It was alpha shift on the star ship Enterprise and Captain James T Kirk sat in his very comfortable captain's chair on the bridge, right leg hooked over his left. There was nothing abnormal happening for once and shift was almost over, and therefore teasing his commander with small obscene gestures was obviously the best use of his time. He waited until no one else was looking then made the slightest movements, knowing exactly how to rile up his bondmate. It also helped that their mental link allowed Jim to project thoughts and feelings to Spock. He knew he was successful when the faintest shade of green appeared on the Vulcan's stunning cheekbones.

"Jim?" Bones startled the captain from his teasing. McCoy was surprisingly good at sneaking up on people, even after a bottle of Romulan alcohol, "What are you doing to Spock?"

Trust a doctor to notice, "I don't know what you're talking about," they stared at each other for a moment, Jim did his best to contain his amusement, "is there a reason for this visit to the bridge?"

Bones handed Kirk a PADD, "Giving you the latest report, Captain," he answered casually.

"Of course you are," Jim smiled, he knew that the doctor often came to the bridge just to 'hang out', which the captain had no problem with; they were best friends after all. However, they did have a habit of giving each other shit.

"Captain!" Spock's voice rang out over the bridge; effectively causing everyone to immediately become alert, "We are getting energy readings from the planet we are currently passing; Dellslo Eight."

Kirk swivelled in his chair to face him, "But there's nothing on Dellslo Eight, are you sure that's where the reading is coming from?"

"Positive, Captain," Spock knew his findings were sound.

Jim considered what action to take, "Mr Sulu, take us into orbit. Mr Spock and I-" he glanced at McCoy, "with the accompaniment of Dr McCoy, will transport down to the surface of the planet and find out what the source of this mysterious energy is. Mr Stevenson and Mr Rodgers will join us also, please be ready in the transporter room in fifteen minutes."

The two red shirts nodded and departed from the bridge, closely followed by Spock, Kirk and McCoy. After a short period of time, the party of five met in the transporter room as instructed; phasers, communicators, med kit and tricorder ready to go. McCoy had also contacted Dr Carol Marcus; his lovely partner and second in command science officer after Mr Spock, to let her know that they were off on another adventure on another planet where strange things were happening. So, business as usual.

Mr Scott was awaiting them, hands moving over the control panel as they entered the transporter room.

"Ready, Scotty?" the Captain asked and stepped onto the transporter pad.

"Ready, Captain," Chief Engineer Scott replied, his hands hovered above the controls.

Everyone took their positions on the transporter pad and Mr Scott hit the controls transporting the party down to the surface of the planet. All that could be seen in the dying red sun was flat, mustard yellow dirt for miles. It was a barren wasteland, nothing growing, nothing living. If anything had ever lived here, it was long since gone.

Spock pulled out his tricorder and scanned the area, "This way," he announced and led the others in a direction that only made sense to the science officer, "it should not be far, however, I do not see anything."

Each man scoured the area with their eyes, the low light made it hard to see much though. If it wasn't for Spock's keen Vulcan vision, they probably would have missed it.

"Over there!" Spock exclaimed, he pointed the tricorder and strode towards what he saw, "There…do you see it? A shimmering light, lingering in the air," as they moved closer the rest of the party could see it too.

"What is it, Spock?" Jim asked, staring at the mysterious light, it almost seemed alive with the way it appeared to quiver.

Spock made a small disbelieving noise, "The tricorder is having trouble reading it, it must be malfunctioning. It seems to be indicating that this is a forest on planet Earth."

"Well, that can't be right," Bones said dubiously.

"That is not the strangest part, it also indicates that the forest is somewhere in twenty first century America," Spock announced.

The party looked at each other for a few moments, nobody quite believing what they had heard. Kirk turned to his commander, "What do you make of it, Spock?"

"I am unsure, however, I would like to conduct an experiment, with your permission Captain, to see what would happen if we were to touch this 'light' with something," the Vulcan looked around, trying to find something; a rock or a stick.

"Be my guest, Mr Spock," Kirk granted.

McCoy fished around in his kit for a moment and procured a long pair of tweezers, "Will these do?" he asked.

Spock nodded and took the tweezers from McCoy before he turned back to the energy source.

"Spock…" Jim was concerned about his husband as always.

"If my theory is correct, then I will be completely fine, do not worry," he touched Kirk's hand briefly, sending comfort through their shared bond, "trust me."

"I always do," Jim answered softly, letting Spock conduct his experiment.

The Vulcan moved forward slowly, arm outstretched with the tweezers in hand, "Doctor, would you mind standing on the other side please, to observe and confirm my theory."

The Doctor obliged and moved into position. Spock continued forward, he met the light with the tip of the tweezers, and as he suspected; he was received with no force field nor defence. The tweezers went in one side…and did not come out of the other.

McCoy's eyes went wide, "Nothing has appeared on the other side, it doesn't even look disturbed. Tell us your hypothesis, Spock."

"It is as I theorised; this 'light' appears to be a portal to another place, essentially a wormhole. What I do not know is how it got here, or why it is here, and how long it will be here for," Spock announced to the group.

There was much discussion after that. Should they go through? Who should go? What is the protocol for something like this? Was there one? How much time should they allow? What if the portal closed?

It was the captain who had the final say, "Spock and I will go, allow us six hours, if we do not return send word to the Enterprise and send a search party. If it is deemed too dangerous to do so, then leave," he could see McCoy was about to be a mother hen and protest, "that's an order."

Bones grumbled but agreed, and the two red shirts took up posts either side of the portal.

Jim turned to Spock, "I trust you, let's do this."

Spock nodded and touched his pointer and middle finger on one hand to the same two fingers on one of Jim's hands in a Vulcan kiss. Jim felt a small sense of uncertainty trickle through the bond, but Spock didn't let it show on the outside; Vulcan nerves of steel.

They faced the portal together and each took a deep breath before striding into the golden glow. Neither had any idea what they would encounter on the other side, but they would face it together as always.