I'm going for complete comfort and fluff here to make up for all the horrible things I did to Spock, this chapter is quite long.

Not Slash just two men who have an epic bromance going on.

Kirk stood nervously outside his First Officer's quarters, he been debating whether to press the chime or not for a few minutes. He sighed reaching for the panel again and heard two passing yeomans giggling as they watched him, he looked at them the smile of 'nothing to see here' firmly in place and they sped up disappearing around the corner. He took a breath, pressed the button and waited, maybe Spock was busy. The door opened and he came face to face with his first officer, "Captain" he greeted. Spock was dressed in his black meditation robes "Ah, I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you" He pointed to his quarters next door "I can come back"

"I had not truly started meditating, you are not interrupting" the giggling could be heard again, Spock raised his brow in the direction and it ceased. "Would you like to come in?" He stepped back to allow Kirk to enter.

Jim stopped in the middle of the cabin, he could smell the incense that Spock had burnt for his meditation, it was comforting. It clung to his first officer and was only really noticeable if Spock stepped close to him either to support the Captain into being incredibly awesome or stop him from being incredibly stupid, usually the latter.

"Captain?" Kirk turned to look at Spock who had raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "Aren't you hot in that" he blurted the first thing he could think of to break the silence. Spock blinked at him; this was obviously not going to be a quick conversation. He removed the heavy meditation robe and carefully laid it on the bed leaving himself clad in black trousers and long sleeved turtle neck. He motioned to the small sofa by the far wall and Kirk sat heavily on it. Spock joined him perching on the edge so he could easily face Kirk.

"You saved me" Spock opened his mouth to respond but Kirk pressed on "You're always doing that, you always offer yourself as a hostage, offer to go on dangerous missions or just step in the way of things meant for other people." He took a breath "You're not any less valuable than any other member of this crew" he bit his lip looking down "I don't know what I'd do if…" he trailed off. Spock's voice spoke quietly next to him "As First Officer it is my duty to ensure the safety of the Captain and the ship at all costs…as your friend I could not allow any harm to come to you when I had the power to prevent it." Kirk looked up, Spock had only used the word 'friend' once before and he'd been dying at the time. Spock pressed on "If I had been the initial target for the creature would you have allowed it or prevented it as I did for you"

Kirk huffed what could have been a laugh and looked at his knees "I guess you're right. We're as bad as each other" Spock nodded slowly "I believe Doctor McCoy would agree with your assessment were he here."

Kirk fiddled with a seam on the sofa cushion, then remembered why he'd initially come "What happened in Sickbay?" was it his imagination or had Spock's ears flushed green.

Spock shifted in his seat "to what do you refer?"

"When you…" he didn't want to say died "came out the quarantine pod" he waved his hand near his head "it was like I felt…you"

Spock nodded then paused it was like he was trying to think of the correct phrasing of his next sentence. "As you are aware Vulcans have a certain amount of telepathic ability" he opened his hand showing the sensitive pads of his fingers "the strongest connection occurs when we have direct physical contact with an individual" Kirk nodded "One of those mind things? Yeah, gives me a headache with pictures and a load of emotions I don't even want to start processing." He met Spock's gaze. Spock was giving him a very peculiar expression "You have melded before?" Kirk bypassed the double entendre his mind childishly provided "Yeah, you did…or I mean older you, he had to explain everything quickly on Delta Vega"

Spock's voice had gone cold "Did he explain what he was about to do before he initiated it?"

Kirk thought back "Um, well he…he said it would be quicker to show me" he recoiled as he saw something smouldering in his First Officer's eyes "Spock, he didn't hurt me, just downloaded a lot more than he needed to" He still saw the fury on Spock's face, he'd somehow made it worse and then he realized with glee "Spock are you jealous?" Spock instantly straightened in his seat, his face going blank "Jealousy is an illogical emotion…" that wasn't a denial, "It is possible that your mind is more receptive to mine due to this previous meld"

Kirk nodded "Ok I get that but what happened to…us?"

"When a Vulcan's life ends their Katra can be released from their body so it may join with others to be housed in the Katric chambers that were once on Vulcan".

"Katra?" Jim questioned.

"The life essence of a Vulcan, you would refer to it as a soul. If a Vulcan healer had been available they could have taken my Katra or could have facilitated in its release. As there was no-one nearby with the appropriate telepathic skills my mind decided subconsciously that yours was a suitable substitute."

Kirk thought "It felt like something was draining me" Spock spoke quietly as if ashamed "I apologise, I inadvertently used your mind and body to sustain my own without permission"

"Spock it saved your life! You don't ever have to ask my permission for that"

Kirk broke the silence that now had fallen between them "So our minds are compatible huh? No offence but your mind must be severely messed up if it thinks that" Spock let out a low "Indeed"

Kirk registered the slight with a "Hey" he shifted to face Spock "Is there any way to check?" Spock looked at him and he waved his hand between them "Y'know to see if we're…" Spock raised his hand to the side of Kirk's face but stopped before he made contact. Kirk looked at the fingers then to Spock's face "Are you gonna read my mind?"

Spock shook his head "No this will be a brief touch between our minds to assess how compatible they are" He looked back at the fingers "Oh, well ok, mi casa es su casa" Spock's eyebrow twitched at the phrase but he placed cool fingers to the side of Kirk's face "Relax" came the low voice and then…Jim was falling.

It felt like he had been dropped from a height into deep water, he sucked in air as something pressed all around him, he flailed treading water, then warmth and safety wrapped round him with a voice "relax, Jim" he trusted this voice, he stopped fighting to stay afloat and found once he let the 'water?' surround him the pressure stopped leaving him in blankness but he could sense something in the background, fleeting impressions and emotions. He looked down, he had no body, amusement surrounded him "yeah, yeah laugh it up at the psi-null human" the he realised "You are laughing at me, I knew it, I can always tell you get this glint in your eye." The amusement changed to exasperated fondness as an image flashed showing Jim's spectacular trip on the bridge that morning and he watched 'himself?' being caught by blue sleeved hands. "Was that your memory?"

"Yes, it appears out minds are more in harmony than I had first thought"

Jim looked around in confusion "So you didn't mean to show me that?"

"No it…'slipped out' I believe you would say" Kirk snorted a laugh at the phrase.

"What else can I do?" he wondered 'looking' around. "Jim…" came a warning tone "No wait I think I'm getting the hang of this" he moved towards something bright like a guiding light "No don't" but it was too late, he'd crashed into it. Burning rage filled him as he heard his own voice "you never loved her…" then an image of himself being hit by a blue clad arm, the memory and emotions stopped abruptly "my apologies" something soothing surrounded him quelling the burning rage threatening to take over him."Y'know I didn't mean it" there was a pause "I am aware and have forgiven you for those words, at the time the situation unfortunately warranted it. You are not the first to use her against me." Jim could hear voices around him "I presume you've prepared new insults for today..? This is your 35th attempt to illicit an emotional response from me." Jim could hear snide voices "You're neither Human nor Vulcan and therefore have no place in this universe." "Look, his Human eyes. They look sad, don't they?" "Perhaps an emotional response requires physical stimulae. He's a traitor you know? Your father. For marrying her…that Human whore." The rage was back and Jim could see as a Vulcan boy was pushed over then his nose broken in a splash of green as his fist made contact. The memory faded. Jim felt bad, "What was she like?" he didn't have to ask who. He could hear a kind female voice "Spock. Come here, let me see you." An image of a small brown haired woman with Spock's eyes shimmered in front of him. No…Spock had her eyes, he realised. She was talking and straightening the collar of his shirt as she gazed up at him. He felt his own hands cover hers and from the touch came unconditional love "Oh Spock, As always, whatever you choose to be, you will have a proud mother." The memory faded, "Wow…" he could feel uncertainty coming from Spock at what he had chosen to share, Jim wasn't sure how to respond. "She seemed…nice" He felt curiosity that was not his own "Oh…you don't…" but the memory surged forward unbidden "Jimmy…not now" an exasperated female voice, the smell of faded perfume and alcohol as she brushed past him to sit at the kitchen table, pouring herself another drink as she looked at him, a haunted look coming over her face as she saw the ghost of his dead father rather than him. Jim abruptly shut the memory down and he felt Spock's soothing emotions, not pitying as he'd expected. "She wasn't a great mum, she didn't abuse or neglect me, she just…didn't seem to care." Understanding drifted to him followed by an all-encompassing tiredness "Are you ok?" He felt Spock sigh "Forgive me it appears I am not fully recovered from the events of today. Jim felt something wash over him like a barrier breaking and realised that Spock must have been shielding him from something; he pried at it before Spock could stop him. Pain unlike anything he had ever felt rushed through his whole body; it was like all of his nerves were on fire he gasped as he was suddenly looking at himself on the bridge, his hand wrapped tightly round Bones' throat a hypo in their joined hands. The image abruptly cut off and he gasped "Was it doing that the whole time!?" He felt himself carefully being guided away from the memory. He was impressed that Spock had managed to gain enough control of himself with the creature causing that much pain, he meant to make an offhand comment that it was cool "You're awesome" dammit, apparently there's no filter when you're sharing your brain with someone. He felt Spock pause in shock at the admission, this was awkward "well…I mean…" Fondness and friendship surged over him "There are certain attributes I too greatly admire in yourself" He wouldn't be able to stop grinning for days. "Does that mean you think I'm awesome too?" He felt a smile as Spock gently pushed Jim from his mind.

Jim opened his eyes gasping seeing Spock's quarters "Woah! That was intense." He felt the fingers slide from the side of his face as Spock slumped against the back of the sofa in exhaustion. Jim quickly checked Spock was alright, he was just asleep, he took in the child-like innocence that would never been seen had Spock been awake and smiled.

He gently prodded Spock's shoulder "Spock?"

Spock lazily opened his eyes, the third lid showing briefly as he blinked sitting up "My apologies…" Kirk waved him off "No sweat, you've had a hard day" Spock's eyes drowsily shut then opened again "Ok I think you've had enough excitement for one day, c'mon" He pulled the Vulcan up and guided him to the bed, Spock sat heavily on it, sighing. Kirk moved the meditation robe and guided his First Officer to lie down; he decided Spock must really be tired to be allowing this without protest. Once the Vulcan was settled he dimmed the lights the quietly headed to his quarters through their shared bathroom. It was only when he was standing in his own room that he realised it meant he'd been seen going into Spock's quarters and wouldn't be seen leaving, what's more he'd been seen by two young impressionable yeoman's. That definitely wouldn't help quell the odd rumours he'd heard that apparently he and Spock were in a relationship. As he collapsed into his bunk he amused himself by imagining the look on Spock's face were he to hear that piece of gossip…on second thoughts it would be hilarious to see that look on Spock's face maybe he'd visit the Commander in the morning and exit through the Vulcan's quarters to fan the flames a little. Just before Beta shift should do it, lots of people walking down corridors, heading to start their morning shift. As he buried his face into the pillow he smiled to himself, after all it was just gossip, what's the worst that could happen…

Phew all done…I have no Beta reader so if you have picked up on anything please let me know, also I'm British therefore all spelling is UK based and I actually do have another story idea, a re-write of turnabout intruder, what do you guys think? Put in some Kirk whumpage for that one.