[ Spock fervently does not want Jim to see him in such a state. He knows the captain and knows that he will spend the rest of their five year mission trying to escape the handful of chocolate that will be shoved at him at any given moment.
No. Far better than Jim never sees them.
The loosening of his usual reserve means Spock wrinkles his nose when Lenore mentions ass wiping. ]
One would hope that the crew is capable of that simple task, Doctor. It is one that should have been trained at a very young age.
[ If that is an idiom, it is one he is not familiar with, and one does not wish to understand. But it tumbles about in his head for a moment and he is almost tempted to ask Lenore to explain when she blurts out her news.
Spock is not the person others confide in for a variety of reasons, and Spock is well aware of most of them. It is understandable, and he appreciates that. Jim is an exception, as was Uhura for a short time. McCoy usually does not fall into that category. He listens to her explanation and does not let go of her hand. Nor does he tighten his fingers around hers as his mother used to do to him because he is unsure of the reception, unsure if it would help or hinder. And he deliberately avoids attempting to get a read on her emotions, understanding that would be a gross invasion of privacy.
It is a troubling story, and Spock cannot imagine how difficult it would be to see a loved one struggle with such pain. There is the possibility of a future where he will have to watch his father deal with pain, or worse, a terrible emotional state that afflicts elderly Vulcans. But that is far in the future and there is only a slight chance, so he has no conceptual framework for handling such situations.
He does know that to suffer is illogical and that future discoveries cannot be predicted, and opens his mouth to tell Lenore as such. ]
You are not to fault, for either situation. To prolong his suffering would have done nothing to help your father's spirits, and you had no idea there was the possibility of a cure. Do not fault yourself.
[ Easy enough to say. Spock knows how difficult it is to assuage guilt, even in a situation such as his, where his actions did not directly kill his mother. He still harbors some blame for himself, deep beneath his shields. Had he been faster, held on tighter, insisted she stand closer -
To dwell is illogical, and Spock pulls his mind from that topic. ]
I grieve with thee, [ he says simply and finally does offer a small squeeze of her hand, careful to keep his touch from being too firm. ]
no subject
No. Far better than Jim never sees them.
The loosening of his usual reserve means Spock wrinkles his nose when Lenore mentions ass wiping. ]
One would hope that the crew is capable of that simple task, Doctor. It is one that should have been trained at a very young age.
[ If that is an idiom, it is one he is not familiar with, and one does not wish to understand. But it tumbles about in his head for a moment and he is almost tempted to ask Lenore to explain when she blurts out her news.
Spock is not the person others confide in for a variety of reasons, and Spock is well aware of most of them. It is understandable, and he appreciates that. Jim is an exception, as was Uhura for a short time. McCoy usually does not fall into that category. He listens to her explanation and does not let go of her hand. Nor does he tighten his fingers around hers as his mother used to do to him because he is unsure of the reception, unsure if it would help or hinder. And he deliberately avoids attempting to get a read on her emotions, understanding that would be a gross invasion of privacy.
It is a troubling story, and Spock cannot imagine how difficult it would be to see a loved one struggle with such pain. There is the possibility of a future where he will have to watch his father deal with pain, or worse, a terrible emotional state that afflicts elderly Vulcans. But that is far in the future and there is only a slight chance, so he has no conceptual framework for handling such situations.
He does know that to suffer is illogical and that future discoveries cannot be predicted, and opens his mouth to tell Lenore as such. ]
You are not to fault, for either situation. To prolong his suffering would have done nothing to help your father's spirits, and you had no idea there was the possibility of a cure. Do not fault yourself.
[ Easy enough to say. Spock knows how difficult it is to assuage guilt, even in a situation such as his, where his actions did not directly kill his mother. He still harbors some blame for himself, deep beneath his shields. Had he been faster, held on tighter, insisted she stand closer -
To dwell is illogical, and Spock pulls his mind from that topic. ]
I grieve with thee, [ he says simply and finally does offer a small squeeze of her hand, careful to keep his touch from being too firm. ]