Spock was in the Briefing Room, waiting for his call to Starfleet Command to be answered. Finally it connected. Admiral Pike's secretary answered.
"Admiral Pike." She was brief.
"I need to speak with the admiral," Spock began.
"Who is calling?" the secretary asked.
"Commander Spock, USS Enterprise. Please inform the admiral this is an emergency." Spock gritted his teeth and waited for the call to connect again. Then the secretary returned.
"Admiral Pike is in a meeting. May he return your call?" She was not apologetic.
Spock began to object when the door slid open and Nurse Chapel stood in the doorway. He shook his head. "I will call at another time." He ended the call and walked to the woman. "Jim?" he asked in a whisper.
"He's alive," she responded softly. "Dr. McCoy needs you in Sickbay." She looked at him with her crystal blue eyes full of unshed tears.
Spock was torn. He was in command. But Jim needed him. He had to stay with the ship. But he could give command to Scotty. Spock turned the problem over in his head and was about to answer when the Chief Engineer came up behind the nurse.
"Sir, you'll be wantin' to be with tha cap'n, now. I'll take over up here." He jerked his head back to the turbolift.
Spock felt a wave of relief go through him and nodded to the two. "Very well. Mr. Scott, I give you the conn. I will be in Sickbay." Scotty went onto the bridge, and Nurse Chapel followed the Vulcan to the turbolift.
"He's unconscious, on oxygen and on both a cardiac monitor and an EEG. Dr. McCoy will be starting two IVs; one for anticonvulsants, the other to keep his liquids up." The nurse briefed the commander as they walked through the halls. "He'll appear a bit blue to you; that will go away as his oxygen levels rise." They got to Sickbay and she motioned to the Intensive Care ward. "In there, sir."
Jim was not a small man. He stood six foot one inch tall and weighed a healthy 180 pounds. But right now, with all the machinery surrounding him and clothed in only a medical gown, he looked small and fragile. Spock stood outside his room, looking in. He heard steps beside him but did not look.
"You can go in, you know," came the Southern voice.
"I do not wish to cause further harm," Spock whispered.
The doctor motioned Spock over to the other side of the room and pointed to the EEG reading. "Have you ever seen anything like that before? Is that from the bond?" the doctor demanded.
Spock studied the readout for a moment before shaking his head. "I do not recognize that pattern. It is not a result of the bond." He walked up to the bed and rested his fingers on Jim's. "Is he in pain?" the Vulcan asked.
McCoy shook his head. "Not that we can tell. Can you tell anything, you know, whatever mind voodoo you all have?" The doctor's words were lighthearted but the hope behind them was real.
Spock sighed. "The bond has been blocked somehow. I cannot sense him at all."
Suddenly there was a clamor of alarms and McCoy shot forward. "Chris, get in here!" he yelled for his head nurse. Several more medical personnel entered and Spock was pushed out into the main bay. Spock watched as the officers stood back and a shock was administered. Jim's body flopped weakly. The regular tone returned and the nurses stood back.
McCoy came out and shook his head. "Whatever the hell they did to him, it's about to kill him. It's like his body just keeps shutting down." The doctor turned to whisper to the commander. "I really don't know what to do. I'm scared shitless."
"You cannot help him?" Spock asked incredulously.
"You can't help what you can't see, Spock," posed the weary doctor. "His body, for the most part, is fine. It's his brain that's going haywire." A nurse walked up and handed a padd to the doctor. He read it quickly and nodded. "I've got to go. I don't know what to tell you Spock. Pray, if you believe in anything. That's all there is to do right now."
Spock watched the doctor leave and then walked back into the room. There was a chair in the corner and he dragged it over to the bed. He sat by his husband's side and took a hand, careful of the IV taped to it.
"Jim," Spock began, and his voice cracked. "Jim, I need you to come back." He repeated the words he remembered his captain saying to him before. "You are safe now. Please come back. Come back, Captain." There was no change. Spock stood and raised a hand slowly to Jim's temple, and then stopped.
"That may actually help," a voice called out. Spock looked back to see Dr. M'Benga at the door. "He isn't responding to medical treatment. You may be able to reach him that way." Then the doctor turned and left the two alone.
Spock turned back and completed the gesture. He spoke under his breath and entered the mind of his beloved.
What he found was complete and utter chaos. There was no definition, no structure. Thoughts, memories, and dreams all swirled around Spock like a tornado. He shielded his eyes and searched for a sign of his companion. In the darkness, there was a brief flash of light and Spock tried to capture it, but it eluded him. He waited for another five minutes before giving up.
He drew himself out of the meld. "Any luck?" someone asked, and Spock turned to face both Dr. McCoy and Dr. M'Benga.
Spock shook his head. "The trauma is greater than I anticipated. It is beyond my ability. He needs an expert."
M'Benga pointed backwards in explanation. "The closest psychic experts I know of are back on New Vulcan."
"Agreed," Spock answered. "I will contact Starfleet and advise them of our plans." He laid his hand on Jim's chest for a moment before walking away.
"Poor hobgoblin," commented Dr. McCoy.
"He's actually handling it better than I expected," M'Benga replied. At his coworker's glance he continued. "When a bond is threatened or disrupted, it throws both parties into turmoil. Commander Spock's bond to his mate is so new that any change is dramatically felt." The dark skinned man looked over at Jim's body. "It's amazing he's even coherent."
Back on the bridge, Spock had requested another connection to Admiral Pike's office. He had decided he would contact Admiral Nogura next if he couldn't get through here. He waited for the call to connect in the Briefing Room. Finally the screen showed the same secretary.
"Admiral Pike." She was just as short this time. Maybe that was all she knew to say.
"I need to speak with the admiral." Spock took a deep breath.
"Who is calling?"
"Commander Spock, USS Enterprise. This is still an emergency." He blew the breath out silently. The screen went blank for a moment before being replaced with the admiral's craggy face.
"Spock! How are things going?" Pike was jovial as usual.
Something in Spock snapped. He leaned forward into the monitor and growled. "You sent us in with inadequate information. Whether you were ignorant or purposely withheld what we needed does not matter now." Spock pointed out across the room. "Captain Kirk is gravely injured. This mission cannot be completed. I request permission to take him to New Vulcan to be examined."
Pike paled and became nervous. "He's hurt? What happened, Spock?"
Spock did not clarify. "Do we have your permission to take the captain to New Vulcan?"
Pike shook his head. "No, Spock. If you can't complete the mission I need you to go to Starbase 15 for debriefing."
Spock opened his mouth, and then shut it. He tried again. "Admiral, perhaps I have not been precise. The captain is severely injured and needs immediate assistance. Assistance that is found closest on New Vulcan."
"We've got people at the starbase who can look at him Spock." Pike was dismissive.
There was a cracking noise as Spock's left hand broke a piece of the table edge off. "Admiral, I must strenuously object. The captain needs specialized assistance from a telepathic healer. Any delay will be detrimental. I am requesting orders to New Vulcan."
"Out of the question, Commander. Report to Starbase 15. Pike out." The screen changed to the confirmation logo and Spock slammed a fist down on the console. The poor equipment sparked before dying. Slowly, Spock began to regain his composure. A plan formed in his mind and he strode out to the bridge.
Spock went to the captain's chair but did not sit. He pressed the button for the intercom.
"Attention crew. We have received orders from Admiral Pike to report to Starbase 15. I have objected strongly and requested to take Captain Kirk to New Vulcan so that he may be given the necessary treatment for his life-threatening injury. I was denied." Spock took a soft breath. "I am therefore going to disobey a direct order and take the ship to New Vulcan regardless. If any of you objects to this action inform me and I will note it in the ship's log." He shut off the intercom and looked around the bridge.
The bridge crew looked back at their temporary leader. No one moved. Finally Lieutenant Uhura stood up from her console.
"Commander, I believe I speak for the bridge crew when I say we trust you completely and would follow you anywhere." Uhura sat back down.
"Heading entered for New Wulcan," Chekov called.
"Engage, sir?" Sulu added.
Spock looked around the bridge one last time and then focused back on the pilot. "Warp 4, Mr. Sulu. Be prepared for an increase of speed."
"Aye, sir, warp 4." Sulu moved the lever and the ship took off.
Spock folded his hands behind his back and stared forlorn at the center chair. Was he doing the right thing? He wished he could speak to his mate. No matter what happened, Spock had made his bed with this move. He may never serve on a ship again, but Jim would live.
"Sir?" Sulu had gotten up from his position and now stood beside the Vulcan. "I will accept the conn if you want to go back to Sickbay."
Spock blinked in surprise, and then nodded once. "Very well, Lieutenant. You have the conn." He began to walk off the bridge.
"Sir?" Chekov called out uncertainly. The older man turned around again. "Please tell ze Keptain to get better."
"I will, Mr. Chekov." Spock entered the lift.