Returning Home to the Stars
Not sure what I’d do without you.
I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Without you.
The memory was fleeting. Jim caught in a the surging decompression at the top of Yorktown. McCoy flying—a thought that was alien to Spock at best—zooming through the towering buildings and twisted rings of the station for him to grab Jim before he was sucked out into space. For a moment, he felt the sharp pain in his side from his long healed injury and his shoulder nearly separating. He also felt the warmth of Jim’s words on his soul.
Then they were gone, and Spock was once again in the present, standing with the person who had meant so much to him that it was painful—but he couldn’t feel—not now.
“I have compared the schematics between the two ships while organizing the science decks,” he explained, mentioning nothing about his recollection. It was best not to pour salt in a wound, as expression he’d herd McCoy use and now fully understood. He was not the person Jim could not live without, and deep down he was afraid Jim would realize that fact. Perhaps he should have retired as they suggested…“The bridge configuration is altered a great deal. My station has been moved to your right. That will take some getting used to.”
There was a flicker in Spock’s eyes, something...but then it was gone in the next heartbeat and Jim wasn’t even sure he’d seen anything. “I’m sure that’s not all that’s changed but you’re right, it’ll take some getting used to.” He patted Spock’s shoulder before tucking his hands behind his back. This had to work, it was too important to him for it not to. “I’m sorry we’re losing some of the crew to other ships but I can’t blame them either, they deserve the promotions.”
Giving one last look at the ship, he gave Spock his undivided attention. “It’s going to be busy the next few days, getting everyone back on board and taking her out to stretch her legs. I’m going to need your help, keeping everyone on track and making sure we have all the supplies we’re supposed to, though I’m sure you’ve got that all under control already. Scotty’s already been complaining about the Starfleet mechanics crawling all over his lady but he’ll get over it.”
"I thought it’d be helpful if we had dinner together, to go over any last minute reports and fix things if we need to before we head out. If you’re too busy, I understand, but I thought it’d be nice.” Bones had warned him not to push things but eating together wouldn’t be bad, would it? It’d give them a chance to get to know each other again without people around, staring at them. “I even got a new chessboard if you’re interested. I’ve been practicing, I’ve gotten better. I might even be able to beat you this time.”