DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Star Trek universe. I do not claim any ownership over them or any of the many Trek universes. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered canon (not by a long shot).

Admiral Alexander Marcus seated the gathered officers and began to explain what they were up against. Jim sat next to Pike. It was hard knowing that only that morning he'd been captain of the Enterprise. Now he was First Officer – he wondered vaguely if Pike was right. Did he truly not know humility? If he couldn't learn it, he was going to crash and burn in this position too. Jim thrust his random musings aside and forced himself to listen to the admiral.

"By now, some of you have heard what happened in London. The target was a Starfleet data archive...now it's a damn hole in the ground. Forty-two men and women are dead," Marcus said. "One hour ago, I received a message from a Starfleet officer, who confessed to carrying out this attack, that he was being forced to do it by this man — Commander John Harrison. He's one of our own and he is the man responsible for this act of savagery. For reasons unknown, John Harrison has declared a one-man war against Starfleet and under no circumstances are we to allow this man to escape Federation space. You here tonight represent the senior command of all the vessels in the region. And in the name of those we lost, you will run this bastard down. This is a manhunt pure and simple so let's get to work."

Jim frowned down at the file displayed before him. Something was nagging at him … something did not feel right and he couldn't put his finger on it. The images of the London destruction were horrific, but Jim kept widening the shots until he could zero in on Harrison's face. He couldn't believe how calm the man appeared in the midst of such devastation.

Harrison was holding the handles to a large bag. Jim's eyebrows drew together and leaned over to Pike while gesturing at the image.

"What's in the bag?" he whispered.

"James, not now," Pike hissed.

Jim shook his head. "Doesn't it seem odd to you that he'd target an archive? That's like bombing a library!"

"Chris, everything ok there?" Marcus said softly.

Jim sighed as every eye focused on them.

"Yes sir, Mr. Kirk is just acclimating to his new position as First Officer," Pike said.

Jim sighed. Marcus looked over at him. "Something to say, Kirk? Speak up, tomorrow's too late."

Jim struggled internally with himself but decided to err on the side of reservation. He'd see how this conference went before he began insisting on his own viewpoint. He reigned himself in. "No sir, I'm fine."

Spock looked up with a slight frown. Marcus sighed.

"Spit it out, son. Don't be shy."

Kirk bit down the growl at Marcus calling him 'son' and gathered his thoughts.

"Why the archive? All that information is public record. If he really wanted to damage Starfleet … this could just be the beginning." Jim said.

"The beginning of what, Kirk?" Marcus asked.

"Sir, in the event of an attack, protocol mandates that senior command gather captains and first officers at Starfleet HQ right here in this room." Jim said, his voice fading as the implications of that settled in. The light in the room began to shift – to take on a reddish hue. Red like the indicators on a jump ship … small enough to get very close to a building without being noticed until it was too late. Jumping up, Jim looked out the long bay of windows and saw himself staring at just that. He turned back to the group with wide eyes.

"Clear the room!" Jim yelled, diving over the conference table. The world exploded around him in a hail of gunfire.

Bones gasped. The bond between himself and Jim was suddenly vibrating with focused energy. It wasn't fear … it was more the constant drive to survive that permeated Jim's entire body. He ran his hand over his collar as he sat in the back of the taxi. It was an unconscious gesture he'd started not long after mating Jim. He didn't know why but it gave him comfort … it grounded him particularly when he was stressed. And what he was feeling from his mate right now definitely had him stressed.

"I'm coming, Jim. I'm coming," Bones whispered.

Jim staggered down the corridor. Pike was dead. He heard sirens and screams and cries of people in pain, but none of it seemed real. His emotions were swirling and he couldn't seem to focus on one thought. Someone he cared about … no, loved — he'd loved Pike like the father he'd never known — was dead. Someone who'd believed in him so much he fought for him — stood up and said that Jim Kirk was worth another chance. Pike was dead.

Jim could still see the lifeless form of his friend and mentor sprawled out on the couch, Spock beside him. He didn't want to believe … didn't want to see the motionless chest … but he had to know. He'd desperately felt for a pulse, for any sign of life and there was nothing. Pike was dead. The hand that closed around his heart made it so very hard to breathe … the tears that flooded his sight made it so very hard to see. Pike was dead.

Jim stared out the shattered window at the emergency service jump ships that were beginning to arrive. He winced as a blinding spotlight played over the building. Pike was dead. Pike was dead. Pike was dead. The mantra simply would not stop playing through his mind. He was alone. Alone …

Turning, Jim continued dazedly down the corridor. He barely registered when he ran into someone.

His brain recognized the scent before it connected a name. It was a smell that meant safety … love … strength when he had none … omega …. Bones. It meant not being alone.

"Bones?" Jim whispered, his blue eyes focusing on his mate.

"I'm here, Jim. I'm here." Leonard said. He held Jim firmly by the shoulders, wishing that he could simply pull him into his embrace.

"Pike is dead." Jim said flatly.

Leonard pressed his hand to Jim's cheek. Jim leaned into the touch, pressing his jaw into the familiar touch. "Bones … stay … please …"

"I'm not going anywhere, darlin'. You have to talk to Starfleet … I have to go help with the injured. You call … I'll be right there … ok?" Leonard promised.

Jim nodded. Bones pressed a bottle of water into his hand. Jim smiled — leave it to his omega to anticipate his needs. Hell, even if they hadn't been mated – Bones was a doctor above almost anything else. He would always take care of people if he could.

Bones stepped back to put a little distance between them. He knew Jim well enough to know when his alpha needed comfort and when to let him stand on his own. Jim sighed and ran his hand over his face.

"Go on, Bones … I'll find Spock — we'll give our report," Jim said softly.

Leonard nodded. "Comm me when you're done."

Jim walked off to find the Vulcan leaving Bones to sigh and gather himself before heading to where he could be of most use.

"Bones!"

Leonard turned to see his alpha stalking toward him. "Jim …?"

Jim stopped in front of the omega … he didn't say anything, just pressed his palm over the left side of Leonard's chest. There, underneath Bones' uniform, was a scar that was an exact match to Jim's bite pattern. Leonard met Jim's eyes and saw a wide ocean of pain.

"Mine," Jim whispered. He wasn't alone.

Leonard nodded, confirming. "Yours."

Jim walked off again and his omega stood watching for a few moments before doing the same.

It was nearly two in the morning before they made it home again. Bones had arrived before his mate and he was waiting when the exhausted young man stumbled into the apartment. Leonard managed to get him undressed and put into the shower. Jim was still dazed … still had the thousand yard stare. Bones got some soup and tea into him before bundling him into bed and wrapping himself around the alpha. He simply murmured soft sounds of comfort as his alpha sobbed himself to sleep.

The next morning, nothing was said. Jim's silence as they dressed was painful but Jim had shown as much emotion over Pike's death as he was going to — if Bones pushed, he'd only anger his alpha. He handed Jim a cup of coffee and his comm when it beeped.

Jim took it and squeezed Bones' hand to let his omega know he appreciated what he was doing. Bones seemed to always know what he needed and when. Bones left the room but he heard Spock's voice clearly as he ran a brush over his uniform.

"Commander, Mr. Scott has found something in the wreckage of Harrison's ship. He has asked to see us right away."