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).

Jim would never be sure how he managed to keep his voice level as he entered sickbay and asked, "What've we got?"

Bones had changed into his scrubs and was scanning the torpedo that had nearly taken his life. He looked up and met Jim's eyes – the bond was humming with his mate's emotions. He pushed back gently, letting his mate know he was really alright. Jim began to gradually calm.

"It's quite clever, actually," Carol Marcus explained, oblivious to the exchange between the captain and the doctor. "This fuel container's been removed from the torpedo and retrofitted to hide this cryotube."

Jim approached the torpedo and looked down at the figure encased in frost.

"Is he alive?" Jim asked.

Bones nodded. "He's alive, but if we try to revive him without the proper sequencing, it could kill him. This technology – it's beyond me."

"How advanced, Doctor?" Spock asked.

"It isn't advanced," Carol broke in. "That cryotube is ancient."

"We haven't needed to freeze anyone since we developed warp capability," Bones explained. "Which explains the most interesting thing about our friend here - he's 300 years old."

Jim met Spock's eyes and they were heading back to the brig. Jim called over his shoulder, "Glad you're in one piece, Bones."

Bones chuckled to himself as the door slid shut and a wave of love surged through the bond. "Me too, kid."

Jim and Spock walked directly to Harrison's cell. The man sat ramrod straight and looked up only when they were standing in front of him.

"Why is there a man in that torpedo?" Jim asked, slightly out of breath from the run.

"There are men and women in all those torpedoes. I put them there." Harrison replied evenly.

Kirk and Spock shared a look.

"Who the hell are you?" Jim asked.

"A remnant of a time long past," Harrison said quietly. "Genetically engineered to be superior so as to lead others to peace in a world at war. But we were condemned as criminals, forced into exile. For centuries we slept, hoping that when we awoke, things would be different." Harrison sighed. "But as a result of the destruction of Vulcan, your Starfleet began to aggressively search distant quadrants of space. My ship was found adrift. I alone was revived."

Jim frowned. "I looked up John Harrison. Up until a year ago, he didn't exist."

"John Harrison was a fiction created the moment I was awoken by your Admiral Marcus to help him advance his cause. A smokescreen to conceal my true identity – my name is Khan."

"Why would a Starfleet admiral ask a 300-year old frozen man for help?" Jim asked softly.

"Because I am ... better," Khan replied.

"At what?"

"Everything." Khan sneered. "Alexander Marcus needed to respond to an uncivilized threat in a civilized time and for that he needed a warrior's mind. My mind. To design weapons and warships."

"You are suggesting the Admiral violated every regulation he vowed to uphold simply because he wanted to exploit your intellect," Spock countered.

"He wanted to exploit my savagery. Intellect alone is useless in a fight, Mr. Spock," Khan said like he was explaining something to a child. "You – you can't even break a rule. How can you be expected to break bone? Marcus used me to design weapons – to help him realize his vision of a militarized Starfleet. He sent you to use those weapons, Captain Kirk, to fire my torpedoes on an unsuspecting planet." Khan paced for a moment before facing Jim again. "And then he purposely crippled your ship in enemy space, leading to one inevitable outcome: the Klingons would come searching for whomever was responsible and you would have no chance for escape. Marcus would finally have the war he talked about ... the war he always wanted."

Jim shook his head angrily. "No. No, I watched you open fire on a room full of unarmed Starfleet officers. You killed them in cold blood!"

Khan ducked his head ... he looked almost – ashamed?

"Marcus took my crew from me!" Khan said, turning away.

"You are a murderer!" Jim yelled.

Staring at the back wall of the cell, Khan's voice came out hoarse and pained. "He used my friends to control me. I tried to smuggle them to safety by concealing them in the very weapons I had designed ... but I was discovered. I had no choice but to escape alone. And when I did, I had every reason to suspect that Marcus had killed every single one of the people I hold most dear. So I responded in kind." Khan turned back to face the officers, tears staining his face. "My crew is my family, Kirk. Is there anything you would not do for your family?"

Jim met Khan's eyes and his mind flashed immediately to Bones ... but then the realization hit him – he would do everything and anything for all the men and women who served under him. His omega had known that about him since the beginning, had known that he would always come in behind the ship and the crew. And he'd said yes to Jim's claim anyway.

Bones ...

An alert chime broke into Jim's thoughts.

"Proximity alert, captain. There's a ship at warp heading right for us." Sulu advised.

"Klingons?" Jim asked.

"At warp?" Khan offered. "No, Kirk. We both know who it is."

Sulu's voice continued. "I don't think so, captain. It's not coming at us from Qo'noS."

Kirk stared at Khan and turned to run to the bridge. He barked at the security officer manning the brig control console. "Lieutenant, move Khan to med bay. Post six security officers on him."

Leonard's head came up when Khan entered sickbay with his contingent of security officers. He mentally cursed, he hadn't had time to deal with the after-effects of Khan's rather potent alpha pheromones. Running his fingers over his collar, Bones directed the alpha to a nearby bed. The security officers fanned out for optimal coverage. Leonard sighed.

I feel safer already. Thanks so much, Jim.

"Ah, the omega doctor," Khan said silkily.

McCoy gave a non-committal grunt and ran his tricorder over the alpha.

"Come now, surely we can be civil to one another?" Khan teased.

"You'll have to forgive my reluctance to be ... civil ... to a killer," Bones muttered.

"As your good captain is learning, things are not always what they seem, doctor."

Bones said nothing. He wanted to crawl out of his skin – the alpha's influence was no less potent now than it had been in the brig.

"Sweet, omega ... do you find yourself attracted to me?" Khan queried in his low voice.

Fuck me, yes, Leonard thought helplessly.

"My scans tell me you've got better eyesight than half the crew on this ship, so I'm pretty sure you can see the collar on my neck," Bones replied shortly.

"And what fortunate alpha has claimed such a virile omega as yourself, doctor?" Khan asked.

McCoy favored the alpha with a withering glance. "Don't play dumb ... it doesn't suit you."

Khan growled and Bones felt his legs turn to rubber. "In my day, no omega of mine would dare speak to me in such a manner."

'Of mine' Leonard registered. His lip curled into a snarl.

"Your day is three hundred years in the past. I'm not your omega and you are in my med bay so I'll talk to you however I deem necessary to perform my duties," McCoy growled.

"And yet your scent says differently ... your scent tells me that I could have you however I wished," Khan purred.

Leonard leaned toward Khan, his eyes flashing with barely controlled anger. "My scent doesn't define who I am, Khan. You might be able to take me, but you sure as hell would never have me."

Khan smiled and his eyes showed true amusement. "A pity you accepted the earnest captain's claim before I met you, doctor. Still, you could always realign. You would not lack for attention as my omega."

"Really … a lesser being such as myself?" Bones sneered.

"Omegas are the life-bearers of us all, doctor – as you well know. Sadly, none of ours survived the exile. You would be highly sought after ... revered."

McCoy's lips quirked as he read his padd. "Sounds great ... spending the rest of my life on my back and birthin' pups."

"It is what nature designed you for, doctor ... your purpose, as it were?"

Leonard snorted. "I decide what my purpose is ... not some outdated idea of biological imperative."

Khan's eyes narrowed. "You speak as though your nature can be ignored. I assure you, it cannot. If your alpha does not aid you in fulfilling your purpose, your instincts will drive you to seek another ... better suited mate." Khan advised.

Bones' eyes snapped up to Khan's. "Not that it's any of your damn business – but I already have the mate best-suited to me, thank you."

Khan nodded and then gave Leonard one of his intense stares. "I'm glad you think so, Dr. McCoy," He leaned forward and lowered his voice. Ice blue eyes locked on hazel ones. "I think otherwise - tell me, doctor ... do you feel this way when he is near? Does his very presence consume you as mine does? Does the heat and need coursing through you now drive you to kneel before him in submission? You claim he is best-suited to you ... but your body tells me he is not ... omega."

Bones head swam with the lust that was coming off Khan in waves. He couldn't bring himself to care that he was responding. Eyes dilated, he licked his lips unconsciously and his thoughts were suddenly muddled, vacillating between duty and the overwhelming urge to bear his throat to the man named Khan. Then another presence made itself known.

Jim ...

Like cold water, the feeling of his mate reaching out to their bond for support doused the desire that had been building in Bones. Leonard shook his head and exhaled sharply. He glared at Khan who was regarding him smugly. It had been little more than a mind-fuck on Khan's part. Bones wondered how many omegas had fallen prey to their own biology only to be cast aside when the alpha was sated.

Furious, Bones met Khan's eyes again. Alphas were not the only ones who could use pheromones to their advantage. Khan grimaced which told the doctor he'd succeeded in shifting his own scent to that of an omega rejecting an alpha suit. "Get this straight – I belong to James Tiberius Kirk. I wear his collar and I have his mark – and for all your enhanced genes and superiority, Khan? You ain't him."

With that, Leonard turned on his heel and walked to his office. Once the door slid safely shut, Leonard slumped into his chair, shaking. No alpha, not even Jim, had affected him that strongly outside of his heat. If Jim hadn't touched their bond, Bones had no idea what he would have done – mostly likely something he would have regretted for the rest of his life.

"Damn it!" McCoy yelled, slamming his fist down on the desk. "Fucking omega biology ..."

The involuntary responses built into omega physiology annoyed the hell out of Leonard, always had. He'd learned to manage most of them and deal with the rest but an alpha of Khan's strength was capable of overriding everything he'd worked his life to control. He could not afford any more near-lapses.

With a sigh, Leonard pulled out a hypo and turned to his dispensary unit to dial up a special cocktail of his own design. Normally he loathed suppressants … they were dangerous in that they forced an omega's biology to conform unnaturally which could have serious side-effects. Pressing the hypo to his neck, Bones injected the suppressant compound and hoped it was strong enough to stave off Khan and his genetically enhanced pheromones.

He ignored the looks from Carol Marcus and the few of his staff that had witnessed his near loss of control. God he needed a drink.