Future Imperfect (K/S) Pt 5A of 13
Jul. 2nd, 2011 11:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gilda_eliseTitle: Future Imperfect
Fandom: Star Trek (TOS)
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Summary: In the ruins of one world, two men of different planets meet. One looks to the future, one to the past. But as their lives intertwine, they find that their happiness is dependent on the past one seeks and the future the other fights for.
Notes: Originally published by Kathy Resch as a stand-alone novel. Artwork by Lorraine Brevig and Virginia Sky.
Many thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
artconserv and cluesby4 for allowing me to post their beautiful artwork here.
Chapter 5, Part 1
They left in the morning, but only after the hearty breakfast Kirk had insisted on. According to his friend, there would be plenty of time for them to subsist on hardtack, jerky and whatever else they could scrounge from the land. Still, they managed to be well on their way by the time the sun was peeking over the tree line.
Spock sat atop Orpheus, the large gray taking his weight easily. The warmth of the day only added to his sense of well being as he rode next to his friend. Kirk, astride Erinnys and with the reins of the two pack animals plodding behind them tied firmly to his saddle, was plainly enjoying himself. Again comfortable in each other’s presence, even when their conversation would abate from time to time as the miles progressed they would find a quiet satisfaction in each other’s company.
Following the Iowa River, they sought shelter within the forests as often as they could, not only because Kirk found the heat oppressive but because there was less chance of being spotted by the bands of drifters and outcasts who frequented the area.
By noon they were approaching Iowa City.
“Will we be entering the city?” Spock asked.
Kirk glanced to their right, then shook his head. “I’ve heard Iowa City is a lot better than most places but we’d probably be better off steering clear of any town.” He shot a look at Spock. “With all your traveling, haven’t you run into a place you wish you’d never come across?”
“Most places have their good and ill,” he evaded, not wishing to lie out right.
“True enough. Still, better not chance it. Anyway, North Liberty is only another three hours or so away and that’s where I thought we could camp for the night.”
“There is still several hours of sunlight left.”
“It’s going to take us two days of travel to get to Cedar Rapids. There’s no sense tiring out the animals by doing most of it today. If we start off no later than seven tomorrow morning we can get there by three at the latest.”
Spock noted that Kirk remained vigilant as they passed by, first Iowa City, then the satellite towns, now little more than ruins, which had once flourished around it. His friend did not relax until they had put the place well behind them.
They continued north through what was now open fields, though the forest looked to be giving its all at reclaiming the land. When they found a place to camp it was within a riparian area, in an open spot near the banks of a stream.
They did what needed to be done, going about their tasks as if they’d done this together for years. With dinner finished, they sat out under the stars, their small fire providing all the light and warmth they needed. Behind them, their tent was a black shape against the even blacker background of maple and ash. Above them, the alien stars wheeled and Spock couldn’t help but remember the view from all the different planets he’d visited and how every one was so different yet so very much the same.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Kirk was leaning against an old log, his legs stretched out in front of him, his head tilted skyward. “I never get tired of looking at them. Especially on the ship, when it’s so dark the sky and earth sort of blend together and it feels as if there isn’t anyone around for hundreds of miles. I’ve often wondered what it would be like out on the open ocean.” He looked down, then threw another piece of wood into the fire.
“Perhaps you will find out one day. Have you never thought to sail down the river to the sea?”
“Thought about it, sure. But not all of the river is navigable in a sailing ship. It’s either too shallow or the current’s too fast. Besides, if I were to manage to get the Enterprise to the ocean, there’d be no way to get her back. I’d have to sell her for kindling. I’ve heard there used to be a way; ships would sail down the river to the ocean, then up the continent to the St. Lawrence River, through the Great Lakes and back to the Mississippi but I doubt it could be done now.”
Spock turned over Kirk’s words. “Perhaps you could travel as a passenger by land.”
“Yeah, that’s crossed my mind. But Bones, our ship’s doctor, is from the South Country and he says it’s still pretty dangerous down there, which is why he came north in the first place. Between the flooding from the ocean, the depleted soil and the droughts, it hasn’t been an easy time for them. In comparison, those of us in the Old Union have it pretty good.”
“But you would wish to go, anyway.” It was not a question.
Kirk grinned. “Yes, I would. You feel it, too, don’t you? The need to see what’s over the next hill? And the one after that?”
“We are very alike in our need to explore, it is only the avenue we took that has differed.”
“That’s true but I think you’d like sailing. There’s a freedom on the water you can’t find anywhere else.” Kirk looked up again. “I’ve read that a long time ago we went into space, even went to the moon. But for some reason we didn’t keep it up. And then, of course, the Dark Time came. But can you imagine it, Spock, sailing in a sea of stars? I wonder what that would have been like, to be one of those men who flew a ship into space.”
Spock could not help but think that this man would have made an exemplary starship captain. Such a loss because for too long Kirk’s people had chosen personal gain and comfort over the future of their planet. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with an intense enmity toward his mother’s people for denying his friend all that should have been his. He swallowed around the tightness in his throat. “In a different reality, I’m sure you would have been the best captain in that stellar fleet.”
Laughing, Kirk blew off Spock’s words with a wave of his hand. “It’s nice to think that but we’ll never know, will we? No, there’s nothing to gain by wondering what might have been. Besides, I’m happy with the Enterprise.
“I have meant to ask you, did you name her yourself, or did your government name her?”
“I named her,” Kirk responded with a shrug. “You know how my mother is. Well, my dad was worse. Only his big thing was military history. He’d read anything he could get his hands on, and then he’d drag me over and go over it all again. Maybe because, Sam, my brother, couldn’t be bothered. It was the farm or nothing.” He smiled pensively.
“Sam? Was not your brother’s name George?”
“George Samuel. I’m the only one who called him Sam. Don’t ask me why.” He took a deep breath and then seemed to throw off the melancholy brought on by his brother’s mention. “Anyway, one time my dad told me about a small sailing warship that fought during our Revolutionary War. She’d fought valiantly through several key battles but when she was in danger of being captured, she, along with two other ships, was run aground and burned. I guess I felt that she deserved to be remembered somehow, so when I was given the ship I picked Enterprise.
“You have a romantic spirit.”
Kirk smiled. Then, as if seeing him for the first time, he continued to stare at Spock.
“Is there something amiss?”
“No, I was just thinking that my mother was wrong.”
“About what?”
“You do smile. It’s hard to see sometimes, but it is there. Maybe no one else can see it, but I do.”
He turned away; the tone of Kirk’s words, the cadence of his voice, this was exactly what he had feared.
“Hey.”
Reluctantly, he looked back at his friend.
“I’m sorry.” Kirk made a helpless motion. “It’s hard, that’s all. Listen, it’s getting late. Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll be in in a few minutes.”
Spock mourned the loss of the camaraderie they had shared only moments before, yet he knew his reaction could not be other than it was. He nodded, and then retreated into the tent.
He removed his boots and stretched out on his bed roll. He didn’t bother getting into his sleeping bag; the night was pleasant enough without it. Looking over at where Kirk would spend the night, he wondered how they would possibly manage sleeping mere inches away from each other.
From outside, he heard Kirk throw another log on the fire.
~~~~~
Kirk had been quiet most of the morning as they prepared for their departure; pulling down the tent, putting out the fire and then taking only enough time for a quick meal. They had departed from their campsite, the trees giving way to open plains as they rode, and still, other than when words were absolutely necessary, his friend had remained silent.
It had occurred to Spock to leave during the night but Kirk had never come to bed, sleeping near the fire instead, his only cushion the saddle beneath his head. Spock had known that any movement on his part would have brought Kirk instantly awake. So he had stayed, not knowing how to heal the breach that had sprung up between them.
It was a cool, crisp morning and under other circumstances it would have been the most pleasant of days, a perfect day for two friends to spend together. Surely, there was some way to make it so between them. He cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should discuss what transpired last night.”
“We’re being followed.”
Spock started at the non sequitur. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, they showed up about ten minutes ago. They’re not getting any closer but they’re right on our trail.”
“What should we do?” Spock started to turn, curious as to who it might be.
“Don’t turn around,” Kirk hissed. “If we can make it a little further, we can hide in the forest up ahead. That area was never cultivated, so the trees are pretty thick. Let’s pick up our speed a little bit.”
Spock urged his horse forward. Even the mules seem to be aware of the danger, as they needed little urging to keep up.
“Are they still there?”
“Uh huh. And they’re getting closer. Come on, let’s get the hell out of here.”
With that, Kirk shot forward, the mules galloping behind him. Spock applied pressure to Orpheus's sides and the horse immediately responded. Behind him, he heard their pursuers yell out and give chase.
The trees, which before seemed within easy reach, now appeared an inordinate distance away. The open field stretched out before them and Spock realized that their pursuers were gaining on them. At the same time, he found himself falling further and further behind Kirk, who was by far the better rider.
Kirk looked back. “Hurry, Spock! They’re right behind us!” The words were punctuated by the report of several rifles.
Spock tried but his lack of expertise was slowing his progress, his struggle to stay in his saddle throwing off the animal’s stride. Kirk was now several lengths in front of him.
The forest loomed up ahead, its thick underbrush promising safety. He saw Kirk slow and then shoot between the trees and disappear.
There was no pain at first, only the feeling of being shoved as he was propelled from his horse, rolling across the ground until coming to rest on his back. He attempted to rise but could manage only to bring himself to a sitting position. His arms felt heavy as he attempted to crawl toward safety. He looked around for his horse. If he could manage to remount the animal he might yet get away. But then he saw Orpheus follow Kirk’s path into the forest and knew there would be no help from that direction. He looked back. The men, for there were several of them, were quickly advancing toward him.
One moved out in front of the others, apparently eager to get to Spock first. As he neared a shot rang out and the rider slumped, then fell to the ground. The others slowed and began to look for cover when a second of their number was taken down.
Spock felt a tug at his arm and looked up to see Kirk at his side, a rifle nestled in his arm.
“They’re gone for now but they could be back any second. Let’s get you out of here.”
He pulled Spock up onto his feet and dragged him along while constantly throwing looks behind them. Finally, they reached the forest and the trees closed in behind them. It was dark, as if they had suddenly gone from morning to late evening, the forest’s canopy blocking out most of the sun. Still, he could just make out the horses and mules tied nearby, bunched up close together within the narrow confines of the undergrowth. Still carrying Spock along, Kirk managed to slide the rifle into its stock and untie the animals.
“There’s not enough room in here to ride,” Kirk commented as he led them deeper into the forest, one hand gripping the animals’ reins, his other arm around Spock. “Once we find an open area we can rest and I can check out your wound.”
Spock didn’t answer. He was losing a great deal of blood and he could feel his strength ebbing away with it. If they did not find cover soon, he did not know if he would be able to continue. Somehow, Kirk managed to keep them both upright and finally they came to a small meadow. Kirk gently lowered him to the ground so that he was propped up against a tree.
“I’ll be right back. I need to tie up the animals.”
Spock only nodded, the blood loss making him lightheaded. He could hear Kirk moving around as he secured the animals. Then he was kneeling next to Spock, a canteen in his hands.
“Take a drink,” he ordered as he brought the canteen to Spock’s mouth.
Spock did as he was told. After a swallow, he began coughing and pushed it away.
“Let me see how bad it is.” Kirk put the canteen down next to Spock and then gently pulled him forward until Spock’s head rested against his chest. He hitched Spock’s shirt up above the wound and froze.
Spock could hear the birds, flitting through the branches above them, and the gentle sounds of the horses munching on the grass. But above all that, he could hear the beating of his own heart as he waited for Kirk’s reaction as the seconds passed.
With a jolt, he found himself back up against the tree. Kirk was slowly getting to his feet and backing away, a look of shock and dawning horror on his face. “What the hell are you?”
“Jim, please,” Spock gasped. “You must let me explain.”
Shaking his head, Kirk happen to glance down at his hands. Spock’s blood, bright green in the sun that shone down into the clearing, was smeared across both his hands. In a frenzy of motion, he knelt down and scrubbed them into the grass. When he stood back up his face was pale and Spock saw him swallow several times. Then he began inching his way toward the horses, never turning his back on Spock.
“Do not leave me.” Spock’s vision was starting to blur and he fought to stay conscious. “There is nothing to fear from me.” He coughed again and this time blood painted his lips. “You must hear me out.”
He tried to get to his feet but even sitting up was beyond him. Spock could only lie helpless as Kirk shakily untethered the animals, jumped onto Erinnys’s back and rode quickly away.
~~~~~
Spock let his eyes close, no longer fighting the pull of sleep. He didn’t know how long it had been since Kirk’s departure. His time sense had deserted him; it could have been as little as ten minutes or as long as many hours. What he did know was that he had little time left. The pain in his back had increased, while his blood had slowly pooled at his side.
He had thought at first to attempt a healing trance. But as long as the projectile remained within his body that was impossible. In any event, there was no one there to waken him. He would remain locked within the trance, unable to pull himself free. He would die, anyway.
Odd, he had never really contemplated the possibility of his dying on this planet, or what it would mean once the transponder he carried within himself signaled the ship of his demise. The vessel would return to Vulcan and none would ever know his fate. He knew his parents would grieve but he held no fear for Sarek. It was Amanda who concerned him. How would she take his death, here of all places? He illogically wished he could behold her one more time.
More, he wished Kirk would have stayed at his side through this, but he could not blame him for leaving. What other reaction could there have been? Kirk was so much more than most, yet even he could not be expected to blithely accept the existence of life not of his planet. What horror he must have experienced to realize that the man he was contemplating as a lover should turn out to be something alien, apart.
Yet he feared what this would do to Kirk. He knew that with time the human would come to regret his part in Spock’s death. He would hold himself accountable until the sheer weight of it would become too much to bear. It grieved Spock to think of his friend coming to such a place.
He tried to resettle, placing his weight on one side in the hope of relieving the pain that radiated across his back. He felt a gush of blood and was unable to stop the moan of pain that escaped his controls.
“Spock?”
It was an effort to open his eyes and focus on the person kneeling at his side. “Jim?”
“Yeah. Surprise, surprise. I’m sorry I left. I don’t know what you are; I suppose right now it doesn’t really matter. But I doubt even you can live with a bullet inside of you.”
“No, I don’t believe so,” Spock remarked in a whisper tight with pain. “Is that why you have returned?”
“I suppose. Whatever you are, you don’t deserve to die out here, alone. No one deserves that. But right now I need to get that bullet out. Let’s get this shirt off of you.”
He helped Spock sit up, then unbuttoned his shirt and gently pulled his arm free of one sleeve. He brought the shirt around, carefully peeling it away from Spock’s back, and slid it off of him. “I’ve only done this once before, you know.”
“That is fortuitous, for I have never done it.”
Kirk chuckled and only then did Spock realize how nervous the human was. Whether it was from what he was about to do, or because he still felt an aversion to Spock and was doing this only out of pity, Spock did not know and at this point did not care. They would sort it out later.
“You’re going to have to lie on your stomach.”
Spock nodded. With Kirk’s help, he managed to turn onto his side and then lower himself face down.
He felt Kirk gently clean the blood from his back. Removing a match from his pocket, Kirk lit it and used the flame to sterilize his knife. He took a deep breath and lay the knife against the wound. “This is going to hurt.”
“There is no alternative.”
His jaw clenched as he fought to control the pain. The knife slid into him, probing for the alien object. Deeper, and then out. And then in again. Spock couldn’t help his moan of pain when Kirk replaced the knife with his fingers. It felt as if Kirk was trying to draw out his very insides.
Kirk swore. “It’s right there but I can’t get a good grip on it.”
It was all Spock could do to keep his body still until, finally, he heard Kirk give a sigh of relief.
“Got it.” Kirk threw the bullet aside. He grabbed the large piece of linen Spock hadn’t noticed he’d brought with him until now and started tearing it into strips. Folding what was left, he padded the wound then used the strips to bind it around Spock’s body.
“I think the bleeding’s slowed,” Kirk announced as he helped Spock into a sitting position.
“That is welcome news.”
“You’re not going to be in any shape to travel for several days, so I’m going to set up camp. Will you be okay?”
“Yes, I am well...now. I must thank you for saving my life.”
Kirk looked away for a moment. When he turned back, his face was somber. “I did what I had to do. And right now I need to get the tent set up and a fire started.” He scanned the sky. “It looks like it might rain later. I’m hoping that means we won’t have any more trouble.”
Spock looked up. He hadn’t notice, though, truthfully, there was little he had noticed since this morning. His body felt heavy, and his thoughts were still somewhat disjointed. “Do you believe they will be back?”
“Not really. I managed to kill two of them and wound a third. That left only two who are in any condition to do much of anything. Men like that rarely have the courage to act unless the odds are in their favor. I doubt they’ll be back.”
“Logical,” Spock barely whispered. Against his will, he felt his eyes closing.
Without another word, Kirk stood and began setting up camp. Half asleep, the sounds of Kirk rustling about were a soothing refrain: a gentle word to one of the horses, a curse when the tent gave him difficulty. Eventually, Spock slumbered.
~~~~~
He woke with a start. He was inside the tent, cocooned within one of the sleeping bags. Across from him, Kirk sat on his bed roll, reading. The sound of rain hitting the tent was lulling and he almost fell back to sleep until he saw a flash of light, followed by a low rumble of thunder. It sounded far away.
“You’re awake.” Kirk closed his book and set it aside.
“Yes.” He blinked, attempting to bring his still disjointed thoughts together. “How long was I asleep?”
“Just a couple of hours. You barely roused when I carried you in here.” He regarded Spock curiously. “You’re heavier than you look.”
“My planet is larger than Earth.”
Kirk nodded. “Bigger planet, heavier gravity, more bone and muscle mass. Makes sense. What planet are we talking about, anyway?”
“It is called Vulcan.”
Kirk silently mouthed the name. “And how far away is Vulcan?”
“In your measurements, approximately sixteen point five light years, in the constellation you know as Eridanus.”
“Just next door,” Kirk remarked humorously.
“You are reacting to this far better than you did initially.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not often than you discover that your friend has green blood.”
“Are we still friends?”
“I’m not really sure, to tell the truth. I look at you and still see the man I felt very close to. But then I think about who and what you are. We’re worlds apart—literally.”
“Not completely. My mother is from this planet.”
The look on Kirk’s face implied not a little skepticism. “You’re half human and half...Vulcan? I wouldn’t have thought that possible.”
Spock shrugged, then stifled a wince. “There was a certain amount of medical intervention involved.”
“I’ll just bet. So, is that why you’re here? To visit your mother?”
“My mother lives on Vulcan.”
“Then why are you here?”
“The Coalition of planets, of which Vulcan is a member, discovered your planet two hundred and three years ago. Soon after we began monitoring your situation. But there is only so much one can learn from scans, so we resolved to send down scouts. Unfortunately, while the history of your planet from before the catastrophe occurred is well documented, little information has been found in regards to what was happening just prior to and during the upheaval. There are still several unanswered questions.”
“Such as?”
“Such as, how did your people come to find themselves in the situation in which they did? Did they not see what was happening? And what brought about the cessation of the build up of CO2 in your atmosphere?”
“I can’t answer your first two question but I can the last one. They stopped it. They stopped burning oil and coal after they realized what it was doing.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah, just like that,” Kirk snapped. “Those people sacrificed everything for us. They’d had it made, but they gave it all up so that we’d have a planet people could live on.”
“One would have thought it the only logical course left to them at that point. But why had they not readied another source of energy on which to fall back on? Why allow their civilization to fail? In any event, nothing has ever been found that proves your hypothesis.”
“Is that why you want to go to Cedar Rapids, to find proof?”
“That was my intention.”
Kirk appeared to mull over Spock’s words. After a few moments, he nodded. “Okay, once you’re back on your feet we’ll continue on.” He peered through the open flap of the tent. “The rain’s letting up. When it stops I’ll go hunt us up some food. What we have won’t last if we’re going to be stuck here for more than a week.”
Hesitant to present Kirk with yet another example of their differences, Spock nevertheless realized that there really was no other alternative. Remaining here for such a long stretch of time could be detrimental to both of them; Kirk would be forced to care for Spock, the animals and himself, while at the same time keeping guard in the event their pursuers returned. Also, there was the matter of the worry it would bring to Winona.
“There is a way,” he finally said, “by which our time here could be shortened by many days.”
“How’s that?”
“There is a technique used by my people, a type of self-induced hypnosis, by which we are able to concentrate all our energy into repairing an injury. What would normally take several days to heal can be accomplished in one.”
“You can do that here?”
“Yes, it will take only moments to prepare. Though it will give the appearance of near-death, you must not be concerned, it is more of a deep trance. But when my body is healed, I will need your aid in regaining full consciousness.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Hit me.”
Kirk’s eyes narrowed. “Say again?”
“The use of pain is a reliable method of breaking the healing trance. Two or three strikes to the face should be sufficient.”
“How do I know when to stop?”
Spock lifted an eyebrow. “I will let you know.”
“All right, I’m ready whenever you are.”
Spock closed his eyes and let his breath grow shallow. The beat of his heart slowed, and one by one his body’s functions closed down. Then there was nothing.
~~~~~
Kirk looked up for his book for what was possibly the tenth time in as many minutes. The figure lying across from him could just as well be dead; he certainly looked that way. If it wasn’t for the fact that Spock’s body remained warm, his flesh pliant to the touch, Kirk would have sworn that he was.
It had been eerie. One minute Spock was awake and talking, the next he was practically a corpse. To borrow one of Spock’s words, it was fascinating to watch. But he had plenty of things that needed to be done, so he’d left the tent and gotten on with it while his friend healed himself. He’d watered and fed the animals during a break in the rain, testing the tarp he’d hung over them for shelter and then moving them to another area while he cleared out their makeshift stall.
He gathered some wood just in case they needed a fire. It had been pleasant at night but that could change; besides, better to have some light even if it meant it could act like a beacon. Afterwards, he took himself over to the nearby stream and stripping down to nothing gave himself a thorough cleaning. Back in the tent, he pulled out some dry fruit from his pack and proceeded to munch on it while he read one of the books he’d brought along. He’d learned years before to always have something on hand. You never knew when you’d have hours to kill. He was almost a third of the way through it.
He put his book down and crawled over to the tent’s opening. The rain had stopped and the sky had cleared. Moonlight lit the small glade; a lucky break since it meant he was able to forego a fire. He hadn’t lied to Spock. He truly did believe the men who had chased them were long gone but it never hurt to be cautious. He could see the animals huddled together a few feet away. They looked fine, so he returned to his place on the sleeping bag.
Tired of reading, and with nothing else to do, Kirk stretched out on his side and rearranged his bedding until he was able to lie down with his upper body propped up at an angle. His chin resting on his hand, he gazed at the Vulcan.
Vulcan. Kirk couldn’t get over that. Spock wasn’t even human. Well, not completely. And that was another weird little bit of information, that an Earth woman had apparently consented to go live on another planet—which, when you thought about, maybe made a lot of sense. There were a lot of places on this planet that were veritable hells on Earth, the western coast of the continent being one of them. If Spock had said he was from Seattle because his mother was, Kirk could understand her willingness to leave. But when it came to Spock, who knew what had been a lie and what had been truth?
One thing for sure, it certainly now made sense why Spock had been so reluctant for there to be anything between them. He wasn’t going to walk away one day, he was going to fly away—to another planet.
So, where did that leave him? Do he still want a relationship with Spock? Kirk gazed at his friend. The finely boned face and body had attracted him from the very beginning. Spock’s compassionate nature and towering intellect had only strengthened that attraction. Did Spock happening to be from another planet change any of that? He wasn’t sure and he didn’t know if he ever would be.
He snorted and shook his head in disgust. What the hell was wrong with him? Mooning over the man like a love-sick teenager. He wasn’t in love with Spock. Was he?
He looked back at Spock. Then looked again. Was it his imagination or was Spock’s breathing deepening? He crawled across the space separating them until he was kneeling over the man.
“Spock?”
He almost fell over when Spock’s eyes flew open.
“Now, do it now.” Spock’s voice was strained, as if speech was almost beyond him.
Kirk only hesitated a moment before grabbing Spock by the shoulder, hauling him into a sitting position and backhanding him across the face. He waited a couple of seconds then did it again. On the fourth swing, his hand was caught in a viselike grip.
“That will be sufficient.”
He let go of Spock and leaned back. “How are you feeling?”
Spock sat up straighter as if testing his body. “Quite well,” he answered with satisfaction.
“Can I check?”
“Jim, I assure you—”
“Humor me, okay?” He tried not to smile when he saw that he had won.
Spock turned and presented his back.
Kirk placed his fingers over where only hours before he had repeatedly inserted a knife into an open wound. There was nothing to mar the smooth skin of Spock’s back, not even a scar. “This is amazing.” He lightly ran his fingers back and forth, unable to truly believe what he was seeing.
“Jim,” Spock pulled away and turned back to face him. “That is most....disturbing.”
He felt his face heat. He could imagine how it would feel if Spock were to do that to him. “Sorry. Uh, let me get you something to wear.”
He busied himself with finding a shirt and jeans for Spock. “It’s not that late. If you’re up to it, you might want to wash up. There’s a stream nearby.”
“Yes, I would very much like to do that.”
“Just follow the line of trees on your right. It’s about thirty feet away.”
Spock rose and took the clothes from him, then exited the tent.
Kirk ran a shaky hand over his mouth. He’d have to watch himself. It was clear he had his answer; Spock being from another planet didn’t seem to make a difference at all.
onto Chapter 5, Part 2
Fandom: Star Trek (TOS)
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Summary: In the ruins of one world, two men of different planets meet. One looks to the future, one to the past. But as their lives intertwine, they find that their happiness is dependent on the past one seeks and the future the other fights for.
Notes: Originally published by Kathy Resch as a stand-alone novel. Artwork by Lorraine Brevig and Virginia Sky.
Many thanks to
artconserv and cluesby4 for allowing me to post their beautiful artwork here.They left in the morning, but only after the hearty breakfast Kirk had insisted on. According to his friend, there would be plenty of time for them to subsist on hardtack, jerky and whatever else they could scrounge from the land. Still, they managed to be well on their way by the time the sun was peeking over the tree line.
Spock sat atop Orpheus, the large gray taking his weight easily. The warmth of the day only added to his sense of well being as he rode next to his friend. Kirk, astride Erinnys and with the reins of the two pack animals plodding behind them tied firmly to his saddle, was plainly enjoying himself. Again comfortable in each other’s presence, even when their conversation would abate from time to time as the miles progressed they would find a quiet satisfaction in each other’s company.
Following the Iowa River, they sought shelter within the forests as often as they could, not only because Kirk found the heat oppressive but because there was less chance of being spotted by the bands of drifters and outcasts who frequented the area.
By noon they were approaching Iowa City.
“Will we be entering the city?” Spock asked.
Kirk glanced to their right, then shook his head. “I’ve heard Iowa City is a lot better than most places but we’d probably be better off steering clear of any town.” He shot a look at Spock. “With all your traveling, haven’t you run into a place you wish you’d never come across?”
“Most places have their good and ill,” he evaded, not wishing to lie out right.
“True enough. Still, better not chance it. Anyway, North Liberty is only another three hours or so away and that’s where I thought we could camp for the night.”
“There is still several hours of sunlight left.”
“It’s going to take us two days of travel to get to Cedar Rapids. There’s no sense tiring out the animals by doing most of it today. If we start off no later than seven tomorrow morning we can get there by three at the latest.”
Spock noted that Kirk remained vigilant as they passed by, first Iowa City, then the satellite towns, now little more than ruins, which had once flourished around it. His friend did not relax until they had put the place well behind them.
They continued north through what was now open fields, though the forest looked to be giving its all at reclaiming the land. When they found a place to camp it was within a riparian area, in an open spot near the banks of a stream.
They did what needed to be done, going about their tasks as if they’d done this together for years. With dinner finished, they sat out under the stars, their small fire providing all the light and warmth they needed. Behind them, their tent was a black shape against the even blacker background of maple and ash. Above them, the alien stars wheeled and Spock couldn’t help but remember the view from all the different planets he’d visited and how every one was so different yet so very much the same.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Kirk was leaning against an old log, his legs stretched out in front of him, his head tilted skyward. “I never get tired of looking at them. Especially on the ship, when it’s so dark the sky and earth sort of blend together and it feels as if there isn’t anyone around for hundreds of miles. I’ve often wondered what it would be like out on the open ocean.” He looked down, then threw another piece of wood into the fire.
“Perhaps you will find out one day. Have you never thought to sail down the river to the sea?”
“Thought about it, sure. But not all of the river is navigable in a sailing ship. It’s either too shallow or the current’s too fast. Besides, if I were to manage to get the Enterprise to the ocean, there’d be no way to get her back. I’d have to sell her for kindling. I’ve heard there used to be a way; ships would sail down the river to the ocean, then up the continent to the St. Lawrence River, through the Great Lakes and back to the Mississippi but I doubt it could be done now.”
Spock turned over Kirk’s words. “Perhaps you could travel as a passenger by land.”
“Yeah, that’s crossed my mind. But Bones, our ship’s doctor, is from the South Country and he says it’s still pretty dangerous down there, which is why he came north in the first place. Between the flooding from the ocean, the depleted soil and the droughts, it hasn’t been an easy time for them. In comparison, those of us in the Old Union have it pretty good.”
“But you would wish to go, anyway.” It was not a question.
Kirk grinned. “Yes, I would. You feel it, too, don’t you? The need to see what’s over the next hill? And the one after that?”
“We are very alike in our need to explore, it is only the avenue we took that has differed.”
“That’s true but I think you’d like sailing. There’s a freedom on the water you can’t find anywhere else.” Kirk looked up again. “I’ve read that a long time ago we went into space, even went to the moon. But for some reason we didn’t keep it up. And then, of course, the Dark Time came. But can you imagine it, Spock, sailing in a sea of stars? I wonder what that would have been like, to be one of those men who flew a ship into space.”
Spock could not help but think that this man would have made an exemplary starship captain. Such a loss because for too long Kirk’s people had chosen personal gain and comfort over the future of their planet. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with an intense enmity toward his mother’s people for denying his friend all that should have been his. He swallowed around the tightness in his throat. “In a different reality, I’m sure you would have been the best captain in that stellar fleet.”
Laughing, Kirk blew off Spock’s words with a wave of his hand. “It’s nice to think that but we’ll never know, will we? No, there’s nothing to gain by wondering what might have been. Besides, I’m happy with the Enterprise.
“I have meant to ask you, did you name her yourself, or did your government name her?”
“I named her,” Kirk responded with a shrug. “You know how my mother is. Well, my dad was worse. Only his big thing was military history. He’d read anything he could get his hands on, and then he’d drag me over and go over it all again. Maybe because, Sam, my brother, couldn’t be bothered. It was the farm or nothing.” He smiled pensively.
“Sam? Was not your brother’s name George?”
“George Samuel. I’m the only one who called him Sam. Don’t ask me why.” He took a deep breath and then seemed to throw off the melancholy brought on by his brother’s mention. “Anyway, one time my dad told me about a small sailing warship that fought during our Revolutionary War. She’d fought valiantly through several key battles but when she was in danger of being captured, she, along with two other ships, was run aground and burned. I guess I felt that she deserved to be remembered somehow, so when I was given the ship I picked Enterprise.
“You have a romantic spirit.”
Kirk smiled. Then, as if seeing him for the first time, he continued to stare at Spock.
“Is there something amiss?”
“No, I was just thinking that my mother was wrong.”
“About what?”
“You do smile. It’s hard to see sometimes, but it is there. Maybe no one else can see it, but I do.”
He turned away; the tone of Kirk’s words, the cadence of his voice, this was exactly what he had feared.
“Hey.”
Reluctantly, he looked back at his friend.
“I’m sorry.” Kirk made a helpless motion. “It’s hard, that’s all. Listen, it’s getting late. Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll be in in a few minutes.”
Spock mourned the loss of the camaraderie they had shared only moments before, yet he knew his reaction could not be other than it was. He nodded, and then retreated into the tent.
He removed his boots and stretched out on his bed roll. He didn’t bother getting into his sleeping bag; the night was pleasant enough without it. Looking over at where Kirk would spend the night, he wondered how they would possibly manage sleeping mere inches away from each other.
From outside, he heard Kirk throw another log on the fire.
Kirk had been quiet most of the morning as they prepared for their departure; pulling down the tent, putting out the fire and then taking only enough time for a quick meal. They had departed from their campsite, the trees giving way to open plains as they rode, and still, other than when words were absolutely necessary, his friend had remained silent.
It had occurred to Spock to leave during the night but Kirk had never come to bed, sleeping near the fire instead, his only cushion the saddle beneath his head. Spock had known that any movement on his part would have brought Kirk instantly awake. So he had stayed, not knowing how to heal the breach that had sprung up between them.
It was a cool, crisp morning and under other circumstances it would have been the most pleasant of days, a perfect day for two friends to spend together. Surely, there was some way to make it so between them. He cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should discuss what transpired last night.”
“We’re being followed.”
Spock started at the non sequitur. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, they showed up about ten minutes ago. They’re not getting any closer but they’re right on our trail.”
“What should we do?” Spock started to turn, curious as to who it might be.
“Don’t turn around,” Kirk hissed. “If we can make it a little further, we can hide in the forest up ahead. That area was never cultivated, so the trees are pretty thick. Let’s pick up our speed a little bit.”
Spock urged his horse forward. Even the mules seem to be aware of the danger, as they needed little urging to keep up.
“Are they still there?”
“Uh huh. And they’re getting closer. Come on, let’s get the hell out of here.”
With that, Kirk shot forward, the mules galloping behind him. Spock applied pressure to Orpheus's sides and the horse immediately responded. Behind him, he heard their pursuers yell out and give chase.
The trees, which before seemed within easy reach, now appeared an inordinate distance away. The open field stretched out before them and Spock realized that their pursuers were gaining on them. At the same time, he found himself falling further and further behind Kirk, who was by far the better rider.
Kirk looked back. “Hurry, Spock! They’re right behind us!” The words were punctuated by the report of several rifles.
Spock tried but his lack of expertise was slowing his progress, his struggle to stay in his saddle throwing off the animal’s stride. Kirk was now several lengths in front of him.
The forest loomed up ahead, its thick underbrush promising safety. He saw Kirk slow and then shoot between the trees and disappear.
There was no pain at first, only the feeling of being shoved as he was propelled from his horse, rolling across the ground until coming to rest on his back. He attempted to rise but could manage only to bring himself to a sitting position. His arms felt heavy as he attempted to crawl toward safety. He looked around for his horse. If he could manage to remount the animal he might yet get away. But then he saw Orpheus follow Kirk’s path into the forest and knew there would be no help from that direction. He looked back. The men, for there were several of them, were quickly advancing toward him.
One moved out in front of the others, apparently eager to get to Spock first. As he neared a shot rang out and the rider slumped, then fell to the ground. The others slowed and began to look for cover when a second of their number was taken down.
Spock felt a tug at his arm and looked up to see Kirk at his side, a rifle nestled in his arm.
“They’re gone for now but they could be back any second. Let’s get you out of here.”
He pulled Spock up onto his feet and dragged him along while constantly throwing looks behind them. Finally, they reached the forest and the trees closed in behind them. It was dark, as if they had suddenly gone from morning to late evening, the forest’s canopy blocking out most of the sun. Still, he could just make out the horses and mules tied nearby, bunched up close together within the narrow confines of the undergrowth. Still carrying Spock along, Kirk managed to slide the rifle into its stock and untie the animals.
“There’s not enough room in here to ride,” Kirk commented as he led them deeper into the forest, one hand gripping the animals’ reins, his other arm around Spock. “Once we find an open area we can rest and I can check out your wound.”
Spock didn’t answer. He was losing a great deal of blood and he could feel his strength ebbing away with it. If they did not find cover soon, he did not know if he would be able to continue. Somehow, Kirk managed to keep them both upright and finally they came to a small meadow. Kirk gently lowered him to the ground so that he was propped up against a tree.
“I’ll be right back. I need to tie up the animals.”
Spock only nodded, the blood loss making him lightheaded. He could hear Kirk moving around as he secured the animals. Then he was kneeling next to Spock, a canteen in his hands.
“Take a drink,” he ordered as he brought the canteen to Spock’s mouth.
Spock did as he was told. After a swallow, he began coughing and pushed it away.
“Let me see how bad it is.” Kirk put the canteen down next to Spock and then gently pulled him forward until Spock’s head rested against his chest. He hitched Spock’s shirt up above the wound and froze.
Spock could hear the birds, flitting through the branches above them, and the gentle sounds of the horses munching on the grass. But above all that, he could hear the beating of his own heart as he waited for Kirk’s reaction as the seconds passed.
With a jolt, he found himself back up against the tree. Kirk was slowly getting to his feet and backing away, a look of shock and dawning horror on his face. “What the hell are you?”
“Jim, please,” Spock gasped. “You must let me explain.”
Shaking his head, Kirk happen to glance down at his hands. Spock’s blood, bright green in the sun that shone down into the clearing, was smeared across both his hands. In a frenzy of motion, he knelt down and scrubbed them into the grass. When he stood back up his face was pale and Spock saw him swallow several times. Then he began inching his way toward the horses, never turning his back on Spock.
“Do not leave me.” Spock’s vision was starting to blur and he fought to stay conscious. “There is nothing to fear from me.” He coughed again and this time blood painted his lips. “You must hear me out.”
He tried to get to his feet but even sitting up was beyond him. Spock could only lie helpless as Kirk shakily untethered the animals, jumped onto Erinnys’s back and rode quickly away.
Spock let his eyes close, no longer fighting the pull of sleep. He didn’t know how long it had been since Kirk’s departure. His time sense had deserted him; it could have been as little as ten minutes or as long as many hours. What he did know was that he had little time left. The pain in his back had increased, while his blood had slowly pooled at his side.
He had thought at first to attempt a healing trance. But as long as the projectile remained within his body that was impossible. In any event, there was no one there to waken him. He would remain locked within the trance, unable to pull himself free. He would die, anyway.
Odd, he had never really contemplated the possibility of his dying on this planet, or what it would mean once the transponder he carried within himself signaled the ship of his demise. The vessel would return to Vulcan and none would ever know his fate. He knew his parents would grieve but he held no fear for Sarek. It was Amanda who concerned him. How would she take his death, here of all places? He illogically wished he could behold her one more time.
More, he wished Kirk would have stayed at his side through this, but he could not blame him for leaving. What other reaction could there have been? Kirk was so much more than most, yet even he could not be expected to blithely accept the existence of life not of his planet. What horror he must have experienced to realize that the man he was contemplating as a lover should turn out to be something alien, apart.
Yet he feared what this would do to Kirk. He knew that with time the human would come to regret his part in Spock’s death. He would hold himself accountable until the sheer weight of it would become too much to bear. It grieved Spock to think of his friend coming to such a place.
He tried to resettle, placing his weight on one side in the hope of relieving the pain that radiated across his back. He felt a gush of blood and was unable to stop the moan of pain that escaped his controls.
“Spock?”
It was an effort to open his eyes and focus on the person kneeling at his side. “Jim?”
“Yeah. Surprise, surprise. I’m sorry I left. I don’t know what you are; I suppose right now it doesn’t really matter. But I doubt even you can live with a bullet inside of you.”
“No, I don’t believe so,” Spock remarked in a whisper tight with pain. “Is that why you have returned?”
“I suppose. Whatever you are, you don’t deserve to die out here, alone. No one deserves that. But right now I need to get that bullet out. Let’s get this shirt off of you.”
He helped Spock sit up, then unbuttoned his shirt and gently pulled his arm free of one sleeve. He brought the shirt around, carefully peeling it away from Spock’s back, and slid it off of him. “I’ve only done this once before, you know.”
“That is fortuitous, for I have never done it.”
Kirk chuckled and only then did Spock realize how nervous the human was. Whether it was from what he was about to do, or because he still felt an aversion to Spock and was doing this only out of pity, Spock did not know and at this point did not care. They would sort it out later.
“You’re going to have to lie on your stomach.”
Spock nodded. With Kirk’s help, he managed to turn onto his side and then lower himself face down.
He felt Kirk gently clean the blood from his back. Removing a match from his pocket, Kirk lit it and used the flame to sterilize his knife. He took a deep breath and lay the knife against the wound. “This is going to hurt.”
“There is no alternative.”
His jaw clenched as he fought to control the pain. The knife slid into him, probing for the alien object. Deeper, and then out. And then in again. Spock couldn’t help his moan of pain when Kirk replaced the knife with his fingers. It felt as if Kirk was trying to draw out his very insides.
Kirk swore. “It’s right there but I can’t get a good grip on it.”
It was all Spock could do to keep his body still until, finally, he heard Kirk give a sigh of relief.
“Got it.” Kirk threw the bullet aside. He grabbed the large piece of linen Spock hadn’t noticed he’d brought with him until now and started tearing it into strips. Folding what was left, he padded the wound then used the strips to bind it around Spock’s body.
“I think the bleeding’s slowed,” Kirk announced as he helped Spock into a sitting position.
“That is welcome news.”
“You’re not going to be in any shape to travel for several days, so I’m going to set up camp. Will you be okay?”
“Yes, I am well...now. I must thank you for saving my life.”
Kirk looked away for a moment. When he turned back, his face was somber. “I did what I had to do. And right now I need to get the tent set up and a fire started.” He scanned the sky. “It looks like it might rain later. I’m hoping that means we won’t have any more trouble.”
Spock looked up. He hadn’t notice, though, truthfully, there was little he had noticed since this morning. His body felt heavy, and his thoughts were still somewhat disjointed. “Do you believe they will be back?”
“Not really. I managed to kill two of them and wound a third. That left only two who are in any condition to do much of anything. Men like that rarely have the courage to act unless the odds are in their favor. I doubt they’ll be back.”
“Logical,” Spock barely whispered. Against his will, he felt his eyes closing.
Without another word, Kirk stood and began setting up camp. Half asleep, the sounds of Kirk rustling about were a soothing refrain: a gentle word to one of the horses, a curse when the tent gave him difficulty. Eventually, Spock slumbered.
He woke with a start. He was inside the tent, cocooned within one of the sleeping bags. Across from him, Kirk sat on his bed roll, reading. The sound of rain hitting the tent was lulling and he almost fell back to sleep until he saw a flash of light, followed by a low rumble of thunder. It sounded far away.
“You’re awake.” Kirk closed his book and set it aside.
“Yes.” He blinked, attempting to bring his still disjointed thoughts together. “How long was I asleep?”
“Just a couple of hours. You barely roused when I carried you in here.” He regarded Spock curiously. “You’re heavier than you look.”
“My planet is larger than Earth.”
Kirk nodded. “Bigger planet, heavier gravity, more bone and muscle mass. Makes sense. What planet are we talking about, anyway?”
“It is called Vulcan.”
Kirk silently mouthed the name. “And how far away is Vulcan?”
“In your measurements, approximately sixteen point five light years, in the constellation you know as Eridanus.”
“Just next door,” Kirk remarked humorously.
“You are reacting to this far better than you did initially.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not often than you discover that your friend has green blood.”
“Are we still friends?”
“I’m not really sure, to tell the truth. I look at you and still see the man I felt very close to. But then I think about who and what you are. We’re worlds apart—literally.”
“Not completely. My mother is from this planet.”
The look on Kirk’s face implied not a little skepticism. “You’re half human and half...Vulcan? I wouldn’t have thought that possible.”
Spock shrugged, then stifled a wince. “There was a certain amount of medical intervention involved.”
“I’ll just bet. So, is that why you’re here? To visit your mother?”
“My mother lives on Vulcan.”
“Then why are you here?”
“The Coalition of planets, of which Vulcan is a member, discovered your planet two hundred and three years ago. Soon after we began monitoring your situation. But there is only so much one can learn from scans, so we resolved to send down scouts. Unfortunately, while the history of your planet from before the catastrophe occurred is well documented, little information has been found in regards to what was happening just prior to and during the upheaval. There are still several unanswered questions.”
“Such as?”
“Such as, how did your people come to find themselves in the situation in which they did? Did they not see what was happening? And what brought about the cessation of the build up of CO2 in your atmosphere?”
“I can’t answer your first two question but I can the last one. They stopped it. They stopped burning oil and coal after they realized what it was doing.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah, just like that,” Kirk snapped. “Those people sacrificed everything for us. They’d had it made, but they gave it all up so that we’d have a planet people could live on.”
“One would have thought it the only logical course left to them at that point. But why had they not readied another source of energy on which to fall back on? Why allow their civilization to fail? In any event, nothing has ever been found that proves your hypothesis.”
“Is that why you want to go to Cedar Rapids, to find proof?”
“That was my intention.”
Kirk appeared to mull over Spock’s words. After a few moments, he nodded. “Okay, once you’re back on your feet we’ll continue on.” He peered through the open flap of the tent. “The rain’s letting up. When it stops I’ll go hunt us up some food. What we have won’t last if we’re going to be stuck here for more than a week.”
Hesitant to present Kirk with yet another example of their differences, Spock nevertheless realized that there really was no other alternative. Remaining here for such a long stretch of time could be detrimental to both of them; Kirk would be forced to care for Spock, the animals and himself, while at the same time keeping guard in the event their pursuers returned. Also, there was the matter of the worry it would bring to Winona.
“There is a way,” he finally said, “by which our time here could be shortened by many days.”
“How’s that?”
“There is a technique used by my people, a type of self-induced hypnosis, by which we are able to concentrate all our energy into repairing an injury. What would normally take several days to heal can be accomplished in one.”
“You can do that here?”
“Yes, it will take only moments to prepare. Though it will give the appearance of near-death, you must not be concerned, it is more of a deep trance. But when my body is healed, I will need your aid in regaining full consciousness.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Hit me.”
Kirk’s eyes narrowed. “Say again?”
“The use of pain is a reliable method of breaking the healing trance. Two or three strikes to the face should be sufficient.”
“How do I know when to stop?”
Spock lifted an eyebrow. “I will let you know.”
“All right, I’m ready whenever you are.”
Spock closed his eyes and let his breath grow shallow. The beat of his heart slowed, and one by one his body’s functions closed down. Then there was nothing.
Kirk looked up for his book for what was possibly the tenth time in as many minutes. The figure lying across from him could just as well be dead; he certainly looked that way. If it wasn’t for the fact that Spock’s body remained warm, his flesh pliant to the touch, Kirk would have sworn that he was.
It had been eerie. One minute Spock was awake and talking, the next he was practically a corpse. To borrow one of Spock’s words, it was fascinating to watch. But he had plenty of things that needed to be done, so he’d left the tent and gotten on with it while his friend healed himself. He’d watered and fed the animals during a break in the rain, testing the tarp he’d hung over them for shelter and then moving them to another area while he cleared out their makeshift stall.
He gathered some wood just in case they needed a fire. It had been pleasant at night but that could change; besides, better to have some light even if it meant it could act like a beacon. Afterwards, he took himself over to the nearby stream and stripping down to nothing gave himself a thorough cleaning. Back in the tent, he pulled out some dry fruit from his pack and proceeded to munch on it while he read one of the books he’d brought along. He’d learned years before to always have something on hand. You never knew when you’d have hours to kill. He was almost a third of the way through it.
He put his book down and crawled over to the tent’s opening. The rain had stopped and the sky had cleared. Moonlight lit the small glade; a lucky break since it meant he was able to forego a fire. He hadn’t lied to Spock. He truly did believe the men who had chased them were long gone but it never hurt to be cautious. He could see the animals huddled together a few feet away. They looked fine, so he returned to his place on the sleeping bag.
Tired of reading, and with nothing else to do, Kirk stretched out on his side and rearranged his bedding until he was able to lie down with his upper body propped up at an angle. His chin resting on his hand, he gazed at the Vulcan.
Vulcan. Kirk couldn’t get over that. Spock wasn’t even human. Well, not completely. And that was another weird little bit of information, that an Earth woman had apparently consented to go live on another planet—which, when you thought about, maybe made a lot of sense. There were a lot of places on this planet that were veritable hells on Earth, the western coast of the continent being one of them. If Spock had said he was from Seattle because his mother was, Kirk could understand her willingness to leave. But when it came to Spock, who knew what had been a lie and what had been truth?
One thing for sure, it certainly now made sense why Spock had been so reluctant for there to be anything between them. He wasn’t going to walk away one day, he was going to fly away—to another planet.
So, where did that leave him? Do he still want a relationship with Spock? Kirk gazed at his friend. The finely boned face and body had attracted him from the very beginning. Spock’s compassionate nature and towering intellect had only strengthened that attraction. Did Spock happening to be from another planet change any of that? He wasn’t sure and he didn’t know if he ever would be.
He snorted and shook his head in disgust. What the hell was wrong with him? Mooning over the man like a love-sick teenager. He wasn’t in love with Spock. Was he?
He looked back at Spock. Then looked again. Was it his imagination or was Spock’s breathing deepening? He crawled across the space separating them until he was kneeling over the man.
“Spock?”
He almost fell over when Spock’s eyes flew open.
“Now, do it now.” Spock’s voice was strained, as if speech was almost beyond him.
Kirk only hesitated a moment before grabbing Spock by the shoulder, hauling him into a sitting position and backhanding him across the face. He waited a couple of seconds then did it again. On the fourth swing, his hand was caught in a viselike grip.
“That will be sufficient.”
He let go of Spock and leaned back. “How are you feeling?”
Spock sat up straighter as if testing his body. “Quite well,” he answered with satisfaction.
“Can I check?”
“Jim, I assure you—”
“Humor me, okay?” He tried not to smile when he saw that he had won.
Spock turned and presented his back.
Kirk placed his fingers over where only hours before he had repeatedly inserted a knife into an open wound. There was nothing to mar the smooth skin of Spock’s back, not even a scar. “This is amazing.” He lightly ran his fingers back and forth, unable to truly believe what he was seeing.
“Jim,” Spock pulled away and turned back to face him. “That is most....disturbing.”
He felt his face heat. He could imagine how it would feel if Spock were to do that to him. “Sorry. Uh, let me get you something to wear.”
He busied himself with finding a shirt and jeans for Spock. “It’s not that late. If you’re up to it, you might want to wash up. There’s a stream nearby.”
“Yes, I would very much like to do that.”
“Just follow the line of trees on your right. It’s about thirty feet away.”
Spock rose and took the clothes from him, then exited the tent.
Kirk ran a shaky hand over his mouth. He’d have to watch himself. It was clear he had his answer; Spock being from another planet didn’t seem to make a difference at all.
onto Chapter 5, Part 2
