Spock slipped out of his short scheduled rest then sat on the edge of the cot. Jim was reading a Vulcan novel when the creak in the bed drew his attention. The Vulcan's eyes blinked adjusting his blurring vision to the environment. Jim placed the book back into the book shelf. Spock rubbed his hand against his eyes. Then stretched his arms out. Spock shook his head briefly closing his eyes with a shudder. He had a disturbing nap. He reopened them while he placed his hands onto his lap. He seemed to be disturbed. Jim came over toward Spock.

"What . . . is . . . wrong, Mr Spock?" Jim kneeled down to his husband, his transparent hand laid on the Vulcan's hand.

"This is a unusual . . ." Spock said.

"Feeling," Jim finished. His eyes light up. "You . . felt . . . something."

Spock shook his head.

"It is illogical," Spock said.

"You once told me . . . being connected to someone . . . is illogical," Jim said. "Even when . . . you are supposed. . . not to be," He placed a hand on the side of the Vulcan's cheek. Spock was looking down toward his warm hands laid onto his lap that had one hand covered by a ghostly presence. "You are not alone, Mr Spock."

Spock briefly closed his eyes then reopened them with a sad sigh looking up toward a window.

Jim's hand slid off the cheek then onto the man's green hands.

"Taluhk nash-veh k'du," Jim said, softly pressing his hands onto Spock's while focusing all his emotions to it. He repeated the phrase mentally in his mind, over and over, with intensity. He looked up toward the Vulcan with that adoring, doting yet loving and hopeful expression. One that could not be seen by the Vulcan. Jim felt hurt that he couldn't hold the Vulcan in bed, be in his arms, and talk to him. Sure he could touch the Vulcan but Spock could not touch him. Jim was keeping himself together because of Spock and Bones. Jim's bread and butter. He couldn't fall apart on them. Not when Spock is burning through Kolinahr to make himself into a zombie. Spock needed to know that he was loved no matter what was happening and that he had a choice.

Spock's head turned from the window.

"Taluhk nash-veh k'du," Spock said.

Jim smiled.

"T'hy'la," Jim said. "There are minutes . . . where I wish . . . I never died on you," He stroked the Vulcan's green hand lightly with the side of his thumb. "You, me, and Bones . . . out there going where . . . no man has gone before," Jim felt himself growing emotional thinking about the time they had and the missions they went on together. The familiar bickering over his shoulder. "I miss that."

The door to the quarters opened.

"Mr Spock," T'Sai said. "Thee has a visitor."

Spock looked over toward her direction.

"In the visiting section?" Spock said. "My parents would not be visiting."

"Not thy's parents," T'Sai said. "I will see thee after thy meeting."

Spock paused, baffled, as she went past the doorway.

"Intriging," Spock said. "after so long, my brother decides to visit."

"Spock!" Jim said, standing up. "You have a brother?"

"Half brother," Spock corrected himself.

Spock slid into his boots.

"Mr Spock . . ." Jim took the Vulcan by the shoulder. "Why did you never tell me about your brother?"

Spock sighed.

"It may be that he left Vulcan under a exile," Spock said. "and that he may be visiting me illegally . . . Perhaps why," Spock looked over toward the window. "I did not bother searching for him in my youth."

Jim let go of the Vulcan's shoulder allowing Spock to exit.

"Mr Spock. . ." Jim said.

Jim was lured after Spock, his feet moving beneath him, but it was as though he had no free will to move away. Vulcans passed by the tall Vulcan. Spock's long hands were in his sleeves. Spock was like a alien humanized cat to Jim. A alien cat that had a strange biology to stand the massive heat Vulcan's sun stood against them. Naturally, in order to live on it, the body had to adapt. Vulcan males in their youth were constantly warm. Some studies that Jim had read regarding elderly Vulcans is that if their mates were overheating they can plop right down on them frozen ice cube and fall asleep while in bed. Jim was still baffled on why Vulcans became colder as they aged, and it didn't make sense for someone so cat like. Humans, compared to Vulcans, were the Labrador retrievers in space because they were so damn friendly. That Jim cannot deny. No one could deny that. It was considered a insult to call humanity the monkeys in space. Because they were really not.

They came into a circular room with tables that had pairs of 3-D chess boards on each. There were black stools across from the 'u' shaped hole in the table. There was a comfortable seat in front of the table. There was a bearded man with pointy ears sitting down at a table with his hands clasped together and he wore golden earrings while in a dark brown robe. He had tattoos along the side of his face that were easily Vulcan calligraphy. Jim was familiar to the calligraphy due to taking time to learn it with Spock when off duty. Jim recognized one of them reading 'pain healer' from the left side of his face. The Vulcan male had ruffled hair that appeared as though he had not gone to a barber in what felt to be a month regarding the beard. Jim took the Vulcan's shoulder, gently, so he could feel the Vulcanian's pain at seeing the older man. His hand slowly loosend on the Vulcan's shoulder. Sybok had his hands together laid on the table. His kind, gentle eyes looked upon his brother with a glint in them.

"Spock," Sybok said.

"You were exiled," Spock said.

Sybok stood up.

"That," Sybok said. "I was."

"And what brings you here?" Spock asked. "Willing to be sent to a panal colony?"

"I am," Sybok said.

"You are even more irrational the last time we met," Spock said.

"Thank you, brother," Sybok said. "Have you heard of Hellgaurd?"

"Bits and pieces," Spock said. "that is a place no one should go."

"I came here . . . to tell you," Sybok said. "That is where I am going."

"That is illogical," Spock said.

"I will be hidden to best advise those who have escaped and need help," Sybok said.

"You came here to tell me something that you are preparing to do," Spock said.

"You are my little brother," Sybok said. Sybok gave a small smile. "it is logical to give you closure."

"Does father know?" Spock asked.

Sybok paused.

"I rather not say," Sybok said.

"You said 'was'," Spock said. "Which implies the exile has been lifted."

Sybok shook his head.

"I have informed that I am a relative of S'Chn T'Gai Selek," Sybok said.

"Selek?" Spock said. The name was unfamiliar. "Who is Selek?"

"He was around before you were born," Sybok said. "A . . . Unique Vulcan. Very encouraging to me. One of a kind." The older man had a smile at the memory. "He looked a lot like you do now except ten years older from now."

"Father would have told me," Spock said. "Sybok."

"Brother. . . I have thought long and hard about this issue," Sybok said. "given the news about the loss of your inclusion in star fleet. . . " He paused. "I did not expect to make more pain than you need."

"I have no pain," Spock said, his voice dripping in lies.

"Mr Spock!" Jim said, in alarm. "This . . . is . . . your . . . brother."

"Sure you do not," Sybok said.

"Vulcans do not lie," Spock said.

Sybok's face softened, as he had placed one hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Live long and prosper, brother," Sybok said.

"Live long and prosper, Sybok," Spock replied.

Just like that, Sybok was leaving Spock's life, again. He remembered seeing Sybok and his many friends be escorted off into a shuttle craft and be lifted off from Vulcanian soil. He remembered watching the shuttle vanish into space as he watched his older brother's vessel vanished into the sky when T'Khut was giving the allusion of night. His hands on his knees feeling so alone and without a home. A place to call home and people to call family, who clearly made it obvious that he belonged with them. Sarek and Amanda were a different story, it was a family, but not the conventional kind. Sarek was reeling from Sybok's exile. He had not approved of Spock's decision to join Star Fleet. Disapproved him using violence to fight against fellow Vulcans for insulting his mother. If Sarek had known what they called her---That wasn't a viable question to debate. It was illogical for violence. Violence never got a Vulcan anywhere except getting hurt.