Disclaimer: Star Trek is not mine nor do I claim to own it. This is purely a work of fiction.

AN: So it's been awhile. Sorry for the delay. I found myself stuck and not knowing which way to continue with this. I had an idea but I strayed from it and now I regret that. So, for the last couple months I've been trying to find a way to spin this and incorporate what I had originally intended. I couldn't. However, I'm not stopping writing this. I am just trying out different ways to spin it until I find one that works, and it's taking so much longer than I had thought. Also, because of this I found myself torn away from my other story and its just a stupid spiral of getting out of this funk.

Anyway as that process carries along I realized it may feel like I abandoned this story. Going from updating weekly to nothing for months. So, here is a bit of a sneak peak I suppose at what's happening still with Jim.

Please Enjoy. I'll try and get back to you all as soon as I can. I apologize for how short it is. Bear with me, I just want it to be good, and not rushed or forced.


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The One I've Lost

Chapter Two (Part Two):

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It was like drowning.

Finding yourself so submerged and turned around that there was no way to tell which direction actually led up to the surface. All you could do was pick a direction and swim. All you could do was pray that the direction you chose was the right one, because the choice was life or death.

Each day on this ship was like that extra minute under water. How long was he expected to last? How long could one person hold their breath and keep pushing towards the surface?

Then he was led here.

The light to the surface just hovering within reach and he stopped. He could already taste the air that he so desperately desired. His lungs burned with this knowledge and he felt weak. Finally felt the exhaustion from all his struggles.

Feet clicked coming to a stop behind him and once more he felt the grasp of death as a warm hand at the small of his back. The knowledge that he might get this moment to breathe but the water was sure to drag him back under.

Yet, he had made it this far. He wouldn't let himself be dragged back under after fighting for so long.

The door pushed open and he was pleased to feel the release from the clutches of the other's presence. He didn't look back just stepped past the threshold and into the dimly lit quarters.

Twenty plus men, a mix of humans and Vulcans, but Jim had already found the sun that had broken over the surface and nothing would deter him from his path.

Auburn eyes lifted at his entrance, and Jim drew in a choking gasp as he finally broke the surface.

"James."

A smile split across his lips cracking and straining from the almost forgotten upward pull on his own lips. Yet there was no preventing the reaction it was automatic.

"It is very rude…very rude to not show up when you say you would." Jim managed to choke out his voice levering the more he spoke. His eyes trying to take in the other completely as he let mirth mask any sadness in his eyes, "First shift ended quite some time ago."

"Oh T'hy'la."

Spock's voice washed over Jim and he couldn't help the smirk at the notion that hearing the words from his own Spock did not cause him to flinch. No residue left to taint what they shared.

A clatter of metal drew Jim's gaze to Spock's arms. Spock, who had attempted to rise up and move towards Jim in a desire to draw him in, Spock, who was currently bound up like everyone else within this room.

Here he had finally found the one he had crossed universes for and he was strung up like some criminal.

Jim smiled sadly and knelt down before his Spock, before his mate, and yet remained just out of reach. Reminded by a set of eyes, that burned through a wall, that this was only a moment to catch his breath. That one wrong move could be enough a slip to be washed back beneath the surface.

Spock's gaze was questioning and painful to meet. Once more the other strained to reach out but Jim remained.

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep."

"How did you follow me here? Jim this isn't our universe, we shouldn't be here."

Jim chuckled darkly at the reminder, but let his eyes drift along the Vulcan, "You're alright? You look unharmed for the most part…" the sigh of relief wasn't missed and drew another questioning look from his Vulcan. This was later replaced with a wave of anger that choked Jim as he felt it wash over him.

His laughter broke into a warm hysteric as he leaned forward to brush a kiss against Spock's brow, "I feel you still." He breathed against the skin, "It is just a whisper of what we had but I feel you. God I feel you." He smiled and let his head drop against the curve of Spock's throat as his Vulcan shifted just to allow such an action.

They pressed against the small contact, clinging to it like a life vest, clinging to the desire to stay afloat.

"We've faced worse."

Jim's words were more mouthed against the skin of Spock's throat than spoken at all.

"James."

"Exactly." Jim mustered up the confident smirk as he pulled back to look at Spock, "I'm James T. Kirk, Captain of the U.S.S Enterprise. Don't you forget what that means."

Jim's look wavered as the whoosh of the door signaled the foreboding clutches once more. Blue eyes lifted to take in Spock and looked wild as the finally settled with the auburn pair.

"You have to get up Spock." Jim breathed out hurriedly and felt the eyes lock on him from behind. His own Spock's gaze tried to drift over his shoulder but Jim finally took this moment to reach out and grasp ahold of the other; just a press of his fingers to the Vulcan's cheek.

It was enough to keep the other's gaze.

"I do not understand. Jim-" Spock once again began to look away but Jim's words and gaze kept his attention, kept him from glaring at the man approaching.

The fear hidden within the depths of Jim's blue gaze left Spock growling lowly and grasping at the chains holding him still. The unfamiliar metal whined at the pull as he fought it, but whatever it was it was designed for such strength and would not let up.

"James." Spock's voice was soft but feral as he tried to reach out for the other and keep him close.

"I'll fight for us here, but we can't go back until you open your eyes." Jim fingers brushed against Spock's jaw, the touch sending a jolt along his own skin before he felt the hand of a worse fate settle upon his shoulders. Both literally and figuratively, as this universes Spock snared him by the shoulder and jerked him up and away from his Spock.