A/N: No flames. This uh. Well. I know what Im doing, so just stick with me okay? I promise!
Tension filled the air of the Enterprise. Everybody was on edge, scouring the galaxy for any signal, any kind of sign of their First Officer. Jim had not rested since they left the golden-colored planet and his nerves were in just as many pieces. His leg bounced up and down on the ball of his foot. McCoy had to repeatedly smack his hand away from his mouth worried that instead of chewing off his nails, he'd be biting of an entire digit. He was scanning over every monitor, glancing out the window every few seconds, expecting Spock to dramatically show up in some craft asking to be beamed aboard. His attention was drawn to Chekov who was scanning the near area for any sign of the Vulcan, seeing his hands fly up to the headphones he was wearing. He turned in his chair, wide eyes meeting his Captains.
"What is it?" Jim flew out of his chair; taking the headphones he was offered. He put them over his ears, pressing in like Chekov did. Disbelief struck him.
Dit dit dit, dah dah dah, dit dit dit. Repeated.
"It's an S.O.S. signal! It's him! Chekov, pinpoint his location, Sulu gets us there fast." Jim hit the call for Bones.
"This'd better be good," came the weary reply.
"We found him. He's been sending out an S.O.S. signal from where ever the hell they have him." His heart started racing, he had to sit, holding his chest. Spock was calling out for help.
"I'll be there in a minute."
"Sir, we found them," Sulu said. "The ship is massive." He zoomed in, projecting the image onto the front window.
Jim's eyes narrowed darkly. These were the bastards that took Spock. They had him, and he cried out for the Federation.
For the Enterprise.
For Jim.
A terrifying slam echoed throughout the small room Spock was in. As he attempted to turn around to greet his, seemingly upset, guest, the front of his Science Blues were snatched up, dragging his body effortless out of the chair.
"How the hell did a Federation ship find us out here?!" The Captain, Spock had come to find out his name was Ru'afo, yelled furiously. "What are you making?!"
Spock just glared back. "You are out of time, Ru'afo."
"No." he hissed. "No, you've got it backwards." Ru'afo threw Spock into the hard body of one of his large henchmen who effectively dragged him to their Bridge like a ragdoll. Ru'afo was snarling under his breath, determined not relinquish the upper hand to a Federation member. He hailed the Enterprise, his long-nailed fingers digging into the metal beam that crossed in front of him.
Jim's face lit up the screen before them. Spock stared at him. T'hy'la.
"This is James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise. We received a distress call from one of our crew members and demand you release him immediately."
Ru'afo grinned wickedly; his sharp yellow teeth gleamed in the dim light. "James T. Kirk. Just the man I was hoping to speak to." He grabbed a handful of Spock's black hair, yanking him forward. Spock sank down to his knees, raising his head to expose his throat to the screen. Cold steel pressed up against his throat. "Spock here failed to deliver the necessary items for his safe return." The blade Ru'afo held in his hand pressed in farther, drawing out a thin line of green blood that trickled down the hollow of Spock's throat.
I was so close… Spock's eyes traveled over, meeting Jim's anxious form, his voice desperately trying to stop Ru'afo from acting farther.
"There is nothing you could have done, Captain." Ru'afo let loose a wicked laughter than rang throughout his Bridge and Kirk's as he sliced the blade straight across Spock's vulnerable neck, letting the man fall to the ground, gasping for air while darkening green blood pooled around him.
"Do you remember the first time you said you loved me?" He asked, hands behind his back, a smile as bright as any other adorning his beautiful face.
" I do believe we were in my quarters playing chess."
Jim nodded, walking in a slow saunter down the hallway. It was just past midnight so most of the crew was either asleep or at their posts. The hallways were very quiet except for their quiet chatter.
"And?" Jim pressed.
"You played a very challenging game which, admittedly, caught me off guard. I had not realized you were practicing without my knowledge. After the game, you pulled me into an embrace—"
"Oh can't you just say hug?" Jim teased, grinning at the Vulcan.
"Alright… you hugged me and though I thought it was brief you would not let go. So we stood for a few moments, enjoying each other's company and you whispered that you loved me."
Jim gave another nod. Now he was walking backwards to face Spock as he spoke. "And then what happened?" he asked, a curious note in his voice. He was acting like a child learning about the outside world for the first time.
"I remember wrapping my arms tighter around you, taking in how warm you felt, despite our very different core body temperatures. You kept repeating those words. "I love you". So I drew back just slightly to give you a light kiss to cease your rambling. As I pulled away I replied "I love you, too" and you gave me that trademark lopsided grin.
Jim laughed from deep in his chest, stopping in front of Spock, forcing him to stop walking as well. Jim tilting his head just slightly to look up at him, the smile never faded.
"Did you mean it?" He inquired with his arms still behind his back, hands clasped together.
Spock blinked a couple times, tilting his head just a fraction. "Are you imploring I did not mean what I had said?"
"Not at all. But did you mean it?"
"Of course I meant it, Jim. Why would you question that?"
Jim liberated his hands from one another, reaching up to place them on either cheek of the man before him. "I don't question it." He said before descending his lips upon Spock's own.
