Jim settled back in his chair. He pressed gently against the bond, seeking support from Bones. He felt the warm response in return and, taking a deep breath, Jim exhaled and smiled disarmingly at the view screen where Admiral Alexander Marcus looked back at him.

"Admiral Marcus, I wasn't expecting you," Jim said calmly. "That's a hell of a ship you've got there."

The man's eyes were zeroed on Kirk. "And I wasn't expecting to get word that you'd taken Harrison into custody in violation of your orders," Marcus replied.

"Well, we had to improvise when our warp core unexpectedly malfunctioned," Jim said. His link with Bones was steadying him ... giving him the nerve he was going to need to pull his gambit off. "But you already knew that, didn't you sir?"

"I don't take your meaning," Marcus growled.

"Well that's why you're here, isn't it?" Jim asked, blue eyes guileless. "To assist with our repairs? Why else would the head of Starfleet personally come to the edge of the Neutral Zone?"

Sulu frowned and tapped his console. "Captain, they're scanning us."

"Something I can help you find, sir?" Jim asked.

"Where is your prisoner, Kirk?" Marcus responded.

"Per Starfleet regulation, I'm planning on retuning Khan to Earth to stand trial." Jim said coolly.

Marcus sighed heavily. "Well ... shit. You talked to him."

Fuck ... Khan was telling the truth. Jim hadn't realized how much he'd been hoping it wasn't true. How much he'd been hoping that somehow he could return to normal.

"This is exactly what I was trying to spare you," Marcus said. "I took a tactical risk and I woke that bastard up, believing that his superior intelligence could help us protect ourselves from whatever came at us next," Marcus leaned forward tiredly. "But I made a mistake and now the blood of everyone he's killed is on my hands."

You bastard ...you're the reason Pike's dead ... he trusted you! Jim thought grimly.

"So I'm asking you ... give him to me so that I can end what I started," Marcus finished.

Jim's mind was awhirl – what was the right thing ... what was the correct thing? He decided to reveal a little more of his hand."

"And what exactly would you like me to do with the rest of his crew, sir?" Jim asked. "Fire them at the Klingons? End 72 lives? Start a war in the process?"

Marcus frowned. "He put those people in those torpedoes. And I simply didn't want to burden you with knowing what was inside of them. You saw what this man can do all by himself ... can you imagine what would happen if we woke up the rest of his crew?" Marcus gave a disgusted huff. "What else did he tell you? That he's a peacekeeper? He's playing you, son, don't you see that?"

Bones stood next to Carol Marcus listening to Jim's conversation with her father. He frowned at Marcus referring to Jim as "son". Leonard called him "kid" even though there was only six years difference between them. But he knew Jim ... knew him better than anyone he liked to think. Marcus only thought he the young captain – he had no idea he was about to run into the brick wall named Jim Kirk. Khan sat impassive on the biobed.

Marcus finally asked Jim where his prisoner was – Jim sighed and lied easily. "He's in engineering sir, but I'll have him moved to the transporter room right away."

Bones glanced over at Khan. Sure hope you know what you're doing, darlin'.

Jim sprang out of his chair the minute Marcus terminated the transmission.

"Do not drop those shields, Mr. Sulu," Kirk ordered.

Spock stood. "Captain, given your awareness of Khan's true location in the med bay, may I know the details of your plan?"

"I told Marcus we were bringing a fugitive back to Earth ... that's what we're going to do," Jim answered. Pressing the comm switch, he said, "Mr. Chekov, can we warp?"

"Sir, if we go to warp we run the risk of seriously damaging the core!" came the out-of-breath response.

"Mr. Chekov, can we or can we not do it?"

"Technically, yes, but I would not advise it, Captain," Chekov replied.

"Noted. Mr. Sulu, set course for Earth ... punch it," Jim said briskly.

The familiar feel of his ship moving through space wafted over him and he brushed against the bond for reassurance. He felt acceptance and pride from his mate and allowed himself the tiniest of smiles.

Bones sighed as the ship went to warp. He grabbed his tricorder and continued the scans interrupted by Khan earlier. "Well, at least we're moving again," Bones muttered.

Khan's eyes speared Leonard's. "If you think you are safe at warp, you're wrong." He turned his gaze onto Carol Marcus who blinked and then was suddenly running out of sickbay.

Bones turned back to Khan. "What the hell was that about?"

"Doctor, I would recommend that you secure yourself and any member of your staff you do not want gravely injured," Khan said softly. "That would include myself and my security detail."

McCoy frowned. "And why the hell would I do that?"

Khan sighed. "As you previously chastised me, doctor ... ignorance does not suit you."

Without taking his eyes from Khan, Bones barked commands to his staff. "Move! Prep for incoming and then get yourselves strapped in!"

"Lieutenant Uhura, contact Starfleet ... tell them we were pursued into the Neutral Zone by an unmarked Federation ship," Jim said.

"Comms are down, sir," Uhura said with exasperation.

Jim pursed his lips and then frowned as Carol Marcus raced onto the bridge. "Dr. Marcus?"

Carol shook her head, out of breath. "He's going to catch up with us, and when he does, the only thing that's going to stop him from destroying this ship is me, so you have to let me talk to him."

Jim looked at her quizzically. "Carol, we're at warp, he can't catch up to us."

"Yes he can," Carol said insistently. "He's been working on a ship that has advanced warp capabilities ..."

"Captain!" Sulu interrupted. "I'm getting a reading I don't understand."

Jim did not have time to ask what the reading was ... the world suddenly went crashing on its side, tossing crew members to the decks. Blasts rocked the Enterprise and Jim struggled to regain his footing even as they were blown out of warp. Spinning to a stop, the Enterprise yawed unsteadily as her crew fought to take back control.

"Where are we?" Jim barked.

"237,000 kilometers from Earth," Sulu responded.

"Damage report!" Jim yelled.

"Shields are minimal!"

"We have a bulkhead breach!"

"Weapons are down!"

"Major hull damage, captain!"

Each report made Jim's chest tighten. His crew ... his ship ... how the hell was he supposed to protect them against this? Another volley of fire from Marcus' ship sent him reeling. Gripping the rail, he yelled at Sulu.

"Evasive maneuvers! Get us to Earth, Mr. Sulu – NOW!"

Carol grabbed his arm suddenly and Jim turned to face her with a growl. His eyes were wide and his nostrils flared ... he was very close to an alpha rage. He felt his mate press hard against the bond and he exhaled sharply. Bones' presence calmed him enough to focus on Carol's words.

"Captain, please stop! Everyone on this ship is going to die if you don't let me speak to him," Carol pleaded.

Jim watched her eyes for a second before ordering, "Uhura, hail him."

Carol turned to the viewscreen. "Sir. It's me. It's Carol."

The punishing attack stopped abruptly. Marcus' face appear on the screen. Jim decided he had never hated anyone as much as he did Admiral Alexander Marcus. He wanted to tear the man's throat out with his teeth.

"What are you doing on that ship?"

"I heard what you said," the beta said softly. "That you made a mistake and now you're doing everything you can to fix it ... but Dad ... the man who raised me can't be capable of killing a ship full of innocent beings. If you are, then you'll have to do it with me on board."

Marcus regarded her steadily. "Actually, Carol, I won't."

Carol jerked and then turned in shock as the lights of a transporter beam began to envelope her. She turned around helplessly.

"Sulu, can we intercept the transport signal?" Jim asked, stepping back as Carol turned to run.

Uhura cringed away from the woman ... to be caught in a random transporter beam could easily mean death. Carol's protesting cry faded as she disappeared.

"Captain Kirk, without authorization and in league with the fugitive John Harrison, you went rogue into enemy territory leaving me no choice but to hunt you down and destroy you," Marcus intoned. "Lock phasers."

"Wait, sir, wait, wait, wait!" Jim begged, running across the bridge.

"I'll make this quick," Marcus said. "Target all aft torpedoes on the Enterprise bridge."

Spock rose and stood beside Nyota. The entire bridge crew stared in frozen disbelief that they were about to die.

"Sir, my crew was just following my orders. I take full responsibility for my actions, but they were mine and mine alone. If I transmit Khan's location to you now, all I ask is that you spare them." Jim pleaded. He stepped closer to the screen and tilted his head back. Someone gasped from behind him. "Please sir, I'll do anything you want. Just let them live."

Bones ... god, I'm so sorry ...

Marcus chuckled. An alpha growl of triumph rumbled beneath it as the admiral took in the young captain showing throat to the dominant male. "That is a hell of an apology, Kirk. If it's any consolation, I was never going to spare your crew. Too bad ... that omega of yours is quite the looker."

Jim's growl went unheard as the transmission ended. Kirk stood, stunned and slowly turned to face his crew. "I'm sorry."

Bones. Bones I love you ... I'm so sorry ...

Jim waited for the final hit but suddenly Sulu looked up. "Sir ... their weapons have powered down."

A familiar voice suddenly came over the comm. "Enterprise! Can you hear me?"

Jim turned back to the screen with wide eyes. "Scotty!"

"Guess what I found behind Jupiter," the Scot said, glee apparent in his voice.

"You're on that ship!" Jim exclaimed.

"Aye, I snuck on. And seeing as I've just committed an act of treason against a Starfleet admiral, I'd really like to get off this bloody ship. Now beam me out!" Scotty demanded.

"You're a miracle worker," Jim said. "We're a little low on power right now ... just stand by!"

A confused and wary voice answered him. "What do you mean, 'low on power'? What happened to the Enterprise?" The transmission suddenly closed.

"Spock! Our ship, how is she?"

The Vulcan looked stern. "Our options are limited, Captain. We cannot fight and we cannot flee."

Jim sighed. "There is one option ... Uhura, when you get Scotty back, patch him through." He looked at his first officer. "Mr. Spock, you have the conn."

Jim walked to the lift and Spock followed. "Captain, I strongly object."

Kirk sighed. "To what? I haven't said anything."

"Since we cannot take the ship from the outside, the only way must be from within. As a large boarding party would be detected, it is optimal for you to take as few members of the crew as possible. You will meet resistance requiring personnel with advanced combat abilities and innate knowledge of that ship," Spock posited. "This indicates that you plan to align with Khan, the very man we were sent to destroy.

"I'm not aligning with him, I'm using him – the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"An Arabic proverb attributed to a prince who was betrayed and decapitated by his own subjects," Spock informed Jim.

Jim huffed a laugh. "It's still a hell of a quote, Spock."

"I will go with you, Captain."

"No, I need you on the bridge," Jim ordered.

Spock suddenly gripped Jim's shoulder and spun him around. "I cannot allow you to do this."

Always with the logic, Jim thought, bristling at the Vulcan's handling.

"It is my function aboard this ship to assist you in making the wisest choices possible, something I firmly believe you are incapable of doing in this moment," Spock said insistently.

Exasperated, Jim shouted, "You're right!" Jim sighed. "What I'm about to do? It doesn't make any sense, it's not logical … it is a gut feeling!"

Spock looked at him with that peculiar tilt of his head when he was desperately trying to understand the human inclination to be led by emotion. Jim ran his hand though his hair.

"I have no idea what I'm supposed to do … I only know what I can do," Jim explained. "The Enterprise and her crew need someone in that chair that knows what he's doing."

Jim looked at his Vulcan first officer intently. His heart was breaking over all that had been wrought on his ship recently … how many crew were lost? How many families would he have to notify that a loved one was gone? How much of it could have been avoided if he'd just done what he was told to do? The bond between himself and McCoy shivered with his self-doubt. His mouth quirked as he felt his mate send something that felt like, Don't make me fucking come over there. Jim met Spock's gaze.

"That's not me, Spock … it's you." Jim said softly. He turned and walked away leaving Spock alone in the hall.

Jim stepped into sickbay. Khan sat still and cuffed on the bio bed surrounded by security officers. Bones glanced up at his mate but then went back to working on an injured crewmember. Medical staff moved with purpose around the bay, helping the injured survivors of Marcus' attack. Jim could not quell the relief he felt that Bones was unhurt.

Walking over to Khan, he squared himself in front of the man. Every alpha instinct was telling him to destroy this threat … to take advantage of his current weakened condition. To hand over the thing that Marcus wanted – but he'd tried that and it had very nearly cost him everyone's life. He was done playing by their rules.

"Tell me everything you know about that ship."

After talking to Khan, Jim stepped over to where Bones was working on an obviously dead tribble. He looked around and saw that McCoy's efficient medical team had done what they could for the injured. And Leonard, like his mate, did not do well when idle. He was after answers about something.

"Bones, what are you doing?"

"I'm injecting Khan's platelets into a necrotic host. Khan's cells regenerate like nothing I've ever seen. I want to know why," McCoy replied.

Leave it to Bones to make our prisoner into a science experiment, Jim thought. He inhaled deeply, wanting to comfort himself with his mate's scent. What he actually scented had him gripping McCoy's arm and pulling him aside, ignoring the annoyed curses that accompanied his action.

Jim asked softly. "Why is your scent off, Bones? I can barely make it out … wait, you're not," Jim swallowed hard. "You're not going to –"

Bones frowned in confusion. "I'm not going to do what, Jim?" Realization dawned. "You think I'm tryin' to break your claim, don't you?"

"I was there in the brig, Bones! You spiked!" Jim snarled in a low whisper.

"Remember the shuttle ride, Romeo?" McCoy replied softly but no less angrily. Jim's uncertainty was very loud to Leonard and his anger finally crested.

"Follow me, Captain," Bones growled

The doctor turned on his heel and stalked to his office with Jim right behind him. The omega snatched the empty hypo off his desk and handed it to Jim. "That is the largest dosage of suppressants I can safely take until he is off the ship. Feel free to check if you don't believe me."

"Bones, I wasn't -"

"You were, but I'm gonna explain it anyway. Khan is genetically enhanced, Jim. And he's very obviously an alpha – his pheromones are about three times the normal potency of any normal human alpha male. Hell, I'd have to be dead not to notice or respond to him!" Bones snapped.

"Bones …"

"Not this time, kid," Bones said. "You just accused me of wanting another alpha … something I haven't given you any reason to even think since you marked me. I don't give a fuck who the hell he thinks he is, Khan Noonan Singh is not my alpha, nor will he ever be my alpha. I'm perfectly aware of my own biology, Jim – he caught me off-guard in the brig but I thought I could block him on my own. I'm man enough to say I can't do it, so I've taken preventative measures." Leonard's eyes were flashing with fury. "I can't scent you, him, or any other alpha – and I'm not putting out any attraction scent either, as you can tell. Does that satisfy you, sir?"

Jim looked unhappily at his mate. "Bones, I'm sorry."

Leonard frowned and leaned back against his desk with his arms crossed. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, I know you are … and so am I, but damn it, Jim! You've been making me pay for every fucking thing that's gone wrong since Pike told you they were taking the Enterprise."

Jim rolled his eyes. "And how do you figure that?"

Bones met Jim's gaze. "You wanna go there, kid?"

"You made the accusation, Bones."

Leonard straightened. Looking directly at Jim, he held up his thumb.

"One, you went on the pull the night of the Daystrom attack. I was your roommate for three years, Jim – I know what you smell like when you're trolling."

Jim colored. "Bones, I swear I didn't –"

Leonard silenced his alpha with a gesture and continued.

"Two, you spiked when Carol Marcus started battin' her little eyes at you because you were pissed at me for doing my job. Gee, what a fun trip that was – I loathe shuttle rides and I got to sit behind my alpha while he makes me look like a goddamn fool with the new science officer. Three, you pulled alpha on me and ordered me back to sickbay when I tried one last time to do my job - then you went completely caveman over my so-called 'omega bitch-fit'. Four, you waltz into my sickbay and accuse me of trying to attract another mate – a homicidal maniac at that!"

Jim growled and fisted the front of Bones' shirt. It wasn't an angry sound, however, it was an aroused one. Bones caught hold of Jim's wrist and held it firm.

"Don't, Jim …"

"You know you want me, Bones," Jim growled, his lips ghosting over Leonard's.

"Always have, always will, kid, but you need to focus and this won't help," Bones said regretfully.

Jim sighed and pressed his forehead to Bones'. "I'm sorry, Bones. I – hell, I don't even know who I am anymore or what I'm doing."

Leonard smiled. "You're James Tiberius Kirk, captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise and my mate. What you're gonna do is some fool thing with Khan and maybe get yourself killed just to save this ship and your crew," Bones whispered. "Again, I might add."

Jim huffed a laugh. "Forgive me?"

"Don't I always? Jim I don't want another alpha," Bones said hoarsely, bringing Jim's hand up to press against the claiming mark.

Jim growled lightly. "Mine."

"Yours," Bones agreed. It was primitive instinct, but sometimes it was the only way to get through to his headstrong alpha.

Jim sighed and looked at McCoy. He ran his hand along his mate's collar, smiling at the shiver. His eyes, however were serious when he met Bones' gaze. "I know I've been an ass lately. I just – damn this whole situation is so fucked up."

"You'll figure it out … you always do. Go save the ship, kid. I'll be here when you get back," Bones said, pressing his lips to Jim's.

Jim returned the kiss with everything he had, claiming the omega's mouth as though he were trying to crawl into him physically. The kiss left Bones a little dazed but he recovered well-enough to resume his duties and watch his captain walk out of the medbay with a killer by his side.