A/N: HOLYSHIT this took so much longer than I thought? Like, I cannot believe it's actually been as long as it has? WTF.

Anyway, um. This is a combined 4 & 5, though it's less focused on Spock Prime. I'm torn between making this a part 1 and the next chapter a part 2 where I expand a bit, or just making the next chapter the +1 chapter. We'll see :,D

But yeah, so sorry for taking so long! I hope you'll enjoy! 3

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Spock Prime & T'Sal

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Meeting an older, alternative-universe-possibly-batshit-crazy version of Commander Spock in the middle of a futuristic-Romulan-gone-murderously-insane crisis gone to hell and beyond is an…interesting experience. All Jim can say is that adrenaline is a fucking amazing stimulant; it's no wonder he can deal with so much shit being thrown at him constantly, when the universe has decided to make him its own little junkie bitch. It's in that charming way it has of pumping him full of amazing adrenaline that allows him to go from holy-shit-academic-suspension, to allergic reactions, hauling ass, jumping off a drill, being thrown off a ship to deal with ice and lobsters and crazy time-travelling Vulcans with a boner for destiny, before getting his ass kicked some more as they save the world (or something like that).

No, but really. Old version of Spock? Pretty fucking rad, once you got over the whole mind-thing and the realization that he's carrying around so much pain it's physically and mentally impossible to process without excessive overflow. It takes Jim the better part of a month to sort out the remnants of memories and emotions that aren't his own, and by then he's so wrapped up in the aftermath of losing a founding planet of the Federation and a majority of its population, while Starfleet struggles with losing a chunk of its Fleet in one swell swoop, that Jim hardly has any time to linger on mysterious Vulcan mind-juju.

Actually, it isn't until well after Khan and his own death that Jim finally sees Cave Spock outside of the comms they have fallen into sending each other as Jim became closer to Grumpy Spock (bless his sassy little Vulcan soul). It turns out that Jim's death was traumatic to people other than just himself and Bones, which is more of a shock than he's willing to let on. Aside from the intergalactic media shitstorm ("Starfleet's Hero Captain Alive!", "Inspiring Speech by Federation Hero Captain Kirk", "Still Alive and Kicking! Exclusive on Captain Kirk and Crew"), Jim found himself promising (upon pain of getting his testicles removed) to drop by New Vulcan sooner rather than later (or else) by at least three different people. Even Winona had opened communication with him, though less of a shock than hearing from his brother after all these years. Apparently, Sam's offended Jim already knew all about his sparkly new life as a scientist on a sad colony somewhere in Fuckville, Universe and had chosen not to swing by and say hi to a wife and kids Jim had never been introduced to. But he digresses.

The point being, before officially starting their 5-year mission, they have orders to do a supply run and transport of personnel to New Vulcan, top priority. This surprises everyone but Jim and Spock, who happen to be privy to Vulcan sneakiness and the influence of highly ranked Ambassadors and pissed off Vulcan females. However, turns out Spock knew less of their common Vulcan fanclub than Jim had assumed.

"It was unknown to me that you are previously acquainted with my Father," (Grumpy) Spock pouts (he totally does, Jim can tell) one evening over chess, the same night they had finished transporting up the last of the engineers and medical personnel. A few hours before their shift ended, they had left dock and entered warp for the new Vulcan colony.

"Well," Jim says, moving his knight to destroy Spock's trap just to see his left eye twitch (and also because it's a move that will benefit the trap he himself will have formed in three moves). "I bumped into him once as a kid, he called the cops on me, and that's about it. I thought he'd told you about me, if only as a cautionary tale."

Spock sighing is one of the more amusing things to behold, because he just sort of narrows his eyes, and hitches his shoulders, in a weird twitchy dance of impatience. "He made no mention of you at the time, though he has explained himself after I inquired why he – requested – I extend an invitation for dinner to my Captain."

Shrugging, Jim watches Spock's tower trap his knight (just as planned). "I thought it was a bit weird, y'know. Cave Spock I get –" another annoyed twitch from his Spock "—but your Dad? I don't do parents. Shit, it's gonna get real awkward, isn't it?"

Spock looks fairly amused, though his expression darkens once Jim moves his Queen and takes his bishop, effectively killing Spock's chances of putting Jim's King in check in the next four moves. "I find that I have little sympathy for you, Captain."

Grinning, Jim leans back and stretches, feeling his spine pop. "Sassy Vulcan. It's Jim, remember?"

Spock raises his slanted brow. "Indeed. Captain."

If his Spock is this much fun to interact with like this, Jim is actually looking forward to New Vulcan and the terrifying people that await him there, Cave Spock amongst them. An awkward dinner with his First Officer's dad, and a quite possibly physically painful conversation with T'Pring, is nothing James T. Kirk couldn't handle.

He hopes.

.

"Fuck," Jim gasps upon shimmering into existence at the meet-up point he and Spock had been transported to. Furiously, he whispers, "Oh fucking fuck, what the fuck?!", all too aware of the fact that they've just been beamed down to the Vulcan Meet & Greet group, which is, in fact, standingright there. Consisting of two Vulcans, wow, they went all the way, huh? Sarcasm, not the best diplomacy skill, he admits.

Well, in other news: apparently, New Vulcan is hotter than Satan's asscrack, its thin air as dry as Grandma Kirk's raisin cookies, which combined translates to breathing in fucking fire.

"Welcome, Captain Kirk. I see the temperature of the planet does not agree with you, my apologies. I should have chosen a different place for our welcome," a familiar voice drawls, its dry sarcasm obvious if one knows what to listen for. Jim grimaces subtly before taking a closer look at whom the Vulcans have decided to welcome him with, hoping against hope that—

Yeah, no such luck. "Ah, no need for apologies, Okosu," he grins, enjoying the annoyed twitch he gets in response of the honorific. The amused but confused tilt of Cave Spock's head (because of course he would be here to greet the Captain of the Enterprise) did catch his eye, though.

"T'Pring," his Spock, who is standing to his right, greets stiffly. Whatever surprise he might've felt upon hearing his Captain greeting the Vulcan is well-hidden, though Jim is busy trying not to be caught on fire by the sheer power of the combined heat from both the planet and T'Pring's glare. "Perhaps it would be beneficial to move this meeting into the building, for the Captain's comfort."

Narrowing her eyes, T'Pring doesn't let her glare waver from Jim. Quite impressive. It is very clear she had orchestrated this as a punishment, though Jim thinks it's unfair that most of the people he knows responded to his resurrection by submitting him to some kind of punishment. Tough love, or some shit. As if they could scare him away from dying, which, fair point, but ultimately moot. The lives of those he holds responsibility over, the live of those he cares for, will always come before his own.

"As you wish," she concedes after a beat, turning sharply on her heel and taking the lead. If she was anyone but a Vulcan, 'stomping' would be a good description of what she is doing. Jim swallows uneasily.

"Captain," Spock began, faltering slightly. "Jim. Are you…acquainted with T'Pring, as well?"

Following Cave Spock, who had been watching events unfold from a distance, a look of amused fascination on his face, Jim winces. "We had a thing where she bitched at me and I called her on her shit, way back. She might, possibly, be a little bit pissed that I died?"

"Indeed," Cave Spock agrees, falling into line with them as they trailed after T'Pring. "It is most pleasing to see you again, old friend, though a surprise to learn you have met with T'Pring previously. She insisted it was logical that she be a part of the welcoming party, as she knew both of you, and is the head scientist in charge of several projects Starfleet personnel will be a part of. I would be most pleased to learn how your…friendship…came about. Are you free this evening, perhaps?"

Ignoring the obvious waves of discomfort coming from his own Spock, Jim laughs. "Sure! I've been looking forward to seeing you again. Just name a time and place, and I'll be there."

Looking pleased as punch, Cave Spock nods in approval. "Very well, Jim. 19:00, my residence. I shall comm. you the coordinates."

"It's a date!" Jim cheers, sneaking a glance at the Vulcan still huffing and puffing in front of them, likely hearing every word. "If I survive for that long, that is."

"As previously proved by your own disregard of your continued health and existence, Captain Kirk, it might indeed be a challenge to remain alive between now and 19:00."

Jim winces. Man, Vulcan chicks knows how to hold grudges. He knows it's bad when his own Spock is giving him glaringly obvious looks of concern.

.

"You have been standing outside the door without making your presence known for 4.3 minutes. Do you anticipate the Ambassador will know you have arrived without alerting him of your arrival?"

T'Sal watches with interest as the fair-colored Human jerks in surprise at the sound of her voice, spinning around to look for her where she stands to the right behind him. She blinks in surprise at the pair of luminous blue eyes which meet her own, feeling herself flush and unable to control it in time. A distressingly more common occurrence, this loss of control, though Ambassador Spock has assured her it is a natural response to the trauma the Vulcan people have suffered. Through the tentative familial bond they share after the Ambassador had accepted guardianship, T'Sal draws comfort and reminds herself that the Human before her – Captain James T. Kirk – will be more forgiving of her lack of control than her peers. From what she has gathered from the stories the Ambassador has told her, the Human might be more pleasant than any of her peers or Elders combined. It was entirely logical, therefore, that she finished her after-school activities early in order to be on time to greet the Ambassador's guest. It was not eagerness, nor was it nerves as she had been accused of. Curiosity, the Ambassador always reminded her, was a healthy and logical state of mind.

"Oh shi—I mean, hello, sorry, I didn't see you there. Are you T'Sal, the awesome Vulcan genius the Ambassador has been telling me all about?" Captain Kirk inquires, expressing delight through a particularly wide smile. T'Sal watches the display of emotion with fascination, noting that the blue of his eyes seems to brighten through some unknown factor (was it a chemical reaction? Note for further study). The corners of his eyes crinkle in wrinkles the Ambassador had called 'laughter lines' – a concept she had not understood until this moment – and she feels herself grow hot at the image he presents, combined with his words. Illogical, but unlike most of her losses of control, it is not entirely unpleasant.

"I am T'Sal," she confirms quietly, pleased to be greeted with such obvious delight. It is only logical to desire a positive relationship with this Human which her guardian holds in such high esteem. Glancing down, she observes the Captain's shoes still bear the dust from the desert. Quickly, she reaches up and tucks away a stray hair behind her left ear. She is not nervous, merely avoiding looking untidy. "Though I believe describing me as 'awesome' might be what you would call 'hyperbole'. To a Human, I am most likely considered a 'genius' as my mental facilities are better equipped with processing and storing information. However, by Vulcan standards, I am…adequate."

"Nah," the Captain shrugs, making a dismissive gesture with his hand. "The Ambassador is one of the wisest and smartest people I know, and the only judgment I trust more is my First Officer's. So if Cave Spock says you're a BAMF genius, then you are."

"I…" T'Sal begins, resisting the urge to place her hands on her cheeks and see if she could get burned from her own skin, but find she does not have to embarrass herself by not knowing what to say. The door to the Ambassador and her shared residence slide open to prevent it, the older Vulcan standing in the doorway with a raised brow and an amused expression, looking from the Captain to herself for a moment before speaking.

"I see both of you have arrived and become acquainted. Excellent. Jim, you may come inside, I have prepared dinner for us all. T'Sal, you may leave your bag in your room before joining us."

Nodding, T'Sal slips past both adults, trying to ignore the sense of excitement which has threatened to rise for the past 1.2 weeks she has been aware of the Captain's arrival. Mentally, she has compiled a list of questions pertaining his Captaincy, Starfleet and Human interests. She has been given a unique chance to familiarize herself with Captain Kirk beyond public records, an opportunity many of her peers envied. It would be foolish to waste it.

.

Vulcans, Jim decides, are adorable little fuckers. Old as dirt, middle-aged, his peer, or the Vulcan equivalent of a thirteen-year old: it didn't matter what age, the amount of cute didn't waver. Of course, he would never say it to their faces (especially not Ambassador Sarek, or T'Pring, or Grumpy Spock, or—well, anyone). But seeing T'Sal light up like a fucking candle the moment she steps on to the bridge is an experience of transcending proportions. Since their first meeting four days ago, Jim has officially acquired himself a President of the Jim Kirk Fanclub.

(No, really. It's a thing, though T'Sal described it as a "more easily accessible platform on which to store the narratives of your missions and future exploration of the universe, for those who are interested in your exploits but unwilling to pursue unreliable public sources such as the media. Existing public records made by Starfleet are intended to convey the success of a mission to a concerned public sector not inclined to make enquiries about possible scientific, sociological, military and diplomatic aspects". He shits you not. Apparently, most of her schoolmates has joined, or subscribed, or whatever (Jim has so far been too scared to actually check it out). Uhura had blanched, and Spock looked like someone was screeching in his ears every time T'Sal exercised her excellent stalker skills whenever Jim was planetside (which was often, involved as he was with getting the new personnel settled. Working alongside T'Pring, after she'd smacked him around in a 'friendly' sparring session, was entirely as awesome as he'd hoped)).

"This is the bridge," Jim grins, amused by the green blush creeping up the Vulcan girl's cheeks and turning the tips of her ears dark. He makes a sweeping motion with his arm, encompassing the whole bridge, before gently guiding her over to his chair with a hand on her shoulder. "This is my castle and this is my throne!"

A few laughs and groans echo his pronouncement, but the look on T'Sal's face is as fascinated and eager as ever. Looking up at him, she says entirely straight-faced, "And is it where the magic happens, Captain?"

Jim blinks, because what the fu—

A strangled noise comes from the science station, where Jim turns to see Spock stand with eyes closed and brows furrowed, a PADD in his hand and his replacement officer standing next to him looking confused. Looking up, Spock seems to have composed himself. "Forgive me, Lieutenant. Everything is in order. Proceed." He turns towards Jim, nodding stiffly. "Captain. As my briefing of the current bridge crew is complete, it is logical we return planetside to attend matters which require our immediate attention. Ensign Matthews is awaiting us in the transporter room."

Confused, Jim looks to T'Sal, who seems to be glaring at his First Officer. Out of habit, Jim glances over at Uhura's station for some sort of clarification, but he's greeted with Lieutenant T'Naak'p, Uhura's replacement, who looks like she's about to burst out in giggles.

"Riiiight," he drawls, no less confused than before (where was Uhura when you needed her?). "We just got here, Mister Spock, and—"

"Apologies, Captain. However, our presence is of high demand. Perhaps escorting an unauthorized civilian child" –if Jim didn't know any better, he'd think Spock was glaring at T'Sal, which what the— "on the bridge may be of less priority to both Starfleet and the Vulcan colony." Spock's bitchiness was clearly reaching critical levels. Time to scram, so to speak.

"Uh, sure," he shrugs, giving T'Sal a smile in silent apology. Deciding that probably isn't enough, he pats her gently on the shoulder, a gesture she had assured him was appropriate and welcome for their friendship (the thing about holding her hand seems less legit, as she had turned a fascinating shade of green at the offer she made him. Jim might not be an expert on Vulcans, but he could probably claim a PHD in embarrassing adolescent crushes). The Ambassador had backed this up with an amused twinkle in his devious eyes, but Jim was tentatively inclined to trust this, for now. Turning to Spock, he grins. "Lead on, Macduff!"

Ignoring a very sullen Vulcan teenager and his weirdly aggravated First Officer, Jim gave up the Grand Tour of the Enterprise for another day.

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A/N: Argh baby Vulcans and their crushes on Kirk in fics, it is my weakness 3 Also, oblivious!Kirk FTW. Poor Spock.