A/N: Pretty much this whole chapter is set a few days prior to the first chapter...and if you haven't yet read Silence in the Dark, I suggest you go read that first, so you know what is going on in this chapter.

Chapter 2: Ferocity

Five days, eight hours, and twelve minutes ago...

Spock watched warily as the ridiculously obese man paced before them, his yellow eyes roaming over the away team, observing their paler skin and Spock's strange ears and eyebrows. He was hardly aware of the pain in his shoulder as he saw the men surrounding them eying Nyota lasciviously...

He was accustomed to men aboard the Enterprise having an interest in his Nyota. It was to be expected...she was a very appealing woman, and they were unaware that she was already taken. But the men on the Enterprise crew never stared at her so openly, so disrespectfully. They did not slowly lick their lips and run their tongues over their sharply pointed teeth, grinning at her as if they could imagine her without clothing...the mere idea of what they could be imagining created a small flame of anger within him.

His arm was lightly touching Nyota's, and he felt her shiver. As it was very warm on the planet, he knew it was not because she was uncomfortably cool. He switched his phaser to his left hand and discretely touched his fingers to her wrist.

"Remain calm, ashayam. I will protect you." Spock said quietly in Vulcan. His words were not for the others to hear. He could feel through the weak empathic link that she was reassured, confident, relieved.

His eyes darted around, taking in the situation. They were surrounded by twelve men armed with crossbows...the away team's weapons were far superior, but they were still outnumbered. Twelve warriors against four men and a woman...admittedly, Nyota was as tough as any man, but she would not be fighting if he could prevent it.

He was attempting to form a logical course of action that would result in them- or at least, Nyota- returning to the Enterprise and to safety when the leader stopped to study her. Spock felt his jaw clench, his plan for safe escape fleeing his mind as the man reached out to touch Nyota...his Nyota...on the cheek.

For Vulcans, skin to skin contact was uncommon- especially with their hands. Their hands were extremely sensitive, and since the strongest telepathic receptors were in the fingers, and also in the temple, to touch another's face in that manner was exceedingly intimate. It was an action that Spock made often, as he enjoyed the feel of the smooth skin of Nyota's cheek beneath his fingers.

The fact that a complete stranger, dressed in furs and leaves and large enough to weigh the same as three men, would touch her in such an intimate way...right in front of him...Spock felt something within him snap, and something falling away- his logic.

He felt great roiling waves of anger, possessiveness, and challenge well up within him, completely taking over... this was entirely Vulcan. This was not human, it was deeper, stronger, more dangerous...this was something from when Vulcans were savages and had to fight for their mates, had to protect them from others attempting to claim them.

Nyota was his. He must protect her- she was his mate. It was his duty to her. To allow this man to take her as his would be unforgivable.

Spock felt his chest rumble and heard himself growl...a sound that Vulcans no longer made. It was a sound of challenge, of passion, of complete loss of control.

Spock had never gone through Pon Farr, but he was sure that this is what it felt like.

He had experienced anger somewhat like this before, when his mother had been taken from him...but this was different. It was much, much worse.

"Spock?" he heard her voice ask, full of both fear and wonder. She had never seen him like this before...

He did not answer her. Instead, he locked eyes with the man still standing before her.

"She is mine." he growled in Vulcan, claiming her.

Spock felt a tongue of the flame within him rise higher as the man laughed. When he reached out to pull Nyota to his side, Spock almost growled again. He was quickly losing his last vestiges of logic, of control. Spock's right hand- the one that had until recently been touching Nyota's wrist- clenched into a fist. His left tightened around his phaser, and he felt his whole body tense. That ancient, primal, possessive, Vulcan feeling became even stronger.

That was when Kirk stepped forward- undoubtedly, he had noticed the state that Spock was in.

"Come on...really...just calm down. Release her and we'll leave, never to bother you again."

The man's eyes narrowed, and he reached out to push Kirk out of his way, keeping Spock in his line of sight. He pulled Nyota closer against him.

"Let me go, you bastard!" Nyota cried as she struggled to escape his tight grasp. Her eyes met Spock's, and he saw her fear. He must protect her...he lowered his phaser, and when he saw tears standing in her eyes, the very last of his control slipped away. He forgot that he was surrounded by armed men, or maybe he just did not care any more. He forgot that he had a phaser. He was driven entirely by instinct, by the ancient duty to protect his mate...

All he could see, all he was aware of was the man holding Nyota...he lunged forward, with every intention of choking him to death. But before he could even reach him, three others were surrounding him, pulling him away, as the man left with his mate.

He struck one man directly in the chest with a closed fist, and he man reeled away, coughing up blood. Kirk, McCoy and the remaining security guard- all whom he had forgotten were even there- joined him. Red phaser fire lit up the clearing, as Spock struggled with the warriors now surrounding him, trying to bring him to the ground. He wondered, briefly, why they did not use their crossbows...he did not understand it. They had not hesitated before to injure him and kill Thompson...

If he did not have an arrow protruding from his shoulder, hindering his movements, he could have taken them all on...

One of the men reached out to grasp the arrow- and he pulled it downward, which illicited a short cry of pain from between Spock's lips. It successfully brought him to his knees, as the wound began to bleed much more heavily than before. He was still dazed by the pain when he heard Nyota's voice.

"Spock!" she called, and he looked up as she emerged from the forest, looking frantically around for him.

"Nyota!" he called back, and he struggled to stand, shoving the two men who had been trying to contain him away. He began to make his way toward her. She was safe...if he could only just reach her, hold her...

But before they could, five of the men appeared behind her, pulling her back to where their leader waited by the clearing. At the same time, he was also pulled back by others.

"NO!" Spock cried, watching helplessly as Nyota struggled against her captors. He tried once more to get to her, but he was again held back. Pain was shooting from his shoulder.

One of the men holding Nyota raised a rock, and hit her on the head. Spock felt the fury rise within him again, replacing his fear and despair.

"NYOTA!" he roared, struggling once more to reach her. Her eyes were unfocused, and she went limp as she was carried away. He was weakening from the loss of blood, or else he would pursue them...

The warriors remained until Nyota had been out of sight for several minutes, and then they suddenly released Spock and he fell to his knees. They melted away silently into the shadows...

The clearing was silent. Spock stared down at his hands, which were still balled up in fists, his knuckles white. His chest was heaving. He had failed her...he had not protected her...he had not kept his promise...

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He knew that only Kirk would dare touch him...especially at a time like this.

"It's not your fault, Spock." Kirk said gently. Spock looked over at Kirk, but did not reply. Kirk appeared uninjured...he had paid no attention to what happened while he was struggling to get to Nyota, but he noted that all of their phasers had been tossed clear across the beaten-down clearing. They must have somehow been disarmed and also held at bay, like Spock was, while Nyota was taken away. He looked around, and saw that now both of the security officers were dead...McCoy knelt on the ground next to Watkins. He met Spock's gaze.

"We'd better beam up to the Enterprise and treat that shoulder, Spock." McCoy said quietly. Spock slowly shook his head, and then used his hands to shove himself off the ground.

"No." he said, his voice much rougher than normal. "I must find her. I cannot leave without her."

He began to walk in the direction the natives had gone in, determined to find his Nyota, to ensure that nothing had happened to her...he would get her back, even if he died in the attempt.

Kirk cut in front of him, and placed his hand on Spock's right shoulder- the uninjured one.

"Spock, I can't let you go like this. You'll bleed to death." Kirk said. "We'll beam up and then-"

"I must find her." Spock repeated. He still felt that primitive possessiveness, the anger...but it was not as strong as before, and he could slowly feel his control returning.

"I have no intention of leaving without her." Kirk said firmly. "But before we do anything, your shoulder needs to be treated. I swear, we'll get her back. We just need time to regroup."

McCoy was watching them, his brow furrowed. It occurred to Spock that McCoy was the only one present who was unaware of his and Nyota's relationship. He was not in a state to explain.

"Very well." Spock whispered, staring off in the direction Nyota had disappeared in. Despite his acquiescence, he could not help but feel that, the farther Nyota was taken, the less chance he had of ever getting her back...

________________________________________________________

He did not speak another word while they beamed aboard with the fallen crewmen and when he was escorted to sickbay. He stared off at nothing as McCoy removed the arrow and tightly wound bandages around Spock's shoulder.

"I'll give you a blood-replenishing hypo and you'll be all set." McCoy said into the silence. Spock slowly looked over at him, his eyes blank.

"We should be looking for her." was all he said. "My own welfare is not important."

"Of course it is. You're in no fit state to go chasing after our Chief Communications officer." McCoy said, readying the hypo. "And when this is all over, we'll still need our first officer."

Spock did not answer him. As soon as the hypo had been administered, he slid off of the biobed and pulled on a fresh blue shirt. He then turned to Kirk, who leaned in the doorway watching.

"Captain." he said in his normal, even tone. All traces of the anguish he still felt were gone from his voice. "I request permission to lead the search party."

Kirk surveyed Spock for a moment. Spock's control had now fully returned, and he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He stared at a point over Kirk's shoulder.

"Permission granted, Mr. Spock." Kirk replied. "But I'll be going down with you."

Spock nodded once in acceptance. "We will require a full security detail, and night-vision capabilities. We will not rest until Lieutenant Uhura is found."

"Of course not." Kirk agreed. "Mr. Spock, you do realize that this is not approved by Starfleet Command?"

"I am aware of that, Captain." Spock replied, finally allowing his gaze to meet Kirk's. "However, you have been pardoned for such doings before. While Starfleet regulations prohibit negotiating with terrorists...I do not believe we will be negotiating. I do not see how we are breaking rules."

Kirk gave the smallest of grins before clapping Spock on his good shoulder.

"Then let's go get Uhura." he replied.

_________________________________________________________

The vegetation crunched under Spock's boots. He did not move his eyes from his tricorder as he stepped over tree roots and ducked under branches.

Night had fallen again. They had been searching for Nyota for twenty-eight hours now. The security detail had taken turns with shifts in the search, but both Spock and Kirk had not ceased. He knew his captain was exhausted- but he also knew that if suggested that he rest, Kirk would refuse.

Spock himself was not tiring. He still felt that he must find Nyota...he was becoming desperate. He must find her. He would not be able to forgive himself if anything happened to her...it had been his duty to protect her...

He felt the fury rise within him again, coupled with frustration. The search party of one hundred men had taken off in every direction in groups of ten. They all had communicators open so they could keep contact at all times. But Spock could not help but feel that he would do so much better by himself...if it were not for the fact that he was hindered by his own search party, he could have found her already...

Anything could have happened to her...she could be injured, dead, or even worse...sexually violated. His hand tightened around his tricorder and his teeth ground together at the thought. If they had done anything to her...he would find whoever had done it and tear them apart, limb from limb...

He felt himself beginning to shake. This had happened numerous times over the past twenty-eight hours and twenty-two minutes. At times, his determination to find Nyota almost overwhelmed him...

He paused to regain control before anyone saw him so affected. He had walked ahead of the others in his group, and took the time before he became visible to them to center himself.

This time, it did not work. Nyota could be anywhere in this large rain forest...anything could have happened to her. He balled his hand into a fist again, and rammed it into a nearby tree.

The impact shattered the bark and cracked the wood. He felt burning pain in his knuckles, and looked down. Green blood dripped from his hand, splattering the green bush below, blending in. He watched it drip down for several seconds before wiping it off on his trousers and looking around him.

He wore night-vision goggles, like everyone else did. He saw nothing in any direction but more vegetation. It frustrated him that there was a high probability that he would not be the first to find Nyota...he wanted to be the one to ascertain that she was alive and uninjured.

He knew that the longer they took, the less the chance that she was still alive...but he would not give up until he saw her body with his own eyes.

He had partially regained his control over his outward expressions of emotion, but his logic had fled him long ago. The only thing in the universe that mattered to him now was getting Nyota back on the Enterprise, alive.

________________________________________________________________

"Spock, you really need to stop getting so far ahead of us." Kirk panted as he joined Spock where he still stood by the tree. Spock saw his eyes go from the blood-spattered tree to Spock's still-bleeding knuckles, but he said nothing.

"Captain, I-" Spock began. He was about to tell Kirk that he intended to go ahead of the team by himself, but they were both interrupted by the crackle of Kirk's comm unit.

"Captain Kirk, come in, this is the Enterpise." came Miller's voice.

"This is Kirk." Kirk replied, lifting his communicator from his side.

"Captain, you can call off the search party. Lieutenant Uhura just beamed aboard."

Kirk looked up at Spock, and saw that his eyes were wide, his breathing faster. He met Kirk's gaze.

"What's her condition?" Kirk asked hurriedly.

Miller now hesitated. "I'm not entirely sure, Captain, but Dr. McCoy was just paged to the transporter room for an emergency."

Spock felt the blood drain from his face...no...please, no...

"Beam me and Spock up first, Miller. Right now!" Kirk barked. "After we're there, you can start to notify everyone else and beam up the security detail."

"Aye, Captain." Miller said. Spock's heart was beating incredibly fast as he felt them being beamed from one place to another.

________________________________________________________

The first thing he saw was a smeared pool of blood on the transporter room floor. His breathing stopped when he saw it. No!

He and Kirk immediately rushed to medical bay. However- they were met by locked doors.

"Why are they locked?" Kirk asked, scowling.

"When there is an emergency situation the medical bay is cordoned off, Captain." Spock replied hollowly. He laid his hand against the door and shut his eyes. "We must wait."

"We can stay here." Kirk suggested. Spock shook his head. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be here when they told him what he was beginning to suspect.

"That would be unwise." Spock replied quietly. He looked up at Kirk. "I will retire to my quarters and begin to compile our report, Captain. I trust you will inform me of...the outcome."

He slowly walked away, struggling to keep himself in control. How long would he have to wait? How long would he be able to bear it? How long would he have to think about the possibility that Nyota may die...?

He made it to his quarters, and heavily sat down in the chair before his computer console. He stared at the blank screen...

He had failed her. She was injured, she may die...and it was his fault. If only he had been able to control his reaction to the man touching her cheek...she could be safe. Had he remained in control and not succumbed to his primal instincts, she could have been unharmed...

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to distance himself from his pain. It did not work. He turned to the computer console and turned it on. He began his report.

__________________________________________________

The door chimed, and Kirk entered.

"She just came out of surgery." Kirk said immediately, without preamble. "Bones says she'll be fine."

Spock paused in his typing, to allow relief to wash over him. She was alive...and she would recover. The beast that had been in him for the past day and a half went away, and he felt calm for the first time since Nyota's abduction.

"That is...good." Spock replied. His words were not even close to being enough to describe how he felt.

"Are you going to go see her?" Kirk asked. Spock turned back to his computer screen.

"I do not yet know." Spock replied. He could feel his ability to think logically finally coming back. He was ashamed of how he had recently acted. He had been out of control...not at all himself.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Kirk asked incredulously.

"Precisely what I said, Captain."

"We're off-duty, call me Jim." Kirk reminded him for the thirty-seventh time.

"Jim, I must finish this report. Then it will be time for my shift on the bridge. I must prepare." Spock replied. He stared intently at the screen as Kirk gaped at him.

"Okay..." Kirk said slowly, and turned for the exit.

"Jim?" Spock added, somewhat hesitantly. Kirk stopped and looked back. "Would you please...check in on Lieutenant Uhura as often as possible?" he asked. Kirk stared at him for a moment.

"Sure." he replied. "And I'll let you know when she's awake. Bones says it will be a few hours yet."

Kirk left, and Spock turned back to his screen. He keyed in a command and brought up a file.

Medical records were off-limits to anyone aboard a vessel except the ship's medical staff- unless a particular record was required by a commanding officer for professional purposes. In that event, the commanding officer must enter their access code when the prompt came up on the screen.

Spock, however, was quite knowledgeable about computers. He did not wish anyone to know that he was attempting to access Nyota's file- and all log-ins to a file were recorded when accessed with a code.

What he was doing was not entirely ethical, but it was necessary. He hacked into the medical database and brought up the file of one Nyota Uhura.

It was full of the details of her recent physicals, the only thing worthy of note being her monthly progesterone hypo that prevented her from conceiving. He went to the final page, and the most recent entry.

He braced himself. He was not entirely sure that he wished to know all of her injuries...yet it, too, was necessary. He must be prepared. He began to read.

Deep puncture wound in abdominal region...that must have been the serious injury she was rushed to medical for...multiple lacerations and contusions...what did they do to her? It sounded like some sort of torture...Spock's fingers tightened on the table he was now gripping, but he read on. Concussion...that must have been from the rock...fractured talus...how had she broken her ankle? Severe dehydration...it was very hot on that planet, and she had been there for a full day and a half...but there were no mentions of sexual assault, and at the moment that was all he could be grateful for...

Spock exited the file and folded his hands before him. One thing was very clear...he could not visit Nyota until she had recovered sufficiently.

He knew that she would want him there...but for his sake, and for hers, he could not go. He could not bear to see her in that condition...it would be too painful for him. It was selfish, but...he did not know how he would react to seeing his strong, beautiful Nyota in such a state. It would shatter what remained of his control.

He was terribly saddened by what had happened on the planet, worried for Nyota, angry at the perpetrators of it all...one of which was himself. If he were to see what the result was of his lack of control and the native's cruelty...he would not be able to stop himself from going directly to the transporter room and beaming down to the coordinates from which Nyota had beamed up, to seek revenge for him, and justice for his lover...

It was not logical. But this was not a logical situation. His relationship with Nyota was not entirely logical, either...and so neither would be his desire to avenge what happened to her.

If he saw her, he would not be able to control his anger and hatred. It would be much worse than when he had attacked Kirk. The man who had taken her and anyone who tried to stop him would die...and he knew that afterwards, if he lived, he would be disgusted with himself, and Nyota with him.

No...he could not visit her any time soon. Besides...if he visited her...the logical conclusion would be that someone may see and recognize their relationship for what it was. And later on...they may use their relationship against them. Yes, that was it...it was not logical to visit her, because it was a risk to their future...

_______________________________________________________________

The present day...

Spock had known Nyota would greatly dislike his decision not to visit her in sickbay...but like he had told Kirk, it had been necessary. It had been necessary for Spock's sanity and control. As much as he wanted revenge, he would have hated himself after getting it.

He did not want Nyota to know just how close he had come to completely losing himself. All that should matter was that he loved her, and that he had been willing to sacrifice everything for her, and had been willing to forfeit his life for her safety.

He had sensed the day before, when he visited Nyota, that she was hurt by his behavior, as Kirk predicted. He knew he would eventually have to explain everything to her. He knew he had much to share with her before she would forgive him fully. But she was not yet ready to hear the truth...not until she was recovered from her experience.

Spock did not have to be on the bridge for another three hours. He had ample time to visit his Nyota. He stood and straightened his shirt, heading for the door.

He still found it difficult to see the cast on her ankle, the cut on her forehead...but he owed it to her. For all she had suffered without him, for all the pain she had endured when he was not with her, he could at least endure that much for her.

A/N: Well, what do you think? Reviews really make my day...so let me know!

Edit: Oh, I should probably clarify that last section...after it says 'present day', that is right after Kirk and Spock's 'conversation'. At that time, he has already visited Nyota once, which was the visit at the end of Silence in the Dark. Sorry about that, I should have made it more clear how much time had elapsed since that section and the last.