Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the Star Trek franchise, nor am I making any profits from the writing below. Star Trek is owned by Gene Roddenberry, Paramount, and J.J. Abrams and whoever else officially have rights to Star trek . I am none of these people, so please don't sue me.

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Chapter 7: S'chin T'gai Spock, Thou Must Now Finally Listen to Some Harsh Truths

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Dr. Leonard " Bones" McCoy was so furious he could barely see straight. His hands were clenched into tights fists at his side as he stood in the swift moving turbo-lift. Through the haze of anger, Bones knew that he needed to calm down just a little bit so that when he stepped out of the turbo-lift, he didn't charge out of it and immediately pounce on the person his seething fury was directed towards. He had promised Jim just a few minutes earlier that he wouldn't go and cause a scene on the main bridge, Hell, he's promised Jim that he wouldn't even go and confront Spock period. Bones had barely said his goodbyes to Jim before he was heading straight for the nearest turbo-lift. Sure, he was going back on a promise, but given the circumstances, and his own personality, there was no way he was just gonna sit around and watch his friend suffer at the albeit, unknowing hands of his oblivious Vulcan bondmate.

Knowing that it was probably not a very wise idea to go straight for the main bridge, Bones had hit the button and directed the lift to let him out where there were several corridors between him and his intended destination. Bones figured the walk to the main bridge would help him gain some better control of his all encompassing urge to go shove Spock into the nearest trash disposal and send him straight out into space, or better yet, push him onto the transporter pad and have Scotty beam him down to Delta Vega and leave his green-blooded ass down there like the prick had done to Jim during the Narada incident. (Bones still held a little bit of a grudge about that, even after all the time that had passed, and how Jim and Spock's relationship had changed. Just FYI.)

When the door to the turbo-lift opened, Bones stepped out into a thankfully more or less deserted corridor, still gleefully plotting out the various ways he wanted to make Spock pay for his hurtful negligence of Jim, the one person the Vulcan had sworn to cherish above all else. Memories of when he'd been in attendance for Jim and Spock's wedding, assaulted Bones's mind. Jim had looked so happy that day, hell, even Spock had looked happy in his own, annoyingly repressed way. Bones had come to understand that Vulcan's cherished their mates, especially if they were something called T'hy'la. That's what Spock had called Jim, his T'hy'la, and he had promised that he'd cherish Jim to the end of time.

Well, so much for Spock's promises. Bones shook his head as he walked down the corridor, feeling both very angry still, but sad now. Bones knew that when it came to marriage, people screwed up. Marriage was a paradox of sorts, in some aspects it is very simple, in others, it's one of the most complicated things known to existence. Bones attest to that, he had a spectacularly failed marriage under his own belt. But even though things had ended in a bitter divorce between him and Jocelyn, in the beginning they had been like any couple that got married, young and happily in love, ready to make a new life with each other. As he walked towards the main bridge, Bones hoped that this situation between Jim and Spock was just one of the many bumps that popped up in a marriage, and not the harbinger of doom for their union instead. Bones knew that since Jim and Spock were bonded to each other, separation would only spell disaster for them both.

Shaking his head, Bones came to pause before the door to the main bridge. Taking in a deep, steadying breath Bones prepared himself, and plotted out how he was going to approach Spock without trying to strangle the Vulcan the moment he saw him. Knowing that it was now or never, Bones stepped through the door to the main bridge when it opened for him with a soft hiss. The doctor paused near the doorway took take a look around the brightly lit bridge. Everyone was going about their duties like the professionals they were. Sulu and Chekov were at the helm, carrying on a light conversation as they piloted the Enterprise. Uhura looked lovely as ever where she sat at the communications station, vetting out the various communications the ship was receiving. And then, Bones's amber eyes went to the center of the room, where the command chair was located. Bones glowered discreetly as he beheld Spock, sitting in the Captain's chair, in command of the ship while Jim had the day off. He looked as well kept as ever, uniform immaculate, not a single hair out of place, and the signature blank expression gracing his face. He was the professionalism and poise, completely fine as fine can be.

" I am gonna mop the floor with you, ya low-down, insensitive prick." Thought Bones as he felt his anger boil up at the very sight of the Vulcan.

Fighting tooth and nail to keep from barreling straight for the Vulcan and pummeling him, Bones took another deep breath to steady his control before he even took the first step. Once he was sure his urge to do bloody violence of Spock was reduced to a momentary minimal, Bones started walking toward Spock. Bones nodded to Chekov and Sulu before coming to stand by the command chair.

" Good morning Dr. McCoy, what brings you to the main bridge?" Asked Spock as he turned to greet the ship's CMO.

" Oh, things were slow down in Sickbay, so I figured I'd head up here and check in." Answered Bones, plastering on a very fake smile of pleasantness on his face as he eyed Spock.

" Well, if that is the case, then I am pleased to inform you that the main bridge is operating within normal parameters." Said Spock with his usual flatness.

" Well I'm about to throw a wrench into the gears of your smoothly running day ya green-blooded hobgoblin." Thought Bones as he discreetly clenched his fists and addressed Spock.

" Well if that's the case, do you got a second to spare Spock? There's something I need to talk to you about." He said, pleased that he sounded normal, and not murderous.

" Doctor, I cannot physically give you a second in time, for time is not a corporeal entity." Said Spock with a quirk of one of his signature slanted eyebrows.

" It's a figure of speech Spock, but for real, I gotta talk to you about something." Said Bones, before he leaned in close and continued in a more hushed voice.

" It's of a personal nature Spock." He said quietly.

That had Spock immediately coming to attention.

" Is something wrong Doctor?" Asked Spock.

Bones felt some of his anger dissipate because he could clearly hear what Spock hadn't voice.

" Is something wrong with Jim?"

" You have no idea just how wrong things really are between you and Jim. Well, that's why I'm here." Thought Bones, a little sadly before he spoke.

" Why don't we go somewhere a bit more private Spock?" He suggested.

" Of course, we may use the conference room." Said Spock with a nod as he gracefully rose from the command chair.

He and Spock were just about the head over to the room Spock had suggested when Uhura suddenly spoke.

" Mr. Spock, I've just received a com from the Science department, it's from one of your lad technicians, it's urgent sir." She said as she looked to Spock and Bones.

Spock blinked and then immediately headed for Uhura's station with Bones right behind him.

" Please patch it through Lieutenant." Ordered Spock.

Uhura nodded and pressed a button on her console. A moment later, the face of a young woman dressed in Science blue and a lab-coat appeared on the screen above Uhura's console. By the troubled expression on her face, they could tell that she wasn't calling with happy news.

" Lt. Hollis, report." Ordered Spock.

" Sir, the Corvinian Sphere, it's gone." Said Lt. Hollis.

" What do you mean it is gone?" Asked Spock.

" We were getting ready to conduct the scans and test that you specified for us to run when there was a sudden black out. All of our equipment and the lighting system simple shut down for no apparent reason. We scrambled about in the dark for a few minutes before one of the technicians managed to get the lights back on. But when they came back on, we saw that the Corvinian sphere was just... gone. Sir, someone has stolen the Corvinian sphere from the lab, and we have no idea who did it and why." Answered Lt. Hollis, looking apologetic and still massively confused.

" Jim." Thought Bones, but he wisely kept silent as he watched Spock's entire demeanor shift from normal to tense right before his eyes.

Sure, the Vulcan still looked calm and collected, but Bones could see that Spock's dark eyes had hardened, bow resembling to two orbs of hard obsidian rock. Needless to say, Spock was not at all please with this news.

" Standby Lieutenant Hollis, I am on my way." Said Spock, his voice even flatter than before as he turned smartly on his heels and headed for the exit.

" Hold up Spock, I'll come with you." Said Bones as he scrambled to reach Spock.

" Thank you Doctor, but that really isn't necessary." Said Spock curtly before he turned to address Lt. Sulu.

" Lieutenant Sulu, you have the con." He ordered.

" Aye sir." Acknowledged Sulu before he rose from his place at the helm to carry out his order.

" Well tough Spock, I'm coming with ya, you guys aren't the only ones the Science labs are important to." Said Bones, sending Spock a challenging look because what he had said was true. Bones and his staff also had significant use for the labs, not just Spock and the Science department, and Bones still had to get a few things off of his chest.

" Very well, let us proceed with haste then." Said Spock with a curt nod before he strode across the main bridge to the turbo-lift with Bones close behind.

The two men climbed into the turbo-lift and Spock pressed the button for the deck the Science labs were located on. Spock and Bones stood in a tense silence, one trying to compute the most likely suspects to grill about the theft of something he held quite valuable, the other debating whether or not to tell the former about who he knew for certain was responsible for the theft.

" Well, it looks like Jim decided that he's waited long enough to do something about all this crap." Thought Bones, a small part of him proud that Jim had finally been galvanized to act.

Bones and Spock stayed in a tense silence throughout the turbo-lift ride, and when the lift came to a stop, Spock was all but shooting out of it before the door was even fully open. Bones silently cursed Spock and his Vulcan speed as he scrambled to catch up with the determinedly striding Vulcan. Spock naturally reached the Science labs first, with Bones trotting in after him a few seconds later.

When then arrived, Spock and Bones found that the main lab was in a bit a chaos, to say the least.

Personnel were all scrambling about in the futile hope that they would find that which clearly no longer in their midst.

" Has there been any progress of locating the Corvinian sphere?" Asked Spock to all personnel.

" None sir. It's clear that someone has taken it and fled." Said Lt. Hollis.

" Understood." Said Spock, his voice sounding almost like a growl as he looked around the room.

After that, Bones was witness to Spock taking command of the situation, like a general would his troops. Bones himself had decided to pitch in and help in whatever way he could. First Spock got everyone to stop scrambling about like head-less chickens and compose themselves. Then, he started issuing orders for everyone to get the lab back to a presentable state. He took Lt. Hollis aside and talked to her directly.

" Lieutenant, please bring up all of the security footage the anomalous event and the time leading up to it. I wish to see all of it." He ordered.

" Yes sir." Nodded Hollis before she all but ran to do as Spock had ordered.

A few minutes later, everyone was crowded around a computer terminal, watching the security footage.

They watched as everything was running smoothly in the lab, the crew members inside getting ready to conduct procedures on the Corvinian sphere where it had been left to rest on an examination table. Then out of nowhere, everything went completely pitch black for a solid three minutes. Then the lights were coming back on to reveal that Corvinian sphere vanished, and the confused and startle Science personnel quickly descending into panic upon discovered the sphere gone.

Bones found himself discreetly hiding a smile.

" Way ta go Jim, your swiped that thing without even bein' seen by the cameras." Though the Doctor, feeling immense pride at his best friend's ingenuity.

The doctor couldn't help but feel the irony. Jim had used his skills as a formidable hacker to bamboozle Spock at the very beginning of their relationship when he had defeated the previously thought to be unbeatable Kobayashi Maru simulation test back at the Academy, which had been created by Spock himself. Now Jim had used those very skills on his now husband to steal that pesky little orb that had been like a wedge in their marriage, at least to Jim anyway. Spock had just been carrying on oblivious to Jim's actual plight.

Spock was looking through the footage for the third time with keen and determined eyes before Bones finally spoke.

" Hey Spock, let the security people handle this, there really isn't much you can do right now, and you gotta get back to the bridge." He said.

Spock sent Bones an almost withering look, but then nodded mutely. His pale face was blank, but his lips seemed even thinner than usual, the only real indication that he was really displeased.

" Lt. Hollis, inform security of the situation. There is a thief on board this vessel, and I want that individual apprehended so that he or she may be punished accordingly for their crimes." Ordered Spock.

Bones had to bite his tongue from giving Spock a verbal lashing right then and there, because he knew that Jim hadn't really stolen anything. You can't steal what is rightfully yours, and that damn sphere belonged to Jim, not Spock. But Bones wisely kept silent as he followed Spock out of the Science labs.

From the way Spock seemed to hold himself even more rigid than usual, Bones knew that the hobgoblin was pissed. But Bones just couldn't find it in him to feel too bad about that, in the doctor's opinion, it wasn't nearly enough for what Spock had put Jim through.

Knowing that Bones still hadn't fulfilled his purpose for seeking out Spock's company, the doctor called out to the rapidly walking Vulcan.

" Spock wait a minute will ya, I still gotta talk to you. It's important." Called out Bones.

Spock immediately stopped and turned to face the doctor, a veiled look of annoyance barely there on his face as he spoke.

" Well, if that is the case, please start speaking so that the conversation can end as quickly as possible." He said flatly.

" Oh shove it man, so the shiny toy you seem to be fixated on got stolen, it'll probably turn up in a little while. That doesn't mean you need to be rude Spock." Said an annoyed Bones.

Bones watched as Spock deflated a little bit and nodded as he spoke.

" Please, forgive me Doctor for my inappropriate words. I am just, displeased with this turn of events." He said, sounding much calmer

" Don't worry about it, but let's get back to the task at hand. I gotta ask you something Spock, and I want an honest answer." Said Bones.

" That is an illogical thing to demand Doctor, for I am always honest." Said Spock flatly as he crossed his arms behind his back.

" Well, that's just swell Spock, so you'll give me an accurate amount of time is I asked you when was the last time you spent some quality time with Jim?" Asked Bones, in an almost sickly sweet voice.

Spock blinked, the only sign of the confusion brought on by Bones's question.

" Doctor, may I ask the significance of your inquiry?" Asked Spock.

" Oh, I just wanted to know, when was the last time you sat down and I don't know, had a meal with Jim, played a game of chess with him, Hell, the last time you spoke more than a few words with him outside of work." Replied Bones, feeling his anger from before slowly coming back.

Spock was stunned by this, and in the silence that followed, the Vulcan began to think back on the last time he and Jim had done any of the things that Bones had spoken of. As he thought about it, it became quite clear to Spock that it had been a solid two weeks since he and Jim had played a good game of chess like they usually did. The shared meals had been few and far between because he'd been down in the labs conducting his research. Spock thought of all this, but with him being a Vulcan bull-head, he dismissed the thoughts and spoke.

" Doctor, I am aware now that a significant amount of time has passed since Jim and I did many of the things you have spoken of, but I have been quite busy with my research of the Corvinian sphere. Jim understands that what I am doing is quite important and-" He began to say when an completely irate looking Dr. McCoy got right up in his face and cut him off.

" Oh, so Jim understands? He understands? Fuck, that's all he's been doing for almost a Goddamn month while you go one neglecting him." Hissed Bones, fire raging behind his amber eyes.

" Please step away from me doctor, and explain your irrational outburst at once." Demanded Spock flatly.

Bones did step with a disgusted hiss before he spoke.

" I'm talking about my best friend coming to me and basically collapsing into tears because his husband's been too busy fawning over a goddamn inanimate object to give him the time of day to even do something as simple as have breakfast together you lousy pointy-eared twit." He hissed.

" Doctor, you will refrain from name calling for it is unbecoming of a Starfleet officer." Said Spock sternly.

" Fine, I won't call you any names, but that doesn't change the fact that what I just said is true Spock." Sighed an angry Bones.

" You are mistaken doctor. I hold only the utmost regard for Jim, he is my T'hy'la, my wedded mate. Your accusations are illogical and unfounded." Defended Spock.

" No Spock, you have been neglecting Jim, you're just so wrapped up in that freakin' ball of blue stiff that you can't see it. What it's been doing to Jim. Jim is my best friend, and he may be your wedded mate, your T'hy'la as you put it, but for the past two weeks all you've done is pile unnecessary crap onto his shoulders." Said Bones, still very much pissed, but now saddened as he thought about all the wrongs Jim had been made to suffer.

" May I ask how you are so sure of this?" Asked Spock, quirking his brow as a show of his defiance.

" I'll tell you why I'm sure. Jim has today off, so he came to see me down in Sickbay, next thing I know he's drinking down a whole bottle of Saurian brandy and crying, freaking crying his eyes out." Began Bones, watching as Spock's eyes fractionally widen at his words before he continued.

" When he finally stopped bawling his eyes out, he told me about how you ran off with that sphere the moment we all got back from Corvinus I and haven't let that thing go since. He told me how day in day out, all you're really interested in is that ball of stuff, and that nothing else matters. Even when you have some time off, you head right for the labs instead of being with the husband who wants you to be with him." He spat.

Bones wiped a frustrated hand across his face and shook his head in disgust before he spoke.

" You wanna know what's really sad. I actually tried to defend you, telling Jim that he was overreacting. But it is true, I mean look at what just happened now, you hear that that things been stolen and you dropped everything to come running here. You have command of the whole ship today for Christ's sake, but that thing mattered more to you than that, Hell, it's been mattering more to you than Jim for the last two weeks!" He exclaimed in outrage.

" That is enough Dr. McCoy. If what you are saying has even the smallest shred of truth, than this is a private matter between Jim and I. I shall see to it that Jim and I have a full conversation on the matter." Said Spock, the barest frown marring his face as he steadily met Bones's fiery gaze.

" Yeah, go and discuss the matter, maybe then you'll finally see what you've put Jim through." Growled Bones before he continued.

" But do it later, right now Jim's getting some much needed rest, and you will not disturb him, not even for your lunch break. Medical orders, you got me?" He asked sternly.

" Yes Doctor, I... I understand." Said Spock, his voice carefully neutral as he nodded.

" Good, now let's just go our separate ways, you gotta ship to run, and I've been around you for too long as it is." Said Bones with a final glare before he swiftly turned and walked away. He had it in mind to get back to Sickbay and work. Anything to keep his mind off the confrontation he just had, and the bottle of Saurian brandy he really wanted to take a swig from right now.

Spock stood in the corridor stunned by what Dr. McCoy had revealed. But knowing that he was still on duty, Spock put these troubling revelations to the back of his mind and headed back to the main bridge. A few minutes later, Spock was striding back onto the main bridge looking as calm and collected as ever as he relieved Sulu and retook he seat in the command chair. But for the rest of the day, most of Spock's mind was focused mostly on thoughts of his bondmate and what Dr. McCoy had said. True to his words, Spock had stayed on the main bridge, even through his designated lunch hour. He had tried to reach out to Jim through the bond that connected their mind several times throughout the rest of the day, but ever time he did, Spock never got any kind of reply.

It was very disconcerting to Spock, and it made him start to wonder if this was even a small taste of how Jim had been feeling. Spock quickly pushed his growing guilt aside and did his best to focus on his duties for the rest of the day. He'd gotten calls from the labs every few hours, updating him on the progress of the search for the missing Corvinian sphere. So far, the security had found absolutely no trace of the stolen sphere, or the culprit behind the deed. It was just an added unpleasantness to an already soured day.

The hours passed by, slowly but surely, they passed. Finally, Spock went off duty, leaving the bridge in the capable hands of the Night Watch commander. Once his duties were done for the day, Spock wasted no time in getting off the main bridge.

Spock just felt this deep urge to get to Jim as fast as possible. After all Dr. McCoy's verbal tirade, Spock wanted to see Jim for himself, and ascertain his T'hy'la status for himself. The Vulcan made quick work of getting into the turbo-lift and headed up to the upper deck his and Jim's quarters were located. Spock stepped out of the lift when the door opened and navigated the corridors with the ease of familiarity. He turned the final corner and headed for the door to the Captain's private quarters.

Spock walked through the door and was just about to call out his bondmate's name when he stopped dead in his tracks.

The reason why Spock came to a grinding halt is what his eyes fell upon the moment he looked straight into the living room area.

There, sitting on the plush, deep blue sofa by the main arched window was Jim. And there, held between his pale hands was the Corvinian sphere, the silvery blue energy within it happily swirling about.

" T'hy'la, you are the one who stole the sphere from the Science laboratory?" Asked Spock, his voice barely masking his disbelief at the undeniable truth sitting right in front of his.

" Obviously." Was all Jim said, his face pale and deathly serious as his striking, pale blue eyes gazed at Spock with an intensity that the Vulcan had never truly seen before.

Jim took in a deep breath, and slowly leaned forward in his seat, carefully setting the Corvinian sphere down on the coffee table. The sphere stayed perfectly still where Jim set it down and it's contents continued to swirl around without a care in the world.

Jim slowly rose from his seat on the sofa, his hard, ice-colored eyes never once wavering as they seemed to almost bore holes into Spock. Jim took in another deep breath and spoke.

" Computer, lock all exit doors, security code Kirk, James T. 19009 Omega." He ordered.

Behind him, Spock heard the main entrance door he had just walk through make a faint clicking sound as it instantly locked, as per Jim's command.

Jim continued to stare at Spock, and Spock stared back Jim. The silence seemed to stretch on for what seemed an eternity before Jim finally spoke.

" We need to talk Sa Telsu, and this time, you are going to listen to what I have to say Spock."

Vocab

Vulcan: Sa Telsu= English: My Husband.