Jim's prediction that gave them a day proved incorrect. They were wrapped in robes playing chess with the fingers of their free hands intertwined (after another session of mutual masturbation in the shower) when the door to his quarters opened to admit a very ruffled looking McCoy. Spock turned to look at the doctor at the same time Jim jumped up, disentangling his hand from Spock's.
"Kirk, Spock, get dressed!" came his hurried shout as he ducked into the room. It spoke volumes of what was happening that McCoy never commented on why they were wrapped in robes in the first place. Jim moved over to his closet as Spock passed to his room.
"What happened?" Jim asked quickly as he slipped the underwear on under his robe and moved to pull on the uniform pants as well.
"The CMO happened to agree with your assessment and went to confront Pike." Bones voice hitched slightly. "Pike has killed Puri and injured Giotto. He's currently holed up down in engineering."
"He killed Puri?" Kirk asked incredulously as he pulled on the black undershirt, not bothering with a uniform tunic yet. Spock rejoined them in time to hear Jim's exclamation.
"Where is Number One?" Spock asked, straightening his blue tunic.
"We don't know," McCoy responded to Spock. He passed them both belts with phasers already holstered. Jim pulled his out and set it to stun. "Scott's down there somewhere, and security is afraid Pike might use him as a hostage."
"Bring us down there," Jim demanded, for a split second forgetting that this wasn't his ship. This wasn't his crew. But that didn't mean anything now as they started towards the lift. Bones went first followed by Jim and Spock. "I want that entire section quartered off. No one goes in or out."
McCoy handed him a communicator and slowed up slightly so he was walking with them. "Sarek has also declared that given the circumstances, you be made acting captain. Said you were the best choice."
Kirk actually grinned to himself before he flipped open the comm and started issuing orders to the security team. It made sense to put him in charge since Sarek knew exactly what he had done in his own universe. They entered the lift as he received confirmation from security.
"Spock, stay with me. Bones, I want you to stand by in case someone does get injured."
Both men nodded. Jim realized that McCoy actually responded to the nickname and another part if his worry at being here settled. The lift stopped and Jim was the first off into the catacombs that were formed by the engineering decks.
He bypassed the security teams, recognizing most of them quickly enough. Jim moved swiftly along the catwalks separating the engines. His eyes traveled over every hidden and dark alcove he passed. Spock stayed close to Jim, his phaser moving with steady precision around the deck.
Jim stalked forward, watching his footing. He didn't see the figure on the ground ahead of him until Spock pulled him to a stop and pointed.
They crept forward until Jim saw the red uniform. The figure was easy enough to recognize and Jim rushed forward, heedless of the potential danger.
"Scotty!" he said as he knelt down next to the engineer, feeling for a pulse. It was faint but there. Beside him, Spock flipped open the communicator.
"Doctor McCoy, we have located engineer Scott."
"I'm on my way," was Bones' reply.
The communicator went off again and Jim heard Chekov's voice. "Commander, ze keptin has taken ze ambassador's shuttle. He is gone, sir."
Jim swore. Loudly and creatively. Spock put a hand on his shoulder as McCoy and the medical team arrived. Jim moved out of the way, walking towards the lift and taking it to the bridge. Spock's fingers found his as they stood in the close confines of lift and Jim closed his eyes against the sense of betrayal he felt. It was stupid, as this Pike was a completely different person than the man he knew.
The lift door opened again and Jim took a step onto the bridge, pausing only slightly. It was his ship again, albeit not how he would have expected. Spock moved to the science console and sat down.
"Chekov, track that shuttle. Sulu, follow it as quickly as we can. Entire ship is to be on red alert. Uhura, hail the shuttle. I want Pike on screen." Everyone reacted with speed, as if they knew to follow his orders without question already.
Jim had a strong sense of deja vu as he sat in the captain's chair and glanced over to the science console where Spock was watching him. He found himself starting to feel the eyes of the crew going to him as they worked.
There was nothing left to do but wait. For news of Scotty, for Pike to answer their hail, for news of Nero's location. Jim wanted to go back a half hour, back to sitting in his room with Spock, petting his hand with Vulcan kisses. He wanted the complications of pursuing the man he respected the most in the universe to vanish.
He wanted his universe back, with the added comfort of Spock being with him. Jim wanted the best of both worlds. But he couldn't have that.
He watched as Sulu turned the ship, going into warp away from Vulcan. "Current heading?"
"Sir, ze Wulcan wessel is headed towards Earth." Chekov turned in his seat and looked at Jim. Sulu glanced over at the navigator before looking towards the captain as well.
Jim nodded and sat back in his seat, watching as the bridge crew did their jobs. He wasn't surprised when Uhura was the first person relieved. She took off, he assumed to sickbay to be with her boyfriend. Chekov and Sulu were next, leaving Jim and Spock with most of Beta shift. Jim stood after it became clear that Pike was not answering and handed over the conn to the Beta shift navigator.
He needed to find an explanation for Pike's behavior, and the first place to start would be with Number One, if she could be located. Spock joined him in the turbolift and watched him carefully.
"Captain, if we maintain these speeds, which are not full warp, we will arrive at Earth in approximately twelve point three minutes."
"I know. I just need to do some stuff first." Jim looked over at Spock. "I'm assigning you the added position of first officer. Please make sure I don't do anything stupid."
Spock tilted his head slightly. "You have a history of such?"
"Yeah," Jim said absently. "I really do." The lift doors opened and he headed towards the captain's quarters, rooms on his ship he had turned into guest quarters. Spock's hand found his, and Jim let himself be comforted by the Vulcan's presence.
