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Part 4/5
Kirk lay on his bed three afternoons later. He'd just come back from appointment with Doctor Crusher. "To all appearances you are aging normally, for a thirty year old human male, Captain."
Captain. They all called him Captain. He wasn't even capable of captaining a garbage scow in this universe... and they knew it. The skills it took to Captain this Enterprise were far removed from the ones he had. Oh, Picard could have Captained his Enterprise, certainly. But Kirk lacked the finesse, the sheer charm... Damn. He'd had that conversation with Picard on their second ride... miraculous, what these people could do with holography. He'd felt the horse beneath him, felt the wind on his face and scented the trees and flowers and grasses...
He turned over and punched the pillow. Only a little while longer. And he'd know.
The comm chirped and he felt his flesh shrink. "Kirk here." He'd learned he didn't have to push the buttons. Just talk. Picard's voice came back.
"Captain, the ship is within tractor range. Shall I meet you in the shuttle bay?"
Jim almost squirmed. "I'm not going. I'll... I'll wait for him here."
"Jim..."
"I can't do it, Jean-Luc. Not in front of all those people. I can't."
On the bridge the crew fell silent and still, all of them aching at the pain in that voice. And of course, Kirk didn't know anyone was listening... Picard stood up.
"Understood, Captain. Picard out." He wheeled to his crew. "Not one of you heard that. Is that clear?"
Little nods, acknowledgments. Picard sighed, knowing it would be all over this ship in minutes. "I'll be in shuttle bay 2. You have the bridge, Number One."
"Yes sir."
Picard took the lift down to Kirk's quarters and pressed the call. "Jim, it's Jean-Luc. Please open the door."
It slid open, and he stepped in, saw Kirk standing in the door to his bedroom. He looked fine: compact, complete, in control. Unless one noted the distinct tremor in his hands, and the way he was licking his lips. "Yes?"
"Jim... please come down and meet him. There won't be a crowd, just me and a couple of technicians. Please."
Kirk turned abruptly away, grabbing the doorframe to steady himself. "Jean-Luc.. What if I'm not me? If this is some kind of trick?"
"We've talked about that before." Picard paced into the room and grasped Kirk's shoulder. "It's something you owe to both of you, Jim. Come and see him. Come and see for yourself." He squeezed the shoulder, and went on in a lighter tone. "Besides, who are you to argue with the Captain of the Enterprise?"
A laugh that was almost a sob, then Kirk straightened. "Yes. Alright. Only promise you'll kill me, won't you? If he doesn't acknowledge me?"
"Don't be daft, man. Come on."
Jim couldn't later recall the short walk and turbo-lift ride to the shuttle bay. He was standing still, shaking, as the tidy black ship was tractored in and settled on the vast floor. Picard, beside him, had a reassuring hand on his upper arm. Or perhaps the hand was restraining him. He felt like running. Jim stared at the door of the shuttle, and waited.
Metal ticked as it warmed up. Silence fell. After an interminably long time the door of the little yacht swung open.
He was there. Dressed dark in Romulan finery, his cape swinging nearly to the ground. The face: older, harder than Jim remembered. Black eyes fixed on his own as the Vulcan crossed the floor. Jim heard Picard speaking, heard him falter and fall silent. His whole world contracted to that beloved face, inches from his own. Older, a few more lines. Harder. Cold.
Spock raised a hand and brushed his cheek, and Jim felt as if his knees would give way.
"Spock... I'm so sorry." Still, there was nothing. No inner connection, no flame of recognition. "I didn't mean to leave you alone so long..."
And that was ludicrous. The dark eyes were matte, unreadable. "Do you have chambers? I do not wish to talk here, before these people."
"I... yes." He turned like an automaton. "This way."
Kirk remembered even less of the walk back. Aware only of the footsteps of the man beside him. When the door to his cabin closed he merely stopped moving, frozen in place. A rustling behind him, and then Spock was there, his face anguished.
"Are you Jim? Even here, even now, I feel no... no thread..."
Jim knew he was weeping. "I'm so sorry. I left you, and I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Are you Jim?"
Jim reached out and grasped one hot hand, held it up to his face. "Come, feel me, feel for yourself. Come to me, Spock, I can't bear it another moment."
The Vulcan features hardened again and the hot hand closed on his face, the grip vise-like. Jim felt the sudden and oh-so- welcome loss of Self, the swirling universe dancing around him, and then the shock of recognition, the awareness of Other...
//It is you// Soft. Wondering. //It is you.// And no gentle first probing Meld, this. The whole of Spock burst in on him, surrounding him, filling his being with overpowering joy and love, and then a fierce, undeniable lust... Sense fled, and Kirk crumbled to the floor.
*
"Captain!" Picard turned at the urgency in Crusher's voice. He'd come to sickbay after that extraordinary reunion, to tell Beverly what had happened.
"Doctor?" Crusher was staring at the emergency monitors, knuckles white as her hands clenched into fists before her.
"Jean-Luc, Kirk's collapsed, he's completely unconscious. Could Spock have attacked him?. I have to go... oh god." She swallowed, grew still as the monitors from Kirk's cabin changed again. "I'd say you have your answer as to whether Kirk's genuine, Captain."
"What exactly do you mean?"
"Spock's bio-signs show every indication that he is spontaneously entering Pon Farr. Captain, that cabin is officially under medical seal until this is over."
Picard shot to his feet. "But... he could kill Kirk."
"Easily. Though this isn't the first time either of them have been through it... I'll keep an eye on the life-signs, Captain. Meanwhile, that door is locked and I want a guard on the corridor. Keep everyone away from them. Lord." She shook her head, staring at the monitors. "Talk about your classic dilemma."
"Doctor?"
"If Spock isn't careful - and Vulcans in Pon Farr are not careful, Captain - well, as you said, he could kill Kirk. But if I beam Kirk out, it would kill Spock. Which of the two lives do you value most, Captain? Which do I value most? Which does the Federation value most?" She swallowed. Picard stared, then glanced at the monitors. They were gibberish to him, flashes and sparkles and waving lines.
"Let us pray that it doesn't come to that, Doctor. And if it does..." He shivered. "Can you imagine either of them would be sane, if the other died *again*? You're not to interfere. No matter what. Don't beam Kirk out, no matter what."
"But... if Spock kills him, Spock will die too... oh." She shook her head. "Why does this have to be so damned hard for them? They've earned a little peace."
*
Spock stooped and felt his human's life force, then scooped him up in his arms. Of course, Jim had fainted. No mental contact in how long? Spock felt the heat building in his body and his grip on his human tightened. He let his head roll back, easing the growing tension in his shoulders, then carried his burden into the bedroom.
So young. He surveyed the limp form on the bed, then bent and began to tear the clothing off of Jim's still form. Boots first... there. Looked again. Young. Spock tore the thin tunic. Jim didn't look a day older than he had when he'd taken the first Enterprise out... Spock tossed the shirt aside, undid the pants and yanked them away. He stopped then, the torn garment in one hand, and stared.
The scars were gone, some faint voice said. The scars from that first Pon Farr...
Spock settled on the bed's edge and traced the taut abdomen almost lovingly with one finger. Such a gift, he heard himself think. The thought came from far away. Hunger overwhelmed him. He would have this man. He would...
"Spock."
Faint voice. He looked up and found the hazel eyes gazing fearlessly into his own. The hunger moved back slightly. "Jim." He felt the rut, the total abandon of Pon Farr, bearing down. "Jim, I'm sorry, I can't help it."
"Don't." The strong hands came up and cupped his face. "Don't hold back, Spock. I welcome it. I welcome you. I give myself to you. Freely. Quench the burning in me. I am yours."
Spock felt relief wash over him, even as the hunger built. "I will hurt you. And I don't wish to hurt you," he gasped, his voice harsh. The hazel eyes smiled.
"I don't mind. As long as it's you. Remember that."
And then the burning overwhelmed Spock and he rose, tearing the clothes from his body, in a fever to possess the man on the bed...
Jim gasped as Spock grabbed his shoulders with tremendous strength and turned him, dragging him to the bed's edge. There was no foreplay, no tenderness. Just a hard, hot pressure at his ass and then searing pain as the Vulcan tore into him. He heard himself cry out, but the pain and the pounding were all he could think about as Spock's harsh breath thundered in his ear. He struggled briefly, trying to find a way to make it hurt less, but the Vulcan's grip was unbreakable, unbelievably strong. Jim closed his eyes and whimpered; his knees burned from the floor, his hands ached where he clutched the bedspread. He tried to relax, tried to make that burning, tearing pain inside him ease...
The Vulcan screamed in truimph as he came, and came, and Jim's breath was forced in and out by the strength of the Vulcan's thrusts pushing him against the bed's edge. A sudden scorching pain in his shoulder, then an audible *snap* as one hand closed tightly on his clavicle... Jim forced himself to relax utterly, head swimming at the new pain, trying not to lose consciousness.
Spock withdrew, shuddering. Jim sagged against the bed's edge, knowing what was next. Knowing it was a long way from over. He wasn't disappointed, for the Vulcan suddenly hauled him upright and pressed him face first against the wall. Jim screamed as his broken clavicle sent its message of distress, and the Vulcan's hands drew his arms up over his head. He thought he was going to faint again. Then...
"Mine," came the low voice. "You're mine. Mine. Don't move. No, don't move..."
Spock rose up beneath him, impaling him... though this time it was easier, his ass wet with the Vulcan's semen. And his own blood, he realized. The pain in his shoulder and neck made him struggle against this new assault and he kicked out, only to be slammed against the wall, and the pain made him scream again as his wrist twisted too far in the Vulcan's grip. Then, without warning, he was in the air and falling face down onto the bed...
He lost consciousness many times, only to waken again to the relentless driving cock, the harsh breath, the incredible grip. He was a moving sea of pain. It seemed forever before he woke to silence, and stillness, and a distant soft noise that might have been crying...
"Spock?"
Scrambling in the dark, then a low light came on. A quiet moan. "Jim. I'll summon the doctor. Lie still."
"No."Jim tried to move from his position, curled on his side, but his body screamed rebellion. The cabin stank, he stank. He knew he had broken bones, he could feel them moving with his breath. "Not yet. Are you okay, love?"
Spock made queer choking noise, and Jim winced as the bed sagged. "You can ask that? You can care?"
Jim drew a shallow breath, another, feeling his broken clavicle, the dislocated shoulder, the snapped bones in wrist and ankle. The searing agony that was his anus and colon. And, under all of it, the tense throbbing of his own cock. He managed a chuckle. "The only thing I'm mad about, lover, is that it's my turn and you're not helping."
He felt Spock's astonishment through the Bond, and relished the feeling. "Jim?"
"I've got a hard-on you wouldn't believe, love. Suppose we just take care of that, gently, before we send me to sickbay, hmmm??"
"Jim?" Spock's hands were on him then, stroking gently. "It wouldn't be wise. You might injure yourself worse. The cracked ribs..."
"Oh, Spock." Kirk sighed. "How long have we been here? I'm awfully thirsty."
"I don't know." A rare admission for the Vulcan. "Un.... the wall calendar says it's been almost three days." He heard the hope and fear in Spock's voice.
"Three days. No wonder. Spock, would you bring me a drink of water, and get some warm water to clean me up before we call in the medics? I don't see any reason to give them more to gossip about, and it really stinks in here."
The stroking hand moved to his cheek, and Kirk turned his head to capture one finger and suck on it weakly. Spock made a low, rumbling sound, then rose. "You... I don't deserve you. Very well, lie still and I shall bring you water, and clean us up."
He was back in moments, holding a straw up to Jim's broken lips. Jim sipped the water until the cup was empty, then relaxed again. "Thank you. And Spock... Anything. I'd do anything for you, you know that."
A soft hand smoothed his hair. "Why don't you sleep awhile, my own, while I clean us both up?"
"Slept enough. I missed almost a century of you." Jim opened his eyes and smiled up into the dark eyes above him. "Besides, I don't want them to think this is all your fault, you Vulcan! Though I have to admit, it didn't occur to me that I'd be dealing with Pon Farr right off the bat. Are you really okay now?"
"Perfectly. And suffering the usual guilt, magnified tenfold by raping you almost to death after not having seen you in nearly a century." Jim felt the suffering under that comment and shook his head, gasping as his shoulder protested.
"I won't have it. Use our Bond, pay attention Spock. What do I feel?"
A moment's silence. Then Spock's low voice. "Love. Nothing but love."
"Exactly. I long ago learned about Pon Farr, Spock. So if, of your goodness, you could clean the blood and shit off me, I'd be obliged..."
"Jim." Spock bent and kissed him, very gently. "Once you are healed, I shall certainly do whatever you ask. Lie still now, while I fetch the water."
When Spock returned Jim insisted on being lifted off the filthy bed onto the couch, and managed not to black out again at the pain. Spock cleaned him gently, all over, then covered him with a blanket and went to change the sheets and wash the blood and other body fluids off the walls. It was a small penance, but Jim knew from experience that it made Spock feel better to do these menial tasks. He waited until the Vulcan knelt before him again, clean and in a fresh robe. "Does it smell okay now?" he asked, tracing the strong jaw with his good hand. Spock nodded.
"Yes. Thank you for your patience." Then a sudden deep, exploring kiss, Spock capturing his head in both hands. "Thank you for coming back to me. I was half a man, without you."
"I love you. I'm sorry I left. I didn't mean to, really."
"I know. I know." Spock rose and straightened his robe. "Spock to Doctor Crusher."
"Crusher here." The voice was tentative, careful. The two men exchanged looks and Kirk sighed deeply, content.
"Doctor, Spock here. I request your assistance in Jim's quarters. Anticipate multiple broken bones and some internal injury. I assure you that you and your staff are in no danger."
*
Picard entered with the medical team, saw the gentle way Spock stroked Jim's hair as the human was lifted onto the an- grav stretcher. Saw the way Crusher's recriminations rolled off his back as the Vulcan watched Jim carried carefully away. Saw the sweet smile that the Vulcan tried to hide. He walked over after the medical team was gone, and caught Spock's attention. "Ambassador?"
"Hmm. I apologize, Captain, for putting your crew through that waiting period." He sighed softly. Picard could only imagine the physical relief that came at the price of Kirk's broken body. "If I had known that would be the result of seeing him again, I would have requested he beam out to my ship." He straightened up and the smile was carefully hidden. "In answer to the Federation's question, that is definitely Jim Kirk."
"We signaled them the moment Beverly realized you'd gone into Pon Farr, Ambassador. Everything is well, then?"
"More than well. And with your permission, I'll join him in sickbay. Captain Picard, you can't imagine the gift that man is to me."
"It'd take a lot before I'd put up with... that." Spock turned and nodded, not disagreeing.
"It only takes love, Captain, for a human. That's what always astonishes me. For a Vulcan it takes so much thinking, so much analysis, so much nonsense... so much work. For a human, at least for that human, it only takes love. If there is a more blessed people in the galaxy, I can't name them. Excuse me."
Picard stood stunned, as the tall, dignified Vulcan swept out. To hear such a thing from a Vulcan, to hear a Vulcan speak of blessedness... To hear such a thing from a grown male of any species, especially after what had happened in these rooms over the last few days... Picard realized that he was crying. And not from sadness or pain. He brushed the tears away and strode from the room. He had work to do.
*
"James."
Jim Kirk stirred in his bed, and woke. Recognized the voice that was calling his name, and smiled. "Spock. Hey...."
"Hey." A gentle hand pushed the hair off his forehead. "How are you feeling?"
Jim drew a long breath and released it, checking his body's reactions., "I feel fine. I feel good." He forced his eyes open, felt them sag again. "I can't quite seem to wake up though."
"Doctor, the antidote drug, please. He's perfectly well."
There was a short pressure against his neck, and the leaden feeling in his lids went away. He blinked up at Spock. "Gosh, you're a handsome man. Have I ever told you?"
"Occasionally." The dark eyes twinkled. "Do you still feel good? Check and find out, the doctor's standing right here waiting. Arm, leg, neck, ribs? Be sure. You've been five days undergoing regen."
Jim summoned some order to his thoughts, checked his body carefully with both hands and all his senses. "I feel fine, Spock. Doctor. And more awake by the moment... and very, very hungry."
Spock's face twisted the way it always did when he was trying not to smile in the presence of a stranger. "How about some plomeek soup?"
"I'd rather be drugged back to sleep. But if there's a good chicken salad sandwich on the menu..."
"I give up,"Beverly said, laughing. "Take him away, Ambassador. Captain Kirk, you'll report back here tomorrow for a checkup, otherwise you're free to go."
"Sure." He sat up, letting Spock steady him. "Do I have any clothes, Hephaistos, or are you gonna just drape your shield in front of me?"
He saw Spock's jaw working as he fought not to smile at the reference. "Your clothes are here. If the Doctor will excuse us, I will assist you in dressing."
"Sure. Just one thing, doctor?"
Beverly paused in the doorway. "Yes?"
"Am I cleared for the full gamut of adult inter-relations?"
Beverly blushed and smiled, and then nodded. "Use lube, boys. Lots of lube, or doctor's gonna spank. Okay?"
Part 5/5
Kirk's stiffness wore off as he walked sedately beside Spock. Back to the cabin. "Spock, I'm sorry."
"What exactly are you sorry for, now?"
"Everything. Nothing. Leaving you for so long, and then subjecting you to this as soon as I see you again. I know that you dislike having others..." He trailed off, feeling shy. Spock set a light hand on his shoulder.
"The mystique regarding Vulcan mating has almost totally vanished since last you woke up in this universe, James. Mated Vulcans routinely serve together on long voyages. Pon Farr has been accepted, both on Vulcan and off Vulcan, as a biological necessity. It is treated as such. I have no shame regarding what occurs between us when the madness comes. My only wish is that I didn't hurt you so badly."
The door to their quarters opened, and closed behind them. Kirk turned to face Spock and smiled, lifted a finger to Spock's lips. "I'm not hurt now."
Spock kissed the finger, and shook his head. "No, but you are hungry. I am hungry. We will eat, first, James."
Jim let his hand drop. "Very well. But after that, I'm following doctor's orders."
"Pardon me?"
"About using lots of lube." He wandered over to the replicator and considered. "What's your poison, Spock?"
"Pasta. The carbohydrates will assist in your continued recovery." Spock settled at the table, marveling at the sight of Jim ordering and serving their meal. "If I were more human, I would wonder if this was a dream. I did not think I would ever feel this... happiness. After you died."
"I know exactly what you mean." Jim set a bowl of salad on the table, ordered bread. "So fill me in, Spock. I've read a sort of overview of what you've been doing. And I read your book."
"Ah. And? You approve?"
"It was brave of you. Yes, I approve." He settled at the table and began to eat. "You joined DiploCorp, that was a surprise."
"I felt uniquely qualified to assist in bringing the Romulans into the Federation. I managed to sow several small pockets of discontent among the common folk of Ch'Rihan. Over the last decade those small pockets have grown. There has been major reform in the Senate and the armed forces, and the population is edging toward a constitutional democracy."
Kirk knew that the casual tone was a mask. Spock was hugely pleased with his success, it echoed in the bond between them.//Well, done, Ambassador.//
"I have resigned my Ambassadorship, James. While you were still unconscious. I have no desire to be parted from you, nor do I desire to place either of us in the sort of danger my missions to Ch'Rihan included. I do not know how you plan to spend this life so miraculously granted to you, but I hope your plans include me."
"How could they not? But, are you sure? You're a pretty good Ambassador, by all accounts."
"I am also a 'pretty good' swimmer, James, but have no wish to devote an entire life to it. What do you think you'd like to do? Another career in Star Fleet?"
"No." Jim spoke without thinking, then looked up in surprise. "No, I don't want another career in Star Fleet. I don't want us serving opposite watches, or being separated by the bureaucracy, or god forbid, dying out of time, again. I couldn't bear to lose you. Not now. Not ever. But what else am I fit for?"
They ate in silence for several minutes, and Spock finally pushed his plate away and sighed. "You needn't be fit for anything, Jim. I am an extremely wealthy man. I could easily support us both."
"Do you mean retire? You? You'd never be happy without some sort of important work to do, Spock. Spend the next seventy or however many years..." Kirk pushed his own plate away, full. "I just can't see it."
"We have plenty of time to make a decision," Spock responded. "Enterprise has resumed her normal patrol. It will be two weeks before we are close enough to Earth to divert there, or to take my little ship. The Federation did request our immediate return, but I thought that you and I had many things to discuss before we returned to Earth."
"It'll be a circus, won't it?" Jim stood up and picked up his plate, walked over to the disposal chute. "I'm not looking forward to that." He turned back to the table to find the Vulcan right behind him, and startled. Amazing how someone his size could move so silently. He smiled up into the serious dark eyes. "I think I'm looking forward to something else, though."
Spock cupped Jim's chin with one hand, bent to kiss him lightly. The jolt that shot through Jim was all out of proportion, and he gasped. "Lord, Spock," he whispered. The hot lips moved down to his neck, and Spock's hands began roaming over his body, stroking his flanks, circling his ass.
"I have been celibate a long time, James." Spock's voice was a low rumble. "The madness... that was madness. Now, I want you slowly, and carefully, and gently."
Jim's knees trembled, and he leaned into the hot body. "Anything."
"I didn't explore this part of our lives enough, before. This time, James, I want to learn all there is to learn about human sensuality." He kissed Jim again, while the human's mind was still reeling at that admission. Kissed him deeply, exploring with his tongue, pressing against him, arms wrapped tightly around his back.//This time, I will not waste your lovely body.//
//Spock.// Jim's thoughts were whirling. He felt the Vulcan's growing erection pressing into his. Then Spock was lifting him and carrying him carefully into the bedroom. Set him on the bed and knelt before him on the floor. Jim raised his hands to undo his tunic, but Spock captured his hands and held them.
"Let me. Let me learn you, all over again." Spock raised Jim's hands to his mouth and kissed them, turned them over and kissed the palms. Then released them and bent down to remove Jim's shoes.
Jim's trembling was out of control by the time Spock had undressed him, kissing and stroking every bit of flesh as it was revealed. Spock pressed him back on the bed, the Vulcan still fully clothed, and knelt astride his legs. Bent and tasted the throbbing cock. Jim cried out as Spock's tongue explored the hard length of him, then swirled lower to take first one, then both balls in into his hot mouth. Massaged them gently with his tongue, kneeding and sucking, until Jim's hips were pushing involuntarily upward. Jim was uttering soft little cries of astonishment and pleasure. Spock released the heavy scrotum and turned his attention back to the hard cock, plunging his mouth over it almost to the root. Jim's back arched and he cried out, his hands coming down to tangle in the Vulcan's black hair. Spock chuckled silently, enjoying the pleasure rippling across the bond from the human. He sucked gently, moving his head slowly up and down the shaft, until Jim was thrashing, nearing his release. Then slowly, gently, he released his lover and stood up
"Spock." Protest, hands groping for him. A fine sheen of sweat covering the youthful body. Spock paced into the bathroom and searched the cabinets, finally finding a tube of water soluble lube. When he returned Jim was still on his back, his knees raised, a look of pure hunger in the hazel eyes. "Spock?"
"Doctor's orders." Spock climbed back onto the bed and knelt between Jim's legs. He uncapped the lube and took a generous amount on his palm. Spread it with his other hand between his lover's legs and over his own fingers. Jim was panting, little tremors rushing over his skin. Spock gently pressed one long finger against the tight anus and felt a shock from his crown to his belly at the gasp of pleasure. Pressed further, and felt the tense muscles relax. He withdrew and then pushed forward again, this time with two fingers, until they were buried up the knuckle. Began to stroke, from the inside. Jim cried out and his hips began to move, pressing against Spock's hand. Spock's other hand trapped Jim's erection and began to stroke the velvet skin.
He was close. Spock pulled away, resting one hand on Jim's belly and undoing his own trousers with the other. Jim looked, saw what he was doing and swallowed.
"Yes, please. Please, Spock."
Spock released his own straining erection. Lubed it carefully, enjoying the feeling of his own hands. Then he set the tube aside and moved up between Jim's legs. Very carefully positioned Jim's legs over his shoulders and pressed himself against the well lubricated opening.
Jim cried out as he entered, and Spock heard himself groaning as the wet warmth enveloped him, welcomed him. He moved slowly, gently, in and out and Jim matched his rhythm, the two moving as one. Now almost retreating, now buried to the hilt, Spock felt the wave of his orgasm approaching. He plunged in and held, and Jim began to writhe, twisting the sheets in his hands.
"Oh, please, Spock! Now, please come in me, come inside me!"
Spock abandoned care and began to thrust fast and deep, eyes closed, immersed in pleasure. Then Jim cried out and the muscles of his ass contracted. Spock's eyes flew open and the sight of his beloved arched beneath him sent him over the top, and their orgasm crashed down on them together, sending both spinning into oblivion.
Spock came back to himself, sprawled over Jim's belly. Jim's breathing had slowed, his heart thudding back to a normal pace. Spock freed himself gently from the tangled legs and disrobed quickly, then slid back onto the bed and took Jim in his arms. Jim turned into the embrace and began to sob. "It's you, it's really you," he managed, and Spock sent a wordless reassurance down their bond. He understood now, as he hadn't before, the purely emotional release that this moment brought for Jim. Brought for himself now, too.
"I've missed you, lover," he whispered, feeling a hot tear run down his own face and marveling at it. "I've missed you more than you can know. Stay with me, Jim. Live with me, share this new life with me."
"Whatever you want, Spock. Everything."
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