0Title: Exhibits A to D (2/4)
Author: klmeri
Fandom: Star Trek AOS
Pairing: Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Summary: There was a time when Jim Kirk wanted nothing more than to be alone. Now he can’t stand the thought. It doesn’t help matters that his situation is of his own making, since he is the one who expressed the exact opposite of his real feelings to the two people he needs most in his life. Now Jim’s mistake has cost him a chance at happiness—and possibly all three of their lives.
Part: 1
Exhibit B: Rejection
“Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
now
“I can’t believe it!” Appearing on the heels of a group of crewmen filing into the briefing room, the starship’s Chief Medical Officer vents his disbelief loudly enough to carry across the entire deck. “I can’t believe he did it!”
Hunched over a scope at the central computer, Mr. Spock’s only acknowledgment of the noisy arrival is the blandest of commentaries: “We are perfectly aware of your concerns, Dr. McCoy. Take a seat.”
The doctor stalks over to Mr. Spock. “Are you telling me you had no idea what our captain was planning to do?”
Spock momentarily stiffens, but when he glances aside from the scope, he simply repeats, “Take a seat.”
McCoy jerks at the nearest empty chair, that is, the one next to Spock, and surprises no one present by managing to drop down into it without taking his glare off the back of the Vulcan commander’s head.
As the last crewman finds a place among his fellow officers lining the walls, Spock straightens up and takes in the room. “The Enterprise received confirmation approximately twenty minutes ago Captain Kirk is in the custody of the faction behind the denouncement of Yeged’s Federation membership. In accordance with Starfleet regulation, I have assumed the duties of Acting Captain for the interim. To all present, your role during the next twenty-hour to forty-eight hours will be crucial to a successful recovery of the hostage.”
“The hostage?” explodes McCoy.
“Doctor.”
“What! Do you really think anyone here is indifferent to Jim’s captivity—clearly nobody except you, Mr. Spock!”
“Doctor,” Spock interrupts, his tone shockingly close to an irritated snap. “Now is not the time to insult me.”
The men lock stares, engaging in a silent battle of wills that heightens the already palpable tension in the air. No one seeks to break it, having neither the experience nor the courage to intervene. Between the uncomfortable glances at each other, their discomfort is apparent, no doubt most of them wishing the one man who could have disarmed both sides of the confrontation with a single word hadn’t given himself over to enemy hands.
At last, McCoy is the first to break eye contact and look away. Mr. Spock resumes where he left off.
“Each of you has been assigned to a group based on your skill set for which the roster will be dispersed shortly. Resume normal duties until such time as your assistance is required.” He adds after a short pause, “A general reminder appears to be in order: following the chain of command protects us individually and collectively from reckless action and undue risk. Under no circumstances should any member of the Enterprise engage the hostiles without explicit permission from a superior. We must as a unit make every effort to broker the safe return to the Captain. That will be all. Senior Response Team, please remain seated. The rest are dismissed.”
As most officers crowd through the exit, hurrying to be elsewhere while tensions still run high, Dr. McCoy shoves back his chair from the table. But rather than the doctor launching himself out of it (and namely at the specific person he seems to have taken offense to), McCoy folds nearly in half, planting his elbows on his knees in order to clutch his head in his hands.
Lt. Uhura reaches out to place her hand on the doctor’s knee with a soft, concerned “Leonard?” But she withdraws her hand when a shadow falls over McCoy.
“What now?” McCoy grunts.
Spock requests in a voice no louder than Uhura’s had been, “I would speak with you in private.”
McCoy twists his head sideways to give the Vulcan a narrow-eyed consideration. Then, at McCoy’s faint nod, the commander turns away and strides for the small utility office attached to the briefing area. McCoy meets the gazes of the others at the table before following Spock. Once the office door cuts McCoy off from view, the team left behind stirs.
“That was rough.”
“No kidding! I’ve seen Dr. McCoy lose his temper before but…”
“I thought Mr. Spock would call Security.”
“On McCoy? I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
Finally one of them questions, “Just think… if the two of them are that upset, what don’t we know?”
No one has an answer to offer.
When the door closes, Spock turns around in time to watch Leonard crumple against the door. He grabs the man by the shoulders. McCoy’s hands fly up on instinct, locking around Spock’s wrists.
The Vulcan takes the opportunity to study Leonard’s expression. “You should not feel that way,” he remarks a moment later.
Leonard blinks at him. “Feel what?”
“Guilty,” Spock names the emotion, and as he expects the man in his grasp flinches. “You are not to blame. Even had you known of Jim’s decision in advance, I doubt you could have stopped him.”
McCoy’s throat works. “Are you so sure I’m not responsible? You heard what I said to him. What state of mind must he have been in to make the choice he did?”
“Jim is fully capable of separating his actions from his emotions.”
“The subconscious can be a powerful influence, Spock.”
“Do you believe he would allow his subconscious to rule over his conscious mind, Doctor?”
“No, I don’t.” McCoy’s face fills with dismayed amusement, then. “Well thanks for the pep talk, Spock… but no thanks for reminding me of where I fall in the pecking order.”
“I can surmise where you would believe that to be. You would be wrong. Do you require assistance to a chair?”
In true fashion, McCoy puffs up with indignation, snatching his hands back from the Vulcan. “I’m perfectly fine! You’re the one who overreacted!”
Spock locks his hands behind his back. “I see.”
McCoy eyes him with wariness now. “Didn’t I just say I’m fine? Why are you standing so close?”
“In the event your sensibilities become overwhelmed again, close proximity is logical.”
“Spock, has anyone told you you could try the patience of the Lord Almighty himself?”
“Doctor, I believe you are confusing your habits for mine.”
“Hah, now who’s the insulting one!”
Eyes alight, McCoy uses his index finger to prod at Spock’s collarbone and continues jabbing there, albeit without much strength, in an effort to encourage Spock to leave his personal space. Spock easily captures the doctor’s finger—and McCoy freezes.
“What you said in the conference room,” he remarks, rubbing the pad of his thumb against Leonard’s fingertip. “I would have you know I am not entirely unaffected.”
“Unaffected?” Leonard repeats rather dumbly, seeming too distracted by the movement of Spock’s hand to give the statement deeper consideration.
“Your accusation was… painful.”
Leonard breaks his gaze away from their fingers. “I hurt you?”
“Yes,” Spock admits.
Leonard looks at him a moment before swallowing hard. “You’re upset about Jim, I know that. It was wrong of me to lash out.”
“Apology accepted.” Spock tilts his head with what a keen eye might have called mischief. “In the future, I suggest you request to be comforted instead of instigating an illogical argument.”
“In front of a whole room of people?” points out Leonard dryly before his eyes widen then narrow. “What do you mean illogical?”
“Perhaps not.”
McCoy harrumphs. “Speaking of nonsense, you need to let go of my finger.”
Spock blinks. “Are you uncomfortable?”
“Uncomfortable is definitely not the word I would use to describe my feelings right now. And frankly, darlin’, considering what I’ve learned from Dr. M’Benga over the years about a Vulcan’s peculiarities, your current behavior is highly inappropriate for the workplace.”
Spock releases McCoy’s finger quickly, tucking his hands behind his back once more. “It was not my intention to act in a peculiar manner.”
Leonard rubs his forehead. “Spock, let’s stow that particular chat for another time. We still have Jim to worry about.”
At the mention of their absent captain, Spock is unable to keep levity from leaching into his voice. “Indeed.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Only that which we can do. Find a way to return Jim safely to the Enterprise—and to us.”
McCoy nods even as his shoulders begin to sink, adding softly, “Then fix my mistake.”
Spock pins the other man with his gaze. “Our mistake.”
His companion’s mouth thins momentarily, but Leonard does not counter the correction. Spock believes, in this instance, that the doctor understands the point of his remark very well: he and McCoy must change Jim Kirk’s mind together, or not at all.
then
Jim feels eyes on him and turns in the captain’s chair towards the Science station. “Something on your mind, Mr. Spock?”
“I forwarded you the results of my research on Yeged’s politics, Captain.”
Patting the data padd in his lap, Jim nods. “Yes, I have the report right here. I was just reviewing it.”
Spock continues to look at him.
Taking the hint, Jim places his padd aside and joins Spock on the upper deck. They may be on the open bridge but Jim stands close enough so that whatever Spock wants to say can be shared with a modicum of privacy.
He asks Spock as he folds his arms across his chest, “What is it?”
“The protocol in place to handle state affairs only calls for the use of the flagship to ferry parties to and from a designated neutral site for negotiations. To date, there is no precedent for an intervention of this kind—”
“—assigned to a starship captain. I’m aware of that, Mr. Spock.”
“Sir, you are within your rights to contest the assignment.”
“I know that too.”
Spock closes his mouth and gives Jim the impression that he’s trying to communicate his dissatisfaction by stare alone.
Jim would admit to amusement if he didn’t know that Spock would likely misinterpret the reason for his being amused. He places a hand on the Vulcan’s shoulder instead and quotes, “‘Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.'”
Spock’s eyebrows knit together. “Machiavelli is hardly an appropriate role model.”
“But he had a point. We can play it by the book and refuse the assignment, or we can go along with the times and see what—and who—it brings us.”
“I do not fully understand.”
Jim pats the shoulder under his hand in sympathy. “Trust me, okay? I’m only after an answer to a question, given that someone caused me to ask that question in the first place.”
“Ah,” Spock says, “that is more logical.”
“Very logical,” Jim agrees, smiling. “What else?”
Spock considers him again, this time with a different light in his eyes. “You should be aware that Dr. McCoy has secluded himself in the medical bay until our arrival at Yeged.”
“I thought he just worked a twenty-four shift. Isn’t he scheduled to be off-duty?”
“I believe his exact words were, ‘Only a man contemplating trouble twiddles his thumbs while everybody else is busy preparing for a storm.'”
Jim snorts. “I’ll stop by at some point and remind Bones that he’s made it through worse storms than this.”
“If that is the way you intend to phrase the reminder, Jim, it is highly likely he will not be appreciative of it.”
“Truer words never spoken.” Jim heads back to his chair and, after a moment’s deliberation, retrieves the padd. Then he approaches turbolift to the side of the bridge. “You have the conn, Mr. Spock. Alert me in advance of our arrival to Yeged.”
The turbolift closes on Spock’s rejoining “Affirmative, Captain.”
Leonard McCoy pokes his head around the corner of the storage room, intending to communicate the number of hypos in the container at his feet to a staff member when he spies a figure gliding across his ward. He withdraws into the room on instinct, cursing his luck as the newcomer’s voice carries through the open doorway.
“I was not aware Medical had an inventory count scheduled today.”
“Good morning, Mr. Spock. Dr. McCoy’s decided on an impromptu one.”
“I see. Nurse, where is Dr. McCoy?”
“Oh, he’s right—”
Damn it! “Here,” supplies Leonard sourly, slinking around the door without meeting anyone’s gaze. “I was in the middle of counting.”
“And eavesdropping, apparently. Hello, Doctor.”
McCoy levels at an irritated stare at the Vulcan before addressing his head nurse. “The K-Cartridges are in. Full set.” He turns back to Spock as Chapel heads into the storage unit to inspect the container for herself. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not making more work for my staff.”
“Medical inventory was assessed two weeks ago.”
“One can’t be too prepared in my line of work, Mr. Spock.”
“You must be concerned about the mission to Yeged.”
Leonard snorts. “You were in that meeting too. Forgive me for being skeptical that it’s just another quiet assignment.”
Chapel re-appears and holds out a cartridge to Spock, who takes it with his eyebrow raised. “The K-Cartridge is a new type of sedative derived from one of Dr. McCoy’s formulas. We anticipate in a few years it will be widely used by many practitioners.”
“Give me that,” Leonard says, snatching the vial from the Vulcan. “Nurse, you can’t just hand over medical supplies to anybody.”
The nurse simply looks amused. “Mr. Spock isn’t anybody, Doctor.”
“Thank you, Nurse Chapel,” says Spock. “As always, I appreciate any new information. Dr. McCoy, it is pleasing to learn that your research continues to deliver positive results. I will of course ensure such is reflected in your service record.”
“Enough,” insists the doctor, feeling his face redden. “I know you didn’t actually come here to flatter me. What do you want?”
“A situation has developed which requires your attention.”
“Can it wait?”
“Negative.”
McCoy turns to his staff. “Christine, this count needs to be finished before we’ve established orbit.”
“Of course, Doctor.”
As Leonard falls into step with the Vulcan, he assumes they are headed to his office. But when they pass the bend in the hallway leading in that direction, he questions in confusion, “What’s so urgent?”
“I believe you would refer to it as a house-call.”
“A house-call where?”
“Your quarters.”
“My quarters! But…” McCoy trails off as the most likely explanation takes hold. “Well I’ll be damned! Already?” He bounces on the balls of his feet once as they arrive at the turbolift outside Sickbay. “Come to think of it, this is the first time you’ve assisted me on a house-call, Spock. I have to say, I’m looking forward to it.”
“As am I.”
The lift door slides open, and they step into it in unison.
Having finished Spock’s report, assured Command that the Enterprise is underway to Yeged at top warp speed, and stared at the ceiling of his cabin for approximately twenty minutes, Jim remembers what Spock told him about Bones, or more to the point, about where his senior medical officer isn’t. That decides Kirk more quickly than usual when he finds himself yawning at his desk. There’s nothing quite so refreshing as a short nap in Dr. McCoy’s quarters.
Jim hops out of his chair and from his quarters, taking on an unhurried pace to the other side of the deck. Offering the occasional good-natured greeting to fellow officers in the corridors, he wonders why he didn’t think of letting himself into McCoy’s quarters the moment he left the bridge. Now he needs to make up for lost time and since Bones is still undoubtedly preoccupied with harrying his staff of doctors and nurses into triple-checking the inventory (something the man does every time he thinks their ship is flying toward a disaster), Jim doesn’t have to be sneaky about calculating the opportune moment for his naptime. Commander Spock did him a favor that the poor Vulcan doesn’t even know about.
He’ll be quick about this nap since the Yeged mission seems to be of paramount importance to, well, some higher-up. Just thirty minutes or an hour, Kirk determines as he swipes a clearance code into the panel by McCoy’s cabin door. The door slides back. If Jim can manage to nod off right away, he could actually squeeze in another fifteen—
“Well, well, well,” croons a too-familiar voice as the lights blink on, “look what the cat dragged in.”
“Cat, Doctor? I see no cat.”
Kirk’s body locks up in momentary shock. Inside the CMO’s quarters, McCoy and Spock face Jim side by side, seeming oddly unperturbed to be confronted with the arrival of an unexpected guest.
“Bones?” Jim cringes internally at the squeak in his voice and clears his throat before tacking on more normally, “Uh, hello! And Spock… Didn’t I leave you in charge of the bridge?”
Recognizing his tactical error too late, Jim can almost literally see the temper sparking in Leonard McCoy’s eyes. He backs up at the same time McCoy starts forward, the dark-haired man sputtering heatedly in protest, “You’re one to talk! Breaking into somebody else’s room—”
In his rapid retreat, Kirk’s boot heel catches on the groove in the floor made for the sliding door, and he delivers a sharp gasp as he unbalances and pitches backward into the corridor. The gasp becomes a yelp when (though Jim never saw the Vulcan move) Spock suddenly fills his vision, latches onto his gold tunic and sends Kirk flying back the opposite way, into the cabin. His balance completely shot, Jim lands with an oomph! right into an equally startled McCoy’s arms.
Spock completes his graceful spin away from the door and settles back on his heels to stare at Kirk and McCoy.
More embarrassed than he has ever felt in his entire life, Jim peels himself off Leonard with an almost tearful prayer that a great big black hole will snap open right there, suck him up and spit him out on the other side of the galaxy.
“Jim, are you all right?” Though Leonard only sounds concerned, Jim’s embarrassment heightens.
He bats away the doctor’s inspecting hands with the half-hearted joke, “Fine, fine. Nothing like a little clumsiness to break the ice.”
“To hell with ice, you could have broken bones!”
“Spock made certain I didn’t.”
For some reason, Leonard stares past Jim to Spock and narrows his gaze.
Damn, thinks Jim, not liking the look on McCoy’s face or how Spock responds with raising an eyebrow. That eyebrow seems loaded with meaning Jim isn’t privy to. Maybe he should have fallen on his face in public. The option seems more appealing right now than waiting to find out the cause of the sudden red alert at the back of his neck.
“You know, I think I should go,” Jim begins, but his edging for the doorway is waylaid by Spock shifting to block his path.
The cabin door takes the hint and finally swooshes closed—and Jim’s stomach sinks with the sensation that a carefully laid trap has just been sprung.
Then McCoy says, “Jim, we need to talk.”
At Starfleet Academy, professors, graduates, and cadets alike all had heard that James T. Kirk was a star pupil in courses like Advanced Tactical Training and Survival Strategies. Having seen the man’s intellect at work in the field, Spock can easily verify the truth behind the rumors and tall tales about his captain. Yet against the odds, the Vulcan muses, he and McCoy have successfully duped the brilliant Kirk through a very rudimentary machination.
Spock recalls one of his mother’s favored quotes: that every man can see things far off but is blind to what is near. She claimed having a blind spot is very much an ailment of humans, who tend to perceive the things they treasure as infallible or beyond reproach. The sentiment is lacking sorely in logic, of course, but Spock finds he cannot fault Jim for having steadfast faith in the goodness of his crew.
His attention is drawn to the pair of humans at the center of the room. It isn’t until the captain speaks that Spock realizes Jim has already determined something is up. Spock deftly changes position to prevent Jim’s escape and, in doing so, accepts that he has firmly placed himself on the opposing side of his captain’s wishes.
Then McCoy is telling Jim they need to talk and waving both Kirk and Spock empathetically toward the couch. Under normal circumstances Spock would prefer to remain standing; however it occurs to him that if he sits down, Jim likely will follow suit. The guess is not wrong.
Leonard barely allows them all to settle themselves before wanting to know, “What’s on your mind. Jim?”
Unsurprising to Spock, Jim resists the question. “I’m just tired, Bones.”
“Bull. I didn’t believe that last time, and I don’t buy it now. I know for a fact that you can fall asleep anywhere. You’ve been coming here for another reason.”
Spock adds, “Dr. McCoy has given an accurate, if succinct, assessment, Captain. Based on conversations the Doctor and I have had, we agree the behavior you have exhibited is most unusual.”
Kirk’s mouth thins. “So you’ve been checking up on me.”
“We wouldn’t have to if you’d talk to us,” Leonard shoots back. “Or have you forgotten we’re your friends?”
“Friends.”
Spock has the oddest sensation, akin to a chill, at the flat resonance of the word from the way Jim had spoken it. He asserts out of mild alarm, “We are your friends, Jim.”
Kirk’s unreadable gaze slides toward Spock before flicking away. Spock discovers McCoy watching them both, though whether the man feels concern or consternation is unclear.
After nearly a minute of silence, Leonard clears his throat. “Jim, are you saying you want to stop being friends?”
A breath bursts out of Kirk, and he slouches back against the couch. “No. I would be crazy to want that.”
“Then do you want us to stop caring about you?”
“No.” Kirk pins McCoy with an expression that implies he thinks the doctor must be the crazy one.
Spock suggests, “Perhaps you could elaborate. Why did you appear to take offense to the concept of friendship?”
“It’s not a concept, it’s a fact,” corrects McCoy.
Kirk pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering to himself. Spock wisely chooses not to hear his captain’s complaint.
Then Jim drops his hand, states, “I’m lonely,” and proceeds to twitch with agitation at his own admission.
Spock can only assume Jim has spoken the truth, but he waits for McCoy to respond first because Leonard has always been far more suited to handling emotional confessions than he has and Spock cannot always gauge correctly if his frank manner of speaking will cause an upset or hurt someone.
McCoy stirs, sighing through his nose, and says matter-of-factly, “Who isn’t? Look, when it comes to space diseases, loneliness is about the worst there is. Compound that with the fact we’re isolated in this tin-can most of the time, it’s a wonder more folks don’t go mad from the lack of contact.”
“I beg to differ, Doctor,” counters Spock. “By the very nature of our contained environment and number of beings within proximity at any given time, it is not possible for any crewman to be alone.”
Leonard glares at him. “Why do you have to be so literal, Spock?”
“I am merely pointing out the flaws in your logic.”
McCoy leans over Kirk. “Do you know what the second worst disease in space is? Seeing your face every day!”
“It could not possibly be worse than being forced to endure your rampant emotionalism.”
Kirk catches McCoy’s flailing arm before it can smack into Spock with a resounding “Gentlemen!”
Once the doctor is firmly pushed back to his side of the couch, Jim adds, “Speaking of improbabilities-turned-reality, that the two of you manage to be friends is one which frightens me.”
McCoy harrumphs. “You look too happy to be scared.”
“I hide my fear behind tears of joy, Bones.”
Sadly, Kirk isn’t quick enough to prevent McCoy from popping him on the back of the head.
While Spock is grateful for the return to normalcy, he has not yet achieved his objective. He folds his hands in his lap. “Jim, I believe I have come to understand and appreciate the advantages of having a friend—one advantage of which is making it unnecessary for one to suffer from loneliness.”
Both Kirk and McCoy cease their mock-fight, turning to him wide-eyed.
“Bones, I think Spock admitted to having a feeling.”
“My god, it’s finally happened. Can we record this in the ship’s log?”
“By regulation, any momentous event aboard the ship has to be!”
Before the humans can start their chortling, Spock says in dismay, “Doctor, you are not being helpful.”
McCoy hiccups and sobers. “All right, fine.” Then he turns to Jim. “Spock’s right. Even if there are times you can’t avoid the feeling, at the very least, you can let one of us know so we can help alleviate it. Sneaking a nap on my couch is a poor substitute for actually having me here.”
“I appreciate the offer but you can’t fix my kind of loneliness,” Jim explains quietly.
Spock may be from a reserved culture but in no way he has been cloistered. He gives that remark one moment’s thoughtful consideration before enlightenment strikes, and a reasonable conclusion has been drawn.
Leonard is looking at the man next to him with a mixture of fondness and sadness. But the doctor jokes, “I don’t know, Jim, apparently I’m some kind of miracle worker.” When Kirk doesn’t respond by laughing, he says in a more somber tone, “You know Spock and I would try our best.”
Spock sees only one path forward and interrupts before Jim can speak. “If I may—” The Vulcan directs his gaze to McCoy. “—Dr. McCoy, would you characterize Captain Kirk as a person who appreciates affection?”
“Sure.”
“Would you also say that he is able to return affection easily?”
“Spock, where are you going with this?” Jim breaks in, an edge to his voice.
“Depends,” answers Leonard. “Jim is known for being an affectionate guy in general and for his unabashed closeness with, let’s say, his inner circle of friends. But consider how much of that is by default a public persona. Lucky for us, years of being his best friend has given me some insight into the man himself.”
When Jim tries to get up from the couch, Spock and McCoy each take an arm and secure him in place between them.
McCoy goes on. “It’s a given that he’s always going to be affectionate to the people he likes. The variable is attraction—serious attraction, Spock, not a passing fancy. Contrary to popular belief, Jim can be reserved with his mannerisms concerning a potential partner. Or so I’ve observed.”
“I am not.”
McCoy rolls his eyes. “Can it, kid. Your doctor knows best.”
“My doctor isn’t my psychologist!”
Spock points out, “Dr. McCoy is qualified to provide a professional opinion.”
“You’re both out of line,” snaps Kirk. “Let me up!”
“Why are you asking, Spock?” Leonard wants to know, clearly ignoring any threat Jim might try to bluff his way through just as Spock ignores them.
“I would hypothesize that Jim is harboring a serious attraction, which in turn has brought forth unusual patterns of behavior and, furthermore, has engendered his inability to be forthcoming regarding precisely why we cannot involve ourselves with his situation.”
“Oh Lord,” McCoy says with finality before turning on Jim.
“Don’t look at me,” Jim growls at Leonard while focusing his glare at Spock. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Jim, the Vulcan’s making sense. It’s okay to admit it. Are you in love with someone?”
“He is,” Spock maintains, “and the most obvious clue, Dr. McCoy, is quite literally beneath us.”
Jim turns as white as a sheet. Normally McCoy would have his medical tricorder in hand in a nanosecond because of Kirk’s sudden pallor but Spock sees that Leonard is too preoccupied with staring at the couch in confusion to notice. Spock releases Jim’s arm, and Jim takes advantage of the doctor’s distraction to break the other hold on him. He leaps off the couch but doesn’t go far, placing a few arm’s lengths between himself and Spock and McCoy.
Spock is aware that Jim must feel betrayed by the reveal of his secret, and Spock knows from experience that an apology would be dismissed.
Rising from the couch to face Kirk directly, the Vulcan tucks his hands behind his back. “Do you wish to deny it?” he asks.
Kirk bristles. “As if you’ve given me that choice, Spock.”
“There is always a choice, Jim. But I would advise you that maintaining a pretense likely will not serve you well in the long-term. In fact, should you own the truth, I would imagine the results will be favorable.”
“You would imagine, Mr. Spock?” Jim echoes, stiffening further. “I don’t. I imagine nothing good coming from this conversation at all. You should know when to keep your opinion to yourself.”
“Hey!” Leonard jumps in, standing up as well. “Jim, that’s enough. Spock would never put you in an uncomfortable position out of malice.” He raises a hand to stall either Kirk or Spock speaking. “And before this goes any further, I want you to know I’m really pissed.”
Jim’s mouth snaps shut, and Spock is suddenly uncertain of what McCoy might say next. Leonard crosses his arms over his chest, and Spock’s uneasiness heightens.
“You promised me you would never keep anything from me that affects your health.”
“I haven’t,” argues Jim.
“Things that make you mope about and alter your sleep cycles count, Jim, even when they involve me!”
Before Spock can voice his alarm, Jim curls his hands into fists and shouts back, “What I think or feel is none of your damn business!”
“The hell it is! I’m your physician, I’m your friend, and apparently I’m the guy you’re in love with!”
“I never said that,” Jim replies coldly. “And I will never say it.”
As Leonard blanches, Spock objects sharply with “Jim.”
Thick silence overtakes the cabin until McCoy swears and stabs a finger in Kirk’s direction with the accusation, “I never thought I would see the day Jim Kirk becomes a coward!”
Jim’s nostrils flare as he presses his mouth into a thin line. The man takes one step back, then another until he abruptly pivots around and marches through the cabin door. After a long indecisive moment, in which Leonard stomps off into the bedroom area, Spock too takes his leave.
Related Posts:
- Exhibits A to D (3/4) – from December 9, 2018
- Exhibits A to D (1/4) – from November 9, 2018
