5 Spock Related Problems (1)

"I'm telling you, Spock, the admiralty is trying to piss me off. Do you realize how little information they tend to give us about these missions? I mean they tell us to go check out a mining colony and we find out there is an ancient sentient silicon based being that oozes acid. Do you know how many shirts I have to replace each month because we never know what we're dealing with?" Kirk stabbed at his mashed potatoes with his fork, barely looking up at Spock or McCoy. He had been up all night talking his way out of how he didn't directly violate the prime directive, and at the end of the call, he received vague details of their next mission. It pretty much went, there was something wrong with the planet, go find out what it is and try to fix it.

"Captain, I am certain that if Starfleet had more information, they would inform us. Not doing so is unproductive, essentially dangerous, and illogical."

"Ignore him, Spock; he's just cranky from not sleeping." McCoy sent Jim a smirk. "Tell me Jim, when's the last time you slept."

The captain grumbled, turning his aggression onto his chicken. "3 hours before we went down to the planet."

Bones smirk quickly turned into a frown. "Jesus, Jim, that was over 50 hours ago."

"52.37 hours to be exact."

Bones sent Spock a glare. "Jim, you need to get some sleep."

"I will after my shift, Bones. It's only another 4 hours."

Bones raised a skeptical eyebrow. "At least eat your lunch. You missed breakfast again."

"Yes, mom." Jim rolled his eyes and finally took his first bite of his meal.

Spock rose from his seat, having already finished his salad and plomeek soup. "If you will excuse me, Captain, Doctor, I have a few experiments to oversee before I must return to the bridge."

Kirk watched the back of his friend from the table unconsciously stabbing his food again.

"Jim, those potatoes are already mashed and have done you no harm."

"Sorry." He forced himself to let go of his fork. "But you see what I mean right? He said 'a few' not a specific number."

"Yeah, I'm starting to see." Bones reached over, stealing a carrot from Jim's plate, not that the captain minded when his vegetables disappeared. "Seems to me like he's making a good old fashioned human excuse to me."

A quiet sigh escaped him. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."

"Don't let it get to you, Jim."

He glanced up at his friend, a tired smile pulling at his lips. "I won't. "

Jim started focusing on his meal, forcing it down even though he wasn't hungry. Satisfied that his friend was finally eating, Bones left as well, returning to his sickbay.

The captain remained, observing the lively atmosphere created by his crew: the laughing, the talking, and the occasional drama. Since becoming captain of the Enterprise, it had always been him, Bones, and Spock. Bones was always nagging him and calling him crazy for one reason or another, but Jim had grown used to it since they had roomed together at the academy. Having Bones as his CMO was like having a bit of home with him. Spock on the other hand wasn't so easy to get along with at first, and it was difficult being around him so often while adjusting to their new roles as captain and first officer. Spock would question him on everything as he was a stickler for regulations and often disagreed with him for one reason or another, but there had always been some sort of understanding between them after the Narada. No matter how bad their fights got, no matter what might have been said at the time, they would put it behind them after they both settled down without apologies. Soon enough, they would be enjoying each other's company off duty during meals and playing chess three times a week.

Both men ended up having important roles in his life as a captain. Bones was his voice of passion, the one who always wanted to do the right thing, save as many lives as possible, hurt no one, and tell him whenever his head was up his ass. Spock was his voice of reason, the one who would quote him regulations and tell him the consequences of their actions and keep him acting somewhat like a proper captain. The two of them balanced him out, allowing his decisions to find ground somewhere in the middle.

While McCoy was a great friend and a better drinking buddy, Spock was different—Jim wouldn't be able to tell anyone why, but it was true. He was a friend, a good one at that. He was witty and sarcastic, smart and . . . kind. Very kind. It was a shame that no one seemed to try to see past the Vulcan exterior.

Now that Spock was distancing himself, it seemed like something was missing. Spock was the only one he could match wits against, both in chess and conversation, the only one who he could talk about all aspects of work to, and recently, Spock had been teaching him Vulcan. Being with Spock was relaxing yet stimulating, exciting but peaceful. Perhaps McCoy should worry about his title of best friend being stolen. Jim chuckled to himself at that. It wouldn't matter much if Spock continued to keep to himself. He would have to change that.

Deciding on what to do, Jim got up and deposited his tray. He would have to corner Spock, and he knew just how to do it.