Something Good

On board the Enterprise

9 months after Spock's first Pon Farr

Jim Kirk walked down the corridor towards sick bay, hoping someone would be available to give him an update on the event occurring there. As he rounded the last corner, he observed his First Officer sitting on the floor, leaning back against the wall. There was a small blue bundle in his arms and his eyes were fixed on its contents. Things must have gone well, then.

Jim settled down beside Spock and leaned forward to observe the object of Spock's adoration. "Hey, he's got your ears! Did you know about that in advance?"

In a very deep, calm voice, without lifting his eyes from the small face below, Spock replied. "No, it was a surprise - a very nice surprise. I find it extremely satisfactory that his parentage is readily apparent." The small fists waved in the air at the sound of his father's voice. One large finger gently stroked the side of the small face.

Jim watched in quiet satisfaction. Something inside had been quite confident that his friend would make an excellent father. "She didn't have any problems, did she? I mean, you're sitting out here in the corridor instead of inside with her..." His voice trailed off hesitantly.

"Bones said he had 'work to do' yet and that I should go outside and get acquainted with my new son. So that is what I am doing, although I am already acquainted with him and have been for 3.25 months." Large eyes never left small ones.

"He's telepathic, then? Or is it just on your side?"

"He is telepathic. Contact must come from the developing mind at it's own rate, you cannot force such contact without destroying, which I would never have done." A small shudder passed across Spock, not quite concealed.

"But she's OK? No problems? I'm really eager to get my Communications Officer back to the bridge."

"She performed admirably under difficult circumstances. There were no complications. I did help her to ignore the pain. Doctor McCoy was admittedly impressed with that."

Jim hesitated. There was information he wanted, and Bones wanted even more, but it felt like prying. However, there was no other time when it was likely that the information could be obtained. He had never seen his First Officer so mellow, except possibly that time that Nyota had fed him chocolate at the Christmas party. "Uh, Spock, can I ask a question?"

"Yes, Jim. What part of our personal life are you curious about now?" For the first time, Spock's face turned toward his friend and captain.

With some slight embarrassment, Jim came out with his question. "Well, Bones put me up to this. He's afraid you might not answer the question if it came from him and he really wants the answer." A bit of hesitation in his voice, he continued. "uh, the two of you have been together for years now and, as far as anyone knows, this is the first pregnancy. Is it possible that Vulcans are only fertile during Pon Farr?" There, the question was out.

"Not at all. This was Nyota's choice. She knew the amount of trepidation I had regarding that event. She kept telling me about incidents in her childhood when she faced events over which she had no control, events that sometimes frightened her. She said that her grandmother always told her that 'something good often comes from something bad'. So she waited so that she could give me something good. Something very good." There was actually a smile on that normally impassive face, a glowing smile of joy. "And now I need to take my son to his mother, who informs me that the good doctor has completed his 'cleaning up'." With that, Spock straightened up off the floor with his precious bundle in his arms and turned into the sick bay entrance. "You may come and offer felicitations if you wish."

Jim Kirk followed behind, totally speechless for one of the few times in his life.