Out of the woods

Getting the year

Jim came into a Vulcan city. Well, that's what he called it. He saw a familiar Vulcan, someone his spouse had known, walking with a woman with human ears. Who was she? Surely Jim would have known. He felt scared to approach them. They looked younger than he had known them. Wait, that meant he met them later. Much, much later. Time travel? He has done it before. Once by accident. Twice intentionally to observe. Third time to save the day. Slingshotting around the sun.

Jim found himself approaching the couple.

"Hello," Jim said. "What year is it?"

The woman had a very pregnant stomach.

"2230," Came the Vulcan. "We are heading to the Vulcan Hospital. It seems you are in need of medical attention."

Jim felt the side of his head then he lowered his hand saw blood.

"Oh," Jim said. "No wonder there were birds." He looked toward the couple. "What is this . . . city?"

"Shikahr." The woman said. "You should join us."

Shikahr.

His spouse will be born there.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

. . .Vulcan Hospital. . .

. . . Two hours later. . .

"How did you get here?"

"I do not remember. I thought you would be able to help me with my memories."

"We are not doctors, we are healers," The short Vulcan said. He was middle aged by Jim's estimate. "You will be returned to your own kind."

"Thank you for healing my head." Jim said.

The Vulcan stopped, turning toward the human, cocking up a eyebrow.

"Did you just thank me?"

"Yes, it is logical due to the circumstance. Is it true that one must thank the person who helped them much as they could?"

"That is true. We don't get thanks from humans that often."

The Vulcan walked out of the room. Jim looked down toward his hands. He will be born in three years. He was on Vulcan. He had been around a Vulcan for so long he saw through their logic and reasoning, even negotiating a reason why to thank them. Damn, that Vulcan had rubbed off on him. Jim lowered his hand. He found himself missing his friends. Who were they? Bones. . . and his husband, who were the others? He closed his eyes as his hands balled up into fists. He didn't like not knowing! The wail of a baby stirred Jim out of his train of thought.

It was quite loud.

His eyes opened.

His spouse was just born. Jim felt joy and excitement but utter joy. A smile came onto his face. The birth of a baby was a cherished kind of one. Jim met his spouses parents, twice! What was the name of his spouse? He couldn't remember. There was emptiness in his heart. Why? He felt a thread in his mind. A broken one that had been mended and softened to block the result of the snapping. Something was preventing him from remembering! Why? Why! WHY! Jim wanted to remember so badly. He wanted to know who he had been married to. He looked down toward his hands. He didn't have a wedding ring. Then . . . why does he consider himself still married?