A/N: new chappie! enjoy!

Chapter 25: Pon Farr

Spock stood at attention in front of his desk as the captain entered his quarters and said, "Alright, Spock, let's have it."

The commander took a moment before replying, "It is undignified for a woman to play 'servant' to man that is not hers. She is another's-"

"I'm more interested in your request for shore leave," Kirk cut in. "Since you've been on this ship-"

"You have my request, Captain," Spock interrupted. "Will you grant it or not?"

Kirk glared at him but started again, more forcefully, "Since you've been on this ship you've never requested shore leave. You always refuse them. Why are you asking for one now?"

Spock gritted his teeth and replied, "Captain, surely I have accumulated enough leave time."

"Of course you have, but that isn't the question, is it?" Kirk retorted and watched Spock look around as if lost before he sat and the captain's tone softened only slightly as he approached him, saying, "If there's a problem or something, an illness in the family-"

"No," Spock cut in, a little less forcefully. "It's…nothing of that nature, captain."

"Then since we've been given permission to continue star-mapping," Kirk replied, turning to his com. "And the conditions or good-"

"No!" Spock shouted, shooting from his seat and going after him and he stood at attention when Kirk turned to look at him. He could tell something was wrong. The Commander looked…tired and he desperately pleaded, "I wish to take my leave on Vulcan."

Kirk took a deep breath as he stood in front of his friend and gently replied, "Spock, I'm asking you. What's wrong?"

Spock took a moment before pulling his hands behind his back and saying, "I need…rest. I'm asking you to accept that answer."

Kirk nodded in reluctant understanding, recalling Akiko's words not to push him and turned to the com on his desk again to press the button.

"Bridge," he commanded, "Helm."

"Yes, Captain?" Sulu's voice replied.

"Set a new course for New Vulcan, warp four," Kirk ordered, then turned to Spock who didn't look at him and didn't speak until the captain was heading to the door.

"Thank you, Captain," he replied, shakily and Kirk turned to give him a reassuring smirk.

"I guess most of us forget that even Vulcans aren't indestructible," he joked before turning back to the door and opening it. He almost stepped out and rammed into Akiko as she was suddenly framed in the doorway, her dark brown eyes wide in wonder.

"Captain," she nodded before they both looked to Spock who seemed even more tense than before. Kirk found that reaction odd, as the lieutenant usually had a calming affect on him, but he said nothing as he nodded to her and stepped out of the room and down the hall. "Commander, may I have a word?"

"I'd rather be alone now, Lieutenant, if you don't mind," Spock replied, still standing at attention.

"It will only take a moment," she assured him and he swallowed but nodded.

"Very well," he rasped. "Shut the door."

Akiko nodded and stepped into the room, shutting the door as instructed then turning back to him, staring at him a moment before marching toward him and throwing her arms around his chest, hugging him tightly.

"Akiko-!"

"Don't yell at me or push me away because I'll only come at you again," she warned. "You don't even have to hug me back, just stand still for a moment."

Spock swallowed, lowering his arms to his sides for a split second before lifting them again and slipping them around her shoulders, setting his cheek on the top of her head to hug her closer.

"I sense you know what is happening to me," he sighed, and she only nodded. "Then you understand what will happen next?"

"I know what's happening, but what course of action do you plan to take?" she wondered, pulling her head up to look at him expectantly and he only stared at her for a moment.

"I cannot tell you now," he replied. "But will you promise when the time comes, you will support whatever course of action I take?"

"I can try," she assured him.

Sick Bay...

"But what's wrong with him?" Kristine asked, sitting on the desk next to McCoy as he looked into a scope.

"That's what I'm gonna find out, Freckles," he replied.

Their attention was drawn to the lift as it opened to reveal Spock nearly dragging himself into the room.

"Alright, Spock," he nodded, heading toward one of the beds. "I'm all ready for you."

"My…orders were to report to Sick Bay," Spock replied, tiredly. "I have done so, and now, I'll go to my quarters."

"Spock, wait," Kristine called, sliding off the desk to go after him as he walked away, but McCoy raised his hand to stop her as he quickly swooped in front of Spock to block his way.

"My orders were to give you a thorough physical," McCoy retorted. "In case you hadn't noticed, I have to report to the same commanding officer as you." Suddenly seeing Spock's dazed and nearly comatose look, he softened his tone and urged, "Come on, Spock. Yield to the logic of the situation."

Spock seemed to have a second thought and stepped toward the bed, muttering, "Very well. Examine me. For all the good it will do either of us."

Kristine frowned as she stepped next to the bed as he laid down and as the examination started, she noticed his hand twitching, making her frown in wonder but she said nothing.

Captain's quarters...

Kirk sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on the report he was trying to fill out before his door burst open and a hurried Akiko Suzuki ran into the room.

"Akiko?" he frowned, standing. "What's the matter with you?"

"I heard you were changing course to head back for Earth, Sir," she panted from running.

"Yes," Kirk nodded still frowning. "Admiral Pike has another mission ready for us. Where's the fire?"

"You have to get Spock to New Vulcan within a week," she replied, shaking her head. "Eight days at the most or he'll die, Jim."

Kirk's eyes widened at her as he stepped around the desk, but his door opened again to reveal McCoy, just as hurried as Akiko.

"I take it she told you," McCoy guessed, seeing the shock and disbelief on Kirk's face.

"Bones, what the hell is going on?" Kirk demanded. "Why does he have to die? What's wrong with him that he has to be at New Vulcan within eight days?"

"I don't know," McCoy replied simply and Kirk frowned at him, then at Akiko, then back at McCoy.

"Aren't you a doctor?" he snapped. "You just examined him! You should know what's wrong with him!"

"There's a growing imbalance of body functions," McCoy replied in thought. "As if in our bodies, huge amounts of adrenaline were being pumped into us. I can't trace it, and Spock won't tell me what it is. But if it doesn't stop, the physical and emotional pressures will kill him."

"You sure he knows what it is?" Kirk asked, suddenly a bit more calm.

"He does," McCoy nodded. "But he's not saying a word about it. And don't bother asking him. He won't talk."

Kirk's gaze suddenly fell to Akiko and she could see the question in his eyes before he voiced it.

"What is it, Akiko," he voiced anyway, approaching her. "You're the only one besides Spock who seems to know what's wrong with him. Spill it."

"I can't, Sir," she replied instantly, shaking her head. "It's not my place."

"Your place or not, I'm ordering you to tell me what is happening with my first officer," Kirk snapped, looming over her and she swallowed, but shook her head.

"He trusts me, Jim," she breathed. "If I broke that trust now, of all times…I don't wanna think about what would happen. If you want to know, you'll have to ask him. I'm sorry, Sir. This is one order I cannot obey."

Kirk gritted his teeth as he stared down at her for a moment but said nothing as he turned and marched toward the door to head toward Spock's quarters. McCoy and Akiko stood for a moment in silence before their gazes met.

"You love him, don't you?" McCoy guessed, and Akiko didn't need to say anything. He saw in her eyes before she nodded and he gave a scoff. "Well, you two are pretty much made for each other, like I said."

"Thank you," Akiko sniffled.

Spock's quarters...

Kirk marched into Spock's room and the commander attempted to stand from his desk in respect, but the captain lifted a hand to stop him as he stood in front of his desk.

"Bones and Akiko tell me you're gonna die unless something is done," he reported, getting straight to the point. "What has to be done?"

"You say…Akiko told you as well," Spock replied, tiredly. "She did not tell you anything further?"

"She refused," Kirk replied, and he noticed visible relief in the Vulcan. "Respectfully, after I ordered her to, but she refused nonetheless. She didn't wanna betray your trust and told me I had to ask you."

Spock swallowed and looked around in thought for a moment before standing and heading toward his bed.

"It is a thing no out-worlder may know," Spock began, wringing his fingers. "Except those very few who have been involved. A Vulcan understands but even we do not speak of it amongst ourselves. It is a deeply…personal thing. Can you see that, Captain, and understand?"

"No, I don't understand," Kirk replied when Spock looked to him. "Explain it, Spock. Consider it an order."

"Captain, there are some things that transcend the rules of he service," Spock strained and Kirk thought for a moment before stepping toward him to stand in front of Spock.

"Would it help if I told you I would take anything you say to me in confidence?" he assured, and that seemed to be enough because after a moment of thought, Spock began his explanation.

"It has to do with biology," he began and Kirk frowned but after a moment of thought took a guess.

"As in…reproduction?"

Spock nodded, casting his gaze everywhere else but at the captain. He was clearly embarrassed about explaining the whole thing and Kirk could tell.

"Well, Spock, there's no need to be embarrassed about that," Kirk assured him. "It's the birds and the bees."

"The birds and the bees are not Vulcans, Captain," Spock retorted. "If any of them were as proudly logical as us were to be…stripped of that logic as this time does to us…" He trailed off, collecting himself and beginning again as Kirk remained silent. "Haven't you wondered how Vulcans choose their mates?"

"I guess we all thought it was done…logically," Kirk shrugged and Spock shook his head as he headed toward his desk to sit again, tired from the conversation.

"No," he replied. "We shield it with a ritual and customs shrouded in antiquity." He scoffed before adding, "You humans have no conception. It strips our minds from us and brings a madness which strips our veneer of civilization. It is the Pon Farr. The time of mating."

Kirk turned to Spock with wide eyes and sat in the chair in front of Spock's desk as his friend continued.

"There are precedence in nature, Captain," he explained. "On your Earth, the salmon must return to that one stream where they were born, to spawn…or die trying."

"But you're not a fish, Spock," Kirk pointed out.

"No," Spock agreed. "Nor am I man. I'm a Vulcan. I hoped I would be spared this. But the ancient drives are too strong. Eventually they catch up with us and we are driven by forces we cannot control to return home, and take a wife…or die."

Spock bowed his head and Kirk stood to walk to the other side of the desk and stand nearer to his friend. He could only imagine what he was going through, but if he could help in any way possible with this, he would.

"I'll get you to New Vulcan as soon as I can," he said before turning and marching out of the room, leaving Spock alone again.

A Few Days Later...

Akiko picked at her breakfast as she sat at the desk in her quarters, Jacqueline sitting on the bed. She sighed as she watched her friend for a moment before standing and turning to lean back on the desk, lifting a hand to play with the alien rose, Nobara, on Akiko's desk.

"I can't stand seeing you like this, Sparky," Jacqueline said. "Aren't you gonna go see him at least once before he does this? You should talk to him."

"What's there to talk about?" Akiko muttered, not looking at her. "I know what happens next. The captain told me. He's gonna marry T'Leia, as was arranged, and the Pon Farr will be…for lack of a better word…finished."

"And you're just gonna let the love of your life marry some other woman just because of a stupid ritual?"

"It's not just a ritual, Jacque!" Akiko snapped, shooting to her feet and staring at her friend in rage. "He could die if he doesn't do this! I'd rather him live with another woman as his wife then not live at all!"

"Why can't he marry you, huh?" Jacqueline shot back. "You two love each other enough, just get married!"

"It was arranged that he marry T'Leia," Akiko shot back. "Don't make this harder for me than it already is! You're my friend! You're supposed to console me and tell me I'm doing the right thing by letting him go!"

"But you're not!" Jacqueline retorted. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Akiko! You're making a huge mistake by not talking to him! If it were me and Jim I wouldn't give it a second thought! I'd fight for him!"

"I have no right to! I'm not Vulcan!"

"And he's only half! So where is it written that he has to follow Vulcan tradition?"

"He chose to follow the Vulcan way! It's done, Jacque! There's nothing I can do! My hands are tied!"

"Say good bye to him then. Let him know you still love him and that's why you know you have to let him go."

Akiko's eyes widened in surprise before she looked away from her friend in thought, her gaze falling to her door. Before she knew what was happening, Jacqueline was pushing her toward the door and into the hall. Akiko's feet suddenly had a mind of their own and they sent her running toward the transporter room, Jacqueline waving her on. She soon found herself in the transporter room just as Spock, Kirk and McCoy were climbing onto the pad, Scotty at the console.

"Well, hi there, Sparky," Scotty grinned, but he was ignored as Akiko kept her eyes on Spock, their gazes locking as soon as she had entered the room.

She didn't think about who was there and who was watching as she ran toward him and threw herself into his arms just as he turned to catch her. Akiko held onto him in a death grip as she buried her face into his shoulder and shuddered with sobs and he pulled her closer.

"I know what has to be done," she breathed, not moving. "I know everything's been set, but…"

"I know," he murmured into her hair. "I am…suffering in more ways than one."

"It would be ideal if it were me," she whispered low enough so that only his sensitive Vulcan hearing could catch it. "But I'd rather you live on attached to another woman than die because I wanted you all to myself."

Spock didn't respond for a moment before lowering his head next to her ear to whisper, "This does not change my feelings for you, Akiko."

"I love you, Spock," she shuddered, pulling him closer before letting him go and quickly pulling away to turn her back toward the pad.

She didn't want to watch him leave, and he understood why. She couldn't watch him leave or the emotions would be too much for her and him. They were both suffering.

"Energize," Kirk ordered and Scotty glanced around at everyone before nodding and beaming them to the surface of New Vulcan.

Akiko hugged herself as she gave silent sobs. She knew it was the right thing. She had to give him up to save his life. After finally convincing herself she had done the right thing, she suddenly remembered other details about Vulcan marriage and mating.

"The challenge," she breathed and turned to the transporter pad which was now empty with wide, teary eyes and soaked cheeks as Scotty stood and approached her.

"What's wrong, lass?" he wondered with a frown and she turned to him, stepping toward him and gripping his hands.

"Scotty, you need to get me down there, now."

He frowned at her in confusion and sputtered, "But…I thought that-"

"I don't have time to explain my feelings right now, Scotty," Akiko cut in. "Just please beam me down to the surface or I'll go as insane as Spock is!"

"Alright, lass!" Scotty retorted, stepping back to his seat. "Alright! Ye don't have to yell at me twice! Get yer arse up on the pad if ye want to be beamed down."

"Thank you, Scotty!" she grinned, running toward the pad, and before she realized it, she was being beamed to the surface of New Vulcan.

Once there, Akiko almost stumbled her way into one of the half built buildings on New Vulcan and searched for a place they might have as a place of koon-ut-kal-if-fee, marriage or challenge, a place she'd only heard of. She soon found it and ducked behind a pillar when she saw Spock, McCoy and Kirk speaking with one of the older Vulcans they'd rescued before their home planet's destruction, the wedding party, including T'Leia standing with them as well. The old Vulcan pointed to something hanging above a platform in the center of the room and Spock started toward it, mindlessly.

Now's your chance, Akiko! she shouted at herself. Do it or lose him forever!

She ran out from behind her pillar and out in the open so that Spock could see her just before he hit the gong hanging in the air. In fact, everyone could see her.

"Spock!" she called, her voice echoing and catching everyone's attention but she kept her gaze on Spock as she lifted her hands and he stared at her in wonder as she called, "I lied!"

Kirk and McCoy frowned at each other as T'Leia looked to Spock for his reaction. Spock only stood there, frozen before he was about to ring the gong and for another moment he remained frozen before finally letting the stick fall from his hand and he marched toward her as Akiko swallowed and hurried toward him as well.

"Spock!"

Both froze at the sound of the elder Vulcan's voice and Spock turned to him as calmly as he'd ever been before his Blood Fever.

"Kal-if-fee," he simply said before turning back to Akiko and holding his hand toward her. Akiko glanced around before stepping toward him again and setting her hand in his, frowning at his sudden calm and he seemed to sense her confusion as he explained, "The shock of your presence was enough to quench the fever. You do not cease to amaze, Akiko."

She swallowed and blushed as she looked away, Spock still holding her hand as he led her toward the group waiting for him. She shrunk back slightly, but Spock kept a gentle hold on her hand as they stopped in front of the Vulcan elder and she felt guilty for crashing the wedding as he glared at her when she stood next to Spock.

"I release T'Leia and take Akiko," Spock announced to the elder, shooting all Starfleet personnel's gazes to him in wide-eyed shock as he looked to Akiko and added, "If she will have me."

Akiko swallowed as she held Spock's gaze. Her heart was thumping in her ears as she only stared at him for a moment, knowing she had to answer him, but not being able to find her voice at the moment.

"You know, Spock, if that was an official proposal, you have to get down on one knee," Kirk whispered.

"Quiet," the elder snapped and Kirk looked around as if daydreaming.

"Yes," Akiko suddenly breathed, drawing everyone's attention back to her again. "I accept, Spock."

She glanced to T'Leia who didn't seem to be paying attention to anything going on as she looked to the man next to her, and she felt relieved that everything worked out…for everyone.

A/N: i wasn't gonna do it, but i did. well, it's time to wrap this thing up. few more loose ends to tie up good and tight first. reviews?