plump lips.
“Jim,” he whispered, staggering down.
Jim looked puzzled. He reached out and steadied Spock with a hand on Spock’s arm. “You okay? Did that storm mess you up?”
Spock stared, trying to force the longing from his face that must surely be there. “I am unharmed.”
Jim smiled and stopped touching Spock. “Good. How about you Bones?”
McCoy was staring at Jim too. How could they not? “I’m-I’m fine, Jim.” He cleared his throat. “Never better.”