Bones jumped foreword ahead of Jim just as they reached scene and began scanning Uhura from her unconscious position on the ground.
"Can't say she wasn't warned." He muttered to himself as he checked her vitals.
Jim toward over her with a blank expression on his face, torn between disdainful loathing for her as a person and valid concern for her as her captain.
"Looks like she's been nerve pinched to the extreme."
Bones tilted her head back and winced at the sight of her face.
"Looks like the Hobgoblin took a chunk out of her face too. I'll bet my medical license that's a bite mark and it's nothing like any of that kinky Klingon stuff about marking a potential mate either."
Bones ran a few more scans before signaling the awaiting security personnel to put her on the gurney and take her to Sickbay.
"Nothing a thermal regenerator won't be able to fix, but she'll be out for a while."
Only Bones and Jim were left in the hall and the look that passed between them said it all.
"You be careful Jim. From what I know about Pon Farr is a very strenuous and painful experience. I'll have you on medical leave for as long as you need, but just remember the crew needs you back in one piece. Don't let your emotion cloud your judgment."
Jim nodded wordlessly and entered the override code into Spock's door as Bones hurried off to Sickbay.
The heat that engulfed him had Jim taking harsh ragged breathes and sweating as soon as he entered the room.
Spock's chambers were sweltering and Jim wondered if he should be more worried about dehydrating than approaching a Vulcan going though Pon Farr.
He wasn't afraid of that though. Spock was still Spock and he wouldn't hurt a hair on Jim's head on purpose.
The lights were at their very dimmest, making the room seem like it was coated in a red glow.
Putting the light and heat aside, all of Jim's senses were focused on finding Spock and making his pain go away by any means necessary.
He found Spock where he expected, curled on top his bed and wrapped in all the blankets their quarters contained.
The poor boy was shaking uncontrollably and Jim could see nothing of him except his hair and the tips of his ears.
Jim sat on the bed slowly and laid himself parallel to Spock's trembling form.
"Spock? Can you hear me?" He whispered softly.
The shaking paused for a moment before Spock peeked out from his cocoon of covers.
"Jim?" He answered quietly, his voice sounding lost and hopeful at the same time.
Jim scooted closer and caressed Spock's head.
"It's okay Spock. I'm here now. I'll make the pain stop."
Spock leaned into the touch hungrily and looked up at him with tear filled eyes.
"She said you weren't coming, that you didn't care if I burned. She said that I had to take her or die."
Spock scowled fiercely and flashed his bloodied teeth as he finished speaking.
"I chose to die instead. She didn't like that. She tried to kiss me and I bit her. When she didn't stop I nerve pinched her and threw her out… I just wanted her to go away so badly."
Spock nuzzled his face into Jim's neck and whimpered longingly as he finished recounting the encounter.
"I don't want her. I want you."
Jim wrapped him up in his arms and cradled the younger man to him gently.
"Do you know what's happening to you Spock? Do you know what has to be done?"
Spock nodded against Jim's neck and lightly kissed the flesh before him without thought.
"I looked it up when T'Lou told me what it was. I understand and I'm sorry that you have to go through this. I know that you do not choose me of your own volition, that I am forced upon you yet again."
Spock held Jim's face between his hands like T'Lou had done not so long ago and looked into Jim's eyes pleadingly.
"Jim, I do not offer myself to you for the sake of my life, but out of the love in my heart. I know I have no right to ask you to love someone who will exist for only a few more days, but I cannot lie to you any longer. You are my world and no matter what my older self thinks, I love you… I can not remember a time when I did not."
Spock looked so remorseful and hurting that Jim couldn't help but lean foreword and kiss the frown from his face.
He tried to push every feeling of love and reassurance into their contact, knowing that Spock was too weak to block his touch telepathy in his current state.
When they finally pulled apart Spock's expression had gone from forlorn to dreamy as he stared into the blue eyes of the man he loved. Jim was looking at him so tenderly, as though nothing was more precious than the boy in front of him and to Jim nothing was.
"Oh Spock, I wish I could make you understand why I haven't acted on my feelings either. I've loved you for so long and it doesn't matter what age, shape or form I know you as. You are my Spock and I will always love you…The only thing that kept me away was the fact that I didn't want what we had to be forgotten when our time together was up or worse remembered with regret and distain by your older self. I was trying to spare us both pain and I just ended up making us both hurt more. I'm sorry."
Spock said nothing as he wiggled out of his cocoon and practically threw himself on top of his caretaker.
"Don't be sorry, never be sorry." He muttered in-between placing kisses on his Love's face and neck.
Spock tore at the shirts keeping him from being even closer to Jim apart and pulled them over the blonde's head roughly.
As soon as the shirts were gone Spock dived down to claim Jim's lips in a searing kiss. They were both panting like fiends when they parted and staring at each other heatedly.
"All that matters is the here and now Jim. I love you and you me. Whatever happens next happens, but if just for tonight, for my love and my life, forget about everything else."
Spock placed several gentle kisses on Jim's face before leaning foreword to whisper into his ear.
"Tonight I am yours and you are mine. No matter what happens next I will hold this night dear until the last of who I am is gone. Even the older me will not be able to taint the memory if he retains it. It will be too filled with love and joy to ever be looked upon as anything less than wonderful. Do not ever feel guilty for taking what I offer to you tonight Jim. You deserve it all and so much more."
Jim blinked back his own tears as he held the young man to him with all his strength.
"My T'hy'la." He whispered reverently.
Spock all but purred at the term and nuzzled against Jim's shoulder again lightly.
"My T'hy'la." He repeated back; knowing the title was true with every fiber of his being and soul.
Because tonight they would finally find within each other their friend, their brother, and their lover.
SORRY EVERYONE! I POSTED THE CHAPTERS IN THE WRONG ORDER! I'M FIXING IT RIGHT NOW!
Yours truly,
Jessica499499