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Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 16:29:16 -0400
Subject: [ASC] NEW  TOS "Caterpillar" 1/1 (K&S) [G] AU
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On 24 Jun 2004 01:16:35 -0700, in alt.startrek.creative,
missus_spock@yahoo.com.au (Mrs Spock) wrote:

Title: Caterpillar
Author: Mrs Spock (missus spock@yahoo.com.au)
Series: TOS
Part: 1/1
Codes: K&S + others, AU
Rating: G
Summary: Snow at the daycare centre! (Part 2 of the Little Trek
A/N: Sequel to 'The New Kid, or, The Return of the Spoon'

--/--/--/--/--/--

Caterpillar
By Mrs Spock

A supreme hush had descended over the Starfleet Daycare Centre, the
only activity occurring inside the sleeping minds of the small
occupants in the nap room. Among the soft mattresses spread across
the room, the sole Vulcan child was dreaming of home.

Spock was curled up in his bed, in his father's house, his bedroom
bathed in the yellow-white glow of Vulcan's sister planet, T'Kuht.
Settling himself securely under the covers, he drifted off to sleep,
thinking of marvellous alien worlds and soon forgetting his Vulcan
troubles.

He slowly became aware of another presence, an insistent prodding in
the small of his back.

I'Chaya!

How did the bulky pet sehlat get back inside? Spock was certain he
had secured the large pet door I'Chaya used to enter and exit the
house during the day. Had he been mistaken? Spock swallowed as he
thought of the reprimand he would receive after Sarek discovered
whatever mayhem the big animal had caused.

There was another hard shove in his back.

"I'Chaya!" Spock spun around to scold the offending creature…

…only to find himself no more than two centimetres from Jimmy Kirk's
foot.

Sitting up abruptly in bewilderment, Spock scanned his surroundings,
finding himself the only one awake in the nap room. Baby Pavel was
sleeping soundly in his cot; the other children were all lying on
their mattresses, motionless.

That is, all but Jimmy, who had somehow shuffled sideways, rotating
until his feet met with the hollow of Spock's back.

Sighing, Spock got to his feet, picking up the blanket Jimmy had
wriggled out of and replacing it over his sleeping friend.
Presently, his eyes were drawn to the small patch of window that the
curtains hadn't quite covered. Something white floated quietly
downwards on the other side of the glass. Fascinated, the little
Vulcan stepped carefully between the mattresses to investigate.

It was snowing! Spock had learned about it on Vulcan, but he'd never
seen it happen. His home planet was too hot. Pressing his face up
against the glass, Spock watched in awe as the feather-light
snowflakes fell to the ground.

Jimmy, ever alert to anything even remotely exciting, woke up
suddenly and scowled in puzzlement when he found his own feet where
Spock should have been. He, too, was drawn to the strip of light
from the window and rushed across the room when he saw his Vulcan
friend standing there.

"Whatcha doing, Spock?"

Spock blinked and pointed silently.

"Snow!" Jimmy grabbed Spock excitedly. "Spock, it's snowing!"

As if Jimmy had spoken some magic, sleep-breaking words, the other
children woke up and began to crowd up against the window to watch
the miraculous display. Baby Pavel, awoken by the rowdy, excited
children, shoved his fist in his mouth and went back to sleep.

Mr Roddenberry appeared at the doorway of the nap room and was
immediately bombarded with requests to go outside. The snow wasn't
very deep on the ground – just a few centimetres – but was enough
for the children to play in. The big man looked at all the little
expectant faces.

"You may play outside, but an adult will help each of you into your
coats, hats and gloves first."

If not for his generous size, Mr Roddenberry would have been
trampled by the sea of pre-school children heading for the door.

Jimmy tugged on Spock's arm and followed the crowd. Mr Roddenberry
stopped them with a gentle hand on each boy's shoulder. He looked
down at the Vulcan boy.

"Spock, your mother says you're not to play outside in the snow," he
said, not unkindly. "It's too cold out there for Vulcans. But, you
can sit with me inside and watch the snow and the children through
the window."

Jimmy looked crestfallen; he had particularly wanted to show Spock
how to make a snowman. Feeling the tremendous urge to play in the
snow, but not wanting to leave his friend behind, he made a decision.

"I'll stay too, Mr R."

Spock stared at Jimmy, noticing the disappointment the fair-headed
boy couldn't hide.

He put on his best Vulcan face. "It's all right, Jimmy. Go out and
play. I'll watch you."

Jimmy looked uncertainly at the stoic face. "Ya sure?"

"Aha," Spock nodded with more conviction than he felt.

"Go on, Jimmy," said Mr Roddenberry. "Spock will be able to see you
from the window."

"Oh. Okay." The little human boy was helped into his coat, hat,
boots and gloves, and trudged out into the snow, occasionally
looking back up at the window.

Jimmy looked around. Monty was pushing Hikaru around on a sled,
Chrissie and Nyota were making a snowman and Lenny was dividing his
time by making patterns in the snow with various objects, keeping
out of the sled's way and making a nuisance of himself by 'helping'
with the snowman.

Spock, sitting next to Mr Roddenberry in front of the window,
watched as Jimmy trailed the perimeter of the yard, waving when
Jimmy turned and looked again. He observed sadly the dejected nature
of Jimmy's gait as the boy headed for a large tree.

Jimmy stood and watched the other children's activities for a while,
smiling a little when Nyota finally got sick of Lenny's interfering
with the snowman and threw a mushy snowball at him. As Chrissie and
Nyota giggled at Lenny's grumpy expression, Jimmy's attention was
drawn to something moving on the tree. On a branch above him was a
caterpillar, creeping along towards the leaves on the only leafed
tree in the yard.

Jimmy watched the bendy way it moved along for a time before
deciding that Spock would be fascinated by the little creature. He
stood beneath the branch and stretched his arm up, extending his
index finger so that it blocked the caterpillar's path, and hoping
it would crawl up onto his finger.

Spock, sitting alone after Mr Roddenberry had gone to answer a call
on the comm unit, saw Jimmy reach up to the tree, his concentration
completely absorbed by whatever had garnered his attention. Spock
saw, too, the danger that was about to unfold. Jimmy, his back to
the yard, was in the immediate path of Hikaru and Monty's sled. A
tight knot formed instantly in the Vulcan's chest and, without
thinking, he raced off out the door.

Spock sprinted down the steps. "Jimmy!" He tried to make his little
legs move faster through the snow.

The other children soon noticed the speeding Vulcan boy.

"There's Spock!" cried Nyota.

"See Spock run!" yelled Chrissie, somewhat impressed.

Spock got to Jimmy just before the out-of-control sled hit and
tackled his friend to the ground, rolling over and over several
times before stopping next to the tree trunk. Trapped between the
tree trunk and Jimmy, and feeling the cold snow seep through his
clothes, Spock felt a blackness wash over him and his eyes flickered
shut.

As the other children gathered around the pile that was Jimmy and
Spock, Jimmy slowly got to his feet and looked down at his unmoving
friend.

"He's dead, Jimmy!" exclaimed Lenny, studying the pale face.

Chrissie burst out in tears.

Jimmy thinned his lips and took charge. "Nyota, go get help!" As she
ran off he eyed the two boys who had crashed quite safely in a snow-
covered bush. "Monty, Hikaru, give me your coats!" Taking off his
own padded jacket and taking the two from the other boys, he wrapped
them securely around the chilled Vulcan.

Chrissie, still in floods of tears, picked up one of Spock's hands
and held on to it tightly just as Nyota arrived with Mr Roddenberry.

"Okay, kids, stand back now," said Mr Roddenberry, checking Spock
for injuries. Finding none, he gently lifted the boy and carried him
inside.

A few minutes later, Spock was being examined by a Starfleet doctor
while some of the children looked on. Lenny watched the doctor use
the medical scanner with interest. Reaching into his pocket, he
pulled out his own scanner – in reality a saltshaker he'd found at
home – and moved it over Spock, imitating the doctor's actions.

The doctor took out a hypospray and injected Spock with its
contents. Turning to Mr Roddenberry, he said, "It's not serious –
just a slight chill. Keep him warm and let him rest for the
afternoon." A second opinion was given when Lenny nodded sagely in
agreement, putting his 'scanner' away in his pocket as the doctor
packed his bag.

Jimmy, who had briefly disappeared during Spock's examination, came
to sit next to his Vulcan friend as he was settled under a heap of
thick blankets in the nap room. The other children went out to play
once more and Mr Roddenberry told Jimmy to stay with Spock and to
get him if he was needed. Once they were alone, Jimmy put out a hand
and took one of Spock's.

"Wake up, Spock. I've got something to show you," he pleaded softly.

As if on cue, the long, black lashes fluttered open and the big,
brown eyes found Jimmy's face.

"You okay, Spock?" Jimmy asked.

"I'm okay, Jimmy," Spock replied in a little voice, squeezing the
human boy's hand.

"Look," said Jimmy, opening his other hand.

Sitting on his palm was the furry caterpillar he'd tried to get
before for Spock. He placed it in Spock's hand and watched the
Vulcan's eyes study the creature in wonderment.

"I found it in the tree outside," Jimmy explained. "I thought you
could… study it."

Spock smiled. "Thanks." But then his smile faded as he thought of
something. "Jimmy, you need to put this back in the tree."

The human boy blinked, confused.

"It belongs in the tree, Jimmy. That's its home."

Jimmy nodded in understanding, then frowned. "Spock," he began
uncertainly, "You're a Vulcan. This… isn't *your* home." He started
to look a bit glum.

Spock sat up and looked at his friend. An idea struck him. "Jimmy,
I'm half-human, so this is my home as well as Vulcan." He watched
Jimmy's face light up. "And I like it here," he added sincerely.

Jimmy beamed happily and hugged Spock, blankets and all.

A few days later, when the sun was bright in the sky, a blue and
gold butterfly flew through the open window to land on the chess
board as Jimmy and Spock played together.

Both boys smiled.

FIN

-- 
Constable Katie, ASC* Archive team
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