"It is quite simple really," Ziggy said sitting up on his bed, hands clasped together on his lap. "I wanted to encourage you to... Well... Declare your feelings for the man -er Vulcan."

"Feelings? What feelings?"

"The ones I can taste from all the way on the other side of the planet," Ziggy replied. "I usually stay away from visitors... Drive them away with my tricks because I prefer to live alone in my grief. But the moment you two stepped foot in Anthea, I knew."

"Knew what? What are you talking about?"

"The dreams only confirmed it," Ziggy continued, ignoring Jim. "I drugged you, Captain, and then I decided to help you. You should thank me, my plan is almost complete and you shall have yourself your-"

"You drugged us? How? Helping us with what? What are you taking about?"

"Getting you and Mr Spock together of course!" Ziggy jumped up from his bed and stretched. "You love him a much as he loves you, you just don't know it yet because he doesn't know it. It's all complicated, I assure you. But it is the truth.

"I smelt it from that first step. I heard your heart beat increase exponentially when Mr. Spock came near you. The pheromones you produce are very ... Yummy. My race we... We long since learned to suppress them ... So the smell is like dilithium crystals to us... Or rather me since my people are gone. So you see I know you love him by the smell. And I know he does as well."

"You're making that up," kirk said taken aback. Spock couldn't possibly like him in that way. After a moment he added, "Spock doesn't have feelings for anything let alone me."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Ziggy said. "I bet that if you go to his quarters... He'll let you in and sexy times will happen."

"Sexy times?" Kirk asked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I dare you, Kirk." Ziggy walked towards Kirk, his pace measured and intimidating. He clenched his fists, trying not to grab the man and shake him until he saw reason. He had to do this calmly, he had to do this right or it would never work. "Don't believe me? Go to Spock's room and prove me wrong."

"Prove you wrong? How?"

"Simple," Ziggy said with a smile, "don't sleep with him."

Jim ran to Spock's quarters, bumping into crewmembers as he did so. He had to get to Spock before he lost his nerve. Ziggy was lying and it didn't take a Vulcan to know that. Finding out why required a Vulcan but at the moment the only thing on Jim's mind was proving the orange haired bastard wrong. Spock was not in love with him and he had not slept with Ziggy thinking it was Jim. No matter how much Jim wanted that to be true. The alien was just playing with him.

What for? What could he possibly have to gain by lying? He asked himself. No answer came. Ziggy had no reason. The man was just lonely and this was entertaining for him. Jim had encountered many sociopaths in his life but this guy had to top them all. He was truly twisted, this one - a real, proper sociopath who enjoyed toying with others. And I let him on my ship.

As he reached Spock's quarters, Jim slowed down. But even if he stopped running, his hands wouldn't stop shaking and his heart beating. Adrenaline rush or nerves, he couldn't tell as he raised his hand to Spock's door.

"This is it," Jim murmured to himself. "Let's find out the truth."

Spock sat in the middle of his room, his breathing well below normal. He was meditating, his mother's vanilla candles burning on a nearby stand bringing him further into his mind with each breath he took. McCoy had given him much to think about. For a man so set in his old ways, the Doctor did have a surplus of advice to give out regarding what he called 'puppy love'. Spock did not understand that allusion but he had pledged to listen and think about what the Doctor said. And so, on his return to his quarters two point three-five hours ago the Vulcan meditated.

He had a lot to think about, staying on the Enterprise first and foremost. He had slept with his Commanding Officer. He had broken Star Fleet regulation regarding Interspecies Protocols. But that was understandable since his "Intimate relationship" was with his CO and he had gotten permission to proceed. He was reading too much into it. It wasn't like the Captain was going to file a complaint about him. Spock did most of Kirk's workload, anyway.

I would postulate that Jim has some feelings for me but does not wish the rest of the ship to know. And yet, he has made me feel – no, Vulcan's do not feel - like just another one of his conquests. But it bothers me more than it should. I gave into temptation after weeks – no, months – of …

Spock took a deep breath, letting his lungs expand as wide as they possibly could before expelling the air. It felt good to let everything out. He cleared his mind, trying to think of nothing and everything at once. He had to get rid of his emotions for Captain Kirk. He was Vulcan and Vulcan's do not feel.

"Captain Kirk… Kirk… Jim… T'hy'la…no!" His eyes opened as the last word left his mouth. He sat perfectly still, his whole body tense, as he tried to find out where that word had come from. It was not valid. Jim was not his beloved and he had no right to call him that. It was wrong… but it didn't feel wrong. "No..."

Spock snapped out of his trance as the cold air of the ship hit him in the face. The door to his quarters had been opened and there was only one person with the authority to do that. Jim. Spock looked towards the door and sure enough Captain James T. Kirk was standing in front of his now closed door looking dishevelled.

"Spock."

"Captain."

"We need to talk."

"Indeed."