CAMPING

"What the devil is that noise, Bones?" Kirk groaned and rolled to his side off his sleeping pad.

"Just grinding some beans for coffee - you may have mocked me for bringing all this stuff, but you'll still want java", McCoy laughed from amidst his collection of camping gear.

For their few days of shore leave, Kirk and Spock had backpacked into Yosemite with only the bare essentials for roughing it in the open . McCoy, on the other hand, used his pull as a Starfleet physician and had grav-lifted in every luxury made for the modern camper. "I'll be taking a hot shower until the coffee's brewed. You want me to save enough water for you?"

"We're camping, Bones. I'm heading for the mountain stream we saw on the way in. We're here to get in touch with Mother Nature, doing our morning ablutions in her flowing bounty", Kirk said with irony.

"Those are snow-fed mountain streams, Jim. I'll just have my fresh ground coffee and hot shower, thank you". McCoy grinned and returned to his breakfast.

Am I getting too old for this? Jim thought, wincing as he stumbled up out of his sleeping bag. The stars were beautiful last night, but it felt like I was awake every twenty minutes trying to find a comfortable position. Seeing the empty sleeping bag behind him, he asked, "Where's Spock off to this early?"

McCoy answered, "He said something about traditional outdoor meditation. He even brought his black robe along, just for that. I'm surprised he had any room left in his pack for a change of clothes."

Kirk headed up the forest trail to the stream. Snow-fed, huh? Maybe I'll just do a quick wash and use McCoy's shower later.

They had put up camp in a small valley and the path led steeply uphill. Panting at the top where it leveled off, Kirk stopped abruptly, seeing Spock facing the water with his back to Kirk. Whoops, I hope I didn't disturb him, Jim held his breath and called up the mental shielding techniques Spock had taught him. From all the times they'd melded in the line of duty, Jim sometimes sensed a connection to Spock. Once in a while, he could feel Spock come into a room before he actually heard him or, less often, they finished each others' sentences.

But Spock continued to make slow, stylized arm movements. Looks like a Terran rite, like tai-chi, Jim mused. It was similar to the physical routines he'd seen Rand and Uhura doing on the rec deck.

Coming to a stop, still facing the water, Spock removed his mediation robe. Completely nude, he stood silently at the edge of the water.

Ah ha, Jim smirked. I'll strip down and tackle him just as he starts getting wet. None of this one paw at a time, my feline friend. He was out of his shorts and tee shirt in seconds. From past experience, he knew Spock did not relish baths or cold. Spock would be easing in, adjusting his physical responses with Vulcan techniques. But the first officer didn't enter the water. He began to repeat the sequence of arm motions, this time using his whole body, adding controlled kicks and short lunges. Staying back by the trail, Kirk held his clothes in one hand, struck by the strength and beauty of his friend.

It's almost ballet, he thought, and started to feel foolish standing in the shadows in the all-together. I'm glad Bones has his coffee and his novel. I don't need him coming up and asking me why I'm naked watching Spock's outdoor ritual!

Jim wondered how he was going to get out of this. Then he wondered if he wanted to get out of this. Jim prime was starting to stand up and take notice. Huh!? Jim gulped like he was swallowing a golf ball. Captain James T. for Tomcat Kirk does not appreciate the male body this way! I know Spock can be considered attractive, but I need breasts and hips on my nudes.

He could hear Spock's reaction to this statement: "All mammals have breasts, Captain. Those of the male are simply not in a form functional for procreation." Jim frowned and began to do warp core maintenance routines in his head.

He could see Spock slowing his movements, coming to a halt kneeling before the water, with his arms extended straight out from his sides. Spreading his knees, he slowly leaned all the way back until he was lying on the robe face up, arms still out at 90 degrees, knees bent and spread and curving a jade green erection up at the sun. His black eyes were tightly closed and his hands were clamped into fists. Tension showed in every line of his body as that green rod got straighter and longer.

This sure doesn't look like a relaxing meditation ritual. What the hell is he doing?, Jim felt his free hand moving to his own organ. He almost jumped when his thumb touched the wetness pearling on the end of his cock. I'm this ready this soon?, he stifled a groan. How does this ritual end? How could it end? Jim bit his lip. If he touches himself, I'm done for.

Spock's hands hadn't moved, however. His hips had started to make little thrusts in the air, his head shaking a tiny bit from side to side, as if he was trying to say "No, not yet" to some invisible audience. Jim imagined he could see the pulse throbbing in that stiff rod. He licked his lips, feeling like all the moisture had been sucked from his body. He could barely blink, thinking of the moisture just waiting to erupt in front of him. Oh man, is he going to come just from meditating?, Jim was breathing hard himself now.

With a growl, Spock leapt to his feet and jumped right into the icy water. Jim choked back a scream. That had certainly taken care of his erection - he thought his balls had jumped into his stomach.

Spock surfaced about 20 meters out and swam back toward the bank. "Coming for a swim, Captain?", he asked. "It is quite refreshing."

"Be right with you", Jim said as he sprinted to the shore, dropping his clothes by Spock's robe. Jumping in himself, he thought, He didn't notice anything. He thinks I just got here for a swim.

Jim came up gasping for air. "Ye gods, snow-fed is right! I'm going to turn blue before your eyes, Spock", Jim thrashed, getting his bearings.

"I propose a contest, sir. A race will get us accustomed to the temperature. I'll wait for you on the opposite shore." Spock took off, his long arms pulling him cleanly through the water. Jim scrambled to keep up: yelling about fair starts would only waste his breath and he needed it to catch Spock.

Being the better swimmer, he managed to pull ahead. Touching the bank just before his first officer, Jim turned, calling behind him, "Last back is a rotten egg!"  He could imagine this reaction, too. His first officer would be thinking "Losing a competition will not transform one into spoiled avian foodstuff."

Clawing his way to the shore he thought Just a little farther, almost there, I... Jim jerked up screaming. "Cramp!" A knot of fire  grabbed his thigh. Water filled his mouth. He swallowed convulsively, now feeling the cold inside and out. Spock!, he groaned in his mind, sending the cry out along the frail bond they shared, as he blacked out under the surface.

He came to lying on his side on the grassy shore. Spock was kneading the back of his top leg, iron fingers probing sore muscles deep in the quadriceps. "I must apologize, Captain. I'd assumed you had properly stretched out before disrobing. With a night on the cold ground and the temperature of the stream, human muscles cannot adapt to such sudden changes in environment." Spock gently rolled Jim to his back and rubbed the top and outside of the sore thigh. 

As Jim's gasps slowed to a normal rhythm, he said, "Spock, we're off duty, naked, and freezing. I'm Jim, remember?"

"Yes, Jim. I remember". Between that velvet baritone and the almost smile, Jim knew he was no longer cold.

"Ah, Spock ..., ah, I'm OK now". He tried to wriggle away from those warm hands. Spock's massage had shifted from therapeutic kneading to softer, longer stroking.

"Yes, Jim. You certainly feel satisfactory." Intent on the massage, Spock's head was so close to his work that Jim could feel his hot, moist breath on his leg. Kirk knew he was in trouble now.

Aw geez, here comes Jim prime, his cock twitched just a millimeter in the other man's exhalation. "Spo-ock!", he tried to laugh and pull away, thinking this is just a joke, just horseplay, nothing's happening ...

But he couldn't pull away. Spock's hands encircled his leg just above the knee in a plasteel grip. "Jim", a deep rumble, "where are you going? You're tired and sore. Your pulse and respirations are still elevated."

No kidding, Jim thought from behind his shields.

Spock continued without missing a beat. "The best thing for you would be to lie back and rest in the sun. Being black, my robe has absorbed considerable heat. This will be an adequate protection from the ground. "

"Yeah, Spock maybe a nap in the sun would do the trick," trick?, what trick?! Nobody's doing any tricks! Jim had another painful swallow. "I mean, yes, I will rest here a minute." As Spock laid down prone a safe 40 cm away, Jim closed his eyes and thought about gamma shift duty rotations. The robe was warm and thick enough to cushion the grassy bank.

As Jim ran down the crew rosters, he could feel the tension melting off.  Hot wool smell, gentle spring sun, no solid sleep last night, he was out in minutes, leaving Spock with a maelstrom of new ideas.

Turning up on one elbow to face the sleeping human, Spock's eyebrow raised a few millimeters in thought. Kirk slept deeply, affording Spock a closer inspection of the tanned chest and arms, the whiter skin below the navel and across the hips, and the dark bronze curls surrounding a now quiet penis. A faint wrinkle, discernible only to Jim - if he'd been awake, creased Spock's brow. A decision had been made.

As Spock's hand moved toward Kirk's chest, McCoy's voice reached them.  "There you are! I was afraid you'd both frozen in Jim's favorite bounty of Mother Nature", McCoy called.

"Say what?", Jim started awake and immediately checked for signs of arousal. How am I going to make it through these next few days?  Spock has been the other half of my soul for longer than I can remember, but now.... Am I going to give up women? Would he want me that way? Does Spock even feel sexual response outside of pon farr? Pon farr - would he want me for that?! Oh, my g...! Shields up! Shields up!! Jim tried to compose both his face and his mind in a fraction of a second.

"Jim, you put a hike on our agenda this morning, or have you had enough of this "back to nature" so soon?" McCoy looked ready to return to civilization in an instant. 

"Doctor, breakfast and a hike will be most pleasurable at this point," responded Spock. He and Jim dressed and they all headed back. Jim took point, trying to casually increase his distance from Spock.

"Jim, are you limping?", McCoy asked. "Oh, it's nothing - just a cramp from the cold before. I'll walk it off," Jim avoided Spock's questioning look at the word "nothing" and knew his first officer was thinking Saving the captain's life is so routine now that it is nothing, even on shore leave.

All Jim wanted at this point was coffee and clean clothes. "A good hike will be just the thing. This late in the spring, we might even see some deer along the way." Jim calculated, Spock will be watching the fauna and flora, McCoy will be complaining about the lack of amenities, and I can concentrate on regaining my command of the "situation". Everything will fall into perspective once we've had breakfast and a walk.

It was green and quiet hiking through the trees. Birds and squirrels chattered back and forth, even a fox crossed the path ahead of them.  Fresh air and dappled sunlight from above were the perfect antidote to graysteel walls and canned atmosphere. Even McCoy was enjoying this change from their usual "landing parties". They headed off the trail, looking for an unmarked scenic view Spock had researched: on top the next ridge one could see across the valley to the next peak and there was a spectacular waterfall across the way. The going was rockier off the path, but after an hour they reached the top. The mountainside fell away in a steep  cliff and there were rainbows arcing above the cascade a km away. All they could hear was the faint roar of the water.

"Breath-taking!", Kirk exclaimed. "It's almost sacrilegious disturbing the silence here."

Spock, too, had noticed the silence. As he was about to inquire about the missing ambient forest noises, McCoy suddenly cursed under his breath.

"Watch it, Jim! Behind you!!" With a sinking feeling, Jim looked over his shoulder. There, about 3 meters away, by a jumble of rocks was a small gold ball of fur. It looked like it had just stumbled into the daylight, pawing its eyes, and giving a hungry mewl.

"Not what we want to see, gentlemen. A puma cub that young has to have mommy close at hand, " Jim scanned the area. "Spock, what's our best route away from here?"

A low grumble brought all eyes front. Mama lion had just appeared about 15m down along the edge of the cliff. She had been dragging a large raccoon or beaver and was not happy seeing intruders between her and her home. She opened wide for a loud hiss and laid back her ears. "Nobody move!", Jim whispered. "We know she just wants to protect her family.  Did anyone smuggle in a phaser?"

"You're the one that chose a protected species park," McCoy hissed back at Jim. "The only one with weapons here is her," and he tried to inch towards Kirk.

"Stay still! She's narrowing her eyes. Bones, you and Spock run for the trees and I'll - " The rest of Kirk's plan was cut off by Spock's blur of motion and a shout of "Down!" Jim and Bones barely hit the dirt as Spock, with Vulcan speed ran back to the cub, grabbed it by the scruff with one hand and tossed it right into the startled puma's chest as she gathered to spring. Seeing her baby at her feet, the cat latched hold of the cub and took off away from the men.

Rejoining his comrades, Spock was barely breathing heavily. "Spock, that was great! I never would thought of that", Kirk was gasping through laughter.

McCoy, however, immediately saw the gashes along Spock's forearm. "We have to get back to camp and dress that arm. Did that little monster have four paws or forty? I don't need you getting infected on leave. This is supposed to be my time off, too."

"Doctor, the healing trance will suffice for this injury. The scratches are all superficial. For now, I'll just use my shirt to stop the worst of the bleeding."

"Wait, use Jim's", McCoy ordered. "It's about 25 degrees out: We'll be fine, but you'd get chilled and that won't help your trance. Besides, this nature retreat was his idea," McCoy jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at the guilty party. Jim grinned and shucked off the tee shirt. He then took point and headed back to camp.

Holding his torn arm to his chest, Spock watched the strong back and blonde hair in front of him. I must endeavor to speak to Jim alone. I will not imagine the consequences of the plan he almost attempted. McCoy will bring out alcohol for the campfire tonight. Perhaps I can encourage him to overindulge. Watching the light and shadow play across the muscles of Kirk's tanned back, he thought, I regret I cannot thank the doctor for suggesting the use of Jim's shirt. The view ahead is entirely adequate. Only Jim would have caught the not-smile on Spock's face.

True to form, McCoy produced a flask at the evening campfire. Between the day's excitement and fresh air, all Spock had to do was suggest a couple extra toasts to Earth, the South, and Georgia specifically, and the good doctor was soon snuggled into his sleeping bag, fast asleep.

Last time someone worked so hard at getting Bones wasted, it was a Glebian female with her eyes on me. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you had ulterior motives here, Spock", Jim joked.

"What makes you think you know better, Captain?", asked Spock, standing.  He grabbed his sleeping bag and came over next to Kirk, sitting almost too close. "The wind has shifted and the smoke was getting in my eyes", he explained looking ahead at the flames.

"Spock, there's no wind; it's a perfectly mild night. Cooler than last night but tolerable", Jim also kept eyes front. Having Spock so near, he could just see the angular profile less than arm's length away. 

"Tolerable is human for chilling I've learned", Spock countered.

"You're cold? You should get into your sleeping bag." And out of my thoughts. McCoy's dead to the world, I could just lean over and I'd have my arms around you.

"Captain, I'm afraid I have miscalculated and packed inadequately.  Perhaps I should terminate my shore leave and hike out of the park tonight.  The physical exertion will keep me warm and I can find sufficient quarters at Starfleet", Spock started to rise.

"Leave?!, c'mon Spock!" Jim caught his hand, "If you're that cold, I'll just put our bags together and we can pretend it's another bad planetfall.  It won't be the first time we've had to share body heat. Uh, oh. No ideas, that's an order, Jim prime! For all I know, Spock may be completely straight,... rigid, ... - do NOT go there! Jim hoped it was just the warmth of the fire he felt spreading across his face.

"You are correct, Captain. This will not be the first time." Spock turned to the bags, settling closer to the fire.

Kirk sighed, "Once more, we're off duty, and now we're going to sleep together", exasperated, JUST sleep ,"- it's Jim!"

"Yes, Jim", rumble of soft baritone.

Is that a purr underneath his voice? Gotta be the brandy talking, Jim could feel his own reaction to the alcohol.

Spock stripped down to regulation briefs - "more efficient to share heat this way", he explained and crawled into the flannel lined bag with his back to Jim.

Jim blinked and figured the hell with it, shedding his clothes down to black bikini briefs. I'm drunk, he's purring, if nothing else I can hold that heat to my chest. Last time I felt like this I knew I needed a woman.  I have no idea what I need now.

He crawled into bag facing Spock's back. "Ah, we've got to be close for this to work, so I'm just going to rest my arm across your chest."

"Yes, Jim" another rumbling purr. Suddenly Spock turned to face Jim, still under his arm. "Jim, I have had a considerable number of things to analyze today. I appreciate your respecting my privacy this morning, but now I cannot allow you the same courtesy."  Those dark eyes seemed to look into Jim's very core.

"What, you're going to be rude to me, Spock?", Jim licked his lips unconsciously. Did those black eyes widen just now?

"No, Jim, I'm assaulting your privacy." Jim caught himself just before his hips flinched back.

With a deliberate glance downward, Spock continued. "We two are the best of friends, extremely compatible in mind and spirit. You have risked your career, your ship and often your life to save mine."

"Spock, you've done the same for me, twice today, in fact", Jim offered quietly.

"Yes, Jim. That has been part of my analysis. If I am to change our relationship, I must not delay. I do not know what risks you'll take tomorrow-"

"I was planning on climbing El Capitan, the challenging side."

Spock took a breath, and seemed to gather himself. "Please, Jim, I must finish what I've started. I have sought no other companion, on or off our ship. You have fulfilled every need I considered important, until now."

Spock's eyes grew darker, with passion or fear, Kirk couldn't tell. He felt hope dissipating his alcohol fog. "And now, Spock? What has changed now?"

"Here I have the first physical evidence of your attraction to me. Fact: as you thought you were intruding on a private time this morning, you stopped a distance away and also threw up mental shields. I'd known you were there, from the slightly labored breathing at the top of the trail, and the sudden shielding is as noticeable as a shout. Fact: as I proceeded with the unclothed portion of the rite, your breathing and respirations increased. If this had been simple anxiety at an unwelcome sight, you would have backed down the path and returned to McCoy. Instead, you took the opportunity to disrobe and continue to observe."

"I thought you were going swimming!", Jim sputtered, "and what kind of meditation was that?"

Unperterbed, Spock leaned up on one elbow, looking at Jim lying next to him. "A meditation is not always a turning inward. This  was an expansion of the senses, feeling the sun on my skin, smelling the air around me," Spock's gaze seemed to deepen, "hearing the slightest sounds. Fact: At the height of the physical restraint portion of the ritual, you were barely breathing. Therefore, you had not looked elsewhere; in fact, you were fascinated by my display."

Jim knew he was blushing now.

"Since my fal-tor-pan, I have been begun to integrate my human side. During the routine rescue of my captain, I felt the usual fear for your life; anger at, once again, being in danger myself and needing to save you - a drowning victim is always dangerous; guilt at my not anticipating your physical condition, relief when I finally pulled you above the surface and a new sense of regret for chances not taken." Spock's eyebrow raised a few millimeters, "Given your propensity for hazardous situations, I cannot delay acting on this knowledge. I must deal with these emotions within the constraints of your human lifetime and your attraction to danger."  That sober not-smile filled Spock's face.

"Spock, I've just discovered these feelings, myself. I can't hurt our friendship, our teamwork. Starfleet would be nothing for me without you at my side. What do you want here?"

Spock leaned forward, bringing his lips to almost touch Jim's. "This", he breathed and closed the gap.

Warm, soft lips pressed against Jim. With a moan, he opened his mouth, drawing Spock's tongue over his. Strong arms encircled him and Jim could feel the soft fur on Spock's chest rubbing his nipples. Jim leaned back, pulling Spock completely on top of him. He could feel the other man's erection against his thigh. Breaking away for air, Jim gasped "Spock, we can't do this here. Bones - "

"Please, Jim. The doctor is fast asleep, I can hear his snoring from here.  I do not believe I would stop this in any case." As his hands slid down to grab Jim's ass, Spock nuzzled up to the shell shaped ear. Nipping the rounded top, Spock carefully tasted the skin behind the ear.

Jim moaned from deep in his chest. "You don't know what you're doing to me", he breathed into Spock's shoulder.

"On the contrary, Jim, I know precisely what this is doing to you.  Your pulse and respiratory rate have increased and a flush is turning your face a rose color that is very exotic. There are also other haemodynamic effects." With another glance down, Spock brought his hands to either side of that face and, with his tongue just between his lips, outlined both eyebrows, tasted each set of eyelashes, traced each cheekbone, and then followed the curve of Jim's jaw back to his lips again.

"T'hy'la, let me please you", Spock whispered. Pushing the bags open, he moved down Jim's chest with wet, little sucking kisses, coming to cover the right nipple with his open mouth. He breathed hot, moist air on sensitive skin, until the other man started to shift his chest, trying to reach the warm tongue just millimeters away. Spock gently closed his teeth on the taut nub, pulling it up just until he heard a sharp gasp. "Do you enjoy this, Jim? I've had little outside evaluation", Spock purred into Jim's belly.

"Oh, .... ohh, yes", Jim sighed as he ran his hands through that fine black hair, soft as silk, such a contrast to the wiry pelt rubbing against his thighs. 

Spock slipped down further, stroking his cheek against Jim's straining erection. He nuzzled his sac, slipping one delicate egg into his mouth. He slowly tongued all around and, gently sucking, pulled back to plop the ball back out. Jim's thighs squeezed his shoulders. Spock nipped at the curls, saying "I wondered how you would taste here."

Jim could only manage, "hmmm?"

"As I watched you sleep by the stream, I wondered how this would be.  Salt and iron, you fill my senses, James," and Spock moved up to hover just over the tip of Jim's straining cock. Just flicking the tip of his tongue, Spock teased and poked up and down Jim's rod. Spock licked his palm and ran that moist hand all over the head, rubbing slippery pre-cum all over. 

Shivers raced up and down Jim's spine. "Spock, please. Please, ..., don't stop."

 Spock took the penis completely in his mouth, laving it from top to bottom. Pulling back he brought his hand to the base and began slow stroking with both his mouth and hand. In less than a dozen motions, Jim came, sighing Spock's name as he grabbed the shoulders below him.

When Jim could open his eyes again, Spock was back up waiting for a kiss.  Jim could taste his own fluids over the copper and desert of Spock's mouth.  How can I ever kiss anyone else?, Jim opened to take Spock's tongue deeper.

T'hy'la, just share this with me tonight. Let us wait until tomorrow to plan our tomorrows. Spock was a soft breeze in Jim's mind.

You're here? I'm not alone? Even in his most passionate embraces with women, Jim always felt abandoned when the moment ended. But now, he startled aloud, "Spock, how long does this last?"

For now, just as long as we're touching. Our minds have reached out for each other and spontaneously strengthened our link. Spock spoke, "Does this trouble you, James?"

"Trouble, no. No, Spock, this is like being home. But you say this is only for now?", Jim wasn't sure what he wanted to hear.

"For now, yes. A Vulcan bond is a permanent linking: parted and never parted, touching and never touching", Spock nuzzled into Jim's shoulder, inhaling human scent. "This is our first encounter, James. I will not rush you."

Jim tried to hold back a yawn. "Spock, please let me -"

Spock laid two fingers against Jim's lips. "Sleep now, T'hy'la. I wish to hold you in my arms and savor this evening. Tomorrow, perhaps, we can take our leave of the doctor, and you can show me where our emotions will lead." Spock gently turned Jim to his back and molded his wiry pelt against that smooth side.

Jim rested his cheek on Spock's arm, "I guess I should sleep. I'm free climbing in the morning."

With a barely felt sigh, Spock raised an eyebrow, "Yes, and I will be wearing Dr. McCoy's jetpack."

fini

KSOF Challenge:
Write how Kirk and Spock become lovers during the camping trip with McCoy at the beginning of The Final Frontier - or the end. Make it so that McCoy doesn't even know about it until they tell him. How do they pull that off?