Work Text:
The mission wasn’t meant to be a particularly perilous one. Yeoman Mears hadn’t thought twice when she volunteered to join the shuttlecraft party sent to investigate a quasar-like phenomena, nor had anyone else involved. A crash landing on a hostile planet, a complete loss of communications with the Enterprise, and the death of two crew members came as an unexpected shock. When the five survivors returned to the ship, everyone on board was quite shaken, though relieved to see five of the seven returned safely, for it had looked for quite a while as though this mission would have no survivors.
Once they reached the ship, Dr. McCoy insisted the entire party report to medbay to be evaluated. Though Commander Spock attempted to make the argument that he was unharmed and urgently needed to report to the captain, McCoy ushered him along with the rest of the group, invoking his authority as a medical professional to insist Spock get a proper evaluation.
The young Yeoman didn’t think much of Mr. Spock’s eagerness to report to the captain, assuming he must be concerned with reporting on the casualties of the mission or discussing other such matters. It didn’t occur to her that Spock’s desire to see the captain was for any personal reason.
Before they could make it to medbay, the party was interrupted by none other than Captain Kirk himself. He caught sight of them from the end of the corridor as they waited for a turbolift, freezing in his tracks as he studied the group of survivors. When his eyes fell on Mr. Spock, Mears noticed, he heaved a great sigh of relief. Spock was staring intently back at him, and stepped forward to greet him as he rushed to his side.
When Captain Kirk reached them, he moved immediately to pull Spock into a hug. What surprised Yeoman Mears was not the hug itself--Captain Kirk had a reputation for his displays of affection--but the fact the Spock returned it quite willingly. More than willingly, she thought, but gladly. He wrapped his arms around the captain and held him close, letting several seconds pass before he drew away. Kirk held his first officer at arm’s length. Were those tears in his eyes? They were, Mears realized, as Spock raised a hand to the captain's cheek and began wiping them away with his sleeve.
“Spock,” he whispered. “I thought I’d lost you…”
“I am quite well, Captain,” Spock answered, voice cracking despite his best efforts to keep a steady tone.
What happened next had Yeoman Mears doing a double take. Right there before her eyes, she watched as Mr. Spock took the Captain’s face in his hands and pulled him in for a kiss. A long moment passed before they parted, and when at last they did they took a second more to gaze into each other’s eyes, as though they were assuring themselves that everything was alright.
Kirk cleared his throat and took a few steps back, returning to a professional sense of composure. Spock did the same, straightening his posture and working hard to hide the faint green blush that rose to his cheeks.
“It is a great relief,” Kirk said, now addressing the whole party collectively, “To see you returned safely to the ship.”
“And we’re relieved to be back, Captain,” Dr. McCoy replied, a note of impatience in his tone, “Now if you’ll excuse us, I’ll like to see to it that each one of us gets a proper medical evaluation.”
“Yes, of course,” Kirk agreed, still a bit flustered.
Later on, as she sat in medbay awaiting approval to return to her quarters, Yeoman Mears was approached by Dr. McCoy.
“You get used to it,” he said to her.
“I beg your pardon, sir. Get used to what?”
“That.” With his eyes he pointed to the other side of the room, where Spock sat in a hospital bed, Kirk waiting protectively beside him, a hand on his shoulder.
“Oh,” Mears laughed, “It doesn’t bother me, of course. It was just a bit unexpected.”
“Well maybe for you,” McCoy remarked. “I suppose you only see them on the bridge. They do a decent job of keeping it professional up there. But as soon as they’re off duty,” he rolled his eyes, “lord help me.”
“I think it’s very sweet,” Mears insisted, watching as Kirk leaned in and planted a kiss on the top of Spock’s head. “They seem quite happy together, don’t you think?”
“I suppose they are,” McCoy said, unable to hold back the smile that tugged at his lips as he watched his two friends.