Thank you so much my AWESOME reviewers!

What can I say? I am a review whore.

Rated M, I own nothing, please enjoy.

And trust me, thank my beta, Lov2catnap for her skills and inspiration. XD

OoOoOo

Spock felt the heated thrum of jealousy and possessiveness that spiked deep within him at the sight of another male so close to James. His face betrayed nothing of the dark emotion that coiled like a viper ready to strike behind his formidable control. It had worsened the situation, in his eyes, by 65.301%, that the second engineer was fully aware of his previously unvoiced claim. Spock squashed the urge to growl at the other male's challenge, which would have been illogical, and carried the weight of potentially frightening James.

He was not pleased the other Vulcan male's interest in what was his. By right, James was his. Spock did not doubt the conclusion he had come to, and the way his katra surged with equally possessive tendrils gripping at his logic, availed Spock to the knowledge that the primitive part of him was fully cognizant of Ra'Vesti's slight. Though, he allotted that the other male was unbounded, and Spock was not. That made his chances of garnering James as a mate, slightly higher. That was completely unacceptable.

He found the close proximity of James to the other male, and not himself, to be….unsatisfactory. He turned a dark gaze at the terran, which had begun to fidget under his stare. Her eyes were wide, he noted absently, and he heard her heart rate increase rapidly.

"…Hello," she started awkwardly, "nice to see you again."

Spock raised a brow as the only indication to the inner struggle he was waging not to rip the offending interloper in half with his bare hands. That large urge was halved by the fact that Ra'Vesti had not touched James, in his presence. However, even the remote possibility brought the vipers of jealousy to hiss in warning inside his head. 'Stay away from what is mine,' the sparse of primitive urge roared loudly in his head, warring with his logic. He settled for turning his full attention to toward James.

He nodded at her once in acceptance of her greeting. He noted that James flushed slightly, clenched her hands, and took a step toward him. That was acceptable. Further distance from the other male and close to himself would be permitted, and even encouraged at this time.

"Well, good news, the power grid works!" James expressed nervously.

"I had observed it operating; however, it has not been proven to function within the guidelines of what was stated previously." He responded calmly, "Furthermore, it appears that my subordinate has assisted your endeavor without permission. And in doing so, has neglected other duties assigned to him specifically."

His gazed locked with Ra'Vesti's in a harsh non-verbal disapproval. Though nothing showed in his features, Spock could feel the hot breath of anger as it filled his mind. The interloper had aided his intended, in a way, which Spock could not.

"Wait," James interjected with a note of distress that caused Spock to become distracted from his anger," I asked for his help."

Spock felt the barest beginnings of a growl as it threatened to work its way out of his throat. It was highly illogical to be beset by such high levels of emotion based off of a single instance where another male had overstepped his bounds. However, it was equally illogical to be displeased that someone had acquiesced to assist her where it was needed.

"You…requested his assistance?" A raven brow lifted in stark disbelief, and a touch of suspicion.

His delicate hearing could hear the single skipped beat of her heart. "Yes, I asked for his assistance," she answered firmly.

Spock felt the igniting fire of indignation and rage spark within him. If James required anything, assistance included, she was to come to him for it and him alone. However, the logical part of his brain corrected the dark thought by recalling that he, in fact had not, give her permission to seek him. He also, however, had not forbidden it. He had noted that James had a startling proclivity for acting upon things that were not expressly forbidden, and some that had been. Therefore, Spock felt it logical to conclude that she should still have come to him to meet any of her needs.

"In the future, you are to ask me for any form of assistance you will need aboard this vessel," his voice was completely even, but he could see the way Ra'Vesti stiffened at his words.

James appeared slightly relieved, but Spock noted that she seemed slightly wary of him. He would need to discuss with her later, the proper decorum for being alone with any male that was not himself. He would be certain to stress, for her benefit, that she was never to act in such an irrational way ever again. She would also never be allowed to be alone with a male that was not himself, or a family member.

"I understand," James commented softly, and Spock felt his shoulders relax form their tense position. "I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused."

He nodded his head in acknowledgement of her unprecedented manners upon this occasion. He relented that she did indeed understand how her actions, ignorant though they were, had caused a point of conflict between himself and a subordinate. He was satisfied with the turn of events, and spoke to her with less ire raking his tight control.

"Come, James," Spock felt her name leave his lips in a definitive manner, "I will escort you back to the Medical bay."

He noted that James blinked at him as her mouth fell open in slight surprise. He acknowledged that this was the very first time, upon their meeting, that he had called her by her given name. A flash of movement drew his attention. His dark gaze fell on the second engineer who had stepped forward 1.457 feet.

"I must interject that the Chief Engineer's project is not finished at this time. I would further hypnotize that she be given more time this evening to complete the shared power grid," Ra'Vesti stated calmly.

"You overestimate the terran stamina," Spock corrected blithely, "rest will be required, and nutrient intake, before she is at optimal capacity to complete the grid."

"Oh, I already ate," James commented quickly," Ra'vesti showed me to the cafeteria."

Spock's eye narrowed a fraction of an inch. That information was displeasing.

"However," the terran female continued amicably," I am rather tired, and I agree that rest might be in order."

Spock nodded gently, but his gaze remained locked on the other male. Cultural history prevented anything as base as an altercation. Though, they were once a savage race, Spock had not forgotten the teachings of Surak, and he settled for refusing to back down from the equally fierce glance. He was certain that the terran female was unaware of what a taboo fighting amongst his people was. He calculated that should one of them lose emotional control, she would see it firsthand. However, that outcome must be prevented at all costs for James would become hurt in such an altercation.

"Um…well, it was really nice working with you Ra'Vesti," the female stated happily, and Spock felt his eyes narrow in reaction, "I will see you tomorrow."

"Indeed," the other male nodded stoically.

Spock did not see fit to correct the assumption of the other parties. "Come, James," he repeated blandly.

He watched her walk to his side with a mask of calm, but her increased stress hormones told a different tale. While Spock was not pleased that she had taken such a large risk with the lives of his crew, himself, and potentially crippled the ship, he would wait to discuss it with her in a more private setting.

His strides were longer than hers as he walked swiftly out of the Engineering bay. He watched as the woman exerted herself to keep up with his pace. Her breath came out in short huffs, that Spock found to be an inoffensive quality. His dark gaze slanted over her form, and he noted that she was indeed fatiguing. The terran physiological structure was inferior to that of a Vulcan, and there was a note of… concern for her wellbeing, illogical though that was.

He also needed to broach the subject of returning to Vulcan. He would be required to dissolve the bond with T'Pring prior to offering Koon-ut-so-lik, a declaration for a different mate than his betrothed. Spock understood that should the dissolution of the bond not be accepted without challenge, then T'Pring could choose Kal-if-fee, and force him to enter combat as in times of old. He had considered, and found it improbable, that T'Pring would be allowed to face him in combat herself. He consented that it would be far simpler if she chose such a venue.

Also, he had made arrangements in his formidable mental capacities to ensure that Ra'Vesti would not remain a threat his James was aboard his ship. Once they were on Vulcan, and Spock contacted the nearest Terran embassy to finalize James' transfer to the Vulcan Science Core, he could easily bar Ra'Vesti from admittance into his ancestral domicile. He noted that he still needed to discuss with James her transfer from Starfleet to the Vulcan Science Core. The stoic male had already predicted a favorable outcome.

It was only logical.

The doors to the turbo lift opened and Spock guided her down the hallway to the medical bay doors. He turned to gaze down at the blue eyes of the terran female as he punched in the access code. He watched her dart a gaze to her companions.

"I will return for you at the end of my shift at exactly 06:00. We shall play a game of chess in my quarters. In the mean time you are restricted to the Medical bay at all times. Furthermore, you shall have no contact with any male crewmembers outside of myself. Are my instructions clear?" Spock asked neutrally.

James blinked at him as her face scrunched in confusion. "Yes, Captain, perfectly clear."

"You are permitted to call me Spock."

"Oh, very well Spock," she reiterated with a flash of amusement in her eyes, "Please call me Jim."

"I have already taken the liberty of calling you James," the Vulcan responded before he turned back to the now closed doors to exit.

His gaze pierced hers one last time. "I remind you to follow my instructions, Farewell James."

A bloom of confusion and concern sparked behind her expressive eyes. "Er…Ok… goodnight Spock."

"It is not night, as space has no clear definitive passing of sunlight," he responded before closing the door in James's bemused face.

OoOoOo

Jim normally would have contested such restrictions on her person, but she had technically endangered the lives of everyone on board the vessel. So there really was no viable reason to be upset with the demands of the Captain. However, that did not stop the fissure of ire that worked its way into her thoughts. For the fact was, in all honesty, he was treating her like a child.

So she lacked a little self-discipline! Who didn't?

Jim let her gaze wander to the closed door in silent contemplation of all that had taken place. Thought she was still exceedingly happy that her power grid had worked. 'More or less,' she amended quietly, 'I still have to calibrate the full potential and figure out how long the warm-up sequencing will take.'

"What the hell was that?"

Jim whirled to stare at Nyota's confused, and slightly upset, face.

"I…might have done something you are going to yell at me for," the blonde flashed a large smile.

"What else is new?"

"Hey, I have feelings you know."

"Stupidity is not a feeling," the linguist bit out sarcastically.

"Alright, maybe I deserved that one," Jim conceded sheepishly.

Nyota's eyes narrowed at her dangerously. "What did you do?"

"Remember when I told you about the warp-core power grid?"

"Vaguely," the other woman replied unhelpfully.

"Well, it has to do with that," Jim started evenly, "and me hooking up to the core before extensive testing…"

Nyota blinked in surprise and shock. "You did what?"

"Remember, you can't kill me. There are witnesses," the engineer stated glibly in the face of what could only be termed 'extreme fury'.

"Death would be too good for you," the linguist hissed.

"You're right, I shall live forever," Jim declared with a sly smile, which, broke through the previous anger.

"Well, that explains why you were confined to the med bay," the other woman shot her a knowing glance, "but it doesn't explain why you can't be near any 'male' crewmembers."

"Oh, thank God! I thought I was the only one who was confused," Jim nearly gushed in relief," it's a little weird right?"

"More than a little… but yeah, it's weird."

"How weird?" Jim queried curiously.

"Captain Scott abstaining from alcohol weird," Nyota replied in all seriousness.

Jim gasped before she could help herself.

"You lie," Jim stated playfully.

"Well, yes, but not now," Nyota responded primly.

"If I didn't know better, I would almost think Captain Spock is interested in you," the other woman speculated loudly.

The two terran women turned to seek out T'Starla, who did not even acknowledge them. Disappointed, the two women turned back to one another. Jim still felt as if the Vulcan woman was paying attention to their conversation. However, she could prove nothing, and therefore, remained quiet about her suspicions.

"Interested in me as an engineer, perhaps, or maybe even as an 'illogical' being," Jim continued with a trace of sadness in her words.

Nyota tipped her head to the side, staring at Jim with a question burning in her eyes. "Maybe, but I don't think that's it at all."

Jim looked at Noyta with helpless curiosity. "Oh yeah? Then what do you propose I do?"

"Ah…," the linguist began, "I have no idea. To say that this has never really happened before would be an understatement."

"I was afraid you'd say that," Jim muttered unhappily, "Don't you know anything that might help me? Perhaps something from Vulcan history? Hell. I'd settle for a proverb at this point."

"What else can I say? When you do things Jim, you certainly don't do them in half-measures," Nyota snorted in dismissal.

Jim groaned, slamming her head on the table. "Fuck me…"

"If I am right, I think that was the plan already," the other woman stated in horrified amusement.

"…I hate you so much right now," Jim said, refusing to look up at her friend.

"I wouldn't say that, if I were you. From the looks of it, I'm the only one that doesn't want in your pants."

Jim looked up with a crestfallen expression. "You don't?"

"Nope," Uhura assured firmly, "not even a little."

"Well, that's just damn disappointing," Jim stated blithely, though they both knew it was a joke, Uhura gave her a withering glance.

Ouch, a woman has her pride, you know?

"Deal with it."

Jim rolled her eyes softly. "I'm holding back the tears as we speak."

The chuckle told her Nyota was calming down, though Jim was still more than a little freaked out. She had no idea that so many species found humans alluring. How was she supposed to know that Romulans didn't understand a simple word like 'no'? She also didn't have the faintest idea what was going on with Bones. Half the time he wanted to protect her from other men and the other half of the time, he wanted to be like the men he protected her from.

"It just doesn't make any sense, Jim," the linguist continued, "from everything I have ever learned on Vulcans, they don't act this way. I mean, maybe toward a bond-mate…"

Blue eyes snapped up sharply. "A what?"

"A bond-mate, it's the equivalent of Vulcan marriage," Nyota explained patiently, "They are touch telepaths that create a mental link with the person they choose to spend the rest of their lives with. But, Vulcans are first bonded at the age of seven, so this really doesn't make a lick of sense-"

"Seven?" The engineer asked incredulously.

"Yes… seven," Nyota rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Can I finish?"

"Sorry, go ahead."

"As I was saying, they are first bonded or engaged at seven as all Vulcans are."

"All of them?"

"Jim, this is going to take a really long time if you keep interrupting me."

"Yeah, yeah sorry. But could you answer my question first?"

"Yes, all Vulcans are betrothed at the age of seven, and married in their twenties," the linguist continued informatively, "Although, there is some discrepancy on why it occurs in their twenties, sometimes earlier or later. It really depends on the Vulcan."

The blonde contemplated the statement seriously. "So, that would mean that Captain Spock…?"

"Is most likely married," Nyota finished.

Jim scowled down at her hands. Well that just sucked! The Vulcan Captain was pretty attractive in her opinion, and he was extremely intelligent. She liked that in a man, who didn't honestly? Now she had to find out that, not only wasn't he interested in her, but he had some prime Vulcan wife at home. Ugh! Now on top of that dream-crushing news, she had to go play chess with him?

Some part of her had still been irked that he demanded she play with him. In all honestly, she wasn't naïve enough to think he had asked in any culture. For a moment, a wisp of a half-formed thought wondered why, before it was whisked away by her growing animosity toward her situation.

Suddenly, she wondered if she shouldn't have agreed to Maelrok's proposition. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. 'No, that would have been worse,' she corrected her errant thoughts. Still, Vulcans and Romulans were somehow related, she was sure. So they were equally attractive, but the whole 'blowing her out of space' was still a sore spot for Jim.

Go Figure.

"Are you listening?" Uhura demanded to her right.

Jim snapped her gaze back to her friend with a sheepish grin, "Um…no?"

The glare leveled in her direction had the engineer sitting straighter.

"Sorry," Jim wheedled gently.

"Why do I bother associating with you?"

"Because I'm oh so cute and attract alien men like files to honey?" The sarcastic question was past her lips before Jim could stop herself.

"I don't see how that is a positive," the linguist shot her a sideways glance.

"Well," Jim pointed out amused, "it's never boring around me."

"True."

"So, you were saying?"

"It's just odd! If you were his bond-mate, then it would all make sense… well mostly anyway, but Vulcan's don't mate outside of their own race. Well, not that I have ever heard of anyway. And Captain Spock likely already has a bond-mate, so it is just a little perplexing."

Jim quirked a brow at the linguist, she really wanted to ask her how hard she needed to rub it in. Because, really, Jim was just about done being lectured on how an attractive man possibly liking her was 'perplexing'. She needed more complimentary friends.

An expression of concern passed over her friends face. "You haven't…done anything with him, have you?"

A hot blush decorated Jim's cheeks at the implication. "No," She hissed louder than necessary, "I haven't 'done' anything with him."

"You're sure?"

"Nyota! I think I would know if I had."

The darker terran looked nonplussed. "Like you knew with the Klingons?"

"You swore you would never bring that up!" Jim exclaimed in embarrassment and anger. "And I already told you that nothing happened!"

"So, you were declared a bride by the heir of the house for no reason?"

"Exactly," The blonde stated firmly.

"Right."

"Shut up Uhura, and don't tell me you can't because you can certainly say it well enough in twenty languages."

James refused to look at the linguist until Spock came to collect her. 'Stupid married for most of their lives, Vulcans!' She thought irately. She wasn't all that upset about him being taken. No, it was perfectly 'logical' and all that nonsense. That is exactly why she hated it.

Didn't Vulcans ever make any irrational decisions?