Just remember, it's got to get worse before it can get better guys!

Rachel ;)

Chapter 35

Jim swore loudly as the servant ran off, before glancing over at Pike, "He's warning them".

His old friend nodded, a grave expression on his face, "Let's go".

It had taken only seven hours to get the go ahead from Starfleet, especially with Bones's medical reports on the abuse Spock had suffered, and only another hour before they were granted a fully-operational ship and given a handful of Federation guards to take Sarek into custody once they had arrived on Vulcan.

Needless to say, Starfleet weren't happy with their Vulcan counterpart, and had immediately issued a warrant for his arrest for breaking so many laws, with Pike being the arrester on scene.

The only thing that Jim cared about, was getting his own Vulcan back.

Following the servant down one of the many halls in the large house, they burst through the dining room doors before coming to an abrupt stop once inside.

Jim felt himself pale as he took in his boyfriend's stance, defensive and hurt, his battered and bruised body swaying on the spot as he protectively held a dull knife out in front of himself like a sword, a feeble weapon compared to the strength of the Vulcan standing in front of him.

So that was Syvar.

The blonde felt his blood boil even just looking at the large muscular man, and he heard Bones growl lowly next to him.

"Admiral Pike? What is the meaning of this?!"

Jim quickly turned back to the Vulcan closest to them as he spoke.

The Ambassador didn't look much like his son, asides from the tell-tale ears, and he found himself strangely dismayed that he never got the chance to see what Spock's mother had looked like.

"This, Sarek, is a Federation intervention" Pike replied sternly, "As of now, Starfleet disowns any and all connections they have with you and your family. Due to your repeated breakage of basic laws by abusing your youngest son, you are hereby disentitled as Vulcan Ambassador and I am here to issue your arrest. There are Starfleet guards on standby aboard our ship to take you into custody and I demand that you come quickly and quietly or I will use force. Do you understand?"

And then all hell broke loose.

Sarek charged at them, Bones and Chekov quickly stepping in to help Pike subdue him, while Nyota and Sulu charged at Syvar.

Jim kept his head low as he tried to avoid everyone's notice, silently making his way closer to a trembling Spock, the Vulcan's eyes worryingly blank.

He was almost there when he heard a large crash, a pained yell, and then suddenly he was tackled to the floor and large hands were wrapped around his neck.

Winded, he managed to spin around in his captors grasp, finding Syvar's furious gaze above him, and Nyota and Sulu lying in a dazed heap behind him, the former bleeding profusely from a headwound caused by the broken chair in front of them.

Jim gritted his teeth and struggled in the Vulcan's grip, feeling his vision darkening just as Pike bit out a muffled curse as Sarek escaped his hold once more, Chekov knocked out on the floor and Bones frantically trying to slap him awake.

They were overpowered.

They were injured.

They were going to lose.

"STOP!"

Everyone froze before spinning around to face him, and Spock glared back viciously, the knife now pressed firmly against his right side, just above his liver.

Bones stumbled to his feet, automatically taking a step forwards, face pale and panicked, "Spock, don't".

He could pinpoint the exact moment that everyone else realised.

Vulcan anatomy differed greatly from humans, after all.

And one of these differences, was the location of their hearts.

He forced himself to turn back to Syvar, his voice painfully loud in the silent room, "Let him go or I'll do it".

His fiancé let out a sudden laugh, dropping Jim like a ragdoll as he got to his feet, "Really, Spock? Really? Taking the cowards way out? Well then go right ahead! I dare you... You'll save me the effort of doing it myself".

He felt his hands begin to shake even as the blonde snarled and staggered to his feet, punching Syvar hard enough to momentarily daze him and sent him spiralling to the ground below.

"Spock, don't do it" He pleaded, slowly taking a step forwards, and the younger man distantly realised that he'd never seen Jim look this scared before.

"Just... Just put the knife down, yea?" He continued gently, "Please don't do this, please, god, just- just don't do this, okay? Okay?!"

The Vulcan felt his vision blur and suddenly realised that he was crying.

On the other side of him, Syvar growled and sat up, "Don't listen to him, you whore. He's nothing but a piece on the side. You think he cares about you? That this human cares about something other than your body?! You're more stupid than I thought. Stupid, worthless, unfaithful, whore just like your mother-"

Jim spun around and kicked him in the jaw with all his might, sending the older man toppling backwards, and everyone heard the sickening crack as skull met wood.

Spock stared at his fiancé where he lay, remaining strangely still as his mouth frothed green.

From the other side of the room, Pike swore as Sarek once more escaped his grasp and ran straight for the glass doors next to him.

There's only one way off that balcony, Spock vaguely recalled, so it looks like my father won't be arrested after all.

He only barely noticed Jim inching his way towards him, closer and closer until with a soothing voice and hands so gentle it caused more tears, he took the knife from his loose grip, immediately tossing it to the other side of the room just as Spock heard his father's body hit the concrete pavement in the distance.

He felt warm hands lightly touch his shoulders as he was slowly lowered to the ground, his eyes remaining focused on Syvar's body in front of him until a panicked Bones blocked his view.

They were gone.

They couldn't hurt him anymore.

He was free.

"Spock?! Spock!"

Then kind arms were wrapping themselves around him, and he felt safe and warm and protected for the first time in oh-so-long and he couldn't help but smile as his mind finally, finally, drifted away and away and away until-

Nothing.