The Captain was dead. Jim was dead. A part of Spock was dead.

It was supposed to be a simple mission; no one was supposed to die.

It had started like this

Their universal translators couldn't quite grasp the language of the natives so Uhura had been included in the landing party, alongside their captain, himself, and a security officer.

It had happened like this

The locals were anything but friendly. Already the security officer was dead; luckily enough they had managed to escape to a cave, but not before Uhura was hit by a bullet. She had stumbled forward, the captain and I had turned around. The captain managing to catch her before she fell; gently he had lain her down onto the floor.

He had asked how badly injured she was, she had gritted her teeth, replying "not good, captain".

I had pulled the captain aside to formulate a plan of escape. My plan was to be a diversion by using myself as a target to enable him and Uhura to have a chance of escaping alive. He had looked right through me , telling me that in no uncertain terms was I 'baiting myself', that he would not allow it .He'd informed me that I was to remain with Uhura because she needed me to remain by her side, as it was my duty as her boyfriend. Then he left, I had no choice but to stay, I knew I had no chance of persuading him. I watched him leave, knowing it was unlikely that I would ever see him again.

It finished like this

Uhura and I had managed to be rescued; and as I thought the captain's life sign was untraceable, there was no doubt that he never escaped.

I was waiting in sickbay beside Uhura's bedside, she was lucky that we had gotten back when we had. As I looked down on her sleeping form, I realised that the cap…, no, Jim had thought she was still my girlfriend; worst of all I had never gotten to say goodbye to him, never should I have let him leave.

Turning around, I was in the process of making my way back to my cabin so I could make arrangements to inform Starfleet; I walked right into a solid mass. I looked up into cerulean blue eyes; I felt his hands around my arms, steadying me.

I was dazed, quickly I snapped out of it "Captain? Jim!" I gripped his arms, my lips curving upwards.

Nothing could match the grin on his face "Mr Spock, glad to see that you were able to escape . Bones has told me about Uhura, that she's gonna be ok."

My loss of control was responsible for what spilled from my lips "Uhura and I terminated our relationship 4.3 months ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

I observed that whilst his smile lessened, his eyes shone with something, possibly hope.

"Do not be sorry, she was no longer the object of my desires."

"Really? Because she is very 'aesthetically pleasing'."

"I have found another more pleasing to my eye, also to my mind. I believe I have found my T'hy'la."

He looked surprised but he managed to reply "As in a male?"

I raised my eyebrow, not knowing how he knew what T'hy'la meant. "You would be correct in your assumptions."

A slight grin formed on his face "Give me a clue, what is he like?"

I paused, not knowing what exactly to say "He is charming, his eyes are a pleasing shade of blue, he makes me feel and he challenges me intellectually."

I could tell that he was teasing me.

"Would I happen to know him?"

Against my will my lips curved upwards "Perhaps."

His smile reached his eyes, they crinkled at the side.

"How about we go back to my quarters for a game of chess?"

"That would be agreeable." I definitely would not be averse to spending time with my captain.

Kirk smiled, as casually as I could, I brushed my fingers against his, he reciprocated by brushing his alongside mine, whispering in my ear "You think you are being sneaky, but I know what hands mean to Vulcans Mr Spock."

His breath against my ear was very distracting; I couldn't wait to get back to his quarters for a game of … chess.