This story takes place at the end of the episode "The deadly years". I don't own the characters of Star Trek. Reviews are welcome!

Live long and prosper!

Their last mission had been fascinating, Spock thought. He was in his quarters for a long meditation session. His quarters were his home, his refuge in which the temperature was as high as the hottest day of summer on the planet Vulcan. Spock was wearing his black meditation robe and was surrounded by darkness. He was concentrating on the only source of light of his room, a red and flickering flame. His goal was to organize his thoughts and memories of these last hours…

A few hours ago, Spock had suffered from the cold and had difficulties to concentrate. A few hours ago he had been weak and his reflexes were slower than usual. All because a few hours ago, he had been old!

As he was a Vulcan or rather as he was half-Vulcan, he suffered less than his friends. Well, to be more precise, he could say that the accelerated aging had been more detrimental for Jim Kirk than for him and for his other colleagues.

Of course, Dr McCoy and Mr. Scott had aged more than the others because both of them were a decade older than their friends, but despite a form of rheumatism and osteoarthritis, despite their white hair and wrinkles on their faces, they had been tired but they still had all their faculties! The proof of this is that McCoy found the solution of their problem, remembering correctly his lessons about medicine history and the use of adrenaline.

Yes, James Kirk, despite the fact that he was one year younger than him, was the more to be pitied, Spock thought sadly.

That's right that the old Kirk, wrinkled, weak and suffering from balding managed to seduce a young woman. But his memory loss caused by his senility had almost cost his Captaincy and the destruction of his dear Enterprise!

Spock knew that he was the first and only viable human-vulcan hybrid born on Vulcan. No doctor, human nor Vulcan, were able to predict his lifespan. Assuming that he was more Vulcan than Human, as Vulcan genes are dominant, it was logical to assume that as for his peers, his average lifespan would be beyond 200 years. However, having survived this unpleasant experiment, Spock was no longer so certain about this hypothesis. Spock had been tired and unable to maintain his body temperature while he hadn't even reached his father's current age!

Indeed, Sarek of Vulcan, 102 years old, shows no sign of old age except salt and pepper hair. The latest news that he received from his mother said that his father is working still actively at the Embassy, while regularly teaching at the Academy of Sciences of Vulcan.

It would be strange to age faster than my father, Spock thought. It would be possible that I die of old age before him…or that I survive him only a few years.

Spock was now certain that, except accidents or illness, he would see his mother and all his human friends die before him... It seemed that a sob was forming in his throat…Why did he suddenly want to cry?

oOOOo

"Jim! Jim! Wait a minute, please! I must speak to you!" Dr McCoy said while catching his Captain by the arm. The latter was walking briskly toward his quarters. All signs of old age had disappeared.

"Bones, I'm already late. Lots of reports are waiting for me in my quarters. " Jim Kirk said, smiling to his friend. "Can you believe it? I'm happy to have those reports to write!"

"Well, you have almost lost your ship two hours ago…Your current happiness is a normal reaction but …Jim, please… Listen to me! I …I think I made a small mistake…"Said McCoy, with signs of concerns on his face.

"What is it?"

"Well…Do you remember when I went to the bridge, inviting Spock to follow me…I had prepared the antidote and Sickbay all especially for him…But…um…I…I think that I have miscalculated the dosage…"

"Spock told me that he needed to meditate. He is probably in his quarters. Did you call him?"

"Of course I did but he didn't respond. Can you accompany me?"

"Yes, let's go!"

oOOOo

The door of Spock's quarters was never locked, so they entered easily.

"Wow…dark and hot like in a desert at night…"

"Light on! Jim ordered to the computer.

"Well…I have found his meditation robe but he is not in it!" Leonard tried to tease a few minutes later. "He is not in his bed, not at his desk, maybe he is in his bathroom." He added while opening the door.

"Spock is meticulous with his clothes. He would not let his robe on the floor!" Jim said, worried like Bones.

Leonard McCoy was going to open the door of the bathroom when he heard a small noise. Someone was breathing hard and was sobbing?

"Oh my God! Jim…I found him!" Leonard said.

Kirk was in the main room when he heard his friend and a loud cry.

"Shh…Calm down…I'm here, it's all right!" Leonard said when he returned, a small and naked child in his arms! The chubby little boy with brown hair, piercing eyes and pointed ears was trembling and sobbing, his head resting against the shoulder of Bones. The Vulcan child was barely one year old.

"You made a small mistake in dosage, huh?" Jim shouted, clenched fists on his hips, sending an angry look at his doctor friend. Spock, in response, immediately cried, his tears crashing down on the blue uniform of Dr McCoy. The latter settled the child more comfortably against him, whispering comforting words in his ear.

"Shh…It's nothing, Spock…I'm here, I will take care of you…Shh…"

To be continued…