AN: This rule once again brought to us by Minecraft Guardiansaiyan. I hope the ficlet is to your satisfaction.

Rule 10 – There is always time to talk

For once, shore leave takes them back to Earth. Once the crew are shuttled planet-side, they scatter quickly. Some are visiting family, some friends, some just heading out to the bars and clubs to blow off some steam. McCoy actually leaves San Francisco as well to visit family in Georgia. As is tradition, he invites Kirk along. Kirk invites Spock.

To be more accurate, Kirk tells Spock he's coming, because like hell is Spock spending his hard-earned shore leave at Starfleet HQ. McCoy grumbles a bit, but Kirk just laughs and tells Spock that's Bones-speak for 'come along', and so Spock finds himself meeting McCoy's family. Ian McCoy is more than pleased to meet his son's captain and commander, and he's not even put off by Spock's aloofness. He is, however, a lot less antagonistic than his son, and Spock finds him much easier to converse with compared to his early days with the CMO.

The third day of leave, Spock finds McCoy and Kirk in the kitchen, making plans for the day.

"Oh, come on, Bones! He'll love it!"

"What part of desert planet did you miss?"

"That's the beauty of it!" This is the tone Kirk gets when he's made up his mind and nothing will stop him. "He doesn't have to get wet if he doesn't want to! The touch-tanks are the only time, and those are optional. He'll be fine."

"You are aware that most Vulcans dislike water?" McCoy demands.

"You are aware that the aquarium is frequented by several high-standing Vulcan scientists?"

" . . . Shit."

And that is how the three of them wind up at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

Spock balks outside at the sheer size of the place. It is at least three stories tall, and very, very long and wide. There will be lots of humans inside, humans who do not know to keep their hands to themselves. He knows places like this are popular attractions for children. "Jim." he says quietly.

To his credit, Kirk doesn't even pretend like he doesn't understand. "Weekday mornings are the quietest times to go, especially during the fall when school is in." he explains. "Humans will be to a minimum." When Spock still looks hesitant, he reaches out and places a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I'm not going to make you do something you don't want to do. But I want you to try this. I think you'll love it. But if you wanna go somewhere else, we can. Okay?"

This, more than anything else, decides it. "I wish to try."

"Okay."

Kirk is right. There are not very many humans in there. Spock recognizes a handful of other species, but once they enter the first exhibit, he does not think of the others.

The first exhibit is an underwater tunnel. Spock looks up. Manta rays and whale sharks swim overhead. His eyes widen. "This is safe?"

"Wouldn't bring you here if it wasn't." McCoy says dryly. "It's one of the few places Jim can be five years old and I don't have to worry about his allergies."

After that, the conversation fades to a minimum. It is clear that Kirk has been here before. He can answer all of Spock's questions better than the guides can. McCoy chimes in from time to time as well, adding his own observations to the mix. To his amusement, he takes on the role of 'parent' while Kirk indulges in his inner child.

Even more amusing is apparently Spock has an inner child as well. His wonder is far more subdued than Kirk's enthusiasm, but McCoy can see it nonetheless. Spock follows Kirk's lead, listening intently to explanations and exclamations (Come on Spock, check out the penguins! Come on, let's take the tunnel, if I can fit so can you!) and after a while McCoy gives up on trying to keep them contained.

Then they reach the first touch-pool. McCoy hangs back (those things are germ-fests, and he hates them), watching Spock and Kirk as they examine the pool. Spock frowns. "You are allowed to touch the organisms?"

"Yep!" Kirk says brightly. "Best place in the whole aquarium if you ask me. You don't have to if you don't wanna, but me, I'm gonna touch everything." He grins. "This is why I never did the science track. I can't keep my hands to myself."

McCoy grins. "Yeah, and the first time he got bit by a –"

"Seriously, Bones? You gonna bring that up?" Kirk protests, but he's laughing as he rolls up his sleeve and dips his hand in the water. This touch-pool has several rays and one shark. Spock watches intently as Kirk lets the shark swim just underneath his fingers. Kirk smiles at him. "See? They don't bite." he assures his friend.

Slowly, hesitantly, Spock rolls up his sleeve and sticks his hand in the pool. He's far more cautious than Kirk, placing only a few fingers in instead of his entire hand, but that only lasts as long as it takes the first ray to brush under his fingers. It feels cool and slippery, like wet leather, but the ray's mind brushes against his own, and his eyes widen.

Instinct. That's all he senses, and it intrigues him to not feel any higher thought pattern. Without thought, he sticks his entire hand in, reaching for the rays again. They slide beneath his hand as they swim circles in the pool, and occasionally the shark will pass by, although it seems to have a fondness for Kirk.

Kirk watches him intently. Spock doesn't exactly smile, but his eyes are wide and unfocused as he watches the rays, and his body is completely still. Whatever he feels, he's completely absorbed. It makes Kirk smile and return his attention to attempting to properly pet the shark.

The trip eventually concludes (with Spock and Kirk attempting to touch everything at every touch-pool they come across, despite McCoy's half-hearted protests) and soon they find themselves back at McCoy's home and tucked in for the night.

Because the home is small, they wind up sharing McCoy's room. There are two twin beds, and Kirk has made himself a pallet out of blankets and pillows in between them. Spock lays on his bed, waiting until he hears the soft snores of McCoy before speaking. McCoy sleeps hard; nothing less than a red alert (or Kirk dumping ice water on his head) will wake him. It is safe to speak. "Jim?"

"Yeah, Spock?"

"What was the purpose of bringing me here?"

Kirk rustles a little in his nest. "What do you mean?"

Spock makes a sound that might be a sigh. "You said today you wanted me to try this, but you were not speaking strictly of the aquarium. What is it about this place that you want me to see?"

It's Kirk's turn to sigh. "I don't have a family, Spock." he says quietly. "I never knew my dad, my mom was always off on some mission or another, and my brother took off as soon as he could. He left me with an abusive step-father."

Spock has to fight the urge to flinch. "I am aware."

"Well, Ian took me in." He rolls over, and even though Spock continues to stare at the ceiling, he knows Kirk is looking at him. "Bones and Ian, they're my family. The crew is like the cousins, and they're my dad and brother. You see?"

"I believe so." A pause. "That doesn't answer my question."

"It can be your family too." Kirk sighs. "Ian likes you. Then again, he has a habit of collecting strays. Bones likes you too, even if he has an odd way of showing it. And – well, you know exactly how I feel about you. I want you to be a part of this. I want you to be my brother."

For a long moment, there is silence. "I must meditate on the matter." Spock says finally, his voice sounding very small. Kirk nods.

"That's all I ask."

Kirk sleeps, but Spock does not. As the morning dawns and the family begins to wake – more accurately, when Ian yells down the hall that breakfast is ready and to get up already, and Kirk throws a pillow at McCoy to wake him up and makes the doctor cuss up a storm – Spock finds his answer.

He pulls Kirk aside as McCoy stumbles down the hall. "We have a term for the relationship you speak of." he says haltingly. "We call it t'hai'lu."

Kirk's smile could light up the Enterprise. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, Jim."

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AN: Thanks to Minecraft Guardiansaiyan for the bit of Vulcan there. Basically, it's like the t'hy'la bond without the romantic connotations, which fits this story for now.