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).

I just promoted an 18-year-old to Chief Engineer … Jim thought to himself.

He could hear his mate's grousing already. With a faint smile, Jim pressed against the bond between himself and Bones and was dismayed to find it still silent. He forced his thoughts back to the matter at hand. He was captain of the Enterprise, he didn't have the luxury of moping. Unfortunately, without the familiarity of Bones' presence in their link, Jim felt oddly unsettled and unsure of his path. He could only hope his omega would be paying attention to his announcement.

"Retract all moorings, Mr. Sulu," Jim ordered. He pressed the comm. "Status Mr. Chekov?"

All systems nominal, Captain. Warp available at your command, Came the response.

"Thank you, Mr. Chekov," Jim said. "All right, let's ride."

Jim felt the ship vibrate around him as she prepared to go to warp. Bones insisted it was his imagination, but Jim knew his lady … he knew when she was just as anxious as him to embark on a new journey, a new adventure. She, like Jim, did not do well in idleness. Jim watched the stars stretch out into streams of light and he exhaled, glancing to his side out of habit. His shoulders fell when his mate was not there.

"Channel open, sir," Uhura said.

Jim cleared his throat and addressed his crew. Whenever he gave the ship-wide announcements, he always pictured Bones as the only person listening. It calmed him … had calmed him since his first announcement as acting captain when he'd been scared witless at making an error. Today was no different.

"Attention, crew of the Enterprise … as most of you know, Christopher Pike, former captain of this ship and our friend … is dead. The man who killed him has fled our system and is hiding on the Klingon home world … somewhere he believes we are unwilling to go. We are on our way there now." Jim said.

Bones looked up as Jim's voice traveled through the ship. He sighed. Jim's voice was steady and full of the confidence people expected from a starship captain. It radiated the command ability Leonard had always known existed in the young alpha despite his past. It was a voice that inspired the people around him to push past their imagined limitations and be better than they believed themselves to be. Bones shook his head ruefully and walked back to his office. Opening the desk, he took out the collar and lay it on his blotter. He stared at it while Jim continued to talk.

"Per Admiral Marcus, it is essential that our presence go undetected. Tensions between the Klingon Empire and the Federation have been high … provocation could lead to war." Jim paused and glanced back at Spock before continuing. "I will personally lead a landing party to an abandoned city on the surface of Qo'noS where we will capture the fugitive, John Harrison and return him to Earth to face judgment for his actions. We will get this son of a bitch. Kirk out."

Bones exhaled, his rage dissipating somewhat. His mate … his infuriating, self-sacrificing, noble mate … was going to attempt a suicidal retrieval attempt to bring Harrison back to Earth. Bones was equal parts worried, angry and proud. He ran his hand over the smooth metal of the collar and pursed his lips.

Lord knows I didn't expect an easy ride when I submitted to your claim, kid, but God-almighty you're gonna be the end of me yet! Bones thought to himself.

Leonard knew that normal or simple were two words that were never going to apply to Jim Kirk. And, truthfully, he wouldn't love the bastard so much if he was like everyone else … and Leonard did love him. So much it scared the hell out of him some days.

Bones muttered about "omegas hormonal surges" while he opened the collar and slipped it back around his neck. Locking it carefully, Bones enjoyed the slight but reassuring weight. It was calming and he felt tension bleed out of his frame. Jim wasn't far from wrong – he was bound to his alpha come hell or high water. He just hoped they didn't kill each other first.

Jim looked up as Spock approached his chair.

"Captain, I believe that you have made the correct decision. If I can be of assistance, I would be happy to accompany you on the away team," Spock said.

Jim gave the Vulcan a tight smile. "You? Happy?"

Spock regarded him impassively. "I was simply using your vernacular to convey an idea."

"Thank you, Mr. Spock," Jim said softly.

Spock nodded. He turned to go to his station then paused. "Captain, I notice that Dr. McCoy is not on the bridge."

Jim gave another faint smile. "He is not, Mr. Spock. I intend to address that issue."

Spock gave him a short nod. "A wise course of action, captain." In the year he'd known Jim as captain, Spock had also come to know Dr. McCoy as not only CMO, but as Jim's mate. Were they Vulcan, they would have been t'hy'la ... if they had been Betazoid, they would be imzadi – regardless of the concept, Spock knew James Kirk and Leonard McCoy belonged with one another and were at their best when of the same mind. He hoped they would rectify their differences soon. He could not explain it, but Spock felt ill at ease with this mission and he suspected the captain was going to need a great deal of support through it.

Jim stared down at the comm switch. He ran the pad of his index finger over it.

This is stupid ... I'm the captain of the flagship of the 'Fleet! And I can't even work up the nerve to comm my own CMO! Fuck ... Bones ...

"Now I am just a simple doctor, but even I know you actually have to push the button for it to work," a familiar voice teased.

Jim smiled and looked up to see Bones standing beside his chair. "Dr. McCoy ... good to see you."

"Captain."

"Bones, I -"

Leonard sighed. He pressed his hand on Jim's shoulder and walked back to where he usually stood on the bridge while at warp – just behind the railing. Jim exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Bones was still upset but Jim knew now they would work it out like they always did – he hadn't fucked everything up. It was more of a relief than Jim had believed it would be.

Bones studied the back of his mate's head … the line of his shoulders … the grip of his hands on the chair arms ... Jim was on edge … worse than even after he'd relieved Spock as captain over a year ago during the Narada incident. Bones exhaled softly and stared at the deck. If he was honest with himself, he wanted nothing more than to massage that steel bar out of Jim's neck. Pride and anger warred in his heart over how to deal with the situation – then he was too busy trying not to fly over the railing as the ship slammed to a sudden halt and fell out of warp.

Leonard shook his head as he listened to Jim talking to Chekov.

"Mr. Chekov, did you break my ship?"

Sorry sir! I don 't know what happened! The core overheated — I had to activate the emergency stop. It must be a coolant leak — I need time to find it.

Jim cursed softly. "Mr. Sulu, time to our destination?"

"Twenty minutes, sir — but that's twenty minutes in enemy space we weren't counting on," Sulu replied.

Jim sighed. "Alright, we better hop to it."

Turning, Jim frowned. "Where's Spock?"

Spock walked up quickly. "Here, Captain."

"You're coming with me to Qo'noS." Looking over at Uhura, Jim asked, "Lieutenant, how's your Klingon?"

"It's rusty, but it's good," Uhura replied.

"Good, you're coming too," Jim ordered. He regarded the pair for a moment. "This isn't going to be an issue, is it? Working together?"

"Absolutely not," Uhura said shortly. With a glance at Spock she walked away.

Spock regarded her retreating form with what had to be the Vulcan equivalent of dread. He looked at the captain.

"Unclear."

Jim sighed. "I'll meet you both in the shuttle bay."

Bones watched Spock walk off before moving to face his captain. "Jim … you're not actually going down there, are you?"

Jim regarded Bones steadily, grateful that the omega was at least keeping his disagreement quiet. He could feel the tension beginning to filter through their bond.

Leonard cocked an eyebrow. "You don't rob a bank when the getaway car has a flat tire."

Jim's lips quirked. Whenever Bones was stressed or angry, his Southern colloquialisms tended to come out. Reaching over, Jim punched the comm button and addressed Chekov.

"I'm sure engineering will have us all patched up by the time we get back — isn't that right, Mr. Chekov?" Jim met Bones' eyes when the young officer gave a shaky affirmative. He turned. "Mr. Sulu, you have the conn. Once we're en route, I want you to send a targeted comm burst to Harrison's location. Tell him you have a bunch of real big torpedoes pointed at his head and if he doesn't play nice you're not afraid to use them."

Leonard watched as Sulu paled slightly. He knew what the man was feeling — Jim had a way of asking people to go above and beyond what they thought they could do and no one ever wanted to let him down.

"That isn't going to be a problem, is it?"

"No, sir," Sulu replied. "I've just never sat in the chair before."

"You'll do great," Jim said with a reassuring smile.

Bones blinked and then moved after his mate who was heading off the bridge.

"Jim, wait!" Leonard hissed. Jim turned back to his omega with an impatient expression. "You just sat that man down at a high-stakes poker game with no cards and told him to bluff — damn it, Jim! Sulu is a good man but he is no captain." Leonard protested. He was on edge and could hear his drawl becoming more pronounced.

"For the next two hours he is," Jim said softly. "Mr. Sulu, make sure that K'normian ship is ready to fly. And Bones? Lay off the metaphors, would you?"

Bones followed Jim back to their quarters and stood by as his mate changed into the disguise he would be wearing on Qo'noS. Jim gave him a faint smile as he pulled on a black leather jacket to complete the outfit.

"Bones, every alpha on the ship is going to be able to smell your nerves," Jim teased.

Leonard frowned. "I'm only concerned that one alpha knows how I feel about this mission."

Jim stepped up to his mate and gently ran his thumb down Leonard's jawline. "Bones, you can't wrap me in cotton wool for every mission. We have to do this."

Jim's scent was beginning to override Leonard's rational thought process. He sighed and brushed a stray lock of hair back from the alpha's forehead. "I'm not ten, Jim, I do know what's required of a starship captain. Doesn't mean I have to like the thought of my mate going after a murderer in hostile territory under false identity. If this thing goes south, Starfleet will disavow you completely."

Jim brushed his lips against Leonard's. "I know, Bones. Guess you'll have to come rescue me then."

Jim was surprised at the sudden flare that shot through his omega's scent. "Do not underestimate just how pissed off I will be if they lay one filthy Klingon finger on you, Jim."

"I love it when you get all "protective omega", Bones," Jim said huskily.

Leonard rolled his eyes and shoved his mate gently away. "Down, boy," Bones said with no real malice. "Just … for God's sake be careful, Jim."

Pulling an unresisting McCoy into a hard and thorough kiss, Jim promised his mate he would do his best to stay out of harm's way. He ran his fingertips along the collar and then he was gone, leaving Leonard to gather his wits and make his way back to the bridge.