Chapter Text
Kirk made his way off the bridge at the end of Alpha shift, throwing out various platitudes and goodbyes as he did. He squeezed between the turbolift doors just as they were closing and stumbled into Spock in his haste.
"Are you well, Jim? You appear to have a fever."
"I'm fine, Spock." The statement was somewhat undermined by the fact that he was leaning heavily against the wall of the turbolift with a fine sheen of sweat breaking out across his forehead. He wiped it away with his sleeve and caught Spock watching him skeptically. "It's nothing, Spock. Just tired."
"If you insist, captain."
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Kirk entered his quarters and stripped off his gold uniform shirt before collapsing onto his bed. He managed to lay still for a few moments before shifting into a different position, then another, and another, and another, finally ending up spread eagle on his back. He closed his eyes and sunk his head into the pillow in an attempt to stem the tide of his oncoming headache, maybe if he got his neck into just the right angle it would all stop. His breath came in short puffs that were barely slower than the pulse he could feel beneath his heated cheeks. It felt like every time his heart beat a hand was clenching around his skull, like his own blood pressure was attempting to crush his brain.
With a groan, he pulled himself up off the sheets and staggered into the bathroom, resting his hands on either side of the sink to look up at his bedraggled reflection in the mirror. His face was flushed beet red, his eyes were glassed over and lidded as if he were drugged. He turned the water on and bent forward, ducking his head under the stream. It ran from the back of his head, over his cheeks and eyelids to drip off his lips and the tip of his nose in tiny streams of relief. It took care of the burning in his head, but the rest of his body still felt as if it were baking from the inside out. He straightened up, cautious of knocking his head on the faucet and turned to the shower.
He managed to stumble into the stall without falling over anything, using the wall to support his weight as he set the water to the lowest temperature. He slid down the tiles and collapsed in a heap on the floor underneath the spray, pillowing his head on his arm. "This feels better." He mumbled to himself before finally drifting off.
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Spock kept an eye on Kirk throughout the following week, noticing the way the man would come back from breaks and in the morning with his hair soaked, and how his body would weaken throughout the day till he could barely stand by evening. When the captain left the bridge, Spock followed him back to his quarters at a distance, though Kirk seemed so addled he likely wouldn't have noticed if Spock had walked directly in front of him. He stood for a few minutes with his back to the door, listening. A series of muffled thumps came from inside the room and then a final heavier one along with the sound of the shower starting, and then the noises ceased.
After repeated hails through the intercom were unsuccessful, he used his override and stepped inside the cabin, finding it empty with the bathroom door half open. He knocked, but when no response came, he slid the door open all the way and saw Kirk unconscious on the floor of the shower. He stepped into the stall and knelt to wrap his arms around Kirk's torso, pulling him halfway upright to rest against the wall.
Kirk opened his eyes blearily to stare up at the blue shape above him, hearing a voice similar to Spock's calling his name. Water distorted his vision as it dripped off his lashes, but Kirk was sure he was hallucinating, still unconvinced when the figure touched him. When he was close enough, Kirk surged in the commander's arms. He pushed him against the wall, crushing their lips together, reveling in the sensation of the other body pressed against his, the fact that it was actually real. He wound his fingers into the fabric of Spock's uniform, fully believing that the Vulcan might disappear and leave him clutching empty air. It might all be just one of the many strange dreams he'd been experiencing, but for now he wanted to hold on to it. He pulled back after a few moments, staring into Spock's eyes, tears mixing with the water on his face. Kirk's vision began to darken, and he collapsed against his first officer, all his strength gone.
When Kirk pulled back, Spock watched as water slid down his face, giving the appearance of tears running rampant across Kirk's features. As the man collapsed, Spock brought a hand up to cradle Kirk's head, letting images of the past few weeks flood into his mind, confirming all of his suspicions. He shifted Kirk's head away and rested it on his shoulder, reaching up to change the angle of the shower head so it would continue to spray them as he settled Kirk into his arms, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head.