Three Days Later

Archer Hall was abuzz with activity because all of the freshmen were either preparing to go watch the game or play in the game. The only one quiet was Pavel and he chose to sit in the common area, silently watching everyone else's excitement since he was unable to play.

Every once in a while, a group of students would pass by and wave to Pavel and Pavel, being ever grateful to be alive and well, waved back. He would take himself to the game later on, but he didn't want to really go sit on the bench and watch and Pike wasn't going to force him.

"…Pavel, are you going to the game?" Hikaru asked as he came into the common area wearing his Academy uniform and carrying a duffel bag. "It's supposed to be an interesting game."

Pavel shrugged, "Eet eez a hockey game and I cannot play, but ze team knows I am zere een speereet," he replied calmly. "Keptin Pike said I deed not hawe to go eef I did not vant to."

"Maybe it's better if you didn't come," Hiakru spoke softly. "I've heard that people from the Romulan government got permission to come watch the game. I don't know why they…"

Pavel frowned, "Vhy vould ze Romulans care about ze Academy?" he asked in a worried voice.

A retching sound suddenly echoed down the hallway that prompted both Hikaru and Pavel to follow it. They came to an open door and were shocked to see Jim standing in the bathroom doorway with his back to the hall, watching as Leonard threw up violently in the toilet.

"Vat eez going on?" Pavel asked in a concerned voice. "Eez Doctor McCoy okay?"

There was a sigh and Leonard leaned against the bathroom wall with a hand on his stomach, "I started chemotherapy yesterday and it's getting to me," he replied shakily. "I…I can't go."

"Maybe I should…." Jim spoke, the words dying on his lips. "I just can't leave you alone."

Pavel sighed, "I veel stay veeth heem," he volunteered. "You and Heekaru go play."

Jim nodded, deeply relieved and Pavel silently entered the room. Both Leonard and Pavel remained quiet as Jim gathered his stuff and left, "How are you feeling?" Pavel asked softly.

Leonard sighed wearily, "I could really use some time in bed, but I don't have the energy to get up," he replied in a weakened voice, struggling to stay awake. "I might just sleep here."

Frowning, Pavel walked over to Leonard and offered his good hand, "Pavel, you're not supposed to be doing any heavy lifting," Leonard said weakly. "That includes lifting me."

"Just shut up and let me help you," Pavel replied in a stern voice, grabbing Leonard's hand and pulling him to his feet with little effort. "Ze chores alvays had to be done ewen eef I vas hurt."

Deeply surprised, Leonard allowed Pavel to guide him to bed and get him situated under the blankets, "My fazzer vas a wiolent drunk who beat me and zen made me vork so he could go associate veeth ze vomen," Pavel explained as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Better?"

"I might sleep," Leonard spoke groggily, his eyes drooping. "You can watch the game…"

Leonard's words faded away as he dropped off to sleep and Pavel made sure there was a bucket by the bed in case Leonard woke and needed it. He then made his way out to the common room's kitchenette that was always fully stocked with snacks and tea and proceeded to make a very strong herbal tea for Leonard in case he woke needing something.

Once the tea was ready, Pavel returned to the dorm room, set the tea on the bedside table, and then settled himself in front of the small television that was near the room's microwave and sink. He quickly turned it on and found the channel where the game was slowly unfolding.

Starfleet Hockey Academy Arena

"…And Orion and Kirk skate up for the face off," Professor Sanchez said over the microphone from the safety of the faculty box that sat high above the bleachers. "This looks intense."

Gaila grinned mischievously at Jim as they lowered their sticks to try and get the puck away from one another, "Happy to see me, Jim?" she asked eagerly, smiling through her visor.

"I'm happy Pike thought I was ready for this," Jim replied as he waited for the puck to drop.

Just then, the referee dropped the puck and Jim found himself lunging forward and sailing towards the Farragut's goal with the puck on his stick, "Kirk has the puck and is on a breakaway!" Sanchez shouted over the microphone. "The Farragut players are trying….!"

A roar filled the crowd as Jim swung at the goal and the puck went flying through the air, only landing when it had hit the net of the goal, "KIRK SCORES!" Sanchez yelled over the mike.

Almost immediately, Spock, Giotto, Hikaru, and the other members of the Enterprise Team except for Nyota who were on the ice skated over to Jim, "Not bad, Kirk," Giotto said happily.

"Nero, this Kirk boy is strong like his father was," Ayel commented from his seat in the Romulan Ambassadorial Box as he watched the game continue. "I remember stories my father told."

Nero, who was helping himself to a stiff drink just to get himself through the game he considered an embarrassment due to inferior playing, scoffed, "James Kirk was in jail and squatted in the closed arena, so I see very little potential in him," he replied coldly.

Ayel bit his lip, but continued to watch the game and frowned when he saw a young man who he recognized as Ambassador Sarek's son pull off a figure skating move to distract members of the Farragut Team just enough so that Hikaru could score, "Hmm," he said quietly.

"Good job, Spock!" Amanda shouted from the next box over. "That's my boy!"

Nero frowned and looked over at the Vulcan box, his glare deepening as he saw Amanda standing up in the box and clapping as hard as she could while Sarek looked on. He didn't yell at her to stop, however, as he knew that yelling at the Vulcans would create hostility.

Down on the ice, Spock smiled at his mother and skated over to the bench for a brief moment to get a few sips of Gatorade because he was beginning to feel shaky, "Spock, take a break," Admiral Pike said, noticing that Spock was starting to pale. "Riley, Tomlinson, get out there."

Nodding, Spock climbed into the box, sat down, and began to slowly sip his Gatorade, sighing softly as Hikaru returned to the bench, "Feeling okay, Spock?" Hikaru asked worriedly.

"I am feeling adequate," Spock replied tonelessly. "Why has Kirk not yet taken a break?"

Hikaru glanced at the overhead clock, which said the first period was nearly over, and shrugged as he looked back at Spock, "Kirk's a ball of energy," he replied breathlessly. "He's…."

Just then, the alarm signifying the end of the period sounded and all of the players crowded around the Enterprise bench, "You're all doing very well," Captain Pike said reassuringly.

"Kirk's been on the ice the whole period," Hendorff snipped. "How is that fair to anyone?"

Jim scowled and Spock sighed, "Mister Kirk's energy level is sufficient enough that I encourage him to contribute as much to this team as he desires," he explained tonelessly. "I, unfortunately, must limit my time on the ice in games because my body responds much differently to intense physical situations than everyone else's. It is for the good of the team."

"Would you rather I didn't play at all, Cupcake?" Jim asked coldly. "I can always stop."

Captain Pike scowled, "Nobody is quitting and stop fighting with each other right now," he ordered in a stern voice, scowling at Hendorff. "Mister Hendorff, sit in the box and I want you to think about how very grateful you should be. Sulu, Kirk, Uhura, Giotto, and Riley, go."

"I wish McCoy was here," Nyota said breathlessly. "He's better in the goal than I am."

Captain Pike sighed, "Do you really think McCoy planned to have cancer just so you would have to take the goalie position for a while, Miss Uhura?" he asked sternly as the horn blared.

Feeling chastened, Nyota went to the goal and watched as Hikaru, Jim, Giotto, and Riley ventured on to the ice, "How are the Romulan delegates enjoying themselves?" Spock asked tonelessly, a frown on his face. "From what I saw in passing, they did not look happy."

"Don't worry about it, Spock," Captain Pike spoke kindly. "Your concern is doing your best in the game today, which I know you are capable of. Let the Romulans worry about themselves."

Spock nodded, "Am I needed on the ice?" he asked even though he still felt a little shaky.

"Spock, take your time," Captain Pike replied calmly. "I don't want you fainting out there."

Nodding, Spock remained seated and silently hoped that he could play again very soon.

Romulan Ambassadorial Box

"Would you care for some lunch, sirs?" Nero heard a voice say as the door to the box opened and footsteps entered the room. "This is a courtesy that is offered to all ambassadors…"

Raising an eyebrow, Nero turned and saw a young man standing there in an Academy uniform pushing a tray full of sandwiches, bags of chips, and trays of soda, "My name is Cadet Finnegan and I've been assigned to serve the ambassadors today," Finnegan explained in a curt voice.

"Bitter about something?" Nero asked in a cold voice. "You sound extremely upset."

Finnegan sighed, "I apologize," he replied quietly. "Please don't tell Captain Pike."

Nero looked amused and Finnegan sighed, "I was kicked off the Enterprise Team for conduct unbecoming of a student," he explained quietly. "It's a season long suspension."

"Oh, well, you're awfully young to be getting into conflicts," Nero said in a soothing voice even though he was not that much older. "We're simply here to watch a game; not to judge."

Finnegan nodded and Nero looked at the tray of food, "Now, I believe you said something about offering food to the ambassadors?" he asked calmly. "We would enjoy a meal."

"Of course, Ambassador Nero, right away," Finnegan replied, setting the offered lunch out on the table just as a cell phone went off and was quickly answered by an anxious Ayel.

Nero kept quiet as Finnegan set out the food and headed to the door, "Cadet Finnegan, perhaps you should consider the summer term's study abroad program," Nero said in an official voice. "A few Asian countries, including Romulus and Vulcan, do offer the option."

"I'll think about it, sir," Finnegan replied quietly. "That is up to the professors to decide…"

Nero smirked, but nodded silently as Finnegan left with the cart, "Nero, that was the Botany Bay Embassy," Ayel explained in a hushed voice. "Apparently, Ambassador Khan is on house arrest and that Chekov brat is refusing to communicate with him despite multiple pleas."

"That torture wasn't enough to break Chekov?" Nero hissed angrily. "Does he need more?"

Ayel scowled, "We're not allowed to leave the box until the game is over," he hissed.

Nero smirked and pressed the service button, "Perhaps that food server can be of help," he hissed, smirking as Finnegan swiftly returned to the box. "Cadet Finnegan, I need a favor."

"A favor, Ambassador Nero?" Finnegan asked in a quiet voice. "Would you like more food?"

Nero shook his head, "I was wondering if there was a Pavel Chekov here?" he asked in a diplomatic voice. "I heard about his father on the news and I wish to express my condolences."

"You'll have to talk to Captain Pike about anything to do with Chekov," Finnegan replied in a curious voice, giving Nero a look. "I believe Captain Pike is Chekov's legal guardian."

Nero looked amused, "I think Chekov's like almost 16," Finnegan said in a gruff voice.

"Oh, can he not have a conversation with a classmate?" Nero asked in a cold voice.

Finnegan snickered, "Chekov's sort of babyish for his age," he replied, deeply amused.

Nero nodded and smirked, "Unfortunately, Chekov's also absent from the game today because he hasn't been medically cleared to play," Finnegan commented. "His arm's still in a cast."

"Oh, my," Nero replied, faking concern even though he himself had been present when Andrei and Khan had tried to murder Pavel in New York. "How on earth did that happen?"

Finnegan hesitated, "The news didn't go into depth about Chekov's injuries, only about what happened," he replied nervously. "Chekov got beat up pretty bad and can't remember it."

Nero faked looking concerned, "Actually, Captain Pike said we shouldn't really be asking Chekov about it and just act supportive," Finnegan said quietly. "I don't think he came today."

Just then, the horn sounded and Finnegan sighed, "I'd better go," he said apologetically.

Nero nodded and Finnegan left, "Nero, what are your thoughts?" Ayel asked calmly.

Swallowing hard, Nero faced forward and smirked as he began to formulate a plan.

"That was a good game," Gaila said, grinning at Jim as she came out of the Farragut Team's locker room wearing her street clothes nearly an hour later and saw him wearing his glasses. "Nice glasses."

Jim smiled as Gaila planted herself on his lap, "They make me look intelligent," he reasoned.

"Oh, you were plenty intelligent out on that ice today, Kirk," Gaila spoke seductively.

A smirk crossed Jim's face as Gaila cuddled close to him, "Dinner tonight?" she asked softly.

"Does that mean your dad approves?" Jim asked nervously. "I didn't think he liked me."

Gaila smiled and gently hugged Jim, "I'll order something and we can have dinner in the common area," she replied gently as she got off his lap. "See you later tonight."

Jim nodded and smiled as Gaila left, but his smile quickly faded as he thought about Leonard and how he was feeling. Quickly zipping up his coat, Jim silently hurried out of the arena.

It was a short walk back to the dorms and when he arrived, Jim was surprised to see Leonard asleep in bed while Pavel sat at the desk, silently reading an English textbook.

"How did it go here?" Jim asked in a quiet voice, gazing at Pavel. "I was worried…"

Pavel sighed as he looked up at Jim, "Eweryseeng vas fine," he replied quietly, swallowing hard as he stood up and set the book on the bed. "I borrowed your textbook to read for a beet."

Jim nodded and frowned, "Where's your book at?" he asked worriedly. "Do you have one?"

Pavel looked reluctant, "Eet vas stolen out of my room vile I vas een hospeetal, I guess," he replied in a nervous voice. "Zey are all out at ze bookstore and I do not vant to vorry Keptin Pike, so I just take many notes during ze classes and use Heekaru's vhen he eez busy."

"You can hang out if you want," Jim replied in a worried voice. "I dunno where Sulu is."

Pavel shook his head, "I am going to go to my dorm," he replied quietly. "See you."

Jim frowned as Pavel left, "Jim, how was the game?" he suddenly heard a sleepy voice ask.

"We beat Farragut by one," Jim replied, sighing as Leonard opened his eyes and slowly sat up in bed, only to peer at the cup of tea sitting on the bedside table. "I guess Chekov made that."

Leonard nodded and helped himself to the tea, "It's good," he replied groggily. "Where is he?"

"Chekov went back to his dorm," Jim replied quietly. "Did you feel like eating something?"

Leonard shook his head and remained where he was, "I'd honestly rather just rest today," he replied in a tired voice. "I need to do some homework, but I'd like to stay in bed to do it."

Jim nodded and frowned as he suddenly noticed a woman pass by their dorm and travel down the hallway. Curious about who the woman was, Jim silently left the dorm just as the woman disappeared into the room where he knew Spock took up residence during the year.

As Jim reached Spock's room, however, he was surprised to see the door open and Spock resting on his bed while the woman sat on the edge of his bed. Spock looked very tired, but immediately looked at Jim, as did Amanda, "Mister Kirk," Spock said in a tired voice.

"Spock, are you okay?" Jim asked in a concerned voice. "Who…who's your company?"

Amanda smiled, "I'm Amanda Grayson," she replied calmly. "I am Spock's mother."

Jim nodded, "Jim Kirk," he replied in a concerned voice. "Spock, are you okay?"

"I suffer from extremely unpredictable hypoglycemia," Spock replied tonelessly. "Because of it, Captain Pike does not let me skate very long during each game and I am required to keep food on me at all times. I serve as team captain by mentoring or teaching the players since I cannot be of help during the games. I skated much longer today than I normally have and I am tired."

Jim nodded and Amanda quietly gave Spock a shot, "Just rest, sweetie," Amanda said gently as she picked up a small bag from the floor and quietly put the empty needle away. "It'll kick in."

"Thank you, Mother," Spock replied tonelessly. "I will make an appointment with Phlox."

Amanda nodded and gently patted Spock's arm, "Do you need anything before I go?" she asked in a gentle voice as she stood up and set the kit on the bed. "I think your juice is in the fridge."

"I'm just going to rest," Spock spoke quietly. "Thank you for coming and helping me, Mother."

Smiling, Amanda gently kissed Spock's cheek and silently left the room and Jim followed suit, as he wasn't sure how to help Spock when he could barely help himself. As Jim moved away from the door, he noticed Finnegan go into the room he knew belonged to Pavel and Hikaru.

Deeply concerned that Pavel might be in trouble, as he knew Hikaru was off with friends, Jim crept down the hallway and paused outside the door, "…Vat do you vant?" he heard Pavel ask.

There was a silence and a loud crash, followed by more silence. Shaking anxiously, Jim pushed on the door and found it to be locked. He ran over to the nearest window just in time to see Finnegan dragging an unconscious Pavel towards a car that was waiting at the nearby road.

Jim swore loudly and, taking out the camera Leonard had bought him for Christmas, he snapped several photos and did a brief recording of what he was seeing. He then put the camera away and quickly slammed his hand against the alarm meant for emergencies.

Without waiting to see who would respond, Jim tore out of Archer Hall and reached the road just as the car tore away at a high speed, "CHEKOV!" he shouted, his anger growing strong.

"Kirk, are you SURE you didn't hear Finnegan say anything?" Hendorff, who was helping the campus Security officers with this investigation as part of his police training, asked as he walked over to the open door where Jim was lingering. "We have the photos and recording you took…"

Jim sighed, "Kirk's already given you his statement, I believe, Mister Hendorff," Captain Pike said in a stern voice as he came through the sea of cadets that were clustered into the common room, quietly gossiping about what happened. "What did you find in Chekov and Sulu's room?"

"A needle containing some sort of drug and a piece of paper listing an address in Montana," Hendorff replied gravely. "We also found blood and signs of a struggle. Everything has been…"

Captain Pike sighed, "Security is already talking with Dean Archer," he replied gravely, frowning as a door opened and Spock suddenly came out of his dorm looking very pale. "Spock?"

"I was in the middle of resting and I heard a commotion," Spock stated in a shaky voice.

Captain Pike nodded, "Pavel Chekov was kidnapped from his dormitory," he explained in a somber voice, frowning as Spock nodded and silently retreated back into his dormitory.

There was a heavy silence and then Captain Pike turned to the crowd of students, "Nobody is to leave Archer Hall without a Security escort even for classes until this mess is resolved," he said in a firm voice. "For now, all cadets are to remain inside and follow the Academy rules."

Silence filled Archer Hall as the cadets retreated to furniture or their dormitories to process what had just happened. Eventually, only Leonard, Nyota, Hikaru, Jim, Gaila, and Giotto remained in the common area and none of them knew what to say to each other.

Eventually, Nyota walked off to Spock's dormitory and knocked on the door to see if he wanted to get a Security escort and go to supper at the canteen. However, Spock didn't answer the door immediately as he usually did and after several moments, she looked back at the group.

"Something's wrong," Nyota said in a concerned voice. "Spock always answers very quickly."

Ignoring the trembling in her hands, Nyota forced the door open and swore loudly when she saw Spock laying on the floor close to his bed unconscious with a glass lying next to him.

Leonard immediately dashed over to where Spock lay and began to check Spock's vitals, "Spock has hypoglycemia," Jim said, remembering what Spock had said. "He was resting earlier."

"Jim, get my medical bag from the dorm," Leonard replied in a concerned voice, his own illness temporarily forgotten as he tried to make Spock comfortable. "His breathing is really slow."

Jim quickly obliged and Nyota quickly used the phone to contact the campus medical services and request medical help to Archer Hall while everyone else watched, deeply concerned.

Starfleet Academy Infirmary

Night had fallen and curfew had long passed, but Jim found himself sitting in the waiting room with Nyota, Hikaru, and a Security officer that they had persuaded to escort them there. Leonard had come with Spock to the hospital and was now helping Phlox treat him at that late hour.

"I didn't know a hockey game would affect Spock so badly," Jim commented worriedly.

Nyota scoffed, "It's not just the game," she replied sharply. "Spock's under a lot of stress."

Hikaru frowned, "Spock never gets stressed," he replied disbelievingly. "He's all together."

"Your parents are also diplomats, Sulu," Nyota snapped. "Being the child of one is very…"

Jim frowned, "Wait, I would think Spock would get along with his parents," he commented in a confused voice, frowning at Nyota. "I met his mother earlier and she seemed very nice…"

"If you three are done arguing, I have some news," Leonard said as he entered the room, having heard his friends's voices as he came down the hallway. "Spock is stable now."

Nyota looked relieved and rose, but Leonard held a hand out, "Phlox has contacted Spock's parents and just wants Spock to rest tonight," he explained in a tired voice. "I've also contacted Captain Pike and he'll be making sure Spock gets what he needs in terms of recovery time."

"Are his parents coming to see him?" Nyota asked in a concerned voice. "He's their son."

Leonard sighed and Nyota scowled as she shot up, "Either show me where he is or I will sit out here all night," she hissed angrily, glaring at Leonard. "His father isn't going to come tonight."

"It's Phlox's decision, not mine," Leonard replied in a tired voice. "Just go back to your dorms."

Before Nyota could argue, Leonard swallowed hard and leaned against the admit desk with a hand on his head, "Bones, are you okay?" Jim asked in a concerned voice. "Is it the chemo?"

Scowling, Leonard silently laid down on a corner couch in the waiting area and closed his eyes, placing his hands in the pockets of his lab coat as he did, "I'll be fine in a minute," he grumbled.

"You haven't eaten today, have you?" Jim asked worriedly. "All you had was that tea…"

Leonard sighed, unaware that Captain Pike had made his way into the hospital and was now eyeing the small group with great concern for them. Jim and Nyota, however, noticed Captain Pike and frowned as he joined them on the couches looking rather tired and somber.

"Security told me that you three had come to the hospital," Captain Pike said quietly.

Jim nodded and Captain Pike sighed, "Spock very much likes to keep to himself, but it's good that he has you as friends and teammates," Captain Pike explained calmly. "It is rather late, however, and I would like all of you to go back to Archer Hall. You can return tomorrow."

"My roommate's dead asleep on the couch," Jim replied, gesturing to Leonard.

Captain Pike nodded and sighed before clearing his throat, which prompted Leonard to wake briefly, "Doctor McCoy, I think you, Sulu, Kirk, and Uhura had better return to Archer Hall," he said in a calm, but firm voice. "I'll walk you back since I need to be getting back home myself."

In silence, Leonard, Jim, Hikaru, and Nyota all rose and followed Captain Pike from the hospital, across the wintry campus, and into the safety of Archer Hall. Captain Pike watched as each cadet retreated to their dorms before he silently disappeared into the night to be with his grief.

As Captain Pike trudged across campus to his home, he dwelled on where Pavel might be and his heart sank; Finnegan had served meals to ambassadors at the game and might have been instructed by someone to kidnap Pavel. Khan wanted to talk to Pavel and might have found a way to do it, as it was well known that Botany Bay and Romulus were strong allies and friends.

"The blindfold is so unsuitable. I expect it to be gone by the time you reach Botany Bay."

Pavel flinched as he felt something sharp strike his back and blinked as he felt his vision blur, "Ah, the journey was rough on him," Khan's voice said. "Pavel…Pavel Chekov, let us talk."

Quickly blinking to right his vision, Pavel found himself face to face with a video phone that had Khan on it, "I do not veesh to talk veeth you," he said in a shaky voice, glaring at Khan.

Khan smirked, "You will learn respect when you are brought to my island, boy," he replied in a cold voice, frowning as he saw Finnegan come into view. "What do you want…who are you?"

"The Ambassadors ordered you to remain in your room!" a guard shouted, grabbing Finnegan.

Instead of pulling away, Finnegan punched the guard so hard that it knocked him into the wall and on to the floor unconscious, "This isn't just about hockey," Finnegan snapped. "Is it?"

"Pavel Chekov is a weak hockey player," Khan hissed. "I do not care about hockey. I only care about diplomacy and if Chekov were hostage, the Vulcans would bow to Romulus…."

Filled with rage that he was being used as nothing more than a pawn for politics he didn't himself understand well, Pavel swore loudly and kicked the video-phone, effectively breaking it.

Anxiety filled Pavel and he sank to his knees, sobbing loudly, "I am going to die and you do not care!" he yelled in an angry voice. "All I vant to do is go to school and play ze game of hockey."

Swallowing hard, Finnegan forced Pavel to his feet and hauled him across the floor, quickly emerging into the sunlight, "The guard was supposed to deliver you to a plane tomorrow," he explained in a shaky voice. "The Romulans promised me a place on their hockey team…"

Pavel frowned as he looked around the desert that they were in, "We're in the Mojave Desert," Finnegan explained in a shaky voice. "We're supposed to stay the night here, I think…."

Finnegan broke off as he saw that Pavel had pulled away from him and was slowly trudging away from the house into the desert, "I vould rather die in ze desert zen among bad people," he said in a sharp voice as Finnegan hurried to catch up with him. "Vat are you doing?"

"You were unconscious and blindfolded during the ride here," Finnegan replied anxiously, the guilt of what he had done weighing on him heavily. "If you want to get back, I will guide you."

Pavel glared at Finnegan briefly and finally nodded, his desire to get back to what he knew greater than his distrust of his classmate, "Just follow me and we should be back in a couple of days on foot," Finnegan said, not expecting Pavel to forgive him. "We should walk quickly."

Nodding, Pavel painstakingly followed Finnegan across the sand as fast as he could, knowing that his very life was on the line. He felt extremely groggy from whatever was in that needle and from being roughed up during the ride, but he knew that he needed to walk quickly.

Not far ahead, Finnegan was trying to accept the fact that he would probably be arrested and jailed for his role in the incident, but he also knew that he had done a very wrong thing.

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