[Previous Set of Drabbles]

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Positions
Protective
Spones
Meddling
Protective 2
Fascination
Dating 2
One Mind
TOS Kirk and Spock meet AOS Bones
Roses
Touching
Importance
Idiots
Lost

—

Positions
Spock is a back-sleeper. His eyes shut in one position and he wakes up in precisely that same position. He is very proud to have such good control over his limbs.

Jim used to be a stomach-sleeper as a child. But since Tarsus IV, he is prone to sleeping curled on his side for better protection, more heat preservation, and less notice-ability. Occasionally, when he feels very safe, he wakes up to find himself on his stomach.

Leonard is not a stomach-sleeper so much as he is a sleep-on-top sleeper. He throws his leg over Spock, or he drapes his upper torso across Jim. He’s apt to fall asleep in whatever position he winds up in when he hits the bed. If that’s on top of another person, then so be it.

—

Protective
Imagine that Vulcans are, in their opinion, “appropriately protective” of their mates. After all, to find someone who is the perfect mind-mate to oneself is considered a rarity and treasure. Therefore it is logical that one must ensure his or her mate is always taken care of, loved deeply, and – naturally – not seduced away by a rival.

Spock takes his duties concerning his mates very seriously. However, because he has two of them, there are times when he must be very, very alert and very, very quick on his feet. Perhaps the most risky of such times are the formal events he attends with Jim and Leonard. In particular, he has found that at some point during the evening either Jim or Leonard will separate from under his watchful eye and become in danger of the attention of others. For instance, if Spock is carefully and diplomatically preventing Jim’s admirers from frequently trying to seduce Jim by touch and making sure they understand Jim, however charming he acts, is not available to be another’s mate, then Leonard may slip away to get another drink and is soon flocked by admirers of his own who may not be physically flirt with him but engage him in stimulating conversation which, as Spock knows, Leonard finds attractive. It is Spock’s duty to scatter them as well, but it never fails to come about that if he leaves Jim for Leonard, Jim is in danger again and vice versa.

The matter can be quite exhausting, and yet Spock works very hard as a proper Vulcan mate during these events, often spending most of his time trying to keep Jim and Leonard in the general vicinity of one another to improve his response time and reduce the number of encounters with those individuals who have too much unprofessional interest in his bondmates. As to how Jim and Leonard feel about this Vulcan duty, Spock is uncertain. He only knows that when they are ready to leave, Jim will say cryptically to Leonard, “How many numbers did you get?” and they will laugh without explaining the joke.

What he does not know and has yet to perceive is that he himself is subject to admirers just as Jim and Leonard. These admirers have never been able to pierce Spock’s veil of obliviousness for the simple reason that Spock has no attention to spare them. He is entirely focused on acting as the barrier between his bondmates and any would-be rivals. So one must wonder, then, exactly what it is that Jim and Leonard seek to accomplish when they wander away, seemingly innocent, from their Vulcan. Who is shepherding whom?

The consensus of the amused onlookers (those wise enough not to covet any of the three) is this: Jim, Leonard, and Spock surely need never worry – they are crazy enough to deserve each other.

—

Spones
One day Spock and Leonard are engaged in a battle of wits as they are walking through a corridor of the ship and when they step into a turbolift together, by-standers refuse to get on. After all, while it may be entertaining to watch the pair argue, they can’t do it without cracking up and that just makes both Spock and McCoy mad at them. So, Leonard and Spock enter a turbolift together but once the door is closed, the doctor ceases to speak. Instead he leans against the back of the lift, his shoulders rounding down and his expression closed.

Spock has never seen this happen before, not so abruptly, and inquiries as to the state of his companion’s health.

Leonard answers in the negative, saying in a voice more subdued than normal, “Haven’t you ever needed a moment to lean on something?”

When Spock does not reply, Leonard concludes, “Of course you haven’t, Mr. Spock.”

Nothing more is said on the matter.

But Spock is not one to forget.

Some time later, maybe a month, maybe a few months, there is a medical crisis happening on a colony to which the Enterprise supplies the aid it desperately needs. Everyone is occupied in some form or fashion but none more than Dr. McCoy and his staff. As the Science Officer, Spock coordinates a majority of the efforts of the labs between his department and McCoy’s but also as the First Officer he is keeping tabs on duty rotation and ensuring that everyone works to the peak of their performance but not beyond. There are several times when he tries to catch the busy CMO to point out that Leonard is not following in the schedule laid out for him (by Spock) to take rest and meals. When he finally does manage to do so, it is at the tail end of the crisis and the doctor has just gone to his office, according to another member of the staff. Spock finds Leonard propped up against his desk with one hip, sorting padds with shaking hands and looking worse for the wear.

Spock remarks, startling the man, “This will not do.” He steps farther into the office so that the door automatically closes and adds, “Doctor, I request that you lean upon me.”

Of course, Leonard thinks the Vulcan has gone insane or been affected somehow by the virus on the colony. He wants to run a medical scan.

Spock takes the tricorder from Leonard and reiterates, “You may on lean me. In the likelihood that you should collapse from exhaustion, I will be able to assist you without delay.”

Suffice to say, if anyone walked into the CMO’s office a few minutes after that, they would never be able to figure out how Spock persuaded Leonard to accept his proposition. They would be too shocked by the sight of McCoy, eyes closed, with his forehead pressed against the Vulcan’s shoulder and both of the officers standing so absolutely still. It is terribly strange, this new facet to their relationship.

Of course, this is not to say that Mr. Spock offers anything other than his shoulder for the doctor – not in the beginning. It will be later (although inevitable, one might argue) that Spock gradually learns that a friend is much better supported by a proper hug.

—

Meddling
Imagine that Cadet Kirk makes some passing remark about a drunk doctor on recruitment shuttlecraft and his advisor Captain Pike checks into the guy. Kirk ends up on the same floor in the same dorm as McCoy. Not surprisingly, the two become close friends. Later on, Pike never forgets his cadet’s reaction to the Vulcan who accuses Kirk of cheating – or the fact that they put their differences aside to work together to defeat a common enemy. While he’s healing, he does some digging there too, maybe comes across another Vulcan out of time and place and has a few of his own suspicions answered. Then the cadets have graduated and the Enterprise is out on a series of scouting missions. Pike keeps in touch with McCoy and Spock just as he keeps in touch with his ship’s newest captain. He listens to all three and advises them when needed. Kirk and Spock pick up chess as a team-building activity at Pike’s behest. McCoy is sent a rare medical text on Vulcans. Pike suggests a meal or two in the captain’s quarters might help Kirk help his two fighting senior officers learn some civility with one another. And whenever Pike learns that Kirk has gotten into trouble, he always has Spock and McCoy report on their captain’s status at the same time.

Or, basically, the story in which Christopher Pike has secretly been trying to bring Jim, Leonard, and Spock together for years. Of course, it is inevitable that he succeeds.

—

Protective 2
Remember the TOS episode where Spock has to hustle Kirk and McCoy out of the street so they aren’t in danger from being run over, and then he kind of stares hard at the vehicle passing (and to us Trekkies this behavior earned him the nickname ‘Mama Bear’)?

Now imagine that Spock does this sort of protective thing all the time. Like, he always walks on the street-side of the sidewalk, putting himself between Kirk and McCoy and idiot drivers. He stands in front when in the turbolift in case he needs to fend off surprise attacks (it’s happened, okay, this is the Enterprise). He wants to personally inspect the shuttlecraft if they’re taking a trip somewhere. He even positions himself across from Kirk and McCoy at the lunch table so he can keep an eye on whoever might be approaching the pair from behind. He’s been known to give the Vulcan stink eye to many unsavory characters, or basically to anyone who dares to look sideways at either human.
And everybody is aware of this but Jim and Leonard. In fact, they may even make passing remarks that they feel fairly safe as long as Spock is with them – and the person listening to this just smacks his or her forehead and has to walk away, the obliviousness is THAT bad. At some point an ensign blurts out, “Don’t you know Mr. Spock is ridiculously overprotective of you?” and, low and behold, before Jim and Leonard can blink and question this statement, suddenly there is a Vulcan shadow looming over said ensign, and that ensign is never seen from again. Or rather, he’s reassigned to some remote part of the ship where he can think on his life choices (and wish he had kept his mouth shut).

Spock is a firm believer that Jim and Leonard are best protected when they aren’t aware of being protected and woe is the fool who tries to enlighten his humans.

—

Fascination
Imagine that although Spock normally sleeps on his back in his perfect ‘deadman’ pose (McCoy’s description, not Spock’s), occasionally Spock spoons whoever is closest to him. Though he has never admitted so out loud, he has a fascination with round ears. He could have had round ears through a quirk of genetics. And so, when Jim and Leonard are deeply asleep, Spock likes to trace the curve of their ears. If his husbands know about this, they have never once asked him to stop.

—

Dating 2
Spock rarely takes shore leave short of an official order, so when he suggests to the two humans that they all beam over to the starbase for a meal, Jim and Leonard are happy to oblige. Only, it’s not the typical bar-and-grill which Spock takes them to but rather the expensive kind of dining that could easily set an officer back by a month’s salary and requires a reservation at least several weeks in advance. When they enter the restaurant, the Maître D’ acts as if he has been waiting for them, appears to know Spock – greeting Spock by his full name in Vulcan – and shows the three men to a private dining room, sparsely but beautifully decorated with an intimate ambiance. A bottle of the best wine is immediately brought to the table. Suffice to say, as they watch Spock sample the vintage and approve the waiter’s choice, Kirk and McCoy can’t quite determine why Spock has chosen to bring them there.

When the waiter leaves with their orders (Spock having pretty much ordered half of the menu for them), Jim jokes in an offhanded manner, “If Bones and I had known this was a date, Commander, we would have dressed fancier.”

Spock replies, “The attire you wear is trivial when compared to the gift of your company. Please be at ease and enjoy the meal.”

Leonard nearly chokes on his mouthful of wine. “Wait, we are on a date?”

Steepling his fingers, Spock seems to take the question very seriously. “It is a fairly common Vulcan custom to treat one’s closest companions to a lavish dining experience… so essentially, yes, Leonard – a date.”

Jim ducks his head to hide his pleasure. “Fascinating.”

“I am glad that you think so, Jim.”

“Well,” adds the doctor, picking up his wine glass once more, “if the drinks are free, count me in too.”

“Excellent,” murmurs Spock, subtly pleased. “I hope tonight is to your tastes. I will admit that I had little personal experience to draw upon in the arrangement of our dining plans, and when in doubt I tend to choose the best of what is available. However please know that I am amenable to suggestions for future venues…” He pauses ever-so-slightly. “…if the continuation of our dates sounds agreeable to you.”

Leonard winks at Jim while addressing Spock, “Depends on how this one goes. We’ll let you know.”

Spock nods very solemnly. “Of course.”

“But on that note,” Jim breaks in, “I have some good ideas about what we could do after dinner… star-gazing, anyone?”

“You romantic,” teases McCoy, and so the first date of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy is, one might say, a home run.

—

One Mind
Imagine Jim, Leonard, and Spock completing each other’s sentences because the ceremonial meld they were required to perform to please an ambassadorial party for the sake of diplomacy was a little more intense than they expected (it was as if they became a single person) and had certain unusual side effects. It is startling for the crew at first, especially when Leonard talks about things being logical, Jim grumbles about safety, and Spock frequently professes his love for both humans. No one is quite sure if that last part comes from Leonard, Jim, or Spock himself because all three clam up whenever it happens. Of course they also disappear for a little while afterwards, so it is generally assumed to be the truth. When the secret comes out six months later that the Captain, CMO, and First Officer have been dating for over three years, everyone just shakes their head and agrees that the silly fools ought to get married already.

—

TOS Kirk and Spock meet AOS Bones
It’s a quirk of the Guardian of Forever. Instead of sending Kirk and Spock to another point in time, it sends them to a different timeline altogether. At first, when Spock’s tricorder reports that they are in the same month, day, and year that they left behind, they are confused. It even says they are at Starfleet in San Francisco. But nothing looks familiar: not the grounds, the uniforms, the people. There’s been some kind of disaster. Faces are grief-stricken, lost, wary. Kirk and Spock find their way into what’s left of Headquarters. They don’t mention their names, and it’s because of Kirk’s posture and Spock’s grim countenance that no one questions whether or not they belong to Starfleet. What they discover is that Khan – not their Khan, but a similar one all the same – had driven the Enterprise into the city. Kirk’s throat closes at the thought. Relief efforts are underway but there’s barely enough manpower – and hardly any survivors in the wreckage. Then, as they’re turning to leave, they freeze because what they see on the list of the dead shocks them.

Their names.

Captain James T. Kirk and his First Officer Spock of this timeline are dead.

What is there for them to do in this place where they’re not even living?

Kirk can hardly think. Spock quietly suggests they remove themselves from the area before they are recognized. But as they’re making their way across the campus, Kirk sees the flux of traffic heading for Starfleet Medical – and it strikes him that he has to know one thing.

Is McCoy alive?

Because if McCoy is, then there is something they can do.

And this is where I’ll stop, Anon, because to continue would be devastating. Imagine how this McCoy would be, without his Jim or Spock, having to live knowing both had already perished? Just imagine, with the only consolation being the other Jim and Spock to look out for him…

…until they too are gone.

—

Roses
I think we can all agree that TOS Kirk likes to stop and smell the roses. In the literal sense. He has a fine appreciation for nature’s beauty. AOS Kirk, on the other hand, gives the impression of someone who is too busy moving from one place to the next to slow down and take in the surroundings in between.

Or so everyone has been led to believe.

One day, on a landing party to an uninhabited planet with the most beautiful field of flowers, Jim tucks his phaser away and goes for a stroll. He only plucks the flowers that he can then hand to Spock to be used as samples for their ecological study. (Sometimes he hands the flowers via McCoy so Leonard has to hand them to Spock, who then has to give them to an ecstatic Sulu, who is dazedly wandering around in flower heaven.) Now, Leonard is following behind his captain so closely because, per usual, he’s afraid that Jim won’t be cautious and will fall head first into some kind of trouble. It surprises him to see that instead Jim remains unhurried and at ease and doesn’t even acknowledge that there could be danger. It surprises him even more when Kirk starts to quote a few lines of poetry about nature that he makes up on the spot.

“We’ll have to do this again,” Jim tells them all as they reach the end of the field.

“Do what?” Leonard asks.

Jim smiles. “Stop and smell the roses, Bones.”

And that is the conclusion to the tamest, most enlightening exploration mission of the Enterprise to date.

—

Touching
Leonard is the one who touches all the time. It’s not that Jim doesn’t do it, it’s just a habit which means little to him. Jim’s touches are impersonal or ridiculing – sometimes angry. It isn’t until he meets Leonard that he realizes someone could be okay with touching others all the time. He thinks it has to do with Leonard being a doctor, but that doesn’t explain the easy way Leonard lays a friendly hand on his back, or slings an arm around his shoulders or waist. It becomes the most comforting thing in the world to Jim, who is not actually touch-averse after all, but touch-starved. He touches Leonard back, cautious yet wondering, and then with a near desperation, almost too much, too often. Leonard never tells him to back off, never questions why Jim stays nearly attached to him. He remains that steady, comforting presence.

If Bones, Jim decides, does not mind, then there might be others who won’t mind either. But he’s picky about how and who he touches, so only a select few receive his shoulder or arm squeezes, the slide of his hand. With them, it is frequent; with everyone else it is nonexistent. Touching becomes a well-known trademark of his: that if Captain Kirk offers his hand to you, then he respects you. If Kirk drops his hand to your shoulder, then he likes you.

If he keeps his hand there, then you’re family.

This is what everyone remembers about Jim. And if you ask him for an explanation, he’ll simply say, “Thank Bones.”

—

Importance
Random, but sometimes I think about Jim and Spock engaged in one of their deep, silent staring contests with Leonard looking on, at which point Leonard decides he won’t figure out what they aren’t saying and gives up and starts to leave. Only then do Jim and Spock break their staring contest, Jim calls out to Leonard, and Leonard – without either Jim or Spock seeing his secret smile – grudgingly comes back. He proceeds to play the curmudgeon who feels undervalued, all the while knowing how important it is that he’s there.

—

Idiots
Imagine Kirk, Spock, and McCoy come out of a firefight all three injured in some way, and in the middle of Sickbay each one acts seriously concerned about the other two. Kirk has tried to order the nurses to look after McCoy and Spock first, but McCoy insists that he’s doctor, damn it, and keeps trying to usher Kirk and Spock toward the biobeds. Every time Spock slips out of reach of McCoy and the staff, he quickly circles back to assist a nurse in bandaging Kirk’s head while repeating to the doctor how it is illogical to put weight on a wounded leg. McCoy snaps back that Spock’s the one with the internal bleeding so why the hell is he on his feet at all? Kirk valiantly tries to resist all the helping hands in order to prop up McCoy and also to reach for Spock, never once ceasing to insist that he can wait his turn until after the medical treatment of his injured senior officers. This roundabout of arguing, ordering, chasing, and tug-of-war goes on until the Head Nurse can stand the chaos in her Sickbay no more and has the three men sedated in one fell swoop. They wake up in a corner of the patient ward with their beds pushed close together and a guard on duty who tells them they have been placed on official house arrest for, he quotes, “disrupting the med bay with foolish behavior.” The guard adds, “Nurse Chapel says after treatment you are to report to her on what you did wrong and outline your plan of action so it never happens again.” He pauses. “Her recommendation involved something about admitting unrequited feelings, but I didn’t quite understand her and she wouldn’t repeat it.” Then the young officer looks at them expectantly. In that moment Kirk, Spock, and McCoy decide unanimously that silence is the most prudent action they can take, and they spend the remainder of their recovery period stealing glances at each other and trying not to cower whenever Chapel stops by to glare at them.

—

Lost
Imagine on a shore leave that Jim gets separated from Leonard and Spock. The pair goes around asking everyone if they’ve seen Jim. Leonard describes him as “an inordinately charming bonehead who’s probably found something dangerous to do, oh god, where’s your most dangerous activity in this town?” Spock cuts in because that description is “hardly detailed” and proceeds to outline almost every nuance of Jim’s looks, personality, and character down to the hangnail he had this morning and his penchant for eating chocolate cake when in a foul mood. Leonard just mutters to Spock that’s too much information and flushes each time a villager or townsman finally looks at them with dawning realization, then pity, and says, “I haven’t seen your husband.” Nobody believes their insistence that Jim is simply their friend and captain.

Of course, the moral of this story is that Jim, upon discovering that he had lost Leonard and Spock in the crowd, went home. He’s reading a book in their hotel room when the two finally show up, arguing about why they failed in their search as they walk through the door. Leonard looks at the innocent-faced Jim on the couch, scowls suddenly, and disappears into a bedroom. Spock sets a stack of shirts on the coffee table, says, “I see you are well,” and wanders off to the kitchen. Jim, thinking they had gone shopping in his absence, becomes more and more puzzled as he lifts up and reads the back of each shirt, as they are all variations of Lost Husband, if found please return – tourist gifts, it turns out, from the locals who decided Leonard and Spock were truly a sad sight to see.

Just then, Leonard shouts from the other room, “Don’t ask!” and Jim decides his curiosity can wait a while. He knows that inevitably they will tell him of their misadventure and then it will be a funny story to share for years and years to come. He gently turns the next page of his old paper-bound book and smiles to himself, certain Bones and Spock have never once figured out they get themselves into way more trouble than he ever could.

Related Posts:

• Keeper of the McCoy – from October 30, 2016
• McSpirking on my Tumblr – from March 29, 2014
• A Little Bit of McSpirk – from January 30, 2014
• Lend a Prompt – from October 11, 2013
• Another Year, Another Story – from October 5, 2012