Author's Chapter Notes:

Okay, first of all I'll explain the reason for the lack of updates. MY COMPUTER BROKE. Woohoo. I typed most of this on my iPod and was able to get use of my mum's computer today to post it. This of course means I probably won't be updating very often for a little while. Worry not, my mom found a good deal for some computers from a family member of ours so I'll be getting a new one to replace lappy sometime soon, I don't know exactly when, but soon. Anyways, sorry for the wait. It's hot off the press since I have a limited amount of time til my parents get home so sorry for any errors.

When Spock awoke it was to utter chaos. Glancing out the window, Spock realized it was still dark out. He figured that he would not be getting to sleep again before their departure. Spock pulled on the light travelling robes that had been packed for him and opened his door to investigate the cause of the ruckus in the hallways.

Many members of the Royal Guard were scrambling about the dimly lit hallway. He stopped one of them and asked him what exactly what was going on.

The guard bowed quickly before giving his quick response, "Your fiancé, escaped sir." he bowed once more, uttering a rushed apology before resuming his panicked pace to keep up with his compatriots.

Spock ran with renewed energy, his grogginess soon forgotten as he tried to find the Emperor. Eventually, with the help of a maid who had been passing by, he found his future father-in-law.

The man was in his study with the captain of his guard. They appeared to be touching places on a huge touch screen displaying a map of the area. Places James might be, he supposed.

"Where is James?" he asked, even he surprised at the frantic tone displayed in his own voice.

"Sort of what we're trying to figure out here." The captain responded with barely hidden annoyance.

"We will depart in a matter of hours. You must find him immediately." He stated, attempting to regain his composure.

"Yes, I'm aware! I'm trying."

A glare was directed at the captain. "You do not try. You do." He growled out. Something inside him was telling him to be logical and let this man do his job but it was barely noticeable over the other something screaming at him that James needed to be found NOW.

"Spock! Please calm yourself. The Captain is doing all he can. I can assure you he is highly skilled and has been able to track down James on multiple occasions. Please leave us now and do not worry, James will be located. We will alert you as soon as we have found him." The Captain seemed to straighten and puff out his chest in satisfaction at the Emperor's words. Spock simply turned around and swiftly exited into the hallway.

Spock tucked himself back into the solidarity of his guest quarters. He could not understand the emotion overtaking him. Since yesterday he had been completely out of control. The prince sat on his bed and focused on the swirling patterns of the embroidered quilt to slow his breathing. He tried to slow his breathing and keep calm for the moment.

Spock decided he would attempt meditation, as his father had taught him when he was young. He had to keep in line with the Vulcan teachings. It had never failed him before and it was crucial that the feelings he had surrounding James were put into check lest he make an unwise choice based on them. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes, beginning the arduous process of reaching into his own mind.

-

Over an hour had passed and Spock seemed to get worse each moment no news came of Jim. He could not focus thinking of where his intended could be or what had happened to him. Each time he came close to reconciling an emotion, the consequential thoughts of his own inaction screamed at him to reach out and find James, wherever he may be.

A few more minutes passed and suddenly a thought clicked into Spock's mind. He immediately forgot his meditation and left his room, sprinting towards the entrance to the palace where the Vulcan ships were. He was going to find James himself.

Upon arrival to the ship it seemed the Vulcan vessel and its crew remained unawares to the disappearance of the human prince on which so much was dependant. They were preparing still for the trip back to the larger space shuttle as the sky began to lighten in anticipation of the impending dawn.

Spock went to the holding room for the gifts brought the day before
and requested T'Prya be brought to him immediately. The guard bowed and went behind the doors to bring his prince the giant cat.

The cat was technically James' now but Spock couldn't think of what else to do at this point. T'Prya didn't mind at all and seemed excited that her previous master had come to see her. She immediately rubbed against him and let out a throaty purr. The Vulcan scratched behind her ears gently before leading her into the palace and up to James' room which was now left unguarded in light of the missing prince.

Luckily for Spock, the bed sheets hadn't been changed yet. He had recalled T'Prya's superior tracking ability and decided that if new, more high-tech methods of tracking had been unsuccessful, maybe the old ones would do the trick.

T'Prya hopped up on the bed at Spock's command and sniffed the messed up bed sheets before hopping back down and snuffling about the room. After a few minutes, Spock saw she had found the trail as she eagerly left the room, expecting her old master to follow her.

Spock left the room swiftly lest he not be able to catch up with the agile cat and followed her down the hall as the two of them left the palace into the grassy yardage out front. To all present it would have looked like he was simply taking the beast out for a walk, which was fortunate for him. Most of the guard probably didn't want to be out looking for him too.

-

After about forty five minutes the pair had come to some sort of small, dusty plateau. Their progress had slowed down, as T'Prya gradually began to lose James' scent. He had probably mounted some sort of vehicle as there were faint tire tracks in the dusty landscape. Spock didn't know how the guards had missed this obvious clue and began to follow them instead; hoping James would stop somewhere ahead so they could catch up.

After another half hour Spock and T'Prya had come to the edge of a forest. Spock was grateful that Jim would probably be unable to maneuver through this and may need to continue on foot as he saw the light pink rays of daylight inching across the horizon.

They stepped into the forest and began walking. It only took T'Prya a few minutes to pick up the scent again. They trudged throughout the shrubbery and undergrowth with determination as the scent became stronger and stronger. After many long minutes of anticipation, Spock's diligence was rewarded with the sight of his fiancé sitting against a tree, his bike tossed carelessly to the side.

Spock rushed forward, unable to contain his excitement. He had found him and now he could have him. They could go back to Vulcan and James would be able to forge a new life there with him. Spock was stopped short when he saw that James was attempting to form a makeshift bandage about his thigh, which was bleeding heavily. Many other gashes scattered his body and oozed blood as well.

Spock could not stop from speaking out, "James, you are injured." He voiced in his usual neutral tone. The human's head shot up and his eyes widened in fear and disbelief. Spock continued to rush to his side, hoping to help relieve Jim's injury. "I can assist you and then we can go back…" He said, reaching out to the wound on Jim's leg.

This caused James to lash out, "Get away from me you pointy-eared freak!" Kirk scrambled away from Spock as well as he could with his injuries, "You are not my husband and you are not my friend and I am not going back there. I don't know who you think you are but I am James Tiberius Kirk and I don't give in to anyone! You know nothing about me; now leave me alone before I kick your ass!"

Spock sat in stunned silence as tears began to roll down James' face. He didn't know how to respond, he didn't know how to think. All he could think about was that Jim was in pain and he wouldn't let Spock touch him to help make the pain stop. Suddenly something clicked inside him and he settled himself back into a sitting position, "You are…afraid to return?" He asked hesitantly.

James' mouth opened, about to retaliate about how he didn't get afraid but stopped and looked to the ground, wiping his face. "I don't want to go to Vulcan with you," he pouted pathetically, "I just want to leave it all behind and start a new life, without the palace and all that junk."

"Vulcan is not a bad place, really. If you wish you may even have a retreat area all for yourself. If you really don't want to be around me, that is." Spock's suggestion seemed to weigh on Kirk's mind a bit and perhaps James might have even considered going if not for the royal guard which decided to swoop in at this inopportune time.

Spock was shocked as a team of guards came and grabbed the young prince forcefully and began to take him away kicking and screaming. He stood angrily and shouted to them, "Do not handle him that way! Can you not see he is injured? You'll only hurt him further!"

"Emperor's orders, we can't let him escape!" One of them called back as they all carried and shoved Jim into the heavily secured car waiting at the edge of the forest.

It took an entire fifteen minutes and seven guards to eventually hold down Spock and prevent him from causing any more harm to the officers he had attacked. He felt entirely embarrassed at his gross display of emotion but he found he could not stand by as they hurt Jim.

However he found that, by far, the worst emotion he experienced that day was the feeling of tightening in his chest as Jim shot him a burning glare of hatred as he was carried away. Spock didn't care about his freakish display of emotion anymore as he gradually lost consciousness from the sedative pumped into his veins. He only wanted James' forgiveness.

Chapter End Notes:

So yeah, there it is. I'm having serious trouble making Spock convincing since I've made him full Vulcan. I don't know how much emotion is acceptable and blah blah blah. So yeah, it'll be interesting. Again, lemme know if you have any suggestions. I also haven't been putting disclaimers as I should so...STAR TREK DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. It belongs to the lovely Gene Roddenbery. So yeah, I hope you liked it!

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