Title: Safeguard

Author: Stacee Phelps

Disclaimer: 'Star Trek' does not belong to me and I am not getting paid for writing this. Any and all recognizable characters, places, events, etc belong the CBS Network, the late Gene Roddenberry, and Paramount Pictures.

A/N: This just came to me after I saw this beautiful picture in one of the groups I am in on facebook. If you would like to see the picture, just please let me know. This is part 1 of 2.

Summary: Star Trek XI- A slow day on the U.S.S. Enterprise proves to be anything but as a friend becomes an unexpected enemy and leaves Captain James T. Kirk fighting for his life. K/S SLASH

Timeline: Two years after the events in Star Trek XI

ST

Watching the view screen before him, noticing the lack of anything exciting, Captain James T. Kirk lazily flicked his eyes around the bridge. Instantly, pride swelled within him as he took in the sight of his command crew.

Pavel Chekov and Hikaru Sulu were talking quietly with one another over their instruments, chuckling every now and again as something funny was sad. A small, fond smile passed the captain's face as he saw the two interacting. They were made for each other and everyone else could see it… if only the young ensign and lieutenant would pay as much attention as everyone else.

Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, and even though he DID know her first name the gods only knew he would never use it until she herself told him her name, was intently listening to the air waves. In whatever language was being used and whatever transmissions were being picked up, Jim was confident that Uhura would hear anything and everything and understand it all.

Scotty was, for once, on the bridge to check all the engineering panels that led down to the engine room. As he had firmly stated, "I'll nah have one of my instruments on the verge of breaking down! All your luck, it'll happen right as we face a damn Klingon or somethin'!" So, the Chief Engineer was tirelessly muttering to himself as his top half was missing beneath a console.

Shaking his head and rolling his eyes at the Scotsman, his attention was at once fixated on one of the last, but most important, people that truly meant something to him. Commander Spock was sitting at his science station, long fingers literally dancing over the controls as he monitored one of their many probes outside the ship. The half-Vulcan, although hardly anyone would be able to tell he wasn't completely Vulcan, was staring at the information presented to him and it seemed as if thought hardly processed before he was responding.

Unable to tear his eyes away from this special creature, the man who was very shortly going to be his bondmate, Jim could not stop the slight and adoring smile that slowly crept across his face. Who had ever thought that a messed-up, child delinquent from little Riverside, Iowa would amount to so much, if anything at all? Here he was, a Starfleet Captain of the flagship Enterprise, well-loved by all who served under him and a soon-to-be married man to a Vulcan. Yeah, he decided faintly as he moved to stand from his command chair, he had finally done something right in his life.

Crossing over to stand beside Spock's chair, the captain could not help but lean in closer to his t'hy'la. "So, Mr. Spock, is everything checking out alright?"

And even though Spock did not turn to look at the blonde hair man, the captain could tell that his attention was immediately riveted to his commanding officer. "Affirmative, Captain. The probes are functioning correctly after our last explorative mission and there appears to be nothing out of the ordinary in this sector."

His smile growing, Jim moved so that he leaned against Spock's console. "Very good, Commander, very good. We've only got so much longer here and then I expect a full report on all this nothingness." Smirking as he noticed Spock looking at him quickly from the corner of his eye, he chuckled softly to himself as the Vulcan barely managed to bite his tongue instead of responding.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah; I know. There is nothingness and everything and I should know that and all that jazz, right?"

There, he saw it. A fleeting thing but there nonetheless. The left side of Spock's mouth had lifted somewhat. Anyone else might have thought it was nothing but disapproval or an instinctive movement, but Jim Kirk of all people knew better. He had just made his bondmate-to-be smile.

Quitting while he was ahead, he made an abrupt decision to check up on sick bay. Everything was well in hand here on the bridge and he hadn't been able to see Bones in sometime off-duty. Now seemed as good a time as any.

"Mr. Spock, I will be heading for medical to check up on Dr. McCoy. You have the conn."

Spock nodded in acknowledgement and Jim clapped a quick hand to his love's shoulder. Squeezing, the captain than moved towards the turbolift.

Then, it seemed as if time decided to slow down. He reached the halfway point to the lift when the doors suddenly whooshed open to reveal Dr. Leonard McCoy. Jim's brow furrowed in confusion, for what reason had the doctor come to the bridge this time, and he was about to ask when he saw his dear friend's arm move.

In his hand was something that was prohibited on the bridge. Immediately, Jim's attention latched on to the armed phaser that was brought to bear. But, it was too late to respond as the trigger was pulled. As it was aimed directly at Jim's chest.

His eyes widened as the concentrated beam slammed into his body and sent him flying backwards off the top deck towards the navigation console and the foot of his chair. Making heavy contact with the steel-plated floor, the captain's breath seemed to be stalled. Right now, he could not expand his lungs and he felt as if he were suspended in time. He could hear nothing, only see what was happening in slow motion as his crew leapt to intercept the evidently deranged doctor.

He saw Scotty diving for McCoy, pushing the phaser up with one arm and slamming his fist into the doctor's face with the other, he noticed Uhura practically screaming into her communications console for security and medical to get to the bridge a.s.a.p., Chekov and Sulu still sitting in their chairs but each straining to get up and into the thick of the action, the young Russian obviously screaming his captain's name… but Kirk still couldn't hear it.

At last, he saw McCoy being restrained as Spock suddenly filled his vision. The Vulcan wildly moved to his t'hy'la, dropping to his knees beside the injured man and then time sped up. The sights and sounds finally matched up as his hearing came back to life and pain ripped through his body.

Gasping and arching his back, Kirk was startled to hear the raggedness of his own breathing. Ignoring the sudden brightness of the room, the chaos that was being contained only some feet beyond him, he drew his shaking hands to his chest. There was no blood, the beam had cauterized the wound instantly, but the burned tissue and the damage to his chest muscles and apparently left lung were already beginning to overwhelm him.

No matter what, he couldn't seem to catch his breath.

He then felt Spock's anxious, and yes, the stoic Vulcan's actions were anxious, hands scoop under him and lift him to the hard chest. Knowing that his lover was trying to ease his breathing wasn't helping his mentality, though, as all he could register was the burning white-hot ripping pain. Until one of Spock's hands moved to his jaw line and pulled Kirk's chin so that the captain was forced to look at his first officer.

Seeing the pinched features, the complete panic that was filling those deep brown eyes, and feeling the slight tremble to the hand against his face and the arm bracing his shoulders, Kirk weakly lifted his own right hand to cradle the Vulcan's wrist. Attempting through the gut wrenching agony to match the gaze of the man he loved, he tried to send reassuring waves to the touch-telepath but his efforts were in vain as he unexpectedly couldn't draw any breath.

Feeling his lungs just stop was the most terrifying feeling he had ever experienced. Tears sprang to his eyes from the sheer effort his body was expending to just draw air and his hand clenched tightly around Spock's wrist, him trying to ground himself and failing miserably.

The first officer of the Enterprise looked up from his dying lover for only a moment to see if any medical officers had arrived. Seeing absolutely none, his decision was made. Adjusting his crouched position, he effortlessly lifted James T. Kirk into his arms and cradled the injured man. Standing with the captain in his arms, he at once set for the turbolift, yelling (actually yelling) over his shoulder that Sulu had the conn.

Entering the turbolift and barking out the order to take them to sick bay, Spock tried to overlook the fact that his soon-to-be husband was suffocating to death in his arms. Jim's eyes were panicked and rolling in his head. The knuckles on one of his hands were completely white for just how tightly he was clutching to Spock's blue science uniform. The captain's body was tense and nearly every muscle in his body was straining for some sort of relief.

Spock knew that relief would mean his lover's death.

And he was not wrong. Just as the lift came to a stop and the doors opened, James T. Kirk's weakened body gave a last shudder and then went lax in Spock's arms. Feeling down to his bones and the very bottom of his essence Jim's regretful and heart-weary Good-bye, t'hy'la, the Vulcan took off at a sprint into sick bay.

Yelling once more, hearing in his head Jim's teasing (Twice in one day, huh?), he moved for Dr. M'Benga right as he felt Jim's heart stop beating.

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, I do so hope this first part grabbed your attention, so please do me a favor and review! Thank you!

-Stacee Phelps