Chapter Two: Symptoms

Nyota groaned softly as she limped onto the bridge. Her body complained with every movement, the rough treatment she'd received from Spock not abating after she slept.

Or it might have been more accurate if she said she tried to sleep. She found herself restless. She felt like she was coming out of her skin. Her body was hot and her heart was pounding. She looked around the bridge and couldn't see Spock.

Where was he? He was supposed to be on duty. She needed to be with him. Why wasn't he there with her?

"Lieutenant?" Captain Kirk asked, frowning. "Are you all right?"

"Where's Commander Spock?" Nyota asked, her voice much more demanding than she'd meant it to be. She slammed her hand against the nav screen Spock was always stationed at. "He's supposed to be here."

"I was going to ask you the same question, Lieutenant." Kirk's voice was firm. "He was supposed to meet in my Ready Room yesterday, but he never showed up. I've been sending the both of you comms all night."

Nyota put a hand to her head. She blinked blearily. Aside from her rough lovemaking with Spock, she couldn't remember anything that had happened the previous night. "I don't remember that. I didn't hear..."

Kirk's eyes widened. He jumped out of his chair and stormed up to her and grabbed her hand. He pulled it towards him.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed before she could stop herself. No, Kirk wasn't supposed to touch her! Spock was supposed to touch her! Why wasn't he there to touch her?

"Nyota," Kirk said firmly. He rarely- if ever- used her first name, especially while on the bridge. That caused her to snap to attention. "Look at your wrists."

Nyota looked down at her wrists. There was a livid bruise on her dark skin, exactly where Spock had been holding her down. Nyota was reminded of the pain in her body, of the blood that had been on their sheets when she had finally given up on sleep.

"Spock..." Nyota's voice was shaking. She felt fear filling her in his absence. Her blood was pounding in her ears. "I need to find Spock."

"No." Kirk shook his head. "You need to see Doctor McCoy."

Nyota jerked her arm away from Kirk, now feeling her anger growing once again. She was tired of Kirk touching her. She was tired of not being with Spock. "I don't need a Doctor."

"That's an order, Lieutenant," Kirk said firmly. "You either walk there or I drag you there."

Nyota's body gave a large tremor as she looked over at Spock's empty station.

"Okay then. We'll do it like that." Kirk nodded. He grabbed hold of Nyota's shoulders, making her yell and fight him. He glanced over his shoulder. "Sulu, you have the bridge."

Nyota struggled against Kirk's hold as he dragged her down the corridors towards sickbay. Her mind screamed out for her to find Spock. It wasn't right. She wasn't going to him. She needed to find him. She needed something from him. Something she couldn't explain. There was a hole deep inside of her very being. He was missing from her.

Kirk pulled her into the sickbay, marching her to one of the exam tables and sitting her down on it. "Bones, there's something wrong with Uhura."

"I'm fine," Nyota insisted. She tried to stand up. "Once I find Spock, I'll be fine."

Kirk struggled to keep her on the bed. She kicked her legs, trying to push him back. "Get off of me! Don't touch me!"

McCoy ran a tricorder over her. His eyes widened. "What in the hell? What happened, Lieutenant?"

"Nothing!" Nyota snapped. She jerked her arm away from Kirk. "I'm fine!"

Or at least she would be. Every fibre of her being was telling her to find Spock. Spock would make her feel better.

McCoy took Nyota by the shoulders, his face filled with concern. "Lieutenant, are you going to behave, or do I need to say this in front of the Captain? I would like to keep this private for you."

"I need to find Spock," she said through angry tears. When had those started? Why did her emotions go erratic? Why wasn't Spock there? He was supposed to be there. He was supposed to always be with her.

McCoy now joined Kirk in holding her down. "Lieutenant, you have contusions on your wrists, hips, buttocks and thighs. There are bites on your breasts and neck. And you have vaginal tearing."

Kirk let go of Nyota. He stumbled backwards, eyes wide. He was slack-jawed as he looked at her. "Bones, you're not saying..."

McCoy didn't pay any attention to Kirk, keeping his eyes trained on Nyota. "Did Spock do this to you?"

"I need to find him," Nyota repeated. Her body ached. It wasn't from the rough sex they'd had. It was a hunger for him. He wasn't inside of her. He needed to be inside of her. More than just physically. She needed to feel him in her mind. "Why won't you let me go to him?"

There was a furious anger in McCoy's expression. "Nyota, did Spock force you?"

Nyota tried to get off the exam table once again. "He left me like this."

"I'm finding Spock," Kirk said quickly. Before anyone else could speak, Kirk was already off and running.

McCoy kept a firm grip on her shoulders. "Nyota, talk to me... What did Spock do to you? Did he force you?"

Nyota turned to McCoy, lip curling in a snarl. "Of course not! He's just... Strong. And he needed me. He was... He's usually very careful. He wasn't careful last night."

She felt back onto the bed, writhing. She grabbed at her head. "I can't feel him. I need to feel him... In here..." She tore her hair out of its usual neat ponytail, rumpling it as she massaged her head. She couldn't feel him in her mind.

McCoy continued to run the tricorder over her. "My God, Woman... Your adrenaline levels are off the charts and your cortical readings are fluctuating. What in the hell is going on with you?"

Nyota let out a pained cry. "I need Spock."

Spock shook as he knelt in meditation pose. He could feel the sweat on his brow. His body was hot, hotter than it had ever been. He needed to go to Nyota. His body was aching for her.

But no, he couldn't. He'd seen her the night before. She'd been afraid. He'd hurt her. He wouldn't allow himself to hurt her, as much as he wanted to satiate himself in her. He needed to hide. He needed to be alone. He needed to calm his mind and his body, away from everyone else.

He knew what this was. He had hoped he would be spared with his mother's ancestry. It seemed that would not be the case.

Pon Farr.

He'd only realized it when he saw what he had done to Nyota. He felt the pull towards her. But she wouldn't be able to stand it. He would just hurt her. He had already hurt her. She had appeared ravaged after he used her. Rutted with her. Debased her in their own bed.

Meditations could be done. Yes, he could use meditations to subdue the affliction. He wouldn't- couldn't- go near Nyota. He wouldn't be able to stop himself. Even now, his blood was calling out for him to go to her, to claim her, to join with her. She was too far away from him.

"Spock," Jim said from the door. "Guess I'm getting more logical. Wasn't hard to figure out where you'd be."

Spock didn't look up. His hands shook as he tried to redouble his efforts on his meditations. "Go away, Captain."

"I don't know what the hell is going on. I just know Nyota is in sickbay..."

Territorial rage flooded Spock. He leapt to his feet, throwing himself at Jim. His hands gripped at the front of Jim's tunic, pinning him to the wall. His lip curled in a feral snarl. " Do not call her Nyota! You have no right! She is mine!"

"What's going on with you?" Jim shouted. He pushed Spock back hard. Spock didn't resist the shove. He knew he shouldn't be attacking the Captain. "What is going on with you and why is Bones asking Lieutenant Uhura if you raped her?"

Spock felt like his breath was knocked out of him. He remembered the sight of Nyota after he had finished using her. Her uniform was torn. Her body was covered in his bite marks and blooming bruises. She looked so scared and confused. He fell to his knees, bowing his head. Shame flooded him. "Nyota said I... I did that?"

"I didn't stay for her answer," Jim replied. "But considering how desperate she is to find you, I don't think she's scared of you. But I know you did a hell of a number of her. What happened?"

"It is personal," Spock spat out.

Jim knelt down in front of Spock. "Spock, I saw her. I don't know if you two decided to get experimental or what... But if I didn't know any better, I'd think she mated with a Klingon. You bruised her. You bit her. She's torn... Down there."

Another wave of disgust went over Spock. He cursed the hunger of his body. Humans were fragile. Nyota would not be able to stand the rigours of his Pon Farr. He would not be able to hold himself back.

"That is why I am staying away from her." Spock bowed his head. "I need to control myself. I can not be near her. I will hurt her. I am too strong. When I am with her, I do not have enough control."

"You're Mister Control." Jim pointed out. "What's different now?"

Spock was spared having to answer when Jim's comm went off. He flipped it open. "Bones, what's happening?"

"Lieutenant Uhura's adrenaline is spiking. All of her hormones are out of balance along with her cortical readings. I have no idea how to help her and she keeps screaming out for Spock."

Spock's heart thudded at Leonard's words. Those symptoms. No... He couldn't have... But... He could have. He wasn't careful. What he had done to her...

He got up and began to run. He needed to get to her. The call of his very katra could not be ignored any longer. Body and mind were demanding he find Nyota. But it was not just his body and mind. It was hers. She needed him. He could feel the lack of her in his mind and it hurt . It hurt them both .

He raced down the corridors. He dimly heard Jim behind him, but he didn't care. All that mattered was Nyota. He ran into sickbay and felt his body warm at the sight of her. She was in her uniform, but it was rumpled, as if she'd been tugging at fabric that was uncomfortable against her skin. Her hair was mussed in a way he usually only saw when they were engaged in sex. She looked... Glorious.

"Spock!" Nyota cried. She shoved Leonard out of the way and ran to him. She pressed up close to him, her hands pulled at the hem of his tunic to expose his abdomen. She made a keening noise that was so very alluring. "Why did you leave me, Spock? I need you. Don't you need me?"

Spock whined, tilting Nyota's chin up to kiss her. He never engaged in public displays of affection, but he could not resist the call of her lips, of her skin. She was close, but she was not yet close enough to him. She was pleading for him. How could he resist her? "Of course I do, K'diwa." His tongue slipped over her lower lip. "I did not wish to hurt you."

"I'm hurting now," Nyota palmed at his stomach, making him yearn for more. He bucked his hips towards her. "Why aren't you here with me?"

He was wanting, but his mind was clearer. Hours of meditation and now proximity to Nyota allowed him to think. As much as he wanted her, she was suffering. He needed to gauge her symptoms. He needed to find out if what he suspected was true and how far gone she was. He touched a hand to Nyota's cheek. Even with his own high body temperature, he knew she was running a fever. He barely skimmed over her mind and felt the rush of need from her.

Just that brief connection jolted his body and hardened his member. He wanted her beneath him. He wanted to be inside her mind and body. "Nyota.. My perfect Nyota... K'diwa..." He pressed their fingers together, rubbing the digits sensually as he kissed her hotly.

"What the hell is going on?" Leonard demanded, grabbing at Spock's shoulder in a vain attempt to pull him away. Spock pushed Leonard aside and wrapped his arm around Nyota, pressing her closer to him. She felt so good in his arms.

Jim finally came through the door, winded from chasing after the Vulcan. Leonard scowled deeply. "I just got done healing Uhura's wounds, but she still ain't right and now these two are necking like teenagers at a barn dance."

Nyota's condition. Yes. Spock had to be logical, despite his body stripping away his faculties. The need to protect his mate was strong, even in the throes of his time. Spock reluctantly pulled himself away from Nyota. Her body felt too good pressed against his. He swept her up in his arms, carrying her over to the exam table. He set her down and he gave her one final kiss on her feverish forehead. "K'diwa, I need to speak to the Captain and the Doctor. Wait here for me."

Nyota let out a whine as Spock pulled away from her. He didn't want to leave her. He needed to be closer to her, not farther. But no... He would do what was best for her.

Spock panted as he pulled Jim and Leonard aside. He didn't want to speak in front of Nyota. He didn't want to frighten her. He just had enough logic in him to tell the Captain what needed to be done. "We must divert to New Vulcan immediately. If we do not, Nyota will die."

"What in the hell are you talking about, you pointy eared hobgoblin?" Leonard demanded. He poked Spock in the chest. "What is going on with Lieutenant Uhura? And what is going on with you for that matter?"

"I've told you what is required." Spock fought to keep his voice even. He didn't like being challenged by these men, especially with Nyota in such close proximity. He kept his gaze on Jim. "There is no treatment for her here. I may have been able to handle my own condition, but she is not equipped. The only way to stop the neurochemical imbalance Doctor McCoy has found is to go to New Vulcan."

"That's not good enough," Jim said, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at Spock hard. "What's going on, Spock?"

Spock clenched his hands into fists. He felt the anger rising in him. "It is a Vulcan matter."

"Uhura's not a Vulcan!" Jim countered. He held his head high, his body language reminding Spock that he was the Captain. "She- and you- are members of my crew. And if you tell me she's going to die, I need to know what's going on. That's an order, Commander."

Spock didn't want to speak of it. None of his people did. He grit his teeth, flexing his fingers again.

"Spock," Jim said gently. "You can trust us. But we need to know. For Uhura."

His lovely, suffering Nyota. He needed to protect her. She would have less time than he did. She was already close to the Plak Tow. Her human biology must have expedited the process. He needed to bond with her. "These are things Vulcans do not speak aloud, even to each other."

"I'm her doctor," Leonard said firmly. "If you want me to help her, I need to know what's going on. Spock, I know you want to help her."

Spock looked over at Nyota. She was shaking, reaching out for him. He wanted to go to her. She looked frightened and confused, pulling at the fabric of her red dress. His instinct to protect her outstripped any sense of Vulcan decency. "I have entered the Pon Farr. Every seven years, Vulcans have an overwhelming urge to mate. It strips our minds from us. It brings a madness which rips away our veneer of civilisation. Right now, my unbearable need to bond with Lieutenant Uhura is at the forefront of my mind. Even speaking to you now is taking any remaining control I have. The Pon Farr is so strong, it will be fatal if not satiated."

"Well, then what's the problem?" Leonard snapped. "I don't keep count, but I'm pretty sure you and the Lieutenant have been mating pretty regularly."

Spock began to shake harder, trying desperately to hold onto some modicum of composure. "It is not simply a matter of physical copulation. It is a bond of our bodies, minds and spirits. Were she Vulcan, we could bond ourselves. But for Nyota and myself... We require another Vulcan to perform the marriage rites. I would have suffered this alone, but my judgment slipped and I made an error. I gave into my desire to start the bonding process. It was not enough to satiate my needs... And it left Nyota with the same biological drive as my own."

"Of all of the patients I expected to come in with an alien STD, Uhura was pretty damn low on my list..." Leonard cast a glance at Jim.

"Hey!" Jim protested.

"It is not a disease," Spock spat. He took a deep, trembling breath. "And it is no time for jests. Nyota is in very real danger... And it is my fault."

Jim rubbed his forehead. "Let me get this straight, Spock... I need to fly the ship to New Vulcan so you and Uhura can do some alien Kama Sutra or else you'll both die?"

"I may survive," Spock replied. "I can use meditative techniques to sublimate the symptoms until the Pon Farr breaks. Nyota cannot. I do not know how long she has. Her symptoms are developing at a much more expedient rate than my own, no doubt because of her human physiology."

Spock met Jim's eyes. He silently gazed at the Captain, wordlessly telling him that everything he said was the truth and that Nyota was truly in mortal danger. Jim nodded firmly before he went to the comm. "Chekov, set a new course to New Vulcan. Maximum warp. The president of Altair VI will have to wait."

"Aye-aye, Keptain."

Spock looked over to where Nyota was waiting, pressing her long, lean legs together and rumpling her hair. Her skirt was riding up and he could see the crotch of her panties was soaked in her wetness. "I may be able to alleviate the lieutenant's symptoms until we get to New Vulcan."

Leonard crossed his arms over his chest. "And just how do you plan to do that?"

"There is only one logical solution, Doctor..." Spock arched an eyebrow. "I believe you would term it 'the fun way'."

Author's Notes: The transfer of Pon Farr to a non-Vulcan through an incomplete telepathic mating bond is canonical, as shown in the episode "Blood Fever" of "Star Trek: Voyager".