Disclaimers:

(1) Star Trek is in no way, shape, form or fashion owned by me.

(2) I'm dyslexic so my grammar stinks. I beg your patience with me in this.

I want to apologize for this chapter taking so long to get to you. My other half is deployed, he was recently home on a mid-tour break. We went to Walt Disney World for a week, it was great fun, and hotter than hades there! Despite it being OCTOBER! Now he's gone back and I've not had a whole lot of urge to do anything. Sorry. I hope to be back to regular updates soon.

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White hot rage.

Agonizingly stifling fear.

A small part of his mind was amazed that those two emotions could coincide so closely. He was murderously angry that they had dared to violate her room. That they had threatened her. Had she been here he may have lost her, forever. His body began to tremble. They now made it no secret they intended to do her harm. His thoughts became a tumult of what might have happened to her, to his beloved. He felt his legs weaken at the thought that she could have very well been no more if had they come to this room and found her here. His race still held their violent tendency, greatly suppressed by logic, but they were still there just under the surface threatening to rip free and destroy those who dared to bring her harm. The violent images his mind supplied of what he would do to them once he found them were all too comforting.

His mind screeched to a halt. He must not allow it to go down that path. He had to think clearly, if she had been in her room what would have become of her. Judging from the looks of the damage inflicted on her room, and the ominous message left behind... She could not die. He could not lose her too. She must be protected. He had to make sure that no harm came to her. He could not be the one to protect. Not yet. Not until he released T'Pring, and she was doing everything with her power to block or avoid him. Thoughts of kicking open the door to her room and forcing the confrontation by flipping over the bed flashed through his mind.

Spock heard a door shut in the hallway. His mind rushed to Nyota. Had they found her? Was she in danger? His mind all too readily supplied visions of her suffering at their hands. Enraged beyond recognition, he all but ripped the door from its hinges in an effort to exit the room. In the dimmed hallway he saw two heads close together and heard whispers. A package was being passed from one to the other. Wrapping his hand around the throat of the taller one in the hallway Spock shoved him hard against the wall putting all his weight and force into the action. His mind was whirling with thoughts of what might have happened to Nyota had she been in her own room.

He felt like his body was trapped in a nightmare. He'd had dreams similar to this as a child where he could not fight hard enough, could not move quick enough, could not punch hard enough. He fought to make his body match his will. Why was he getting the feeling in the back of his mind that this was wrong. What could be wrong about squeezing the life out of the creatures who were plotting to do her harm. He had lost so much already to lose her would be to lose himself. He may have twice her life span but Spock was sure that if he were to lose her he would grieve himself to death, or wait for the next madness to take him to her on devil's wings.

Noises were slowly starting to filter into this nightmare where his body still would not fight with the same rage that his mind felt. Why was the throat in his hand still intact. He could very easily have snapped it, if only his uncooperative body would respond even a little. He could now hear Pike's voice. Pike was screaming for him to stop. Stop? Why would he stop. Did they not understand? He heard Pike call out for Nyota. Telling someone to get her, to bring her here. Pike wanted her here? Close to the creatures who sought to harm her? Dr. McCoy was calling for sedatives. From the snippets of the exchanges that reached him it seemed the doctor wanted to sedate him. Why? Why were all these people working against him? Shouldn't he be hearing calls for security, help in detention, or better yet encouragement for choking the life out of this miscreant.

"Spock." Her voice reached his mind through the cacophony. His eyes found her, and watched as she slowly placed her hand on the arm holding the would be attacker to the wall. "It's okay. I'm safe. You're safe. You can let him go. Let him go now." She kept her hand on his arm while sliding her body underneath the arm to stand between him and.... Jim Kirk. He shook his head to clear the images that were never there. Spock squeezed his eyes shut and replayed what he'd seen with a clear mind. He'd seen Jim and Gaila talking in the dimmed hallway. She'd been handing him his uniform jacket, it still laid crumpled on the floor.

"Shh. It's okay. Calm down. Focus on me. Come back to me. I am hear. We are safe. I am with you." She spoke to him in the informal way his family had spoken inside their home. Vulcan mixed with various other languages. It was comforting to hear her speak to him in almost an intimate way. She was pulling him way from Kirk. He focused entirely on her, the sound of her voice, the beat of her heart, the warmth of her hand on him. He allowed the sensations to wrap around him, to hold him as if in a lovers embrace.

He was pulled from encasement of her caring when she came to an abrupt stop. His total and complete focus on her was bring the Vulcan defensive nature in him to a raging boil. She was trembling, her heart rate had increased, her breathing rate had accelerated, her breath was coming in short, sharp pants. She was more frightened now that she had been when she'd faced down those that would do her harm. Spock forced his conscienceness back to the forefront of his mind. He found they had moved from the hallway to her original room.

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Hearing Uhura scream Kirk forced his body into action. He'd promised himself never to be on the receiving end of an attack from what he hoped would be his science officer again. He didn't even know what he'd done to provoke this one, but the ways his lungs still burned for oxygen made him reaffirm his promise to himself, with a healthy 'and I mean it this time' tacked on at the end. When he finally stumbled into the hotel room he could not wrap his head around what he was seeing. The room was completely decimated.

Bones pushed Kirk's chin up to run a medical tricorder around his neck. "Nothing's broken. You'll live. You might wanna stop getting the hell beat out of you though. I'm a doctor not a seamstress. I can't keep patching you up... Good God what the hell happened here!" Bones, ever the articulate one said exactly what was on everyone's mind. "What the hell did you do!" Spock didn't move from his position of sheltering Nyota from the wreckage of her former room. He could here Bones and Kirk arguing behind him, their were other voices too, Gaila, Sulu, Chekov, Scot. They were registering in another part of his mind to be dealt with later, along with Pike's .

"You are going to explain all this to me after you've taken care of her, right? Wake me up if you have to. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you, any of you", Pike said gaining the attention of all present, "she is to be protected from...this." 'Them' was what he meant, and all who'd heard him knew it. "Let's go see if the security cameras picked up anything Kirk. McCoy, I want to see if you can find something to help her sleep after all this. Sulu, Scott,I want you two to figure out how the hell they did all this without anyone hearing anything. Chekov, look at their message and see what you can gather from it. If they left a finger print, I want to know. And I want to know all this before Star Fleet Security gets here. This is a crew matter until we're told otherwise. You're the team that saved the planet show me how good you are."

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When Uhura had screamed he'd turned her body into his and hidden her from the sight that had been her room. He'd wrapped one arm around her to help hold her trembling body up. When he felt her mind try to slip into shock he moved her so that her head rested over his heart and wrapped her tightly in his arms. Warmth could stave off shock in humans, but he wanted to reach her mind. That would be the easiest way to keep her from going into shock, unless she were to drag him down with her.

"Taluhk, calm. Peace. You are safe. I am with you. None shall harm you while I am here. And I shall never leave you." He repeated those words or variations there of until he felt her try to calm herself. Her mind would race with questions then slam into silence with the reality of the situation. Spock knew she was catching snippets of conversations going on around them, especially when Pike ordered Chekov to analyze the handwriting. As she pulled away he placed his hands on either side of her face. She knew he wanted her to keep her gaze only on him. He was protecting her still. She felt such love and kindness towards him for this. She knew when it had crossed their bond to reach him as his eyes softened on her. His stare became less tense and more intense.

"I can do this. I'm better at languages than Chekov, I'm better at languages than anyone here, including you." Uhura tried to sound confident, at this point she'd happy if she sounded cocky even. She just didn't want her voice to sound as scared and helpless as she felt. He gaze did not let up, so she switched to their language. She started off in Vulcan, "I can do this. I need to do this. Please let me."

He answered her in kind, but he started in Swahili, "I was ordered to take care of you. Please, Ashaya, allow me to do that. I feel lost and am in need of you. My mind is as a tempest. Being near you, with you is a respite for the cacophony I fear I may not be able to bear much longer."

She could feel his wavering through their bond. He was like child that had woken up a night terror, and was still afraid of the monster still lurking at the back of his mind. She didn't want to be in the room as much as he didn't want to be alone. His eyes open to her now as they rarely ever were. He was looking back and forth from her eyes, his begging her to see the truth of his request that he could not voice. 'I need you, please. Please.' Hearing his voice in her head with such a rawness to it she had not choice but to nod her acquiescences.

"What has happened here." It was not a question but a statement Sarek's voice left no room for misinterpretation. He would be answered, quickly. Spock's posture went ridged. Uhura watched as his eyes closed off from her again as his hands slowly fell away from her face. She watched as Spock stepped back from her regret written all over his face for an instant before he spun to face his father, and his expression went blank.

When Spock's body was clear from her line of sight not only did she see Sarek, but the woman Spock had been speaking with earlier. The woman whose hand he'd touched in such an intimate way. The woman now who was giving him a scathing look. Uhura chided herself for falling back on the belief that what had been between she and Spock was still there. It was not, and the look her replacement was giving them proved it. She her attention back to those present in the room. Uhura knew she should stay here and help, but all she wanted to do was leave. She wanted to get as far away from her, from him, from them. Pike was speaking with Sarek, Kirk he would grant her request. "Captain." she used her tone to let him know this request could not be denied. "Permission to be excused." Kirk had barely cut his eyes back to her before she started to leave.

Pike and the Vulcans still stood in the doorway when she reached it. "Excuse me, Admiral, Ambassador. I find I have a horrendous migraine coming on and must lay down." She used her best 'poor defenseless girl' voice to make them move a little quicker. It worked, she was safe. Or at least she thought she was until she heard Pike asking Spock if he'd planned on disobeying a direct order, since he'd been ordered to take care of her. She heard Spock's footsteps fall in behind hers at the same moment she heard Pike saying to made sure she slept.

"Are you going into her room? Will you be alone with her while you are bonded to me? I always knew your Vulcan blood was thin. That our ways meant very little to you. Now I have proof."

'Is was amazing how such a complex language as Vulcan could sound like a sonnet from one set of lips, but from another like a dying crow's caw.' Were the thoughts that crossed Uhura's mind even though her feet barely missed a beat in her steps. She wanted to close the door and shut out all this agony. She wanted this day to join the list of ones she was waiting to wake up from. No what Uhura really wanted to do was turn around and smack that contemptible tone right out of her mouth. Spock deserved better than that, but if that was what he wanted she would let him deal with her.

Spock did not just miss a beat, he ground to a halt. That was it. She'd done it. Now here she was, in public, making derogatory comments about her intended bond mate. Turning to face her his eyes did not hide the fury that boiled just blow the surface in his very green Vulcan blood. His mind provided him images of ways to show her the exact color of his blood. None of which he would act on, but the thoughts were humorous in ways they should not have been. He stalked closer to where the small congregation still stood outside the destroyed room. Spock stopped slightly ahead of his father in a position that would force her hand. "T'Pring attend." Holding his fingers extended towards her their shaking was evident to any who would look. He was going to tell her. He had his out now. She had slandered him, his family in front of others. He could release her now and owe her nothing. She was in the wrong and there were witnesses.

"Spock. Did I or did I not give you a direct order to keep her safe?" Everyone knew Pike wasn't really asking a question.

"Yes Spock, go be a lap dog of the humans." T'Pring kept her voice low.

Spock snapped. He actually growled as he stepped even farther into T'Pring's personal space. "You have over stepped your bounds. You have spoken against your intended family. You have done so in the presence of witness. In doing so you have...."

"Commander, You..." Pike stepped from the room into the hall followed closely by his father. Neither of which looked happy. Taking in the posture of his former first officer and trusted friend. He wondered what he'd what was going on. He noticed that Spock look more angry than he'd ever seen him. And as Pike well knew and angry Spock was not good for anyone, "are the strongest person on her crew, her commanding officer, you agreed to help keep her safe. Tell me, exactly how are you going to do that if you're here, and she's down there." He changed his tone slightly hoping to reach his former first officer.

What Pike said to him did register in the back of his mind. He heard every word. And he would do what Pike had ordered him to do. Gladly. He would go to Nyota and watch over her. He would make sure she was safe, careful, protected. But the thoughts that occupied the forefront of his mind were the ones that were keeping his feet from moving, because he knew that if he made any movement at all right now it would be to kill her.

'I know who she is to you. I know. I know that you feel for her as you should feel for me. I know that she is who you would chose to be your bond mate, if your bond was broken. I know all of this. I can read what is written in your heart as easily as I can read the emotions that cross your face. But I will not release you. I will not give you the opportunity to release me. I deserve something for all the time I have been bound to you. Someone who would have no place in our society were it not for his father. You who is less than I deserve. You who is nothing more than a science experiment. You should never been allowed to exist. You are a blot on a great race, and you do not deserve the right to call yourself Vulcan. So for all my suffering I will hold you to me until you make an error, then I shall claim what I have earned, and then and only then I shall be free. I only regret that in doing so I shall place a black mark on your father's house. Not that he didn't do that himself when he married your mother.'

Spock pulled his fingers from hers as the last sentence crossed into his mind. He blinked. He felt her words reverberating throughout his mind. It was all that was running through his mind. He felt like he was 11 all over again. Expunged, science experiment, black mark on his father's house. Would he never be good enough. He was falling apart. He could hear her satisfied exhalation. Spock knew if he looked up into her face he'd see a triumphant look in her eyes. So he forced his emotional barriers back in the place, it took him a moment longer than he wished to pick up all the shattered pieces. He found that when they were firmly back in place a new emotion was close to the surface. Rage. His id was suppling various violent and permanent ways he could be free of her. He baser self was trying to supply him with links from T'Pring to those that would harm Nyota, even though he knew it was not true. She was cruel, but she had no reason to wish Nyota harm.

"Commander. If you unable to perform the duty which I have assigned you..." Pike was getting aggravated with his lack of response. He didn't know what was going on between Spock and the female, but he knew Spock. He knew that Nyota was the key to getting or keeping Spock from losing it like he had earlier in the hallway. He knew there was more going on than he knew about, but right now he had priorities and those included keeping the cadets under his care safe.

"No. Admiral it is highly inappropriate for me to stay in the room of an unbonded female, especially while my own future bond mate is here." Spock said. They may call him may names but they could never accuse him of inappropriate behavior.

"Well I'm sure she wouldn't mind giving you up for just one night would you, Ma'am?" Pike said turning on his charm. "I mean you're just doing guard duty. It's not like anything is going to happen." Pike had used this charm to get exactly what he wanted on more than one occasion.

"I care not." T'Pring said turning and leaving for her own room.

"There now see, or shall I find someone else...."

"No, Admiral, I am quiet capable. T'Pring has given me leave to do so, so I shall take my leave of you now. Goodnight Father, T'Pring." He nodded to each in turn, then turned and strode down the hall. He was happy to find that Nyota had not closed the door completely.

Stepping into the room Spock paused behind the closed door letting his eyes adjust to the darkness in the room. "Nyota, I..." He began not really sure what he should say. What words were good enough for the women who meant everything to you. A woman you were becoming a constant source of pain for? What words would adequately convey the tumult of emotions running through his mind? As the son of Vulcan's preeminent ambassador, as well as a linguists turned teacher words and all their possible meanings and those uses were something he grew up with intimate knowledge of. Knowledge that was failing him now. How to convey to her all that was needed. How to tell her all that he needed her to understand. "...if you are not too.." No that was not it. "I would like..."

"You would like... I... I... I... Is that all you can think about? You? How about you use that huge Vulcan brain, and all your damn logic and look at it from my point of view! I hate this. I hate that I walked down those damn stairs to find my stupid lost PADD. And that my life is now in danger. The absolute best part is I don't even know why! I hate that I'm stuck here like some helpless little girl. I hate that I can't help and I'm the one their after. I hate that their after me. I hate that... " Nyota didn't moved from the chair she'd pulled next to the picture window overlooking the Hudson River. He noticed she was wrapped in a blanket. Her hair was down. He noticed she had glistening lines down her cheeks where she'd been crying before her anger took over. "I hate that your damn bond mate is here. I hate that you can't keep from throwing her in my face. I hate that I've still got another week and a half of putting up with this. I hate that for the next 5 years I'm going to be assigned to the same ship as you. I hate that she speaks to you the way she does..." Spock had never been so thankful for anything in his life as he was for his superior hearing. In the next moment the words that came from her lips where barely a whisper, but to him they sounded as if they had been spoken by angels. "I hate that it's not me."

"I apologize for not thinking of how this might affect you." He crossed the darkened room to stand behind her. "I have been an unmitigated fool. I have kept things from you that would spend my entire lifetime making up to you if you'll but allow me." He slowly ran his long fingers through her longer hair. "I have a request to ask of you even though I know I have no right to ask anything of you." He paused his strokes when she took one of his hands in hers and pulled him to her. He moved quickly from his standing position behind her to a kneeling position in front of her.

"Ask of me my beloved, for I could never deny you." The words she spoke were in the language of his birth. He knew that by many it was not considered to be a beautiful language when spoken but from her it was like a work of art. To see her mouth form the words, her singers voice bring them to life, it nearly took his breath from him so much so that his next words were but a whisper.

"Please my love, my beloved, I beg that you give me the benefit of the doubt, all is not what it seems. My feelings for you have not changed. You do not have all the facts to make an informed decision. Please Nyota, my constant, my star, do not turn from me just yet. Have just a little trust in me, if you have ever trusted in me, and know that I have not turned from you. I would stay by your side for all of your days, and would beg to be so lucky as it have you by mine. I beg patience, trust, faith, for just a moment more. I will make this all right."

The tears had found the tracks left by their predecessors. He hated it when she cried. Slowly he wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed his head in her lap and continued. "I find my life bleak and empty without you in it. I do not wish to do even the simplest of tasks. I find that without you I have no wish to face the days ahead." Spock stopped speaking when she leaned over him. He could feel her tears falling into his shirt.

"Take all the time you need, ashaya. Just please remember that my heart does not beat so well when it's broken."

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A/N: kissmekent (love the pen name btw!) pointed out to me that I once again didn't pass along pertinent information for you guys. Sorry about that. Tell me if I do this, and I'll fix it. I do this in conversation too, my poor husband had to figure out once that I was asking about Hannibal who crossed the Alps on elephant by me saying "Who was the guy with the elephants?" Anyway I digress...

West Point is not in NYC. My mother-in-law lives across the Hudson River from West Point. It's a 50 minute train ride from the station near her house into Grand Central station. I am going with the premise that by this time frame 'the city' (as New Yorkers call it) will have expanded to encompass West Point. I hope that gives you guys a mental reference as to where it is.

Also I didn't explain my 'ST:TNG "Sarek"' reference either. I was trying to explain that with some Vulcan's touch is not necessary for telepathy. Spock also did this non-touch telepathy but it was in the animated series, but I've read those aren't considered canon with the exception of Yesteryear. I bought them for my son, gotta get him started on the good stuff early!

Again, I'm sorry for leaving out these details. I also have to apologize that there will be a delay in getting the next chapter out to you guys. I am going to Disney for a week, so I won't have a whole lot of time to write. I will try to get the next chapter out to you guys as quickly as I can.

P.S. I also have to apologize for the delay. My husband was home on a 2 week break from Iraq and we went away for a family vacation. When he left I didn't want to do much of anything.

Please review! It will motivate me to get the next chapter out quicker.