#stackofbookswithlegs

“Well, Jim, the Metrons cleaned you up a bit, that’s for sure, but they did nothing to actually help your wounds.” Leonard ran the medical scanner over his captain once more. He had a lot of bruising, some cracked bones, a slight concussion, and his overall energy was down. Basically, he was beat up something fierce and he’d be feeling like he’d been hit by a truck for a few days.

“You’re gonna be feeling it in the morning I’ll tell ya that…” He snapped the scanner back into its place and made his way around the biobed to find the proper treatments in a nearby cabinet. He started rooting around for the right hypos. Simple pain killer would suffice. Jim was tough, he could definitely take a punch, God bless him, but he was still human.

Alexander was safe. Jim and Spock had made sure of that. They were as sure as one was capable of being that he would face no more cruelty, and would have every opportunity to better his life. Spock had apologized to Chapel again, while she stated once again that it wasn’t his fault and she held no ill-will towards him. Things should have been back to normal. But the captain and first officer had been quiet ever since it happened. They hadn’t discussed it, and they hadn’t stayed overnight in each other’s rooms in some time.

Spock had only slept once since the events of the mission, and when he did he had been plagued with nightmares. An usual occurrence for such a disciplined mind, he had been rattled by the experience. He had spent most of his rest periods since in meditation, trying to release any fears that seemed to be trying to linger inside him. But he quickly found it was useless. He knew what he needed more than anything, and he had been depriving himself of him for days. What Spock needed most was Jim.

Jim had survived a massacre. He would, no doubt, know what Spock was missing to rid himself of the negative feelings still echoing through his mind. That was how 2 hours 50 minutes after Alpha shift had ended, Spock had made his way to the Captain’s quarters and buzzed. He waited until he was given entrance and the door was shut again to explain himself.

“Captain,” he said, staying formal for the moment. It had been a year and a half of stolen kisses between shifts and endearments whispered against skin in the early mornings. But now was one of the rare moments he didn’t feel like he could afford to let himself soften until Jim gave him permission. "I believe it is overdue that we discuss certain matters. Both of our performances have been suffering since our last mission. You have required reports to be repeated at an increased rate of 36.1%. Additionally, I have not slept more than once since the incidents. As we have both expressed experiencing a tranquilizing effect in one another’s presence, it was logical I offered myself as ‘company.’”

Starfleet Academy.  Saavik had been striving for this since she was a child and had been brought to Vulcan.  Following in Spock’s footsteps was something she’d always wanted to do, she knew she didn’t belong at the Science Academy, Starfleet was where she belonged.  It was where she would fit in best and she needed to prove it.

It hadn’t been easy at first, it was very different from the learning environment she’d had on Vulcan and it had taken her awhile to understand how the instructors here did things.  She was actually grateful that it was more personal than the teaching pods back on Vulcan, she never had liked that way of learning.  She also had enjoyed getting to know some of the other species that were in the academy, learning about their cultures and planets.

Now she felt mostly comfortable with the classes and had little trouble keeping up on her homework.  The social aspect of things still gave her trouble, most cadets saw her as Vulcan and she wasn’t about to tell them differently.  Romulans were not trusted and besides, no one needed to know her true heritage other than those she wished to know.  Glancing at her PADD, she noted that she was running 1.34 seconds behind schedule and she picked up her pace slightly to make it to her class on time.

Just as she was stepping through a hallway intersection, she bumped into someone.  “I apologize.”  She bent to pick up the dropped PADD and glanced up, catching sight of the insignia.  “Admiral!”  Straightening, she came to attention.  He looked familiar and it took her a moment to place him.  Admiral Kirk.  Oh no.  She struggled to keep her face from becoming hot in embarrassment.

It’s been a long three days. The ship was sound. sickbay was under control, and the Klingons that had been menacing Nimbaran 3 were on their way back across the Neutral Zone with their tails between their legs. Jim was beat. But he was too wired to sleep, and the last thing he wanted was ask Bones for anything to help him crash. Last time he did that he’d been out for two days. Sneaky bastard. Jim hoped he and Spock got a good laugh from that one.

He left the bridge, dropped by his quarters for one of the books he was currently reading, and then headed to the observation deck where he had the food synthesizer give him a cup of black coffee and a palm sized chocolate chip cookie. It wasn’t fancy, but Jim didn’t want fancy. He wanted coffee, quiet, and to sit in a soft chair and watch the stars streak by while they headed to Outpost 17.

He scooped a few spoons of real sugar into the coffee and dropped into his favorite seat to relax. It wasn’t officially the captain’s chair, but he noticed long ago that most of the crew left it vacant for him when he was off duty. “Now where was I?” he asked the book when he discovered his bookmark had fallen out on his way there.