Chapter 4

Kirk could hardly believe his ears when Uhura voice whispered, "Spock you made the earth move," followed by a sound half way between a giggle and a sob. Hysteria though Kirk as he coughed the dust from him lungs. It was pitch black. As the dust cleared the five untangled themselves and struggled to stand; there was barely room for them all to stand in the remaining space.

The natural phosphorescence that had lit the caves earlier was dimmed to a dull glow that barely eased the suffocating pitch black. Suddenly a light snapped on throwing shadows around the confined space.

Spock was gripping a small hand light staring intently into Uhura's wide panicked eyes and stroking the side of her face which was bleeding. Kirk guessed that they were communicating through that new bond and he saw Uhura calming. Hartley had again seized McCoy with both arms tight around his waist and her head pressed against his chest. She was trembling so violently Kirk could see McCoy vibrating with it. McCoy stroked her back and muttered soothing noises. Kirk grimaced, it figured, he was the one alone. "Story of my life," he thought glancing sideways at Spock in time to see him gently press a kiss to the top of Uhura's head. The tender gestured moved Kirk far more than he would have expected.

Spock looked around intently.

"Captain," he said.

"Yes, Mr Spock?'

"There appears to be a small gap." He had raised the light and he gestured to the newly fallen rubble now blocking over half of the cave. Kirk saw there was indeed a small opening up under the natural arch.

"Observe the dust,"said Spock.

As Kirk watched he saw the dust was definitely drifting out of the gap.

"I surmise there is a draught and I detect some light which indicates that there is an opening of some description," said Spock.

Uhura's said, "I think I could fit through there." Spock looked down at her nodded and slowly said, "You may indeed."

Uhura touched his face gently with her hand and squeezed past Spock to the rubble and began to climb. Spock passed the hand light to Kirk and climbed behind her. Near the opening he braced himself as best he could and assisted her as she forced her way though the narrow space.

When she was half way through and Kirk was trying not to notice the unparalleled view of her legs the position afforded him, Uhura called out, "I can feel the air moving and there is a glimmer of light. I think the fissure has opened and ahh…" There was the sound of falling earth and her voice was cut of and she flopped limply in the gap. Acting so fast Kirk could not make out what exactly happened, Spock pulled her back into the cave and a shower of grit rained down out of the gap and over them.

Spock crouched on the floor holding Uhura to his chest. McCoy kneeled next to the unconscious form who was cradled gently in Spock's arms. Kirk held the light close as McCoy ran the tricorder over her and as Spock carefully cleared the grit from her mouth and nose. McCoy then felt her head and neck.

"I think something struck her head and she is starting to come round. No serious damage but she'll have a headache," said McCoy and pulled a hypo from his belt kit and injected Uhura just as she was stirring.

"Ashayam," murmured Spock and pulled her closer to his chest and placing his fingers on her meld points on one side of her face and lowered his forehead to touch hers.

McCoy heard Hartley sigh.

"Captain," said Spock still cradling the now coughing Uhura, "It appears the fissure has opened. This means two things, the bombing has weakened the surrounding areas significantly and any further bombardment has a 99% chance of precipitating a total collapse of the remaining caves. Secondly the gap may be sufficient to get a signal to the enterprise to allow them to pick us up if we can get to the base of the fissure. Due to space restraints we would have to go one at a time." As he spoke Spock held his drink bottle to Uhura's lips and helped her take a sip.

"Couldn't they pick us up from here once they have located us?" asked the Kirk.

"I think not," said Spock, "the dense rock that comprises the structure of the natural arch, which has so far saved us, will block the signal. We need to crawl out from under the area of dense rock for the enterprise to be able to successful transport us."

"Well lets get cracking," exclaimed McCoy, "what do we need to do?"

Uhura was now drawing away from Spock, "Your communicators," she said and coughed violently, "give then to me." Everyone pulled out their communicators and Uhura and Spock sat together and worked.

Spock spoke as he worked, "If we can combine the power of the individual units into one strong signal and place it directly beneath the opening we may get a signal out."

"We will just have to hope that the Enterprise is scanning the area," said Uhura snapping some components together, "and that they pick up the signal before the Klingons do."

"I knew there had to be a down side," said McCoy.

"Any chance trumps no chance," said Kirk.

"We will place the unit and then we have to enlarge the opening so we can all fit through," said Spock, "that will means passing rubble down into this cave."

Once the unit was complete Uhura once again exited slithering through the tiny gap. Kirk could not understand how she could fir though and this time she went right though.

Kirk prayed there was no further cave ins as he knew, and was sure Spock did too, that if that happened now they would be unlikely to retrieve Uhura alive. "Some honeymoon," through Kirk grimly.

The five of then worked steadily for half an hour, the four in the cave moved rubble and Uhura struggled to get the boosted transmitter to work. The air was full of dust and everyone was coughing and gasping for air, but they pressed on.

"The Klingons are suspiciously quiet," mussed McCoy.

"Don't complain, "said Kirk.

Uhura shouted, "I have contact."

The welcome voice of Scotty came over the com. "Been looking everywhere for you. I can only see one signal are you the only one left lassie?" asked Scotty with dread evident in his voice.

"Scotty there are 5 of us left and we are in the caves, we can only get to where there is a signal one at a time. The caves are collapsing so you'd want to be quick to move us out."

"Ok lassie ok, we are keeping the Klingons away for now but they could be back soon. Chekov get a fix on Uhura." Uhura was just starting to protest when she shimmered and disappeared.

Quickly McCoy and Kirk shoved Hartley up toward the gap, she did not waste any time scappling up ward and scrapped through the small space. When she was up there all they could see was the bottom half of her badly scrapped legs and a minute latter these shimmered and disappeared. Kirk slapped McCoy on the back as pushed him forwards. McCoy scrambled up the rubble and had difficulty squeezing through the small opening. Spock unclipped the doctor's belt pack and pushed and he finally fitted through the gap and then he too was gone. Just then the ground shook violently and Spock and Kirk froze. Nothing fell.

"Go," said Kirk, clapping Spock on the shoulder, "your bride awaits you."

TBC

AU: I'm still looking for a Beta reader. I have one very kind offer but busy people do not always have the time so I'd love to hear from anyone who would like to help me lift my act.