[Disclaimer: The movies and its characters don't belong to me. I don't own them. They belong to their rightful owners and I'm just borrowing them for this one-shot.

Spoilers for 'Into Darkness'!]

{To protect you from danger}

"Scotty!"

Sounds of shots and explosions rang through the air, but Jim kept on running towards the huge banquet hall where he'd last seen his Chief.

He needed to find him, needed to see that he was okay and hadn't been injured by these rebels attacking the building.

A friendly visit at one of the planet's royal family's home. That's all it was supposed to be. A simple invitation for dinner, an act of kindness for saving the people's home, nothing more. The Diligres family had asked for the ship's Captain and First Officer to join them in the evening but since Spock had caught a bad case of some kind of space flu, McCoy had forbidden the Vulcan to go anywhere for the next few days. So Jim had taken his Second Officer with him.

Some debris hit the floor right next to him. Kirk jumped out of the way, causing him to trip and fall. He quickly got to his feet again, ignoring the stinging pain in his right leg. Why did that dam shard of a shattered window just had to hit him?! He gritted his teeth as he limped forward.

"Scotty!", he cried out once more and finally he actually heard someone answer him.

"Jim!"

The Captain let his eyes wander through the hallway. Inhabitants of the planet were running away from the ball room where several of them had danced not too long before. Was his friend in the crowd?

"Scotty! Where are you?"

Jim made his way through the crowd and he caught a glimpse of something red in between. He came to a halt and grabbed the person by his arm, stopping him from running.

He was met by the fearful eyes of a certain Scotsman. Kirk gave him a quick glance and scanned his body from head to toe. The Engineer's arm seemed to be hurt since he held it close to his body with the other one. There was a nasty bruise on his forehead, which was still bleeding heavily.

"Jim, you're okay?"

Kirk simply nodded while he grabbed Scotty and pulled him with him. He needed to get him to a safe place. Since there was a shield around and above the house protecting the family from attacks from out of space, there was no way that they could be beamed back when they were still inside the building. They had to get out, as fast as possible!

But they didn't get very far, because a group of rebels suddenly appeared in front of the fleeing crowd, shooting at them.

Jim entered the very first hallway right next to them and kept on running. There was a door which seemed to lead down into the house's basement. It didn't take them too long and they were beneath the chaos, still hearing screams and shots.

Jim breathed heavily just like Scotty and then he took a look around.

'Dam it! Why's there no emergency exit?'

The Captain couldn't believe that a house like this didn't have an escape route in case of attacks. But it had been built during a time of peace, before the gap between rich and poor had increased so much. Possibly, the Diligres hadn't thought about adding it later on.

"Scotty! I need you to hide down here. Try to contact Spock and the others. Ask for help."

Jim opened one of the closets and pushed his friend inside, but he was soon stopped by a hand tightening around his wrist. He looked into Scotty's eyes which were narrowed in confusion.

"What about you, Captain?"

Jim sighed. He just knew he had to do what a good diplomat would do.

"I'll go back up there and try to talk to them-", Kirk tried to explain, but was immediately interrupted by the Scotsman.

"No way! I cannae let you do that! Ye're gonna get yourself killed!"

His voice was high pitched because of fear and Jim bit his lip. There was no time to argue. But what else should he do? Knock Scotty out?

"Don't you dare think of knocking me out again!"

It was just like he could read his mind. Scotty knew him. He knew him all too well.

"Scotty-"

"I've watched you die once, I won't let it happen again! Ye cannae expect me to just sit here while you risk your life! I won't let you die... I-"

It surprised Jim when Scotty pulled him into a hug, his shoulders trembling. He... seemed to be crying. Kirk decided that the only thing he could do was to hug him back, trying to comfort him.

"Shh, it's gonna be okay. I'm gonna be fine. You don't need to worry about me," he whispered into the man's ear, but when he tried to step back, Scotty didn't let go.

"I'm begging you, Jim. Don't go back up there."

The Captain swallowed hard. He wasn't keen on going up there either, but if he could save some lives then he wouldn't hesitate to do it. The only thing keeping him down here was the thought of Scotty's face when he'd find his dead body.

He wouldn't stand it. Scotty would never be able to live with himself.

"Scotty... I have to help these people. So let me go. Don't make me order you..."

But it seemed like that would be the only way since Scott's grip didn't loose.

"Even if ye give me an order, Captain. I'll protect you. From others... and from yourself."

Kirk wanted to reply something but at first he didn't know what to say and then he heard yells closing in.

No, no, no! The rebels! They had found the basement!

Jim did what he had to. He pushed Scotty away from him, inside the closet, and grabbed his phaser. He would try to talk, but he wouldn't hesitate shooting either. It was the only way to protect Scotty.

"There they are!", he heard the voice of a man and he aimed his phaser at the end of the stairway.

"Please, I just wanna talk-"

But these guys didn't want to talk. They shot at him and Jim wanted to jump out of the way but he fell to the ground because of his injured leg.

'Dam, that hurt!'

He wanted to fire a few shots but one of the rebel's phasers hit his hand. He dropped his own weapon and simply closed his eyes.

'I'm sorry, Scotty. I'm sorry.'

He expected the next shot to hit him right in his head or chest but that didn't happen.

Kirk could hear phaser shots and when he opened his eyes he saw Uhura and Sulu standing there. Apparently they had stunned the rebels for there bodies lay still on the floor.

Jim couldn't help but smile.

"Great timing, guys."

"And don't you dare to try and leave sickbay before I allow you to! I can't even believe that I take the risk of letting you recover in the same room."

Bones glared at his patients who were smiling at him innocently. Well... he knew how stubborn and childish they could act, so his fear was not unfounded.

"I'll be in my office if any of you needs a doctor."

With that he left the room and Jim turned his head to look at Scotty who was laying in the biobed next to him. He gave him a soft smile.

"I'm glad that you'll be fine, Scotty."

The Scotsman locked eyes with him, a mixture of sadness and relief shimmering in them.

"Yeah, well... I'm glad that you're alive."

What was it in his voice? Was he angry? Disappointed? Worried?

"Look, Scotty, I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Scott huffed and Jim felt his heart drop. So he actually was angry.

"Ye did scare me, Jim. But I'm used to that. It's something else that I cannae accept."

Jim tilted his head in a questioning way and he could see a few tears shimmering in Scotty's eyes.

"You pushed me away, Jim. I wanted to save you, to help you. And you just pushed me away."

The Captain simply stared at his Chief Engineer. He... he was right.

"I wanted to protect you, Scotty-"

"You always protect me. Us. This ship. That dam hero complex of yours just won't allow you not to."

Scotty's eyes softened suddenly and Jim swallowed the lump in his throat down.

"Just... just let us help you too from time to time. Please, don't ever push me away again. We're friends. We're family!"

Jim smiled softly and nodded.

"I won't, Scotty. You're right. You're my family. And we'll forever stay that way!"