A/N: I am so sorry that this is so much later than what I told people! Work keeps me IMPOSSIBLY busy and I never have time to think of anything else.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed and put this story on his or her alerts and favorites. It's greatly appreciated, as this is my first real 'Star Trek' story. And man, I was totally not expecting the influx of reviews and adds to the alerts. It was surprising and welcome!
Alright, this is part 2/2, so please enjoy!
ST
Moving hurriedly for Dr. M'Benga, desperate for the man to save his love, Spock kept going even as his thoughts kept along one trail No, Jim, please, don't leave me! Jim! Shoving past the doctor and not even knowing what words he was speaking, he moved for one of the bio-beds and gently laid Jim down. Easing him into a sitting position and then grasping his arms as he lowered the injured captain, he turned to M'Benga.
"He just literally stopped breathing and his heart stopped beating. I suggest you get to work, Doctor."
For the other man's credit, he tried to not look freaked out. Calling for Nurse Chapel and pulling his equipment, Dr. M'Benga took a deep breath to center himself before he began to work. He turned to the first officer for only a moment. "Commander, I have never treated anything this severe before. I can't promise anything."
Despite the breaking sensation taking place in his lower abdomen, seemingly very near his heart, Spock nodded his head. "Very well, Doctor, just perform at your highest capabilities."
Having to completely force himself to take a step backwards, Spock kept his eyes latched onto the motionless form of his beloved as the medical personnel rushed around the dying human. Hearing and identifying some of the lingo they were using, he tried not to give an outside sight of the emotions churning throughout his body.
Watching as Dr. M'Benga was readying a device meant to restart Jim's breathing, Spock's hands began to shake minutely. Unable to view the treatment his soon-to-be bondmate was undergoing, the Vulcan turned on his heel. "Inform me of any news." Not even seeing if the doctor acknowledged him, he swiftly exited sick bay.
As he started to walk down the brightly lit corridor, it was seemingly impossible for his thoughts to convalesce into something resembling order. He had just witnessed the attempted murder of the man he loved by said man's supposed best friend. Even for the Enterprise, this was decidedly new.
Walking aimlessly, he barely even realized that he was moving for the security portion of the ship. Only when he started to hear loud voices did he come back to himself to realize where he had ended up.
Before he even entered the brig, Spock could hear Dr. McCoy's cries.
"No! I have to get to Jim! Damn it, I shot him, I shot him! I need to get to him! If he dies…"
He rounded the corner in time to see a security officer shove the doctor onto a bench located in the cell. The officer obviously had anger stretching his features tight. "Yeah, if the captain dies, it's all on you, Doctor."
He then turned to motion one of the medical officers he had called to sedate the "crazy" doctor over, so that she could administer the needed hypo.
That was when Spock stepped forward. "That will be unnecessary, Lieutenant. I have the situation. I would like to speak with Dr. McCoy alone. You are dismissed."
The lieutenant looked like he was about to argue as to the commander's safety, but after seeing the Vulcan's hard look, he nodded and turned away. Calling the medical officer with him, the two made their way down the corridor.
Spock then stepped into the cell holding Dr. Leonard McCoy. Seeing the doctor sitting desolately on the bench, the fury that had almost overrun him faded for the time being. He had heard the tone, the desperate and guilty tone of voice that McCoy had carried when he was trying to convince the security personnel. It had sounded like the doctor normally did and not a phaser toting maniac.
Stopping closer to the door, he folded his arms behind his back and calmly addressed McCoy. Immediately, the doctor's head shot up and he was on his feet. Unthinkingly, he walked right up to the Vulcan and grabbed his forearms tightly.
"Spock! I have to get to Jim! That phaser was set for a concentrated beam! The damage it did to him had to be extensive. I honestly don't know if M'Benga is able to heal a wound like that!"
Anger was starting to bubble within him again at the thought of what this man, his t'hy'la's closest friend, had done to Jim. Especially, as now the doctor had dared to lay a hand on his person. Easily bracing his mental shields against the flurry of McCoy's mind, he gave a cold look to the doctor. Conveying his feeling on the matter, he was confident that McCoy would get the message.
However, it seemed that the doctor was very determined. "Damn it, you hobgoblin, you can beat me to a pulp later. Believe me, if you don't do it, I'm pretty sure I can find someone who's willing. What I did to Jim… it doesn't matter what happens to me, Spock, but let me save him. Let me save my best friend's life."
"Considering, Doctor, that you are the one who caused his condition, for what reason should I let you near him?"
"Because! I am the only doctor on this boat who could heal a wound of this magnitude!" seeing right away that his arguments were not persuading the Vulcan, McCoy dropped his head and tightened his hold on the first officer's arms. "Because, Spock, I am the one who did this to him. I don't know how or why or… any of it. It just, I couldn't fight it. I was just getting some tools ready for a physical and then this, I don't know, it was… it was like a-a switch just flicked in my mind and I picked up the first phaser I came to…. And then I shot Jim. I don't know why, Spock. I don't know. I just know that if he dies, it's all my fault. I have to save him, Spock, I have to."
Examining the doctor with a critical eye, he realized that McCoy was telling the absolute truth. Knowing that he owed it to his bondmate-to-be, and even the man standing before him, to try anything and everything within his power to figure out the solution to this situation, Spock slowly dropped his mental shields.
Immediately he was under barrage by the doctor's overwhelming guilt and remorse and confusion. And following the trail back into the furthest areas of McCoy's mind, the Vulcan was halted by a large black mark that stretched fully across the doctor's unconsciousness.
Unable to stop his head jerking, Spock's eyes locked onto the doctor's still bent frame, holding desperately onto to the "green-blooded hobgoblin".
"Dr. McCoy," he waited until the other's blue eyes matched his before he spoke again. "Doctor, I believe something was done to you, but I need to perform a mind-meld before any conclusions are met."
McCoy hesitated. He remembered the last time he was subjected to a mind-meld and it was with the Mirror version of the Spock standing before him. That bastard hadn't minded ripping into his human brain, uncaring of the damage he could have left behind. But, this time was different. Spock wouldn't do that, and if the mind-meld could get him to Jim's side, McCoy would do it.
Not even speaking, he swallowed loudly and nodded. Spock, knowing what it was costing the doctor, gently put his hand on the meld points and spoke the words needed to gain access.
At once, he could see the lingering black marks that were digging caverns into McCoy's mind. Concerned now, he pushed down his own worry to be able to explore further. The more and more he searched, the more and more he was growing confused.
What being had done this to McCoy? When and how? Was it his own counterpart in the Mirror universe? That mission had only been a couple of months ago, so the possibility was not unwarranted.
But, as he moved deeper, the answers were laid out before him. Images, lingering feelings of pain, confusion, anger, disbelief, determination… it all swirled together into one explanation.
Gently pulling away, his hands moved so that he was now grasping the doctor's forearms, bracing McCoy. Now that he knew, he could only feel remorse and pity for his friend and guilt for not knowing and not being there when the other had needed him. He knew Jim would feel the same once he knew. If he lived to hear about it, anyways.
"Leonard, I believe you and I know exactly what happened to you. Now, there is no time if we are to save Jim. I will tell you everything, but after you see to Jim."
McCoy almost sagged in relief. "Thank you, Spock, thank you." He then chuckled and looked up at his friend. "But that's the only time you're hearing it."
Spock let one side of his mouth lift, a quick rejoinder for the doctor. "I would expect nothing less, Doctor."
ST
Many hours later, McCoy dropped heavily into the chair beside the captain's bio-bed. Rubbing his hands brusquely across his face, he was only barely aware of Spock coming up next to him. "It was close, so close, but he's going to make it." Looking fondly at his best friend, he smiled and shook his head. "Stubborn sonofabitch."
Spock let some of the tension evaporate from his frame as his eyes swept over his t'hy'la's sleeping form. Jim was pale and he still needed breathing assistance, but he would make a full recovery. Needing a slight reassurance of his love's continued existence; Spock extended his hand and ran his fingertips lightly down Jim's arm until he reached his hand. Giving it a slight squeeze and a brief Vulcan-kiss, he was nearly surprised that he found he did not care that McCoy was watching this display.
Reluctantly pulling his hand away, he looked to McCoy. "I am ready to explain what happened to you if you are ready to hear it."
Giving a big sigh, the human nodded and ran a hand through his hair. Sitting back in the chair more, he looked up at Spock. "Alright, shoot."
Not even bothering to act like he didn't understand the phrasing, Spock secured a nearby chair and placed it right at McCoy's side. Sitting so that he was facing the doctor, he mentally prepared himself.
"Dr. McCoy, on shoreleave 47.56 Earth days ago, you were taken from your lodgings by Romulans." Watching carefully, he at once noticed as the man's already pale face went even whiter. "You were not taken off planet as the Enterprise would have been alerted the instant it happened, but you were taken to a secluded section and that was where the Romulans started to program you."
McCoy had started to breathe heavily and he was now leaning forward with his head cradled in his hands, but he responded levelly enough. "What, program me to kill Captain Kirk?"
Spock nodded even though McCoy was not looking at him. "And destroy the Enterprise exactly one week after his death during the upheaval of command."
Snorting and looking completely exasperated, the doctor sat up. "How did they expect me to destroy the ship after killing Jim? They would have known that I would have been in lock down and wouldn't have been able to do anything."
"The Romulans were confident that the training and programming they gave you would have secured your escape should anything hold you."
A thought occurred to the doctor. "Wait a minute, was the suggestion to destroy the Enterprise supposed to be after Jim died or is it still in there? And, since I failed to kill him, will I get the sudden urge to stick a hypo in him or something?"
"You always get the urge to stick a hypo in me."
The weakened voice caused two heads to suddenly jerk to the bed where they were graced by the sight of a conscious Jim Kirk. Spock instinctively reached for Jim's hand and held it as McCoy shot to his feet and was at once looking over the displays of Kirk's vitals.
Pleased with the results, he glanced guiltily to his friend. "Jim, I am so sorry. You have no idea. I would never in a million years do anything to hurt you, I hope you know that. It wasn't me…"
"Bones, hey, I know that," interrupting the doctor, Jim took as deep a breath as he could and smiled up at the two anxiously looking down at him. "I have a feeling that you were in there somewhere. Just think about it. I only got hit in the lung. I would have thought the Romulans would have gone straight for the heart."
Spock did not even pretend to be surprised as he leaned in closer to his t'hy'la. "You heard about what happened to the doctor?"
The captain weakly closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, I heard alright. And I can't wait to get a hold of the ones that "programmed" him," turning his head to Bones and reaching out for the doctor's hand, he snagged the wrist and looked seriously to his best friend. "I am so sorry that we didn't know anything had happened to you."
McCoy smiled thinly, turning his hand so that he held Jim's wrist at the same time. "Hey, I didn't even know that something bad had happened to me. How do you expect you to know something I don't?"
Shaking his head and smiling widely, Kirk was unable to hold back a wince or a yawn as his still damaged body began to cry out at him. "I know, but that's not the point. I'm still sorry."
"Yeah, well, you blockhead, I'm sorry for shooting ya, so we're square? Okay? Now go to sleep, you infant."
Jim smiled and closed his eyes, "Aye, aye, Doc." Turning his head towards Spock and releasing McCoy's wrist, he turned to his bondmate-to-be and covered Spock's hand with his own so that the Vulcan's hand was cradled in both of his.
I'm sorry this happened, T'hy'la.
Spock closed his eyes and leaned into his love, barely noticing as McCoy gave a knowing smile and quietly left the private room.
It is not your fault, Jim. I am merely relieved that everything has turned out favorably.
But, what about Bones? Can you take out what the Romulans did to him?
Feeling Jim's worry about his friend, completely not even thinking about the suggestion implanted that said the doctor had to kill him, the Vulcan gently ran his thumb over Jim's pulse point.
I can remove the programming done to the doctor and any traces of suggestion, but McCoy will be out of commission for some time. M'Benga may indeed get more training during this period.
Nodding physically and mentally, Jim yawned and attempted to turn on his side towards Spock. Painfully finding out that that was impossible, the captain held his breath as Spock moved forward to rub a hand gently against his shoulder.
"Remain still, T'hy'la, for you are not completely healed as of yet. Give yourself time."
Exasperated but knowing that Spock was right, Jim raised his hand and interlocked his fingers through the long ones that were caressing his shoulder.
I'm still sorry.
Spock sighed, knowing it was a wasted effort to try and convince Jim otherwise from the fact that it was NOT his fault.
I know, love, I know.
Yawning even more intensely, Jim tugged Spock's hand even more against his chest and snuggled into it.
Ah, I love you. Please don't leave.
Smiling softly and raising his other hand to brush Jim's bangs away from his eyes, Spock could only reassure Kirk one way. I would never dream of it. Sleep, love, heal. I will be here. Always.
The End
A/N: Ok, I'm not too sure of the ending, hope it didn't disappoint anyone TOO badly. But, thank you all so much again for the reviews and the alerts! Loved it and till next time,
-Stacee Phelps