Finding Your Way Back

This story attempts to answer the question that has plagued me for years: Why was Christine Chapel sitting next to Ambassador Sarek (and presumably Spock) at the court martial at the end of ST4: The Voyage Home?

A/N: This story takes place before, during, and after the events described in ST2: The Wrath of Kahn, ST3: The Search for Spock, and ST4: The Voyage Home, and includes scenes from the movies as well as original filler. The perspective shifts back and forth from Chapel to Spock; these shifts are set apart by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. There are also references to George Lucas' Star Wars saga, but this is in no way a crossover fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or its characters. But I wonder why they do what they do. I don't own Star Wars either, but I thought it would be fun to include it.

Chapter 1

Doctor Christine Chapel walked beside her husband through the crowded terminal, Lt. Saavik following in their wake. "I wish you didn't have to do this, Spock," Christine lamented. Spock stopped and ushered them out of the flow of traffic.

"We have been through this already, Christine. This training mission is one of my duties as a Graduate Academy instructor."

"I know, Spock. But the timing is lousy. We just bought a house, and we're ready to start our family…"

"I will only be gone three weeks, Th'y'la." He looked to Saavik, who was standing close, but trying not to hear their conversation. "You may go ahead, Saavik-kam. I will meet you at the transport platform." She nodded and turned to go, but was stopped by the doctor's hand on her arm.

"Saavik," Christine started gently, "Promise me you'll take good care of him and return him to me in one piece."

"I will endeavor to do my best, Doctor Chapel," she briefly touched Christine's hand, then walked away.

Spock pulled his wife behind a convenient column where they were less likely to be seen. He laid his hand on her cheek to reassure her with his thoughts, then kissed her tenderly. "When I return we will resume our efforts to produce a child," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Promise?" Christine asked with a seductive grin.

"Promise," Spock repeated and kissed her again. "Now I must go!" He turned and followed the path his young charge had taken. Christine watched until she could no longer distinguish him from the crowd then headed for her office at Emergency Ops.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Three hours later Lt. Saavik successfully piloted the starship Enterprise out of space dock and Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu 'indulged himself' with their course coordinates.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The comm chimed alerting Christine to a message from her superior. She touched the screen and the report she was reading was replaced with the face of Admiral Matheson. "Yes, Wendell?"

"We have a situation on the planet Armosa. I need you in my office right away." The screen blanked out. Matheson had always been a succinct and straight-to-the-point talker. And when he was finished he simply stopped talking.

A situation. That was Matheson's code word for an Emergency Medical Services request. Christine bookmarked the report, grabbed a padd, and headed for her boss's office.

Matheson started talking before the door closed. "There's been an outbreak of Midorian flu on Armosa. They've traced the spread back to a Tellarite freighter crew that took shore leave there eighteen days ago. Thirty-six people have already died, including most of the Tellarites. Over one hundred others have been affected. We got an EMS request an hour ago. Since you're the leading expert on the disease, Chris, I want you to head this mission."

"Yes, Sir."

"And I want Doctor Rivers to assist you. If you insist on leaving me soon, I want him groomed to take over."

"He's a good choice, Sir. And we work well together."

"Right. Choose a team of ten and be ready to leave on the Potemkin in twenty-four hours.

"Yes, Sir."

Twenty-two hours later, Christine recorded a message to her husband:

Hi Sweetie,

I miss you like crazy. It turns out I won't be stuck at home alone while you're gone after all. Daniel Rivers and I are taking a med team out to Armosa where there's been an outbreak of Midorian flu. We leave in a couple of hours on the Potemkin. I have no idea how long it will take, Midorian flu can be tricky. You'll probably get home before I do. I doubt I'll have a way to contact you again until the ship comes back for us, but I'll try. Give everyone my love. I'll see you in a few weeks. I love you! Bye.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The comm light on Captain Spock's computer blinked. He toggled the switch. "Yes, Commander."

Nyota Uhura's voice came through the speaker. "You have a private message, Captain," she purred. "I wonder who it could be from."

"You know perfectly well who it is from, Miss Uhura. And you most likely already know what she has to say."

Uhura didn't miss the slight lilt in his voice. "Why, Sir! I would never look at someone else's mail," she said with mock indignation. "I'm piping it to your office now, Sir. Give Christine my love."

"I will." He touched the screen to open the message and saw his wife's smiling face. He kept his eyes locked on hers as she spoke. She gave him a little wave as she signed off. He was pleased she had something to occupy her while he was away, but would miss her all the more with the extra distance between them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Aw, come on Chris!" Daniel Rivers groaned. "How can you not have seen 'Star Wars'? They're classic twentieth century films!" They were having dinner in the Officer's Mess of the USS Potemkin with her captain, Michael Hawkins, and CMO, Deena Pruitt. Captain Hawkins had given them a run-down of ship's recreational activities they could partake of, a 'Star Wars' holovid marathon being first on the list.

"I don't know. I was never into that early science fiction stuff. Their aliens were always so strange looking, and their gadgets were so far-fetched."

Daniel laughed. "Oh, like we haven't seen our share of strange-looking aliens. And most of our current technology comes from the gadgets those guys dreamed up."

"He's right, Doctor Chapel," said Dr. Pruitt. "A lot of the diagnostic devices we use today were first thought of by sci-fi writers a long time ago."

"Not to mention our warp engines, transporters, and replicators," added Captain Hawkins.

Christine held up both hands, palms out, to make them stop. "Okay, okay. I get it."

"So you'll see the 'vids with me?" Daniel inquired.

"Daniel, it wouldn't be right. I'm a married woman."

"Yeah, you're happily married and I'm happily single. So it would just be two friends hanging out together. Please."

"Oh, alright. I'll see the 'vids." Daniel pumped both fists in victory.

Michael Hawkins chuckled. "Well, I'm glad we got settled. You'll only have time to see episodes four, five and six before we get to Armosa. But I promise to show one, two and three again when we pick you up."

"Wait," Christine interrupted. "Why are we seeing episode four first? Don't things usually start at one."

Dr. Rivers answered, "That's the way it was originally written. The main story starts in episode four and continues to episode six. Then the back story, the prequel, takes place in episodes one through three. It makes more sense that way."

As Daniel and Christine exited the ship's theater for the third time, Christine exclaimed, "I can't believe Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father! How did that happen?"

"That's what episodes one, two and three are about," Daniel replied.

Six hours later, the two doctors and their team boarded three specially-outfitted emergency medical shuttlecrafts. On the planet, the shuttles were placed on three sides of a square and a retractable cover joined them together to create a field hospital, complete with computer work stations, a small lab, and a dispensary.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Spock rose from his meditation mat and glanced at the chrono beside his bed; oh-four-thirty-seven. Mediation had proven useless. With Christine on the other side of the galaxy, their bond had become weakened. He could tell she was alive and well, but he sorely mixed the brightness her presence brought to his mind. He had awakened from a dream about her – an erotic dream – only to find himself alone in bed. He thought for a moment she had just gone to the bathroom, but then felt the tell-tale vibration of warp engines and remembered she was far away. Ten days had passed since her message about the mission to Armosa and he had heard nothing from her since.

Throwing off his robe, he headed into his fresher. Maybe a sonic shower would ease his tension. He felt a tingle in his groin and decided to make that a cold shower.

He had no idea life as he knew it was about to change.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Christine sighed. She was so tired. They all were. She and her team had treated nearly two hundred patients, inoculated over a thousand more, and still had twenty-six of the worst cases in their makeshift hospital. Nine others had died. It would be at least twenty-four hours before they knew if the disease had been eradicated. She scrolled to the next name on the computer and typed in the patient's treatment thus far.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The cadet crew had just completed a grueling test scenario with flying colors. Captain Spock's pride in them was evident. Admiral Kirk was impressed

Commander Uhura turned to the admiral. "I have an urgent Comm-pic from Space Lab Regula One for you, sir. Doctor Carol Marcus."

Kirk gave her a look of surprise and confusion. "I'll take it in my quarters, Uhura."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dr. Rivers entered the comm/office shuttle carrying two steaming mugs. "I assume one of those is for me," Christine said, already reaching for the hot brew.

"Who else?" Daniel asked, sitting heavily on the chair next to Chapel. "They all came back negative." He tossed a data disc on her small desk. She knew he was referring to the scans run on their remaining patients to see if the disease had progressed.

"That's a relief. I'll put in a call to Potemkin and tell them to come pick us up."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Admiral Kirk entered Spock's quarters and found his friend meditating. "We've got a problem," he announced. "Something may be wrong at Regula One. We've been ordered to investigate."

"If memory serves, Regula One is a scientific research laboratory," the Vulcan stated.

Kirk nodded, then paced the room nervously. "I told Starfleet all we had was a boatload of children but ...we're the only ship in the Quadrant. Spock, these cadets of yours, how good are they? How will they respond under real pressure?

Spock rose gracefully. "As with all living things, each according to his gifts. Of course, the ship is yours."

"No, that won't be necessary, just get me to Regula One."

"As a teacher on a training mission, I am content to command the Enterprise. If we are to go on actual duty, it is clear that the senior officer on board must assume command."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The night passed quietly in the field hospital on Armosa. Eleven patients had been released and the others were well on their way to complete recovery. As the light of dawn began to filter in, Christine shifted on her tiny cot and a wave of nausea passed through her. She sat up, then bolted to the portable fresher and threw up noisily. Med-tech Melanie Carnes, who had the cot next to hers, came to her aid with a cold wipe. "Doctor Chapel, are you all right? Vomiting is not one of the symptoms of Midorian flu."

Christine wiped her mouth. "No, it isn't. I don't know what that was. It must have been something I ate last night. I'm okay now. Thanks."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The viewscreen shifted from a field of stars to show the interior of Reliant. A man dressed in leather and rough fabric occupied the center seat. He looked familiar. Older, but familiar. Admiral Kirk's eyes widened. "Khan!"

The man smiled maliciously. "You still remember, Admiral. I cannot help but be touched. Of course, I remember you.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"What's this I hear about your throwing up this morning?" Daniel asked as he entered the dispensary where Chapel was packing their remaining supplies.

"I'm fine, Daniel," she replied without looking up. "It was nothing."

He set down the box he had brought in and flipped on his med-scanner. "Let me examine you to make sure."

"We don't have time," she admonished. "The Potemkin will be soon and we still have a lot to do."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Admiral Kirk, Dr. McCoy and Lt. Saavik beamed over to Regula One, leaving Captain Spock in charge of Enterprise's repairs.

Two hours later they returned with Doctors Carol and David Marcus and Commander Chekov in tow. After a brief exchange between Kirk and Saavik about regulations regarding coded messages, the young lieutenant turned to her mentor and accused him of lying.

Spock gave her a disdainful look, one eyebrow raised. "I exaggerated."

Kirk explained, "Hours instead of days, Saavik, now we have minutes instead of hours.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The medical team released their last patient and finished packing their equipment before heading over to the celebratory picnic the Armosians were throwing for them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

An unusual pattern appeared on Spock's scanner. "Admiral," he warned, "scanning an energy source on Reliant. A pattern I've never seen before."

David Marcus identified it. "It's the Genesis Wave! They're on a build-up to detonation!

"How soon?" Kirk demanded.

"We encoded four minutes."

The Admiral punched the comm button on his chair arm. "Scotty, I need warp speed in three minutes or we're all dead!" he barked.

"No response, Admiral," Uhura stated quietly. Spock turned his chair to face them as Dr. Marcus stepped down beside Kirk.

"Get us out of here," Kirk ordered the helm. "Best speed possible!"

"Aye, Sir," Sulu replied.

Spock stood slowly and tugged his uniform tunic down. No one saw the look of grim determination on his face. "Forgive me, Christine," he said to himself as he left the bridge.

In the turbolift on the way to Engineering, Spock muttered an ancient Vulcan prayer to his ancestors for personal strength and protection for his family. As the doors opened again, he said out loud, "I love you, my Th'y'la. Be well." With that he blocked off what little he could still feel of Christine in his mind.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Standing in the food line, Christine suddenly inhaled sharply. Her head reeled, and only Daniel's quick reaction kept her from falling. "What is it, Chris?"

She stood up straight. "I don't know. It's gone now, whatever it was. I guess you could say I felt a 'disturbance in the force!'" She laughed at her joke.

Daniel laughed with her. You mean, 'A disturbance in the force I felt,'" he corrected, in a perfect imitation of Yoda from the Star Wars vids.

"Yeah, that," she replied, moving forward with the line.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Spock started to open the door to the matter/anti-matter mix chamber.

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind?" McCoy asked, grabbing his arm. "No human can tolerate the radiation that's in there!"

"But, as you are so fond of observing, Doctor, I'm not human."

"You're not going in there!"

"Perhaps you're right," the Vulcan replied contritely. "What is Mister Scott's condition?"

The doctor turned to check the Chief Engineer. "Well, I don't think that he..."

Spock put his hand on McCoy's should and squeezed, caught the man as he sagged, and laid him gently on the floor. "I'm sorry, Doctor. I have no time to discuss this logically." His placed his fingers on McCoy's psi points and whispered, "Remember!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Halfway through dinner, Christine jumped up and covered her face with her hands. "Bright light!" she wailed. "Burning…pain…fire…darkness!" Then she collapsed.

"That does it!" Daniel declared. "Melanie, help me get her to a bio-bed."

Christine regained consciousness on the way to the medical shuttles. Med-tech Carnes helped her stand while Dr. Rivers unpacked the equipment. Chapel kept insisting that she was fine.

"No, you're not, Christine. Now lie down!" She obediently climbed up on the exam table.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Don't grieve, Admiral," Spock said hoarsely, "...it is logical. The needs of the many ...outweigh…"

" ...the needs of the few," Kirk finished.

"Or the one. ... I never took the Kobayashi Maru test ...until now. What do you think of my solution?"

"Spock!" Kirk groaned.

Spock pulled off his glove and placed his hand on the glass, fingers spread in the ta'al. "I have been ...and always shall be ...your friend. ...Live long ...and prosper.

Kirk placed his hand on the other side of the glass as his friend sagged to the floor. "No!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"No!" Christine groaned, and passed out again.