The captain and the medic trudged the last quarter of a mile to the outpost. McCoy was really starting to regret drinking so much, especially now that the situation had turned ominous. James' mind was reeling with morbid thoughts, knowing Spock was most likely hurt; he was fuming with the fact that it was partially his fault. Having an intimate moment with the doctor had been nice but it hadn't been worth his first officer's safety. The thought of losing Spock was unbearable. Reaching the outpost, they found themselves at the front of the building. James lifted a hand to McCoy's chest to stop him in his tracks, his hand lingering for a moment as it had done with Spock's in the cave. Pulling his communicator out, he flipped it open, "Kirk to enterprise. Scotty, we need a little backup here. Send down two officers."

"On it, Captain," came the reply.

Putting the communicator away, he stood back to take in his surroundings. The building wasn't a very large one, but the entrance was massive. There was no life to be seen and he was thankful that they seemed to have not been noticed. A couple minutes later two red-shirts energized before them.

Kirk nodded in their direction before leading the way to the towering door. It was too heavy for him to push open himself so McCoy helped. Once it was fairly open they all moved inside one by one. They found themselves within a large room, brighter than they had expected. And within it were what seemed like two guards and a man dressed in a long green robe. The main man gave a startled, angry look aimed at Kirk, "Who are you to enter here?"

James moved boldly forward, calm and collected, at ease, "We are looking for one of our men. We don't want to assume he was taken, but he has disappeared. Would you be kind enough to help us search for him?"

The man turned up his chin, "We have him here. He is mine until he tells us where my men are. Or would you like to tell me?"

The captain deflated slightly, but held strong as he held out his hands, "We have your men, they are safe. We simply ask that you release my first officer. He has done nothing. If you should have anyone it should be me."

He spoke the truth, he would rather be in Spock's place. To think of him being torture, at the least, made him feel guilty. He couldn't fathom life if he were to lose him. His mind went to McCoy but he was only half his concern. He needed them both. But almost immediately after he spoke the man looked to one of the guards and suddenly both guarded fired their weapons and it was lethal for the two officers that had beamed down.

His eyes widened at such madness and he stepped further forward, speaking just as calmly, friendly even, despite the horrible thing that had happened, "Why not have peace? Why should we fight? We can both have what we want, a compromise. To give each other what we have lost."

But the officers pointed their weapons at Kirk and he drew back, slightly alarmed, but hopeful. But McCoy was quick to stun them both, and it was the leader's turn to look shocked. Kirk took that moment to fire his phaser at the leader, which stunned him and he fell to the floor. He turned to McCoy, "For once, Bones, I feel like we should have set them to kill."

The medic agreed with a nod and Kirk looked around, spotting an archway. He pointed and began to go toward it. They roamed a hall until there came a staircase and they went down. At the bottom was a stone-cold cellar and in the dim lighting they saw a man hanging on chains. It was too dark to see but Kirk's stomach lurched, knowing it was Spock. And he was right when they came up to him. He was weak and could barely open his eyes but he croaked out a quiet, "James…"

Kirk's heart hurt, he never wanted to see his friend like that. It was almost too much to bear as he unhooked his wrists from the cuffs and helped Spock slump down the wall. He was scared as he touched his forehead to Spock's for a moment, almost lovingly, before turned to McCoy, "Please, tell me he won't die."

McCoy knelt down and gently moved Kirk aside, taking out his tricorder out and scanning the Vulcan. "He'll be fine," he whispered. But of course they had to get him to sickbay immediately. McCoy took the chance, because god knows he wanted to, to cup Spock's cheek and caress it with his thumb. If Kirk could pine after him, then so could he. He always claimed that the Vulcan annoyed him to no end, but that didn't mean he didn't care for him, or even feel more, no matter how much that appalled him.

Spock lifted his head a bit, hoping it would be James touching him so, but when he saw it was McCoy he couldn't honestly say he was too disappointed. It was kind either way, and he was grateful for the concern. But then his eyes closed and he was out. Kirk saw the touch and he felt sick, he was the one who was supposed to comfort the man he loved. And he also felt something else, a jealousy that his most trusted friend would long to give Spock affection, and not provide him the same.

The captain took out his communicator then and requested that they be beamed up. Upon energizing McCoy quickly helped Kirk carry the unconscious man to sickbay, laying him down. "He'll need at least a few days to recuperate," he informed his captain and friend. Kirk nodded. He faced the other man and took him by the shoulder, looking him in the eyes with concern, "He will be alright, James."

Kirk stared at Spock, seeming almost so innocent, and he ached for him, "I… need a moment with him."

McCoy frowned, but he allowed it, "Alright, but he needs rest." He squeezed the shoulder before lightly sliding his hand down the bicep, feeling like drawing closer, wishing he could embrace him, but he couldn't. Kirk noticed the sensual touch and his stomach clenched. He looked into McCoy's eyes and his lips parted. He too wanted to move closer, feeling the palpable energy between them, but he forced himself not to. And a moment later the hand dropped. McCoy felt they had a moment, but it was fleeting, and he gave another small nod before walking away.

Looking at Spock again, Kirk took a seat and hesitantly took his hand. He couldn't just walk away, he couldn't take his eyes off him. "I'm sorry, Spock." Then he felt a stirring and the hand in his clenched and he heard a small intake of breath. It felt like a show of affection, and it almost felt like more. He squeezed the hand gently and smiled softly. It was too sweet. "I lo…"

He almost said it, and it surprised him. He never realized just how much he loved Spock until that moment. So, instead, he brought the hand up and kissed it, sure that Spock wasn't really aware enough to know. But Spock did feel something, faintly. He knew that he was being shown the most intimate affection possible and if he could have, he probably would have felt something too. He refused to believe he would feel anything more than slight friendship, but something within him told him that was denial.