Ginny froze. "My mother?"

"Yes." Tu'rain said. "Jan'ara." Ginny winced. It had been a while since she'd heard her mother's Romulan name. Tu'rain pushed her hair behind her ear, running his fingers over the tip. "My mate." He let her go. She moved away from him, stumbling to the other side of the room.

"Your what?"

Tu'rain smirked, looking her up and down. "My mate, Ginny." He growled the human name. "It is extremely rare for Romulans, this throw back to our less glorious past where we and Vulcans lived as one, but once in a while..." He moved closer. Ginny glanced around her for anything she could use as a weapon. "Two individuals are born with the capacity for a connection that goes deeper than the surface."

"What does this history lesson have to do with me?" Ginny snapped. Remain calm. She told herself. Don't let him see your fear.

Tu'rain let out a low laugh. "From the moment I saw you on that bridge...I knew." Ginny pulled away as he tried to touch her. "Even now, an echo of the connection your mother and I shared resides in your veins."

Ginny kicked him. "Don't touch me."

Tu'rain's face twisted and he hit her. She fell to the ground, clutching the side of her face. "This isn't about you." He growled, hauling her to her feet. "This is about making sure Jan'ara loses as much as she took away from me." His expression shifted, there was hunger. Ginny felt dizzy, trying to pull head was pounding. She bumped into the wall. "You have no idea." He said. "What it's like to be separated from your mate." This couldn't be happening. She had to focus, find a way to save herself. Screaming would do no good; the walls were soundproof and the only person who had a hope of hearing her through them, Amelia, was at the party. She was also physically weaker than him. Sure, she was stronger than the humans on the base, but she wasn't completely Romulan. And she definitely couldn't fight off a fully grown Romulan. Panic arose as she realized there might not be a way out.

He smiled, seeming to realize that she'd noted the helplessness of her situation. "You have your mother's eyes." He continued, gripping her face, forcing her to look at him. "The same shape, even if they are so human."

"I don't know what my mom did-" Ginny began.

"She LEFT." Tu'rain slammed his fist into the wall next to her head, the sound reverberating in her head. "I was going to become the most powerful man on Romulus and she my wife and she threw that away. Defected to the Federation." He was furious. Gripping her by the throat he looked at her. "I lost everything that day. The senate demoted me and the one person who was supposed to be there for me was gone." He squeezed his fingers. Ginny shut her eyes, terror seizing her as she heard the sound of tearing fabric. She kneed him, trying to get away. She needed to fight, needed to free herself. She'd made it halfway across the room when he grabbed her tackling her to the ground.

"NO" She shouted.

Something was really wrong. One second Mike had been talking to Blip, trying to play the good captain. The next he was gripping his head, trying to silence a ringing in his ears. The coppery taste of fear flooded his mouth as his lungs contracted.

"Captain?" Amelia's voice sounded far away.

"Mike." Blip steadied him.

NO

The word slammed through Mike. He doubled over, gripping the table and dropping his glass. The shattering glass caused everyone to turn to him. Mike didn't know how or why, but he had only one thought. Get to Ginny. Find Ginny. Save was in danger. Ignoring the people around him, he rushed to the door. "Security, I need you to get to Baker's quarters. NOW"

He ran, cursing the regulation that kept him from carrying a weapon during official functions. Punching in his over ride code into her door, he blanched as They weren't opening. He'd been right; something was wrong.

"BAKER." He shouted, banging on the door. Nothing. No response. "Ginny. GINNY" At that moment, Voorhies ran up.

"Captain, I-"

"Give me your phaser." He ordered. Voorhies didn't hesitate. Mike took it, blasting the doors. Forcing them open, he rushed in. Ginny was on the ground, pinned beneath Captain Tu'rain. Her pajamas were torn and there were scratches on Tu'rain's face where green blood trickled. He had his hands around her neck.

"Get off of her." Mike growled, pointing the phaser directly at Tu'rain's head.

Tu'rain let go. Ginny scrambled out from under him, running to Mike. He was hit with the need to touch her. To reassure himself that she was okay. He pulled her behind him. She clutched his shoulders. Mike turned his attention to Tu'rain, rage making his vision swim.

"Captain Lawson." Tu'rain stood, looking calm and collected. "You interrupted a personal encounter."

"Really?" Mike grit his teeth, tightening his grip on the phaser in his hand. "Because in Starfleet we call what I 'interrupted' rape." He looked back at Ginny. She was coughing; the hand marks around her neck bruising. Mike turned back to Tu'rain What gave this monster the right to touch her? Behind him he could hear Voorhies contacting sick bay to send a doctor.

"Things are different on Romulus between men and women." Tu'rain growled.

Mike frowned. "She's not from Romulus." He snapped. "And I'm willing to bet things aren't that different." He gripped the phaser. "You come onto my station and attack my officer."

"Mike." The word was a harsh whisper. He looked back at Ginny. She shook her head. "He's not worth it."

"He was going to-"

"Mike." Ginny put her hand on his arm. "Put the phaser down." She squeezed his forearm. "He's not worth you throwing away your career."

He swallowed, looking at the phaser. He'd inadvertently pushed the setting up to kill. He'd been...he'd been ready to kill him. He lowered his arm. "Lieutenant Voorhies." He said.

"Yes Captain."

"Take him to the brig." He growled. "And inform the Romulan vessel that they are going to assist us into the investigation of this man's assault on a Starfleet officer."

Voorhies and the rest of his security team lead Tu'rain out. Ginny refused to look at him. Mike could feel her fear, her anger as he passed. Before he left, he said something in Romulan that made her freeze.

"Don't even look at her." Mike growled. Tu'rain chuckled darkly before he was led out. Mike looked down at Ginny. She was hovering close to him, her presence warm, her hand on his arm. He could feel her and her emotions. It practically filled the air. Fear, anger, frustration and finally an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards Mike "How did you know I was going to kill him?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I don't know." She hesitated. "How did you know I was in trouble?"

He shook his head, looking at her, aching to hold her, soothe her and chase away the confusion, anger, and fear that was burning through both of them. "I don't know."

"Mike." Al was in the doorway. Evelyn rushed in pulling Ginny away from him. He almost grabbed her back. He needed her close. He needed to know that she was okay. Ginny looked like she wanted to fight Evelyn as well. Her eyes were wide and she opened her mouth to say something. "Captain Lawson." Al's voice was louder. Mike turned to him. "You need to come down the security office right now and explain what the hell is going on before the Romulans declare war."

His duty as captain. He had to focus. "Doctor Sanders, have Voorhies take her statement. Ensign Baker..." He hesitated. "You can't stay in here, its a crime scene." Ginny nodded.

"She can stay with me." Evelyn said. Mike nodded. He needed to leave, go be Captain, but Ginny needed him. "Captain." Evelyn said. "You need to go."

"I'll be okay." Ginny whispered. "Go."

Evelyn brought her to sickbay. Ginny let her lead, feeling numb, confused. She was talking, asking questions, ordering the people around her. Ginny heard none of it. She sat, looking ahead of her, trying to make sense of what had happened.

"Mami." Livan's face came into focus in front of her. "Are you-" He reached out to touch her. She jerked away. Livan backed away with a guilty expression.

"What's happening with Mike?" She asked. Evelyn looked at her.

"Ginny."

"Ev," She focused on her injuries. "I've got bruises on my throat, a possible sprained wrist, a couple bumps, scratches and marks on my stomach. Otherwise I'm fine." She said, cataloging the various pains, assessing them and diagnosing them. "Now tell me what's happening."

Evelyn looked around. "Everyone out." She shooed Livan and the nurses out. Taking a deep breath, she waited. "All I know...is that Mike had Luongo call Starfleet command. He wants a court hearing. The Romulan ship has also contacted the Romulan senate." She winced.

"Luongo said something about war." Ginny felt sick.

"No." Evelyn said. "Don't you dare worry about this. You focus on healing yourself." She sat next to her, not touching her. "Tell me what you need."

"To forget the last few hours?" Ginny suggested." Evelyn gave her a look. "I need..." The words caught in her throat as she realized the insanity of what she wanted. She'd been about to say Mike. "Ev, what do you know about Romulan mating bonds?"

Evelyn frowned. "Are you sure you want to-" She trailed off as Ginny glared at her. "Right. I'll look up what I can in the medical database." She went over to her computer. "Okay...there's not a lot. Most of the research is word of mouth and done by Vulcan scholars so it's a lot of logical snide talk." She mumbled, reading through it. "Apparently...it's like Vulcan marriage bonds except...they're not planned, they're spontaneous...and pretty explosive. Apparently the two people can feel each other's emotions, inherently. If someone's happy, the other will sense it. If they're hurt or-"

"Terrified out of their mind." Ginny murmured. Evelyn looked up at her.

"Why are you interested..." She trailed off, her eyes widening in horror. "Are you saying...you and Tu-"

"NO." Ginny cut her off, not even wanting to think about what Evelyn was implying. "He said my mom was his mate." She looked at her hands. "And that...that he could feel the residue of the bond in my veins." She shuddered.

"Oh." Evelyn looked at her screen. "Did-"

"I didn't feel it." Ginny said. "I was too busy being terrified for my life." Evelyn nodded. "Ev." Ginny wrapped her arms around herself. "I think I need a few minutes to myself..."

Evelyn nodded. "Let me get rid of that sprain and then my office is all yours." She began repairing the sprain. "You know, it's the strangest thing..." She continued. "Mike just...knew that you were in danger." She met Ginny's eyes. "It was like instinct."

Ginny looked away, unsure how to deal with her suspicions when it came to Mike and the nature of their relationship. She moved her wrist, testing out the repair. "Thanks Ev."

Evelyn frowned. "Ginny...if something were happening between you and Mike..."

"You'd be the first to know." She promised. "Especially after I figured it out."

Mike collapsed in his quarters trying to make sense of the last couple of hours. He had maybe 2 hours to sleep before he was expected on the bridge. He had to get some sleep. Maybe if he got some sleep he'd be able to banish thoughts of tearing Tu'rain to pieces or finding Ginny and...He shut his eyes. Sleep Sleep Sleep.

There was a chime at his door. He groaned, covering his eyes. "I'm blasting whoever it is out of an airlock."

"I've got an override code."

Blip.

"Come in." Mike sat up. Blip entered, holding up two bottles of Klingon bloodwine.

"Evelyn's having a girl's night with Ginny." He said. "They're watching old earth comedy with the kids while I disapprove but pretend not to know." He sighed, sitting next to him. "So...are we on the brink of intergalactic war?"

Mike shook his head. "Tu'rain has a history of delinquent behavior. The empire has agreed for us to hold him until a Romulan ship can come over to pick him up. The peace delegation's going to leave tomorrow as scheduled." He huffed, taking the bottle Blip handed him. "They don't want to compromise peace talks...probably because their position in the galaxy has been weakened since the Federation allied with the Klingons."

Blip was looking at him with his 'I am oh so wise' look. Mike glared at him.

"Okay, Commander, out with it."

"You're messed up."

"No shit." Mike muttered.

"Wanna tell me what's really bothering you?"

Mike shook his head. He couldn't tell Blip about how he was beginning to feel about Ginny. About the rage that had boiled through him when he'd seen her being hurt. How it had been the strongest and most terrifying emotion he'd ever felt. And that it was only second to the aching he was feeling now. The need to be near Ginny that was consuming him. "I think..." he sighed. "I need shore leave."

"I've been telling you that literally for years." Blip grumbled. "Ever since you and Rachel split you've been working non stop."

"Yeah." Mike sighed. "And I'm finally conceding that you might be right."

"Wow." Blip said. They sat in silence, drinking. Mike's head was growing heavy. All he could see was Ginny's eyes while Tu'rain was on top of her. The marks on her throat. He could hear her voice. The way she'd said his name. He scrubbed a hand over his face. "Aren't you going to ask how she is?" Blip asked.

"Who?" Mike asked, already knowing without Blip telling him.

"Ginny."

Mike looked down at the half empty bottle, feeling his control slipping from him. "I don't want to think about it, Blip."

"Why not?" His first officer asked.

"Because..." Mike's head was cloudy and all the reasons he had for not telling Blip about Ginny went out the window. "I almost killed him." Mike said. "I almost killed the captain of a ship carrying a peace delegation. War could have started and I wouldn't have cared. You know why?" He glared.

"Because he tried to attack one of your officers and you're a good captain." Blip said.

"No." Mike glared. "Because it was her." He could feel Blip's judgement. He couldn't even look at his friend.

"Shit." He said.

"I know." Mike leaned forward putting his face in his hands. "I know."