A/N: hey guys! i've been working on this story forever and just got around to finishing it now. this is a rewrite of the star trek: tos episode "the tholian web;" however, this is a spones slash fanfic, because the scene where spock's in the captain's chair and bones spins him around just screams "slash!" XD it's going to have 3 parts, which are already written and will be added shortly. i don't own these characters, sadly, they belong to gene roddenberry, and i make no profit from this story. hope you enjoy it! it's unbeta'd, so any and all mistakes are my own. R&R but no flames please!
LoverBoyWonder
Spock clicked off the monitor and pulled the disk out. Jim's last orders. He would never show it, especially not in front of the CMO, but the Vulcan was nearly broken after seeing the Captain on the screen, knowing he was most likely dead.
"Spock," McCoy said eventually. "I- I'm sorry…I, uh…it does hurt, doesn't it?" Spock looked up. "What would you have me say, doctor?" the acting captain asked McCoy. "Spock…" McCoy hesitated. "We have our respective duties," Spock said calmly. "Please return to sickbay immediately in order to discern an antidote for the madness." Someone had to remain logical.
"Dammit, Spock," Bones growled, and pulled Spock into a tight hug, surprising the Vulcan. "Doctor-" Spock held McCoy gently. "Pointy-eared bastard," Bones said, voice muffled by Spock's shoulder. Spock stood quite stiffly, allowing the gesture of what he believed to be a manifestation of the doctor's grief; finally McCoy pulled away and left after giving Spock a long, searching look. Spock placed the disk in his pocket and returned to the bridge, which seemed empty without Jim's presence, even though the rest of the crew was at their posts. Spock sat down in the captain's- his-chair andshook his head almost imperceptibly. Illogical. Jim was one captain. He did not make that much of a difference, surely? And Doctor McCoy…his display of affection was quite out of character. Fascinating.
The Tholian web was almost finished. Time was running out for the Enterprise. Was it possible to rescue Jim? If they wanted to attempt rescue- Spock sighed inwardly. He didn't know if rescue was plausible at this point, after so much time had elapsed since the disappearance of the Defiant…but he had to try. Jim was not just a captain- he was Jim, Spock told himself. The Vulcan refused to leave his captain behind. "Phasers at the ready, Mr. Sulu," Spock commanded. "Aye, c- captain," the Asian pilot responded, stumbling over his words. Spock chose to ignore it as he steepled his fingers, staring as the Tholian web drew closer to completion.
Leonard McCoy was shaken. What the hell was going on? Jim was gone. His own orderly had attacked him. Half the goddamn ship was going mad! He, Bones McCoy, had hugged the hobgoblin! Lieutenant Uhura swore she had just seen the captain in her quarters- but Jim was dead, wasn't he? He brought Uhura to sickbay, afraid that whatever disease was affecting the rest of the crew had gotten to her as well. He escorted her to a bed and made her lie down; strapping her in as a precaution in case she took a turn for the worse.
The doctor spoke to the woman soothingly, not betraying his own thoughts. It was a dream, you're okay, the captain is gone. Uhura just nodded sadly. "Oh, but Doctor?" she asked as Bones began to turn away. "I- I won't end up like Chekov, will I?" McCoy hesitated, and they both listened to the haunting screams coming from the bed where the young ensign was tied down. Bones looked down at Uhura. "I don't know," he admitted, and left sickbay.
Acting Captain Spock barely looked up as McCoy entered the bridge, as he was too busy focusing all of his attention on the Tholian ships. However, the Vulcan's attention was shifted when the doctor approached the captain's chair. "Spock," McCoy hissed. "What in hell's name are you doing? Are you out of your Vulcan mind?" he demanded. "You're not planning on returning fire? You'll kill us all!" Spock looked up calmly through dark lashes. "Doctor," he said unemotionally. "Do not concern yourself with such matters. Have you come across an antidote?" "I- no." Bones looked furious. "But Spock-" Spock cut off the doctor's tirade. "Please return to sickbay and continue your research." The Vulcan ended the conversation and returned his focus to the main screen.
McCoy stood there, livid, for a split second, and then he moved. "Spock!" he snapped, grabbing the captain's chair and spinning it so that Spock was facing him and he was standing between the Vulcan's legs- McCoy blushed a bit. "Uh…I'm sorry. The space must be getting to me. I know it's nothing you've done." Spock looked McCoy in the eye and told him, "I believe the captain would simply have said, 'Forget it, Bones.' " McCoy gave the Vulcan an astonished look before he pitched forward, collapsing into Spock's arms.
"Doctor McCoy!" Spock said. Bones stood with the help of Scotty, who had just entered the bridge, and shook his head. "I…I'm alright…thanks. It's the space," he muttered and gave Spock a searching look. "Okay, captain. Let's get out of here." Spock shook his head. "I cannot do that. The chances have risen that we will be able to rescue Jim. As long as we defeat the Tholian ships-" Bones looked alarmed as he cut Spock off. "Spock! You have got to listen to me, dammit! Jim-" the doctor's voice cracked- "Jim told us to listen to each other. I'm asking you to hear me out now!" An expression of surprise flitted across the Vulcan's face, and then it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"Doctor-" Spock began, but was cut off by Bones kissing him roughly, somehow the doctor had grabbed his arm with one hand, holding his leg with the other hand, and they were right on the bridge, but fortunately everyone else was preoccupied…"Doctor," Spock said forcefully, pulling away from McCoy. "Our priority must be the captain. Return to your research." Bones looked furious. "He's dead, Spock! Accept it and move on! The captain is not coming back! I'm upset, and you have a right to be upset too, but it's your duty as acting captain to protect your crew, live in the now, and get us the hell out of here!" The bridge crew- who may not have seen what happened but certainly heard it- shared some glances, having been stunned by the CMO's tirade. All of a sudden, an ensign screamed and everyone jumped.
Spock whirled, and McCoy's head whipped up. Jim was standing in the middle of the bridge. But it wasn't really him- his figure was faded, like a holographic projection, and it flickered softly. The captain seemed insubstantial, and Spock could see right through Jim's body. Fascinating. "Jim," Spock said and moved towards the figure. Bones did not move and stood in front of the captain's chair, scowling. Jim appeared to be attempting communication; his mouth was moving, as were his arms, but no sounds could be detected and the acting captain could not discern a message. Jim raised his hand and disappeared.
Bones, although he didn't show it, was properly astonished. So Uhura was right. He whirled and marched into the hallway, too angry at Spock to stay on the bridge. The doctor got into the lift and went back to sickbay. "So I'm not crazy, Doctor?" asked a rather relieved Uhura. "No," Bones replied, more gruffly than he intended as he released her restraints. "Is something wrong?" Uhura asked, a concerned expression on her face. "Well-" Bones looked conflicted. "You can tell me," Uhura coaxed. "You should come in here," McCoy said, and beckoned with his hand.
The doctor led Uhura to his office, where he sat down behind his desk. "I…I think I love him," McCoy said in a strangled voice, a few stray tears making their way down his face. He cursed as he furiously wiped at his eyes. Uhura rubbed his back sympathetically, knowing exactly what the doctor meant. "I'm sure it will work out," she promised. "How could he not love someone as wonderful as you, Doctor?" Bones dropped his head onto his desk and said something that was muffled by his arms. "Sorry?" Uhura asked. "He loves Jim," McCoy whispered as he raised his head ever so slightly. "He always has. I know it. But Jim chases everything with a skirt, and our captain's never been faithful. He doesn't deserve someone like that. After my divorce I thought I'd never love anyone again. But I fell for him, because I'm a first-class idiot, and he'll never love me back."
Uhura put an arm around his shoulder and hugged the doctor. "Now, I'm sure that's not true. It will be fine. I'll talk to him," she said. She squeezed the doctor one last time, then left to return to her post on the bridge. McCoy dried his face, and stared at his desk, lost in thought. At that moment, a beaker in the other room began to bubble over. McCoy sat up. "I found it!" he said, the ghost of a smile touching his lips as he rushed into the lab.
Spock heard the whoosh of the door as Uhura entered the bridge, but he paid her no attention until she walked right up to his chair. "Mr. Spock," she said pleasantly. "May I have a word with you?" "Of course, Lieutenant," Spock replied and stood up. "I am pleased to observe that Doctor McCoy has declared you fit for duty," he added as they walked into the hall. "Me too," Uhura said without looking at him. They stopped walking, and Uhura stood in front of Spock, who had his back to the wall.
"May I inquire as to the reason for this talk?" the acting captain asked, his eyebrow raising slightly. "Well…it's about the captain," she began. "He is alive," Spock said immediately. "Is that not fascinating?" "Of course it is," Uhura said. "I wanted to ask…do you…do you love him?" she asked. Spock seemed to consider whether he should tell her. "I have decided that it is quite possible. Why do you ask?" "Well…" the lieutenant paused. "I know someone who wishes to be in a…romantic relationship with you. But they think you love the captain, so they believe their love will go unnoticed." Spock's eyebrow rose at this. "I must attribute this to the madness," he said. "Wh- what?" Uhura asked, confused. Spock continued. "I myself am feeling strange urges. Doctor McCoy seemed so affected that he…kissed me…on the bridge." Uhura reeled. "He did? What did you do?" Spock looked down at his feet. "I ordered him to return to sickbay to find the cure."
Uhura looked at the acting captain, amazed. "Spock! Did you…did you go after him?" "No. I was otherwise occupied with the Tholian ships and the appearance of the captain," Spock confessed. "Spock," Uhura groaned. "That person I told you about…It's McCoy." Spock's eyebrow hit his hairline, but he said nothing. "Let me ask you again," Uhura said, after she had allowed it to sink in. "Do you love the captain?" This time, Spock hesitated. "I do not know," he confessed, and turned. He began walking back to the bridge, Uhura trailing behind him.