DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Star Trek universe. I do not claim any ownership over them or any of the many Trek universes. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered canon (not by a long shot).

Bones waited in the lobby for Jim's meeting with Admiral Pike to conclude. He watched the steady influx of individuals and smiled whenever he saw a collar like his own. Public sentiment still held that omegas were the 'life-bearers' and shouldn't be in such dangerous occupations as space exploration. He'd had to deal with those stereotypes all his life. Omegas nurtured. Alphas protected. Jim always teased that anyone who thought that had never seen Bones wield a hypo spray. Leonard smiled thinking about how excited his mate had been earlier that morning. Jim's eyes had been bright and his smile incandescent. Bones looked forward to hearing all about the mission. Leonard frowned when he noticed Spock leaving the building. He tried to ignore the uneasiness growing in his gut.

"Spock! Where's Jim?"

"He is still in conference with Admiral Pike," Spock replied quietly.

"So? What's the verdict? Is the Enterprise going on the five-year?" Bones asked anxiously.

"I have not been informed of such, doctor," Spock said.

Bones' eyes narrowed.

"What have you been informed of, Spock?"

Spock seemed to consider something before he replied. "I filed a report regarding the Nibiru incident that contradicted the Captain's log."

"You did what?" Leonard blurted. "How — how could you do that? Jim saved your life!"

"As I have mentioned to the captain, I am very grateful but I have a responsibility to the —"

Leonard was suddenly directly in Spock's face. "You have no idea why he went against the Prime Directive, do you?" Bones growled.

"The mission did not go according to plan and he was attempting to correct —"

"Wrong." Leonard snarled. "My mate — your captain — put his career in jeopardy to bring you back in one piece and you don't know why."

"I am sorry, Doctor, I do not understand."

Leonard stepped back with a sound of disgust. "No, you don't. I hope you figure it out because then you might just understand what you've done." Leonard turned to walk away.

"Doctor, the disciplinary actions taken will be harsh but Captain Kirk will endure as he tends to do." Spock offered.

Leonard paused. Jim's emotions were suddenly pressing hard against their bond. "I hope you're right, Spock. Because if the anger, shame and betrayal I'm feeling from him now is any indication — the 'disciplinary actions' were a good deal more than harsh."

Bones went to the lifts without another glance back. Spock left, confused about human emotional vagaries.

Jim exited Pike's office and his head snapped around the second he caught scent of his omega. Bones stood, cap tucked beneath one arm, waiting for him. Jim gave a weak smile.

"Bones."

"Captain."

Jim winced and the shame that spiked through their bond made Bones' uneasiness grow. "Let's go home. Please."

Bones didn't say anything, he simply nodded. Jim did not say anything until they were in the apartment door and it was locked between them and the outside world. Walking to the bedroom, Jim began changing out of his uniform. Bones followed and did the same, but his gaze was on his alpha.

"They took her away from me, Bones," Jim finally said, t-shirt clutched in one hand. He looked up at Bones and his bright blue eyes were now dull and filled with a despair his mate had never seen.

Bones walked over to him and laid a hand on Jim's arm. "What? The Enterprise? But —"

"Yeah … Pike told me I'm being sent back to the Academy. I don't even know what that means, Bones. What am I going to do there?" Jim said, his voice fading as he continued. "Bones … Pike said … Pike said you'll have to wait a year before you can request a transfer from the Enterprise."

Bones blinked. "What? They can't separate us like that — we're mated!"

"I know … Pike knows. Admiral Marcus is — I fucked up, Bones. I really fucked up." Jim said, sinking down miserably. "Pike said I don't have any humility … that I don't respect the chair."

Bones knelt beside his mate and gently pulled him against his chest. "Pike and the rest of the admiralty can shove it — you did what you had to do, darlin'. You always do what needs to be done and your own well-being be damned." Bones kissed the top of Jim's head. "It's why I love you so much."

Jim looked at Bones again. "I'm so sorry, Bones … I never meant … what am I going to do without you?"

Bones kissed Jim lightly and then more deeply, putting every ounce of love he could into the bond between them. Jim pulled back with a gasp. "It's a year, not eternity, Jim. It won't be easy but we'll manage. Unless you want me to resign my commission. I will in a heartbeat and you know it."

Jim looked at him and then Bones was being dragged back toward the bed. Clothes they'd only just changed into were removed hastily and Jim was entering Bones without preamble. The omega gasped at the sensation of his mate moving within him. It never failed to astonish Bones how powerful the connection between them was at times. Jim's lips brushed over the claiming mark and Bones groaned. Through a haze of arousal he realized that Jim was saying something.

"…don't deserve you, Bones … you should have chosen someone else … you should have …"

Leonard took Jim's face in his hands and forced his mate to meet his gaze. "I chose you, Jim … long before you ever gave me that mark. I wanted you. You think I didn't know what a pain in the ass you were going to be?" Jim's sad expression broke Leonard's heart. "Darlin', you are the best thing that ever came into my life … you will always be the best thing in my life and no admiral is going to convince me otherwise."

Jim looked down at his omega and began to move again. He took his time, drawing sounds out of Bones that made him inch ever closer to release. He licked the skin edging the collar and reveled in the knowledge that the man writhing beneath him, begging him for completion was his… not just by biology. Bones was his — body, mind and soul. Jim came when he realized that he was tied the exact same way to Leonard.

Bones rolled over and watched Jim dress in the dark room. "Jim …"

"Go back to sleep, Bones. I need to get some air," Jim said softly.

Leonard pushed himself upright. "Give me a second, I'll go with —"

Jim silenced the man with a kiss. "No, Bones. I … I just need some time to think, ok? Promise I'll be back soon."

Bones nodded reluctantly. Then he frowned. "Come back with so much as a damn paper cut and I will kick your ass from here to New Vulcan."

Jim laughed. "I know you would, Bones." He kissed his lover deeply. "I love you so much, Bones."

"Ditto, kid."

Sitting in the bar, Jim threw back his scotch and stared at the bar top. He glanced over and noticed a woman — an attractive woman — regarding him with some interest. He smiled at her then regarded the ice in his glass. His pain was so deep right now he just wanted to fight or fuck — he swallowed hard at what he was considering and then decided he no longer cared. Knowing he could get her into bed with a few well-chosen words and a smile, Jim turned back to the woman, mouth open. His vision was suddenly blocked by none other than Pike.

"How did you find me?" Jim growled, grimacing at the man's appearance.

"I know you better than you think I do … I commed McCoy," Pike said with a sigh. He looked at the young woman walking out the door. "Although I can't say he'd be too thrilled with what I just saw."

Jim snorted. "You didn't see anything because you cock-blocked me before I could get anywhere."

"And you were contemplating destroying your bond with Leonard why, exactly?" Pike asked, motioning for two more drinks.

"He's going to realize what a fuck-up I am soon enough … why not make it official?" Jim groused.

"I see. You'll just fuck him over and move on? Just walk away?" Pike asked.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Jim muttered.

"That would be easier to believe if your hands weren't shaking the the mere thought of losing McCoy," Pike observed. Jim clenched his fists, annoyed at the older man. "You can drop the disinterested act for now, Jim. I'm fully aware of how devoted you are to your omega."

They sat in silence for a few moments. Their drinks arrived and Pike said, "The first time I found you was in a dive like this. Remember that? You got your ass handed to you."

Jim frowned. "No I didn't."

"You didn't?"

"No … that's not what happened," Jim protested.

"That was an epic beating," Pike teased.

"No it wasn't."

"You had napkins hanging out of your nose," Pike reminded Jim.

A smile broke over Jim's face and he chuckled. "Yeah … yeah, ok." Jim smiled at the memory. "Yeah, that was a good fight."

Pike sighed. "A good fight. You know, I think that's your problem right there."

Jim's smile faded. Bones had told him the same thing more than once. He looked over at Pike.

"They gave her back to me," the admiral said.

Jim didn't need to ask who 'she' was - it could only be the Enterprise. The only woman Jim had ever loved beside his mother regardless of his reputation. He nodded and exhaled slowly. His heart had broken when she'd been taken from him - when Pike had informed him that his mate was going to be taken from him as well, albeit temporarily, a crushing weight had settled in Jim's chest. He felt it keenly again.

"Congratulations," Jim said, taking his drink. "Watch your back with that First Officer, though."

"Spock's not going to be working with me. He's been transferred. U.S.S. Bradbury." Pike watched Jim's pause. "You're going to be my First Officer."

Jim looked over at the admiral, his blue eyes searching for some sign of deceit.

"Yeah, Marcus took some convincing — but every now and then I can make a good case," Pike said.

"What — what did you tell him?" Jim asked softly.

"The truth. That I believe in you - that if anybody deserves a second chance, it's Jim Kirk."

Jim looked away quickly and studied the far wall, blinking furiously. He looked back at Pike.

"I don't know what to say."

"Now that is a first. I'll have to let McCoy know." Pike smiled at Jim's quiet laugh. "It's going to be okay, son."

Pike's comm beeped and he glanced at it. "Emergency session. Daystrom. That's us."

Jim nodded. Pike clapped him on the back. "Go home and suit up." He paused. "Jim … don't take your bond for granted. Leonard gave up everything to accept your claim — don't make a fool of him. You know better than anyone what can happen out there in the black."

Jim smiled. "Thank you, sir."

Leonard was up and doing a little drinking of his own when he heard Jim's bike rumble into the garage. He looked up as his mate ran in and then he found himself on the receiving end of a kiss that left him more than a little breathless.

"I take it Pike found you," Bones smiled.

"I love you, Leonard Horatio McCoy." Jim whispered against his mate's lips.

Bones frowned but said, "I love you too, Jim. What —?"

"Emergency session, gotta get to Daystrom. You should probably be ready to move in case they scramble the fleet," Jim advised.

Bones watched his mate put on his dress grays and then he was out the door. Bones ran his hand lightly over the collar. He shivered but it was far from pleasant.

Jim Kirk mentally chastised himself as he fastened his collar on the run. He'd come very close to causing a rift of epic proportions between himself and Bones. His mate would never know but he would. Jim determined he'd never let himself get that low … or tempted again.

As he walked to the lifts, he noticed the increased security as guards stood with pulse rifles. He frowned and kept his eyes forward when a familiar voice assailed him.

"Captain," Spock called.

"Not anymore, Spock. First Officer." Jim said. He glanced at the Vulcan. "I was demoted and you were reassigned."

Spock nodded. "It is fortunate that the consequences were not more severe."

Jim sighed. "You've got to be kidding me …"

"Captain, it was never my intention —" Spock began.

"Not Captain, Spock. I saved your life, you wrote a report, I lost my ship," Jim said.

The lift came to a halt and Jim walked out. Spock continued to talk.

"Commander, I see now I should have alerted you to the fact that I submitted the report," Spock offered.

"Spock, I am familiar with your compulsion to follow the rules. But you see, I can't do that," Jim said. "Where I come from, if someone saves your life, you don't stab him in the back."

"Vulcans cannot lie," Spock said.

"Then I'm talking to the half-human part of you, alright?" Jim said. "Do you understand why I went back for you? From what Bones says, you don't."

They were interrupted by a captain approaching them. "Commander Spock? Frank Abbot, U.S.S. Bradbury. Guess you're with me."

Spock looked at him and then glanced to Kirk before replying. "Yes, Captain."

When Abbot departed, Jim looked at Spock calmly. "The truth is … I'm gonna miss you." Jim thought about what his acerbic mate would have to say about that.

When Spock said nothing, Jim sighed and left. He mentally kicked himself again for letting the situation drive him to a bar, first off and then to actually considering taking another to his bed. He sent a silent prayer of thanks to Pike for his timing.