Hearts and Minds: Chapter 5 - Interlude

[lah_mrh]

Fandom: Star Trek Reboot (although numerous references to TOS)
Pairing: Kirk Prime/Spock Prime, Spock/Uhura, eventual Kirk/Spock
Rating: PG-13
Beta: secret_chord25, many thanks.
Summary: When the Enterprise encounters a ship caught in the Nexus, their rescue attempt beams aboard someone unexpected; Kirk Prime. Kirk and Spock are forced to confront what their counterparts' relationship might mean for their own.
Words: ~1700/33000

 

It is much easier to achieve a meditative state once Jim has left. Spock would prefer to spend time with his bondmate, especially after being separated from him for so very long, but unfortunately the meditation is necessary. He is still not fully healed from his injury, and, if he does not wish to return to sickbay, he will have to meditate fairly extensively over the next few days. The only other option is a healing trance, which would mean even more time separated from Jim.

 

There is also the fact that his control is still not back to normal. He can still remember his outburst when he first woke after his injury; the crippling fear that Jim would leave and he would be alone again. It was a relief to regain some measure of control, but the fear has not fully gone away, and he does not know whether Jim has noticed.

 

Spock comes out of the meditative trance to find that half an hour has passed. He briefly considers getting something to eat, but he promised Jim that he would stay in the room. Jim’s overprotectiveness is slightly irritating, but he cannot say that he would not do the same if their positions were reversed. He fingers the medical sensor around his wrist and then picks up a PADD off one of the desks and decides to work on his speech for the conference.

 

He is at work for less than fifteen minutes when Jim returns. He leans over Spock’s shoulder, the way he  did when they worked together.

 

“Can I distract you now?” Jim murmurs into his ear.

 

Spock lays down the PADD and turns to face him. “I am very busy, Jim,” he responds sternly, trying to keep a straight face.

 

Jim stares at him. Spock manages to keep his face expressionless for 24 seconds before his lips twitch and Jim grins. “Y’know, you actually had me going there for a second.” He rests his hands on Spock’s shoulders for a moment, then goes to sit on the bed.

 

Spock moves to sit beside him. “What did Jim want to discuss with you?”

 

“Can I just say that it’s very strange to hear you say that?” Jim runs his fingers gently across Spock’s.

 

“It is a very strange situation. And you haven’t answered my question.”

 

“He wanted to talk about the younger you. Apparently he and the lovely Ms Uhura are no longer involved.”

 

Spock raises an eyebrow. “Indeed?”

 

“Yep.” Jim’s fingers move from Spock’s hand to his ear, and he leans in to press their lips together. The kiss quickly becomes more passionate, and when they part, Jim’s cheeks are endearingly flushed. “I think you’re wrong about the timelines changing everything. I think it’ll work out for them, like it did for us.”

 

Suspicion fills Spock. “What did you tell him?”

 

“Nothing! I just… gave him some advice.”

 

Spock gives him a disapproving look and deliberately shifts further away. Annoyance sweeps through him; he specifically asked Jim not to intervene.

 

Jim runs a hand down his arm. “Don’t be like that. I know you want them to figure it out on their own, but do you remember where that got us? I figure if we can help them avoid some of the pitfalls we fell into, we have a duty to do so.”

 

Spock sighs. “Jim. We do not have the right to interfere. You are not doing either of them a favour by pushing them together like this.”

 

Jim stares at him. “Why is this so important to you?”

 

Spock meets his eyes. “It was attempting to deal with my feelings for you that drove me to attempt the kolinahr. If someone had forced me to confront those feelings earlier, it would have been a disaster.”

 

Jim’s expression softens. “All right, I can understand that. But we’ve already established that he’s not you, and besides, hasn’t that ship already sailed? I mean, if he really did see your memories of us-”

 

“That is no reason to make it worse.”

 

They stare at each other for a moment before Jim gives a half-smile. “How about a compromise? I won’t interfere, but if they ask me directly, I’m not going to lie.”

 

Spock considers this and can tell that Jim is sincere. “Very well.” He moves closer and entwines their fingers.

 

Jim grins broadly. “Right; now that that’s settled, where were we?”

 

Spock leans down and kisses him in response. He moves his free hand up under Jim’s shirt, feeling the reassuring heartbeat under his palm.

 

Things are heating up nicely when the sensor on his wrist beeps. Spock can feel Jim’s laughter against his shoulder. “All right; I guess this isn’t ‘resting’ in the traditional sense.” He gives Spock a rueful look and reluctantly moves further away.

 

* * * * *

 

It isn’t long before Spock falls asleep. Jim watches over him for a few minutes, frowning slightly. His bondmate is obviously still drained from the events of the last few days, but Jim knows from experience that he won’t be able to get Spock back into sickbay unless he actually drags him there. He doubles his resolve to make sure that Spock gets enough rest over the next few days.

 

Sighing, Jim gets up carefully, making sure that he doesn’t wake Spock. He takes a sonic shower and changes his clothes – the only ones he could replicate are Starfleet uniforms. It feels very strange to be back in the old yellow and black instead of the red uniforms that Starfleet adopted in the early 2280s.

 

As he dresses, he thinks about their argument earlier. Not an argument, he tells himself, a discussion. He still doesn’t quite understand why Spock is so against the idea of giving their younger selves a few pointers. In their universe, when he wanted advice on Vulcan-human relationships, he asked Amanda. Spock’s mother was invaluable in the early days, when he and Spock were still trying to figure everything out. But that isn’t an option here, and so surely the obvious people to consult would be them. But he made a promise, and is determined to stick to it.

 

Jim pulls on the gold shirt and sits down on the empty side of the bed. He has borrowed a copy of Oliver Twist from his counterpart and decides to make a start on it. Moving into a comfortable position, he opens the book.

 

Some time later his concentration is disturbed by the bedcovers shifting. He looks over as Spock sits up, looking slightly puzzled.

 

“I fell asleep,” he says, blinking.

 

His hair is slightly mussed; Jim smiles at the sight. “I’m not going to hold it against you. I’d prefer if you didn’t act like you were fine when you’re not, though.”

 

Spock sighs. “I suppose it is pointless to hide it from you.”

 

Jim puts the book down and moves closer. “I won’t turn you in to Bones if you promise not to overexert yourself.” He runs a hand soothingly through Spock’s hair.

 

Spock appears to be considering this. “Or,” Jim continues, “you can spend the next few days back in sickbay.”

 

Spock shoots him a look. “I will attempt not to expend more energy than necessary.”

 

“I’ll take that as an agreement.” Jim checks the time. “Dinner?”

 

“That is a good idea.”

 

They head out of the cabin towards the cafeteria. Jim assumes that most of the crew are aware of who he is at this point, as they attract quite a few interested glances. He begins to wish he could have replicated some civilian clothes.

 

In the cafeteria, they order their meals and then sit down together at a corner table. “We seem to be attracting some attention,” Spock notes quietly.

 

Jim glances around the room. There are several people rather openly staring, although they look away when he makes eye contact. He turns back to Spock. “I know this is the Enterprise, but meeting an alternate version of your commanding officer doesn’t happen every day. They’re just curious.”

 

“You do remember your promise?”

 

“Which one?” At Spock’s look he sighs. “Yes, I remember. You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to tell them about the future.”

 

Spock gives him a small smile. “I doubt it would make a tremendous difference if you did, but it is better to be safe.”

 

At that point, a beaming man in a red shirt stops by their table. “Hey, are you from the future as well, then?” he says in a thick Scottish accent.

 

“You wouldn’t happen to be Montgomery Scott?” Jim asks, raising his eyebrows.

 

“Aye, tha’s me. I tell you, the other me must’ve been really somethin’.” He addresses Spock. “The equation you gave me for transwarp beaming – it’s a truly masterful piece o’ theory.”

 

“Equation for transwarp beaming?” Jim asks, and watches with interest as a slight green flush appears on Spock’s cheeks.

 

“It was necessary,” Spock says, carefully avoiding Jim’s eyes.

 

“Oh, aye,” Scotty agrees. “Couldn’a saved the Earth without it.” He leans in. “I don’ suppose you have any more equations like tha’?”

 

“I’m afraid not,” Jim says.

 

“Shame, shame. Still, good to meet you.” With that, Scotty disappears.

 

Jim studies Spock for a moment, eyebrows raised. “What was that you were saying about not giving them future knowledge?”

 

Spock finally looks up. “As I said, it was necessary. I did not give him any information that was not absolutely vital to the mission of saving Earth.”

 

“I’m not arguing with that. But that equation will change a lot of lives,” Jim points out. “The universe has changed so drastically - it doesn’t seem like it’ll matter that much if we do tell them about the future. Hell, most of our knowledge is probably useless now.”

 

Spock is silent for a few moments. “You may have a point. My instinct, however, is still to avoid direct interference.” He meets Jim’s eyes. “If there comes a time where speaking up will save as many lives as the transwarp beaming equation, I may rethink my position.”

 

Jim nods. “I understand, but it’s hard to sit by and just let it all happen.”

 

“We have no proof that the alternative would not be even worse.” Spock goes back to his meal, and Jim assumes that the conversation is closed.


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