I had some fun with this one, and it's hella long. I hope that you guys enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. On another note, I'm heading home for the summer tomorrow, and so it may actually be a few more days than normal until I update; my next words are giving me some trouble as well. I'll be back though, and I won't break my week promise, at the least.

Warnings: Violence, some stretched medical and scientific facts, hurt!Jim, hurt!Spock, and an OC alien species taken from one of my in progress books.

41

Separate

to keep apart or divide, as by an intervening barrier or space

"Jim!"

Groggily Jim Kirk tried to open his eyes, but it was as though there were weights attached to his lids, and his head was pounding. His body was nothing but a giant ball of pain, agony radiating from his head and torso.

Please t'hy'la…!

The voice of his mate in his mind sent a shot of agony through his head and he let out a soft groan, clenching his eyes tighter before trying to force them open once more. He finally managed to open them, right eyelashes catching in tacky, half-dried blood crusted around his right eye.

"Jim, are you alright?"

"S-Spock…?" Jim managed to whisper, his voice cracked and barely loud enough to be heard.

Spock nodded, reaching forward, halted from touching his mate with a jerk as the chain came to its end. "Are you alright, Jim? How are you feeling?"

Jim blinked slowly, raising a hand to rub at his forehead, momentarily startled as cold metal brushed over his forehead. "I'm… a little groggy. And my head is killing me. What about you? Are you okay?"

A faint smile passed over the Vulcan's lips. "I am in good health, considering the situation at this time."

Looking around the small room they were in, Jim quietly observed the situation. They were in what appeared to be a concrete room, possibly no bigger than 10x10 feet, both chained to the walls. Jim could feel cold metal around both ankles and wrists, short chains giving him just enough room to stretch out his body along the floor, if he was angled right. Reaching out he could see that he and Spock were just short of touching each other, maybe a foot of space between them. Spock was in a similar arrangement on the opposite wall.

"What happened?" Jim asked slowly, his memory fogged by the pounding of his head.

"We had just beamed down to the surface when we were attacked. You were struck above the eye rather hard; it is not a surprise that your memory is damaged. It is also important that you refrain from sleeping for a time, you most likely have a concussion." Spock replied, his gaze concerned as he watching his mate shift on the cold floor.

There was quiet for a few minutes, and then Jim sighed faintly. "They took everything, so there's no way we're going to contact the ship… Any chance you think they'll find us?"

Spock thought a moment. "As we have been liberated of all of our gear, it will be difficult for them to track our locations. Also, we do not know if we are even still on the same planet. However, I trust that our crew will perform admirably in their search. It may take them some time to find us."

Jim nodded absently. "Yea… but we'll be alright; we've got each other, right? I wonder what they want with us. Have you seen anyone since you woke up?"

"I have only been awake for 14.5 minutes, and most of that time was engaged in trying to wake you."

"Hm…" Jim hummed faintly, closing his eyes for a moment as he thought. What he thought was just a moment turned out to be more when he heard Spock call his name in a panicked voice and he had to force his eyes open.

Spock's face was visibly worried now, his dark eyes flickering over Jim's body. "Are you alright t'hy'la? I had to call you several times."

Jim nodded, forcibly keeping his eyes trained on his mate. "Sorry, I drifted off I guess."

"Your concussion may be more serious than we originally thought. I shall endeavor keep a closer eye on you." Spock said firmly, and did just that, never taking his eyes from Jim's face.

There was a sound from the far wall, and both of them turned to see a door slide open and a tall, unfamiliar alien come into the room. It was vaguely humanoid in appearance, but slender and whip thin like a human could never be. Thin shoulders sloped down into a round ribcage, and two rather weak looking arms protruded directly from the creature's chest, stick thin arms ending in three fingered, delicate hands. Sharp wide hips moved down into muscular legs and feet balanced up on the toes, walking not unlike the prehistoric dinosaur known as a Velociraptor, wicked looking talons extending from both the toes and the raised heel of the foot.

Spock marveled at this creature; even though they had been kidnapped by them, they were certainly a sight to behold. The most amazing thing to him was the appearance of what seemed to be a tail, extending from the base of the skull to the floor, a good two feet longer than the height of the creature itself. That appendage was highly flexible and ended in what appeared to be a powerful three fingered hand, with a wide palm and thick fingers. The being examined them with large, almond shaped eyes, appearing to have no mouth of any sort and a flat, slitted nose. Grey tinted natural armor covered the round head, back, shoulders, and waist, spiraling down into lighter skin on the legs, leaving only the face, front of the throat, and lower legs uncovered.

The being did not speak as it entered the room, but it was holding what seemed to be some sort of hypo in its delicate hands. It paused as the door closed behind it, large, X-pupiled eyes traveling between the two of them before it took a single, graceful step towards Spock.

Jim protested at that, jerking at his chains before going still a moment later as the creature's eyes turned back to him. Spock had not moved when the creature turned to him, but as soon as it's attention left him he reacted as Jim had, jerking at his chains until his muscles strained.

Idly the creature observed his reaction, and then took a step towards Jim. Jim instinctively flinched backwards, wide blue eyes on the hypo in those weak hands, not wanting to know what was in that vial. Another step brought a deep growl from Spock's throat, and that seemed to cement the creature's decision.

It moved towards Jim.

Jim went as far backwards as the chains would allow, but it wasn't far and the alien followed him. Spock surged at his chains again, eyes locked on his mate, but they didn't give an inch. The growl turned into a snarl, but the creature paid him no mind, extending the hypo towards Jim's neck.

As soon as the creature was in range Jim lashed out, aiming for the weak hand that his powerful human limbs could no doubt break with ease. What neither of them expected was the tail-like appendage being as fast as it was.

Jim's wrist was seized before he could even touch the creature, the powerful three fingered hand wrapping all the way around his forearm and squeezing. Jim let out a shout of pain as the bone in his arm protested, nearly cracking with the force. That moment of surprise allowed the alien to stretch forward it's delicate hands and press the hypo swiftly to Jim's neck before moving backwards just as fast.

Shock written on his features, Jim could only stare as the being watched him silently for a moment before turning and leaving the room.

Quiet reigned for a moment, and then Spock pulled at his chains, trying to reach Jim briefly before going still and anxiously watching his mate. There appeared to be nothing happening, and Jim's eyes moved to Spock's. "I… I don't feel anything."

"It does not appear that you are allergic to it, at the least." Spock murmured. "You would have begun reacting by now, with how violent your allergies are."

Jim shifted uncomfortably against the cold floor, his eyes flickering briefly down to his arm before looking back up at Spock. "Damn that thing was fast. I've never seen anything move like that, not to mention something that looks like that."

"It is indeed a species completely unknown to us." Spock agreed. "It also appeared that they have never encountered humans or Vulcans; I suspect that they have captured us for scientific study."

"You mean we're going to be test subjects?.!" Jim demanded. "What the hell are they going to do to us? What did they give me?"

Spock sent a wave of calm to his mate. "It will not be… pleasant, Jim. Studying an animal or other unknown creature is usually done with kindness and simple observation, but by what I have seen, I do not believe that these beings believe in that practice. They will no doubt experiment with us to see what we are capable of."

Jim had not said anything during this little speech, and Spock looked up to see him lying on his side, eyebrows twitched together and a frown on his face. "I don't…" he began, and then he clenched his teeth, hissing between them before curling into a ball around his abdomen.

A shot of pain thundered across the bond before Jim managed to slam his end shut with the training Spock had taught him, and Spock briefly felt what his mate was. "Jim!" Spock let the word slip from his lips, pulling at the chains unthinkingly before going still in frustration.

"It's… just… a little pain…" Jim forced out between clenched teeth, his eyes squeezed shut and his arms wrapped around his middle. "Nothing… I can't…. handle…"

"Jim…"

An hour and a half later, Jim's voice was gone and Spock was resisting with every fiber of his being not to clamp his hands over his ears to block out the sounds of his mate's screams.

Jim finally went limp two hours after the hypo had been administered, covered in sweat and a harsh whistling echoing from his damaged throat as he panted. His blue eyes were dazed and barely aware; he was clearly exhausted, but somehow still awake.

Spock had torn his wrists apart pulling at the chains for the first while, pain in his own body from the simple fact that he could do nothing but watch helplessly as Jim writhed against the opposite wall. He could dimly feel the blood trickling down his hands and arms, but he didn't pay it much attention, all of his focus on Jim.

"T'hy'la." he murmured. "Is it gone?"

Jim nodded weakly, attempting to speak. It came out a whisper, just barely loud enough for Spock's Vulcan hearing to pick it up. "S' gone… Like it was never there…"

Any further words they might have exchanged were cut off as the door slid open once more, admitting a larger being than the one they had seen last time. This one was taller and extended the powerful tail first, revealing that there were four fingers this time, rather than three. Spock suspected this marked a different gender, this one was perhaps male and the other had been a female. A hypo was also held in the delicate hands, and this time the creature moved towards Spock with a purpose.

Jim shifted tiredly against the floor, pulling towards Spock, though all his strength was gone and he could barely put up a struggle. He tried to call out, but only a hushed sort of squeak escaped his lips, nothing more.

Spock coiled his muscles, crouching against the floor and trying to position himself so he had the greatest length of chain to use in an attack of some sort. The male being reached out with his delicate hand, and Spock moved.

The creatures obviously hadn't counted on Spock being faster and stronger than Jim, and the Vulcan managed to land a powerful hit on the being's arm. There was a series of sickening crunches as the creature's arm was shattered, and the lower half of it's face suddenly split open, revealing a mouth full of vicious looking teeth as it let out a cry of agony. Spock didn't pause to observe, he merely reacted, lashing out with the other hand to aim for the head.

He never landed the hit; the strong tail whipped around and the four-fingered hand closed around his throat, slamming him against the wall and squeezing until all his air was gone. Raising both arms he tried to slip his fingers beneath the hand, but it was clenched too tight and strong, and he resorted to grasping at the thick tail, trying to pull it off.

The creature opened it's mouth again, hissing lowly with vicious teeth grinding in anger. A series of whistles, croaks, and clicks escaped it, obviously the language of these people, and then the other hand moved forward to administer the hypo before it slammed him against the wall once more, turning and leaving the cell.

Spock's head was spinning from the blow, but he recovered fairly quickly and began to prepare himself for what was no doubt the same drug that they had given Jim. He could feel something boiling in his gut, and within moments pain had begun to build in his body. Focusing his mind, he centered himself and began his control, not wanting to give these creatures the satisfaction of his pain.

Jim watched quietly from his side of the cell for a few moments, but as Spock's face grew more pained, he closed his eyes to get away, and unconsciousness rushed in to claim him.

Though the pain was more than he had ever felt in his life, Spock never once cried out. He came out of the sea of agony covered in sweat and his entire body shaking violently, but he had ridden through the storm. He opened his eyes, instantly turning his attention to his mate, who appeared to be unconscious against the wall.

Spock pressed through their bond, relieved to find that Jim was alright, just beyond exhaustion at this moment. He left him alone, wanting him to get some rest while he could. The Vulcan closed his eyes once more, allowing himself to go into light meditation to try and regain some of his energy, but still maintain an awareness of the world around him. He passed nearly an hour like this, and then the door slid open once more to admit what seemed to be the same female as before, this time clutching a tray in her weak hands and walking towards Jim.

A growl built in Spock's throat, and the female swiveled her head to turn large almond shaped eyes on him before turning back to Jim, lowering herself with surprising dexterity using the tail as a balance. Spock tugged at his chains again as she lifted a hypo from the tray with her delicate hands, but it died slightly as the stronger hand at the end of her three-fingered tail was used to lift a glass of clear liquid, most likely water from the tray and extend it toward Jim. In a series of motions that surprised Spock with her abilities to use all three limbs in tandem, she raised Jim's head slightly and helped him to drink.

Jim choked at first, but his eyes fluttered open as the liquid poured between his lips. He looked up and saw the creature helping him and flinched away, raising both hands to push hers away, though the action wasn't strong enough to hurt her. She moved away with a flinch, obviously as scared by him as he was by her, though she moved forward in an attempt to help him again after he'd stopped moving.

He resisted her again, though he was content to accept the cup from her and drink greedily. Spock shifted uncomfortably, but didn't speak, watching them both with dark, serious eyes. However, when she raised the hypo again Spock let out a violent snarl, causing her to flinch and look at him again and Jim to slink backwards, away from the vial.

"I won't let you." Jim's voice was stronger now, the water had helped somewhat.

She looked back at him, tilting her head before using her powerful tail to push at him, crowding him against the wall before she raised the hypo again. Jim lashed out, but again her tail stopped him by wrapping around his arm, in the same place as last time. This time there was a crack, and Jim let out a faint shout of pain as his right arm snapped.

The female seemed surprised at this, but she wasted no time and pressed the hypo to Jim's neck before withdrawing. She left the tray at his side, but lifted another hypo and moved to Spock, though her movements were halted and hesitant. She knew that Spock could easily hurt her; it was obvious in her gait and body language.

Lowering himself, Spock prepared himself to strike, his eyes locked on the female and his teeth bared slightly, a growl rumbling in his chest. The female paused just out of his reach, and then reached her tail out, moving to Jim, who was lying still on the floor, curled slightly around his broken arm. Turning her head, the female wrapped her powerful hand around Jim's throat, calmly raising him and pressing him to the wall.

Jim was still able to breathe, but he struggled, trying to slip his hands beneath the one around his neck, but to no avail. Spock's upper lip curled and he jolted in his chains, wanting to strike, but knowing that she was out of his reach. She took a step forward, tail easily long enough to keep its grip on Jim's throat even as she moved.

She was now within Spock's reach, but as the Vulcan coiled himself to attack, Jim let out a squeak, mouth opening soundlessly as he tried to get air through his now cut-off windpipe.

The threat was clear; should Spock attack, the female would apply more pressure and suffocate Jim. Angrily the Vulcan went still; practically vibrating with rage as the female swiftly injected him and then moved out of range, releasing Jim. The blond gasped for air, both hands at his throat as he got his wind back.

Without any further movements the being left the room, leaving the two of them alone in their cell. They both waited several tense minutes for something to happen, but the serum that she had given them didn't appear to do anything at all. Jim rubbed at his throat, and then spoke softly.

"Are you alright?"

Spock nodded sharply. "I am well, t'hy'la. I am more concerned for you."

Jim took stock of himself, and then tilted his head slightly. "Actually, I feel better. My throat doesn't hurt anymore, and my headache is gone." He shifted uncomfortably, easing around his broken arm. "My arm doesn't even really hurt as much." Curiously he moved forward, blue eyes scanning the tray that was sitting just between them, within both of their reach. "Hey, I think that thing left us food."

There appeared to be something similar to bread on the tray, and some sort of meat, though they both avoided that. Quietly they split the grainy, dense substance and ate, Spock also taking a few sips from the remaining cup on the tray. There wasn't much there, but neither really said a word, grateful to get something.

When the food was gone they both lay quietly, staring at each other across the cell. Jim reached out through the bond, and Spock gently caressed his mate's mind, trying to ease his fears. "I am with you, t'hy'la…" Spock whispered, stretching out his hand as far as the chain would allow.

Jim did the same, his face sad when they fell short of each other by nearly a foot of empty space. "I wish I could touch you…" he murmured in return. "Even that would make me feel better…" He sighed faintly. "We'll be alright. I'm sure that the crew is looking for us right now."

Spock nodded in agreement. "Of course they are, Jim. I know that they will not stop until they find us."

The blond nodded, a smile gracing his face as he laid his head on the concrete floor, watching Spock until he could no longer keep his eyes open.

A faint smile on his lips, Spock was content to keep watch over his bondmate as he slept, quietly feeling the ebb and flow of Jim's mind as he dreamed.

Almost every day brought some new form of torture, some new test. Sometimes they were left alone for days on end, only the female entering every day at the same time with a tray of food and water. She bound Jim's broken arm, but it wasn't done properly, and Spock knew that it was beginning to fuse wrongly. It would have to be re-broken when they were rescued and be properly set.

Three days after they were first captured Jim was given a serum that left him deaf for several hours, which had at first frightened him, though Spock's gentle voice through the bond kept him calm and quiet. The same was given to Spock, and the Vulcan found it relatively easy to manage through the same technique. It was clear that the creatures were testing both now that they knew how different they were, and each new test was given to them separately.

Two days after that the room went dark and they were left in complete black for what Spock knew to be nearly 6 hours. Jim had been quiet for the first 2, but after that time he had grown anxious and jumpy, shifting against the chains constantly even as Spock tried to calm him.

They were then left alone for nearly 2 weeks, though Spock noticed that there was less water on the trays that they received. He made Jim drink all of it, assuring him that Vulcans could go for much longer without water, a gift of their desert breeding. He took only a few sips every few days, allowing Jim the rest. Even with that provision, Jim was still growing dehydrated, though not severely.

Three weeks after their initial capture, three large males entered the room, going to Jim's side of the cell followed by the female that they had grown to recognize. Spock instantly was alert, lips pulling back over his teeth as a feral hiss escaped him, a sound that caused Jim to look at him in surprise; it was something he'd never heard from his mate.

The aliens ignored him completely, though the female looked at him for a moment before returning her attention to Jim. The three males proceeded to pin Jim down spread-eagled on the floor, holding him easily with their tails, the one holding his right leg pinning his broken arm with a taloned foot pressed against his wrist.

Jim struggled hard, though he was weak from malnutrition and dehydration and couldn't get enough strength to move the creatures. The female moved forward, drawing blood before lifting a delicate knife from a pouch at her side.

Spock let out a snarl, but he could do nothing as the female leaned over, neatly slicing a strip of skin and muscle from Jim's bicep. Jim let out a howl, wrenching at the hands holding him, but to no avail. "Get off me!" he finally screamed, rage coloring his tone.

All of the creatures looked at him with mild interest, and then exchanged words in their strange clicks, whistles, and croaks. They released Jim a moment later, having gotten what they wanted, and the three males moved to the other side of the room, this time extending their limbs to restrain Spock.

The Vulcan fought them savagely, no longer able to control the anger that he felt against them. Three weeks of being in this cell had stretched the lock he had on his emotions, and with no time to meditate properly, the Vulcan was beginning to revert back to the old ways. He held onto his sanity only because of his mate, soothing him through the bond whenever they had a moment alone.

Even with his extra strength, the three males managed to pin him after only a brief struggle, though they were obviously straining to hold him. The female did her work quickly, only briefly pausing to puzzle over Spock's different colored blood. All four moved away swiftly as soon as they were done, not giving Spock enough time to gather himself to strike.

Jim was breathing hard on his side of the room, one hand pressed over the small wound where the female had taken her samples. He carefully tore a strip from the tattered remains of his golden tunic, wrapping his bicep before raising blue eyes to Spock. "What else can they do to us?" he asked softly. "Why won't they just let us go?"

Spock shook his head. "They are dedicated to studying us, Jim. I do not believe they intend to release us."

The next day, Jim was given another serum that brought so much pain that he couldn't even scream, just laid on the floor shivering, blue eyes blank and body covered with sweat. Oddly enough that same serum did nothing to Spock, and this obviously interested the creatures greatly. They performed the same test the following day, though with what appeared to be a slightly alerted version of the drug.

Jim had gone rigid moments after they gave him the shot, and then lapsed into stillness, a sort of silence that Spock couldn't get him to come out of. No matter how he called his mate, Jim's eyes just stared through him, his lips parted slightly. 15 minutes after the drug was administered, those blank eyes rolled up until Spock could only see white and Jim's body started jerking erratically in a seizure.

"Jim!" Spock shouted, leaping forward without thought only to be pulled backwards by his chains where he could only watch as Jim's body twisted and strained, flailing against the restraints.

Thankfully the female entered a moment later and gave Jim a hypo that stopped the seizure and knocked him out, though she, with the help of the three males, gave Spock what he assumed was the same drug they had given Jim. This one had an effect, causing him pain, though not as much as the first one had. Spock came out of it with a sort of hopelessness in his thoughts.

Perhaps our crew cannot find us…

"Jim… Jim please, you must eat."

Blue eyes stared at him silently, a pleading look in them before Jim shook his head slightly, weakly.

Spock reached out to him, both mentally and physically, pushing the tray towards him. "Please, t'hy'la, you cannot go without sustenance, you have lost too much weight as it is. You must eat."

"No…" Jim whispered. "It won't stay down…"

The Vulcan felt a pang at that; Jim had been throwing up for the past day and a half, unable to keep anything in his stomach for any period of time. While Spock knew that it had to hurt his damaged throat and sore body, it wasn't good that Jim was refusing food.

"Just…" Spock searched for words, unsure of what to say. He felt so lost now, unable to do anything to help Jim. "Try, t'hy'la. Please try."

Jim stared at him quietly, and then shook his head again, going silent. He didn't listen to any more of Spock's soft pleas, though he didn't block the Vulcan when he went through their bond to try and convince him. Spock finally fell silent, unsure of what else he could do at this point to help his mate.

"Sp…!"

It was an hour later when Jim suddenly gave a shiver, curling his body tighter into a ball before opening his eyes to look at Spock. "Is it getting colder in here?" he whispered.

"I do not feel a difference in temperature." Spock replied, though he noticed with a faint hint of alarm that he could see Jim's breath.

Jim was now shivering in earnest, his body curled tightly and his breath misting in the air. "They m-must have s-some sort of f-force-field between u-us…" Jim stuttered out through chattering teeth, rubbing his hands together in an attempt to warm them.

Spock felt fear go through him; Jim wouldn't last long if the temperature continued to drop at the rate it appeared to be. He was too thin and dehydrated; his body didn't have the stamina it normally would. And the thing that pained him the most was that he was bound here, helpless to do anything as he watched Jim freeze.

He instead turned his attention to pulling on the chains, working them away from their foundation as he had been doing for the past several days. His legs were nearly free, and his arms would follow soon; though he would take the chains with him, he would no longer be bound to the wall. He knew that Jim's legs were also mostly free, though Spock would have to pull his arms loose once he got out.

When Spock raised his eyes to his mate again he was scared to see that the shivers had begun to slow, and the red tinge that had covered Jim's ears, nose, and cheeks had left, leaving him paper white with the only color on his face the purple-blue tinge of his lips. Those beloved blue eyes were dazed and hardly aware, staring at Spock quietly as Jim grew still against the floor, his body limp.

"Jim…" Spock tried to speak loudly, but his voice came out a broken whisper, barely loud enough. "Jim, stay with me."

A slow blink was his response, but Jim didn't speak. The blond raised a hand, stretching it towards his mate, but he lowered the limb back to the floor, letting out a sigh of defeat. His fingertips were blue as well, and Spock let out a cry as he felt Jim begin to fade.

Straining forward, Spock felt the chains begin to give as he pulled with all the strength he had left. His right arm jerked, and then was suddenly free, and the Vulcan was able to apply all of his strength to the remaining chains. Both legs were wrenched free when he heard a soft sound that made him look up, eyes wide.

"….ock….!"

Jim's eyes were locked on him, and their gazes met and held an instant later. Jim's blue lips parted slightly, and Spock almost didn't hear the whisper that left his lips.

"Love you…"

With that those beautiful eyes fluttered closed, and Jim's body went limp. Spock was left snatching frantically at the light that flitted through his mental fingers, trying to grasp his mate before the darkness took him.

Stay with me! he roared, holding Jim with all of his strength. Don't go!

But even as he shouted those words, he watched as Jim's body grew still, chest halting it's rhythmic rising and falling. Spock kept his eyes locked on the pulse beating in Jim's throat, willing his mate to start breathing again, for that heart to keep going.

Stillness.

Spock felt pain lance through him as the bond began to deteriorate, unraveling faster than the Vulcan could even comprehend, let alone attempt to stop. Spock gave one last pull on the chains and he was suddenly free, the moment accompanying the rush of cool air on his face as the field between them was no doubt lowered.

Not wasting a moment, he darted forward to scoop his mate's fragile body into his arms, placing his hand on his psi points to try and find him. The bond cried at the emptiness even as Spock continued to search in vain.

Jim was gone.

Hours later Spock huddled in the corner of the room, having spent that time releasing Jim's body from the wall before retreating to the corner to rest. Jim's thin body was resting in his lap, suddenly so tiny and breakable, unlike the confident and surprisingly powerful individual that Spock had known and loved.

He had tried everything; CPR, searching mentally, but nothing he had done had brought Jim back. Jim's flesh was still unnaturally cold, even in death, and rigor hadn't yet set in, his body still limp and pliable beneath Spock's hands. The Vulcan wished that he had moved quicker, been stronger; perhaps he could have saved his mate.

Reflexively he raised his hand, placing his fingers lightly against Jim's psi points once again in a futile attempt to find that beautiful mind. Emptiness danced beneath his fingertips; there was not even a katra that he could perhaps save. Jim had just disappeared, slipping through his grasp faster than he could follow.

All his hopes gone, Spock could only wait to join Jim in death.

He had no intention of going anywhere else.

"Spock…"

Dark eyes blinked open from where Spock had tilted his head down against Jim's cold throat, surprise in those orbs.

"…Spock..!"

Spock raised his head, looking down at the beloved form in his arms. "…Jim?

That was Jim's voice, there was no mistaking it. Was death coming for him this soon already? Was it Jim calling to him?

"Come back to me, Spock!"

Closing his eyes, Spock tried to focus on the voice he heard echoing in and around him, frowning when he felt something out of place. The bond that had been crying out in pain, it was no longer doing so. There was something… a thread…

"There he is…. Come on Spock, you can do it!"

Reaching out with mental fingers, Spock grasped the thread, and at his touch it thickened into a cord that stretched into the darkness. The voice grew louder and more solid in his thoughts, and Spock began to drag himself out of the darkness that seemed to be consuming him.

"Spock, come on…! You're so close…!"

Spock's eyes fluttered open and he looked up into worried blue eyes, and then a brilliant smile suddenly exploded across the face of his beloved mate, who was looking down at him. Spock frowned, blinking. "Jim…?"

"You did it, Spock!" Jim said excitedly. "God, I was so worried about you!" The Vulcan only stared at him, and Jim's smile faded. "Spock? Are you alri—!"

His words were lost as Spock reached up powerful arms and dragged him down, connecting their lips with a furious sort of intent, relief and love all poured into that touch. Jim was briefly surprised, and then he melted into the kiss, allowing his eyes to close and his hands to travel up and press against Spock's cheeks.

"So I hear—GOOD GOD MAN!"

The two of them were cut off at McCoy's shout, and Jim leaned away from Spock to turn his gaze to his best friend. He grinned as McCoy shook himself violently, scrubbing at his eyes with the heels of his hands. "Spock's awake!" Jim chirped, humor shining in his eyes.

"I can see that." McCoy replied dryly, turning and walking towards the bio-bed and pulling out a tricorder. "How are you feeling, Spock? Any grogginess, dizziness?"

Spock blinked, confused. "No, I am well. But I am confused. How did we get back aboard the Enterprise? What happened?"

McCoy lifted a nearby hypo, examining the contents briefly. "You've been in a coma for 9 days, not self-induced, but Jim told me you stopped responding after you were given some kind of drug by those bastard Yarket that had you."

"Yarket?" Spock repeated, the confused tone in his voice. "I…"

Jim had taken up a seat beside the bed, one that had obviously been there for a time. "The crew found us the day after I had my seizure, do you remember that, at least?" At Spock's nod he continued. "They had to have given you something while I was unconscious, because when I woke up you wouldn't respond to anything. No matter what I did you just kind of stared right through me. You finally closed your eyes about 2 hours after I woke up."

"We had been tracking you all that time and had finally zeroed in on your position; they took you to a nearby moon and were actually in a facility underground. Scotty rigged up a pretty good amount of force with some of the torpedoes and we managed to bust in and get you out before warping out at top speed." McCoy filled in, leaning over to press the hypo in his hand against Spock's neck.

The Vulcan found himself without words for once. His mind struggled to catch up to the realization that many things he remembered had not been true; a week of torture and watching Jim starve himself, as well as Jim's death had been a product of his drugged mind. Spock turned his gaze to his mate, who was sitting the chair quietly while McCoy ran his scans. He was thinner than he usually was, right arm splinted and wrapped, dark circles under his eyes and a shake to his hands that was abnormal, but he was otherwise alright.

He was alive.

Spock relaxed against the bio-bed, feeling completely drained from the ordeal that he had just experienced. He reached out, finding Jim's hand and entwining their fingers, holding tight to that familiar touch. McCoy smiled slightly, leaning back from the Vulcan.

"You're doing pretty well, Spock, everything pretty much back to normal as far as I can tell. I'll keep you here for at least another day, but then I think I can release you to your quarters." He grinned. "However, I want you on leave for a least a week, and then light duty after that. We'll discuss it in length at that time." With those words he turned to Jim, folding his arms over his chest. "And you, you need to get some sleep! I'd force you back to your quarters, but I know you won't sleep there."

Jim grinned at him, lifting the hand that Spock was clinging to. "I don't think Spock would let me go even if you wanted me to."

Spock couldn't help the faint smile that curved his lips, and he nodded. "Indeed. I do not have any desire to be separated from you for any length of time."

"Me neither." Jim replied, his voice warm.