Spock looked up at S'Lash, and said quickly, "You cannot prove anything."

Jim managed to come back to his senses and ask, "What? Why not, Spock?"

"The only proof acceptable that a meld is occurring, is via another mind meld. The appearance of performing a meld is unsufficient," supplied S'Lash, staring at Jim's body.

Spock added, "S'Lash is not permitted to meld with anyone. The knowledge that his mind contains, from the meld when he first took up the position, is too incendiary. It would compromise Vulcan society were anyone but S'Lash to have that information."

"The only meld I am permitted to take with another Vulcan, is the katra transfer meld at the end of my life, Captain," sighed S'Lash wistfully.

"With another Vulcan?" asked Jim, then bit his lip, cursing himself for asking.

Spock's mouth fell open, and he swung Jim off him and lurched to his feet just in time to block S'Lash from launching himself in at Jim's face. The two Vulcans struggled briefly, but Spock had the advantage of being able to grip clothing, and S'Lash was trying to grab slippery, naked flesh. Spock pushed him out and slammed the fresher door shut, turning alarmed eyes onto Jim.

"What the Hell is he really doing here?" realised Jim.

S'Lash's smooth voice came from outside the fresher, "I was sent to investigate the nature of your bond with Captain Kirk, Spock. There have been questions arising from T'Pau's elevation of your Captain to senior member of the house of Surak after your aborted bonding with T'Pring. Some say that you two have taken the forbidden meld."

Jim whispered to Spock, "But that was way before we-" but Spock clapped a hand over his mouth and shook his head vigorously. Jim subsided, but his eyes were full of questions.

Spock called out to S'Lash, "Under Federation law, I have the right to know my accuser."

"Why, it is T'Pring, of course. Who else would have knowledge of your mind but your betrothed, Spock?" replied S'Lash.

Jim was still protesting, "Hell, Spock, we didn't even know then!"

Spock shushed him, but he was smiling, his naked body still pressing Jim's back against the shower wall, instinctively protecting his bondmate, as he called out, "S'Lash, you assume that I rejected T'Pring because I had another lover?"

"I do not assume anything. That is the case that has been put forward. From your activities tonight, it would seem to have some merit. But I am here to find the truth, Spock."

"Then you should know this; T'Pring was the one who took another lover, I was not," replied Spock, looking through the clouded glass at what he could see of the formal robes of the other Vulcan.

"What evidence do you offer?" asked S'Lash.

"The evidence is in the child that she carries, and her bond with Stonn," stated Spock, "Why were these things not investigated?"

There was a long silence behind the glass, then S'Lash's voice came back, "She was not investigated because she was not the accused. You know the law in this, Spock. First, you and your bondmate must be cleared, before she is accused and investigated. Especially since T'Pau granted James Kirk senior status in your house and is not forthcoming with an explanation. It does tend to support T'Pring's case."

"You dared to question T'Pau?" asked Spock.

"It is my duty. I am the only one permitted to do this."

Jim whispered, "Wow, I've met T'Pau. That would take balls."

Spock raised his eyebrows and swung a look over his shoulder at Jim.

S'Lash said, "You must come with me back to Vulcan to clear your names."

Jim said, "Not happening."

"Then I must meld with you, Captain."

"Inadmissable," Spock pointed out, "Melding with a human falls outside your purview on this case. Melding with anyone is illegal for you."

"Spock, I have the full knowledge of a time before our laws were born. What makes you think I am bound by them?" S'Lash pointed out silkily.

"I know the laws better than most. My father was considering your role before he met my mother, and he studied its requirements quite thoroughly," Spock stated.

"Are you innocent?" asked S'Lash.

"Yes!" declared Spock. "Jim and I did not bond until well after the Pon Farr."

"Are you also claiming innocence of taking the ancient bond? If my investigation of T'Pring's claims uncovers yet another violation of Vulcan law, a much more serious one, I am required to act on that and report it," said S'Lash.

Silence fell.

"No, you are not," replied Spock. "You have just pointed out that you are not bound by the laws of Surak. You cannot have it both ways, Slash. If you count yourself as above the law and meld with Jim, you must also acknowledge that you have no right under post-Surakian law to impose the death penalty on him. The death penalty for the ancient meld did not exist until the laws of Surak came into effect."

Jim frowned, "I thought Surak was a peaceful guy?"

Spock shrugged, "He was… for back then."

Jim's eyebrows rose, "Tell me you didn't mind meld with me in a fashion that would make your people collectively want to kill me?" Jim looked at Spock, looking worried, "And why is the penalty always death, with you people anyway? Ever heard of a slap over the wrist?"

"Jim….." Spock's face was a study.

"So what are they going to do, kill us?" asked Jim, then paled, "Is that why you stopped him getting to me? Was he going to kill me through the meld?"

Spock looked pale, and his body pressed a little more firmly back onto Jim's, as he called out to S'Lash, "State your intentions."

Jim grabbed Spock and whispered, "We can't trust him. He's claiming to be above Vulcan law, Spock. That means he can lie."

S'Lash must have turned quite suddenly to face them, because his voice came through the screen clearly, "I must meld with your captain."

Spock fired back, "I claim the ancient right to defend. You are untrained in the meld, and he is human. You could destroy his mind."

"Only T'hylara can claim the ancient right to defend against a meld," S'Lash said indignantly.

"That's fine," purred Spock provocatively, "Meld with me and you will know that we are T'hylara."

"It is the death penalty for me if I meld with another Vulcan, you know that!"

"How does this help?" asked Jim.

Spock whispered, "T'hylara have the right to the ancient meld."

"Catch 22," grinned Jim.

"Indeed," smiled Spock, looking over his shoulder at him, then sneaking a quick kiss on the pliant human lips.

"He can't prove we don't have the right to the ancient bond, without bringing the death penalty upon himself," smirked Jim, "He can't have his pound of flesh without incurring the death penalty for spilling a drop of blood."

Spock nodded, "And now he knows that T'Pring's claims can be tested using a simple pregnancy test, he is required to take the path of least harm and take that option first."

"Why couldn't he do that in the first place?" asked Jim.

"Legal process," sighed Spock, "But it has been overridden by the need to protect your mind, now that I have claimed you as my T'hyla. Your status now equals mine in Vulcan society, outworlder or no."

"Cool," smiled Jim, and leaned over to listen at the door. S'Lash was silent, and Jim called out airily, "What do you say, Shylock?" and grinned broadly.

There was a longer silence, then S'Lash asked curiously, "Who is Shylock?"